Last Sunday, at approximately 2 a.m., I leapt forward. So did you. Most of us were asleep while leaping, although some of us, who can somehow initially go to sleep but have bodies that refuse to stay asleep, were awake to watch the unfolding of the entire event. For the record, it was unremarkable at best. It was 1:59 and then, suddenly, it was 3. We sprinted through an entire hour, and my heart rate did not even accelerate by one beat.

Honestly, I don’t mind the jump forward. I like extra daylight at the end of the day, and I am an adamant fan of early mornings as well. I seemed to have arrived on this planet with this specific preference intact from the very beginning. The “fall” back in the fall is the bigger problem for me. In fact, on several occasions, I have refused to participate in this silly cultural ritual. This defiant act lasts just long enough for me to waste a sufficient amount of energy, and then I inevitably have to show up for something or another and then I find myself giving in … only because everyone else gave in as well. We can call this a sort of “radical acceptance” on my part.

Radical acceptance is not just a term that all my adult children, as well as my husband, cringes at when I use it (which is frequently). Rather, it is, by definition, the complete acceptance (not necessarily approval), with our mind, body and spirit, that we currently cannot change the present facts, even if we do not like them. Why my family abhors this term is beyond me. Either way, in this case, this term seems to apply.

Even more confusing is the fact that not everyone in the world participates in this inane practice. Not only does it lack global unity, but it is also lacking in national unity as well. Both Hawaii and Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation) do not currently participate in the time change. However, this is irrelevant. If Utah does, everyone who lives here must, whether we want to or not. That’s because we must be in sync with everyone around us.

Real estate is similar. Buying and selling anywhere in the United States is a similar process; however, there are some statewide and regional parts of the process that can differ dramatically. These practices are also subject to change, and they often do. That is why we, as Realtors, just love it when we hear the comment, “That’s not the way we did it back in …”

This is very likely true. Yet, since we are not in …, then we will go ahead and follow the rules, regulations and laws that exist in Utah surrounding the practice of real estate. This includes the use of our state-approved forms written specifically for the purchase, sale and negotiation of real estate transactions in Utah. For those of us who have our heads in the game, we are made aware immediately when changes take place in these processes.

In fact, less than two weeks ago, two of the most commonly used forms in Utah real estate were changed. These changes reflect the need for more transparency in the industry with how Realtor’s are paid. These forms are Utah forms only. I can’t speak for any other state’s forms or changes, but this is just one example of the constant need to stay relevant and up to date in a specific market, regardless of what any other market is doing.

This is also true for pricing. While we would love for all our clients to get $100,000 more for their home than it is worth, that improbable pipe dream is about as likely as it is for me to be able to function in this society with my clock still running on last week’s time. It just isn’t going to happen. While a similar house in Manhattan (assuming you can find an actual house in Manhattan) may have sold for $4.5 million, yours may cap out at $740,000, and there is nothing we can do to change that except radically accept. Market values change from city to city and even street to street in some areas, and wanting it to be different doesn’t translate into making it so.

Hiring a local Realtor who has their head in this challenging, yet gratifying and every-changing game of real estate is critical. Now, let’s just practice some radical acceptance and “leap” into spring (minus the hour we lost back on Sunday).

Jen Fischer is an associate broker and Realtor. She can be reached at 801-645-2134 or jen@jen-fischer.com.

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