Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - Take My Awards, Please!

The pleasure in receving an award dims quickly when the realization hits -- now what? What am I going to do with it? The first couple were exciting and went right up on the wall over my desk. I would occasionally gaze up at them, proud of my accomplishments. My own little Ego Wall.

Over the next several years, I would hang the plaques after the awards ceremony, but mostly because it seemed that that was what you did with plaques -- you put them up. Then around 2002 or 2003, it looks like I just dropped out of real estate, because after that, the plaques went straight into a box.

I remember all my Dad's trophies and plaques for golf and bowling, mostly because it was my job to dust them every weekend. I loved his five hole-in-one trophies. I hated dusting them. I suspect they all went into the trash can during one of his moves.

I hate the idea of filling the landfill with these things, but I just don't want them anymore. And in asking around, I find that there a lots of other people - in lots of fields, not just real estate - who would love to find a place to donate their plaques.

A search online found a company that was willing to take them, but the posting was 9 months old. Sure enough, when I went to the website, there was an announcement:

We would like to thank everyone that donated trophies. We are currently over stocked and can no longer take any more. We may start again in the future. Please keep checking back here for more information on donating trophies.

However, here is one of the plaques that they make, which seems easy enough. Looks like decoupage to me. So if there are any organizations out there who want my old plaques for a little DIY, they're here for the taking. And I'm sure I can get you more if you like.

(C) Susan Pruden.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 - Realtors Do More Than Just Sell Houses

As many of you are all-too-aware, once you volunteer to serve on one committee, it's like a sign hovers over your head that says, "Ask me! I don't know how to say no!" Then you're on two committees, then three, then your chairing committees and it can all get overwhelming.

That happened to me several years ago and now I have it down to the ones that really mean something to me. I serve on the PGCAR (Prince George's County Association of REALTORS) Forms Committee, where our goal is to make the 3 pounds of contract paperwork actually cover all the necessary bases. Right now, we're working on a new disclosure that goes into effect here in Prince George's County on January 22nd. Any seller who lives in a Special Tax District must disclose that to a potential buyer before the ink is dry on the contract. It's a good disclosure, aimed primarily at new construction, that only affects three communities, one in Bowie, one in Laurel and one in Greenbelt.

The two committees that are nearest and dearest to my heart are the PGCAR Legislative Committee and the MAR (Maryland Association of REALTORS) Legislative Committee. This year, MAR was very active on a number of issues that affect homeowners. MAR defeated a proposed a sales tax on property management services that would have hurt those least able to afford housing and would have "worsened Maryland's ranking as the 7th most expensive rental market in the country" (this from the current issue of Maryland REALTOR).

Another bill that would have had a major impact on Maryland homeowners who were planning on selling would have created a Maryland Resident Real Estate Withholding Tax. All Maryland residents would have had a 4.75% withholding tax on any gain from the sales of their real estate, if the net proceeds exceeded $250,000 or $500,000, based on the seller's tax filing status. MAR successfully worked to defeat this legislation. Since most sellers are using their proceeds towards another property, this could have created a real money crunch.

These are just a couple of the bills that we worked on last year. I think that the general public isn't aware how much we REALTORS advocate for homeowners, buyers, landlords and tenants.

(C) Susan Pruden.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 - Empty-nester, That's Me!

As of yesterday afternoon at approximately 4:00PM, my husband and I became Empty Nesters. In case you can't see me right now, I'm doing a little conga-line dance all around our son's (former) bedroom, soon to be a home office. Okay, maybe it's not a true conga-line dance, since there is no line. I'm dancing by myself, but dancing none-the-less!

It's not that I won't miss him. It's that, at 24, it's time for him to go be an adult someplace else, rather than a child at home. I'm actually a little envious, because he's starting off on an adventure -- moving to California with his girlfriend. They're taking a week or so to drive out there and are going to take the time to see the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest and the Grand Canyon. They don't know it, but they're recreating a trip I made with my family when I was around 14.

It's already quieter around here. No computer game noise, no stereo, no tv (and all at the same time!). No dull roar coming from his room. I'm looking forward to some quiet space of my own. I do sort of wonder when it will sink in that he isn't going to walk in the door any minute, but at the moment I'm still dancing!

(C) Susan Pruden.

Monday, June 25, 2007 - Coughs, Colds and Real Estate

Okay...how do I relate this to real estate? Hmmm...

I know! How hard is it to be excited about showing your house if you've got a miserable summer cold? For that matter, how energized can you feel about looking at houses if you ache all over and your eyes are watering?

With me so far?

Well, my son-in-law, who is a pharmacist, has just co-written a book called "Conquering the Cough & Cold Aisle". (See, I just knew I could tie them together!) Anyway, the book is a guide to understanding which over-the-counter medications lessen the symptoms to the common cold and other common issues. There are easy-to-use charts that group medications by their symptoms.

Obviously, I think it's a terrific book, and worth every penny (click to order!) of its $14.99 price tag. As the tag line on the back of the book says, "With this handy guide, you can conquer the cough and cold aisle before it conquers you!"

Then you can get back your enthusiasm for buying or selling a home!

(C) Susan Pruden.

Saturday, June 16, 2007 - What Were They Thinking???

I was doing an MLS search for a client when I came across this gem...

Description from MLS:

THIS IS AN OLD MILL WITH EXTRA STORAGE BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY THEIR (sic) IS ONLY ELECTRIC ON THE PROPERTY NOWATER NOSEWER NO WELL & NO SEPTIC SO GOOD LUCK SELLER WOULD LIKE TO DO A EXCHANGE & THE PRICE COULD BE LESS

(C) Susan Pruden.