JULIE GARDNER
  • HOME
  • COMPASS
    • WHY COMPASS?
    • COMPASS CONCIERGE
    • COMPASS BRIDGE LOANS
  • LISTINGS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT JULIE
    • A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP
    • CONTACT
    • PROCESS
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PRESS
  • PROJECTS
    • BEFORE & AFTER
    • GARDENS
    • OUR TEAM
    • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • UTILITIES
    • SCHOOLS

Vol. 256 - An "Easy A?" (That's not so easy.)

12/5/2012

0 Comments

 
"I asked my son what kind of cake he'd like for his birthday, and he answered, 'Mrs. Gardner's chocolate raspberry cake!'" came the email from my good friend, Mara Lee (aka: Andrew's mom).  "Would you mind sharing the recipe or is it a family secret?"

Okay  I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but it's a store bought mix of Devil's Food cake (any brand) and a jar of raspberry jam. (Joy to the world?  How about jam to the world!)

 
Truly, it couldn't be any easier.  The only part of the cake I make from scratch is the frosting, and to my utter horror, my husband actually prefers the canned product (sugared lard to my way of thinking) instead of my creamy, vanilla concoctions. Is he kidding?  (No he's not.)  

 

What can I say?  I've spent years perfecting homemade chocolate macaroons, blonde brownies, and moist banana cake, but it's the chocolate raspberry cake from a mix that my family asks for the most.  Go figure. In high school parlance; that cake is an "easy A. 

  

With respect to Real Estate, there's rarely ever an "easy A," which is to say that even the transactions that look as if they came easily and then closed quickly, may, in reality, represent a tremendous amount of work - and usually do.

 

The property that quickly came to market and sold in a week or two, typically spent several months in preparation prior to the first Sunday Open. Preparations that usually include inspections, cleaning, organizing, overdue maintenance, painting, gardening, staging, etc., (just for starters).  For many homes, this preparation may also require significant upgrades to the bathrooms and kitchen, sewer lateral replacement, or drainage, roof and foundation repairs as well. (Whew!)  No matter how you slice it, bringing a home to market is A LOT of work.  

 

Likewise, Buyers rarely ever prove successful on the first home on which they bid. As luck (and as life) would have it, there is an inherent learning curve for almost ALL Buyers as they refine their hunt, gain invaluable experience, and earn their hard earned stripes within a very competitive marketplace.  Realistically, Buyers should expect to spend several weeks in search of their next home under the very best scenario, and shouldn't be surprised if it, in fact, takes several months or more.  I've literally worked with some Buyers for two or three years while they wait for the "right" home to emerge that finally motivates them to get serious and move. (That's okay, I'm not going anywhere soon.)    

 

In short, any conscience Realtor's work begins looong before a transaction is consummated, or more to the point, our commissions are earned over t i m e - not in one swift close, and certainly not in a week or two.  Our "value proposition" is gnerated through a deep understanding of the marketplace, a commitment to our Buyers and Sellers to deliver their goals, and the patience to stand by these principles.  

Still, I wouldn't exactly mind if an "easy A" happened to fall into my lap every once in a blue moon (feel free to refer me) although I've yet to come across any that proved entirely "easy."  In truth, I'm not sure the "easy A's" really exist.  Even the quick transactions have resulted from groundwork that's been laid over years and a network of clients that trust and respect me enough to send their friends my way (thank you).   

Gotta run, I've got a cake to bake. 

 

Happy Birthday,  Andrew!
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe

    Author

    Julie 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. 

    Picture

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008

    Categories

    All
    Business
    Design
    Drought
    Holiday
    Home Maintenance
    Homes For Sale
    Life
    Market
    Politics
    Renovation

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Piedmont · Oakland · Berkeley
 510.326.0840
[email protected]
DRE# 01431765
​COMPASS

  • HOME
  • COMPASS
    • WHY COMPASS?
    • COMPASS CONCIERGE
    • COMPASS BRIDGE LOANS
  • LISTINGS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT JULIE
    • A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP
    • CONTACT
    • PROCESS
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PRESS
  • PROJECTS
    • BEFORE & AFTER
    • GARDENS
    • OUR TEAM
    • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • UTILITIES
    • SCHOOLS