How a home sale helps the economy

Just take a guess at how many people depend on a successful real estate transaction. The seller, right? Guess again. And again and again. It's over 100!

Before Selling

We know most sellers do some prep work before selling. Painting, gardening, pressure washing, wash windows, clean roof and gutters, maybe buy a new appliance or two, whatever. Let's assume a typical seller hires 2 people to help ready the house and shops at 5 stores to buy supplies. Seller has direct contact & exchange of money with a minimum of 7 businesses. Let's count 1 sales clerk, and 1 bookkeeper at each, just to be simple. Call this + 14.

Marketing/Listing

Agent buys gas for car, photographs house, suggests or does staging if needed, designs and prints For Sale flyers, installs For Sale Sign & Flyer Box, installs Keybox, advertises home, maybe buys an arrow sign or two, hosts Brokers Opens & Public Open houses, buys coffee, cookies and/or lunch for touring agents, uses cell phone, faxes and computers. In addition to other agents, Listing Agent has direct contact and exhange of money with a minimum of 4 - 7 people/businesses. Let's count 1 sales clerk, and 1 bookkeeper at each. Call this + 12.

Buyers Agent Brings Contract

Agent has worked closely with buyer for a long time, buys gas, uses cell phone, advises as well as shows houses for sale, possibly buys lunch or coffee during process, provides printed material for buyers review on home tours, faxes to buyer, emails etc. Faxes, or delivers buyers offer to seller and sellers listing agent. Call this + 12.

Sellers Listing Company & Sellers Listing Agent*Buyers Agent Company & Buyers Agent*Home inspector*Attorneys*Mortgage Broker*Appraiser*Funding Lender**Banks*Title*Escrow*Courier Delivery*Insurance Company*Flood Mapping*County Courthouse*Utility Companies*Excise Tax Administrators*Underlying Loan Companies to be paid off ...etc.

The bulk of this transaction is quite typical. Let's assume that each office for every business listed above has 4 people involved in this transaction: a main contact person, a clerical assistant, a receptionist + a bookkeeper or accountant. We know there are more, but let's be simple. For the above heading, that means we have 18 x 4 = 72 people working and receiving paychecks. Call this + 72.

After Closing

Buyer hires a mover or rents a truck, buys moving boxes, talks on cell phone, schedules utility services, hires an electrician, a carpenter, perhaps a painter. Buyer buys a new refrigerator, a new sofa, a new bed or some new dishes, and some new garden plants. Within one month after closing, a typical buyer hires professional help and shops at 5 - 10 stores specifically because of this home purchase. Let's assume each professional or store purchase involved 2 people. Call this + 24.

Directly because someone chose to sell, and someone chose to buy, at minimum 134 people had the security of a paycheck. Some had more time involved, and bigger paychecks, but you can bet that every one of these jobs is very important to the person doing these jobs.

Real estate is a huge part of our economy. Would you have guessed 134 people? Are you one of these 134?

Thanks to Leanne Finlay of Windermere/East

Spring cleaning checklist

The first day of Spring is March 20th and as most homeowners keep to the age-old Spring tradition of deep cleaning, this ritual is even more important as homeowners gear up for the Spring selling season. According to a recent poll, nearly 80% of Angie’s List members said they keep up with routine maintenance, either doing it themselves or by hiring help. The vast majority of these homeowners say their diligence helps them save money and avoid more costly repairs down the road.



“Making a list of items to check around the home this season - and then actually following through with the tasks - can help reduce home maintenance and utility costs,” says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List.

The 20% who don’t keep up say they just don’t know what to check and when, they forget about doing it or they just don’t have time for it. Angie’s List, a provider of ratings and reviews of local service companies, went to the experts to develop a list to help the veteran maintainers, as well as those still in the dark, keep up with the house this season.

Spring Cleaning

The first step to Spring cleaning is making a list of which areas of your home need to be freshened up.

- Experts recommend a professional carpet cleaning every 12 to 18 months. Schedule an appointment with carpet cleaners now to cut down on your wait time.

- Check your gutters. Professionals recommend gutter cleaning in the spring and the fall. Clogged gutters can lead to water damage.

- Use a garden hose to remove the film left by dirty snow and rain from your siding and deck. Attach a soft-bristled, long-handled car brush to the hose for some extra help. Use a mild cleanser to get those tough-to-clean spots.

- Remove wet leaves and debris from your deck, front porch and around your house on a regular basis. Allowing the debris to accumulate can trap water, lead to staining or mold build-up, as well as create an ideal environment for termites.

Home Maintenance

Snow, ice and wind can wreak havoc on your home, so be sure to go over the structures in early spring. Finding damage early will increase your chances of getting an early repair, as many home improvement companies begin their busy seasons this time of year.

- Scrutinize your crawl space for water accumulation or excessive moisture, and keep an eye out for water damage on the sub-floor and joists beneath the kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas.

- Give your roof a “once-over” for damage inflicted during the winter. Depending on the style and pitch of your roof, you may want to use a ladder and a pair of binoculars to look for missing or broken shingles and other damage. If you don’t feel comfortable on a ladder, call a professional before the busy season begins.

- Check the weather stripping around doors and windows. The winter season may have caused some damage. Also remove any storm windows and replace with screens.

- Check the valve where water enters your house, outdoor faucets and valves to toilets, bathroom and kitchen sinks. Turn each off and on several times to identify any leaks.

Outdoor Maintenance

By preparing for outdoor projects early, homeowners can get a jump on things like landscaping - but don’t forget about your driveway! Water that seeps into your driveway can freeze, causing cracks and other damage.

- Talk with your landscaper or local garden center about the best way to enrich your soil for the types of plants in your yard. Proper fertilization can keep your soil and your plants in great shape throughout the year.

- If you’ve postponed tool care, now is a good time to get in the garage and take a closer look at your garden equipment. Does the mower need serviced? It’s a good idea to call now. Garden service companies will get busy in the next couple of months. Don’t forget to clean and sharpen other garden tools as well.

- Spring is a good time to examine your asphalt driveway’s surface for damage. Regular resealing is the best way to protect the surface and keep it in good shape. If you’re planning to hire a professional to seal the driveway, summer is peak time of year - so call now to get on their schedule.

Start with the entry door. Paint or replace and take notice of missing screens or old storm doors. Add a new mailbox, lighting fixture, or address to add a new feel. Clean up the garage and landscaping.

Appliance Maintenance

Regular maintenance on major home appliances can help to ensure their efficiency and lifespan.

- Get your air conditioner serviced. Technicians can test your air conditioner as long as the temperature is above 60 degrees. Call now to get on their schedule before the first warm days of spring.

- Clean and lubricate hinges, rollers and tracks on garage doors with a light household oil - don’t use petroleum-based lubricants. You can call a professional to take care of this, as well as service the opener mechanism itself. Don’t attempt to service the opener mechanism yourself. Your garage door opener can be one of the most dangerous appliances around your house.

- Get your water heater serviced. Maintained properly, water heaters will last for years and deliver gallon after gallon of hot water. Left alone, they’ll quickly lose efficiency, sucking dollars out of your wallet with every degree of heat.

- Spring rains are just around the corner, so be sure your sump pump works properly. To test, fill the sump pit with water and go outside to make sure the pump is actually discharging water. You can also eliminate any build-up in the system by pouring white vinegar through the unit.

Home Projects

You may have already received your tax return. A recent poll found that 25% of Angie’s List members plan on using their tax checks to invest in home repairs. Some investments will have a better return than others, so choose your projects wisely.

Clean out closets and cabinets providing as much empty space as possible. When preparing to sell, pack away all personal items including photos. The emptier your home, the larger it appears. Buy a new bed in a bag for your bedrooms. Dust everything.

Buyers look at mechanicals and corners.

Freshen the home by airing it out thoroughly and sanitizing baseboards, woodwork, floors and lighting fixtures..

- The roof, furnace and water heater, won’t garner great returns, but are expected to be in good shape. Proper home maintenance saves you money on a daily basis and positions you well for a sale.

- Kitchen and bath renovations are expensive but great investments if you are going to be in your house at least five more years. They’re also the rooms buyers pay the most attention to and can make or break your sale.

- Turning attics and basements into livable space, or adding decks, can bring a better return than adding square footage, and the upfront costs aren’t nearly as exorbitant. Finishing touches matter, though. Wall-to-wall carpeting and drywall in a basement will bring a lot more than cheap paneling and a drop-in ceiling.

Buyers are attracted to a clean home as it reflects the owner’s level of activity when it comes to maintenance and keeping up with the property. A lot of these tips are cheap and some even free.
According to the website, 1,334 of Angie’s List members participated in the poll. Responses are representative of Angie’s List members, but not the general public.

For more information, visit http://www.angieslist.com/and http://www.youshouldown.com/.

What not to say when you sell your home

By Connie Thompson KOMO TV
Watch the story

Realtor Nancy Resnick has a lot to say about a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home she's working to sell.

"It's like a luxury home, for only 349.9," she said. "For the value, this home is excellent. It's just a very livable home. It's built to today's lifestyle."

But you won't see that description in her listing. Nancy doesn't use popular phrases like 'must see inside' to try to lure buyers.

"You say 'must see inside,' then I think what comes to mind, on my mind, is 'must be ugly on the outside,'" she said.

A recent study found that as many as four out of 10 homes that go on the market may not sell in part because of the descriptions in the listing.



Researchers in Canada found homes described as "beautiful" sold 15 percent faster and for as much as 5 percent more than a comparable house without the word in it's listing.

The word handyman helped houses sell in half the time.

Words like neat, clean or best value, had no effect. And must sell, or motivated seller, could actually slow the sale of your home by 30 percent.

Home buyers Whitney and Matt Becthold say when they see the word 'motivated' in a seller's description, they think "desperate."

"Usually when you see 'motivated seller' and they have a price, you think 'oh, how much can I work them down if they're motivated?'" Whitney said. "As in, 'just show me the house and we'll go from there.'"

Professor Diane Martin is a Marketing Expert at the University of Portland School of Business and says language is very important in sales.

"You want to be able to get people to feel a particular way," she said, adding that buyers often choose style over substance and descriptions that focus more on curb appeal instead of value.

"You're going to buy 'quality,' you're going to buy 'beauty,' you're going to buy words that give you a sense that someone really thought about the aesthetics -- not just a shelter," she said."

But realtor John Cooper, who used to be an economics professor, says buyers are smarter than that. He uses words like beautiful in his listings, but doesn't think much of the study.

"The word 'bull' comes to mind," he said.

Cooper says if you want to sell your house, stick to the facts.

"The number of bedrooms, people want to know that. They want to know the size of the house. Price is a good consideration."

According to the study, inflated pricing is one of the biggest obstacles to getting a house sold.

That's an especially critical factor in a market where home sales are already slowing down.

For More Information:

Getting Real about Real Estate

Home sales: October statistics

Here are the latest statistics from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Closings October 15-19

New feature: Readers want to know what's happening. I'll try to post news as often as possible. Since Monday (the 15th) nothing has closed in Bainbridge, 2 have closed in Poulsbo, 3 in Silverdale, and 1 land parcel in Kingston. Closings last year at this time: Bainbridge 15 homes and condos and 2 land parcels; Poulsbo 3 homes; Silverdale 5 homes and 1 land parcel; Kingston 2 homes, 1 condo, and 1 land parcel. We have returned to a normal market.

(Note: this is the same post you saw Wednesday the 17th--nothing has closed since then.)

740 Rasmussen Court, Poulsbo, sold as a presale for $324,451. 2431 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2-car garage. .12 acres, new construction. The list price was $289,088. Days on market: 0. The higher sales price is probably a result of options requested by the buyer.


1365 Lena Court, Poulsbo, sold for $370,000, $5,000 less than the listing price. 1804 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. .22 acres, built in 1997. Days on market: 45 days.

Also: 8347 Sesame St, Silverdale, listed for $229,000, sold for $5000 less. A 4-bedroom 1.75 bath 1848 square foot 1992 manufactured home on 2.35 acres. Days on market: 107,

12357 NW Old Frontier Rd Silverdale, listed for $259,950, sold for $255,000. 4-bedroom, 2-bath, 2216 square feet on 1.4 acres. Built in 1965. Days on market: 56.


10125 Frontier Pl NW Silverdale, listed for $329,000, sold for $310,000. 2-bedroom, 1.75 bath, 2392 square feet on .8 acres. Built in 1939. Days on market: 55.

Finally, a 5-acre parcel in Kingston, XXX Newellhurst Cir NE, sold for the $109,000 listing price after 146 days on market.