Holtz Realty

Yesterday was one of the quirkiest for me to where I looked at the calendar to see what phase the moon was in, and of no surprise to me, it was the day/night of the full moon.  Thinking back on all the strange happenings including some of the phone calls, emails, and letters, I’d say the Wolf Moon was indeed having its effect on humanity.

I’m sure you’re wondering why it’s called the Wolf Moon.  Well, back in the days of the colonists, the wolves would be hanging out and about the outskirts of villages at night howling from hunger during the January full moon.  I’m sure they were far more hungry back then than are now because the colonials were competing with them for fresh wild meat during their own lean months of winter.  I’d wager there’d be few if any of us today who could survive those most primitive of living conditions.

This brings me to our much talked about subject of the weather this coming weekend.  It sounds like we’re supposed to get around a ¼ inch of ice starting on Sunday.  I don’t even want to think about what that’s going to do to all the power lines and big trees in North Iowa.  I do hope everyone has plan “B” in place should the electricity go out from downed those lines.  That’s all I had to do was mention the last big ice storm we had on a Halloween night some years ago where one section of our City was without power for days. All I can say is, “Prepare yourselves for those possibilities.”  It’s too bad all our modern gas stoves have electric starters in them to where if the power does go out, the stoves won’t light.  At least with the old gas stoves, one could light the oven so to keep a home from getting really cold.

In conversation with a very wise man today, I mentioned a phone call I received some days ago from one who must’ve found nothing better to do than call me and continue making innuendoes that were totally uncalled for and downright mean spirited.  I went on to say how having known this person for a heaping number of years, I was shocked to hear such language being used in conversation with me.  The wise man paused and replied, “That person must’ve been harboring deep envies for you for a very long time, and after those things being said so many quiet years later, causes me to believe there’s some serious mental issues that need to be addressed.”  All I could say was, “In these times, there’s nearly nothing that people say or do that surprises me.”  His words of wisdom were, “Just keep your head high while moving onward and upward.”

While showing a home this afternoon to a couple who were looking at it for their parents who’re moving back to Mason City, I was again reminded of how many older people are moving back to North Iowa to be closer to their old friends and relatives.  It seems that’s all it takes is a health scare or two to get them to start thinking.  I soulfully interjected, “You’re lucky to be part of a family who’s nurtured your relationships because there’ve been others who’ve severed ties due to strife within their own families.”  They went on to share some really heartfelt stories of happenings within their extended family.  Before they left I said, “Keep up the good work you’re doing for your elders because there’ll be a day when you’ll be thankful you did.”  While driving back to my office I began thinking of those who’ve intentionally burned their own bridges and left me to wonder, “Who’ll be there for you?”

You may call me a bit sentimental, but there are brief soul inspiring moments that take place in our our daily lives that oft go un-noticed by the general public simply because we’re far too focused on getting just a nose ahead of our peers, or busy grinding our malevolent axes for someone we’ve decided to despise.

I can certainly say, the meeting I had with the absolute dearest elderly gentleman reminded me once again that there really are genuinely good and loving people living in North Iowa.  Each time I’m in his presence, he’s usually got another touching page of his life story to tell.  Unfortunately I didn’t have time to ask for another tale from his younger years, but I did promise to play catch-up with them the next time we get together.  For some special reason, he knows how much I like him which then makes him more comfortable in freely telling me his stories.

When I walked out I said, “Without a question, I’m absolutely positive that if there’s a Heaven above, you won’t have to pass GO to get there.”  He shook his head and said, “Oh come on now, I’ve sinned right along with the rest of us.”  I laughed a little and then said, “If you’re so sure about yourself, then there are going to be a whole lot of others standing double deep and a days walk behind you waiting to get in.”   At least I did get a chuckle out of him.

Since I happened to bring up the subject of Heaven with him, while driving back to my office the memory of something a bit creepy someone said to me a number of years ago came to mind.  That long ago and far away conversation started unfolding in my mind’s eye.  The thrust of what she said was that people have this skewed belief that Hell is filled with unquenchable fire.  She insisted it’s not hot, but rather a near pitch black place that’s filled with a burning cold where the soul/spirits of deceased humans are sent should they not be clean or pure enough to return to their Source which we call Heaven.  There they are to remain frozen in time and space.

So I asked, “How long do those poor souls have to stay in that un-moving state of deep freeze?”  She then said, “They stay there until they’ve sorted out all the good and bad they’ve done in their lives and have come to a full understanding of, and be truly sorry for the pain and suffering they’ve caused others.  “So then what happens to them?” I said. Wide eyed she glared and me and said, “They’re sent back to continue on their paths of learning and understanding, and usually placed in circumstances or positions that are opposite those of their previous lives.”  Curious me couldn’t stop with my questioning by saying, “So my take on what you’re telling me is that all the wrongs we’ve knowingly committed against others, will follow our soul/spirits into the cold zone, and from there after however many months or years, we’ll be sent back in another body to atone for them?”  She said something like, “Looks like you’ve got a pretty good layman’s understanding of the whole process.”

After remembering that long ago conversation, and thinking about the state of today’s world that’s filled with so many all-about-me people who justify every greedy, selfish, hateful, money-loving, consumption oriented, and to the devil with everyone else, they darkly nurture those pitiful mini-me’s they’ve created within their own families, while the rest of our world pays the price—including Mother Nature.  Cryptically speaking, I do believe all our world’s evils share the same shoe size.

As the hours wore on, I was beginning to believe I was having one of my rare days of being just a bit too outspoken with others.  There were several phone calls I received early on that likely triggered my candor.  What I’ll never get used to, is how some people look at a given problem and believe they know how to fix it, but in only a singular way.  We all know many problems can be solved in various ways and usually after looking at all the options of “fixing them”, we can move forward with the solving the problem by choosing the most equitable and most drama-free way.

Every time an offer comes in on one of my listings from another agent that’s not even close to the asking price, I hear all the flimsy reasons why their buyer offered the amount they did.  I’m convinced if a home were picture perfect and maintenance free, there’d be a buyer’s agent finding some obscure reason why their buyer’s offer was considerably less.  This is where the “hero effect” comes in.  A hero real estate agent is one who’ll be riding some imaginary steed and be fully armored going out and doing battle for their buyers just to prove their sales abilities.

As I see it, this form of real estate chivalry does nothing more than create additional problems from the time an offer is drawn, and all the way up to, and sometimes after closing.  Buyers and sellers are nervous enough without having any additional dramas added to the mix.  The knight-like buyers agents have no clue how much extra effort it takes to keep the sellers from telling their buyers to go fly a kite.  As long as sellers are fully familiar with the estimated end-values of their homes as well as current market conditions, the final decision on what the property is to sell for is theirs, and only their decision.  Learning to be a top drawer and honest to goodness facilitator is what real estate agents really must focus on becoming.  I sometimes say, “I don’t ever want to be a hero, because a hero is usually the one that gets shot at first.”

It came as quite a surprise this afternoon when a new potential buyer asked me, “What kind of neighborhood is this?”  I then replied, “It’s a general residential neighborhood.”  I then added, “The owner said she liked it while living out here.” The shock was when he then asked, “What’s “out here” mean?  Are there problems in this neighborhood I need to know about?”   I almost laughed but didn’t when I replied, “I said “out here” because it’s normal for me to say that about any neighborhood that’s not in a close proximity of our Downtown.”  I guess from now on I’ll have to be all the more careful about generalities I make about subdivisions.

My good laugh came later today when I was visiting with a seller about how real estate sales were a number of years ago by saying, “Back when I was young and exceptionally better looking, we didn’t have all these after-the-sale inspections.  In those days, people would have a furnace, a roof, wiring, or anything else questionable checked out before they made an offer.”   He smiled and said, “We all had our day.” I wasn’t sure if he was referring to those times being easier, or being young and better looking.” What do you think?

Good Heavens!  Mother Nature certainly gave us quite a ride with our weather today. It started off at around 30 degrees with rain early this morning, and then followed up by pelting snow and now bitter cold wind.  Believe it or not, I was out sliding around in it most of the day.  One of my clients showed me a pair of high-tech rubber thing of amajigs that looked something like shower rubbers, but had about six small metal spikes on the bottom of each.  He said they worked very well while out on the ice.  I couldn’t help myself by teasingly saying to him, “They look like something you’d slip over your cowboy boots and go for a wild ride on a bucking bronco, to where the more you’d dig in, the more you’d get bucked!”  I’m not so sure he thought it as laughable as I did.

Of course this brings me to my statement I made to an associate this morning.  I said, “We’ve all heard about the wild wild West, but the happenings these past several years I’ve seen taking place in North Iowa, has caused me to believe we’re living in the wild wild North.”  I went on to tell some of the ludicrous things the general public have been doing and saying. Much to my vexation, I’ve even found it happening in my profession.

I was reminded again today how annoying it is when someone sends me a text and I immediately respond to it, but then there’s no following text of acknowledgment or agreement.  I’m now wondering what special cracker jack boxes they received their certificates of being fully educated in Social Skills?

Even this morning a truck that must’ve been contracted to sand a parking lot across the street from my office, just decided to jump the curb and drive across the grassy area onto the parking lot.  Seeing the name on the truck I thought, “Just as I’ve believed, you’ve got more guts than a packing house!”  Being inconsiderate must be a new fad that’s growing in popularity in our wild wild North.

One of the highlights of my day was spending about two hours doing some deep searching for a name and phone number of someone living out of State.  After searching all the references, and then cross-referencing, I actually found it.  Taking a deep breath, I picked up the phone and called the number.  The very person I was looking for answered the phone.  I’m sure at first he must’ve thought me to be a telemarketer or crank caller, but after explaining the reason for my call, he finally realized I was legit.

My other highlight of today was the most delightful visit I had with an elderly lady who’s been traveling down a similar path with me regarding our recent loss of a loved one. It’s amazing how near complete strangers experience similar happenings leading up to the death of someone special.  I couldn’t have thanked her enough for sharing her story with me, as well as helping each other in more fully understanding the whole process of it all.  I do hope her family realizes how wonderful a person they have for a mother.  While suffering through today’s wintery storm, I found another angel living in our midst.

Several hours this morning were spent with organizing files from last year and preparing new ones for this year.  While moving last year’s I began noticing the names and addresses on some of them. I found myself being mentally catapulted back to the times of those particular transactions.  I’ve always found it to be quite the interesting happening when the faces and houses begin to appear in my mind.

There’ve been a number of illuminations for me this past year with how people can so quickly change their tune just so to benefit their posture or standing in their group.  Not so many days ago I found how quickly a rather easy going person was transformed into a bitterly critical entity not long after a healthy check was delivered.  I guess there are some who believe , in an of itself creates broad powers over others.  There’ve been a number of them over the years that I’ve mentally branded as being of the same stripe.  It’s unfortunate how small they really do appear to those who consider money as being nothing but a tool—not the be all and end all.

Not long ago I was reminded of how money can re-write the history of a person after they’re gone.  There was the sweetest little old man whom nearly everyone believed to be of modest means.  He’d watch the grocery store ads and go out weekly to stock up on whatever was on sale at the time.  His clothes looked like hand-me-downs, and he never purchased anything more than what he felt to be absolutely necessary.

After selling homes for so many years, I’ve learned how to quickly recognize if someone was being frugal out of necessity, or out of desire.  He was definitely one I believed it to be out of desire.  Well, as we all know, none of us are going to get out of here alive.  After he passed and his estate was opened, I heard from one of his children how suddenly her brothers and sisters started re-writing her father’s life story to the point I laughingly said, “Are you sure they were talking about your father?”  “Unfortunately they were.”, she replied.  All I could say was, “Don’t fret about it. This stuff happens in more families than you’d ever think—especially when there’s a great deal of money involved.”  She sadly added, “Yes, and their personalities have changed to where I’m not sure if I ever really knew them.”

The sale of real estate looks like it may be kicking into high gear long before Spring arrives by seeing how much activity there is in our market.  It also looks like the acreage prices are going to spike as well.  A gentleman who called today on the acreage I have listed spoke about how much he’s grown to despise living in town and ready to get out in the country where he doesn’t have to look to see what he’s wearing before walking out his back door and under the scrutiny of the ever-curious eyes of his gossipy neighbors.

I think everyone should knowingly give their nosey neighbors something to really talk about in such a fashion that they’ll later find it was all a joke and meant specifically for them.  I did it once, and it actually worked to their great embarrassment.  It’s amazing what a wig and a pair of dark glasses can do to widen the eyes of the curious.

What a relief it has been in seeing the temperatures rise to more tolerable levels during this day.  I’m also glad for it doing so in hopes some of these icy streets and sidewalks will melt this coming week along with the many private parking lots dotting our City.

I took an extended drive this morning to attend a religious service in another community.   Being familiar with it from past visits, its original creaky pews and wooden floors spoke of likely thousands that have gathered there over these 100+ years since it was built.  Little dents and nicks left by likely long gone children added to the beauty of its look and texture.  I smiled to myself knowing how exceptionally popular vintage distressed wood has become with our younger crowd.  There’ve been numerous times when people have “wowed” over the distressed historic wooden floors in my office to where I’ve even blushed in modesty on occasion.

As chance would have it, the congregation was performing a ritual baptism this morning and was delighted to be a part of it all.  There certainly were a number of people taking photos who were likely eager to share them with distant relatives and friends on Facebook.  I found myself captivated by the sky-high ceilings which seemed to add to the reverence of the place.  While looking up and thinking about some recent unfortunate events, I had this incredible feeling there was an energy of sorts emanating from me and flowing out into the universe. After the service was finished, I drove away happy with myself for making the choice to drive those extra miles as well as remembering that creepy outward-flowing of energy.

My hopes in getting the home I had a public open house on yesterday sold soon may possibly become a reality these next days.  I was sure to make mental notes of its kitchen design should I ever decide to have my own kitchen re-done.  The dark granite countertop and marble backsplash makes it all the more pleasing to the eye.  The new buyers will likely believe it to be their gathering place where memories are created for years to come.

After returning from a showing this afternoon, I received an unexpected phone call from someone I’ve not talked to for well over six months.  It almost seemed as though some “psychic” message went out saying, “You must call him!”  When the question was asked, “How’s things been with you Joe?”  I couldn’t help but share some of the most cutting words that have been released from the mouths of several terribly mean-spirited people here in our City.  It really does help when a deep hurt is shared with one who truly cares.

When we finished our conversation, I went back to what I was doing before the call.  While continuing on with my calculations, a thought relentlessly haunted me about people who step over invisible lines of what’s been considered acceptable in our society, and what may have seemed trivial at the time, creates far-reaching and detrimental consequences that follow them far into their futures.  It’s almost like what happens when the mythical Pandora’s Box is opened.  It’s as though they have created rips in the delicate blankets that envelope and sustain our own personal universes which I believe  takes generations to mend.

We must all be exceptionally careful to never create even the slightest rips or tears in the universal shrouds that have safely protected us since we came down our chutes, because there is never a “go back” button on the keyboards governing our lives as we now know them.

Hopefully today was the last of the extended cold spell that arrived about a week ago, and will be even better if it’s the last for this winter.  When out placing open house signs before dawn this morning wasn’t what I considered a treat.  With the snowbanks being coated with ice made it all the more treacherous when trying to get them to stand.

While on my way to work, I thought I’d be actively looking for something to do this morning.  That thought was dispelled shortly after arriving when seeing emails to answered and phone calls coming in from clients and customers. The time managed to quickly slip by to where I couldn’t believe it was almost noon when I glanced at the clock.

As I’ve mentioned before, Realtors have more “back room” research to do than most would ever believe.  There’s always that keeping up with the movements of prices as well as what’s getting listed for sale, along with what recently sold.  Over this past month I’ve noticed a few exceptionally wide ranges of “listing to sale price” sales.  Every time I see such, I always wonder who the buyer was, and what precipitated such a drastic drop in sale price by the seller.

The bottom-feeding, get-rich-quick-buyers are still alive and well in our market.  I recently walked through a home that was sold to an innocent buyer who unknowingly paid many thousands more for a home than if it had been listed on the open market.  What I don’t understand, is how sellers like that can sleep nights knowing full well they took great financial advantage of someone.  Another home I was familiar with ended up selling far less than it should have simply due to an agent not being fully aware of what the home should have been priced at it in the beginning.  It was starting to grow cobwebs when it finally sold markedly below what it should have.  There’s no question in my mind, that particular seller now has a very bad taste in her mouth regarding the process of selling a home. I jokingly said to someone today, “I’ve discovered all the scoundrels in this world share the same shoe size.”

To my surprise, my public open house today at 39 Mission Drive was a great success.  It sounds like there’ll be an offer coming in on it tomorrow.  Now that we’ve reduced the price, I can’t imagine anyone not falling in love with it’s high dollar kitchen.   I told many, the size and quality of that kitchen is something you’d normally find in the $250K range.  And as we all know, kitchens are where most seem to congregate.

While watching a young gentleman in search of bank account information on his cell phone, I was again reminded how we’re becoming far too dependent on paperless.  I blame all the banks, the utility companies, and commerce in general for encouraging it for one reason only—to save money on paper and postage.  I couldn’t keep still as I watched him and finally blurted, “What will you do if suddenly some mega-hacking takes place in our “cloud” and you find yourself informationless?”  I got quite the dismissive expression as his answer.

After reading what some of the totalitarian regimes are trying to do to these United States, it’s far more a possibility than most ever would have dreamed.  At least try to keep your critical information in paper form so to protect yourselves against the “what ifs”.

This weather has become all the more scary when hearing about someone’s main water line coming into their home having frozen. Fortunately an adept plumber found what the problem was.  It was as I suspected.  Whomever finished off part of the basement, placed a finished wall in front of the water line which left no heat from the basement allowing it to stay above freezing.  Those do-it-yourselfers out there can do some of the most thoughtless things when remodeling their homes.  Even I knew you can’t cover an uninsulated water pipe next to an outside wall.  Sounds like there was some sheetrock that had to be torn out so the plumber could get at it with a blowdryer. Thank goodness the pipe didn’t burst or there would’ve been a real mess to clean up.

Holtz Realty had it’s first closing for 2017.  Unfortunately there was some last minute rushing to get numbers crunched due to an oversight on the other side of the table. At least it did close on time and everyone’s happy.  I know a Realtor from another office believes me to be a little on the demanding side, but I can’t stress enough how important it is to get things done more sooner than later.  I really don’t like having to be the pusher, but I know too well how unnerving it can be when under the pressure of time.  It looks like we’re going to be enduring this sub-zero weather until mid-day on Sunday.  I’m going to hope next week will bring an early January thaw so to get these slippery sidewalks and streets drained off.  I can’t believe how many of the parking lots are like sheets of glass.  I’m about ready to break out my pair of ice skates.

Speaking of ice skates, I was terribly disappointed when reading about the petition to the City for a vote to be held on the planned Downtown Ice Arena.  I can’t think of anything that would draw more visitors and create additional commerce in our Historic Downtown, than to have that area built. So many of the young families have been begging for something for their children to enjoy and now that it’s on the horizon, we have others throwing a monkey wrench into the machine.

Just yesterday while waiting to see a professional, I sat out in a lobby and visited with the young secretary about my hatred of winter.  She said, “Isn’t there anything you like about winter?”  I thought a moment and said, “Ok. I’d like winter more here in North Iowa if I had someplace close to go and ice skate.”  She giggled and said, “You know how to ice skate?”  Smilingly I glanced at her and said, “Ice skating was my only form of winter entertainment while growing up, and I even became pretty good at it.”  I wasn’t sure if she assumed I’d never ice skated when possibly thinking I was never that young.  Isn’t it interesting how people make assumptions?  Perhaps I should have also told her I also know how to ride a horse bareback just to see her reaction.

Perhaps we should work more at assuming what others can do instead of what they can’t.