That's How I Sold A Dirty Messy House!

Some years ago, I took a listing that was very much like one described  by Alan May minus the baby diapers. In addition to stray animals, they had stray people. It was a referral from a friend and they needed my help! Stuff was piled high and you could not walk through the rooms. Dirty would have been a compliment and these were bright educated people with professional degrees.
                         

Now this was a real challenge. How do I sell this dirty messy house?

First, I told them to paint the dining room. It was packed floor to ceiling and the table was piled three feet high with stuff. I assumed they would have to empty the room in order to paint it. Wrong!

They moved everything one foot from the wall, painted, and moved it all back. We just could not make a dent in the mess. Showing agents were really complaining....even though they knew the condition ahead of time. Remember I make my own appointments  and  then follow up.  


At the same time I was working with a young musician and his fiancé. They wanted a large, new home that no one had lived in before.  After a lot of searching we found new construction that had three bedrooms, an unfinished lower level. It was in their price range, ready to go but it did not have all they wanted.  Still they were ready to put down a deposit.

With their wedding less than a month away, I suggested they look at the dirty messy listing. This house was very comfortably in their price range. It was a five-bedroom brick house, with a finished lower level, and much larger square footage.

But how would I ever get someone who was set on NEW to even consider this place?

Did I have their trust enough to take a look? I warned and forewarned the young couple...to not  look at the condition. Picture the house vacant, white walls, new carpet, new appliances etc.

The bride-to-be walked in and immediately clasped her hands behind her back – she did not want to touch a thing! I could see she was grossed out and thinking, "How can I live here?"

There was only one way to get these young people into the house that was right for them. Make an offer asking the owner to strip  the house down to bear walls. Remove carpet, all appliances, ceiling fans, shower doors, blinds, toilet seats, shades, everything!

We requested an empty walk through with proof of  extermination  after  everything, especially the carpet, was removed. The buyer did not believe they could make these kinds of demands. It would be insulting.  Guess what... the sellers thought it was fabulous because the family could use all of their stuff in a new place!


This was the most creative contract I have written. After the house was painted, new flooring, new kitchen, new baths, new window treatments etc., this young couple had a much better than new, brick five-bedroom home for less money than the much smaller brand new home.

That's how I sold a messy dirty house!

The Power of A Thank You Note!

About ten days ago I wrote a cute post that received a whole lot of comments.  How many is a lot? Over 100!  Noticing that Mary Stewart  made the 100th comment, I dialed her number.

"Congratulations. You just won a copy of  Real Estate the Rome Way ,,, Where should I send it?''  We had a lovely chat and I got to know another AR member a bit better.

Just look at the hand written that arrived in the mail...the real mail that the Letter Carrier brings and puts in a mail box at your house. How novel!

Once again I dial Mary...my turn to say thank you for taking time to write. We had a delightful conversation and I asked and received permission to post  the following.


                               Mary Stewart's handwritten card showing ..the  power of a thank you note!

      

                   Mary Stewart's card with original artwork.
             

When I really  looked at the card, turned it over and saw  " Original Watercolors By Mary Stewart" I was impressed. Here is another ActiveRain artist using her talent with hand written notes.

If you are lucky enough to be represented by Mary, there is a special piece of art done for you by this artist. Mary is relatively new to ActiveRain...only blogging since February. Being creative makes us stand out!  Mary stands out with The Power of a Thank You note!

One Person's Stuff...Another Person's Art ..Baltimore ACC Show

All that glitters at the ACC show may not be gold. One Person's Stuff is Another Person's Art....and, I am glad to see this imagination used with such creativity.

I met Baron Rene von Richthofen at the Baltimore's American Craft Council Show this week. This very charming man creates art out of a variety of materials but mostly car parts and miniature cars. He uses the term "controlled chaos" descibing how he attaches these materials that fuel his imagination.

''The automobile is the most important invention of the last century. It has given us freedom of mobility and has systematically led to every advantage we currently take for granted. Along with its practical purposes, I celebrate the finer points of the automobile that have brought the world together and have inspired our inner child....My art is abut how this invention changed us. Like all change,it's neither all good nor all bad."  www.richthofenart.com.


                       

As many know, I am former ceramic artist and the ACC show is one not to be missed. Each year walking through the isles of over 700 of the country's top contemporary craft  artists, there are few that catch my eye. This year it was the art of the toy car..maybe because of spending time and getting to know C Tann Starr and her boys. This artist may be the only person who has more cars than Stephen, the Minion Blur.

The Baron uses the term "controlled chaos" to descibe how he attaches these materials that fuel his imagination. Stephen's mom has a group "Club Chaos".

               

The Craft show opens my eyes and mind to so much stimulation. Each artist could be another entire subject for a post. Do we always have to write about real estate? Of course not! But our lives are so much better from all the people we meet and all the things we see and experience.

All that glitters at the ACC show may not be gold. One Person's Stuff is Another Person's Art.  And, I am glad to see this imagination used with such creativity.

Baltimore's Annual Craft Show - Unstoppable Art!

Friday was the day planned for our yearly craft show jaunt but Mom Nature had other ideas. Freezing rain, sleet, ice were forecast and the day started out like the forecasters predicted so we stayed home.

We could have gone. As often happens, the weather for the most part was a “non-event” in the Baltimore area. The media had reporters all over town and TV talking about how bad it would be, and they succeeded in spreading fear and doubt. Kind of reminds me of real estate and the media’s “doom and gloom” Gloom and Doom? Don't Believe It! The hardworking artists lost many potential buyers because the media reported such bad weather that did not materialize.

We hope they made up for Friday's smaller crowds on Saturday and Sunday – I can say for sure that by Saturday afternoon the aisles of the massive Baltimore Convention Center were packed. So where was my head? Shoulda, coulda, but didn’t take along some laminated copies of last year’s blog They Gotta Live Somewhere to this year's ACC Craft Show. Most of last year’s artists were back again this year, and it would have been nice to pass them out to the artists that I featured in 2007. Just take a look at goodies in this year's spectacular show. Maybe next year I will remember to bring copies along and give them to the artists who were kind enough to allow us to take the photos.

Like last year, going with a best friend makes it ever so special. Both of us are artists and both of us see beauty in things others may miss. We have a habit of saying “Oh look at that,” “You would like that,” and “Those are your colors!” Friends do that; they look out for the other more than for themselves.

We both said we were not going to buy anything this year. Yeah right!! It didn't take me long to need one of the show tote bags. Just a few booths down the first row I found Susan Sanders of Alexandria, VA, and her "Silkworms." These very unusual necklaces are crafted of multiple silk strands and have a hand-made magnetic closure. Put it on and click, you're ready to go. Of course I had to have the one-of-a-kind in tones of brown with gold/bronze threads.

A few booths on was Keith Lewis from Rifton, NY and his kinetic jewelry. My friend found a pair that combined carnelian stones with blue/green niobium and gold. One more package for the collection. http://keithlewisstudio.com/

While she was choosing earrings, I was next door with Harriet Moss' Handcrafted Wearables from McLean, VA and her yummy hand woven and knit sweaters and jackets. Of course there was one in brown with my name on it! http://harrietmoss.com/home.php Harriet was a delight to talk with, and even helped us decide which pair of earrings looked best on my friend. Artists are special people. A special bond forms when you own a handmade piece by a fellow artisan.

After that flurry we kept our credit cards stashed and just enjoyed the show…for a while. We had to stop for several minutes and chat with Thomas Turner from Kalamazoo, MI who had a "to die for" ring that my friend fell in love with. An exquisite brilliant green tourmaline stone set in 18k gold, in a ring just her size. The price was also exquisite…maybe next year. But in the meantime Mr. Turner is going to make me an eyeglass holder from clear rubber rope – a fascinating material, just the sort of thing I've been looking for. It was neat watching him design this new item. I will have the cord in a week or a month, depending on his show schedule. http://www.thomasturnerjewelry.com/

Josh Simpson from Massachusetts was there and we had to stop, of course, since my friend is a great fan of his glass work. Last year she went home with one of his "Inhabited" vases, but this year we just looked. We didn't realize that he uses all recycled glass thus making his art "green." Just look at these exquisite bowls, vases, and plates. http://www.joshsimpson.com/

Other artists caught our attention for their creative use of materials. We’ve all seen bowls and mugs, but one artist had turned stoneware into birds – there were puffin mugs, a loon teapot, and what can you say about a double swan serving piece but "Oh, look at this!"

Judy Stone from California had a booth filled with wonderful enamels but instead of the typical jewelry for the body, hers was jewelry for the home. I thought her enameled switch plates and outlet covers would make a great new-home gifts for a special client. www.jstoneenamels.com.

And just to prove that we could see the practical in the beautiful – and also the potential for a neat gift – I brought home these salad servers that flip from flat-folded to springy for one-handed serving. http://www.woodspoon.com/

It was just what we both needed – a day away from the usual work and a recharge for the creative core.