Amy S Zender - Bellingham, WA Realtor®

This evening, after returning home from the spa, I spotted our Alpine goat Aldo (named after my favorite shoe designer) up on his perch, looking out onto his kingdom. I could not resist sharing with you 'rainers, as you have been most supportive during my recent loss of Spot, our big-lipped cat.

Being a Realtor, I am never without my camera; I just had to take a photograph. In the second photo, you will notice how the light changed. Here in Bellingham, WA, our sunsets are magestic, but the colors change so rapidly and can be fleeting.

You may be asking, why would the Bellingham Realty Girl have goats in the first place? Oh, did I not mention that I have two? Well, to make a very long story short (I have some southern roots, and we can tend to tell a long story from time to time)... Our "Goat Project" was hatched over a couple bottles of fine German Mosel wine while sitting at this little outdoor cafe in Austria, dwarfed by the Alps (you wine lovers and connoisseurs will know what I am talking about) and Streudel. Don't all brilliant ideas begin with wine?

Tipsy on the finest white wine a grape has ever produced, the pilot thinks that we too could have livestock to gently snack on blackberry bushes, and keep the lawn looking ragged and rolling. Equally tipsy, I acquiesced. What could be so hard about a couple of goats? (I only agreed honestly, because the pilot said I could name the goats and they could indeed wear cute bells - which ours do).

We returned from Europe with the highest tolerances we had ever had in our marriage (and the realization that it is indeed fulfilling to go on vacation without children), and plans to erect the most gawdy of goat chalets.

So, four months later, two acres of fencing, a livestock guardian dog (...a whole different blog folks...), and the gawdiest of goat chalets this side of the Mississippi (and two tinkling bells from the local feed store,) we drove east four hours and bought two neutered male Alpine goats.

No, we have no plans to breed, milk, or eat them. We just like looking at them, walking with them, and enjoying their affection. You didn't know that goats could be very affectionate did you? Well, they have a certain affinity for my ear lobes, I can tell you.

Enter into our lives Aldo and Beppe (named after a famous Italian acoustic guitar player). You see that? Like Jack and Jill sinks, the pilot and I argued over names for these goats more than we did for our children. Seriously. We each named one, and wouldn't you know it? I name one after an Italian shoe designer, while the pilot names one after a guitarist. Why Italian names? As I mentioned earlier, that's a blog of a different color, and having something to do with our polar bear dog, Luna.

I promise to keep you posted on Aldo and Beppe. They have been great fun. But beautiful too, as you can see above. Thank you for reading.

You read correctly. I failed because of Purple. How many times have you been exposed to someone else's poor excuses? We all have; in fact, we have all used lame excuses...

A long time ago, when I first became a real estate agent I was terrified. First of not getting any business, and then once business came, I was nervous about getting the business - what would I do next? In the beginning, I called Expireds. I guess we all do, right? I called one, and it went well. I was informative, I handled objections delicately yet firmly. I was going to get this listing, I was sure of it.

I was to make a follow-up call. I knew that when I called, I would be setting up an appointment. But I did not have a decent Listing Presentation. I put the call off a day and tried creating a tailored listing packet for this potential client. I put the call off for two more days. Oddly, the copy place was on the other side of town, and I did not have the right thumb drive. Some publishing program was not working on my home computer, and... another few days went by. I finally got my act together, double-checked the MLS. And would you believe it? The guy had listed with another agent! The nerve...

I was working hard. Or so I thought... I made excuse after excuse because I was scared - scared of having the right packet, scared of giving the presentation, scared of being new, scared of being rejected. I blamed everyone (the gal at the copy place, the Starbuck's barrista who filled my coffee too full so it would spill onto my lap, thus ruining my "presentation" outfit...) and everything (home computer without the right publishing program, the lack of a decent cell phone, forgetting to add my college degree to my resume page of the listing presentation...)

Fast forward to a couple of months ago...

I was sitting on a conference call for an Accountability Group. We were speaking to a recruiting team leader down in California, who remains ever-optimistic, motivating, and on fire. He clearly presents a case for the art and game of sales, and then challenges us to develop a retort.

He preaches against bad excuses in this group. "I couldn't call 12 people because of this or that". "The other agent didn't ask the right questions." And he would interrupt folks and say "Purple". It would stump anyone trying to get through their list of excuses. Purple. It was annoying. But it was also irritating to hear feeble excuses. Comic really. Because when you are on the listening side of things, bad excuses can really sound silly.

Whatever the excuse may be, just tell the truth. Say you did not know what to do. Say you were caught off guard without an answer, any answer. It is okay to say you were lazy, you were scared, you gave up. Because anything less than the truth is an excuse. Excuses are senseless and weak; they do not explain anything. They are utterly useless. Just like the word Purple when it is thrown out there in the cosmos with no noun to describe. Just Purple. Makes you grin, doesn't it?

When throwing out a lame excuse, you might as well be saying Purple. It makes about as much sense. In our office now, when someone is dragging their feet, not meeting their goals, getting fussy, we just say Purple out loud. It makes people stop and say "what"? Then it dawns on them what they are saying. It works. Try it sometime. (I even say it to my children who are 6 & 4, and it silences them).

We can see through it most of the time. And if we as agents can, then our clients can. The next time you find yourself making an excuse to a fellow agent or a client. Ask youself this quesion: Self, could someone just yell out Purple to me right now? If you answered Yes to yourself, then stop speaking, take a deep breath, and tell the truth.

Even if the truth is wistful, it is more respectable.

I failed to get the Listing because of Purple. Do not let Purple happen to you... pass it on. Thanks for reading.

In 1962 the Deming Log Show captivated its first audience. Designed to be a fundraiser for severely injured Loggers, who historically do not have medical coverage, the Deming Log Show has entertained thousands and helps hundreds of families.

Ranked 3rd in the Top 10 most Dangerous Jobs (according to CareerBuilder.com), Loggers have a particularly life-threatening job. Their duties include cutting down and transporting timber. As such, the very nature of their greatly-needed work places them in constant jeopardy of being killed by heavy, falling objects like chains, chokers, tower lines, branches, and of course, trees. Their risk is increased by the steep hills on which they log and the hazardous weather in which they so very often work, including rain, sleet, snow, and wind.

Following in his family's footsteps, my husband was a Logger through college so he could pay for his flight time (funny, the second most dangerous job is landing on an aircraft carrier - I guess someone else besides me thought that hurling something moving 400 mph onto something the size of a postage stamp while said stamp is moving up and down by dozens of feet might be a tad perilous!) I promise you, however, that he does not have a death-wish!

Here in the Pacific Northwest, Logging is a way of life. Washington is known as the Evergreen State for a reason. The area of Whatcom County is only a little over 100 years old. My husband's family, the Zenders, were one of the founding families of this beautiful area. In fact, my husband's grandfather had ten siblings - eight brothers and two sisters. The nine boys made up a semi-professional baseball team named the Deming Loggers, who dominated local leagues and finished second in their national tournament in Wichita, KS, in 1956. Had they won that game, they would have gone on to play in the world tournament in Milwaukee.I should brag that four of those brothers were recruited by the majors - Yankees, Cardinals, and the Dodger organization.

The concern would never be winning the championship, but the work at home here in Whatcom County. You see, these brothers also owned Zee Brothers, a Logging company - one of the most famous in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, while many across the area knew them as baseball players, they were also well-known as one of the "slickest high-lead" (according to Jack Kintner, writer for the Mt. Baker Experience, summer 2007) logging outfits in the state!

The Zender brothers logging company made quite a name for itself around this area, and earned a quite a stellar reputation in the logging industry, but also as genuinely good human beings. Long retired, and down a few brothers, you can find these guys around Deming, Washington, active in their church and sitting as Patriarchs to their very large families indeed.

Every second weekend in June, the Deming Log Show provides breath-taking entertainment to an eager audience. Showcasing the basics of Logging, the Loggers put on a great program filled with healthy and fun competition in a variety of categories. From log-climbing, ma & pa buckin' (husband and wife team tree sawing), and log rolling to BBQ and pimped-out chainsaws, spectators are never slighted an amazing feat of strength and courage.

You will see suspenders, cut-off Dickies at the ankle, and corks (the boots Loggers wear), and when you watch these very brave individuals, it will occur to you as it did me, how very strong yet agile Loggers are.

This year, the 47th Log Show will be June 13-14. With over 30 events in a four hour period, you will witness both old and new methods and technology in the Logging industry. Very popular in our neck of the woods - no pun intended - guests attend from all over Washington and British Columbia.

I had no idea when entering the Zender clan back in 1994, that it was such an iconic family. I am proud to be a member of the Zender family, and it warms my heart to know that my husband followed in some amazing footsteps. The tales of his experiences shed merely a dim light to the dangers of Logging, and he alone had many close calls. This event in June raises money for those families whose Loggers were badly injured. I am proud to support such a non-profit. Had I not married Tony (the Logger-Fighter Pilot husband) and become familiar with the colorful and humble history of his great family, I would never have given Logging a second thought. I would still be calling them lumberjacks. And by the way, do not ever call a Logger a Lumberjack!

I will be purchasing ad space in the program with the phrase - Treating Every Client Like Family. Just Google the Zender name here in Whatcom County; it's amazing. My father was performing a background check on my husband's family before I got married (that's a Blog for another time) and he did not meet a person who had not heard of the Zender name! Thank you for reading.

The City Goes Green!

There is no question that Bellingham has risen to the global call to action for greener living. Recognized in both the national and international arenas for advancing the concept of sustainability, reduction of greenhouse gases by designing a climate action plan, and for expanding waste reduction efforts, Bellingham has made its mark on the map, and set an example for other cities to implement the same efforts. Going green is a global effort, and Bellingham has risen to the challenge. We have initiated several successful programs here in the city, and have proven that it can be done with proper education, support from the local government and businesses, and a community willing to work in concert with one another.

Move to Bellingham, and you are immersing yourself into a forward-thinking community of people who care not only about their local environment, but what challenges we face globally. Bellingham has received immense media exposure for their commitment to greener living.

Whatcom County shows that it is indeed easy being green! Due to the incredible efforts on behalf of the Bellingham tourism bureau, the city has been featured in more than 110 media outlets including National Geographic Traveler, Mother Earth News, AAA Journey Magazine, Northwest Travel, to name but a few.

When looking for a new place to live, consider Bellingham. What other cities have the distinctions Bellingham has? Where else can you become a part of a national and international award-winning movement that is leaving a healthy legacy for your children? With cleaner air, more opportunities for alternative transportation, and several programs that reduce waste, toxins, and greenhouse gases, the small city of Bellingham not only has charm, but plays its part in the global action for a cleaner environment and a healthier future.

* Mother Earth News showcased Bellingham in their August/September 2007 issue as one of the "8 Great Places You've Never Heard of", citing its "deliberate effort to inlcude sustainability and quality of life as part of every community discussion." The article also mentioned that although Washington was already an environmentally conscious state, Whatcom was the first county to offer curbside recycling.

* In April 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Bellingham as Washington's First Green Power Community, after residents and business owners purchased more than 11 percent of the electricity used in the entire city from alternative green power resources.

* July 2006, Bellingham was elected by the American Lung Association as one of the top three US cities for cleanest ozone.

* Bellingham came in first place over Seattle as Washington CEO Magazine's greenest city, winning the coveted and distinguished Green Washington Award. Bellingham was also recognized for committing to take a leadership role in promoting public awareness about the cause and effect of climate change.

* Bellingham initiated the Residential Stormwater Retrofit Program, which includes the distribution of specially fotted rain barrels to homeowners residing in the Lake Whatcom watershed.

* Recently, the city completed a road resurfacing project along Northshore, as part of a campaign to promote alternative transportation by incorporating bike lanes and sidewalks. This project was two-fold in concept, in that the new expansion will result in a net decrease of watershed and a lower quantity of run-off into the lake area.

* The city began the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program, which was implemented in 2007, whereby Bellingham promotes the purchase of recycled, PBT-free, and environmentally preferable products.

* City business has instituted Green City Business Trips where employees have access to bicycles during the business day.

* Finally, Bellingham has set goals to reduce greenhouse gases. Annually, the city plans to lower gas emissions so that by 2012, levels will have been reduced by 64% from 2000, and by 70% in 2020. Furthermore, by 2007, 84% of the projected traget for reduction in 2012 had already been met!

* The city was honored on May 15, 2008, at the ICLEI Local Action Summit in Albuquerque, NM, for designing a climate action plan. This was an international and prestigious recognition for the City of Bellingham's efforts to reduce the harmful levels of gas emissions.

With global environmental concerns on the rise, green building strategies have emerged as an innovative yet creative way to answer the questions and care we have for our future. Whatcom County has its own green council known as the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County (BIA) which awards green certifications for environmentally sound building.

The following is a list of green members of the BIA.

BUILDERS

Aiki Homes Rose Lathrop (360) 715-0700 www.aikihomes.com

Barlean's Construction Jon Barlean (360) 303-2642

Cascade Construction Josh Barrett (360) 201-4450 (360) 738-9594 www.cascadeconstruction.us

Credo Construction Arlene Sanders (360) 676-1904 www.credoconstruction.com

Stone Canyon Construction LLC Greg Gottier (360) 961-1865 www.stonecyn.com

Wiser Restoration & Construction Morgan Wiser (360) 319-1816

Urban Design Group LLC David A.Verret, AIBD Sustainable Building Design (360) 752.1480 www.urban-designgroup.com

ASPHALT

Associated Asphalt Contractors, Inc.

Loren VanderYacht (360) 410-7389 lorenvyacht@hotmail.com

Whatcom Builders (360) 398-1427 www.whatcombuilders.com

RAW MATERIALS

BB Lumber & Hardware Steve Kirk (360) 398-222 stevekirk@bblumber.net www.bblumber.net

Exclusive Hardwood Stone & Tile, Inc. Gleen or Nelda McAlpine (360) 592-2725

La Tene Tile Amanda Timmins (360) 756-6506 www.latenetile.com

Lynden Door Steve Heath (360) 354-5676 www.lyndendoor.com

Two Dog Timberworks, Inc. Laurel Slisz (360) 366-5350 (360) 366-5619 www.twodogtimberworks.com GLASS AND

LIGHTING

Todhunter Glass Geoff Walters (360) 398-7717

Village Lighting (360) 734-3780

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING

Barron Heating & Air Conditioning Wes Diskin - Green Team (360) 676-1131 wesd@barronheating.com www.barrongreenteam.com

Energy Conservation Services Nikki Raboin (360) 756-8700 www.ecsofwa.com

Heating Green ENERJOY Infrared Radiant Heating Jeff Caldwell (360) 715-4328 www.heatinggreen.com

KITCHEN AND BATH

Domistyle Design, Inc. Thea Stephens or Jan Hayes (360) 756-0296 www.domistyledesign.com

Legacy Kitchen & Bath Jacqueline Scott (360) 927-4436

Sullivan Plumbing Gary Jensen (360) 384-4022 www.sullivanplumbing.net

DRAPERIES

Edwards Drapery & Interiors Debby Lodder (360) 966-4142 www.edwardsdrapery.com

RECYCLING AND RECYCLED MATERIALS

REstore/ReSources Dean Fearing (360) 647-5921 www.re-sources.org/restore

Sanitary Service Co, Inc Rodd Pemble (360) 734-3490 www.ssc-inc.com

UTILITIES

Cascade Natural Gas Christine Kautzman (206) 381-6780

Puget Sound Energy Nora Accetturo (425) 456-2301 www.pse.com

BANKING/HOME LOANS

Countrywide Home Loans Alycia Jackson (360) 223-1443 www.countrywide.com

Kulshan Community Land Trust Drew Windsor (360) 676-5600 www.kclt.org

Loannetter Susan Templeton (360) 220-2997 (360) 647-1711 - fax www.loannetter.com

Peoples Bank Sindney Stonecypher (360) 676-5880

More and more people are learning about building green. Green building, or sustainable building, refers to the practice of building structures which has less harmful environmental and human health impact than conventional building techniques. By adopting greener building strategies, we maximize our economic potential while still preserving our environment.

Thank you for reading!

Around the country, local and regional associations of Realtors have seen a decline in their membership. Here in the Pacific Northwest, Whatcom County specifically, we Realtors were once almost 900 strong during the real estate pinnacle of '04 to '06. Almost sadly, only just over 750 agents remain, with a possibility that the number could fall to under 700 by year's end. I do not write this with a heavy heart; this is not gloomy news. In fact, it is a substantial imperative. The industry needs this healthy distillation because only the true professionals will weather the storm.

Part-timers and less skilled agents will likely progress to other lines of work. The punch line? Clients now have at their disposal a concentrated group of seasoned, dedicated, and loyal agents to assist them in buying and selling real estate. The objective? Be a part of this small club of proficient Realtors.

The market's message is "stick it out". If we as agents can withstand the winds of difficult economics and an industry hit hard with financial damage, we can restore happiness and much needed faith into our clients. Who do we need to serve the most (besides our obvious 'A' clients)? First-time home buyers. With our keen knowledge of the market coupled with the help of the economic stimulus plan, first-timers will have the necessary confidence to hop off the fence, and buy.

First-time home purchasers need to cease procrastinating, and end their fruitless wait for lowering interest rates. Fluctuating currently, the rates are only expected to rise ultimately. Some speculate that this is in order to pay for the high cost of the economic stimulus plan. Moreover, it is advantageous to buy now. Once interest rates increase, the first-time home buyer will lose purchasing power. It is our job as discerning Realtors to point out to our first-time buyers that they need this leverage.

I will not say we have a booming market here in Whatcom County, but it has remained successful. We still have market strength. Our property price adjustments have been moderate as we have managed to maintain a mild equilibrium. This is due partially to our "think and buy local" philosophy, which has allowed many small business to flourish. Long standing loyalty by Bellinghamsters to buy local has contributed to a healthier market. Low unemployment in Whatcom County has certainly impacted our local economy positively. So we have not seen the high stress to the local economy that other regions have.

While interest rates are in a state of flux, we look to house prices. House prices have fallen and are still falling. We have not yet seen the bottom - another factor to persuade your first-time home buyer. Low interest rates that may increase, falling house prices, and tax incentives... separately not that exciting, but altogether, a perfect storm for a first-time home purchase.

Once the tide changes, and our economy begins to heal, prime buying conditions like what we see before us will not be in the forecast for a long, long time. Encourage your first-timers to purchase now before they are in a position to regret not doing so, because now you are a part of an elite group of agents left over after a nuclear fallout for our industry. Who will your clients turn to? Be there for them. This is their time of need. And you have their undivided attention.

Thank you for reading!