Gabrielle's Blog

There's almost nothing more inspiring than the light of the sun breaking through on a dark cloudy day. Yes, we live "almost" under the power lines, but it's almost impossible to have space like this in the City. Scenes like this make it all worthwhile ... those are the Cascade foothills way in the background.

When starting my real estate career, I was fortunate enough to briefly share an office with an excellent agent. She had a non-stop stream of clients and always seemed organized and well prepared. A technique that she absolutley espoused was the use of buyer packets. Hers were stuffed full with brochures and information about the area, along with some basics about real estate.

I've since developed my own version of a Buyer Packet and try to present it to every new client before we go out to view the first house. Inevitably, the time I forget to start out with a packet, the Buyer walks away to another agent as I was recently painfully reminded.

So ... here's a few of the things I include in my packet. I'd love to hear about yours!

• List and definitions of commonly used real estate terms
• A blank Purchase & Sale Form
• Agency booklet
• Buyer Agent Contract
• Map of area (I get these from the local Chamber of Commerce for free)
• List of area "departments" -- parks, schools, city hall, police department, Chamber of Commerce
• Home Warranty Plans
• Flow chart of a typical transaction
• Printout of a sample listing (so that we can talk about how to read it!)
• Where to go to find more information about a house
• What to expect from me (i.e., how I work)
• Stack of business cards!

I also include a Client Information Form that I ask them to complete so that I can start my file out right. They always fill it out without hesitation.

My trusty Treo 755 is slowly dying. The sound quality just keeps faaaaaading away.

Now, the preference in my office is now a Blackberry Curve because, after all, "business people seem to trust the Blackberry, so it must be the one!"

I'm with Sprint. The plan pricing just makes sense in our household, but their phone choices are a bit limited. This week I've looked at the new Palm Pre, which makes me nervous because

a) it's brand new, and

b) it's a Palm ... and heaven knows my luck with Palm's has been far less than stellar

c) There's no stylus. it's all heat sensitive touch screen. Not even fingernails will work the thing. It feels really awkward to me.

I gotta say, my preference for sheer usability seems to be headed towards the HTC Touch Pro. It's Windows Mobile based ... slide out keyboard, plus touch screen.

That's what's bugging me about the Blackberry Curve so far ... lack of the touch screen. I use my calculator heavily on my Treo. With the stylus.

So ... Here's my question to you Blackberry users -- how DO you use your phone's calculator with all the various functions without a touch screen of some sort. I'd love to be convinced. Truly. I love the idea that business owners can't be all wrong. But that lack of touch screen. I think it's bugging me ...

I spent some time on a listing appointment yesterday with a family that had previously listed their home with another agent. The house didn't sell. Hmmm, why not?

Important question, right? Well ... I "can" tell you one thing in a big hurry. Resistance from the Sellers to do any prep at all when getting a call to show  the home. An attitude of "this is how we live, surely you don't expect us to put away our things just so you can tromp through our house and intrude on our time." How sad. Interesting though -- they "sound" extremely motivated to sell. Have their eye on a new home and want to be in it before school starts.

So, as with every Seller, I provide  with a quick checklist of things to do before someone comes to see their home ... after all, we want folks to see their HOUSE, not their home. Aside from my usual list and walk through advice of taking down personal pictures, removing tons of furniture, cleaning out the closets, etc., here's my checklist of "what to do when you get the call." Perhaps it'll be useful to you. 

• Make the beds
• Hide the laundry
• Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher
• Wipe dry the sinks, tubs, etc.
• Swish clean all toilets, wipe the rims, and be sure they are flushed and the lids are down.
• Ensure that dry matching towels are neatly hung in the bathrooms.
• Vacuum or sweep all floors
• Tidy, tidy, tidy! - Especially kitchens, bedrooms, and den areas!
• Be sure sidewalks are swept, the lawn is neat and tidy, gardens weeded.
• Use the nose test - does everything smell fresh and clean? Briefly open some windows to air things out, if needed. Then close them, of course, if it's cool outside.
• If you have pet, try to minimize them as much as possible, keeping litter boxes clean and out-of-sight, and cleaning up any accident areas. It's also a good idea to be sure that pet-food dishes are hidden, and certainly if you typically feed your kitties on top of your kitchen counters!
• Add appealing light scents through air fresheners or periodically add a single drop of vanilla to the top of one light bulb in strategic rooms. This will spread a wonderful homey smell in those rooms!
• Be sure there are no burned-out light bulbs anywhere and that all of the light fixtures are also freshly washed and polished.
• Do a quick walk-through to be sure that any valuables, jewelry, weaponry, and personal financial papers are safely put away and completely out of sight.
• Ensure that temperature is around 68°, but hide floor fans during hot summer seasons if you use them. If you have a ceiling fan, turn it on so that it rotates slowly (reminiscent of that lazy summer day feeling).
• Ensure that soft "elevator-style" music is playing throughout the house.
• Turn on all of the lights even if it's a bright sunny day.
• Then LEAVE and either take your pets or safely lock them up away from the house, if possible.

I am constantly amazed at how many friends and acquaintances I've made just by being a part of the WWW. Truly.

Years ago I participated heavily in a forum, now a Yahoo group, of likeminded decorative painters. We chatted about paints, brushes, and techniques, which then evolved into discussions of friends and family, and so on. As time went on and technology got better and faster, we started sharing photos of our work, babies, pets, friends and families.

Even then in the days of dial up (and we though it was FAST! <smile>) there were folks popping in from all over the world -- China and Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Argentina and Peru. The list goes on and on.

Today I am touched by the comments of a painting friend from Israel who popped in to my e-mail just to say "Hi" and "I haven't seen you much lately, how've you been?"

When I started my real estate career, one of my biggest personal challenges was giving up hours of painting time and devoting myself to the new career. I don't have much chance to paint anymore, and yet these friends from all around the world still care and still drop by now and then just to be sure that the wolrd turns in my little corner.

The paint brushes still call now and then, although far less than they used to ... and I no longer have a chance to lock myself away in a studio and just make a mess (what fun!). But friends remain and I am so grateful! I guess in many ways this speaks to the influence of blogging and Web sites. You just never know who you touch and who will become a life long friend.

Broker Colleen Fischesser is always after me to share a bit more on ActiveRain. Somehow the days just go by in a frantic hurry from one transacdtion to the next, but she insisted that this story was one that begged to be told. So here goes ...

Late November of 2007 I listed a home for some close friends that were in some financial distress. After careful review, we listed the home just below what appeared to be market value for the area. And we promptly received an offer that placed the sale as a short sale. After lots of discussion, the sellers (my clients) decided to go ahead and proceed with the transaction and listing as a short sale.

Well, to make a very long story short ... the first buyers backed out ....

as did the second

and the third

and the fourth

and the fifth

and the sixth -- well, kinda sorta. We FINALLY had short sale approval, almost a year to the date of the first offer. But by then the mortgage market had tanked and after almost four months of waiting these Buyers were unable to secure the financing. So they backed out.

Five months later ... And Buyer SEVEN Wins!!! I just know you'll want to join me in the virtual celebration! So ...  

drum roll please! ... 17 months, 7 offers, and countless countless hours of phone calls, email messages, certified mail packages to the lender and the sale is CLOSED! Whooo hoooo! I can't begin to tell you the relief that my clients feel (not to mention ME) with the successful closing of this thing. Finally.

Gosh ... my phone is quiet today. Nothing to do. (well, for the next five minutes anyway)

So ... thanks for letting me celebrate for a minute! YAY!!!!!

I'd love to hear some of your tales of long short sale transactions, btw. I'm told the trend is to close them faster. uh huh. Sure.

Lakeland Hills is a planned community located on the East Hill, just north of Lake Tapps. It sits right on the King County and Pierce County dividing line.

It's an interesting area to observe, from a real estate standpoint, simply because there's such a wonderful mix of new construction, townhouses, single family homes in "condo" style, where the lots are small but the homes are detached, and some older homes with larger lots and fantastic views.

In Lakeland, it's common to see amazing views of both the Cascades and Mt. Rainier, and then off to the west to see the Kent/Auburn valley and the Olympics out in the distance. Absolutely gorgeous area.

As with many communities, at the moment there's a mix of brand new construction combined with an sad mix of short sale and bank-owned properties. Since I live in and specialize in the Auburn area, I've tried to keep tabs on exactly what's happening in Lakeland -- which homes are selling (or not) and whether they're being sold by private owners or relocation companies, compared to new construction sales, bank owned or short sales.

Builders are doing well in Lakeland, although they're offering some fierce incentives at the moment. A few short sales are closing, but, again like many other areas, the bank owned properties are dictating prices to get inventory off the market.

Don't hesitate to give me a call or shoot me a message if you have any questions, comments, or input! I'm all ears!!