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"Julie, are you free tomorrow night to join me for an ugly sweater party?" the email inquired.
"Sure," I quickly replied, before realizing that now I'd need an ugly sweater. (I've spent my adult life fighting "ugly.") Not to worry, I did one better and found a truly ugly onesie at a local charity store for $20. (And yes, I actually wore it to the party.) And while Sarah, Jill, Kate, and I have essentially built our careers on eliminating "ugly" - ugly paint, ugly wallpaper, ugly carpets, ugly lighting, ugly bathrooms, and ugly yards, (just to name a few), there are some elements of Real Estate that remain "ugly" just the same . . . .
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It's no surprise to my close friends that I've been on a weight-loss journey for the past year, and happily, I've had great success reclaiming my old body (not EXACTLY my old body but you get my drift).
The transformation didn't happen overnight, nor did it happen alone. After reaching an emotional low on what should have been an active, fun-filled vacation with my husband's tennis group in Mallorca, Spain (NOT), I finally had to admit defeat (it wasn't pretty). On Tuesday, I spent the morning with members of the Piedmont Garden Club assisting city workers for "Lights Up Piedmont," a wintery, annual holiday event that brings families and community together to watch the tree light up in the center of town. Founded in 1969 and sponsored by the Piedmont Beautification Foundation, as well as many other local organizations, this lovely tradition includes not only the "Ahh" moment when the Christmas lights come on, but hot chocolate and cider to warm the soul. This year, latkes were served by the Chabad Jewish Center, incorporating the themes of Chanukah as well. (Shalom.)
The holidays are upon us and the timing couldn't be more apropos. After the election, I'm feeling more than a little disappointed by the results and more disturbingly, what they say about our nation as a whole. Thus, the opportunity to take a break, gather with family and friends, and give thanks for ALL I've earned and been granted seems more important and necessary than ever (and I have a TON to be thankful for).
Last week, I joined a group of ladies for a Kokedama workshop at the Oconomowak Gardens in Alameda. (I didn't know what Kokedama was either.)
Turns out, Kokedama is the Japanese art of growing plants (also known as poor man's bonsai) in a ball constructed of soil and peat moss. Once the excess water has been squeezed out and the ball is relatively compact and round, you insert a plant of your choosing in the middle, tightly wrap the creation with moss, and then encircle it with twine to form a neat little package that can sit comfortably in a small bowl or vessel. Watering the plant simply requires submersion in water as the ball dries out. It was a nifty little outing and a fun way to spend the morning. (Thank you, ladies.) But what I liked best about the process, was that no one expected perfection and everybody's efforts were entirely unique. In fact, the entire exercise seemed to embrace "wabi-sabi," which is the Japanese aesthetic of finding beauty in impermanence, incompleteness, and imperfection. Now that, I can relate to . . . "I hear you're bringing a level-living home to market next year," my colleague inquired, "would your Sellers consider an off-market sale now?"
"Hmmm . . . if it was EXTREMELY compelling, they probably would," I said. However, in these instances, I'm generally a skeptic. The problem is that when prospective Buyers view a property in its "before" state (meaning with the Sellers "stuff" in place), they can rarely see past the antique furniture, the dated paint colors, or the worn carpet, and this is where we typically lose them. It's already November, which means we're heading into Thanksgiving and our Winter Season. In Realtor terms, this is when inventory begins to dry up, and properties that haven't gone pending are likely to come off the market and reemerge next Spring, with hopefully, better results.
Of course, no one has a crystal ball, and things could be decidedly different in 2025 depending on the outcome of the presidential election, the interest rates, supply & demand, and consumer confidence, but for now, the 4th quarter has been surprisingly brisk, and we hope next year brings much of the same . . . . It's nearly Halloween which means the pumpkins have arrived, ghoulish spiders and skeletons are decorating homes up and down the block, and my neighbors' kids have begun to walk by my house on the way to school dressed as Spiderman, Mario Brothers, and Harry Potter. (The little girls seem to live in princess dresses year round from what I can tell).
"My friends haven't been successful selling their home," my colleague said. "They think it's time for new representation, and I'm too far away to handle the job properly so I'd like to refer you and Sarah."
Thank you, but when I looked up the address of the property, alarm bells began to ring. Most mornings, I rise early and meet my good friend, Ann, to walk the dogs around Lake Temescal or the old railroad path behind Montclair Village. It's a cheerful way to start the day while getting a little fresh air and exercise. Because Ann is also a Realtor®, we invariably discuss our transactions, our challenges, and the industry at large. (News Alert, Real Estate is experiencing the biggest upset since the inception of the Multiple Listing Service. Have you heard?)
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AuthorJulie Gardner, has been writing The Perspective for 18 years and has published more than 775 humorous but always informative, essays on life and real estate. 
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