About Pierce County, WA

Is Your Marketing Plan Getting Your Home Sold?

Most past sellers ask me what makes a good marketing plan. What should ask the Realtors? These are very valid questions. Marketing a home has changed dramatically in the last 3 years. You can’t put a “for sale sign” up and enter the home into the MLS and know that a buyer is going to call tomorrow to put in an offer. It takes work to get a home sold in today’s market. There is so much competition out there your home has to stand out on many different levels. The number one question you should ask is

“What is my home worth?”

This is a huge step in determining if your Realtor is out to buy your listing or be honest with you. This is another reason it is important to interview at least 3 Realtors. If two are close in price and the third is way out in left field, you know something is up. The next question should be:

“How will you market my home?”

If you hear crickets then you need to end the meeting soon. They are wasting your time. In this real estate market you MUST have a marketing plan. This isn’t just putting the “for sale sign” up and printing some flyers. We’re talking you should have went to college and got your marketing degreekind of stuff. If they aren’t using the internet to market your home then you shouldn’t hire them. 95% of the buyers who are looking for homes are looking online. They are making their next decision based on the pictures they see. Does your Realtor have a professional photographerto take the photos of your home? Do they use QR Codes? Do you know what they are? These are a few things that you need to have yourself armed with when you are interviewing Realtors.

Contact me today and I can give you the interview questions for FREE so that you are prepared for those interviews. Just make sure that I am THE REAL ESTATE BROKER YOU CHOOSE!

Looking for the best fresh water lake in Washington State? Buyers in Bonney Lake, Washington know why it’s worth flocking to this truly exceptional area!

Bonney Lake is home to Lake Tapps, an amazing asset for residents to have. Every fall, Lake Tapps is drained and then filled with fresh, melted glacier water directly from Mount Ranier! Buyers in Bonney Lake, Washington have some of the cleanest water and best views out of anyone in the state. Currently, Lake Tapps provides water to almost 400,000 residents and more than 22,000 businesses. It’s an amazing place to call home!

Even better, the lake is filled to recreational levels every summer so buyers in Bonney Lake, Washington can participate in a variety of recreational activities, like fishing. The lake is known to hold many fish including carp, Smallmouth bass, perch, and tiger musky. Boating and water enthusiasts love visiting Lake Tapps during the summer months too. You’ll find families taking boat rides, water-skiing, inner-tubing, and riding seado’s and jet skis. And for those buyers in Bonney Lake, Washington who like to spend time off the water, there are places to play volleyball, baseball, along with jogging and biking trails.

Buyers in Bonney Lake, Washington also like the Bonney Lake Historical Marker Project, which points out a variety of historical sites in the area. A map of all historic markers is available for those interested in following the trail, but notable sites include Town Hall, Naches Trail, Perfield Hop Farm, Native Gathering Place, Kelley Farm, Swiss Park, Church of the Nazarene, Ken Simmons Resort’, Early Lake Tapps, and Sky Stone. The idea for the marker project was to educate the community regarding the Bonney Lake Plateau's very rich historic past. Buyers in Bonney Lake, Washington have an overwhelming sense of pride and identity to their area.

Buyers in Bonney Lake, Washington know why it’s the place to be. Let me know if I can show you around!

In this new market, real estate professionals need to rethink some of their prior customer service techniques to accommodate new trends, and restructure their marketing policies.

Home prices will likely bump along the bottom before a sustained upward trend arises. The recovery we’re witnessing isn’t Permanente and lower prices won’t be around indefinitely. Eventually unparalleled buyer’s market will pass, investors are going to be taking full advantage of this years market.

It is estimated that nearly 20 percent of homebuyers own two or more homes—a percentage that, prior to the downturn, was typically around 11 or 12 percent. The downturn has prompted people to think more about building long-term wealth and stability, and they’re realizing real estate is still a resilient choice. More and more everyday people are taking steps to secure one or two rental properties or an investment home.

The conditions in the U.S. housing market are no secret around the world, and it has drawn heavy interest from investors. International buyers purchased more than $82 billion in U.S. real estate. The average price they paid was $315,000 compared to $215,000 paid by native buyers.

Within this year, international and domestic investors are expected to push forward with the recovery, so it’s important to take immediate action to accommodate this key set of buyers. This may mean getting more training, or further Certifications. By keeping your eye on the pulse of the country as a whole and the influence of various groups on the real estate industry specifically, you’ll find your way no matter how the trends shift. It is important to know your environment and this trend of investment buying will be one that dominates 2012. As a professional in my field I know for my team this includes re-evaluation of marketing and customer service strategies in order accommodate what is sure to be the bulk of our customers in the upcoming months.

HOMESandWEALTHinTacoma

IT PAYS TO KNOW(A check list to add to your prosperity and contentment.)

PROBLEM(maybe): YOUR ROOF. A good roof should last you 30 years. That's why most of us don't even look at the roof until we are selling the house or the roof leaks. El Wrongo! Just as you check your oil regularly to be sure you don't run low, you should check your roof from time to time. A leak might be a small patch. Left uncorrected it could lead to a flood and that's always trouble.

While you can climb up the ladder and look it over yourself, I recommend calling an expert roofer. They can spot dried or curled shingles before they cause you trouble and it's usually a small fee. If you're roof needs replacing, they usually waive the fee and give you a free estimate. There are several good roofers around. Currently, I recommend Pedro and P&C Roofing.

Also, someone needs to look over your roof once or twice a year; be sure it is free from leaf accumulations or moss. Either one is bad for roofs. When it comes to cleaning or working on your roof, whether you do it or bring in hired help, I don't like people walking on roof shingles. A single crack can cause a leak which is always troublesome. Same goes for high pressure washing. It's fun to play squirt gun but those machines have pressure that cn break or crack your shingles.

My preference: whoever cleans your roof should work from a ladder using an ordinary garden hose or chemical treatment.

PROBLEM: YOUR CREDIT REPORT. Your credit report is a legitimate inquiry when you are asking to borrow money. But lately, people find that credit reports are being used to block them from job openings, insurance, and home ownership. Even on line daters may use your credit report as a screener. Usually without your consent.

If you think your report must be OK because you pay your bills and return all your library books on time and are a good guy, consider what these good guys discovered in their credit reports. The Chamber of Horrors:

* A lady's car was ticketed for overtime parking, ticket blew away or otherwise, unapid ticket turned over to collection, became loaded up with late penalties and interest and showed as delinquent account.

* A lady was deemed a good credit risk and so was frequently invited by retailers to open up a credit account. She accepted just to have them if she should someday need them. Then she found she was rated down because of such a large volume of "open lines of credit".

* A gentleman had several retail accounts and bankcards; was in the habit of charging up to the maximum on each ( usually $100 or so ) and then paying off the entire balance at the end of the month. El wrongo! The Credit reporters penalize you for this. For them, you look better if you run the account up to about half of the max and then pay it off slowly. (?)

* A guy shopping for a car did some comparative shopping. Thereby he allowed several different dealerships to "run his credit" for him. The mere fact of calling for a credit report counts against you. Repeat it enough times and it can lower your score.

SOLUTION: Check your credit report to see what's there. I would skip the commercials that sell you your own report because you are entitled to a free report at least once a year. To get all 3 reports at once, you can go to www.AnnualCreditReport.com or if you like being placed on hold you may call 1 877 322 8228.

Then show your report to a friendly banker or insurance man and ask if there company would mark you down for something therein. (For home mortgages, I recommend Mel Schckenbrock, PNC Mortgage: 222 1104. For Insurance I use Scott Seitz, Solomon Insurance, 566 1069 or Randy Melquist 759 6922.

IF YOU HAVE FALSE OR UNFAIR NEGATIVES ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT, you could begin vigilante action and probably drive yourself to exasperation. The mind set is that you are a deadbeat and scofflaw and it's their job to ruin you and they have a whole bagful of unfair tricks to throw at you. So if you want to change it, you probably need a professional.

I'm very wary of most "credit cleaners"; I have found them to be flakes who milk their clients for money and achieve little. In any case, you will need to be very clear about your costs and the results you can expect. The two credit counselors that I have faith in:

SHAWN STEWART, Guiding Hands, 877 908 9990.

MARY JO,

Cleaning up your credit report will cost you a few dollars and, like most paperwars, it will require time and patience. So you might want to begin before you need the action.

PROBLEM: BUGS AND MICROBES IN YOUR HOUSE. Something most of us prefer not to think about, so we don't think about it. Until we want to sell the house. Then we have gnashing of teeth, remorse and regret, anger ( usually aimed at the pest inspector, and furious, expensive last-minute repairs.

In my experience, about 1 out of 3 homes in our area have termites, ants, rot (most often around kitchen and bathroom fixtures) , mildew, rot, or some other organisms having dinner on our wood members. Guess what: in fact their insect e mail system is inviting their friends and relatives to come in an join the feast!

SOLUTION: Just as it pays to have a medical checkup now and then even when you feel healthy, so it can pay to have a pest inspection now and then even though your house feels OK. Maybe every 5 to 10 years. Worst thing would be you pay a small fee and learn that you're OK. Even if he spots sbugs or rot and you have to pay a bundle to have it repaired, you can be sure that's a good deal less expensive than letting it sit there while the microbes silently take their 2nd and 3rd helpings of your house.

WHO TO CALL: Personally, I have nevr had a good experience with the heavily advertised national chains. And I worry about the guy who searches for problems and then offers you a bid to correct the problmes that he finds.

For me the best in the business would be Bradford Inspections. He is not the cheapest but in 20 years, I have never had a client who did not find that Brad was not worth more than his fee.

PROBLEM: INADEQUATE INSURANCE COVERAGE. Fire insurance on our home is required by our mortgage banker ( plus our own Common Sense ). Minimum auto insurance coverage is required by state law and our own sense of fairness. The people who sit, fat-dumb-and-happy with Grampa's insurance protection are underinsured and wide open to unsustainable loss and lawsuits. Consider what happens to:

* the guy who has the minimal $50,000 auto liability policy and then totals out somebody's Ferrarri? (MSRP: $86,000.) Or, as happened recently in Japan: 6 Ferarris, 2 Lamborghinis, and 1 Mercedes. {I can't count that higho.})

* the lady who allowed a relative to drive her car to pick her up at the Mall. Unfortunately the kid took out a 37 year-old heart surgeon with a forecasted 20 year career of at least $500,000 per. The lady's liability limit: $100,000.

* a great many of my contemporaries who think they are well-insured with Medicare plus a supplemental. Statistics tell us that about half of them will need extensive care in some level of nursing home. Medicare covers about 4 months. After that they will pay out-of-pocket til their cash runs out ( which won't be long at $4000 to $6000 per month). After that we don't throw people out in the street. Medicaid will pay for the lowest level of care. You are welcome to visit these places but nobody enjoys going there. AND, the staste places a lien on all your property and your estate to cover those bills.

This is not a rare occurence. It happens right here and happens all the time.

* My brother, who had excellent medical insurance, was run down in a crosswalk by an uninsured driver. Broke his leg which, fortunately healed up in a little over 6 months. But, he was unable to work during that time and with 4 children, was never more than 1 paycheck away from financial disaster. (Hmm! Sound like anyone we know?) He had life insurance but no disability insurance.

The fact is that most of us carry life insurance but nothing to replace our income if we are in the hospital and unable to work. The fact of the matter is that for most of our life death is far less probable than disability.

SOLUTION: I would be charry of a quick fix here. The best beginning is to meet with a reliable, truly professional insurance agent for a comprehensive review. And here's the part I like. In many cases, once you pay for the basic, minimum coverage, the extra coverage or rides will cost you just a few dollars more. And you'll feel better knowing that even when Fate deals you a bad hand, you can cover your responsibilities.

I don't like cheapy insurance coverage sold from the back of old magazines and which arrive carrying more fine print and legal loopholes THAN <<<XZXZXZX>>>. I prefer to put my trust in a local, responsible insurance agent who lists his home number in the phone book. I have had very good results with:

GABE MAUSTEN SCOTT SEITZ RANDY MELQUIST

Bankers' Life Solomon Insurance Massachusets Mutual

564 8521 566 1069 759 6922

PROBLEM: No estate plans. Nothing is certain but death and taxes. Some of us gripe about high taxes, which doesn't seem to make a difference. And yet we avoid planning for our departure, even though we all know it will come someday.

A careful accounting and projection of your income and investment program would show that some of you are heading toward a net worth in the 7 figures; that's where the estate tax begins to bite. But even when you're starating out with total assets that you hide in your freezer compartment, you may find that a few standard legal forms will spare your heirs the expense and exasperation of probate. And they will be thankful that you took the trouble to leave a neat package rather than a motley mess.

(I hope you will pardon me for mentioning something you probably don't like to think about it. Here's why I do it. Once you have executed your will, trust, power of attorney, medical power of attorney, medical directive, and "Living Will", you can stash it away in a safe, fireproof place, tell your family and friends where to look for it and never need to think about it again. You can walk down the street with a smile on your face, looking forward to your future knowing that whenever your number comes up, you have acted in a correct and responsible manner.

All of this is set before you as part of my attempt to help you take care of your HOMESandWEALTH.

STEVE FORTSON

Turn Key Real Estate

1310 -C- North I St.

1 888 301 4221

The city of DuPont as we know it today is a thriving community, but did you know about its explosive history?

In 1906, DuPont was the location of the Powder Works Explosive factory where dynamite was produced up until 1976. Factory workers made this “Village” their home. The Village in DuPont is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains the only company town in Washington State with most of its 110 historic homes intact.

In 1994, Northwest Landing, a master planned community, was developed on 3,200 acres. There are 50 acres of parks. Trails, sidewalks and bike lanes make it enjoyable to get out and enjoy this particular beautiful sunny day. And you can leave the car at home as the city center of DuPont offers shopping, restaurants and other services within close proximity.

Many residents appreciate its location to Joint-Base Lewis McChord, and the proximity between Olympia and Tacoma as it offers an easy commute. If you are a golfer, you’ll enjoy two golf courses with views of the Olympic mountain range, Mount Rainier, and Puget Sound.

If you’d like to make this dynamite town Dupont your home, call me today.

To read the 2011 year-end real estate market report, click here.

Visit www.DupontMuseum.com and www.ci.dupont.wa.us.