You can pick your friends, but not your family — or your neighbors. Here’s what you need to know.
By Geoff Williams, FrontDoor.com | Published: 9/22/2008

It used to be that everyone knew their neighbors. At the very least, you’d meet them after the kid next door accidentally hit a baseball through your living room window, or an apron-clad housewife appeared on your back porch to borrow a cup of sugar. But that’s so 1950s. During these days of two-paycheck parents commuting and cocooning because they’re afraid to let their kids run unsupervised outside, it is becoming increasingly common to buy a house and eight years later realize that you have never met your neighbors.

If that’s your situation, consider yourself lucky, because oddball and unusual neighbors do still exist. You may find yourself in constant contact with them, especially if you live in a community with yards that are just about a yard long. How you co-exist can make all the difference between living happily ever after or litigiously ever after. That’s why we’ve created a primer on some of the neighbor archetypes you might expect to find and how to handle them.

• Type 1: The Home Devaluers
• Type 2: The Dangerous Neighbor
• Type 3: The Richer Than You Are Neighbor
• Type 4: The Wacky Neighbor
• Type 5: The Difficult Neighbor

The weather was perfect for our outdoor Easter Egg Hunt last weekend at Rockfire. With over 200 children and their families and over 1200 eggs full of candy, everyone had a great time hunting eggs.

Here are some pictures of the event!

Tommorrow is the 55th anniversary/birthday for Griffith & Blair Realtors here in Topeka, Kansas.

When Robert Griffith started the company, rumor is that he didn’t believe in sharing his listings with other companies, he wanted to sell them himself, and back then and women in real estate were non-existent. Things sure have changed in our company and in the industry in the past 55 years.

Now, we as agents share our listings with the WORLD by posting them in the MLS and on the internet. We also love when other agents and companies show and sell our homes, and as for women in the industry, need I say more?

The staff threw a party for the agents to celebrate this historic day and the kick off for a new sales contest for the agents.

The agents really had no idea when they walked in that they would be handed a lei and be in the middle of a LUAU! Breakfast of fruit and pastries were served to the agents and fruit smoothies with umbrellas seemed to be the beverage of choice, all served under a TIKIHUT!

Our CEO Bryon Schlosser came dressed as a hula dancer and was the talk of the celebration. He gave a encouraging talk about the significance of 55 years and that we plan on being here another 55 more! We then presented the agents with the rules and terms of the contest and everyone was ready to participate and rush out of the office to begin racking up points for their team!

If you happen to see a Coldwell Banker agent in the next few weeks, I am sure you will see excitement and motivation about this new contest. Help your favorite agent and ask them how their team is doing in the contest and they will let you know how you could help them take the lead!

REALTORS® are versatile and have many uses. While you will occasionally find someone who has managed their entire lives without one, most people need good REALTOR® on one or more occasions.

Here’s a handy guide of when and when to NOT use a REALTOR®.

Five things you should ALWAYS use a REALTOR® for.

1. The most obvious time to call your REALTOR® is when you need to buy or sell real estate. This makes your REALTOR® very happy and a happy REALTOR® is a joy to behold.

2. Another great way to use a REALTOR® is when someone you know needs to buy or sell real estate. REALTORS® love referrals and this will get you on the “Nice List” for Christmas.

3. Market Information. If you want current information on the housing market, you could listen to the national news but if you want the real skinny on YOUR market, call a REALTOR®

4. Area information. If you want to know what is going on in the community, a good REALTOR® can help.

5. REALTOR® repellent. You know the saying; the best defense is a good offense. Well, having the name of your REALTOR® handy will fend off the advances of every other REALTOR® you encounter. Don’t lie though. We talk! If you are going to open houses and saying that you are working with so and so….. so and so will find out and will be calling you.

Five things you should never use a REALTOR® for.

1. Roofing, electrical, plumbing (or any other type) of inspector. REALTORS® know a LOT about the ins and outs of property transactions. And even though they may have attended HUNDREDS of home inspections you really really need to use professional inspectors.

2. Legal advice. That’s what Lawyers are for and they are great at it.

3. Tax advice. See #2

4. Delivering your child. Most REALTOR® don’t know nuthin’ bout birthin’ no babies. Again, call a professional.

5. Taxi Service. I once found myself showing a particular “client” homes conveniently close to the time this person had to be at work. Of course since I’m such a nice person, I had no trouble dropping them off at work after seeing the house. Of course since I’m such an astute person, I eventually figured out they had no intention of actually BUYING a home and was simply taking advantage of a free ride. The last home I showed them turned out to be in Scranton. The basement had a secure lock… I think they may still be there…..

Vicki Trembly is a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair American Home Call her if you need a ‘matchmaker’ to help you in your search for a home. (785) 224-5408 or Vicki.Trembly@ColdwellBanker.com

It often starts with a selection process that is eerily similar to online dating.

You surf websites looking at the available homes. You really don’t know what you are looking for. Then one catches your eye.

You set up a date. Sometimes, this takes a lot of dates.

You finally find your dream home and pop the question! I mean make an offer. Often there are negotiations involved and with a little luck the deal gets… consummated.

Now the waiting begins. It’s not easy. There are rules to follow and conditions to be met. You have a lot to learn before making this new addition to your life.

Closing day brings the real birthing pains. Stress can be high and it’s sometimes scary but when they place those keys gently into your hands, you know it was all worth it.

Vicki Trembly is a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair American Home Call her if you need a ‘matchmaker’ to help you in your search for a home. (785) 224-5408 or Vicki.Trembly@ColdwellBanker.com