Email ElizabethSupport of A Cure For Cancer
In support of a cure for cancer, today’s blog comes to you from our exclusive buyer’s agent, Josh Almolsch:
Lately, I’ve begun to consider that inconvenience is a necessity. I am not saying that helping people is inconvenient. No way. I think the purpose of life is to support and serve each other. An excellent way to detect whether doing something is worthwhile is to be in touch with your “Inconvenience Meter.” Some of us tend to build walls around ourselves, including putting on blinders and grinding onto finish the next goal in front of us as a way to keep developing our lives; thus, reaching our goals. I personally do anyway.
I think that motivation and determination tend to be disturbed when things come up that send us in a different direction from our usual routine. Take me, for example. I’m not one of those Realtors who sits around and waits for the phone to ring. Nope. For starters, I don’t have to wait, haha, it rings all of the time! That’s what happens when you are on a Sacramento top producer real estate team. Plus, don’t forget about all of the other wonderful existing clients I help. I pound the pavement looking for homes and wrestle with listing agents on behalf of my clients so that they can get the house of their dreams. I love what I do.
When I was asked to take on this task of running for “Man of The Year” by raising $50,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) in an effort to find a cure for cancer, I knew this was to be a huge undertaking. It would inconvenience not only my free time but my business. But, then I thought about it again, knowing were are 174,250 people in 2018 diagnosed and inconvenienced with new cases of Leukemia, Lymphoma or Myeloma accounting for about 10 percent of the estimated 1,735,350 new cancer cases diagnosed in the US in 2018.
Now, I am not sure if the following quote from the movie National Treasure is actually in the United States Constitution; but, for days after LLS asked me to run for “Man of The Year,” I heard “if there’s something wrong, those who have the ability to take action, have the responsibility to take action.” I had to do this BECAUSE it was inconvenient. This is often how we know we should do something. At least for those of us who push on, day to day knocking out tasks, meetings and deals.
The ten weeks between March 28th and June 8th, 2019, is when inconvenience is a necessity for me. Now, this is the best inconvenience I have ever been blessed to be a part. I mean, check out this video link about what they are doing to fight new cases of cancer. While we have raised a decent amount so far, we are nowhere near our goal of $50,000. This is where we need your help!
If you have a business, you can be a sponsor of this elegant and high profile finale gala held at the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Sacramento on June 8th. Or, you can certainly submit a personal donation. All of this can be done through visiting my Josh Amolsch LLS website.
Your contribution of any amount is greatly appreciated. Many people have been impacted by one of these terrible diseases or have known someone who has. Hopefully, this is when inconvenience is a necessity for you in support of a cure for cancer
Please contact Josh Amolsch with questions about LLS and donating at josh@joshamolsch.com He is one of our exclusive buyer’s agents at Weintraub & Wallace Realtors with RE/MAX Gold. If you want expert help to achieve your real estate goals, call 916-233-6759.
— Josh Amolsch
Real Estate Contracts Using Digital Signatures Like DocuSign
Real estate contracts using digital signatures like DocuSign can be an excellent tool, or it can be a real pain. Yesterday was a prime example. We received a purchase contract on one of our listings in the morning. We sent it out for digital signatures. Our seller had signed it but evidently didn’t click on the finish button. This stalled the entire process. I contacted our seller, but he said he had completed the process and could not finish it. I logged on to DocuSign, and it was not complete. What to do?
Though he was the only legal signature required for his corporation, he also has a silent partner. He informed me he wanted them both to sign the agreement as well. We uploaded the second signer and sent it out again for signatures. Still, no completion alert came in the email. The second attempt had also stalled yet again. Also, the purchase contract had now expired. It is feeling a bit like Groundhog Day at this point.
Signing real estate contracts using Digital signatures like DocuSign was undoubtedly proving to be a challenge for our sellers. DocuSign email also can only sign one person at a time before it is automatically sent to the next person to sign. I always sign first, so I know it went out. The second signer, the managing partner, seemed to be having issues. Or, perhaps he wanted to see his partners’ signatures before he signed? I decided to upload the purchase contract yet again and add my extension of time addendum, which included verbiage: “this is an as-is sale, the roof and pest damage would not be repaired.”
Third time is the charm. I decided to place the second partner of the corporation into first place as a signer, so the managing partner would sign last. it is now 6 PM as the partners were busy during the day. This time It worked like a charm. The purchase agreement came back fully signed. We are now in escrow. Technology is helpful, but it can not replace human interaction. DocuSign could not know to add on another buyer. It does not resend when stalled with the second party. Also, it is not intuitive, so it could not figure out what was needed as there was another factor that had not been communicated; the managing partner needed to see the second partner’s signature, before feeling comfortable to sign.
Maybe someday DocuSign will be able to ask questions and complete the process without human intervention. These are not new glitches, and they’ve not corrected this glitch in the last 17 years. I was the first Realtor to use a laptop and digital signature in my office. I had a buyer friend, Jason Smith, and he worked in the technology field. He wanted to buy a home in the Phoenix Field area of Fair Oaks. He said, ” You do use digital signatures, right?” I replied, ” I do now.” I logged on and used it for the first time. Jason signed the offer, and within two hours, including showing the property, I had the proposal sent to the agent’s email. The offer was accepted within 10 minutes. I knew at that moment, my life as a Realtor was about to change in a big way.
Before DocuSign-type technology was available, I had been delivering offers in person or by fax. I no longer use a fax machine. My transaction coordinator has e-fax in the event a client who is not comfortable with digital signatures needs to fax. The moral of this story, technology can expedite; however, in this case, I could have driven to the two partners’ homes, obtained the signatures and scanned them to the buyer’s agent in less time than the digital process had taken yesterday.
If you want to buy or sell using digital signatures, call us as we never give up. We will sign you in person or use fax if needed, whatever it takes. Call Weintraub & Wallace Realtors at RE/MAX Gold, 916-233-6759.
— JaCi Wallace
Finding The Words To Write A blog
When you sit down, finding the words to write a blog entails finding something that seems interesting to you. When I’m interested in a topic the words come easily. Do you know exactly what you are going to say or do you wing it? Some people, I hear, prepare an outline, spread out Post-It notes, open related books to bookmarked pages, scour the Internet for fact-checking and even then, they face a blank screen with a blinking mouse.
I find my best writing comes when I let my fingers do the typing. If I give a topic too much thought, I might never write it. So, I let the words fall where they may because I can always go back and clean them up later. You know, to write a blog always remove all the profanity. 🙂 Just kidding!
Most readers, I find, want to know why they should read your words, so your title ought to be compelling, in some sense. Basically, readers want to know:
- What you are writing about
- Why it is important
- How they can use this information
- Pros and Cons
- What you can share that they won’t find elsewhere
I try to write from a very narrow viewpoint, meaning I want to convey one general thought. Notwithstanding the fact that writing around keywords is good for SEO, it also helps to keep your blog focused. Writing a blog every day is a commitment as your readers will expect something every day and try to post at a consistent time.
Sometimes I am simply amazed that I have so much to say about what could be considered a mundane topic. I can’t count the number of times I’ve started to write about a phrase, wondering to myself exactly what information do I have to share and why would anybody care? But by the time I am nearly finished and find myself running to the end of my character allotment (at About.com, now The Balance, most stuff I wrote about was restricted to 5,000 characters or less), I am often dumbfounded that I had so many ideas running around in my head and that I actually captured them on paper.
To write a blog entails trusting yourself and trusting your instincts. Everyone may not agree with what you write, especially if you write about selling Sacramento real estate. Trust me, everyone will not agree with your words but then isn’t that the point? Let readers decide if what you are saying evokes something from the reader. I’d like to know if this has happened to you. Do you ever scratch your head and mutter: “Where did these words come from?” 🙂
If you are interested in buying or selling real estate please call Weintraub & Wallace Realtors at RE/MAX Gold, 916-233-6759.
— Elizabeth Weintraub
Sneak Peek of This Rancho Cordova Home Rehab In Progress
Sneak peek of this Rancho Cordova home rehab in progress was surprising. The owner told me she had updated the entire house both interior and exterior except for the slab, the electrical and the plumbing inside the walls. This photo above shows the kitchen with upgraded shaker cream colored cabinets. A glass tile backsplash, with upgraded counter slabs and black appliances.
This feels like a modern but functional kitchen. A popular five burner gas stove to cook with, dishwasher and microwave, completes the appliance package. Do not miss the double stainless sinks under the kitchen window which looks onto the large backyard.
The windows are all new white vinyl dual panes throughout for increased energy efficiency. Luxury vinyl floors complete this space. The Kitchen opens to the family room with a stone covered fireplace. The floorplan offers so much flexibility depending on lifestyle. A large formal dining area with formal living room and double entry front doors speak to a quality lifestyle. I saved the best for last; there is what appears to be a new Goodman HVAC system, as well as a Rheem water heater.
There are four large bedrooms upstairs with two full baths. Additionally, a one-half bath located downstairs for guests is easily accessible from the kitchen and living areas. The large indoor laundry room with outside door access will be appreciated on cold days, as no trips required to the garage to change out laundry. We can’t forget to mention the garage is extra deep and immaculate. A Rancho Cordova rehab project with so many upgrades was a pleasure to tour.
The workers were completing the stucco install on the exterior while I was there. A new roof was put through its paces this week, with this latest May rainstorm and no visible leaks. To say this home is move in ready is an understatement. It appears the homeowner did update much of the entire house, even some of the stucco exterior. She said she has the receipts. Why would a property owner with a Rancho Cordova home rehab so extensively? Good question.
She told me it had been a marijuana-grow house and that her previous tenants were arrested for marijuana cultivation. She said she filed an insurance claim for much of the damage. Also, she confirmed to me over the phone that she had completed a mold test. It is always recommended for a tenant or a buyer to verify work and inspections independently.
I met her contractor at the property today. He invited me to take a sneak peek of this Rancho Cordova rehab project. The seller approved for me to take pictures as well. The contractor provided me his business card. He said all work was completed to code. As a Sacramento Realtor, we do not pull permits, nor verify contractors license numbers. We do, however, suggest tenants or buyers thoroughly investigate a property.
To help you achieve your real estate goals call Weintraub & Wallace Realtors at RE/MAX Gold, 916-233-6759.
— JaCi Wallace
Selling Real Estate And Law School
Selling real estate and law school has come up in my life on a few occasions. While managing the Sacramento and Placer county regions for a previous real estate company, I almost applied to Lincoln Law School. Our risk management attorney, Eric Larsen, rest his soul, had encouraged me to apply. He wrote a letter of recommendation giving me a five-star review to suggest I be grandfathered into the program. Eric was my mentor. He taught me everything I know about real estate law, disclosure, due process and lawsuits, etc. I was so fortunate to work alongside him for almost 10 years.
With my previous law enforcement, this seemed like a natural path, selling real estate and law school both seemed doable at the time. After much long and careful thought, I decided that I would not return to night school. I moved on and left management to sell real estate at RE/MAX Gold. I now use my knowledge to help our clients and our team to excel in what we do best, sell real estate.
Of course, the beauty of this story is my niece, Candace Guthmiller, who worked part-time as my social media manager, just graduated from UC Davis Law School. The photo was a picture from the weekend at her graduation party. Left to right, yours truly in the red coat, Candace’s dad, John, my sister Lisa, Candace’s brother John Daniel, aka Bubby, directly in front of Bubby is my niece, Candace. To the right of her is Wendy, who is married to my cousin Michele, to the far right in the picture.
Candace has been in college for many years. Now, she enters the workforce with full-time employment. She has been pre-hired by a large tax law firm in Roseville. The grueling study to take the Bar now begins for the next few months. With only a 30% pass rate, the Bar is not an easy exam. Candace’s mom has been a tremendous help to her. No matter what the obstacles Lisa, my sis, worked tirelessly to ensure her daughter had an excellent education. The photo below of Candace and her mom, my Sis.
Candace did have a bit of taste of what my job is about, by watching me sell real estate. She was eager to learn more about what I do as a Sacramento top producer. Working for our team, she was able to use her creativity in marketing online. Candace is also quite a talented artist. I hope someday She will go into real estate law or probate. Both would be amazing fields of practice helping people. Not that tax law is not essential, of course. Fly high and long Candace, as you now put your mark on the world.
To help you achieve your goals in real estate call Weintraub & Wallace Realtors at RE/MAX Gold, 916-233-6759.
— JaCi Wallace
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