DUTCHESS COUNTY REAL ESTATE

While working from home today, my dog started barking. I was on the phone and could not investigate the situation. Fortunately, my husband was working from home too. I heard him pleading for the dog to come back. Now, I'm thinking "uh oh ...the dog just bolted and I need to go help him before she heads towards the busy road at the end of our subdivision".

I got off the call, but by this time he had lured her back inside. Phew!

We usually let her out to do her thing without a leash. She almost always comes right back in. She doesn't bolt too often but when it does happen she is almost always determined to keep on going. I asked him what had happened.

Apparently the UPS man came with a delivery while she was outside. The dog was startled and ran towards him barking. Her bark is scary but she's really a pussy cat in disguise. However, she IS a 110 pound dog, and looks just as intimidating as her bark! 

"What did the UPS guy do when he she started barking? " I asked.     

"Oh, he looked scared. I told him she just wants to play" my husband replies.

A little later I had to run out to do some errands. When I returned I was walking up the path to my back door when I noticed one of our Halloween decorations. No wonder the UPS man was scared!

See, he would have seen this in the bushes as he approached the back door.

Now just look what happened to the last deliveryman! ...Bad dog!   

A caregiver is an everyday hero, they take on many roles. Every single day can oresent new challenges. And, there are many tasks. A caregiver wears many hats - nurse, activities director, cook, housekeeper, chauffer, pharmacist - just to name a few.

For caregivers in the mid-Hudson Valley, a FREE conference will be sponsored by the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and cooperative organizations, including the Saint Francis Hospital, Dutchess County Office for the Aging, the Manor at Woodside. Premier Home Health Care, and Wingate Healthcare.  

Workshops will be offered at the conference to help cargivers find available resources and understand issues related to a caregiver's needs. 

Some of the topics covered will be home care services, elder law and financial matters and pharmaceutical issues. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Albert Riddle, medical director at Wingate Healthcare. 

The event is titled "Lean on Me Conference on Caregiving"  - and will take place at the Best Western Inn and Conference Center on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie on November 8th from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

The conference is FREE but registration is required by November 1st. For more information call 845-471-2655.

In a few days, at a more appropriate time - I will ask for family permission to pay official tribute to a wonderful man. I have been absent from Active Rain for a few days because I was feeling too blue. Yesterday I attended a funeral of a friend and a well respected real estate attorney. At 73 years old, he was still performing full time in his role of an attorney and managing his own law practice. I never knew until his death that he was in his 70's.

I found myself teary eyed at this funeral. His family eulogized him beautifully in a program that was handed out in church. While reading about him, I felt strongly connected in some way. It's a connection I always knew was there, but I just couldn't ever put my finger on it. I not only knew him as an attorney but as a friend. His wife of 51 years is a real estate agent too and works in my office. His son and business partner, is also an attorney who has handled some of my own personal legal paperwork. I knew him professionally and personally. My attorney friend would sometimes treat my broker and I to lunch to discuss business. Professionally, I learned a lot from this man in these conversations. But, I also learned a little more about him as a person each time we would chat. And, he always reminded me of somebody.

As I was reading the church program and his recent obituary which outlined the many professional and personal organizations he was affiliated with - yesterday, I finally understood the connection for the first time. I had no clue how active a man of this age could be. The list was so long. The priest even commented "When did this man sleep"?  Yes, I learned even more about this man yesterday through the words of his children and grandchildren. It was then, when I finally realized my attorney friend in many ways had reminded me of my own father who lives many miles away. 

I can't say I know how his own children must feel at this moment, but my heart is heavy and I ache for them. Yes, this was a man who gave me good legal advice. But, unrelated to real estate, I also received my share of good common sense rationale from this man - just like my father once gave me. It was as if he was made from the same mold as my dad. His active involvement in the Knights of Columbus, his devotion and love for his family and church, his integrity and values, the respect he showed to others, the way he beemed when he talked about his grandchildren and the successes of his children, his special bond to his wife of 51 years - this was a man who was just like my own dad. Although in comparison, my father is 15 years older and had a stroke a few years ago that leaves him physically and speach impaired. As much as I still enjoy my father's  company, he can no longer share his good advice and I really miss his stories about the past. My attorney friend told similar stories and at lunch one day I had even found similarities in their childhood, which we shared with laughter. Yet, it never occurred to me until yesterday that being with this man was like seeing my father 15 years younger again - and I knew suddenly, the reason I admired and respected him.

What impressed me in the end was this man's drive and passion for helping people. He advocated so strongly for my clients that it drove the other lawyers mad. But, he was all about helping his client and he didn't waver - at least, not without a good fight. And, it always came down to what was reasonable and fair. That's what good lawyers do, and what the "not so good ones" might complain about. He was an attorney with a great bedside manner who made the pit bulls furious when he was unbending in a respectful sort of way. In recent months as the volume of short sales grew and grew, the younger ones started turning these transactions away. My attorney friend was one of the few who would welcome the business by rolling up his sleeves and getting right down to business - to help those in need. At 73, he had patience and still nothing was too complicated for this man. Once, another attorney complained to me that my friend was not charging enough in legal fees for a real estate transaction compared to the going rate. This was taking business away from all the others. This didn't sit well with me - still doesn't. That same disgruntled attorney stated to me a while back that he's not going to do short sales anymore and then one day he vented about how my friend was really making a transaction very frustrating. I listened as he vented. He knew I referred business to my 73 year old friend and questioned my reasons why. Well, why wouldn't I refer to a lawyer who looks out for my client's best interest, would be willing to work any transaction I send his way, and would even charge a discounted rate? In his defense, I ask anybody reading this post - Is it wrong to stop caring about the "people part" of why we picked our professions?

See, I knew a humble man who decided at the end of his life that being a lawyer wasn't about HIS money or HIS ego. For him, it was about helping others. What really gave him satisfaction was the PEOPLE part of doing business! He was always there to help others and give advice. He was the one attorney I felt comfortable calling if I had a legal question. I only needed to reach out to him once every few months, but when I did - no legal question was ever stupid. He never spoke to me in indignant tones as other lawyers have. He became the only attorney I would not hesitate to call - even if we were not mutually working on a transaction. Sometimes I just needed to give a scenario and have somebody to bounce a question off of. His daughter told about how he prefered to be considered "Counselor At Law" rather than an attorney or lawyer. He was indeed a great "counselor".  

Yesterday afternoon when I returned to my office, I found myself faced with a legal question. I hesitated for a moment and looked up to the sky searching for an answer to my question - maybe because earlier in the day at the funeral, somebody referred to this man as the "Patron Saint of Real Estate Transactions"! 

Hard! This is really hard! How does a quality home compete with larger homes which are inferior? When it comes to marketing, I think it is much easier to promote size over quality. I've had a few challenging listings this year. I don't know if it's my locale but I've lived in other parts of the country where quality is everything. The Northeast is a little pricey, okay it's a lot pricey. This is different. 

New York ranks as one of the highest states when it comes to property taxes. I never have figured out why that is because I know I am not getting anything more in return here than I did as a resident outside of New York - where I was paying a fraction of my current property tax.   

To determine what makes the real estate consumer tick, I evaluated my own home buying experience. And, I think I now understand the mindset after taking a trip down memory lane.  

When I was considering moving to New York 10 years ago, I was discussing various listings with my Realtor at the time. It seemed I favored the larger homes in my price range and he told me I probably wanted the "biggest house for the dollar". I'm not exactly sure that's what I really wanted but I was indeed moving from a more affordable housing market and it didn't take long for me to figure out that I was sacrificing space to stay in a lateral price range of what I was selling at the time. It also did not take me long to figure out that I can always add the granite counters or install hardwood floors after the fact. And, that's exactly what we did.

We built the largest home we could afford at the time and added upgrades through the years. Shortly after that move, I entered into the real estate business. Now, I am having to market homes with all the whistles and bells and superior quality which are competing against inferior and/or older homes on steroids. Hard. This is really hard!

What do buyers prefer? What matters more, the package or the size? And, which type of listing do Realtors prefer to market if given the choice?         

Nobody who's ever ventured north of NY City or Westchester County would ever imagine this! Only 70 miles away from the Big Apple is a beautiful and peaceful landscape. Manhattanites who come up here for a weekend drive usually fall in love with the Upstate NY countryside. Often I've heard it said - "I  feel like I've died and gone to heaven". No wonder one Hudson Valley town was named Pleasant Valley!

Many stay long enough to check out the local real estate market -  and eventually they become residents who commute to work in The City. The smart thing, for those who have jobs that are conducive enough is to figure out a way to telecommute. Some people transition to a 4 day work week. until they can eventually retire here. One of these people is novelist and New York Times bestselling author Michael Korda (former editor-in-chief for Simon and Schuster) - he and his wife gave up city life about 25 years ago and moved to Pleasant Valley. http://www.answers.com/topic/michael-korda

Korda writes about his experiences of becoming a country folk in his book titled: Country Matters - The Pleasures and Tribulations of Moving from a Big City to an Old Country Farmhouse.                    Entertaining, canny, and moving, Country Matters does for Dutchess County, New York, what Under the Tuscan Sun did for Tuscany. With his inimitable sense of humor and storytelling talent, New York Times bestselling author Michael Korda brings us this charming, hilarious, self-deprecating memoir of a city couple's new life in the country.

Although I have never met Michael Korda personally, after reading his book I feel like I know him.

I'm sure our paths have even probably crossed many times because we share the same Pleasant Valley zip-code. Maybe I've bumped into him at the Pleasant Valley post office, The A&P, or our local Dunkin Donuts! 

I also moved here from a bigger city where traffic jams were the norm and smog alerts were reported daily. I fell in love with the Hudson Valley for probably the same reasons Michael Korda did. Fall is one of the obvious times to appreciate the Hudson Valley. As I drove to my office today, I was 1 1/2 miles from my Pleasant Valley home (just about 2 miles to the Town of Poughkeepsie border) when it occurred to me that I should stop and take some photos. I felt the need to share! This is what I see on my daily drives - and this                                                         is what others see when they come here and fall in love!  

Have you let yourself become a last minute Realtor? It's a fact - there are fewer and fewer buyers to work with. And, for every listing there are fewer and fewer showings. Sellers have pretty much let their guard down these days. Many sellers are requiring 24 notice. Do you tell buyers this? I do. I have implemented a 24 hour rule now when working with buyers.   

As a listing agent, I certainly don't want my sellers to feel anxious. I encourage them to live in their homes but to always be prepared. <Wink> ...Now really, how can anybody do both?

A few of my listings require 24 hours notice, while other listings are better prepared for a last minute showing. It simply depends on the seller's lifestyle.  

Some sellers may have a routine that does not require too much notice for a showing - they're an exception. Some sellers are commuters who work long hours, get home late, and leave at the crack of dawn. They are so exhausted, that they may not have the time or energy to tidy up on a daily basis. Some sellers have rented their peoperty and have a legal obligation to provide 24 hours notice to the tenant. Some sellers have a crazy household with many family activities or kids that are coming and going. Some properties have alarm systems which need to be disarmed before a showing. Some people have dogs needing to be crated. These are some of the many reasons sellers want advance warning that a potential buyer will be coming by to look at their home.     

Lately, there have been a lot of requests for last minute showings on my listings. It's required me, my office staff and my clients to spring into action to confirm. I hate to decline a showing and usually I will try to get an exception on a listing that requires 24 hours notice. But, usually this causes some amount of chaos.  

I have to wonder, are last minute requests a result of poor planning? Was it the buyer's agent who did not prepare far enough in advance or did the buyer expect everybody to cater to his/her schedule without forewarning.   

I know it's irritating to have a seller decline a showing, I won't pretend I haven't been on the receiving side of this situation. But, the only times I have ever been denied access was when it was a last minute or a same day request. Over time - I have learned to plan accordingly and to discourage my buyers from requesting last minute appointments.  

Agents, do you plan showings far enough in advance? Do you train your buyers to understand that sellers cannot always accommodate a last minute request for a showing? It's really not all that hard to get my buyer clients to understand, appreciate and respect that their agent needs a little time to coordinate things. I have learned to convey tactfully that I am not a last minute Realtor.     

Gee, I'd better go check on one of my listings tomorrow to be sure it's still in tact. I've been trying very hard to get the house sold but it's a very challenging market. I understand when there is a divorce involved the home sale can be a little tricky. Dividing the assets becomes complicated and in this market selling a house to divide the assets is even tougher. But, I hope it never gets to this point....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27113959/?GT1=43001

A couple in rural Cambodia has terminated their 18-year marriage with a divorce settlement that entailed sawing in two the wooden house they once shared.

Now, it's difficult enough marketing a home in THIS market. But, please don't call on me to market THIS!

GORGEOUS 2004 TRANSITIONAL HOME IN A SOUGHT AFTER LAGRANGE NEIGHBORHOOD. QUALITY ABOUNDS W/CHERRY, GRANITE,& STAINLESS KITCHEN, QUALITY MOLDINGS/DOORS & STONEWORK. BOASTS HW FLOORS, 2 STORY ENTRY & FAMILY ROOM, 2 STAIRCASES, SPACIOUS BDRMS & FABULOUS MASTER SUITE. MANICURED LAWN, PROFESSIONALLY LANDSCAPED W/UNILOCK WALKS, WALL, PATIO & W/CASCADING WATERFALL. GARAGE ACCESS TO FULL BASEMENT. CLOSE TO TSP & 10 MINUTES TO TRAINS. SHOWS LIKE NEW! ~ New Price  $599,900

Do you know how to play nice in the sandbox with the other real estate agents? When you are ready to face off - are you an Obama or a McCain? Sometimes, a little personality goes a long way - just look at the polls.

If anything, having a combative personality only earns you a reputation amongst the other agents. Nobody wants to do business with a hard nose. What happens when it gets to the point that nobody wants to even show your listings? Eventually, agents will cringe at the thought of you showing one of theirs. Worse, they will hide under their desks when they find out you have a buyer who has expressed an interest in one of their listings. 

I know her personally. I know her style. It just so happens, I also know the other agent on the other end of the transaction. Two strong personalities - both known for trying to have the upper hand in negotiations. I found it hard to believe the deal which was already negotiated to the max would go any further once it was learned of the costly inspection issues that had to be resolved next. I didn't think the deal would die because of the issues, but because of the personalities involved in having to resolve a problem.

Both agents are passionate about what they do. Perhaps they are both a little too emotional. Maybe they're a little too big for their britches. They both like to debate. Neither knows how to set their emotions aside and put their clients first. So, when one came to me for advice, I think it was because she simply wanted to practice on ME before talking to the other agent. In not so many words, I think I was asked to be objective about the situation. Immediately, I began to sense she had a certain tone about her. I've seen it before - I've been the recipient to it before. Let's just say I like to hide under my desk when I know she could be submitting an offer on one of my listings. If there was a way I could get away with banning her from showing my listings I would. She's brutal. The last time she showed one of my listings she nit-picked it to death. Her buyers never made an offer but she was preparing me just in case. Nobody likes getting beat up. Nobody likes negativity. Nobody likes confrontation.

Don't get me wrong, I can hold my own - but, let's not go there! Some people have a certain negotiation style. I think some agents get into the business because they like a good fight. If this were a game of hockey, I know a few agents who would be frequently sitting in the penalty box.

Well, somehow I ended up being the hockey mom (I was even wearing lipstick). Somehow, I've earned her respect - enough that she confided in me and asked me for advice. Maybe I was the referee, or the coach? She said the other agent was getting defensive and trying to intimidate her. Oh, but I've seen her do the same to others - so, now she's met her match! I wonder how SHE likes it? My mother would have said that now she's getting a taste of her own medicine! I think in a way I should be flattered that she looks to me for advice, as if I am her mentor. But, I don't want to be. The truth is, nobody ....not even I, can change her ways. But, I did like seeing her squirm! I admit, I was very amused by the situation! And, I was delighted to have a front row seat as they prepared for another face off! :)

    GAME  ON!

So, I was just an innocent bystander between these two agents. But, I could just see where things were heading. I could pretty much predict the outcome.

As she defended her position on her practice run with me, I asked questions. She got defensive. I asked more questions and gave my opinion. It turned into a debate. I was just minding my own business and somehow I got sucked into learning a little more than I wanted to about somebody else's transaction. I understood she wanted to talk it out and be sure of herself before she talked to him. And, somehow I became her punching bag. So, I suggested a different dialog. Maybe adjust the tone. Otherwise, the deal was soon to be null and void and her buyers would be in her car again looking at more homes. Knowing both agents are strong willed, I knew somebody would have to swallow their pride. I warned her the deal was going south if she didn't handle her side of the negotiation a little differently. I knew she wouldn't be the one swallowing her pride. Something told me he wouldn't be the one either. 

Well, this deal flew south with the birds for the winter. I feel vindicated. The deal is dead. Both agents have gained nothing - but they still have their pride. All they had to do is talk it over a little differently instead of bickering. I wonder if their clients will ever know that their very aggressive agents were just a little too aggressive for one another - and that's probably the real reason the deal fell through? Some buyers and sellers look for agents who will be their advocates without realizing that a MAVERICK is one who is not afraid to burn bridges, could care less about playing nice in the sand with others and will risk everything to keep their pride in tact. But this is about getting along with others and creating a Win-Win situation for our clients. It's about the people we serve ....and not about our own egos.        

Some of you will call me OCD. Go ahead! But, I found myself one cheapskate builder when we built 9 years ago. I wasn't in the real estate business back then and maybe I didn't know any better. I didn't pre-determine if the completed construction project would include a garage paint job. I should have known, this is the same builder who did not consider a fireplace mantel a standard feature - we paid extra. Hard to believe, but just 9 years ago the area home builders were just the independents. Since that time, national homebuildres have bought up land and are giving those independent cheapskates a run for their money. To compete with the nationals, the independents are now including a lot more stuff.  

It's been nagging at me ever since we moved in. Every time I pull into my garage I am reminded of clutter and disorganization. The unpainted walls make it look dark, dirty and grungy. I know when I sell in a few years that buyers will appreciate the look of a bright and clean garage that is somewhat organized. It may not help resale value but I'm sure it will show that we take pride. I believe a staged garage will give buyers the impression that the home has been maintained inside and out.

So, this weekend, my husband has been hard at work in getting the garage painted. Next weekend he's even going to work on an epoxy painted floor. I know he has worked very hard this weekend. And, expect that he will be snoring very loud tonight!