I am deeply touched by someone I met who works at It's A Grind coffee shop located on the corner of Folsom Blvd.& Blue Ravine in Folsom.  Not only do they serve a great mocha w/ soy (my favorite!!), but they also seem to have such warm, friendly owners & employees.

On my way to the office, earlier this week, I decided to make a quick stop & fill up my coffee mug.  I started a polite conversation with one of the sweet young ladies while she was busy steaming the milk.  She happened to mention that this year her family will be making each other gifts for Christmas.  I thought to myself, "what a cute, sweet idea".  But then she went on to say that the money they will each save by not purchasing gifts, will instead be used to purchase gifts for girls that have been rescued from an underground sex-slave organization in Cambodia.  Wow...   WOW!!! 

I am grateful for her family's giving spirit. 

Santa Claus is coming to town!!  Bring your family, your camera, and an unwrapped toy to the Stonehouse (1455 Willow Bend Road, Folsom, CA) in The Parkway.  On Thursday, December 18th from 4 - 7pm, we will enjoy yummy treats, hot chocolate or hot cider while visiting with Santa, and sharing in the Christmas Spirit!! 

 

I look forward to seeing you there!!

What is the maximum number of photos your MLS will allow?  The MLS system we use in Sacramento, El Dorado, and Placer Counties allows up to twelve photographs.  That paves the way for my next question; then why do so many agents post only two, three, or four photographs? 

I began my climb onto my soapbox today after searching through the MLS.  There was a property that peaked my interest, for an investor client.  At first glance, only one photo is visible, which is typically the outside of the property.  It looked like a clean home with a well manicured lawn.  Then I clicked on "additional photos" of which there was one.  Yes, one.  Please allow me to paint the picture; imagine a black photograph, where the only light that is offered is that of a window.  Oh yes, and a white line outlining the silhouette of a door.  The end. 

My favor:  Please understand we owe it to our Sellers to maximize the number of allowable photographs with high-quality pictures highlighting the features of their property because we are paid to professionally market the home, attract potential Buyers, in order for a quick sale at the highest market value.  I mean selling quickly at a high price puts more money in the pocket quickly, right?  Then why are there still agents that only submit three or four photographs?  What is the saying; there are some questions best left unanswered?

In real estate, we understand that most things we do are on a 90-day cycle.  So, to have a little fun with this, our office is having a New Year's Eve celebration on September 30^th.  Before you get too excited, the focus of this Event will be goal setting exercises, business planning, and scheduling activities that will improve our agent's productivity for 2009. 

At the end of every year, I usually reflect back on the last 12 months of my life, remembering my previous New Year Resolutions.  Which goals did I meet?  Which goals do I push over to the new year?  Well, this year, I will be doing it a few months early. 

We will also be having a little fun with it, too!  It will be a potluck (Thanks, Judy for your Cinnamon-Apple Coffee Cake recipe you just posted), we will have noisemakers, the sparkling cider will be poured, and we will count-down to October 1^st!!!!  We are gonna have a ROCKIN" January!!  Will you join us?    

Housing Starts Rebound in April Good news! The Commerce Department recently reported that construction of new homes posted the biggest increase in more than two years in April. In addition, applications for building permits – considered a good sign of future activity – rose by 4.9 percent in April, the first gain in permits in five months. “It pays to ask” and it also pays to tell. Pick up the phone, talk to your clients and prospects and give them this encouraging news.

So what is all this talk about the book, The Secret? After its first appearance on Oprah, my mom surprised me with a copy of the book. Not spending much time in front of the television, I was not exposed to all the "buzz". Then, I opened the book to be pleasantly surprised. Here is just one example of how The Secret has changed my life...

I have been, as my brother-in-law & sister-in-law say, "Secreting" a trip to Hawaii. My husband, Jim, is not a big vacationer.  So, I have been working on this with him.  I knew that the only way I could "sell" Jim on going to Hawaii this summer was if I (one) got a great deal, and (two) it was shorter than the ten day trip I want to take. 
Well, several weeks ago I went to the mailbox KNOWING I was going to receive something great.  I skipped to the mailbox & skipped back to the house, clenching the mail as if it were a great gift.  I had not been to the box for over a week, so it was a huge stack.  But, somewhere in the middle, out popped a beautiful opalescent, blue envelope with a return address of Maui, HI.  I knew it!!  Saving it for last, I opened up each item. Most were offers for 0% credit cards.  I also think we got an unexpected check in the mail for about $64.  Now I was really excited.  Excitedly I opened the envelope, revealing an offer to stay at a beach front resort in Maui for less than 50% of normal rates, and for 6 days/5 nights. Hallelujah!  (Ok, I know we will have to give them about 90 minutes of our time, but YES!!!!!)
The next day, I called to reserve some time.  Summer of 2007 is what I've been "Secreting".  I was not in my normal cheerful mood when I called, but thought I should call anyway.  Guess what, no openings, booked solid until September.  With my daughter, Andi, starting as a freshman at a new school this year, I knew I couldn't do it.  And that was not what I had intended.  My intention was to go to Maui this summer with Jim & Andi.  I politely said no thank you.


A little time had passed, and every once in a while I thought I should call to see if they've had a cancellation.  Well, one Tuesday afternoon, I had this STRONG feeling to call RIGHT NOW!! With my heart racing, a young man named Ross answered the phone.  He checked, put me on hold, and re-checked.  He came back only to say sorry.  Crushed, I hung up the phone.
Thirty seconds later my cell phone rang.  It was an area code & number I didn't recognize.  I hit the send button and said, "Hello, this is Lisa."
"Hi, Lisa, this is Ross.  I was just talking with you."  I bet you know what he said next.  That's right, something just opened up!!! 

Aloha, we just got back from Maui!  And now I am "Secreting" the next trip! 

Life
What will the characters do next?
By Lisa Quaschnick

There are so many things in my life for which I am truly grateful. The biggest blessing in my life is, of course, my family and friends. And many times I find myself reflecting on my life especially taking notice when there are major events, like my daughter's eighth grade graduation.

This time in my "reflecting period", I started to mourn the fact that I am now officially the mother of a high school student. "I can't be that old?" "How did this happen to me?" "How does she grow up so fast?" Then I realized how truly selfish I was being. I started thinking back about my high school years, college years, and more recent years. I realized how much fun I have had, and was amazed by how many blessings I have received. In my adulthood I've experienced the thrill of making new friends, the excitement of moving into a one bedroom apartment with three roommates, the joy of finding a $20 bill in my coat pocket, the anxiety of starting a new job, the adventure of a new vacation destination, the satisfaction of buying a new car, and the hope that he'll ask me to marry him. And motherhood.

Then I realized that as much as I do not want my daughter to grow up, what I want more is for her to be able to experience these things, too. So I am not looking at this as a chapter that has ended, but as a new chapter that has begun. Hmmm... I wonder what the characters in this book will do now. I can't wait to find out!