THIS POST IS FOR LAURIE, WHO SAID THAT 'DRIVAL' IS FINE WITH HER....

I would like to share with my fellow Home Stagers, my feeling about the importance AND joy of working with local realtors (or at least A realtor!)....

I 'met' Laurie Mindnich (http://www.optionsrealty.com/) here on Active Rain.  Since we were both based here on the "Island", there was an instant bond...let's face it - there aren't very many of us 'active' Active Rainers who live and work in the area.....

Laurie contacted me because she had (apparently) read some of my posts here.  She had a house 'out east' on the Island (translates to an hour or more ride for me) and would I be willing to come and do one of my 'Consultation Reports'?  Well, yes, I do travel around the Island and into Manhattan, so I naturally wanted to not only do my 'thing' (Consultation Report), but more than that, I was excited to meet another 'Rainer' and a Realtor one at that!

To my delight, on the day of the 'consultation', I met not only Laurie, but also her wonderful partner Sean.  I could not have asked for better 'clients' than their sellers, who were so motivated, that we started making changes in the house as we moved from room to room!  I am happy to report that Laurie and Sean call me whenever they have a new listing and I go and help the sellers to 'prep' the house by touring the property and giving my assessment.  Laurie and Sean are, without a doubt, two of the most innovative realtors that I have ever met!  I will not divulge their secrets, but suffice it to say that they really pull out all of the stops and do a lot of 'outside the box' thinking when it comes to presenting their properties!

I would like to encourage you all to make some connections.....find out who from AR is located nearby, or seek out a local realtor who is open-minded, and 'team' up!  I am so glad that I have mine!

Now, Laurie, about those vineyards......heck yeah!  I just LOVE grapes!

VAL

p.s.  okay Laurie...I wrote a post!!!