My professional pest control expert, Evan Ogden with Venables Pest told me the other day that Thurston county is experiencing a "weird" infestation of rats. "They're everywhere this year. If you are up in the early morning hours, you'll likely see them scurry across tops of the fences." n Whether you live in Lacey, Olympia, Tacoma, Puyallup, or whertever in the Puget Sound area, you'll have to come to grips with the fact that rats are around you.
And that's why I was having the conversation with Evan. It seems that my neighbor Gerry had a varmint problem and instead of eradicating it, he simply helped them move to a better relocation. My backyard. (Just joking Gerry!)
My wife first noticed the rat (seen here) feasting on one of our bird feeders. You know, back when we had bird feeders! That's when we called Evan.
Traps and bait were set out and we waited. One evening, while relaxing on the couch... Snap! Then a squeal! When we investigated, we saw a large rat jump from the down-spot drain to run to the aid of the trapped rat, and then jump back and disappear. That's when the realization hit us that we were dealing with more than one rat. And that is also when I saw where they had set up house keeping.
Each of the homes in the Brookfield neighborhood (I'm not sure of the other homes in the area) have a gravel and rock covered drainage pit in the backyard where rain water is channeled. The downspouts feed rain water into corrugated pipe that leads to the pit. On our home, the pipe is 4 inches wide while the downspouts are much smaller, leaving a nice little tunnel system for the varmints.
The solution is a cap for the corrugated pipe that that covers the hole and fits snugly against the drain. 
I found mine at Home Depot. Lowes didn't have the right size gutter fitting. They were too big and the point is to seal off hole.
And there is one other thing. Sometimes you'll find the pipe has a hole in it which, even if capped, would allow enough space for a rat or mouse to get in. A rat only needs the size of a quarter, and a mouse the size of a dime. If you face that problem (as I did) you can put the cap on a 3" pipe and run it down into the 4" pipe, then use some gravel or something to fill the gap around the outside. Can't find the picture, but if you need some help. call and I'll upload another photo or walk you through it.
For fear that I was simply sending them to my neighbor's house, I notified my neighbor Sonia and told het to pick up the caps I would install them for her. Who know, maybe they've moved into your yard. I hope not!
Rats are nasty little creatures that are known to carry germs, so while the squeeling wasn't pleasant, it was necessary.
Besides capping the pipes, we've had to take a couple of other actions. As I said earlier, the birdfeeders are gone (I threw them into Gerry's yard! Just kidding) The other thing Evan told me to do was to be sure and clean up any grease collecting in the drip pan of my BBQ grill. "They think that is like restaurant food."
Al "Top" Stickland
Riley Jackson Real EState
360-359-1274
If you've driven down Marvin Rd between Steilacoom and Mullen lately, you've noticed the ball fields going up. With popular Skyhawk field across the street, you might think that "little old Lacey" had all the fields it could use. But you'd be mistaken.
This isn't just another ballpark (see the phase one photo, currently under construction below). Besides the softball/baseball and soccer fields, there will be an impressive array of other event venues. They 
include event areas, picnic pavilions, play areas, basketball courts,walking trails, concessions, restrooms, parking for over 1,300 vehicles, a performance stage, and a main entrance gathering plaza. Two baseball fields are sized for college and semi-professional play, presenting a future opportunity for attracting a minor league baseball franchise.
In addition to a full complement of athletic fields and 
outdoor recreation 
opportunities, upcoming phased proposals (see phase 2 below, which will be located across Marvin Rd.) offers four separate building pads totaling 158,000 square feet that present a realistic opportunity for even more exciting development on the site. According to planners "we envision these pads will be used for a future indoor ice arena, a family fun center, a recreation center with racquetball, gymnasium, and exercise facilities, an aquatic center, and a YMCA or Boys and Girls Club. The City has been approached by an ice arena owner/operator and a fitness center interested in locating on the proposed pads.
This 110-acre project proposal also has significant multi-use potential and is much more than an athletic and recreation facility. It may serve as a special events complex providing unlimited opportunities for 
community events, festivals, and commercial activities. The complex has significant program space that will accommodate year-round events such as balloon, arts, and music festivals, plus car, boat, garden, and recreational equipment shows, swap meets, theme fairs, and seasonal celebrations."
Wow. You might wonder what a small city like Lacey would want with such a large sports complex, but according to the planners, the park has the capability of bringing revenue into the city. In fact, it was estimated that the revenue generated from the park could be as high as $30 million annually.
Its obvious that the complex will be the envy of many neighboring communities and if successful will be another feather in Lacey's bonnet. And of course one more reason why home seekers might choose Lacey over other communities in the area. The fields are scheduled to be ready for play next year.
If you'd like a home in an Up and Coming community like Lacey, call me. When you talk real estate, TALK to TOP!
Al "Top" Stickland
Riley Jackson Real Estate
I talked with a person lately that was ecstatic about the "deal" they had gotten 
on their home. She was able to purchased the foreclosed property for about thirty thousand dollars under the market price of identical homes in the neighborhood. But did she and her husband really get a bargain?
Most foreclosed homes on the market in the area (Lacey, Olympia, Fort Lewis and McChrod AFB area, Tacoma, Spanaway, Puyallup) have their share of bumps and bruises. Some are just suffering from simple neglect (poor lawns, dirty carpets, etc.). But others have been outright abused, and repairing that abuse needs to be fully considered when deciding whether it's "Deal or no Deal."
In order to bring my friend's home up to the condition of the other comparables in the neighborhood, the home will need:
And as if that isn't enough, this home has had no updating. So if the home was to one day compete with the others in the neighborhood, it would also requires some or all of the following:
Thirty or forty thousand dollars is easily eaten up by the first list alone. Add to all of the monetary requirements the fact that if you plan to address the deficiencies over time, you and your family will have to live in the "less than perfect" home while the work is being done. Only you can decide what that sacrifice is worth. And if you plan to do the work yourself, don't forget to add your sweat equity to the grand total.
If you have questions about whether you should play the Deal or No Deal game, give me a call.
When you talk real estate, TALK to TOP!
Al "Top" Stickland
Riley Jackson Real Estate
Perhaps you've read the popular book of the same title by Malcolm Gladwell. It's about all those points in 
time where everything changes. Some tipping points are easy to identify. Cell phones, home computers, and in real estate, exclusive buyer representation.
A tipping point is what our real estate market is approaching, and here's why; By some estimates, 80% of today's prospective home buyers have their house on the market. That means that 80% of would-be home buyers cannot buy until their current home sells. And their home can't sell because 80% of the potential buyers of their home need to sell their own home first. And so on.
Imagine a teeter-totter where the majority of buyers are at one end (the "needing to sell" end) and the remainder of buyers are suspended in the air at the other end. The tipping point will come when more buyers, unfettered by the need to sell a home, realize that this may be one of the best times they will have to purchase a home, when things are so soundly in their favor.
Before that happens consumer confidence must improve, and that will be hard to do as long as our "news" continues to focus on what is happening in the seven or so real estate markets that are doing so miserably.
The government is at work behind the scenes trying to develop stimulus packages directed toward real estate. Under consideration is a bill that would give home buyers a temporary tax credit, and another is a federally assisted down payment program.
You might ask yourself why housing would get so much attention, and perhaps wonder if the monetary expenditures to spur it on are worth it. Although housing only accounts for 5% of the nation's GDP, according to some estimates it has been responsible for up to 75% of new job growth. And of course it is about to contribute to higher unemployment if our tipping point isn't reached.
Those people sitting on the proverbial fence control how quickly the economy is likely to begin recovering. When they finally decide to add their weight to the aforementioned teeter-totter, much will change in our economy, not just the housing market.
Riley Jackson Real EState
Clients first, last and always. It isn't a motto. It's my commitment. Guaranteed service you'll tell your freinds about!
What I think people want in a Realtor are the personal values that make the client the most important person in the relationship. Values such as:
Loyalty--You can always trust me to do what is in your best interest.
Selfless Service--I'll be responsive to you. I am NOT a 9-5 agent.
Honesty--The professional relationship we have, not the sale, is of utmost importance to me.
Integrity--Integrity is always my first consideration. I always play by the rules and you can count on me to be fair and honest with you. Always!
Personal Courage--Fighting for you won't always make me popular with others in the business, but you will always be my number one consideration.
After 26 years in the military (US Army) and after serving several years as an Army First Sergeant (informally called "Top"), those values and a determination to help others is a natural way of life. Let my commitment to people give you the piece of mind you need in all your real estate transactions.
By the way, when considering a Realtor, you'll want to know they're highly qualified. I'm an Associate Broker, A Gaduate, Realtor Institute (GRI) and an Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR). Don't trust your business to someone getting "schooled" at the University of hard knocks at your expense.
Whether I'm hard at work in my yard, working on my golf game, or relaxing at a Dave Matthews concert, you'll be able to reach me, and I'll be ready to go to work for you.
Also, if you'd like to join me in fighting cancer through Relay for Life fundraising, or would like to assist me in raising money for Children's Hospitals in the northwest through the John L. Scott Foundation, you don't need to buy or sell a home to do so. Call me. I look forward to meeting... everyone!
Visit my web site: 
I take pride in the assistance I give to military members and their families.
And I guarantee my service:
•Easy Out Contract Guarantee: If at any time you're unhappy with the service I provide, we’ll terminate the contract. It’s that easy.
“Al was very good to us. He was always available and ensured the home we wanted became ours, and the home we sold did so smoothly. We used Al to sell our home because he was so great in the purchase of the new one. He is the best Realtor we have ever worked with….”
“Al was very professional and friendly. He kept us updated on what was happening and gave us good advice on what we should and shouldn’t do to sell our house. He is the best Realtor we’ve had...”
“I’ve known Al for many years, and he’s always been focused on doing the right thing for people. I am intent on buying 10 rental properties in the area, and I intend to have Al represent me in each one of them. Two down, eight to go… “
Jose Ortiz, Tacoma WA
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