How to handle a bidding war | Aesthetics of aging in place | And more
Hi, <<First Name>>. “Motherhood is the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It’s huge and scary – it’s an act of infinite optimism.” ~Gilda Radner
FRONT PORCH NEWS
Kathy Irvin ● 863-593-7626
Century 21 At Your Service Realty
A bidding war occurs when a home seller gets multiple offers. Since bidding wars are fairly common these days, it pays to plan ahead. You'll reduce surprises and stress, and be better prepared to negotiate.
For instance, I tell both my buyers and sellers to think about how sellers can respond to multiple offers. Sellers have four options:
Counter all offers by asking for a “best and final” offer. Then choose the best.
Accept one of the offers outright.
Pick a few offers to negotiate individually.
Reject all offers and wait for new ones. (It happens, though rarely.)
Other details that can affect the offer:
Sellers realize that the highest offer isn't always the best offer. Terms can also make a big difference.
Sellers know the appraisal could be a problem. Just because they accept a huge offer, doesn't mean the appraiser will agree. Sellers may ask for funds to make up the difference.
Buyers can consider adding an escalation clause to their offer, which says they will automatically increase their offer by some amount over and above the highest bidder, up to a certain cap.
I help my clients prepare for these and other scenarios during our pre-buying or pre-selling appointment. Contact me at 863-593-7626 or kathy.irvin@c21.com to set up the initial consultation.
NOW YOU KNOW...
EVER WONDER WHAT A THATCH ROOF REALLY IS?
Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge, rushes, heather, or palm branches, layering the vegetation so as to shed water away from the inner roof. Since the bulk of the vegetation stays dry and is densely packed—trapping air—thatching also functions as insulation. There are many websites devoted to teaching you how to thatch a roof, in case you want to give it a try.
WIN A $5 GIFT CARD
It's easy to play! Just send me your answer to the question below. Correct entries are entered into a monthly drawing.
A girl has as many brothers as sisters, but each brother has only half as many brothers as sisters. How many brothers and sisters are there in the family?
If you or someone you know plans to age in place, then adding safety and convenience features to your house now can make it easier to stay longer. Homeowners often worry that incorporating those features will be unattractive, so here are a few suggestions for getting what you need without sacrificing aesthetics.
For homeowners living in two-level homes, a stair lift can be an option. While you can't completely hide a stair lift, you can have folding seats and footrests, so they tuck away out of sight better.
Using a folding shower bench made of teak and chrome can create a more luxurious appearance than plastic.
Lighted and angled mirrors in the bathroom can help homeowners with their morning routine without leaning into the mirror across a counter.
Door, window, and cabinet latches can be replaced with easy-opening options that someone with arthritis can manage.
Wooden railings and grab bars instead of chrome can add support options where necessary and practical, without making the home look industrial.
Adding smart technology to appliances can reduce accidents (leaving the stove on), and improve accessibility (turn lights and fans on and off).
Replacing drawers, pantries, and cupboards with pull-out options make it easier to reach things. Homeowners will wonder why they never did it before.
There are many more possibilities to consider. Do some research about home décor and aging in place for more ideas. Let's keep our parents and ourselves at home as long as possible as we age!
HACK YOUR BAD HABITS WITH CURIOSITY
According to psychologists, willpower is a myth. Simply trying to "will" yourself to do something is one of the worst ways to change behavior.
Psychologists point out that the brain forms behaviors through a built-in, primitive, reward-based system called 'reinforcement learning.' Whenever the brain has a choice, it gravitates toward the more rewarding -- or less painful -- option.
Because this reinforcement learning is subconscious, one approach to changing a behavior might be to tune into the reward you're seeking. To make it conscious. Basically, to bring curiosity to your behavior. Here are the steps to doing this, if you want to try it:
Awareness. To bring curiosity to your habits, first you have to be aware of when you're experiencing a habit you want to change, like smoking, drinking, sleeping late, avoiding housekeeping, etc.
Curiosity. Then you have to get curious. Ask yourself questions about that choice. For example, "Will this candy really make me feel like I want to feel? What is this candy made up of? What are its parts? Why is candy my go-to in this moment?"
Replacement. Finally, you can pair your undesired behavior with a desired one that can replace it. The desired behavior can be similar (eating nuts vs eating candy) or entirely different (going jogging vs eating candy). For many people, just bringing awareness and curiosity to a habit is enough to break it.
Each of these steps is deeply personal. One person's curious thoughts or behaviors won't be the same as another person's, so there's no right or wrong. Just focus on being curious--drawing attention to the habit. That's the key part.
Let me know if this works for you. I'm curious.
THIS MAN BOUGHT A HOUSE WITH A SINGLE RED PAPERCLIP
If you've never heard this story before, you're in for a treat. It will inspire you to think outside the box about buying a home...not that I'm recommending this as your main home-buying strategy! For that, call me:)
