Dear ,
"All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming."
I love my job. But, admittedly, it has not always been easy. In fact, I almost quit last spring after multiple deals fell apart, and the stress of 100% commission got the better of me.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I was bedridden with the flu when an offer came in on my listing. My sellers were going through a bitter divorce. To my surprise, both parties were in agreement and wanted to accept the cash offer. I sighed with relief, and fell back asleep for another 12 hours. I awoke the next morning to learn that one my client's feelings had changed. This was not welcome by the buyer, so he walked away from the deal.
I know I can't control a situation, I can only offer a voice of reason. This had been the eighth deal in a row to fall apart for me in 2012. I had gone 6 months without a closing, and the stress was overwhelming. It wasn't my seller's fault, it was my own. I had recently gone through a divorce of my own, and I was at the tail end of an emotional roller coaster which accounted for foolish spending habits.
At a complete loss, I headed out to my yard to partake in what I like to call "dirt therapy" and started digging up my flower beds. Still weakened from the flu, I somehow found the strength because I needed to vent my fears and frustration, and find a way to reconfirm why I was doing what I was doing! Most importantly, I needed reminding that I made a promise to myself that I would give up everything simply to have my spiritual self back and to reconnect with that force I had lost along the way.
I stood there in the dirt and said, "Okay, Where are you?" I made a commitment that I would give up everything...Everything!... to feel at peace again. I was true to my end, I asked for the same in return. I told myself that if something does not happen over the weekend, then come Monday, I was going to find another job. Luckily, two other offers came in that weekend and I took that as a sign to hang in there. So I did!
The best part of this story is that, one year later, that same cash buyer came back and presented another offer to my sellers. That offer was accepted, and not only did we successfully close last month, but my sellers finally have closure on this chapter of their lives.
This year has been unexpectedly abundant for me. I am honestly overwhelmed by it all. I kept trusting and moving forward through the struggles, knowing that I would be taken care of. Helen Keller could not have said it better!
Best regards,
Leslie
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2013 June Home Sales Report
Home Sales and Prices Rise in First Half of 2013
MADISON, WI - Wisconsin home sales rose an impressive 11.4 percent in the first six months of 2013 compared to last year, according to recent statistics compiled by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). In June alone, Wisconsin home sales were up 3.1 percent relative to last June, posting the 24th straight month of positive sales growth in the state. Median prices also continued to increase year-to-date, rising 7.7 percent to $140,000 compared to the first half of 2012. In June, prices were up 12.3 percent to $159,500 compared to June 2012.
"The pace of sales in the first half of this year is well ahead of last year," said Renny Diedrich, WRA board chairman, "which is especially noteworthy since 2012 was an exceptional post-recession year for housing sales."
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How Much Does it (Really) Cost to Decorate?
Eight designers share secrets about the costs of assembling finished spaces-and the numbers may surprise you!
Surveys such as Remodeling magazine's "Cost vs. Value" report detail how much it costs to complete a variety of major popular home improvement projects each year, including the always popular kitchen and bathroom redos.
But those numbers don't reveal many of the additional expenses that give a room a truly finished look: a good paint job, built-in cabinetry, furnishings, carpeting, lighting, accessories, and so much more. Buyers and sellers who haven't recently decorated or remodeled have no clue how quickly costs add up - sometimes exponentially.
To get an idea of what finished rooms cost to complete, we asked top designer-owners of Decorating Den Interiors franchises in different cities to show us a single room they designed. They shared before and after photos, furnishing costs, and each space's challenges and advantages. You'll hear where they splurged and when they cut back, as well as additional tips to guide you through the process of completing a room. READ ON...
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Did You Know?
 Alexander Graham Bell disliked telephones
When the telephone was introduced in 1876, a Western Union internal memo noted: "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is of no value to us." In 1879, W. H. Preece, a Post Office engineer, testified to a House of Commons Committee that Britain had little use of the telephone because: "Here we have a superabundance of messengers, errand boys and things of that kind"
Even Alexander Graham Bell, who was awarded the patent for the invention of the telephone, disliked telephones so much that he refused to have one in his office. But that should not come as a surprise because both his mother and wife was deaf and perhaps Bell - who also was a speech teacher to the deaf - was only considering them.
When Bell passed away in 1922, every telephone served by the Bell system in the USA and Canada was silent for one minute. READ ON...
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New Prices!
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 | | www.1307LoftsgordonAvenue.com |
 | | www.W1470HwyZ.com |
 | | www.5525ForgeDrive.com |
 | | www.534MargaretCourt.com |
Current listings
TOO LATE!
Sold
The best of luck with the chapter in your life Sandy & happy to have assisted in the sale of your condo.
Aaron & Rachel it was a pleasure to meet you and guide your family into a home.
Bill & Michelle-I can not thank you enough for choosing me with the sale & purchase of your homes. The best part of it all is seeing you back together.
Congrats on your 1st home Dustin & Marika!
We were on a mission to find your next home while coordinating the sale of your house in a timely matter & we did it. Welcome to the neighborhood!
Korey & Leah flew into Madison & had 6 hours to find their 1st home. We did it! Congrats on your home & new job!
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| MAX - Business Networking Group | |
Join us and other professionals on Wednesday, Stember 4th at
Networking starts at 11:30 am and lunch at noon.
No membership fees, no pretense - we get together for lunch once a month. We meet & We eat.
Interested in joining? Send me an email or find us on Facebook |
| July Events | |
Olbrich's Blooming Butterflies
Daily Until August 11, 10am-4pm
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Experience the magnificence of free-flying butterflies while strolling through the tropical Bolz Conservatory.
Great Taste of the Midwest
August 10, 1pm-6pm
Olin Park
Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild hosts this event with over 500 different beers to taste from 150+ different breweries.
August 14
Madison Children's Museum
Stop by MCM to celebrate our third birthday at our Hamilton Street home. We'll play host with a Lego building jamboree, birthday-themed art activities, and cake!
Live on King Street: Keller Williams w/ Steez and Evergreen Grass Band
August 16, starting at 5pm
Head on down to King Street for 5 free outdoor concerts on Friday nights featuring nationally touring artists.
Madison Mini-Marathon & 5K
August 17
800 Langdon Street
Event highlights and premiums include: awesome shirts for half marathon participants, free beer for participants over 21, start and finish at the famous Memorial Union, medal for everyone, and much more!
Hy-Vee IronKids Triathlon
August 24
Fireman's Park, Verona
Children will compete in age-appropriate distances with an emphasis on fitness, fun and safety. Event supported by the Madison Area Sports Commission.
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