I have been in situations during my real estate career where it has been necessary not to begin a working relationship with someone, or to terminate it early in the process. More easily said than done I fear; we are not so flush with clients that this is a comfortable decision to make, but I absolutely believe there are times when it’s NOT appropriate or agreeable to work with certain people. Furthermore, I firmly believe that “mutual respect” is essential to any relationship. Without it, we are destined for failure.

My most recent experience in deciding not to continue working with a client made me pause to consider, “what went wrong?”  I am fairly patient and believe that I am capable of working with most people. Therefore, I am deeply concerned when my business encounters don’t work through to fruition. Like many business owners, there have been numerous developments during my career that I would consider difficult or even painful to endure. Yet, somehow we always manage to persevere and get through to the other side, reach the finish line, make it to settlement, and yes, to ultimately get paid. What was different this time?

I can endure a lot of things in the pursuit of finding the best home on the market for my client. After all, it’s the reason why we put our client’s needs first. In fact, our business model is designed to ensure our client’s utmost satisfaction, and we go a long way toward making sure this happens. Nevertheless, there are times in a relationship that makes one question their worth or value to another person. These instances of uncertainty are not always apparent at first, and may take time to become noticeable. Once it becomes clear that a trust has been breached and that the advocate is being made out to be the adversary, we’ve got problems. If conversation and client-education are not working, the time has come to reevaluate the relationship and perhaps make some difficult decisions.

I strongly feel that I am worth what I bring to my relationships, and I honestly believe the people who I give of myself to be deserving of these efforts. It is not always reciprocal but it is usually manageable. When trust is in question, and reason, understanding and consequence are dissolved, the likelihood there will not be a successful outcome can become painfully obvious. As it turns out, in this instance it’s was better to go our separate ways under poor circumstances than to resolve to be tormented while hoping for a most unlikely outcome.

I am not pleased in having to part-company with someone I know I could help. I do not like dissolving a relationship I have heavily invested with my time and resources. This particular encounter was simply untenable and not worthy of my hard work. As a result I needed to begin using that valuable time and energy to look for the next client deserving of my efforts, of my time, and of my many great qualities. Most of all, I look for the opportunity to respectfully work with someone and to have them willing to return these efforts in kind. After all, the lesson here for me is, at a minimum, we are all worth that!

John & Ann VanderSyde, Assoc. Brokers, Virginia Properties/Long & Foster, Richmond, VA 23226

Revised 12/29/11

Unless someone is an automobile enthusiast the garage in residential construction doesn’t get the attention it deserves. By today’s automobile standards the car barn is too small; the inside space, the doors as well as the area required to access it are just a few of the considerations that are often overlooked or under-considered by the common builder, and I believe most often done in an effort to cut costs.  We also stretch and pull our homes in so many directions further infringing on auto space without any compensation or adjustments. We as consumers should be asking the question, why does the garage suffer so much and what can be done about it?

For one thing, our cars are so wide today that an eight foot garage door is barely enough to squeeze the average car through it. Even some moderately sized and compact cars have trouble making the fit without losing a mirror once in a while. A nine foot wide door should perhaps be the industry standard. Not only will this give us the space we need to get in and out of the house, but will in turn provide the needed space to circulate properly around the vehicle. We will also be able to get in and out of one car without bumping doors into the adjacent auto while inside this space.

We get into more trouble with rear and side-load carriage sheds because the driveway isn’t wide enough to properly make the turn. As a result, we end up making three-point turns to go inside, or worse scrape the garage door track because we turn prior to clearing the opening. Both the car and garage are now in need of repair. This situation is compounded by the aforementioned skinny garage door. Even a full double wide sixteen foot door doesn’t provide the space we need if another vehicle is already parked.

If you have a truck or SUV the standard seven foot tall door height may give you fits too. Add a cargo or recreational roof rack to that and forget accessing your car refuge. Fortunately doors come in eight and nine foot heights, but good luck finding one of these in any builder’s list of standard features. You will most assuredly pay extra for this bonus, but it may well be worth the cost.

I can tell you many architects and designers don’t like garages at all. They feel it either detracts from the home or simply does not belong where people live, and if we must have one it should be separated from the home completely. Nevertheless, architect or builder, if you are going to provide a garage then properly plan for it; don’t take the short cut because we need to save on the budget. If it is not in the budget take it off the wish list and make more modest improvements in other areas of the home. It can always be added later.

The cost of these larger spaces as well as the engineering required to structurally support the seemingly excessive span of these rooms seems unnecessary, especially when we consider that it’s not even living space. As a result, we continue to cut back on the dimensions until it is impractical to park a car inside, much less get out of the vehicle once we’ve stopped.

If the client or perhaps the neighborhood standard dictates a garage we should insist it be large enough to accommodate the intended purpose. Plan on a suitable depth and width to house the largest of automobiles and you will err on the side of greater satisfaction to the end user. A properly designed garage will also add value upon resale of the property.

Some rules of thumb:

1. Allow a minimum of two feet around the sides of each vehicle. This space should not overlap the bay of the adjacent vehicle. The width of each bay should be approximately twelve feet.
2. Allow a minimum of two feet behind the vehicle, just in case access around the rear of the car is needed while the garage door is shut.
3. Allow a minimum of two-and-a-half feet in the front of the car for all the obvious reasons.
4. Do not allow storage areas, bins, shelving or work benches to encroach into these minimums; your satisfaction will be elevated and frustration eliminated.
5. Increase the width of the garage door to nine feet, and consider a height of eight feet.
6. If you are a die-hard owner of compact cars you can disregard this advice, but keep the notion of resale to an SUV owner in the back of your mind.

Every situation is different and should always be evaluated by a professional prior to implementing a plan. These suggestions are generated from feedback we have received from clients in both real estate and in the practice of architecture. Please contact us if we may be of assistance to you or your garage.

 Consider all your options first . . .

You may be contemplating whether it’s better to sell and “move up”, or simply add-on in order to upgrade your existing home. Circumstances can vary making this a difficult decision. In Richmond, Virginia, news reports indicate a relatively stable market compared to other parts of the country; nevertheless, property values have seen a decline resulting from the current economy.

Home owners often ask themselves if they should buy a new home or add on to the one they own. This question comes up in all markets, so I know it’s not just a sign of the times. Motivation can come from many things, but there are a few critical questions one can ask before moving forward.

Richmond is blessed with a wealth of excellent neighborhoods, providing a variety of life styles from which to choose. So, the first question to ask is “can I duplicate what I love most about my neighborhood living somewhere else?” This consideration may make the decision easy if you are attached to your home, or if are driven to move for specific needs.

Next, “what will it take to make my current house meet or exceed what I can find in another location?” Why else would we consider moving? This may be influenced by our finances, space considerations, schools, work, and undetermined gains vs. losses. It’s sometimes best to make a list in order to evaluate this question properly.

Finally, “am I willing to live through renovations and additions in order to get what I can purchase somewhere else?” Be realistic and honest about how this effects you as well as everyone living in the house. Give the greatest consideration to this question, as it has the greatest impact on family and relationships.

The rest will fall into place with the assistance of qualified professionals like contractors, designers, architects and Realtors®. The source depends on your decision, so choose wisely while consulting a trusted advisor.

For more insight, information and any questions on this and other important issues, please contact your most valued real estate professional, we are here to serve you! 

Sources:  John VanderSyde is an Associate Broker with Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company, and a Licensed Architect. He and his wife Ann are in business together in Richmond, Virginia.