debra v. edwards

Recently I was previewing some $125,000.00 and below properties for some clients and my search came up with 8 that could be promising. It took me all afternoon to drive in all directions and I did find a couple of really, cute, adorable cottages here in the W. Carolina Mtns .; well worth the money they were asking. Any of you that know the Highlands and Cashiers, NC area, know that it is has some of the most expensive homes in America or in close competition with....beach front property and islands, etc. (Yes, we even have an island with homes for sale on it, high-end homes.) You boat there to get home.

Well, there's still room for we that want to live here and be the 'working class' . Such was the friends/clients that I was searching for.

Aghast was not 'my' wording when I came to two listings right here in the heart of Cashiers for $100,000.00 each. The floors were like roller coaster rides, the walls were the 'wave of the future' and the almost fallen 'angels' were almost falling...a good wind would do it. All this 'doom and gloom' on less than a quarter of an acre with road easements within inches of the bedroom walls. Who put these prices on these beauties?

As having been in real estate appraising in the past, I reasoned that the ?comps? were what brought their prices up...or some inexperienced agent...or some Seller that thinks everything he owns is gold...or was there oil in the ground? I don't rightly know in my most Southern verbage, but the land, in my opinion wouldn't even be worth that with those easements right at 'heaven's door'. It would cost you $10,000.00 just to tear it down. My, oh, my. Even a good carpenter couldn't do right by these precious, little darlings...I know that they've got soul, and a wonderful history, but honey, sometimes it's just time to ...go.

I'm guilty. When you receive as many emails as we Realtors do, and as many blog posts that we try to answer to or learn from, I'm guilty, but maybe you do it too.

I have just come from 707 emails because I was 'out of pocket' for a week and WOW !!! When you're trying to catch-up, I confess that I first look at the title of the blog, and if it interest me, I click on it. But, the 2nd thing that I do, is look at the face of the person that wrote it. Hmmmm...No, I'm not going for the best looking, cutest title, not at all. What I am looking for in that face is genuineness, humility, respect, approachability. Life has a way of hardening us from hard times or a way of softening us from hard blows. Those are the faces that I want to 'approach'. The soft ones. Those that at least look like they understand.

I don't know what you see in my face and I can't look critically at myself to be objective, but I know what I see in your faces, at least most of you. Body language is one thing, but a photo? If I were a client looking for an agent, that face would really matter to me. Some I would gravitate to and others, I would quickly reject. I hope my face shows an approachability, a humor and softening humility from life's hardships...or goodness. I also hope it shows that I am ready, willing and able to laugh...a genuineness. And maybe if I don't yet know how to use widgets, that I do listen to what you are saying, and I do care.

HOW CITIFIED ARE YOU ???

'a Funny thing happened...on the way to a sale.'

A fellow Realtor was showing property to some "City Folks", so she saved the best for last. ( As you are probably aware, here in the Western Carolina Mountains the water literally flows out of the rocks. Some of the most valuable property here is waterfall property with its calming, but visible and audible sounds. Folks just literally love to shut the whole world out with this sound; all levels, depending on the size of the creek and the fall itself.)

All homes, the agent said, are in your price range, but this one is unique from the others; as she was opening the front door, because of this.....(the sound of the waterfall was gently cycling through the walls. The agent opened the door to the porch overlooking the fall; with its magnificant beauty and sound). The husband was aghast and in awe simply admonished how nice that it was and beautiful to look at. The wife, looked at the agent in all seriousness and asked; "what time do they turn it off?"

HOW CITIFIED ARE YOU ???

Two news anchormen were reporting that a cow truck had a flat tire and had to unload; "Black and Gus", to change the tire, so to be aware if you were going to be on this section of the road. To slow way down. He continued that he didn't know how they could honestly tell which one was "Black" and which one was "Gus", as they were both black, but he guessed the farmer knew.

The second anchor man reading along the telepromter with his fellow anchor said more slowly; Black an Gus. Hmmm, Black An Gus. Hmm. Black Angus. Are you sure you don't mean "Black Angus" cows? Both anchormen roared with laughter as they buried their red faces and heads in the papers.