I have only one criteria when choosing a client. That criteria is very difficult to describe, because the best term to describe my favorite clients, I only know in the Greek language. I dated a Greek guy for six years, from the time I was 16 until I was 22. Whenever he introduced me to his Greek friends and relatives, they would lightly and quickly thump their fist on their chest and say
"kalu ka thYA" (emphasis on the YA). Generally, they were saying, "She has a good heart."
When I meet a potential new client, I am actually interviewing them to determine whether or not I want to work with/for them. This can be a great business or it can be a miserable business. The difference between the two is the clients one chooses. Agents who view all people as "leads", who think anyone wanting to buy or sell a property is a "potential client", do both themselves and the client a great disservice.
My talents are best suited to people who need my "help". To sellers who need to sell their home at the highest price they can get, and who are willing to roll up their sleeves WITH me, and get the house to its highest potential, spending little or no money to do that.
To buyers who recognize that there are many potential pitfalls in the home buying process, and who want someone to tell them when they are about to make a mistake.
I have very little time for someone who wants to end up with all of the chips on their side of the table when the "deal is done".
I have very little time for a seller who thinks his house is ready, because he shouldn't have to do a thing to get top dollar and he can wait for "just the right sucker" to come along and fork over more than the home is worth, so HEcan WIN and THEY can LOSE.
I have NO/ZERO time for a buyer who wants to find some little old lady who can be tricked into selling her home for a great deal less than it is worth. (Yes, I have met people like that.)
All of of my clients are people raised with good values and who have a strong moral code, in other words...people who possess "kalu ka thYA"..."a good heart". Once in a blue moon, I agree to represent a total bastard...but only because I feel sorry for his wife 
So when a buyer or seller complains, "I guess they didn't NEED my business because they never called me back after we met",
maybe the agent didn't "follow up" because the agent chose you, not.
More and more I see people printing out huge Xcel Spreadsheets and valuing property based on price per square foot.
Clearly no agent uses price per square foot as the primary valuation tool. Clearly no Appraiser uses price per square foot as the primary valuation tool. Why then is the general public latching on to this concept?
Dangers:
Paying the same price for this house as the last one sold because it is the same model and square footage, without factoring in the difference in lot size and location considerations.
Paying the same price for this condo as the last three sold, without factoring in differences in view considerations from the North corner of the building from the South corner of the building.
Paying the same price for this house as the similar one four blocks away without factoring in the difference in School District between the two.
It is unlikely you will ever get a bargain by using price per square foot as a valuation tool. But is it quite likely you can get fooled into overpaying by using Price Per Square Foot as your primary valuation tool.
How do you find your new home? Instead of looking at houses for sale in person or on the internet, first visit all of your friends. Ask them what they most like and dislike about their homes. Take notes. Write down the address of the homes you like most.
It always amazes me when people head out to find a home as if they have never seen a house before. What is appealing to the eye is not always the most comfortable home to live in. After you life in your home awhile, that "eye appeal" factor becomes less and less important, and your comfort in functioning in the home on a daily basis becomes more and more important.
I have never found someone who moved out of their home because of what it looks like, and yet it seems almost every buyer chooses a house because of what it looks like. If you like to take walks, make sure you would enjoy the walk in the neighorhood you are buying. If you love to watch the sun rise or sun set, make sure you can see that from within your home.
It ain't all about granite counter tops :)
My partner Kim Harris offers his perspective on what drew him TO the Pacific Northwest in 1964 and KEPT HIM in Seattle since he got off the plane from Vietnam in 1969...
The History - The Tremendous Impact and Signficance of this area on the Music Industry (Kim's previous life and passion, as founder of Easy Street Records and teacher of "The History of Rock and Roll" at the U and BCC and original manager of Queensryche, when they were high school kids hanging out at his Easy Street Records, of then, on Bel-Red Road...long past history all over the world managing bands and music venue and private label and much more...on to his LOVE of Seattle from a music perspective:
The (fabulous) Wailers - Tall Cool One, being able to find things in Seattle he spent two months trying to find in record stores in San Francisco as a teenager, The Kingsmen, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Quincy Jones, The Sonics, Viceroys, Jimi Hendrix, Bluebird, The Daily Flash, Brothers Johnson, Sir Mix-a-Lot, QueensRyche, Heart, Sound Garden, Nirvana, The Melvins, Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees, Mudhoney, Presidents of the USA, Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains...
The Castle, Lake Hills Roller Rink (believe it or not), Eagles Auditorium, The Blue Moon, The Show Box, The Vogue, The (original) Off Ramp, RKCNDY, The Tractor, the Crocodile...
Other influences that made a difference: Sub Pop and CZ Records, Thom Bell, Bruce Pavin, Boyd Grafmyer (presents), Pat McDonald who was a major influence on music from his time at KOL-fm to this day, as a not often enough writer of the Seattle Times. His infrequent musings on today's music are not to be missed. Jack Endino and the Great Pat O'Day. Campus Music, Discount Records, Music Millennium, East Street Records and Celophane Square.
Paul Allen and his Experience Music Project (EMP) for having kept Seattle's Music History alive, for the benefit of both visitors to Seattle and local residents of Seattle, due to his love of music generally.
The Seattle Weekly and The Stranger still give a left of center approach to what is happening currently in the Seattle Area. Great Articles on Food, Music, Shopping, what to do...etc.
Enjoy Seattle Music Lovers!!! A trip down Memory Lane!
It has been pretty standard for agents to pay referral fees to one another of between 20% to 25% of the commission. It has also been pretty standard for companies to receive a referral fee of 35% to 50% from agents who are representing their relocated employees.
However had the buyer or seller consumer known, that 35% to 50% of the commission was going to end up back with their Company, or 20% to 25% were going to end up with an agent for "selling their name" to another agent, thie practice may not have continued to cut so deeply into the buyer and seller's pocket for so long.
This is an area that needs to be changed, as all of the Bottom Feeder sites like HouseValues and HomeGain and Lead Generation sites generally, are cutting more and more into the consumer's ability to get the best service at the lowest price.
At minimum, referral fees should be clearly disclosed, and they are not disclosed at all...not even most times at Closing on the HUD 1. You have to wonder if this is legal because of NAR Lobbyists. Clearly "hidden" costs are not legal anyplace else in the industry involving real estate practitioners. Every other form of "kickback" is illegal, except the agent to agent referral. Time for that to change. I don't want to see it become illegal, but it should be less and it should be disclosed.
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Real Estate related posts focusing on the Seattle Area including Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Green Lake, North Seattle and around Lake Washington to the Eastside aka either side of the 520 bridge.
"Ardell and Kim are outstanding real estate agents, and have gone above and beyond in getting us our dream location.
Our search took several months but they never lost patience and were always following up with good advice and good information. They were with us in the entire process, being there for us at short notice to look at properties, helping and educating us on various pros cons, giving us lots of advice throughout the process, and helping us make good decisions.
Above all, they have very high integrity. They were not afraid to turn us away from many, many properties even though they had a commission to lose at each point. They were more concerned that we get the right property for us at the right price. That is admirable indeed.
In addition, Ardell and Kim have an enormous amount of experience, both in evaluating properties, as well as evaluating buyers, sellers, and the 'other' agent. You only need to look once at Ardell's Blog and you will know they are super-smart.
In short, they rock!!"
Ganesh & Kala (Google)
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"Ardell and Kim are patient and trusted advisors, and we wouldn't think of making a real estate decision without them. We found their expertise to be reassuring and their transparency to be refreshing.
After being burned by an agent in the past we were skeptical about the value that agents could offer, but the level of knowledge, professionalism, ethics, and client dedication that Ardell and Kim brought to the table far surpassed our expectations. We recommend them highly."
-Erik & Chris
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"...I found Ardell. Full disclosure - we're working with her now. I'll tell you this, she walks the freaking walk..."
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"Is it real you ask? I keep pinching my arm just to verify and although I'm still not fully convinced, I'm pretty sure it's real... I went from discouraged internet home seeker to proud home owner in 2 and a half days. Couldn't have done it without you Ardell.
Thank you so much."
"Jack" - As Good As It Gets
If you are relocating to Seattle, see the link below for an ongoing discussion that has lasted for about two years between Seattle Area residents, agents and people moving to Seattle. You may find your questions and answers addressed there by others over that time. It is clearly one of the best sources of info for people thinking about Moving to Seattle that is available on the internet.
Top 10 Things You Should Know Before Moving to Seattle, Seatttle and Seatle
http://www.raincityguide.com/2006/03/07/10-things-you-should-know-before-moving-to-seattle/
Remember, the info is in the comments, not just the post itself.
The majority of my clients already live here and are both selling and buying in the area. Many are selling in Seattle or Edmonds or Shoreline or most any part of North Seattle through Mt. Baker and Leschi (I do very little if any real estate in West Seattle), and are moving to the Eastside and often to Kirkland, Bellevue or Redmond, but sometimes Kenmore and Bothell in the Northshore School District. Lake Washington Schools and Northshore Schools being my primary focus on the Eastside. Kirkland is annexing, or expected to annex, some areas toward and to Kenmore. So the Juanita and Finn Hill markets are interesting and more affordable at times. The new (not there yet) Totem Lake Mall will also be an interesting development as will be the revamping of the area near Overlake Hospital and Microsoft.
I have assisted buyers in the purchases on the Seattle side, but those clients were very internet savvy and did a lot of the looking on the internet and did drive bys as well. Rarely do my clients want "tours" of homes except on a first time out. Mostly we target homes to see via the internet and jump up and meet at only the best homes. Buying a home and the home search process has gone way beyond looking at what is "for sale". Often it involves the home listed 30 minutes ago and finding property that is not for sale. Life has changed and me and my clients run at the top fo the ridge in that regard. No old fashioned real estate except for my "having their back" part.
Should You Buy a Short Sale?
http://www.amazon.com/Newcomers-Handbook-Moving-Seattle-Handbooks/dp/0912301732
Sunday Night Stats for King County Washington
http://www.raincityguide.com/tag/sunday-night-stats/
Neighborhood Stats, this one is for Tam O'Shanter in Bellevue, but by special request I will do any neighborhood that I work in as "my service area". Just ask on this blog post and I will get the current info for any neighborhood by request.
http://www.raincityguide.com/2008/03/01/tam-oshanter-in-bellevue/
My blog is a place where I can write anything I want, but I don't notice comments there as well. So ask on the http://www.raincityguide.com/ site on one of my posts for quick response. My blog is a good source of more detailed market stats for those who like to Track the Seattle Area Real Estate Market beyond the Sunday Night King County version above. I try to keep them all in one category and the stats go back to 2005 and maybe even 2004.
http://www.realtown.com/Ardell/blog/tracking-the-market
ARDELL DellaLoggia - Seattle Area Real Estate - For all of your real estate needs. If you just want to talk about the market without being obligated to buy or sell real estate just because you spoke with an agent...just comment anonymously on my blogs here and there as noted above.
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