Sarah Reinhart-Friendship Based Real Estate®

Those of you out there who subscribe to my blog know how much I love to be an active part of Spokane! Alisha and I are always running around making extra work for ourselves organizing community events....they are worth it though! Come join us for the Night Out Against Crime!

August 5, 2008

Contact your nearest C.O.P.S. Substation for more information. Click here to find your Substation.

Typically parties start at 5:00 p.m., but you can make your own time for your party. Invite your neighbors to have a potluck, ice cream social, block off your street, or have a big BBQ. This is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors, for churches and businesses to connect with their community.

Free to the Community Neighborhoods and Businesses
Spokane, WA

Click here to print a registration form to sign up for a National Night Out party in your neighborhood.

Steps to a Shiny Spokane House .....BTW:this is not a shiny house :)

While each buyer will carry different preconceptions about real estate to your property, there are some commonly accepted notions which tend to either attract or drive customers away. These can be summarized in a list of "Do's and Dont's" when preparing your property to be listed on the market. Instead of your house being known as "The house that smells" or "The house with the barking dog," fix these problems before listing your property on the market. Many of these low cost fixes will go a long way in helping you get top dollar. I hope you like humor...if not don't read on (you might be offended) :)

#1) DEATH TO ALL ODORS
While you may not notice Fluffy's aroma after fifteen years, many others will upon entering your home. Those houses which smell of cigarette, mildew, or pet odors tend to dispel customers quickly. To combat this, have someone who does not live in your home arrive and give you an honest opinion (and don't get mad at them if they tell you the truth). Lastly, eradicate the odors which plague your home. This will provide prospective buyers with a crisp, fresh atmosphere-not a house that's masked by perfumes.

#2) LEASH THE DOG!!!
Try and make reservations for Rover to be elsewhere during a showing. He may be friendly when you are around, but his barking at random buyers will create an unwelcome atmosphere.

#3) CLEAN THE SOAP SCUM
Grime and dirt in your bathrooms are an instant turnoff. Scrub, paint, and replace shower curtains, rugs and towels until they shine. Bathrooms are the number one representation of the interior condition of the house to buyers, and if they see a dirty bathroom, "dirty" is the impression they will be left with. Dimly Lit Rooms

#4) LET THERE BE LIGHT

Dark rooms and homes are turnoffs to most buyers. Potential fixes include:

• Replace dim light fixtures
• Install additional fixtures
• Install (quality) skylights
• Remove or replace heavy drapes
• Repaint dark rooms in brighter colors
• Trim trees and bushes that shadow the house
  

#5) CLEAR THE WALLS
Houses with lots of busy wallpaper with turn off most buyers, and even those who do enjoy the use of wallpaper will likely not appreciate your specific tastes. Such a matter of taste will be considered personal, and they'll want to do it themselves. Don't limit the number of prospective buyers by leaving things in your home that reflect a speficic taste they may not like. Cream paint may be bland, but it allows for a level of customization that most buyers will appreciate.

#6) ELIMINATE THE ENEMY (MOLDY BASEMENT ARE YUCKY)
Regardless of the condition of the foudation of your home, a damp basement implies that it leaks, even when it truly doesn't. If you have leaks, then fix them. If not, look for drainage issues around the exterior of your home. If water is pooling near the foundation, look to see where downspouts or underground drains might be clogged. A trip outside your home the next time it rains will tell you.

#7) BUGS ARE SCARY
Spiders, Roaches, or any kind of insect don't belong in the house. Insects are a concrete turnoff for which there is one solution: Get rid of them.

#8) FIRST IMPRESSIONS ONLY COME UP ONCE
Start looking at your house as a buyer would during a drive-by. Many buyers will refuse to see a house with an unkempt yard, sagging doors and peeling paint. If your house doens't look good from the street, chances are buyers won't take the time to take a look at the inside.

#9) GUTTERS AND ROOFS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE PLANTS GROWING ON THEM
Some home-owners simply never clean them out, and it makes buyers wonder what other
kinds of maintenance have been avoided for far too long.

#10) BUYERS DO NOT WANT TO SEE YOU
Leave the house during a showing. Prospective buyers will feel awkward about opening your closets and bathrooms. Even if you are selling by owner, give them some space and let them linger for as long as they want, don't hover.

Saving the World from Ordinary Service! TM

Some of the best moments of my life were spent in the quiet transparent moments of happiness I accidently stumbled on. In my mind is a kilidescope of warm colors and shapes that run in the random patterns of the Kansas grass I used to play in. Barefoot, with wild tangled hair, I was the queen of all things.

I think we owe it to our children to be wise in our defense of urban sprawl. No offense to you yuppies with 21,000 square foot McMansions on 25 acres, but I want my children to have some quiet places left. Do we really need all that space...all those toys...all that noise? Or, would we see life in a differnent light liying on a grassy hill counting clouds? Just something to think about.

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go
outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens,
nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it
should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple
beauty of nature. As long as this exists, and it certainly always will,
I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow,
whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that
nature brings solace in all troubles.
~ Anne Frank

Saving the World from Ordinary Service! TM

We commit to the following values to guide all of our decisions and behavior, with each other and with all those we serve:

Excellence:
Strive to do our very best. Be accountable to the general public, our members, and to each other for everything we do. Commit to providing the highest quality service with excellence and consistency everywhere we operate.

Integrity:
Be honest and ethical in all of our business activities. Treat everyone with integrity, keeping our promises and learning from our mistakes. Have the courage to hold fast to our professional convictions.

Teamwork:
Communicate, cooperate and collaborate freely across organizational and territorial boundaries, and work as one team to fulfill our mission.

Trust:
Trust in our colleagues throughout the BBB system and in ourselves. Say what we mean and mean what we say. Communicate with honesty and candor.

Respect:
Treat everyone with respect and dignity, valuing individual and cultural differences. People are our fundamental asset. We will empower them to develop and use their talents and capabilities to the fullest.

Don't you wish all businesses in Spokane did? Anyway, I was blown away to learn that these are the values published by the BBB. I personally think we should make them our city charter. (Think of all the weirdness we could eliminate.) But hey, I'm just dreaming here. Anyway, if you haven't yet, check out the BBB website at www.spokane.bbb.org

Give me a call if you have any questions about the BBB, or would like some tips on how to involve them in your business dealings.

Saving the World from Ordinary Service! TM