What's Your Vote?
In three short weeks the new Spokane WinCo Foods has created quite a stir, or should I say crowd? On opening day I heard rumor of standing in line for an ungodly amount of time just to check-out so I nixed my plans of investigating this new store. However, curiosity got the best of me and I decided to do a "drive-by"; if the parking lot didn't look too crowded I'd give it a try, if it looked like I'd get stressed out just driving into the parking lot I'd wait for another day.
As I approached the store I don't know why I was shocked to see lines of cars everywhere but I was! Cars couldn't get into the parking lot because of the number of cars that were trying to get out of the parking lot...it was crazy and I kept on driving!
Try, try again? Third time's a charm? No....just couldn't get past the curiosity and the coupons burning a hole in my hands! I finally braved the parking lot at 9:00 at night. A son in one hand (to help bag groceries) and coupons in the other and off we went! After tracking down an empty shopping cart we finally made it into the store and, oh my gosh, it took everything in me to stay; it was bumper to bumper carts and people! Had it not been for the Fritos that were 98 cents each, bananas that were 18 cents/lb and all the other low prices screaming out at me I would have turned and run, never to return.
We weaved our way around the parameter of the store, grabbing items here and there. It wasn't until we got to the rear of the store that I realized the check-out lines went from the check stands themselves clear to where I was standing. Ugh! What a bright idea this was! It took more than an hour for us to get up to the check-out stand and when we got near the front there was actually someone directing the "traffic", informing each of us what line to go to.
The actual check-out process (paying for and bagging groceries) was a little lengthy but not too terrible. The slowest part of it was waiting for the people in front of us to get their groceries bagged and into their carts. We finally were able to get out of the store a little after 10:30 and chuckled when someone followed us to our car just to get our cart! The overall experience wasn't bad and it was nice walking away with a lot of groceries for a small price tag.
I've returned a couple times since and although I haven't seen the long lines of people waiting to check out it still has been extremely crowded inside. And I have yet to get a shopping cart from inside the store...on each trip to the store I've had to go back out to the parking lot and search for an empty cart.
The grand opening of WinCo has given me the opportunity to take advantage of some pretty incredible prices, which is the only reason I went back. I do wonder what it will be like when the honeymoon and infatuation with WinCo is over. Will it be worth the drive, fighting the crowds? Will there be enough of a discount to keep me coming back? To be honest, I don't know. I'm sure there will continue to be some great deals but I can't say I'm sold on the store.
That's my experience with WinCo, what's yours? Do they have your vote?
Joddie Roberts,
Your Spokane Realtor
509.844.7344
e-mail: joddie@tb.com
Down payment assistance funds may be available for first time home-buyers in Spokane, WA. These funds are offered by the Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs, also known as SNAP.
Features of the Down Payment Assistance Loan includes:
Funding is limited and other restrictions may apply. Home buyer education classes are required as well.
It isn't a program for everyone but there are certainly those that can benefit from it. For more information visit the SNAP website or call to schedule an appointment...
509-456-7106.
It just doesn't quit....gas prices are unbelievable and every time I go to the store food prices are up. In fact, without fail, what I buy today was cheaper yesterday.
It isn't just the "extras" increasing in price, it's the staples....bread, rice, flour, eggs....for a family the size of mine I have to take every price increase and multiply it by 10 to get the full effect of rising food prices. Complaining doesn't change the reality so I try not to do that tooooooo much....
While at the store the other day I decided to pick up the cheap, easy "filler" for my kids; Top Ramen....what family can pass up a truckload of a food kids love to eat and yet costs practically pennies? Not known for its nutritional value, I buy it because I have 8 kids that absolutely love it; anytime, anyplace...cooked & uncooked.
As I reached for the multiple packages I was going to buy, the price caught my eye.... "No, I thought, not Top Ramen too"; after all, I was depending on using it to feed my college-bound son for the next 4 years. Both discouraged and depressed I put the Top Ramen back on the shelf, returned my cart, and left the store empty-handed.
Nope, it isn't the unnecessary things anymore, price increases have hit the necessities too...from food, to gas, to everyday living, I think we're all asking the same question, "When is it going to end?"
I know I'm not "nesting" so it must be Spring Fever cleaning!...that's what I kept thinking to myself while on my hands and knees, feverishly scrubbing the kitchen floor. And while I wasn't outwardly thanking God it wasn't nesting I was experiencing, there was an inner sigh of relief that the red punch I was washing off the white cupboards and trim was just the result of having 8 very busy, sometimes messy children. The cleaning didn't stop at the floor; there were posts to wash, metal rails to scrape and those light switches ~ wow, how do they get so dirty? Did I forget to mention the red punch? I'm still wondering how it got on the dining room wall...nice bright streaks running straight to the light tan carpet.
Spring Cleaning in full forceat the Roberts house isn't always fun, but it is rewarding! With spring and summer ahead, most of us face an unending schedule of sports, fishing, swimming, weekend trips to the lake, vacationing, barbecuing and the like. On top of all that we have to add the jobs we go to everyday, which makes for a very busy time. It can get stressful and perhaps a bit overwhelming to head into a busy season if we can't stop for a moment and take some time to clean, de-clutter and organize. A couple spring cleaning weekends will allow for a long, enjoyable summer. After-all, nobody wants to wake up early on a Saturday morning, ready for a great day of fishing, just to realize the fishing poles are nowhere to be found! For many, spring cleaning just "hits"; you wake up one morning and everyone around you better watch out ~ the "clean tornado" is coming. Okay, maybe I'm only describing myself but...maybe not. Unique individuals, yes, unique to being human, not so much. If you are a bit like me; eager to get it all done NOW, perhaps the following tips will help... For the tornado in us, here are a few things to keep in mind:
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TOMLINSON SOUTH REAL ESTATE, Spokane WA Real Estate - Helping Spokane Home Buyers and Sellers, Providing Spokane Housing Market information and Spokane House Values.
"'Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,"
Be it ever so humble there's no place like home!"
-- John Howard Payne (1791-1852)
Providing my clients with service that guides them safely to their Real Estate destination is what I strive for. In order to do so I believe it is imperative that I stay knowledgeable, alert and adaptable to the ever-changing Real Estate market and trends. I'm committed to excellence and consider it a priveledge to be Your Spokane REALTOR.
For Home Sellers:
The most important thing you can do is contact Your Spokane REALTOR. Getting expert advice on local market conditions as well as neighborhood statistics will help you make an informed decision. I can provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis and provide you with the tools you need to get your home on the market.
For Home Buyers:
With all the on-line sources available to home buyers one might think there is little reason to contact an agent before you find a home to view. Afterall, with access to local listings and virtual tours of listings provided on the internet you can search for a home until your hearts content. The downside to this is the amount of time you have to spend scrolling through house after house after house. It often can take you into the wee hours of the night if you're not careful.
By contacting Your Spokane REALTOR your time and energy can be reduced considerably. When you provide criteria for the home you want automatic e-mail notification will be set up and you will be notified of the homes that meet your desires. Not only that but for every new home on the market you will be instantly notified.
Getting pre-qualified to buy a home is a must with today's market. Home sellers want to know the people looking at their homes are serious. Contact Your Spokane REALTOR so you can find a lender today!
Relocating to Spokane?
Moving to a new and unfamiliar place can be a daunting task, if not down-right scary! There are many websites you can visit that to help you get to know Spokane. Among my favorites are Riverfront Park, Spokane Chamber of Commerce, Spokane Parks and Recreation, and Historic Spokane.
Of course, finding a good place to live goes hand-in-hand with finding a good place to eat. For local home-grown dining establishments check out Commellinis, Italian Kitchen, Clinkerdaggers, and Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar. For entertainment try The Big Easy Concert House, or The Service Station.
I am more than happy to mail you local Real Estate Market Reports, a map of the city (or grid map for selecting an area to live in), school district information and any other information that will help you in familiarizing yourself with Spokane.
As Your Spokane REALTOR I am dedicated to you and help you succeed in your Real Estate needs!
"It is difficult to know what counts in the world. Most of us count credits, honor, dollars. But at the bulging center of mid-life, I am beginning to see that the things that really matter take place not in the boardrooms, but in the kitchens of the world."
-- Gary Allen Sledge (Writer)
I was born in Lebanon, Oregon, lived for a short time in Fort Worth, Texas, and at the ripe old age of 5 moved to Spokane, the place I call home. I did take an 8 year sidetrip with my family to Colville, WA but the pull of friends and family brought us back to where we belonged.
I am happily married to my husband, Ray, and have 8 wonderful children. The picture of my kids is a few years old but is one of my favorites so I use it when I can. It reminds me of the movie, "The Sound of Music". The voices and laughter of my children is music to my ears. Yes, sometimes it's a screech, sometimes exaggerated, and sometimes there needs to be a little change in the tone but there really is no better comfort than the background noise of my children make.
One of my most favorite things to do is attend sporting events my kids are involved in. There is just nothing like sitting in the stands of Joe Albi or standing on the Polo Fields in Airway Heights watching my boys play GSL & PopWarner football! It doesn't stop there, however. In the coldest months I get to be inside while watching my daughter and sons play basketball for their school teams. Not to be detered in the Spring when, on any given day there can be snow, sleet, rain, hail, wind, thunder and sunshine all at once, you'll find me wrapped up in my chair as I watch my boys play Little League, or my daughter tennis.
I love to teach, motivate, encourage and inspire. I strive for excellence in all that I do and seek out knowledge and information for those things that need understanding. I value TRUTH.
Why Real Estate?
My jump into Real Estate stemmed from 2 things: Helping my family and helping others.
I had a "revelation" of sorts regarding Real Estate. The reality that it always exists; there are always sellers and there are always buyers. It offers an incredible opportunity for wealth, stability and purpose. Within that I found a tremendous amount of hope and a value that goes beyond monetary gain. I concluded that despite the ups and downs of the Real Estate market, homeownership and investment in Real Estate is always a smart choice. It's the timing that takes wisdom.
As concerns my family, Real Estate offers me the flexibility I need to help meet their needs in both time and money. Some days are very busy either with work or family or both, but I'm learning the secret of balance. I do what I do with purpose so that what needs to be done is accomplished successfully. This is both with home and career, family and clients.
Ultimately my desire is to help achieve a safe and secure place for others to live, whether this is homeownership or the ability to provide that place for others. I do have dreams within my dreams. Finding hope for the hopeless and homes for the homeless is at the core of who I am. We all need purpose, we all need value, we all need someone to care.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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