I just returned from a home inspection and have to sort through the list to determine what remedies to request.  One thing we have learned as agents, is that credits very often are not the best way to address things.  New homebuyers get all caught up in moving in and decorating, take the credit and never fix the thing with it. So if something really needs to be fixed, get it fixed before closing.  Today was an excellent example.  When the seller bought this house he received a credit to fix the chimney flashing.  Today there was water on the floor that came down the chimney because he never fixed it three year's ago.  It's not an expensive fix, but needs to be done.  So better to get that fixed prior to closing than to get a credit. Huge warning with regard to credits.  If you are alre... 12/29/2006

Maybe it's time to take it off the market. Weird phenomenon.  I am getting more calls on houses when I take them off the market than I got when they were on the market. Maybe taking a house off the market sends the message that it will not always be around and it's time to start thinking more seriously about whether or not you want to buy it. Odd, but true.  Not why the properties were removed from market, but clearly taking it off has spurred calls, offers and sales more this year, than I've ever seen before. Something to think about.  Hope it works again on this one!  So far...more calls and one possible offer and has only been "off market" for less than 12 hours. Cross your fingers, because this seller deserves some GOOD LUCK!!  And this house is really, really worth it...a true barg... 12/28/2006

It has been pretty standard for agents to pay referral fees to one another of between 20% to 25% of the commission.  It has also been pretty standard for companies to receive a referral fee of 35% to 50% from agents who are representing their relocated employees. However had the buyer or seller consumer known, that 35% to 50% of the commission was going to end up back with their Company, or 20% to 25% were going to end up with an agent for "selling their name" to another agent, thie practice may not have continued to cut so deeply into the buyer and seller's pocket for so long. This is an area that needs to be changed, as all of the Bottom Feeder sites like HouseValues and HomeGain and Lead Generation sites generally, are cutting more and more into the consumer's ability to get the best... 12/28/2006

Back to transparency.  When an agent offers to "Find you an Agent" in another area or when a Website offers to "Find you an Agent" to assist you, often there is a "Finders Fee" involved.  I'm not saying that isn't reasonable, but let's go back to Transparency in the Real Estate Transaction and Transparency in Commission Issues. If you are buying a home for $400,000, that offer to assist you just cost you $3,000!  You might have a better way to spend $3,000!  So again, make sure you know how much everything is costing you before it is too late.  Better to find an agent on your own and choose how to spend that $3,000 more wisely.  Or negotiate that down to a more reasonable "Finders Fee". 12/28/2006

One of the most important issues a consumer needs to know, is what the commission is and who is the end recipient of that commission. All to often agents lead the consumer to believe that they only get half and the Broker gets half, which is generally not the truth.  They don't really "lie".  They just choose their words carefully.  They say something like "What consumers don't understand is that many times an agent has to pay the Broker 50% of the commission".  The consumer says "Oh" and then the agent changes the subject. So they really didn't SAY they only get to keep 50%...but the perception was created and left there. Ask your agent to calculate the exact commission on a hypothetical sale purchase price and to show you how in THAT AGENT's CASE the commission is broken down.  In my ... 12/28/2006

The Seattle Seahawks are hosting a Christmas Eve game against the San Diego Chargers at Quest Field in a decisive game. The Seattle Seahawks (8-6) need a win today to secure a playoff spot and the San Diego Chargers (12-2) need a win to clinch home field advantage in their playoff run.Both teams are going to be playing hard and tough (hopefully for 4 quarters). The Seattle Seahawks have been notorious this year in not starting to really play until the second half and it has dramatically affected our season as the record reflects. Another big contributor to the Seattle Seahawks season is injuries. Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck, Bobby Engram, Robbie Tobeck and Darrell Jackson have all missed multiple games this season making holes in our offense.But the show is really going to be ba... 12/24/2006

  Our Mission: To offer seniors the opportunity to maintain their independence and dignity by providing programs and services that enhance their social, physical and mental well-being.   I volunteered at the Pancake Breakfast this morning and we sure could have used more customers.   It was the same thing at our last Spaghetti Dinner--not enough people.  It may have been because we are so close to Christmas or because people thought our power was still out from the windstorm Thursday evening.    When people do come they enjoy themselves and the food.  We have many families that come that are regulars every month and make it a real social event.   These are monthly fund raisers for an organization that is great for our community.  Check on the link and see for yourself all the services t... 12/17/2006

If going to a Thursday Night Football game isn't a great excuse to get off work earlier I don't know what is. Tomorrow the Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers in nationally televised game at Quest Field. The Seattle Seahawks are coming off a loss to the Arizona Cardinals (don't even get me started on that one) and it makes this game critical to the end of their season. With a record of 8-5 there is no margin for error when getting a decent playoff spot. No more predictions coming from me as it seems there are just bad ju-ju. Last time the Seattle Seahawks faced the San Francisco 49ers the 49ers ran the football all over and Gore put up 200+ yards. I believe the San Francisco 49ers are going to come with the same game plan of running the football so the front line is going to h... 12/13/2006

 If you posted your listings on Zillow today or yesterday, THANK YOU! It's been an exciting couple of days. If you posted your Make Me Move price, fantastic!  At a lively Zillow company all-hands meeting today, our latest affectionate phrase, to "ZFresh", was coined. "To ZFresh" is to refresh your browser window on Zillow's home page while watching the listings counter increase. So, when this image popped up in my inbox with the title "Zfresh 5,000", I thought I'd come and post it here.  Now , you may work in a ZIP code with 5,000 listings -- but here at Zillow, we are absolutely thrilled with this early milestone. The real estate wiki also saw some action. People have written some interesting stuff about our latest effort -- Drew Meyers has a catalog of blog posts on his blog (day 1, d... 12/08/2006

This week the Seahawks continue to their road trip in Arizona. Coming off a big win against the Devenver Broncos last Sunday night they need to maintain pose and not get over inflated. In my post Seahawks beat Broncos 23-20 I discussed the details of the game if you like a recap but the main highlights where the Hawks didn't play in the first half and then dominated the second. Arizona is going to be a challenge now that Leinhart is gaining his moment. He is going to become a very great quarter back IMO. To win this game the Seahawks will have to play good the first half and establish the run game early. Once the run game is established we can really start passing down field. The run game has been are problem all year but it looks like it gaining some momentum.During Monday Night, Alexa... 12/06/2006

The Experience Music Project (EMP) was founded by Washington's Paul Allen and Co-founded by Jody Patton to document the rich history of music and to provide a source of education in music. Paul Allen's great love of Jimmy Hendrix and is large collection of memorabilia led to the construction of this unique structure.Located in the Seattle Center just East of the Space Needle the EMP give visitors a rich taste of history through its many room and displays. The EMP features a theater room and sound room with state of the art computers with sound listening equipment to further enhance the visitors experience."Visitors to EMP will take an unprecedented and technologically advanced journey that will inspire them to explore and celebrate music as never before." EMP WebsiteThere has been major... 11/28/2006

For the second time this year the Seattle Seahawks will host Monday Night Football. This is one for the record books because it could be the last time Brett Farve is in Seattle. Friends and I are heading to the game early because of the weather, its snowing like a mad man up here.Seattle is hoping to have Hasselbeck back in the line up and with our MVP in the backfield the Seahawks have a great chance at stomping the Packers. Last year these two teams faced each other for the last game of the season with the Packers winning. So the rematch will be held on our turf and in our house. No one tell Farve that it is really loud in Quest Field.Even though Green Bay is 4-6 they still have the potential be a threat to Seattle. Farve and Driver are the key players that can change the game so it i... 11/26/2006

Today a friend and I went into the big city (Seattle) to see the Bodies...The Exhibition. It was a unique glimpse into the inner workings of the human body and it left us with a better sense of understanding as well as a creepy feeling.There were many things that made this exhibit worth seeing: the level of detail, factiods on every exhibit and the extent of the exhibit. The beginning was laid out with the basics, then onto muscle structure, blood vessels, nervous system, reproductive systems and then finally the skin. It was a tad creepy but it was definetly a must see...read full atricle."Bodies...The Exhibition is a one of a kind exhibit showcasing the human body in a light that has never been done before. Bodies was shocking, impressive and definetly a learning experience." Toby 11/25/2006

Sunday will mark a turning point in the season for the Seattle Seahawks or the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams are on a 2 game winning streak and looking to make it 3. The Hawks are still missing their top two players and from what I have been reading on the Hasselblog, Matt's rehab is going well. My Spaces' buddy is predicting Pain for this game as well as is Goingbigger (my alter ego) and the whole Seahawks posse.Our backups have proven they can get into the endzone and score points throughout they game, even with Hasselbeck and Alexander still on the disable list. Last week, the Seahawks beat the St. Louis Rams (for the second time this season) with a Burleson punt return and a Josh Brown field with 9 seconds left on the clock. With a record of 6-3 and leading our division by two gam... 11/17/2006

The 5-3 Seattle Seahawks host the 4-4 St. Louis Rams in a NFC West Divisional showdown at Quest Field. Seattle is still missing their Probowl Quaterback, Matt Hasselbeck and MVP Running Back, Shaun Alexander but even without these to  players the Hawks show they can still win. Senca Wallace, starting QB, will have to playing a top game and using all the assets at his disposable.Last week Wallace made his second NFL start and he is a very diversified quarterback, running, passing and sometimes at the same time. There were multiple times when Wallace had to scramble out of the pocket, by time, and then pass for a first down. But what we have to avoid to win is penalties and bad decesions. The Hawks can't be having false starts and offside penalties and they have to be smart with the footb... 11/12/2006

Last night my friend Chris, his wife and I went to Benaroya Hall in Seattle for the Children's Hospital Fundraiser. Being my first time to there I wasn't quite to sure to expect but still excited to see what may unfold. The event was put on by the Sapristi Guild and Matt Messina & Orchestra preformed through out the evening.The fundraiser had a silent auction where there were some cool pieces and my favorite was a violin made of Italian Marble. Some of the other items where autographed UW football, dinner parties, pictures and clothing wear. There were also raffles going on and some one sitting in the row in front of us won a trip to Hollywood and a role in a movie. Pretty cool!Being a native of Washington, Matt Messina could really draw on what makes Seattle one of the best cities in t... 11/11/2006

A large percentage of home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house or take it seriously based on its curb appeal-the view they see when they drive by or arrive for a showing. You can help make sure they want to come inside your house by spending some time working on its exterior appearance.It's difficult to look at our own house in the same way that potential home buyers do, because when we become accustomed to the way something looks and functions, we can't see its faults. Decide right now to stop thinking of the property as a home. It's a house-a commodity you want to sell for the highest dollar possible.We work with Real Estate agents who offer "staging" as part of their marketing package. My company is contracted by the agent rather than the homeowner. The way in which t... 11/11/2006

This Monday night the Seattle Seahawks host ex-divisional rivals, the Oakland Raiders. Quest Field will be off the chain and the excitement will be oozing from all the Hawk's fans viens. It is going to get rough and roudy and it is my bet that will be very few Raider fans at the game. The Raiders won't have soon forgotten their preason 30-7 loss to the Hawks!The Hawks have an injury list that consists of Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander. This has made is hard for Seattle really to carry momentum from game to game. Seneca Wallace, back up QB, got his first start last week at Arrowhead Stadium. He threw for 3 TDs and moved the football real well. Wallace will have to have a similiar game this week if the Hawks are going to win.This also marks a home coming for one the Wahsington's all ... 11/05/2006

  Income trends and development restrictions have made Seattle one of the top cities safe bets for investors.Seattle   Average annual home price appreciation (1949-2006)*:   3.2%The newest graduate to join this elite class of super-expensive cities, Seattle is the least likely to hold its place. New zoning laws approved by the city council this year lift restrictions on building heights in the downtown core, and promise to generate $100 million worth of affordable housing.*National average: 2.3 percentBy Business 2.0 11/02/2006

Complaint accuses Zillow of misleading consumersCompany defends valuation serviceZillow.com has landed in the hot seat over claims that its home-valuation tool is inaccurate.The National Community Reinvestment Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that promotes equal access to credit and capital for underserved communities, filed a 12-page complaint against Zillow on Wednesday with the Federal Trade Commission.It says that Zillow's valuation "mechanism is highly inaccurate and misleading to consumers." The complaint seeks immediate action from the FTC to stop Zillow from engaging in activities that it says deceive consumers. The NCRC also notes -- citing its own audit -- that Zillow is off the mark with its home value estimates more than two-thirds of the time."Zillow is placin... 11/02/2006