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Taking off my Realtor Hat

By
Real Estate Agent with Monument, Black Forest, Falcon, Fountain homes

 

Maybe it's my age or maybe it's just the way I do business, but sometimes I just take off my Realtor hat and put on my Mom hat.  Recently I was at the home of a young family that wanted to know if they could sell  their home in Colorado Springs to move up.  Yes, two kids later the home is a might bit tighter than when you purchased.  But here's where we are today.......

budgeting

 

I was a young parent (once), and I know what it's like to want a bigger home with more room.  But I also know how to make a dollar scream and that's what is needed here. My clients had some accumulated debt that could potentially jeopardize their plans.  Yes, I suggested they get professional financial counseling. But at the end of the day there are some simple things done now that could expedite their goals for a better outcome.

 

  1. Work overtime even if it means less time together now ( one of them had opportunities)
  2. Fewer meals out and more home cooking using some of my thrifty shopping skills
  3. Stop buying extras  keeping focused on goal
  4. Consolidate trips even try to use one car for work saving gas
  5. Trade with friends for daycare and date nights
  6. Sell some stuff either in garage sale, EBay, Craig list etc to expedite payoff
  7. Learn to seek free activities in area for the family

 

I'll be keeping in touch and continuing to give them ideas and encouraging. They now have a coach in their corner.  The real success is planting the seed to stimulate ideas on their part to expedite reaching their goals. I'm looking forward to when I can put back on my Realtor hat and be a part of the successful move up for this young family!

To learn more about how to move up in Colorado Springs contact Lorraine Sayer

Yvette Chisholm
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Rockville, MD
Associate Broker - Rockville, MD 301-758-9500

Lorraine, doing what is best for this client is not helping them get further into debt with a larger home.  It always serves you best to really help the client make good decisions.  I've had many clients declutter their home for sale and then think, maybe they didn't need a bigger house after all.  Yvette

Jul 26, 2010 03:39 AM
Robert Slick
Beach and River Homes - Georgetown, SC
NRBA, RDCPro, Trident/CCAR MLS

I say help them save for the bigger house. It's a great time to buy. Only help if they want to help themselves. 

Comment #1: Um..we don't get paid to be home organizers.

Jul 26, 2010 03:48 AM
Eileen Liles
970-216-0530 http://WeSellDeltaCounty.com - Cedaredge, CO
Macht-Liles Real Estate Group - Cedaredge, CO

Perfect, Lorraine!  This is part of who we are.  I have done the same thing, in fact, I usually tell them - okay, I need to put on my "mom hat" for a minute.  This is just part of sharing our knowlege with them - sometimes that knowlege is not real estate specific, but it all fits in the big picture.  Just keep being who you are - they will love you for it.

Jul 26, 2010 04:32 AM