Categorieshome values, info for buyers, info for home owners, Seattle, Washington real estate

Selling Your Home? Don’t Make These 4 Common Mistakes

Thinking about selling your home?

At some point or another, nearly all homeowners consider selling their property. If this thought has been on your mind, there are a few things you should know about the home selling process before you put your home on the market.

Selling your home isn’t always easy. But, it can be streamlined by avoiding these 4 common mistakes.

Not Hiring a Real Estate Professional

The first and biggest mistake that sellers make when they’re trying to sell their home is not hiring a real estate professional.

Some people who go at it alone are indeed successful in selling their home – but the vast majority aren’t. Selling without an agent on your team is entering into the market alone, without being equipped with the tools, knowledge, and resources you need to cultivate a profitable sale.

Whether you’re going to work with a real estate agent, broker, or realtor; you need to have an expert on your side throughout the process. Otherwise, you could be setting yourself up for disaster.

Trying to Cover Up Property Flaws

Never try to hide property issues when you’re selling the house. The truth will come out eventually, and if you’ve tried to cover up something you knew was wrong during the sale, you’ll pay the price.

Sellers are responsible for communicating any and all property flaws to prospective sellers before the deal has been sealed. This happens in the transaction’s official property disclose package – so make sure you’re extra careful when filling this out.

Incomplete, incorrect, or fraudulent disclosure forms will likely end up in a lawsuit being filed against the seller. Save yourself the money, legal issues, and stress by being honest the first time around.

Creating an Unclear Listing

Make sure your property’s listing is on its A-game.

Since most buyers begin their home shopping process online, your e-listing will likely serve as an introduction to your home. You’ll need to make a good impression, so don’t create an unclear listing. Use HD photographs, videography, and include all the necessary details.

Don’t leave any important information out and be as clear and concise as possible. This will help you attract serious buyers who are interested in moving forward with a deal.
Not Screening Your Buyers

Failing to screen your buyers is a huge selling mistake.

Selling your home to a weak buyer can cause all sorts of transaction problems. Whether it’s a financial issue, timeline incongruity, or some other complication; unqualified buyers are bad news.

Strengthen your screening process for interested buyers and look out for red flags when you’re reviewing their applications.

Avoid making these 4 mistakes for a safer, easier, and all-around less stressful selling experience.

Photo by Sarah Kilian on Unsplash

Categorieshome values, info for buyers, info for home owners, Seattle, Washington real estate

Build Your Culture With Love

We typically don’t think of love and business as existing in the same universe. But not only does love belong in the business world, says author Deb Boelkes, it should fuel everything you do, both internally and in your interactions with customers.

“Your customers are the reason you exist, and your job is to earn their love and loyalty,” says Boelkes, author of The WOW Factor Workplace: How to Create a Best Place to Work Culture. “That means you must first love them. And that, in turn, means you must first love your employees.”

Boelkes offers the following tips to help leaders inspire employees to deliver impeccable service, creating an unparalleled experience for both employees and customers that makes them both feel special, appreciated and respected.

Don’t be afraid to use the “L” word (especially on Valentine’s Day). In her book, Boelkes quotes the late Teresa Laraba, former vice president of Southwest Airlines, as saying, “Early on, when we started, one of the taglines was: ‘Somebody up here loves you.’ Our stock symbol is LUV. We were open about introducing love to corporate America and the airline industry. We were going to have a product which loved you and a company which was going to serve you and appreciate you doing business with us versus the attitude: ‘You exist to keep us in business.’”

Boelkes suggests finding fun, creative ways to show customers that you love them, such as personalized cards or putting together ‘We Love Our Customers’ gift boxes full of Valentine’s Day goodies. Or make a charitable donation to a local soup kitchen or animal shelter in honor of your customer.

Recommit to your relationship with agents and employees. Engaged employees are happy employees, and happy employees create happy customers. That’s why leaders make it a priority to work on their relationship with employees. And as with any good relationship, it means putting in time and effort. Know what’s going on with your agents and employees and find out if there’s something that’s stopping them from delivering on their work promise that day.

“If you have just two or three one-minute engagements as you walk through your workplace, it builds,” says Laraba.

Think of yourself as a “superior service” role model. When you wow customers, employees will too. If you commit to giving the best possible service to every customer and making decisions that benefit the customer first (both great ways to show you love them!), your employees will do the same. They are watching and taking cues from your behavior.

Look for the servant’s heart in those you hire (and make sure you have it, too). To win your customers’ love, you must truly love the work you do. No one should ever phone it in. Great leaders and employees alike develop what Laraba called a “servant’s heart.” She said, “We first try to hire people who care. Our hiring process is looking for people who genuinely enjoy what they do.”

Learn to look at your customers through “soft eyes.” Don’t treat them like transactions. Boelkes quotes Howard Behar, former president of Starbucks Coffee, as saying: “Rather than seeing people as customers or seeing people in their roles as bankers or teachers or authors or whatever, we need to see all people in the context of their humanness, of being a human being. Then, when you’re dealing with somebody and whatever the job happens to be, look at everybody through human eyes, through soft eyes.

Create service experiences that take the customer’s breath away. In her book, Boelkes cites her own experience with dining at Bern’s Steak House as one of her favorite examples of delightful customer service. She says the dining rooms were opulent. The menu was extensive and the food sublime. Finally, the wait staff was a testament to their mission of delivering impeccable service.

“We were so impressed with the service from our young waiter,” recalls Boelkes. “When I asked how long he had been a waiter there, he answered, ‘two weeks.’ Given his professionalism, manners, attention to detail, and superior service attitude, this was a surprise! We learned he had worked at Bern’s for two years. Everyone there starts out working in the kitchen. If they do well enough, they are promoted to assist in the dining room, and so on. Founder Bern Laxer was a firm believer in hiring for attitude and work ethic, not experience.”

Allow employees to go above and beyond for customers (in their own unique way). Take a cue from Donald Stamets—general manager for Solage, an Auberge resort in Calistoga, Calif.—and don’t make employees ask permission to go the extra mile to wow customers. As part of his Expected, Requested, and Delighted philosophy, Stamets encourages them to go above and beyond what the customer expects or requests and try to delight them at every turn.

“Likewise, tell your employees their goal is to delight customers,” says Boelkes. “Let them use their own judgment and tap into their creativity. Being allowed to do it ‘their way’ will encourage and inspire them to go in whole-heartedly.”

“Yes, it’s hard work to be a heartfelt organization, but the rewards are so much greater for you, your team, and most of all, your customers,” adds Boelkes. “Life is just better when you give and receive love every day, in all that you do. There’s no reason why this truth can’t apply to the workplace.”

Deb Boelkes is not just a heartfelt leader but an authority on creating best places to work, with 25+ years in Fortune 150 high-tech firms, leading business development and professional services teams. As an entrepreneur, she has accelerated advancement for women to senior leadership. Boelkes has delighted and inspired more than 1,000 audiences across North America.

Photo by Christopher Beloch on Unsplash

Categorieseconomy, financing, home values, info for buyers, info for home owners, job market, quarterly report, Seattle, Seattle neigborhoods, Uncategorized, Washington real estate

Metropolist Magazine Volume 1 | Issue 1

Get Your Guide to the Hottest Real Estate Market in the Nation

Seattle’s real estate market, both residential and commercial, has been cooking for a few years, making it tough for people who want to enter the market, or even move within it. That’s where the 1st-ever Metropolist Magazine jumps in to inform.

Our 1st magazine is a 12-page guide packed with 2 main types of content, based on the last 6 months of market activity:

  1. Stories
  2. Data

Designed to easily inform and inspire you, this guide shares high-level data and professional insights about single-home, condominium and commercial sectors.

By neighborhood

Also, we’ve broken the data out by neighborhood provided by NWMLS data and Trendgraphix. So, if you’re living in Ballard or University District, head over to page 9.

Curious about what’s been going on in West Seattle or Belltown? Those are on page 10, along with loads of other neighborhoods and districts. Fremont? Queen Anne? Madison Park? Yes, yes & yes….and more.

The color coded legend at the top of page 9 will make it a snap for you to understand at a glance.

Our aim?

Keep it simple, but provide great information around a large investment that directly affects the most important things in your life… your home, your family and your future.

Making the most of it

For best strategies and results, we suggest you ask your trusted broker to walk through this guide for more personal insights based on your own home and investment goals.

Whether you’re buying, selling or just checking in on the market, it’s time to download your 12-page Metropolist Magazine now.

Categorieseconomy, home values, info for buyers, info for home owners, Seattle

Rising Prices in Seattle’s Competitive Housing Market

Don’t panic…Be knowledgeable about your market!

If you are hoping to start off the New Year with a Seattle home purchase, make sure to do your research. With rising mortgage rates and still record low numbers of listings available, our market is as competitive than ever before.

The region was just ranked as the housing market with the fastest rising prices in the country, according to the Case-Shiller home price index.

Seattle Times released an article that helps break down the recent changes and further explain trends of both seller and buyer.

They’ve even provided an interactive graphic that breaks down the housing sub-market by providing median price, percentage change over the last year, and number of homes sold. This is a great resource in your exploration.

Categorieshome values, info for home owners, Seattle, Uncategorized

The Importance of Pricing Strategy

Crazy sellers market right?
Tempted to price just a smidge higher?
Let’s talk about the importance of strategic pricing…

In this sellers market, many sellers are wanting to see just how high they can push their list price. The conversation goes something like this, “because my neighbors put their house on the market for $400,000 and received $50,000 over asking, I want to list my house for $450,000”. It is extremely tempting to push the market; that is, price your home at the tippy top of what you think is possible in this market. This graph below from the National Association of Realtors shows the percentage of buyers who will look at your house if it is priced at market, below market and above market.

PricingBuyers still want to see prices reflect market value and then decide if they are willing to pay more to compete. When it is obvious the house is overpriced or pushing the envelope, they pass it up and will likely go pay just as much for another house around the corner that used a smarter pricing strategy. Pricing, as always, is paramount. Metropolist agents are skilled and educated to help you price your home to get the most money – and perhaps even more importantly the best contract terms – in this market. If you have been thinking of selling, or know someone who is, give us a call!

Categorieseconomy, home values, info for home owners, referrals, Seattle, Washington real estate, Windermere

Seattle Digs YOU!

To my current clients & former clients, friends, family and colleagues,

I hope you dig me too.
This is my love letter to you and to the Seattle real estate market. It’s back baby! So, is it good time to buy? Sell? Simply peek around? Of course! Please read on.

2012: Armageddon Outta Here!

The past few years were rough.But you hung in there and now housing prices are perking up like my Lola’s ears when I near the fridge. For Sale inventories today are near all time lows.
Homeowners who were under water are making it back to the surface.
A seller’s market can be a great time to buy if you have a good negotiator on your side. Someone like me!
2013: Don’t Lose It, Lease It
This year, many homeowners are moving onward and upward while turning their current homes into rental properties.
Why?
There are more qualified renters than there are available homes. Rental income can offset mortgage payments while your home equity continues to rebuild.
Interested in buying without selling?
I’ll show you how!

Not Every House is a Winner

This house was like a date from hell. Looks like marriage material, but once you get to know it — total nightmare!
I recently helped a buyer score a beautiful house built in the 1980’s despite competing buyers.
Good thing Seattle Digs keeps the champagne on ice until the inspection is complete.
Reis Pearson of Inside Out Building Inspection discovered the siding trim was not properly installed,
causing 30 years of unseen water damage and infestation below the surface.

Estimated repair bill: $150,000.
My buyers were able to walk away without leaving their hearts — or their deposit — behind.

Like what you see? Dig This!

Seattle Digs is an easier, less stressful, more fun way to buy a home.
Learn more about Seattle Digs’ fresh approach to real estate at the

I’m looking for Ladies. Gents. Families too. If your friends, family and neighbors are thinking about transplanting this year — don’t send them to Google, send them to me!
I will help them get where they want to go.

In case you haven’t already been there, check out the…
All-New Seattle Digs Website
!

Categorieshome values

Are “distressed” homes dragging us down?

Well, according to Aubrey Cohen of the Seattle PI Real Estate Blog, a new report from CoreLogic shows the numbers we hear about real estate prices are dramatically skewed by “distressed” home sales (foreclosures and short sales). Mr. Cohen quotes that prices declined in Seattle 5.8% from May ‘10 – May ‘11 but if you remove the “distressed” home closings from that number it changes to a much less daunting 1.75%!

The reality is that short sales and foreclosure properties sell for less money than other homes. These days many buyers are getting tired of wasting months and months on a short sale. If a seller is in a good equity position they stand out well in the marketplace, often being able to negotiate more strongly on price as well as terms. It’s an interesting dynamic in what most people would consider a “buyers market”.

So “distressed homes” are dragging public perception down for sure. But they don’t have to drag sales prices down overall unless sellers fail to recognize when they are in a strong position. Just another reason to make sure you are working with a great agent who not only knows the market, but also has proven strategies for getting top dollar.

If you are curious about your home’s value don’t hesitate to give me a call. I’m happy to prepare a market analysis to help you understand your current equity position anytime. I always appreciate the opportunity to help, and to catch up with my peeps!

Best Regards,

Domenica

Categorieshome values

2010 Luxury Home Market Report

The 2010 Luxury Home Market Report is now available to my clients.  2009 saw sharp declines in the Puget Sound upper end housing market but 2010 showed a marked increase in sales and prices for this segment.  The Luxury Home Market Report has all the details including year over year sales, prices and days on market(DOM) etc.

If you would like to discuss the report or have interest in the current market data for any segment of the real estate market please give me a call.  I’d love to grab a coffee and talk numbers with you!