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Oh the weather outside is frightful

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

For those of us in the northern climes, this is the time of the year when the sun is low in the sky, and even when the sun is up there, we don't feel the full force.  For those of you in more temperate climes, you can go get yourself a snack, while I talk to the rest... g'wan... we'll wait.

The weather outside is frightful.  Some of our neighbours to the north have already experienced measurable snow and sub-zero temperatures. Fortunately, that hasn't hit my area yet.  We've had a couple of flurries... perhaps a dusting of the white-stuff.  But nothing worth breaking out the shovel for.

As the weather turns sloppy, and the sun begins her annual hibernation.  Let's try to remember to "acclimate" our listings.  Make sure that you have a sign at your listings that says "please wear booties, or remove your shoes..."  And make certain to have booties in place, if you use them.

A tray in place to accept those removed-shoes, so they don't just drip all over the foyer floor, after slogging through 2 feet of snow to access the house.

Speaking of slogging, let's make sure that the path to the front door is cleared.  No, that doesn't mean that you, the Realtor, need to shovel the walk.  But talk to your seller and make sure that something is arranged for someone to clear the walk, and almost more importantly... salt the walk, so it doesn't get icy and slippery.  See if a neighbourhood kid will handle it. The last thing we want is an injury and a claim against the owners insurance!  Nothing will sour a showing faster than that.

For those who use lockboxes, whether combo or electronic.  Try to remember that those lockboxes are NOT impervious to weather. If they are outside (not between the storm door and the house door) and exposed to the elements, it might be a good idea to cover them in a zip-loc-style baggie, to keep the rain, sleet, hail out of them, so they don't freeze.  A frozen lockbox is a source of irritation for all!

Also, let's make sure that the heat in our listings is kept at a tolerable level (it doesn't have to be paradise in there, but it does have to feel pleasant enough that the viewers aren't shivering their way through the showing.  You want them to feel at home, not a NOME!  heh, heh... I like that one!)

And for those homes that are vacant, it's even more important to make sure that the heat is on, so that the pipes don't burst!  Stop by your vacant properties once every week or so... to make sure that there haven't been any vandals, nothing has broken, the toilet isn't leaking, and the basement isn't full of water.

Let's have fun out there, shall we?  Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful....

 

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate
Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments (20)

Larry Story ALC
Total Care Realty - Greensboro, NC
Beneath it all is the Land, Covering all of NC

Alan,

Even though my "clime" is a good bit more liveable I do need to remember the poor neglected lockboxes just sitting out there in the weather.  

Dec 02, 2011 01:32 AM
John Wingate
EXIT Shore Realty - Salisbury, MD
Salisbury MD Real Estate, 302.339.5185, Salisbury, MD Homes

I am ready for summer already and today was the first cold day of 30 degrees. It has been in the 60s for the past week and I was spoiled :)

John's Facebook Page

Dec 02, 2011 01:40 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Brrr.... you are making me cold just thinking about frozen lock boxes.  Although we have frightful summers, being 75 degrees in December more than makes up for it.

Dec 02, 2011 01:53 AM
Anne M. Costello
Weidel Realtors - Yardley, PA

The cranky lockboxes are my biggest pet peeve. Rusted from the waether -ugh! Burst pipes are a nightmare. The expense after that happens is worth paying the heat bill. This is especially true in vacant houses.

Dec 02, 2011 01:55 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Larry - it's a rude awakening, isn't it?

John - it comes on us rather quickly... doesn't it?

Paula - weren't you supposed to be getting a snack?

Anne - rusted, frozen, filled with water... none of it's fun.

Dec 02, 2011 01:58 AM
Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

Frozen lockbox?? I was complaining about appoints this morning when it was 46 degrees.

Dec 02, 2011 02:25 AM
Peggy Chirico
Prudential CT Realty - Manchester, CT
REALTOR® 860-748-8900, Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate

This is a great reminder this time of year.  Winter is approaching fast!

Dec 02, 2011 02:34 AM
Bill & Cyndi Daves
Hiawassee, Young Harris, Blairsville, Hayesville, Murphy and Beyond! - Hiawassee, GA
TeamDAVES - Your REALTORS In the GA/NC Mountains!

Alan - Thank you for the reminder about the lockboxes.  We forget about those and it's frustrating to an agent to not be able to open one because it's frozen shut!!

Dec 02, 2011 03:44 AM
'The Diamond Group' 'A Cut Above The Rest'
The Diamond Group @ Keller Williams - Lubbock, TX
Lubbock Texas Real Estate

Our first day of winter and I'm hoping for summer again.  Not as brave as I used to be.  Never would have thought about the lockboxes freezing too, glad it doesn't get that cold here.

Dec 02, 2011 04:21 AM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Hmmm ... I'm going to go get a snack. Clear blue skies, sunny and 73 degrees in Northern California :)

Dec 02, 2011 04:47 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Doug - 46 degrees??  that's t-shirt and shorts weather.

Peggy - in some cases, it's here already.

Bill & Cyndi - incredibly frustrating to slog through 2 feet of snow, make it to the front door, only to find a block of ice with a key embedded inside.

Elizabeth - you can't groan about Winter in Texas.... sorry... no sympathy from the tundra!

Cynthia - sorry.. must have been going through a tunnel... bad reception... can't hear you.

Dec 02, 2011 05:19 AM
Christine Smith
Buyers Brokers Only LLC - www.BuyersBrokersOnly.com - Canton, MA
Exclusive Buyer Agent & Attorney, Canton, MA

Alan....we've had relatively mild weather (with the exception of one storm right before Halloween).  I have not even really had to wear a jacket.  I just thought we were skipping winter weather this year.  You mean to tell me winter is really coming?!  I hope all the listing agents & sellers follow your advice!

Dec 02, 2011 08:56 AM
Brad Rachielles
CENTURY 21 Peak, Ca BRE# 01489453 - Upland, CA
REALTOR, CDPE, Upland, CA

Alan,

at your suggestion, I went and had a cold iced tea. BUT, we were in Northern Illinois for the Thanksgiving Holiday. As we were leaving for O'Hare on Monday, we did see just a few more than three snowflakes, but that was enough to scare us back to California.

 

Dec 02, 2011 09:47 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Christine - that's the rumour.

Brad - that'll do it... three snowflakes is no big deal... but when they gang-up... yeeesh!

Dec 02, 2011 10:27 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Alan Elvis, you and that weather up there must be the reason VA makes us winterize houses in the heat of the summer!  Brrrrrrr......

Dec 02, 2011 01:32 PM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Alan,

I guess our buddies in the more moderate temperatures miss all the fun.

Rich

Dec 02, 2011 03:36 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Barbara - the VA has a mind of it's own.

Richard - yeah... that's it... "fun".

Dec 02, 2011 03:45 PM
Vince Chinell
VICO Home Inspection - Branson, MO
CPI

Hi Alan, I'm a newbie, and stopped by to say hi. I'm told I can learn alot from your posts, and I see that's a big FOR SURE! I subscribed. Hope you don't mind if I stop by often.  Winter can be really tough on home inspections too. It can be quite difficult to do a thorough inspection on a roof covered with snow! I love summer!

Dec 02, 2011 05:37 PM
Tim Bradley
Contour Investment Properties - Jackson Hole, WY
Commercial Real Estate Expert in Jackson Hole, WY

Yeah, but it's a "dry" cold, so...oh who am I kidding. It was sub-zero this morning.

Dec 03, 2011 06:32 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Vince - whoever told you that was a frightful liar, but welcome aboard nonetheless.  Please stop by as often as you can tolerate... they don't let me have visitors that often.

Although I just checked, and don't see you included on the list of subscribers... just go to the button at the bottom of my blog-post, and click to subscribe.

Tim - but at least in Jackson Hole you have fabulous scenery!

Dec 03, 2011 06:38 AM