Liz Talley did her job well, and built a reputation as a top Real Estate professional. Some how she skipped over the big arm motions many Real Estate sales people go through to get noticed. I’ll even say that since the 1980s some time, she has always been a top producer, a force to be envied in Real Estate circles.

Ballard, at that time, was an older population who lived in small houses kind of squished together. It was a heavily Scandinavian neighborhood. Fishing was a way of life until the 1960s. The point I’m making is that it was a hard neighborhood to tackle. Being a kid in the business didn’t help. What it took was being really, really good at finding property, knowing property, and being extremely honest.

Honesty is what sets Liz Talley apart from other Real Estate sales people. It’s a simple statement of fact that answering questions, and being knowledgeable alludes some people in the Real Estate business. When you ask Liz a question she gives you an honest answer, simple straight forward, just the facts. She stays focused on the facts, and presents in a coherent manner. It built trust in one of the most hard headed communities you could work.

Referral was how you met Liz, and at the time, not too many people could figure out the attraction. Like I said, it’s different than the standard sales pitch approach.  

More about Liz: http://www.liztalley.com/about.html

One of the most vocal people, who we call a booster, is Lennox Scott. Without Lennox, and his input, I don’t know where we would be. Lennox made the search for real time properties, online, a reality that is copied, yet never improved on.

When there was a down turn in the economy, while other Brokerages were putting on a brave face, John L Scott changed, quietly, with a “mobile” office, business model.

There was more to this article that I will wait for confirmation on. Fee structure is getting to be a hot item with Real Estate Brokerages.

In the very good category are the people who have a plan, and take charge. A client who wants to do things his, or her way, can make some blunders. Most of the best agents will pass on a client who has strong opinions. The first thing to keep in mind is that there are very few good agents, and if an agent is good, they are always in demand.

A second thought is the amount of experience the agent has in different settings. A good agent has brought hundreds of houses to the market place, and through trial, and error, knows what will get you the most money for a repair. Roger Turner is one of those agents who, over twenty some years, has tried a lot of things that worked out well.

One of the main points about this web site is to high light what is good about Real Estate agency. It is one of the few well paying jobs that is based on experience. At this time when every one thinks they are an expert, about Real Estate, I just want to stress that your property is a niche, it’s unique, and you need an agent to guide you.

I’m going to throw in about how it’s best you have a Buyer’s Agent, but we are working on that. Getting a good Buyer’s Agent is a little tougher, because of so many people having had to do it themselves. It’s kind of a lost art. Anne Babbs-Nordling is the only Buyer’s Agent I can think of. There again Brent Fosso will probably be a break out star in the coming year.

A friend of mine who owns a Real Estate company has an investor/ agent that just bought a used new construction house in Puyallup for $162K, at auction, for cash! The house probably sold for about $140K new, about 2000. He intends to sell the house in two months for a profit, and he might get a buyer.

The math for home prices in the Seattle area is far from being a signal for a “good” buy. There are individual properties that are good well rounded purchases, but to say the market is at an equilibrium is more fair. You have to know what to buy, and structure a transaction so you can pay the property off quickly.

As always my advice is you need the help of an experienced Real Estate professional if you are buying, or selling in today’s market place.

That’s what makes David my favorite Real Estate agent. He’s getting a property ready for sale a month in advance. My second favorite thing is that David sees the project for what it is. He makes a plan to do all the right things. There’s never been a time where his expectations exceeded the reality of the property.

He’s asked for yard work which we can do. There are a lot of people in the landscape business that are looking for work. We have two sets of people who are really good. There’s some work needed under the house, and painting inside, but it is a great place in a superior location.

David sees the potential of the property, and wants to show case that. He has never gone over board by selling a bunch of frills in his listing presentation. He knows the value of the property, and prices accordingly. In all the ups, and downs, David has been consistent in his pricing. The pricing has always matched the property, for potential, and it’s reality.

This has given him an edge in working a full spectrum of the market place. Knowing your Price, and Condition, for how they improve the Location is the all important formula. There has never been a time, even in the worst of times, when a listing by David Rush languished on the market. There have only been a couple of times that the price reduction has been used judiciously.

Anyway, David is another excellent resource for your Real Estate needs at: www.DavidRush.com

Marlow has bought, and sold properties in her personal portfolio to make a retirement plan that includes giving her four boys the best education. She has never stopped working, and though she would deny it, I have seen her working on her own properties, on more than one occasion. She has fulfilled every goal she has outlined during her career. She is the Top Producer in her office.

He husband Joe is an artist who has been way laid into working on Marlow’s web site at www.SeattleDreamHomes.com which has won numerous awards. She chose Coldwell Banker to hold her license for it’s national presence. It has worked out well for her site because Coldwell Banker was one of the first to set up web based Real Estate tools. In my opinion, for a national company, they have tools that work well.

In today’s Real Estate world you do need to have an agent with web presence of an International reach. Few companies, or especially individual agents, can make that claim. In this particular case you have both the company and agent on the same page, working for you.

This is a personal testimonial because Marlow has been my agent on more than one occasion. She is level headed with a focus on what’s best for the client. As a complete example of what is possible in Real Estate Marlow is the very best. If you are even considering buying or selling a property in the next three years Marlow is one of the few people you need to talk with.

Now the chances of you finding a home to buy by visiting Sunday Open Houses is slim. You finding an agent to work with gets a little better. Ultimately the exercises is for you to see homes. Seeing homes is an important step in knowing what to look for. Look beyond the staging and stay away from talkative agents, but if an agent answers questions, knows the property, and the district, pay attention to that, and make a mental note.

Look at construction, on your own. Get familiar with the process of walking through a home. Discover what your hot buttons are by repetition. Now that the Real Estate market has cooled, take some time to get a “feeling” about what you want. The Sunday Open House is a great way to do that.

Actually this post is about how, in my opinion, buyers need guidance of an experienced agent. Let’s leave the discussion about commissions for another time and just concentrate on what I saw, as opposed to what a typical buyer would never know.

First was the structure. It was all reworked, reinforced, and over done. Next was the use of the basement space for storage. Effectively you can put four cars, two tandem, and two side by side with room for a shop. The house has a heat pump to compliment the electric heat. The kitchen, living, and dining room flow together then spill out the back southern exposure patio with hot tub. OK, that went a little over the top, but the idea is the same, the house has been well cared for.

Now I have driven by the house, and never stopped. Jeanne has had it open every week end that it’s been listed, so today, Saturday, while her signs were out I thought I’d just have a look. It just went to prove again that you never know by looking at the front of the house how it will be.

Some times when I read new paint, carpet, or hardwoods, I get suspicious. In this home all of the updating was just how the home was cared for over the years. The owner collects classic cars and has a talent for paying attention to details. The reason jeanne has had it open so much is because, like with me today, there is no best way to describe the condition. It has to be seen. It’s an experience of it’s own.

When you hire an agent you are paying some one to know the difference between cared for, and prepared for sale. As much as I try to write it’s still best to rely on years, decades, of home shopping experience.

In Today’s techno-savvy home search environment, many buyers don’t see the need for a buyer’s agent.  Many of them see the selling commission on a property as money they will ‘save’ if they go directly to the listing agent, or use a discount Broker. As a buyer’s agent celebrating my 25th year in real estate, I see my job as more crucial than ever.  The reasons are many:

1)      A savvy buyer’s agent is more of an advisor. My goal is to find a home for my clients that will satisfy not only their current needs, but to be forward thinking to their future requirements so that they can stay 5-10 years minimum.  By doing so, they save the expense of moving, and hopefully recoup their original investment, and most importantly, ultimately enjoy their home. 

2)      To see the perspective beyond staging, cheap cosmetic fixes, and owner’s belongings.  Buyers often tell me their requirements for a home, but then fall in love with an impractical house, and it’s my job to remind them of the end goal. 

3)      I see myself as a ‘devil’s advocate.’ I see the condition of many houses, too; it’s my job to be proactive and warn about possible pitfalls in the condition of homes i.e. siding, electrical panels, wiring, plumbing, recommending oil tank searches and sewer scopes, and or locations.

4)      I have studied non-verbal communication and have negotiated offers for 25 years; I pay for my fee, and then some, in most negotiations, and just finding homes that are a good value or that are prime candidates for hard negotiating!

5)      The Internet is not a replacement for 25 years of full time real estate experience and knowledge.  Seeing a home online, and being fully informed are two different things.  I have seen literally thousands of homes in the Seattle area, and sold some of them multiple times.  My insights are invaluable.

6)      My business is based mostly on referrals from prior customers, and finding someone a home that they connect with, in a good location, condition, and price keeps the referrals coming!

Saving a 3% commission but not being properly represented can cost a buyer more in the long run on home repairs, buying overpriced homes, or failing to see other pitfalls.  A qualified, experienced buyer’s agent is worth their fee!

Ann Babb-Nordling has been a Buyer’s Agent for Chuck Cady and Associates for 25 years. In my research she has stood out as the definitive resource for Buyers. She can be reached at:

Ann Babb-Nordling      206.528.4436

ann@annbabb.com

http://www.chuckcady.com/

You find Steve working his Open Houses. He passes out the fliers, invites the neighbors, and keeps track of who comes by. He knows all the houses for sale, what sold, how much they sold for, and the particulars of the home. He keeps track.

For some reason Steve decided to share his neighborhood knowledge in a community bulletin. He publishes it about every three months for distribution door to door. On Halloween the bulletin comes with a pumpkin, and on the Fourth of July it comes with a flag. It’s been coming out now for about 15 years, give or take. He also shares a territory with Roger Turner, and Roger uses the same method of advertising.

Now here’s the best part. There are thousands of agents that have a little burst of energy, and you may have seen these things before. Steve has a consistency, with longevity. Steve has a business that is a valuable resource for his clients. In the world of Real Estate agents Steve is an unspoken master of his area. Every one knows that Steve’s listing is well priced, and in good condition. I have been in Real Estate sales meetings where they talk about the pumpkin guy. When some one says they are going up against the pumpkin guy, it’s pretty much a given that he’s the better agent.

I have a lot of examples, but the best is a client of mine, who I have known for years, chose Steve Laevastu, and I told them that was the best choice. It was 2008, the market had reversed, and a lot of properties were sitting on the market. My pricing to my clients was less than what Steve told them, by $30K on one, and $75K on the other. They were selling off rentals.

Steve came in, and gave them a list of tasks to do, which they did. He staged the places, by his design, at his expense. Then he did the Steve Laevastu magic of having a Brokers Open, working the neighborhood, having the Sunday Open, then talking to any one, and every one, who came by, in a really nice way. Steve does his job, like it’s a business, which for him it is.  

Both properties sold and closed at list price when others were taking low ball offers. They sold within weeks of being listed. In my opinion that was the best testimonial any seller could want.   

Steve Laevastu

Mailing Address

Windermere Real Estate / Oak Tree, Inc.

10004 Aurora Ave. North, Suite 10

Seattle, WA 98133

E-mail Address

sold@windermere.com

Cellular Number

206-226-5300

Office Number

206-527-5250

Office Fax

206-527-3804