Tag Archives: realtor

December 24–1 day until Christmas—What’s the best gift you’ve ever given…the one that you that had the WOW effect you’ve always wanted?

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Christmas_ball_D I tried long and hard to think of the best gift I ever gave; the one that had the Wow effect; the one that surpassed all others. The more I thought about this the more I couldn’t really put my finger on it. I started to ponder why I couldn’t remember, was it because it hasn’t happened yet or was it because my parents raised me right. I think it might be because my parents raised me right. The fact is I think I have given several WOW gifts and the fact that I can’t remember them is due probably to the fact that I haven’t stopped looking for the next Wow gift, the search continues to Wow again and again.

I remember giving homemade gifts to my parents and them enjoying them and I remember gifts to my wife and my kids that they didn’t expect. The most recent gift that has received maybe not the WOW, but most definitely the most use was the Garmin GPS that we gave my dad and my father-in-law. They didn’t have to share, they each got one thanks to incredible pricing at Wal-Mart. I use my GPS daily and I guess I take it for granted. Let’s face it I’m a man and I don’t like asking directions and neither do they. So this gift tops my list of the MOST used gifts I’ve ever given. No man likes to ask for directions and now you don’t have to; you just type in your destination and a pretty little computer voice tells you how to get there. Yes, most of the time it’s a female voice, which is kind of odd. Did you ever see your dad ask a waitress how to get somewhere, no it was always the gas attendant or a policeman. So I’m still on the hunt for the Wow gift, something that will blow them away, something that they can’t wait to start using..hmmm.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever given…the one that you that had the WOW effect you’ve always wanted?

This REALTORS Perspective: The gift of home ownership puts you on the path to personal wealth, but does it put you on the road to happiness? Owning a home is more than making payments to a bank instead of a landlord. Owning a home is a commitment to your family and your community. The commitment to your family is that you’re going to take care of the home, keep it working right and looking nice is always a plus. The commitment to the community is the same oddly enough. The home owners association wants you to cut your grass and paint your home a reasonable color, not because they want to be in control of your home, but because they want the value of all the homes in the neighborhood to increase or more importantly not to decrease. The happiest home owners are the ones that are ready to mow the yard, repair their own sink, and choose their own electrical carrier. Happiness comes in making your own choices about where the shrubs go and the flowers don’t. Happiness comes with picking your new tile, hard wood flooring or countertops. Happiness is making your house a home by putting your finger prints all over it.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever given…the one that you that had the WOW effect you’ve always wanted?

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and may you always…..

Live Life to the Fullest,

PHOTOMAY2009retouched 8x10 (Medium) (Small)

S.C.

23 days until Christmas— Have you read the book “The Night Before Christmas in Texas-That Is” by Lean Harris ?

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Christmas_ball_D So as a youngster I spent Christmas in North Carolina (until we moved to Texas) and my Grandpa Culberson made sure that I knew how things are bigger and better in Texas.   I remember one Christmas getting a book. I didn’t want a book, I wanted a car or a red rider bb gun or who really can remember back that far what I wanted.  The book “The Night Before Christmas in Texas-That Is” by Lean Harris.  My parents did read me that book, I can’t remember if it was Christmas Eve, Christmas day or way before Christmas.  “THAT’S  how we celebrate Christmas in Texas” my grandfather would tell me on the phone.  My parents tried to keep me grounded, but a boot instead of a stocking…how cool was that.  I also couldn’t imagine a Christmas that wasn’t at least sweater weather.  I would find out when we move that…it’s hot in Texas and the white stuff doesn’t visit very often.  I only remember once Winter as a child in Texas that brought us snow that stuck.  My sister and I made a snowman and he was REALLY short. 

To the best of my knowledge this book is out of print, but maybe it will turn up in the attic.  The excitement of this Christmas story, THE Christmas story or any family favorite can’t be beat.  YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Netflix, none of these can take the magic away from a story read by mom, dad, sister of brother.  The written word is still alive and well at my home and I hope it is at yours as well.  The inflection you can put into the story, your own Texas drawl, listener participation, other silly voices are all part of the magic of bringing the story alive in the eyes of an excited child.  

MY REALTOR PERSPECTIVE: Sometimes you have to read.  In real estate it just makes sense to read what’s going on.  As a  REALTOR I have lots of papers to go over with my clients.  Buying, selling, renting, landlord it doesn’t matter their are papers you need to read.  With my buyers and sellers one of the first meetings I ask for is a meeting to go over what a contract looks like.  This is our meeting to go into depth about ever part of the contract.  The reason I like to have this meeting early…..once you’ve found the home or the buyer the client can see the finish line and is prone to miss the puddle up a head.  It is best to read over the contract in a relaxed setting, ask TONS of questions so when the excitement of  having a contract comes you can focus on how to make it work for you.

Have you read the book “The Night Before Christmas in Texas-That Is” by Lean Harris ?  What is your best Christmas story memory?Since I couldn’t find or remember the lines to the story….I thought I’d share a Texas Christmas song

Live Life to the Fullest,PHOTOMAY2009retouched 8x10 (Medium) (Small) S.C.(Post 2 in www.TheRealEstateTeam4u.info Merry Christmas series)

24 days until Christmas— When do you put up your Christmas tree?

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Christmas_ball_D The joy of the Christmas season begins with the Christmas tree.   Green, furry, sticky, and funny smelling.  They smell fresh like the outdoors and sometimes like that air freshener from your grandpas truck.  Add some homemade ornaments, tinsel, clear lights, colored lights, strings of popcorn and the Christmas season has begun.  Each tree and each tradition varies from family to family.  As a child we had live trees and artificial ones.  Even though the artificial tree did not have that special smell or sticky limbs it started the joy and excitement of Christmas. As a child and as an adult we have set up the tree Pre-Thanksgiving, post-Thanksgiving, a week before Christmas and Christmas Even.  What is the best time to put up the Christmas tree?

So many choices….this year with a busier schedule than years past for all of us, we went as a family and picked out a tree that would last from Pre-Thanksgiving through Christmas.  It was a bold move, but we made the trip from Magnolia to Tomball and found the perfect tree.  The weather for our tree drive was pretty good, a couple of rain drops, but the tree did stay on the car.  We haven’t lost one yet(knock on wood).  We enjoyed the family time decorating the tree, listening to the Christmas Channel on Pandora. Only one broken ornament and I get credit for that.  The house now looks, smells and feels like the holidays and I can’t wait for the family to open their gifts.

MY REALTOR PERSPECTIVE:  I am a huge fan of Christmas and encourage my clients to decorate their home for the Holiday…tree, lights…  Most REALTORS are scared to let the clients decorate for the Holiday.  Some of the agents are afraid that the decorations may not look good or that it may offend someone.  The home is the home and the decorations go with you when you leave.   As far as offending anyone…give me a break.  I take the time to respect others and they should respect my clients and the joy they receive by celebrating the birth of Christ.  I also believe that if your home is active on the market that you should not load up the tree with presents.  One or two mid-size presents is fine, hopefully you will have showings through the Holidays.  You may want to contact your showing service and give them the days you don’t want to show your home during the holidays.  My take is MERRY CHRISTMAS YA’LL this home would look great with your Christmas decorations too!

So when do you put up your Christmas Tree?

Live Life to the Fullest,

PHOTOMAY2009retouched 8x10 (Medium) (Small) S.C.

(Post 1 in www.TheRealEstateTeam4u.info Merry Christmas series)