What I’m Grateful For: Dogs (#1 of What Surely Will be Many)
For most of my life, I would have said I was a cat person. Growing up, we had a family dog that I thought was fine, but all my animal BFFs were cats. Cats were emotionally self-contained, they didn’t care a fig if you were buried in a book all afternoon and wouldn’t emerge until bedtime, disheveled and lost in the woods of Narnia. They bathed themselves constantly so obviously were much cleaner than dogs.
–Ok, here we have to take an important scientific pause. I was homeschooled much of my elementary school years, and one year we had a science experiment where we took petri dishes filled with that agar goo stuff, and we carefully tweezed out dog hair, cat hair, human hair, and probably other things I don’t remember now, inserted each hair into it’s carefully labeled petri dish, and watched what happened. This terrible, unforgettable experiment cruelly revealed not only are cats dirtier than dogs, they are SO MUCH DIRTIER and their grimy, germy 7-day-old petri dish growth boggled my 8-year-old mind. In fact, this early experiment in science neatly demonstrated a theorem I encountered in my college philosophy years, which was Demosthenes’ quote, “We believe what we wish to believe” – because despite clear scientific proof to the contrary, I still chose to see cats as cleaner than dogs for the next 30 years. But I digress.–
Recently, and to my surprise, I have become an utterly besotted and unequivocal dog person. And it’s all because of one dog: Chaco, one of the world’s most … “energetic”…. breeds, the infamous Dutch Shepherd. But because this is just Words for the Weekend and not a feature-length essay, we will have to wait till next week to meet Chaco the Dutchie and hear the rest!
What I’m Reading:
Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence by Anna Lembke, MD. This one instantly made my “must read” for pretty much everybody I know, and I literally got it at 4pm and read it in one long sitting that very day.
Totally approachable, clear and cogent, this book lays out the simple fact that our mind’s relationship to the siren call of dopamine is in a real crisis in today’s modern world. Our smartphones and tablets mean easy access to instant gratification is now glued to our fingertips 24-7. And because of how our human brains are wired, this has dramatic consequences for our moods, our attention, even our ability to be the people we want to be. The way the brain deals with the see-saw of pain and pleasure is neatly laid out and simple to understand, with accompanying easy action items to help curb our runaway brains.
In fact, this book helped me realize why Cold Plunging (see last week’s Words!) is so important to my day now, and – spoiler alert – a little pain makes us more attuned to, and able to deeply appreciate and enjoy, daily simple pleasures.
Gene’s Tip of the Week #4:
In Jenn’s last email, she talked about a Cold dip in a freezing tub of water to crank up her day. I live in Florida, and while I don’t have a stock tank or tub of water at 40 degrees, I do have a pool at 66 degrees. Yep, it’s winter here in Florida 🙂 But it got me thinking about heat and how nothing beats a nice warm shower, no matter what time of year it is.
So, I wanted to share an insightful and a bit longer tip this week that I’ve found extremely valuable, especially when working with clients in colder regions.
It’s all about drawing attention to a home’s water heating system. I know it may seem like a mundane detail, but hear me out! When preparing a listing, my RE friends make sure to highlight any energy-efficient upgrades to the water heater.
I’ve seen today’s buyers break down into a happy dance both in real life and on TV over tankless systems and smart technologies that promise endless hot showers and lower bills. YES, you wanna spotlight these modem features prominently throughout your marketing materials.
Additionally, touting recent maintenance or repairs can work wonders. It reassures buyers that the system will hum along reliably for years to come without issue, preventing price negotiations related to estimating replacement costs down the road.
Eco-conscious buyers will also get all googly-eyed with heart emojis and swoon over solar water heaters or other sustainable systems. In my experience, flaunting these green elements attracts buyers willing to pay premium prices. Cha-ching! Now thats what I’m talking about. On the buying side, do your clients a favor and encourage them to thoroughly inspect the water heating system. Make sure it’s adequately sized for the home’s needs preventing family fights over who gets the hot shower each morning!
Also, calculating the costs of potential upgrades, post-purchase allows buyers to factor that into negotiations, especially if the current system is outdated or inefficient. Recommending replacement options like tankless heaters showcases your consultative value.
At the end of the day, this tip is about understanding lifestyle impacts and planning for costs. It shows clients you can spot the subtle attributes that transform a house into a dream home! When executed strategically, something as mundane as a water heater can actually maximize the value of your listings and negotiations.
Try this idea, and let me know how it worked for you!
Oh, if you haven’t tried a cold plunge yet, I strongly suggest you do. I’ve been experimenting with it for a few days now since Jenn told me about it, and it’s incredible how it’s sharpening my mental clarity and focus to an almost laser-like precision.
Quote I’m Pondering:
“Whosoever is delighted in solitude, is either a wild beast or a god.”
― Aristotle
