Ok, by now it’s possible you are beginning to think I am just short of being “the crazy dog lady.” You know, the one you’ve heard stories about but never actually met in person? The one who likes dogs just a little more than people and is looking for a shoe to move into? Oh wait, that’s the cat lady right? Well, regardless, it should come as no surprise that my animal obsession has followed me into the real estate world. And why not? Take a minute to think about your house….is it really yours, or does it somehow belong more to Fido and Mr. Whiskers? Ever walk into your home to find your cat precariously perched just above your head, ready to pounce (what exactly are they doing up there)? And how many times have you come home to find your belongings “rearranged” by the dog? Or wake up in the middle of the night to find them staring at your face with a certain “intensity”…. we may fool ourselves into thinking they want to play, or need to go out, but I have a sneaky suspicion they are up to a little more than we think (and I’m not ruling world domination out at this point). Ultimately, our pets rule our roosts, and we are really just there to cater to their every whim. (Wait, am I the only one who does this?)
So, back to the subject at hand. Aside from paying a portion of my commission to rescue organizations as my way of giving back, I’ve also begun to look at other ways I may be able to support the four-legged friends who bless our families and our homes with laughter and love. In all honesty, I am stumbling on this accidentally. I’ve been asked several times to make sure to pay attention to “x” or to make sure the property has “y”, because it’s an old dog, or because they work long hours and it’s important that their pet be safe. And it comes naturally for me to do it because I am geared to think that way anyway (yep, the crazy dog lady thing keeps popping up, doesn’t it?).
When I think about it, those of us who are animal lovers go nuts when it comes time to move making sure our pets are safe and comfortable through the process and once we land in our new space. Then there are those of you who aren’t animal people, but who have had the lucky fortune of knowing plenty of us who are, and also know exactly what I am talking about. You know, the people who have had to leave dinner early because their dog wasn’t acting right and they were worried, or who had to cancel plans last-minute and miss the party because their cat ate too much catnip. Or possibly, the person who stayed home from a weekend getaway to Winter Park because her sweet little girl somehow got into something bad and ended up having surgery, and she needed to be there to eagle eye her while she recovers (I will neither confirm nor deny this is the very reason I am writing this blog at 9pm on a Saturday night).
Truly, I wouldn’t have it any other way, and I understand why people are concerned about their pets during a move and I understand the stress that it places on all family members; those with 2 legs and those with 4. I appreciate those of us who worry that there isn’t enough light in the house during the day, while our pet is home alone, or that the yard isn’t safe enough for them to be out while we are away. And I’m not saying these are the only reasons a person may choose to purchase a home or walk away from it, but I do understand that they come into play and I will promise you this – you never need to be embarrassed of making crazy pet requests of me (because I probably sit at the front of the line here anyway). And I also promise that I will help you in whatever other important things you need – finding a dog sitter while you make the move, or necessary specialists in your area after you are settled.
And let’s be honest, as the crazy dog lady (time to own it I guess), I am the first to admit that I have gone above and beyond for my pooches…..raise your hand if you had a fence put around your front yard so your rescue dog and her sidekick could have more room to romp? (Thank goodness I was dating the fence guy at the time!). Yes, I did that….. and I only became aware after the fact of the added bonus that I, too, was able to enjoy the front porch with a glass of wine more often, and that I happened to doubled my living space (always good for resale value). Apparently, the apple doesn’t fall far from our familial tree either; my sister joined suite not long ago, after moving into her new place. A home just isn’t home unless Mr. Miles is sitting on the front porch, basking in the sunshine.
So, somehow, every part of what makes me, me, is finding its way into my working life and I’ve decided to be okay with that. I am officially coming out of the proverbial closet tonight, as I look at my sleeping, injured pup, to admit that I am an animal loving, home selling, real estate agent who will do everything I can to make sure that you are nothing less than 100% satisfied with your new home, and that everything that is important to you, is important to me as well, be that chickens, or dogs, or sea monkeys (hey, you never know). I say this on the heels of a conversation I had with a business mentor of mine. As we talked about our passions and how that tends to drive us in our businesses, he said to me: “You can’t find your tribe if you aren’t your authentic self; don’t you want to find your tribe?” As it turns out, I do…… and this just may be a first step….
Until next time….
