What makes a chef?

It takes more than a list of ingredients to make me a chef! When asked if I can cook, I often say “I can follow a recipe”. I can do the simple things pretty well. I don’t undercook or overcook and I know what I like. When I watch a chef put together a meal, however, I realize there’s a big difference.

What about a good builder?

I used that analogy recently with a client of mine who asked me how to tell the difference between the builders because they all say “we are green” and “we are the best”. A list of ingredients, I replied, does not mean that the builder is committed to building you a quality home. It takes more than advertising and a good sales pitch. It takes a commitment to quality, a reputation built over time and the respect of other professionals. The builders I recommend are the ones that consistently deliver on their promise, build a good home and have a company culture that prioritizes customer service. Something can always go wrong with any builder, but the difference is how they handle the problems and do the right thing.

The excitement is building as we wait to learn which family has been selected for an Extreme Makeover here in Sussex County, Delaware. Schell Brothers has been selected as the builder for an upcoming episode of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”. The build will take place between August 22 and 29, 2011, somewhere in Sussex County. Read More

“Building Happiness Extreme Performance”
Cape Henlopen High School Auditorium
Time: 8PM – 9:30PM (immediately following pep rally)
Tickets: $30 (Donation)*
*All proceeds from tickets go to “Sussex County Family Fund”.
“Glee” star, Telly Leung to perform and host the show. Variety show with performances by Blue Moon favorite, Pamela Stanley; Delaware Choral Society; Miss Delaware – Maria Cahill; Pianist Melanie Bradley and vocalist Leigh Nordley; First State Ballet Theatre; Pianist and singer Jerry Birl; Vineland Regional Dance Company; Rob and Jen Barbarita jazz ensemble; Shenandoah graduate, singer/dancer Erika Conaway; Delaware Arts Conservatory tap dancers & AMDA dancers Alexa DeBarr and Christine Slato.

Bill Bell, owner Gotcha Covered, has signed up to help build and I expect there will be lots of volunteers lining up to make this a special moment.

Jamie Hudson

This year Schell Brothers awarded me the “BFF Award”! I think this might be the best award I have ever received.  When Jamie Hudson, Director of Sales, announced the award at the Schell Annual Realtor Event, she said it was because “Kathy is a good friend to Schell Brothers and brings many of her clients to our communities. BUT, she is a better friend to her Buyer clients, even if that means bending Chris Schell’s arm behind his back!” That was the ultimate compliment and it tells you a lot about Schell Brothers.

What do I mean? A lot of builders say they cooperate with Realtors, but what they really want is for us to drop you off at their doorstep and then leave. A serious Buyer Agent will never do that. Our job doesn’t end when we find you a home you might like. It continues throughout the selection process, the actual building and periodic inspections right up to and including settlement. That is true whether it is a to-be-built home, an inventory home, a quick delivery home or a Resale.

The BFF Award

Do I like Schell Brothers? Absolutely, because they build a quality home that is both elegant and energy efficient. They also understand Customer Service and they respect the fact that I represent my client. No matter how hard you work, things can go wrong. I have always found that it is not the problem but how the problem is resolved that people always remember. I have to say that everyone at Schell Brothers, regardless of position or community is a real pleasure to work with.

What I’m trying to say is – get to know Delaware and then you can decide what kind of community is right for you. I finally understand why so many people from New Jersey are sure they want to live in a 55+ community. They don’t want to be outnumbered by families with lots of young children and they think the only way to accomplish that is to live in an age-restricted  community. What they don’t know yet is that here in Coastal Delaware at least, those of us 55+ are becoming the majority. This is a resort area and now it is also a desirable place to retire. It is not a place where an aspiring corporate executive moves the family to begin a career climbing the ladder. When they become successful enough, it certainly is a place they may purchase a second home at the beach, but that still isn’t the majority of our new home buyers. (more…)

Because of Twitter, I have gotten to know a remarkable woman that I never would have met in real life – Mel Tuttle. Mel is a 5th Grade Teacher in the Milford School District who was just named “Teacher of the Year!”. She has two children and is one of the most energetic, active adults I have ever met. She is always discovering a new restaurant, or a great place to take the kids on a rainy day in March. She is also an ardent Blogger who has created a great blog site for Delaware Beach Families

It dawned on me that this is a great resource for my clients who will eventually have grandchildren that they hope will visit often. Isn’t that one of the reasons my clients relocate to Coastal Delaware? Here we sit in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic Region, surrounded by the major population centers like New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and DC. When the family comes to visit, wouldn’t it be nice to know exactly where to go for some great ideas and fun events? (more…)

Kathy has asked me once again to contribute an article for her newsletter. Some of you may remember previous articles about financing homes for retirement and a myriad of options to choose from. My name is Gail Alm, Fairway Independent Mortgage, and I could write about forecasting the housing market turnaround or what rates will do for the near term. But instead, I decided to tell you why I love working with Kathy.

Most of you are receiving her newsletter because someone either already told you why you should be working with Kathy or you found her online via one of the many pillars of her marketing strategy. If you came to her as the result of a referral, you will soon see how hard she works for you. It will validate what the person who referred her has said to you to make you want to call her. She will make sure that she can clearly HEAR what you are looking for and then efficiently take you to see those properties that meet your specific needs. Because she knows the area extensively, she knows the developments and she has relationships with the builders, she can get you to properties you really want to see. Your time is valuable and so is hers. She recognizes that and concentrates to make sure your time is not wasted. But showing property is only the beginning. She will advocate for you in the negotiation process with the listing agent or builder to secure the very best terms for your contract. And she is good at it! And she will follow through on the details to make sure you get the home of your dreams. (more…)

Check out my about.me profile!

Yes, Baby Boomers have changed the world and many of their inventions have advanced technology. I get so tired lately of reading article after article about Boomers’ lack of preparation for retirement, about their lack of savings and need to work long into their 60s and 70s. That may all be true, but let’s also recognize that many of our Boomer brethren have been responsible for some pretty exciting stuff. From Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, creators and founders of Apple Computer to Dr. Robert Jarvik, the inventor of the surgical stapler and the Jarvik 7 artificial heart and Dean Kamen who invented the Segway, creative talent flourished in the Boomer generation.

Read more and learn along with me about Baby Boomer Inventions that changed the world. This article highlights the 25 coolest creations.

Once a year,  Realtors in Sussex County gather to auction “baskets” of wonderful goodies to raise money for families this holiday season. All of the funds from this event go to a big day of shopping for presents for 100s of families throughout southern Delaware. This year, the selection of items and baskets ranged from wonderful art work to trips, vacations and golf packages. Join us and see how much fun we had!

In this housing market, it’s natural for a buyer to want to get the absolute best deal. We are bombarded by news of the large foreclosure problem and the talking heads reading the news rarely mention “all real estate is local” and the statistics they are quoting are national averages. But, if you look, there are short sales and foreclosed properties in every market. The question is, are they the best deal for you?

Let’s talk about short sales first. A house listed as a short sale means quite simply that the seller owes one or more banks more money than the house is worth in today’s market. It has nothing to do with the buyer and there are no protections built into the process.  One of my favorite settlement attorneys explained it this way:

If you make an offer on a short sale and the seller accepts the offer, do you have a contract? Yes, but it has an unusual contingency – it is subject to approval by a 3rd Party, the Bank. The buyer has almost no control over the transaction and may never buy the property. The buyer may have to spend money for an inspection and other fees and the short sale lender may come back with changes to the contract after months. The dates in the original contract mean nothing to the bank – they just don’t care. (more…)