It is 11:17 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, and I am wrapped up snug in a blanket at my computer desk in the basement, about as far away from Black Friday shopping as I can get. I can't tell you the last time I made a shopping run to Norfolk or Sioux City. I have had a lot on my proverbial plate for the last five months. In July, I made the decision that it was time to fulfill a dream I have had since I was five years old to own my own business. If you would have asked me back then what I wanted to be, I would have told you a farmer. It wasn't until I was 25 that I realized real estate might be the thing I was truly destined for with just a splash of farmer on the side. This decision had been weighing heavily on my mind for several months knowing that my current employer was moving in the direction of semi-retirement at the end of 2019. Within a matter of a few days in the middle of July, I had purchased the building located at 219 Main Street without so much as telling my husband it was happening. I simply pulled up to his shop after work, and told him I had a surprise. He guessed right away what I had done, and the rest is history. He must trust me because he hasn't questioned a thing throughout this entire process. And, so we begin our 8th year of the do-it-yourself saga that has consumed our marriage.
I've spent the last four months getting i's dotted and t's crossed, and I still have a ways to go. I want to tell all of YOU, my loyal buyers and sellers, that there is no need to panic. I will be relaying more information to you as we enter the month of December. Due to strict sanctions by the Nebraska Real Estate Commission, I am fairly limited as to what I can say just yet. However, be assured that you are my top priority as we enter into the final month of this transition.
Now you know that this new business venture is largely the reason I have been laying pretty low these days. I haven't had much of a chance to come up for air, let alone go shopping or leave town. I spent the bulk of today vacuuming and cleaning carpets, which might not sound like a very glamorous way to spend Thanksgiving, but it was good for my soul. At least I wasn't the poor sap that got stuck reinstalling the toilet after the new flooring was installed in the bathroom (thanks, Tim!) And I don't want to take any credit away from my big brother Tom Hansen, Rug Doctor extraordinaire, who ran the carpet cleaner while I vacuumed...and vacuumed....and vacuumed. Pretty sure I'm going to need a new vacuum after this.
So, for the next few weeks (or years), I'm going to be burning some midnight oil. I couldn't do so without the support of so many understanding friends, family, customers, clients, and colleagues like you. I am truly thankful for all of you, and for your words of encouragement. Goodness, I'm tearing up just thinking about each and every one of you and what a treasure it is to know you. Thanks for your patience and for sharing in my excitement! Change is hard, and life isn't all real estate and roses. So long as we trust in each other and work together, we should be able to make it through. Welcome Home.
A real (often comical) look at life as it happens in the world of Real Estate Associate Broker, Trisha Peters.
Showing posts with label Real Estate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Real Estate. Show all posts
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
"Eye" Don't Know.
Last year, I taught my oldest son what it means to play hooky from school or work. I can't even begin to count how many times over the course of the last year that I have been getting ready for work in the morning only to be asked if today is the day I would play hooky and stay home with him to do something extraordinary. Each request shaved a little chunk off my heart thinking to myself about this precious time we have while our children are young and how we spend so much of it trying to make a living. Thursday of last week was the day I could finally tell him that both his dad and I were playing hooky, and, boy, was he ecstatic!
I was finally able to teach the kids the fine art of skipping out on work on a beautiful fall day. One thing our family is really good at is taking snowy and cold days off of work, but we often do not take the time to enjoy days when the weather is nice. Fortunately, school had fall break, so we made a break for the Henry Doorly Zoo in combination with my follow-up exam at Truhlsen Eye Clinic at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha. (And, my eyes did not get dilated this time, so my husband couldn't trick me out of going to Spaghetti Works due to traffic concerns.) I soccer-mommed super hard in our borrowed minivan all day--w
eaving in and out of traffic, circling the block several times for a perfect parking spot, telling the kids to quiet down so I could focus on driving downtown, and accelerating quickly at stop lights to give the impression that I was doing a burn-out to win back some cool points. I hadn't been to the zoo in 20 years, and I am glad I got to experience it for a second time with my boys at a young age. It was quite a day. We started at the aquarium and the boys were literally running from exhibit to exhibit in awe of the entire experience. No major meltdowns, but we did have a little soldier drop trou(sers) in the middle of a group of site-seers on the Pelican Lake Bridge for a potty break. Attention spans were just long enough to get a general look at each animal throughout the entire excursion. Exception was giving to the lone tiger that was out in the Asian Highlands as he was the primary animal that our youngest wanted to see. Luke would not take his eyes off the tiger, even for a photo, because he thought the tiger would be able to get through the fence if he wasn't watching. The overall expanse of the zoo and the amount of manpower it takes to maintain, winterize, and care for each animal is almost beyond comprehension. It is pretty incredible to have such a fantastic resource right in our backyard, and it is worth at least one day of playing hooky to go see it in your lifetime!
You might be wondering about the results of my eye examination as well. The good news is that my optical nerves have experienced a 15-20% reduction in swelling since June. I am on the right track with medication. I did make a point to ask the pros at Truhlsen what is causing the swelling behind my eyes and the eyes of at least four other people I know. The simple answer was, "I don't know." I had to chuckle because my three year old's favorite answer to any question right now is, "I don't know." "What did you have for lunch today?" "I don't know." "Where did you put your water bottle?" "I don't know." "Who colored all over the wall in the garage with sidewalk chalk?" "Logan did it." He has an answer for everything, even if the answer is, "I don't know." A simple answer that is endearing in tone and annoying in reality!
As a follow up, I asked if the Med Center is doing research to see why such an insurgence of this particular problem is occurring in women my age, and the answer to that was, "People like you are all we see all day long. We don't know if there is an increase in cases or not. We are just here to treat the problem." Not the answer I wanted. It is slightly unnerving to me that such an influx of women in my own circle are experiencing this problem. The doctors attribute some of the cause to the increased use of Retin A, retinol, or retinoid in cosmetic products. It is a common anti-aging treatment that is an ingredient in a number of products. Unfortunately, putting it on your skin results in an absorption into your body that is far higher than if you simply ate the product and digested it normally. Your skin is the largest organ and is not designed to filter out bad juju like your intestinal track. That's your tiny tidbit of scientific advice for today. Ditch the Retin gals, or suffer the consequences later.
So, that was our fun for the fall in addition to the ongoing harvest and real estate hi-jinks. A little R&R is just what the doctor ordered when the stars aligned for this appointment and fall break. Get out of the office, play hooky, and make the most of what you have. Life isn't all real estate and roses, but we can sure make it fun while it lasts. Welcome Home.
I was finally able to teach the kids the fine art of skipping out on work on a beautiful fall day. One thing our family is really good at is taking snowy and cold days off of work, but we often do not take the time to enjoy days when the weather is nice. Fortunately, school had fall break, so we made a break for the Henry Doorly Zoo in combination with my follow-up exam at Truhlsen Eye Clinic at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha. (And, my eyes did not get dilated this time, so my husband couldn't trick me out of going to Spaghetti Works due to traffic concerns.) I soccer-mommed super hard in our borrowed minivan all day--w
eaving in and out of traffic, circling the block several times for a perfect parking spot, telling the kids to quiet down so I could focus on driving downtown, and accelerating quickly at stop lights to give the impression that I was doing a burn-out to win back some cool points. I hadn't been to the zoo in 20 years, and I am glad I got to experience it for a second time with my boys at a young age. It was quite a day. We started at the aquarium and the boys were literally running from exhibit to exhibit in awe of the entire experience. No major meltdowns, but we did have a little soldier drop trou(sers) in the middle of a group of site-seers on the Pelican Lake Bridge for a potty break. Attention spans were just long enough to get a general look at each animal throughout the entire excursion. Exception was giving to the lone tiger that was out in the Asian Highlands as he was the primary animal that our youngest wanted to see. Luke would not take his eyes off the tiger, even for a photo, because he thought the tiger would be able to get through the fence if he wasn't watching. The overall expanse of the zoo and the amount of manpower it takes to maintain, winterize, and care for each animal is almost beyond comprehension. It is pretty incredible to have such a fantastic resource right in our backyard, and it is worth at least one day of playing hooky to go see it in your lifetime!
 |
| Checking out the Tiger |
You might be wondering about the results of my eye examination as well. The good news is that my optical nerves have experienced a 15-20% reduction in swelling since June. I am on the right track with medication. I did make a point to ask the pros at Truhlsen what is causing the swelling behind my eyes and the eyes of at least four other people I know. The simple answer was, "I don't know." I had to chuckle because my three year old's favorite answer to any question right now is, "I don't know." "What did you have for lunch today?" "I don't know." "Where did you put your water bottle?" "I don't know." "Who colored all over the wall in the garage with sidewalk chalk?" "Logan did it." He has an answer for everything, even if the answer is, "I don't know." A simple answer that is endearing in tone and annoying in reality!
As a follow up, I asked if the Med Center is doing research to see why such an insurgence of this particular problem is occurring in women my age, and the answer to that was, "People like you are all we see all day long. We don't know if there is an increase in cases or not. We are just here to treat the problem." Not the answer I wanted. It is slightly unnerving to me that such an influx of women in my own circle are experiencing this problem. The doctors attribute some of the cause to the increased use of Retin A, retinol, or retinoid in cosmetic products. It is a common anti-aging treatment that is an ingredient in a number of products. Unfortunately, putting it on your skin results in an absorption into your body that is far higher than if you simply ate the product and digested it normally. Your skin is the largest organ and is not designed to filter out bad juju like your intestinal track. That's your tiny tidbit of scientific advice for today. Ditch the Retin gals, or suffer the consequences later.
So, that was our fun for the fall in addition to the ongoing harvest and real estate hi-jinks. A little R&R is just what the doctor ordered when the stars aligned for this appointment and fall break. Get out of the office, play hooky, and make the most of what you have. Life isn't all real estate and roses, but we can sure make it fun while it lasts. Welcome Home.
Thursday, June 13, 2019
3-2-1...Ka-blam!
Eleven years ago this week, I went on my first date with the man who is now my husband. I remember walking into his house for the first time a couple of weeks after this momentous occasion to find him scrubbing his bathroom on his hands and knees to try and impress me. Little did I know that all of those pretty little lies would go by the wayside once he had me locked down in marriage.
Perhaps every household is like this, but a hot mess follows my husband wherever he goes within the four walls of our home. Does anybody else's husband use the stovetop as an extension of the countertop?? Literally, within 10 minutes of cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom, my husband can make it look like a bomb has gone off in there. I am constantly in awe of how he can possibly make such a huge mess! Clearly, our cleaning styles are 100% opposite because this is the same guy who lovingly wipes down the tools he uses each day with a shop towel to make sure he doesn't get any grease in his toolbox. What about the lump of stinking coal he burned onto the large front burner of the ceramic stove top?! I mean, c'mon, dude! You have your tools and I have mine, but the stove is like everyman's tool of the trade. He thinks I'm crazy because I "wax" the stove top twice a week. Don't even get me started on the order in which he does dishes (by the way, pots and pans before Tupperware is not the right order, and rinsing with cold water does not "remove the soap suds more effectively"). Plus, he doesn't swirl the water when he drains the sink, so a lump of dried soap scum and tiny food particles can greet me the next morning. Yummy.
I know, I know, many of you are thinking, "Well, at least he DOES the dishes." And, you're right. Everything we do at home has to be a team effort. With both of us working full time, we don't leave much room for error when it comes to household chores. That being said, I'm not telling you all about his flaws to belittle his efforts. On the contrary, these are the goofy little things that really tell me he cares about doing what he can to help (as crazy as it makes me sometimes). Most days, we are dog tired by supper time. Most days, we have two hangry boys voicing their opinions over the meal. Most days, we eat in shifts while we deal with upset juice glasses or requests for seconds. Most days, we let the Hamburger Helper boil over between calls from work or family or friends who also need a little piece of us. Most days, I'm impressed that the hubs will put up with as much guff from me as he does and still keep coming back for more. Most days, I'm just glad to have someone who will help me with the most menial tasks in life, even if it leaves the kitchen looking like Kim Jong-un's nuclear testing grounds. Life isn't all real estate and roses. I love hugs, and I love kisses, but what I love most is help with the dishes! Welcome Home!
Perhaps every household is like this, but a hot mess follows my husband wherever he goes within the four walls of our home. Does anybody else's husband use the stovetop as an extension of the countertop?? Literally, within 10 minutes of cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom, my husband can make it look like a bomb has gone off in there. I am constantly in awe of how he can possibly make such a huge mess! Clearly, our cleaning styles are 100% opposite because this is the same guy who lovingly wipes down the tools he uses each day with a shop towel to make sure he doesn't get any grease in his toolbox. What about the lump of stinking coal he burned onto the large front burner of the ceramic stove top?! I mean, c'mon, dude! You have your tools and I have mine, but the stove is like everyman's tool of the trade. He thinks I'm crazy because I "wax" the stove top twice a week. Don't even get me started on the order in which he does dishes (by the way, pots and pans before Tupperware is not the right order, and rinsing with cold water does not "remove the soap suds more effectively"). Plus, he doesn't swirl the water when he drains the sink, so a lump of dried soap scum and tiny food particles can greet me the next morning. Yummy.
I know, I know, many of you are thinking, "Well, at least he DOES the dishes." And, you're right. Everything we do at home has to be a team effort. With both of us working full time, we don't leave much room for error when it comes to household chores. That being said, I'm not telling you all about his flaws to belittle his efforts. On the contrary, these are the goofy little things that really tell me he cares about doing what he can to help (as crazy as it makes me sometimes). Most days, we are dog tired by supper time. Most days, we have two hangry boys voicing their opinions over the meal. Most days, we eat in shifts while we deal with upset juice glasses or requests for seconds. Most days, we let the Hamburger Helper boil over between calls from work or family or friends who also need a little piece of us. Most days, I'm impressed that the hubs will put up with as much guff from me as he does and still keep coming back for more. Most days, I'm just glad to have someone who will help me with the most menial tasks in life, even if it leaves the kitchen looking like Kim Jong-un's nuclear testing grounds. Life isn't all real estate and roses. I love hugs, and I love kisses, but what I love most is help with the dishes! Welcome Home!
Sunday, May 19, 2019
A Few Dry Days
I needed to take a moment this morning to thank everybody for their kind words and prayers as I underwent follow-up tests last week for my late April eye exam. Several of you took time to check-in personally and for that, I am very grateful! I culminated last week's events by undergoing a spinal tap to measure the pressure of my spinal fluid and take some samples for analysis. Essentially, they attached me to a tire pressure gauge to see if my head was going to explode. Fortunately, I won't be splattering up anybody's walls anytime soon. The best news is that I do NOT have a brain tumor as was suspected. I also have not been in any pain or discomfort (except the anxiety). The bad news is that we are still in search of a cause for the pressure surrounding the nerves in my eyes (which is a significant indicator of a tumor and increased spinal fluid pressure). I have been referred to the eye gurus at the Med Center and will be visiting them next month for further testing. Thanks for giving me a couple of days to get through the preliminary tests and ease my worst fears.
For now, we are back to business as usual. I am trying to get used to my glasses, which has been a struggle, especially when a certain 2-year-old always wants to smear his smudgy fingers on them! How is it that a $6 pair of sunglasses from the local dollar store can fit perfectly, but I have to be constantly adjusting a custom pair of Kate Spades? My apologies to all of my friends who have been wearing glasses for years. I now feel your pain and will be eternally empathetic!
If things are meant to be a certain way in life, I would have to say that all of this has played out favorably considering that the rains came last week when I needed some help from my family with driving, child care, and appointments. The few dry days we have had this week has kept everybody on their toes planting corn and beans, fertilizing, and spraying. I'm not much for running the heavy equipment these days, but I can provide ground support for the hoard of hungry children my family has produced in the last several years. Each one is good for about 30-60 minutes in the tractor, but that is about all the longer we can keep them in one place unless they are asleep. Good thing there are chores to do, baby kittens to harass, sand piles to play in, and Big Wheels to race. A head count every ten minutes gives assurance nobody has snuck off to try to make the golf cart do a Tokyo drift.
Rest assured, I haven't quit my day/night/weekend job. The real estate market is still very active in and around Wayne, and it has been exciting to meet new people moving to town as well as help past clients make new transitions. I'm so glad I'm able to have my cake and eat it too when it comes to helping out at the farm...even if it means we have supper at 9:30 p.m. followed by temper tantrum filled mornings because I didn't have time to wash the only two pairs of short pants that my 6-year-old will wear (even though he has 14 to pick from). Two more days of school and then summer "break." (I think we have more scheduling issues and plans for June than we have had for any other month this year! Looks like I better go buy a couple more pairs of "slick" shorts so I don't have to do laundry every other day! You know, because the pockets on jean shorts hurt your bottom when you have to sit on them. Kindergarten logic.)
Thanks again for the many kindnesses shown to me and my family as we power through the stages of life. Life might not be all real estate and roses, but we have much to be thankful for, little to complain about, and a whole lot to look forward to. Welcome Home.
For now, we are back to business as usual. I am trying to get used to my glasses, which has been a struggle, especially when a certain 2-year-old always wants to smear his smudgy fingers on them! How is it that a $6 pair of sunglasses from the local dollar store can fit perfectly, but I have to be constantly adjusting a custom pair of Kate Spades? My apologies to all of my friends who have been wearing glasses for years. I now feel your pain and will be eternally empathetic!
If things are meant to be a certain way in life, I would have to say that all of this has played out favorably considering that the rains came last week when I needed some help from my family with driving, child care, and appointments. The few dry days we have had this week has kept everybody on their toes planting corn and beans, fertilizing, and spraying. I'm not much for running the heavy equipment these days, but I can provide ground support for the hoard of hungry children my family has produced in the last several years. Each one is good for about 30-60 minutes in the tractor, but that is about all the longer we can keep them in one place unless they are asleep. Good thing there are chores to do, baby kittens to harass, sand piles to play in, and Big Wheels to race. A head count every ten minutes gives assurance nobody has snuck off to try to make the golf cart do a Tokyo drift.
Rest assured, I haven't quit my day/night/weekend job. The real estate market is still very active in and around Wayne, and it has been exciting to meet new people moving to town as well as help past clients make new transitions. I'm so glad I'm able to have my cake and eat it too when it comes to helping out at the farm...even if it means we have supper at 9:30 p.m. followed by temper tantrum filled mornings because I didn't have time to wash the only two pairs of short pants that my 6-year-old will wear (even though he has 14 to pick from). Two more days of school and then summer "break." (I think we have more scheduling issues and plans for June than we have had for any other month this year! Looks like I better go buy a couple more pairs of "slick" shorts so I don't have to do laundry every other day! You know, because the pockets on jean shorts hurt your bottom when you have to sit on them. Kindergarten logic.)
Thanks again for the many kindnesses shown to me and my family as we power through the stages of life. Life might not be all real estate and roses, but we have much to be thankful for, little to complain about, and a whole lot to look forward to. Welcome Home.
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
M R...Eye?
For years, my dad has told us kids that you get one perfect day when you are 17 years old when everything in your body works right, looks good, and feels perfect. It's all downhill from there. I would have to say that my downhill slide started more around the age of 23, but who's counting? My eyesight decided to take its downhill slide this year. I hobbled through a couple of months with some cheaters from the
local dollar store, but my husband grew concerned that I was doing more damage than good after trying them on. Two weeks ago, he finally convinced me that it was time to visit the eye doctor. Much to the dismay of Dr. Hopkins, I had not had a routine eye exam since they were offered in grade school! Thankfully, a divine power prodded me to get this checkup.
So, on April 25th, I was sitting in Dr. Hopkins' exam room as he reviewed by retinal scans and he started raising his eyebrows and saying things like, "Hmmmm, interesting" and "Oh, that's not good." I laughed thinking he was pulling my leg, and it took some time to convince me that what he was seeing really wasn't good. For crying out loud, all I wanted was a simple eye exam and a $350 pair of glasses to carry around in my purse! Turns out things weren't so simple, and I was being sent on to my medical doctor to more tests.
Last Friday, I was scheduled to have an MRI of my head performed to pinpoint what is going on in my noggin'. I had myself completely convinced that this machine is like a jacked up tanning bed. Both ends are open, it makes a consistent humming noise, and the lights are on the whole time. I was ready. The technician inserted my IV on the first attempt (a piece of medical hardware I despise) and took me around the corner into the MRI room. All was good. She had me insert the ear plugs, lay down on the table, and then she showed me the halo that fits over your head. Oh, that's cute, I thought. Then, she packed my head in the positioning mechanism like she was shipping me to Abu Dhabi, and started screwing the halo down to the table. You ain't moving now sweetheart. Oh boy. Nope. No way. Get me out of here.
So, I'm psyching myself back into this thing and telling myself I can do it. I laid back down on the table, halo-less, and ask her to simply insert my body into the MRI machine so I can see what that is like. I'll tell you what it's like. A coffin. A torture chamber. A suffocation room. Turns out I am indeed claustrophobic and the gig was up. Big, tough Trish was going to have to come back another day because she needed to be knocked out for this test.
Fast forward to yesterday. I spent the whole weekend waking up in cold sweats about this MRI machine eating me alive and nobody being able to hear my screams. I was the first patient at the outpatient clinic, and Nurse Gretchen took me back into the bowels of the hospital to prepare me for the day's events. Considering my blood pressure was like 347/120 at this point, she did a wonderful job getting my IV started on the first try. In walks my anesthesiologist, Todd, and he asks me why I'm having this procedure done. Trying to make a joke, I say "the doctors are finally trying to figure out exactly why I am the way that I am." Todd, who only laughs at his own jokes, says, "No seriously, why are you here." To which I reply, "we don't know yet, but this test is hopefully going to give us some answers." Good enough. Onward we go.
It's a little after 7 a.m., we are back in the room with the beast, I've got my earplugs in and my arms/torso are strapped down to the table. Someone asks if I'm doing OK, I give the thumbs up, and all goes black. Sometime during the next two hours, I entered the belly of the beast and made it back out alive. A much better experience. Except the twelve hour hangover afterwards. I could have done without that. Thanks a lot, Todd.
We don't have any answers yet as to why I am the way that I am, but we will soon have some results. I do want to take this time to thank all the doctors, nurses, and staff who work so diligently to take care of us each and every day. We are very fortunate to have this level of care available in our community, and to have an outpatient clinic that provides the kind of services it does. Let's take the time on this National Nurses week to honor these special caretakers who make such a huge difference on a daily basis, even with difficult patients like me. Life isn't all real estate and roses, but they do all they can to make a bad situation just a little bit better. Welcome Home.
So, on April 25th, I was sitting in Dr. Hopkins' exam room as he reviewed by retinal scans and he started raising his eyebrows and saying things like, "Hmmmm, interesting" and "Oh, that's not good." I laughed thinking he was pulling my leg, and it took some time to convince me that what he was seeing really wasn't good. For crying out loud, all I wanted was a simple eye exam and a $350 pair of glasses to carry around in my purse! Turns out things weren't so simple, and I was being sent on to my medical doctor to more tests.
Last Friday, I was scheduled to have an MRI of my head performed to pinpoint what is going on in my noggin'. I had myself completely convinced that this machine is like a jacked up tanning bed. Both ends are open, it makes a consistent humming noise, and the lights are on the whole time. I was ready. The technician inserted my IV on the first attempt (a piece of medical hardware I despise) and took me around the corner into the MRI room. All was good. She had me insert the ear plugs, lay down on the table, and then she showed me the halo that fits over your head. Oh, that's cute, I thought. Then, she packed my head in the positioning mechanism like she was shipping me to Abu Dhabi, and started screwing the halo down to the table. You ain't moving now sweetheart. Oh boy. Nope. No way. Get me out of here.
So, I'm psyching myself back into this thing and telling myself I can do it. I laid back down on the table, halo-less, and ask her to simply insert my body into the MRI machine so I can see what that is like. I'll tell you what it's like. A coffin. A torture chamber. A suffocation room. Turns out I am indeed claustrophobic and the gig was up. Big, tough Trish was going to have to come back another day because she needed to be knocked out for this test.
Fast forward to yesterday. I spent the whole weekend waking up in cold sweats about this MRI machine eating me alive and nobody being able to hear my screams. I was the first patient at the outpatient clinic, and Nurse Gretchen took me back into the bowels of the hospital to prepare me for the day's events. Considering my blood pressure was like 347/120 at this point, she did a wonderful job getting my IV started on the first try. In walks my anesthesiologist, Todd, and he asks me why I'm having this procedure done. Trying to make a joke, I say "the doctors are finally trying to figure out exactly why I am the way that I am." Todd, who only laughs at his own jokes, says, "No seriously, why are you here." To which I reply, "we don't know yet, but this test is hopefully going to give us some answers." Good enough. Onward we go.
It's a little after 7 a.m., we are back in the room with the beast, I've got my earplugs in and my arms/torso are strapped down to the table. Someone asks if I'm doing OK, I give the thumbs up, and all goes black. Sometime during the next two hours, I entered the belly of the beast and made it back out alive. A much better experience. Except the twelve hour hangover afterwards. I could have done without that. Thanks a lot, Todd.
We don't have any answers yet as to why I am the way that I am, but we will soon have some results. I do want to take this time to thank all the doctors, nurses, and staff who work so diligently to take care of us each and every day. We are very fortunate to have this level of care available in our community, and to have an outpatient clinic that provides the kind of services it does. Let's take the time on this National Nurses week to honor these special caretakers who make such a huge difference on a daily basis, even with difficult patients like me. Life isn't all real estate and roses, but they do all they can to make a bad situation just a little bit better. Welcome Home.
Monday, April 15, 2019
Big & Little Brothers
Any successful person will tell you that a strong support team is essential to their achievements. In my case, a strong support team is essential to my survival and my sanity. I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by a network of very talented people. The ones I lean on the most include my family members. For example, I have a little brother, Dale, who can fix anything. Car broke down on the side of the road? He can get you towed home and then have you back up and running the same day. Have a plumbing leak? He'll bring some PEX tubing and fittings over and have you doing a load of laundry in minutes. Need a light fixture installed? He has a roll of electrical wire on hand to get you going. Need a tree trimmed for a closing? Here he comes with his bucket truck. Those who know him, know he's always willing to lend a hand when a project needs done.
The guy is as handy as they come. Even though he is my little brother, he has taught me a thing or two. I guess it's payback for all the proofreading and school work I helped him with during grade school and college. (Not to mention, dressing him up like the little sister I so desperately wanted a time or two!)
Then, there's my big brother, Tom. Have a tax question? He'll have an answer for you in minutes flat. If not, he'll be doing the research to get you the answer. This guy has more information stored in his head that you could write into the entire tax code each year. Want to depreciate something? Although his answer is usually a firm "no," you can rest assured that he didn't miss the legitimate items that can indeed be depreciated. He is coming off of a hectic tax season filled with new tax code. In fact, even the IRS encouraged the American public to file an extension because they didn't have all of the information out to preparers in a timely fashion. There are two things in life you don't mess with: the Federal Government and Tom Hansen, CPA.
(Speaking of which, my mom asked me the other day if I had my book work all up to date for my accounting appointment this year. After a brief pause and some quick calculations I determined I am about 13 months behind on bookkeeping. "Give me three solid nights of nothing else to do, and I'll have it knocked out," I told her. She laughed and simply said, "Good luck. Don't make your brother angry." Bookkeeping is the curse of the small business owner. I enjoy doing it, but finding the time can be the real challenge. Just ask Tom.)
With National Siblings Day being last week, I thought it worthy of a post to toot my horn about my brothers. They can walk you through a engine diagram in nothing flat or talk you into a major purchase to keep the tax man at bay. Life isn't all real estate and roses, so we have our moments just like any family does. As long as you don't show up unexpectedly while we are working on a major project where we all want to be the boss, you probably won't see that side of us too often. Welcome Home.
The guy is as handy as they come. Even though he is my little brother, he has taught me a thing or two. I guess it's payback for all the proofreading and school work I helped him with during grade school and college. (Not to mention, dressing him up like the little sister I so desperately wanted a time or two!)
Then, there's my big brother, Tom. Have a tax question? He'll have an answer for you in minutes flat. If not, he'll be doing the research to get you the answer. This guy has more information stored in his head that you could write into the entire tax code each year. Want to depreciate something? Although his answer is usually a firm "no," you can rest assured that he didn't miss the legitimate items that can indeed be depreciated. He is coming off of a hectic tax season filled with new tax code. In fact, even the IRS encouraged the American public to file an extension because they didn't have all of the information out to preparers in a timely fashion. There are two things in life you don't mess with: the Federal Government and Tom Hansen, CPA.
(Speaking of which, my mom asked me the other day if I had my book work all up to date for my accounting appointment this year. After a brief pause and some quick calculations I determined I am about 13 months behind on bookkeeping. "Give me three solid nights of nothing else to do, and I'll have it knocked out," I told her. She laughed and simply said, "Good luck. Don't make your brother angry." Bookkeeping is the curse of the small business owner. I enjoy doing it, but finding the time can be the real challenge. Just ask Tom.)
With National Siblings Day being last week, I thought it worthy of a post to toot my horn about my brothers. They can walk you through a engine diagram in nothing flat or talk you into a major purchase to keep the tax man at bay. Life isn't all real estate and roses, so we have our moments just like any family does. As long as you don't show up unexpectedly while we are working on a major project where we all want to be the boss, you probably won't see that side of us too often. Welcome Home.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Muddin'
Two days ago, my brother decided to work with our yearling calves now that the weather is finally cooperating a bit. I didn't mind heading out to the farm for a little fresh air on what was a very nice day in town. I figured it would be a pretty muddy, so I threw on my boots, loaded up the kids, and headed down the highway. Muddy was an understatement. Thanks to the recent rains and the winter thaw, the cattle yards are giant soup holes. The yearlings are rambunctious too, considering we haven't had much nice weather to speak of. Couple this with the fact that Penguin the giant farm mutt decided to follow us down to the lower place and you can about imagine how our project started out. Seeing the dog and a few extra warm bodies in places where they usually don't belong set the calves in a dead sprint around the yard. Imagine the sound of thousands of suction cups taking hold and letting go as each pounding hoof bogged down into the the heavy Nebraska clay. Now, imagine a human walking through that mud and muck with nothing more than a thin rubber boot between you and imminent disaster. Within the first five minutes, everybody had expressed their feelings toward the land and the livestock as well as each other. My sister-in-law was the unlucky winner of the mud lottery by being the first to lose her boot in the yard. It was evident that man and beast were getting a run for our money that day.
We were finally able to get the herd up in the processing pen after one bovine genius decided to wriggle its way behind the gate versus going through the gate hole. That trick cost everybody a third trip through the yard to round up the stragglers who managed to escape. No level of training or athletic ability can prepare you for mud season on the farm. Walking through a mile of mud is better than any workout you can get at the gym. It might not show, but it takes a high level of aerobic and calisthenic mastery to dodge anxious 800 pound calves and keep a steady marching pace so you don't get stuck in place at a critical time. My brother asked if we wanted to invest in a concrete plant when we got done so we could at least have a solid surface to do this kind of work. I'm thinking he might be on to something.
Nevertheless, we prevailed, and all the calves got treated. Nobody was physically injured, and, despite our pride, we are all well aware that any words shared under such circumstances are not to be taken personally. The work that farmers do, particularly livestock producers, is not for the faint of heart. It is stressful for both man and beast, it is dirty, it can be scary, and it is often thankless. In that work lies an expectation that everyone knows their part, and they will pull their weight to make sure everything gets done. The unpredictability of each and every situation involving livestock is what wears on a person. It makes you lie awake at night, it makes you think quickly on your feet, and it instills a sense of danger that you don't really understand or appreciate until you have something to lose, be it your fencing, your equipment, or, heaven forbid, a life. In spite of it all, you have to keep muddin' through to make sure you do the job for which you signed up. I sure do enjoy my days at the farm, but it sure does make me appreciate the comforts of a nice clean real estate office after getting home from a project like that. No matter what happens in the world of real estate, odds are, the decisions that have to be made are not life and death for man or beast. No matter what happens, I know that I won't be in a position where I am going to lose my boot in a muddy yard. And, no matter what happens, we usually have a little more time to figure out a solution than in the time it takes the whole herd to turn tail and bolt out of the yard because we got stuck in the mud and couldn't make it to the gate fast enough to shut it. It's not all real estate and roses around here, but somedays you just have to keep muddin' through. Welcome Home.
We were finally able to get the herd up in the processing pen after one bovine genius decided to wriggle its way behind the gate versus going through the gate hole. That trick cost everybody a third trip through the yard to round up the stragglers who managed to escape. No level of training or athletic ability can prepare you for mud season on the farm. Walking through a mile of mud is better than any workout you can get at the gym. It might not show, but it takes a high level of aerobic and calisthenic mastery to dodge anxious 800 pound calves and keep a steady marching pace so you don't get stuck in place at a critical time. My brother asked if we wanted to invest in a concrete plant when we got done so we could at least have a solid surface to do this kind of work. I'm thinking he might be on to something.
Nevertheless, we prevailed, and all the calves got treated. Nobody was physically injured, and, despite our pride, we are all well aware that any words shared under such circumstances are not to be taken personally. The work that farmers do, particularly livestock producers, is not for the faint of heart. It is stressful for both man and beast, it is dirty, it can be scary, and it is often thankless. In that work lies an expectation that everyone knows their part, and they will pull their weight to make sure everything gets done. The unpredictability of each and every situation involving livestock is what wears on a person. It makes you lie awake at night, it makes you think quickly on your feet, and it instills a sense of danger that you don't really understand or appreciate until you have something to lose, be it your fencing, your equipment, or, heaven forbid, a life. In spite of it all, you have to keep muddin' through to make sure you do the job for which you signed up. I sure do enjoy my days at the farm, but it sure does make me appreciate the comforts of a nice clean real estate office after getting home from a project like that. No matter what happens in the world of real estate, odds are, the decisions that have to be made are not life and death for man or beast. No matter what happens, I know that I won't be in a position where I am going to lose my boot in a muddy yard. And, no matter what happens, we usually have a little more time to figure out a solution than in the time it takes the whole herd to turn tail and bolt out of the yard because we got stuck in the mud and couldn't make it to the gate fast enough to shut it. It's not all real estate and roses around here, but somedays you just have to keep muddin' through. Welcome Home.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
The Great Toothpaste Confrontation of 2019 (1,000 Days of Winter)
I learned last week that my husband takes toothpaste, or the lack thereof, very seriously. On Tuesday of last week, I witnessed the unfortunate circumstances of running out of "adult" toothpaste. Bear in mind, we still had plenty of bubblegum Sparkle Crest on hand. Apparently, that just doesn't do the same job as cool mint gel. Nevertheless, this led to a 10 p.m. argument about not having any toothpaste. Luckily, I was able to scavenge for a travelers pack of toothpaste to meet my husband's needs. Fast forward to Friday. Still no toothpaste in the house and the traveler's pack is empty. At this point, the confrontation is boiling down to a battle of wits to decide once and for all who can hold out the longest and exhibit the utmost stubbornness of the two of us. Turns out my husband won this no-contest, knock-down, drag-out fight by one fall. I broke down and threw some Crest in the shopping cart while I was out buying groceries in the blizzard to avoid all of the other pre-blizzard shoppers. He owes me big time, but guess what, he is too stubborn to admit it.
How has your 1,000 days of winter been going? I would accept false spring at this point even though it will take us into third winter. Clearly, we all need some fresh air, new perspective, and some Crest toothpaste to fill the void this gloomy, cold, artic tundra has left in our hearts. By golly, at least the real estate market hasn't been frozen in its tracks by this weather. I wasn't sure if I was coming or going last week, but I did tell our office manager every time I left that if I didn't see her again by 5 p.m., I would see her the next day. This is good news for all of you who are anxiously waiting for new listings to arrive on the market. As our 1,000 days of winter edges ever closer to an end, we will see new listings. If you would like to be notified of what is coming available, send a text to (402) 518-0675 so I can include you in my early communications!
On the flip side, Sellers be warned! Your sweet spot for listing properties is not actually the summer months as has long been the industry belief. The best opportunity for you to command top dollar for your property happens when you list between February 15th and March 15th. We are almost halfway through this short window, so contact me today if you are toying with the idea of listing. I can provide initial consultations on preparing your house for sale (including how to use toothpaste for spackle, if needed). And, don't forget, we have our second Lunch and Learn of the season coming up at Noon on March 13th with everything you need to know about preparing your home for sale, working with an agent for the best results, and surviving the process while trying to make a move.
If you're still not convinced that now is a good time to break up the 1,000 days of winter by listing your home, check out these pending sales that only lasted 24 hours on the market:
Both of these sellers considered waiting to list their homes until warmer weather. Nonetheless, getting their homes listed early in the year was a smart move. Let me help cure some of that Seasonal Affective Disorder by kicking your spring cleaning into high gear and helping you market your home to an anxious pool of buyers.
Despite recent sales, 1st Realty has a nice selection of homes still on the market! Right now, we have something for everyone including ranch-style, 2-story, a townhouse, and investment properties to expand your portfolio. Our team can help find a home that fits your needs!
So, don't let the winter blues get you down! Go buy yourself a fresh new tube of toothpaste, keep the peace in your current home, and give me a call to help you with your next home sale or purchase. After all, toothpaste is less expensive than roses, and I love to talk about real estate! Welcome Home.
How has your 1,000 days of winter been going? I would accept false spring at this point even though it will take us into third winter. Clearly, we all need some fresh air, new perspective, and some Crest toothpaste to fill the void this gloomy, cold, artic tundra has left in our hearts. By golly, at least the real estate market hasn't been frozen in its tracks by this weather. I wasn't sure if I was coming or going last week, but I did tell our office manager every time I left that if I didn't see her again by 5 p.m., I would see her the next day. This is good news for all of you who are anxiously waiting for new listings to arrive on the market. As our 1,000 days of winter edges ever closer to an end, we will see new listings. If you would like to be notified of what is coming available, send a text to (402) 518-0675 so I can include you in my early communications!
On the flip side, Sellers be warned! Your sweet spot for listing properties is not actually the summer months as has long been the industry belief. The best opportunity for you to command top dollar for your property happens when you list between February 15th and March 15th. We are almost halfway through this short window, so contact me today if you are toying with the idea of listing. I can provide initial consultations on preparing your house for sale (including how to use toothpaste for spackle, if needed). And, don't forget, we have our second Lunch and Learn of the season coming up at Noon on March 13th with everything you need to know about preparing your home for sale, working with an agent for the best results, and surviving the process while trying to make a move.
If you're still not convinced that now is a good time to break up the 1,000 days of winter by listing your home, check out these pending sales that only lasted 24 hours on the market:
 |
| 315 West 8th Street |
 |
| 1020 Poplar Street |
Both of these sellers considered waiting to list their homes until warmer weather. Nonetheless, getting their homes listed early in the year was a smart move. Let me help cure some of that Seasonal Affective Disorder by kicking your spring cleaning into high gear and helping you market your home to an anxious pool of buyers.
Despite recent sales, 1st Realty has a nice selection of homes still on the market! Right now, we have something for everyone including ranch-style, 2-story, a townhouse, and investment properties to expand your portfolio. Our team can help find a home that fits your needs!
 |
| 118 S. Blaine Street |
 |
| 419 West 8th Street |
 |
| 1403 Linden Street |
 |
| 902 Nebraska Street |
 |
| 314 East 4th Street |
So, don't let the winter blues get you down! Go buy yourself a fresh new tube of toothpaste, keep the peace in your current home, and give me a call to help you with your next home sale or purchase. After all, toothpaste is less expensive than roses, and I love to talk about real estate! Welcome Home.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
A, B, C, D, E-I-E-I-O!
Since the first of the year, I have been spending a portion of each night trying to inspire my Kindergartener to write letters, numbers, and sight words. He is my son who takes everything very literally. He requires all things to have order and make sense. He sees the world in a very black and white sort of way, which is completely mind-blowing to me most days. Quite frankly, I can no longer look at the English language in the same way I once did just a few short months ago. After all, 'A' sounds like 'H,' so why are they different letters? How can 'two' sound the same as 'to' or 'too'? The letter 'O' doesn't even make an 'oooo' sound at this stage in the game! Rather than just learning the very basic concept, his mind wants to know all the reasons behind why we talk, count, and spell the way we do. With all of his newly obtained knowledge, he has lost confidence in his ability to learn the English language, particularly reading and writing. He requires reinforcement at every level, which requires a lot of time on both our parts. On the other hand, my 2-year old can sing you his ABC's with a little bridge to Old MacDonald in the middle. He has been working hard on a quality medley of Baa Baa Black Sheep which leads into Twinkle Twinkle Little Star followed up by Jingle Bells. He oozes confidence when he sings and dances. Chest out, shoulders back, hips swaying, loud and proud! Makes me laugh every time! I just want to bottle up this time with both my boys and save it forever!
These differing stages of learning are very similar to those of home buyers and sellers. We all start out pretty green by mixing our ABCs of real estate with the E-I-E-I-Os of good credit history, financing options, and downpayment funds. Nonetheless, as first-time buyers, we are confident in our ability to make homeownership a reality, so we approach it head-on, loud and proud, telling all of our friends and family via social media that we are in the market to buy a home. We are especially good at telling everybody when we are interested in a property on social media. In doing so, we encourage competition from other buyers and limit our negotiating ability. This is why you need a good teacher a/k/a real estate agent to take you through what I essentially label as real estate preschool. I encourage you to attend the Lunch & Learn Homebuyer Workshop on February 13th from Noon to 1 p.m. on the back meeting room of 1st Realty. F&M Bank is our lunch sponsor this month, and they will not let you go back to work hungry!
Eventually, you learn the ABCs and find it is time to sell that home you purchased. Maybe you have outgrown the space. Perhaps you have changed employment, or life circumstances may be taking you on a new adventure. Whatever the reason, you are introduced to a whole new perspective of real estate. Like learning the letters, numbers, sounds, and symbols of a whole new language, you have to figure out the why's and how's of selling a home. You have graduated to real estate Kindergarten. Again, this is where a trusted real estate professional can help you master this new language and reinforce your ability to sell the property successfully. (1st Realty's Lunch & Learn Seller Workshop would be a good opportunity for you to learn about what it takes to sell a home in today's competitive environment. Join us on March 13th for this informative seminar).
The point I'm driving at here is that we don't send our children out into this world to master the English language without a solid team to reinforce their abilities. We push them through 15+ years of education and spend countless hours at home teaching them to read, write, and solve problems without even a question as to why we would do so. By the time you have bought and sold one home, you really have only graduated from real estate Kindergarten. There is an entirely different realm beyond just buying and selling. It takes a qualified team of professionals to close any real estate transaction. I'm not just talking about real estate agents. You need lending professionals, title insurance professionals, escrow professionals, inspection professionals, repair professionals, homeowners insurance professionals, income tax and accounting professionals, and staging and decorating professionals to simply process one single transaction. Real estate has a language and problems all its own. It is not something you can learn overnight. It is time consuming, it is hands on, it is anxiety riddled, and it is complicated. I'm still learning new things and encountering new situations after 15 years in the business. There should be no question about using a trusted real estate professional to handle the purchase or sale of your next home. In a world where very few real estate transactions turn out all real estate and roses, the team at 1st Realty can help make it a whole lot easier. Welcome Home.
These differing stages of learning are very similar to those of home buyers and sellers. We all start out pretty green by mixing our ABCs of real estate with the E-I-E-I-Os of good credit history, financing options, and downpayment funds. Nonetheless, as first-time buyers, we are confident in our ability to make homeownership a reality, so we approach it head-on, loud and proud, telling all of our friends and family via social media that we are in the market to buy a home. We are especially good at telling everybody when we are interested in a property on social media. In doing so, we encourage competition from other buyers and limit our negotiating ability. This is why you need a good teacher a/k/a real estate agent to take you through what I essentially label as real estate preschool. I encourage you to attend the Lunch & Learn Homebuyer Workshop on February 13th from Noon to 1 p.m. on the back meeting room of 1st Realty. F&M Bank is our lunch sponsor this month, and they will not let you go back to work hungry!
Eventually, you learn the ABCs and find it is time to sell that home you purchased. Maybe you have outgrown the space. Perhaps you have changed employment, or life circumstances may be taking you on a new adventure. Whatever the reason, you are introduced to a whole new perspective of real estate. Like learning the letters, numbers, sounds, and symbols of a whole new language, you have to figure out the why's and how's of selling a home. You have graduated to real estate Kindergarten. Again, this is where a trusted real estate professional can help you master this new language and reinforce your ability to sell the property successfully. (1st Realty's Lunch & Learn Seller Workshop would be a good opportunity for you to learn about what it takes to sell a home in today's competitive environment. Join us on March 13th for this informative seminar).
The point I'm driving at here is that we don't send our children out into this world to master the English language without a solid team to reinforce their abilities. We push them through 15+ years of education and spend countless hours at home teaching them to read, write, and solve problems without even a question as to why we would do so. By the time you have bought and sold one home, you really have only graduated from real estate Kindergarten. There is an entirely different realm beyond just buying and selling. It takes a qualified team of professionals to close any real estate transaction. I'm not just talking about real estate agents. You need lending professionals, title insurance professionals, escrow professionals, inspection professionals, repair professionals, homeowners insurance professionals, income tax and accounting professionals, and staging and decorating professionals to simply process one single transaction. Real estate has a language and problems all its own. It is not something you can learn overnight. It is time consuming, it is hands on, it is anxiety riddled, and it is complicated. I'm still learning new things and encountering new situations after 15 years in the business. There should be no question about using a trusted real estate professional to handle the purchase or sale of your next home. In a world where very few real estate transactions turn out all real estate and roses, the team at 1st Realty can help make it a whole lot easier. Welcome Home.
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
The Polar Vortex Effect
Well, folks, it just so happens that the Polar Vortex collided with my husband heading to the frozen tundra of Ames, IA for five days of continuing education at the CNHI (Case, New Holland, International) Training Center. Although it might not seem like a long time to be away, the excursion coupled with the cold weather has forced me to cash in a sizable amount of my stock piled CP & G points. It has essentially created a perfect storm for using every single resource available to me under the CP & G category. You are probably thinking, "What on earth is a CP & G point?" Not only are they the most valuable currency any parent can possess, but they are easy to abuse. People, I'm talking about Crock Pot and Grandma (CP & G) points. This is how they work:
Me: Can I drop off the kids at 5:30 so I can meet with some clients.
Grandma: Sure! We have already watched them all day, what's a few more hours?
Me: OK, you don't have to feed them because my appointment should only take an hour and I have supper in the crock pot.
...2 hours 37 minutes later...
Me: Sorry it took so long! Decided to try and meet with some other customers before the middle of the week when the weather turns worse. I bet the boys are starving.
Grandma: It was no trouble! I didn't want to spoil their supper, so we went ahead and ate ours because they didn't like what we were having. They had almost a whole bag of potato chips, so they might not be super hungry when they get home.
Me: OK, thanks. See you in the morning!
...10 minutes later, arrive at home...
Me: Boys, would you like something to eat?
Boys: We're not hungry.
Me (talking to myself): Great, what am I going to do with all this roast? (Searches desperately for enough plastic containers to store it all.)
...1 hour 37 minutes later while lying in bed...
Boy: Mom, I hungee!
Mom: Would you like some roast beef?
Boy: No, hotdog.
Mom: One or two?
Boy: Two, with mustard. No, ch-etchup! I want mustard.
...sleep six hours and do it all over again...
You get the picture. Those CP & G points flew out the door pretty quickly this week, and it is only Wednesday. I could probably survive without the crock pot, but it would be a hard road without Grandma and Grandpa close by to fill in the gaps. I try not to abuse the privilege, but we are fortunate to have a great support team nearby for these times when work takes my husband and me in different directions. And, I'm lucky to have clients and customers who understand when my boys need to come along for appointments. That is often the saving grace to ensure that I can refuel my Grandma points for use at another time. You all are so kind and generous to our family!
If my husband can get his pickup started tomorrow, he should be home in time to put the boys to bed. I'll be sure to have supper waiting for him in the crock pot, just so I can use up my last few CP points before I hit the end of the week. Maybe he'll take me out to supper this weekend to help build some CP & G points back up again. I won't hold him to showing up at the door with any roses though. Welcome Home.
Me: Can I drop off the kids at 5:30 so I can meet with some clients.
Grandma: Sure! We have already watched them all day, what's a few more hours?
Me: OK, you don't have to feed them because my appointment should only take an hour and I have supper in the crock pot.
...2 hours 37 minutes later...
Me: Sorry it took so long! Decided to try and meet with some other customers before the middle of the week when the weather turns worse. I bet the boys are starving.
Grandma: It was no trouble! I didn't want to spoil their supper, so we went ahead and ate ours because they didn't like what we were having. They had almost a whole bag of potato chips, so they might not be super hungry when they get home.
Me: OK, thanks. See you in the morning!
...10 minutes later, arrive at home...
Me: Boys, would you like something to eat?
Boys: We're not hungry.
Me (talking to myself): Great, what am I going to do with all this roast? (Searches desperately for enough plastic containers to store it all.)
...1 hour 37 minutes later while lying in bed...
Boy: Mom, I hungee!
Mom: Would you like some roast beef?
Boy: No, hotdog.
Mom: One or two?
Boy: Two, with mustard. No, ch-etchup! I want mustard.
...sleep six hours and do it all over again...
You get the picture. Those CP & G points flew out the door pretty quickly this week, and it is only Wednesday. I could probably survive without the crock pot, but it would be a hard road without Grandma and Grandpa close by to fill in the gaps. I try not to abuse the privilege, but we are fortunate to have a great support team nearby for these times when work takes my husband and me in different directions. And, I'm lucky to have clients and customers who understand when my boys need to come along for appointments. That is often the saving grace to ensure that I can refuel my Grandma points for use at another time. You all are so kind and generous to our family!
If my husband can get his pickup started tomorrow, he should be home in time to put the boys to bed. I'll be sure to have supper waiting for him in the crock pot, just so I can use up my last few CP points before I hit the end of the week. Maybe he'll take me out to supper this weekend to help build some CP & G points back up again. I won't hold him to showing up at the door with any roses though. Welcome Home.
Thursday, January 17, 2019
On the Next Episode of "Hoarders"...
The first step to self-improvement is admitting you have a problem. Here goes: "My name is Trisha Peters, and I am a hoarder." I literally keep everything until it is no longer useful (i.e. past the point of repairing). I have dishclothes with the edges so shredded in my kitchen drawer that they wind up in a huge ball in the washing machine because the strings knot up. I have my adjustable plastic locker shelf that was last used in 1999 because I think my 2 year old might use it in his locker someday (like that's cool, Mom. By the time he is in school, all his books will be stored in 'the cloud'). I have mix tapes of music taped off the radio in the 1980s because every product of the 80s needs a homemade Casey's Top 40 mix tape. (Ironically, I do not have a tape player!) You get the picture. It's a problem. One that has been lurking in the darkness of my basement, and that has only recently come out to play as I try to regain control of my life. Combine this trait with a husband who shares the same characteristic, and we are one chromosome away from being a TV reality show. For crying out loud, he literally saved the boxes for all the toy tractors that he has displayed in a glass case. Every time I look under the basement stairway, I want to pour gasoline on them and burn them in the backyard. But, that would get me arrested. And, jail would not be favorable to me.
Why in the world can't we throw anything away?? I blame it on my Grandma. She used to wash out Ziploc bags and reuse them (guilty as charged). When something can't be effectively reduced, reused, or recycled in our family, we just store it until it's dead or someone else renders it useless and throws it out for us. Because, you know what, the second I throw those mix tapes out, I'm going to need them. Happens. Every. Time.
Case in point, digging through a box last Saturday, I found my old Alphie II robot computer and Smart Start calculator. I carefully replaced the 16 size C batteries each one required back in 1987 and waited anxiously to show them to the boys when they returned home from the farm with their dad. By this time, I am well on my way to winning Mom of the Year. Man, did their eyes light up when they saw that little plastic robot sitting on the kitchen counter. I was tickled pink! Then, the highly unanticipated Scenario B played out. A huge fight ensued as I introduced the iPad of my day to the boys. Little brother was ready to rumble for possession of that little robot even though he had no clue how to read the cards or answer the questions. The oldest one deemed Alphie as "not working" because you have to push the buttons just right to get it to register the answer. Seriously? I played with that thing for like an hour Saturday afternoon and had no troubles! Why do you think I didn't get any vacuuming done? C'mon man! This thing is retro...a classic! As it turns out, my nostalgia is not the same nostalgia my children share. Who knew? Since then, I've managed to stub my toe on the dang thing seven times in the middle of the night because the only thing the kids think its good for is to have his face light up in the dark as they are laying in bed. If anything can be said about 1980s plastic toys, it is that they were built to break a toe or at least roll an ankle! iPad, shmy-pad. Whatever, Bill Gates.
I guess the moral of the story is that if you are storing stuff in boxes that you haven't used since the 1980s, pour gasoline on it and burn it in the backyard. Just don't let the cops catch you. Jail isn't all real estate and roses. Welcome Home.
(Disclaimer: Blog author, Trisha Peters, does not encourage you or any others to perform dangerous activities. Pouring gasoline on anything and burning it is not recommended. Advice is given strictly for comedic effect and is not meant to be practiced in real life.)
Why in the world can't we throw anything away?? I blame it on my Grandma. She used to wash out Ziploc bags and reuse them (guilty as charged). When something can't be effectively reduced, reused, or recycled in our family, we just store it until it's dead or someone else renders it useless and throws it out for us. Because, you know what, the second I throw those mix tapes out, I'm going to need them. Happens. Every. Time.
I guess the moral of the story is that if you are storing stuff in boxes that you haven't used since the 1980s, pour gasoline on it and burn it in the backyard. Just don't let the cops catch you. Jail isn't all real estate and roses. Welcome Home.
(Disclaimer: Blog author, Trisha Peters, does not encourage you or any others to perform dangerous activities. Pouring gasoline on anything and burning it is not recommended. Advice is given strictly for comedic effect and is not meant to be practiced in real life.)
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
'Til the Cows Come Home
The first week in January means that it is time to start the migration of the Hansen cow herd towards the home place from their winter feeding grounds. This three mile trek over pasture and county roads requires a minimum of five off-road trail vehicles, a lead tractor and hayrack, and two grandmas (one to watch the littlest cowkids and another to stop traffic when we get the herd out on the road). It's quite a production, and one that I haven't missed in many years. Here's why:
"Phase One of Annual Herd Migration complete: Three mile drive thru rough terrain. Mud made it inside the vehicle. Touch and go for a few seconds there. Maxed out cool points with the kids again. Tiny cowboys and cowgirl yelling between steel horses giggling about the anatomical differences between bulls and cows. Herd will get used to their nonstop banter just as humans have. In all the commotion, three whitetails stumbled into the action. What a sight! Herd secure. City Slickers home from the ranch."
Billy Crystal should be jealous of this yearly undertaking. Unfortunately, in all these years, we still haven't found Curly's Gold (that's a '90s movie reference for those of you who don't remember)! We do get the Karsky Family out of town for extra assistance, and with all the littles around these days, we adults have to keep our sweet talk for the bosses rated PG. The weather was nice the Saturday we moved the herd, and we had some trouble getting the cows rounded up and through the first gate to start our journey. Believe it or not, livestock actually moves more willingly when the weather is poor. They felt good, but once they figured out where they were going, they didn't cause any problems.
This is a therapeutic undertaking for me. The farm has always been my sanctuary. A necessary haven to restore the balance of my introverted personality with the demands of a sales career. Coming down from the rush of the holidays and an extraordinarily busy December market, it was a chance to spend a morning doing something a little out of the ordinary. There is something to be revered about a Nebraska sunrise, fog in the valleys, and frost on the fence posts. Just me and my family, a few close friends, the smell of burnt clutch and scorched exhaust, and the cows. Each doing a little part while working as one cohesive unit, doing what we have always done, 'til the cows come home.
I'll admit, I don't get much time anymore to really spend with the herd. I used to know every cow...her demeanor, her tag number, her given name. Some of that has gotten away from me as the pressures of a full-time career and family have taken precedence. My herd has shifted to one made of people. I don't regret that shift, but I do love a chance to look over the cow herd once in a while. Like people, each head of livestock has its own personality. Over time, you learn to look for those wild-eyed heifers who like to keep their head up in the air. They will be the first to spoil a good day. These spirited cows aren't loyal, and they can ruin your taste for the whole business if you let them. Eventually, you find that the best way to deal with a cow like this is to haul her to market, but not before she breaks down some of your fences. While mending fences, you learn how to look for the signs next time and protect yourself before another one jumps over your brand new shiny gate and makes an oversized U-joint out of it.
Those wild-eyed heifer types give you new respect for those cows who have paid their dues and methodically plod at the back of the main herd as they make the trek home. Those are the stubborn bosses who are upwards of 20 years old and might have even been a part of the study group for your Neihardt Honors Colloquium at Wayne State College. There is a lot to learn from the wherewithal of those old cows. They have endured because they produce good calves, give good milk, and weather the storms successfully. Once the heart of the herd, they are the bloodlines to all the younger stock. Those old girls have a hard time keeping up, but they have played a vital role in the overall success of the herd.
Knowing where the two extremes lie makes it easier to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with the rest of the herd. It is safe to say that if they do their part, I will do mine, and all will be rewarded with greener pastures in the end. There are many correlations that can be made between that cow herd and my human herd so long as you don't get all sensitive on me and take offense to the comparison. Farm life taught me how to take care of my human herd. If you put your trust in me, I'll do my very best for you right up 'til the cows come home. After all, what fun would life be if it was all just real estate and roses? Welcome Home.
"Phase One of Annual Herd Migration complete: Three mile drive thru rough terrain. Mud made it inside the vehicle. Touch and go for a few seconds there. Maxed out cool points with the kids again. Tiny cowboys and cowgirl yelling between steel horses giggling about the anatomical differences between bulls and cows. Herd will get used to their nonstop banter just as humans have. In all the commotion, three whitetails stumbled into the action. What a sight! Herd secure. City Slickers home from the ranch."
 |
| Working our way across the section |
 |
| Make sure the window is up before you go mud running! |
 |
| Three whitetail deer decided to see what all of the fuss was about. It was fortunate I got to share this quiet moment with my oldest son as we waited for the rest of the gang to get the herd moved to our position. |
Billy Crystal should be jealous of this yearly undertaking. Unfortunately, in all these years, we still haven't found Curly's Gold (that's a '90s movie reference for those of you who don't remember)! We do get the Karsky Family out of town for extra assistance, and with all the littles around these days, we adults have to keep our sweet talk for the bosses rated PG. The weather was nice the Saturday we moved the herd, and we had some trouble getting the cows rounded up and through the first gate to start our journey. Believe it or not, livestock actually moves more willingly when the weather is poor. They felt good, but once they figured out where they were going, they didn't cause any problems.
This is a therapeutic undertaking for me. The farm has always been my sanctuary. A necessary haven to restore the balance of my introverted personality with the demands of a sales career. Coming down from the rush of the holidays and an extraordinarily busy December market, it was a chance to spend a morning doing something a little out of the ordinary. There is something to be revered about a Nebraska sunrise, fog in the valleys, and frost on the fence posts. Just me and my family, a few close friends, the smell of burnt clutch and scorched exhaust, and the cows. Each doing a little part while working as one cohesive unit, doing what we have always done, 'til the cows come home.
 |
| Onto new feeding grounds for a few weeks. |
Those wild-eyed heifer types give you new respect for those cows who have paid their dues and methodically plod at the back of the main herd as they make the trek home. Those are the stubborn bosses who are upwards of 20 years old and might have even been a part of the study group for your Neihardt Honors Colloquium at Wayne State College. There is a lot to learn from the wherewithal of those old cows. They have endured because they produce good calves, give good milk, and weather the storms successfully. Once the heart of the herd, they are the bloodlines to all the younger stock. Those old girls have a hard time keeping up, but they have played a vital role in the overall success of the herd.
Knowing where the two extremes lie makes it easier to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with the rest of the herd. It is safe to say that if they do their part, I will do mine, and all will be rewarded with greener pastures in the end. There are many correlations that can be made between that cow herd and my human herd so long as you don't get all sensitive on me and take offense to the comparison. Farm life taught me how to take care of my human herd. If you put your trust in me, I'll do my very best for you right up 'til the cows come home. After all, what fun would life be if it was all just real estate and roses? Welcome Home.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Not All Real Estate and Roses
After a long hiatus from blogging and writing, I am hopping back into the proverbial saddle to start the New Year. I have received much encouragement from friends and family to share my experiences not only in real estate, but as a mom, wife, daughter, aunt, housekeeper, do-it-yourselfer, and otherwise, jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. Several of you kept up with my harvest logs via Facebook this fall, and seemed to enjoy the struggles of balancing a full-time real estate career with family life while lending a hand to those near and dear as they were bringing in the harvest. Here is a sampling in case you missed it:
"Harvest Log Day 12: Through a Divine act, managed to get clothesline base installed after church. Realized it gets very little sun in new location. Must be strategic about when to tell husband it must be moved. Best to breach subject when he wants to buy expensive tools or equipment to lessen the blow. While helping brother fix fence to turn cows out on corn stalks, kneeled on a bed of sandburs. Effectively stapled jeans to knee. Ouch. Returned home approximately 8 pm to discover a tricky Smurf had planted a blue crayon in the clothes dryer. Children admiring newly tie-dyed apparel. Currently researching crayon removal techniques online."
It seems that 2018 was the year I got behind the eight ball on quite a few things. It is time to get back to basics. I am drawing inspiration from my youngest son. At some point last night between bath and bedtime, he launched his "bink" (pacifier) into the air and effectively lost it amid all the Christmas clutter and toys still making a home on our living room floor. My husband and the boys searched for a good amount of time to find it, but had no luck. On top of that, the projectile pacifier was the last holdout in the house as we have been trying to wean our youngest for about five months to no avail. I reasoned that he was essentially "addicted" to his pacifier, and we were working through a 12-step process to get it away from him. At far past bedtime, we finally convinced the little guy that "bink was all gone." He simply shrugged his shoulders, hopped into bed, and went to sleep. He slept all night. He woke up this morning and didn't even ask for it. He was playing us all along!
The moral of the story is that we as humans can let go of those things that we think we so desperately need...technology, pop, two or three cheeseburgers at one sitting, baggage from bad relationships, lost friendships...all the "stuff" that clutters up our lives. Whatever you need to do to get rid of it, it's time. (Take it to Rustic Treasures, those guys can sell anything!) It's time to be a friend to someone going through a difficult time. It's time to enjoy the sound of our children playing together in a pile of snow. It's time to understand that you can squeeze in one more tractor ride before the weekend is over. Let's open our ears, our hearts, and our minds to respect all those around us. Yes, I know you're busy. Yes, I know it's hard. But, I'm throwing away the bink in 2019, and I hope you will too. After all, the world isn't just all real estate and roses. Welcome Home.
"Harvest Log Day 12: Through a Divine act, managed to get clothesline base installed after church. Realized it gets very little sun in new location. Must be strategic about when to tell husband it must be moved. Best to breach subject when he wants to buy expensive tools or equipment to lessen the blow. While helping brother fix fence to turn cows out on corn stalks, kneeled on a bed of sandburs. Effectively stapled jeans to knee. Ouch. Returned home approximately 8 pm to discover a tricky Smurf had planted a blue crayon in the clothes dryer. Children admiring newly tie-dyed apparel. Currently researching crayon removal techniques online."
It seems that 2018 was the year I got behind the eight ball on quite a few things. It is time to get back to basics. I am drawing inspiration from my youngest son. At some point last night between bath and bedtime, he launched his "bink" (pacifier) into the air and effectively lost it amid all the Christmas clutter and toys still making a home on our living room floor. My husband and the boys searched for a good amount of time to find it, but had no luck. On top of that, the projectile pacifier was the last holdout in the house as we have been trying to wean our youngest for about five months to no avail. I reasoned that he was essentially "addicted" to his pacifier, and we were working through a 12-step process to get it away from him. At far past bedtime, we finally convinced the little guy that "bink was all gone." He simply shrugged his shoulders, hopped into bed, and went to sleep. He slept all night. He woke up this morning and didn't even ask for it. He was playing us all along!
The moral of the story is that we as humans can let go of those things that we think we so desperately need...technology, pop, two or three cheeseburgers at one sitting, baggage from bad relationships, lost friendships...all the "stuff" that clutters up our lives. Whatever you need to do to get rid of it, it's time. (Take it to Rustic Treasures, those guys can sell anything!) It's time to be a friend to someone going through a difficult time. It's time to enjoy the sound of our children playing together in a pile of snow. It's time to understand that you can squeeze in one more tractor ride before the weekend is over. Let's open our ears, our hearts, and our minds to respect all those around us. Yes, I know you're busy. Yes, I know it's hard. But, I'm throwing away the bink in 2019, and I hope you will too. After all, the world isn't just all real estate and roses. Welcome Home.
Friday, February 24, 2017
A Tale of Two Houses
I can't remember a time when I've cried tears of sorrow and joy all at the same time. Is that even possible? It happened. And it was all caused by a house. Well, actually two houses...
Flashback to Tuesday, February 21st at approximately 7:45 p.m. I was in the pickup driving home from a church meeting and suddenly came to the realization that this was my last commute to our home in Wisner. Seriously, the last one. We moved to Wayne the next day. Something I had done almost every single day for the last five years was suddenly going to end that night when I got home, and my life felt like it was spiraling out of control at that very moment. What was I doing? What was I dragging my family into? How would the boys react? How would my husband adjust? Where were we going to put all of our stuff? How were we going to get it all moved? Why am I just thinking about all of this now? And then the tears started to flow. I cried the whole way home, and must have looked a sight when I pulled into the local Pizza Hut to pick up our supper. The high school student working the cash register didn't say a word. He was having trouble calculating the change, so he had bigger things to worry about than the rivers of mascara flowing down my cheeks.
Once I got home, I kept it together through supper. My husband and I discussed our game plan for the next day and tried to keep it civil. Emotions have been running high on both our parts. We have been pulled in different directions throughout our married life mostly due to job and family commitments. A move to Wayne simplifies our life in many aspects, including work, child care, school, and church. Nonetheless, Tim has strong ties to his family and their farming operation, which lies about an hour in the opposite direction. My hope is that we will both have more time to devote to that important aspect of our lives now that we are spending less time on the road each day (between the two of us), but I have yet to convince him of the benefits. He still reminds me that one of his unspoken marriage vows was, "We shalt never live any further north than Wisner."
Bedtime came for the boys, and my oldest son begged me to read him one of his new favorites, Beauty and the Beast. The tears welled in my eyes as we laid in bed and I thought of all the stories we had read in our Wisner house. A whole bookcase of children's books was packed up and ready to move the next day. I just couldn't stop thinking about the fact that this would be the last time we would lay together reading a story in that room. After all, this was the house to which we had brought both of our boys home from the hospital. It is a great house, and it has made a great home for us. I have so much pride in the improvements we have done (and are currently finishing). The tears of sorrow flowed thinking of bygone days, happy times, and special moments together...
...and tears of joy streamed from thoughts of our new home waiting for us in Wayne. The new carpet and paint looked so fresh and clean, and the walls just seemed to be begging for us to start moving in. This move would be a time saver for our family. Between their mom and dad, my boys will get an extra two hours of time with us EACH day outside of a car seat! We will be home before sundown so we can go to the park, hit the library, or actually do something fun besides eat a quick supper, take a bath, and go to bed. No more making five or six trips to the car in the morning to make sure I have absolutely everything I need because I can't run home over lunch to get it. The commute is over, and it is going to be life changing.
Tears of joy and tears of sorrow flowing at the same time over two houses. That, my friends, is the impact a home can have your life. More fun to follow later regarding our move, the days leading up to it, and the upcoming sale of our Wisner home. Welcome Home!
Flashback to Tuesday, February 21st at approximately 7:45 p.m. I was in the pickup driving home from a church meeting and suddenly came to the realization that this was my last commute to our home in Wisner. Seriously, the last one. We moved to Wayne the next day. Something I had done almost every single day for the last five years was suddenly going to end that night when I got home, and my life felt like it was spiraling out of control at that very moment. What was I doing? What was I dragging my family into? How would the boys react? How would my husband adjust? Where were we going to put all of our stuff? How were we going to get it all moved? Why am I just thinking about all of this now? And then the tears started to flow. I cried the whole way home, and must have looked a sight when I pulled into the local Pizza Hut to pick up our supper. The high school student working the cash register didn't say a word. He was having trouble calculating the change, so he had bigger things to worry about than the rivers of mascara flowing down my cheeks.
Once I got home, I kept it together through supper. My husband and I discussed our game plan for the next day and tried to keep it civil. Emotions have been running high on both our parts. We have been pulled in different directions throughout our married life mostly due to job and family commitments. A move to Wayne simplifies our life in many aspects, including work, child care, school, and church. Nonetheless, Tim has strong ties to his family and their farming operation, which lies about an hour in the opposite direction. My hope is that we will both have more time to devote to that important aspect of our lives now that we are spending less time on the road each day (between the two of us), but I have yet to convince him of the benefits. He still reminds me that one of his unspoken marriage vows was, "We shalt never live any further north than Wisner."
Bedtime came for the boys, and my oldest son begged me to read him one of his new favorites, Beauty and the Beast. The tears welled in my eyes as we laid in bed and I thought of all the stories we had read in our Wisner house. A whole bookcase of children's books was packed up and ready to move the next day. I just couldn't stop thinking about the fact that this would be the last time we would lay together reading a story in that room. After all, this was the house to which we had brought both of our boys home from the hospital. It is a great house, and it has made a great home for us. I have so much pride in the improvements we have done (and are currently finishing). The tears of sorrow flowed thinking of bygone days, happy times, and special moments together......and tears of joy streamed from thoughts of our new home waiting for us in Wayne. The new carpet and paint looked so fresh and clean, and the walls just seemed to be begging for us to start moving in. This move would be a time saver for our family. Between their mom and dad, my boys will get an extra two hours of time with us EACH day outside of a car seat! We will be home before sundown so we can go to the park, hit the library, or actually do something fun besides eat a quick supper, take a bath, and go to bed. No more making five or six trips to the car in the morning to make sure I have absolutely everything I need because I can't run home over lunch to get it. The commute is over, and it is going to be life changing.
Tears of joy and tears of sorrow flowing at the same time over two houses. That, my friends, is the impact a home can have your life. More fun to follow later regarding our move, the days leading up to it, and the upcoming sale of our Wisner home. Welcome Home!
Friday, March 20, 2015
At a Standstill...
Today is the first day of Spring. Warmer weather and more daylight to get stuff done, right? A friend asked me two days ago why I hadn't posted any recent updates on our bathroom remodeling project. Well, to be honest, progress has been slow. No, let me rephrase that, progress has come to a complete halt. We can't even blame the unnamed home improvement store because the materials have been stacked up against the wall in our basement family room since late February. This photo shows where we are at currently (and have been for some time):
Don't get me wrong, it's not that we don't want to be working on this, but when it's 70 degrees outside, a wagon ride around the block with an almost 2-year old sounds a bit more exciting. When I really want to spice things up, my family and I take on a large bunch of rowdy yearling cattle after work to see if we can time the head gate on the squeeze chute just right so we can insert an ear tag before they decide to run straight through. Laugh if you want, but it's not so funny when your sorting the whole herd for the second time to catch those two lovely ladies who managed to sneak through the first time.
Despite the after work shenanigans, the at work demands have been increasing steadily since the first of year. We've been working overtime trying to keep up with the volume of new listings, showings, and sales the past few weeks. So, if the shower isn't getting installed it might be because of this,
or this,
maybe this one too,
here's another good one,
or possibly this,
this one for sure,
don't forget this little guy,
and you're sure to love this one,
and this beauty, too!
But don't forget about these moments,
Nobody at 1st Realty could have guessed it wasn't spring yet by the volume of home sales and listings we have experienced during this first quarter of 2015. So far this year we have had nine closings, which is, by far, the most closings we've seen during the first quarter in the last five years. And, not surprisingly, we have more come (keep watching for updates)!
For the time being, the improvements on our home will just have to wait. My husband and I have more important things to do at our jobs and with our family farming operations at the present time.
Tonight, we get to work with these lovely ladies to get them prepped for baby calves set to arrive in about 12 days (or sooner). As all of you expecting mothers will understand, these bosses are "nesting" now, so let's hope they cooperate with those of us messing up their typical evening routine. For me, it's a little needed outdoor therapy. I'll keep you posted on how things are going, but don't be surprised if we are talking selling, buying, and baby calves rather than remodeling at least in the near future. Welcome Home.
 |
| Notice all the glue on the walls |
 |
| The builder loved glue |
 |
| Someday we'll be back to fully functional |
Don't get me wrong, it's not that we don't want to be working on this, but when it's 70 degrees outside, a wagon ride around the block with an almost 2-year old sounds a bit more exciting. When I really want to spice things up, my family and I take on a large bunch of rowdy yearling cattle after work to see if we can time the head gate on the squeeze chute just right so we can insert an ear tag before they decide to run straight through. Laugh if you want, but it's not so funny when your sorting the whole herd for the second time to catch those two lovely ladies who managed to sneak through the first time.
Despite the after work shenanigans, the at work demands have been increasing steadily since the first of year. We've been working overtime trying to keep up with the volume of new listings, showings, and sales the past few weeks. So, if the shower isn't getting installed it might be because of this,
 |
| 1006 Brooke Drive (Sale Pending) |
 |
| 719 Hillside Drive (Sale Pending) |
 |
| 1000 & 1002 Sunnyview Drive |
 |
| 905 Lincoln Street |
 |
| 105 West 4th Street |
 |
| 57745 847th Road, Wayne |
 |
| 307 West 1st Street |
 |
| 920 Douglas Street |
 |
| 502 West 1st Street |
 |
| Logan calls baby lambs "pigs." I can't make this stuff up. |
Nobody at 1st Realty could have guessed it wasn't spring yet by the volume of home sales and listings we have experienced during this first quarter of 2015. So far this year we have had nine closings, which is, by far, the most closings we've seen during the first quarter in the last five years. And, not surprisingly, we have more come (keep watching for updates)!
For the time being, the improvements on our home will just have to wait. My husband and I have more important things to do at our jobs and with our family farming operations at the present time.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Inspection vs. Appraisal
If you are in the market to buy a home, you are probably being bombarded with words like "inspection," "appraisal," "prequalification," "assessed value," or "contingency." But what do they all mean? People keep spouting them off at you like you buy a home every other day, so just keep nodding your head like you understand what's going on, right? Buying a home can be very confusing! Today, I want to focus on two terms that often get misunderstood by buyers when purchasing a home: home inspection and appraisal.
I have heard the terms "inspection" and "appraisal" used synonymously on numerous occasions. These two items are very different things. As discussed in my last post entitled Home Inspections, an inspection is designed to find major defects associated with a home. A certified home inspector or trusted contractor will perform this task (no license required). An inspection is also a voluntary part of a home purchase. Contrary to popular belief, home inspections are not mandatory in the State of Nebraska. If a buyer elects to purchase a home "as is" (in its current condition) without an inspection, that decision is perfectly acceptable.
In contrast, an appraisal is performed by a licensed appraiser for purposes of securing a loan. The appraiser is hired by your lender to review the property and determine a fair market value. The purpose of the appraisal is to support or reject the sales price of the property to guarantee that your lender is making a safe investment in lending you money. The appraised value is a reliable tool for determining the true market value of your property. An appraisal is typically a mandatory part of a home purchase, especially if the buyer is securing a loan through a bank or similar financial institution. Although an appraiser will visually examine the property, he/she is typically not qualified to make a determination about the structural soundness of the property. An appraiser may comment on specific items of concern in the appraisal report because of the influence they have on the value of the property. However, he/she will also note that a qualified inspection should be performed for items in question.
One important characteristic that a home inspector and an appraiser should have in common is that neither one should be affiliated with the property or the sale of the real estate in any way. Appraisers and inspectors should always provide you with an independent, unbiased opinion of the real estate condition or value.
The main differences between inspections and appraisals are as follows:
Inspections...
1. Do not require a licensed inspector
2. Are a voluntary part of the transaction
3. Determine the structural or mechanical soundness of components in the home
4. Are ordered or arranged for by the home buyer
Appraisals...
1. Require a State licensed appraiser
2. Are typically mandatory for all transactions requiring a loan
3. Determine the fair market value of real estate
4. Are ordered or arranged for by the lending institution
For additional information on inspections, appraisals, and everything else in between, contact me, Trisha Peters, at tpeters@1strealtysales.com or (402) 375-1477. I can help you find the answers and the home you have been seeking! Welcome Home.
I have heard the terms "inspection" and "appraisal" used synonymously on numerous occasions. These two items are very different things. As discussed in my last post entitled Home Inspections, an inspection is designed to find major defects associated with a home. A certified home inspector or trusted contractor will perform this task (no license required). An inspection is also a voluntary part of a home purchase. Contrary to popular belief, home inspections are not mandatory in the State of Nebraska. If a buyer elects to purchase a home "as is" (in its current condition) without an inspection, that decision is perfectly acceptable.
In contrast, an appraisal is performed by a licensed appraiser for purposes of securing a loan. The appraiser is hired by your lender to review the property and determine a fair market value. The purpose of the appraisal is to support or reject the sales price of the property to guarantee that your lender is making a safe investment in lending you money. The appraised value is a reliable tool for determining the true market value of your property. An appraisal is typically a mandatory part of a home purchase, especially if the buyer is securing a loan through a bank or similar financial institution. Although an appraiser will visually examine the property, he/she is typically not qualified to make a determination about the structural soundness of the property. An appraiser may comment on specific items of concern in the appraisal report because of the influence they have on the value of the property. However, he/she will also note that a qualified inspection should be performed for items in question.
One important characteristic that a home inspector and an appraiser should have in common is that neither one should be affiliated with the property or the sale of the real estate in any way. Appraisers and inspectors should always provide you with an independent, unbiased opinion of the real estate condition or value.
The main differences between inspections and appraisals are as follows:
Inspections...
1. Do not require a licensed inspector
2. Are a voluntary part of the transaction
3. Determine the structural or mechanical soundness of components in the home
4. Are ordered or arranged for by the home buyer
Appraisals...
1. Require a State licensed appraiser
2. Are typically mandatory for all transactions requiring a loan
3. Determine the fair market value of real estate
4. Are ordered or arranged for by the lending institution
For additional information on inspections, appraisals, and everything else in between, contact me, Trisha Peters, at tpeters@1strealtysales.com or (402) 375-1477. I can help you find the answers and the home you have been seeking! Welcome Home.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Home Inspections
As we approach the busy spring buying and selling season, it is necessary to touch on an important topic. Most of us have heard or found out first hand that the purchase of a home will be the most expensive purchase we make in our entire lifetime. According to the National Association of Home Builders (2014), the average buyer will stay in a home for 13 years. With so much at stake, why do we tend to leave so much to chance? Many buyers are now opting for a standard home inspection as part of their purchase to ensure that the home they are purchasing is structurally and mechanically sound. The average home inspector will look for a variety of issues ranging from water leaks and burned out light bulbs to foundation cracks and other structural issues.
There are certain things to look for when selecting a home inspector. As with any profession, an inspector with years of experience is a plus. You might want to ask for a resume highlighting his/her experience level, education, training, and references from past customers to determine the inspector's qualifications. Many states do not require home inspectors to be licensed. This means that they are not governed by any laws or regulations in regard to the performance of their duties, and they have little or no training in their field. And, you're going to let this person look at the biggest investment of your life? Scary, right?
Here's what you can do to ensure your inspector is qualified:
1. Locate an inspector who is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). Members of those organizations are subject to a code of ethics for certified home inspectors. ASHI's guidelines have been established as the industry standard and include the following areas of inspection: structure, extriors, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning, interiors, ventilation, and fireplaces (you can visit www.ashi.org or www.nachi.org for additional details or to locate a certified home inspector).
2. Sometimes a certified home inspector is hard to come by in a small community or maybe you are only looking for certain areas of the home to be inspected (i.e. plumbing or HVAC). If you're options are limited, try contacting local contractors with a reputation for being fair and honest about repairs that need to be done. Friends and family can often point you in the direction of a reliable contractor who can provide feedback on the integrity of a structure and its components.
3. Ask your real estate agent for a list of local experts in the area. He/she can recommend a variety of inspectors or contractors to get you started. You should always take the time to contact the people on the list to make sure you are comfortable with them and their level of experience before hiring them to do an inspection.
4. Make sure your inspector is bonded and insured. An inspector who has taken these measures has already taken steps to ensure the buyer and seller are better protected.
Homebuyers are typically encouraged to accompany their inspectors during an inspection so you can ask questions and ensure the inspector is taking the time to look over the components of the home carefully. Try not to be distracting to the home inspector as he/she may miss items if you try to engage in friendly banter throughout the inspection. However, don't be afraid to question certain comments or items that are brought to your attention. Be aware that home inspectors are simply required to "observe" certain items according to the accepted industry standards. This might mean that your inspector "observes" the roof on the home you are buying from the ground. Without climbing on the roof, they might not be able to see certain areas of damage that an up close inspection would uncover (Scherzer & Andrews, 2014).
Although home inspections are designed to find most of the major defects associated with a home purchase, they are often delivered with a disclaimer that the property is inspected to the best of the inspector's ability under the conditions of the inspection. Keep in mind that purchasing a home in the winter might not allow for a thorough exterior inspection since snow and ice can prevent inspectors from seeing certain defects. Likewise, if large amounts of personal property are blocking an inspector's view of certain components of a home, the inspector may note that items were blocking his/her view, therefore it was impossible to inspect that portion of the home. There are certain remedies to help you achieve better results, however, every circumstance is different.
Inspections are most often performed once a home is under a purchase agreement. So, what happens if the inspector finds serious defects with a home and you have already agreed to a price? Most generally, the contract is contingent on a "satisfactory" home inspection. This means that the contract can be amended to accommodate for repairs or improvements as deemed necessary by the home inspector. Often times, a buyer and seller might also seek a second opinion on items of specific concern. The results of every inspection are handled on a case by case basis once the inspection is received.
As you can see, a home inspection can be a very involved process. It can be difficult to dive into these issues on your own, so trust the advice of a real estate professional to help guide you through the process. Feel free to contact me at (402) 375-1477 with any questions you might have regarding a home inspection for your next home purchase. Welcome Home.
Emrath, P. March 4, 2014. "Latest Calculations Show Average Buyer Expected to Stay in a Home 13 Years." National Association of Home Builders.
https://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?sectionID=734&genericContentID=194717&channelID=311
March 4, 2014. American Society of Home Inspectors. https://www.ashi.org
March 4, 2014. International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. https://www.nachi.org
Scherzer, L. & Andrews, M. March 4, 2014. "Ten Things Home Inspectors Won't Say." http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=24197463
There are certain things to look for when selecting a home inspector. As with any profession, an inspector with years of experience is a plus. You might want to ask for a resume highlighting his/her experience level, education, training, and references from past customers to determine the inspector's qualifications. Many states do not require home inspectors to be licensed. This means that they are not governed by any laws or regulations in regard to the performance of their duties, and they have little or no training in their field. And, you're going to let this person look at the biggest investment of your life? Scary, right?
Here's what you can do to ensure your inspector is qualified:
1. Locate an inspector who is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). Members of those organizations are subject to a code of ethics for certified home inspectors. ASHI's guidelines have been established as the industry standard and include the following areas of inspection: structure, extriors, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning, interiors, ventilation, and fireplaces (you can visit www.ashi.org or www.nachi.org for additional details or to locate a certified home inspector).
2. Sometimes a certified home inspector is hard to come by in a small community or maybe you are only looking for certain areas of the home to be inspected (i.e. plumbing or HVAC). If you're options are limited, try contacting local contractors with a reputation for being fair and honest about repairs that need to be done. Friends and family can often point you in the direction of a reliable contractor who can provide feedback on the integrity of a structure and its components.
3. Ask your real estate agent for a list of local experts in the area. He/she can recommend a variety of inspectors or contractors to get you started. You should always take the time to contact the people on the list to make sure you are comfortable with them and their level of experience before hiring them to do an inspection.
4. Make sure your inspector is bonded and insured. An inspector who has taken these measures has already taken steps to ensure the buyer and seller are better protected.
Homebuyers are typically encouraged to accompany their inspectors during an inspection so you can ask questions and ensure the inspector is taking the time to look over the components of the home carefully. Try not to be distracting to the home inspector as he/she may miss items if you try to engage in friendly banter throughout the inspection. However, don't be afraid to question certain comments or items that are brought to your attention. Be aware that home inspectors are simply required to "observe" certain items according to the accepted industry standards. This might mean that your inspector "observes" the roof on the home you are buying from the ground. Without climbing on the roof, they might not be able to see certain areas of damage that an up close inspection would uncover (Scherzer & Andrews, 2014).
Although home inspections are designed to find most of the major defects associated with a home purchase, they are often delivered with a disclaimer that the property is inspected to the best of the inspector's ability under the conditions of the inspection. Keep in mind that purchasing a home in the winter might not allow for a thorough exterior inspection since snow and ice can prevent inspectors from seeing certain defects. Likewise, if large amounts of personal property are blocking an inspector's view of certain components of a home, the inspector may note that items were blocking his/her view, therefore it was impossible to inspect that portion of the home. There are certain remedies to help you achieve better results, however, every circumstance is different.
Inspections are most often performed once a home is under a purchase agreement. So, what happens if the inspector finds serious defects with a home and you have already agreed to a price? Most generally, the contract is contingent on a "satisfactory" home inspection. This means that the contract can be amended to accommodate for repairs or improvements as deemed necessary by the home inspector. Often times, a buyer and seller might also seek a second opinion on items of specific concern. The results of every inspection are handled on a case by case basis once the inspection is received.
As you can see, a home inspection can be a very involved process. It can be difficult to dive into these issues on your own, so trust the advice of a real estate professional to help guide you through the process. Feel free to contact me at (402) 375-1477 with any questions you might have regarding a home inspection for your next home purchase. Welcome Home.
Sources
Emrath, P. March 4, 2014. "Latest Calculations Show Average Buyer Expected to Stay in a Home 13 Years." National Association of Home Builders.
https://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?sectionID=734&genericContentID=194717&channelID=311
March 4, 2014. American Society of Home Inspectors. https://www.ashi.org
March 4, 2014. International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. https://www.nachi.org
Scherzer, L. & Andrews, M. March 4, 2014. "Ten Things Home Inspectors Won't Say." http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=24197463
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Attitude Adjustment
Raise your hand if you've been in a winter funk. We are well into the long stretch of winter that remains before a sustained spring thaw, and all I can say is thank goodness for the warmer temps this week! A day like today can really work wonders one's attitude and outlook. I was getting to a point where I didn't know how much more subzero weather I could tolerate. It's depressing. However, I am thankful that we haven't been getting the snow and ice our counterparts in the eastern part of the country are experiencing. Things could be worse.
Like me, most of you are probably getting spring fever. It's that itch to hop in the car and go somewhere or at least to get outside and breathe the fresh air. If showing houses doesn't give me an excuse for getting out of the office on days like today, I make my own. You might see me at Dollar General with both arms full of office supplies because I've been procrastinating a trip to the west edge of town since they moved the store from its convenient location across the street. Maybe I'll to run into you at the post office, or you just might catch me at the car wash polishing my wheels. Anything for a few brief moments outside! So, I'm begging you. Let's go look at some houses before the frigid cold settles in again!
We do have quite a few homes to see right now. All kinds, shapes, colors and sizes are currently available from cozy ranches to 2-story cottages and low-maintenance townhouses. If you can't find something that fits your needs today, just wait as we enter into March and April when listings typically sprout up overnight. Remember, we are still in the throes of winter for another month or so (and I'm counting down the days until spring!) In the meantime, check out these recent listings to see if there is something on the market that might tickle your fancy during this February thaw:
If you are buying or selling, contact me at 1st Realty to for help with your housing needs this spring. Or, if you see me out and about playing hooky on these nice days, don't hesitate to stop and visit about the local housing market. Getting into a new home or out of your existing one can do as much good for your attitude as the weather! Welcome Home!
tpeters@1strealtysales.com
Office: (402) 375-1477
Cell: (402) 518-0675
Like me, most of you are probably getting spring fever. It's that itch to hop in the car and go somewhere or at least to get outside and breathe the fresh air. If showing houses doesn't give me an excuse for getting out of the office on days like today, I make my own. You might see me at Dollar General with both arms full of office supplies because I've been procrastinating a trip to the west edge of town since they moved the store from its convenient location across the street. Maybe I'll to run into you at the post office, or you just might catch me at the car wash polishing my wheels. Anything for a few brief moments outside! So, I'm begging you. Let's go look at some houses before the frigid cold settles in again!
We do have quite a few homes to see right now. All kinds, shapes, colors and sizes are currently available from cozy ranches to 2-story cottages and low-maintenance townhouses. If you can't find something that fits your needs today, just wait as we enter into March and April when listings typically sprout up overnight. Remember, we are still in the throes of winter for another month or so (and I'm counting down the days until spring!) In the meantime, check out these recent listings to see if there is something on the market that might tickle your fancy during this February thaw:
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| 311 East 9th Street - Beautiful hardwood floors, remodeled bath, main level laundry |
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| 302 East 7th Street - 3-stories of living space, remodeled in 2000 |
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| 1011 Sunnyview Drive - Cute home, 3-bedrooms, appliances included |
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| 212 East 8th Street - beautiful archways, sunroom, and remodeled kitchen |
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| 1226 5th Road, Wisner - private acreage with house, grove, and many outbuildings |
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| 819 Lincoln Street - Adorable cottage-style home, 3-bedrooms, Bressler Park view! |
If you are buying or selling, contact me at 1st Realty to for help with your housing needs this spring. Or, if you see me out and about playing hooky on these nice days, don't hesitate to stop and visit about the local housing market. Getting into a new home or out of your existing one can do as much good for your attitude as the weather! Welcome Home!
tpeters@1strealtysales.com
Office: (402) 375-1477
Cell: (402) 518-0675
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