Thom Collier, Realtor

06/22/2026

Over the last few decades, I’ve accumulated a wall (and a few boxes) of awards, plaques, and certificates, but this one was special. It was delivered to me by Rod Cook, Executive Director of the East Central Chapter of Red Cross, and recognized my 9 years on the board of directors for this great organization.

This one means a lot because truthfully, Red Cross blood donations saved my life multiple times 10 years ago.

I had been a blood donor in the 1990s, but sometime in the 2000s, life got busy so it slipped out of my mind and schedule.

I never thought I would need to receive blood donations myself. But after multiple trips and admissions to KCH and Riverside hospitals over several months, I spent the better part of three months in and out of the hospital. Twice by life-flight.

I won’t go into the details but I came very near death several times as my hemoglobin levels dipped to very dangerous levels.

I had a very rare internal bleeding disorder, which was not only hard to find but challenging to correct. Multiple attempts to stop the episodes were unsuccessful. Finally, after invasive surgery, they were able to correct it.

Over several months, it took a total of 33 blood transfusions to save my life.

It gave me a new appreciation for the importance of blood donations.

Once I recovered, it took me more than a year to be able to donate blood again, and then I started sponsoring blood drives every three months. I was asked to join the board of the Red Cross and ended up serving three terms.

Just 10 years ago, I was wondering if I would survive. And this year I was recognized for my years of service to the Red Cross board. A program which literally saved my life.

That’s quite a full circle moment for me.

Thank YOU, Red Cross, and all who donate blood to save others' lives.

I am forever grateful to them. It reminds me that every donation is important and had the blood not been available, I wouldn’t be here to share my story.

If you have ever considered donating blood, go online and make an appointment today. The life you save may be your own or someone you love.

- Thom

06/21/2026

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, grandpas, stepdads, and father figures who make a house feel like home. Wishing you a day filled with family, laughter, and memories worth holding onto.

06/19/2026

If you have ever donated blood, you may have saved my life.
Because of my experience, I am always happy to sponsor a blood drive. Your donation can make the difference of life or death for someone in need.

06/18/2026

Is it time to downsize? Whether you’ve got too much home to maintain or you’ve got too many stairs to navigate, this is a question just about every homeowner struggles with at some point.

The first thing to think about is WHERE do you want to live?

Oftentimes, people assume retirement means downsizing, which means moving to Florida. And while Florida is nice, I’ve found the main reason downsizers decide to move away is if their kids or grandkids are in a different town or state.

The truth is, most downsizers actually want to stay where they’ve planted roots for so many years!

If you’d like to downsize and stay right here in Knox County, there are several options to think about:

Making changes to your existing home to allow you to live there longer

Smaller one-level homes offer a more manageable home with little to no stairs

Condominiums offer smaller square footage and low-maintenance living

Specific senior facilities that can accommodate your needs down the road

Working with an agent who knows all these options is important if you’re considering downsizing.

That’s why I became a Senior Real Estate Specialist, in order to help my clients understand ALL their options and decide what is best for them.

If you have any questions, give me a call!

- Thom
Team Collier, e-Merge Real Estate Champions
(740) 627-1544

06/16/2026

What’s better than an above-asking, cash offer with no contingencies for inspections, appraisals, or financing? My buyers’ offer.

My buyers had been searching for almost a year for just the right property.

Finally, we found it. My buyers were ready to go and really wanted this one.

But unfortunately for us, other buyers felt the same way and submitted an offer as well. The big hurdle for us was, we believed the other offer was cash. And probably above asking.

So I suggested a seldom-used strategy that I thought could make our offer more competitive. They agreed to follow my lead, so we crafted an offer at the asking price that actually put MORE money in the seller’s pocket at the end of the day than the cash offer they had received.

It worked.

Our offer, while financed and NOT above asking, actually worked out to be a better offer from the seller’s perspective!

Mission accomplished. I helped my buyers get the home they wanted, without breaking the bank, against some stiff competition.

Sometimes cash isn’t always king. A little creative thinking can go a long way!

- Thom

06/11/2026

Here’s one question every Buyer asks me: Does my lender really matter when it comes to buying a home?

In short? Yes.

Not as much when it comes to the price of the home or the cost of the financing. Of course it’s worth shopping around to see who can offer the best rates.

But what matters more is whether or not the lender is someone the buyer agent or seller agent is familiar with. If a Seller agent recognizes a lender or has done business with them in the past, they will likely feel more confident in that offer when they see it come in.

This helps tremendously when it comes to a multiple offer or competitive scenario. This is why using a LOCAL lender can matter so much.

In my own experience, I would be hesitant to choose “big box” or random online lenders. You never know who you are dealing with, and they are notorious for not fulfilling obligations in a timely manner.

So, the tip of the day when it comes to choosing a lender? Talk to your agent about which lender you’re using.

Choose a lender you know has a good track record of smooth closings and one that other agents in the area will trust, too!

- Thom
Team Collier, e-Merge Real Estate Champions
(740) 627-1544

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

This home features a wide-open living, dining, and kitchen area with major appliances included.
- 3 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms
- Primary suite with a large walk-in closet
- Spacious laundry room
- 2-car attached garage with tons of extra storage
- 10×16 storage shed
- And much more

This home is priced at $315,000.

📍 866 Winesap Dr, Howard

- Thom
Team Collier, e-Merge Real Estate Champions
(740) 627-1544

06/05/2026

Fully renovated, top to bottom, and room for the whole family.
- 5 beds / 2 baths
- Remodeled kitchen with high-end appliances
- Updated fixtures, paint, walls, Pergo hardwood flooring
- Fenced yard, large detached garage with metal roof
- And much more

This home is priced at $369,000.

📍204 E Sugar St, Mount Vernon

- Thom
Team Collier, e-Merge Real Estate Champions
(740) 627-1544

06/04/2026

COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR RENT