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I Can Not Stand Laziness

By
Real Estate Agent with Austin Texas Homes, LLC 548155

No, I cannot stand laziness!  You know I am a REALTOR. I drive around and see homeowners who have NO pride in their homes.  Mainly…they don’t mow their yards.  As agents, we can pick a house out that has tenants over an owner occupied about any day of the week.  But we shouldn’t have to…  

Mow MeIf you rent or own, MOW YOUR YARD!  You own a car, WASH IT!  If you are just too busy, HIRE IT DONE! Have kids that are tied to computer games…untie them and put then to work! Your neighbors will appreciate it, Passerby’s will think better of you.  If you are in an HOA, it will keep you from getting a letter or a fine.  If you not in a HOA, you are just a better person!  If you own a  home and lease it out…Make the mowing requirements part of the lease…and be tough about it!

 

When a lender tells my client they are approved for up to “X” amount in a home…I am the first to tell my clients that we need to stay under that amount. Typically “X” will make you house poor.  You will not have the funds for the maintenance required to maintain that home. 

In fact, you need to set aside a savings fund just for maintenance on a home.  Whether it is to meet an insurance deductible, replace a water heater, HVAC, washer or dryer, refrigerator, or fencing…or you just want to repaint or redo the floors down the road.  This will give you the funds hopefully to do that.  Life has too many surprises, and we are not always ready for them financially.

So, if you can’t feed, bathe and raise children, don’t have them. If you can’t mow and maintain a home, or pay someone to do it for you, don’t buy one.  If you can’t wash and do routine maintenance on a vehicle, don’t buy one.  Life is pretty simple…If you own something, take care of it.

 

Sherry Scales, REALTOR®

CLHMS, GRI, SRES, ABR designations to serve you better.

Austin Texas Homes, LLC

3737 Executive Center Dr., Ste. 108

Austin, TX 78759

512.925.8928 Cell

sherry@sherryscales.com

Comments (8)

Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

wow. there was no minceing words there. :)  Good job..passionate and honest and TRUE.  I LIKED THIS THE BEST  ....Life has too many surprises, and we are not always ready for them financially.

 

thanks for sharing your mini rant (mrs dennis miller ) :)

Jul 12, 2015 05:43 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I try not to judge folks based on what I don't know.  I'm sure it is just lazy with some, but others may be struggling to keep the mortgage paid and can't afford to repair the lawn mower or hire the cut out.  I've also got some neighbors that can't really afford to hire it out and their health doesn't allow them to do it when it's so terribly hot as it is now. My Donald tries to cut theirs a couple of times in summer. 

Jul 12, 2015 06:07 AM
Sherry Scales
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Leander, TX
Realtor, for Austin, TX and surrounding areas

Tammy-exactly my point, if you can't afford the mortgage and are struggling... then sell your home and get into something you can afford...will make life much easier, so you are not struggling.  You can buy again when things get better. I would hope if ever my health made it hard, I would have kids, or grand kids, neighbors, or members of church to help me out.  I bet alot of folks would appreciate some home cook food, breads, cakes etc in exchange for mowing.

Jul 12, 2015 06:30 AM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

I live on a .25 acre lot. The landscaping is extensive. The cost? $35 every two weeks, or as needed. They mow, blow, weed, and pick it all up. Hard to not have your lawn maintained. Sheesh.

Jul 12, 2015 08:05 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Wow - that's quite the rant!  I try not to judge because we never know what goes on behind closed doors.

What are they dealing with?  Sickness perhaps?  A marital breakup? Who knows?! 

If you see that someone is need of help, offer it instead of ranting about it.

Jul 12, 2015 08:19 AM
Sherry Scales
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Leander, TX
Realtor, for Austin, TX and surrounding areas

Susan-I see this in entire subdivisions!  1 out of every 4 homes almost look like no one lives there half the time. They can not have happy neighbors, when the neighbors keep their yards maintained.  It's one thing if it is an occasional thing...but I see these same houses looking this way all the time.

Jul 12, 2015 09:34 AM
Potranco Realty
Potranco Realty - San Antonio, TX
"Sold with Potranco Realty"

Sherry, I 100% agree with every thing you mentioned in your blog post.... just gets my goat.

Jul 12, 2015 09:38 AM
Rosemarie Heindel
Harry Norman Realtors - Big Canoe, GA
Rosemarie Heindel

Great point about needing to put aside money in a savings fund for future maintenance. When you own a house, things always need attention, and you're right, often when you don't expect it.

Jul 12, 2015 11:53 AM