Happy Birthday to Me!

Finally hit the big 50 and this is what I got for it.....

After a very pleasant day of doing "Javi stuff", I get a late call to do a quick showing and as an active full time agent, I do my best and schedule it.

I give the agent the whole story on the property prior to the showing; BTW it's the same one that did not appraise.

Get to the home, open it up and once the agent gets there and without even her customers seeing it starts questioning the price (did'nt we have this conversation?) she go off that's it's overprice and that it needs work and that there are other homes in the hood that are better and all sorts of other crap...

Well dear agent, the property is listed at 429.0 and had a contract at 425.0 and with a lousy appraisal it came in at 405.0 which means it is not over priced.

Agent would not hear any of it and kept going on about another property that was updated and BLAH, BLAH, BALH....

Now a side note; I know that other property better than Ms. Know it all because it was my listing and I HAD SOLD IT TO THE CURRENT OWNER!

I pointed out some of the differences but Ms.Know it all would not have any of it.

So, why give me all this grief?


Just go and buy the damn better house will you; oh no you can't cause it's under contract (guess she did not know that) Ms Know it all.

Please retire, you just wasted 30 minutes of my life that I will never get back and on my birthday to boot.

MRI's

Are wierd and they involve bad music.

Crap Shoot!

Snake eyes?

Nah, just another appraiser who is afraid to lose their Lender's rotation and a paycheck.

Here we go with another 'Kitty Kat" story and this one is just as sad.

I have a listing in South Grove, it's a 3/2 with a Garage on a nice deep lot; it's in original interior condition BUT has a New Roof, New Trane A/C unit, New Electrical Panel, New Garage door, New Solar Water Heater, Termite Warranty and re finished hardwood floors.

Under contract at 425.0 and everyone is happy.

Cool?

Good, now follow along and see why I feel that appraisers are continuously F@#$% up deals when they can easily make them happen.

Appraisal comes back at 405.0 and I get to look at the Comps and the fun begins.

If you know ANYTHING about the Grove, it's that there is NOTHING for sale under 400 grand that's worth a looking at especially in South Grove.

So I get the Appraisal and look it over and notice that the 3 comps chosen I know VERY well (I have been in ALL of them and know more then I should about them).

The appraiser adjust down on 2 of them 30k for "interior condition", OK, I'm cool with that but why not adjust up for property flaws such as;

Master bedroom in one is outside, just imagine; "Hon, I'm going to bed" OK, just lock the door behind you.

How about having to walk through a bedroom to get to your master?

How about the encroachments that the property has?

How about that one of them is on a Highway?

How about using the other comp that was noted but the appraiser did not choose BUT would have given them the 425.0 needed.

How about that the appraiser took incorrect pictures of properties, had missing information and a couple of other incorrect facts?

You get the picture and when I challenge the Lender, there comment is "well you should have pointed out this insight at the appraisal"

HUH?

I have no clue which properties they will use UNTIL I see the appraisal; isn't that what I just did?

Look kids, I can find 20-30k ON any property if needed, hell I can find 20k on the lot size alone.

20k is not that big a deal, if it was a 100-150k, I can see the scrutiny but 20K....Please

Here's a niffty thought; let the Listing/Buyers agent have the ability to question the apprisal once issued, and not have the lender/underwriter just blow it off.

Very frustrating.

So Doc...

What do you think?

First some history.

A couple of weeks back I was at a property that I had leased to a nice young couple and we were doing a pre move in walkthru (this is when we make sure all the stuff that was promised in the lease is there/done) and as I was doing my thing the Tenant noticed that I was limping.

He asked me what was wrong and I explained that I was training for the Marathon and was adding miles and my hip hurt like hell and so forth when he said "you know I'm an Orthopedic Surgeon" and I said "yeah, and I'm a Realtor" (we're a bit touchy on the collage thing)......not really.

I said "Cool, can you tell me what the hell is wrong with me?"

He gave me a quick look, asked if I had insurance (not really again, I kid cause I love) and said that I should go see him.

Which brings us to today;

After a thorough examination; which included several offical looking X-ray's, my Collage Graduated Orthopedic Surgeon proclaimed "Jav, I have no clue what the hell is wrong with you"

(You ain't the only one who thinks that)

So, I now have an MRI in my near future.

This turning 50 blows!

Picture this......

"Hi, Ana this is officer so and so and I have your Husband........"

That's how the phone call started yesterday morning, when after 8 miles into a 12 mile run I blew up or should I say my leg gave out and I had to stop running.

Riley and I had made it over the Key Biscayne Bridge and were heading back over same bridge when he noticed a faint whimpering coming from his running partner; he looked over to see me limping along.

We got to Alice Wainwright Park and I told him I could not run any further and we needed to call for pick up.

Well if you are familiar with this park (which sits on Biscayne Bay) it tends to be a bit on the seedy side (which is why we love it) and between the Hoop Rats, the homeless dudes BBQing and hipsters hanging out phone choices are limited BUT there is always a police office in the area and today was no different.

I limped up to said officer and asked if she would call my wife or at least I think I said that....

I actually said "Hi, could you call someone for me" which got a raised eyebrow from her as by the way I  looked and sounded she probably thought I had been shot (which if I was a Horse, I would have been!)

I quickly regrouped and explain my situation and she made the call.

Fortunately Ana has a strong heart and was close by to pick us up.

Oh, did I mention we had a little surprise party planned?

Real Estate post? You'll see in a bit.

SURPRISE PART 2!

How about this (and don't try this at home, we are professionals) 2 Birthday Surprise parties back to back?

So after yesterdays cooking blow out you figured we'd be done for the weekend?

Not us, while I was turning 50, Erica was turning 30 and much to her surprise we had an evil plan for her.

On the ruse of going out to dinner just the three of us we picked her up at her place, forgot her gift at our place and had her go in to get said gift, when out from the Christmas tree all her Family and Friends yelled "Surprise" or something to that effect....I was in the car.

Highlights of this party?

Let's just say it was "THE VORTEX"; for those in attendance......you know what I'm talking about.

On a side note, you all know that Erica and I work together so we both planned each others surprise parties without each other knowing; how's that for communication!

BTW; Need to keep a secret while selling a home?....we can.

SURPRISE!

To me!

Under the guise that I was going to a Saks lunch with the wife; I grudgingly put on pants, a nice shirt and shoes (yes I own a pair) and looked forward to free booze.

Not so fast there Jav.

When we got to Ortanigue's in the Gables, much to my surprise there were lots of folks I know waiting for me.....and to be fed.

They said they were there for me to celebrate my birthday BUT I KNOW all these folks; they were there for the free food/booze and to cook (Iron Chef style) with Cindy Hutson.

Highlights of the afternoon;

A childhood Friend (who I had not seen in forever) made a great ceviche.
A Friend seared some great scallops
My baking skills were showcased and I promptly lost the baking part of the competition.
A Friend who will come down for any party got locked out of my beach apt (I had the key)
My Brother can drink lots of beer with a straw (not recommended).

AND No one won the contest, general consensus was that we SUCK at cooking and should keep our day jobs.

Why a Real Estate Post?

Cause before the "lunch" I had a home inspection and after the "party" I had a showing.

Never a dull day in the Magic City.....as the next post will point out.....stay tuned.

Thank you Hon, you got me; never had a clue.

Introducing!!!

Our new yard signs.


We always try to be unique in our business; from our casual, relax style (way before it was fashionable), to our website that never requested a sign in and our blog that sheds light on what we do every day in this crazy gig; these types of ideas set us apart in the industry.

While others keep doing the same old, same old (and look it), we try and anticipate what's heading our (your) way.

So to all of our customers, thanks for for your trust and continued support.

More cool stuff to come in 2012!

Jav

BTW; Happy "82" Mom!

A Garden Grows

All I can say is that my Third Grade class at Coconut Grove Elementary rocks!!!!
Take a look at their garden (it's better then the 5th grade's), these kids have a real green thumb!

Trulia....

If you follow this blog (first thank you, second we need to talk....), you may have noticed that I have a "love/hate" relationship with the Trulia website (Zillow too).


It stems from the fact that they "sell" our listings to other agents if you do not sign up for one of their Realtor programs (very slimy if you ask me), but enough of that the real reason for this post.


One of Trulia's gimmicks is they allow "customers" to post questions for us Real Estate professionals to answer. I would say that 75% of the ones we see make absolutely no sense but every once in a while you get a classic.....and these are the ones I reply to.


Follow this link, start with the question, look at the pictures and have a nice laugh.


BTW; 2 thumbs up for the kid!

December 2004!

This time of year brings out the "Start a New" in me and yesterday we started "a newing" and came across some old ad's from way back when. (note to other Realtors, you may want to take new photo's) and for gigles we are going to run some of them on the site in the next couple of months.


The One on your left was run as a "Holiday Thank You" done in December 2004.


I chose the front door of several homes that I had sold that year, the concept (even back then) was that I sold/listed everywhere in Miami-Dade and you could count on us to be there for you.


Well several years and lot's of doors later we are still selling Miami-Dade (Number 1 Remax team) and we are still here for all of our customers.


So a big "THANK YOU", lots of good stuff coming in 2012.


BTW; I will tell each doors story this month, a couple of really funny ones.....starting with Silver Bluff.