White Water Rafting Lessons

by Karen Briscoe
October 21, 2016

Upper Gauley River Rafting

White water rafting on the Upper Gauley River in West Virginia is an extreme adventure challenge with intense nonstop action, ranked high in the world and tops in the United States. It is recommended for only serious whitewater enthusiasts as it requires precise maneuvering, skills and attention as you navigate challenging tight technical rapids. These include steep drops, narrow chutes, rock ledges and crashing white water. The fall is the ideal time to raft the Upper Gauley as the dam at Summersville Lake is opened after Labor Day, thus creating the most exhilarating rapids experience.

One of the professional rafting guides on the Gauley River is a high school friend of our son’s. He has many stories to tell of adventures on the river. It reminds me of my real estate transaction stories. It seems we both remember well the most challenging ones, the people involved and the lessons learned. The guide too makes sure you enjoy the journey, pointing out scenery and parts of the river that one may not notice.

First lesson is that you don’t want to raft the Gauley River alone, particularly in peak times. The guide is there for safety as he has traveled the river many times and knows the danger spots and the techniques to navigate them. And should you fall out of the boat, the guide is there to pull you back in or to take other action as required. Given that people have been known to die rafting the Gauley, why they wouldn’t want the advice and skill is surprising. The same holds true for the real estate transaction. Given that one’s home is a significant financial asset; wouldn’t Sellers and Buyers want to be represented by a knowledgeable agent? During particularly challenging markets and transactions, it is more important than ever to have a professional working for you that can get it done.

One such scenario comes to mind when I represented a Seller client. The title work revealed that part of an addition the owner’s had constructed for their handicapped daughter had been built over the setbacks allowed by the County. This meant that the home was effectively uninsurable unless rectified. The Buyer still wanted to purchase the home and allowed the Seller the time for the County to approve the addition retroactively, which we were able to achieve. This very unique situation required a high level of diligence and ability to navigate.

Before setting out the guide provides instructions on how to get down the river alive, in one piece and with all of the equipment. The parties in the boat must use rhythm to their advantage to steer and navigate the roller coaster ride. The real estate agent too pulls together those parties who play their part in the purchase and sale of a home. All work together to assure the transaction arrives safely at settlement. If there are difficulties, like rapids, these professionals possess the skills and knowledge to provide wise counsel.

Karen Briscoe and Lizzy Conroy and their team HBC Group at Keller Williams are active and experienced Realtors® in the Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland and Washington, DC market place. They would be delighted to assist whether selling or buying a home. Please contact via the means most convenient for you: www.HBCGroupKW.com, 703-734-0192, Homes@HBCGroupKW.com.

 

Karen Briscoe is Principal of the Huckaby Briscoe Conroy Group (HBC) and author of "Real Estate Success in 5 Minutes a Day". She is an Associate Broker in Virginia, a Certified Luxury Home Market Specialist, and a member of the Women’s Council of Realtors. Karen began her real estate career developing residential lots with the Trammel Crow Company in Dallas, and in commercial real estate with The Staubach Company in the Washington, DC Metro area. Karen has a Masters Degree from Southern Methodist University and her BA from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri – her hometown.

Keywords

Being a Realtor.

Like
Favorites
Log Out
Log In