Page 14 - Lincoln 55 Plus - Winter2020

Shari Bitney:
Covid-19 and Real Estate
The real estate market in
Lincoln Nebraska is extremely
strong, even amid the Covid-19
pandemic. The underlying eco-
nomics of population growth cou-
pled with a remarkably low unem-
ployment level and unprecedently
low mortgage rates have fueled
historical growth. Many expected
the onset of the pandemic earlier
this year to put a damper on the
market but that has not shown to
be the case.
So, has the potential financial
gain pushed some to throw cau-
tion to the wind and ignore the
risks of covid-19? Is the idea of
selling your current home and
pocketing a significant amount of
capital gain or being able to
upgrade to a newer or larger
home for the same monthly pay-
ment is too enticing to worry about is entering your home it is a good
a virus?
While ignoring the risks may be of leaving doors open and lights
true of a few, my observation has
been that buyers and sellers have
confidence in their real estate pro- Specialist with BancWise Realty
fessionals to take the necessary
steps to minimize the risks of
exposure to Covid-19. Not only
©
have Realtors changed the way
they do business, title companies,
lenders, appraisers, inspectors,
and contractors all have made
adjustments. The rule of the day
is to limit contact, wear masks,
gloves, sanitize and social dis-
tance.
©
Most Realtors have replaced
open houses with virtual events.
No more opening your home to
anyone who wants to walk in.
Showings are by appointment
only, prequalified clients accompa-
nied by an agent. Most sellers
require all people entering their
home to wear masks and gloves.
As an added precaution they
Enjoy
The Vibrant Life
Of Lincoln
Lincoln 55+ Seniors Paper
leave the room and closet doors
open, with all the lights on so that
visitors do not have to touch door-
knobs and switches. Sanitizing is
recommended following every visit
as well. It is common that
©
Realtors now ask the basic
Covid-19 screening questions
before meeting with any clients.
Most title companies have
adopted a policy of no contact
closings and they limit meetings to
only the principals involved in the
transaction. Realtors and others
may not be permitted to accompa-
ny their clients. Some lenders are
now offering desk top appraisals
so that the appraiser does not
have to enter your home. Home
inspectors and contractors are
wearing masks and gloves. To
limit contact, they typically sched-
ule their visit when homeowners
are not present. Anytime someone
idea to follow the same procedure
on and always sanitize afterward.
As a Senior Real Estate
©
many of my clients are senior citi-
zens. As such, we consider the
risks to be very serious and
choose to keep everyone
safe.Always follow the recommen-
dations of your local, state, and
federal health officials. No amount
of financial gain is worth risking
your health. If you prefer to wait
out this pandemic it is totally
understandable. If on the other
hand you want or need to buy or
sell your home, stay safe. Be sure
to work with a professional
©
Realtor who will ‘carefully’ assist
you during this unique time.
Bill Budler
©
Senior Real Estate Specialist
BancWise Realty
Online at www.Lincoln55Plus.com
Passionate for Dogs and NNKCR
After ten years of vol-
At almost age 40, unteer work with
Shari Bitney met her NNKCR, Shari has
“heart dog,” that spe- discovered the impor-
cial dog with whom tance of “communi-
she developed a cating clearly with
once-in-a-lifetime foster pet parents
bond. This dog and other volunteers,
helped her “under- because everyone
stand how important has different levels of
animals are to experience working
humans and how with dogs. We want
they can make us our fosters to feel
better people if we good about the expe-
let them into our lives.” Shari rience, so it’s important they feel
began to meet other dog people, supported. All volunteers should
and one day a friend asked if her feel that they’re an important part
wanted to attend a meeting with of our mission.”
people who were interested in In May of 2018, after retiring from
starting a dog rescue group. That teaching, Shari joined the
meeting, ten years ago, was the NNKCR board and then accepted
birth of Nebraska No Kill Canine the position of board president,
Rescue, with which Shari has the duties of which regularly
been involved off and in various required 10-15 hours of her time
capacities throughout the years. each week. As board president,
Initially, Shari conducted home Shari tries to keep board meet-
visits for prospective adopters or ings organized and on-topic, she
worked in the NNKCR booth at but acknowledges that this tough
events. She has also transported to do with a group of impas-
dogs, which was a learning expe- sioned dog-lovers. “There are so
rience for her. “There was the many dogs in Nebraska that
time I drove a dog to its new need help of some kind; it’s hard
home in Columbus,” Shari to set priorities,” she explained.
shared. “It was a pretty big dog, “Most of the work in our rescue is
and I assumed it would ride in done by a few people, so we
the back seat, which is set up for have to be careful not to over-
dogs. Shortly into the trip, the big
extend ourselves.”
guy let me know he would ride There’s a lot of work leading up
shotgun and lick my face the to an adoption, and NNKCR can
whole way. That was when I use volunteers who have an hour
learned to tether dogs for trips in or two to give each week to help
the car!” with any stage of the adoption
Eventually, as part of her volun- process: finding foster pet par-
teer activities, Shari drew on her ents for dogs, assessing and
meeting the needs of dogs,
working with foster pet par-
ents, checking in regularly
and delivering food, posting
write-ups of the dogs on
NNKCR’s website and
social media, answering
questions about its dogs,
processing applications,
arranging for a meet and
greet with applicants, and
delivering dogs to their new
homes.
“It’s the best feeling in the
world, Shari says, “every
time you match a dog to a
good forever home.
Knowing that at the end of
graphic design background to all this work, the dog now has
work with Firespring to redo the people who will love and care for
foster-based dog rescue’s web- it, and so this dog will have a
site. She described it as now happy future is incredibly mov-
being “much easier to use, and a ing.”
source of information about
topics related to dog owner- by Allison Hunter-Frederick
ship.” Shari has also Pet Blogger and Cat Coach
revamped the nonprofit’s www.lincolnpetculture.wordpress.com/
Facebook and Instagram www.pinterest.com/lincolnpetculture/
accounts. www.facebook.com/AllisonHelpsCats
www.instagram.com/rainythetherapycat/
Winter 2020-21 - Page - 14