In LIFE as in REAL ESTATE it Pays to Think OUTSIDE THE BOX - 04/29/10 05:45 PM
In life as in real estate it pays to think outside the box.  There are unexpected rewards when you do something out of the ordinary.  Unfortunately in real estate it is a little harder to think of things that almost every other REALTOR does not do.  It is a little easier in life.
One of the things I did four years ago was take a trip that was off the beaten path.  It was a voyage I made to Antarctica.  It is not a trip that most people will even think abut let alone seriously consider. 
I was very surprised, both before I … (6 comments)

Good Times at Lake Anna, Virginia - 04/28/10 10:23 PM
All it takes is a little sunshine, a bit of warmer weather and before you know it it's time to get out on the water.  Perhaps the goal is to catch some fish or maybe to take a shortcut across the lake to visit friends.  Whatever the reason, and in fact for no reason at all, it is a wonderful time to enjoy Lake Anna.

If you are ready to have some fun here at Lake Anna and would like a place where you can bring family and friends, now is the time to begin the search.  Perhaps you'll find a place … (5 comments)

I Really Do Like Helping Other Agents But............... - 04/27/10 10:10 PM
I really do like helping other agents but................not so much when I believe they are not acting in the best interest of their client.

Recently I received a call from an agent several counties away from Lake Anna.  She asked for my help in sending her the listing on a small log cabin that I had listed which sold last summer.  
She is not a member of our MLS system and was not able to access this information, nor any other information on homes at the lake.  
I told her I would send it to her and asked her … (14 comments)

Accompanied Showings in Real Estate Do Not Sell Homes - 04/27/10 02:30 PM
 
Fortunately we do not have accompanied showings in my area.  However, I still found the following post to be very interesting.  Many of the comments were also.
I'm going to disable comments as I'm hoping you will go to Bill's blog and comment there.  Thanks.
 
Via Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty):
ORIGINAL SOURCE: Holliston MA Real Estate
                                                                                                                                                           
In the Metrowest Massachusetts area where I am located it is pretty rare to see an accompanied showing. In towards Boston it becomes much more common place. Some areas around the country have them and others don’t.
… (0 comments)

Patience Pays Off - 04/26/10 10:56 PM
This afternoon I got another glimpse of the "skyscraper" currently under construction on the shores of Lake Anna.   Even though it was cloudy, when I saw the progress it was proof that that there's always a ray of sunshine.

We have a country lifestyle here and this will be a bit of a change for us.  This is the beginning of a more commercial look to Lake Anna.  It's been a long time coming.  The lake is a man-made lake and was created in 1972.  There has been talk for years about creating more space for businesses and restaurants.  Now it is … (5 comments)

One of Real Estate's Benefits...New Friends - 04/23/10 02:55 PM
One of real estate's benefits...new friends.
Just this week I wrote a post about real estate and liking people.  It was a follow up to a post written by another member saying that it was not necessary.
Necessary or not, I am glad I do...at least for the most part.  No, I do not end up liking ever person I come into contact with.  However, I have been fortunate enough to say that the "likes" number about 99%.
Two of these "likes" are a couple, Jim and Pam Austrich, that bought a house last summer.  It is a second home for … (4 comments)

Wordless Wednesday...Simply Spring - 04/21/10 11:23 PM
Simply spring.  That's why I thought I would share these with you.  They are close-ups as I really like the look of individual azalea blossoms and they are often lost in the overwhelming numbers on each and every bush. Azaleas come in such stunning colors.  This shade is among my favorites.
Hope you like it too.
This is the sight that greets when I drive down our country road and approach my driveway.  It's a welcome home sign each and every spring.  We planted these bushes quite a number of years ago and they seem to love being here at … (28 comments)

You Don't Have to Like People or Enjoy Showing Houses to be Successful. REALLY? - 04/20/10 09:54 PM
You don't have to like people or enjoy showing houses to be successful. 
REALLY? This was the topic of a featured post today.
Thankfully I do not believe that.  If I did not like people and if I did not enjoy showing them properties I would not be a REALTOR®.  Why would I be?  I could sell something else.  There are jobs selling that do not require the commitment that real estate does.  There are sales jobs that do not require one to be as flexible as you need to be in real estate.  There are sales jobs that can be … (95 comments)

Please Don't Do This to Me - 04/20/10 06:00 PM
Please don't do this to me.  I was meant to be a free spirit.  Do not clip me to look like something I was never meant to be.  You have managed to take my natural beauty and trim it to the point my ability to grow is revoked, my blossoms are stunted, and my gracefulness diminished.
This is the way I wish to be.  I wish to be me.  
Yes I do need nurturing.  I appreciate it when you water me if it is dry, when you provide me with nutrition to help me thrive.  For this I thank you.  I thank … (27 comments)

Communication, Communication, Communication...Like Location, it is Vital in Real Estate - 04/18/10 12:08 AM
Communication, communication, communication...like location, it is vital in real estate.
A recent post made me think of how important it is for us to have good communication with our clients.  We are often reminded how important it is for us to keep in communication with our sellers so they are aware of what we are doing on their behalf to get their property sold. 
We are also reminded how important it is to stay in touch with our potential buyers or we risk losing them.  We need to maintain our relationship with them and that takes keeping in touch and making sure … (14 comments)

Looking for a Lilac Bush with a Home? - 04/16/10 10:11 PM
Looking for a lilac bush with a home?  Yes, perhaps you love lilacs and would love to have a big, beautiful bush right outside in your very own yard.
If that is so, hold on a little bit longer and we will have one available for you. This three bedroom, 2.5 bath all-brick rambler with a walk-out lower level is getting readied to be put on the market.

Right now that lilac bush is looking positively gorgeous and the scent will make you happy.  Keep your eye on this site.  We'll let you know when you can make this house … (10 comments)

It's That Time of Year at Lake Anna, VA - 04/14/10 09:20 PM
It's that time of year at Lake Anna, Va.  Boats are coming out of winter storage.  Folks are down at their boat houses readying their boats and bringing them down off the lifts.  More and more cars and trucks are cruising towards the lake with boats in tow.
Yes, spring brings out those of us that are not out there on the water all year long.  Even in the winter I can look out some days and see a hardy fisherman or two searching for a catch.  On especially warm, sunny days you'll see some adventurous types drifting along slowly in their … (4 comments)

Active Rain gets both Your Creative Juices and Your Google Juices Flowing (Part One) - 04/13/10 06:57 PM
Active Rain gets both your creative juices and your Google juices flowing.  We've known since we joined Active Rain that is would provide Google juice which would help our rankings.  (After all is not that one of the reasons we joined?)  If we did not know that from the get go we learned quickly enough that Active Rain had the power.
Now we are also convinced that Active Rain gets our creative juices flowing.  One prime example is a contest sponsored by Bob Stewart last fall.  Members wrote about the ways they used their ActiveRain blog to enhance relationships with clients and prospects.  … (5 comments)

Lake Anna is Red Bud Heaven - 04/12/10 04:55 PM
Lake Anna is red bud heaven.  This time of year is absolutely beautiful here at Lake Anna.  The red buds are out enforce and are dotted along the banks of the lake canals and the country roads.
Growing up in Connecticut I don't recall ever seeing any red buds nor when I lived in northern Ohio or upstate New York, not even in Texas.  Virginia has them by the thousands and I am grateful for that.  
We planted three in our yard soon after our house was built.  The woods have encroached on two.  They are struggling for sunshine and … (9 comments)

We're in Love with These Two - 04/10/10 09:17 PM
We're in love with these two.  There's no way to get around it.  Every since we brought them home last June 5th, they have given us so much affection and plenty of things to laugh about.  We enjoy watching them play with one another.  They are frisky and funny, a perfect combination. 
Although the plan had been to get one Cockapoo, when we found out that a little runt still needed a home we thought he might just as well be ours. 
So instead of just getting Linda (aka Jelly Bean...she gets a little jealous if "he's" on our lap and up … (27 comments)

Dual Agency and Agent Bonuses...Yes, No, or Maybe - 04/10/10 07:56 PM
Dual Agency and Agent Bonuses...Yes, No, or Maybe 
I recently read an interesting post by Stephen Wolfe, asking if accepting a bonus brought the agents's ethics into question.  I found the post to be interesting as well as the comments.  I read all of the comments before adding mine.
A good number of respondents mentioned that they would not accept a bonus or if they did they would have it given to their client.  The actual listing sited said the bonus would be for the selling agent for a full price offer.  My thought was that it would depend on whether … (25 comments)

Lake Anna, VA is Showing Signs of Spring - 04/09/10 04:35 PM
Lake Anna, VA is showing signs of Spring. Like me, nature seems to be really enjoying the longer days and the warmer weather. It is wonderful to see the visible changes from day to day as the trees start to green and the shrubs begin to bud. The old stand-bys are all along the country roads and increase the pleasure of being outdoors. Driving out here and seeing this scenery really makes me appreciate the naturalness of Lake Anna's setting. It is a bit rural here and that is what gives such a specialness. You don't find shopping centers close to home … (4 comments)

I REALLY DO LIKE HELPING OTHER AGENTS BUT.................. - 04/03/10 09:13 PM
I really do like helping other agents but................not so much when I believe they are not acting in the best interest of their client.

Recently I received a call from an agent several counties away from Lake Anna. She asked for my help in sending her the listing on a small log cabin that I had listed which sold last summer.
She is not a member of our MLS system and was not able to access this information, nor any other information on homes at the lake.
I told her I would send it to her and asked … (6 comments)

Looking in My Rear View Mirror I See 200,000 Active Rain Points - 04/03/10 03:37 AM
When I look back I wonder what took me so long to acquire 50,000 points.  Even though I soon got the bug to blog the points did not come quickly.  I spent a great amount of time reading.  How can you not?  The wealth of information is tremendous.  By reading you become familiar with other members, you find so many you enjoy reading that your "free" time is gone before you know it and you haven't written a thing.  There was (and is) so much to learn, tons of advice and tips, so many before and after staging posts, so many … (58 comments)

2010 Census Form...Should You or Should You Not Fill It Out? - 04/02/10 08:59 PM
2010 Census form...should you or should you not fill it out?  There has been some talk about whether it is a good thing to fill out the census form or whether it is simply an invasion of privacy and a means for the government to use the information against you.

There have even been posts on Active Rain regarding the pros and cons so I thought I would share with you what the Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® (FAAR) has recommended to their members.  The following appeared on both the FAAR FORUM (blog) and FARR's member web site.
Take a … (17 comments)

The Waters at Lake Anna is a Great Place to Live in Virginia - 04/02/10 10:31 AM
The Waters at Lake Anna is a Great Place to Live in Virginia.  Located on the private side of Lake Anna, The Waters as it is commonly referred to, is the first subdivision at the lake to have a community pool and club house.  These amenities, along with the tennis courts, walking trails, and soccer field, make this a very popular spot for buyers. 
The entrance to The Waters is on Kentucky Springs Road (Route 652) and is recognizable by its white rail fence and signage.   With land encompassing both sides of Kentucky Springs Road, The Waters is one of the … (1 comments)

 
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Kate Elim, Realtor® 540-226-1964 Selling Homes & Land at LAKE ANNA

Spotsylvania, VA

More about me…

Dockside Realty

Address: 4634 Courthouse Road, Mineral, VA, 23117

Office Phone: (540) 895-9400

Cell Phone: (540) 226-1964

Email Me

Kathleen "Kate" Elim
Dockside Realty
4634 Courthouse Road
Mineral , VA , 23117 United States
540-226-1964

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