North Texas Unplugged with Lacy Rushin

If you’re breaking these rules, you’re probably scaring off buyers despite the competitive market. Here are things to BEWARE OF!
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BEWARE OF: Buyer Math - 35% of homeowners would rather move to another home than remodel their current home. Buyers are looking for move in ready, they don’t want to have to do more work when they’re buying a house.
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If you avoid necessary repairs before listing your house, you’ll turn off a portion of buyers. Even offering a credit for the repairs is still a turn off for buyers. In the end it’s better to do the repairs before you list your house.
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BEWARE OF: Overpricing - comps not matching up to neighborhood, what does the data show? See what other homes are listed in your price range - how does your home compare?
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BEWARE OF: Mis-used Spaces - Formal Dining Rooms used as playrooms, an extra bedroom used as additional living space (or as a closet), a garage used as a room for your reptiles (this is a story for another day!), all of these may make your life in your home make more sense, but they're distracting and confusing to future buyers. Do your best to make each space in your home make sense so that buyers leave talking about how great your home is, not about the number of reptiles you have 🦎

It's time to say your goodbyes...to memories of your last transaction that still haunt you. 👻
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Maybe your last move wasn't ideal or perhaps you've heard horror stories from friends that make you think your dream home may never happen.
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No more:
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1) Unprofessional
Listing Photos - why did everyone else's listing get attention and yours was looked over? It may not have been staged and photographed in the best way! This won't happen again when you work with a modern agent who values modern marketing techniques.
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2) Difficult to Reach Agents - You shouldn't have to wait for days to hear back from your agent or wonder if they're paying attention to your listing at all. You deserve an agent you're confident won't ghost you 👻
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3) Feeling like a Number, Not a Person - Whether you decide to work with a top producing agent or one who prefers a smaller workload, look for an agent who has systems in place to keep the transaction running smoothly and one who answers their phone when you call!
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4) Lack of Confidence in your Real Estate Decisions - Find an agent who takes the time to inform you of your options and gives you the time and space you need to make decisions. They should be easy to trust and not be pushy in any way!
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5) Archaic Methods in a Modern Transaction - You want an agent who is well versed in modern social media
strategies. They should understand the nuances of the current (and ever changing) market and provide you with the most up to date information and resources!
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Now is the time to banish the ghosts of real estate past and say hello to a future home of your dreams 🏡

🎉Closing Day 🎉 Congratulations, Gina, on the sale of your house. This is just the first step to getting her closer to where she wants to be. Next week, we close on the purchase of her new house. I’m grateful every time someone trusts me to guide them through this process. Selling & Buying at the same time can be very stressful. It’s super important that you have an agent that knows how to create a strategy and timeline that allows the process to be as seamless as possible.

Your October Homeowner Checklist is here and designed to keep your home from getting spooky and cobweb covered! ​​​​​​​​
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Don't miss the Fall infused fun things to check off too like visiting a local pumpkin patch, giving your porch a Fall makeover and refreshing a room for the season!​​​​​​​​
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What is your favorite thing to do in Fall? Tell me in the comments so I can add it to next year's checklist.

Shouting HUGE congratulations this morning to the Davies Family! We started building their dream home in April of 2021 and today they are finally getting the keys! Allison picked out so many stunning upgrades that the home truly feels like a custom build. Welcome Home, Jeff & Allison!

🎉Closing Day 🎉 One door closes and a new one opens. Thank you, Jackie, for trusting me to sell your house. Praying for beautiful new beginnings for you and the kids. Love you BIG!

Market Shift?!! This has easily been the busiest 10 days of my entire real estate career! September is set to be my best month ever with a total of 7 closings in one month. I’m grateful to all my sellers that trust me to get maximum value for their home and to all my buyers for trusting me to negotiate the best deal on their behalf. If you were not able to buy or sell in the Spring market, your time is now!

Swipe to see a list of ways to stage/decorate your home for fall!

Whether you're about to list your home or just want a cozier home this season, this list will help spark ideas for you!

And remember, when in doubt, add a plaid throw, a rust-colored pillow, or a few pumpkins, and your home will effortlessly feel more like fall!

*Airpods required: Tune into my favorite podcast episodes for all things home & fall 🍁​​​​​​​​
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The Living Easy Podcast - Episode 88: Tips for a Cozy Home. This episode breaks down new ways to look at making your home feel cozy. The perfect listen for this time of year!​​​​​​​​
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The Lazy Genius - Bonus Episode: The Lazy Genius' Guide to Understanding Football. Whether you're watching your nephew play little league football or you just want to understand what the fuss is about, this is a great episode that breaks down the basics of the game (in a fun, feminine way!)​​​​​​​​
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Hustle Humbly - Episode 124: What IS an Entertainer's House? Buyer's these days are often looking for a home they can entertain in. While this podcast is geared towards real estate agents, this episode is a great listen for anyone looking to make their home more party friendly!​​​​​​​​
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Style Matters - What You Really Need to Know as a First Time Home Owner. First time home owner's don't usually bring much to their first home and styling the whole home at once can be overwhelming...this episode breaks down how to get started while being mindful of your budget!​​​​​​​​
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Simple Farmhouse Life - Episode 105: Cozy Fall Cooking. If you're ready to make the switch to fall-friendly meals in the kitchen, this is a must-listen!​​​​​​​​
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What are your favorite podcasts these days!?

Maybe you're listing your house soon or maybe you just want to enjoy your home a little more. Either way, a quick organizing and decluttering session in these three rooms will make your home feel bigger and more enjoyable.
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1. The mudroom: From lack of storage to spacious laundry areas, the goal is to make this space functional! First, declutter what you no longer need: coats/shoes that are too small or worn, bags you didn't use in the last year, lone mittens or gloves, excess shoes (yes, there is such a thing!), etc. Then add a few baskets and trays for storage to organize utility items, extra towels, and cleaning products. Add a shoe rack, coat rack and basket for extra accessories.
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2. The Home Office: Working from home is here to stay, and the home office space is becoming top priority for home buyers (and homeowners)! Shred paperwork you no longer need and remove anything that doesn't belong in the office to begin with (purchases that need returned, the kids' legos, etc). Invest in acrylic boxes and file folders for office storage. Create a docking station for electronics, a command center for keeping things that need to get done and add compartments to drawers for maximizing your space while also staying organized.
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3, The Closets: One of the top reasons people move is to have more space. Closets that are only 50% full give the illusion that your home is spacious (and it makes it easier for you to find what you're looking for!) Pro Tip: Remove half of what is in your closet and then organize. Items to donate: anything you haven't worn in the last year, clothes that are itchy or uncomfortable, anything that doesn't fit, items you love but never actually wear, and so on. Then do the same for your shoes, purses, accessories, etc.
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Think you can do it? I know you can! Spend just 30 minutes on each of these areas this week and enjoy a more simplified (ready to list) home by Friday!

How to make your home extra cozy this season 🛋​​​​​​​​
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🍷 Pour yourself a glass of wine and make your favorite soup. Add a fresh loaf of bread and enjoy a warm meal around the table. Add music for a little extra ambience!​​​​​​​​
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🕯 Light a candle or diffuse essential oils when you're watching TV, reading a book in bed, or even cleaning! Anything with a pumpkin, caramel, or cinnamon scent is extra festive!​​​​​​​​
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🛏 Swap your summer throw blankets and pillows for some plaid or textured alternatives.​​​​​​​​
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📺 Put Gilmore Girls or football games on repeat in your living room. Whether you sit and watch or just use it as background noise, it's sure to make it feel more like fall.​​​​​​​​
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🤩 This is a little extra but I'm here for it - Try adding a towel warmer to your bathroom. It's cooling off outside and it would feel extra cozy to have a warm towel ready for you when you step out of the shower.​​​​​​​​
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🪵 Stock up on firewood and make a fire a couple times a week. Simply sit around the fire and enjoy it or make dinner or a treat over it for some festive fall cooking.​​​​​​​​
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Which one are you trying first to make your home feel like fall?

Why Fall is the Best Season for Selling Your Home 🏡

Temps are cooling down and so has the market! This may sound like a bad thing for sellers, but it's actually a good thing, and here's why!

Interest rates have mellowed out and homes are sitting on the market a bit longer, finally giving buyers a more fair playing field. This can entice buyers to start their home search (when they've been sitting on the sidelines the last two years), putting more eyes on your listing than before.

Fall decor is everyone's favorite and if agents are educating their sellers, homes will be extra cozy! (Seller tip: make a batch of chocolate chip cookies before an open house to make your house smell like home) Selling the lifestyle of the home is so important, and it's super easy to do in the fall!

Now that we're in the full swing of the school year, buyers are eager to move so they can be settled in in time for the holidays.

If you're thinking now may be the time to sell, let's meet for coffee and get you on track!

Picture this: you're a football player. You're playing a team you REALLY want to beat. Right before you step out onto the field, you run over to your opponent's sidelines and ask their coach what you should do to win. 🤯​​​​​​​​
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Sounds crazy, right? ​​​​​​​​
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It's a lot like buyers who find a house they love, but instead of calling their agent, they call the listing agent.​​​​​​​​
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Having an agent whose sole purpose is to represent YOU and help YOU win is the game winning strategy you need.​​​​​​​​
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Now, there are MANY listing agents who would do a great job representing both sides of the transaction. BUT here's the thing: you don't get to choose the listing agent. You get who you get. When you use a buyer's agent, you get to choose someone you know, like, and trust.​​​​​​​​
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With a listing agent, there's no relationship and no trust built. When you choose a buyer's agent to represent you during your home purchase, you get to choose from a sea of agents and pick the one you jive with most. You get to pick someone you're comfortable with and someone you know has your best interest in mind.​​​​​​​​
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Don't run to your opponent's coach to ask for help. Get a coach of your own who will guide you throughout this season and prepare you to win the championship trophy (the keys to your new home!)

Ask any football fan and they'll agree: Nothing is better than a home game.​​​​​​​​
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The excitement in the air, the familiarity of the stadium, the nearness to home...it's an atmosphere you can only experience when you've found a team you're devoted to.​​​​​​​​
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Like your favorite football team, your excitement when it comes to buying and selling your house grows when you surround yourself with a great home team.​​​​​​​​
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Your agent is like your coach with the winning game plan.​​​​​​​​
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Your lender is like the special teams coach, specializing in financing your home purchase.​​​​​​​​
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Your friends and family are like the fans in the stands...Some may say they aren't important but their cheering (and jeering) impact the game!​​​​​​​​
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Assembling a home team you love and trust is essential in any successful transaction. Our goal is to get you to the endzone (closing day!) with a trophy (your keys!) in hand!

Have you ever noticed that while everyone has been acting frantic over the higher interest rates, I've been over here, sipping my coffee, calm and steady? ☕️​​​​​​​​
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It's not ignorance...it's confidence. In the midst of climbing interest rates, I am confident I can still help buyers buy a home they love and feel good about.​​​​​​​​
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The secret? Flipping the script.​​​​​​​​
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It's not, "higher interest rates mean we should wait to buy."​​​​​​​​
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It's, "What if higher interest rates actually meant less competition in the market?"​​​​​​​​
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It's not, "Homes are no longer affordable."​​​​​​​​
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It's, "So many more terms can be negotiated for my best interest."​​​​​​​​
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It's not, "There's no way I could buy something now."​​​​​​​​
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It's, "My agent will connect me to a few lenders so they can walk me through my purchasing options!" You might be pleasantly surprised!​​​​​​​​
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The only way to decide if it's a good time to buy for yourself is to explore your options. Let's grab coffee and come up with a game plan you feel good about!

Be honest: have you ever looked at a real estate agent and wondered why they even get paid?

In a world full of heavily edited home buying TV shows and social media where some agents only talk about writing offers on their vacation, it's understandable why some people think agents are nothing but a fluffy extra.

I put together a list of things I take care of as both a buyer's and seller's agent. Disclaimer: it was hard to narrow it down to keep it clean and easy to read.

Every transaction is so different, which means the value I add for my clients often varies.

For example, when I'm helping my buyer purchase a For Sale By Owner, I'm often doing both sides of the transaction (and that doesn't mean getting paid double).

When I'm helping my seller, I spend most of my time negotiating on their behalf and helping them navigate offers and terms that might otherwise seem foreign.

Every transaction is different. Every client is different. Which is why I strive for each of my clients to experience The Rushin Realty Group difference (see last page)

The truth is, I work really hard for each of my clients to make the whole process as light and seamless as possible.

My job may not be anything like Selling Sunset but it's so much better because of the people I get to serve.

Just a few more days!!!

Have you ever splurged on something from Target then regretted it?​​​​​​​​
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Me neither 😉​​​​​​​​
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But buyer's remorse is a very real thing. Just ask the 64% of millennials who bought a home last year. According to a 2021 survey by Bankrate and YouGov, many millenials bought homes last year then regretted it. 😳​​​​​​​​
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The number one reason? They went over budget.​​​​​​​​
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This is one of the main things I talk to my clients about when I'm first setting up their home search. I encourage them to look UNDER budget so that they don't stretch themselves too thin. ​​​​​​​​
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Just because your lender says you could buy a $200,000 home doesn't mean you should. In fact, I encourage my buyers to start looking several thousand dollars below budget to begin.​​​​​​​​
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Why? Because I know buyer's remorse is real. And I know the best way to avoid it is to stay under budget as much as possible (while still getting most everything on your list of must-haves). ​​​​​​​​
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My goal isn't just a happy client on closing day - I aim for my clients to be happy with their purchase years later, too. And it all starts with honoring your budget.​​​​​​​​
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Don't live life to support your home; your home should support the way you want to live your life. ✨

September - Fall starts, pumpkin takes over everything, football commences, sweaters come out, chili gets made, there's so much to love about September.​​​​​​​​
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Time for a post Summer refresh!​​​​​​​​
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And remember, if you want the entire year's worth of homeowner checklists, I've got you covered! DM me the word Homeowner and I'll send you a copy you can hang on your fridge!

If you've ever built a home or renovated a room, you've learned that home design is truly an ART. 👩‍🎨​​​​​​​​
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Here are a few design tips when it comes to putting together your next space!​​​​​​​​
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1) Create a Pinterest board. Start saving all the homes and rooms you love, even if they seem to clash. Once you collect images that catch your eye and that feel like you, start breaking them down. ​​​​​​​​
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What do they have in common? What colors are most prevalent? What style of fixtures and finishes do they have? Most importantly, how would each room make you FEEL if you would spend time in them? ​​​​​​​​
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2) Fight the urge to go big and bold with every design element. Pick 2-3 elements that are must haves, then let everything else you choose simply compliment those elements. For example, if you know you want green kitchen cabinets and a bold backsplash, then pick a wall color and countertop that are less busy so that your cabinets and backsplash can really shine.​​​​​​​​
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3) Be mindful of cohesion. Not every room in your house needs to match (nor should they!) but you want to have each room in your home feel like it belongs there. Again, consider how you want your home to FEEL, then bring that feeling into every space in your home. ​​​​​​​​
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🎨 Other ways to really tie together each room in your home is to have similar color schemes, flooring that flows well into each room, similar style lighting, and similar finishes (brass, nickel, oil rubbed bronze, etc)

While the kids are off getting smarter at school, let's find ways to make our home's smarter, too! 🤓
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Here's a list of Smart Home Must Haves to make life at home a little easier for you. ➡
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Do you have any of these? Which one could you not live without?

Do you know what lives rent free in my mind? 🧐​​​​​​​​
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The vision of you with your home wish list written out, your pre-approval letter all shiny and new, all ready to start your home search 🤩​​​​​​​​
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But before you even get started, you're already feeling discouraged because you've heard what the market is like. ​​​​​​​​
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I'm not going to lie - it's not all accepted offers and champagne celebrations. BUT I do know that if you are ready to become a homeowner, I know what it takes to match you with a home that's perfect for you.​​​​​​​​
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Consider me your Home Matchmaker. I care as much about you finding your new home as I would about helping my mom, dad or best friend find theirs. We will make it happen, it just takes a few extra hurdles and extra glasses of "insert go-to beverage - glasses of wine, pitchers of cold brew, iced lattes, etc". ​​​​​​​​
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The sooner you get started with me, the closer you'll be to making that dream of homeownership come true because here's the thing - while this market is a little crazy, it's not impossible. It's just going to take some extra patience and preparation. So if you're ready to do the dang thing - I'm your Home Matchmaker, ready to set you up with the home of your dreams!

Frisco officially welcomed home PGA yesterday! Things are about to get exciting!

PHOTOS: PGA of America opens doors to innovative building in Frisco, says 'Welcome Home' The PGA of America officially celebrated a homecoming on Monday in Frisco.

You can check out the Dallas Cowboys for free this week at The Star!

How to watch the Cowboys’ free practice and events this week in Frisco The California portion of the Cowboys’ preseason is over. Now they return to The Star in Frisco this week. For fans, that means several free events this week,...

🎉Closing Day! 🎉 I love it when clients become friends! Doreen is off to new adventures in San Marcos, and I couldn’t be happier for her!

Have you ever heard of a Home Journal?​​​​​​​​
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It's a log book or a record book full of important dates, measurements, repairs, paint colors, etc.​​​​​​​​
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And they're easy to create! Here's how I would do it:​​​​​​​​
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-order a 5 subject notebook​​​​​​​​
-start by writing your address and a little story about how you bought your house (include dates if you remember!)​​​​​​​​
-write down a brief description of the house, including square footage​​​​​​​​
-then go room by room, jotting down things like paint colors, repairs that were made, where you purchased the flooring or light fixtures, etc. *PRO TIP: leave a few pages between each room section so that you have plenty of room to add to it in the years to come!​​​​​​​​
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Let this not just be a log of information but let it also be the story of your home. Before and after pictures, pictures, descriptions of parties you shared, the story behind the hole in the drywall or stain on the carpet...You can journal all the things nobody else would ever know about the life you lived in your home.​​​​​​​​
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The porch where your baby took their first steps...The place your toddler threw spaghetti at the wall in shear excitement or the closet your cat had a surprise litter in. 🐱 These stories are special and true to only you and your four walls...take the time to journal as much as you can while it's still fresh in your mind. ​​​​​​​​
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Some day when you move you can take it with you as a precious keepsake. Or, if you really value the history of a home, you can leave it for the new homeowners to add their own stories! Each homeowner can write their own chapter in the story of your home and who knows? Maybe one day it will be a part of your town's historical archive 📖

Are you tired of feeling tired, too? 🥱​​​​​​​​
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Take your self care beyond getting an extra hour of sleep or taking the time to journal.​​​​​​​​
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Studies show clutter increases cortisol, your body's stress hormone. This means that your closet that's overflowing and the piles of unaddressed paperwork on your kitchen countertops do more than take up space in your home...they can actually make your stress levels rise.​​​​​​​​
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Convinced it's time to declutter but now you're overwhelmed at where to begin? Start with your bathroom...it's where you start every day of your life and prepare for the day.​​​​​​​​
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Clear the countertop as much as possible and then go drawer by drawer, tossing or donating anything you don't use, tried but didn't like, or anything that doesn't belong.​​​​​​​​
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Clutter is nothing but a bunch of unmade decisions, so start with deciding that you deserve a beautiful home that fills you with peace, not stress. ☺️

Create a life you love ✨​​​​​​​​
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It's what I help people do every day. I get to walk with them as they make decisions about where they'll make meals for their friends, where they'll watch their babies take their first steps, and where they'll build their wealth. It's amazing and so humbling.​​​​​​​​
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All the while behind the scenes, I'm creating a life I love, too. Not with checks from closing or from scouring the internet for more ways to get more clients...instead, I'm creating a life I love by crafting a business that serves people well.​​​​​​​​
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It's anything but stale or mundane. I have worked hard to implement the Modern Agent Method in my business so that I can better connect with my clients and make their experience seamless and fun.​​​​​​​​
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When you work with me, you'll notice a difference in the way I communicate with you and provide a high level of service, and all of that is because I invest in my business so I can create a life I love, too!

Keep reading if you want to learn how to support our teachers this school year.​​​​​​​​
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1) Email some teachers and ask them what supplies they may need this year. The key here is emailing them to ask...don't assume you know what they need! Also, throughout the year they may notice students who don't have as much that could use some new shoes for gym class or a warm coat. Put a note in your phone so you remember to check on them later in the year.​​​​​​​​
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2) Send them a local coffee shop gift card. This can be at the beginning of the year or, better yet, set a reminder in your phone to do it 3-6 months from now when they could really use a pick-me-up.​​​​​​​​
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3) Volunteer. If you're able, volunteer in your child's classroom or volunteer your services...so much project prep could be done from your own home if you ask to help early enough!​​​​​​​​
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Teachers do so much for our community and if you're anything like me, you wish you could do something for every one of them. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and insignificant because you can't help ALL of them, take this advice: Do for ONE what you wish you could do for ALL.​​​​​​​​
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You may not be able to sponsor a lunch for the whole staff, but you could deliver lunch for one. You may not be able to buy books for the entire grade level, but you could buy some for one classroom.​​​​​​​​
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If everybody does something small for ONE teacher/staff member, our entire district's staff would be overwhelmed with your generosity.​​​​​​​​
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Small actions yield big results. Let's love our teachers in a big way this school year!