A Spring Update

I spent 7 days on the couch last month, down with one of the nastier bugs I’ve had in what felt like years. I don’t “do” sickness well, but as bad as I felt, I was not going to rush it. Typically, I feel the pressure to get back into the office quickly. Historically, getting knocked down by a bug has often followed long stretches of super long days, high stress, and the intense goal setting we do to surpass the previous year’s performance. I am highly (did I mention highly) competitive, and I’ve always believed that if you’re not growing, you’re shrinking.

Our team is on the cusp of something truly special, and 2026 excites me more than any year I can remember. Our industry is currently changing dramatically in many ways, and we have a very special group of people that all want to make a difference in our industry. Normally when I am out, I try to use that time to catch up on new information and systems, read a book about business, leadership, or motivation. This time, though, even focusing my eyes was difficult.

Instead, I decided to binge watch a few of my favorite shows I haven’t seen in years; JAG, NCIS, and The Last Ship (RIP Eric Dane – I love that show). Watching on the streaming service meant I was at the mercy of the advertisers, and what an eye opener that was! I was inundated with betting app commercials, countless drug commercials, and being advised to “start my day with Candy Crush.” You probably know me well enough to know that I have zero interest in these topics, and I was also mystified by the disclaimer to “get help if you have a gambling addiction”, while watching the betting app commercials. What? And it is amazing how much fun those folks are having on the drug commercials, as the litany of side effects is recited by that super positive narrator.

It didn’t take long before I found myself reaching for a book, willing to risk the nausea. My first thought during this enlightening experience was, “I will never retire.” But I added an asterisk to that. I feel we are here doing what we do for a reason. My level of fulfillment is growing, because of the incredible people that continue to come into our lives via this amazing business we have, and our clients’ life stages and situations continue to go through change, which allows us to help them in ways we often didn’t expect. Sometimes abruptly through no decision of their own, and other times through plans made years in advance.

Fulfillment is the key word and emotion here, plain and simple. Fulfillment takes on many shapes and sizes, from charitable giving and time commitment to social enjoyment, to creating a family legacy and memories. Our goals continue to evolve and grow, but in ways I never expected. There is more to come on this topic, so stay tuned.

The real estate market has shifted into spring mode, with more listing inventory coming on the market. We have more upcoming listings on the planning calendar than we have ever had, except for possibly 2021, which was our most productive year ever. Mortgage rates, at the time of this submittal, are at 5.75% for buyers, but expected to fluctuate a bit.

My February 27th blog talks about the homes that are selling fastest, and for top dollar this year. The days of selling “as is” are behind us, and home buyers in 2026 want “move in ready.” When possible, it makes sense to spend a little money on upgrades and repairs, to make your home both more marketable, and appealing, to the most buyers.

We advise current and potential clients multiple times a week on this very topic, and what makes sense to spend a little money on, and what doesn’t. We don’t like clients spending money that won’t yield a return on investment. We are very frank on this topic, and if someone is handy, or has someone available that is, it simply makes sense to make your home appealing to the most buyers as possible.

What we continue to see in our current market is buyers are looking for a home that will take as little (to none) updating and repair. Our home staging follows the same strategy, making your home appealing to the most buyers possible.

Pricing continues to be the other big topic, and “let’s list high, we can always come down” is simply not a good strategy. If a home is priced well above market value, the perception is that the seller is unrealistic and will not be negotiable. You can’t measure unknown, lost opportunities, and the frustration of negative feedback, and going through the challenges of leaving for showings (in an occupied home), leads to disappointed home sellers.

Make it an amazing spring, happy Easter, and a life of fulfillment is my wish for you!