The Little Things

Years ago, a friend shared something that was sad to hear. She spoke of her previous marriage, and of the things that used to annoy her so much about her husband. One of those things was, "He never put the dishes back in the cabinets right"! She was quiet for a moment, then tears welled up in her eyes. She then said, "I would give anything now to open the cabinets and see the dishes misplaced"! 

I am sure that many of us can understand this, and have had our own "little things" that annoyed us so much...but that we would long to have again now! When my son was little, I often stepped on either a small toy or a Lego (while barefoot of course). Needless to say, it hurt and I was annoyed! Now that he is almost 18, and not that cute little crazy-haired boy anymore, I too find myself longing for those days of strewn toys across the floor! Someday soon, he won't be living at home anymore, and I will long for those days even more!

It is difficult in "the heat of the moment" to pause and think about what really matters. But, if you can, you will definitely look at things differently! There is such truth in the quote, "Pick your battles wisely". Some of those little annoyances, don't really need to be brought up. It has taken me years to learn this, but thankfully I have...and it has made all the difference!

 

Building a Custom Home and Horse Barn From Raw Land!

It has been far too long since my last post. So much has happened in that time, and now that it is 2023, my goal is to post regularly 😀!

My last post talked about how I sold my house without a Realtor. So, it only makes sense to make my next post about what happened after the sale! I am all about making dreams come true, and this was definitely one of my biggest. Having a home where I could see my beloved horses from the windows, was a childhood dream. 

For those of you that hope to do the same thing, you must already know how hard it is to find land. And, just how expensive everything is! Before I'd sold my house, I had placed an ad on Craigslist seeking land. Having worked with Realtors already, I just wasn't finding what I needed. So...I specified the size, what it needed (perk test cleared, level, horse-friendly, not on a main street, what areas, etc). I also stated the price range it needed to stay within. I wasn't sure anything would come of it. It took a few months, and just when I'd lost hope of finding what I needed, I got the response I'd been waiting for! I quickly went to view it, and the rest is history!

It was raw land indeed. Full of trees, junk, mud, and....dreams! I'd already started thinking about how I wanted it laid out, but also made many notes and images of the final project. Looking back now, I am pleased with most everything. There are a couple of things I would have changed, but you often don't know this till you've done it.

Finding reputable contractors was a challenge, as well as, getting permits from the County. The weather was also a HUGE challenge as it rained more that year than it had in previous ones. 

I read so many great books by Authors like Cherry Hill who wrote "Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage: Designing and Managing your Equine Facilities" 

https://www.amazon.com/Horsekeeping-Small-Acreage-Designing-Facilities/dp/158017535X. 

I spent hours online and in the library. I also visited many horse facilities and asked a million questions! I interviewed several custom home builders with excellent reputations, and knew that I wanted "Stick Built" not a Modular Home. I spent many hours thinking about the floor plan that I needed. This would be one that allowed me to "age in place" so not 2-story (though there is a huge Bonus Room on the 2nd level with attached walk-in storage that is even bigger!). Also having enough space for storage, definitely a home office, and lots of natural light were top on the list! I was so grateful to have found an amazing contractor that did an outstanding job on the house. I wish I would've also used him to build the barn (which is another story!).

Needless to say, after construction started, I drove by my property almost daily as it was being built... which I highly recommend (just to keep an eye on everything). I also had a great friend with a DRONE that took aerial images as it was progressing!

Never had I thought I would be faced with some other unscrupulous contractors, numerous delays from weather and county permits, changes in my septic system design, some challenging neighbors (who did not want change near them), supply costs, etc. However, I am still so glad I did it, and I still feel it was completely worth the challenges!

For months after moving in, I dealt with a dust field! The land had been so torn up by the placement of the septic system, the driveway, and constant big trucks plowing over it. I found a great contractor to seed and fertilize which made a world of difference! I would highly recommend spending the time and money to do this promptly, and in the fall...not the spring!

3 years later, I can sit back with a deep sigh of wonder and gratefulness as I look at all of the work I've accomplished. There is still so much to do and always will be (that is homeownership) but it is an incredible legacy to be able to leave my son!

To see the sun setting over the trees at night is magical. Below is a picture right behind the riding arena. To hear the "sound of silence" is priceless. I can see all of the stars at night, and hear only owls and crickets. 

As a horse owner, there is also no greater satisfaction than to know that they are being well cared for. I'd had so many bad experiences at boarding barns, who charged ridiculous amounts with little in return. At least I always know they are being well taken care of now!

There are so many more details that I may add later, but I at least wanted to share with you where we are at now. My son is now 17, and loving the chance to live on acreage. He has learned so many things and will be so much further ahead when he sets out on his own! There is nothing better than to be able to raise him in this environment and to teach him so many things from it.

Each year will bring new changes as we continue to work on everything. I look forward to being able to spend time with my future grandchildren here and to making many wonderful memories.  

I will close by saying, "If I can do this, you can too"! Don't let fears or worries stop you. You will learn along the way. Life is too short to give up on your dreams!! I wish you the very best of success!!

How I Sold My House in 4 Days FSBO on Zillow!

Let me start by saying that selling your home FSBO is not for everybody. There are qualified realtors available who specialize in selling, and I have used them in the past for other homes. I simply want to share another option, should you decide it is right for you.

I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to sell my house in just 4 days, and to save $13,500 in realtor fees! The market was hot, my neighborhood was very desirable, and move-in ready homes available were very low. This all worked together to make my home much easier to sell!

Here are a list of necessary things I did before I actually listed it for sale. I recommend that you consider each of these before you list your home:

• ·       De-clutter! Take a long look around every square foot of your house. Try to view it as an outsider would. I’ve seen many pictures of homes for sale that make me wonder why they posted them? There is clutter everywhere, laundry, numerous pictures and items that steer the eye away from the actual space. Start getting rid of unnecessary items (sell, donate, trash) and put other minimally used items in storage. Make your home as “open looking” as possible.
•       Paint! Realtors use the term “vanilla” to let their home sellers know how a home should look. This means that you want your home as neutral as possible. You may love Tomato Red for your dining room walls, but, not everyone will. Much better to use basic light colors that make the room look larger, and don’t distract from the room. I also re-painted my outdoor shutters and mailbox which instantly freshened my exterior!
•       Clean! I can’t say this enough! Make sure you’ve cleaned bathrooms, showers, closets, etc. Vacuum, or if you can, steam-clean the carpets. Dust the baseboards and blinds. Windex the windows. Prospective buyers are going to literally open every cabinet, closet, and shower. You will be amazed at what they look at. So, be prepared in advance. The last thing you want is to turn away buyers due to a dirty house. You also want as much natural light to enter in, so clean windows and blinds do matter! And, clean your front patio and door. Folks will come to your house when you’re not there, and will look at everything on the outside. Fix the broken doorbell, replace the dingy welcome mat, scrub the bird nest debris and remove spider webs, etc.
•       Yardwork! Curb appeal is everything! Folks will be driving by your house to scope it out from the road. Make sure you’ve taken time to mow the lawn, trim the hedges, pull weeds, edge and rake if needed. I even planted grass in a few spots that needed attention, and thankfully it grew in before I listed my house. I also purchased cedar edging to place around my shrubbery, as well as, a few solar lights to place neatly around them. What a nice  touch!                                                                                                                                                                              

So, those are just a few things I did that didn’t cost much, but did make a big positive impact. I then created a free website about my house on www.wix.com. It didn't take too long to create, and was quite easy to do. It’s a great thing to have for folks that email you desiring more information. They will appreciate a nice website to view more details and pictures.

Before I listed my house on www.zillow.com, I started gathering information about my house (square footage, neighborhood schools, POA fees, taxes, appliances included and their warranties, any upgrades, and similar). I also did a comparative market value based on 6 months’ worth of recent similar home sales, which helped me price my home competitively per square foot.

I made sure to have my house ready for sale in the spring. That is a top time for buyers to start looking for homes! My home was in a very family-friendly neighborhood, so timing of the school year was very important. Folks with kids want to move before the next school year starts. Plus, spring is typically beautiful weather, yards look nice, and flowers are blooming.

I priced my home very well on Zillow. This helped rank it higher in searches. I had a good idea of what it would appraise for, which is very important! You don’t want to price your house more than what it will appraise for, unless the buyer is willing to pay the difference in cash as banks won’t finance more than what it appraises for. Also (and I learned this the hard way), don’t include un-permitted spaces (like a finished bonus room) in the square footage. Unless the work was done with a permit, it won’t be included in your total square footage, thus, your price per square foot will be off, and it won’t appraise for as much as you had hoped. And, it won’t show in realtor sites who pick up the Zillow listings, at anything other than the true taxable square footage.

Offer a realtor incentive if you can (2-3%). Most realtors will not show a home unless they will get a commission to do so. Now this is totally up to you, but, you are going to have calls from realtors and they will ask about this. I was fortunate that my buyer was not represented by a realtor, so I never had to do this. But, I did offer it.

Make sure that you have a state specific real estate contract in advance, and read through every line so that you understand it! Know what “due diligence period”, “closing date”, “earnest money”, “contingencies”, "addendum", and similar terms are. Here is a great website for more information Understanding a Real Estate Contract. Understand clearly what you are including (certain appliances, window treatments, lighting, fans, etc). Also, have your list of disclosures ready and signed. This form will detail lots of information about your house such as when it was built, type of structure, any known problems, etc.

Be prepared to have a flexible schedule, pre-qualify your buyers, and don’t take things personally when they tour! Interested buyers will want to come and see your home sooner verses later, and, they will not see it the way you do! Make sure that you can set appointments that are convenient for them. Before they arrive, make sure your house is tour ready (all lights on, window blinds open, smells good, is cool or heated depending on weather, clean, decluttered, etc.). Also, they may make comments as they tour…if it is not positive, don’t take it personally just learn from it! I would suggest asking them if they have been pre-approved for a home priced as yours, before accepting an appointment so you don’t waste time with “Lookie-loos”. I must also advise you to use caution if you are a woman showing your home alone! Use your best judgement in screening folks, show during daylight hours, and consider having someone with you. I never had an issue, but, unfortunately this does need to be said.

Once an offer is accepted, you will also need to be flexible in your schedule to be there for the appraisal, the inspections, any repairmen that come due to the inspection, etc.. And, consider in advance what you will pay for and what you won’t pay for if the inspection comes up with issues…and they always do! Here is a great site to help you understand what the inspector looks for, and how to prepare your home in advance: The Home Inspection. The buyer may also want to come by and look at the house again several times to show family members, take measurements or other things, so be flexible. You will then need to schedule a good time for your buyer to come and do a final walk-through once the inspection is done, and the list of repairs have been completed.

Lastly, you will want to research good real estate attorneys in advance. You can ask them what they would charge to assist you in your selling process, and, it’s good to know what they would charge for the closing if the buyers wants to use them.

So, these are the highlights of things needed to sell a home without a realtor. There are plenty of helpful articles about it on Zillow, Trulia, and other sites. Hopefully my experience has been helpful to you. I was so blessed to have had a great experience, a great buyer, and a hot real estate market. I would do it all over again, and would definitely encourage folks to give it a try! Good luck and happy selling!!

How to Find Inventory to Start Selling Online!

I love to go thrifting and hunting for treasures! I've actually developed quite a knack for it, and can seamlessly and strategically maneuver through garage sales and Goodwill faster than you can say "hmmmmn, what to buy, what to buy"? :-)

So, today I am going to talk about finding inventory to start selling online! The portals I sell on are mainly Poshmark, eBay, Etsy, Letgo, and Facebook Marketplace. There are so many others like 5 miles, mercari, tradesy, blah blah blah. But, I try not to overwhelm myself! It can get out of hand if you let it. So, stay focused on a few sites that work well for you and that you are adept at listing on and get to it!! Also, stay focused on the type of things that you like to sell as each site is unique to certain items (Etsy for handmade and vintage, Poshmark for clothing and fashion items, etc).

The first place to find items is in your own closet, garage, kids rooms, etc!! Why buy more items to sell, if you have a jackpot sitting in your own house? I continually go through my closets and weed out items that I'm no longer "feeling the love" for :-)! And, my son who grows taller by the minute, outgrows his clothing at a ridiculous rate! Goldmine! I only re-sell higher quality items in brand new or very good condition. I list dresses, tops, skirts, pants, shoes, handbags, jewelry, sporting equipment and attire, small electronics, and similar. Kids clothing sells well, but it needs to be priced fairly low.

Next, I scour garage sales almost every Saturday morning. There are many apps you can download that show current sales in your area by zipcode. Plan your course the night before and map it all out! Then, you can truly be "the early bird who catches the worm"! I make sure not to be totally rude and arrive hours before they open, but, I do make sure to get there at least 1/2 hour before start time. They are usually almost setup by then, and I get first dibs on all the goodies! If you can find neighborhood sales, definitely go for those first!! I make sure to look over items carefully for stains, rips, loose threads, and smells that can't be washed out! Cigarette smoke is a tough one and though I have had luck getting rid of the smell after days of baking soda or vinegar , it's still hard to get rid of it all so I typically will pass if it smells too strong. Humidity spots in white items is another tough one as even bleach doesn't always get those stains out! Have your phone handy so you can look up current selling prices on eBay for items you think about buying. Why spend even a few dollars on a designer item that no one wants, or that sells for nothing online!

Ahhhh, the next great place are consignment stores! I head straight for the 75% off rack! Locally, I have found great fur lined boots that might not sell well in my area, but, they sure sold well on eBay!! So, don't pass on something because it is a slow seller in your area! I prefer consignment stores to Goodwill (though that will be next), because typically the items are in impeccable condition and don't typically have the "Eau de Goodwill" fragrance on them!

Goodwill has definitely improved over the years...and of course their prices have gone up too. They now employ people who are trained to recognize designer items and price them accordingly. No more Coach bags for $4.99! But, there is still a goldmine in there for respectable prices. Note that the Goodwills located in nicer neighborhoods, seem to carry much higher quality items! Makes sense since those folks are not going to drive far to donate their fabulous upscale items! Again, take time to look each item over carefully for damage! Brands that sell well for me are: Nike, Under Armour, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, PINK, Coach, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Vera Bradley, DKNY, and similar.

Craigslist has been a great resource for me to find items! Of course you need to use caution as with any online sales site, so it is a good idea to meet in a public place. I have found all kinds of goodies on there and the best was a bag of about 20 Coach, Vera Bradley, Michael Kors, and Fossil bags that I paid $120 for!! Score!! I made my money on all of them times 10!! Most sellers are expecting to negotiate on price so don't be afraid to ask for a discount. If you don't ask...you don't get!!!

Friends closets are a fabulous place to find things. Plus, it helps them make a little cash and get organized as well. Offer to help them go through their things and see what you can sell for them. Then, either give them some fair cash up front, or, give them a percentage of what the item sells for after it is listed. I used to do this when I had my own retail store, but with customers that would walk in wanting to consign items with me. Many of them didn't want to wait 3 months to get their percentage, so I would make a cash offer up front and they would usually take it!

Platos Closet and Uptown Cheapskate are fabulous for finding goodies!! They price things low, but they get even lower as the weeks go by. They also have several baskets of $1 items, whoo hoo! Since these stores are designed around catering to teens, I always have great luck finding women's designer items by Banana Republic, LaCoste, Ann Taylor and similar designers that most teens couldn't care less about! The management took these items in hoping that they would sell, but, they didn't (at least for not what they wanted initially) and I get them for $5 or less!!

This last one may be surprising but I actually do well finding things on Poshmark and eBay to re-sell for more!! I look for brand new sellers and closets, as often times they don't know how to price their items well, or maybe they don't mind making just a few bucks on something that could have sold for much more? Anyway, you can filter your searches on each of these sites to find only the newest items. Do it!!

Sooooo, that is it for now. I am sure there are plenty of other places to find inventory, but these are the ones I use and they work well for me. You will find your own goldmines and learn how to scour them quickly in time. Feel free to leave a comment or question and I will do my best to answer.

Happy Hunting!!!

My OTTB and Me: Year 2!

It has been 2 years and 4 months that I have owned this big guy! Believe me when I say, we have had a rocky road. The good news is that we have truly learned so much about each other. It epitomizes one of my favorite sayings about the growth of a relationship-"time and trust".

So, here is the not-so-great part of our relationship...I considered selling him several times. Yes, I thought long and hard about calling it quits and even listed him for sale at one point, AGH!! I felt that we would never gain a true bond with one another and that he was simply too dangerous! His headstrong ways, nippiness, ability to spook at a butterfly, his profoundly buddy sour ways, and his jigging or trying to throw me were just part of the many reasons I felt it was time to move on. However, I am so thankful I never gave up on him!! He has come so far, we both have! I would have to say that much of this change came from consistent ground work, clear directions, and ultimately a change in barn and a change in diet. I also learned that he suffered from ulcers, as most former racehorses do. I had no idea! Thus, much of his behavior issues stemmed from him simply being in pain. It took 2 weeks of Ulcerguard, a daily dose of Ranitidine, a slow hay feeder, and daily Ugard to fix this. Cheap-NO! Worth every penny-YES!! He has become a softer, gentler version that I never expected!

Our time in the round pen and the arena have been priceless. Working in the small dimension of a round pen has helped teach him discipline, direction, and who is the boss. The small proximity between us has also help establish more of a bond and more trust as well. He learned that he could not simply get away with some of the antics he was pulling in the past, and that there truly was nowhere for him to go! It also helped develop his right lead which is something we still struggle with (as do many OTTBs) but it is much better than it was. In the arena we worked constantly on walk-trot-canter, and also backing, serpentine's, half-halts and full halts. I worked very hard to not let him get away with some of the things I used to let slip by me, which was much needed as OTTBs (and all horses) need clear directions, and repetition. If I was wishy-washy in my leading of him, he gave me exactly that! He started to trust me and my leadership, which also helped his spookiness and buddy-sour ways. Even now as I write this, I have a broken finger and have not been able to ride for 6 weeks. Yet, the training has continued! I have worked with him continually in this time doing ground work. The best thing though, is we have become even closer as we played together at "follow the leader" in the arena which he loved!



There were even days that I just set up a chair inside the round pen and simply sat with him. At times, he would approach me and of course I would talk with him. This has also done wonders for our bond together. On some days, I would just lead him around the barn to get him exposed to "the scary things" like piles of boxes, or a loose tarp over the shavings that flaps in the wind, or rocks that I would throw into the nearby trees to catch him off guard. All of these things truly helped so much to desensitize him from them.

He tries so hard to please me, as seems to be typical with Thoroughbreds. They are majestic and amazing animals with bigger hearts and minds than we could ever imagine. I am so glad I have never given up on him! I have learned so much about patience, kindness, compassion, determination, and more. Horses truly are mirrors of our own souls, and I am so blessed to have him reflecting on me constantly!!

Styling Photos on Poshmark, eBay and Etsy

Selling items online has become more and more popular! The benefits of a flexible schedule, working from home, being your own boss, building your own business, plus so many others are what keep online selling an attractive option. And truly, anyone can do it regardless of education, talent, work history and numerous other criteria that "Corporate America" looks for.

I had posted last year about the differences between selling on eBay and selling on Poshmark. It was actually my most popular post! People navigate the internet to find more information about how to start selling online, and I am asked constantly about how to do it. So, this post is going to discuss how to style your photos to make them more attractive, more enticing, and ultimately...to help them sell!! After all, isn't that the ultimate goal! I am not a professional photographer, but you don't need to be either. These pictures were all taken with my cellphone, and edited with free online apps. All of the items included in them have sold except for a few so far. Hopefully with these ideas, your items will sell too!

The following are a pair of Anne Klein Boots. It can be hard to position them in a picture without trying to stand them up. However, why not just lay them down! People can visualize the heel height, the shaft height and the overall look. Remember however, to always include these measurements in your listing! I use a piece of white Mongolian fur as a backdrop, that I purchased from Joann Fabrics for $20. I edited the image with a free app called "PS Express" which is an Adobe product. It is my favorite app and I love the frames on it. Plus, I can easily adjust color and brightness, and so many other key features.

The following are a pair of Men's Tommy Bahama sandals. I took this picture on a hardwood floor and added some other men's items to it for some added "flair"!

Since we are on the subject of shoes, here are a pair of Vintage Justin Roper Boots. They are a little beat up and worn (which a lot of people actually prefer!) and so I edited the picture to have a bit of an "old time" haze to it. I placed the boots on top of a similar color trunk I have in my house.

Next up is a beautiful Ellen Tracy Maxi Dress. Due to the length, it can be a bit challenging to get a good picture. But, I laid it down on the Mongolian fur again, added some shoes and a hat for flair, and stood as far back as I could to get the whole dress in the picture. This was edited with a free app called "Pic Collage" but I still prefer the "PS Express" app.

The following dress is by Max Studio. It is absolutely stunning, but without a dress form to display it on, it would not look near as beautiful! It is a simple and very straight dress that needs to be shown on a dress form. Definitely invest in one! I bought mine on Craigslist under the "Arts and Crafts" heading for $60. You can also buy them at Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Homegoods and other places. However, make sure to buy a plain one in a neutral color!! Otherwise, it will look too "busy" and actually take away from the item you are trying to sell!

It is almost swimsuit season! Let me tell you, they sell very well! Just make sure they are new or at least, like new. I also do better with one-piece suits for my clientele. So, consider who you are selling to before you invest in swimwear inventory! I LOVE to style them on top of my Mongolian fur piece, and with a hat and sandals! This is a Vintage look suit that was a big seller for me. It is by "Sports Fashion" which I had actually never heard of before. But, what an adorable design! I used the Pic Collage app to frame it with a feminine, vintage look pink border. This suit sold in a few days!

If you have kids, you already know that they outgrow their clothes fast! My son is no exception. Plus...like most boys, he HATES to dress up! But, many moms still look for dressy clothes, regardless. So, I pulled together 3 of his very nice dress shirts by Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. I folded them neatly and positioned them attractively together. This was the first picture in my Poshmark listing. I made sure to include another with the shirts opened.

Taking pictures of jewelry can be very challenging! There is so much detail and it is often hard to get clear, bright images that truly showcase each piece. These are Swarovski Hoop Earrings that are stunning! They are placed on a wine glass near a bright window. I didn't take this picture, but it would be easy to do. The image is very simple as you definitely want to keep the focus on the jewelry, not the background!

This is an Ed Hardy wallet that is so cute. The colors are very earthy and there is a lot going on (as is common with Ed Hardy :-) )! I positioned it on a floral centerpiece that I have on top of my kitchen table. It gets great sunlight there. I loved the colors complimenting each other!

Pants are another hard item to photograph. These are 2 pairs of Express Capri pants that are too cute! The plaid is great, and since they are exactly alike (except for colors), I decided to sell them together. I folded them in half at an angle and it works wonderfully! I do this with all of my pants. Since you can post multiple pictures, I do make sure to show a picture of them opened up as well.

These are absolutely stunning vintage gloves that I sold on Etsy! They are on top of my dining room table as I really like my table runner as a backdrop. The floral centerpiece also adds some nice dimension!

Makeup can be challenging, especially lipstick. I wanted to show the tubes, but I also wanted people to see the colors as well. So, I stood them up (which took some balancing alright!) on top of my Mongolian Fur backdrop again. I angled the photo nicely and shot the photo from the side. It is edited with the free Pic collage app once again.

Scarves do sell! But, it makes a HUGE difference how they are displayed. Here again, you really need to invest in a dress form. It truly makes all the difference! This pretty scarf is by New York & Company. I love the polka dots and apparently, so did everyone else as it sold very fast!

The next item is one of my most favorite Vintage purses that I sold on Etsy. It is a tiny purse with gorgeous leopard detailing at the top. I laid it flat on top of a chair I had in the dining room and it worked just great!

Next up is a beautiful Nicole Miller Tote that I placed on my dress form. Again...this is another reason you need a dress form! I actually take most of my larger handbag photos with it. It allows the bag to be positioned well and also allows the viewer to see most of its detail. I used the PS Express app to edit the color, brightness, and to also add a frame. I like a very clean image and this is what that app does! On another note, this is taken in my office. The color on the wall is my favorite paint color by Sherwin Williams called "Tinsmith". I actually have another earlier post in this blog about that color...check it out http://asinglesupermom.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-love-hate-relationship-with-paint.html

Lastly, here is an absolutely precious Santa Dress! It is laid flat on top of my Mongolian Fur backdrop and I added a bow from one of my Christmas packages :-). It looked cute with the dress, so I thought I'd add it for some flair! This dress was also a popular item. Just make sure to list it in late October or so, because you want to always remember to list your items during the right seasons for better sales opportunities!

Hopefully these photos will give you some ideas about how to style your items. There are so many options out there! Be creative, and add your own touch. Just remember, don't make your background so busy that it steals from the actual items you are trying to sell!!! If you have any questions at all, leave a comment and I will be happy to answer them. Happy Selling!!

eBay Verses Poshmark?

I am often asked about my experience selling online. Though I've been an eBay Top-Rated Seller for 16 years and have had very positive experiences (for the most part) during that time, I've recently discovered Poshmark, and I must say, I love it! Though Poshmark is not as "user-friendly" as eBay, I've still been very pleased with my experience and actually prefer it to eBay.

I have been both a seller, and a buyer on eBay. Much has changed over the years as eBay strives to refine its practices and policies. The feedback system was a pioneer in the eCommerce industry when it first rolled out, and has since been copied by many other online selling sites. It partners with Paypal which makes things even smoother, and the buyer protection programs in place are phenomenal. I have often thought that the seller protection could be better, but for the most part, it works.

There are many aspects of eBay that I find "user-friendly". I will be talking about some of them now and hopefully it will shed light on the subject for those of you still perplexed about how to sell. There are many tutorials on there that will help "newbies" get started. Once you create your first auction template, you can save it to be used for future auctions...easy! You can either post from your computer, or if preferred, your mobile device. It takes a little longer than Poshmark to create your auction, but it also has more information available for potential buyers to see. They also have a Global Shipping Program that is available to experienced sellers with top ratings. This is a great feature as it allows you to sell to people all over the world, yet eBay handles the difficulty of greater shipping costs and customs forms. You are able to sell a multitude of items verses only ladies fashion items and cosmetics as Poshmark states (new update 3/5/17 is that Posh now allows mens items, and kids items). Believe me, I do see many "unsupported" items for sale on Poshmark, but it is because the moderators haven't caught them yet. The community is growing so fast, it is practically impossible. As far as fees go, they are both just about the same. Posh charges a flat 20% commission on all of your sales, unless it is under $15 and then it is $2.95 per sale. eBay has a tiered commission structure based on final sale price. They also stick you with Paypal fees, but they are minimal. I must say, I love that Poshmark generates a shipping label for you and you just print and ship. It costs the buyer $5.95 and sometimes that is quite high if it is just 1 item (new update 3/5/17 reflects a higher shipping cost of $6.95), however, other times it is a super deal! eBay definitely has more tools in place to fight against fraud and poor behavior. I have had lots of success when I call them directly and share my issue. Posh, on the other hand, has nothing like that and it can be very frustrating. They have an email address, but it takes several days to get a response, and often times the response is fairly general. You can message buyers directly on eBay, but you can only leave public comments on Posh directly under a seller's listing. Search tools on eBay are 100% better than Posh as you can filter items by price, color, location, etc. This saves tons of time!

Ok, now I will share some things about Poshmark. Actually, many of these tips can apply to eBay as well. There are so many things to share and it is hard to cover it all in this short blog post! Before I started selling (which was just the end of Januray 2016) I'd read all kinds of reviews about it. I must say, had I just gone by what I read, I never would have started my closet on there! The reviews were horrific! But, many times people only post the negatives about something. I've seen that happen numerous times, even when I had my own retail store. Well, I LOVE Poshmark. I might not like some aspects, but just like a relationship, you accept the good with the bad :-). In the few months I have been selling, I've sold almost $1500 worth of items, have top ratings, and am one of their top 10% sellers! (New update 3/5/17 reflects a selling total of $8000 and still a Top Rated Seller!). This has been an exciting journey. It's been equally exciting to sell my "previously loved" items, and be able to use that cash to purchase new loves! I have gotten some fantastic deals and have met some amazing ladies. These are a few things I have learned, however, that have helped my sales and have given me valuable experience:

1. You MUST "follow" others, "like" other items, and continually add items to your closet, or at least "bump" up items frequently. It is all about "engagement" as this boosts your sales tremendously!

2. Take very clear, bright, uncluttered and as professional as possible pictures. People want to see things as if they were looking in a store catalog, not a garage sale ad.

3. Research your items before you list them! Look at what other 'Poshers" are selling them for, and price yours accordingly. Remember, people want deals! Don't be too greedy with your items, and be willing to negotiate!

4. Make sure you list your items as accurately as possible (note flaws, stains, rips, etc). Just like eBay, this will come back to bite you if you don't!

5. Link your closet to Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Tumbler, etc. This will boost your sales incredibly! You can also add a handy "closet widget" as I have on the first page of my blog that shows items you currently have for sale and will update in real time.(New update 3/5/17 shows that about 70% of my sales are from buyers who have seen my items through social media)!

6. Sort your closet as often as needed to bump "for sale" items to the top, and keep the "sold" items on the bottom. Buyers will appreciate this.

7. Don't list junk and old styles! Ladies prefer current designer labels and not things you can find at Walmart, etc. or that are more than a few years old.

8. Ship your items out within a couple of days. No one likes to wait a long time for you to finally send them their things.

8. Tag the buyer under the posted item they just purchased and thank them for the sale, also letting them know when it will be shipped.

9. ALWAYS have a "bundle discount"! You will DEFINITELY sell more this way. I do 20% off 2 or more items, and sometimes extend that deeper to change things up a bit. (New update 3/5/17 is Poshmark now allows buyers to create bundles and make an offer on it. I have sold quite a bit because of this as well).

10. Don't list items in your closet that are not Poshmark supported. Make sure you are clear about this beforehand. Take time to read the rules and best practices.

11. Pack your sold items carefully and with a nice touch. Wrap them in tissue paper, and include a handwritten thank you. You can throw in a "gift with purchase" too. You will get repeat customers this way for sure!

12. Make sure your items are clean with no odors like smoke or pet smells...AGH!!

13. Don't immediately reject an offer even if it is a lowball offer. I have had to learn this, as I initially would get annoyed and just hit "reject"! I've learned to always counter-offer, because many times they will accept it.

14. Make your closet appealing to the eye. I actually have mine color coordinated (my home closet is like that :-)). Ladies have commented on how much they like to see it this way.

15. Participate in Posh Parties and add your related closet items to them accordingly. This will also boost sales!

16. Follow others who have "liked" the same items you have. They will usually follow you back, and they will then be able to see styles that are similar in your own closet (provided you have some).

Well, I could keep going on and on, but hopefully these tips and this feedback will be helpful for now. Feel free to post any questions and I am happy to answer them (to the best of my knowledge). I wish you the best in your selling whether it is on eBay or Poshmark!!

My Favorite Apps!!

I have been LOVING my new iPhone 6!! It simply has so much to offer, and each day I learn of another great app to add to my vast collection. Some of them are winners...and some are losers (which I immediately delete). Today, I am sharing some of my most favorite apps and why they are so great!

OFFERUP- This is my newest one that I simply love! Within 6 hours of use, I had already made my first sale :-)! It allows users to quickly upload images (one picture unless you have a collage app), add text, a price and category of an item for sale. It will show your items based on your location and allow other users to make offers on your great things!

SHOPSAVVY- You can now keep up to date on the latest, greatest sales in your area. It will scour all of the local stores, but, also scour online deals too! You can scan a barcode that you find in a store, and before you make a purchase, it will tell you if it is the best deal or not. Fantastic!!

FOTOR-This is "The Poor Man's Photoshop"! I actually found it while searching the internet for a free photo editing program. I'd taken headshots at home, and wanted to edit them to look as though they were professional. Well, this free app did the trick alright. It is so user-friendly and simple. My images came out great, and everyone thinks a Professional Photographer took them. You can change facial flaws, eyes, hair, wrinkles, age, etc. There are tons of classic and magazine collage templates too. So many tools. Love it!!

MINT.COM- Created by Intuit, this site is amazing for keeping track of budgets, setting goals, monitoring your accounts, suggesting ways to save money, etc. It sends you your weekly spending and breaks it down into a colorful pie chart. It is also wonderful for keeping track of things throughout the year, which makes it so much easier at tax time!

GSALR-Fabulous Garage Sale app that will target current sales within the area that you choose. It pulls information from many sites online. It connects to your GPS and google maps to make it easy for you to navigate, and allows you to "favorite" the ones you want to check out.

CAMSCANNER-I found this handy app as a Sales Rep working out of my car. I needed to fax documents, but, did not have a way to do so. This app will take a picture of a document, allow you to brighten and straighten, or crop it. It will then convert it to a PDF file that you can fax or email to anyone. It saved me on so many occasions when I needed to send a fax in a hurry!

ZEDGE- This is such a fun app that will let you download all kinds of free ringtones, notification sounds, and wallpapers. You can sync it with iTunes also. There are so many different choices on here, some that are simply hilarious! It also will let you see the most popular ones, and divide them up by genre.

WALMART SAVINGS CATCHER-Shame on me for not having learned of this sooner! It allows you to scan your Walmart receipts (within 7 days of purchase) and will tell you if there is a cheaper deal at another store! If it finds a cheaper price, you can collect the difference. It will accumulate those price differences for you which will add up to great savings later!

Well, those are it for now! I am sure I will be finding more as time goes by. There are millions of them! But, I don't want to download any unless I truly feel that they will be used. So far, these get plenty of use!

Teaching Our Children About Integrity

You learn so much from being a parent! Who knew it could be so "enlightening" shall I say :-). This week was one of those moments when you just have to take a deep sigh, count to 10, and hope you give sound advice that will "stick".

So, my son is now 10 going on 20. It is that age when you think you know everything, and that you can get away with anything too. Do you remember that? I sure do! However, I truly believe my mother "had eyes behind her head" as she would always remind me. How else could she have known all of the mischief I was up to? It never occurred to me that possibly she had done some of the very same things. Aha moment!

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree" is so true. My little apple is more like me than I could've imagined. Though I give him credit, as he certainly has a stronger moral compass than I ever did. I have to hope that it is from my parenting, and that maybe, just maybe, some things do sink in with him. Without going into detail, I caught him in a lie. It wasn't a heinous lie, but, it was still bad enough. Just when I thought I could trust him to do the right thing, he opened my eyes to the contrary alright. I immediately confiscated his more prized possessions (laptop, games, Wii System) and told him he would not be getting any of it back until I felt that I could trust him enough. I've learned with him, that the most feared (and successful) punishment has to be this way. To take away his favorite things without concrete knowledge of if/when they may return, is tragic! He was devastated to say the least, and so was I. I take no pleasure in punishing him, or seeing him upset. It's one of the hardest things to have to do as a parent. When you love someone, you just want them to be happy, and you look forward to finding ways to bring them joy. So, it was a bad day alright.

Days later as the angst had passed, and there had been time for both of us to settle down, I decided to talk with him about it. I've certainly learned the value of letting things "cool down" and of perfect timing for everything. I also know that we connect so much better when we are involved in an activity, and not when I sit him down and say, "we need to talk". Ha! That is the sentence no man, no matter how young, ever wants to hear :-)! So, as we were riding bikes I started a conversation with him about integrity and character. I asked him if he knew what those meant. As always, he said, "yes I do", and he attempted to tell me. I have to chuckle inside because though he always thinks his answers are dynamic and on target, half the time he just ends up trailing down a rabbit hole without ever clearly answering it. I defined each one to him, and then I shared one of my favorite quotes, "The true test of a man's character is what he does when no one is watching". I told him that what he had done was wrong, and that he needs to think more closely about his actions in the future. I let him know that he must strive to always be a man of character, as it will define his life. He looked at me blankly but, I could see that it sunk in. I tried to give him examples of this. He did his best to explain away his previous actions, and to make me believe that he was "confused" about the right thing to do at that time. I told him, "if that is ever the case, you need to come to me and ask". I let him know how important it is to be able to trust him with the little things, in order to trust him with the bigger things. This made perfect sense to him as he wants a dog, and I've told him time and again that I will need to be able to trust him enough to know 100% he will provide and care for it.

So, we enjoyed a good bike ride that day, and he learned more about being a good man. I know he sincerely wants that. He amazes me as he already knows that he wants to be a husband and a father someday too. Wow! All I knew at his age was I wanted to skip school and play on my horse forever! Anyway, a good lesson learned. Hopefully, it will continue to sink in with him. I guess only time will tell.

My OTTB and me!

On January 25th this year, I was given a piece of my heart back! Who knew that after 25 years of being horseless, I would not only find myself as a horse owner once again, but owning a former racehorse of all things! That's right, "Obviously Tuesday" had spent his entire life on the track. This big Thoroughbred gelding was born to run...and boy did he ever run!

In fact, he won the Aqueduct, and Saratoga several times, plus a 3rd place at The Belmont, and many others. This boy was made for speed!! The thing is, Thoroughbreds can't race forever...no one can (even me with all of my own race history). Eventually, age catches up to you, and life is no longer the same.

Thankfully, there are many organizations that adopt off-track racehorses, train them, and eventually place them with forever homes. Mine was not an adoption, but he was certainly worth every penny! I actually found him on Facebook of all places! There are many groups on there that are horse-related, especially for OTTB's (Off the track Thoroughbreds). One day, I happened to see a post about my boy, who had been re-training in NC for about 10 months. He was at a reputable farm, with a reputable owner, or I never would've considered buying a horse sight unseen! She worked with me every step of the way, even sending me Youtube videos of him being groomed, tacked up, mounted at the mounting block (which is not an easy task for an OTTB!), ridden W-T-C in both directions and on the correct leads. I even had a video of him show jumping in a baby-green competition. My intention wasn't to find a show horse, but eventually I did want the ability to show and wanted to make sure whichever horse I purchased would have the ability to do so. She sent me great pictures of him.

Again, I wouldn't recommend buying a horse sight unseen, and without riding him first (but I tend to "live on the edge" sometimes anyway :-)). She also sent me recent vet paperwork, to which I did call and speak with both vets that had been involved in his care.

I arranged shipment from NC to SC with a reputable horse shipper, and found (what I thought at the time) a good barn for him. He arrived just as planned, and when he got off the trailer, I swear I felt as though I was looking at The Trojan Horse! He was huge, and muscular, and held his head so high and proud. I was as much in awe, as I was filled with nervous tension. He was bigger than I had imagined, even for me who stands almost 6 ft tall! And me, after being horseless so many years, was now the proud (and somewhat clueless) owner of a larger than life Thoroughbred!

I learned early in owning him, that not all barns offer quality care, even if they say so. Plus, not many of them are truly qualified to care for an OTTB. They place them out with too many other horses, and most OTTBs have no clue how to defend themselves, and be the "alpha horse", so, they get so beat up. And my guy sure did! He would have bite marks all over him, and it was awful! I made sure that he was stalled at night, and begged them to keep him away from the aggressive horses during the day at let-out time, but they didn't. Agh!! They also didn't feed him enough, or the right food. Thoroughbreds are "hard-keepers" with a high metabolism. They need high quality hay, and more flakes than other horses. They also need a protein rich quality grain. It is well worth the research to find the right one. We didn't have access to the grain he'd been on previously, so they put him on another type. It was OK...just OK. Me being so new back into horsemanship, felt somewhat at the mercy of the barn manager. The barn itself was a leaky disaster too. Boards would be falling down, lights were burnt out, and everything was just so messy. The final straw was when he ended up with a bloody gash on his jaw. $500 worth of stitches later, and the barn manager saying she "didn't know how it happened"?, was enough!! This all took place within 6 weeks time too. I finally found a "Horse Heaven" for him, and moved him promptly!

It has been night and day, from the previous place!! He is thriving, happy, well-kept and looked after, and has his own grassy pasture during the days. Heaven! I also look forward to being there as often as possible, and I never felt that way at the old barn. The owner lives on property, is familiar with OTTBs, checks on all her horses constantly, and does not overcrowd her barn at all!

So, you may be wondering about the riding part of an OTTB? Yes, I wondered about that myself. I learned right away that they don't understand the same way other horses do. In fact, pulling back on the bit just makes them want to go faster! The canter is always the place where accidents will happen more than any other part of riding. And, if your OTTB isn't understanding your desire to have them STOP, then, you are in for a challenge alright! In fact, one day I took quite the fall from him and it really shook me. It was my fault, as I had not tightened his new girth enough. While cantering, the saddle started sliding on him, I started panicking a bit...and so did he. He would not stop of course. Off I came! However, this fall did teach me some valuable things. First, you must always tighten your girth once, then do it again before actual mounting. Second, I learned what a sweet boy I had since he did not try to run away, kick, or do something crazy when I fell. He actually stopped completely, stood at my side as if to say "Woops, what happened"? Third, I learned to ALWAYS get back on your horse. For me, it was essential to shake off what happened, and to not let fear take over.

Well, you will learn as I did, that time and patience are essential in riding horses, especially OTTBs! My guy would do fine with the walking part. Though it bored him to tears (and me too, somewhat).

The trot was just OK, as there would be parts of it when I would feel him pulling at the bit and wanting to break into a canter. His trot would just start going faster. So, I learned to slow my posting and to relax. If I started to get tense, and post at the pace he was trying to get to, we were doomed. I spent hours working on walk, trot, walk. I also used voice commands and he picked up on them rapidly (which is interesting because I read that horses don't listen to those). I especially worked on complete stops. I also learned that OTTBs LOVE to work! They are used to having a job, and they welcome it. They like to stay busy, and to have their minds stimulated. They are also rather "bomb-proof" from having been exposed to so many sounds, people, and other horses all of their lives. Anyway, I decided to work with a trainer, and that has made all of the difference! Riders really benefit from having the expertise of another accomplished rider, plus, a different set of eyes to see them. I've only trained a few times, however, in between lessons I am riding in the arena for hours while working on the basics. I have seen a completely different horse! Part of which presumably came from his not truly understanding what I wanted (because I was still learning and always will be). Yes, he still fights the bit somewhat. However, he responds so much better than ever and really tries to please me. I continually praise him and applaud his accomplishments.

Just my time grooming him, leading him along the sunny grassy pasture after a cool bath, talking to him constantly, as well as, riding in the arena have been priceless. We have formed such a trust and bond together. He knows he will never feel the sting of a crop on his hocks as he is being pushed faster. Nor will he spend hours pent up in a stall without horse or human contact. He is loved and cherished and I have to believe that every living creature can feel that, and benefits from it.

He has been the same for me as I remember my many years growing up with horses. They were my life, and my heart, and the one thing that truly got me through my childhood. He is a dream come true, and I look forward to our many years together!