MinimalismUncategorized October 21, 2015

How Exactly Does A Minimalist Sell Real Estate?

About a year ago I became interested in creating a minimalist lifestyle.

I started to question what I owned, and what I wanted versus what I needed.

I have noticed the philosophy that I live by at home transfers into the way I do business.

How exactly does a minimalist sell real estate?

Unfortunately, housing is not free.

We live in a society where we need money to have shelter.

I am in a business that provides something of value.

I am not selling you stuff you do not need! 

I am much happier focusing on quality of business versus quantity.

Having clients that I click with and who like me is super important. 

Creating meaningful-relationships with the people I work with and for provides me with a greater sense of job satisfaction and accomplishment.

I want clients that want to work with me because they can see the value I bring to them.

We all like to feel valued, right?

Being newer to the industry doesn’t have to be a detriment to your clients.

I have the opportunity to collaborate with successful, more experienced agents while bringing a forward-thinking, fresh energy to those I work for and with.

Being newer to real estate does not have to be a dirty secret!

The real estate business is always changing, which is what attracts so many of us to this job; we are always learning and adapting! 

Life isn’t all about owning a huge, fancy house, is it?

What type of lifestyle do you want to live? Most of my clients don’t want to buy a house at the very top of their budget. They want to figure out what monthly payment they are comfortable with, that will allow them to spend less of their money on housing. 

 What other values do you hold? Do you want to be able to give back to your community? Take vacations? Contribute to your retirement and savings? These are important things to ask yourself during your path to homeownership. 

Selling real estate isn’t solely about the houses or the mechanics of the process. It is about the people; the relationships you make and thinking of ways to create a more enjoyable and meaningful experience for you and your clients. 

Uncategorized September 8, 2015

More Than Movies: What Makes The Grand Cinema Special

 

I have some history with The Grand Cinema. I have fond memories of walking from my apartment in Stadium, through Wright Park, down the hill to Corina Bakery located right next door to get a coffee and snack before beginning my volunteer shifts. While volunteering at The Grand Cinema I met people in my community and made friends. This theater is very special to me and if you go see for yourself, I am sure it will quickly become one of your favorites as well.

Here are some of the things that make the Grand Cinema Magical!

1. The Grand Cinema is not your typical movie theater. They play documentaries, local, independent and foreign films. I saw my first foreign film at The Grand. You will see fantastic movies here that do not get played in mainstream theatres! Do you like to discuss movies after you watch them? Attend one of The Grand's post film discussions that take place in the community area downstairs after certain movies. As a volunteer, I loved to ask people what they were there to see when they arrived and what they thought of the movie as they exited the theatre. You will frequently hear members and volunteers discussing movies in the lobby.

2. The people that dish up your popcorn, pour your soda and grab your snacks are all volunteers. When you start going to The Grand you will recognize the staff and volunteers; they care about this place immensely and want you to enjoy your time at the cinema. Want to volunteer? Besides making new friends, perks of volunteering include free movies before and after your shift, free popcorn and soda before, during, and after your shift, and a free movie pass to take with you when you are done! If you didn't know, The Grand is known for serving the tastiest popcorn in town! Seriously. 

3. The Grand does more than play films, they also put on tons of fun events and programs! Some of my personal favorites include The Academy Awards Viewing Party, The Tacoma Film Festival, The Tacoma Pride Series andThe 253-Second Viewing Party. For kids, they have Tacoma Film Camp and Click! Family Flicks. 

Going to The Grand is truly a unique experience that you will not find anywhere else. Become a member today and find out why this place ruined the experience of mainstream movie theatres for me, forever. 

Check out their website for showtimes, events, membership benefits, and volunteer info: 

http://grandcinema.com 

 

Buying Real EstateUncategorized September 2, 2015

It Costs You Nothing! And Other Reasons You Want A Buyer’s Agent

You have the Redfin and Zillow App, and your financing terms are set and ready to go.

Why get a Realtor?

There are numerous benefits that come from having a buyer’s agent! 

First off, buying a house is complicated and can be overwhelming. 

A buyer’s agent can keep you organized and be there to answer all of your questions through the entire process. We can let you know what to expect and anticipate problems that may occur along the way. We can usually gage how big of an issue something is and let you know which problems are an easy fix.

It costs you nothing! 

Many people do not know that having a buyer’s agent costs you nothing. The owner of the home has already negotiated the commissions for both the listing agent (the person representing the seller) and the buyer’s agent. That means the seller pays both the listing and selling agent. It is in the buyer’s best interest to have their own agent representing only them! If you want someone to only owe you the duty of confidentiality and work just for you, you need your own agent. 

We are a nexus of resources. 

We realtors are in the trenches everyday working with home inspectors, lenders, title and escrow officers and fellow realtors. A realtor has many contacts that they trust and know they can rely on. This means you spend less time searching and filtering through the internet for contacts and let us refer you to people you can count on.

You already have a job!

When you add up all of the phone calls, scheduling, paper work and other tasks in a typical sale, the time adds up! Having a FULL TIME buyer’s agent allows you to focus on calling the shots and making those hard decisions, while we carry out the action steps and solve problems. It can be difficult for buyers to touch base with the other parties involved in a transaction on their own, especially those who work traditional work hours. If you have a real estate agent, you can have them facilitate the transaction while you are at work or enjoying your time off. We make all of those phone calls, appointments and manage your files for you. One less thing for you to worry about!

You make the decisions, but we advise and support you along the way.

Although you ultimately make the final decisions, buying a home can be emotional. You invest a ton of energy into finding the right place and naturally develop strong feelings around the purchase. A buyer’s agent that is trustworthy, empathetic, and who has your best interest in mind understands this and has your back! They will make you aware of your options in any given circumstance (and if they don’t know they will find out or direct you to someone who does!) and will help you figure out what the best decision is for you. An ethical realtor will not try to close you despite it not being in your best interest.

One thing that the apps don’t have?

The apps can show you what a house looks like and how much it costs. However, it won’t tell you where the best places to get coffee with friends are, which bars make the best cocktails, or where you can go for community and fun. You need a neighborhood specialist. Realtors are working and playing in their communities and if they are doing it right, building relationships with its members. Nothing beats having a person you can strategize and celebrate with and lean on during the hard times. You don’t get those things from an app.

Pick an agent who you like, trust, and who you know is competent. Whether your friend has used them in the past and can vouch for them, they have great reviews online, or you interview a few upfront and ask questions about the process! Check out my blog post about what Real estate agents do all day, here!