Leslie Bloss, Seattle Real Estate Professional

The Irish Festival of Seattle is going to be at the Seattle Center on Sat., March 14th; Sun, March 15th and again on Tues., March 16th.

On the Irish Heritage Club of Seattle's website they say that the Festival features "booths selling Irish and Celtic products, non-stop Irish music, singing, dancing, workshops, lectures, cultural displays, children's contests and activities, etc. In addition to the Festival Highlights listed below, there will be Genealogy Workshops, Irish Language Workshops, Cultural Exhibits and more. Family-oriented activities include wonderful Irish Musicians along with Champion Irish Stepdancers from around the Pacific Northwest. Events for children include the “Smilingest Irish Eyes Contest” and the “Most Irish-Looking Face Contest”, and other activities in the Children’s Activities Center."

I am providing the link to the Irish Heritage Club of Seattle where you can view pictures from last year's Irish Festival. You can also join the club if you are interested. I have always had an interest in different cultures and this really does look like fun!

LuvSeattle.com for Bellevue, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont, Ballard, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Laurelhurst, View Ridge, and Windermere, Washington Real Estate Property Listings

I showed several very well staged units in one building yesterday. They offered a "just move in program." This is the first time I had seen this.

Buyers can include any of the designs with their new home purchase. That means "turnkey furnishings, no shopping, no hassles."

The cost of the furnishings is negotiated into the Purchase and Sale Agreement. This particular client had said at different showings that she "wished the furnishings came with the unit."

I can see that this could be very advantageouse to some buyers.

LuvSeattle.com

We have all spent plenty of time waiting for our flights at airports. I was watching ABC News online and saw a video of a Houston airport having Karaoke machines for their customers to use to entertain themselves--theirs are specifically set up for for Christmas carols. I really think this is a good idea--probably would have to have a time limit on the microphone.

I would encourage the Sea-Tac airport to look into this.

Seattle/Bellevue, Ballard, Wallingford, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Green Lake, Fremont, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.

I woke up yesterday sounding like Minnie Mouse. I called the doctor's office and they said to come in to make sure I didn't have strep throat. Well the good thing it is not strep (according to the "fast test"--they are sending a sample into the lab for the slow test results) but I do have Laryngitis.

Laryngitis is contagious. Which means no kissing and no sharing drinking glasses and cups. It also means I shouldn't cough on anyone. So I am staying home working on the computer.

The difficult part is that I still need to answer telephone calls. I just received a call from an ActiveRain agent in Utah saying he is going to send me a referral to sell his Aunt's home. I have to take these calls because it maybe a client, or referral or even an emergency.

So if you are calling--just bear with me, I am happy to help. And it is alright to laugh at my voice!

Do you have a story to share?

Bellevue, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont, Ballard, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Laurelhurst, View Ridge, and Windermere, Washington Real Estate Property Listings. Just click on the blue "homes search" button and then click on the area you wish to view. You can also search by street address or the MLS number.

Back on September 3rd I wrote an article about the merger between the Realty Executives office in Bellevue and BRIO Realty. After some time has gone by I can say that I am more than satisfied with that event. A few reasons that I am singing their praises:

1. The office members treat each other like family--they are very kind and helpful to each other, therefore, it is a very pleasant working environment. There are many social activities to get involved with (to get to know each other better) from weekly potlucks to occasional parties. We also have a monthly marketing night to focus on a marketing piece we want to get completed (we share ideas).
2. We give back to the community. Currently, our office is going to participate in the 24th Annual Jingle Bell Run/Walk on December 14th which supports the Arthritis Foundation. I spent several hours yesterday with a fellow agent handing out bags to Safeway shoppers to support Hopelink's food drive (it distributes non perishable food and baby items to the local food banks). Other agents are doing the same thing or going house-to-house dropping bags on door steps to be picked up later. "Since 1971, Hopelink has served homeless and low income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities. Hopelink's mission is to promote self-sufficiency for all members of our community; we help people make lasting change." Throughout the year there are events that help the community that we participate in.
3. Coaching. I have been in this business for five years and know how to assist a seller and a buyer. I am very good working with them and they will say so. But I cannot say enough about how important coaching is. All very successful sports figures and many business leaders have had coaches. Coaches help us to eliminate little bad habits we have created that get in our way. It also helps create very important "good" habits. But the most important thing I have found is that the use of systems helps us reach every goal. Tom Perry, of our office, has been a real estate coach for many years--he knows his stuff and wants his people to meet their goals. He does this with systems.
4. We expect excellence of ourselves and balance in our lives.

If you are a client, these things are important when you choose an agent (Executive in our case). If you are an agent--I hope your office does the same. Have a good year!

P.S. Realty Executives is international and has a very large presence back east.

Bellevue, Wallingford, Green Lake, Fremont, Ballard, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Laurelhurst, View Ridge, and Windermere, Washington Real Estate Property Listings. Just click on the blue "homes search" button and then click on the area you wish to view. You can also search by street address or the MLS number.