Dear friends,
I hope you are all staying safe, healthy and sane in all of this. I know that it's been a difficult time and we are all facing challenges in some way, although hopefully finding some positives in between. I'll first say that this note is long overdue and something I have been wanting to do for awhile (even before this crisis!).
Second, if you are on the Front Line in any way and still going to work every day (whether a medical professional, teacher working via Zoom, in the food industry, etc), please send me a note as well. I would like to send you a small gift as a token for all you're doing.
Now, onto my book....
I remember my first few years in real estate and the time I spent writing these little "letters" (literally, days sometimes!) - not only did I enjoy it, but I always felt it was such a big part of how I grew my business in the first place. They weren't the canned emails you were getting constantly or automatic market updates - they were me talking to you and giving my take on life and real estate. So, in sending this - I hoped it wouldn't come across as one of the latest COVID update emails we're all getting, nor be insensitive to those who may be having a more difficult time.
Just a heartfelt hello and maybe the start of more to come - so please let me know if there's anything you'd like to hear most about. If I'm lucky maybe this note might even inspire you to reach out and say hi :-)
Because I know for one,
I owe a lot of you a phone call or text to say hi! I have no excuse except that time flies and life seems to move even faster... or at least it did before all of this. I started my 2020 with the resolution that I'd find ways to slow down, be more present, and reconnect with the many people I've lost touch with. Between a business that had almost doubled over the years and finally being in a real relationship (PS,
I'm engaged!!), it was so hard to balance it all. Don't get me wrong - I have loved every minute of it.. but I also yearned for a better way. I read this fabulous book by Emily Ley (
When Less Becomes More) that totally resonated and inspired me. I deleted social media from my phone (2 months & counting!), started interviewing for my first full-time assistant, and took my first ever 10 day / 3 different destination trip... I mean, by the end of February let's just say this girl was READY for a new and improved 2020.
Of course, along with the rest of the world,
I got my "slow down" wish sooner than expected and not in the way I hoped. Fast forward two months later, and here I am like most of us - every day waking up and thinking, is this really our lives right now?! But also... slowly but surely trying to adapt to this "new normal". Trying to stay positive and relish in the moments I never had before (like daily 5pm walks with J, cooking dinner every night & family zoom dates) while also staying focused and taking advantage of the time to catch up on the many things I'd always been putting off (although we are still procrastinating on our wedding address list ;-)). Trying NOT to think about things like: how hard it is not seeing family, will I have a wedding this year? (or a dress!), and what my real estate career might look like in 2021.
And of course, realigning my business goals and trying to find creative ways to keep moving ahead in real estate. Even though we are deemed "essential", there are far fewer transactions happening while so many are waiting it out. There are still some people buying and selling, and for those clients I am doing everything I can to help and as safely as possible.
How will this affect the market and real estate in the long-run? That I could talk about all day and probably best for another email - but I'll say that for now we are not in a "housing crisis" and prices have yet to be truly impacted. There are opportunities to negotiate for sure, but I've also still seen multiple offer situations, even during this. Some real estate experts think the market will come back stronger than ever when this is done. I am torn on that prediction, but for now only time will tell.
So while real estate will be different for awhile and the world feels a bit upside down, I hope to continue finding the positives and come out of this stronger. I wish the same for all of you, and
I'd love the chance to reconnect and hear about YOU and how you're holding up in all this. So please reach out and say hi anytime - text, call or email - whether it's just to say hello or to ask real estate related questions. I'll do Zoom walk-throughs of your home and share tips and advice on what to do before selling, host virtual first-time buyer meetings.. or even just a Zoom date to catch up, NOT talk real estate and enjoy some new company (we all need it!). And if we're not Facebook friends and you'd like to be,
look me up there too. While it's off my phone now, I still check here and there and am grateful for a way to keep some sort of connection during all of this.
All the best to you and your loved ones during this difficult time.
Stay safe,
Melanie
