Amanda Kerstetter - Realtor

In 1999, someone at Pixar accidentally deleted all of Toy Story 2. The backup hadn't worked for a month. Executives were panicking. The movie was saved when someone on maternity leave revealed they had a copy of it saved on their home computer.

Here’s what happened:

The Linux file server back in the day that they had was command-based. No graphical interface, no mouse. You navigated by keyboard and commands. Most likely what happened was one of the IT guys ran a delete command with the intent to clean up a specific folder. But they accidentally ran it at the root of the file system. So once they hit enter, it began to recursively delete files akin to a worm eating its way out of an apple. By the time they unplugged the server, about 90% of the movie had been deleted.

The backups had also been dead for weeks. So they began to panic.

But the technical director had a backup with a PC at home since she had just given birth to her son. So they brought the PC back to the office and fired it up, and the movie was saved.

So, a mom saved the day….“a tale as old as time.”

Got this midtown beauty under contract over the weekend! Beat out multiple other offers and snatched this up in only 2.5 days on the market. So very excited for these first time homebuyers to have the cutest house to make their first home! 🏡

Who’s ready to find their dream home next? 📲 (918) 728-4472

Honest question. Costco or Sam’s Club?

Some transactions are smooth like a hot knife through butter or Steph Curry shooting 3s. And then there are other transactions…

Some are much more like Rocky vs Drago in Rocky IV or Prince Charming fighting through the forest of thorns raised by Maleficent to keep him from reaching Aurora stuck in eternal slumber.

This transaction was more like the latter.

Thank goodness for awesome clients like Jared and Taylor! They were so patient, kind, and flexible in the midst of obstacle after obstacle. With the help of an awesome lender, we were able to fight through the thorns, drag this transaction’s lifeless body across the finish line, and kiss it on its rosy red lips to bring it back to life!

Congrats on your beautiful new home Jarrells! I cannot wait to see it become even more amazing with all the updates you have planned.

- Amanda

So excited for my buyers who beat out multiple offers on this beautiful home with AMAZING views! 🤩 (Check out the comments - these photos don’t even do it justice though)

Are you ready to buy your dream home? I’m here to help you close the deal and make sure we walk away under contract! Give me a call 📲 (918) 728-4472

I've heard it said, to be a lawyer or doctor is to commit yourself to a lifelong practice of the craft. Doctors practice medicine. Lawyers practice law. Scientists practice science. But I was thinking, I’ve never heard it said that Realtors practice real estate. Why is that? Here’s my theory. 87% of realtors quit after 5 years. Most only sell 5-6 homes per year. So in reality, many real estate agents don’t ever really give themselves a chance to “practice real estate.”

It’s not a knock on anyone, it’s just the truth.

Practice: verb, “to do over and over so as to become skilled”

But just like every legal case or human body is unique and needs individualized expertise, so too is every homebuyer or family’s situation. No wonder people don’t trust Realtors who always say, “It’s a great time to buy OR sell!” Would you feel like you can trust a doctor who gave everyone the same advice, regardless of their situation?

I want a doctor who knows me, knows my body, will be straight with me, and give me honest advice.

For my craft, it’s why I help homebuyers not just answer the key question, “Can I buy this home?” but also, “SHOULD I buy this home?” I help families answer the right questions, so they can make the best decision for their future.

When I started real estate, I didn't think I'd be serving so many families every year. I've dedicated myself to practicing my craft and providing individualized expertise to every family or client who trusts me to serve them. Outside of being a wife and mother, there’s literally nothing else I’d like to give my life to practicing other than real estate!

A grande latte at Starbucks costs $3.65. Meanwhile, the median price of a home in the United States is around four hundred thousand dollars right now. That means if you skipped one coffee per day, you could save up enough cash to buy your dream house in....just over three hundred years.

This is why I think it's pretty dumb advice to tell people to skip out on simple luxuries to save for a house. The math just doesn't add up.

It's better to focus on the BIG things in your budget (car payment, always paying your credit card, student loans) than to worry too much about buying a coffee.

Sometimes the little things in life are what keep us sane, so we can have the discipline to make responsible decisions on the big things!

- Amanda

Yes, this is an ad. I won't try to disguise it. As a Realtor, I spend my own money every month to advertise, because I believe a real estate agent shouldn't just be a salesperson. They should also be a MARKETER.

So you'll probably see more ads from me....I hope it helps you remember me.

I guess you could say I believe in the power of marketing. 🎯

If you're still reading this, I suppose it's working.

The bottom line is that I invest more money into marketing than most Realtors do....so I can create results that most Realtors don't.

So if you're thinking of selling your home, my cell is (918) 728-4472.

Let's talk.

-Amanda

So excited about this adorable midtown home 🏡 the perfect find for my buyer who works at TU…just around the corner from campus 😍

Who is ready to find their dream home next? The market is heating up and I’m ready to help you find just what you’re looking for! Give me a call today 📲 (918)728-4472

In my opinion as a full-time realtor, here are 10 reasons why homes on the SAME STREET can sometimes sell for $40,000 more than their neighbors:

1. STAGING. A cluttered house, or one that isn't decorated using modern design, is a huge deterrent to buyers. Yes, it's easy to do things like rearrange furniture, but if the photos online make your house "feel" old, it prevents people from scheduling showings in the first place. I know, this isn't logical. But humans aren't logical, we're emotional! Proper staging alone can add tens of thousands of dollars of "value" to a house.

2. LANDSCAPING. It's all about the first impressions of curb appeal. If someone already "feels good" about a house before they even walk in, they're much more likely to make a premium offer.

3. CLEANLINESS. I can't stress this enough. Everything else about a house could be perfect… but if it feels dirty, it will hurt the sales price.

4. KITCHEN. No one wants to buy a house and then immediately start thinking of taking on huge projects. If they think the kitchen is a "gut job," or even requires minor improvements, they will offer much less. If they think they need to invest $10,000 to "modernize" the kitchen area, they'll probably offer $20,000 less for the home to compensate for the hassle. So, it makes sense to invest in a gorgeous kitchen BEFORE you list your home. It's an investment, not an expense.

5. BATHROOMS. Everything I just said about the kitchen also applies to the bathrooms.

6. FLOORING. This is a big one. Quality hard surface flooring is a huge upgrade over a house with aging carpet. This alone can change the sales price of a home by tens of thousands of dollars. People "get used to" the home they live in and sometimes forget things like this from a buyer's perspective.

7. LIGHTING. Updated fixtures can completely change the feel of a home. Again, this is one of those examples where it's purely emotional (not logical). Spending a few hundred dollars on premium, modern light fixtures can raise the perceived value of a home by thousands of dollars. It's all about how it makes the home "feel."

8. FRESH PAINT. Makes the home feel new again!

9. AGE. This is something many homeowners don't ever consider. Another house on your same street could sell for $40,000 more simply if it's newer. The square footage could be the same, but a house built in the last ten years is objectively worth more than a house that's already 60 years old. Using calculations like "cost per square foot" is only relevant when we're comparing apples to apples, and the age of the house is an important variable.

10. LOT SIZE/YARD FEATURES. It doesn't seem like much, but a quarter-acre lot feels substantially bigger than a .15-acre lot. And a full acre feels substantially larger than a half acre, etc. Many people compare houses with completely different lot sizes, not realizing that the size of the yard is a HUGE determinant of the value. The structure of a home can change, but the land is forever. This also goes for "features" like mature trees, etc.

If you have questions about real estate here in the area, give me a call or send me a text. My personal cell is: (918) 728-4472.

-Amanda

Hey everyone, friendly reminder that if you're looking to buy a new home... make sure you avoid making any large, expensive purchases.

Taking on more debt could lead to a loss of your loan as it sends the wrong message to your lender.

If you have any more questions about buying a home here in the area, I'm happy to help!

-Amanda
(918) 728-4472

Why should you choose me as your real estate agent? Well, for starters, I'll fight harder for you than people fought against wind in the 1980s.

My cell is (918) 728-4472.

Let's talk.

- Amanda

Vining Standlee Home Team > 95'-96' Bulls

Some other groups we’d dominate…

The Avengers

The Mystery Gang

The Beatles

Top 100 Realtors, Property Sharks Top 10 Tulsa Realtors, Tulsa Worlds Number 1 Realtor, Real Producers Top 500 Realtors.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU WIN 🏀

-Amanda
(918) 728-4472

Be honest. When you’re thinking of buying a house, would you rather a realtor regularly call and email and text to follow up with you? Or would you rather not be bothered, do your own research, and call the realtor yourself when you’re ready?

The reason I ask is that most real estate brokers train their agents to aggressively and incessantly follow up with all “leads.” That’s the way it’s always been done. But, honestly, I think that’s kind of annoying!

I don’t mind genuine follow up, but at a certain point it’s just too much.

What do you think?

I know it’s super common to pick a word for the new year. I’ve never done this before, but this year I picked a word: Intentional

I want 2023 to be a year of being intentional with my time, with my resources, with my walk of faith, with my relationships…intentional in all areas of my life. It’s so easy to just go through the motions. Especially in survival mode with a newborn! But I don’t want this year to pass me by just making it from day to day. I want big things for this year and I know that takes intentionality. So that’s what I will strive for every day of 2023.

Do you pick a word for the new year? If so, what’s your 2023 word?

Sometimes I wish helping people buy and sell were like those Hallmark movies you see around Christmas time. Everything would be perfect and predictable.

There would be no uncertainty.

You'd know there is always a happy ending.

The homebuyer would have an 800 credit score.

They’re moving from a big city to a charming small town.

The home is vacant and there are no issues with moving deadlines.

The buyer has plenty of savings, almost zero debt, and they're working in a high paying job that they love.

The house is in perfect condition (and the inspection is so flawless the home inspector is finished in just 20 minutes).

The seller's agent calls me a few days before closing not panicked or angry....but simply to tell me they appreciate my hard work and love my sense of style.

The loan officer rents one of those planes that spell messages in the sky with white smoke. The message they spell out above our office in the morning sky says, "CLEAR TO CLOSE AMANDA, WE LOVE YOU".

As the plane flies away, a beautifully gift-wrapped box parachutes down to Earth and lands on my doorstep. I open it up, and it's a platter of fresh tacos. They're still warm!
"Wow, the loan officer really loves me."

We close in less than a week and everyone is happy. The Oklahoma City Thunder wins the NBA Championship.

Like Hallmark movies, this is completely unrealistic. Random things almost always go wrong. That's why you need an EXPERT real estate agent to guide you through the process.

That's me, Amanda Kerstetter.

P.S.
My personal cell is (918) 728-4472. If you're thinking of buying or selling a house, send me a text or give me a call!

As the holiday season of 1938 came to Chicago, Bob May wasn’t feeling much comfort or joy. A 34-year-old advertising copywriter for Montgomery Ward, May was exhausted and nearly broke. His wife Evelyn was bedridden, on the losing end of a two-year battle with cancer. This left Bob to look after their 4-year-old daughter, Barbara.

One night, Barbara asked her father, “Why isn’t my mommy like everybody else’s mommy?”

As he struggled to answer his daughter’s question, Bob remembered the pain of his own childhood. A small, sickly boy, he was constantly picked on and called names. But he wanted to give his daughter hope, and show her that being different was nothing to be ashamed of. More than that, he wanted her to know that he loved her and would always take care of her.

He couldn’t afford to buy his daughter a gift for Christmas, so Bob decided to write a special bedtime story just for her (and make a homemade picture book).
In early December, Bob’s wife died.

Though he was heartbroken, he kept working on the book for his daughter. A few days before Christmas, he reluctantly attended a company party at Montgomery Ward. His co-workers encouraged him to share the story he’d written.

After he read it, there was a standing ovation.

Everyone wanted copies of the book.

Montgomery Ward bought the rights to the book from their debt-ridden employee. Over the next six years, at Christmas, they gave away six million copies to shoppers. Every major publishing house in the country was making offers to obtain the book.

In an incredible display of goodwill, the head of the department store returned all rights to Bob May. Four years later, he became a millionaire.

The bedtime story he wrote for his daughter was titled “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

As a mom of two little boys... I obviously want them to grow up to be charming, kind, loving men. But there is one thing I really want them to be as a kid. And that is...capable. You see, capable kids mean that they are capable to do mundane life tasks at an appropriate age.

For my 2-year-old Theo, it's teaching him that when he dumps out a bin of toys to play, he has to clean them up before moving onto the next thing.

There is a huge list of tasks we take care of as adults every day, inside and outside the home. Let's face it though, how many times have you heard of a high school graduate going off to college who has never touched a washer? Or actually, cooked a meal for themselves?

So, I believe if I start them young by helping consistently with these easy daily tasks, they will grow up to be capable young men, who see a task that needs to be done and do it. Even if they are unsure of the task at hand.

So here's to raising capable kids. Who will grow up to be teenagers who can take care of life's mundane tasks themselves and serve others around them while they are at it!

-Amanda

We went to Kilkenny's for the first time the other day. Here's what our waiter recommended to get the full Kilkenny's experience.

1. Priestvalleys Pretzels as an appetizer

2. Fish n Chips

3. El Diablo burger

4. For dessert he recommended the German chocolate cake or the pumpkin bread pudding. We opted for the chocolate cake and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend getting some ice cream to go with it. It was creamy and delicious!

The restaurant has a great atmosphere and setting on top of the enjoyable food. Will definitely come again!

- Amanda

Happy closing day to the Clevenger family! Over a year in the making, but they finally get to move into their dream home. I am so happy for this family and also kind of sad to be done working with them after so long.

Who is ready to find their dream home next? I won’t quit til we find you exactly what you are looking for, no matter how long it takes!
Give me a call 📲 (918) 728-4472

Okay friends, super important question. Do you bake, smoke, or fry your Thanksgiving turkey?

Had the best time this week at Lights On on Main Street, Jenks! I love the small town feel of Jenks and being a part of this community. Saw lots of friendly faces and met lots of new people. Thanks to everyone that took the time to stop by our booth and say hello. And thanks to Mojo's Mercantile & Coffee House for providing us with the yummiest hot chocolate!

So excited for closing day for the Caywoods! Closed on their almost 9 acres where they plan to build their dream home. It was such a joy to work with y’all and I can’t wait to see that home once it’s built! 🏡

Whether you’re looking for land, a starter home, a forever home, an investment property, or whatever it may be…if it’s real estate, I got you! Give me a call 📲 (918) 728-4472

Reminder: it’s daylight savings time on Sunday! And for the first time in about 6 months, my wall clock will be correct again 😆 Anyone else as lazy as me?

So move those clocks back and enjoy your extra hour of sleep. Unless you have kids, then extra sleep does not ever exist.

Here’s my top 3 family-friendly Halloween activities in the Tulsa area every year:

1. HallowMarine at the Oklahoma Aquarium
2. Pumpkin Town Farms
3. There are tons of trunk or treats all over town all weekend long. We personally attend the one at Kirk Crossing, but there are so many options!

-Amanda