I Paid A Visit....

To a friend, supporter and client today to say Thank You! It would have been a surprise drop in except I wanted to get it on video for Go90x (ask me about it), so I told her I was coming.



Anyways, on behalf of myself and Go Realty, I want to thank all of my supporters, friends and clients.



You know I couldn't do it without you!!

I Just Can't Get Enough! Can You??

Anyone who knows me at all knows how I struggle with my vision. Particularly, I just can't seem to get enough light. In fact, if I've been to your home signing papers to list your home, you've likely  witnessed me with my phone and flashlight app trying to see the words to read.

Well since I know I'm not alone in this world of darkness (ok exaggerating a bit here), I thought of something yesterday while out with a client looking at new construction plans on a home.

Lights. Yes, light placement. It's way more important than you think.

Most people make sure they have a light fixture and possibly a ceiling fan prewire in each room. But this client asked about adding can lights around the ceiling where her husband's office would be.

Click click. My light bulb came on. I think others might not think about this necessity when buying a home.

So there's your little Tuesday night tidbit. You can thank Janie for that. (I'm sure she won't mind if I mention her by name). I know I have my lamp out over my keyboard as we speak. But how much easier it would have been if I had asked my builder to install more lighting in my ceiling?

Cheers and good well-lit evening to ya!

My Friends Rock!!

It's all about the people. It's easy to make it about me in this business or in life. But it's not about me. It's helping others fulfill their dreams of homeownership that makes my biz all worthwhile. (See previous posts about why I like my job).

I would not be where I am today without the amazing support of my friends. (Think acceptance speech here). But really, it's true. I am just sitting here simply amazed as I think back over the years at how many people have referred friends to me, lent a hand in real estate or supported me in every day life. I mean so many people... in fact too many to list here.

So today, I just wanna share with you a few fun pics I took tonight with some of my friends and supporters in my biz. Thanks friends. You rock!!!

Top 5 Ways to Relieve Stress When You're Buying a Home

Photo courtesy of Jen Martin

Nope. I can't promise it. Buying a home is not a walk in the park.

Yes. It yields the ultimate reward of defining your personal space and finding comfort in your surroundings.

Most anyone you talk to will tell you. There will be stress involved in the home buying process. And my friends, they are right. However, it doesn't have to consume your life and rob your joy, or land you in a therapist's chair with severe panic attacks.

You see, like any stressful time in life, you can find comfort in doing activities that alleviate that stress.

!. Exercise. Yes, I said it. No, it's not January 1, but it's still ahead of the approaching beach season. See with this one, you will kill two birds with one stone. The endorphins will take the edge off of the stress and the calories burned with take the excess off of your waist line. In fact, find a simple exercise that you enjoy and you will see an instant mood boost. (Self plug for my Zumba class. Really, you should come!)

2. Sleep. I know. I'm preaching to the choir here, but sleep helps everything. I mean everything. So give it a shot. Go to bed!

3. Talk it out with other home owners. Find the positive people in your life and discuss your home "situation." You will see that even though they like had their own stressful situations when they bought their homes, they will encourage you and help you to see the other side.... homeownership.

4. Have a drink. But not too many. Hell if OBs tell new moms to have one drink to relax, I think it could apply here. I mean, try it and see. But be careful, hangovers make the stressful situation grow.

5. Talk with your REALTOR! Talk with your Realtor about your concerns and what they are doing to address those concerns. But after you do that, TRUST. Ok, that's a big one. It's a big word and a tough act to do. But trusting in the person you hired to help you
takes away some of the burdens you carry in the home buying process contributing to that stress. Don't micromanage. Talk it out and then let it go.

If you can't do some of these 5 tips, no need to worry. Homeownership will still be yours. But if you tackle even some of these, that purchase will be a lot less stressful. Trust me. And come to Zumba class!

Those 2 Words!

Tar Heels!!!!

Those 2 words can make a girl so happy that I wanna do a little minion dance.......You get the picture.

Why? Because I'm a huge fan and tonight is a huge game! It might seem that I've become less of a die hard fan as I've not been to the UNC vs. Duke game at the Dean Dome in the past few years (I had, after all, attended every one at UNC against Dook since 1995.

But no amount of life and work can get in the way of a little rivalry and the jitters it gives me before each game.

Tonight, I may have to turn on the TV while I work and allow my heart to pump to the beat of the ball on the court and to the cheers of the fans in the
stands.

I'm not there again this year in person, but I am always there in spirit. So, tonight, I say Go Heels. Beat Duke!

Little man is going to bed now with his tee over his jays!

When the sign man visits.....

Good things happen!



Congrats to Stephanie Crowder at 3541 Sugar Tree Place on the contract on her home today! She received 3 offers on the home. Sign of a healthy market with low inventory folks.

Miracles Start With Dreams

There are many reasons I joined Go Realty in January of last year, but the one called Go Gives Back didn't strike a chord with me like it should have. I admit, having financial struggles personally due to a slower economy and the birth of my boys kind of left giving back at the furtherest corner of my mind.

But this is a new year. You see this year, Go Realty partnered with Garman Homes to raise $200,000 for the Duke Children's Hospital and Garman Homes will build the 2015 Miracle House in Briar Chapel. Now, I still don't know exactly what a miracle home is. But what I do know, is that having two sweet boys of my own, and struggling for over four years with fertility challenges, hit a sweet spot in my heart and makes me excited about this special opportunity I and my clients have. 

Through the program Go Gives Back, $50 of each commission sale check from each closing on my clients' homes is matched by Go Realty for a total of $100 per sale going to the Duke Children's Hospital.

Now, I know most everyone has some experience with a child or knowing someone with a child who has spent some time at a children's hospital. I'm hoping many will join us this year in giving any gift of money you can to such a deserving group of people. 

Many parents of these children have dreams of a healthy child or dreams of a child who will survive. It may take miracle. We may not be miracle workers, but every little penny we give to such a worthy cause moves these dreams closer to reality for these hurting families.

Please let me know if you would like to donate with Go Realty to the Duke Children's Hospital. If you are not personally looking to move now, maybe you have a friend or family member who will buy or sell a home this year. Have them contact me and $100 of their sale will go to this cause.

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Here's the crew from Garman Homes and Go Realty at the
big pledge reveal at the Mix 101.5 Radiothon this week for
the Duke Children's Hospital. $200,000 pledge!