Welcome to December! If you’re like many people, you’ll be taking some time this month to reflect on those you’ve come to appreciate in 2020: friends, family, neighbors, even professional acquaintances.
The list of people I’ll be thinking about this year includes my clients and real estate contacts — and that, of course, means you too.
Let me take this opportunity to say how much I appreciate the opportunity to stay in touch with you. I’m in what is essentially a “people business”, so it’s the clients I get to help, and the people I hope to work with soon, that make my job so fulfilling.
I love helping people sell their property and find their next dream home. If there’s anything I can do for you in that regard this coming year, feel free to contact me anytime.
You know you can count on me, even if you just have a real estate question or need a contractor recommendation.
Just know that I appreciate each and every one of you. I wish you and your family all the best, and whatever your hopes and dreams are for 2021, I hope they all come true.
P.S. I hope you are enjoying the Monthly Real Estate Updates and Real Estate Ideas. If you have suggestions, questions, ideas, or even if you just want to say “hello”, don’t hesitate to email me. I would love to hear from you.
“The highest compliment anyone can give me is to recommend me to a friend. If you know of anyone with a real estate need, I would appreciate your referral, and promise to take good care of them”.
Avoiding the #1 Cause of Seller Stress
Do you know what causes the most common source of stress when selling your home? Is it scheduling buyer viewings? Is it the length of time it takes for your property to sell? Is it an offer that falls through?
Those things can, indeed, cause some worry! But, the number one source of stress is actually simple to avoid. It’s not understanding the process.
Even if you’re no stranger to moving, you should review the process involved in selling your current home before you list it. If you don’t, you might end up exposing yourself to anxiety that could have been easily avoided.
Say, for example, you’re concerned that your home has been listed for too long. It’s been a week and no good offers have come in. Well, if you knew, in advance, how long a home like yours typically takes to sell, then you probably would know not to worry.
It’s important that you start the process by understanding what to expect. What happens when your home is first listed? How are buyers scheduled to see your property? What happens when an offer comes in?
That’s why we will always review the selling process before you list and make sure all your questions are answered.
Window Treatment Ideas that Help Sell Your Home
If you’re selling your home, your window treatments – curtains, blinds, etc. – will often be included with the property. They are an important selling feature. So, when a prospective buyer views your home, looks at the front window with its gorgeous draperies, and says, “Wow!”, that’s a good thing.
If you’re thinking of upgrading your window treatments in preparation for selling, here are a few ideas:
- Buyers love to see vertical blinds on sliding patio doors. Installing these is a DIY-friendly project.
- You may have a window that, for whatever reason, doesn’t need a curtain or blind. That’s fine. But, if you want to dress it up, consider a nice-looking valance.
- If you have a window that looks dark, heavy or otherwise “over curtained”, strip it down.
- Removing an inner curtain, for example, can dramatically lighten up the window as well as the entire room.
- Replace any worn or stained curtains. There are many affordable, mid-quality curtains available that look terrific. Alternatively try sending stained curtains to the cleaners.
Window coverings may seem minor when preparing your home for sale, but they make a difference in how your home looks overall.
Beware of “The Dip” When Setting Goals
If you’ve ever run a marathon, or watched one, you’ve probably noticed that no one quits at the beginning. They don’t quit near the end either. If anything, they run faster! So, at what point are people most likely to drop out?
The middle.
The middle is the toughest part of any marathon or, indeed, anything major you want to accomplish. In his book, The Dip, author Seth Godin states that the middle is the point in any project or goal where failure is most likely.
Have you set a new year’s goal? If so, beware of the dip!
How do you do that? Prepare for it.
If you want to lose weight, for example, you’ll be most enthusiastic, and get the most encouragement from friends and family in January. But, what happens in March? At that point, the initial burst of motivation and support will have likely waned. That’s when it becomes tough to keep going.
There are several things you can do to get through the dip. One is to celebrate milestones. When you’re halfway to your goal, tell your friends and family. Get some high fives! You can also remind yourself that your goal is important to you and renew your determination to achieve it.
So don’t give up in the middle. Keep pushing through. After all, when the end is in sight, it will be a wonderful sight to behold.
