Immobilier, My Sister Heidi and Word of Mouth in French

Following his bike accident, Jean-Marc got his staples out Saturday and was out inspecting the fields around our home for our 2016 vine-planting. More photos you may have missed, at Instagram.

TODAY'S WORD: immobilier

    : property, real estate


ECOUTEZ/LISTEN - Hear Jean-Marc pronounce today's word and this example sentence. Download wav file or press the mp3 button:

Immobilier

My belle-soeur, Heidi, est une expert dans l'immobilier dans le  Colorado. Si vous avez besoin de ses services, n'hesitez pas à la contacter.
My sister-in-law, Heidi, is a realtor in Colorado. If need her help, don't hesitate to contact her. (See her email following today's column)


A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE...
by Kristin Espinasse

My sister Heidi called the other day with a pertinent question. After reading about my recipe for parsley pesto, Heidi asked: "Why parsley? Why not basil?"

Mais bien sûr! What an obvious question, one that readers were sure to be wondering about: Mais pourquoi le persil? et non pas le basilic? Now's the chance to answer: because my garden is teeming with parsley! And second, because parsley pesto (or, more accurately la persillade) is absolutely delicious on everything - or simply eat it by the spoonful (like peanut butter. Miam-miam!)

But back to Heidi's call. This wouldn't be the first time my sister saved me from an oversight. There was that time I discovered The Eyebrow Pencil... and paraded around Scottsdale like Groucho Marx (in my mind I was Lauren Bacall...) until my sister saved me from the heavy-handedness.  

It may seem ironic that someone so clumsy with a brow pencil would go on to write for a living. (And, having written that smug sentence, it dawns on me this essay is about to trip over its own words - floundering from pesto to Groucho to je-ne-sais-quoi!! So please do like the citizen's of Scottsdale did--and ignore the big eyebrows as they walk on by! Yes, every so often a writer needs a reader who will look the other way....)

Psst! That's your clue to look over here as I return to the intended subject of this essay: my sister! After selling real estate in Arizona for many years, as a broker, Heidi is now focusing on Colorado immobilier. And she would really appreciate your help in order to find clients. So if you know anyone looking to buy or sell a home near Denver, would you please pass along her contact information, as seen below?

DE BOUCHE A L'OREILLE
You don't have to live in Denver to be of help. Most business contacts are the result of what the French call le bouche à l'oreille or word of mouth. So thank you very much for telling or emailing anyone you know about my sister the realtor in Denver! I leave you with this introduction, written by Heidi herself: 

HEIDI INGHAM STITELER
Working as a licensed Real Estate Broker for over 20 years has provided me with valuable experience in all aspects of residential home sales, representing both buyers and sellers. In real estate, knowledge and experience matters.

Whether you’re looking to buy the perfect home to suit your individual needs or are interested in selling your home for the maximum return in the shortest time, I have the experience, market knowledge and dedication to help you achieve your goals.

At the end of the day, it’s relationships that matter most, and my greatest satisfaction comes from the successful client relationships I’ve made over the last two decades, as evidenced by my repeat and referral business. Loyalty and trust are the keys to my success.

Communities I Serve

Bonnie Brae (current resident), Cory Merrill, Belcaro, Washington Park, Platt Park, Observatory Park and Cherry Creek

Education

BS, Journalism/Marketing, Northern Arizona University
Licensed Real Estate Broker, State of Colorado
Licensed Real Estate Broker, State of Arizona

CONTACT INFORMATION

Heidi Ingham Stiteler
Broker Associate, Coldwell Banker Devonshire
200 Fillmore Street ~ Suite 300
Denver, CO  80206
Cell: 303.818.0609
[email protected]

 


Heidi and family on vacation. Besides being a trusted and loyal realtor, my sister is so kind and a joy to be near! If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling a home near Denver, contact Heidi at [email protected] 

Comments

[Michael]

Belle-soeur? Ou belle soeur?

My belle-soeur, ou Ma belle-soeur?

[Judy]

I always listen to the sound files, but recently I cannot get them to play. The WAV file comes up with the play button grayed out and the volume button on mute and also grayed out. There is no link for MP3, and when I click on the word itself, I get a audio image that is not grayed out but will not work. The same thing happens whether I read the article in my email or through a browser. Is anyone else having this difficulty? If so, have you resolved it? Thanks!

[Kristin Espinasse]

Hi Judy,  thanks for the info. Yes,  recently I am having issues with the sound files.
Feedback from other readers would be helpful. Thanks for letting me know if you are hearing or not hearing the files.

[janine cortell]

Bonjour Kristin:
I love your"persillade" much better than the one with basilic. You and your sister look so much alike-deux belles soeurs!! By the way, bouche is feminine: LA bouche
But as I tell my students, people will understand. Bonne journee. Janine

[Kristin Espinasse]

Thank you,  Janine,  and for the helpful correction. =-)

[Amber in Illinois]

Oh la vache! I think Heidi and Jackie could be twins !

[Audrey Wilson]

How alike you are !! Same smile and two lovely kids.. Afraid I can't help re the selling/ buying . My family are based in Phoenix & San Francisco , But the best of luck to ,her !
I go with Janine . Gender is one of my bugbears ,but the French are always sympathetic

[Kristin Espinasse]

Thanks,  Amber. I love hearing how much Heidi and Jackie look alike!  And they are alike in many ways,  too.

[Kristin Espinasse]

Thanks,  Audrey!

[Herm in Phoenix, AZ]

Salut Kristin,

As for your writing; the Navajo Indians of Arizona are known for their fine blankets and quilts. They purposely put an error is each one because they believe nothing, or nobody, is perfect.

So . . . . . isn’t it alright for a righteous writer to write wrong occasionally?

That’s a great photo of Heidi and family! Bonne chance, Heidi!

[Kristin Espinasse]

Thank you,  Herm.  I love the story about the Navajo Indians of Arizona,  and the reminder that nobodys perfect. Especially needed this message today. And thanks for the bonne chance! All best wishes to you and Sharron.

[Trina, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA]

On a UN tour, the guide explained about purposeful imperfections in Persian rugs in much the same way as the Navajo Indians. The belief is only G~d creates perfections, so a slight imperfection is created.

When I first began reading, I was surprised to learn Heidi is now in Colorado. (Perfect if Jackie still has her sights set on going to university in Boulder! Family nearby :) I will keep this in mind. Does Heidi have a webpage link that can be shared? I do have some former colleagues that live in the Denver area.

[Natalia]

Our dear Kristi,
What a warm,what a loving post today between two beautiful sisters
devoted to each other!
There is no better way to start the day than with this kind of a smile!
THANK YOU!
Love
Natalia. xo
PS Herm's story about the Navajo rugs was great.We had those on the floor when I was growing up,and I wish I would've known about the their idea of mistakes/nothing's perfect back then.It would've given me as much comfort in those days as it does now.

[Kristin Espinasse]

Natalia,  Lucky you to have grown up with these rugs.
Trina,  no web page yet for Heidi.

[Trina, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA]

Thanks for letting me know. I shared your page on Google+ with a note as to her services in Denver. If/when she has a webpage, I will share that link on LinkedIn. I wish (selfishly) she'd been there a few years ago. My cousin from Phoenix was relocating to Denver and much trouble locating a property. Heidi would have been able to relate the Denver neighborhoods to where my cousin lived in PHX. They eventually ended up in WA state, but currently in PHX again ... for now anyway. Perhaps if they had stayed in CO, I'd be out of hot, hot FL :)

[Robyn France]

A little word on le bouche à l'oreille--although la bouche is feminine, when there is an idiom with more than one noun, it is usually identified as masculine--in this case, you will see it with both le and la--as in bars, restos, etc.--so no worries about the gender on this one. ie
Le Bouche A l'Oreille - Wine Bars - Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes

Hope that helps!

[Kristin Espinasse]

Robyn, thanks for your help and the examples!

[Bob McGowan]

Une petite chose: c'est la bouche a l'oreille, n'est-ce pas, pas le bouche a l'oreille comme vous avez ecrit aujourd'hui? L'aime bier votre blog. Merci mille fois!

[Robyn France]

See above Bob--indeterminate with this idiom with 2 nouns--independent of the gender of the noun. Often seen as de bouche à l'oreille.

You can check out lots of places with this idiom using "le" instead of "la". Makes the world go around.

[Julia]

I love to listen to Jean-Marc's voice saying the word of the day: his beautiful French makes me really want to learn! Thank you both.

[Sherrill]

The mp3 button works for me! My favorite pesto is arugula pesto with almonds instead of pine nuts. YUM!

Best wishes for Heidi, I'm sure she is going to be quite successful! I don't know anyone in the Denver area, but one of my co-workers just got back from a first time visit there and is ready to pick up and move . . . well . . . perhaps not quite yet, but she did really enjoy it. :) I'll be sure to keep Heidi in mind if I hear of anyone in need of her services?

[Leslie NYC]

I would love to see Heidi zing up her introduction a little bit.

[Kristin Espinasse]

Sherrill,  so good to know the sound file is working for you! Thanks for the helpful info.
Tip for those not hearing it: I have noticed a lag in the time I click on the link and before the recording begins. You may need to wait several seconds,  so dont click off in the meantime =-)

[Kristin Espinasse]

Leslie,  I am afraid I havent helped as I have taken an excerpt of Heidis intro.  She will be updating it soon.
Thank you all for your interest and help.  My sister was so happy to see this post and these thoughtful responses. And she has received a few contacts,  too!

[Jan McCarthy]

I can personally test to what a wonderful person Heidi is. She will do everything to make your experience as a seller or buyer successful and personal. She is one of the most wonderful people I have ever met and of course, I will recommend her to anyone in CO. xo, jan

[Kristin Espinasse]

Thank you so much,  Jan, for your wonderful testimonial! I agree 100 percent!

[Anne Lester]

Surely belle-soeur is sister in law?

[Kristin Espinasse]

Hi Anne, la belle-soeur is indeed sister-in-law. I think you are referring to the sound file in which my sister,  Heidi,  is referred to as belle-soeur. (That was Jean-Marc speaking.)