Fishnets or Crystal...I think I'll take the fishnets.

It's a MAJOR AWARD!

We are well familiar with the trend to provide the young participants on recreational sports teams with a trophy.  EVERYONE is recognized!   The entire team gets an award.  Not just the All Star Team or All Star Player, every player on every team.  Their little psyche must be protected.  All that blah blah blah.

What is the long term result of this kind of pandering?  Well, we see it in our buyers, they think they deserve a house in spite of their credit history, must have this, must have that,  ya ya ya.  But what about REALTORS?  Fortunately the majority of us are a tad older and have been beat up enough we know not to expect much of anything at all.  We KNOW we gotta earn our award, they are never given lightly.

Lets talk about those awards, shall we?

After politicians and the entertainment industry I can't think of a field of more sensitive, ego-centric individuals than real estate agents.  Yes, I know, I speak of myself.  Therefore, I know of what I speak.

We do soooo love our awards!   Any award.  Just give me a speck of recognition!

Everyone knows about the TOP PRODUCER award!  Buyers and sellers clamor to work with them, they are special someones who have proven their worth.  Top Producers rule the roost when office policy is questioned. If they don't like it, it gets changed.  If the Top Producers want it, the rest of us suck it up and go on.   Deference is awarded for office selection, parking spaces, holiday parties are organized to suit their schedules.  When a Top Producer desires to see the removal of a staff person who doesn't dress how they like, doesn't think they hung the moon, eventually you may rest assured, they WILL be gone.  It is the nature of the beast.  The law of the jungle and the pecking  order in the world of real estate.  Never be deceived by the whole 'team' concept or the happy smiling photos promoting partnerships.  The bottom line is always the almighty dollar.  It's business.

There is something about receiving an award that has the ability to lift your day, rebuilt your confidence and validate your work. The Century 21 franchise offers an opportunity for buyers and sellers to grade their agent.  A Quality Service Survey is emailed immediately after closing with a 1-10 scoring. 10 being the highest, bestest!  A RATE  YOUR REALTOR so to speak.

I'm not a Top Producer, haven't reached even the bottom rung on the GEMSTONE hierarchy of Ruby, Emerald and Diamonds award that identifies our company elite money maker$  So, I work to grow my

Ain't so purty anymore

business based on the quality of the work provided to the clients I DO have.

In 2013 it worked!  See that shiny crystal award on the right?  I received that less than a week ago.  Excellent scores from my buyers and sellers for 2013. Oh the JOY!  Today my email contains a scathing survey from the client on my last closing.  I had the seller.  A full priced offer, brought to close in under 6 months.   I had the property cleaned when it was listed, coordinated repairs, and  had three offers during the listing period.  What happened?  The seller agreed to pay a set dollar amount of closing costs for the buyer, then here comes a HUD with LESS allotted to the buyer.  Mr. So and So Seller sees more $ to his pocket. Yippie Skippie!!   We ask why and  are told the lender will not allow the buyer the full contracted amount.  So, Mr. So and So Seller is happy happy joy joy.  Then, another HUD is emailed.  The loan amount has been changed...buyer is granted full amount of contracted closing costs.  Mr. So and So Seller no longer happy happy joy joy.  It matters not one whit that he had agreed to pay the full amount initially. Mr. So and So Seller was given candy and it was snatched away.

There is now an 'appearance of evil'...and someone must answer for it.

I'm no Bo Derek but geez

That someone is me.  The home was sold, everyone was paid, business moves forward.  Everyone gets what they wanted.  Except me.  This client was given my name by a former client.  Assured that I was all that and a slice of bread.  People like evil more than good.  Gossip and nasty are what greases the excitement of the media and real estate business.  Real estate is played out as a win/lose game, agents literally study The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

I have been reading the book of Proverbs.  I lost.  

You are only as good as the POLLS, your LAST MOVIE, or the LAST IMPRESSION your client has of your work.

That lovely Leg Lamp in the Christmas Story movie has more appeal right now than my Major Award.

FOOTNOTE:
Immediately after receiving my sad report card another seller called - praised me up, down and sideways.  Within minutes my Broker In Charge told me I had earned the Agent of the Month award (based on highest closed sales $$$ - the coveted parking spot was MINE!!  Such is the nature of the real estate business, it can turn in an instant!  And that is why most of us keep going...

Everyone will NOT love you - but the ones who do, make it all worthwhile!

Monkey See, Monkey Do. Which monkey R U?

Pick or Choose Survey Monkey

Christmas is over, New Years Day is past. My final meeting acting as President of the Association was in November.  The new President begins their duties in December.

Throughout the year the membership murmured they would like to have more personal interaction socially (organized) with each other. The remember whens started.  Remember when we used to have a REAL Christmas Party?  Remember when we had cook-outs and wine & cheese mixers?  There was even mention of serving alcohol at our general membership meetings...GASP!  I found members lingering over coffee at the end of meetings, reluctant to wind down.  Actually enjoying each others company!  It had become common practice to wolf down their food while the speaker was doing their thing and rush out in under an hour while we are allotted a full two hours with our reservation!

I took it as a good sign.

In July I shared what I was hearing with my Board of Directors.  We were long overdue for a real PARRTAAAY!  The economy, unemployment, foreclosures and short sales had been beating on us for so long I didn't think we remembered HOW to have a good time anymore.

Cricket...cricket...

No one looked around.  They didn't meet my eyes.  So, I said it again.  OUR membership (those we represent) are asking for more social interaction.  Our budget doesn't allow for much beyond what we are

Nay sayers are sooo much fun!

doing but how about we have a real Christmas Party in lieu of our December luncheon meeting?  An evening event rather than our 'quick as a flash' Christmas Social luncheon!  It caught on...some smiles and chatter.  Of course there were a few nay sayers.  I never listen to nay sayers.

I was OFF and running.  Such excitement.  Such JOY!  We were going to end the year with a BASH!  Out went a survey (don't you just LOVE Survey Monkey).  68% were interested in an evening event and willing to PAY out of their own pockets. Given that we have right about that number attending the REALTOR Membership meetings we were going to be solid.

Then came the actual planning.  The hospitality committee coordinates the actual event, but we could not get ONE person to speak up when asked for feedback and input as to what/when/where.  The nay sayers were busy at work behind the scenes.

I never listen to nay sayers.

The hospitality committee consisted of exactly one person.  A man.  He insists he never signed up for the position.  I have the paperwork.  I know him too well.  He didn't pay attention to what he was checking off. But, we had it.  There was his name.  He gamely stepped up and organized the entire event.

Mr. Hospitality asked what he should do?  I told him, 'Do whatever YOU want!'  Since there were no suggestions from the membership - it's YOUR PARTY BABY!  We talked a little about it, would this restaurant work?  How about that for the menu?  But I pretty much left it up to him.  If no one else has interest, the willing gets to think for them.  I had ONE requirement.  A tacky sweater contest.  Typically the Christmas Social required the offices to donate a wrapped gift to be given away as door prizes.  Mr. Hospitality and I thought we would try something a little different. We asked those attending to bring a wrapped item to be auctioned.  Minimum value $10.  The proceeds would go to Meals on Wheels.  Since he was the only one planning, Mr. Hospitality got to select the charity and I thought it was the most worthy of causes.

We waited for reservations to be made.  And waited.  And waited.

I heard whispers in my office of 'No one is going, I'm not going.'  My own company announced their sign up for a Christmas Luncheon with Dirty Santa gift grab (minimum $20 value).  Everyone signed up!  YIPEE! The holidays are extremely busy, for everyone.  We have to pick and choose our parties.  I get that.

And we waited.

People began to say they weren't going if only a handful went. Some made excuses, most didn't, they simply avoided Mr. Hospitality (he is also in my office).  I began to hear Mr. Hospitality making phone calls to other offices.  He would come around the corner smiling with every YES!  They came in one, two at a time.  Many were affiliate members, none were from our office.  We had a point to prove then.  And I was starting to get pissed. Okay, obviously, I am still pissed.

Mr. Hospitality!

We reached a really nice attendance. They rallied, put on silly sweaters and opened their wallets for the elderly in our community.  The broker in charge, a brand new agent,  Mr. Hospitality and I were the only ones from our company (the largest company in the market).  The smaller franchisees, independent companies and affiliate partners once again proved their commitment to our local REALTOR Association.  And I was both exalted and humbled by their support.  Above all by Mr. Hospitality, who I know, organized the entire PARRTAAAY because it was important to me.

There were a few rough spots, can't be helped.  Like the obnoxious agent (dressed in everyday clothes) who

And the winner is...!

lined up with the tacky Christmas sweater contestants.  Was he drunk?  Probably.  I avoid him like the plague since I had to block his number when he would not take NO I WILL NOT NOW NOT EVER go to dinner with you for an answer.  We gave him a prize and just sat his backside down.  What can you do?

Mr. Hospitality has enjoyed reporting on the attendance, fundraising and positive reactions from the Christmas PARRTAAAY!  More than one asked why we didn't do this more often. (uh huh) and I am quite certain they will expect nothing less in 2014!

Our choices define us.  I wonder if they get that?

They love their REALTOR Association

John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Some Dollhouses Can't Be Found At Toy's R Us

My name means 'little girl' in Italian.

Like most young ladies in my day, I had the standard dollhouse on the left to play with.  Furniture, little plastic figurines.  I added my own touches with odds & ends that I collected from gumball machines.  My fav was the little hot dog...not exactly to scale but I didn't care.

In spite of my shoes, I'm not much taller today than I was back then.  The daughter of one of my clients told her parents to send her picture to the 'little girl that looks like a big

girl'...that was a first for me.  I kind of liked it.   I may be on the petite side still but my dollhouses are bigger these days.

I am hoping to list one in the next week or so. Every listing isn't eligible to be a dollhouse.  Not even all MY listings are dollhouses.  They are unique, hard to find properties that bring out the 'little girl' in this agent.   Properties that I make me feel like staying. Every square foot is utilized to it's utmost potential!  The furniture and dishes are eclectic, pillows you can't help but pick up and look at, a listing to linger in. 

You schedule a showing and arrive earlier than your buyer so you can walk through and look around some more. You just LIKE being there.  (NO, I don't riffle through the closets and dresser drawers...not that kind of behavior - I PROMISE).   A home that FITS, regardless of the size or style makes me say..."I would buy this house".   They come in

all sizes just like the dollhouses of my childhood.  Some are bungalows, some are mansions.  Remember Barbies Dream House?  I eventually upgraded from my tin version to her two story mansion with elevator.   I loved them both.  CLASSICS.

Dollhouses are rare finds today.  Too many short sales and foreclosures on the market.  Deferred maintenance on one hand or 'flipped' properties that all have the same flooring, paint colors and fixtures on the other.  No creativity.   Yes, I knoooow they are safe and sale-able, but they lack imagination.  They don't get much more than a casual nod on the Tuesday Morning Mandatory Tour.  I enjoy listings that make the wheels in  Ms. So and So Agent's pea brain start turning.  I can see it in her face!  She is wondering how I got this listing, and who

My buyer HAD to have this DOLLHOUSE

can she sell it to so she can have a piece of my dollhouse.  I understand, I am closing on one this week.  I have the buyer, not my listing.  But I LOVED the dollhouse - so I simply HAD TO $ELL IT!  At least five different buyers heard me say..."I have the best house!  You have to see it!  It's a DOLLHOUSE!"  Eventually, someone agreed with me.  Mark it sold.

Flocking through the house like a gaggle of geese, clucking and squawking!  Inevitably one will say, "I have someone for this...".  Then it's...'Isn't this Mr. or Ms. So and So's house...didn't Mr. or Ms. So and So used to live here?  Everyone wants to play in my dollhouse.  

Of course, some will ask...'Wasn't this listed with Mr. Discount Broker?'  They will make noises about the price, try to disqualify it in some way.  I know the deal.

Kiss my grits.  I'm getting paid on this one, and we all know it!

Is Your Television Looking For A New Home?

It is our responsibility to educate our clients.

Potential buyers call with the understanding that we will provide assistance in the selection and purchase of a home.  The expectation is to address what types of homes are available at a particular price point, financing, amenities, negotiations and marketing trends.

Sadly, just as teachers in today's society are required to teach behavioral modification and social skills when parents are negligent in the home, as parents push to obligate schools to build a faith in God within their children rather than instill it in the home, REALTORS are finding they have to educate their buyers on the importance of defining and establishing core values.   If they don't already have them, or you are unable to help them define some, the home buying process will become a long, tiresome, and probably unsuccessful endeavor.

E.F. Schumacherm said:  "I'm not at all contemptuous of comforts, but they have their place and it is not first."

 I go over as many of those key areas at the first opportunity (makes the home selection process so much easier), buyer presentation folders and stats on hand at  first contact.  Inevitably, after the first home preview and 'so and so said we should...',  their character comes shining through.  Priorities come to light following a consistent trend with home buyers that I find dismaying.  The best value, location and condition will slam

 up against a brick wall when a suitable spot is not readily available for the almighty television set!

The property is everything they asked for and were dreaming of.  I knew, like I knew, like I knew...this would be the house.  Incredibly the wheels screech to a stop when the husband turns full circle and says...'But where will we put the tv?'   And the conversation goes on to the size...the GLORIOUS SIZE of this technological beast... (manhood issues?)  Seriously!  This is NEVER brought up by  single women buyers (theirs run along another vein entirely).  But, couples and single men inevitably bring up the television set.  And to allow (charming and alluring as she is) the tv to influence such a critical choice is beyond me.  Are they unable to grasp the concept of value?  The price of a home to a television set?  Seriously gentlemen, bigger is not always better.

One man's television set is another man's fire pit.  The recent sale of one of my listings by another agent was hinged on a fire pit.  Mr. So and So Agent had already addressed the placement of the television (fortunately my seller displayed his own formidable set) and he was able to sail past that road block.  Apparently for this buyer, the deal breaker was his FIRE PIT!  There must be a suitable spot for the FIRE PIT.  Even with four acres, a party house and screen porch, large deck, workshop, swimming pool, the FIRE PIT took precedence.  They have one child and another on the way, I don't know if schools were mentioned?  My commission - i.e. mortgage payment off a $284,000 listing was held hostage by a FIRE PIT?  Fortunately, they discovered  it would place nicely on the expansive deck.

I will not leave you with the impression that I am a sanctimonious cow.  That I feel myself above the behavior

KNOWN AS 'THE ARK'

of today's home buyer.  I have fallen prey to the god of things as well.
I found a waterbed at a yard sale about 25 years ago and absolutely HAD TO HAVE IT!  Nothing would do but I have that bed...it was BIG, and GRAND.  And somebody slap me...a waterbed.  With a canopy and mirrors.  My own BEAST!  We had to re beam the floor (kitchen ceiling) to hold the weight of it in all its glory.  Which in turn necessitated the remodeling of the kitchen after we tore out the ceiling.  I have to say the end results were truly lovely.  I enjoyed the finished kitchen exactly 6 weeks before my husband lost his job and we were relocated to South Carolina.  Hence my new found wisdom in the elusive value in things, (it sprang a leak soon after it's relocation to The South and was replaced by a more traditional model). No water, canopies or mirrors.

What does this say about us ladies?  Our priorities lie elsewhere...no pun intended!

Who Do Voodoo?

Real estate is full of nefarious practices.  In these trying times stories of the professional and unprofessional abound. The levels to which buyers/sellers (and their agents) will go can be funny, frightening and occasionally... unethical and even illegal.

I want to focus on some of the things that make you go hmmmm.

There are agents in this market that bury a St. Joseph statue in the yard of their sellers.  Face down, in the front yard, to elicit a faster sale. Typically this is done AFTER the home has been on the market some 400 + days, so I don't think it can be deemed very reliable. Keep in mind we are in the Land of Baptists so whether it is a lack of faith or last resort (maybe the Catholics have a different pipeline so to speak) who can say?   I would categorize it under the old school way of doing real estate called Practice the THREE P's.  Put a sign in the yard. Put it in MLS, and PRAY!

Who needs a market analysis?

Seriously, there is a website devoted to this whole practice  www.buryjoe.com   It just doesn't sound right to me, they don't even call him a SAINT.   There is an agent in our office who buys them by the case.  She gave one as an award to another agent during our Mandatory Tuesday Sales Meeting a couple of months ago because the other agent had a listing with the dubious honor of the longest days on the market.  Ms. So and So Realtor doesn't grant every listing a St. Joseph statue, just the reeealy long overdue to sell listings.  You have to wonder why she wouldn't bury them right off the bat?  If she invests in that many of them, why would she wait?  Could it be she subliminally doesn't WANT them to sell quickly?  Does she like having ALL THOSE LISTINGS?  Is she a collector or (gasp) a borderline hoarder?  I have to wonder what her sellers think when she shows up with the St. Joseph statue.  Do they imagine she has just thrown her hands up in the air?

Maybe, just maybe before pulling out the shovel one might take a look at the condition of the home and the list price?  Just a thought.

I started something totally innocent, but with intent, to be sure.  A GRATITUDE book.  It is actually a combination of gratitude and vision.  The intent was to help me to focus on the positive things in my life that are already in abundance, to express gratitude for them, but also to develop clear vision of  my goals - to draw the positive, joyful experiences I desire into my life.  Guess what?  I think it's working!

I just listed a home that is owned by someone who graduated from the same high school I did.  Three years behind me.  Now, keep in mind I lived in MAINE then, not South Carolina.  A town smaller than this one.  I had never even heard of this couple-didn't have the house they bought listed, and didn't represent them as buyers.   They just asked a colleague for the name of someone NOT local to sell their home, they were given mine.  They know all the same people I know back home.  Then a few days later I got a call from another man who found me on the Internet...wants to list some land in the area.  He doesn't live here.  He DID however live in Maine for 20 years.  And he is ITALIAN.  Almost no one is Italian here.  I can name one other person I have met in 22 years in Orangeburg that is Italian.  But he found ME.  And called ME.  We again traded stories about the lovely food we miss 'back there'.  REAL Italian food.  He was even wearing a ring almost exactly like one I wear every day (I think his is real gold - mine is silver).  All within one week.  Within days of my Tour of Italy and Real Estate gratitude pages.

I am sure there are people who would scoff at my 'Gratitude Book' as surely as people scoff at prayer ( I also practice this-goes hand in hand with gratitude).  Of course, I continue to aggressively market my

STATISTICS, TRENDS, PROJECTIONS

properties, monitor the sales in MLS, keep my market analysis up to date, investigate new trends and opportunities-all that good stuff.   But if something is working...it's working.  We do what we do for that little extra 'edge'.  However, sometimes it may appear the agent has stepped over the edge of the cliff!

 What can I say?  

Stinky Fish

LEADS are like FISH.

Real estate LEADS anyway.  You have to fish for them, cast your line or net and pull up who knows what?  The catch of the day - or a sorry, soggy old branch that you have tugged and pulled on for half a day. Wriggly, elusive, sly creatures, these LEADS are.

How long it been on market?  Will they RENT?

Real estate companies have a fabulous tool (dubious) at their disposal called LEAD Router.  The program captures the contact information of consumers from the internet as they click on listings.  Presumably looking for additional info - or to request a showing.  That sort of thing.  Within seconds their request is forwarded by an automated message to my cell phone, an email copy is also received.

'You have a new company generated lead from LEAD Router...if this is not voice mail click 1' (and so on)

You accept the LEAD by phone, then log in to the website and follow up on their request.  Time sensitive of course. We like to tell our sellers how ON TOP OF OUR LEADS we are for THEIR properties.  And we are.  It's just that the LEADS are very often the equivalent to a 10 year old surfing the net, searching for the newest game on the market.  CAN he actually buy the game?  WILL he buy the game?  And the ever loving...'My parents are going to buy me the game'.  The only thing we might know conclusively is that he LIKES the game.  Maybe.

In the beginning LEAD Router was a unique, valuable program.    The sites were reputable, reliable and consistent.  As the years have progressed EVERYONE with a website is in the game.  As you would expect - the capability to screen these LEADS has weakened and the quality has begun to stink.  

I was all for the idea in the beginning!  OH THE LEADS we would see, you and I, you and I - oh the LEADS we would see, YOOOOOU AND IIIIII!  bah   

Like fish, they are all out there swimming in one vast septic sea.  Barracuda, starfish, eel, coral, license plates, medical waste; you get the picture.  (Nosey neighbors, people looking for desperate sellers who will RENT, REAL buyers that do research on line first, Relocation clients, people looking for vacant homes to vandalise, agents from other markets wanting to set up showings).  You don't know whats out there by standing on shore looking at the ocean.  GOTTA fish, no way around it.

Agents have become quite savvy at sorting through the LEADS.   Most click 9 (to reject this LEAD) so it will route along to the next agent on the list, sit back and laugh and shout out...'got a live one coming your way...', to the agent standing next to them by the coffee pot.   I will accept or reject on a variety of personal criteria (which I shall NOT share).  I am pretty good at qualifying the Cod from the chum.

My phone rang last week.  The lead was regarding a home listed by another agent in our office (out of compliance-you have to UPDATE your LEADS).  I accepted the lead - it was a real name with a 'question about property' request.  I didn't have anything pressing so I figured I'd take it and see what I could make of it.  The LEAD called me personally, within about 5 minutes of receiving my email!!

Well, helloooooo...

We talked; he later came to look at the home (from North Carolina) on the outside - alone;  made an appointment to preview the INSIDE (another trip from N.C.).  I began to get interested.  We set a time to meet at the house.  Dare I hope?  Would the LEAD show?  And if so, would it be because they were in town visiting relatives and killing time or were they semi-serious?

I arrived at the property at 12:45.   Fifteen min early, as is my routine.  They were already there!  Had been there since 11:00!!!  (yes, almost 2 hours EARLY?)  Just walking around the 13 acres (dreaming, planning).

JOY!

The LEAD it turns out, is 77 years young. Can you say INTERNET SAVVY?  He arrived with his wife and daughter (she sent me a friend request on FACEBOOK while we were going through the house).  DAD loves FACEBOOK too.  Has done more research online about this property than the listing agent!

CROW PIE

My LEAD has turned into a potential BUYER.  They have gone back up to NC to talk with a REALTOR about selling their house, check financing options - maybe, maybe not. What motivates a 77 years young buyer?  I may only end up with a new FACEBOOK friend (good enough) - but Lord willing...I will be eating a healthy serving of CROW. 

Not to be confused with that other pie...

UPDATE:  Ms. Agent So and So did NOT do her presentation this morning in the Tuesday Morning Mandatory Sales Meeting... 

Casa clásica

Something we have in abundance is vintage homes!  Out of 181 active residential listings - 56 were built between 1900 and 1959.  If you are looking for vintage bungalow, retro ranch or elegant eclectic we have offerings from $43,000 - $499,900!
A number of these properties are (but not always) estate properties. This means the property is being sold by the heirs.  Often a multitude of heirs.  No issue there really, however, it can muddy the waters.

As I have said before, I am not 'from the area' originally.  My grandparents came off the boat from Italy, they weren't living in the Burg back before the streets were paved. I don't have those "Old Orangeburg" ties so to speak.  I am one of those 'RELOCATION' clients from years back that stayed to make a home and a living.  No worries - like my grandfather - I can work for what I want.

Soooo...on a certain day my BIC (Broker in Charge) called me into to her office and said she had received call from a gentleman who wanted to list his 'family home' now that his brothers had passed.  She shrugged-'interested?', I said sure.  Kind of odd - most people have local ties, but not always.  Sometimes everyone else has moved away and things are left flapping.  So I called, sounded like I had a shot at something I don't usually have an opportunity for.

The heir that had Power of Attorney said 'they' would be in Orangeburg on Saturday at 10 and would I meet them at the house?  They would be meeting an appraiser at the same time.  HAPPY DANCE!  An appraisal would be invaluable on this 1930's original condition home!  This was going enable me to ensure a sellable property!  I knew we weren't going to replace the original coal furnace, tile roof, or copper screens.  BUT we could position the home to sell to a buyer that could love everything this home was in it's current condition.

Old Goat Appraiser

I showed up bright eyed and bushy tailed Saturday morning to meet everyone.  An appraiser (whom I had heard of by reputation only-who didn't know me from ADAM, or EVE) stood there and told them at least FOUR times that they needed to list with MS. SO AND SO from my very office.  Right there in my face, bold and stinky as you please, TOLD them to list with another agent.  Can you say awkward?  For the sellers, I was just plain stunned (more than a little ticked off).  The son nicely guided me by my elbow to the basement at that moment to take a look at the fascinating coal furnace.

After the VINTAGE APPRAISER had collected his 'data' and left we sat and discussed the partially filled in listing papers (assumptive).  I gently told him that it would be just fine if he wanted to list with Ms. So and So, the paperwork that I brought would be the same, she would just sign her name instead of mine.  He apologized, said he didn't know when he spoke to me that  were with the same company. I quickly addressed my marketing strategy and beat it.  I expected never to darken that doorstep again!

Nothing left to do but head to Columbia for the remainder of the day and go shopping.

Monday morning I shared my experience with another agent.  Low and behold he had received the SAME property as a referral some 3 months earlier.  We compared notes and it was placed by one of the other heirs.  They had asked him to meet them on a Saturday as well, he was unable to and he never heard anything further.   Ms. So and So came to see me, she had declined to meet them on Saturday when she learned yet another agent was coming in at 1:00!  sigh (I hadn't heard about that one).

Ms. Beloved REALTOR  (also known as Ms. So and So) also revealed OLD FART APPRAISER had contacted her prior to meeting with the seller requesting COMPS from her, (he didn't have access to our MLS).  interesting  I asked what she had given him and she said she pulled up everything that sold 'in the neighborhood' and gave them to him.   I had found exactly TWO sales in the entire county that were similar in size, condition and lifestyle.  None of them were located 'in the neighborhood'.  I am not an appraiser, he may know something I don't know...who can say?   It certainly explained WHY he felt compelled to insist they list with Ms. So and So.  They obviously have a relationship (there is that word again).

I received a call some time later - I got the listing!

My vintage listing has been a JOY to work on, my sellers are as supportive as I have ever had!  Everyone falls in love with the property when they go through it (whether they would consider buying it or not).  I can easily visualize the buyer for this exceptional home-a purist, appreciative of everything this property stands for, willing to maintain the homes integrity!  Considering a real project?  Check out our community - we have lots to offer in the way of casa clásica!

¡Adoro casas más viejas! (I love older homes!)    I periti di Dirtbag, non così molto.  (you get the general idea)

Healthy eating in Orangeburg!

I'm Italian.  I like my Italian food, and a REAL Italian restaurant (not a chain).  Family owned, where you know the whole crew by name.  Who their parents are, where they live. All of that.  And they know YOU!

Graziano's was THE place to eat in Lisbon, Maine.   I could walk there from my house, get a take out pizza.  Everyone knew everyone else.  We went to school with one another. The kind of place you still think about 23 years after moving away.  The first place on the list to eat when you go back to visit.

Luckily we have just such a place here in town, House of Pizza.  It is technically a GREEK restaurant but they do serve Italian food too. Locally owned.   My children went to school with their children, we talk about where they are and what they are doing, and their friends.I believe I have eaten there at least once a week since I moved here 23 years ago.  That's a whole lotta PIZZA!  I recommend this place to all my relocation buyers.

My sweet server knows what I order. (lousy photo of her - I took it with my phone)  It is an ongoing joke - silly but it makes me happy, I love her for it.  They have a great menu but I am a creature of habit and rarely change up my selection.  Large pepperoni pizza, fries for an appetizer (fried hard), water. Unless I am there earlier in the day then I might go out on a limb and order coffee to keep me going through the afternoon.  We have been known to have a glass of wine now and again too on very special occasions.

Not long ago I learned the restaurant had been SOLD!  I was devastated and a little ticked off.  It would never be the same.  Where would I go on Wednesday for a long meal with my bestie before Bible class?  Where would we be comfortable lingering over our meal, checking our lessons, catch up on the drama of our days?

My office is across the street - I watched the changes come within DAYS!  The addition of some kind of sun room thingy.  I refused to go check it out.

My curiosity got the better of me and  I broke down and we went back this week.
There were obvious structural changes, had there been changes in staff as well? Supposedly the menu was the same but what about the the TASTE?

The first question in the door was - 'Would you like to be seated in the SUN ROOM?'  Well sure, why not?  We were the only ones out there.  Check it out...a fireplace, with a fire.   My daughter and I as per usual were discussing the menu, what we MIGHT have, when our server arrived and asked 'Pepperoni pizza?'  She was STILL HERE!

My dear friend was being very good.  Following up on that New Years thing and all.   A salad for her, Romaine lettuce only if you please.  I told her there was NO WAY I was having a salad.  I had eaten one already for lunch.   She pointed out it was probably best not to combine two salads a day with SLIM QUICK!  Now that's a friend!  Always looking out for your best interest.  She asked for a take out box as soon as her plate arrived, she was taking 1/2 home for lunch tomorrow!  Good girl.

She ate what remained on her plate like the pro-active healthy thing she is.  What I did not document however, was the pizza she ate after the salad.   BUT, that IS what all of the weight loss pros say to do. Drink a ton of water or something good for you like the salad BEFORE you start on the stuff you really want to eat so you don't over do.  Personally, I start with the fries.

They are open for Sunday brunch now too!  I am thinking to swing by before worship.  Time for a new 'routine'.