I’ve heard story after story from my grandmother(now 93 years old) of how she and her father would deliver mail through all kinds of treacherous conditions via horse and buggy…and how she delivered it alone when he went off to war! About how they would make sure to check that each of their customers was well, and meet needs far beyond delivering their mail. They would often stop to pick up groceries for those who were housebound, or medicine for those who were ill…they met their customers where they were.

In 2001, the USPS created a television commercial edited to Carly Simon’s song “Let the River Run.” It featured no voice over, only the following text:

“We are mothers and fathers. And sons and daughters. Who every day go about our lives with duty, honor and pride. And neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, nor the winds of change, nor a nation challenged, will stay us from the swift completion of our appointed rounds. Ever.”

Yesterday was Mother’s Day and I spent much of my day in the hospital…gowned, gloved and masked. I sat on the edge of the bed with of one of my clients sharing our joy over the fact that the Lakers’ had just lost, and signing the necessary paperwork for he and his wife to accept the offer we’d received on their house in Folsom, California! Oh the joy!!! I couldn’t imagine spending my day any other way! I realized yesterday that realtors are a lot more like postal carriers than I’d previously recognized…except that we work holidays. I guess you could say…

“We are mothers and fathers. And sons and daughters. Who every day go about our lives with duty, honor and pride. And neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, nor the winds of change, nor a nation challenged, nor holiday, nor hospitalization will stay us from the swift completion of our appointed rounds. Ever.”

Bottom line, I’m never too busy to take care of your real estate needs. Let me know how I can help. I’ll meet you where you are, just like my postal carrier ancestors did…sans the horse and buggy

There’s been a lot of hoopla surrounding the Royal Wedding this week, and the real estate community has joined in on the fun. Throughout the week, I received numerous emails and blog posts from colleagues around the globe who have creatively integrated the royal wedding into their businesses. Many have shared their childhood dreams of growing up to be a Princess (surprisingly, no one expressed dreams of becoming a Prince…I blame Disney for that!) or their adult dreams of working as the Royal Family’s Realtor!

One of my favorites was entitled “Will and Kate – Above the Clouds”

The author asked the question? “If Will and Kate ventured across the pond to buy a home, what might be the perfect match for them?”

The answer? Her listing of course, “Above the Clouds is an 18,000 square foot, 15 acre property located in Stowe, Vermont offering quiet elegance and local craftsmanship…and ample room for Kate’s hats, Will’s Ducati bike, new heirs and the Royal Protection Squad.” And according to the author, “The approximately £8.82 million price ($16 million) would hardly put a dent in the royal coffers.” I thought it was very clever…and since I don’t think that Will and Kate will actually venture across the pond, Above the Clouds is still available…give me a call if you’d like to purchase your very own castle!!! I’d love to help you :)

One of my least favorites expressed how stressful it would be to actually represent a Prince and Princess in a real estate transaction. How stressful it would be to try to find a suitable home, in a neighborhood that would meet their needs. The pressure to find the best inspectors and the best lenders (which the majority of Princes and Princesses probably wouldn’t even require), to cross every “t” and dot every “i” in the contract, disclosures and other paperwork…to make sure that everything went smoothly.

My response: WHAT?!? Isn’t that what Realtors are supposed to do for EACH OF THEIR CLIENTS…ALL OF THE TIME?  Isn’t that what “fiduciary duty,” means? Isn’t that what we owe our clients? Our absolute best. Isn’t that why we take so many continuing education classes and network with other professionals? Isn’t that why we got into this business in the first place? To help people with one of the biggest purchases of a lifetime…to help make their fairy tale dreams come true! I can honestly say that I give each of my clients my very best…whether they’re purchasing (or selling) a castle or a condo, I treat them like Princes and Princesses!  So I guess I can safely market myself as the Realtor who represents Princes and Princesses!

And on that note…drum roll please…I wanted to let you know that I’m working with a REAL, LIVE Princess right now! One of the fairest in the land!!! My oldest daughter is buying her first home…and I’m fortunate enough to be working with her and her future Prince! Their royal wedding will be taking place in September…stay tuned!

You may have heard about the recent transaction which set a new record for the most expensive U.S. residential sale…Russian billionaire Yuri Milner (who heads Digital Sky Technologies) has reportedly paid $100 million for a 25,500-square-foot Los Altos Hills, California home which was not even listed for sale.  According to The Wall Street Journal  the sellers, Fred and Annie Chan took back a $50 million note on the home.  Wow, that was awefully nice of Fred and Annie…that’s quite a note!

This record-setting sale is just one indication that the wealthy have opened their wallets and are shopping for homes again.  The million dollar and above housing market rose 4% in February year-over-year as luxury buyers snapped up homes, often for all cash. Earlier this month a Palm Beach, Florida home sold and closed for a reported $24.6 million and I personally was involved in a $1.5 million transaction right here in Northern California.  Why the rise in luxury sales?  According to Laurie Moore-Moore, Founder of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing of which I am a graduate, “The number of wealthy U.S. households is almost back to where it was before the downturn.  Add the fact that many affluent pulled money out of investments and have been waiting in the wings with cash in hand while deciding where to invest.  Residential real estate is now attracting many of these dollars.”  Moore-Moore goes on to say, “This bodes well for the luxury home market in the short term.  Luxury may well be the real estate segment that leads the recovery.”

The jump in luxury purchases is counter to the real estate resale trend in general, however.  In February, total residential sales dropped 2.8% as compared to February a year ago.   But even that market…the one in which most of us live, is alive and well in our neck of the woods. I put two in escrow today…one under $200K in Fair Oaks, CA and the other just under $400K in Folsom, CA. And I’m getting ready to close a townhome that was scooped up by a saavy buyer as an investment. Bottom line…regardless of your price range, I can help and I’m looking forward to working with you. I truly do love my job…and no, this is not an April Fools’ Day joke!!! I’m absolutely serious

If I can help you find a Realtor in your local area, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

825 Ashley Lane goes on the market tomorrow. Check it out for yourself and feel free to pass this along to your friends. It’s a spectacular house!!! I’m praying for a spectacular buyer!

One of my favorite books of all time is To Kill a Mockingbird.  Harper Lee’s ability to communicate timeless truths and insights is a testimony to her genius as an author.  At one point, the father, Atticus, tells his daughter, Scout, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view–until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” Well, I spent a week walking around in my sister’s skin.  If she was still alive, she would have been the one responsible for preparing her home for sale, but in her absence, that was a responsibility I happily assumed…she would have done the same for me!

I worked from sunrise to well past sunset for 5 full days. A couple of days, I didn’t even find time for a shower and literally spent a couple of full days in my pajamas…there simply was no reason (or time) to primp! I slept very little, ate very little, worked a lot, sweat a lot, and admittedly shed a tear or two! I thinned their belongings, purchased boxes and packaging materials, packed what they wouldn’t need for a few months, organized closets and cabinets, arranged to have the carpets cleaned, the windows washed (inside and out), the entire house “deep cleaned,” interior paint touched-up, light bulbs replaced, the pool serviced, the landscaping trimmed and in some areas replaced to enhance the curb appeal,  put together a punch-list of repair items for the contractor, arranged to have a pod delivered for storage, referred a Realtor, and hired a stager…and did my best to be sensitive to the emotional needs of my nieces and brother-in-law.

Several broken fingernails later, the 16’x8’x8’ pod had been filled w/all of the boxes and furniture that wouldn’t be staying in the home. The pod was hauled away, the home was staged, and the “for sale” sign was placed in front of the home with a “coming soon” rider! The photographer was there this morning and the marketing material is being produced. The house goes on the market on March 1st, and it looks absolutely amazing!!! It was beautiful to begin with, but as I tell my selling clients, there’s a difference in the way we live in our homes and the way we sell our homes. My brother-in-law’s home is ready to sell…and I’m ready for a vacation!!!

*The house goes on the market on March 1st. As soon as it’s listed, I’ll post the link so you can check it out for yourself.

Take for example the family who was looking for an open floor plan with all of the bedrooms on one level…they ended up purchasing a Victorian style home w/cozy rooms and bedrooms scattered throughout the house. They declared upon seeing the home that it was “perfect” for them! “How did I know?”  they asked.

Or the young man who was looking for a home within walking distance of his office…he ended up purchasing a home on the other side of town that was close to the river and the bike trails. He declared upon seeing the home that it was “perfect” for him! “How did I know?” he asked.

Or the family who was downsizing…they ended up buying a home with the separate 5-car garage. Declaring upon seeing the home that it was “perfect” for them and all of their toys! “How did I know?” they asked.

One of my favorites was the family who was relocating here from Canada. They explained to me what they were looking for in a home, and I put together a handful of properties to show them while they were in town. I found the perfect home for them…at least I thought it was “perfect.” I showed it to them first because I was so excited for them to see it! To my absolute surprise, they didn’t LOVE it…in fact, they told me that it wasn’t at all what they were looking for. They wanted hardwood floors throughout the house and white cabinetry in the kitchen…those were their “must haves.” They were so focused on those two things, that they were unable to really see the rest of the house.  And in their defense, they were not familiar with the homes in the area…they needed to see what else was available. Long story short, two months and 40 showings later, they realized that the first home that I had shown them was truly “perfect” for their family. Hallelujah, I really did know what they wanted after all! Thankfully, the home was still available and within the month they were moving into their new home…not before having hardwood floors installed throughout the house and white cabinetry installed in the kitchen, however!

I really do appreciate your comments and feedback to my blog posts. It’s good to know that someone is actually reading them! The response to my last post was overwhelming; I received so many phone calls, texts and emails, but not one comment on the blog itself. Hmm?!? Wonder why? Seriously, I do wonder why people are so hesitant to click on the link and “please leave a comment.” I guess if I truly were a mind reader, I’d know the answer to that question…more proof that I’m “just a Realtor!” Don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like me to be your Realtor …and if you think you know the answer to the question, please let me know…please leave a comment :)

realtor or genie...or gypsy?

I recently had a client refer to me as her “genie,” because I helped to make her dream of owning a home come true. I’d never really thought of myself that way…as a genie! I’ve thought of myself as a gypsy on occassion…but never a genie!

I grew up watching I Dream of Jeannie, and remember two things about the show…well, three:

1. How well intentioned she always was
2. How much trouble she always managed to get herself into
3. How beautiful she was (I was a very young girl at the time!)

In retrospect, I did learn a thing or two from her:

1. She didn’t ask enough questions
2. She didn’t gather enough information
3. She was very impulsive.

Part of my job as a real estate professional is to listen to my clients’ “wish lists,” but an equally important part of my job is to put them in contact with the “right people” and protect them from making impulsive decisions which they may later regret. I am not a lender, nor am I an escrow officer, a contractor, an inspector, an insurance professional, or a myriad of other things, but I am privileged to work with some of the best in the business…and my clients benefit greatly from their contributions to the process. Just another way I grant wishes I suppose!

Buying a home is a process. It takes patience and persistence. It takes an open mind and a flexible spirit. With each new client comes a whole new set of “wishes.” Some want homes on large lots in El Dorado Hills with five bedrooms and family rooms big enough to play volleyball in, while others want townhomes in Folsom with good freeway access, two bathrooms and a formal dining room.  Regardless of what type of property you are looking for, you’ll find it on my website. You can even customize your own “dream home” and let the computer search for properties and notify you as they become available – all without leaving the comfort of your home.

If you’d like to talk to me personally, however, I’ve learned to ask a lot of questions and to listen…and then to work hard to find a home that meets your needs; to grant your wishes! Call me anytime, I’d love to help! After all, “Your wish is my command!”

At the risk of sounding like a broken record (and taking a cue from the movie Groundhog Day), there simply isn’t a better way to introduce this, than to repeat myself…so bear with me!

“Wow, life’s been a bit of a whirlwind lately…which should come as no surprise to any of you; since I haven’t updated this blog since July October! I know, I’m not supposed to say that  (just in case someone stumbles upon my website for the first time…I’m supposed to make them think this is a regular occurrence!), but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’ve built my business working with the most fabulous clients in the world, and almost exclusively by referral. Thank you, thank you, thank you…and please keep them coming. I promise to continue to take great care of whomever you entrust to my care.” “Since July October… [copied from blog entry dated 10/29/10]

It’s true, “Since July October,” my world turned upside down! And not simply due to the unrest in our economy and the effect that it has had on the real estate market…which has made my job very interesting by the way! There is little dispute among the general public that Realtors are a necessary commodity in navigating their way through the “mess (and opportunity) of real estate!”

In November, I lost my very best girlfriend…who also happened to be my younger sister. She died very suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving a hole in my heart and a laundry list of action items…talk about tyranny of the urgent! Just about everything took a backseat to caring for the needs of her family. My colleagues and the team that I have built around me stepped in to help with my active buyers and sellers, and our family “circled the wagons.” She left behind an incredibly wonderful husband and two of the most fabulous teenage girls you’ve ever met, and it has been a humbling privilege to be actively involved in their lives! It is also a humbling privilege to be involved in yours…I mean that with the utmost sincerity! Thank you.

I continue to spend much time with my brother-in-law and nieces, but I am back in the office and back to work “full-time.” My clients have been well cared for over the last couple of months, by myself and others, but admittedly, my marketing (and blogging) has been neglected…as a result, I’m feeling a bit disconnected from you. As we enter February, I’m looking forward to touching base with you more often and am asking for your help by way of your continued referrals. I promise to take great care of whomever you send my way.

It’s Groundhog Day…thank you, Punxsutawney Phil!

No shadow…Spring is near! This will come as welcome news to family and friends in the midwestern and eastern United States who are buried under several feet of snow today! It will also come as good news to many of my selling clients who are waiting “until spring” to put their homes on the market…and my buying clients who have been waiting for the inventory to be a bit less sparse throughout Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Granite Bay and the surrounding communities.

Thanks again for giving me the opportunity to make your real estate dreams come true…and Happy Groundhog Day!

Since July, one of my daughters got married and moved to Philadelphia, my youngest moved “out of the house” and into a place of his own, and my husband and I have been trying to figure out how to live in our “empty nest.” We often find ourselves looking around and wishing it hadn’t emptied so quickly! One of the upsides of our “new life,” is that I have even more time to devote to my business and to you. And good news; the State of California has decided that I can continue doing what I love for another four years…representing you in the wonderful world of real estate! I’ve completed all of the required ”continuing education” classes, passed all of the necessary exams, and haven’t violated any rules, regulations, or laws that have been established by the Real Estate Commissioner…yay!

I’m going to do a better job of keeping my blog updated…really! So please let me know if there is anything specific you’d like to know about. So many real estate blogs simply regurgitate the same information…I don’t want to bore you with that! I’m tempted to just blog about the day to day happenings in the life of Pamela Brooks, Realtor…but I don’t want to bore you with that either

And in case you’re wondering, I HAVE  been working…just haven’t done a very good job of telling you about it!

one Hire a real estate agent

It may be tempting to list your home on your own to avoid paying a sales commission, but selling your own home is a full-time job itself.

A real estate professional represents the best opportunity to earn the maximum amount from your home’s sale. An agent will recommend the best listing price, market your home effectively and show your home to buyers. An agent also recognizes what buyers are looking for in a new home.

two Get your home inspected

You are required to disclose any problems with your property to prospective buyers. Failure to do so will lead to further complications, even if you weren’t aware of the flaws ahead of time. Hire a professional inspector to identify and document any problems with your property. Also, make sure your home has a clean bill of health from termites.

three Make repairs ahead of time

A long list of necessary repairs is a major put-off for most buyers, who may decide to move on rather than deal with the headache of fixing up the home. Do as many repairs yourself as possible, then hire a contractor to complete the rest. If you decide not to make major repairs beforehand, hire a reputable professional to provide cost estimates that you can show to any interested buyers to put their minds at ease.

four Showcase your home

Curb appeal and first impressions are valuable assets when selling your home. Clear unnecessary items from your yard and maintain the landscape to welcome visitors. Keep the interior of your home clutter-free to maximize your home’s livable space. Staging your home is a great option to really make your house stand out in the crowd.

five Price it right

The original asking price of your home has a huge impact on the ultimate sales price. If you price it too high, buyers will look for better values and your home will remain on the market longer. The longer your home is on the market, the less desirable it becomes to buyers—even if you eventually lower your asking price— because most buyers will avoid a home that others are avoiding. Conversely, pricing your home too low may result in a quicker transaction but will yield you less money in the end.

Not sure how to do these things? Ask your realtor to help! Remember I’m an expert and can help you to sell your home quickly and for the best possible price.