Mindful Real Estate?

Many people are probably looking at the title and wondering how much this guy smoked this morning but that is not the case at all. Over the last few years, mindfulness, meditation and active observation have all become second nature. The world and all of its wonders are just that, wonderful. Being mindful just means taking your attention from insanity to the here and now. It also means that each person makes a conscious effort to actively pay attention to what is happening right now at your current location. Sounds so simple, right?! Test yourself to see if this is something that you can do for 5 minutes. Sit quietly wherever you are and do not do anything at all, to include listening to music, waiting for your next email notification, text message or phone call or your lives to hit max again for whatever game you are playing; do nothing. All you have to do is pay attention to your breathing. You are not trying to slow your breathing down or speed it up, just pay attention to your chest as it rises and falls. While you are doing this, if thoughts come into your head, just let them pass. Do not get stuck and start stressing about anything because this is YOUR time. At the end of 5 minutes of this mindful test, how do you feel? When you are facing something stressful, take a deep breath and just pay attention to yourself.

Paying active attention, being present, listening, feeling, and living in the here and right now are all great things for going out and looking at your next potential home. Reducing and removing distractions, stresses and the insanity will help you to pay closer attention to what is right in front of you. Who is gaining anything from this? YOU are! Imagine going into a house and as you are walking through the house you receive 2 or 3 phone calls or text messages. Where are you now? If it was something important or serious, you are no longer looking at the house, you may physically be there walking around like the zombies you see who can’t take their eyes off of their cell phones. What are you doing to help yourself in attaining your goals of finding a home that meets or exceeds you and your family’s expectations? This does not mean that you have to be a hermit and neglect your phone but once you have read the message or spoken to whoever, take a few deep breaths while bringing your attention back to yourself, your goals and your task at hand.

There is no better time than right now. You cannot hope to be happy when some certain event takes place in your life or that you were happy when… What we have is right now and right in front of us. Walt Whitman said, “Happiness, not in another place but this place… not for another hour, but this hour.” When going to look at houses, paying close attention to everything the house has to offer is where your mind should be. Remove all of the stresses and distractions and just pay attention to the house. You owe yourself and your family the best possible decisions based on clear thinking and attention to detail. When you want to work with a realtor who practices mindfulness and active observation in their real estate transactions, contact me realtorricktn@gmail.com or 931-551-1861.

#RealtorRickTN #clarksvilletnrealtor ‪#‎clarksvilletnrocks #VeteranRealtor #MindfulRealEstate

Storm Preparations

Would have, should have, could have really have no place in a homeowner’s vocabulary. Reality is, it is YOUR home and it is YOUR responsibility for its upkeep and maintenance. As seasons change, so does the weather. Right now, the U.S. has a pretty big storm moving in our direction and you should ask yourself, “Am I prepared?” If you answered yes, then you are doing great and the remainder of this article may be passed on to others that you think need it. If your answer is either “No” or “Not Sure” then keep reading. Hurricanes may be impacting only the coastal regions but the secondary effects that come from the storm moves across land for hundreds of miles.

**When I lived in Louisiana, the hurricanes that impacted the coast always sent torrential rains, tornadoes, and terrible winds that caused quite a significant amount of damage to the areas over 200 miles from the coast. During hurricane Andrew, it took weeks to restore power and we were over 200 miles from where it impacted.

Here are some things you can do to reduce the amount of damage to your home and help you to be better prepared:

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          Insurances. Is your homeowner’s insurance up-to-date and paid? Do you have other insurances for flooding, earthquake, sewage backup, etc.? Rule of thumb here is, ‘it is better to have and not need than the alternative’.

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          Roof. Well before major storms, you should visually inspect your roof for any dips or weak looking spots. If you see some, you should get up on your roof and test the area or areas in question. For metal roofs, you want to check for rust and loose anchoring or metal.

If you do not have time to do this, make the time.  If you think there is a problem, call me and I will give you my recommendations for roofing specialists/licensed contractors or check the Internet and/or the Better Business Bureau. DO NOT be part of the problem but the solution.

-        Windows and Doors. Check to ensure that all windows and doors are properly installed and seated. Check that all doors and windows are sealed and will not allow water to get into the framing of your home. In the case of a hurricane or tornado, you may want to have some cheap plywood in your possession to cover your windows and doors. Nail the wood panels over the frames. In the best case scenario, the wood will stop your entry ways from being blown out or broken.

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          Outside Equipment/Furniture. All of the things that can be found outside that are not secured should be carried into your home. If you have a child’s play set in the yard, try to secure that with stakes and remove any of the additional parts like swings, slides, etc.  Don’t be the neighbor that has their patio table fly into your neighbor’s front window!

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          Manufactured Homes DON’T BE THERE WHEN THE STORM HITS!

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      Gas. Ensure that any and every vehicle and gas can you have is filled up before the rush of people who waited until the last minute. Gas will not be carried to or from storm areas until the roads are deemed safe. If you don’t have one, get a generator and the gas for that as well.

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          Food/Water. Just like gas, get your supplies and have them on hand well before there is even word of a storm. You want to have canned foods, bottled water, and stuff that will last over a week or so. Steer clear of milk, fresh vegetable and fruits, etc.

Major Storms SUCK!! They are naturally occurring and cannot be stopped but if each person does their part and takes care of their selves and their properties then the amount of damages will be reduced for yourself and those around you. Again, DON’T BE THAT NEIGHBOR!

#RealtorRickTN #clarksvilletnrealtor ‪#‎clarksvilletnrocks #VeteranRealtor #MindfulRealEstate #stormpreparations  

Real Estate Fears - Be Gone

Being a real estate professional means that I have access to many different scenarios that may be of interest to others. Fear and anxiety are based on ‘the unknown’ and overthinking about ‘the unknown.’ Think about it, the last time you went for a job interview, what were you really scared of? At the basis of it all was the simple idea that you did not know what to expect, what questions you were going to be asked, who you were going to be speaking with, etc. Again, ‘the unknown.’ How did you do in that interview? Did you get harmed or embarrassed or did you get the job? Were you being shot at or were you being yelled at and treated badly in a language you did not understand fully? If you answered no, then you made it out alive, happy and successful. Now, ask yourself, “What the heck was I worried about again?”

Because having shelter is one of the top priorities for all human beings, according to just about every psychologist and sociologist, then you WILL someday have to face the very real possibility of buying and/or selling a property. Remember anxiety and fear are based on overthinking and not knowing, so this may help a little bit.

Top RE Fears:

Paperwork. Because buying and selling real estate is a HUGE ordeal then of course, you will have a great deal of paperwork to tend to. The paperwork that you are tending to is there to ensure that you are protected and gives you, the buyer or seller, the evidence you may need for the future. If there is a dispute about your shelter or the land it is sitting on, you will have the documentation for evidence or proof and anyone else must prove their position in a disagreement. The paperwork will be your CYA (Cover Your A**) and will be your security “blanky.”

Property Value. Property values are going to fluctuate with the market. As the market ebbs and flows like the tides of the oceans, the property values will be ever-changing. Imagine what would happen if you lived in a neighborhood that was a prime location near where the new Google facility is located. What will that do to the value of those properties and the many others in the area? Oh wait, that is currently taking place in Clarksville, TN. Hmm?!

Affordability. Are you really thinking that you cannot afford a house? Can you afford to pay rent in whatever you are currently living in? OK. Rent is usually what a mortgage note is plus maintenance fees plus a little extra for the owner just as “icing on the cake.” Now, let’s revisit the question. If you are paying rent which includes maintenance fees plus a little overage then you can afford your own mortgage for your own home. In my opinion, rent is getting to the point of being a little too much for most families to afford. There are positives and negatives to buying a home but that is a completely different article.

Negotiations. This is a touchy topic but the reality is, negotiations are not some type of game. What you are discussing is your life and the other side’s life. If you think that watching TV has taught you the best methods and strategies for negotiating, you may want to step back into the real world. What you get from watching TV are scripted discussions more than real negotiations. Negotiations equal give and take. If one side is giving too much and the other is taking too much then something is not working as it should.

Inspection(s). Home inspections are a very tense time for all parties and MUST be done. If anyone even hints that you can just skip the inspection because of whatever reason, RUN, don’t walk from that deal! I don’t care if someone says that they had their brother’s uncle’s cousin’s sister’s brother inspect the house, get your own inspection. Yes, it could have saved you a few hundred dollars at the start of your transaction but in the end, it could save you from buying a “money pit” and costing you thousands and more.

Appraisal. Like inspections, if you are financing your home then the appraisal is necessary. Banks and mortgage lenders will not lend money without knowing the value of the property.

These are just a few of the many different fears associated with buying and selling real estate. Think about it, if this is the most money you are ever going to spend on anything then don’t you deserve to know what the heck is going on whenever you think of something. If you are afraid to ask the questions necessary for your own sanity then you are doomed to live in misery until your house closes. Don’t allow yourself to have fear and anxiety of the unknown, ask questions! I am right here when you need me, 931-551-1861.

#RealtorRickTN ‪#‎clarksvilletnrocks #VeteranRealtor #MindfulRealEstate #ClarksvilleTNRE #REFears #FearsbeGone #clarksvilletnrealtor

Real Estate Pitfalls

There are way too many potential real estate pitfalls to list in a single blog. You could literally make an entire book the size of an encyclopedia of problems associated with real estate. This will address some of the main points that have occurred recently and addresses both buyers and sellers. Buyers, get pre-APPROVED for a mortgage. This cannot be stressed enough, pre-approval gives you, the buyer and consumer, the knowledge to have legitimate discussions and negotiating power when dealing with sellers. It also sets your boundaries and limitations on your buying power. As a buyer, you want to ALWAYS have your own inspections done! Even when you are told that the seller just had one completed, it is recommended that you get your own inspections done. It is all about protecting your ASSets, right?!

Sellers, make it easy for realtors and buyers to view your home. If you are serious about selling then DO NOT be the obstacle to a good and successful transaction. To extend a little bit here, DO NOT be at the showings. Nothing kills a showing faster than having heads pop up from around a corner or hearing someone say, “I was planning on fixing that.”

This is for buyers and sellers, do not hire the wrong agent or even worse, go without hiring an agent at all. There are so many steps and processes that MUST take place for a transaction to end successfully that you want a specialist in YOUR corner. If you are concerned with ethical behavior, using someone with the REALTOR® designation will help reduce those stressors because they MUST abide by a specific set of ethics. 

Last point, buying and selling properties costs money. Buyers, you must be prepared to pay moneys for inspections, surveys, earnest money, etc. Sellers, you must be prepared to pay for fixing things found in the home inspection(s) and many other possibilities. Don’t let the costs shock you because buying or selling the most expensive asset most people will ever deal with comes with costs.

Again, these are only a few real estate pitfalls but there are many many many more! The best thing anyone who wants to buy or sell a property can do is contact me or someone like me in your area. 


#RealtorRickTN ‪#‎ClarksvilleTNRocks #clarksvilletnrealtor #realestatepitfalls #realestateproblems