Pat Kennedy - Home in the Capital

Monet's Neighbors' Cows

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 17:54:25 -0700

These are some of the dairy cows that live down river from Monet's lily pond. The dairy farmers became very upset after Monet diverted their river to form his pond. Then, when he put in the water lilies, the cow's milk went off. The milk, the butter and the cheese all went off. All these years later, I'm guessing it all got sorted out. Perhaps the farmers convinced Frenchmen that eating this odd tasting cheese was quite chic and trendy. After all, the French have long enjoyed cheeses that we think smell like dirty, sweaty feet. At any rate, these guys were nibling away on the grass in the pasture when we drove past.Someday soon, the borders of some of our favorite places will be opened up, at least to those of us who can provide evidence of a negative covid test and a certificate of vaccination. Sigh!Subscribe in a reader

The Upper NW Washington Market Is A Little Tight These Days!

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 17:32:30 -0700

People moving to Washington often start off with a wish list that includes a modest home in one of DC's upper NW neighborhoods, like Chevy Chase, American University Park, Forest Hills, Spring Valley and a bunch of other neighborhoods that are west of Rock Creek Park. And the typical price range of up to $1million was usually doable, until lately.Checking availability for today, there were exactly 2 houses under $1million available in the entire area. They are both new to the market, listed late last week. Both were held open over the weekend, and typically, offers will be collected and reviewed on Tuesday or Wednesday. Both of these have great photos and appear to be well-staged and looking their best. And both are likely to end up in a rather gorey bidding war, selling at over $1 million. But hey, you can't get a whole lot of house for $1million anymore!So, lets say you are willing to up the ante, going up to $1.5million. You'll have a little more choice, with an additional 10 listings currently active. And of those 6 are new listings and the others have not attracted a buyer in over four months. Two of them are almost tiny houses, and others are not particularly high end, although most have been well-prepared for the market. So it could be possible to find something that has been on the market for a while, and you could possibly do some negotiating and avoid the bidding war. Still, you may be disappointed when you discover that you can't get a lot of house in Upper Northwest Washington for $1.5 million. If you have the means to increase your range to $2million, you add another 13 houses to the mix, and these don't normally fly off the shelf. There are some in Cleveland Park that are possible and there are some in other highly desirable neighborhoods. Many have been on the market for months, and many of the sellers are quite willing to negotiate on the price and terms to get their homes sold.After looking for the slim pickings of marginally affordable homes in Upper Northwest DC, many buyers expand the neighborhoods they will consider, looking at the 16th Street corridor, for example - Crestwood, Shepherd Park and Colonial Village. There are also possibilities in some close-in Maryland and Virginia neighborhoods. If you are moving to the DC area, it's a good idea to find an agent who (like me) is licensed in all three local jurisdictions, the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland. It's not unusual to investigate some of the great neighborhoods throughout the DC Metro area.Subscribe in a reader

Last Week's Favorites on ActiveRain: September 6th-12th

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 07:06:24 -0700

As I sat down to write this post, I realized that I hadn't saved the page where I had all of my links for my favorite posts last week. Oops! But my memory is still good enough to remember the ones I liked and even loved. So here goes:Nick Vandekar: A tribute to the dogs and rescue searchers of 9/11 Every year, I sit down to read to 9/11 posts with a hanky nearby. When I got to Vik's I needed it. If you love dogs like I do, you'll need a hanky, too. Patricia Feager: It May Surprise You But... Here is a trip down memory lane with a lot of heart and humor. It reminded me of our neighborhood family doctor suggesting to a harried new mom that she put a little beer in her baby's bottle. My mom was scandalized.Barbara Todero: Real Estate Is A Sink Or Swim Business - No Treading Water to Thrive: This is must reading for any Active Rain blogger who has decided that thriving is a really good life - and career - strategy. And isn't her new photo just wonderful?Joan Cox: Buying a Brand New Home - Do You Use their Preferred Lender Sometimes what looks like a savings can be costing you more money at the end of the day. I agree with Joan that it's important to do the math when you are doing new construction.Jeff Dowler: Virtual Art in the Village is Now Live in Carlsbad Gee. Everything is virtual these days! But I really loved the picture of Jeff sitting in one of the pieces of art. I think he should consider using it as his new profile picture. Robert Swetz a.k.a. Vegas Bob: What would your phrase be for this great Alaska photo? This comes from one of ActiveRain's great characters, and it's one that I certainly hope involved a bit of Photoshop!Nina Hollander: Labor Day In The Midst Of A Pandemic: What Americans Think This is an interesting post at a time when I think that probably 100 percent of us just want to make it stop! And Nina's right. This was no ordinary Labor Day.Wanda Kubat-Nerdin: That's what she shed! This is one of those "this is too good to make up" posts. And it's also one of those examples of mature professionals handling a problem in a way that it wasn't a problem. Good work, Wanda!So that's all for this gorgeous sunny morning! Hope you all have a good next week, and blog on! Subscribe in a reader

Pat's Water Lilies

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 20:41:55 -0700

Water Lilies Claude Monet really liked water lilies. When he bought a house about an hour outside of Paris in Giverny, he diverted a stream and created a pond that he filled with these flowers. The story goes that the neighbors got totally ticked off - they were dairy farmers, and they claimed that the lilies were messing with the taste of the water their cows were drinking downstream, and it made their cheese taste pretty weird. OK. We're in France. All of their cheese tastes weird. But the lily water drinking cows' cheese was said to be pretty awful. Anyway, Monet is said to have ignored his neighbors' complaints, and as a result there are some iconic paintings of his water lilies in museums and very rich people's homes around the world. The picture above is a photo that I took on a visit to his gardens. This is his pond, and these are probably direct descendants of the lilies that he placed in the pond back in the day. Pretty cool, huh?When the pandemic is over and we can travel again, if you go to France, this is an amazing side trip from Paris. Or you can visit the Orangerie, the galary where Monet's water lily panels are on display. Subscribe in a reader

Friday Fotos - The Eiffel Tower

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 20:21:51 -0700

Before my last trip to Paris, I read Paris, A Novel, part of a series of historical novels by Edward Rutherford. Rutherford included a fascinating history of the iconic Eiffel Tower. There were a group of men who had installed the elevator, and they happened to be in the city during World War II, when the city was occupied by the Nazis. When they heard that Hitler was paying a visit to their beloved landmark, and he sort of wanted to install a Paris office on the platform on the top floor, they decided that wasn't going to happen. These gutsy old guys wanted to stop him without permanently harming the monument. So they snuck in during the middlle of the night and sabatoged the elevator. If the Furer wanted to get the best view in Paris during his visit, they wanted to make sure he would have to walk to the top. And that would be a whole lot of steps, which Hitler declined to climb. He had to just stand at the foot and look up. I took this picture on my old iPhone while on the elevator headed for the top of the tower. No doubt about it! This is one of the world's coolest views!Subscribe in a reader

Don't Kill the Stager - or Me!

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 09:09:49 -0700

You don’t have to love the furniture and staging props that your agent might employ to transform your home into Buyer Bait. In my market, many of my transactions involve downsizing baby boomers selling to move-up millennials, Many of whom are HGTV addicts. And while a lot of the ideas one gets from "The Property Brothers" or "Love It or List It" do have cross-generational appeal, most of the homes that boomers are selling are filled with lots of dark wood, oriental rugs and family antiques. And the hardest part of my job is to convince my sellers, not to part with beloved family heirlooms, but to allow a professional stager to swap them out for the latest Wayfair.com trend that so many of today's buyers fall for. The stagers may take down your 19th-century portrait of Great-Great Uncle Horatio and replace it with poster art. They will swap out a Plexiglas oval atop a generic chrome base for your antique mahogany coffee table. Your formal dining room will follow Great-Uncle Horatio and your antique mahogany coffee table to the storage bin (or your new place), while the room is transformed into a Property Brothers “after” space that is almost guaranteed to spoil your appetite. When the professional stagers leave and you see the reveal, I might need to pull out my trusty old smelling salts. You might totally hate it, and guess what? That is the almost universal reaction that sellers have when the stager completes the transformation. And I am still searching for the right words to explain that you don’t have to love it. Your house has to speak to the prospective buyers who see the online virtual tour or come to the Open House. As hard as you might try not to feel offended or invaded, you may totally hate what your home has turned into. And while I want you to love the marketing I do, including having your home staged, it’s highly likely that you’ll walk in and burst into tears. But if you let me, and the professionals I work with, make your place flirt with buyers, you could be shedding tears of joy when you are sorting through all of the offers coming in, and calculating your bottom line!Subscribe in a reader

Throwback Thursday - The Last Time I Saw Paris

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 22:08:45 -0700

As many of you know, I am quite the Francophile - except oh! My French is not too good. And I have the bucket list thing about living in Paris, or at least someplace in France. I pore over the new listings that come each day from Properstar, the Euopean equivalent of an MLS but with bad photos (usually) and crazy high prices in Paris. But the Dordogne region is different. It has really cute little cities, great markets and food, and adorable houses that are really affordable. So, I went on another site put together by the French immigration authorities to find out how one goes about moving to France for longer than my visa would allow me to stay. And it appears that what I really need is a marriage of some sort to an age appropriate, flirt-worthy Frenchman to get almost any kind of permanent residency card. Hmmmm. I wonder if Match.com has a French version!So I was going through my photos this afternoon, and I found the shot, snapped in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. This adorable pair had to be in their 90's, and the looked like they were still really into one another. Or maybe she, until recently, was a Realtor in some major US market, and only last year, he swept her off her feet and into the City of LIghts.Sadly, France, like most countries on the planet, won't let Americans in right now. But I feel pretty optimistic that Fauci is going to bring us a safe and effective vaccine early next year, just in time for my birthday trip in April. In the meantime, stay safe out there!Subscribe in a reader

A Great Read for Any Realtor: The Last Palace

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 19:09:00 -0700

There are seven women in my book group that’s been meeting for several years. We all live within a block of each other, and four of the six were either my clients or bought one of my listings when they came to the neighborhood. We take turns picking the book to read, and recently Norman Eisen’s book, The Last Palace, was a recent choice. And while I didn’t suggest it, it’s a perfect choice for anyone who is into houses and putting together complicated real estate deals. Eisen opens his book with a phone call to his mother from Air Force One. He is headed to Prague, where she grew up, with then President Obama and has just learned he’ll be appointed the US Ambassador to the Czech Republic. This means he will get to live in the splendid palace that Jewish industrialist, Otto Petschek, built in the 1930’s. It was Petschek's testament to optimism about the future – that of his family and of his faith in the endurance of Czech democracy. In The Last Palace, Eisen weaves a beautifully written story with some amazing characters. First, there was his mother, who left her own home in Prague as a teenager with dreams of medical school -- on a train headed for Auschwitz. Then there was the erudite Nazi general who lived in the palace during World War II, leaving behind some chilling reminders of his tenure, but managing to save Prague and the palace from German bombers. Lawrence Steinhardt, the first US Ambassador after the war, fell in love with the house. He must have had the real estate gene, because he did a brilliant job of brokering the sale of Petschek’s palace to the United States. Since the late 1940’s, this amazing property has served as the United States ambassador’s residence. One of my favorite parts of the story covered Shirley Temple Black’s time as Ambassador during the Prague Spring in 1968. She’d come a long way from The Good Ship Lollipop! Who knew she'd grow to become such a gutsy, formidable diplomat? Eisen’s research on the actual building of the home itself was thorough and had some lessons for people who are building and renovating homes today: Petschek didn’t pay a lot of attention to the actual architects’ plans until the house was well on its way, then he made some major changes that more than doubled the already astronomical construction costs. Instead of your normal rectangular palace, this one would be curved – a decision Petschek made after he decided he didn’t like the flat front that had already been constructed. Throughout the process, he totally micromanaged his contractors. When the home was almost completed, he decided that a huge (and very deep) basement swimming pool would be a great amenity, with timing that made the pool almost impossible to install and extremely expensive. He didn’t pay a lot of attention to the budget for the house, and toward the end he began to run out of money, and he had a whole lot to begin with. I finished this book wanting more, especially more of Eisen’s mother’s story. What did it take for her to get from Prague to Auschwitz to Israel to the United States? Did she ever make it to Prague to visit her son while he was Ambassador? I do hope Ambassador Eisen gives us a Part 2!Subscribe in a reader

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 21:06:14 -0700

Three mornings each week, I start my days with a brisk walk with friends through Crestwood, the neighborhood where I live. And the great thing, other than the benefits of a little exercise, has been watching the changes in the gardens as small plants started last spring grew big and lush over the summer. Almost every block, somebody has to stop, pull out an iPhone, and snap a shot of something, either funny, like the picture below – it makes me smile every time I walk by: Or maybe we see something simply beautiful, like this bush that was in an alley a block from my house;All over Washington, especially with all of the rain we've had, local gardens are growing like crazy. It's like the city is putting on a bit of lipstick.And if you are thinking about selling your house, Mother Nature is more than willing to help with your curb appeal!Subscribe in a reader

Termites. Ugh!

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 20:27:19 -0700

They say there are two types of houses in Washington, DC – those with termites and those that will get termites. Recently, I discovered that my house moved from the second to the first category. When I moved in several decades ago, the house was treated for with some nasty stuff, since banned by the EPA, that was supposed to zap the little guys for good. And for a long time, it worked. Then they showed up coming from under the baseboard on the party wall of I share with the house next door. So what to do? "Google”, of course. I skipped over the sites with “home remedies”. Yes, vinegar will kill them, but only the ones you can see. Then there was the possibility of adopting an aardvark – they subsist on a diet of subterranean termites. Alas, they don't do well with Labradoodles. But before I started to make calls, I did go to the sites that gave advice about how to find a good exterminator, the best and latest treatment options, and how much it would set me back. My real fear was that my house would be pumped full of poison that would kill off me and Willie the Labradoodle. Luckily, the EPA banned the stuff they pumped into the ground around my house in 1984. Here’s what I learned:Termites have been chomping wood for something like 120 million years, outsmarting the humans who’ve been trying to get rid of them for the ever since we started to live in wood structures. So they won't leave your house voluntarily. Today’s treatment of choice seems to be a chemical called Termidor. It’s supposed to be “green” unless, of course, you are a wood eating bug. The exterminator will need to treat the entire periphery of the house, not just the wall where you see activity. Anyone living in a row house needs to be concerned if a neighbor has termite issues – they can easily migrate from one house to anotherMost of the online information is written by pest control companies and the insecticide manufacturers. While some were useful, you can also get information on the EPA's website. After I spoke to several different companies, I hired a locally owned exterminator with great reviews in Washington Consumer Checkbook, my go to magazine for home improvement contractors. Mr. Bugs (a.k.a. Benware Termite Control) showed up when he said he would, and he seemed honest. He also really knew everything about termites. He didn't kill me or the dog with the treatment - and the bugs are no longer around. I'll give his another 5-star rating. If you're planning to sell your house, it's not a bad idea to get a termite inspection before you put it on the market. That way, bugs won't become an issue in the sale. Subscribe in a reader

Last Week's Favorites on ActiveRain: August 30-September 5th

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 06:31:21 -0700

It's been a fun week, well actually only 5 days so far. In my first foray onto ActiveRain in a while, I've found many old friends and some new, or at least new to me, bloggers. So here goes!Nick Vandekar: Music for 9.2.20: It looks like Nick, a new to me blogger, is into music posts. As a classically trained flutist, this one grabbed me. The velvety, satiny sound of Kristina Cooper's cello just may bring tears to your eyes. It did to mine!Michael Jacobs: Realty: This is one of those topics that has a lot of us scratching out heads lately. It's a good read for this time of alternate universes that many of us feel we might be living in - or are other people living in them? Michael hasn't lost a beat during my recent absence.Alan May - Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat & Smack-talk: If you've never been ghosted by a buyer or seller, you're missing out on a major experience that is a rite of passage for any great agent. And Alan can make us sort of get that it's OK. Like get over it! Next!Anna Banana Cruchten - Lazy Lane or Dead End. Your choice! Is there reaally a Lazy Lane? What was the developer of that neighborhood thinking? This is a cute blog with a message. It made me smile, but even more important, it made me think!Chrissy Boltan - Why Are They Called Plantation Shutters? I never knew this! This post goes ihnto that "learn something new on ActiveRain each day" category. Chrissy is another new to me blogger, and I do think I'll learn a lot from subscribing to her post!Richie Alan Naggar - Laptop Love or You Will Lose Her: Here is a cautionary tale that we've heard all too often, but the way Richie wrote it has made me stand up and listen. How to avoid that sick, sinking feeling you get when you see the life on your computer disolve before your very eyes!Adam Feinberg - The Disease I Truly Worse Than The Cure: Adam wrote this last April as New York was scaring the crap out of the country. In this city that I love, so many people were terribly ill and dying as we saw the canary in the coal mine keel over. Covid isn't a hoax. That's all for this week. I had fun looking for posts to include in Last Week's Favorites, and maybe next week I'll find your magnum opus. Cheers, and have a fun Labor Day! Subscribe in a reader

Sunday Open House: 1529 Q Street NW, Unit 4

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 09:31:34 -0700

OPEN HOUSESunday, September 5th, 1 to 4 pmThis pretty place could click every one of your boxes, especially if you are feeling a little cramped these days or are working from home. It’s located on a pretty, tree-lined street in Washington’s popular Dupont Circle neighborhood. The unit occupies the top two floors of a bayfrontVictorian end-row house, built in 1900; Just click View Listing to get the full information and to see all of the photos. Here are some of the features: Create the perfect home office in the loft overlooking the sunny living room 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths A well designed kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances and more than ample storage and counter space A total of 1,550 square feet of living space A private roof deck . A four-block walk to the Dupont Metro One off-street parking place A short walk to Whole Foods Condo fee of just $337.50 per month This unit will be open between 1 and 4 Sunday afternoon. If you can’t make it then, I’m happy to make arrangements for a private showing at your convenience. Just call or text me at 202-549-5167.Subscribe in a reader

DC Real Estate and Politics – Neutralizing Your Home

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 07:44:21 -0700

Here in DC, our residents are likely to be quite focused on politics, especially during election years. Many of my clients have worked as reporters, attorneys or lobbyists who are concerned with what Congress, the regulatory agencies and the White House might be doing. Others work for on the Hill or at the Department of Whatever. So it’s not unusual for me to have to help them “neutralize” their homes when they go on the market.When people come to look at your house or condo, they don’t just check out the room sizes, kitchen counters and closet space. They also look at your bookshelves and the photos on your walls and refrigerator doors. The want to know who you are. Are you in the same tribe? What they see could send them running out the door of a great property, or it could set an uncomfortable tone for the entire transaction. What they don’t see certainly won’t hurt the chances they’ll want to buy your house.So here are my basic rules:Look at your bookcases and remove your copies of Fear or Unhinged, and any other books that are harshly critical of any of our past or present leaders.Any historical volumes, including presidential biographies by writers like David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin or Stephen Ambrose can stay on your bookshelves.Those framed photos of your dad shaking hands with Richard Nixon or of you shaking hands with Barak Obama? Pack them away!Pictures of JFK, Ike or Harry Truman might be OK to leave on the walls, unless it’s JFK on velvet.If a former president or other major politician once lived in your house, you might not want to advertise the fact, although if Lincoln slept there, it could be a plus.Do not stage your coffee table with particularly partisan magazines.You get the idea!In the District, political affiliation is one of the protected classes under the local fair housing laws. And throughout the entire metro area, most Realtors zip their lips about their own political leanings, at least until they know their buyers really well. Subscribe in a reader

Friday Fotos - Persian Squirrel

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 21:38:35 -0700

On Willie's walk, we meet a lot interesting creatures. This little guy looks like a Persian cat version of a squirrel - kbushy tail and all. It was snow white and a little hard to see against the white brick on the house. Since I took this, I've spotted him a bunch of times, like the people who live here must put out a little squirrel chow for him every day. I've seen a lot of all black squirrels in the neighborhood, but never one like this - they call them albino squirrels. The wild life is something that is a lot of fun about living in Crestwood, a Washington, DC neighborhood that is about two miles north of the White House. We are surrounded by Rock Creek Park, and there are many deer, foxes, and even a few coyotes. I nev know who I'm going to meet. Subscribe in a reader

How Not to Beat an All Cash Offer in a Bidding War

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 09:47:04 -0700

Their ads are all over your television screen. You see buyers swooning all over the house of their dreams. And then there is a voice in the background telling them how important it is to have their mortgage lined up so they can take on the other buyers (some of whom may be all-cash) in the impending bidding war. Just call the number on your screen, and we will help you blow the other buyers out of the water.Well, it's a little more complicated.The ads are not all wrong. You do need to talk to a lender very early in your home search. And a strong pre-approval from a lender with a good reputation in your local real estate community is an important early step in the process. If you already have a mortgage or if you have a relationship with a bank that provides mortgage loans, you can start with the company you already do business with. A referral from your Realtor is also a good possibility, and many brokerages have in-house lenders. The offer you present to the sellers will include deadlines for completing the appraisal and removing your financing contingency. If the deadlines are not met, the consequences could be severe, and your could lose the house. When the lender is accountable, not only to you, but also to an agent or brokerage that can refer or withhold future business, chances are they will try a little harder to create a smooth transaction.I'm not saying that all lenders who run TV ads or operate mainly on the internet are bad. It's just that many agents have had awful transactions with them, and we all have really, really long memories - when a transaction gets funky because a lender drops a ball, a grudge is formed that can last for an entire career. And agents share bad lender stories with colleagues for years!Another thing to keep in mind is that some of these companies are not actually lenders, but lead sellers who pass your information on to lenders who pay for referrals - and they are likely to sell your lead to a number, sometimes a large number, of sales people for actual mortgage companies. Your phone could ring off the hook for days, and your email will likely be swamped with lender spam.Whether you are in a bidding war or the only offer on the table, any transaction that includes a financing contingency is somewhat risky for the sellers. All cash offers can be hard to compete against, but cash isn't necessarily king. Cash buyers often offer less money and terms that are not attractive to the sellers, and there are things you can do to be in a good competitive situation: Use a lender that won't make the listing agent cringe. That means a real bank or mortgage broker in the community. Your offer should have a "pre-approval" letter attached. This means the lender has run your credit, verified your assets and income, and run your package through their underwriters. Many will give "pre-qualification" letters, and these usually mean you have not been thoroughly vetted. A conventional loan will usually put you in a stronger competitive position than one using FHA or VA. If possible, include a large earnest money deposit. Work closely with your agent to craft an offer that will, to the greatest extent possible, minimize the risk the number of contingencies that would allow you to get out of the deal. If you are refinancing your home, using a TV or internet lender might be an option to consider. With a refi, you don't usually have do or die deadlines to meet, so delays may not have dire consequences. But with buying, it's a whole other thing! Subscribe in a reader

OK! I haven't given up blogging!

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:08:18 -0700

OK! I haven't totally given up blogging!About a year and a half ago, I was at a party. Another guest, someone I'd worked with in a past life and sold a couple of homes to, asked me if I was still selling real estate. Oops!A little light bulb went off, and I quickly figured out what my next phase of blogging was going to be.Since then, I've written one post a week, and (thank you, Ixact) sent it to my shpere of influence, a base of about 500 people. And it's a huge help in keeping me connected to the people I've been doing business with over the years. More important, it's become a major sourse of repeat and referral transactions. So if anyone out there is wondering if I'm still alive and well and selling real estate, the answer is "Yes!"You can find some of my weekly posts at www.housepat.com. Subscribe in a reader

Finally! A CRM for my demographic!

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 17:23:07 -0800

I just found an email about an ActiveRain webinar scheduled for next Tuesday on my favorite CRM - IxactContact. My strong recommendation? Check it out - if you don't already use it.!Last year, I realized that I needed a CRM for grown ups. I'd been using a patchwork combination of MAC applications, Contacts, Calandar and Reminders, that were designed more for personal use than operating a business.So I started to call around to the various companies that were sending me email and some recommended by colleagues. Here's how it ususally went.I would make the call, and a cocky-sounding youngster would answer the phone."Our CRM is really great because it's so easy to use - like, my five-year-old little brother can figure it out!" Since I am not a five-year-old boy, this didn't impress me each time I heard it, especially after I signed on to each allegedly simple site to check it out. Then I remembered hearing about Ixact Contact from several colleagues, and these were women who, like me, were helping to increase the average age of the average Realtor.So I called their number and a grownup sounding woman answered. She listened to and thoughtfully answered a few questions I asked about the product, and then wow!"OK, we beta tested our CRM on a group of actual Realtors in a local office - my mother was one of them." And at that point, she had me!I also learned that their very inexpensive package also included a web site, as well as the ability to create and send email blasts and newsletters. They have a library of very well-written materials you can send to FSBOs, expired listings, and lots of ways to keep in touch with your base. They also help to keep you organized. And while I don't need it a lot (yes, it actually is easy to use), they have an excellent help desk.A while back, I started to send my "Monday Morning Coffee" to everyone in my base, sort of like a blog post, but geared to my sphere of influence. Once a week on Monday morning, everyone in the system (old and current buyers and sellers, aunts and uncles, siblings , nephews, cousins, neighbors, prospects from Open Houses - you get the idea) get a copy of something they seem to enjoy reading.And I hear from them, whether they want to buy a house or not! And quite often, the calls generated by this weekly contact are resulting in listings and referrals. So there if I can use this, anyone can figure it out! And I may hang out for the Webinar just for fun! Subscribe in a reader

Thankfulness - Day 6: This One's For the Perfect Thanksgiving Day!

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 19:07:30 -0800

It started last night when two offers came in on a listing that was finally ripe for a buyer. One was not too bad at all. The other was amazingly perfect. So I started this Thanksgiving holiday by making a great day for me, my seller, the buyers, and their agent. And as if things couldn't get better? Well, they did. My sister, Joan, hosted Thanksgiving dinner at her home in rural Virginia, so it was over the mountains and through the woods, and I was with two friends and didn't even have to drive! The only cooking I did was to make the cranberry sauce! And while Joan is a serious vegan, a perfectly cooked turkey and all of the trimmings found their way to her table. Then, after eating way too much, I slipped into a tryptophan-induced snore after dinner while everyone else cleaned up! Now I'm back at home thinking that I'll get to make it up when it's my turn to host Christmas Dinner!To all of my blog buddies on ActiveRain, I hope you had a wonderful day with lots of gratitude!Subscribe in a reader

I Stand Corrected! It's Winter that's Here

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 12:47:48 -0800

OK, yesterday's post was a little bit premature!This morning, Washington, DC woke up to it's first snow of the season - and probably the earliest in the decades that I've lived here. And it's really cold outside - Willie the Labradoodle lasted just long enough to do his thing in the back yard before scratching to get back inside. Can't say I blame him!Is this a harbinger of things to come? I wonder! Can't wait to see what January brings!Subscribe in a reader

Fall is Here!

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 20:05:18 -0800

Several times a week, I walk with some neighbors through Crestwood, the DC neighborhood where I live. Until a few weeks ago, we'd pull out our smart phones to take shots of flowers or dogs, but finally this week we are finding leaves that are worth a quick photo. Already, some of the young entrepreneurs are out with their rakes after school!Subscribe in a reader

Thankfulness - Day 5: I am grateful to my book group!

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 17:11:05 -0800

Whenever it's my turn to host, I go into a complete panic, call the nice lady who cleans my house, and shine the silverware. It's because six of my dearest, most judgemental friends are coming for dinner!OK, they aren't all that judgemental, but I still feel like I need a spotless house if they are coming for dinner. We've been meeting once every six or so weeks for years, and it's about even more than the books - which are always worth the read.Most of them are books that I would have totally missed and that I'm very glad to have read. I know more than most people about Russian military history, when the British left India, the Jamestown flood, Tudor England and the French Impressionists. We read Jane Mayer's Dark Money, an amazing primer on campaign financing. There are books set around the world, on every continent except, perhaps, Antarctica. But it's not just ablout reading wonderful books might not make it to my own reading list. It's about the friendships. We've been through good times and bad, which here in DC is usually tied to whether or not our favorite politicians got elected. Then there's sickness and health - and I remember the group circling the wagons to help when I had my knee surgury. And richer and poorer fits in there too, though luckily it's been mostly richer. At each meeting, the hostess serves the main dish, related (if possible) to the book. The rest of us bring similar appetizers, side dishes and dessert. We talk about the latest read and our latest festive gossip. And we can drink lots of wine because we all live within a block of each other and can walk home.And wine, after all, makes us all so clever!Subscribe in a reader

Thankfulness - Day 4: I am grateful for my base

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 19:06:17 -0800

When my real estate license was brand new (35 years ago) I had a managing broker who encouraged her newbies to look at out centers of influence and to make sure that every one of them knew that we were now licensed to sell houses. And I did as I was told.The people in my Sphere of Influence were neighbors in my condo and former colleagues, most of them attorneys. And as one of the spokespeople for a major public interest group, I had a lot of journlists on my list. Oh, and I mustn't forget my sprawling and huge extended family! Three decades later, I'm still in touch with many of these same people who were in my original database (back then it was a Rolodex), and I'm still helping them, their children in many cases, and their friends when they are buying and selling homes.And I feel really lucky and blessed to have these people in my life, and to have had a managing broker when I was new to the business who explained how things worked in a way that I totally got it.d And I'll be thinking about them very soon gobbling up my turkey!Subscribe in a reader

Last Week's Favorites on ActiveRain - November 5th - 11th

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 12:57:36 -0800

Wow! Haven't done this in a long time! So here goes!John Henry Ah Italy...innovation for housing by observing and using nature!! John is a new to me blogger, and I'm already a fan! Anna Banana Kruchten Thankful For My Cell Phone! Aren't we all? They are truely a marvel of modern technology!Chris Ann Cleland The Dreams That Die on the "As Is" Hill Must reading for anyone selling a funky house or condo!Kathy Streib Very Thankful for Simple Childhood Memories We Baby Boomers had it made! Fracine Viola If The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet To Come Visit Me Francine has nothing to worry about! Joe Pryor I am Grateful for the Ocean Having grown up in Kansas, I could totally relate to this one!Grant Schneider Know When to Let Go There is a lot in this post that applies to real estate and other life domains.And that's all for this week. See you around the Rain, and it's quite fun being back. In the meantime, blog on! Subscribe in a reader

A Great Way to Scare Off Prospective Buyers!

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 07:45:57 -0800

A lot of what we learn about working effectively with our own clients comes from watching people who sell products and services in other industries. And lately I've had some great lessons while out looking for a new car.My lovely Lexus is really old now, and she's been an amazing car for the last 16 years. But a lot of the new driver-assist technology is calling my name. Also, the Lexus gets really awful gas mileage, and it would be nice to spend less money at the pump. In my search, I found a beautifully designed hybrid that gets 56 miles per gallon, has all the help I need to stop and change lanes safely, and every other bell and whistle I could ask for. And I met a young car salesman who wants to make it happen in the worst way - well actually, in the best way!Like many of my own buyers, I'm not in a hurry. I have a beautiful car that still runs well, so a new car is near, but not at the top of list in terms of urgency. And I've been really, really busy with my business. Every week or so, my young car salesman friend calls, beginning his conversations with something like:Him: "I just saw that you were on [another dealer's] website and ..."Me: "Whoa buddy! Are you cyber-staling me?"Him: "Oh, no! And I noticed you checked out prices on BlueBook's site for you Lexus. If you want to trade it in, we can make it happen!"Me: "OK, this is getting a little bit creepy."Maybe people his age take it for granted that a car dealer or anyone else would be following their every stroke online, but when you are working with anyone over about 50, discussing their recent browsing history might not be the best strategy for winning trust and getting them closer to closing the deal. Stalk them maybe, but don't share your little secret with a would-be customer!This kid is a good guy, and I'd like to see him earn a commission selling me a car. Why hasn't it happened just yet? Once I was a cat's whisker away, and he couldn't figure out the paperwork. Another time, I had my checkbook with me, and he couldn't answer (or get answers to) some very basic questions about financing and his boss was on a break. And I had an appointment in half an hour.But he's a really nice enthusiastic newbie, and there is something about him that I like. Hmmm. Should I offer unsolicited coaching? If you are planning a move to or from the Washington, DC metro area, contact me before you make any real estate decisions. Call or text me at 202-549-5167 or email housepat@mac.com. Subscribe in a reader

Thankfulness Day 3 - I Lucked Out With Aunts!

Patricia Kennedy, Home in the Capital (RLAH Real Estate) — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 20:19:58 -0800

When I was born, I was not only my parents' first child. but a first grandchild and a first neice. While my uncles didn't notice too much, my mother's younger sisters totally spoiled me. They were Auntie Pat (I was named after her) and Auntie Joan, who was my Godmother. They showered me with beautiful little girl dresses, dolls. Aunt Pat and her sweetie, Harry, took me swimming and to an amusement park with my first cotton candy. Aunt Joan caught the eye of my dad's brother, my Uncle Jack, and, well, little pitchers have big ears and my four-year-old self figured out that she had a huge crush. The picture on the right is of Aunt Joan and the cute guy who became Uncle Bob.As I grew up, my family moved away, and I saw less of these wonderful aunts. But over the years, there were many fun moments, sharing all kinds of family celebrations - including Aunt Pat's wedding, not to Harry but to Uncle Gene, Last month, we had a get together when Aunt Pat came to visit from St. Louis, and my cousin had a really fun gathering, and I am so thankful for these two!Subscribe in a reader