Welcome to this week’s sweep, with a focus on the holiday weekend and a ramped up spring market!

Computation of Time

When computing time for the purchase and sale agreements, please regard Monday, May 27th as a legal holiday. Memorial Day is a legal holiday under Washington law.

NWMLS, RULE 2C

Good time of year to remind everyone about “pre-marketing/MLS rule 2c”.  The MLS does not allow for the pre-listing of properties, this includes anything in writing, and also includes social media.  First sentence of RULE 2C- “members shall not promote or advertise any property in any manner whatsoever”.  We have seen a couple of instances where advanced notice is being given during photo shoots etc.  It is important you are aware of the strict enforcement and potential fines from the MLS.  The MLS enforces this as much to protect our business and ensure all members are on an equal playing field.  There has been an increase in recent months of posting coming soon messages.  The MLS takes these situations very seriously and I won’t be able to wiggle you out of these fines. A simple screenshot timestamped prior to launch date from a bitter broker who was competing for a listing is all it takes. They are expensive fines!

…Drum roll please on a winner for the legal bite for next week’s podcast. Thank you to the Ballard office for requesting this topic!

Form 17:  There is confusion around when a buyer or possible buyer discovers a material defect and reports it to the listing broker. When does that warrant a new revised form 17 to be delivered?  What if the buyer sends over the whole inspection report?  What if a possible buyer says “I’m not writing an offer, I had a structural inspector out and this house has structural issues!”, does the listing broker have a duty to tell possible buyers or tell their seller and investigate?

ps, there is still time to add to the podcast if you’d like to float me more content! David Daniel and I will record next week…

The Smith’s are signing off for the long weekend. Family PLAY and more baseball – this weekend in Bend. What an awesome spot. Playing on bike and foot down by the river…

#OffMute #TheHumanAlgorithm #AllInForYou

Laura Smith | Co-owner | Windermere Real Estate Co.

Welcome to Friday, a beautiful Friday evening at that – Seattle! Sweeping this week with NBA playoff hoops, Mariners baseball, Husky playoff softball on in the background, Chad & Shale playing hoops in the front yard, Piper at a friends house for dinner and I recapping this week over ginger Kombucha and Girl Scout cookies – why not! Wild night in the Smith house…

Here we go, what I have for this week…

Priming the pump for this one! Wednesday May 29th I’ll have Demco attorney David Daniel again mic’d up. The entire Double Down podcast episode will be dedicated to legal bites. Here is the plan > you share with me what questions you have and what legal bites you’d like us to add to the conversation! Email (laurasmith@windermere.com), text (206.227.7133) or leave a comment on this blog and I’ll start building the conversation! What say you!?! Do tell.

The #’s | Seattle Talking Points | Residential & Condo

*data thru April 2019*

Months of Inventory | 1.4 months vs 0.7 this time last year

Median Sales Closed Price | $707,000 vs $750,000 this time last year (down 6%)

% of listings sold above list price | 30% (26% last month) | 66% April 2018

% of listings sold at list price | 22% (18% last month) | 14% April 2018

% of listing below list price | 20% (19% last month) | 10% April 2018

% of listings sold with a price change | 28% (37% last month) *fewer price adjustments!

Looking for these numbers in a consumer facing format? As always: www.windermerestats.com | text for password (206.227.7133)

Looking for Episode #13 of our Double Down podcast? Let’s hit repeat from last week!

#OffMute #TheHumanAlgorithm

Laura Smith | Co-owner | Windermere Real Estate Co.

Welcome to Friday! Today’s sweep is of something greater than this week. It’s a story of one brand (your brand, our brand) coming “off mute.” How Windermere Real Estate engaged with Ziba Design to discover, design and launch our “all in, for you” campaign. A fresh perspective and process to the heartbeat of a brand, our brand.

“A radical invitation to be ourselves…”

Please join me for 39 minutes of Episode #13, Double Down podcast. This episode is filled with emotion, storytelling, passion, laughter and oops…even a four letter word (thought about editing that out – yet it was too spot on).  I’m hoping you will tune in. It would mean a lot to me.

Windermere, All in – for you.

Ps, for those of you who are looking for less emotion (art) and more science – the password for Windermere Stats has been updated. Text me if you need it: 206.227.7133. Next week, we’ll break down the #’s and digest them!

…And oh my goodness, what a good looking weekend for Mother’s Day! Can every day be Mothers Day? I’m All IN on that too!

#OffMute #TheHumanAlgorithm

Laura Smith | Co-owner | Windermere Real Estate Co.

Welcome to Friday! This week I’ve been big on podcasts and continued work in our brand campaign. And oh, yes – Windermere Cup happenings. Big week, a good week and the offices are buzzing with a focus on real estate – as it should be. We’ll handle the rest.

Our “All in, for you” campaign is well underway in Western Washington and we hope that you have had a chance to see the campaign live and in action! For those of you who like the details around this campaign, your offices have a media flowchart which shows where and when you can expect to find our message throughout 2019.

For those of you who’d like a digestible bite in our programming – this is what the last half of April looked like this and with the ultimate goal of staying #offmute, for you.

KIRO primetime and AM news programming

Evening Magazine (our next “Neighbor in the Know” segment will feature Bainbridge Island and Ty Evans on 4/25)

KING – on “The Voice”

KZJO – pre/post and during home Sounders matches

Bravo and HGTV (through Comcast)

Q13fox.com on Sounders home game days

This week, I was both interviewed on a podcast and recorded Episode #13 of my Double Down podcast. I will release both next week post editing. In the immediate, I can’t recommend these next 41 minutes enough – with Robin Sharma on Impact Theory…

…”the reasonable man adapts himself to the world, the unreasonable man persists in adapting the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

Curious? Great, 41 minutes of mind blowing awesome…click here!

Note: if you have any trouble with the podcast link above, text me – I’ll forward it to you. 206.227.7133 c

Happy Windermere Cup weekend – all details here!

All in, for you.

#OffMute #TheHumanAlgorithm

Laura Smith | Co-owner | Windermere Real Estate Co.

On creating a “third mind”…

Welcome to Friday, let’s take our sweep! This week I spent an incredible two days in Fort Collins, CO with 12 master coaches within our field. Over the next few weeks I’ll be weaving this content + conversations + coaching into Fridays with Laura.

“No two minds ever come together without, thereby, creating a third, invisible, intangible force which may be likened to a third mind.“ – Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich

…to that end, my goal in blog content over the next few weeks will be to take the content I will be sharing with you, dive deeper and create a “third mind” – a mastermind in collaboration – via these blog posts. It will take your participation to be successful – hope you’ll come along! All in, with you.

This week, I have two questions for you. Please consider posting a comment and engage in this conversation with me – creating a mastermind! [Comment section located in the upper lefthand corner of this blog post]

Question #1 | Finish this sentence…

*You see a successful broker and you think to yourself, what are they doing to be successful? It’s probably because…

This week, I answered this question like this…“because they are focused.”

How would you answer this question? Share it, leave a comment, let’s talk about it!

Question #2 | What does your whiteboard look like?

*Sharing with you what a successful whiteboard looks like. My challenge to you > keep these “vital signs” and “pipeline” updated weekly. This set up will show you exactly where you are with respect to your goals + keep you on pace to grow your skills.

**Imagine what is possible if you are able to keep up this weekly habit?

***oh, you don’t have a whiteboard? Ah great, opportunity in starting out on the right track from the beginning…

****And if you can not read my chicken scratch for handwriting, these are the “buckets” to fill up each week…

Vital Signs [goal in sides / side closed to date + GCI goal / goal achieved to date]

Pending w/ Close Dates

Listings w/ Expiration Dates

Referrals [both incoming + outgoing]

Skill to learn “this week.” [example / real estate review]

“Hot list” [include name and whether they are a buyer/seller or both]

“Warm list” [include a name and whether they are a buyer/seller of both]

There you have it. A couple digestible bites from a solid two days with 12 of the best master coaches within our industry. More to come, each Friday! Please fill up the “comment” box with your answer to: “It’s probably because…”

…and by March madness, I mean both on the hardwoods and off the court. FWL has put a bow on the March #’s – the “science.” How is our Seattle market stacking up to the March madness (red hot) of 2018? How are we stacking up to last month? Good questions, let’s dig in…

I’m posting a few digestible bites below. We’ve posted a full set of talking points and reports for Seattle & Eastside, including a 2018 year in review of waterfront – click here.

Need the password? Ask your office or text me – 206.227.7133!

FWL encompasses a note from the editor today, oh that is me!

Last week’s blog post led a few readers to believe I was promoting the practice of dual agency. Let’s clean that up. How do I really feel about dual agency? Answer: best summed up in a question posed to an audience a few years back from Demco Law Firm within a legal update class…

“Can one have two masters?” – Lars Neste, attorney

Think about it? Can you? My answer: I don’t believe you truly can. Are you truly able to provide both parties all that is laid out within The Law of Agency? I know, the law allows for it. It doesn’t change my opinion. And when I see dual agency done, I seldom see it done correctly.  A broker who wishes to be a dual agent must first obtain a separate written agency agreement with each party = typically a Listing Agreement is already in place with a Seller and a broker would too need and a Buyer Agency Agreement in place. The first page of the purchase and sale agreement isn’t good enough = that only handles the disclosure part.

Windermere’s Standards of Practice mindfully crafted an Awareness Checklist around Dual Agency to help you determine risk and to help Windermere brokers either decline dual agency all together or take steps up-front to control risk. Curious to see it? Ping me, find your manager or track down your office’s Standards of Practice rep.

A couple item digestible bites from the Awareness Checklist on Dual Agency:

*Always consult your manager or designated broker before undertaking a dual agency, describing fully any risk factors.

*If you are a seller or buyer (or landlord or tenant), or have an ownership interest in the seller or buyer, legally you cannot be a dual agent.

…and, back to my original question though…“Can one have two masters?”

Always consider alternatives to engaging in dual agency. Want to talk more around this topic, happy to chat.

Submit your “All In” stories here! We want to know them…

All in, for you.

#OffMute #TheHumanAlgorithm #ThankYou

Laura Smith | Co-owner | Windermere Real Estate Co.

It’s Friday, let’s sweep the week! Time for another Top 10 – it’s been awhile. My Top 10 from this week…in digestible bites for you!

1. All in Stories. Last week we launch our “All in, for you” campaign. This week, we had one of our own, a Sand Point broker, submit a story! Can you guess who this is?

…I had a Bremerton waterfront listing last fall. I had just brought it to market and needed to get to the property to install my sign. I also had gotten a call from a potential buyer, who wanted to meet me at the property at 11:00 am. I live near the Sand Point office and quickly realized that with Montlake traffic completely backed-up, I would never make it to downtown Seattle by car, to catch the ferry to Bremerton by and make the showing appointment at 11. So I hopped on a Lime Bike and while holding my sign, biked to the UW light rail station. I then carried my sign onto the light rail and took it downtown to the Pioneer Square station. From there, I walked onto the Bremerton Ferry (just in time). I then arrived in Bremerton with about 5 minutes to spare. I walked form the ferry terminal to the listing with the sign under my arm. Success!

2. Did you every see Laura’s new tattoo? If you are curious, click here.

3. W Creative. A reminder of your in-house real estate creative services – designed for you, when you need them. W Creative website here.

4. Housing Department Slaps Facebook with Discrimination Charge. Article here.

5. Seattle is Dying. No political statement here – simply a statement in awareness being that this documentary is a very hot topic and we are deeply rooted in our communities. It’s one hour. Click here.

6. To the contrary of Seattle Dying…Seattle in Progress. I was reminded this week of a great resource in seeing what is being built in Seattle – here.

7. Moreland Insurance. We had a win this week in helping a client find insurance after having a difficult time. Moreland for the win. A reminder of this tool in your back pocket. Ps, insurance is one of those things we forget about in referring to our clients- however, those obtaining financing = turns out, they need it and need it in a timely fashion! Let’s give them a referral. I’ve been nothing but impressed with Moreland’s service.  Moreland connection here.

8. The move! With our move to the new house I finally remembered to change my address! Geez, one might think I would have been on top of that detail sooner! Online resource here.

9. Did you know? Did you know we have a Windermere Form (WRE Form 28) entitled, Windermere Customer Agreement – No Agency Between Buyer and Broker. We had a need this week to put this in Agreement in play = broker writing a contract on behalf of a purchaser who was not entering into an agency relationship. I hadn’t thought about this form in a while – thought I’d share it with you. This form is located on the NWMLS > Xpress Forms > Additional Forms > Company Forms > Windermere > WRE Form 28. *or just ask me for it!

10. Go M’s! My march madness brackets are on the verge of being completely busted –  however the good news, Mariners won their season opener – 12 to 4 vs the Red Sox. Go figure! Go M’s. Let’s play ball!

#OffMute #TheHumanAlgorithm #ThankYou

Submit your stories here! We want to know them.

All in, for you.

Laura Smith | Co-owner | Windermere Real Estate Co.

“Coca-Cola kept their secret recipe locked in a vault for 86 years. Ours can be found on this flash drive” – Julie Dey, VP of Marketing | Windermere Services

Recently, Windermere Services gave Owners + Managers a behind-the-scenes look at what they have been doing to bring the Windermere brand to life. This week it was all about you and Windermere beginning to come “off mute” for you. In your upcoming office meetings you too will have the behind-the-scenes look at our new creative work – including an internal video about this project, findings from our research, our brand foundation, North Star declaration [also an internal piece for us], and visual expression to tie it all together. As I referenced in last week’s blog post, beginning March 21st [yesterday] Windermere will be hard to miss…

On a personal note however, as the digestible bite for this week, I want to share a letter I and all other owners received from Jill Wood. I began today – March 22nd – at an annual  fundraiser for Pocock’s Row to the Future benefit breakfast. Rowing was not a sport I was exposed to in my early athletic life – instead, it was a sport I was exposed to simply being associated with Windermere. One of the speaker’s today made reference to rowing being a sport that you move forward by looking backwards. As you digest Jill’s letter – think about how moving forward by looking backwards applies to us. In bringing our Windermere brand to life, I believe it has everything to do with us moving forward.

Dear Laura,

It seems like every day, I hear another inspiring “Windermere story” about an agent going above and beyond for a grateful client. As an organization, we almost take it for granted: this is a culture that attracts a certain kind of individual, and, once here, they’re surrounded by mentors and peers who take immense pride in the customer service they provide.

This year, we have made a commitment to be counted among the most customer-obsessed companies in the world. The great news is, unlike most companies, you and your agents don’t really have to change single thing you’re doing. You just have to keep doing whatever it takes to connect your clients with their dreams, every single day. You just have to keep living out new Windermere stories.

As you know, we’ve been working diligently to capture the essence and value proposition of the Windermere brand, to help all of us embrace what makes us different and begin to communicate those differences in a relevant, powerful way.

We’ve been on “Mute” for too long. You and your agents have essentially been authoring stories that our competitors, new and old, simply cannot tell.

In the next few weeks, you’ll be receiving our Brand North Star & Expression Kit, that will provide the roadmap to our future success in the face of a changing and increasingly competitive landscape.

Some real estate companies are telling what essentially a technology story, about ones and zeroes. Our stories are more about connecting humans with their dreams.

May the real estate company with the best stories win.

All in, for you,

Jill Wood

As of yesterday, we came “off mute.” You + I will keep authoring stories worth sharing – those that are the essence of our brand.

…and as we row forward by looking backwards, if you have authored a story you’d be willing to share – please do. Let us shout it out on your behalf. Please share your secret recipe, your story here: allinstories.windermere.com

Ps, The Windermere agent stories you will see on tv ads and the like are all real. These ingredients are what differentiates us. There is zero need to keep our recipe locked in a vault for the years moving forward.

#OffMute #TheHumanAlgorithm #ThankYou

All in, for you,

Laura Smith | Co-owner | Windermere Real Estate Co.