The Heart of Many Homes: Recent Episodes
Laura Fangman
We've all heard it said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. That idea has merit, but I don't buy into it. It's me. I'm the heart of the home.... We have moved far too often for me to assign my warm fuzzies to any one room in any one house. Join me as I tell you about things, most of which are stories leading back to a real-estate-related moral. If you've ever wished you could just binge my blog -but who has the time for reading words?!- this is the podcast for you.
Alright, everyone! Welcome everyone to The Heart of Many Homes.
It's a quick little podcast, so it's less filling, but it tastes great!
I'm Laura Fangman, I'm a Realtor licensed in Tennessee and Virginia and you can visit our website for additional brokerage information at
www dot we know knoxville dot com.
This episode gets you a two-fer with our opening quote.
It's a famous quote and a riddle.
How many legs does a dog have, if you call his tail a leg?
Four. Saying that a tail is a leg doesn’t make it a leg.
-Abraham Lincoln
When we get to August, the dog days of summer have arrived.
In preparing for our little chat today, I was looking up quotes that referenced the “Dog Days” and the above-quoted thought caught my attention.
I mean, one of history’s greatest presidents bringing the sass to a conversation is entertaining enough, but I’d love to have been there for conversation and the sentiments leading up to it.
Beyond that, the widespread application for this little gem, is something of which to take notice:
When your kids say their rooms are clean- what they say counts as “clean” may take some poetic license with the actual definition of the word...
When your spouse tells you they’re ready to leave the house- only to wait for them to find their coat and make three trips back into the house for wallet…
then, their phone…
...then a charger…
When your boss mentions your Christmas bonus is in the mail- we all know a subscription to the Jelly of the Month Club is not the same thing as a Christmas bonus…
This also holds true in real estate and I don't mean just Realtors. There are plenty of folks out there that want to "help."
A website saying it can market your property for you, doesn’t mean they’ll actually target and connect with the buyers you need.
A lender saying you’re pre-approved, doesn’t mean diddly, if they haven’t seen your documentation.
An agent saying, "Great news, we're getting an offer!" doesn’t mean you’ve sold your house, so don’t pop the cork just yet.
Your neighbor, who used to be a paralegal in an attorney’s office that held real estate closings every now and then may mean well, but may not be the best person from whom to take advice when it comes time to buy or sell a home.
Just because someone declares something to be true, doesn’t mean it is. We live in a time where people can say anything, with very little -if any- repercussion. Inaccuracies can be brushed away with an “oops” and the process of holding someone accountable is rarely worth the effort.
And that sucks.
So, you control what you can. Be certain that these major life decisions and financial investments you are making -or are about to make- are made with all available information and options considered. Consult a professional. If nothing else, you should at least know what you’re saying “no” to.
Have questions? Reach out; I’m here to help.
That's it for today, folks!
If you have questions, feel free to reach out, we always love to hear from you.
...And, that's the way it is...
Alright, everyone. Welcome back to The Heart of Many Homes. A quick little podcast that only exists because of self imposed peer pressure.
All the cool kids were doing it.
I'm Laura Fangman, I'm a Realtor in Tennessee, licensed in Virginia, as well. For full brokerage details, please visit our website at www dot we know knoxville dot com.
Let's kick things off with our quote for this episode, which is:
What then is freedom? The power to live as one wishes.
-Cicero said that.
Starting off with some thoughts on Freedom is only appropriate, for the month of July, but I'll bring in the real estate closure and get you on your way, quickly.
I'm sure there's a pool float somewhere with your name on it. ;)
This month is, like, peak summer and I am savoring every minute of it. It’s hot, there are fireworks, the pool water is finally warm enough to jump in, gardens are beginning to produce awesome tastiness and vacations are happening or creeping closer!
Also? ‘Merica.
This is the month where we celebrate our nation’s independence, so, let’s talk about freedom and living as you wish…
Where and how do you live? Do you own, rent, couch surf? Are you a rolling stone with no designated landing point on which to grow moss? There are no wrong answers, to be sure, but is your current lifestyle still working for you?
We go through different cycles of life. Sometimes renting a loft in the city is exactly what our lifestyle calls for. We may go through a period where a 3/2 in the suburbs is what our heart desires.
What about when our space feels too big? It may be time to downsize or eliminate altogether; an RV is a legitimate option for some folks.
Side note, here: That's not and Easter Egg hint. We are in love with our camper, but we're not going to move into an RV anytime soon.
There are lots of factors that go into the decision to buy, sell or lease real estate, but there are no cut-and-dry answers. Being a Realtor doesn’t mean my job is to push you into spending maximum money on an albatross, it means my job is to help you find your freedom.
Are you in the right space for the life you are living? Maybe so. If not, let’s talk.
That's it for today, folks. I told you I'd wrap it up, quickly!
wink
If you have questions or comments, you're welcome to reach out, we always love hearing from you and, until next time,
Good night and good news...
Alright, everyone. Welcome back to The Heart of Many Homes, a quick little podcast that basically serves as the B side of my efforts in content marketing.
Thanks for being here.
I'm Laura Fangman, and I'm a Realtor, licensed in Tennessee and Virginia. Brokerage information can be found on our website: www.weknowknoxville.com.
Let's start off with this episode's quote:
If you set your goals ridiculously high and it’s a failure, you will fail above everyone else’s success.
-James Cameron
Part of me loves this quote, but I would argue that it has limited application.
Anyway, we're in the 6th month. The end of the second quarter. The home stretch of the first half.
How you doin’?
Let's check in on your current status.
Regardless of your chosen career field or level of employment, now is a great time to reevaluate your goals for yourself or your family or your business.
Are you tracking your progress? Have you looked at your resolutions or goals or plans since you thought them up, way back in January? Are you 12 lbs away from your goal of losing 10 lbs?
Great news: No matter your answer, it’s ok. Every day is an opportunity to regroup and try, try again. Seriously, there is no law that requires you to begin your quest for excellence on January 1st. Or next week. Or on Monday. Just pick up where you are and work toward something better.
Are you on target for a goal-crushing year? Are you seeing the fruits of your labor and dedication and effort? Way to go! but don’t rest on your laurels, just yet. The old Tortoise and the Hare tale has some truth buried in it.
Maybe you're learning lessons and adapting and overcoming. It takes tremendous effort to stick to a plan, so keep it up.
The variable nature of MY business leaves me scrambling to determine if I’m keeping pace with my plans. At a micro level, I’m currently a smidge behind. At a macro level, I am right on target. However, “on target” isn’t the same as “crushing it,” and that’s kinda boring. Time to refocus, regroup and get ready to nail the second half of the year! Intermission is over.
That's all I've got for you, for today, folks.
Thank you so much for being here. If you have questions or comments, feel free to reach out. We love hearing from you.
Until next time... Keep your eyes on the prize.
Alright, everyone. Welcome back to The Heart of Many Homes. A quick little podcast that's doing it's best to take up space on the Internet, so there's less room for political commentary. I'm Laura Fangman. I'm a Realtor in Tennessee and Virginia. For brokerage information, please visit our website, www.weknowknoxville.com.
Kicking things off with a particularly relevant quote, this time... Whether you’re an obstetrician or a third grade teacher or a real estate agent, you know when you’re doing good work. You’re passionate about it. -Susan Isaacs said that.
Somehow, it's May! I feel like I’ve been waiting forever and yet it got here really fast! Hooray for the month that swimming pools open and people remember their dormant love affair with all things grilled!
This month is always very exciting for me. I’ve been to several real estate events already this year, but May is when the National Association of Realtors heads to Washington DC for the annual Mid-Year Conference. (Technically, it’s not called Mid-Year anymore, but that’s another story.) I have been able to attend every year, since it had taken place in my backyard, basically, before we moved.
Mid-Year is a legislative conference; it introduces members of our industry to the people and places where laws are passed and changes are made. As the largest trade organization in the country, Realtors know they have an obligation to effect change and they work hard at it. Getting face to face with the folks in Washington is just one of many ways we work for you.
One of the concepts I’ve tried to encourage the understanding of is that real estate is more than selling houses. In fact, I truly don’t sell anything. By the time a buyer gets to me, they’ve already decided they’re buying a house -I don’t have to convince them to do it. My job is to help them make the best possible decision, with the most advantageous terms and, frankly, sometimes I’m the person that tells them not to do it.
If a homeowner decides that selling their property is the next step, it’s up to me to showcase their property in it’s best light and make it appealing and available to the largest possible pool of buyers. I’m an advisor, a voice of reason, and an inside expert on the process, but not a salesman.
I’m also passionate about it. Real estate as a whole. I love looking at houses; the style & structure, the decorating, the layouts and use of space. I love negotiating contracts; working with another professional to find agreement and the terms that help everyone walk away content. I love the marketing; whether it’s myself or a property, I love finding new ways to reach new audiences and get their attention.
Sometimes, I even enjoy the politics. Yep, the politics, and boy there are plenty at every level of the business! If consumers can’t afford to buy houses, I’m out of a job, so it’s important that I answer calls to action and let my elected officials know what I think about an issue, prior to a vote. I invest in our political action committee so that we can support candidates who understand the importance of homeownership in our country. It’s important to meet and greet and shake hands and attend meetings and be present, because it lets our elected official know that someone is watching and that someone cares.
It’s so much #morethanhouses.
So, that’s where I’ll be, later this month. Networking with like-minded business leaders from across the country and making sure that there is security in the American Dream. Then, it’s back to the grind, not-selling homes. Let me know if you need me.
That's all for today, folks.
Thank you for coming back for more and, as always, reach out if you have questions or comments. We love to hear from you.
Until next time... don't forget to put that laundry in the dryer...
Alright everyone, welcome back to The Heart of Many Homes, a quick little podcast that's basically what you'd get if Erma Bombeck and Brad Inman had a baby who started a podcast.The Venn diagram for people who understood those references is very slim...
I'm Laura Fangman, I'm a Realtor in Tennessee and Virginia. For brokerage information, please see our website: www.weknowknoxville.com.
Anyway, I really love the quote we're starting off with, today... Everybody has talent, it’s just a matter of moving around until you’ve discovered what it is. -George Lucas
This is the month of Easter and Spring Break and baby animals and diamonds! (Well, if you’re fortunate enough to have your birthday in April, like me, it’s the month of diamonds. Sorry about the rest of y’all’s luck.)
This is also the month where the housing market begins to simmer. Folks have used their Spring Breaks to come to the area and find a new place to call home and, soon, the moving will commence. Depending on where you live, a lot of this transition will be with military personnel. Here, at my house, we’ve been those folks, which is a big part of how I became the Best Realtor Ever.
I should take a moment to clarify that my claim of Best Realtor Ever status is based on a survey taken of my daughter’s opinion. I can’t trust my son not to be a smart-ass and name someone else (like Phil Dunphy) and I didn’t have time for a wider sample before publishing this. I have deadlines, people.
We have moved at least 14 times in the last 20 years. We’ve been buyers and sellers and tenants and landlords. We’ve lived in government housing and privately owned residences and public-private partnership situations. We’ve relied on the hospitality of friends and learned that the process of securing a new address can vary drastically, from state to state. We’ve also been the friends that others trusted to watch over their home, while they were taking a turn living on the other side of the planet. I’m pretty sure this conglomeration of experiences is what sealed the deal for my career path.
It’s a literal interpretation of that George Lucas quote we started with and, truly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It fills my bucket to be able to look my clients in the eye and say, “I understand.” It’s a comfort to us both, but none of this would be possible without the influence of move after move after military move.
Now, here’s the part where I ask you a favor. I can’t be everywhere. Hard to believe, I know, but true nonetheless. As the moving season picks up and strangers move in next door and unfamiliar faces pass you on the sidewalk and a hesitant invitation is extended to “like” a new jewelry-making etsy store, or a frantic mom, whose name you can’t quite remember, puts desperate faith on the line and asks if you could possibly grab one of her kids off the bus while she takes the other to urgent care… please be kind. Be accommodating. Be inclusive. Take a paper plate of cookies over to them and say hello. They don’t even have to be homemade. No one is judging you and everyone loves cookies, but please, for me, make your new neighbors feel welcome. It’s the best feeling in the world.
If it’s your turn to come or go, give me a call. I understand and I’d love to help you through the transition. Keep in mind that you don’t have to face your new location alone. There is a very good chance that I know someone awesome in the area you’re headed to and I would love to link you up! Just reach out and let me know.
That's it for today folks. As always, thank you so much for being here. If you have questions or comments, feel free to get in touch, we always love hearing from you.
Until next time, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars...
Alright everyone,
Welcome back to The Heart of Many Homes, a quick little podcast that doesn't count toward your community service hours... but probably should.
I am Laura Fangman, I'm a Realtor, licensed in Tennessee and Virginia. For full brokerage information, please check out our website at www.weknowknoxville.com.
In winter, I plot and plan. In spring I move.
-Henry Rollins
The weather is still unpredictable and not exactly warm, but the promise of Spring is here!
First of all, if you’re thinking about making a move, let’s chat before too much of the Spring market has passed us by. The market heats up much sooner than the temperatures, so let's plan ahead!
If you’re thinking you'll just stay put for a bit, you’re not off the hook. Wherever you live, you’ll need to do some post-winter chores to keep your abode in good shape. As much as I preach that HGTV is not reality, some of you still seem to cling to the hope that I’m wrong. (Spoiler Alert: I’m not.)
However, in the interest of getting information to you, by any means necessary, here is some information, straight from the acronym’s mouth, on helping your house pull out of Winter and prepare for Spring.
I'll put a link in the show notes for the article I'm referencing but, to give you a head start on your Honey Do List, here are a couple pointers:
*Check your gutters for loose or leaking sections. Water finds a way-don't let it find a way into your house.
*Check the driveway and sidewalk for cracks. The local hardware store will carry a filler you can use, if you'd like to DIY this repair.
*Fill low spots in the yard or around the house. You don't want all that Spring rain collecting and ending up in your basement.
*Move firewood away from the house. It might have been convenient in the dead of winter, but any number of critters could move in and none of them are good for your home.
These are just a few ideas for de-hibernation but, again, check the link for a complete list of Home Maintenance tips for Spring.
Now, with absolutely no segue and on a completely different topic...
Umm, it’d be a shame if something happened to your old dishes… This is not a sponsored segment, but, since we’ve already pulled our toboggan up to the slippery slope of reality TV, let me just confess that I'm a little bit smitten with Chip and Joanna Gaines.
AND they have that fabulous line of wonderful things at Target. Candles and kitchen towels and DISHES and creative storage and knick knacks that I totally don't need but I definitely need. In case anyone wants to send me a present that is not wine... Hearth + Hand with Magnolia makes my heart all fluttery.
Of course, this only comes up because I was at Target, looking for new gardening gloves, which aren't even kept in the same part of the store as all that Gaines Goodness... but it pulls me in every time!
I'm totally unprepared for Winter to end, but I'm still glad to see it go.
Bring on the green of Spring!
That's all I've got for today, folks.
Thank you so much for being here. If you have any questions or comments, we always love to hear from you, so feel free to reach out.
Until next time... Stay Warm!
https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/10-home-maintenance-tips-for-spring-pictures
Alright everyone, Welcome back to The Heart of Many Homes, a quick little podcast that give me something to do, when I'm not telling Jeff he's doing something wrong. I have limited free time.
I am Laura Fangman, I'm a Realtor, licensed in Tennessee and Virginia. For full brokerage information, please check out our website at www.weknowknoxville.com.
As you know, in this Season, we're kicking everything off with a quote, so here is today's: No kind action ever stops with itself. -Amelia Earhart
Keep that in mind.
So, here we are, in February. It’s the shortest month of the year. We are that much closer to summertime. I know the easy path to take would be to focus on St Valentine’s Day as the topic for this month, but that’s been done. Better than some inward-focused Hallmark holiday, what if we took a moment to look around us? It just so happens that February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness day. Although it began as a late-summer event, specific to New Zealand, it has since become an international holiday, to celebrate each other and the goodness among us.
Now, you're familiar with society at-large, right? How the world is rapidly devolving into some kind of dumpster fire? Given the pervasive discontent, which is so often the focus of our attention, how wonderful would it be, to have the opportunity to flip the script?! This doesn’t need to take tons of focus or cost lots of money, but simple kindness can go such a long way.
Yes, it is a popular idea to pay for the order of the person behind you in a drive through line. However, what if you made it your goal to make eye-contact and smile at every person you crossed paths with today? What if you held a door for just a few more people, instead of passing it off to the next person behind you? Instead of walking past the fast-food wrapper on the ground, what if you just grabbed it and tossed it in a trash bin?
Want to up the ante? There are plenty of places, locally, that could benefit from a little love, especially now that the generosity of the holiday season is behind us. Your local food bank needs everything from canned tuna and peanut butter to diapers and toothbrushes. The Animal Shelter would be happy to accept a donation of food for the animals in their care. There are groups that help people leave Domestic Violence situations that will accept a wide variety of items for women in crisis. Most any social service organization will tell you that there is a need for disposable feminine hygiene products.
Wait, What?
You heard me. Tampons. Folks don’t often think of it, but this is a niche donation that is most certainly needed and often overlooked. I can honestly say, it really never crossed my mind, but I learned that there is a nearly universal need, across the country, from a video Leigh Brown put out, a couple years ago. Leigh is an amazing Realtor from Concord, NC, which is the Charlotte market, and she talked about the need in her community, as well as what she’d seen and experienced, while volunteering in Texas.
Now, if straight-up altruism isn’t your thing, the silver lining for you is, most of these donations are tax-deductable, so be sure to get a receipt. I’m sure there will be plenty of social media hashtags, so if you need more ideas or want to share your experience, check out your favorite platform.
For this occasion, some of my favorite hashtags are:#randomactsofkindness. If you're a Realtor, you might like this one: #morethanhouses. There's also the abbreviated #raok, #powerofpositivity and #payitforward.
Since I've got you all gathered, I'll throw in a little self-promotion, here at the end:It would be an incredible act of kindness for you to drop my name to someone you know who may be thinking of buying or selling a home. I'd love to chat with them.
Thanks for being here! Until next time:If all else fails, love one another.
For complete contact and brokerage information, please visit www.weknowknoxville.com.
Alright, everyone.
Welcome back to The Heart of Many Homes, a quick little podcast that's sometimes funny, sometimes informative, but always me pretending like I know what I'm doing, on the other side of this microphone.
I'm Laura Fangman, I'm a Realtor in the Great State of Tennessee; I'm also licensed in Virginia and you can check out our website for additionally brokerage information at www.weknowknoxville.com.
We are now in Season 2 of the podcast, so big thanks to everyone who suffered through Season 1...and today's episode focuses on Time.
It seems appropriate, as we kick off a new year and a new Season, that we give some thought to the topic.
This season, we're starting everything with a quote, so here's something to ponder:
**My favorite things in life don't cost any money. It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.
-Steve Jobs**
Welcome to This Year.
As we move into the unknowns before us, be it with trepidation or optimism, there is almost always a tinge of fear. The turning of the page can signify lots of things and often comes with pressure for change. Change is hard. Change brings a chorus of What-Ifs. Change can make us very uncomfortable.
Maybe it’s the pressure of a New Year’s resolution, making you worry that you won’t stick to the changes and will look foolish in front of everyone. It might be the new date brings you that much closer to a life-changing event and you know things will never be the same, once it arrives. Maybe it’s as simple as the passage of time and the emphasis on your own mortality.
When you rise on the morning of January 1, it will be just another day but, symbolically, it can weigh heavily on your mind and on your heart.
In the midst of this, we must remember that change can also be amazing.
By opening ourselves up to possibilities, we increase the likelihood of success. By savoring the anticipation of the adventures to come, we meet our life events at the peak of our senses and emotions.
By enjoying each day for what it is -and not what it could have been- we make the highest and best use of the time we are given.
One of my best takeaways from last year is this:
Things are things.
Books are books, trinkets are trinkets, houses are sticks and stones; all are replaceable.
Time, however, is what you make it.
That's all for today, folks. I hope there was some kind of takeaway in there for you.
Thanks for joining us, as always, you're welcome to reach out with questions or comments. We love to hear from you.
Until Next time... remember, Epstein didn't kill himself.
For complete contact and brokerage information, please visit: www.weknowknoxville.com.
Flowers and Bunnies and Sunshine, Oh My!
We’ve been waiting for this since October: It’s Spring. The weather is improving and we’re already adding eggshells and coffee grounds to our derelict compost bins, whilst planning out our organic, raised-bed, backyard kale gardens, made from reclaimed barn wood and spruced up with chalk paint that was sourced from sustainable chalk fields in well-paying, sub-industrial countries.
This year, we’ll master the pepper jelly recipe that looked so simple in the magazine we thumbed through while waiting for 37 minutes for a kid with pink eye to be triaged at the urgent care. (Psht, urgent, my two-toned duck boot bottoms.) We’ll pop that successfully gelatinous, semi-translucent sludge into adorable pint jars decorated with modern-yet-whimsical
cloth scraps. Of course, the “scraps” actually came from the premium fabric, for which we paid $17/yard, (because it was exactly like the Pinterest photo) and it was manually “distressed” at home with pinking shears, to give it that shabby-chic feel. The perfectly topped jars will be adorned with matching gift tags, tied with twine, and stacked in adorable wire basket, all ready for hand delivery.
This will be the defining moment, when we finally leap over the ever-higher bar that we’ve set for ourselves and proclaim that we have done it! We finally have our collective act together! We’re responsible adults! Upstanding citizens! Betty Flipping Crocker!
We’re jolted awake by the sound of the refrigerator beeping, indicating someone has exceeded the reasonable browsing time and needs to close the door before the milk spoils. The indecisive snacker has inadvertently saved the day, as we realize that we have 15 minutes to load up and head out or we’ll be late for this weekend’s PeeWee soccer match. Oh, and it’s our turn to bring juice boxes.
On our way to the car, we cast a glance through the patio doors at the remnants of last year’s adventure in gardening and hope the pumpkin carcass that was scooped off the porch and thrown on top of the potted dirt, might accidentally sprout something. The kids would really enjoy seeing nature in action. Plus, there must be some kind of neighborhood status elevation for recycled, backyard pumpkin farming, right? We say a little prayer that the HOA doesn’t notice the jungle of vines that’s sure to develop and start yelling for everyone to find their shoes…
It’s Spring; a time for growth and hope. Let this be the season where we take a deep breath and enjoy all that is blossoming around us!
For complete contact and brokerage information, please visit: www.weknowknoxville.com
Because, Saint Valentine.
Love is in the air, so thick you can almost smell it. (If it weren’t for the icicles that form on your nose hairs every time you exhale outdoors.) That lovey-dovey feeling, when we think about all the things (we can put little heart stickers on) and people we adore (eating boxes of chocolates with), makes Valentine’s Day sort of like an extra Thanksgiving! This is good, because with the low temperature, short days and grey scenery, we need all the love and thankfulness we can get, to hold us over until Spring arrives!
There are lots of things to love right now, like:
1. You can still see The Oak Ridge Boys George Strait in concert! Come check them out at the Grand Ole Opry, in Nashville. Incidentally, did you know they got their name from the town of Oak Ridge, TN, which is also the home of the Manhattan Project? Well, they did.
2. Historically low interest rates! Cheap money is always loveable. Yes, The Fed will raise rates again, but mortgage interest rates are still absurdly low. If you haven’t made a purchase or finished your refinance, now’s the time. I know if can be painful to think about rates rising but this, as they say, is the “good kind” of pain. Our economy needs the boost for long-term viability and, at this point, you really won’t notice the difference. Take the opportunity to love this while there is still time.
3. This could be your year to buy a house! You can find one to fall in love with, as soon as you have your finances locked down. If a down payment is what’s holding you back, there’s more good news! Several mortgage programs now offer down payment grants, and there are loan programs that require no down payment at all, in certain circumstances. Don’t assume you can’t buy; getting in touch with a trusted mortgage loan officer is the very best way to get started. Let me know if you need a recommendation!
4. Time flies! This one is more of a love/hate. In three short months, it’ll be summer vacation! The kids will be out of school and it will be time to relax, slow the pace, and spend time together. All the time. All day, every day, together. Bonus good news: three months later, the kids will be back in school and life will return to it’s regularly scheduled program.
5. This could be your year to sell your house! You might love this idea by the end of the summer! There’s a chance that, after spending all that time at home with the kids, you now realize how small your house is. This could be the time to make a move. Don’t worry if it took you until Fall to realize you needed to expand your home base. With rare exception, there really is never a bad time to sell your home. Believe it or not, lots of moves take place during the school year; you can find an expanded look at that on our episode, "Who Rules the World."
Love is in the air, so breathe deep and charge on. Summer’s coming.
For complete contact and brokerage information, visit www.weknowknoxville.com
Let’s be honest.
It may be different than you’re expecting.
brave
adjective *\ˈbrāv*
- having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty: having or showing courage
Currently, there is a consistent message coming from both the private and professional arenas: Be Brave.
Have the courage to do that thing, be that person! Use your bravery to speak up, speak out, be loud, make your voice heard! Be bold and unafraid, it’s okay to fail! You must try and take risks or you’re not really living!
There is most certainly some truth here and encouragement is so important, especially for the quiet, less adventurous among us. While listening to those motivational speeches, we tend to associate bravery with a string of related words: courage, heroes, the heart of a lion, winners, medals, cheering, thankful crowds and other Disney-esque, romanticized notions.
But.
Have you ever wondered why?...
...Click HERE to continue reading.
For complete contact and brokerage information, please see our website: www.weknowknoxville.com
Much of our economy is, in some form or fashion, driven by real estate. Not necessarily the standard buy/sell transaction, but the peripheral industries that are inherently tied to the process. This means everything from a family owned pest inspection company or local artisan, working from home to make gift baskets, to insurance or mortgage companies and, ultimately, The Fed.
This spiderweb of services exists only with consistent patronage, brought about by the decision of one person to sell and another to buy. Consumers don’t generally make these major financial decisions and commitments on a whim; there is generally some planning involved and that’s where kids come in.
Kids are bound to timelines, schedules and calendars, primarily centered on the school year. The type of calendar a school system keeps will vary, whether they’re using a traditional 9 month system or a variation of year round school, so timing and demand will vary between markets. To ease transitions, many parents plan to move during breaks from school. The most obvious of these is the summer vacation, but there are so many other opportunities and times that buyers, sellers and Realtors should consider.
Winter break is generally substantial, with several holidays taking place in a short timeframe, so some families will opt to use this period to transition. Additionally, the winter break usually occurs close to the end of the semester, so it is a great time to switch schools.
The shorter breaks should not be discounted, however. Depending on the market and financing method, the contract to close period could be 30-60 days and custom periods can often be negotiated. This means that your sellers should be preparing their homes for the market in mid-October and late January!
These are not the times we often think of as hot markets, as most of the focus is on the Spring and Summer but, when children are involved, Thanksgiving break and Spring break are crucial. Often, families will use these periods for House Hunting, so they will be browsing available properties and looking to visit their favorites during the flexible schedule of the holiday breaks. A contract at Thanksgiving means a Christmas close and a New Year Move! A contract over Spring break, means the end of of a school year and a new beginning in a new home!
Sellers looking to put their home on the market should be completing their punch list of repairs and final preparation in mid-October and late January. This allows their agent time to bring in a photographer and prepare marketing materials, so that the home can be in the MLS and live on the market just prior to these smaller, but crucial, breaks in the school year.
Obviously, there are plenty of market segments, when it comes to home-buyers. One of the fastest growing sub-categories of home buyers in 2016 is single women. First time buyers, regardless of whether they are parents, are an increasing demographic. More information on consumer statistics can be found via NAR.
Aside from school-aged youngsters, there is a market for those preparing to start families, those whose families have outgrown their current living quarters and those who are downsizing their empty nest.
For the foreseeable future, in one way or another, kids will continue to run the world.
Please visit www.weknowknoxville.com for complete contact and brokerage information.
How do I know when to sell?
Well, when do you want to move?
Isn’t it great when someone answers your question, by asking another question?
For so many real estate-related questions, there are no definite answers. We know what we want the transactional outcome to be, we know how much we’d like to net from a sale or pay for a purchase, we’ve heard that summer is the best time for real estate, but all those things are negotiable or, at least, debatable.
I spend quite a bit of time discussing variables with clients. Theorizing potential list dates based on historical data and ball-parking numbers right up to the last minute, just in case there is an unexpected market shift. When people count on you to be the expert in your field, it’s difficult to admit that your crystal ball is in the shop.
Long before that first time home-buyer is ready to be a first time home-seller, I get questions about maintenance, upgrades and remodeling projects. Unfortunately, I can’t give you a dollar for dollar ROI for your hypothetical bathroom or finished basement. We can look at what similar properties, with similar upgrades, have sold for and we can compare that to what your current market value might be, but there is no concrete answer.
As a Realtor, I appreciate that you ask me and value my input when it comes to these decisions. I want you to have all of the available information, so that you can make an informed decision, which is why I give you (what must seem like) 37 possible outcomes to the question you’ve posed. The phrase, “it depends”, is the most frustratingly accurate answer to nearly any real estate question. I can only imagine what it must feel like to be on the consumer side; you come to me with a simple question, looking for a black and white answer and I hand you a bag of Skittles.
My hope is that all those possibilities are helpful and that you feel empowered to make good consumer decisions because you’ve considered all the options.
Back to the original question, “How do I know when to sell?” there absolutely is no right answer. This article from CNBC, last year, highlights some of the factors to consider, but all real estate is local. The market in South Bend, Indiana is waaaaay different than the I95 corridor market in Northern Virginia. Here’s my take on the best time to sell around here. Take the information available to you and run it through a common sense filter. The correct answer for your buddy in the next county might be the worst decision ever for you.
If you have market questions, let me know. I’m always happy to help, but I hope you like Skittles.
Please visit www.WeKnowKnoxville.com for complete contact and brokerage information.
Daylight Saving Time Is Dumb.
There, I said it, but we were all thinking it. If it was a concept with current relevance and everyone played along, it might be understandable, but this is not the case.
The concept of adjusting the clocks has a contentious history, but began as a way to conserve energy. Franklin started it, Wilson ended it, Roosevelt brought it back and eventually, ‘Merica broke it. It took an act of congress to apply some uniformity, after the people couldn’t agree on which time to use. Today, we mostly play by the same rules, with the exception of a few stalwart states that had to go their own way. I’m looking at you, Arizona.
Aside from clock confusion, there’s the whole problem of people saying it wrong, inciting the wrath of the Grammar Police. Additionally, there are entire subsets of the population, who are unable to remember, “Spring forward, Fall back”. As clever as it is, I shouldn’t be subjected to A meme of Cher, who wants to "Turn Back Time," in March:
While we’re on the topic of things that used to be good ideas, but have since ceased to be viable options…
Please stop trying to use the FSBO (for sale by owner) method of transferring property. Please.
Once upon a time, it worked. Of course, once upon a time, a handshake was considered a legally binding contract, but this is no longer the case. We live in a society where some people are just looking for a reason to initiate a lawsuit, disclosure laws change regularly and what you don’t know about the legalities can, in fact, hurt you.
Nevermind the paperwork for just a minute, how are you going to deal with the “buyers”? The people who come knocking on your door without appointments, representation, or even a letter from a bank? How are you going to weed out those that might pose a risk to your property or, worse, your safety?
When you choose to go it alone, you’re at the mercy of the limits of your knowledge and experience. It’s scary to think about, honestly.
Here, in the present, “once upon a time” doesn’t really apply, but by hiring a Realtor to list your home, you have a much better shot at a happy ending to your story.
Welcome to my cringy First Podcast Ever! Remember kids, Done is better than Perfect.
Having moved no less than 13 times in the last 18 years, Laura has a unique perspective on relocation and personal experience to balance her professional knowledge. A Midwesterner at heart, Laura was born and raised in Quincy, Illinois. She has lived in The South for the last 16+ years (though coastal locations that offer no basements still make her clutch her pearls during tornado season).
Laura is a Community Connector who works with individuals, groups and businesses, to help them make informed decisions through daily life and life's transitions. She believes in striving for win-win situations and knows that the people around us are where our collective value lies. Laura is known for her direct approach and honest feedback, as much as her willingness to provide help and support. She became a Realtor in 2009 and has been licensed in VA, GA & TN, serving in leadership roles at the local and state level.
Here are the juicy bits you were looking for when you committed to reading this boring bio:
Laura & her family currently live in Tennessee, where she alternately prays for rain or sun, depending on the weather. This is where she and her husband -both loyal fans of The Chicago Bears- are raising two amazing children and living their American Dream. Laura played the role of "Extra," in her high school's production of South Pacific, despite belting out more of "Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" than anyone else in the audition. She is a certified to read blueprints and her biggest life lessons are mostly things she has learned the hard way, like: "Never buy a horse named 'Buck'."