Thoughts on our Changing Lives

March Madness is canceled, the NBA is shut down, the Masters is postponed, and my Aunt Marge’s senior bowling has even thrown in the towel. Now restaurants and bars are closed, and our 40-handicap governor is threatening to shut down all entertainment facilities including golf courses. I have not tested positive, but the coronavirus is killing me.

There is nowhere to go and nothing to do. My wife suggested we take a walk, but I don’t walk anywhere unless I have a golf club in my hand and it’s cart path only. 

My kids have a restraining order on us and won’t let us come within 200 yards of the grandchildren. And we can no longer eat out, but when we tried to cook at home, there were cobwebs in the oven.

The network channels are inundated with coverage of the virus. The golf channel has been showing reruns of old tournaments, which are almost as riveting as watching my brother-in-law’s video of his family camping trip to Yellowstone. 

Paranoia is off the tracks. Before the shutdown, we were having dinner at a local bar. I let out a loud sneeze and everyone at the surrounding tables started yelling "check please." My stock portfolio is plummeting and most of our cash is currently invested in toilet paper. I am washing my hands 137 times a day. I don’t touch anyone. I don’t even touch myself. I have been using tongs to go to the bathroom. This has to stop.

Our society and economy have been crippled by a microscopic virus. Scientists have not yet determined the exact origin but have narrowed it down to some moron in China eating Bats or other exotic animals. And no one is sure how to prevent or cure it. In the past, the ways to prevent contracting a contagious disease were simple: don’t eat in restaurants with numerous health violations and wash your hands after using a public bathroom.

Our Golf foursome does not pose a medical risk to mankind. My friend, George is virus-free. Social distancing has not been a problem for him. Other than us, he doesn’t have any friends. Bob, my neighbor is a urologist who has been working from home for several weeks. He has developed a way to do remote prostate exams by having patients sit on their cell phones. And our other partner, Jerry tested himself with a kit he bought online. However, he thinks he may have gotten the wrong kit. It showed no traces of the virus but indicated that he was pregnant with twins.

As the pandemic plays through, it is giving us a glimpse into our inevitable future where all meals are delivered, all entertainment comes through the tv screen, and all human interaction is through our cell phone. Where schooling is online at home, exercise is on a stationary bike in our basement, medical testing is done at drive-thru windows, and colonoscopies are performed at Jiffy Lube. The world is changing. It is becoming less interpersonal as technology consumes us. So now that we have time on our hands, everyone should take a moment to cherish this fading era, when friends still get together to hit a little ball around an open field for no good reason other than to enjoy the companionship of their fellow man.

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Our Thoughts on the Covid-19 Virus

The current threat of COVID-19 virus (Corona virus) is unprecedented, affecting all aspects of our personal and business daily lives. 

The United States leads the world in medical practices, research and advancements. Many viruses have surfaced over the last ten years such as Ebola, the Swine Flu, Birds Flu, Secure Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the Zika virus and many others as each were addressed resulting in a successful treatment and outcome in creating a vaccine that limited the effects and spreading of such diseases amongst the world’s population. 

We should be most confident that a treatment and vaccine will also be developed in combating this latest virus in the very near future.

We must be patient, heed the warnings and advice given by the Center for Disease Control and government officials and take all necessary steps in attempting not to be exposed to this virus. 

Our clients may continue to show their home under strict guidelines for entering the home.
They may also choose to place their home on Temporarily off the Market status.

During this time, we are continuing to serve our clients and are committed to protecting our clients and their home the best we can in this unprecedented environment.            

We are actively taking the following steps to ensure that we are doing what we can to keep everyone safe: 

• Posting signage asking anyone who has been or has had contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is exhibiting symptoms to not enter the property but to instead reschedule their tour.

• Wipe down all doorknobs, counters and points of high touch before and after showings. 

• Asking visitors to remove their shoes when they enter a home. 

• Encouraging our team to work remote and engage in social distancing. 

Why did a comparable home sell for much more money?

Question:  My home will not sell at $150,000, while the home (at the address I just sent you) sold for $18,000 more than my home is listed for. My home has very similar sq ft. Can you explain why?

Answer: After reviewing your home and your competition, the reason for the big gap in price is your home is 25 years older with no updates. The home that sold for $18,000 more than what you are listed for, had updates and a modern finished basement. 
Using square feet as a measuring guide is ok as long as you compare all the features of the homes.

If your home isn't selling, you are too high for what buyers are willing to pay taking into account the updates that they would need to make.