realtor: TRUST...I'm Better Off With Than Without - 01/08/12 06:55 PM
Growing up in a family where there was never any doubt that my parents loved me and my three sisters certainly provided the foundation for my trust in others.  We were part of an extended family that provided a sense of security.  This contributes to a willingness to trust others.  There have been times that I have been disappointed but for every time I have faced disappointment there have been multiple times when my trust has been rewarded.  I like those odds and so my trust continues.
My life has been spent  in many places with many different people.  I have lived … (7 comments)

realtor: Do All Access Homes at Lake Anna Have Boat Slips? - 05/12/11 08:36 PM
Do all access homes at Lake Anna have boat slips?  Short answer is no.  Now I'll go into a bit more detail as boat slips are pretty important items here at Lake Anna.
Access homes are located within most of the subdivisions surrounding the lake.  They are not waterfront homes which means property owners do not have direct acess to the water.  In order to launch their boats it is necessary for the subdivision to have a waterfront lot with a ramp known as a common area.
Many of these common areas have boat slips for the property owners within … (12 comments)

realtor: PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD - 11/07/10 01:21 PM
Put your best foot forward.  When you make a commitment to a seller or a buyer to represent them, make sure you do the best  job you possibly can.  Sometimes it is easier than other times but as long as we represent them we pledge to do our job as well as we can.

Real estate is a profession where you have to keep on your toes.  There are so many things that can possibly go wrong in a transaction.  It takes a great deal, at times, to stay on top of each phase of the process.  However, it is … (11 comments)

realtor: 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)

realtor: Some of the Things that Make a REALTOR Happy - 12/16/09 10:40 AM

There are too many times we hear and read about the trials and tribulations of being a REALTOR.  Not to say that we do not go through these ups and downs.  However, if you stop to think about it there are so many aspects of real estate that make us happy. When we are having a particularly tough time we can think about some of these things and, hopefully, feel much better.
These are some of the things we hear that make us feel good:
 
I see your signs all over the place. I read your blog. When I … (34 comments)

realtor: Seller Agency is a Fraud...(But Only Sometimes) - 11/17/09 06:01 PM
Seller agency is a fraud...(but only sometimes). Having just read the post, Buyer Agency is a Fraud...(Sometimes) by Maya Paveza, I must agree that this has happened to me also.  
Now the other side of that coin is the agent "posing" as the seller's agent. Perhaps you have met a few of them throughout your real estate career.  
Here are some of the comments I have heard as a buyer's agent: Bring an offer, my client is getting desperate. The listing is about to expire and I need something out it. The sellers have a contract on another place with … (26 comments)

realtor: Please, Please Do Not Put Combo Lock Box Codes on the Internet - 06/15/09 04:00 PM
There was a time, in the good old days, when agents used secure lockboxes, and only secure lockboxes, on the homes they listed.
With the advent of agents from a number of different multiple listing systems, with their own unique lockbox keys, showing homes outside of their area (dare I say sometimes out of their area of expertise) along has come the combination lockbox.

Yes, many agents have resorted to using combination lockboxes...I even admit to doing so twice.  I'm uncomfortable with it and will be very reluctant to do it again.  However, I am afraid to say I never will.  … (15 comments)

realtor: You Need to Sell the Same House Three Times Before You Get to Closing - 06/01/09 06:17 PM
There's always a lot of talk about what the market value of a home is.  Two recent posts help sellers establish a realistic price when listing their home.  One is The Buyers Have Voted... by Irene Kennedy and the other is The Secret To A Fast Home Sale: Two Words..., posted by Sharon Tara.
Some time ago I heard that we need to convince three folks (or groups of folks) that the price is right.  The first group is other REALTORS®.  If they preview or even spot it on the multiple listing system and do not feel that it is priced … (37 comments)

realtor: Active Rain GOLD STARS are Like Real Estate Transactions - 04/23/09 11:23 PM
Now what could possibly be similar between the gold stars we receive from Active Rain and the real estate transactions we work so hard to get?                                                                                      
You never know when the next one is going to come along!                                           That's right.  At least for me, this is so true.  I never know what I write on Active Rain is going to land in the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and will remain forever sequestered in my growing pile of almost rans.                                                                                                                     
Just when you think there will never be another … (31 comments)

realtor: REALTORS® are NOT Under Paid or Over Worked - 04/21/09 04:02 PM
Why do we constantly go on and on about how overworked and under paid we are?  I am not.  I am paid what I am worth.  If I were not, I would not continue working as a REALTOR®. We are adults.  We have the option of saying no to people that refuse to pay us what we believe we are worth.  If we go ahead and work for them for a lesser amount it is because we have agreed that we are worth a lesser amount.
As REALTORS® we have a lot of choices.  We can determine where we wish to … (74 comments)

realtor: Day Trip from Lake Anna to Williamsburg, VA - 04/20/09 06:40 PM
One of the benefits of living at Lake Anna is that you are in Central Virginia.  What is great about that is the fact you are out in the country, enjoying all the wonderful aspects of country living while still close to many of the wonderful things Virginia offers. Williamsburg happens to be one of those special places in Virginia and it is not that far from the lake.  I make the trip often as my daughter and her family live there.  From door to door it is about 90 minutes. 
It is easy to accomplish even in during a day trip.  Allow enough time … (21 comments)

realtor: Rainy Days Can Be Fun Days at Lake Anna - 04/17/09 11:55 AM
While some of us may think of rainy days as days to snuggle up on the couch and read a book, others say this is a good time to be out fishing.
Those of us at Lake Anna are no different.  Some of us do not venture out on those drizzely days unless it is absolutely necessary.  However, we too have our exceptions.
A couple of days ago I was out doing some real estate related tasks.  It was not the prettiest day as we were having more of the rain we need to keep our lake filled to the brim.
… (8 comments)

realtor: Patience Pays in Real Estate - 04/15/09 10:39 PM
In January I received a call from someone that currently had his home on the market.  The listing was going to expire the end of February and I was asked if I would be interested in listing it after it expired.  I replied that the house was priced too high but that yes I was interested in working with the owners.
The caller's name sounded very familiar to me and I was certain that I had worked with him and his wife  briefly some time ago.  Sure enough, he told me that back in the Spring of 2004 they had spoken with me and … (25 comments)

realtor: Celebrate Earth Day with Peter Yarrow - 04/14/09 11:21 PM
If you are looking for a fun way to celebrate Earth Day, plan to spend it at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg.  Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, & Mary fame will be performing there at 7 p.m. on April 22.  Simply bring a blanket so you'll have a place to sit.
Did I mention this is FREE? Can you think of a better way to enjoy Earth Day than by listening to some great songs from the 1960s.  Hopefully Paul will play some of the groups best known hits such as "Early Mornin' Rain" and "Leaving on a Jet Plane".
I cannot … (6 comments)

realtor: Why are POPs Such a Bone of Contention on Active Rain? - 04/05/09 05:50 PM
Kathy McGraw has an interesting post, Lil Devil says- If you're going to Blog do it right   I concur with 2/3 of it.
One of the topics had to do with the Photo Only Posts (POPs) and her concern that some of them receive points even when there isn't any content other than the photo.  That is certainly a legitimate concern and happens when bloggers insert their contact information using 50 words or more at the bottom of their posts.
That is defeating the spirit of the Photo Only Post (POP).  They are not meant to increase your point total.  They are meant … (22 comments)

realtor: I Now Have a Virtual Office - Active Rain - 04/01/09 10:18 PM
Surprise, surprise.  Here I am, a RE/MAX agent with a very nice private office and all of a sudden it has dawned on me that I have a virtual one as well.
When I became a REALTOR® in 1986 I worked in a fairly good size office in Northern Virginia.  It was great.  I loved the camaraderie and the fact that there were so many agents around much of the time to teach the newbie (me), boost my moral, suggest marketing ideas, and to hold my hand when things didn't go so great. 
Yes, folks, there have been times in the … (75 comments)

realtor: HVCC effective May 1st. How Realtors can make a difference right NOW! - 03/31/09 07:44 PM
Now, as much as ever, appraisals are vital to the success of a transaction.  It is in the interest of all parties to have accurate appraisals.  The following was news to me and important news at that. 
All of us, especially those selling/listing specialized properties such as waterfront, should be aware of how we can help determine the qualifications of appraisers used in our transactions.
HVCC stands for Home Valuation Code of Conduct
Please take the time to read Mary Thompson's post and especially the paragraph that can serve as an example of what to include in your contract.  This looks like something we … (3 comments)

realtor: The Pride of Virginia - 03/22/09 02:10 PM
The Commonwealth of Virginia has a top-rated state park system.  Without a doubt it is one of the best in the country.  In 2001 the National Sporting Good Association's Sports Foundation Inc.  it the ppresented it with their presigious gold medal and state park award as the #1 state park system.
However, the budget to support Virginia's state parks ranks low among the 50 states.  It is amazing what can be done with the help of volunteers. 
Lake Anna State Park has a very active group of volunteers that supplement the tremendous job the park staff is doing.  In another post I will provide additional information on this … (4 comments)

realtor: Would You Be Deceived? - 03/20/09 07:25 PM
I have a newer listing that is really a neat waterfront house. However, if there was ever one that deceived this is the one.  When you look at this picture (and when you see the house from the road) two things may come to mind. 
The house looks fairly small, not exactly what one would necessarily imagine for $950,000 (and worth every penny of it) as this is at Lake Anna, VA not somewhere in Hawaii. The house also lacks enough curb appeal for that price range. It doesn't have the look that will sweep you off your feet.  (Open the front door and that's … (38 comments)

realtor: Dear Diary...My Passion is Life - 02/14/09 07:14 PM
I am passionate about life.  Life and everything it contains for me.  This is nothing new.  I've had a zest for life since I was a very, very young child.  My mom will vouch for me on that.
Perhaps a glimpse of my license plates will show you what I mean.

 

I have had the license plate that reads LVNSGR8 for about 20 years now.  I wanted one that would tell something about me.  Of course, I thought of Livings Great.  Shortly after receiving my plates I realized that it also stood for Lovings Great and Leavings Great. 
I embrace all three.  … (23 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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