Blog Slacker Here... Birthday Party Update!

Geez has it really been 12 days since I blogged?? What a slacker! I feel like I have so many things to update on it may take a few posts lol

Aside from working like crazy... I have managed to have some fun personal time lately too :)

Jake turned 4! So cute! We had his party this past weekend and it was blast. I know everyone is DYING to see the cake because my cake place is so fabulous and amazing haha... See this previous post for more awesome cakes I have ordered from them and for the contact info for Confused Confections Bakehouse! Jake decided he wanted to have a wrestler birthday party, I had all these amazing plans for it, per my usual party planning craziness, but after working a hundred hours that week (felt like it at least), my planning was not up to its best :(  However, if I do say so myself, I think it still turned out awesome and all the kids had a BLAST!  Ok for decorations.... we went with the WWE theme colors (I know all the ladies prob aren't familair ha, I wasn't either don't feel bad)... Black, Red & Silver/Grey ... Balloons are a must of course... 

I bought letter stickers at The Party Store and put on some of the balloons for "WWE" and "RAW" :)

This banner came from The Party Store also and may be my new fave thing.... they are only $26 and they print them in 20 minutes (perfect time to wait while the balloons are being blown up) and you can put anything you want on them. They have clip art, lots of fonts, and you can take a flash drive for a pic.

It was a pretty good size too! Loved it!

Next I had to get a little creative and quickly because I did this 3 hours before the party lol

I found this wrestler on a coloring book website that you can print pictures and then color them. So I printed it out and took it to Kinkos and blew it up onto a 3ft paper size and then cut them out, let the kids color them before the party and then glued Jake's head to the tops LOL and hung them around the food table and everyone loved them! Jake cracked up and now they are hanging in his room because he refuses to take them down haha!

For party favors I just did all sorts of candy, snacks, and goodies in color appropriate bags, and got the little WWE stickers from Etsy to put on them (hard to see sorry)...

These were just a fun little game that some kids did and some took home in their goodie bags... I ordered these from Etsy also and they were VERY cheap (like $10 maybe) and arrived quickly and just as I ordered

 Now for the cake!! They did an awesome job as always, Jake totally freaked out, he loved it! 

So cute!! Love it! It was so yummy too... Strawberry cake was the top one (Jakes fave) then regular yellow cake on the bottom layer and both were so good! Their cakes look awesome but they really do taste so good too which is hard to find!

The hit of the party... the inflatable obstacle course!

I have found the best people to rent these from (Thanks Renee!!), if you are in Lex and ever need one, you have to call them... they are so sweet, a husband and wife, they are insured and VERY reasonable on prices. We have rented several before in the past and this was by far the best one and the cheapest too. This one we will be using again without a doubt because I'm pretty sure every person at the party enjoyed it, adults and all! We raced and had so much fun... :)

Gosh I love him! He is obsessed with pop tarts... all he asks me for!

This little ditty I got at The Party Store also and I love it :) It's a Palm Tree Cooler... fill the bottom with ice and drinks... it didn't go with our theme but it just looked cute! 

 Chrissy, Me & Heather

Eric & Chrissy

Jennifer and my most fave precious little girl, Madelyn :) love her.

Kenzy and her friend, Elizabeth

Me and my brother :)

Blowing out his candles :)

Love this pic :)

And look who also made an appearance... Baby Jack! Chris's nephew. So precious!  

It was a great party!Do I need to start a party planning company in all my free time? I mean how fun would that be?More posts to come... lots of pics to share :)

Skaneateles Real Estate - The Bi-Monthly Update (sort of)

It's been longer than I like to go as far as writing here.  No excuse.  I simply was extremely busy, had friends in over the weekend for dinner at Bluewater on Friday and Rosalie's on Saturday.  As I get older I realize that the friends I had as a girl are the ones I am more likely to stay in touch with - which is odd in a way, because as I look at our stats we are vastly different.  Life style - only four of the eight are married (still), five of us have grown children, only one is a grandmother, and only three of us have full-time jobs.  We all agree on having pets, dogs and cats and even horses, and that may be the only thing.  Plus we like each other mostly, and can generally pick up where we left off.  My world is certainly richer for their continuing presence.

But back to Skaneateles and the new listings that have appeared in the past 16 days.  The listings can be summed up by saying they are half re-lists - houses that have been refreshed to appear newly listed either after being leased or with a price drop or simply "because."  Just as a new one came on in the village for slightly under $400,000 (and has a very decidedly "cool" factor) another one was re-listed at about the same price.  There are now 43 village homes on the market.

Outside of the village 9 listings came on the market.  Five are re-lists, ranging in price from under $200,000 to well over a million dollars.  Two are waterfront.  The new ones are in the $250,000 to $400,000 range - even the one with lake rights and the other right on the water (think small, very small...) 

Because guilt has caught up with me, I will continue on with the contingent properties.  There are 14 in all - I don't remember a time when there were so many! - and four of them are new.  A pretty village property that's been dropping its price fairly regularly is now marked contingent, a house in the town that came on with a very good price is also gone after just a few weeks, and a smaller one with one of the lowest prices is also marked contingent.  A beautiful waterfront home listed under two million - but just - is also as sold as "contingent" can be.

Nothing new in the "under contract, do not show" listings.  There are 8 marked pending, including two new ones that went directly there, one a waterfront property and the other with acreage.  Cash is good these days, and while I have no knowledge that this is what the financing is, going directly to pending often means just that.

We now have over 20 homes sold and closed this year.  This compares with 27 in 2010, 38 in 2009, and only 19 in 2008 by this date in June.  Three new ones were reported.  One sold over its list price, another sold just about at its list price, and a third came in at about 20% of its original price.  Really can't predict a trend here at all - except that the right pricing brings buyers.  Not always true, because each house is different, but the adage about "if you lower the price far enough someone will buy it!"

So things have slowed enough to be able to report the update in one blog - but soon the contingents will turn into pendings that will turn into solds.  My prediction:  that it won't take five and a half months to close the next 20!

Meet Emily...

Lots of things going on this week... first and foremost... big news people... I have an assistant! WooHoo! Finally feeling like I can breath a little now... and she is so fabulous words can not even describe!

Meet Emily...

I know, I know... she is so cute! Not only is she precious but she's basically a genius too! Girl hooked me up with a google calendar on my phone and whatnot in about 5 seconds on the first day and it is amazzzzing!

So excited to have her help and boy did I need it! Thank you Emily!!

So just for fun here are some reasons why I love Em and know she is THE perfect match for me ;)

1. She came to learn and train with a Lily Pulitzer notebook, lol (um duh you're hired immediately! ha!)

2. We have the same be-jeweled flip flops from J.Crew that are my fave!

3. I already sold her a house previously so she knows I'm a little OCD and OOC! (good to get that out in the beginning of a relationship I think)

4. I was totally kidding when I said her title should be called "Keeper of Chaos" but she actually liked it and I am pretty sure would have used it but we thought "Administrative Assistant" sounded much more professional :)

5. Among her many other amazing talents, she tells the best stories of anyone I know!

6. There are so many other things I could rave about with Emily but lastly I will leave you with this...

The girl knows Celebs haha!

So jealy that she got to meet and cuddle with John Wall!!! LOL :) Dang her!

Well that is Emily :) I keep telling her she needs to blog it would be wonderful! Maybe one day!!

Until then... you can follow her on Twitter @Cew524 ... She's a great little tweeter :)

Next topic of discussion...

I am at the gas station, minding my own business in line... and the guy next to me says,

"I like your Mercedes, I have a white one at home just like it, just paid $64k for it (totally not possible, should have stopped listening right there ha), I keep her in the garage because I'm a mechanic and I know how much it is to fix those cars and all so don't drive her much, just drive that ole' Buick out there"...

(insert me trying to act like I was on my phone so I didn't have to talk back or look up at him... damn it didn't work, he asks me a question now...)

"What year is yours? How much did you pay for her?"

I basically am forced to look up now and this is what I see... (face anonymous, you never know ha)

Hahahaha not to be Judgy Judy but the 40 of Bud pretty much gives it away... don't think you wanted to know about my car, pretty sure you're a creeper, and don't think I will be talking to you! No Sir! lol

Sooo... Ella is on the swim team this year for the first time and last night was her first meet...

We were a little nervous...

But she did SOO awesome we were so proud of her! 1st Place in Backstroke in her age group! Go Girl!

Can't wait for her to keep getting better and better, she will be amazing!

Today I want to wish a Happy Happy Birthday to my BFF Stephanie...

Sweet 27 :) ha Love you Steph! XOXO

Ok... Carrie and Brad have done it again... I am OBSESSED with this song right now...

They haven't made an actual video yet but at least you can hear the song here.

**Pause my playlist at the bottom of the page before you click**

That's all for today!

Have a great day/night :)

a DREAM Client Testimonial...

I wanted to share this for a few reasons...

1. I think the highest compliment you can be given in my business is a referral from a friend or past client... to know that they were so pleased and happy with their transaction that they would refer my name to someone else that they care about, is the best compliment I could ever ask for!

2. Andrew and Ashley were a breeze to work with... they were so great, excited, easy going, you name it! I enjoyed working with them sooo much!

3. I hope no one reads this and takes it as a "brag" and those of you that know my heart know that's not why I am sharing... but I am sharing because I do most of my business by referrals and I am so very appreciative of them! It is hard to constantly feel like you are "asking" for business as a Realtor... you sometimes can feel like you're a creeper or bug-a-boo haha. So with that said, this is the easiest way for me to share with people how much I love what I do and how much I appreciate everyone's loyalty and business, and most of all the referrals! :) THANK YOU!

If you know someone in Lexington (or surrounding counties lol) who is looking to buy or sell a home, I would absolutely love to help them! Please feel free to message me :)

Here the testimonial from my clients, Drum Roll Please... :)

"Proud new home owner here, and honestly I can’t thank the ever so awesome Dana Gentry enough for making the dream of owning my first home a reality! I first started working with Dana 3 years ago when she totally went out of her way to help me sign a lease on a rental home that I wanted so badly. I had maybe met Dana once through mutual high school friends and happened to notice that she was now in the real estate business. I contacted her on Facebook to inquire about a rental property and, right from the start, she treated me as if we had been lifelong friends. I know that she makes her living selling homes, so the fact that she completely bent over backwards to help me with a rental property really stood out. At that point, I knew that I had found an honest, caring and reliable realtor to deal with in the future when it came time to make one of the biggest purchases of my life.

            Flash forward 3 years and I am now happily engaged, getting ready to get married, and finally feeling ready to make the ever so important purchase of my first home. I knew exactly who to call, and Dana far exceeded the expectations that I had developed after working with her previously. For first time home buyers, let me just tell you that home buying is a PROCESS! I have learned first hand that there are many highs and lows during the hunt. You may fall absolutely in love with a home only to be met with disappointment that it can’t be yours for some reason or another. Dana continued to be so helpful during the tough times, reassuring me that people rarely get the first home they make a bid on, and encouraged me to keep looking. Trust me, you will have a million questions from now until the big closing day, and Dana was as sweet as ever no matter how dumb I thought my question happened to be. I can’t tell you how many times I called or texted Dana at 8 or 9 o’clock at night, long after most people have STOPPED working, yet she was just as helpful and informative as she always is. She no doubt eased so many concerns I had along the way, and her trustworthy contacts with lenders and home inspectors really made the home buying process that much easier.

            I would highly recommend anyone entering the house market, especially first time home buyers, to work with Dana. Right from the start, you will notice how hard she works and how compassionate she is in helping her clients find or sell a home. I honestly don’t know how she works so hard 7 days a week, and still manages to have a smile on her face all the time. Dana, Ashley and I can’t think you enough for all you have done over the past several months. You are no longer just our realtor, but now a good friend that we will continue to work with for years to come. We can’t wait to have you over to celebrate once we get completely moved in!"

A HUGE thank you to the lovely, "soon to be" couple, Andrew and Ashley Pennington (yay!) for writing such a sweet note and letting me share it also! Can't wait to see your new place!! XO!

Pieces of the Peddicords... Finally Married!! :)

This weekend Chris and I had the priviledge of attending a beautiful wedding for my friends/clients Dana & Michael :) Also known as, follow me here, Frankie's girlfriend, Bean's... mom and dad! Ha!
Ignore my weirdo face, but this is the only picture I could find of the two love birds :)
 The wedding was just so beautiful... here are lots of fun pics from the night!  So dang cute... a "Blessing Tree" for the Bride & Groom. Loved it!
Loved this cake... you know how I am with cakes ha and this one was BEAUTIFUL. period.
Love the floral arrangements.... absolutely perfect!
Cute Wedding Party doing their entrance dance :) Loved the green dresses!  Me and my Handsome Fella ;) Picked out that tie all on his own, bless his heart! So cute!First Dance :) How amazing is the back of that dress? Wow!
GENIUS idea... a basket full of flip flops for us ladies who wore shoes for looks and not comfort ha!My friends and wonderful clients who just became 1st Time Home Owners :) Andrew & Ashley! (AMAZING testimonial to come soon from them...sweetest thing I have ever read, seriously!)The two Dana's :) What a beautiful bride! Love her! :)

Love the all girls pic :)
<3 Sweet little PinkLouLou
Nathan Tyler.... friends since 5th grade... makes me feel old ha :)  So Cute! Leah and the life of the party, AKA, Jed :)  Why do I only see you two at weddings? This is a SERIOUS problem lol :)   Pretty Little Ladies :)  Miss Ellen & her BF, "soon to be a new homeowner", Kevin! lol Boy can cut a rug on the dance floor :)
And of course a couple funnies...  

Out of control these groomsmen dancers were I tell ya! ;)

Possibly my fave pic of the night... double fisted Shades of Gray... haha love it Caroline! <3 XO

What a night! So fun! Congrats to the Bride and Groom!

Happy Honeymooning in Mexico :)

Skaneateles Real Estate - The Bi-Monthly Update (sort of) - Part Two



2220 Glencove Road

 I was speaking with the owner today of this wonderful home and we were looking at pricing in Onondaga County.  I told her that over the past few months I've kept an eye on the Post-Standard's Sunday Home page and the property's that have closed.  Each week I am amazed that the prices aren't higher.  The paper publishes the 5 highest-priced houses that sold the past week - generally the fifth house is somewhere around the $300,000 level.  I checked it out on the ML for verification - only 28 homes have sold in the past 12 months in Onondaga County over $500,000.  So we "monitored and adjusted" the price of this Otisco Lake waterfront year-round home to $449,000.  Come and get it!

But what's been happening in Skaneateles?  I've been so busy that the poor second half of this blog got pushed back and back.  (Yes, busy with listings and offers!)  I will catch us up to the minute - this minute, before I go take another listing (so cute - and under $100,000!) 

New contingent, continue to show properties are homes in the village, the town and waterfront.  The village home that sold is listed above $500,000 - so there's another one to add to the list when it closes.  A second one is above a million, and is also waterfront.  Another waterfront a bit farther down the lake has also sold presumably for over 500K also.  Two homes in the town, both around $200,000, and a third another 100K up are marked newly contingent.  That brings to 10 - a lot!

One new one went directly to under contract, do not show - listed around $200,000 also.  The pended property that's new is in the same ballpark.  Together the "U" and "P" categories equal another 10, just waiting to close.

We now have 18 closed properties for the year as reported through today, June 6th.  Two are new, one that's been listed for well over 6 months and the other for only a few months, and waterfront at that.  Both closed within 15% of their initial list price.  Only two more to go and I will publish the list of houses with their closed prices.

But until then - go play!  A lovely June is a gift - before the summer, while the flowers still bloom, and before all the craziness of vacations and graduations and parties take hold.  Just relax, mow and play!