Real Estate Chit Chat with Kristen

Never been so excited to be off work a bit. Yea, right. We all know I will be asking the Doc, "So... where do you live? Wanna sell it?" We're never 100% "off work" right?! Anyhow...

No vacay, no jackpot can compare to this week. My dad is getting back his life. And a piece of DNA that was once his to begin with... my kidney!  

If you need anything this week, Jill Springer is the one covering my business at 817-658-2477 jill@jillsyourrealtor.com. Thanks, Jill, for taking care of my biz while I'm checking out the hospital gift shops!

Oh, and please take a minute to consider this:

http://www.top-10-reasons.com/2007/08/top-10-reasons-to-become-organ-donor.html

http://www.organdonor.gov/index.html

This is the time of year we get that sweet little baby blue bundle of joy in the mail from the Tarrant County Appraisal District with our current year's tax value and we cry like a baby inside. If you want to protest those puppies, call me. If you want to sell it, call me. If you want to protest the taxes or file an exemption or sell it now's the time!

Ghostbusters was one of my favorite movies as a kid, so the branding of Clutterbusters!! is amusing to me. "We ain't afraid of no mess!" But that's the last reason I would call on Kay Gallegos* at Clutterbusters!!, Fort Worth. I meet with Kay as a trusted business partner on a weekly basis about business building. If I were a piece of paper out of place, I would be afraid. Be very afraid! Kay's de-clutter Queen!

Kay organizes homes, offices and home offices. In the case of Realtors® with home offices like mine, she can take on tasks as simple as workflow management and file management or as complex as multi-suite "garages full." She helps hoarders. Sorta-hoarders. And Kay de-clutters the kinda-cluttered. She can shape up the ship before it sets "sale" and she can give a whole new meaning to RIP when it comes to messy estates.

Give Kay at Clutterbusters a call if you're scared of your messy situation! She's the clutterbomb!

*Kay Gallegos is a Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Clutterbusters!! Fort Worth and Clutterbusters!! Orlando. Clutterbusters!! provides professional organizing services for clients in their homes, offices and businesses.

Awe! It's my anniversary! If only I could give ActiveRain a box of chocolates...

I can't remember if it's been one year or two (because I'm "mature" like that) but I can say it's been AWESOME! How do I know it's been a year? (Or two?) Because I just got my bill. Just teasing! I know it's seasoning because I'm seeing results.

This week Amanda Hall called me to say, "Heeeey! I am running an ad and wanted to know if I can include your listing on Caroline Court?!" Hmm. Let me think about that... Of course!

And Karen Anne called me to say, "Hey, do you know how to get rid of Spam callers?" To which I replied, "Sure." And then she blogged about it. Just kidding. She actually asked for a referral for an inspector. That's cool! Prichard Brothers was happy to hear from our Karen Anne Stone!

And then there are the people who call and say, "I saw your blog on ABC and wondered if you could XYZ?" Oh, heck yea!

Thanks, Amanda, Karen Anne, and all of ActiveRain, for the growing and giving!

This weekend as I spent time in the DFW airport and Birmingham airport, I couldn't help but notice a certain distinguished presence. No, I'm not talking about the professionally dry cleaned navy blue uniformed American Airlines employees frustrated over yet another bankrupt day in paradise (or wherever they are flying) although I am sympathetic towards them, because, to be honest, most of the pilots and mechanics (and many other transporation related occupations) probably fall into the category I am about to post about, anyway... a whole other sort of "navy" blue or army green stood at every terminal. I am talking about the honor of the presence of so many of our servicemen and women returning home.

And I like it.

Safe and sound at my home with my garden stake American flag, I checked the mail after being gone only a few days. In the mail is a large postcard from the VLB, the Texas Veterans Land Board. A FREE Benefits Fair is brought to the DFW area by the VLB & Texas Veterans Commission. It is being held:

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

10 am to 1 pm - Come and Go

Tarrant County College Ballroom

2100 Southeast Parkway

Arlington, TX 76018

The purpose of the FREE event is to allow these veterans to learn more about...

• Home Loans
• Land Loans
• Home Improvement Loans
• State Veterans Homes
• State Veterans Cemeteries
• Employment Benefits
• Disability & Pension Claims
• Education Benefits

I am not a Veteran myself, so I was not sure at first why the VLB mailed it to my address. I thought it may be in the wrong box. So I looked. And then I remembered who I bought my house from. A pilot. A man who is my friend's dad from high school. I assume now that he is also a veteran since it was mailed to his name, addressed to my address (6 years post move). So... here is my announcement for those veterans who may not have received their own mail this week (6 years after you moved).

Veterans, it looks like a  really nice event with plenty of servicemen and women there to answer questions you may have about the benefits you've earned. Right now, when the interest rates are lower than they have ever been and you guys and gals are coming home in volumes, and you look so young, like you may be first time home buyers, this  event is especially good timing for you.

If you can't attend Saturday the 24th, you can call 1-800-252-VETS or visit the site online at www.texasveterans.com

p.s. You may want to double-check that you registered your new address with the VA and VLB.

p.s.s. I'm proud of you and it would be an honor if you asked for my help when you buy a home in the DFW area.

Had a few buyers/renters call me in the last few days on my property listed for sale at 3500 Caroline Court in Fort Worth 76137. Callers keep asking me about renting it. It's not for rent! One tells me I found it on Hotpads. Hotpads since removed it. Thanks to this wise consumer who flagged it as an apparent scam! One emails me and tells me "the owner" said he's no longer selling, but leasing. She found it on Zillow. The 3rd person tells me the same. The list goes on. They have all given the following information on this scammer:

Blake Gorham

blake_gorham58@yahoo.com

London

phone 44-703-187-3780

This is the sample letter he sends to them:

From: "blake_gorham58@yahoo.com" blake_gorham58@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Question Caroline Ct, Fort Worth, TX 76137

Good day

Just saw your mail which is showing your interest in acquiring my property for rent. First I will like to let you know the property is still much available but there are circumstances that are leading to my wanting to rent it out the property. Recently (about 2 months ago) I just got transferred to another region. my company decided to open a sub-division in London(United Kingdom - England) and I was transferred there as chief operation manager to see and make sure things start up quite well before I can be called back home, I guess the period for such stabilization might take up to 4-7 years as such I decided to sell the house at first, that was when I found an agent whom we both agreed on terms and conditions, this prompted the Realtor agent to place for sale sign on the property that was when my wife and well wishers around started calling and advising me not to sell but rather rent it out so that it can be well catered and cared for before my return. This prompted why I had to request for my keys and document from the Realtor agent and they are with me presently. I decided not to involve any agent in renting the house out as this will cost the occupant more money which I don't want as I want the occupant to understand the main aim why I am letting the house out and i feel he/she should get clue of the reason even with the amount I am willing to let it out. NOTE: THE MAIN AIM OF RENTING IT OUT IS KEEPING THE BUILDING STRUCTURE ALIVE AND IN GOOD CONDITION even you can observe it from the price I am willing to give it out, that it's far below standard renting rate. The aim is only to build a cordial understanding between myself and the renter based on the reason why I am letting it out. Definitely,I would be needing your bio data which I guess is the only thing I can use to randomly access you. I would be needing information such as:

FULL NAME:
MARITAL STATUS:
OCCUPATION:
HOME PHONE NUMBER:
MOBILE NUMBER:
CURRENT ADDRESS STATE,ZIP
REASON FOR LEAVING/WANTING TO LEAVE YOUR
PREVIOUS HOME OF RESIDENCE
PREVIOUS RENT
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT IS TO LEAVE IN THE HOUSE
DO YOU HAVE A CAR? IF YES HOW MANY
DO YOU HAVE A PET?
WHEN DO YOU PLAN MOVING INTO A NEW HOME

and concerning wanting to view the house, you could go there and take a look at the building surrounding and neighborhood but as for the inside, you wont be able to view it as the keys for the house are here with me as at present. please note you wont be able to view the internal part of the house because the the keys are here with me... but as much as possible I will try send some internal pictures i have of my property.

Home Address:3500 Caroline Court, Fort Worth TX 76137
phone number: +44 7031873780
THANKS MR./MRS Gorham


the deposit is the same as the rent while the rent is $750

God Bless You. 

Consumers, the key is in the keybox on the door and it is for sale for $150,000. It is not for rent!

  Blake or whomever you are, why don't you come over. I'll be your Valentine. Me and the PD. Muah. :*

Loved the post Mr. Al wrote this week about Disney for FREE. I just took my kids to see Universal Studio's Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Disney Magic Kingdom in January and I'm fairly positive my purse "magically" broke. I know that's how home sellers feel sometimes, too. All they want is accomplishment on some sort of reasonable budget. Well, here it is. This is your "free" to-do list! Your 4 Cs for your diamonds in the rough.

CLEAN. Cleaning is essentially free. And let's face it. You don't need a billion products. Soap and water goes a long way. Or water and vinegar. Or any other household cleaning product of any sort you probably already have in your cabinet. Pro window washing for $x a window? Forget it! Newspaper and vinegar water and literally about 1 minute per window in and out and it's done! Birds will be flopping straight into that crystal clear window all day long. The point is, there is no replacement for clean. You can line a house in gold. If it isn't clean, congrats, you just listed it for half price.

CUTE. Cute is not expensive. Yes, you can (and I usually recommend) hire a pro. But there is a free way. Look at your friends. Who has the cutest house? Who always gets the compliments at the Pampered Chef party? Ask her for help. Friends who have the knack also like to share it. Promise. She won't tell you no. Shop the back of Marshalls or Ross and get a very inexpensive new look with the help of a free friendly hand next door. Or borrow her stuff! Free!

COVERED. Get a home warranty aka residential service contract. This is so easy. Call your realtor's favorite home warranty company and get seller's coverage while on the market "free" until you pay for it at closing at the same time you buy one for the new home owner. That way, anything that is covered that breaks down while it's on the market will get an inexpensive fix covered by the residential service company at a small service call charge vs. the whole bill! Naysayers, I know you're out there and you should call me. I use these to death on my home and my investment properties and they DO work! I know they do!

CAPTURED. You and your house need to have one serious photo shoot. Bad pictures are just as free as good pictures. Take the time to take photos of the CLEAN CUTE COVERED property for FREE! You don't have to be a pro or hire a pro. Just take a hundred photos with the best camera you have at the highest resolution setting with lights at all settings from every angle of every room and in the end you will have plenty of great shots for your marketing.

Hope this brief list helps you turn those lumps of coal into diamonds and sell champagne style on a beer budget!

Rarely do I walk into a home and say, "Hey, can I hold an open house on Sunday?" just because I want to hangout there on game day, but this home is IT! (((NOW SOLD!)))

If you are looking for a GREAT home to entertain and hangout on gameday, one with extensive hardwood floors, two spacious living spaces, a huge (20x20) patio, then this home is sure to pique your interest!

Located right off Starnes in N. Richland Hills, it's centralized to a lot of great amenities. The home is owned by one meticulous homeowner -- clean, neat, and ready to move-in as soon as a buyer said GO!

The paint in this home -- it's obvious a pro was behind that brush! The colors and the quality are fantastic. The carpet in the bedrooms is neutral and in great condition. The wet areas are tile. The hardware is Venetian bronze. The way the home flows, looks and feels is pretty much unbeatable at this price.

Enjoy the near 1/2 acre lot, parking space behind that fence gate and the huge storage shet that has electricity, insulation, and plenty of head room here at 7309 Windcrest Lane for a list price of $129,900 this Christmas!

Call Kristen Ueckert, Ueckert Realty, at 817-422-3322 to see 7309 Windcrest Lane today! (((NOW SOLD!)))

The first short sale I did 8 years ago was a breeze. Really. I know "short sale" and "easy" don't usually go together, but it really was a piece of Christmas cake. It was a homeowner who'd been laid off by American Airlines, who had been re-hired part-time, then went back to full-time, but in the meantime, he got about 9 months behind on his house payments and a foreclosure was eminent.

Very short and not-so-sweet letter of hardship down in about 30 seconds and we were off... The homeowner signed a listing agreement with me around mid-November and within days I had an investor I knew making an offer on their home that was in need of repair and had a lot of deferred maintenance issues. The offer was reasonable for the condition and the terms were great -- a cash deal, as-is, to close as soon as Wells gave the green light. Would you believe that green light came just shy of Christmas? It was a 5-6 week deal from listing to closing and it was my first one ever. Merry Christmas to me and two consumers! So how did it go so quickly and so smoothly? I don't know. But this is what I remember...

I remember doing the following day one: (1) Listing agreement, (2) Letter of hardship, (3) 3rd party authorization for the bank to speak to me on the behalf of the homeowner, complete with loan #s and signatures of sellers, (4) Pictures of the property inside and outside spelling out the deferred maintenance problems, (5) a CMA, (6) Proof of hardship, i.e. 2-3 months bank statements with no deposits from no income or limited income like unemployment income and/or 1-2 years W2s or med bills, (7) Proof of MLS advertising, and, it's best if you also, (8) Have an executed contract subject to bank approval of a short sale. But that often comes later than day one.

As Christmas approches this year I am remembering some of those fantastic sales I was blessed to be a part of and remembering what this job is really all about. Yes, I don't mind the money that helps buy my kids' Christmas presents! (Or pay my property taxes also due now!) But the heart and soul sales are what I remember over the deposit any day of the week.

If you or someone you know is behind on their house payments, needs to sell, but has no money to pay for the sale, no proceeds, no equity, can't afford the brokerage commission, I am happy to help, anyway. Honestly. Call me. We can work something out that will allow them to not only look forward, but move forward.

Subscribe to our newsletter. It only hits your inbox once a month. Don't forget you can forward it to a friend who may need a sale this Christmas more than they need anything under that tree! I would LOVE to have another Christmas miracle (an easy short sale) right now!

I was watching Nonstop Foodies DFW on NBC 5 the other night and they said, "Sometimes change makes dollars and cents/sense." And I thought, not only that, but if you can't embrace change as a Realtor right now, then quit.

We are struggling. I've never been in a job market where I spin my wheels and see less fruition. I've also never been in a job where the same question has a different answer pretty much daily due to market changes, underwriting guideline changes, whatever change makes sense today.

But this week I was pleasantly surprised with a new listing. They're a short sale client who is already in touch with the bank (Bank of America) and the bank already sent out an appraiser and the bank and appraiser have already come to agreement on pricing and issued a letter to the client that basically said, "Find a Realtor who specializes in short sales to list your property and your pricing is $x."

Dude, Sweet! Thank you, BoA, for waking up and smelling our 5th cup of coffee! (Now do that again tomorrow.)