“You Remind Me Of My Grandson” Marleen — a person who follows her heart 8 years ago today I walked into the home of a wise women by the name of Marleen. Sitting at a small round table just big enough for 3 with her friend, male companion, or as she like to call him, “My boyfriend!” chuckling (keep in mind she was in her late 70’s at this time. So, I couldn’t help but laugh). I wasn’t but 3 steps in the door when she walked up to me and gave me a BIG hug. At 6 foot 1 I was much taller than this little petite grandmother who maybe stood 5 foot 2. After reciving such a warm welcome she looked up at me and said, “Tim, you know why I asked you to sell my home?” I responded, “No, but that was going to be my first questions since I don’t know you.” “Honey, you remind me so much of my Grandson. Tall, handsome and I just knew by the look on your face (on that yard sign, for the home I was selling down the street with another nice lady in her 70’s) you would take good care of me.” Marleen said with the sweetest look of sincerity and kindness on her face. It is hard to do anything but want to love a person like Marleen. She was my perfect client. It’s times like these, as your sitting down with someone who has never met you but,
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Client Stories — Matt Wagner & Kim Colvin Every month I choose a very special Story Of The Month. It’s my way of acknowledging good friends and good people. This month’s Story Of The Month is: Matt Wagner & Kim Colvin These two are so much fun to work with. Both have laid back personalities and enjoy life to the fullest. Matt, is an extremely loyal guy who knows what he wants and when he sees it you know. Matt works at TenA Companies the same company I worked for right after graduating college. This company actually played a big role in getting me into real estate. Funny when you think about it…. how small the world is. Everything comes full-circle. Kim, well let me tell you, she can put a smile on your face any day, any time and any place. You feel energy in the room when Kim is around. Very happy to say she is also my cousin. One of many great cousins on the Colvin (Mom’s) side of the family. Kim is dedicated to helping people which, is something many know and love about her. Having an opportunity to help family members, like Matt & Kim, in making the biggest purchase of their life; is an honor not taken lightly. When purchasing your first home everything is new: Getting financing for hundreds of thousands of dollar (bet you haven’t done that before), Understanding all the “What Ifs” going into buying & owning a home and managing all the
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Jim Colvin & Siobhan O’Malley Our journey began with a phone call asking me to keep a secret. A secret from some of the most important people in his life.. A secret about one of the biggest decisions in his life. My response, “You are killing me Jim!  You tell me something this big and I have to keep quiet for weeks. Don’t worry cuz… I am good at keeping secrets.” Jim and I have been in talks for a few years about work, life, family and the journey from child, to young man and now grown man. I will never forget a lunch, at Lucky 13’s, he and I had. It was like nothing I expected. We talked for 2 hours about everything. As Jim’s older cousin, he asked me about my life’s journey. Things I’ve learned and stuff I did both personally and in business. We shared philosophies in life and I came to realize he is a very sharp guy who is well traveled and enchanting to be around. On the phone, Jim asks me about Stillwater Minnesota and what I knew. As we talk he learned everything I knew about the community of Stillwater, the downtown area, schools and what people think about raising a family in Stillwater.  He proceeded to ask me about locations in St. Paul, like Highland Park, which offer an old world charm with a smaller city feel, local shops and great food.  As we talked I ask, “Jim, I have a
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Buyer Case Study — Aaron, Niki, Austin & AJ Dwyer It’s was all worth it in the end If someone said you would need to sell your home 3 times before you could actually move out… How would you respond? If someone said the 2nd buyer on your home would back out of the transaction the day before closing… How would you feel? If someone then reassured you everything would work out because they have been down this road many times before, would you believe them? I wish we could say this was all just a make believe story and every time you sell a home it is smooth as silk. But, that would be a lie. Reality is, more often than not you will run into a bump or two or three along the way. There are so many moving parts when it comes to coordinating a full real estate transaction you can’t possibly imagine. This is why Aaron looked at me just before we listed the Dwyer family home and said, “Brother, I trust you. If you say it is going to go down like that I believe you. If you say we need to do this or do that, I will do it. I know you are always looking out for our best interests. That’s why we are working with you.” To have a family trust in you this much is an honor I don’t take lightly. Aaron has been like a brother to me since we were in
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