Realtor ®-The Woodlands Real Estate

                                                    And NO, I'm not saying our clients act like kids! Although that could be a debatable statement sometimes.  I'm saying we use the same skills in Parenthood as we do in our Career.

I have thought about this a few times over the last couple of weeks and it really makes sense.  I wanted see if the rest of the AR Community agrees. Have you ever put this into Perspective? 

• Here are some skills that help me:

• Nurture:  We give our kids all of the attention we can as we raise them. I feel the same about my clients.  If we don't nurture their needs and constantly communicate with them, they find someone who will.
• Education:  As parents we wonder what our kids will be when they grow up. We answer all of their questions IN DETAIL in hopes they become a great person as an adult.  We do the same with our clients.  We constantly educate them about the industry to help them make an educated decision when they sell or purchase and hope they come back for return business.
• Giving Dreams a Future:  We meet our clients  at various stages of "The Dream" and help solidify the details. My daughter wants to be a VET when she grows up and you bet I'll do everything I can to make that dream come true!
• Keep them out of trouble:  Sort of like education...They come to us for advice on how to stay out or get out of a sticky situation.
• Honesty:  This has got to be THE MOST IMPORTANT thing we can give our clients and our kids.  It builds trust and strong relationships.
• Space:  You know, sometimes we all just need a little space. It helps us gather our thoughts and make sure we are making the right decisions.
• Motivation:  I motivate my kids to do things they never thought they could do.  Sometimes our clients just need a small nudge of reassurance.
• PATIENCE:  Boy have I learned this one.  I think this one is self-explanatory.
• Listening:  We don't just listen, we HEAR!  What our clients and kids want and need.  It's amazing what you learn when you listen.                       

I thought it was amazing how normal everyday tools are really what it takes to make a client happy and have a successful transaction. We can take CE classes and get multiple designations but in the end, it comes down to how you treat people.

Do you nurture your clients?

UPDATE: My daughter just informed me I'm wrong, she doesn't want to be a vet anymore-she wants to be a Marine Biologist.  I'm still all for it!

Many of us read JaneAnne Narrin's post recently proposing THE BEST CHALLENGE I've seen here on AR.  The challenge was quite inspiring to me.  I found it to be a great way to expand my mind and creativity through both the AR and my Local Community.

Starting into my 3rd week here on AR, my eyes have been opened to the endless possibilities in the blogging world.  Until a couple of weeks ago I didn't even know what a BLOG was!  Well, I haven't even touched the surface of all the Resources available here. 

When you read posts, how do you utilize the information?  I use everything I read here to better myself and my business.  I use it to have a better understanding of what happened in the industry on a National Level, not just Local.  I use it to learn from other members' experiences and knowledge.

As a Thank You  I want to share a few of the many posts here that have really helped and made a FANTASTIC impression on me.

Active Rain Resources-I found this post on the first day I signed up here. It's a great compilation of many posts that help new members to make the best of their BLOG.  Without it I couldn't have done hardly any of my posts.

My 1st Call from AR-by Kelli Fronaberger-This was also one of the first posts that I read. Reading this showed me that there is HOPE!  I believe AR will work for me!

Environmentally Tuned Homes the Norm by 2010?-By JaneAnne Narrin-This one was posted before I became a member but reading all of the GREEN articles made me wonder what I was missing out on.  I had to search to make sure it wasn't about GREEN BEER or something!   I have to say that I have been inspired by this and I am looking into getting an ECOBroker Designation.

Do You Put People Before Money-By Lisa and Robert Hammerstein-This post should remind all of us that no matter how bad it gets out there it truly is about the outcome for our clients.  Money comes and goes but your clients happiness shouldn't.

Thank you to everyone who has posted some great articles that has sent me into "The Blogging World".

So, I accept the challenge!  My goal is to post some great articles in May to AR and Localism in hopes to inspire as many people as I can!  See you all around!

Upcoming Events in The Woodlands-April 23-29 2007

Wednesday April 25th- Houston Symphony "Fairy Tales and Fantastics" at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion-FREE LAWN SEATS!

Thursday April 26th-It' Back! Jazz Beat at Market Street!  Every Thursday and FREE.  Outdoors Concert at the Central Park until May 31st.

Friday April 28th-Sawmill Festival. A little bit of history and a whole lot of fun! Held by the Chamber of Commerce  10am-6pm

The Village of Creekside Park is the newest and probably final section of The Woodlands with parks and ponds as its' main theme.  This new Village is still at Pre-Construction stage so the pictures are beginning stages.  However, when it is all done-imagine driving home everyday to a picturesque setting only seen in a movie!

The Woodlands has proposed nearly 3,500 acres for an estimated 7,100 homes in the Village of Creekside Park.  The first phase has just opened with model homes under construction and a starting price range around the 200's.  Builders that you will find in this first section are David Weekley, Highland, Wilshire, Village and Darling.  It is expected that one of the sections soon to follow will be an age-qualified (55+) community similar to Windsor Lakes.  Like the area but looking for custom builders?  I'll be writing about Carlton Woods Creekside in the following weeks.                             

In addition to homes, there is approximately 1850 acres of Parks and Greenspace proposed!  Part of this will be a 20 acre park, Butterfly Garden, Pavilion and a Lakeside Conservation Trail. 

The name "Village of Creekside Park" naturally let's you know that it is near a creek, Spring Creek to be exact.  In an effort to preserve land, you will find an estimated 1700 acre preserve with 7 miles of creek frontage.  Outdoor Sports Lovers, it's for you!  It will connect 25 miles along the creek and offer hiking, mountain biking, camping, birding and kayaking from Highway 59 to the Spring area.

Did I mention there will be a 79 acre lake?

When it is all said and done we know The Woodlands will do a phenomenal job with the Village of Creekside Park!  Check back as I update photos!  If you would like a Personalized Information Packet about The Village of Creekside Park and any other Village in The Woodlands please feel free to contact me. 

Stephanie Edwards-Musa

Here are a few tips that can help your home sell quicker and get you offers as close to list price as possible.

 1.) Spring Cleaning-Buyers like to see everything spic and span. Details are the key. Look for cobwebs, Vacuum well around the walls, detail the showers and tubs, etc. This will make your house shine and ensure buyers that you have Pride of Ownership.

 2.) Organize-Otherwise known as decluttering. Make the rooms and closets look as large as possible. You may even want to consider a storage unit or garage sale to help accomplish this. Buyers won’t be able to focus on the details of the house if the rooms are packed with large furniture and knick knacks. Besides, this will probably make your move easier too!

 3.) Curb Appeal-We’ve all heard it! Get the lawn manicured and maybe even freshen up the mulch and replace some of the grass if there is any.

4.) Neutral,Neutral,Neutral- Maybe not. I always say that you can’t please everyone, however, you can appeal to most. Look at your color schemes. Are they easy to decorate with/ Buyers like to be able to move in and not have to do much. Paint may be cheap, but it takes precious time. Purples, reds, pinks and blues are colors that may deter a good number of qualified buyers.

5.) Do you need to update? This is commonly confused with upgrade. An update could be as much as a $20 light fixture or $10 of paint.

6.) Gather your papers! Get all of the info that buyers may want or need to see. (Survey, recent inspections, receipts or warranties on major repairs or items)

7.) Now it’s time for research- Who will bring you top dollar? Make sure your agent gives you a detailed analysis as specific to your home as possible and that he/she is knowledgeable of your neighborhood. Every home is unique, so make sure that your agent knows that or it may be money left at the table.

 8.) Some agents can come in and help to “stage” your home. This helps make the home more inviting for it’s potentially new owners. Also, we can let you know what else you may consider doing to maximize your dollar. So make sure that your agent is qualified in more ways than one.

9.) Research the company that your agent is with. Does the office advertise a lot or have a large pool of buyers? This doesn’t mean that your home will sell overnight, but it definitely opens up more doors.

 There will always be certain things that you can not change (floorplan, size, location), but by using this list and teaming up with a knowledgeable agent and real estate company you can help make the process run smoother. If you would like to know how I can help please feel free to contact me at anytime.

                                                                                                                            -Stephanie Edwards-Musa   

                                                                                                                            www.youragentsteph.com

                                                                                                                               Steph@TurningHoustonGreen.com    

                                                                                                                                     Mobile-281-635-9444

...And other Popular questions answered.

Houston is HUGE! That is why I specialize in the Spring/Woodlands area on the North side of Downtown Houston.  Statistically speaking, Texas in the past year has more people "moving in" than "moving out" which has given me the opportunity to work with some AMAZING clients from out of state.  I've found that most of these people have the same questions.  For those of you that are a little shy or not actively working with an agent, I thought I would answer some very popular questions for you!

• What is a MUD tax?  This seems to be the most popular.  MUD is just an acronym for Municipal Utility District.  These are the lovely people that supply our water for specific areas. Generally by neighborhood.

• Why do the tax rates vary by neighborhood?  The taxes rates that tend to vary the most are school districts, MUD and a Drainage Tax.  The drainage tax helps to maintain drainage areas to help prevent flooding.  If you see a property with a considerably higher tax rate-it might be because of this.  However, that doesn't mean the area floods more!

• What schools are good?  The Spring area is known for having good schools. Here is a link to give you specific information on schools.

http://www.har.com/indexschoolfinder.cfm

• What is a Master Planned Community?  It's an enormous neighborhood separated into different sections, such as The Woodlands. Usually a golf course community with each section having it's own community pool and park.  Here is a link for The Woodlands.

http://www.thewoodlands.com

•  How's the Market Right Now?  As opposed to many areas of the nation-GREAT!  We are currently at 4.3 months of inventory in the Spring/Woodlands area.  (Low Inventory of Homes)  If you are considering buying in this area I STRONGLY recommend being set up on a notification system through MLS.  Be a well informed buyer!  I can do this for you even if you are not ready to go physically look at homes. 

www.youragentsteph.com

• Distance from Specific Locations-  Such as a new job.  I know we all like Google and MapQuest. However,  with so many new construction areas the maps almost need to be changed monthly.  I find Yahoo Maps to be the most accurate in the area.  Personal opinion of course!  Either way, there are many good websites that will tell you how long it will take you to get from here to there.

I always recommend my clients take a day to just drive.  Coming from out of state especially can be extremely overwhelming.  Take a day or two for you "Sunday Drive" around town.  It will most likely make your home search a little easier!

Other Questions on the Area?  Feel free to contact me!

I have read many posts lately on the negative points of being in Real Estate. Not so cooperative co-ops, mortgage lenders, lack of respect and customer service and so on. It all gets pretty depressing after a while so I thought I would focus on the positive aspects. 

When I chose to start a career in Real Estate I was excited! As a person I have this need to go home at the end of the day knowing that I accomplished something and better yet that it was beneficial to someone. Having worked in a corporate atmosphere I was tired of political games and endless days of repetition. I knew that as an agent hard work, honesty and integrity would actually keep me going.

So, as some motivation for myself and Positive food for thought I wanted to get back to basics. Here are some reasons I LOVE Real Estate.

• It's all about my clients!  It's not about a promotion or a raise. I get to help make people's dreams come true!  Knowing at the end of the day that I made a positive difference in someone's life feels great!
• Working in a Professional atmosphere. 
• Meeting other great people in the industry!  There really are some great agents, lenders, and other vendors out there!
• No day is ever the same. I can honestly say that every day holds something new. No Repetition!
• Real Estate! I have always believed in Real Estate as a great investment and homeownership being part of the American Dream!
• Marketing.  Coming up with new marketing ideas! I always thought it would be fun to make a Nike commercial or something. Being Creative with listings-I actually enjoy that!
• The Challenge! Yes, I was an athlete in younger times and love the competition with sportsmanship!

This is just a small part of what I enjoy!  I just remember that through the negatives there are many more positives.  Success stories are what should make us stay excited about what we do!  It really is about the clients future, not the negatives that we encounter everyday. I would love to hear what keeps everyone else going!

We all use different terms when referring to our title.  There is the ever so common Real Estate Agent and Realtor, but I prefer the term Real Estate Professional.  As agents we handle our business different.  We have different personalities, different marketing strategies and different ways to communicate with our clients. 

However, I choose not to leave out the one word that describes myself.  PROFESSIONAL 

There is a level of professionalism that we must maintain with every person we encounter. The expertise we are required to have in our industry is that of a professional.  The knowledge that we share when negotiating and advising is that of a professional.  In the midst of competition between agents we can not forget to stay with the basics and maintain our professional attitude and "good sportsmanship" as we look after the best interest of our clients.

After all, the reputation of our industry starts with us.