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How do you honestly live day to day – Do you live within a basic framework of trust …..or fear as you go about life?
Perhaps it’s a little mix of the two – like most of us, I’m sure? Perhaps it’s more about which way it’s weighted for us, edging towards trust or more towards the fear?

I have strived to live with the former in my life. I attempt to see the positive or funny side of things if I can – but I am not a comedienne by any stretch of the imagination. Make no mistake though – I have also had both short and long bouts of falling into the dark well, staring at the black dog and flailing around like a rabid soul. That sense of feeling like I am drowning in that deep well water of anxiety, sadness, bulimia as a teenager, asking questions around ‘wtf’ is it all about. I have known depression, very dark patches in life, been bedridden twice in my life, and even wanted to give up at times. Really give up. I think many people have been in that spot at some point – have you too?

In the last 18 months, we have all witnessed or experienced the pain of grief, exhaustion, loss, financial ruin, and lack of hope around the world. No-one has escaped unscathed.

Yet at the same time, we can also hold the opposite energy of love, trust, possibility and an enthusiastic positive life force. So even while the proverbial sh#t hits the global fan, we have also seen the very best of people come to the fore. In my experience.
Sacred kindness, compassion and caring beyond duty for family, community and country. It doesn’t have to be one or the other- but perhaps it’s about us living with the whole messy lot showing up all at once.

I do my best to try and stay in the 80 /20 realm of trust versus fear. In my #LocationFree lifestyle for the past 5.5 years I have been forced to lean into trust more and more. It’s inevitable. Travelling and working around the world with no fixed home base requires you to dig deep and leap. Im my book I do share what I feel are all the lessons to embrace – and one of them is around trusting yourself and trusting other people. Connecting into communities and allowing the magic of life to show up en route. It’s about not needing to know ALL the bits before you decide to go. Leap and develop wings along the way.

So I somehow managed to “pull off” getting to my favorite Greek island this summer – while still not sure if my business partner could get here from South Africa (we co-host retreats around the world). We also had a smattering of interested and dedicated writers who were willing to take the risk to travel in these oddest of times- safely, tested and masked to within an inch of our lives. But here I am, on Lesvos with a small group of 4 writers and I have been constantly reminded of how sweet life is when you relax and trust!

The power of Trust Part 1

My respect for the Greeks and this very special island got a double dose of #LocationFree love this week. It’s important to “plug into“ your local community when living nomadically to help create a sense of “home and belonging.” So there’s nothing quite like walking out of a restaurant for 2 days in a row and not paying. Tomorrow, tomorrow, she says. I was keeping a handwritten bill of what’s owed by me 🇬🇷.

I was about to pay my ‘account’ two days after the fact. I had started racking up my bill while sitting in my “office by the sea” watching Tsitsipo in the final at Roland Garros. How exciting to watch the first Greek in history make it to one of the Grand Slam Finals. I had just forgotten to take my purse with me in the rush to get to the platea! The next day I went up to the top winter village to work, and only returned to my “seaside office” again on Tuesday – and added another 2 coffees to my bill. I had plenty of money in my purse this time when I suddenly remember to pop to the Pharmacia to collect a treat for our writers and pick up some much-needed electrolytes. I was thinking I had my debit card to pay the pharmacy but alas, suddenly had to use the cash in my purse and… the dear “office by the sea”  @_gialos_eresos only got half paid. Oh well – next day a couple more cafes were added to my piece of paper and I’m finally all square again. Until today when we all went to eat breakfast there to soak up the Sunday morning Platea buzz ……. and now my bill starts again. I love it. 

#trust is alive and well in the world of #greece #eresos_lesvos

The power of Trust Part 2

I believe that approaching life in general, and especially Living #LocationFree is an easier ride when you trust in both self and others … unless you want a miserable experience! Earlier this week (the same day I finally paid my account) I heard the loudspeaker bark its Greek voice into the warm air, announcing loudly to the entire village what it was selling. I ran outside to see the gorgeous fruit truck ladened with yummy edibles. As per part one of the “trust” story – I had just used all my cash at the pharmacia and to pay half my “account” at my office by the sea …. So as I dash out to see all this lovely produce, I remember I literally have 50 euro cents or some Scottish pounds in my purse.

Ochi ochi – No problem he says, I come back 17th. I skip back to my room with my stash – yes literally – as I have never met this particular vendor and he leaves me with two bags of goodies (see pic) and a promise to pay when he returns in two days! I leave some cash plus an extra 2 euros for MORE cherries on the day he is meant to come back – yet have not seen him now in 5 days. I know he will appear and come and find me. What a delightful reminder of the currency of trust and that it still exists.

***** UPDATE – He arrived back a week later, all Greek smiles and collected his money 🙂

Power of Trust Part 3

This morning was proof of trusting that inner voice again – the trusting of self. I often write about how you have to learn to trust the quiet voice that whispers “go right” when you usually go left. Here in Skala Eressos, every morning I turn left out of my “hotel by the sea” to go to my gorgeous “office by the sea.” When I was sitting on the verandah soon after waking up, I was struck by just how calm the sea was – even more than usual. The dawn was super pink and soft grey with silky water and I had thought …. this would be a good day to see the elusive dolphins. A couple of days ago, a friend who lives here had told me how she OFTEN sees dolphins!
What -here?
Yes, Kate all the time!
Ochi ochi (no NO!) I say in disbelief
All the time!!!

I have been coming here for six years and not once seen a dolphin on this side of the island. One year, I saw one lonely dolphin at 5 am from the deck of the ferry, but that was on the Mytilene side of the island. So of course now dolphins are in my “space after she has mentioned this little morsel of info. When the voice whispered go right, I turned my handlebars and trundled off towards the little port. I saw a fishing boat coming home, and stopped to video it, delaying my cycle a few minutes. Then, you know what’s coming right ………. lo and behold……….. three minutes later I was rewarded with the well-known shape of the curved body and dorsal fin, and a leap. A little squeal from me, and then suddenly and even bigger leap – clear out of the water. I tried to keep focused on the area and had my video on, but that was it, two leaps for me
I took that as a perfect sign from the world of nature as it was the start day of my writing retreat…. #stayhopeful #trust #signsfromnature

I wish you some element of living with trust as you go about your day

Love Kate

Are you trusting yourself and your decisions as you go about your life?
Click the links below to grab my book if you too want to live #LocationFree and find a new way of showing up.

When you’re out of the house, you might be looking forward to seeing some sights or simply unwinding. However, whether you’re traveling for work or going on a retreat in Europe, you shouldn’t forget to practice self-care while you’re away from home. Travel may also be a form of self-care to get away from your typical routines, but there are some additional things you can do to make your travel more relaxing:

Squeeze in some exercise
Exercising might be the last thing you want to do when you’re on a getaway, but you don’t have to go to the gym for it. You can simply do some quick squats and stretching when you wake up. If you’re used to having equipment at home, lightweight and easily packable pieces like the Fit Simplify Resistance Bands can help you. Another option is to take a tour or do some exploring on foot. This way, you get some walking done with fresh air, while at the same time get to see some sights.

Don’t forget your skincare routine
It’s easy to get lazy with skin care — especially when you’re coming from a long day of touring or exploring a new location. However, the new environment can actually take a toll on your skin, particularly if the climate is new to you. As such, it’s important to give your skin some extra care. Pretty Me’s article on Snail White Whipp Soap notes how natural plant extracts are great at giving you younger-looking skin, reducing fine lines and hydrating cells. These work even on sensitive skin. Sunscreen is another thing you shouldn’t forget. Traveling entails a lot of sun, so you’ll want to protect your skin from UV rays. Allure’s review of Aveeno Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Stick mentions how zinc oxide and soothing oats make for good sweat- and water-resistant sunscreen, while also being lightweight and non-greasy. Just do your research on your destination to see what you’ll need to add to your routine.

Unplug when you can
Now you might be thinking: what about all your travel posts you want to share with friends on Instagram? Of course, there’s nothing wrong with sharing your journey on social media — but make sure you aren’t glued to your phone 24/7. Remember that the purpose of traveling is to experience a place in real life, not through a screen. So whenever possible, relish every moment, put those gadgets away, and just take in the environment.

Get enough sleep
It’s definitely tempting to turn in late and wake up early to make the most of your stay. However, if you have a pretty packed itinerary, then that’s all the more reason to have at least eight hours of sleep. This way, you’ll have enough energy to enjoy your day more fully. After all, you don’t want to feel sluggish and sleepy as you go through your activities. And you definitely don’t want to end up completely exhausted by the end of your trip.

Enjoy the moment
Last, but not least, just be in the moment. You may be undergoing a digital detox, but if you’re thinking of how many emails you’ll need to respond to later, then you’re still not really relaxing. Whatever destination you’re visiting, don’t rush it. In this regard, Calm Moment lists some tips on how to truly enjoy your trip — and one of them is essentially taking it slow. From your outdoor breakfast to your walks through historical sites, spare some time to be grateful for the opportunity to see the world.

Let me know how you get on with your travels, Kate

Who else out there is having a really tough time round about now?
It’s not just me, is it?

Are you also battling the harsh reality and effects of perceived and real lack of freedom, huge loss of income, battling to stay inspired and hopeful about future work and travel, grieving the loss of your loved ones, or desperate from the lack of personal touch and being able to hug even family and friends? I am personally finding it much, much harder now, a year since the first lockdown (and contracting Covid in march 2020). I also have friends and clients all over the world, especially with working and traveling globally #LocationFree for the last 5 years, and so I get to hear firsthand about the different countries in different levels of lockdown. And some countries just seem to be skipping to the next level of new normality and relative freedom – I found it a lot easier when we were ALL in the first lockdown together! Even though it was always a case of “same storm different boat”, I welcomed the same storm scenario in some weird way. That total peace and quiet we experienced externally as the earth was breathing from lack of people moving, airplanes dashing across the sky, cars commuting, and hectic life from us consumer-type humans. But this time feels different.

Every time I speak to my peeps in South Africa, or as far afield as Costa Rica – it’s all about parties, gatherings, lunches, beaches and life pretty much as usual (perhaps with masks on), even if they can’t sometimes buy booze on the weekends. It’s the social component I am longing for! Or other countries where the lockdown is allowing social gatherings or restaurants re-opening once again.

I find myself feeling a little envious.
A lot envious!
It even feels awful admitting it to myself.
You made your bed, now lie in it, Kate.
Yes, yes, I know I am in the country I am in and shouldn’t be looking longingly at anyone else – but I am!
There, I said it.

I miss my usual 4 times a year ‘fix’ of seeing my close friends down south, reconnecting and replenishing at so many levels and visiting my favourite hairdresser and dentist. Lack of freedom and life with this virus has clipped my gallivanting #LocationFree wings. I realise just how much of my nomadic life is about connecting in coffee shops with total strangers when we smile and say hello (or bonjour, buenos dias or kalimera) or how a short chat at the deli counter fills my soul with love. Petting cats and dogs is also a great stress reliever for me – and one of the reasons I have often housesit animals on my travels to get that welcome dose of four-paw love. But I even feel like people don’t want you to stroke their animals out of fear at the moment. And I don’t do fear.

So I am doing grief instead.
Layers of grief.
Are you grieving too?

I’m just laying a bit low for now – and that’s ok.
Is that what you need to do too?
To let yourself off the hook a while, stop comparing yourself to everyone else that “appears” to have it all together, running 20 different masterclasses, or launching two new businesses, acing their ab workouts or or or…..
I’m resting and hibernating a bit from the world of clients and too much social media and trying my level best not to let my emotions and modd fester.

I describe so much of how I love to connect into new communities in my book “10 Lessons for Living #LocationFree” but I am prevented from those sweet interactions for the time being. That loss of connection had hit hard and dtruck deep. We have also just taken our Italian Writing Retreat off the radar for this year and moved it to 2022. Eugh. I am so acutely aware that I am greatly soothed and inspired by having things to look forward to, as it actually helps me live more in the present somehow. But this endless stream of – “not sure what and when” is taking its toll on my mental health.

So as ridiculous as it sounds, I admit I have “lockdown-level-envy” while trying to hold it all together where I am. I don’t have it all sorted at the moment, and am muddling my way through messy life. How about you? I’m on the one day at a time, scale. In fact, it’s one hour at a time – one day is sometimes too long. Without trying to drop into the world of self-pity, victimhood or be caught up in the continuous web of despair, I also just know I have to admit I have been having a darn tough time. Getting into bouts of depression, lack of hope and feeling isolated is not entirely new to me – but this one seems to be lingering longer and deeper than I can usually handle. Freedom and connection are two of my highest values, so I feel that is the one hitting me the hardest – I strive to find the freedom within, as opposed to outside of myself.

I have recently been waiting for a work contract to start, and spent a couple of weeks on my own in London in a friend’s flat. Totally spoiled to have that gorgeous space overlooking the river and it made my nomadic heart super happy! I spent about four hours every day walking the length and breadth of the Thames – spectacular and inspirational. But … I was also lonely and missing real connection. I reached out to many people, but isolation and covid restrictions are still very strict here in the UK. It’s just the factual reality. I finally met safely with one willing client /friend last week, the first person in the flesh for weeks, and she said she was amazed to learn that I was having a tough time …. so I am glad I shared. The next day I got to support another dear friend finalising the sale of his mom’s house after her recent passing – and that shared time as he said goodbye to her home and that chapter filled my heart.

We so often look at others and think that they are doing ok. Even if we aren’t, we assume they are. Aren’t we wired weirdly that way, as it’s simply not true. Everyone is challenged and fighting a battle of some kind, small or large – it’s also called life.

I also think that Social Media comes into play here – where all that we usually see posted is the good stuff, the fab stuff, fun and light stuff that we want and need to escape into, the inspirational stuff …. not the real, shitty, hard stuff we are all facing too. Until something massive strikes again, like the tragic murder of Sarah Everad that gives people a voice and energy again to speak up about things that matter, about the reality of what is going on for people. How we are scared, don’t feel safe. so much injustice and loss. I have learned to lean on my friends and my mum even more recently – to say I am NOT ok and need some TLC from them. I stay connected where need be and literally get through day by day. I don’t have huge bursts of inspiration or massive ideas for the future right now. Sure – I have a vision of what’s next and what is very important to me and the live I want to create up north …. but it feels far far away.

I’m just breathing in the never-ending “kak-ness” of it.
For those of you outside of South Africa, KAK is a great word, pronounced ‘kuk” not “kack” and it means “shitty and bleh” all in one. I also love it’s fellow word friend “GATVOL,” which means “fed-up or literally full-hole”.

I’ve been feeling both kak and gatvol!

So, I just want to remind you all – if you are reading this – that you are 100% enough TODAY, right now, no matter what. Even when you feel like absolute shite. My go-to-reminder the past few long weeks and months has been, “this too shall pass.” It gives me breathing space and hope. I have also been using the simple technique where you cross your hands over the front of your body and pat both of your own shoulders- it’s super calming and self-soothing if you are on your own out there! I haven’t even had the energy to do my usually beloved journalling – until I felt inspired to write this today!

And yes, here is the irony I battle with – as “kick-ass Kate” and the “Quick Shift Deva” I guess I theoretically “should” have all the coaching, mind-shifting, woop-woop techniques in the world to call on – but being honest, laying low and coping bit by bit, is what feels possible, real and authentic right now. It will shift, and my bubble of energy and inspiration WILL rise again, just as yours will.

It is a universal law.
I don’t need lots of hype and positivity right now- I’m just trying to stay out of the self-pity wallow while staying present and in touch with myself. It feels better and do-able that way.

My go-to mantra reminders and questions are currently:
This too shall pass
Everything IS going to be ok
Just breathe
What one thing can I do today? Even if that means ONE wee glass of water (hydration hydration) before I have a BIG glass of wine. Or paint my nails. Or rest again. Or stare at the river view for another hour.
Tomorrow is always another day and another fresh start.


Please drop me a line if you want to reach out – just a quick message to connect and say hi.
If you want some extra support we can book that too and I’ll show up honestly for you, ready to hear where you are at. Sometimes you need an ear with someone who isn’t pretending to have all their KAK together. But I will be able to help you see your KAK a bit clearer.

In the meantime – be kind to yourself and those you meet along your path today, mask or no mask. And for those of you enjoying relative freedom – know I am just a little darn envious right now 🙂

Love Kate
Pics from March 2021 below share some of the quiet weirdness that is London in lockdown – not many folk about on usually bustling streets, empty tubes, stores all closed up – most with Christmas decorations still left in the window.

Home Owners – 10 ways you unconsciously sabotage the
speedy SALE of your home

If you haven’t yet read PART 1, read that first here as there is LOADS of valuable information!

PART 2 – CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

4. PLAYING THE BLAME GAME
   Most sellers sabotage the process and fall headlong into typical victim mentality by thinking that everything and everyone else is at fault in this process. It makes great conversation to play the blame game! Blaming the housing market/ location/  high mortgage rates/ recent increase in crime/ country’s current junk status/ awful neighbors/ commuter traffic into the local work hub/ local elections etc. You will find ways to blame every aspect of the market for the lack of a sale and extended “days on market” or non-interest of your property, especially blaming your realtor – or your mother-in-law! We like to blame them for everything! You are way more in control than you think, and sometimes it’s about having the hardest thing- Courageous Conversations!

5. INFORMATION UPLOAD
   As the seller, along with your realtor, make sure you are never left with a mouthful of teeth when potential buyers ask you about the neighborhood, the shopping outlets, local school, who runs the local council, etc. Do your homework to also fully understand what properties are listing and selling for in your immediate neighborhood. You want to be seen to know your home and your ‘hood. And to be open and willing to share that information. Any upcoming changes to the neighborhood should be top of mind – such as building mall outlets, new schools planned, current crime in the area, better access roads being built, shifts in zoning homes as businesses etc.

6. SALES SAVVY
   Are you honestly any good at sales – especially selling something you love? Even when you are 100% at peace with, and excited by this sale and move, you may not be the savvy salesperson you think you are.So yes, while it is absolutely possible to sell your own home nowadays, especially with online property sites (unless your specific county prevents this by law), it still does not mean that you should be the one doing it. A neutral, professional, home selling expert will always assist you in getting the sale price as high as possible, assess the right buyers, market the house appropriately, and handle all the dreaded paperwork on your behalf. Be sure to choose the right realtor for you. I always suggest you get a trusted recommendation or find someone who excels at closing deals in your neighborhood.

   A simple drive around a 5-kilometer radius to see the “Sold” boards will give you this insight. Getting the right person on your team will ultimately put more money in your pocket at the end of the day. Know your real strengths, play to those and outsource the rest to get the best outcome! Realtors with the right designations, qualifications, passion and experience are professionals who help you navigate this complicated territory and tap into the right buyers. Speed and ease are what we are after, remember?

7. BUYER CENTRIC
   Even though you are obviously the owner and seller and you feel it’s all about you, when it comes to selling, this concept alone will totally sabotage and derail the process. From now on, you need to become “buyer-centric” and put yourself in THEIR shoes. The moment potential buyer’s pull up at the front curb, they need to be instantly impressed with the look and feel and be able to see themselves living in this space the moment they walk through the door. You want their positive feelings and initial experience of the space; from the moment they set eyes on it, to positively influence the economics and dynamics of this purchase. You want your potential buyer to be “blown away” and put in that OTP (Offer To Purchase). Remember you only need ONE buyer, and you don’t want to mess up that opportunity when it arises, as when you have done all the work Kate suggests, it WILL happen fast!

   

PART 3 – SHOWTIME – READY, STEADY, GO!

8. CUTTING CORNERS?
   Know right upfront that cutting corners will definitely sabotage the sale of your home. Don’t be lazy and ‘half-a$$ed’ when it comes to show days or viewing appointments. Rather be super vigilant to get SHOW DAY ready. You want the best price with a dash of speed don’t you? After thoroughly assessing the property and its current condition, it’s crucial to complete property maintenance, sprucing, fixing, cleaning, clearing, and de-cluttering. Keep your home in tip-top shape – should your buyer happen to drive past, see the ‘For Sale’ sign and want to pop in NOW, you can swing open the door and invite them in. Follow the international property trends and utilize a home stager to showcase and highlight all the positive attributes if need be. A little time and money spent in the right way will have exponential results!

9. STUCK IN YOUR WAYS?
   A current buyer’s market could mean cash buyers are a very attractive prospect – you have to be ready and agile in your response and be willing move as soon as possible as there will be no delay in waiting for bank bonds /mortgages to be approved. Be prepared to move out of your house sooner than expected to help facilitate this sale (and enjoy some occupational rent if your country allows). It is common for sellers who have honestly and truly done the closure work, to get buyers bidding against each other for a property – all wanting to move in ‘yesterday”.When you read more about what Kate’s clients experience when working through her process, “SHIFT YOUR HOME,” speed is a typical result. If you are too stuck in your own timelines, you might lose out! Be flexible and prepared to move swiftly along.

10. MAKE IT A ‘NO-BRAINER’
    Are you showcasing your home appropriately? Highlight the best features of your home with high-definition professional photographs and professionally edited videos to walk buyers through this space in virtual reality. One of the current trends is also to use drone footage to show off the neighborhood from above to enjoy that all-important bird’s eye view, as that dramatically influences buyer’s decisions. Buyers can see the property in relation to everything else around it, proximity to or distance from schools, retail, health facilities, motorways, etc.

I hope this has given you food for thought as you embark on this journey of selling your home? The bottom line is that YOU, as the home seller, need to take full responsibility, shift your energy, and be honestly ready to sell your home from the inside out.

Your heart, mind, and soul all need to align to the look and feel of the property to get the outcome you want. To sell your home with grace, speed and ease at the highest price possible. Kerching! To move on, feeling proud and with closure.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this article. Comment below or drop me a line directly on kate@kate-emmerson.com!

Kate is known as the Quick Shift Deva – South Africa’s foremost clutter expert, life coach, best selling author and international speaker. She bounces into homes, offices and hearts to help clients to sort out their clutter and their lives, freeing them to move on to LIVE LIGHT, LIVE LARGE. Much like a combination of Clean House and House Doctor, she will both physically and emotionally help YOU and YOUR HOME get showday ready

PART 2:  Realtors understand 10 ways your sellers unconsciously sabotage the speedy SALE of their home

(plus mess with your income & reputation)

If you haven’t yet read PART 1, read that first here as there is LOADS of valuable information!

PART 2 – HELP YOUR HOMEOWNERS CHANGE PERSPECTIVE

4. PLAYING THE BLAME GAME
   Most sellers sabotage the process and fall headlong into typical victim mentality by thinking that everything and everyone else is at fault in this process. It makes great conversation to play the blame game! Blaming the housing market/location/high mortgage rates/recent increase in crime/country’s current junk status/awful neighbors/commuter traffic into the local work hub/local elections etc. They will find ways to blame every aspect of the market for the lack of a sale and extended “days on market” or non-interest of your property, especially blaming YOU, their realtor. If you can let me help you, to help them understand that they are way more in control than they think, well you will come off as their hero/heroine.

5. INFORMATION UPLOAD
   Try and make sure your seller is never left with a mouthful of teeth when potential buyers ask about the neighborhood, the shopping outlets, local school, who runs the local council, etc. Do your homework to also fully understand what properties are listing and selling for in your immediate neighborhood and educate your client.You want them to be seen to know their home and their ‘hood. Be open and willing to share that information. Any upcoming changes to the neighborhood should be top of mind – such as building mall outlets, new schools planned, current crime in the area, better access roads being built, shifts in zoning homes as businesses, etc.

6. SALES SAVVY
   Your client might be undermining or sabotaging the process by getting too involved. Are they honestly any good at sales – especially selling something they love? Even when they are 100% at peace with, and excited by this sale and move, they may not be the savvy salesperson they think they are. So yes, while it is absolutely possible in some countries for your clients to bypass you and sell their own home nowadays, especially with online property sites (unless your specific county prevents this by law), it still does not mean that they should be the one doing it.Help them understand that a neutral, professional, home selling expert like yourself will assist them in getting the sale price as high as possible, assess the right buyers, market the house appropriately, and handle all the dreaded paperwork on their behalf. Help them understand why you are the right realtor for the job.I always suggest sellers get a trusted recommendation or find someone who excels at closing deals in their neighborhood. If you are confident in your work ethic and track record, you too can suggest they shop around, feeling quietly confident you have something different to offer them and they will see your value.Educate them so they understand why they need you. Help them understand the difference between the selling price VS actual money they get out that ultimately put more money in their pocket at the end of the day.

   Know your real strengths, play to those – draw on your designations, qualifications, passion and experience to help them navigate this complicated territory and tap into the right buyers. Speed and ease are what we are after, remember?

7. BUYER CENTRIC
   Even though your client is obviously the owner and seller and you feel it’s all about them, when it comes to selling, this concept alone will totally sabotage and derail the process. From now on, you need to teach them to become “buyer-centric” and put themselves in THEIR shoes.The moment potential buyer’s pull up at the front curb, they need to be instantly impressed with the look and feel and be able to see themselves living in this space the moment they walk through the door. You want their positive feelings and initial experience of the space; from the moment they set eyes on it, to positively influence the economics and dynamics of this purchase. You want your potential buyer to be “blown away” and put in that OTP (Offer To Purchase). Remind your client they only need ONE buyer, and you don’t want them to mess up that opportunity when it arises. Remember that when your clients have done all the work Kate suggests, it WILL happen fast!

   

PART 3 – SHOWTIME – READY, STEADY, GO!

8. CUTTING CORNERS?
Cutting corners will sabotage the sale.

You need Kate’s kickass energy to teach your clients not to be lazy and ‘half-a$$ed’ when it comes to show days or viewing appointments. Let Kate have the tough conversations with your clients – she can play ‘bad cop’ on your behalf! She has a knack of saying it like it is, getting sellers excited to do the process. She will get them super vigilant to get SHOW DAY ready.

After thoroughly assessing the property and its current condition, it’s crucial to complete property maintenance, sprucing, fixing, cleaning, clearing, and de-cluttering. The seller needs to KEEP the house in tip-top shape – should you need to bring the ideal prospective buyer round with very little notice, there is no stress involved or days to wait. You want everyone to be poised and ready.

Are you also following the international property trends by home-staging to showcase and highlight all the positive attributes? Think bigger and bolder!  A little time and money spent in the right way will have exponential results!

9. STUCK IN THEIR WAYS?
The current buyer’s market could mean cash buyers are a very attractive prospect – your sellers have to be ready and agile in their response and be willing move as soon as possible as there will be no delay in waiting for banks/loans/bonds/mortgages to be approved. Your sellers need to be prepared to move out of the house sooner than expected to help facilitate this sale (and enjoy some occupational rent if your country allows).

It is common for sellers who have honestly and truly done the closure work, to get buyers bidding against each other for a property – all wanting to move in ‘yesterday”. When you read more about what Kate’s clients experience when working through her process, “SHIFT YOUR HOME,” speed is a typical result.

If your seller is too stuck in their own timelines, you might all lose out! Teach them to be flexible and prepared to move swiftly along.

10. MAKE IT A ‘NO-BRAINER’

Are you showcasing their house appropriately?

Highlight the best features with high-definition professional photographs and professionally edited videos to walk buyers through this space in virtual reality. One of the current trends is also to use drone footage to show off the neighborhood from above to enjoy that all-important bird’s eye view, as that dramatically influences buyer’s decisions.

Buyers can see the property in relation to everything else around it, proximity to or distance from schools, retail, health facilities, motorways, etc.

I hope this has given you a different perspective as you embark on trying different approaches with your client. IF you can be the realtor that stands out, understand how saying goodbye is so difficult, then you will have a more powerful impact on your business, neighborhood, and clients.

My role is to help you help your clients take responsibility to shift the sale from the inside out, while you sell it from the outside in. Your seller’s heart, mind, and soul all need to align to the look and feel of the property to get the outcome you all want. To sell this house with grace, speed, and ease at the highest price possible. Kerching! To move on, feeling proud and with closure.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this article. Comment below or drop me a line directly on kate@kate-emmerson.com!

Kate is known as the Quick Shift Deva – South Africa’s foremost clutter expert, life coach, best selling author, and international speaker. She bounces into homes, offices, and hearts to help clients to sort out their clutter and their lives, freeing them to move on to LIVE LIGHT, LIVE LARGE. Much like a combination of Clean House and House Doctor, she will both physically and emotionally help YOU and YOUR HOME get show day ready.

CLARITY OF INTENTION CREATES PAVES THE WAY FOR WHAT YOU CRAVE IN LIFE – the real authentic stuff!
Do you have clarity in each moment, thus getting the most out of your day before it even kicks into gear?
Before you put your feet on the floor?
Before you get up and hustle through your day?

My intention in this article is to get you to be clear about your intention in each moment.

WHY? You get what you focus on! Do you even know what you want? Why you want it?

We all have dreams and ideals for our lives – so the underlying question for each of us becomes …
What will it take for ME to own up to my life? To say YES to my longings?
What will it honestly take for me to give energy to and take action on my dreams this year- maybe writing my book at last, that Harley trip on Route 66, Walking the Camino, that Alaskan cruise, a Spring reboot retreat, falling in love or starting a business? Maybe it’s time to Sell Your Home and make a whole new transition.
What will allow me to finally give myself permission to go after what matters in my heart?
How can I embrace and then transform that pesky internal saboteur that will attempt to trip me up – because it has before?
What will it take for me to say YES to what matters, and NO to what pulls me off that clarity?

Most of the time we float and drift about this planet with very unclear intentions (also known as objectives / goals) about our thoughts, time, energy and direction of purpose. Then we ironically wonder why we get lambasted and bruised from all sides. We wonder why we are burnt-out, sick, miserable, irritable, angry and depressed. If you are ever operating from the frame of “default” and have no clarity about each and every moment, then I know that you are not having much positive effect on your life or experiencing it from others’! Is this all too familiar to you?

The more clarity you have of your personal direction and the clearer your instructions are for your life, the easier it is for YOU to see and experience that in each moment. To see that life is happening FOR you, not TO YOU! TO have insight and patience when things go awry, knowing exactly where you are headed even when you get pulled off track. Like having lines for a script – you know when you are going off track. But you have to have the script in the first place. And SURE, you can ad lib it on the stage of life, but the feedback you get determines whether you are living life to the best of what matters for you! The more effortless it becomes to energetically SHOW UP for yourself.

Think of it like this – imagine sending an email up to “the powers that be” (whatever your version of spirit is), with a clear and specific request of something you want to manifest and chase in your life… then two minutes later sending them another email saying, ‘well actually hang on, I’m not so sure, I don’t think I know how, I don’t deserve it, they need it more than me….what if it’s too much too fast, oh I think I should just be satisfied with what I have …..bla bla bla. What on earth is upstairs to do, other than re-hustle your request and start activating the latest request that canceled out the first. All the doubt, the limiting beliefs, the what if’s, the other people in your head simply take over and sabotage your real wants and desires. The moment you waiver and second guess the initial expanded request…your re-gig the reality and confuse the whole shindig.

Imagine the poor receiver of these emails, who was actually on a very clear job to start fulfilling the first one, who is now scurrying back and forth to try and delete the initial instruction…then wait…. 2 minutes later another email comes through confirming the original one – and on and on and on it goes back and forth. The real irony is that there you sit in your life bemoaning why you are not getting what you say you want. But you do not clearly state what you want! Or when you do – you dither about, with a total lack of clarity.

GET CLEAR ON YOUR INTENTION! #CLARITY MATTERS!

Having clarity of intention directs your energy, actions and BEING-ness into sharper focus, and therefore you experience better possibility of ‘it’ being delivered into your life. Clarity of intention enhances the user experience of life. Clarity is one of the ways to help support your dreams become goals, and goals to become manifest and experienced in your life. Crystal clear intention.

Clarity of focus = ease of execution of tasks.

When last did you sit yourself down, take a stock take, and get uber clear on WHAT YOU WANT? Perhaps today is the time to do just that?

It is important to find the energy to pull some of your dreams off the top shelf, dust them off and activate them. You have already heard that a goal is simply a dream with a deadline.  To make it come true, a dream needs to be given attention, love, energy, focus and passion. Then it becomes real, tangible and achievable – yes, you might have to walk through some sludge, become a better version of yourself and learn to outwit your own sabotaging inner demons, but unless you activate some juicy goals in life, where’s the exhilaration of chasing things that matter? Pipe dreams are brave but become cowardly if they remain pie in the sky. Something you “talk” about but never “do.” You have to drum up some pure courage to dare to boldly chase after them, not just think about them. Although it is wonderful to prance through life with no fixed clarity, it can be one of the greatest joys to dust off your dreams and be bold enough to commit to them. NOW!

TOP TIPS! This is what I do…maybe something will help you?

1. Create a mindful INTENTION / THEME for your YEAR AHEAD – it doesn’t have to be the beginning of a new calendar year as you can use the timing of a new season, birthday, anniversary, illness or whatever necessary to mark a new start. I always re-look mine in April, my own birthday month. This intention is usually one or two words or a punchy sentence that exhilarates and inspires me. This will influence EVERYTHING else you choose to focus on for the rest of the year. It’s a guiding beacon, a way to come back when losing your thread.  You can even create a vision board or some other creative way of capturing and energizing this intention/ essence/ theme. I teach my clients all about vision boards. goals and actions in my book DITCH YOUR GLITCH or work directly on this in private VIP days.When in doubt, you can always come back to the clarity of your intention for the year, to re-check what you are focussing on, or whether new goals are aligned with this bigger purpose. My own theme for 2019 is CONNECTED RENEWAL. This is informing EVERYTHING I choose to put my energy into this year!  I change mine annually to help me re-focus and re-strategize, rather than plodding on by default. It is helping me determine what work I agree to, what retreats I am planning, where I am going on holiday, what new projects I am committing to, who I hang out with …..all in the name of deeper connection and personal renewal. We’re only in the 4th month of the year, I can already see the impact of following this purposeful clarity of intention.What about you – what’s your theme for the year ahead? If you don’t have one, but just have several goals – perhaps you can dig deeper to find your theme?  Great exercise to do with friends or partner!
2. Next create monthly ALIGNED AND CLEAR GOALS: smaller bite-size chunks of things to accomplish each month along the way to your achieving your bigger annual goals /intention. The trick is that your goals need a regular update and stock take. Create clarity by setting up a monthly date with yourself, (and your immediate family) to review what you are proud to have accomplished in the last month, and pre-plan or pre-pave your focus for the month to come. So regularly do a little check-in with yourself, in line with the year – think of it as dovetailing and aligning your goals, and therefore your day-to-day actions into your theme for the year ahead to ensure you move one step closer to actioning your dreams.
3. Next, you need to think about EACH AND EVERY DAY and how you are going to get the most of each day in line with your month, in line with your theme for the year. There is a concept called “BATCHING” – where you batch together like tasks with like tasks to stay clear about your intention in every single part of every day. Focus all your time and energy as often as possible on ONE THING. (Read this as …DELETE MULTI-TASKING!) Stop operating on the global default of busy, busy, busy and efficient, and rather think about how to be more single-minded, purposeful, focussed and EFFECTIVE. Doing that which really counts, honestly brings joy, moves you into a deeper love of your life and how you are living it. Be ruthlessly precious about your energy and your time management!For e.g., when you are returning business calls, batch them all together to get into that zone – I usually do not take calls unless I know who they are from, and even then I need to be in the right energy zone to talk with purpose. I find it is easier to let my phone go to voice mail, then ring back when I am free of obligations, clear about my intention and 100% focused in the appropriate mode for those calls. Imagine if the big break you want and the big deal you have been waiting for comes through on a phone call and you answer with a hurried “off tone” – your first impression is irreparable!* When doing emails, could you do 20 solid minutes rather than mixing it all up with calls, interruptions and mail?*When you are driving – DRIVE! It’s scary enough out on the roads without simultaneously eating, talking and
   sms’ing.*Set forth an intention for a specific amount of time – 20 minute batches are great for staying focused and keeping
   your intention clear by pre-paving the next slot of time.
4. Manage your TRANSITIONS between different tasks throughout the day. This is about getting crystal clear about what you have just completed, and the next task you are about to embark on. This is about creating a small PAUSE between tasks, regather your energy and intention before you tackle the next thing. Too often we MORPH between tasks, schmushing (my own word) unconnected things together. This creates hazy thinking, lazy brain activity and reduced efficacy! Just a small PAUSE to re-harness your attention before you gallop off again. TRY IT!WANT TO ENJOY MY LATEST FREE COURSE?
   It’s titled THE STRATEGIC POWER OF DISCONNECTING!
   Free series to help YOU shift your life with ease and grace. CLICK HERE With Lightness,
   Kate