It’s Friday, let’s take a quick sweep of this week and keep a few talking points top of mind, together…

What is a P.E.A.R. report? |Do people truly understand the “equity” position they have in their home or real estate portfolio. There is a different way to think about how to educate our local marketplace. Do you know people that if they truly understood their “equity” position – would they then consider selling their home? Another look at how to start a conversation with hopes of increasing our inventory (vs. traditional “what is my home worth” focus). Continue to approach this market with the “heart of a teacher” – you then quickly become that trusted source. That is what our market needs, that is who you are. Consider using these graphics + talking points below to start a P.E.A.R. conversation…

KCM’s “Foot Traffic” report (***indicator of future sales) reports 2015 over 2016 (February) a 37% greater buyer demand. Not a “stat” to be super excited about – however necessary to understand in navigating.

• 96.5% of WA State homeowners have positive equity in their home
• 80.1% of WA State homeowners have “significant” positive equity in their home (>20%)
• Do they know it? We can help them understand this. CMA less mortgage amount, less costs of sale etc… = equity
• Are there people in your database that need to know this information? Let’s continue to help educate.

***A note on this content: I will often leverage Keeping Current Matters monthly for these sort of talking points, ideas and relevant ways to educate our clients. Steve Harney does a masterful job of looking at our market conditions from national level (macro). I liked this idea of the P.E.A.R. reviews – a little different spin + focus in teaching those about their individual position within the market place. As Steve Harney would tell you there is still a large disconnect in what people believe their “equity” position to be – most do not know – often assume they do. Let’s start the conversations with more potential Sellers – those that are considering downsizing, moving out of town, have the cash flow to upgrade, those sitting on multiple residences, etc.

Good news on inventory (I hope!)| CW Title’s mantra this week is a reminder to please open title early – they are slammed with incoming orders. I’m taking that and running with it – does that mean more inventory on it’s way, fingers + toes crossed! Yes please.

The “art” on gift giving | I tried KNACK myself this week – “easy custom gifting for discerning people.” I knocked off staff appreciation, teacher appreciation (1st + 3rd grade), my sister’s birthday and yes, mother’s day. I had everything arrive today at my office – allowing me to have fun in the delivery. I love to give gifts, yet the time to do it well for me often falls down. KNACK fixed that in both time + inspiration. I’m set. If you too lack the time yet have passion for giving – check it out! And their retail space on Capitol Hill give me reason to take a light rail field trip from UW > Capitol Hill. Join me?

Next week… | See you at the races, looking forward to celebrating 30 years of The Windermere Cup – we are preparing for the athletes to touch down early next week in Seattle – this year we’ll welcome Russia + Stanford University + Cambridge University + San Diego! So proud we are part of this tradition in sport + community. ***client event “shore party” information next to Featured Events.

Here to help, always the ultimate goal. Give me feedback along the way – this content is geared for you – Sand Point + Wedgwood + Northgate + Eastlake + Madison Park + Ballard – our six!

Laura Smith, General Manager | Windermere Real Estate Co + Northwest, Inc.

Fridays with Laura – providing you with a weekly sweep in bite-sized pieces of recap – from this week + prep for the next. Here to help, always the ultimate goal. Give me feedback along the way – this content is geared for you – Sand Point + Wedgwood + Northgate + Eastlake + Madison Park + Ballard – our six! Let’s take a quick sweep…

What have I noticed? | Whew, what a market. I know, you feel it – your clients feel it and there is much to say about “fatigue.” I am hopeful we will each find a moment these next few days to find fun + engagement  outside of the focus of real estate. This is beyond fast paced, stressful and naturally we tend to carry with us our “work” in both mindset + focus + action. These are the times to which we need to acknowledge such + then schedule time just for you. A gentle reminder – I call it injury prevention. Suggestion: schedule in your calendar one half day for you (only) every month – reoccurring calendar item is the key. If such injury prevention is in your calendar + planned out = it will happen. Seems simple enough, I also acknowledge it is not. I challenge you – go for it! Ok, stepping off soap-box…

This week, the “science” | Our 2016 Q1 Matthew Gardner report is hot off the press. Very straightforward supply and demand factors are pushing prices higher – no surprise to you. While this certainly favors sellers, Matthew believes that there are some buyers who are starting to suffer from “buyers’ fatigue”- again, no surprise to us. Rampant growth in inventory would sort this out but it is unlikely to occur this year. How are we handling “buyer” fatigue? This should be a top of mind conversation in all of our resource rooms and office meetings. Talk about it.

This speedometer reflects the state of the region’s housing market using housing inventory, price gains, sales velocities, interest rates, and larger economics factors. For the first quarter of 2016, Matthew has moved the needle slightly more in favor of sellers. Oh my!

Inventory constraints persist and this is now starting to affect sales activity, with growth in pending as well as closed sales starting to trend down. However, price growth remains well above average and interest rates are still close to historic lows.

Having our Chief Economist break-down the analysis of the Western Washington real estate market is worth shouting out to your clients – it matters who says it! Interested? Options…

• Email | You each received an email yesterday from Windermere Services (entitled, Western Washington Gardner Report Q1 2016) – you may simply forward this report on to your people. The email provided step-by-step instructions in making this happen.
• Social Media | Posted on Seattle Spaces & Places yesterday – easy “social” share
• A print-friendly version of this report is also available at WORC > Stats & Economics > Gardner Report. If you have questions, please contact Windermere’s Marketing Helpdesk at justask@windermere.com or (888) 333-8923.
• Want even more help? We have it. Email your Tune Up team (Karen + Tiana + Maddy) – tuneup@windermere.com

This week, a tech tip | Did you know that when you are searching the WORC site, or frankly any search engine if you will, by adding quotations around your search (example, “bridge loan”) you will be provided an exact match? Certainly helps! I guess this functionality in the tech world has been common knowledge for some time – not sure how I missed that! Wanted you to know.

***FYI, a note regarding our WORC site – you have the ability to influence our product! You have influenced the product. How? Use the WORC Feedback tile on the homepage – we are listening and are constantly making changes + building out a revised roadmap + improving your WORC experience.

Kudos! | A quick shout out to Sol Villarreal (broker, Eastlake) for both the inspiration to create Fridays with Laura and feedback along the way. High 5, Sol!

That’s a wrap for this week, keep injury prevention top of mind – I know I am! Here to help.

Laura Smith, General Manager | Windermere Real Estate Co + Northwest, Inc.

Fridays with Laura will be my vehicle to recap this week and prep for the next! Let’s face it, you have a lot of content coming your way as you navigate our real estate market and minimal time to sort through. My goal will be to provide you a weekly sweep in bite sized pieces….

Hot off the press…Opportunity knocks in 3 inexpensive client events coming up very soon. Your office has sample invitations and can help you customize to your audience should you like the support. Bottom right hand corner of this site you’ll find links to more information – Featured Events. Excellent + unique ways for you to connect with your sphere and offer something of value mixed with fun…

• Husky Football Coach Chris Peterson Talk & Cocktail Reception
• How China is Affecting our Economy
• Windermere Cup Shore Party

On technical excellence. A quick recap and sweep of relevant and sometimes newer Forms available to you as you navigate this market.  Again, with so much coming at you my guess is we quickly forget what is available to you. Your manager is ready to help coach further to strategy and use.

• WRE Form 42 (2.2016) | Notice to Buyer: Seller-Procured Inspection Report. Created to use when providing prospective buyers with a copy of a Seller-Procured inspection report. Seems like a good idea to me! Add it to your Forms toolbox, when appropriate.

***Search WORC site: Seller Procured Inspection Report (documents tab) – both Legal Bulletin + Form 42 are readily available to you.

On gift giving…are you a “gift giving guru”? – this might just inspire > you design, customize, all products locally sourced. Your gift then tells a story. http://knackshops.com/pages/windermere

On leadership…understanding who needs to know what + when people need to know it + why – and then presenting that information in an entirely comprehensible way” – book, Setting the Table. This is my goal with you on Fridays – to “set your table”…

To a fun + productive weekend upcoming in work + play. Shout if you need anything! Grateful to be connected, here to help.

– Laura, General Manager | Windermere Real Estate Co + Northwest, Inc.