Silverdale WA Real Estate :: SoundBiteBlog.com

I don’t know about you, but have you noticed that life in general has become increasingly stressful lately?

Now granted, my chosen profession in real estate isn’t helping matters any. The cyclical nature of our business is currently in the toilet bowl end of the cycle, so things are somewhat daunting, to say the least.

But there are other issues and concerns as well. The whole political upheaval and uncertainties associated with the pending presidential election; the rising cost of gas and its affect on our economy; the challenges with raising teenage boys, etc..

So the question is, how do you deal with the stress and hectic pace of life? Where do you find your oasis of solace and refreshment?

Well, for me, I spell relief C-R-A-B ….more specifically, by going out crabbing on my boat. There’s just something about being out on the waters of Hood Canal that instantly calms and refreshes my spirit and mind. It must be something innate or primordial within me. Or maybe it’s my Scandanavian roots. Who knows!

Whatever it is, it’s definitely something that works for me. I can be totally stressed out, nerves on edge, and feeling grumpy, but get me out on or near the water, and all the weight just falls away, almost immediately.

So what’s YOUR stress-buster? How do YOU spell relief?

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Posted in Bites of Washington, Kitsap County Bites, Silverdale WA Real Estate | 4 Comments »

Tags: crabbing, kitsap peninsula WA, recreation, relaxation, stress

As the market continues to correct itself, the usual suspects typically surface.

BROKE BROKERS
Brokerages are closing or consolidating. Several of our local real estate offices are playing ‘Musical Chairs.’ Many agents are switching from offices that charge rather exorbitant desk fees, over to the more traditional split commission agencies. The Agent exodus which started last Summer continues to build up momentum. Many of the “Get Rich Quick” set have come to the stark realization that there is no quick anything in this business. It takes hard work, commitment, and perseverance. Real Estate is not for the faint of heart. So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen Goodbye!

IMPATIENT SELLERS
Most of the more astute Sellers are now coming to the conclusion that the market has shifted. Pricing and preparation are ‘everything’ to achieving a successful sale. Gone are the days of “Well, let’s just put it on the market and see what happens.” The next tendency that Sellers need to avoid like the plague is price reductions. Price your property right from the start. It’s not what ‘You,’ the Sellers, think the house is worth, or what your neighbor’s house sold for last year. The market determines the price. What are people willing to pay ‘today’ for your house? In a slowing market, Buyers can find themselves in a game of ‘catch up,’ and always ending up a few steps behind the market.

LOW-BALL BUYERS
And lastly, slowing markets breed over-demanding ‘low-ball’ Buyers. Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against getting a good deal. In fact, that’s a big part of my role as a licensed real estate professional – skillfully negotiating the very best price for my clients, whether Buyers or Sellers. Let’s face it, everyone likes to think they got a sweet deal. But if a Seller has done their homework, priced the home aggressively, properly prepared the home to show well, etc., why insult them or waste their time with a ridiculously low offer? With that said, I recognize that there may actually be those rare occasions where a particular property has been languishing on the market for an extended period of time, and the Sellers are much more motivated or desperate to sell. Bargains are always out there. Just don’t unduly penalize the efforts of a hardworking Seller just because you want to be a greedy Buyer.

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Tags: Bremerton WA Real Estate, Silverdale WA Real Estate

I have the good fortune of serving as a board member for C-STOCK (Central Stage Theater of County Kitsap), one of several live community theaters here in Kitsap County WA. Our group produces predominantly family-oriented musicals shows, and has a long-standing tradition/emphasis on encouraging the active involvement/participation of area youth.

I’ve also had the pleasure of actually ‘performing’ in several of the past productions. My first show with C-STOCK, “1940′s Radio Hour,” was a truly wonderful experience, followed by “Footloose,” and most recently ”Damn Yankees.” In “Footloose,” I was joined by my middle son, Elliot. Then in “Damn Yankees,” Elliot, and his younger brother, Luke, were both part of the cast.

It has been thrilling to see my own kids participating in community theatre. C-STOCK offers a very healthy and wholesome environment/outlet for kids, and sure beats having them parked in front of the TV, XBox, or hanging out with the undesirables down at the mall.

Unfortunately, with so many other venues competing for our entertainment dollars, live theater has lost much of the draw it has historically enjoyed. It’s difficult at times to compete against high-budget, special effects Hollywood movies. The ease, comfort, and cost of Netflix/Blockbuster rentals at home seems to have a much wider appeal.

But there’s something truly magical about live theatre. The facility that C-STOCK uses for their theater here in Silverdale WA is very small (A bit too small at times!) But it lends a very special sense of intimacy to the experience. It many instances, it’s nearly participatory or interactive. You feel like you’re part of the cast! We recently produced “Beauty & The Beast.” It was a show of epic proportions. The sets and costuming were absolutely stunning, the performances electrifying! Even though I watched the show nearly every night, it never ceased to evoke gut-splitting laughter and heartfelt tears.

Now “THAT’S” entertainment!

Are you finding it increasingly difficult to plan a night out that’s suitable for the entire family? Look no farther! C-STOCK is the sure bet in Kitsap County WA!

Visit our newly designed website (developed by none other than Buckwheat himself – Mark Flanders) at www.cstock.org

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I’ve been reading a number of blog articles lately from other real estate agents who promote themselves as though they’re the cure for cancer. They proceed to explain why potential clients should select them as their agent. They all use many of the same descriptive terms – ‘Honest’ or ‘Ethical’ or ‘Hard-working.’ And it just makes you scratch your head and wonder, if all of them are so honest, ethical, and hard-working, why is the general public’s perception/approval rating of real estate agents so low?

Many of the agents I know respond to Seller inquiries rather agressively. This isn’t bad, in and of itself. Being confident in one’s abilities is a good trait, as long as it doesn’t supersede or overshadow the best interests of the potential client.

But ‘One Size’ doesn’t fit All. Let me explain…

Whenever I become engaged in conversation with a potential client, I let them know up front, that while they’re interviewing me, I am interviewing them as well. There are so many dynamics and variables that exist from one client to the next, I just never assume that I will work/partner with everyone who asks.

I’m not being rude or arrogant in this approach. The working relationship between a real estate professional and their client is crucial to achieving success. In a slow market like we are experiencing right now, with high levels of inventory and highly selective Buyers, it is imperative that a home be priced agressively and the necessary steps be taken to ensure that the home is adequately prepared for market.

Quite honestly, there are some instances where I feel customers can be served better through other means: 

With all the recent foreclosures, short sales are becoming increasingly common. This area is not one of my strong suits, so I would probably refer it to another agent, one that I know has proven ability.

If someone is ‘upside down’ (owes more on the house than they could sell it for), or lacks equity, it may be better for them to consider using a ‘limited-service’ agency – a ‘per menu’ provider that will place their home in the local MLS for a flat fee. Typically these agencies will only put up a yard sign, fill up the flyer box, and enter the home in the MLS. They typically don’t help counsel you or negotiate any offers that come in. You’re on your own there. But that might be a better situation for some, as opposed to using a ‘full-service’ agent.

What are the specific, current market dynamics in the area of the subject property? What are the inventory levels of comparably priced homes? What are the Seller’s goals or timeframes for selling? These are just some of the nuances that vary with each situation.

So while I like to think I’m a pretty good agent, I realize that I can’t be all things to all people.

That’s one of the many benefits of blogging. It allows me to share insights into who and what I am. Through my writing, I can convey my unique perspective, my passions, and my personality. Prospective clients can determine whether we would be a good fit without ever having met in person. How cool is that?

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Posted in Buyers, Real Estate Bites, Sellers, Silverdale WA Real Estate | 3 Comments »

Living in the Pacific Northwest, and being a stone’s throw across the Sound from Seattle, we are literally inundated with coffee shops & espresso stands on nearly every corner. From the major players like Starbuck’s, Tully’s, and Seattle’s Best, to the smaller venues like “Natte Latte,” we have a wealth of choices to get our caffeine quick fix.

In his book “The Purple Cow,” Marketing Guru Seth Godin states that Starbucks was ‘remarkable’ a few years ago. Now, he says, they’re boring.

Well, I wouldn’t necessarily call them ‘boring.’ Just recently, they intentionally closed all of their stores early so they could conduct training sessions for their employees. Supposedly it was to send a message to us consumers that Starbucks truly cares about improving their products/services. I watched a video clip on MSNBC where they were interviewing regular Starbucks customers outside one of the ‘closed’ stores. Boy, were they ever upset! Most of them simply headed down the street to the nearby Dunkin’ Donuts store! …..But I digress….

We have a new ‘player’ here in Kitsap County WA - The Global Bean. They occupy 1st floor space in the Cavalon Place II Office Building, part of the new Highland Business Park on Myhre Road in Silverdale.

As a long time Starbucks customer, I initally thought this venture was headed for a tough go. I mean, who can compete with Starbucks? During my first visit, it took entirely way too long to get just a simple tall brewed coffee with an add shot. I had become spoiled by the Howard Schultz java assembly-line.

As I was waiting, I met one of the partners, Joel Skellie. Great guy, very personable, down to earth. He said straight up,…

“We’re never going to be fast. We’re not going to compete against Starbucks, or any of the others. This is a place to slow down and connect. And we’ve got live local musicians three nights a week – from Celtic to Bluegrass, Jazz or Acoustic. Our vision is to be a place where our community ‘happens” and becomes more intimate.”

Wow! Stop the Press! ‘Slow down’ and ‘Connect?” Gee, what a concept!

So, I’ve been back. A lot. My wife and I go just about every week for coffee and a friendly game of Scrabble over Jazz. My blogging buddy, Buckwheat (aka Mark Flanders) and I meet there every Thursday morning at 8am with other area blog enthusiasts. We met some friends of ours there a couple of Sundays ago, and enjoyed wonderful conversation and great eats. As we were talking, we noticed that the place was empty except for us. We asked the barrista why there weren’t more customers, and he said that they had closed 2 hours ago! We were mortified! But they had been so busy cleaning up and had simply allowed us to continue our conversations!

The Global Bean is the vision and reality of partners Joel Skellie and Lance Gilbert. Joel has been a Kitsap County resident for over 19 years, served as a worship pastor for nearly as long, and is heavily involved in community music. Lance moved here in 1995 bringing a very successful software company along with him from Southern California. He is also involved in area music and theatre, enjoys graphic arts, music & video production, software design, and consulting.

Okay, so maybe when you’re in a hurry, you can do one of those ‘other’ drive-thru assembly line places. But as crazy and hectic as life is these days, it sure is a nice change of pace to ‘slow down’ and ‘connect’ every once in a while! 

The Global Bean…  “Where Community and Coffee Connect!”

2021 NW Myhre Road, Suite 101 ~ Silverdale, WA ~ 360.892.9582

Hours:  M-Th 7am-10pm ~ Fri 8am-Midnight ~ Sat 9am-Midnight ~ Sun 8am-7pm

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