Marchell Mascheck

Recently, I've been working with a buyer who has demonstrated very high personal ethics. He says he will call and he does. He says he'll have a decision by tomorrow and he does. It blows me away! I have the expectation of my fellow REALTORS to have this same ethic. But, should I?

When I was just getting started in the business world, someone whom I had a great deal of respect for told me to keep my expectations high and people would perform to that level. I've discovered, of course, that this is not always the case, but it does keep my expectations of myself rather high. You see, when you expect a certain level of professionalism and it is performed, you build trust. Trust is one of the reasons we get referrals!

So, when an agent says, "I'll get back to you today." My expectation is that they will get back to me today. Too often, however, I have to call them the next morning. Is this an acceptable level of professionalism? If we are doing this to each other, what are we doing to our clients? Do our clients notice that we are not doing what we say?

I'm here today to say that this is not acceptable. Send me a text message if you don't want to talk on the phone or if you don't have an answer. And, if you think that our clients are not noticing, you are sadly mistaken. While I'm trying to build a high level of trust with my client, another agent is undermining my service by making a lower level of professionalism his/her acceptable level. Don't we serve others and put their needs first?

If I expect fellow agents to perform to my expectations, I would be out of business. Their performance cannot defeat me nor lower my level of professionalism. I must maintain my level when working with REALTORS and with clients. This is important to me first and then to my business.

I will make a point to thank this buyer for his ethics and for reminding me that I need to keep my expectations of myself as high as possible. I hope you will, too!

Ahhh...spring! The desert blooms, the hills turn green, the orchards and vineyards bud--it's beautiful! Everyone feels alive and invigorated. Then, there's the real estate market.

What a difference from the rest of the country! Looking at the numbers, we experienced a slight slow down last year, but compared to what? Our record years? Yeah! A mere blip when looking historically. We rarely follow the trends of the nation because we live in a bowl (well, really a basin) and have a strong and growing economy. Did many people get scared during the last quarter of last year? Yes. But as soon as our unusually cold and icy winter became more normal (no snow) the buyers warmed up and got out there to buy some houses.

Normally, spring also brings new sellers, but they seem to be a bit skiddish. The number of available homes on the market is not increasing this spring because the sellers are afraid they'll have to give their homes away to get them sold. They really only need to have a REALTOR price it right and be honest with them.

Banks have been slow to start lending money to builders for spec housing. Which means the buyers are fairly limited to the homes that are up if they want new construction. The other option is to complete a custom or pre-sale transaction in order to provide funds for building their home.

So, where does that put us now? Headed for a sellers market, that's where. Does anyone believe it? Not many. Try as we may to get sellers to list their homes, they are still reluctant. Our state legislators and community leaders have stated several times that new jobs are coming to the Tri-Cities, and sellers are still reluctant.

What happens next will be determined by how deep of a sellers market we get into. The obvious solution is to get more homes available so buyers can make choices. But, do we see it coming? Not yet. Therefore, if you know someone living in the Tri-Cities, please let them know that now is a good time to sell. They'll thank you for it in the long run!

Marchell Mascheck, REALTOR, GRI, CNE, CSP [MmPurple.com]

What a unique community! We are located in the great Northwest, but not in the rainforest--we're in the desert. Referred to as Tri-Cities, the area is composed of four main cities (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and West Richland) and three rivers (Columbia, Yakima and Snake). If river activities are not to your liking, the mountains are about two hours away, either east or west.

The area is also known for being a Manhattan Project location. The Hanford Reservation is under clean-up construction and turning the nuclear waste into glass (a process known as vitrification). The Reservation is generally referred to as 'the area'--as if it were related to Area 51! Anyway, for many years, Hanford was a primary source of growth for the Tri-Cities. Currently, it is less of a driving force than it once was.

Population of the metropolitan Tri-Cities is approximately 250,000. We have malls, Walmarts, Home Depot stores, chain and local restaurants interstate highway access. Traffic is what you make it, but usually you can get anywhere within the metro area within 15 minutes. Supported, also, is a Washington State University campus (four year) and several community college campuses.

Entertainment includes natures best hiking, biking and walking. Miles of scenic paths are also provided within the metro area. Sports include baseball (Colorado Rockies farm team-Dust Devils), hockey (Tri-Cities Americans), arena football (Fever), more than a dozen golf courses and much, much more. Don't forget the local schools and the rivalry between University of Washington and Washington State University! Football's Apple Cup is quite the scene. Additionally, plays, concerts, touring companies, ballet, opera, craft shows, art shows and exhibits, and much more are either located in or visit the Tri-Cities year round.

Wine enthusiasts find this area extremely handy because of the ease with which you can visit more than 30 wineries and tasting rooms in a very short distance from wherever you happen to be in Tri-Cities.

Tri-Cities has an airport (PSC) with national and regional passenger airlines to get you where you want to go (including non-stop service to and from Vegas). Excellent medical facilities strategically located throughout the metro area and employing some of the finest in their field. The Tri-Cities Cancer Center is currently expanding to serve more poeple.

Back to the weather in our desert. We can have both extremes, but normally only for very short periods. We can get snow, but usually for a day or two, We can get extreme wind, but usually for a day or two. We can have over 100 degree days, but usually for a day or two. And we can have sunshine for nearly 300 days every year!

I visited Tri-Cities from Houston several years ago and never regretted the move. If you plan a visit here, give me a call and I'll help you enjoy the area, too!