Rachael's Blog

Has anyone kicked your dog lately?

2008-06-13T14:11:09Z

June 13,2008

I'm not talking about animal abuse, I'm talking about criticism! Personal, professional, constructive, destructive: However . .these OPINIONS are what shape us as individuals and challenge our character and morals each day. I've been thinking a great deal about this topic, both in reading "How to stop worrying and Live Life" by Dale Carnegie, and applying to my life.

One significant accomplishment I have made thus far, was becoming editor and chief of my high school newspaper. If any of my former reporters are reading this, they know that I was grossly involved in that publication. I was very lucky to have two great journalism teachers during this developmental time in my life. The first had been running the paper as a small business ( we sold ads to the local community) for over 10 years. When I first met him I was determined to show him how badly I wanted to work my way up the class ranks. I had always been able to impress my teachers with my enthusiasm, but not Mr. Walters. He pushed me to my limit and demanded perfection. It was very rare that he gave me an A in his class. I can remember totally loosing it at advisory grading time.

In my junior year he was offered a job at another school and told us all that he would not be returning. We would be on our own with a new teacher (who had never taught journalism) next year. Before he left he pulled me aside and told me that I had earned the position of Editor and Chief. All of the afternoon hours, and time on holiday breaks, the B's - They all had a purpose. To make me a better writer and prepare me for managing the paper. He didn't hate me, he wanted me to succeed. My senior year the teacher that replaced Mr. Walters, approached the paper with zeal to match my enthusiasm. Although it was a little rocky, we made the paper something to remember. Mr. Digmond taught me to think outside the box, exposed me to different political views, and helped "lighten" the mood when I took myself and the silly paper just a little to seriously.

Currently my boss ( and Brother-in-Law) has taken it upon himself to help push my real estate career to the next level. I always try to take into consideration his "suggestions" and "examples" because in many ways he reminds me of Mr. Walters. Does anyone in your life "kick your dog"? How comfortable are you at your desk right now? If you are not experiencing a level of discomfort then maybe you are not allowing yourself room to grow and improve at what you do. Accountability is an important and perpetual part of our lives, because without it, we never learn from our mistakes!

*Disclaimer: Blogs are meant for fun, venting, soap boxing, and education. My opinions are my own and are not meant to offend, under mind, or disrupt any one's day! Have fun and if you feel that any content needs to be removed please feel free to email me and I will do my best to accommodate your concerns. If you would like to link to my website please email rachael.hite@realtydirect.com and I will send a link your way!

Swimming Pools and Moldy Homes!

2008-05-16T13:41:14Z

Swimming Pools and Moldy Homes!

Caution: Rain boots are recommended for this one!

Yikes! Our recent raining weather has been great for our gardens, but just terrible for some of our companies clients looking to close on their home this week or ever! So we all are aware that the market is "flooded" with foreclosure and vacant properties, but our new problem is what happens to these properties when it rains and the electricity has been turned off? Well cast your eyes on these fabulous properties below for two PERFECT examples.

This Lovely Home features an Indoor Swimming Pool! ( Thanks for donating the pic's Jimmy)

Now My Mold Situation:

This is a brand new ( never lived in) home that is Bank Owned. No Power to the property created a water issue in the basement, and now a mold issue. I discovered this on my final walk through- We were supposed to close this week. What is a realtor to do? I have called a mold specialists and reported everything to the bank. Hopefully they will act quickly and agree to assist with the repairs, otherwise this house may be lost in a matter of weeks. Stay tuned for Part II. . . . .Please visit my website www.rachaelhite.com to find out more about local real estate and much more!

Are you a sitting duck????

2008-05-08T09:17:13Z

Are you a sitting duck????

Seriously, I'm not talking about yellow bath toys, I'm talking about making sure you are not blown out of the water by your transactions' little surprises. What are you doing to protect yourself daily from legal maham? The majority of the time I find myself dealing with emotions not houses. The purchase of a home very stressful for many of my clients. I have found that emotions can reach MELT DOWN levels at record speeds, if I do not stay on top of my game.

I am currently working on my first few short sales, and I have recently closed two foreclosures. I'm also trying to help my clients make smart financial choices, because as much as I want a deal to close, I also do not want to contribute to the the credit crunch our country is digging its way out of. It is difficult to get my day to day tasks completed, but I know I must protect my ducks as well set them in an even row. Everyone needs to establish a RISK MANANGEMENT DEPARTMENT. This goes not only for my job but my family.

My solution? I have been working on an action plan to help make sure that what I love most is protected. I am forming an LLC so that I can keep my business and personal finances separate. I'm researching affordable business liability insurance plans to serve as an umbrella to catch what my company's E&O insurance misses. ( You would be surprised what it does not cover!) I will continue taking notes and archiving my emails with my clients, but I know I need to start working on a better "work diary" so that I have an reference for time lines in case I would ever need to cover my tail feathers! Finally I am looking into purchasing a life insurance plan. Now if I'm thrown under the proverbial bus, I know my family will be protected! WOW! I think I covered all my bases. I will use this blog to seal the deal and hold myself to my plans. Now if I could just find the bottom of my desk . . . that is a blog in its self!

Thanks For Checking out My Blog!

Please visit my website http://www.rachaelhite.com/ to find out more about local real estate and much more!

KABOOM! Are you ready if your Computer Crashes?

2008-05-01T11:27:14Z

KABOOM! Are you ready if your Computer Crashes?

We all know we should do it, we say we are going to do it, but BACK UP OUR FILES? Who has the time? We do, we just need to remember to do it. Take the boy scout approach and be prepared. I have been dealing with an agent this week who has totally crashed and burned (loosing data on my offer) and has set back ratifying my contract for over a week! Her excuse? Computer crashed, all email lost . . . including my offer and responses. Yikes! In the south we like to refer to this as a "hot mess" but since some of you consider VA further north I will call it as it is: poor data management.

So what can we do? I know, I know, I should not suggest anything that costs money. Right? Well unfortunately you cannot get something for nothing! BUT I do have a very cheap suggestion! Step one: Purchase an inexpensive memory stick for your purse or brief case. These sticks are easy to use and if you back up your data each day as you sync your palm or clean off your desk YOUR docs are ready to go!

Step two: Back up your email to a web server. This is free! Open up a free web mail account ( I love my gmail) and have your email forwarded to the address.

TA DA! That's the basics~ There is also software and websites availalbe that will automatically back up your data to a server, but for most of us the above should cover our immediate working files. While you are at it do not forget to back up family photos, important personal documents and much more! Build the habit each day and save your self from the potential melt down. Being prepared will reap too many rewards to count! Have a great day!

Making Beds, Making Marriage, Making Work: Work!

2008-04-30T09:31:44Z

April 30th, 2008

Making Beds, Making Marriage, Making Work: Work!

We all know the statistic: 50% of all marriages in America fail in today's culture. We also know that in the world of sales having a hand full of deals to close each month puts you ahead of the game. This morning I ask myself am I that different from everyone else? Am at just as much as risk for divorce as the next person? I recently celebrated my first anniversary.

It was one of the first Saturdays I had taken off in a long time and I was determined to make the most of my afternoon with my husband. We went out to lunch and watched a few movies. I'm not going to lie, this past year has been the hardest in our six year long relationship. We are truly different people, with different interests, work ethics, and sometimes I wonder what brought us together in the first place. This is what I do know: He is kind, loving, and a great father. This is what I have to remind myself everyday when I go out and try to make a living for our family.

My point? Every person that we touch, be it in real estate or REAL LIFE we need to make an effort to find good qualities, and to find reasons to motivate ourselves to provide top notch service. The economy is something that is on the hearts and minds of everyone in the country, but it is our job as citizens to keep our chins up, make changes for the better by exercising our right to vote, and make smart financial choices for our future.

We need to get up each morning, and make our beds for the day at hand. We have to do the best we can so that our children can enjoy a better quality of life, and so on and so forth. So pull back your sheets and plump your pillows! Lets get to work and make this market, this economy, WORK for you and your family.

Teething Rings and Apple Blossom!

2008-04-29T09:39:31Z

We face a variety of challenges everyday. The majority of our challenges require paitence, phone calls and a little hand holding. After the contract is said and done, we become transaction managers. We are responsible for opening the lines of communication as well as providing access to the property for loan officers, appraisers, inspectors, cleaning crews, contractors . . . you name it! Literally in some transactions it takes a parade of professionals to allow both the sellers and buyers to meet at the closing table.

My son, who will be 9 months old on May 9th, is teething right now which encompasses all of the aforementioned comments. He has good days and bad nights, swollen gums, and needs a great deal of TLC right now. We both are going through the motions "As this too will pass" and I think this is what we need to keep in mind with our more challenging customers.

This week is the 81st Annual Shenandoah Valley Apple Blossom Festival. For local agents this will be a short work week, with showings probably going to the wayside, as traffic in town causes the city to shut down beginning Thursday night. The festival offers something for everyone from art and music to parades and carnivals.

I hope to take time this weekend for some fun and relaxation (even if I just sneak out of town to avoid the crowds) Remember to take time for yourself in this trying market. Our transactions require more attention than ever before. We need to be thankful for the business and make sure that every client feels as if their home sell or home purchase is an event to look forward to NOT a war of trail and errors.

Happy Bloom!

To find out more details about The 81st Annual Shenandoah Valley Apple Blossom Festival visit

http://www.thebloom.com/

Thanks For Checking out My Blog!

Please visit my website http://www.rachaelhite.com/ to find out more about local real estate and much more!

Pride in Home Ownership: A thing of the past?

2008-04-16T13:12:20Z

April 16,2008 * This blog is for you Nat! Thanks for encouraging me to get on board!

I was grabbing my AM headline fix while driving into the office, when I lingered on the station to catch the following feature story. The news piece showcased a woman's efforts to bring former neighbors back to the Lower Ninth Ward ( Devastated by Hurricane Katrina). Patricia Jones has been working diligently to contact former residents, clean up the neighborhood and restore her home that was destroyed. Jones later reveals that through her family history she learned the value of homeownership and after finally qualifying to own a home, she was not going to give up on that dream.

I had a closing in December where my client, a first time home buyer, purchased a 211 year old town home from a retired couple who used the property as a weekend home. At closing the couple brought a scrapbook of the home's history, photos of remodeling projects, and even a few artifacts that they inherited from the property when they purchased it years ago. My client's parents came down for the settlement, and brought a camera and a bottle of champagne. This day stands out in my mind because it was not the typical closing. All the participants were present, I felt that we had negotiated a great price for the property, and my client had planned and saved for the home appropriately. I had no doubt in my mind that this transaction was meant to be.

Homeownership is a privilege, something that many of us in the industry have taken for-granted. The surplus of foreclosures and short sales that are on the market today are proof that we as REALTORS have critically important roles in correcting our economy. We must step up and help our clients make smart home purchases that they can AFFORD not just QUALIFY to buy. I see this market as an opportunity for all of us to learn to appreciate what we have, and how to save for the future.

Please click on the link below to listen to the story on NPR :

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88990436#share

Thanks for checking out my blog!

~Rachael Hite

Realty Direct Shenandoah Valley, Office Manager

Please visit my website Rachaelhite.com to find more of my favorite links and topics!