Living • February 1, 2010

Get in on the trend – just add turquoise

by Guest Author

The people who decide which colors are “in” and which are “out” have announced that turquoise is “in.” And it is the official “color of the year.”

Calming, dreamy and vibrantly tropical all at the same time, don’t be surprised if you start to see turquoise popping up when shopping for home décor. Everything from dishes, to couches, to electronics is turning turquoise this year.

Add turquoise to your home with some of these fun finds:

Mod Aqua Table Lamp at Crate and Barrel.

Turquoise and White Lotus Embroidery Pillow Cover by Kainkain on Etsy.

ZaZen Crackle Dinnerware at Target.

Old Hickory Tanner Turquoise Chair at Horchow. And yes, that really is turquoise leather embossed with a crocodile design.

Kainkain

Buying • January 28, 2010

Top five words of advice for a buyer today

by Michael Fanning

Do you want to find your perfect home for a fair price and make your move in a reasonable amount of time? With inventory lower than it was four months ago and buyers coming out of the woodwork to take advantage of the tax credit before it ends, you may want to think about what you can do to prepare so you’re ready to take action when the time is right for you.

We asked a few of our Windermere agents what top five pieces of advice they would give to a buyer in today’s market.

Top five by Bruce McKinnon Windermere Mukilteo

Get pre-approved with a "known" lender.

Learn the market. Pay attention to price per square foot, be realistic on pricing and observe short sales and foreclosures.

Understand "showing" protocol such as scheduling viewing appointments and a respect for privacy.

Identify your location preference. Initially focus your search there for efficient time utilization. Think about your ideal community, neighborhood and school district.

Mini buying process overview. For example, to minimize surprises, get a five minute explanation of offer, inspection, appraisal, closing, etc. by a professional or two.

Top five by Erin Mitchell Windermere Bellevue Commons

Work with a great agent that specializes in the area that you want to live. Meet with them prior to looking at homes to make sure you ‘fit’ each other’s personalities, they really listen to your wants and needs and that they ask you questions about what is important to you.

Ask your agent for a good referral to a great loan officer. Call them now and get pre-approved.

Make a top 10 list of the most important things you want in a home. If you find one that has at least eight of them, strongly consider the home.

When you find a home that fits, your agent will run a market analysis to determine appropriate value. Value is not always price related.

Write a good offer that includes a fair price, good terms and is realistic. If you want the house, buy it. If there is more than one offer, use an escalation clause in the offer.

Get pre-approved with a "known" Lender

Learn the market (e.g., price / sq ft, be realistic on pricing; short sale and foreclosure observations)

Understand "showing" protocol (e.g., appointments, respect for privacy)

Identify location preference (e.g., to initially focus search for efficient time utilization — community, neighborhood and school district – where possible)

Mini Buying process overview (e.g., 5 minutes – to minimize surprises — offer, inspection, appraisal, closing)

Living • January 25, 2010

What is a house?

by Guest Author

What does the Internet say we think about our homes in 2010?

This morning, I did an experiment to see what the Internet would say about the relationship we have with our houses. I typed “my house is” into Google and let the autocomplete tell the story (the autocomplete works by suggesting additional search terms based on content from across the web and other searches completed through Google).

There seemed to be a striking theme in the most popular searches. Aside from the search for “mi casa es su casa” and pricing information the rest of the searches were based on problems with houses.

The results aren’t surprising with the challenges faced by many homeowners today. But it leads me to speculate about how these Google searches would have looked in 2007 or how they may look in 2011 and beyond.

I suspect that in 2007 we would have seen “appreciating”, “making me money” or “a wise investment” as suggested additions to my original search. We may see those types of terms return in the future as the market finds its equilibrium and begins to return to long term patterns of price growth and balance between supply and demand.

Until then there is a negative shadow cast over the perceptions of our homes. Anyone can make predictions about what may happen with the future but only time will tell how the forces of supply and demand, consumer confidence and government intervention will affect the market in 2010. Until then, you can use Google’s autocomplete for your own experiments to see what the web will say about us.

More • January 20, 2010

What is success?

by Geoff Wood

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” -Albert Einstein

I’ve never really defined whatever we’ve accomplished at Windermere in terms of success or failure; rather, it is what we value.

For me it is something very simple: it’s about family, relationships and community.

It all starts with family. By that I mean both my loved ones and the family known as Windermere. We’ve had some success because we embrace the same values in our organization as we do in our family: integrity, decency, great communication, compassion and grace, to name a few. And, like any family, we have our share of disagreements, but ultimately we come together on the important issues because we have shared values.

Great relationships are a function of those same values. My best relationships come from working and playing together and sharing experiences. Whether solving a problem or celebrating anniversaries, the experiences we share add up to strong relationships. In business and family, you can only go forward with those you trust and value. It’s the relationship that counts.

Community is a by-product of family and relationships. A community is simply a larger group of people who share experiences. It can be as simple as meeting at the neighborhood coffee shop every Sunday morning with some favorite neighbors, or a reunion of several generations of family.

Living • January 11, 2010

Five quick tips to organize your home

by Guest Author

Oh, the beginning of a new year. Full of hope to finally do those things we said we’d do last year – and the year before that. Now it’s already the middle of January and at my house, there’s still stockings hanging by the chimney with care.

Enough is enough! It’s time to get organized.

I asked some of my more meticulous friends how they keep their homes so neat and organized. Here are their top tips along with a few from some famous organized people:

Have an "inbox" for your home.
If all of your table and counter space occupies a different pile of mail, bills or magazines that you want or need to look at, the home inbox is a great trick to at least keep the piles in one stack. An easy method is to put a stylish container next to your door. If you get mail or write yourself a note to do later, put it in the box (unless it's extremely urgent). Each week, sit down and process everything in your inbox. File it away permanently or take care of it right now, but do not put it back in the box! (via David Allen author of Getting Things Done)

Kitchen: Skip the spice rack.
Does anyone really use all the spices in a spice rack? Try heading to your local organic market which carries bulk spices so you can buy just what you need. Bulk spices are especially helpful if a recipe calls for a pinch of something new to you, so you don't have to buy an entire jar.

Living room: Put the DVDs away please.
You can always discover something interesting about someone's personality by the DVDs they have, but all those bright cases can also be a cluttered distraction. Instead, store your DVDs in shoebox-style boxes with the spines facing up so you can quickly pull them out and find your favorites. Bonus points if you sort them by alphabetical order, genre or director.

Bedroom: Tuck your charging station into your nightstand.
We've all seen those bulky "valets" intended to organize your electronic necessities as they charge while you sleep. I must admit I own one, but it takes up too much space. Instead, drill a hole in the back of your nightstand (if you dare) and keep your phones and more out of sight while charging overnight. (via Martha Stewart)

Closets: Turn all the hangers in your closet to face one way.
As you wear an item, turn the hanger the opposite way. After a few months if there’s anything you haven’t worn, it might be time to donate it.

What’s your secret to keeping your home organized?

More • January 6, 2010

South King County Windermere offices raise over $10,000 for the Windermere Foundation at winter fundraising event

by Christine Wood

The South King County Group of Windermere Offices recently held a very fun and successful Foundation Wine Tasting Fundraiser.

The original goal was to raise $8000 after expenses. The actual amount ended up over $10,300! This amount, added to many contributions over the last several months, meant that the offices were able to grant $16,000 through the Windermere Foundation to 10 different agencies in South King County and Seattle, just before Christmas, to help provide food, clothing, utility bills and emergency housing for the many needy in the community.

The eight offices in the group pool their resources every year and combine efforts both in making grants and in fundraising efforts and include: Auburn, Burien, Federal Way, Kent, Maple Valley, Renton, Renton-Tukwila South and West Campus.

This year, the offices recognized that available funds were down due to fewer closed transactions and that need was up due to the Recession. They wanted to do something to give more and decided to host the special fundraising event in December.

The event featured live music, a silent auction, three wine tasting stations hosted by Chandler Reach Winery, Kalamar Winery, Hells Canyon Winery and Zhoo Zhoo Winery and an experience to learn food/wine pairings from David LeClair, a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers.

A presentation was also made to the nearly 90 attendees highlighting the Windermere Foundation, how the donated funds would be used and if anyone could do more to support the Foundation’s efforts that night. One agent from the Auburn Office was so touched that she wrote a check for $2000 on the spot!

Thank you to all who attended and organized the event!

Best,

Christine Wood

Market News • January 4, 2010

Auld Lang Syne

by Geoff Wood

On New Year’s Eve, a bunch of us were talking about the true meaning of that song… the one we kind of know the words to. It starts like this, “Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?”

We figured that may be true at times but, in general, not in our industry. It is the people we meet and serve that we hope will never forget us. And it is the relationships we cultivate and honor that actually keep us in business. From that standpoint, I’m an optimist by nature… glass half full guy. I’m not naïve, nor am I Pollyanna, but I truly believe 2010 is going to be better. I think we bottomed out in 2009. Don’t get me wrong… it won’t be a skyrocket this year, but there are encouraging signs.

The first-time home buyer tax credit was extended and there is a new limited credit available to existing home owners.

Interest rates are reasonable and lenders are lending.

Jumbo loans are showing signs of coming back.

Our own inventory of unsold homes has shrunk dramatically in the past six months.

And yes, homes that are realistically priced are selling.

I told a story recently to a group of our brokers about a sailing trip I took years ago from Victoria to Maui. The route takes you down the Pacific Coast, almost to the Bay Area, and then you turn right. The trip down the coast is brutal. Continuous storms, freakish winds and generally bad weather. You wonder if you’re going to make it to the turn and if you will ever see good weather again.

And then you turn and head out across the Pacific and pick up the trade winds. From then on, it’s an easy ride to Maui.

I think we are getting close to the Bay Area. We are still slogging through it and will for awhile, but smooth sailing is on the horizon.

More • December 22, 2009

Windermere Edmonds office delivers stockings and more to homeless children

by Christine Wood

I recently spoke with Patricia K Erickson of the Windermere Edmonds office about her office’s involvement with Tomorrow’s Hope Daycare, a very special childcare facility serving homeless children and their families in Snohomish County, Washington. It’s actually the only daycare serving homeless children in Snohomish County.

Recently, the Edmonds office delivered 102 Christmas stockings to the children and presents for two families in need at Tomorrow’s Hope. This is the third year the office has delivered stockings. You can see in these photos the children’s beautiful smiles while enjoying their stockings.

View the full slideshow with more pictures from the event.

A few weeks prior to the event, each agent received the name, age and gender of a few children at the daycare and set about filling a stocking for each child with toys, clothes, books and other gifts and then topped the stocking with a stuffed animal.

The office wanted to do more for the center and asked the staff, “What do you really need right now?” The staff was a little hesitant because it seemed a strange request, but replied that they really needed a new kitchen dishwasher hose for rinsing dishes. The facility was washing all the dishes for over 100 children by hand. The Edmonds office was happy to improve the center’s kitchen and the staff will now be able to spend more time with the children.

I’m so thankful for organizations like Tomorrow’s Hope that are helping to bring hope, joy and a good start for children in tough situations.

Best,

Christine Wood

Images courtesy of Patricia K Erickson from Windermere Edmonds.

More • December 8, 2009

Susan’s favorite camp moments

by Christine Wood

Sua’s drawing of new friends she met at camp

One of the best and most touching parts of being involved with the Windermere Foundation is reading the thank-you letters written by children describing how your support of the Windermere Foundation has impacted their lives in ways that only children can. I recently received such a letter and picture from Susan* who shared her favorite moments of her stay at camp this summer:

“Thank you for letting me stay for a week at Camp. One of the great part was that I got to ride on a horse and one of the other was the delicious food and last but not least the awsome counselers they were very very nice and kind.”

Best,
Christine Wood

*name has been changed

More • November 23, 2009

You’re invited!

by Christine Wood

The Windermere Foundation Presents:

The Winter Wine Tasting Fundraiser
Thursday, December 3rd
6:00 – 10:00 P.M.
Fairwood Golf & Country Club

Contact the Foundation Representative at your Windermere office for tickets.

Event Details:

Click here of on image to download a flyer.

Cost is $65 per person*

6-7 PM: Silent Auction, heavy appetizers and Wine Tasting Bars

Several prominent wineries are featured during the wine tasting.

Bid on many special items, from wines to a special visit to a mountain cabin!

7-8:45 PM: Main Wine Tasting Event

David LeClaire, a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers, will lead us through an exciting tasting by teaching about wine and food pairings!

Hear about what our Foundation efforts and needs are for December.

8:45-10:00 PM: Continue the Wine Tasting Bars and enjoy the great company!

*Ticket price cover event costs only. Fundraising via Silent Auction, Sponsorships and Donations.