Selling your home is not just about marketing, staging, and advertising. 

1. Existing Mortgage. How much is left on your note? Are you current on payments? All of my clients complete an Existing Mortgage Request form which is sent to their bank to confirm amounts. Sometimes people don't get them back to me in a timely manner. That's a clue that something may be wrong. While it's perfectly understandable to feel reluctant about telling anyone that you've fallen behind in your mortgage payments, it's not something you can keep hidden. The bank is going to be involved in the Closing process. Title cannot be transferred until the lender releases it. If this is something you're dealing with, tell your agent immediately to find out what options may be available to you. Waiting often reduces your options.  

2. Title. Whose name is on the title to the property? If you are an officer of a corporation that owns the property, we're going to need to see the articles of incorporation and the document showing you as an officer who is authorized to sign legal documents in the name of the corporation. This also goes for LLC's, trusts, POA's, etc. If you have changed your name, we need to see the marriage certificate or other legal document(s) showing that you are the same person as is named on title. You cannot legally sell real estate you do not own. 

3. Liens. Title cannot be transferred when there is a lien against the property. If someone has filed a lien against the property, the homeowner cannot sell it until the lien holder is satisfied. If you need the money from the sale to pay the lien holder, documents showing that X amount will go to the lien holder at Closing will need to be put in place before Closing. The lien holder will have to agree, in writing, to accept monies at Closing. 

Not everyone gets to experience a perfect life from start to finish. Most of us have at least a few ups and downs between birth and death. When a homeowner tells me they're behind in their mortgage for whatever reason, I don't judge; I try to help them find a way to get out of the mess. 

Errors on title are best found early on so that they can be corrected before we have a contract on the property. Sometimes it can be as simple as sending a Death Certificate to the County Recorder to remove a deceased spouse's name from the title. Other situations are more difficult but most can be dealt with in a reasonable amount of time. 

Whatever the situation, the best course of action is to tell your agent up front so that they can work with you on resolving the issue. 

Managing photos in the new Active Rain format is a little bit different than the old format.To insert a photo, first click on the little camera icon. I've had a few requests from members about how to get the photos to stay on the right so here we go.    

 Instead of just clicking on a photo from your photo files or desktop, you must first upload it to the new photo library within Active Rain. 

It's called RESPONSIVE FileManager. Click on the plus sign to add an image to the FileManager. Your photo files will pop up and you select the file you want just like in the old AR.

Once you've added the photo you want to the Resonsive file manager, you can adjust the size. 

When the photo pops up on your blog post, you can either click to the right of the photo to keep typing and let the photo fall between the words freely or you can tell it to stay right or left. 

To get it to stay to the right or left, click on 'Formats' on the top bar or 'Format' on the second bar.

If you click on 'Formats' on the top bar, as shown here, you'll want to click on the 'Formats' arrow to get the dropdown menu of choices. 

 Select 'Image right' to get the photo to stay on the right side of the blog post.  

Hope this helps!

Brookside Kansas City, generally defined by zip code 64113, has less than a 3 month supply of homes for sale. Less than a 6 month supply of homes for sale is indicative of a Seller's Market. 

The Average Sold Price for the 3rd quarter is $402,349.  

Average Days On Market = 52.

Prairie Village KS has less than a 3 month supply of homes for sale. Less than a 6 month supply is indicative of a Seller's market.

There are currently 91 homes for sale in Prairie Village. The Average list price is $307,380.

134 homes sold in the months of July, August and September. The Average sold price was $249,840.

There are 16 homes under contract now.

Prairie Village is one of the popular, established, close-in neighborhoods of Kansas City. 

It's proximity to the Plaza & Brookside as well as Overland Park make it a convenient place to live. Parents who value education love being in the Shawnee Mission East High School district. Homes within walking distance of the Village Shops or one of the Country Clubs remain in high demand. 

158 single family homes sold in Leawood during the 3rd quarter of 2013. The Average sales price was $481,960. 

Currently, there are 150 homes for sale in Leawood KS. The average list price is $803,538. See Leawood homes for sale. 

There are 92 homes under contract; 2 Contingent, 52 Pending, and 40 on BackUp Status. 

Subdivisions in Leawood include Hallbrook, Tuscan Reserve, Leawood, Somerset Acres, The Woods Estates, Hazelwood, Highlands Creek, Somerset Acres, Reserve at Iron Horse, Pavillions, Highlands Ranch, Berkshire, Mark Lane, The Woods Villas, Royse, Leawood Estates, Bradford Place, The Hills of Iron Horse, Leawood Estates, Leawood Forest Estates, Bridgewood, Wilshire Place, Longwood Forest, Whitehorse, Worthington, Waterford, The Cloisters, Stone Ledge at Iron Horse, The Villas of Chapel Green, Leabrooke Highlands, Leawood Meadows, Wilshire by the Lake, Cherry Creek, Leawood South, Estates of Iron Horse, Steeplechase, The Greenbriar of Leawood, Brittany Woods, Highlands of Leawood, The Woodlands, Leawood Mission Valley, Leawood Falls, and Verona Gardens. 

Please call for your specific neighborhood / subdivision.

Leawood is is a city of 15 square miles located in between Overland Park KS, Prairie Village KS, and Kansas City MO. The original 600 acres was purchased in 1922 by Oscar G. Lee, a retired police officer from Oklahoma. The City of Leawood was developed after WW II by the Kroh Brothers. They built a subdivision of 500 homes with returning veterans seeking quality of life in mind. The original Leawood subdivision became an incorporated city of Johnson County and is now one of the fastest growing cities in Kansas. 

The trees in Kansas City this year are absolutely breathtaking! Every street we drive on is full of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows.

Trees provide social, community, environmental, and economic benefits.

100 trees remove 53 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

100 trees remove 430 lbs of pollutants, including ozone and particulates, per year.

100 mature trees catch more than 500,000 gallons of rainwater per year resulting in cleaner water and reduced spending for stormwater control. 

Roadside vegetation has been shown to reduce driving stress. Studies show that green spaces inhibit crime. Patients recover from surgeries more quickly and with fewer complications when they are exposed to views of trees and plants. Employees report higher job satisfaction and lower incidence of physical ailments when given a view of trees and plants. 

Homes with large trees in the front yard sell faster and for higher prices. Trees can reduce a homeowner's air conditioning costs by up to 56%. Trees can reduce heating costs by up to 25%.

Customers will pay 12% more for goods at a store with beautiful landscaping than one surrounded by concrete with minimal landscaping. They will drive further to shop at such a store and stay longer once they get there.

The benefits trees provide us are numerous and multifaceted. The cost of planting a tree and caring for it until it is established is well worth it.  

Sources: Parsons, R. L. G. Tassinary, R. S. Ulrich, M. R. Helbi & M. Grossman-Alexander. 1998 The View From the Road: Implications for Stress Recovery and Immunization Journal of Environmental Psychology, 18, 2, 113-140.

Prow T. 1999. The Power of Trees. Illinois Steward Magazine, 7, 4.  

Cimprich, B. 1992 Attentional Fatigue Following Breast Cancer Surgery. Research in Nursing and Health 15, 199-207. Ulrich R. S. 1986 Human Responses to Vegetation and Landscapes Landscape and Urban Planning. 13, 29-44.

Kaplan R. 1982. Urban Forestry and the Workplace in P. H. Gobster (Ed.) Managing Urban and High-Use Recreation Settings USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report NC-183.

58 homes in Leawood sold during the month of November 2013 at an average price of $493,671. High = $2,350,000; Low = $141,750. 2 were condos; 12 patio/villas; 43 Single Family Homes. For our statistics, we will discard the condos & patio/villa homes as well as the 2 which sold for 1.6 and 2.3 million $ and the low anomaly. That leaves us 41 homes to consider.

Today in Leawood, there are

114 Active Listings [homes for sale]

1 Contingent Contract

46 Pending Contracts

32 Under Contract/Accepting Back Up Offers

41 Sold at an average of $429,856 and an average of 62 Days On Market.  

The average Leawood home has ~ 3800 square feet; 4 bedrooms; 3 and 1/2 baths. See all Leawood homes for sale here:

http://www.shopleawoodhomes.com/     

Homes in Leawood were built from the 1940's up to the present day so there are a variety of architectural styles and floor plans. Approximate boundaries for Leawood are 83rd Street, south to 151st Street; State Line Road to the east; and Nall Avenue on the west. Old Leawood is on the northern half.

I have used videos as part of my marketing strategy when promoting and advertising homes I've listed for sale. Some people like to see videos of homes before deciding if they want to request a showing IRL while other people find videos to be time consuming and would just prefer to go look in person. 

I've contemplated making videos that the public could view to learn something about real estate and/or see what I'm like before contacting me. Have you made videos like that? Do people like them? Do you think they help your business? 

This video was professionally done for me by DataSphere as part of an advertising package with a local TV station's website. Do you think it was well done? 

Snow days are great for catching up on laundry and putting together comprehensive real estate market reports for consumers. As you probably know, our area continues to see rising prices and decreased inventory. The statistics show 2013 and before; the trends are continuing in January and February of 2014. (Even during Snowmaggedon 2014)

 Rising prices and falling inventory portends well for sellers who act before the rest of the competition puts their homes on the market this Spring. 

 The trend continues in January and February of 2014. Prices up; inventory down; buyers looking for more choices. 

Prairie Village, Mission Hills, and Leawood are still the most popular areas for home buyers in Johnson County. Those who want more space for the money may choose homes in the more southern or western parts of Johnson County such as Overland Park, Lenexa, and Olathe. 

"The Dot" is still working on its' image challenges. Mission and Roeland Park continue to be popular choices for graduate students at Kansas University who want to buy a home but still have enough left over for Med School bills. 

Jackson County, MO, the 'real Kansas City' historically referenced in Jazz, Baseball, and art, has areas that continue to see high dollar home prices rising as well as less popular areas working on building up their communities. Brookside homes are selling fast. Waldo continues to see a rise in home values but still is affordable for those wanting to live 'close in'. Many young couples who used to move to single family homes once they started their family are now choosing to stay downtown. Condo life is good for them and now that we have an awesome grocery store and remarkable grade school right downtown, they don't feel the need for a house with a yard. 

North of the River, home owners really enjoy Parkville for the social and educational aspects. Zona Rosa continues to be a popular venue for shopping and nightlife. Northland KCMO has much to offer for people who value reasonably priced homes with easy access to shopping and entertainment. 

Clay and Ray Counties, in MO, have the most rural land close to 'the city'. This is where people find hobby farms, land for their horses, or even those crazy multi-million dollar estates with Olympic sized swimming pools and indoor basketball courts between the stables and the greenhouse. Yes, there are also 'regular houses' in smaller towns like Raymore. Belton and Raymore are popular choices for Marines stationed at Richards-Gebauer. 

Miami County, on the Kansas side, is like Ray on the Missouri side and Clay in the Northland. Buyers get more home for their money than in the closer-in areas of Johnson and Jackson Counties and there is still acreage for sale at prices a farmer or wine grower could afford. 

  For those who do not know, our Heartland MLS [Multiple Listing Service] encompasses more than 5,000 square miles. The chart below shows the 13 year history of home sales and prices. Following that, there is a chart showing home sales prices by county. 

See ALL homes for sale in the Kansas City Greater Metropolitan and surrounding Areas. 

I hope you found this interesting and informative. If you are thinking about selling (or refinancing or disputing property taxes), you will need more specific data and interpretation for your zip code, neighborhood, and home. Call me and I will help. 

Margaret Gehr is the principle owner of Chicagoland Home Staging, servicing the greater Chicago area for home staging, redesign, and design projects. If she was in Kansas City, I would definitely use her to stage my clients' homes. Buyers start judging a home before they even walk in the door but once inside, the way it is furnished and put together affect the buyers' perception of value. The photos in this post show the difference between an average, okay home and a home that demands a higher price. 

1. Potential buyers believe they are well informed when they are not. There are hundreds of thousands of websites containing information about real estate. The problem is that all of these sites probably have at least one piece of accurate information on real estate transactions in your city, state and county. Which one piece of information is the right one? How many inaccuracies do you ingest before realizing you have the wrong information?

2. Skimping on Inspections. The Buyer is getting ready to spend several hundred thousand dollars for a home and yet they balk at paying a few hundred dollars for a good home inspection? At the minimum, plan on paying for a Whole House Inspection as well as a Wood Boring Insect Inspection. If Radon, Chimney, Structural or other is indicated, get them all done during the Inspection Period. This is your opportunity to find out about any problems with the house. This is part of doing your due diligence. 

3. Getting a 'Pre-Qual’ Letter from some random 'lender' that has a reputation for not being able to perform. Do you know how awful you would feel if the money was not in place for you to complete your transaction on the day of closing? What would you do with all your possessions in the moving van? How long would it take you to cancel the utilities, cable, phone, and mail? Where would you go if someone else was moving into your old home the following day? How much money would you lose? What a nightmare! There are several local lenders with a good history of doing their job in a timely manner so that my clients can close on time. That’s why I refer them to clients. I receive no financial remuneration for recommending lenders; I only do so to make the entire buying process smoother for my clients. 

4. Looking for the perfect home before applying for a mortgage. First off, many people lose out on the house they want because they are not prepared to make an offer so the house they really, really 'love' goes under contract to another buyer while they are just beginning their loan application process. Second, most sellers do not want unqualified buyers shown into their home. Third, responsible buyer's agents are not going to show unqualified buyers into homes. If they are, you've got to wonder what else they are doing that is not according to established laws, rules, procedures, and our Code of Ethics. Fourth, how about you find out that you only qualify for $280,000 instead of $375,000? All of the homes that you’ve seen in the higher price range are going to look better to you than the homes you can actually afford. There are more reasons but the idea is to positively identify the type of mortgage and amount so that your agent can plan your showing trips around homes that are going to work for you. 

5. Buyers that think they can get a deal by speaking directly to the Listing Agent. Are you nuts? The Listing Agent represents the Seller. They have a legally binding, written contract promising fiduciary duties to their client. They have a pre-existing relationship with the Seller. Oh, you're some expert negotiator and/or really smart? Yeah, right, we've never before met anyone like you and your ego. I have never, ever met an unrepresented buyer who did not make a mistake and/or leave money on the table. Save on commission? Nope. Commission is negotiated between the Seller and their Agent before the property is listed for sale. The Buyer is not part of that negotiation.

Recently, I've received a few phone calls from people checking me out on the internet before calling me in person to see if I would help them sell their house and/or buy a house. One thing they all asked about was why there were no blog posts on negotiations on either my Seller's Tips page or my Buyer's Tips. So, here is a little something about my negotiating techniques and strategies: 

This is the internet. I'm not going to give away my negotiating knowledge on the internet. 

Do I have knowledge? Yes. Do I have experience? Yes. Have I read books and studied negotiating? Yes. Am I a Certified Expert in Negotiations? Yes. 

One of the people who called me yesterday said "But this other guy we talked to said he was a real lion at negotiating." Yeah, well, he probably is really 'lion' about his negotiating expertise. Think about it. Do you really want to puff up, act aggressive and threatening when you're negotiating? That's rarely an effective technique - especially in real estate negotiations. 

There are dozens of people involved in a real estate transaction. It is to our advantage to be on good terms with all of them; even the other party. This is real estate you're buying. Condo, house, duplex, patio-villa - even with commercial real estate, you're going to become part of some community associated with the location. Wouldn't you like your new neighbors, friends, and associates to at least start out with a favorable impression of you as a person/neighbor/business acquaintance? 

My style is somewhat more subtle than that of a baboon. Now, if you hired me to help you establish dominance in a baboon troop, then of course, I would flash my teeth and display aggression as that would be the appropriate course of action. 

During human negotiations involving real estate transactions, it is usually best to implement a variety of other techniques and strategies. Since this is not feudal Europe, we will employ my mind rather than picks and spears to further your endeavor. 

I will leave you with this old Irish proverb: "Diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to the trip."

Our lovely Brookside neighborhood is still popular with home buyers. There are actually several waiting for the home they want to come on the market as our inventory is down so their choices are limited. 

The one for $30,000 under Pending is not in Brookside; the listing agent entered the wrong zip code. It is actually a Short Sale in Waldo in the 64114 zip code. 

That Average Days On Market (DOM) of 80 days is lower than in many parts of the KC Metro. Multiple homes in Brookside sold in less than 2 weeks. 

See more Kansas City Area Market Reports here. [Includes 2013 Totals KS + MO; all counties]

If you'd like a more specific look at your subdivision, or even a full CMA, call or email me. 

Most, whether they realize it or not, expect both. Is that something we real estate agents can truly deliver?

When a home buyer Googles real estate, they usually want to see homes for sale. Right now. Loads of them in the neighborhoods in which they want to live. But when they go to buy the home of their dreams, they feel - and are - entitled to protection and representation. They've just usually skipped the step involved in finding out how to get that. 

Jack Markham, of Active Rain, offers an excellent demonstration of what buyers want when they go on the internet in his Fall In Love With Online Consumers post and video. One of his main points is that consumers return to websites that give them what they want the minute they hit the landing page. 

What does the consumer want? They want to see houses for sale complete with photos. (Or condos, townhomes, duplexes, REO's, or commercial property for sale.) They want to be able to click for more details on a particular home. They want information about the neighborhood and nearby shopping. They want local school information. They want data and statistics about recently sold homes. They like to see charts and graphs and numbers. 

As real estate professionals, we know that as much as 50% of the information found on site aggregators such as Trulia and Zillow is inaccurate but a consumer has no way of knowing that. All the consumer knows is that those sites appear to have everything they're looking for in a real estate website. Does my company site have all of that? Sure! Is it more accurate than the aggregators? Absolutely! Is it specific to practices in my local market? Of course! But the consumer does not know that or even that there are different laws and procedures for buying and selling real property from one state to another. 

Joan Cox wonders which of her professional sites would be best to send consumers to in her Buyers Have Too Many Choices post. Like most of us, she maintains multiple real estate websites for lead generation. They each probably have some, perhaps all, of what the consumer is looking for; different presentations will attract different clientele. 

Some consumers intentionally avoid the broker or agent owned and branded websites to avoid real estate agents, mistakenly believing that the site aggregator websites like Trulia and Zillow are free. Consumers do not realize that those sites are free to consumers but paid for by real estate agents who pay those sites to send them leads.

Could consumers reduce the cost of real estate transactions by going directly to the agent websites? Would doing so reduce the cost of doing business for the real estate professional? That's a question for another blog post. 

How do you get consumers who might become clients to revisit your website? Ron and Alexandra Seigel reinforce the importance of fresh content in their Luxury Real Estate Marketing post about Tired or Original Content Marketing. As Shanna Hall notes, frequently adding content can move you up on the AR Leaderboard as well as catch Google's bot's attention. 

What happens when a consumer wants to actually see a home IRL? What if they want to make an Offer to Purchase Real Property? That is when the typical consumer realizes they need a human being with a real estate license. That is when the consumer has questions about protecting their investment. 

As a consumer of anything, when you have complex questions do you want a general email response, a phone with "press this button" response, or a real human being to answer your specific questions? Most of us want a real human being who is knowledgeable about whatever it is we're considering. 

Consumers who are ready to actually buy or sell a home appreciate in-person conversations. They want to look me in the eye as we talk about their plans and needs. They want real life answers to serious questions. 

In this high-tech world full of instant gratification, people are looking for more. They want the personal touch. They want someone who actually listens to their questions, needs, and concerns. As Kim Norton points out in her The Secret to Massive Success: Walk Slowly Through The Crowd, people want to be treated like the real human individuals that they are. 

When buying or selling real estate, real people want and deserve your time and full attention. They don't want an agent busily texting during their consultation. They don't want an agent who views them as a number to be diverted into some 'system'. They want our full attention focused on them. They want you to slow down for an hour or two and give them the information they need to make wise decisions. 

One of my favorite clients of all time is an active duty Marine. As soon as he received his orders, he went online and contacted me. What's so great about working with marines? Let me count the ways!

Communication is natural and easy. Why? Part of it is their training. Part of it is my history and training. They are trained to communicate clearly and effectively. My two best friends when I worked for DHHS were a marine and a SEAL. Talking with active duty personnel is like talking with old friends. 

They clearly identify their needs. Where civilians may hem and haw and change their minds ten thousand times, military personnel verbalize exactly what is important to them and why.

Buying a home is like a mission for them to complete. They stay focused. Over the course of 5 weeks, the marine and I emailed and spoke on the phone several times per week about all the houses that might work for him and his family. I previewed over 100 homes before he arrived so there were the 5 best and a few others just so he would have an understanding of why certain homes were not good choices. On the 5th week, he flew to KC and we met the next morning. We spent the next 2 days seeing homes and reconnoitering the city. We'd see 4 or 5; break for lunch; see another 4 or 5 or 6; then recap over dinner. At the end of the 2nd day we revisited his top 3, consulted his wife via phone, wrote an offer, negotiated a good contract, and ratified the contract. 30 days later, he came to KC and Closed on the house. 

They tell me about all the things their family will need and also what they might like, if possible. In the case of the marine in our story, his daughter had always wanted to be able to ride her bike to school. That was not the most important thing but it was certainly a priority once the necessities were met. (Yes, we got a house a block from her elementary school.♫)

They understand fear and know how to work through it. Marines afraid? Sure, it is human to feel severe apprehension when signing a mortgage loan for hundreds of thousands of dollars. We've all felt that sensation in our solar plexus right before we sign our life away, haven't we? The thing about marines is that they recognize it and deal with it. They don't freak out and display illogical behavior. 

They are on a time table and expect you to do your job. Buying the home is but one item on their list of things to do. They rely on me to make sure that part goes smoothly. Growing up an Air Force brat, I am intimately familiar with what a military family does to prepare and execute a move. I would no sooner let them down than they would leave a man behind. All preliminary work such as previews needs to be done in a timely manner. All results need to be communicated so we know we have not missed any homes that might work.

They pay attention and listen. It is our job to offer clients our best advice and opinion; marines listen and act quickly on your advice so know your stuff. When writing the contract, it's important to go over each element succinctly even if you've discussed this previously. Time is of the essence; negotiations need to move along quickly. Title work, underwriting, and final loan approval need to be done on time so it is vitally important to stay on top of Closing preparations. Inspections: in this case, the marine could not be here so it was up to me to transmit photos and discuss the Home Inspector's findings in detail with my client via phone. (iPads are great for this!)  

They know how to have fun. We get the work accomplished and then we can relax, eat, drink, and be merry. We may even enjoy a few laughs as we tour homes. The marine's family joined him here as soon as the kids finished their school year. His wife thanked me graciously for all I'd done to make the buying process smooth and easy for them. Yeah, paychecks are necessary for me to live but the look on their faces as she thanked me is in my heart forever. 

What did I learn? Sure, all of this sounds like what agents do every day for civilian clients. It is except, in this instance, you are part of their team and they are accustomed to relying on team members to perform with excellence; you must be as sharp and ready as they. When working with military personnel, I feel at once at home and also held to a higher standard. 

Also see My Favorite Client - Senior Citizen - Elder Care 

and My Favorite Client - Millennial Woman - First Time Buyer 

What was it about Betty that made me want to do my absolute best for her? I think everyone who ever met her felt the same thing I felt; that's just how she was. She was undemanding, charming and full of a heartfelt appreciation for life. She inspired one to be better. 

How did we meet? Well, her step-daughter called me from Washington DC one day. She said "I found you on the internet. My step-mother is 85 and she needs to move closer to us now for health reasons. I have her Power of Attorney; can we sign whatever we need over the computer? She lives in a condo in Brookside there in Kansas City. It's full of my father's artwork, her artwork, and all the things they collected over the years before he died. I can't go there to help her because my job requires me here; same goes for my husband; we'll be out in about 2 months to help her pack then we'll all fly back together. Do you think you can help us?"

Over the next hour, Betty's step-daughter told me a lot. I had pages of notes. Betty's husband had been an artist of some renown. Not Picasso-famous but very well known in the midwestern United States for his works depicting bridges, significant architecture, and other local landmarks. Betty, herself, had been the lead artist for the UMKC Medical School. She was the first woman to hold such a position at UMKC (perhaps the whole Midwest; surely not the whole US?). Sweet but progressive; a trailblazer she was. 

So, armed with all the history from the daughter, I went to meet Betty. Betty walked slowly with a cane but the dancing light in her eyes drew me in. She told me stories and showed me art. We talked about how we would handle showings and what could be done with all her belongings. First, we thought that I'd go pick her up and take her out when a showing was scheduled. Later, she decided that we would not put the condo on the market until after she moved. I called a friend whose local business was packing and auctioning personal belongings. Over the next few weeks, I met them at Betty's condo 3 times a week to help sort what would go to DC and what would stay here for the auction. I arranged for the unit to be painted and carpeted after the auction. It was a long process. The time spent with Betty is treasured in my memories. 

She told me stories about her work and the trips she and her husband had taken related to his art work. She told me stories about her friends. Betty had a friend who had been the first female accountant to hold an upper level position at a national accounting and finance firm. She had another friend who still owns and operates a dance studio over on Gregory Blvd (in her 80's!). Betty's friends tended to be women who had broken through some part of the glass ceiling. 

There were many paintings with writing on the back from the artist. These were gifts and every gift had a story. Betty and Frank lived through the Jazz Age in Kansas City, WWII, and countless firsts; they had known musicians, artists, scientists, and so many interesting people. I'd comment on a painting and she'd say "Oh, yes. You know, when he was painting that one, President Truman used to come out and visit. He was such a nice man." Never ostentatious, she always shared stories from a personal, human perspective. 

Betty and I sometimes had lunch together. We'd go to the cafe on the first floor of the Blue Goose (aka 333 Meyer). One day I said "Betty, I don't think the cafe is open today." She softly said "Oh, I know, but he opens it for me. " Of course he does, I thought. Who wouldn't? You are the most charming, unpretentious person I've ever met. 

What did I learn from this experience? Betty did not fight but in her quiet, unassuming way she paved the way for women who came after her. Betty did not brag yet her life was filled with famous people and grand experiences. She saw neither fame nor fortune; only the true human spirit in all who crossed her path. Betty taught me to be a better person. Thank you, Betty.

Also see My Favorite Client - The Marine - Military Relocation

and My Favorite Client - Millennial Woman - First Time Home Buyer

Trying to choose only one person from this sociological group was not easy but we're going with Suzie because we had so much fun together. (Suzie is not her real name as this was a recent transaction and we want to protect her identity.)

Suzie, like all Millennials I've met, called me after doing her research online. She had questions. Lots of questions. Intelligent questions. After our conversation, I sent her my Buyer Slide-show, pdf on the Buying Process, pertinent MLS stats, a Username and Password for access to my professional home search site, copy of the Buyer Agency Agreement to read, contact info for a reputable local lender, and some other information via email. Once she'd digested all of the material I sent her and integrated it with the information she'd gotten from other sources, she called back to say she had her Pre-Approval Letter and was ready to meet IRL. 

Our initial consultation lasted nearly 2 hours. This is not unusual for people who have a lot of questions. My niece was born in the 90's and some of my clients remind me of her in the way they request and process information. Some may process faster than others but all seem to need to have a good overall understanding of what's going to happen before moving forward. A little bit of silence as they process doesn't hurt either.  I'm good with that. I'm comfortable in silence and I believe well-informed people are capable of making wise decisions.  

Once we'd formulated our plan of action from the office, we scheduled a showing trip for the following day. She was on time and ready to go! As we went through each home, I would point out anything I saw as far as condition and value; she'd voice what she liked and didn't like and write it down in her notepad. There is nothing like witnessing someone's honest, unfiltered reaction to a home.

Touring homes, as you know, is emotionally draining for the buyer. By the time we had seen all of the homes scheduled for that day, she had worked up an appetite so we decided to get some lunch. The meals are probably what did it for me. We each knew of restaurants that the other had not been to so every showing trip included a gastronomic experience. As thin as she is, you wouldn't think that she could eat as much as she does. (I remember that metabolism!) Allowing for her vacation and only going out once or twice a week, it took us a couple of months to find the right house and negotiate a good deal for her first home so we had several good meals together. 

When it came time for writing the offer and negotiating, there were a few tough moments. Suzie did great though! She called me anytime she felt apprehension getting the better of her and we'd talk it out. Most of the time, these were things we'd already gone over so as soon as I'd say one word, she'd say "Oh yeah! I remember now!" Sometimes, Suzie would have a remodeling idea for her new home so she'd call and I'd share with her different ways she might do such a thing. One day we stopped by my house to pick something up so she got to see the pergola my brother and I were building. (It's not real fancy but Mom uses it for her Stroke recovery exercises so it serves it's purpose and doesn't look half-bad.) Naturally, she had questions and suggestions and it gave her even more ideas for her new back yard.--

Best part of this transaction? Suzie and I still meet for lunch occasionally. 

What did I learn from this experience? I enjoy being around bright young people with loads of energy. And I can learn from them. Technologically, I'm smarter than the average bear but I remember the time when it took a whole room to hold a computer. I share information about real estate and life but, if I listen, these people who've grown up with smartphones in their pockets can teach me things I do not know.  

Also see My Favorite Client - The Marine - Military Relocation 

and My Favorite Client - Senior Citizen - Elders 

In my line of work, I see a LOT of houses. Some are average; some have years of deferred maintenance issues; a few are in good to excellent condition; most are somewhere in between. 

You can imagine how excited I was to find 5 houses in Brookside in such great condition with all the needed updates! 

All 5 homes should be on the market within the next week or two. Wait til you see them; you'll understand why I was so excited!

My Favorite Client - Millennial Woman .

How to get the really good deals . 

Kansas City has the 3rd largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the nation. NY & Chicago are 1 +2.

In addition to the main parade, the KC Metro has several other St. Patrick's Day parades. 

Main Parade 3/17 Monday @ 11am 

Theme this year: March of the Irish Runs down Broadway from 33rd to 43rd. Bring your lawn chairs and get there early. Breakfast at Browne's Irish Market at 7 - 11 a.m. Browne's is at 33rd & Pennsylvania. You can walk the parade route from there. Or, if you plan on reveling in Westport after the parade, park there and walk or ride the bus up Broadway. WEE Irish Village and music @ Browne's after. map 

Snake Saturday Parade in the Northland 3/15 @ 11am

Theme this year: Miles and Miles of Irish Smiles Runs from 14th and Swift, north to Armour, to Howell, ends at 18th Street. All of the restaurants and bars have specials for the festivities. Music will abound. map 

Brookside St. Patrick's Day Warm-Up Parade is on Saturday 3/15 @ 2pm 

63rd & Wornall: runs in a big rectangle along Brookside Rd, 63rd, Main, Meyer Blvd, and back to Wornall. This is a family friendly and dog friendly parade. Bring your lawn chairs and get there early. Lunch at any of the Brookside restaurants before the parade - Carmen's Cafe, Michael Forbe's, Charlie Hooper's, Blue Grotto, Avenue's Bistro - they're all good! map 

Martin City Irishpalooza is 3/16 Sunday @ 2pm

Runs from Washington & 135th Street to Holmes Rd. Very family friendly with many activities for the children. Martin City parade has a Prince and Princess Contest for children in costume as well as a Best Dressed Dog Contest. Go early or stay late for some fabulous food at Jess & Jim's Steakhouse...or Fiorella's Jack Stack BBQ...or... RC's...hard to choose...maybe you'll need to stay for dinner too. map 

Shawnee St. Patrick's Day Parade is 3/16 Sunday @ 1pm 

Theme this year is Celebrating Your Irish Dynasty. Runs along Johnson Dr. from Monrovia to Nieman. Prizes given at the Award Ceremony at the Knights of Columbus Hall right after the parade. They're serving up corned beef and cabbage for lunch after the parade! map 

Emeral Isle Parade in Lee's Summit 3/15 Saturday @ 12pm - 2pm  map 

Breakfast at Mingle's 8-11am. Gold Coin Hunt for children 8 years and younger @ 11 am at Howard Station Park. Home Brewed Beer Tasting @ 11am-12pm on the back patio at Mingle. Pub Crawl follows the parade. Parade route: start Lee's Summit High School 400 SE Blue Pkwy, SE 8th Street, SE Green Street, SE Main Street, ends at Lee's Summit United Methodist Church. 

Belton St. Patrick's Day Parade is 3/15 Saturday @ 5 - 5:30 pm map 

Route is Hackberry and Main, down Main to Cherry to Second Street back to Hackberry. 

*****Other St. Patrick's Day Events in Kansas City:

Rub O' The Green Golf Tournament is Friday 15 March @ 8am @ Sunflower Hills Golf Course in Bonner Springs KS. Register to play. Sponsor a hole. 

The Gaelic Mass is Saturday 8 March @ 5pm @ Redemptorist Church 3333 Broadway. 

Irish Whiskey Tasting @ Kansas City Irish Center at Union Station @ 6:30pm Friday 14 March. Sponsored by Cellar Rat. $40 Basic Tasting; $50 Premium Tastings. Take a cab. map 

Harvester's Go For the Green Food Drive: Harvester's is our area food bank. They distribute food to more than 620 local non-profits. The combined childrens' homes, battered women shelters, food pantries, mentally disabled homes, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and emergency food pantries feed people in 26 counties. The Go For the Green Food Drive raised about 65,000 meals last year. That sounds like a lot but, in reality, it's one week's worth of food. Please click on the link and donate if you're able. Thanks! If you like, you can donate under the Better Homes and Gardens - Plaza group. If you have a child in a participating school, you probably want to donate under their school's name. 

Ceili at the Station After Parade Party Monday 17 March 2pm-6pm at the Irish Center @ Union Station in Kansas City - 30 West Pershing Road Kansas City MO 64108 - by Crown Center + Liberty Memorial. ♪♫ Music by Scarlet Town - incredible local musicians! $5 admission; kids under 12 admitted free. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Listen to Scarlet Town play some music. map 

The Whiskey Run 5k is Sunday 16 March @ 8am @ 135th and Oak Street. This is part of Irishpalooza in Martin City. Register for the Whiskey Run 5k. 

My apologies if I've missed any parades in the Kansas City Greater Metropolitan Area. If you'd like me to include your event, please send me an email - or call. Slainté!

This is the little house we'll be giving away after this year's St. Patrick's Day parade! To enter for a chance to win, donate to Harvester's under the Better Homes and Gardens Plaza Office  www.goforthegreen.Harvesters.org Last year, we raised 9,000 meals. Let's do it again!

Harvester's is our local food bank. They serve 26 counties in and around the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. 

Harvster's provides food to over 620 local non-profit groups serving homeless, children, women's shelters, mentally disabled homes, soup kitchens, food pantries, and emergency food banks. 

$5 gives you 5 chances to win this play house and 5 meals to people in need. 

Go For The Green campaign was put together by the KC St. Patrick's Day Parade committee in conjunction with Harvester's as another way to give back to the community. 

 Last year's winners inside their little house. 

Harvester's provides about 65,000 meals per week. Thanks for your generosity and support. 

If you were looking for information about the St. Patrick's Day parades in Kansas City, it's right here.