Admin Work

My self-imposed break ended with a groan and a lot of whining. It was time, whether I wanted it to be or not. Historically, I don't get busy in real estate until spring, with me treating my winter months as admin time anyway. So, when I started getting calls this week, I honestly was surprised.

Anyway, I found an agent for a client of mine who lives out of state. I started an e-mail drip for two prospective clients--one for rent, one for purchase. I have a pre-approved buyer and we are meeting in two weeks to start that party rolling. I also started working on my yearly comps for most of my clients. This takes hours and is a bit tedious. However, my past clients seem to like it--I already had two phone calls from past clients asking for theirs. And oh yes! I sent Jane my EIN number, as she is making 1099 form for me to give back to her.

Today I also sent out settlement statements to the folks who bought and sold with me last year. As everyone is getting tax documents together, these often get misplaced. I should say, I sent them out to most of my clients last year. If Liam and Inga need this, I will be happy to provide, but I am not opening up a dialog with them at this point.

The last items on my list for today were to move my 2019 files to storage and clean off my desk. After that I will work on writing next week's to-do list.

Easing Out of My Break

My original goal was to end my break Monday. However, I just found another book to read (third one of the year--or fourth if you count the one I picked up, read half of and decided life was to short for me to continue on). Plus, my realtor friend, John, had to postpone our coffee date, so I didn't need to talk shop. And, as much as I wanted to be moving forward with work, there was a new meatloaf recipe my family wanted to try (it was delish!) Then I got around to thinking about possibly cleaning off my desk. But I didn't.

However, that was yesterday. Today I had a client call, looking for an agent in another state to help them out. I looked. I am not happy with my choices and opted to pass on everyone. I will keep looking. Plus, a new draft of the residential purchase contract is coming out and I ended up reading it--because I like reading blank contracts. Then went to work on a potential rental that I will probably write a lease for in a few days. After that I saw an e-mail about the Professional Development committee meeting next week that I should consider attending (more later), but I didn't respond to it just yet. And just in case I was out of integrity with my work, I did write Beth to tell her I wasn't ignoring her, but I have been on a break.

And that's about the extent of work I am working on. Perhaps tomorrow I can get around to cleaning off my desk.

Mom Life

My "break" has looked nothing like the fun projects I envisioned. Instead, Monday, I drove all over the East Valley with a teenager in tow, taking care of his needs. We laughed. A lot. But it wasn't my down time.

Tuesday my day entailed holding back Polly's long blond hair as she suffered through the stomach flu. Then I drove all over the East Valley looking for Powerade and Pepto. Then there were more errands and chores. And then even more.

Today is Wednesday. This morning Marty asked me if I was officially starting my break today. Sure thing! Before 11:30, I have done two loads of laundry, baked a chicken and fresh rolls for lunch and washed the dog. Later I am taking Polly to the doctor. And even later than that, Buck has his internship with the Mesa Fire Department tonight and Polly and I are checking out a class at the gym--if she is up for it.

Don't get me wrong! I love my life. I like the quiet chores that come with no thanks whatsoever, but make my family happy (Ok, they DO thank me--sometimes). I like sitting around at lunch hearing stories of Buckaroo's fire fighter class and Marty's work. I love it when Polly comes home in the early afternoon with a tale from her job or some random adulting realization she had. I want to be needed. I have a fabulous family and I am grateful.  However, when I was envisioning a break from the craziness of the last three weeks of December, this isn't what I had in mind.

My Break

I didn't get a holiday break. So, I am taking one now. My last weeks of December were filled with visiting wonderful friends and family and four (FOUR) get-togethers with the same people. Three of those get-togethers were at my house. They were fun, but necessary. And I couldn't wait to get my home back.

Last week (after the LAST) family event I went to work on my teaching rehearsals. Now that my first class is over, I am getting my sanity back.

This week, the other three Sunshines go back to their regularly scheduled life. In theory, I should have more down time, which I plan to use for a few fun projects. That will be my true vacation.

Happy Days

Last Saturday morning, Beth, the owner of the real estate school I work for, Jane and I trekked across town for a six hour contract law class. Jane was there for the real estate continuing education hours and moral support.

I taught my first class! Well, actually, to be fair, I taught half of the class--the first three hours (which is the length of most all other real estate classes, except this one). And that was plenty. First, it was the hardest part of the class--going over all the buyer documents, which includes the 10 page purchase contract. Second, I was on my feet for 3 hours straight and that is a long time to stand up in heels. My feet haven't forgiven me yet.

The class went well. There were 15 students, and they were engaged and shared freely. I didn't have the know-it-all who questioned everything I said--and that was probably my greatest fear. Another fear was losing control of the class. I managed to keep everyone on task. My other concern was nobody would talk. I took care of that early on, by threatening that if they didn't participate I would resort to singing 1970s television theme songs.

I polled the class at the end. Everyone said they learned something new. I certainly did!

Teaching had been on my bucket list forever. I am so happy I had a chance to do this. I got a lot of positive feedback from the students, Beth and Jane. Right now, I am scheduled to teach this class again at the end of February.

My end goal is to transition into real estate instruction. Beth's school is small and it won't be sustainable for her and me to only teach there. I hope to be teaching at the local realtor association in a few months. That's the next drop in my bucket list.

CJ Update

To the surprise of nobody, CJ and Carlie have decided to stay right where they are. They are in the process of convincing their landlord not to raise the rent next year if they agree to a 2 year lease. Frankly, even if they get a longer lease and the landlord raises the rent slightly again next year (this year she raised it the amount of the property tax increase) they will still be better off with a multi-year lease. I don't see this housing shortage changing significantly in the next year or so. It has been going on since around 2014.

I got a friendly text from CJ yesterday. It said something along the lines of, "Thanks for emailing us those homes, you can stop now. By the way, you have done nothing to help us. So long." I am paraphrasing, but that's the gist.

I am sorry he feels that way. I told the truth when I told him he had a good deal and to keep it. If that is "nothing," so be it. My conscience is clear. Anything short of "nothing," would not have been in their best interests.

The rest of the text, by the way, was a link to Carlie's online glass art business. She has some lovely pieces. CJ told me to let him or Carlie know if I was interested in any particular piece she had for sale. I was interested in a lot of them. However, they look much better on her Web site, than they do perched precariously on any shelf in my home where an overgrown puppy and a teen boy (and our spare teen boy) hang out.

A Very Unpopular Opinion

January 1, 2020 is not the first day of a new decade. January 1, 2021 will be the first day. The Gregorian calendar started with the year 1, not 0.