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Our Promise
We promise to be 100% honest. This is not a new promise, or a new way of doing business. Honesty has always been the core of our business, and it will continue to be. When you contact one of our brokers, seeking home selling or home buying advice, you will not be pressured. Our efforts have always been to negotiate the best purchase for our buyers and market homes with fervency to meet the seller’s goals. And through those processes, you will get 100% honest advice, full service and guidance tailored to your needs. We know that today may not be the best day for all homeowners to sell. We know that some buyers are not yet ready to buy. We pride ourselves on the fact that we are not here to simply make a sale. We are here to help you be successful as you make one of the biggest decisions of your life.
Our commitment to honesty is coupled with what we call the Windermere Truths:
- We believe that people are more important that houses.
- We always start with the client’s point of view.
- We solve people’s needs while fulfilling their wants.
- We know everything about our neighborhood and community.
- We understand that a house is a box where people do their living. It is where memories are made and lives take place.
- We are citizen-brokers and a central part of the fabric of our community.
- We ease and guide the home buying and selling processes and transform the leap of faith to a step of faith.
- We are facilitators, counselors, experts and hand holders, which is so much more than a broker.
- We protect our clients by educating them and negotiating on their behalf.
- We are entrepreneurs.
- We are creating a cause which is way more than building a company.
- We are creating vibrant, livable and humane communities.
Next time you need full time real estate service, you know where to get the service you expect and deserve.
How Much House Can You Afford?
Determining how much you can afford before you begin your home search will save you valuable time.
We can help you locate a lender who will assist you in finding a financing package that will best meet your needs. But there are a few steps you should consider beforehand to make the process as smooth as possible:
Credit Report
It’s important to check your credit report before you see your lender because:
■ Lenders check this to determine the amount of loan you qualify for
■ It allows you to correct any mistakes in the report before lenders see it
■ If there are any blemishes in your report that are not errors, you should be prepared to explain them to your lender. You are entitled to one free request each year from each of the three credit bureaus. The best way to do this is to go online to AnnualCreditReport.com.
Credit Score
You may want to check your credit score at the same time you check your credit report (usually for a fee). This score influences how much lenders are willing to loan to you and
at what interest rate.
Down Payment
Most lenders will give better financing terms to borrowers that can put a 20 percent down payment on the purchase. If you are unable to do so, you will likely be required to purchase Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) and perhaps pay a higher interest rate.
Preapproval
A letter of preapproval from a lender shows that they have checked all your documentation and are prepared to make you a loan. Getting preapproved prior to starting your home search saves you time by:
■ Keeping you focused on viewing only the homes that are within your budget
■ Helping you obtain your financing more quickly once you find a house you want to buy
Whether you are determined to make a move within the next 30 days, or you would like to tour a few homes you have had your eye on, we will take the guess work and stress out of your buying process.
Spring Market: Is Your Home Ready?
Each year, spring brings a new real estate market and an influx of homes new to the market. If you are aiming to beat the rush and minimize competition, now is the time to sell your home. Winter buyers may be fewer, but they are often more serious and more likely to make a purchase. If other circumstances force you to sell in the spring, make your home stand out in comparison to gain top dollar.
Whether joining the real estate market now, or in the spring, chances are your home needs some sprucing up. When buyers walk through a home, they first focus on the way sellers lives in their home vs the home structure itself. The seller’s belongings quickly define the size and function of a space, and lack of cleanliness and overlooked repairs may indicate larger home problems. On the flip side, a well organized, depersonalized and clean home helps buyers imagine living in the home. Bingo! Once buyers are mentally moving in their own furniture, you are one step away from making a sale.
Go through your home with a fine toothed comb with this list in mind:
- Make note of maintenance projects you have grown accustomed to living with. Squeaky doors, chipped paint, leaking faucets – fix them.
- Go through your home with a critical eye. Clutter must go. Clutter makes spaces look smaller and distracts buyers from seeing what is actually for sale – the home. Horizontal surfaces should be clear, closets and cabinets organized, magazines and newspapers out of sight, etc. A good general rule is: If you have not used it in the past year, donate it or get rid of it.
- Depersonalize to boost a buyer’s imagination. Anything that is personal to you needs to be packed away: family photos, collections, etc. Give buyers a blank slate in which to imagine their own family photos, belongings, etc.
- When in doubt, go neutral. If painting and other redecorating tasks are in your future, choose neutral colors to appeal to the largest group of buyers as possible.
- Use the white glove clean test. Yes, clean. Now that your home has been repaired, decluttered, depersonalized and neutralized, it is time to clean as if a prestigious guest were to arrive. Clean dirty windows, wipe away fingerprints on fixtures and appliances, dust the baseboards and door frames, steam the carpets and polish hardwood floors.
- Pay attention to details. Use your furniture to highlight the best features of each room, fill vases with fresh flowers and eliminate odors (no evidence of pets!).
Now that you have spent hours improving your home, you will want to find the right broker to market your home and show off your efforts. Look for a broker who knows your neighborhood, is enthusiastic about your home and will help you set the right price to attract the most qualified buyers.
New on the market!
11401 Makah Rd, Woodway 98020-4177
MLS #617914 – $1,060,000
Located in the desirable community of Woodway Park Estates and just a few minutes to downtown Edmonds, shopping, restaurants, parks and beaches. Just under an acre of private, park like setting with rolling lawn and plenty of parking inside the gated entry. Step from your master suite into your private hot tub within an enclosed patio or cozy up next to the wood burning stove. 2nd full kitchen/living space (perfect MIL) with separate entrance and own separate garage. More information here.
New on the market!
5705 172nd Place SW, Lynnwood 98037
MLS #619867 – $275,000
Highly desired Westgate area split level needs TLC! A huge yard supports a three bedroom, 2.5 bath home. Hardwood floors on upper level, lower level finished with wall to wall carport. Lots of storage closets, and a big two car garage with workshop space. The rear deck is huge, and allows for storage beneath. Two wood burning fireplaces, upper level has an insert. Updated electrical, and high efficiency zone climate control in addition to baseboard heaters. Walking distance to Meadowdale High School. More information here.
New on the market!
4204 11th Ave NE #12, Seattle 98105
MLS #615768 – $345,000
Fabulous and unique Spanish Revival style Condo drenched with natural lighting. Spanish tiles, floor-to-ceiling leaded windows, stenciled box beams, chandeliers, walk-in closets, coved doorways, garage. Living room with fireplace, large flex space/dining room (easily a second bedroom). Separate breakfast room with vintage details. Common no-coin laundry room. Gated access off alley and garage “H” thru courtyard to back stairs. UW, B.G. trail and amenities galore. Physical address: 1106-42nd. Corner Unit! A Gem. More information here.
