Ozaukee & Washington County Real Estate: September 2009

Seems like there's been an awful lot of heavy sighs the past few days with the cooler temps and strong winds that have found their way to southeastern Wisconsin.

Yes, it is officially Autumn, and while that means the lazy hazy days of Summer 2009 are behind us, it also means the colorful paintings of fall are all around us.

So in the busyness of everyday life, be sure to take some time to slooooow down and look around you. From your back yard, to neighborhood parks, to Holy Hill, soak in and marvel at the reds, oranges, and yellows that cover our trees. This beauty only hangs around (literally) for a few short weeks. Don't let another autumn pass you by without taking notice.

Want to know where the colors are at their peak? Check out this web site: Wisconsin Fall Color Report

Enjoy..........

I don't think anyone out there who has ever been involved in a real estate transaction, whether it be as the buyer, the seller, the sales agent, the loan officer, the inspector or any other party, would disagree that emotions can run high.

Those emotions can be excitement, happiness, pride, anger, frustration, confusion, sadness, or fear. I think one of our responsibilities as the sales agent is to try to keep those emotions in check. Keep our buyer's or seller's emotions in check, and keep our emotions in check.

But when things go wrong, keeping emotions in check isn't so easy. And when the blame is slowly put on you for the situation being what it is -- well, those emotions can take off.

That's when it's time to take a deep breath and stay calm.

Perhaps not knowing how the situation will turn out is the hardest part. But at the same time, trusting that things will work themselves out lightens the load a bit.

Pointing fingers never resolves anything. It's simply better to take a step back, try to look at the whole situation as objectively as you can, and work together to find the solution that is best for everyone. 

I heard it again today in a conversation I was having -- the importance of taking time to "stop and smell the roses." Slow down. Take a break. Relax.

And yet, I rarely see the behavior patterns of those around me change. It's just rush, rush, rush.

I've heard it time and time again at the funeral of a friend or loved one -- "We should really get together more often." But it never happens.

Or we hear of an acquaintence who's our age who suffered a stroke or heart attack or was recently diagnosed with cancer. It reminds us of our own mortality and the importance of not putting things off until tomorrow. But we continue to put things off until tomorrow, and the next day, and the next and the next.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm just as guilty of this as the next person. But I will also say, I have made a real effort over the past several months to "play" more and really pay attention to the little things, and life has certainly been better.

Business is still booming, the house still gets cleaned, the bills still get paid, the grocery shopping is still done.

But all of that is wrapped in loads of memories...

Rolling down the hill with my nephew, going to the kite festival, playing in the sandbox, watching the flowers drink their water, sitting at the beach and just listening, enjoying dinner with friends, going for bike rides, sitting around a campfire, going to a Brewers game, visiting my niece at college, re-connecting with past customers and old friends, and laughing.

Now is the time for you to slow down. Take a break. Relax.

What are you waiting for??