Welcome to Friday everyone! What appears to be a short sweep this week is actually power packed if you accept the challenges within. Less writing for me today…I’m in the midst of a pending inspection offer on a home for our family and digesting quickly that this will throw me into full project management mode in getting our home ready and to market – quickly! Boy oh boy! Stay tuned on that…

Challenge #1 | Identify what measures of predictability you can provide your clients during this transitioning market. Buying and Selling a home for people can fall into the “traumatic stress” category. Why? Because of the unknowns involved. Buyers and Sellers do not know when this process will be over. Just because we tend to know, remember they don’t. My challenge for you…watch this video (it’s 45 minutes) – specifically minutes 12-18  and implement actions that add predictability to the process for your clients. Help your clients cope with the uncertainty!

Challenge #2 | It’s time, planning time! My 2019 business planner is ready. If you are up for the challenge – email or text me – I’ll send it to you! If you complete the planner and want to go over it together one-on-one – I’m always game. 206.227.7133 cell.

Ok, back to my own “traumatic stress” as both a buyer and a seller! Anyone want to help me cope with my own uncertainty! Kidding, I’ll be ok. Happy weekend everyone! Here to help.

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

Ballard + Eastlake + Madison Park + Northgate + Sand Point + Wedgwood

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Welcome to Friday, let’s sweep! This week is Episode #10 of my Double Down podcast – doubling down on a “legal bite” and an “idea worth spreading.” This month the focus takes us back to summer for a minute – to the July 1st 2018 effective date of the new Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (governing common interest communities, or “CIC’s”), and also we discuss the ins + outs of our houseboat (floating home) communities. And if you make it to the end of Episode #10, you’ll enjoy a good story on “fabled service”…an excellent reminder that our service becomes our brand!

This week I attended the 2018-2019 Core Curriculum [Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate] taught by Demco Law Firm in wrapping up my license renewal. The content was timely in that the first teaching point within our CORE curriculum mirrors the CIC “legal bite” within this podcast. After reading the NWMLS legal bulletins, reading Demco’s legal bulletin, and recording a podcast…it wasn’t until attending CORE that I had the “ah-ha” as to why Washington State went to such great lengths to add this new “CIC” law – as of July 1st 2018.

Here is the “why” I stumbled upon = Washington State’s goal with this new Act is to fold single family and townhome communities into a framework of legislative protections that we have already become familiar with when dealing with condominiums. The new law broadly covers new CIC’s with shared expenses (including cooperatives, plat communities, and condominiums) as well as any pre-existing community that may choose to opt-in to the new law.

Ok, now for the WHAT before you tune into our podcast conversation…(Note: The new CIC Act does not apply if there are 12 units or less AND average annual assessments of $300 or less per unit.)

1. Public Offering Statements (POS’s) or resale certificates (RC’s) will be required for the sale of all new or resale homes within CIC’s, including covenanted communities with shared expenses – not just condominiums. *Similar to current condominium law, buyers of a CIC unit will have a right of rescission after receipt of POS (7 days) or RC (5 days).

2. It will be relatively easy for many existing communities to become a CIC subject to the new law. With some exceptions (such as for existing condominiums) if after proper delivery of notice 30% of unit owners participate in the vote and 67% of those who vote approve, the new law applies.

3. The new law will enable communities to impose rental caps at a 67% approval threshold as opposed to the more stringent 90/100% approval threshold under the 1990 Condo Act..

4. Condominiums under the new law (but not other CIC’s) will still be subject to extensive warranties of quality as have been required under the 1990 Condo Act.

5. Sellers and their brokers will need to disclosure whether or not a marketed property is a CIC subject to the new law. Brokers are advised to check title when taking a listing (even on an older property) to see if a property may be subject to the new law.

Enough of the “dry” stuff, let’s get to the conversation! Thank you once again David Daniel, Darlene Sozinho and Mary Durkan for getting mic’s up and sharing your best radio voice with us!

*Ps, Being that license renewal is top of mind for me today, a good time to point out the CORE curriculum I referred to above is THE 3 clock hour class REQUIRED every time you renew your license. **This is different from your REALTORS membership requirement in taking Ethics. ***Ethics can be used however towards your elective clock hours. ****NOTE: you are setting out on your FIRST license renewal – be sure to connect with your manger to be sure you are tracking in the right direction + requirements.

Hope you enjoy the podcast conversation! Next up in November I’ll have Madison Park broker, Catherine Adams mic’s up to chat about this changed(ing) local market! We’ll tap into her infinite wisdom.

#alwayslearning #doubledown #innovation #play #wearewindermere

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

Ballard + Eastlake + Madison Park + Northgate + Sand Point + Wedgwood

Welcome to Friday, time to sweep! Arriving home post Windermere Symposium from very sunny Palm Springs calls for another Laura Top 10 list. Let’s jump right in…wait, wait, wait – before I do, please also jump in on this blog post and add to this Top 10 conversation  via the comment section of this blog – to your upper left! What is your Top Ten list? I want to know! Even if it was “just one thing”…

1. On getting bored. Ballard broker, Bob Melvey’s quote as we were making laps in the lazy river post class…”you’ve got to get bored to get creative.” Yes, a key theme in why to take advantage of getting away from the office and participating in events like Symposium. Getting away to learn, connect and get inspired is what we did this week!
2. On quality of communication. Remember what I had shared a few weeks back on quality of communication…7% words + 38% pitch/tone/tempo + 55% body language. Try this on for size…consider a witness on the stand – saying the below sentence – 7 times – each time the accenting a different word. “I didn’t say he shot his wife.” Turns out, this sentence would have 7 different meanings! The power of communication at work.
3. 89% of Buyers and Sellers want what from their broker? Answer is: see bottom of blog post!
4. Two things people want in negotiation? Answer is: see bottom of blog post!
5. Most effective communication? Answer is: see bottom of blog post! *ps, this answer should not surprise you however important to keep top of mind! Especially when the stakes are high.
6. On real estate reviews. Fantastic time of year to work on annual real estate reviews! This activity has THE highest ROI (return in investment). The reason most people shy away from doing them – they don’t know how. I will be delivering each of you a step-by-step “how”. Ps, once your template within Moxi Present is complete (2 hours in prep – give or take) this weekly activity should only take you 5-15 minutes to complete. Did I say…this activity yields the highest return on your investment? Goal = 2 real estate reviews per week. I’ll help you get there in showing the “how.” Stand by!
7. An idea. Ask your financial advisor if they provide real estate commentary to their clients within their Annual Financial Statements. Wouldn’t someone want to know how their real estate portfolio is doing along with all other investments? Suggestion…”would it be helpful if I provided you Annual Real Estate Reviews” for your clients?
8. Be different than the other 94%. ZillowGroup’s Consumer Trends report uncovered these staggering facts in broker contact after closing. Of the 13,249 households interviewed: 74% of brokers were never in contact after closing; 20% occasionally and 6% regularly. Storytime: Lee Cockerell (Executive VP Disney)…”my wife and I have purchased 11 homes in our lifetimes. We’ve never once had the Realtor connect with us after closing.” Ps, what you should know is that Lee interviews 3-4 executives monthly. Holy cow! Opportunity for strong referrals? Heck no if you fall into that 94% transaction mindset trap. Be the 6% – referral mindset.
9. On your Windermere Retirement plan. I was able to secure and set up SIX in-office LIVE Nationwide education sessions for next week. Your manager has our schedule and will be sending you times & locales – Wednesday (Oct 24), Thursday (Oct 25) and Friday (Oct 26) of next week. If you cannot attend your office session – feel free to join any of the other 5!

10. On being a duck. We practiced “being a duck” in class and in the pool this week. Looked who joined us to “show” us how! Calm above the water and working hard below!

It’s amazing what can happen over a couple days away from the offices surrounded by great people, learning opportunities, networking, palm trees, sun, time to simply breath…and hopefully “get bored” just enough to ensue creativity. For those of you who joined us this year at Symposium, I am hopeful you have returned refreshed and energized. For those of you who could not join this year – I hope you chose to do so next year!

Reminder to add to this Top Ten list in the blog comment section…upper left!

And oh, can’t forget #11 – a special thank you to Michael Nelson and David Updike for opening their Palm Springs home to us Monday night. A stunning night, together…the best “meetings” of Palm Springs – hard to top that!

#alwayslearning #grit #innovation #play #wearewindermere

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

Ballard + Eastlake + Madison Park + Northgate + Sand Point + Wedgwood

#3. Answer is: Negotiation Skills – another plug for this book, Never Split the Difference

#4. Answer is: Be understood and heard

#5. Answer is: Face to Face. Let’s not make this a lost art!

Fall colors are changing along with our market…a shift to “healthy.” I like healthy,

SEPTEMBER MONTHLY TALKING POINTS

Full Reports, click here. Password protected. Text me if you need it! 206.227.7133

Seattle (based on Residential and Condominium report):

Buyers today may be concerned their new purchase could be less in the future than what they paid for it. Time is on their side.

How do people that bought a home in 2006 through 2008 feel today?

What do you get in exchange for taking price risk?

Selection

Time to decide

Contingencies

It is OK to buy if:

You like the location

You can afford the payments

You are going to live there six years or longer

Consider using the weekly statistics to get uber micro, as needed with your clients! | click here

Ps, keep in mind jobs are key to driving our real estate market. A recent article on LinkedIn shared that hiring in Seattle is UP 6.6% from August 2017. Notable + interesting!

…and being that we are speaking to working with Buyers, I’m going into my archives and re-posting Episode #5 of my Double Down podcast. If you are feeling you want to tool up in your Buyer Process, this 33 minutes podcast with brokers Kristin Munger and Greg Lewis may just inspire! And for those of you who will be joining me at Windermere Symposium next week and are attending my Buyer Savvy Strategies class you’ll get the live version with BOTH Kirstin, Greg and myself.

Wheels up for me this Sunday morning to Palm Springs. Symposium is sure to bring fun in chasing the sun, learning, networking! I’ll see many many of you there! Thank you again to Michael Nelson + David Updike for opening your backyard to our six offices Monday night!

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

Ballard + Eastlake + Madison Park + Northgate + Sand Point + Wedgwood

 

Hello Friday! This week’s sweep is 100% rooted in celebrating those of you who have been with Windermere for 20+ years within our six offices. This week, OB + Jill + I hosted a party to raise a glass with you. We host this party every other year. Heck, next time we host I too will be a 20 year inductee  – how did that happen – where did time go?Lucky us, lucky me.

This group of brokers + staff have set the stage for the rest of us and have built a very proud + strong foundation – one to build upon for generations to come. I absolutely loved our evening together. The food + drink + setting were good although you were that special ingredient that made it all come together. Cheers, again! And thank you.

A special Friday roll call…

Aaron Fredrickson

Alison Moceri

Barbara Cahill

Barbara Shikiar

Barrick Benson

BethAnn Warner

Betsy Chamberlin

Bill Lemcke

Brenda Dimond

Brent Sanders

Brian Steiner

Carl Thorgerson

Carmen Gayton

Carol Yamamoto

Carolyn Erickson

Carolyn Holm

Catherine Adams

Cathy Cowan

Cathy Millan

Charlie Cowan

Cheri Adams

Cherie Keller

Cheryl Jones

Christine Reis

Dale Kaneko

Dan Wallace

David Hale

David Prater

David Rush

David Updike

Debbie Culp

Dick Carruthers

Donna Lindsay

Eileen Lindsey

Fran Lilleness

Gary Thompson

Georgia Selfridge

Gloria Jackson

Greg Lewis

Gregory Stamolis

Gunnar Hadley

Irma Suntay

Jason Viydo

Jill Cunningham

Joie Gowan

Judy Striker

Katharine Gibson

Kathryn Hinds

Kathy Macduff

Keith Nyberg

Kelly Blake

Ken Shiovitz

Kristi Johnson

Laura Bethel

Lee Whalen

Leslie Manchester

Leslie Reed

Lilliann Milic

Lisa Long

Lise Wang

Liz Suver

Maria Rippee

Marilyn Wick

Marina Vitasovic

Mark Hobbs

Marsha Nemitz

Marshall Airey

Mary Abbott

Mary Gibson

Matthew Townsend

Michael Bill

Michael Nelson

Michael Ravenscroft

Michael Woods

Michele Layton

Monte Swears

Nan Menard

Nick Upshaw

Pamela Johnson

Patrick Craft

Patrick J. Corr

Paul Simpson

Paula Knopf

Phyllis Allison

Phyllis Hanen

Rena Ritchey

Renee Menti Ruhl

Rick Lubov

Bob Melvey

Sandra Pappas

Scott Anderson

Scott Malatos

Scott Whaley

Stacie Youngblood

Steve Blackbourn

Steve Senescall

Sue Bethke

Sue Rockwell

Susan Sellin

Susan Stocking

Ted Allison

Ted Alton

Terri Maloney

Thomas Moorman

Tim Feeman

Tom Lavigne

Tracie McGovern

William Garrison

…And thinking ahead to our NEXT roll call – for those of you joining me at Symposium, this is our Monday night. Thank you to Michael Nelson + David Updike for opening up their backyard to our six offices! It’s a party along with some sunshine!

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

Ballard + Eastlake + Madison Park + Northgate + Sand Point + Wedgwood

Welcome to Friday everyone! Lucky us, the sun is still out, leaves still on the trees and the colors oh so vibrant! Can you tell I love this time of year? I do!

A few of my favorite digestible bites from this week…

First up, a bite on communication…as taken from my favorite book thus far this year:

“UCLA psychology professor Albert Mehrabian created the 7-38-55 rule. That is, only 7% of a message is based on the words while 38% comes from the tone of voice and 55% from the speaker’s body language and face.”

How might this play out for you in even better communication? It goes along with one of Larry Kendall’s favorite pieces of advice when stakes are high, emotions also running high, solutions need to be found and when seeking the utmost clarity…”have you spoken with them live?” And I’ll add onto this statement…have you gone to see them face to face?

A bite from broker Shawn Aider from Premier Breakfast this week…on price adjustments:

We are certainly in a market whereas many of you will need to dust off your price adjustment tools. And for many of you, you haven’t yet needed such a tool! Shawna’s tip this week at Premier was a suggestion to include price adjustment strategy prior to bringing a home to the market. Make this discussion exactly that = a strategy = one that you and your Seller have already ironed out as a normal part of the process! This angle will take the confrontational optic out of the conversation – and instead bring you and your Seller back to the planning you’ve already set forth. This becomes a proactive vs reactive planning tool. Pricing will be a moving target – plan for it! Go there, talk about it…face to face!

This week I was also reminded of a powerful set of statements…especially as we begin looking at a very natural business planning time of year. Heck, these four elements could be your entire business plan!

“You could do more of what brings greater value. You could do less of what brings lesser value. You could start to do new things. You could stop doing new things.” – Brian Tracy

Another way to look at this…

“Knowing what I know, if I weren’t already doing this – would I start it up again today?”

Ps, three more Double Down podcasts by end of year – coming soon! Can’t wait to get mic’d up – plenty of content to share in both Doubling Down in your ideas worth spreading and in legal digestible bites! #WeAreWindermere  #ExcellenceBreedsExcellence

…and oh, this is what happens when mom goes out of town on a business trip (aka, me) and comes home to find out we are babysitting a pig this weekend! What?!? Good luck, to me.

In partnership with you, here to help – the ultimate goal!

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

Ballard + Eastlake + Madison Park + Northgate + Sand Point + Wedgwood

Hello Friday! I’m back at sea level and home after this week’s annual Windermere Owner meetings hosted by Windermere Services and our Windermere Colorado offices.  I’m indeed fired up and coming off of my Rocky Mountain High – then again, let’s be honest – I’m typically fired up! This week’s sweep will focus on a handful of my favorite soundbites from our work together in Colorado this week…

I’ve seen + experienced a lot of awesome speakers thus far in my life. The University of Washington’s women’s crew coach was the best yet – for me – Yasmin Farooq (Yas). And oh, she led her Huskies to a 2018 National Championship too.

It’s one thing to be inspiring, it’s another to couple with results…

Yas spoke of it not being one boat that won the 2018 National Championship for the UW Woman, it took all three boats. Think about how powerful of a statement that is!

On a mountain high!

#WeAreWindermere  #ExcellenceBreedsExcellence

In partnership with you,

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

Ballard + Eastlake + Madison Park + Northgate + Sand Point + Wedgwood

j
Welcome to Friday everyone! Oh boy did someone decide to quickly turn off Summer and turn on Fall. Oy, did you hear that rain last night! Today feels like a good time to roll out another Top 10 list – a random compilation of what is on my mind this week and where I move my focus to in the coming weeks!

1. Windermere Stats updated  | need the password? text me: 206.227.7133
2. Seattle data thru Aug 2018 | 1.7 months of inventory [0.6 Aug 2017]
3. Seattle data thru Aug 2018 | Median closed sales price $700,000 [$689,000 Aug 2017]
4. Seattle data thru Aug 2018 | 29% of homes sold ABOVE list price [44% last month, July 2018]
5. Seattle data thru Aug 2018 | 20% of homes sold AT list price [18% last month, July 2018]
6. Seattle data thru Aug 2018 | 23% of homes sold BELOW list price [18% last month, July 2018]
7. Inventory historically declines between now and end of year. Leave me your prediction in the comment box!
8. I’m still reading Never Split the Difference and still loving it! *ps, if you purchase the book on this link it benefits the Windermere Foundation – thank you Amazon Smile program.
9. New class at Symposium – and guess what…It’s based off of the book above! = Never Split the Difference. Excellent, I plan to be there. Thank you Michael Fanning for pulling that together!
10. Scott Stratten and I have a question for you…what is your “Joshie the giraffe” story? What was it this week? What will it be next week? Watch this 4 minutes and 46 seconds. 
11. Adding an extra to the Top 10 this week – rolling in at #11…for those of you ready to begin looking at your business plan for 2019 – I’ve dusted my planner off – it’s ready for you = should you accept the challenge! Text/email me – I’m on it.

I’m packing my bags tonight for Colorado – headed on a jet plane to our annual Windermere owners meetings next week. I have the opportunity to go meet and engage with Scott Stratten – beyond excited. Scott is right, an “entire brand is dictated by the people who work for it.” At Windermere I’d slightly tweak this verbiage based on the nature of our business – our brand is entirely dictated by the people who choose to partner with the brand. Yup, that is YOU. I feel lucky and no doubt, grateful. I’ll be fired up after returning home – watch out, gobs of content coming your way…all with the intention of helping you. The ultimate goal!

Ps, calling all my Windermere woman – join me for the TEDx Seattle Woman Event December 5th at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery. Click here to buy your ticket. I bought mine today along with many others! Let’s explore ideas worth spreading…

In partnership with you,

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

Ballard + Eastlake + Madison Park + Northgate + Sand Point + Wedgwood

 

It’s upon us – tomorrow marks the final 3rd of 2018. Typically I look at the year in quarters and speak to a fourth quarter push in all that is possible and all that we do now to set the table for a strong launch into a New Year. When I realized tomorrow marks  the “final 3rd” of 2018 it made me realize – wow – we still have plenty of time in 2018 to make an impact! I love that! This theme will be interwoven into my blogging through year-end. OB, Jill and I are working on our strong finish and prep for 2019 – lots to share, lots to come – excited for this focus. We will continue to double down in our people. Cheers to the “final 3rd!” #WeAreWindermere

FWL has been on recess last week and into this week. I’ve been on vacation and today I leave the complete road trip mindset and begin to dip my toes back into our offices. I have a couple digestible bites to share…all items I read or thought about poolside, riverside, rafting the Deschutes, horseback riding, paddling and the like this past week+…

A book recommendation – “Never Split the Difference” – Chris Voss. I’m not yet complete with this read however I’m already guessing this will top my charts for 2018.

Geekwire posted what I thought was an article worth reading – “Is the tide turning on tech’s boom? Seattle’s hot real estate market finally cools in new Zillow report.” – Geekwire certainly isn’t a new player in a content resource, however is one worth mentioning again – one of my favorites.

Interesting article about Compass, written by a well-educated real estate journalist, with what appears to have no skin in the game – “McNellis: A Broken Compass?” I have a lot of skin in the game, thus I couldn’t pen something like this. He can though!

It’s back to school time. As my kiddos trade in swimsuits for school supplies and crazy schedules – a good reminder to be mindful of the school zones – the school zone speed cameras are just about back on as we navigate our local streets. Take the foot off the gas just a bit around schools – 20mph is slooooow – try it today. It’s actually hard to go that slow. I promise it is too expensive not to pay attention to this! I believe between my husband and I we received 3 automated tickets last year – going 25-26 mph. Ouch! #forthekids!

That’s a wrap on a few post vacation digestible bites! Back to the offices today. As we put a bookend on summer very soon, let us not forget to keep an element of PLAY in all we do. Thank you summer. #alwayslearning #playhard #worksmart

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

Ballard + Eastlake + Madison Park + Northgate + Sand Point + Wedgwood

This week’s sweep is to honor a legend, a Windermere legend. Loretta Larson passed away on Tuesday. Loretta was Windermere Ballard’s manager of 30+ years. She created the culture that exists today in that office. She imparted deep wisdom. She mentored hundreds. She passed on knowledge to many of us. She made careers happen. She could beat any of us in poker. She forever lives within all of us, as we carry on as her Windermere family. I hope you will find time to read these four stories in tribute to a superwoman!

A Tribute to Loretta Larson x’s 4…

“Over 4 years ago I when I was hired to manage the wonderful WRE Ballard office, I was replacing a retiring legend who’s shoes I can never fill (although she said “Darlene, I only wear a 5.5, you’ll be find!”. Loretta built this amazing office over 30 years ago. Everyone who is a part of this team receives benefit of what she created in all of us…we pass it down. I was fortunate to be mentored by her and I am forever grateful of the knowledge she passed onto me. Her knowledge was so very vast that I wish I would have recorded her words, she always knew what to say. I owe my career to her, she is a legend and her memory will live on in all of us.” – manager, Darlene Sozinho

 Thank you Loretta Larson for your superpowers & wizardly ways in loving, caring, empathy, wisdom and that never forgotten smile. May we all impart her walk in those 5.5 sized shoes on some level as a tribute to a Windermere legend! I know I will.

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

Ballard + Eastlake + Madison Park + Northgate + Sand Point + Wedgwood