The Bosshardt Blog

25 Random Things about Haile Plantation

Posted by Karen Godley , REALTOR® , Bosshardt Realty, 2/20/09

This exercise came from Facebook by way of my friends who wanted to know more about everyone. I thought about the places I like to be - to work, to shop, to hang out - and realized that so much of it involves Haile Plantation. Here are 25 of my favorite things in Haile Plantation.

1. Bosshardt Realty, since that’s where I have an office, and we’re the biggest agency in town.
2. My favorite sandwhich is the Chicken Pesto Ciabata at The Village Market.
3. I like Sisters: the name, the family involvement, and of course the food.
4. Walking to the Village Jeweler from my office is a favorite and that they carry Pandora because I can make a gift for any of my girls with Pandora.
5. The convenience of the Publix at Market Square.
6. O!O Tapas and Tinis, where you can enjoy great food and great people all the time.
7. I love that we have we have more than one bank to choose from in Haile.
8. Everyone is happy that we have more than one pizza restaurant to choose from in Haile.
9. One of my favorite places is The Perfect Gift for the cards, wine, and great gifts.
10. Why ruin your skin in the sun when we have All Over You Air Brush Tanning.
11. The best esthetician in town is Christy Conner (Facials by Christy Conner).
12. I love Bluebird, where they try to give me a sense of style.
13. Kudos to Haile’s Angels, who find homes for so many animals who need care.
14. On the Spot Dry Cleaners means no more driving across town with your laundry.
15. I’m glad we have a place for kids like Gelato in the Market Square.
16. Haile has a true sense of the old south with all the trees that have been preserved and all the Spanish moss.
17. The walking trails never seem to end.
18. The roundabouts work amazingly well if you know how to work them.
19. Haile has a wide range of tasteful architecture.
20. Driving past Hampstead Park makes me smile because of all the families enjoying each other there.
21. I can’t help looking across the golf course; it is consistently beautiful.
22. I enjoy that Haile is so close to the Mall.
23. The events in the Village are really fun, especially Octoberfest.
24. The traffic pace is slow, which reminds me to slow down and enjoy the scenery
25. Everyone gets out and walks or runs or simply strolls along, and they speak to you while they’re at it.

Amazing Realtor does it again! Just call him Coach Of The Year....Again.

For the third time in his career, Perry McDonald was named the 2008 1A-3A Volleyball Coach Of The Year by the Gainesville Sun today. Is it any small coincidence that he has also been named the People's Champion at Bosshardt Realty for the past three years, given to the person who receives the most and best performance reviews from his or her past customers? When I reached him by phone, I congratulated him and asked what he thought the tie-in is between his success in coaching and his success in real estate.  "I think personality traits and understanding personality traits," said McDonald. He also mentioned something I thought was extremely insightful, "In both you have to earn trust and loyalty to produce optimal results." Words to live by it seems. Congratulations to Perry McDonald, Coach/Realtor extraordinaire!

Also named to the 4A-6A first team was Gabby Jones, whose father is Alarion Bank's Senior Mortgage Consultant, Mike Jones. Congratulations to the Jones family.

The full article can be viewed here.

My Favorite New Sport – Saving Money

Posted by Karen Godley , REALTOR® , Bosshardt Realty, 12/19/08

I’ve made a sport of saving money in the past few months. I’ve amazed myself at how much “budget fat” I’ve trimmed from my wallet.  From phone lines I never used to advertising that didn’t produce quantifiable results, I’ve cut my monthly budget by several hundred dollars.

Before the holidays arrived, I promised myself that I wouldn’t spend as much this year on gifts that may be cool but may not be necessary. I also decided that I would cut back on my charitable giving. After all, my charities were expecting the cutbacks in their business just as I was in my real estate business. 

So this morning while getting ready for the day, spending the required amount of time in the mirror eye to eye with myself, I worried about going over my self-imposed Christmas budget for my family.  Yep, one week to go and I’m over budget. I’m not a lottery player, but I mused that if I did and I won, what would I do with a million or even a couple of hundred dollars?  I thought of gifts I’d buy, investments I’d make, and maybe the party I’d throw, and I thought I’d give a nice part of it to charity.

And that is when it hit me.  Even though I’ve had a good year (not great but good), I’m failing to do the one thing that makes a difference in my life and the lives of others.  I stopped giving to those in need. Even though I have a roof over my head, a car that is one year old; most of my investments are OK; I have plenty of food, clothing, and my credit score is intact, I’m not doing the one thing that helps this world be a better place. I’m not giving because I’m afraid of what it will do to my personal economics.  I listened to the morning news while getting ready for the day, and they were reporting on families with no income whose homes are being foreclosed on, whose children are going without presents so the utility bill can be paid.  Without my contribution to the charities I have supported for years, where will those families go for help? The amount of money I give every year is not earth changing, but it would buy several children a gift of two, or it might put a dinner on a table for a couple of families, or it might keep the lights on through January in a few homes.  So I’ve decided to rethink my economics.

In the end, what is the benefit to me? I may not see the smiles or hear the thanks directly from the recipients, but I’ll know I did my part in reaching out to those who are in financial crises - real financial crises. I’ll know that my charities will make sure my money is used wisely, as they have always done.  I’m not going to lie, I’m going to hold my breath as I write the check, but as I had it over, I’m going to exhale, and then I’m going to thank God that I had a good year, and that I have a roof over my head, a car to drive, food on the table, and gifts under the tree for the people I love.

Carol Bosshardt wins 2008 James M. Parrish Community Leadership Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today, Carol Bosshardt, founder and CEO of Bosshardt Realty Services, Inc., was announced as the Gainesville Alachua County Association of REALTORS® 2008 recipient of the James M. Parrish Community Leadership Award. The recipient is nominated by Association members from a pool of over 1,000 REALTORS®. Heather Surrency, the previous year's recipient, presented the award to Ms. Bosshardt for her "involvement and influence as a member of the Board of Directors for Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, the American Heart Association, the University of Florida Center for Performing Arts, and her funding and fundraising of over $500,000 towards the Partners in Adolescence Lifestyle Support (PALS)program." The PALS program, which reaches out to troubled youth, is an Alachua County grassroots program that received the prestigious Sapphire Award in 2008. 

In her remarks, Bosshardt noted, "As bad as we have it, many have it far worse. They are struggling to put food on their tables and pay their heating bills." She challenged all members to give back now more then ever, and to look for 2 for 1 ways to do it. "The Girls Club does lunch once a year, so you can feed yourself and give back to the community. Many opportunities like that exist."

Other awards  presented included REALTOR® of the Year, awarded to Patty Moser, and the Tom Dobson Award for Service from a Past President, awarded to Neely Davis. Nicole Rapapport was named Affiliate Member of the Year.

For more information about Gainesville Alachua County Association of REALTORS®, contact Lisa Gurkse, Executive Director, at  352-332-8850.

In spite of area real estate market reaching worst level in decades, local REALTORS® still giving back

Posted by Aaron Bosshardt, COO, Bosshardt Realty, 11/27/08

Even a 30 year veteran like Carol Bosshardt, Broker of Bosshardt Realty Services, Inc., says that this is the worst market in her lifetime: "Even in the 1980s, when rates were close to 20%, we were still doing deals." According to FAR statistics, the Gainesville market is down close to 35% in activity for the third quarter, and that was before the big credit freeze hit.

Yet that didn’t stop local agent Loralee Miller from organizing an aggressive food drive that saw the REALTORS® raise a carload of food and nearly $800 for the Gainesville Community Ministry. Officials were ecstatic about the donations. Many fear that, with the recession, donations will be at an all-time low this holiday season.

One reason the Bosshardt group was able to raise so much money in such difficult times was through the efforts of Sandra Lehrer.  Lehrer, a senior vice-president with the company, agreed to match monetary donations from all agents at Bosshardt's Haile Plantation office.

There is still time to act. We encourage you to contact Gainesville Community Ministry to make donations for the holidays.