Yes, that is my son 2 feet high jumping on top of his sister; smashing & smothering her with the pillows. Fortunately this only went on for 20 minutes. This week for you and me however this went on all day; everyday. Smooshed, smothered and trying to come up for air in navigating uncertainty, breaking news reports, press conferences, stock market, social responsiblity and fear. The beginning of spring brought us the best gift of all; sunshine. Yet, with all of this – I’m not sharing anything you don’t know. We are all in it together. I will share however a snapshot of one gift of spring. *picture taken by my daughter on a late afternoon walk…

I hope so very much so that you are doing okay during these uncertain times. Our family has been operating “as if” we have been given a Shelter-in-Place (SIP) order. I’ve been focused on preparing offices “as if” we have been given a SIP order. That hasn’t happened, however it does have us all on edge.

So, I went for a drive today…

I went for a one hour drive; just me. This hour drive was very intentional. I had a one-hour podcast I wanted to listen to (more on that later). I spent one hour driving our city. I wanted to see what people were up to. I wanted to see how people were adjusting to our current new normal – distancing and the like – on a Saturday. And I wanted to drive by small businesses. I wanted to be connected to our city beyond my house, my front yard waiving at neighbors, neighboring park without organized sports from sun up to sun down and our immediate local streets. I got a very good feel for those environments the past week. I wanted to see beyond my immediate reach.

What did I notice on my drive? 

I noticed a lot of good. My post drive analysis became focused however on the small businesses. I drove slowly by the storefronts. Some front doors were open for business. Some doors were closed for business. I drove by coffee houses; bakeries; local restaurants open for pick up or delivery and even a dry cleaner. I think they all had a sign in their window in how they were taking on social responsibility; keep calm & wash your hands, take-out only etc…

I share this story because it is a good reminder that our real estate industry is chalked full of just that; small businesses. Think about your office for a minute. Let’s say there are 50 brokers in your office. Truly, when you boil it all down each of those 50 brokers are essentially a small business. You are a small business.

Why do I bring us here? I bring us here because as we move further into the weeks ahead I believe we’ll need to keep this top of mind. Each of you will evaluate your small business. Some of you will choose to close your door for a period of time. Some of you will keep your door open. Either way; we must trust each other that will take on the epic social responsibility in front of all of us.

You may not agree with your neighboring business (i.e. your peers) to close up shop or remain open. That is ok, yet keep in mind such decision for each business is complex and not black and white. As with your Buyers & Sellers – taking a couple weeks or months off might be the right call. For other Buyers & Sellers – staying in the market may be the right call. Until (and only if) we are given a Shelter-in-Place notice we will navigate this dual environment together; as small businesses.

Back to that one hour drive today…

What did Laura listen to on her drive you ask? I listened to Thursday’s Facebook “live” with KCM’s Steve Harney / Tom Ferry. I would ask everyone to listen/watch it. No need to summarize into digestible pieces, as the full hour is worth it.

How to Effectively Serve Your Clients & Community During the Age of Coronavirus: CALM & CARING THROUGH CRISIS | w/ Tom Ferry & Steve Harney right here.

 I loved my drive today. Just me. Just what the doctor ordered after one very long week of being smooshed & smothered by uncertainty all the while trying to come up for air – as seen in the pillow fight between my son and daughter today. Windows were open (even the sunroof) and evidence throughout our city that people are are trying to respond in creative ways to social responsibility and take in spring all at the same time.

As Tom Ferry boldly shares in his FB “live” video it is also time for each of us to “up our MEDS” = Meditation. Exercise. Diet. Sleep. Do it! So that we may too take care of each other; when called upon.

And oh, Tom Ferry also boldly suggested; this is the time to over communicate. Thus far the morning news is often old by afternoon. This week, I will be working to post a recap daily on what I’m seeing and hearing on this blog. Zoom will also continue to take over my days. Thank goodness for technology that too allows us to stay connected. This week I was able to connect with over 200+ people; hitting repeat in the coming weeks. This is the time to step up and commute to over communicating!

Ps, if you are wanting to implement Zoom into this new normal of life right now, I’m happy to help. The more we all stay connected the better. This week will also include book club; happy hour and a good old fashioned game of battle ship with the cousins via Zoom!

Text/call if you need a bat phone; we all will need that someone to reach out to in the coming days; weeks months. Check in on each other.

Committed to “calm + caring thru crisis.” All in, for you. All in, for us.

Welcome to Friday, let’s sweep this week (briefly)…and continue to respond with uncertain times with our superpower: hand washing! The last 48 hours has brought about a sea of change with COVID-19. Our Governor called for a halt on large gatherings. School closures were announced with closures being extended until April 24th 2020. Parents (me included) are moving from making lunches to becoming teachers. The stock market entered bear territory. Celebrities have the virus. The NBA postponed their season and March Madness is cancelled. That said, our own March Madness has not been cancelled or postponed in our local real estate markets; thus making it paramount we stay connected beyond the headlines and find ways to adjust; adapt; support; serve. Real estate is a people business. We control the process and clients control the decisions. Provide your clients information and ask great questions.

An Idea Worth Spreading: Joe Stumpf’s “complete communication”

In meeting with Windermere broker, Pamela Jenson this week she shared a “complete communication” activity that is filling her pipeline in engagement, connection, gratitude and business. I share this idea being it is something that can be done while we are distancing ourselves from our offices yet continuing our momentum in activity  + connection in 2020. Here is an idea worth spreading: Text + Call + Text (video) + Note

1. Think of someone you’d like to connect with. Similar to reasons you’d call or write a handwritten note. “Just thinking about you” “Congratulations” “Happy Birthday” Etc…

2. Start with a text. “Hey, just thinking about you…

3. Text leads to a call. You connect via a call (“live” contact)

4. After the call; record a quick video follow up and send via text “It was great to talk with you and…”

5. Note; natural opportunity in front of you to send a handwritten note.

Give it a try, let me know how it goes! Pamela is having to pace herself in how many of these “complete communications” she does each week because they are working so well! Indeed, an idea worth spreading while we are crave human connection; knowing we are not alone and that people care during uncertain times.

Demco is putting together an additional clause to consider during these times of uncertainly. This is a preview to what will be included in a Legal Bulletin early next week. If you plan to put this into action; please connect with your manager as this is a preview and not (yet) final. This addresses many of your calls to me these past 72 hours.

Putting a wrap on this week. Fresh air, long walks, good sleep and excellent communication will fill the following days. Please follow your office’s instructions in how we will together “flatten the (COVID-19) curve” as we chose social responsibility with our actions. No doubt this is an unprecedented time yet I plan to continue to lean deeper into my focus; people first, business second…the rest will take care of itself. I am confident we’ll find ourselves on the better side of this at some point and we will again gather in all we do.

Be well, here to help.

Keep calm & wash your hands! #OurSuperPower

Welcome to Friday, let’s sweep! …ok, more like sweep, sanitize and adjust to our new normal around a daily digesting of news headlines around the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and our collective responses to all. On Thursday; OB Jacobi released an email to our Windermere owners, managers and brokers with guidelines for us as we navigate the coming days; weeks; possible months head. Please digest his memo in full if you haven’t (yet). I thought it was very well done. *can’t find it? Text me: 206.227.7133

As we find ourselves possibly working from home a little more often &/or in offices that may not be buzzing with as much broker activity inside our resource rooms, I thought to take today’s post and offer a Top 10 list focused on what we might do with a little down time. As we know; our industry is a lead > lag industry. The activity we do today leads to results in our businesses 30-60-90-120 out. We can keep our activity up with the right focus – even from home.

PS; let’s not collapse less in-office activity to what is happening each week in the market. The market is still moving. Did you reads today’s Seattle Times article?

Amid coronavirus concerns, Seattle homebuying frenzy continues

1. Reasons’ to make calls? Is there anyone in your database that could benefit from a refinance. Money is most likely cheaper if they purchased in the last year or two!
2. Write some notes. Receiving a handwritten note has a perceived value of roughly $100 per note. Reasons to write? Just thinking about you. Thank you. Congratulations. *social media gives you cues all day long.
3. Highest ROI (return on investment)? Get your Annual Real Estate Review (ARR’s) process dialed in! *although I’m not a fan of emailing AAR’s = I’m a fan of email currently! You can even speak to that upon delivering electronically. People will appreciate that.
4. Clean up that database! *Watch the video released today on the “New and Improved People” functionality within our database/Moxi. The anticipated updates launch this Monday.
5. Read a book from the recommended Ninja list.  Ideas here. or catch up on some TED Talks. Ideas here. 
6. Clean up all that lovely “stuff” that has accumulated on your computer and organize it! Feels so good.
7. Been meaning to get into your Auto Flow groove? Add people to Neighborhood News.
8. Listen to the podcasts. Looking for my podcast? All 19 Episodes right here for you.
9. Finish your taxes. I am!
10. Discipline. Work on your morning routine. If anyone wants help in creating their morning routine, please reach out to me. It is the single most important “activity” that leads to my day to day success. And, when live brings uncertainty (these days indeed), it is also the single most important “activity” that I lean on and into to craft a beautiful day. Here is an example of how to set it up. 20x20x20 (Robin Sharma). ***Next week I’m going to give you an example of how this practice brought me success thru discipline. Hint hint: It is a story of me being deposed in a lawsuit this week. I representing WRE Co. It was a first for me (hopeful last) and yet I was able to prepare & present in a confident position despite the plaintiff’s attorney doing her best to rattle me. I thank my morning routine in getting me thru!

I hope you each find value somewhere within my Top 10 for this week. And as we navigate the headlines & environments in reaction to the Coronavirus, may we choose grace and kindness during these days that feel a little uncertain. Each of us will respond differently to to all; and each of our reactions is exactly right for us. 

Be well, please be very well.

Headed out the door to go ski and play in the snow with the Windermere Wedgwood office and their annual winter boondoggle – yet before, I do wanted to release an early edition of Fridays with Laura. Welcome to (almost) Friday, let’s sweep; or better yet – let’s listen in…

This week podcast Episodes #18 and #19 came out of editing and are now available to digest when you are good and ready.

Double Down Episode #18 features legal bites with attorney David Daniel – as we picked 5 topics from our Washington State 2020-2021 CORE curriculum. These top 5 “bites” should be (my opinion) at the forefront of our practices within our current competitive environment: Fair Housing; specifically “love letters” + NWMLS Forms revisions in prohibition on sending inspection reports + Buyer’s walk thru provision – what happens if…+ Form 17 – “we don’t do gotcha in my courtroom” story + navigating the escalation addendum; to use or not to use the addenda in getting to mutual acceptance between Buyer & Seller. Yes, it depends.

Episode #19 features the start of a conversation around DADUs (Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit) with James Coats from NEST Design | Build, Windermere Eastlake Broker, Terri Smith and Windermere Eastlake Broker, Mackenzie Dickinson. Mackenzie and her husband recently finished the build of a DADU in their backyard. They cut down a plum tree and went all in (and had their first child all in the same time)! Terri has been working with a client in navigating separating a home and DADU into two tax parcels and evaluating bringing them to market separately; or not.

In 2019 the City of Seattle passed new legislation that changed restrictions on ADUs in attempt to make them more attractive to homeowners while addressing the housing affordability predicament our city is in. I’m becoming more curious about this topic and in what we may see more and more of…backyard cottages being sold separately as an affordable option and strong return for Sellers.

What I quickly discovered in recording Episode #19 is that this will most likely be a “Part I” podcast around this topic – PLENTY to unpack and educate ourselves around. We started a conversation around affordability + longevity + value + investment + performance + impact (how this possibly shapes the future of our city).

And wow, what timing for us! Just released just TODAY into our inboxes: 3 clock hours via Seattle King County REALTORS > ADU’s – A Step Towards Housing Affordability in Washington State Seminar 3.12.2020. 

*Also,  Windermere’s ProDev is working on a 3 hour ADU class right now!*

Podcast editors note (aka, me): a couple items were referenced “on air” as resources and were incorrect in url’s: below are correct! 

Nest Design | Build

Air-Mod.com

Muchadu.com

Thank you David, James, Terri and Mackenzie for your time and willingness to record with me last week! I had an absolute blast. #alwayslearning

Welcome to (almost) Friday. Have a wonderful weekend in productive work + play. Here to help; the ultimate goal. The mountains are calling!

All in, for you. All in, for us.

Welcome to Friday, let’s sweep this week! The sun came out; need I say more? Ok, let’s go a little deeper in recap yet holy smokes am I grateful for that big orange ball in the sky!

As I traveled the offices this week, the topic was multiple offers. Fortunately, we know how to educate + prep and compete in this environment. It is not new territory for us. If you are new to the business, lean into the support of your office. We have the tools; we have the people. We are all in, for you.

This week I pivoted my prep for podcast Episode #18 – legal bites with attorney David Daniel – to reflect 5 topics I pulled from the 2020-2021 CORE curriculum that should be (my opinion) at the forefront of our practices within this competitive environment.

Fair Housing; specifically “love letters” – how to navigate. *ps; Fair Housing will become a podcast episode all to itself in 2020.

NWMLS Forms revisions in prohibition on sending inspection reports. Including, revisiting approved Demco language to amend NWMLS Form 35.

Buyer’s walk thru provision – what happens if…

Form 17 – “we don’t do gotcha in my courtroom” story

Navigating the escalation addendum; to use or not to use the addenda in getting to mutual acceptance between Buyer & Seller. Yes, it depends.

Episode #18 is in-line for editing and will hopefully be released next week! Also to be released next week, Episode #19: From a Single Family Home approach, four of us mic’d up and discussed (or began to discuss) ADUs, AADUs and DADUs. In 2019 the City of Seattle passed new legislation that changed restrictions on ADUs in attempt to make them more attractive to homeowners while addressing the housing affordability predicament our city is in. I’m becoming more curious about this topic and in what we may see more and more of…backyard cottages being sold separately as an affordable option and strong return for Sellers.

Episode #19 features a conversation with James Coats from NEST Design | Build, Windermere Eastlake Broker, Terri Smith and Windermere Eastlake Broker, Mackenzie Dickinson. Mackenzie and her husband recently finished the build of a DADU in their backyard. They cut down a plum tree and went for it (and had their first child all in the same time)! Terri has been working with a client in navigating separating a home and DADU into two tax parcels and evaluating bringing them to market separately; or not.

What I very discovered within Episode #19 is that this will most likely be a “Part I” podcast around these topics – PLENTY to unpack and educate ourselves around. We started a conversation around affordability + longevity + value + investment + performance + impact (how this possibly shapes the future of our city).

In the immediate; a few resources that were referenced within our recording if you too are interested in further deepening your understanding and providing resources for your clients…

Nest Design | Build

Air-Mod.com

Muchadu.com

Thank you David, James, Terri and Mackenzie for your time and willingness to record with me this week! I had an absolute blast. #alwayslearning

Welcome to Friday evening. Have a wonderful weekend in productive work + play. Here to help; the ultimate goal.

All in, for you. All in, for us.

Welcome to Friday, let’s sweep! A handful of digestible bites from this week to prepare us for the fast paced weeks ahead.

Once again in our Seattle + Eastside footprint we were able to prove out that Selling Office Commissions do make a difference for a Seller. We’ve dusted off the #’s around this and prettied them up for conversations with your Seller clients.

2019 SOC Impact – Seattle

2019 SOC Impact – Eastside

In the coming weeks our offices will be taking a deeper dive into existing programs for your clients (and you) and new programing coming your way. Today I’ll remind you of our Windermere Bridge Loan.

Windermere Bridge Loan Program

This week, I will again drive you back to the Windermere Hub. This week’s featured content I’ve picked out for you: How to Use Hashtags + 2020 Ninja Dates + Protect Yourself Online + Complimentary Tech Webinars. All right here when you are ready to digest. Ps, I can’t say enough good about the app too. www.windermerehub.com

Current status at the Smith love shack; hoop delivered and installed. Not sure there is a better Valentines present for our family! Endless hours of dunk hoops, pig, 3v3 to be had!  March madness just around the corner; in both real estate market and our home…

Home IS where the heart is. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Welcome to Friday, let’s take a sweep of this week – February has arrived! And as we turn the page to another month we look to make sense of what we can so far within our markets. If I’ve been to your office meeting lately I shared a little secret on timing and data and ultimately the timing of The Seattle Times real estate headlines. It’s important to know this timing in that your clients are digesting their optics on the market via headlines…when you are not front of them to educate. Let’s talk about this so are always be prepared…

When our NWMLS publishes their monthly statistical report and commentary (this month our chief economist – Matthew Gardner – chimed in) – within 24 hours of this NWMLS monthly report, this data is released to the media. Thus, you’ll see a headline within The Seattle Times the very next day. A great habit is to read the NWMLS statistical report; watch for The Seattle Times (next day) and then marry it all with your current experience and the chatter inside of your office and out on tour. Ok, where did we end up this week in headlines as we moved into February?

NWMLS >  Home buyers in Western Washington “hit the ground running” in January. Go to homepage of NWMLS for full article.

The Seattle Times > Tight housing inventories and January price jumps hint at a seller’s spring. Full article; here.

What would be your headline? Think about. You’ll be asked by your clients! And when they ask you; be sure to ask them which market they are referring to. Your answer should meet them where they are at! Do that = trust gained.  There is magic to be had in those 30 seconds. Listen for it.

Welcome to the close of this week; let’s take a sweep and digest what I’ve noticed. A little something for everyone is always the goal.

Thank you to those that have chimed in thus far in what “legal bites” you’d like t’d up on my next podcast with David Daniel and Demco Law Firm. To date, we’ll dust off a few items around proper EM receipts (and proof of deposits), what hot spots came up in 2019 thru DOL audits (and how you can help us stay audit proof!) and statute around resale certs. What also came up this week in several conversations was DADUs (Detached Accessory Dwelling Units) – which will naturally roll into another podcast. Thanks everyone! Text me if you want anything further on the next “legal bites” episode to be considered for content! 206.227.7133

…and a reminder, with the spring season on upon us, open title early and have your title rep review it to head off problems. Early is the key word!

Have you heard of Buyer Capital? Are you competing with FlyHomes?

What else came up this week? Competing against FlyHomes and their ability to put a buyer in a “cash” position to compete in yet another competitive marketplace. You should not lose business to this model. Here is your Windermere option. Digest it! Need help understanding? Ping your manager to dig further with you.

*Note: Using Buyer Capital to become a cash buyer is dependent on a buyer receiving a guaranteed loan. Seek the guaranteed first; then look to see if Buyer Capital can put your Buyer in an even stronger position. Looking for a legit “guaranteed loan” program? Ask Penrith.

Who is using the new Windermere Hub? Here are my top 3 HUB posts I reviewed this week. These I picked based on early exploration in what/why around the HUB and keeping you safe in 2020 on-line. *type these key words into the “search posts” feature within the HUB! Yes, you’ll need to login…

HUB 

Email Notification Form

Security Resource Center

Next week, Custom Xpress is launching its new User interface on Friday, February 7th. The first phase of Custom Xpress’s new interface is to be be more intuitive, mobile friendly, and offer an enhanced user experience that is far superior to the current site (see screenshot below). Throughout the next year there will be additional enhancements to Custom Xpress’s interface and user experience.

 A note from Windermere Services to us owners, managers and staff received today:

“Please note that during certain experiences, such as proofing and customizing an item, it will revert to Custom Xpress’s old UI. We are working with Custom Xpress to update the entire site from the old UI, including enhancing the proofing tool with on-template editing to make the proofing process more efficient. 

This announcement will be sent to your agents on Wednesday, February 5, but you are welcome to share this information with them in the meantime.  

If you have any questions, contact Custom Xpress support at info@xpressdocs.com or (866) 977-3627, or Windermere’s Marketing Helpdesk at justask@windermere.com or (888) 333-8923″

New User Interface Screenshot:

That should take us to the end of this week; beginning for some with a weekend chalked full of real estate I’m certain! And oh, for fun – ran across this Crosscut article; Meet the Seattle photographer who memorialized the last days of the waterfront highway. Remembering the Viaduct

“Photographer Eirik Johnson is an artist in search of transformation. Often, he finds it in hidden places. Sometimes it is out in the open. And every once in a while it is impossible to ignore. That was the case with his most recent project, in which the Seattle native recorded the last days of the Alaskan Way Viaduct as it was unwoven from the fabric of the city”…here.

Signing off for the evening! Planning on catching some high school basketball on this wet Friday night!

All in, for you. All in, for us.

Special Edition Tuesday blog post:

I’m building out content for my next “legal bites” podcast with Demco Law Firm and I want your engagement on this!

As Mathew Gardner spoke to at our kickoff event last week; our classic Seattle spring market starting in January. How I read that? Let’s make sure we are clear in navigating not only the market itself with our Buyers + Sellers, lets include any legal pitfalls we want to anticipate; clarify; learn and re-learn as we dig deeper into the actual 2020 spring market.

Within the comment section of this blog post, please post what legal bites are on your mind! Or, email me laurasmith@windermere.com. Or, text: 206.227.7133.

Prime the pump and help me build out the content most relevant to YOU.

Let’s start a conversation…

All in, for excellence. Ready to get mic’d up!

Welcome to Friday, let’s sweep this week! For me; this week was putting together final touches and executing on our company kickoff event. Thank you for filling the seats! It only matters if people “show up!” Wednesday, Pigott Hall on Seattle University’s campus became an environment of learning; collaboration; excellence. I will wrap this week with the story I told as the beginning of our event.

Note: If anyone would like to send a note to Gian Paul Gonzalez, let me know – text: 206.227.7133. I tracked down an address for him. No doubt he’ll be one of my notes next week and lucky me; I’m having coffee with him when he travels back to Seattle when the Giants face the Seahawks in the next season! All IN.

A story about excellence; A Steve Jobs story about painting a fence.

Author Walter Isaacson penned the Steve Jobs biography.  Steve & Walter use to take long walks to bring to life what would become the written rendition of Steve’s life. On one of their long walks together, Walter and Steve walked the property of Steve’s childhood home. He pointed out to Walter the fence his father built. His father had given him a hammer at a young age so that Steve could work with him on that fence. As they were wrapping up painting the painting, some 50 odd years ago, Steve thought they were done. They had painted the inside (only) of that fence. Steve was surprised to find out that they had the backside of the fence to paint. In Steve’s mind – why would would do more – no one will see the other side. When he asked his dad “why” – his dad replied…

“but you will know and I will know.“

This lesson was firmly implanted deeply within Steve Jobs at a young age. His father loved doing things right. He cared about the look of the things you couldn’t see. Fast forward to the release of the first iPhone – you know, that business that started in Steve Job’s parent’s garage – yes that one!

Steve asked one of his techies to physically bring him the first iPhone before its release. Upon inspecting the first prototype, Steve asked that the backside of the iPhone be taken off so he could see this inside. He looked at it. He referenced, “this is a mess.” The techie referenced, but Steve “no one will see the inside.”

What was Steve’s reply? You guessed it…

“but you will know and I will know.“

Steve Job’s biography depicts how he saw his products as an extension of himself. And yes, that “mess” was cleaned up before the release of the first iPhone – certainly caused a delay in coming to market.

As we dive deeper into 2020, where might your “product” become more of an extension of yourself. For me, I will double down in my mantra of people first, business second. The rest will take care of itself.

How will we continue our story of excellence? Let’s go paint some fences. Inside + Outside.

All IN, for you.