(Note: Honest, there is a real estate connection in here somewhere.)

There is an interesting phenomenon I have noticed in my household. Perhaps you have spotted it too. If a room is already messy, then those who use the room tend to add to the mess. If a room is clean and organized, then those who use the room tend to take the time to tidy up. Sort of an "objects in motion tend to stay in motion" occurrence. Only this time it isn't motion, but rather the state of organization, or lack thereof.

I used to believe the root cause was that in an organized room, everything had a place, making it easier for anyone to return items to whence they came. However, this thought pattern provided me with the excuse of simply not having enough room in our tiny house for everything to have a place. I now believe that this oversimplified rationalization of mine is only a small part of the root cause of the phenomenon.

I am noticing that my state of mind influences the state of the room. Conversely, the state of said room, also influences my state of mind. I'm sure there is some Feng Shui in there somewhere.

I will never have my mother's house. I grew up in the type of home where NOTHING was ever out of place, not a fiber of carpet leaning the wrong way, not a speck of dust to be seen. While I choose not to expend the amount of time and energy my mother did on cleaning, I do prefer a certain level of order. Fortunately, my family is cooperative to this end, but they do take their cues from me.

I have come to the conclusion that whether a room is messed or cleaned by those who use it comes down to state of mind and the signals the state of the room sends out to those who enter, more than available space and organization. When a room is already messy, it is announcing its permission to all those who enter to continue to add to the mess. When a room is clean and organized, it is denouncing those who might make a mess and announcing it's intention to remain clean and tidy.

I have always like the "clean as you go" idea better than a full day of cleaning, but sometimes life piles up and it is time to rally the troops and reclaim a tidier state of mind.

What the heck does this have to do with real estate you ask? Well, it kind of dawned on me today after listening to agent complain about a deal that the messy vs. clean "objects in motion tend to stay in motion" thought explains some of what happens with some agents when everything seems to go wrong with a transaction.

I have seen agents so polished, so calm, so sure of their knowledge and their systems that everything SEEMS to go their way. In reality, their abilities and state of mind prevent problems, and de-escalate and solve those that arise with the least amount of hassle possible, providing for a smooth transaction.

I have also seen agents so scattered, unsure of their knowledge, and lacking the proper systems, that less complex problems get out of hand and derail the entire deal.

Messy rooms tend to get messier, clean rooms tend to stay tidy.

Your preparation and state of mind can change everything for good or for bad.