Pat Kennedy - Your Washington, DC Real Estate Connection

What "Color Me Beautiful" Taught Me About Staging

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:59:20 -0600

Many years ago, I had my colors done.

The idea is to figure out which groups and shades of colors make you look terrific, and which ones make you look like an organ donor waiting to happen. Of course, you want to go with the look-good-feel-good colors that work for you.

They say this approach is also useful when you are working on decor for your home. You get a good feeling about a room when it's decorated in your colors.

The woman who did my analysis worked for Color Me Beautiful. They divide people into one of four "seasons". And people in one season, the "Autumns" like and look good in browns, golds, maroons, olive greens, and unusual shades of other colors. But the Autumns only make up about three percent of the people on the planet!

So the other day, I showed a house where they had moved out the buyers pretty decent stuff and brought in a stager. Well, this gal must have been pure Autumn, because it was all the shades that made my buyers (she was a spring and he was a winter) just want to run out the door! Golden green couch, Chinese rugs with brown and gold patterns, and maroons swags.

"Wait!" I said. "You're reacting to the colors." And once they realized what it was, they were able to see beyond the staging and realize it was a terrific place. It's on the possible list now.

This made an impression because I am preparing to list a house that has all the wrong colors - out of That 70's Show! The seller is up for letting us consign his olive green couch to Value Village and bring one in from our staging warehouse. He's agreed to have the place painted to make the maroon walls in the master bedroom disappear and transform leaf gold dining room into an oasis of cross-season neutrality.

And to help choose the colors, I'm going to call a favorite colleague who helped me with my own house. Oh, my friend is a summer, but she's good at picking universal colors that everyone can feel comfortable around.

The New And Improved Homebuyers' Credit

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:25:14 -0600

President Obama is expected to sign the revised home buyer credit some time tomorrow. And, at the risk of looking a gift horse in the mouth, I'm not sure how I really feel about the whole thing.

With the increased income caps of $125,000 ($225,000 for married couples), more people in the DC area will be able to take advantage of it. But think about it a minute. Is the idea to help first time buyers? Or is it to help sellers? And who are the sellers? A lot of them are banks selling foreclosed properties.

Um. Is this one more bank subsidy?

The subsidy is providing an incentive for buyers to go into the market. With more buyers in the market, home prices are increasing in some areas, and here in Washington, we are starting to see multiple offers in the double digits for well-priced homes. So the buyer's tax credit may be offset by higher home prices, at least at the lower end of the price spectrum.

I have to keep in mind that the lower end of our price range in Upper Northwest DC is upper brackets in other parts of the area. Many neighborhoods east of Rock Creek Park and in other quadrants will benefit. And the credit will likely benefit condo sellers.

While this isn't a bad thing for sellers and the buyers who will get the tax credit, remember that a tax credit is $8,000 per transaction being subtracted from the plus side of the

national budget, which is already bursting at the seams.

In the meantime, I will try to do my part to make hay while the credit is in effect. Hopefully, the credit will benefit Realtors® around the country, and we will pay more in income taxes, unless of course, we make less than the income cap and buy a place.

Wordless Wednesday (Oops!)

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:26:15 -0600

This mural is on the side of my favorite bookstore, Politics and Prose on Connecticut Avenue. They have a large collection of both fiction and non-fiction, as well as great historical stuff about Washington, DC's rich history.

© 2009 Patricia Kennedy. Unless otherwise noted, the content, both written and in pictures, is the property of Patricia Kennedy . If you would like to use this image, please email me (housepat@mac.com) with your request. I'll almost certianly say yes, and ask only that you provide a link back to my original content as well as an acknowledgment. The same thing applies to any other material you see posted here on Active Rain or on any of my other blogs.

I'm Dreaming of a China-Free Christmas!

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:15:16 -0600

I first freaked out when I found out that Willie the Labradoodle's premium dog food was made by the same company in China whose canned pet food was tainted and killing family pets. Then A couple of weeks ago, Katerina Gasset wrote a post about Chinese drywall that got me to thinking. Why do we buy their stuff? Well, for one thing, it's pretty hard to avoid, whether you're shopping in Target, Whole Foods or Bloomingdales.

So this year, I am looking for shopping venues where I can find Christmas gifts that were made, well, not in China.

I'm starting off at my friend, Annie Groer's, holiday sale. She is clearing out a bunch of stuff. And a lot of it is pretty amazing.

Need some high quality designer costume jewelry? This is a great place to start. I walked out with some Chanel earrings on my lobes. But wait! This is supposed to be Christmas shopping for the people I love - not accumulating more stuff for me!

And if you're into poodles, there are some of those. But no Labradoodles. Oh well!

If you are in the market for pins or earrings with this little beast, there is a lot to choose from.

If you're shopping for your guy, there are some great cuff links,at least if he has any shirts that need cuff links.

Moving on from jewelry -

There are also fashion items that might fit someone smaller than I am. Especially in the feet department.

And for that person who has everything? The item to the left is probably not something they already own.

Nor this highly sophisticated collector's item - a set of rare vases!

How about some JFK memorabilia for your favorite political junkie?

Now, I am just scratching the surface here. Items include an alligator, mink jacket, some amazing articles of clothing, and much more.

To view these items, you need an appointment. Please email me at housepat@mac.com, and I will help you set one up. Now I'm off to check out a cute place in Georgetown! More later.

Wordless Wednesday - Maybe Why Healthcare Reform Is Taking Awhile

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:50:35 -0600

Via Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty):

The Family Portrait

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:35:41 -0600

My parents had this family portait taken when we lived in Williamsburg, Kentucky, a pretty little town on the Cumberland River near the Tennessee boarder. I was three years old, and my brother, Jack, was not quite two. The picture now sits in a frame in my mother's house, and it brought back memories of of a very carefree time in life. We lived in a little white house on the outskirts of town, with a huge cherry tree and a field of daisies next door. On the other side, there was a chicken farm owned by P.R. Jones - who kept us in baby chicks and fresh eggs.

Jack is much better looking today.

My Favorite Cleveland Park Greek Dive: Yanni's Greek Taverna

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:45:26 -0500

On my first date with my sweetie, he suggested that we go out to dinner somewhere. I immediately thought of Yanni's Greek Taverna in Cleveland Park. It's that kind of a place.

OK, Yanni's isn't really a dive. It's a no-frills Greek restaurant with tasty food, great Greek wine (at least the white wine) and an owner who looks a bit like a Greek Gerard Depardieu.

And the food is fun.

They have all the usual appetizers, hummus, tzatziki, taramosalata, grape leaves, or just get the sampler.

The Greek salad is huge, and my favorite, the Taverna salad (chopped lettuce with lots of fresh dill, feta cheese and dressed with tzatziki) is also big enough to share.

My favorite entrees are the charbroiled squid or octopus, and you're not into eating sea creatures, they have all of the standards as well.

In warm weather, their outdoor cafe is a place where you are sure to see someone you know, either at the next table or walking down Connecticut Avenue.

Now, the service is a little bit on the flaky side. A couple of the waiters are known to be occasionally grumpy - no one is going to fawn all over you. But they do get the food to the table in a reasonable amount of time, and they'll get the order right. And when it does arrive, I've found it to taste quite wonderful.

And that's the most important thing, after all.

Crestwood Halloween Festivities!

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:26:50 -0500

There will be a neighborhood Halloween party for Crestwood children of all ages this afternoon at "The Point", located at 18th and Shepherd Streets NW.

It starts at 3 and ends at 4:30.

There will be treats, and contributions of anything with sugar (well, not coffee) from grown neighbors are welcomed.

It could get scary as our little goblins and gouls collect their first candy of the day and check out the woods, that I'm sure will be appropriately decorated for the festivities! So grab your costume and, if possible, find a child to bring with you.

It should be fun!

For The Dog Lover In All Of Us

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:22:09 -0500

Gary does it again! This may be the funniest post I've ever seen here. Read it and make sure you are not drinking anything, or you will spit it all over your computer screen.

Via Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty):

New Dog Breeds

The following breeds are now recognized by the AKC:

Collie + Lhasa Apso = Collapso, a dog that folds up easy for transporting

Spitz + Chow Chow = Spitz-Chow, a dog that throws up alot

Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet

Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs, a puzzling breed

Pekingnese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso, an abstract dog

Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel = Irish Springer, a dog fresh and clean as a whistle

Newfoundland + Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound, a dog for financial advisors

Terrier + Bulldog = Terribull, a dog that makes awful mistakes

Bloodhound + Labrador = Blabador, not a popular dog with CIA agents

Malamute + Pointer = Moot Point, owned by... oh, well, it doesn't matter anyway

Collie + Malamute = Commute, a dog that travels to work

Deerhound + Terrier = Derriere, a dog that's true to the end

Using My Blog To Enhance Existing Client Relationships

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:08:14 -0500

I don't hide my blog under a bushel.

There isn't a person who knows me who doesn't know that I am an avid blogger. Every buyer and seller I work with sees the link to my blog on my business card, on fact sheets at open houses, under my signature on every email I send them, and every other piece of promotional material that I put out.

Just in case they don't notice it right away, I point it out to them. Before I take on a new client, and if we don't already know one another from a past transaction, I suggest that they read my blog to get an idea of who I am and how I work. If they are referral from a past customer, they are often already familiar with it - the friend who gave them my name gave them the blog link before I did.

Once they are a client, I often write about our time together looking at houses, how they make the decision about which one they'll buy, the negotiation and getting it all to the settlement table. Now, I try to keep it humorous, and I never write about my own clients behaving badly. Also, I almost never use names (certainly not without their consent) and while they might recognize themselves, other people reading the post would not.

And in almost all cases, the posts make them laugh and they like to read about our escapades on the streets of Washington.

When I wrote Ma'am, Kindly Move Away From My Clients! I got a call within an hour of posting it from my buyers. Then they shared it with their friends and family. Wadda Ya Want For A Million Bucks? had the same effect on the woman I showed a sloppily prepared house to. The couple I was working with when I wrote Selling a Blog Buddie's Listing! wound up joining Active Rain (I made the comments open for members only after the spammers) and they were able to read and comment on that and several of he posts that their transaction spawned.

When it snows, I email a link to Your Snow Shovel Is Your Friend to all of my sellers, which makes me feel less like the nag I might be if I phoned them to say "shovel it!"

I wrote a post about one of my sellers, Edna Johnston, who helps people get a tax credit for dedicating the facade of their historic home to the L'Enfant Trust. She loved the post, and so did the people who bought one of my historic listings and asked about the possibiliies with their new home.

And speaking of Edna, she bought her house years ago when I was with Pardoe Real Estate, which morphed into Coldwell Banker, which I left for WC and AN Miller Realtors, then moved to Evers & Company where I am now. And she tracked me down on Google, which thanks to all of my new found Google Juice, she was able to do easily when she typed my name. Before Active Rain, I was buried on Page 35. Now I'm on Page 1 most of the time - which is pretty neat for such a common name.

I'm in a book group, and half of the members are past clients or bought on of my listings. When I wrote My Fun New Book Group! about our first meeting, they all got a link.

My blog is something that sets me apart from other agents. It gives my clients, and also my colleagues, something to laugh about.

And as I'm finishing this up I realize that I don't have to talk as much when I'm with them. I'm not tempted to run at the mouth, regaling them with my funny little real estate stories. They've read them in my blog! It's a non-verbal introduction to who I am, which makes it possible for me to listen and learn who they are and figure out how to best serve their real estate needs.

Ya know? Blogging rocks! Active Rain really rocks!

Buying After November 30th? Don't Count Your $8000 Just Yet!.

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:10:49 -0500

When you listen to the news or read the paper, it sounds quite good. A Senate Committee agreed to extend the $8,000 federal tax credcit beyond the current November 30th deadline.

Whoo Hoo! Break out the champagne!

Well, not just yet.

What you are hearing about is just the first of many steps in the process.

Once it leaves the Senate Committee, it must be approved by the entire Senate - not necessarily a given.
It must complete a similar process in the House of Representatives, and that hasn't happened yet - and might not.
It must survive a "Conference Committee" where the House and the Senate get together to iron out any differences between the two bills.
President Obama must sign it into law.

This isn't a slam dunk. While our legislators have some concern about the housing market's recovery, this provision will cost the taxpayers a bunch of money. And even Congress is getting a little bit careful about how they are going to spend. While many in our business would like to see the tax credit remain, there are many on Capital Hill who view this as an artificial prop that is a very short term fix, and quite expensive.

So, it isn't even close to being adopted.

It's just the first, and very important, step to what might or might not happen.

Bidding Wars? Whatever Happened To Our Buyers' Market?

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:59:21 -0500

Our office email had an interesting thread today.

Blog Buddie Ed Schneider wrote an email note to colleagues about writing an offer on a house in Mount Pleasant in a twelve-way bidding war. Then my colleagues began to chime in, one after another, telling war stories of being in double-digit multiple contract situations over the past week.

In these situations, here are some of the things that people are doing to get the winning offer:

Having the house pre-inspected so they go in without an inspection contingency
Crossing out the financing contingency
Crossing out the appraisal contingency
including a healthy looking financial information sheet
Including an obscenely high earnest money check
Settling at the sellers' convenience
Including an escalator clause agreeing to top competing offers by at least thousands of dollars with a cap way above the asking price.

Is participating in a bidding war a good idea? To get the house, you have to eliminate every way of getting out of the offer. So if when you wake up in a panic about three days after you are the winner of your dream house wondering what on earth you were thinking, well too bad! It'll cost you a bundle to get out of the deal - like that obscenely high earnest money check you wrote!

Earlier in the decade, if you wanted to buy a house, you often didn't have a choice. But today, there may be options. And when you do participate, you are doing your part to run up the prices in the market where you plan to buy.

When I'm not the listing agent, I hate bidding wars. Over the years, my clients won their share, but I sometimes felt a little queasy as I represented them. More often than not, I tried to work with them to avoid these situations. How?

Homes that are look fabulous tend to attract multiples. Why not use your imagination and go for the ugly and poorly staged (and reasonably priced) stepsister who, with a face lift and tummy tuck could become quite a beauty.
Homes that are priced below market tend to attract multiple offers, often pushing the sales price to way above market. It might make sense to look at homes that are priced at or a little above their market value.
I never ruled out the homes that had been on the market for eons. Often they are a pain to show, have a resident pit bull, or some other issue that isn't related to the price or quality of the property.

In the early years of the decade, it was really hard to avoid bidding wars, and we felt lucky to be writing an offer on a place with only 4 or 5 other buyers. But today, in most price ranges and DC area neighborhoods, there is a lot to choose from.

You need to try to avoid getting caught up in the need to win - and the same thing applies to your agent! Just because 15 other people are going wacko over a house doesn't mean you have to do it, too!

Wordless Wednesday: Grand Central Station

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:22:52 -0500

Opening Up Opportunities At Open Houses

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:06:41 -0500

This is inspired by a post by newbie blogger, Eric Hempler. It's right here. And he talks about holding other agent's listings open (until he gets a bunch of his own). Eric's blog reminded me of an experience very early in my career.

My first Open House was memorable, because I let one of my office's old timers totally take advantage of my newbieness.

Oldie Agent approached me at a sales meeting and said she had this really great condo and she needed help with an Open on Sunday afternoon. And I was chomping at the bit to put into action all of the wonderful stuff that I learned at the old Shannon & Luchs Academy of Real Estate.

God I'm dating myself!

It was an ungly condo in a building that didn't allow pets or overnight guests. They didn't allow Open House signs out front or cards by the entry buzzer telling people how to get into the place. It was a bust.

Rule Number One: people have to be able to find you and come through the door! I mean, du-uh!

If y ou're a rookie agent, holding other agents' listings open is a great way to connect with prospective clients - both buyers and selelrs. Here are some ways to make the most of the opportunity:

Be picky about what you hold open. It should be an attractive, well priced and well staged property. Before you say yes, preview the place. If it's ugly, overpriced or in an obscure location, pass.
If it's a condo, be sure that it's easy for buyers to get in the door and find you. If they make it hard, take a pass.
Before the Open, preview as much as you can in the neighborhood and in the price range in simillar neighborhoods. Most of the people who come in will find something that won't work about what you're holding open. If you can converse intellegently about other possibilities, you have a great chance of converting lookers into clients.
Review all of the neighborhood's recent sales.
Put Open information on your MLS, Craig's List, Trulia, and everyplace you can think of on the web. It's where the buyers are looking.
An Open House afternoon is not the time to be subtle. Put up tons of signs and, unless they are illegal in your area, use a bunch of balloons. Invite them to a party, and they will come.
Ask people if they are working with an agent. If they are, get their agent's name to pass onto the listing agent. Don't flirt with other people's clients.
Don't ask for names, email addresses or phone numbers until they've seen the house. I start with a schmooze, let them go through, then engage them after we've had some back and forth. Then you are more likely to get a real name and contact information.
If they are asking quetions you can't answer, that's great! Tell them you will get the information and get back to them. You've just greatly increased your chances of getting their real names and contact information.
I am always prepared to offer something that I can send them, preferably by email. Another way to get real contact information.
And if you want to really be prepared, print out the contract forms - leaving the price and the buyers' names blank. You need to be a good Girl or Boy Scout - you know the motto! Be Prepared!
After the Open, follow up!

Many agents feel like Open Houses are a total waste of time. And they can be. But I've found that Opens can be a wonderul opportunity to meet future clients.

And sure, they might begin their search on the Internet. But they will end their search with an agent they connect with, maybe at your Open House! And with any luck, you'll end up at the end of the day with at least a couple of qualified prospects you connected with. That sure does beat paying some lead selling service, doesn't it?

Silent Sunday: Last Week This Was Green!

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:28:25 -0500

The Kick Out And The Kick In!

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:48:58 -0500

A couple of weeks ago, I had an adorable listing fly off the shelf. After the first Open House, we had two offers - both of them excellent. One had a lenders letter from a financial institution that gives me the hives. The other was from a local mortgage broker who has been doing a fabulous job for years. Other than that, they were pretty identical. The sellers took the second offer.

Then, on Tuesday morning I got that call from the really great lender that you never want to get. There was a last minute glitch with the financing - a huge item that showed up on the buyer's credit and couldn't be resolved. Oh, and this was after it went to underwriting.

Rats!

I immediately pulled out the file and made a phone call to the agent whose buyers lost out the first time. By accident, I got his buyer, who when I introduced myself, got really, really happy. When he explained that I called the wrong number but that I had made his day! We both laughed and then I called his agent and made his day, too!

So the old offer is released and the new offer is being initialed as I write this. We settle about 11 days later - all made possible because this time the new buyers are using the old buyers' lender.

We were lucky. Really lucky.

I might have made the day for the buyers and their agents, but I gotta say, they made the day for me, and especially for my sellers!

Wordless (really a little bit wordy) Wednesday

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:51:41 -0500

Cats have it totally figured out, at least house cats do. They know how to relax - completely relax.

And when they have to, they can go from total relaxation to totally alert in a split second.

Calm Down, Pat - You Won't Starve!

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:23:26 -0500

I came to my Open House today having forgotten to eat lunch. At one o'clock, I wasn't hungry. But now it is 3:25, and I am ravenous.

Now, this shouldn't be a huge problem. The owners of this lovely place are well known foodies. Surely, I can find some little nibble to tide me over for the next hour or so.

So, let's start with the fridge. Perhaps a morsel of cheese? Well, no. But there is a huge jar of bacon fat, capers, five different kinds of home made mustard. OK. Mustard isn't going to do the trick. Not even over capers.

Now for the cupboards. Um. Five kinds of Viet Namese fish sauce, a dozen bottles of very exotic balsamic vinegar, lots of unopened marmalade and jelly, and all kinds of condiments, but nothing - not even a jar of peanut butter that I might dip a knife into - that might do the trick. No crackers to nibble on.

But wait! Are these cookies in this little bag? Oh No! Gourmet "Political Dog Biscuits"! Too bad I'm not a dog! But seriously, these are little doggy treats in the shapes of donkeys and elephants! I love them! Alas, not to eat.

So back to the kitchen for hmmm... dried oatmeal, eight different kinds of flour, dried red kidney beans, but no "real" food!

Not to worry. I'll be home soon where at least I'll have leftover cold pizza and peanut butter and crackers for dessert!

Besides, some people might consider it bad form for their Realtor to raid their fridge!

Later: I'm home. Cold day old pizza never tasted so good!

Speechless Sunday: The National Cathedral from a Georgetown Rooftop

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:53:45 -0500

EEEWWW! The Stink Bugs Are Coming!

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:24:10 -0500

Eight or so years ago, a few stink bugs found their way from someplace in their native Asia to Allentown, Pennsylvania. Now they are reproducing like mad and are finding their way into homes in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. They've also been reported in Oregon.

They are ugly little guys, and they are hard to get rid of. They have no predators here, and if a bird, bat or some other bug-eating creature tries to make a meal out of one, well, they let out a nasty rancid almond smell that is totally unappetizing.

If you have them in your house and you try to swat them, yes, they emit a nasty odor that makes you hesitate to swat their buddies when you meet up.

It's a problem this time of year because they like to come inside to get away from the cold. Once they start nesting in your house, it could get, well, stinky.

The experts do not recommend pesticides until they can figure out what to use and when to use it for effectiveness. So what's a squeamish homeowner to do with these unwelcome visitors? They suggest vacuuming them up (be sure you use a vacuum cleaner with a bag) and take the whole thing outside to empty it out.

You can help keep them outside by going nuts with a caulk gun and putting weatherstripping all over the place - covering cracks that they can crawl through. They also find their ways in through attic vents.

We're seeing some in northern Montgomery County, and I'm hoping they find some way to stop the spread to points south, like my back yard!

Well, There's Always Real Estate!

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:23:59 -0500

One of my best friends is having a mid-life career crisis. She is a journalist, and her employer (for the past 28 years) is going through a little bit of a shake up.

So today we were talking about it. She's got a great job that she does incredibly well in a highly competitive field. She's not real excited about the thought of making a career move and, of course, was imagining the worst (which I just know will not happen).

And as she was painting a picture of unemployment, starvation, foreclosure - you know, all the evils - I interrupted her.

"You know," I said, "there's always real estate!"

And that (and a bunch of wine we'd just consumed) seemed to make it alright.

Then I started to think about how, with all of the uncertainties in this business, we do have a certain amount of control that people working for big corporations lack. As an independent contractor working for a brokerage firm, the broker works for us. If, for whatever reason, the relationship stops working, we can move to another firm. It's usually up to us, not someone in an office halfway across the country.

So, at the end of the day, my friend understood that the worse thing that could happen to her was that she'd have to get a real estate license, and it didn't seem like such a terrible thing!

Hey! Real estate resolved my mid-life career crisis!

Can't Get Annoyed!

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:38:29 -0500

I am notoriously on time, early most of the time. Having said that, a lot of agents are not. Sometimes they can't help it and other times they are just as notoriously late as I am punctual.

Where is this one leading?

I have a listing with a dog and alarm system and a bunch of antiques and expensive stuff. It is one of those listings that, unless the owner is going to be home, I have to meet agents for previews and showings.

So yesterday, I met a colleague there who wanted to show it today. And we set an appointment for this afternoon.

I got there early to turn on lights and make sure it was perfect. He got there late, as his clients lingered at some of the other homes on the list (he may have saved my listing - the best - for last.

He emailed me on my I-Phone from his Blackberry, and I couldn't get my email open for some screwy reason.

But you know what? I could not get annoyed with him.

I'm the listing agent, and I took it knowing I would have to let some people in. I control access and set the ground rules.

And I have to be on time.

They don't.

I like this agent. His client seemed to like the house. So it's worth it.

Wordless Wednesday: Wish I Was Back There!

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:20:58 -0500

A Day Off! The Road Trip

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:16:49 -0500

I didn't have an Open House scheduled for Sunday. And I got most of my to do list for the next few days checked off in time for my Saturday night date, including writin the Week in Review and getting it posted as a draft. So when the urge to see an ocean struck my sweetie and I during dinner, we decided a quick trip to the Atlantic was in order.

After a cloudy Saturday, Sunday so Sunday morning, we climbed into his Boxster and headed east with the top down.

The ride to the beach takes you across the Bay Bridge and on through Easton, MD, and then south and east to Ocean City. We passed this country church just outside of Easton.

And we arrived early afternoon.

Somewhere in the middle of the Bay Bridge, I realized that I'd forgotten to bring my laptop and we might not get home in time to post the Week in Review. So I pulled out my I-Phone, and just before the battery crapped out, I managed to change it from draft to Members Only! Long Live Technology!

Of course, it's off season, although since it's a 3-day weekend, there were a fair number of people there.

There was this guy trying to catch a few fish.

And during our walk down the beach, we saw a bunch of gulls who were trying to catch a whole school of fish.

Then there were a bunch of great kites in front of a great kite store on the boardwalk.

The kite store also sold butterfly chairs and happy birds.

Then we had a dinner of steamer clams and lobster at a place in Rehobeth called "Claws", put the top up and drove home.

OK, it's not like Jon Zolsky who can walk out his front door in Daytona Beach and see ocean. But it's nice to know that if we have an urge to see surf, that even though it's not a couple of minutes away, it is just a couple of hours away.

Silent Sunday: Flying Fish

Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:35:10 -0500