Grandma bubbles

I'll get to the title a little further into this post...but first I want to vent.  Grrrrrr...one of my biggest pet peeves in this real estate market is sellers who refuse showings!  As I am sitting in my office this afternoon trying to schedule all the showings for my 2 buyers this weekend I am wondering what exactly those people are thinking.  Do they not understand that you need showings to get offers, and you need offers to get contracts, and contracts to SELL YOUR HOUSE?  Do they think they are special?  Could it be that they are not morning people and just don't want to get up?  Does their agent know they are refusing showings? I am an understanding person.  I can appreciate a sick child or a life event or major sporting event.  Perhaps I am just more on edge today because my husband is out of town and I am once again forced into a single mommy scenario that is very tiring.  Maybe it's becuase I am sitting indoors on this beautiful Central Ohio day (IN FEBURARY FOLKS!!) working to sell YOUR home that you just refused the showing for instead of at home with Owen kicking his ball around the yard.  Well, to you Mr. Seller, I say good luck.  I am assuming something MAJOR is happening in your life on Saturday morning that is preventing you from allowing me access to your home!  If my assuming has caused me to be an 'ass' well then so be it! 
And I will move on...to grandma bubbles. 

For me, as some already know, getting to work WITH your child when necessary is a God send.  I am blessed to have chosen a career that offers that option.  So, last week (and I'm sorry for the late story, but it's hilarious!) he came to the office with me to finish up a few things, submit a counter offer, and make some calls.  It was later in the day and he was getting grumpy and 'busy'.  When I refer to Owen being 'busy' I simply mean that he is like the mini version of his dad on like 4 cups of coffee.  He runs up and down the halls, screams, laughs out loud, raids the cabinets/fridge/mailboxes/drawers/file folders (you name it, he finds it), etc.  You get the point...and if you know Scott, you know the 'dad' reference.  So, I am forever grateful to our administrators for keeping him occupied sometimes when I just need a few minutes.  One inparticular has several grandchildren of her own and adores Owen of course, but I always feel guilty regardless of their pleading for me to bring him or the looks I get when I show up sans Owen.  On this particular day, we were there a bit past dinner and Owen was spending most of his time at the front desk where he knew there would be candy to raid.  They had a great time manning the desk while I packed everything up.  As we were heading out, Owen runs up to give her a BIG hug (he gives the best hugs!) and she picked him up while he fervently squeezed her neck.  He then gets a peculiar look on his face, pushes off of her a bit and looks down.  The next movement I saw was like super slow motion when you know you aren't going to be fast enough but at the same time you have to try.  Sure enough, Owen was reaching out both hands directly for her boobs!!  As time caught up with me I see the hands make contact, squeeze, and his little voice saying "BUBBLES, BUBBLES"!!  It had to be the funniest thing he has done in quite a while and for being his first real boob reference I guess bubble works, eh??  I hope we won't be getting a visit from a jealous hubby :)

Oh my...I love my little assistant! 

Sidenote: congrats to Mark and Ellie Andre on the purchase of their new home!  I look forward to getting you to closing and helping to get you settled in Central Ohio! 

run, run, run

The title says it all...this is my life!  I run around the house in the morning trying to get myself and Owen out the door in one piece (and with everything necessary to avoid a trip BACK home in the middle of the day).  Then I run him to his nanny.  Then I run to my office or whatever appts I have that day.  Then I run to pick Owen up from his nanny.  Then we run home to dinner.  Then we run until little man needs a bath! 

 RUN, RUN, RUN!  My goodness, does the madness ever stop?

I am now 'running' off to a closing today for a very dear single woman who is putting some roots down in Columbus.  She has been a nervous wreck the whole time, and I SO get it.  This process can be really frustrating, time consuming, emotional, etc.  I am so happy for her and can't wait until I get to come see what she has done to make her new house her new HOME!  Congrats Maureen and I hope to have you as a client for life :) 
Have a good weekend everyone! 

'The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That'

So no, this title is not in reference to any kind of new Real Estate seminar or motivational adult anecdote...this is how I spend most early mornings before heading out to start the very exciting career of being a Realtor.  (sarcasm?  maybe a little :)).  My almost 2 yr old Owen and I pretty much always get to eat breakfast together...before my phone starts ringing or my inbox is even considered, we get to hang with some eggs, bacon, oatmeal, or whatever else Owen decides he's in the mood for on that given morning!  These are my favorite times :) 

As this is my first post, I will share a little more about me and my 'assistant'.  I have pretty much always known I was going to work in Real Estate...at least since my teens.  I truly love what I do.  Helping people in such a way has a real impact on your own personal goals, emotions, and general sense of what is really important in life.  It can also totally and completely take OVER your life (meaning you spend all your time helping others and not concentrating at all on yourself and more importantly your loved ones!).  I have been in Finance, Property Management/leasing, and New Home Sales over the past 10 years.  Most recently I was a New Home Consultant for a large local builder and had a pretty great job as far as income and success...sold homes to over 120 buyers...problem was I was seeing less and less of my husband and son.  It was just simply not worth it anymore.  Since I have kept my Real Estate license since 2003, it made sense to go ahead and begin the next leg of my Real Estate journey and become an independent Realtor.  I knew it would require just as many if not more hours of work but the best thing about it is that I get to control my schedule and on many many occasions Owen joins me in whatever adventures we have planned for that day!  My goal of this blog is not to generate business or brag about achievements or advertise listings, etc.  My goal is to release some stress at the end of the day and share some of the memories of my time with Owen, my little assistant :)

Here is a great picture of my little assistant.  You'll get to hear alot more about him if you subscribe!  I love you Owen and these stories are what we did so that we could spend more time together with you! 

Here's a quick story from today.  I've been meaning to change my voicemail but just keep forgetting.  Managed to remember today and Owen kept following me around the house yelling "mama, mama, peeeeess" (or please) everytime I would start recording because he wants to talk with me!  I tried 3 times and each one managed to have the slurred words of a little toddler in the background.  So, if you call me today and that is the message you get, just imagine me being chased while trying to record the message with a stern "no" look on my face and kindly leave me a message!  My life might be crazy, but I will get right back to you :)