An Inspiring Client Story-A Must Read!!

I loved helping this family find their new home this year! They have had trials and their outlook on life is inspiring. I hope to have an attitude like theirs in the new year. Below is a post from Alexandra's Facebook page that I asked her permission to share:

2009 was Sam and my first Christmas together. Between out of town trips and a funeral that all overlapped, we spent it, and almost two weeks, apart. 

2010 was the Christmas that Sam asked me to be his wife, and it was our first Christmas as a family.
2011 was our first Christmas in Raleigh and our first Christmas as husband and wife. We were still reelling from the news we received from Sam's doctor the previous month.
2012 was Joanna's first Christmas. Sam was in remission after 8 months of treatment and a rocky year.
2013 was our first Christmas in our very own home in Knightdale. Sam has been at a job he loves for almost a year, and is still in remission. Our kids are happy and loved.

There has been ups, and downs, and lots of in betweens. Together we've traveled up and down the coast, to another country, and made a new city our home. We've fallen in love, gotten engaged, and then married. We've gotten pregnant, experienced miscarriage, and had the sweetest little brown eyed girl. We've sobbed when we heard the word cancer and sobbed at the word remission. We've celebrated countless birthdays, danced at weddings, and held each other through funerals.

The New Year always brings something new. Sometimes good, sometimes not. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but the love gets us through the dark days. I am both excited and apprehensive to see what 2014 brings - but ready or not, it's coming! Happy New Year, from our family, to each of you.

Happy New Year to the Shraders!

~Photo courtesy of sara davis photography 

www.saraedavisphoto.com

Set a Plan for 2014! Make More Than Just Goals. And 2013 Reflections.

It's that time again to reflect on the year as it draws near an end. Most people evaluate what they accomplished (or failed to accomplish) around New Year's. In fact, I'm going to tell you what I accomplished this year for starters. But instead of making New Year's goals or resolutions for 2014, make a plan and aspire to greater things and make them happen!

My accomplishments in the year of '13:

I moved my Zumba class from the tiny, carpeted club house in Woodcroft to Dance Theater South in Sutton Station. What a difference a larger, brighter atmosphere made. My class grew immediately. I am so blessed for the ladies (and Don when he drops in) who trust me to help them reach their fitness goals.

Speaking of fitness goals, I continued to maintain a good portion of my weight loss this year. I'm focusing not on the numbers for the new year, but instead on maintaining strength and endurance that 2013 brought.

I stepped out of my comfy zone and joined Go Realty in January. Nine years at another company got me warm and cozy in my zone. But I made the switch! And this is what birthed my next accomplishment.

Shakeitupdurham became my new blog where I post real estate related stories, life lessons and my homes for sale. You won't believe how hard it was to come up with a name for my blog!

I began to focus more on my clients and their needs and less on my company's (or my own) sales numbers. In doing so, I met some truly spectacular people. In fact, I helped one family find their new home in Knightdale. They were first-time home buyers who endured a hardship of cancer within the past few years. What a fulfilling job I have. I have really seen that through my clients this year.

My sweet, funny, cute, caring, negotiating son Owen began kindergarten this year. I have to say just getting pregnant with Owen was an accomplishment in 2007! But seeing him come into more independence and really enjoy learning and reading has made this mom proud. Beginning kindergarten was his accomplishment, but God entrusting me to be his mother is quite my accomplishment!

Becoming better at telling friends and strangers exactly what I do (real estate, amongst other things) has seen a huge improvement for me this year. Prior to my Go90x challenge, which I completed in March, I kind of just assumed people knew what I did, and of course they would want to refer their friends and families to me. Ha! I really need to remind everyone what it is I do and what makes me a great realtor. :)

I don't think I fell short in many areas this year, but as always, there is much room for growth. So I just finished making my plan for 2014. My plan is simple. Strive to meet and invest in more people. In doing so, I hope to be able to meet a need somehow in their lives. I know the people I meet in 2014 will leave an impression on my life in some way, but I want to do the same for them. And in doing so, I will also find success in many ways in my own personal life. But first, I need to give to others.

Make your plan now! Begin by envisioning what you ultimately want and break your goals down into an action plan. Here is to an awesome 2014! I know you can do it!

Does Your Insurance Cover Sewage Backup?

It's easy to believe your homeowner's insurance will cover anything that happens to your home. After all, this does help you sleep at night.

But often times random things happen to your home that could set you back thousands of dollars due to damage in floors, walls or electrical systems. Knowing you have the right coverage will save you in the long run, big time.

One of the most common causes of expensive repairs in a home is sewer backup. You may assume your city sewer system would be the responsibility of the city in the event it failed. Or your first thought may be that homeowner's insurance would cover your issue. Imagine the scene, you wake up one morning to find a mess in your home. Or you go away on vacation and your toilet fails leaving your home flooded.

Upon a phone call to your insurance agent, you come to the painful realization that this stinking issue in your home is just that.... stinky. If you don't have a sewage back up and water intrusion rider added to your insurance policy when you purchased it, you may be out of luck.

I was fortunate enough to have my agent mention this little fact and advise me to add the rider to my policy (only costing me $25 a year). This simple insurance rider saved me over $30,000 when I had quite an incident happen in my home while away on vacation.

So now you know, call your insurance agent today and make sure you have the rider.

Got Coats??

I read this on my friend's Facebook page this morning and it reminded me of a need I recently learned of....

"It's Giving Tuesday...please share the causes, charities, and ministries that are dear to you, so that those of us who are able to give can consider those you love as well."

I met a teacher last week who said she knew of at least 15 4th and 5th graders at another school (Glen Elementary) that needed coats. I imagine there are other kids at that school, my son's school and others that need coats this winter too.

So in honor of Giving Tuesday and staying warm this winter, I am asking you to consider a coat donation (new or used). 

Please let me know if you can help and I will pick them up from you to deliver to the school (s).

Thanks for helping!