About Mason County, WA

Who can you depend on?

Sad but true, not all real estate professionals are created equally. When you choose a real estate professional to manage the sale of your home, don't you expect him or her to check on your listing after a major storm?

When a call comes in from a client asking about the condition of their property, do you tell them;

• You don't know.
• I don't have time to check on it.
• I'll get to it as soon as I can.

Apparently none of the above should have been the answer given by a certain agent at Hartstene Pointe. She wouldn't answer her clients repeated voice mails.

The seller decided to call me, and rightfully so due to the fact I sold them the property in question a few years back. I could have had sour grapes about not being given the listing however that's not the way I work. I see this as a way to show what true customer service really is. I'm always glad to help a client or former client when asked.

Maybe next time you decide to list your property, you should check on testimonials and customer service. Ask the hard questions…

Are you ready, willing, and able to support your client's needs?

Discover Hartstene Pointe!

This post was authored by Paul Henderson ©2012, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul Henderson, RE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.

ClipArt by Microsoft

Preparation

• Deck manufacturers suggest using a plastic or rubber-tipped shovel, never a metal shovel, to remove snow from a wooden deck. Choose a sturdy plastic snow shovel with rounded corners to effectively remove heavy snow and debris. Do not shovel across the decking but instead shovel in the direction of the wood grain, to prevent scratching or denting the decking.

Loose Ice

• Use the same plastic or rubber-tipped shovel to remove loose pieces of ice from the deck. Shovel gently and don't try to dislodge any pieces to avoid scratching or denting the wood pieces. If your deck wood is older or pressure-treated, take even more precautions when shoveling the decking, as the wood is more fragile.

Melting Ice

• Wooden deck manufacturers sometimes recommend using a pet-safe ice melt to get ice off your decking. It's less corrosive than other products and it's eco friendly. For an even gentler approach, pour a bucket of hot water and a little dish-washing detergent on your wooden deck. This not only will remove the ice, but also should keep ice from forming for up to a week.

Warnings and Suggestions

• Do not use rock salt on a wooden deck. Rock salt is corrosive and causes the wood to dry out. It will permanently stain your deck. To protect your wooden deck through the winter months, apply a sealer in the fall before it snows. Wash the decking first with a commercial deck cleaner or a detergent and water solution

My magical crystal ball fogs up and my head spins everytime I even try to figure out or anticipate what a bank is thinking or what their reasoning is for something.

What are they thinking?

I can honestly say that I feel a "change in the air" and a new trend coming.....

Yes - I have had numerous clients already this year call and request my services because their lenders told them to list their home with a real estate agent and sell their home - short.

They did not want to hear back from the borrower or their agent until there was an offer on the table.

Another client had a buyer for his home, had already submitted his short sale package because his tenant was purchasing the property (all without agent/negotiator involvement), and the bank directed the borrower to list the home with an agent in order to complete the short sale process.

The banks are suggesting to their borrowers to "short sale" their home instead of Deed in Lieu or foreclosure. Thinking about it, from the conversations I have had, they are not even suggesting it, they are flat out telling them to find an agent to market the home and short sale it.

Now mind you - I am not complaining! Because I truly do love a challenge!

I am just curious to what others are seeing and hearing out there and is this a new trend for the banks?

The client does not qualify for a modification or a modification would do the client no good with it still leaving them in a pickle.... the bank does not want to do a foreclosure,nor accept a Deed in Lieu.

Are they realizing that many of the homeowners that want to modify their loans are still in a pickle - so they move them to short sale the home?

Okay.. Are the banks moving to the short sale because it is too costly for them to foreclosure or accept a Deed in Lieu on all of the homes that are upside down?

Is it because their inventory is already so heavy with non-working assets (foreclosures) that they do not want any more inventory and realize that it is more cost effective to participate in a short sale?

Is it more cost effective?

I only know that this has been the majority of my phone calls for the last two weeks and my mind has started processing this as a new trend and change in the air......

I feel a change in the air and a new trend happening.....Or am I just slow in figuring it out??

Soooooo .....What do you think?

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; What we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal...

A quote of Albert Pike

I had to read this quote twice to grasp this it's importance! Isn't that a BlockBuster way to look of the world? I thought it to be a great way to start my Tuesday...

This post was authored and photo taken by Paul Henderson with appreciation. ©2011, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul Henderson, RE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.

Life is made of memorable moments.

We must teach ourselves to really live...

to love the journey not the destination...

A quote of Ann Quindlen

I see daily reminders of the journey being the reward rather than the destination...

This post was authored and photo taken by Paul Henderson with appreciation. ©2011, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Paul Henderson, RE/MAX Professionals, Tacoma, WA.