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Debbie Salmon

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Granite Counters Everything New Camas 2 bedrm house

11-09-08
Debbie Salmon

Newly Remodeled with Vinyl Windows, Interior/ Exterior Paint, Cedar Shake Gables, Covered Porch, Patio, New Carpet, Vinyl Flooring, Granite Countertops,NEW For-Air Unit,Washer and Dryer Hookups in the Basement.2 bedrooms 1 bathroom ... beautiful house 660 se polk camas

call me at 360-910-0497 Debbie - Realtor Keller Williams Realty Premier Partners if you want to take a look at this beautiful home priced way below market for a quick sale

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selling your home

10-28-08
Debbie Salmon

Selling a Home 101

So you've decided to sell your home. Perhaps you're taking a job in a new community and you need to sell. Maybe you've outgrown your existing home and you need to move into something larger. Perhaps your family has grown up and moved out and it is time to downsize into a smaller home. Whatever the reason, you've decided to sell your home. What follows are some useful hints and ideas to make the selling process easier.

Basics Are Just the Beginning
When you put your home on the market, a real estate agent may compile comparative pricing of homes in your area, post a sign in your yard or place your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Most real estate agents will offer these industry standard services. Even the most expected service yields superior results.

  • Our standard services are handled with exceptional care and expertise
  • We offer exclusive services and a customized marketing plan developed specifically for you

Setting the Standards of Professionalism
When you list your home with us, you can rest assured that behind us is a team of experts who are well trained to support your interests. Our professional support team shares our commitment to a successful transaction. Here is a list of our support efforts:

  • Most office managers are non-selling real estate professionals, thus maximizing their availability to sales associates and to you
  • Sales associates are supported with full-time administrative staff, allowing them more time to attend to your needs
  • Individual agent marketing of your home is supported with extensive advertising, increasing exposure to potential buyers
  • Offices are open seven days a week, with sales associates and support staff available to you and potential buyers

Pricing Strategies
Pricing your home is a complex task that requires the expertise of an experienced real estate professional. Consider the following:

  • If the listing price is set too high, potential buyers may be deterred from considering your home.
  • Arriving at the optimal price requires evaluation and understanding of current market conditions, and the marketable features of your home.
  • The closer your home is priced to fair market value when it first comes on the market, the more likely it will sell quickly at the highest price.
  • The higher your home is priced above market value, the fewer number of buyers will look at it.

We will advise you of many factors when assisting you in determining a listing price for your home. Some of these factors include:

  • Determining the selling price of recently sold properties with attributes similar to yours.
  • Arriving at a listing price that is attractive enough for buyers to request showings and make acceptable offers.
  • Determining what properties are competing for the attention of buyers right now.
  • Determining what properties have not sold. This is a good indicator of what prices buyers are unwilling to pay under current market conditions.



Bringing Buyers to Your Home
Understanding where buyers come from allows agents to market your home more effectively. While buyers use a variety of information sources to learn about homes for sale in their target neighborhood and price range, the vast majority will discover your home with the assistance of a real estate professional. According to research by the Washington Association of Realtors®, 72% of Internet home buyers and 63% of traditional buyers were first exposed to the home they purchased by their real estate agent. Therefore, we will use a comprehensive plan that includes networking with colleagues throughout the area to position your home to the right buyer.

Marketing Your Home
The more exposure your home receives, the more opportunity you'll have to achieve your financial and time-oriented goals. In addition to Internet and print media advertising, we attract qualified buyers by using the following methods:

  • Property Flyer - We prepare a professional marketing sales tool including graphics and highlights of your home to distribute to the brokerage community and potential buyers.
  • Multiple Listing Service (MLS) - Information about your home will be included in the Multiple Listing Service, a database of currently available properties accessible by real estate professionals.
  • Other Brokers - We cooperate with and invite other brokers in the community to tour your home in order to find a buyer.
  • Relocation connections - Prospects for your home also come from relocation services, corporations, executive search firms and fellow associates who keep track of potential buyers and maintain relationships with former clients.
  • Referral Network - Sales meetings allow sales associates to present new listings. Other sales associates then refer to their client databases to identify potential buyers and arrange viewing appointments.

We will provide you with periodic status reports including buyer reactions to your home, allowing us to continually evaluate and reassess our marketing strategy.

Skillful Negotiation
When offers are presented, we will advise you and help obtain the best possible price and terms.
Understanding the various standard contract forms and the vast array of contractual issues is key to negotiating the best terms to meet your individual needs. Making sure buyers are qualified and knowledgeable about available financing alternatives is of the utmost importance in negotiating a successful sale. We will promote your interests and assist in developing a clear and binding contract.

Transaction Management
Many details must be attended to before a sale becomes final, including inspections, loan documents, contingency removals, and insurance. We know how difficult and time consuming this process is, and thus, we will handle scheduling inspections, reviewing documents, and making sure all of the required disclosure forms and pamphlets are provided in a timely fashion

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preparing your property to sell

10-28-08
Debbie Salmon

Preparing Your Property

Fully preparing your home for sale can make a considerable difference in the time it takes to sell it. You can help eliminate buyer objections before they arise by making necessary repairs and improvements, some of which are suggested below:

Outdoors

  • Spruce up your garden and lawn; trim shrubbery and replace dead plants
  • Yard and patio should be neat; outdoor furniture should be clean and in good shape
  • Clean or paint your front door - remember first impressions last the longest!
  • Manicure your front yard; make sure your driveway and entryway are free of clutter

Exterior

  • Check that house numbers, mailbox, and exterior lighting are all in good condition
  • Touch up with fresh paint as needed
  • Inspect chimney for cracks or earthquake damage
  • Repair loose trim, drain pipes, and fencing
  • Clean stains and window screens

Garage

  • Remove clutter and tidy up the shelves
  • Clean the floor

Overall

  • Apply fresh paint as needed. Think about brightening your interior with neutral-toned paint
  • Clean draperies and carpets
  • Replace burned out light bulbs
  • Clean the fireplace and remove smoke stains from the wall and mantle

Kitchen

  • Sinks, appliances and counter tops should sparkle; remove any clutter.
  • Wax the floor
  • Clean the oven range and other appliances
  • Clean tile and grout; replace if necessary

Bathrooms

  • Clean mirrors, glass, chrome and porcelain surfaces
  • Replace shower curtain if necessary
  • Fix any faucet drips or leaks
  • Clean grout and caulking; replace if necessary

Closets

  • Doors and drawers should open and close easily
  • Remove clutter; tidy up shelves and racks
  • Clothes should be neatly arranged

Indoors

  • Check the basics around the house. It takes just a minute to check all doors, windows and cabinets to make sure they don't stick, squeak or are too loose
  • Clean your furnace and water heater so buyers know they are looking at a house that has been well maintained

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What is Escrow and why is it needed?

10-28-08
Debbie Salmon

An escrow is an arrangement in which a neutral third party (the Escrow Agent) assembles and processes all of the components of a real estate transaction (including legal documents), records the transaction, and ultimately, disburses and distributes funds according to the Buyer's and Seller's instructions. Your transaction is typically closed by an Escrow Officer or LPO (Limited Practice Officer).

People buying and selling real estate often open an escrow for their protection and convenience. Both the Buyer and Seller relay on the Escrow Agent to carry out their mutually consistent instructions relating to the transaction and to advise them if any of their instructions are not mutually consistent or cannot be carried out. If the instructions from all parties to an escrow are clearly drafted, the Escrow Officer can take many actions on behalf of the Buyer and Seller without further consultation. This saves much time and facilitates the closing of the transaction.

Typical roles in the Escrow process:

The Seller/Agent

  • Delivers a fully executed Purchase & Sale Agreement to the escrow agent.
  • Executes the paperwork necessary to close the transaction
  • Deposits evidence of pest inspection and any required repair work, per the Purchase & Sale Agreement

The Buyer/Agent

  • Deposits funds required to close (in addition to the purchase price) with the Escrow Agent.
  • Approves any inspection reports, commitment for title insurance, or other items as called for by the Purchase & Sale Agreement.
  • Fulfills any other conditions specified in the escrow instructions.

The Lender (when applicable)

  • Deposits proceeds of the loan.
  • Directs the Escrow Agent of the conditions under which the loan funds may be used.

The Escrow Agent

  • Obtains the order for title insurance
  • approvals from the Buyer(s) on pest inspections, the commitment for title insurance, and any other inspections that are called for in the Purchase & Sale Agreement.
  • Obtains any required payoffs/release documents to clear title.
  • Receives funds from the Buyer and/or Lender.
  • In most cases, prepares vesting document and excise tax affidavit on Seller's behalf.
  • Prorates insurance, taxes, rents, etc.
  • Prepares a final statement (often referred to as the "HUD Statement" or "Settlement Statement") for each party, indicating amounts paid in conjunction with the closing of your transaction.
  • Oversees the signing of your loan documents.
  • Forwards deed to the county for recording.
  • Once the proper documents have been recorded, the Escrow Agent will disburse and distribute funds to the proper parties.

In Summary

Some of the Escrow Officer's responsibilities include:

  • Process and coordinate the flow of documents and funds.
  • Keep all parties informed of progress to the escrow.
  • Respond to Lender's requirements
  • Oversee signing of loan/closing documents.
  • Obtain approvals of reports and documents from the parties as required
  • Prorate and adjust insurance, taxes, rents, etc.
  • Record the deed and loan documents.
  • Prepare a final statement outlining funds received and to be disbursed in conjunction with your transaction.

Escrow is the process that assembles and processes all the components of a real estate transaction. The transaction is officially closed when the new deed is recorded, thus transferring ownership from the Seller to the Buyer. The Escrow Agent is a neutral third party acting on behalf of the Buyer and Seller under the guidelines set forth by the State of Washington Department of Financial Institutions

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beautiful home not on the rmls yet huge yard 2 fireplace one in master

10-27-08
Debbie Salmon

$189,900 9112 ne 92nd ave is a 1548sqft home built in 1999 has gas forced air Beautiful house! 3 Bdrm, 2.1 Baths, Living room w/ wood burning FP & Master Suite w/ Gas Fireplace & Walk-in closet. Frm Dining, lmnt flooring, upgraded carpet . GFA & A/C, Security system. Fenced back yard with entertaining sized patio, garden shed .. huge yard beautiful neighborhood priced way way low previos owners paid $260 back in 2006 not a short sale


not on the rmls yet .. call me at 360-910-0497 Debbie Salmon At Keller Williams

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