Clovis, NM

The 24 Hour House

It has been a wild week.

Ive written 7 offers, had an unhappy customer for one of the first times in my 6 year career, been in 2 multiple offer situations (which caused the unhappy customer who didnt want competition) accepted two counters and almost sold a house in 24 hours.

The couple were a referral from an agent in Alaska who saw my active rain profile. They were planning on renting but came to Clovis and were unhappy with the wait for base housing and the lack of decent rentals in the area.

They gave me a call and we met at the office and looked over the 50 homes in their price range. A quick call to one of my favorite lenders showed that the payment they were thinking of making would allow them to buy something under $150,000 with today's rates. We eliminated about 3/4 of the homes in Clovis just by their pictures and left the office with about 10 we wanted to see. In the office I found out that cabinets were a big thing for the wife and they both liked clean, neat homes that weren't going to require alot of care or fix-up. Paint was fine but the husband was going to be deployed now and then and didn't want to leave his family with any huge remodel projects.

We started in the Northeast part of town in the newer subdivisions and they really liked the first home they saw. The next home needed some work, then we went into the older neighborhoods and looked at a really nice clean home on cactus that was almost too perfect (could they maintain the beautiful landscaping) and a less expensive home that had a small kitchen. We looked at a nice home on Morse that unfortunately felt "dark" and left us remembering the pretty open floorplan we first looked at. Then we saw one more with a purple kitchen, red living room and cave like atmosphere that felt like Vegas but underground. It even smelled damp and cool.

So then we met the lender, clarified some things, and went to write the offer. The seller countered quickly the next morning and they wanted to counter, counter , but something made me take a breath and wonder if this was just too fast. There were a couple of ups and downs in the day but rarely do you decide to buy a house, find out you sold your house in Alaska, find a house, get approved, write an offer get countered and counter, counter all in 24 hours. I didn't say anything but I didn't rush into the office to write it either. A couple of hours passed and the couple called and decided instead of counter countering they wanted to take a breath and make sure this was really what they wanted to do.

And I am glad....

Real estate professionals have this reputation for being high pressure sales people, focused on the commission instead of just simple people who love people, love houses and really enjoy helping people make the best decisions that change their lives. I never want to be that agent who pushed someone into a house they didn't really want or shouldn't afford. I want my customers to thank me a year from now instead of wish they had never met me because then they wouldn't be in this fix.

The week continues as I will find out if my other customers win the bid on the fixer upper in a nice area in town.... I find out how the inspection went on the cash sale of one of my listings (inspection is the only contingency).... I accept the counter for the home the sellers of my listing want to buy once it is in writing.....I line up leases to look at for a new contractor's satellite office who is coming into town...and I wish my active rain referral customers well - whatever they decide to do this weekend. The moral of the story is listen to that still small voice inside you, do what you know is right and remember that "sometimes your very best deals are the ones you miss". - Thanks to Brett for that quote. Hope you have a great week.

After reading the top 6 fads that are "out" according to consumer surveys at the international home builders show in Las Vegas http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/?p=273 I thought I would give some insight on what buyers want in their newest Clovis Home.

1. Color - Nothing crazy but white walls are "out" in Clovis. Most builders are going with an eggshell sheen tan for the entire house. Flat finishes were in for a while but homeowners have found them hard to keep clean. Home sellers are painting neutral earthtones and adding splashes of color with curtains and furnishings.

2. Green Building - Eco-friendly building practices win applause from local home buyers. Energy saving features such as SIPS construction, alternative heating/cooling and less wasted space make home buyers happy. Renewable resources like bamboo flooring, glass countertops, and reclaimed materials add interest and unique features that home buyers love.

3. Fireplaces - For a while builders thought electric fireplaces were the thing and you can find them in a lot of Clovis homes built since 2000 but I have rarely found an electric fireplace that warmed home buyers hearts. Builders in Clovis need to remember to Keep it Real. A wood burning fireplace will never go out of style no matter what the Realtor magazine says.

4. Natural Materials - Keeping it real extends to the rest of the finish work in the house. Real engineered hardwood flooring is very popular and Pergo type laminate while inexpensive and better than carpet - I think will fade away. Other natural materials like granite, stone, and old Chicago brick seem to endure.

5. Less is More - Because most of our home buyers are on a budget a really great 1600 sq ft floorplan will always sell fast. The days of the 2900 sq ft homes with formal spaces are becoming less popular and buyers instead are choosing homes with more actual living areas, larger kitchens and open floorplans - but not too open. Parents still want to get away from the kids at times. 20 ft ceilings are also being thought twice about because of the high energy costs associated with heating all that air up there.

6. Bigger bedrooms - The most common complaint I hear about newer homes is that they have tiny bedrooms. Generous bedrooms and a wise use of space while still giving enough storage space creates the best mix buyers are looking for.

7. Versatility -Buyers don't like nooks in their living rooms. They want big open walls that offer choices about where to put the furniture. The dont want to have to put the tv in a certain spot so the little built in boxes are out.

8. Extras - My buyers still love the extras and can tell when builders or remodelers took the cheap way out. Think about adding some nice touches such as under cabinet lighting, nicer bathroom fixtures, and touches here and there that say you went to some expense to make this house a home.

Clovis is different than other small towns. It is growing rapidly because of our Air Force base and we see a different buyer than most New Mexico cities. Our buyers have come from more metropolitan areas and expect more than just the same way things have always been done. They are ready for local builders to bring the world to them.

Thanks to the large number of Military moving to the area and our growth in general some good changes are being looked at according to our mayor. I found out in a recent meeting of the Clovis Board of Realtors that the city is looking for more green spaces, walking and bike trails and things to improve our quality of life.

Target is supposed to be in the final stages of being finalized.. I know we have heard that for a while but it seems to be coming together. Several restauraunt chains are looking at Clovis and people are moving in daily. By the time that Cannon reaches full capacity the population of Clovis may double. We are gaining a new city engineer from Florida who is full of great ideas for our town. It is an exciting time to be in Clovis!

More updates soon!!!

This is from an article on the Cannon AFB Website. Very great info for those looking for somewhere to help out in CLovis. -

I Would like to Add Matt 25 to this list. It is a great charity that is focused on rebuilding lives. For more info please call 763-4400 or visit www.matt25clovis.com

Ranchvale Carnival
The Ranchvale Elementary School Fall Carnival is 5-8 p.m. on Oct. 24 and volunteers are needed to run the games and booths.

Interested individuals should contact Staff Sgt. Ricky Frye by e-mail or call 784-2171 for more information.

Code Blue - Citizens on Patrol
Volunteers are being sought for Code Blue, a program that provides training by the Clovis Police Department to detect and effectively report crimes in progress.

Trained members patrol in pairs, operate base stations and participate in the ride-along program with Clovis police officers. The program also educates residents to better prevent crime.

To get involved, contact the Clovis Police Department Community Relations Office at 763-9427. Ask for Officer Muller.

Base Chapel needs helping hands
The Base Chapel needs volunteers every Wednesday from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. to clean-up, wash dishes, sweep floors, stack chairs and put away folding tables.

To participate, contact Chaplain (Capt.)Donald Bridges at 784-2507.

Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Eastern New Mexico is sponsoring a Bowl for Kids Nov. 2 from 1 - 5 p.m. at the Cannon bowling lanes. Volunteers make this event a success.

To find out more about the event, contact Derrick Spears at 575-420-3314.

Special Olympics
Special Olympics bowling continues on Wednesday from 3 - 4:30 p.m. and Thursday from 6- 8 p.m.

To volunteer, call (575) 356-5120 or (575) 760-5712.

Cannon and Chavez Child Development centers
Volunteers are needed for the Cannon and Chavez Child Development Centers' Family Harvest Festival, Oct. 25, 3-8 p.m. at the Cannon CDC.

Volunteers can help with decorating, work at the Jumping Castle or game booths, face paint or clean up.

For more information, contact Kathy Morgan at the Cannon Child Development Center at 784-2704.

Portales Art Show
The Portales Arts Council and Portales Mainstreet are currently hosting a show of photographs of Depression-era art from more than 80 New Mexico sites. They are looking for volunteers to sit with the art while the doors of the gallery are open to act as the gallery host and ask those who visit this free show to sign in at the door.

Volunteers are needed through Oct. 31, Monday through Friday (with exceptions of Wednesdays and Fridays), from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers can work either a couple of hours or the entire five-0hour day.

The show is in the old county jail, on the 4th floor of the Roosevelt County Courthouse.

To sign up to volunteer, call the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 784-4869.

Cannon reclamation project
As work is being done on much of the base housing, many items being replaced, such as appliances and cabinets, are donated to local charities. Volunteers are needed to unload the from the contractors' trucks at the Curry County Fairgrounds.

For more information, contact Marge Rhode at 575-359-1344.

Habitat for Humanity
Work continues Saturday, Oct. 25 at 309 E. Kaywood in Portales. Work starts at 8 a.m. and will continue until mid afternoon. Lunch will be provided.

Volunteers are also needed for the ReStore location.

For more information, contact Marge Rhode at Habitat for Humanity at 359-1344 or Amanda Johnson, the ReStore manager, at 607-6905.

Enrichment Program
The Barry Elementary School Enrichment Program needs volunteer tutors for students in the afternoon. The program is offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 12 to 3 p.m. and on Fridays from 12:30 to 3 p.m.

The students are tutored in 30-minute increments, and volunteers can stay 30 minutes, an hour or all afternoon,.

For more information, contact Sharon White at 575-799-5522.

School Carnival
The Clovis Nazarene School Carnival needs 20 volunteers from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Oct.24
Contact Robyn Mitchell at 575-693-3946 to get involved.

Thrift Store and Airman's Attic
The Thrift Store needs volunteers. on the third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 11:00 a.m.

For more information, contact Christina Stafford at 784-7113.

Busy month in Clovis. We have had 83 new listings, 83 Price changes, 72 listings sold and 66 residential listings in Clovis are under contract.

In the past week we have had 19 new listings, 20 price changes, and 14 listings sold. Of those sold 6 were bought with VA loans, 3 with conventional loans, 1 with an FHA and 2 with cash. Average sales price was $137,883.

We have had signs of all the new transferees coming into Cannon AFB. License plates in front of me in the Sonic Drive thru (gotta love a good Rt 44 vanilla coke with extra ice) have included Florida, Nevada and even Alaska.

Other signs that we have newbie Clovisites are all of the joggers! Big men jogging, women pushing strollers, couples walking hand in hand. It is a good sight to see. We used to only have a few die hards hitting the streets every day but now its nice to see new faces enjoying our great weather.

Katharine