Tamara Dorris

An interesting story to share with you. Twenty-one years ago this Labor Day, I was indeed in labor with my lovely daughter, Nichole. Nichole was definitely not in any hurry to enter this world either! After a very uncomfortable record-hot Sacramento summer and a grueling 18-hours of labor, the poor little kid had her chord wrapped around her neck and was blue. In fact, my mother, who was at the birth, said later on that Nichole looked just like a little Smurf. That was one labor of love I have ever, not even during the terrible twos or the independent teen years, come to regret.

The idea of Labor Day, in my mind, goes hand in hand with labors of love. I think of my mail man, Willy, who hits the Carmichael area I live in with gusto; I think of the staff at so many great Sacramento establishments who make doing business with them so much more enjoyable. I guess the bottom line is that when someone likes what they do, it shows.

I’ve never, ever been a pushy salesperson. In fact, I do not consider myself a salesperson at all. A salesperson is someone who attempts to sell someone something. When I work with a new prospect, someone looking for a home in Sacramento, or maybe someone selling a home in Sacramento, my goal is not to sell them anything.

My goal in working with people is all about service. Service and building relationships. How can I work so closely on something so important to someone and then just walk away? I can’t. I’m part of my clients’ lives now and they are part of mine, if only in the occasional call or greeting card I send them. Mine is a relationship-based business.

Whether I am negotiating an addendum or counter offer, making sure there are no “surprises” easily hidden inside contracts, house-hunting with my buyers (my favorite part), or counseling clients on the best move to make (that training in therapy really did pay off!), the point is that all of it is a labor of love. There are good days and there are days when I could get frustrated IF I forgot, that in the end, it’s not what happens to you, it what you do with what happens to you.

With that in mind, I hope we all can think of Labor Day as a day to reflect, with gratitude, about the labors we’ve been blessed with and the service we provide.

As for my lovely daughter, she’s requested a trip to the wine country for her 21st birthday. I guess there’s nothing wrong with developing a fine taste for wine, so off to Amador we go.

Happy Labor Day!

Ta ta for now,
Tamara

PS

Don’t miss my weekly Sacramento Radio show, but wait! Just because I serve Sacramento, don’t think for a minute our weekly featured guests don’t offer national appeal! Everything from social media skills to feng shui to health and nutrition and more! Tune in live at 10 AM on Weds. at 10 AM PST, or catch the podcast later. Check it out, you’ll love my labor of love. www.InLoveWithSacto.com

So I’m on my gotta-get-away-from-these-phones lunch-time bike ride today at Ancil Hoffman Park in Carmichael, thinking about real estate (duh!). Just as I’m rounding the corner of the golf course, no more than 20 feet away, I spy two bucks that my hunting-husband would have drooled over. It seems to be that the deer always eat grass from underneath this one particular tree, hence, the buck stops here.

But then I thought about the day I was having, back at the office and why I was frustrated. It seems that a counter-offer that came from the listing agent/asset manager was a multiple counter-offer, but gosh darn-it, that little box indicating it as such was not marked. Clearly, that put my buyer’s in what I would consider a false state of security, especially that we all now realized it was not a done deal.

We all know that the Sacramento real estate market is at an all-time strange place. Lending is nothing short of ludicrous (back-peddling isn’t working, guys), and some out-of-state banks seem a little out of touch (both literally and figuratively). In all of the this it makes me realize how very important it is for those of us committed (and those of us who should be), to stick to our guns when it comes to ethics. To say, “Enough is Enough,” and mean it. To not let our clients lose out on property just because of someone else’s error.

Regardless of the market, it is the ethical agents, the determined buyers and sellers, and persistent lenders who are holding it all together, inspite of trepidation, crazy new time-lines and asset mangers who won’t return calls (you’d be amazed at what leaving 72 voice mails will do).

All that said, I think it’s more crucial than ever for buyers and seller to work with professionals who know their stuff…lenders who won’t drop the ball and agents who are ethical, up to date and educated (and in my case, have eagle-eyes for unchecked boxes!).

As prices slowly creep up and buying is more challenging than ever, remember to find yourself an agent who will put your best interests first, recommend a lender who knows what the heck is going on, and through it all, knows how to say, “The Buck Stops Here!” and gets the deal done.
Ta ta for now,

Sacramento friends: catch my radio show on Wednesdays at 10:00 or listen to the podcast later. We always chat briefly about real estate and then feature a guest who in some way can help you in your business or personal life. Check it out! http://www.InLoveWithSacto.com

Yes, I know there will be those who might disagree with me, and I’m ready to face the challenge.

I have discovered what I believe to be the very best sushi in town. And, I take my sushi skills very seriously.

Silver Sake in Carmichael gives a new spin on sushi that is nothing short of fantastic. Now I know where you all like to eat sushi….I like “that place” a lot too, but I am not kidding you when I say that the Silver Sake is worth the drive and the time.

With more than 100 rolls, plus all the other stuff sushi places tend to offer, the Silver Sake uses special “secret” sauces to enhance and enliven their food fare. In fact, my very favorite thing about sushi has always been the wasabi….I LOVE wasabi, plain a simple. But I notice when I eat at Silver Sake, I don’t even care if I have wasabi! That should speak volumes about the quality of the food (and the amazing sauces).

Very casual in decor (a couple of flat screen televisions seem to always be on), with a steady group of casually-dressed regulars, you won’t feel out of place in shorts and t-shirt. Oh, the the bill won’t set you back like some of the fancier sushi places in Sacramento. The fish is fresh, the staff is fun, and I mean, really fun. They serve wine and beer, and well, of course sake, both warm and cold.

So whether you’re up for a casual dinner, dine-in or take-out, lunch, or to take my challenge that it’s the best sushi in Sacramento County, then be sure to let me know how you like it. Tell them Tamara sent you and try the Garlic Roll….it really rocks!

Ta ta for now,

Tamara

PS tune into my Sacramento radio show every wednesday am at www.InLoveWithSacto.com where we have guests that are guaranteed to improve the quality of your life and your business.

As an adjunct professor of real estate at American River College and as an active real estate agent in Sacramento, I’m the first to recognize and preach about the importance of using a good title and escrow company. In fact, most of the transactions I have had since spring have been with title companies that didn’t do very much to impress me.

Not returning calls, responding to emails…that’s just bad manners, no matter who you are, but sometimes, you find a company full of professionals that go above and beyond the call of duty.

To that end, I want to give kudos to Placer Title. I currently have three escrows with Placer and I am delighted to report that in all three cases, the escrow officers contacted me immediately, sent me the escrow number, receipt for the deposit check, and just generally had pleasant, professional demeanors.

The officers I am currently working with who are doing such a great job are: Laurie Isle and Kim Meidinger, both at the office at Watt Ave/Fair Oaks Blvd. and the newest escrow is with Kathi McCrum at the Sunrise branch. It’s clear in working with Placer Title that they’ve earned their keep when it comes to my business. As I tell my students, a good escrow officer is worth her weight in gold (and I can say “her” since most escrow officers are and always have been female). It’ vital, especially in our current market, to work with a title and escrow company that delivers timely and efficient service. I think Placer Title fits that bill.

Please note that there has been an on-going issue/debate in who gets to pick the title company. When you make an offer on the property, it is perfectly fine for you (the buyer) to indicate the title company you would like to use. While I never recommend or “sell” a company, if my buyers ask which company I like, I tell ‘em. Whether it’s title and escrow, home warranty or lending professionals, I know the right pick is essential, so if they ask my opinion, I can offer my own experiences.

Typically, sellers pay for title (I said “typically,” but anything is negotiable). So often, listing agents will open escrow with a company, and in that case, I feel it’s the professional thing to do to leave the title with that company (assuming sellers are paying). Otherwise, I will write whatever my buyers want in the contract.

Clearly there’s much more to say, but this isn’t a discussion on contract law, rather, my effort at letting buyers know that there IS a difference in the escrow/title company used, and my pick these days is definitely Placer Title.

Tell ‘em Tamara sent you

Ta ta for now,
Tamara

Listen to the radio show www.InLoveWithSacto.com