Date: September 10, 2008 Class Time: 12 Noon to 1 PM Place: Keller Williams Training Room, 560 Naches Ave SW Suite 100, Renton, WA, 98057 Cost: Free I am excited to present "Seller Staging Strategies" today at Keller Williams Realty in Renton, Wa as part of the ongoing "Lunch and Learn" series at our Real Estate office. Seller Staging Stategies is a class to help Realtors in the quest: "To Stage or NOT to Stage..." and we will be covering some basic principles, as well as discussing the best ways to get the job done! Real Estate Agents can learn how to stage their listings so they stand out from the competition!   Julianna Hind is a Real Estate and Design Professional in the Greater Puget Sound Area. Serving Bellevue, Renton, Issaquah, Kent, Federal Way, Auburn, Covington, Maple Valley ... 09/10/2008

Do you have a favorite place where you pick up your morning coffee? Do you like the service and price you pay for your coffee drink? Then reason I ask is this, I would always go to Starbucks in the morning and order a Iced Venti Vanilla Late and a blueberry muffin. The liens are long and the drinks are filled with more ice than anything else... so one day I decided to go to a new coffee shop. As I was driving down Maple-Valley Highway going westbound I noticed "Maplewood Espresso & Deli". I went to the drive up window and right when I pulled up I was greeted by a friendly barista. She took my order, and gave me my bill. I was astonished at the price that I had just paid, I mean $5.75 was a deal, in comparison to $8.25 at Starbucks. I started to question the flavor way before I could eve... 09/09/2008

  We all go our separate ways in our daily lives.  Busy, hurrying, being distracted, our own thoughts.  As I was coming home today, I saw a large construction crane.  On the very top was an American Flag.  Looked small from the ground, but was higher than any other point in this area of Renton.   So it got me to pause and think.  What does it mean to be an American?  How did we get here? What battles have been fought over the generations to keep us here and free?  How will our nation look in 100 years, when our great grandkids are keeping us free? I hope this makes you take a second to pause, consider the foundations of our nation, say a prayer for our country and especially our soldiers, law enforcement officers and firefighters. WHEN TO FLY THE AMERICAN FLAG The flag can be displayed... 09/09/2008

FREE List of Renton Real Estate Foreclosures. To access your free list click here. Foreclosures produce great opportunities for home seekers and investors. Many times you will hear stories of people grabbing a home for 50% off. These stories are not common during strong markets, but that does not mean there are not great deals in the market. Renton Real Estate deals! Weekly I will place together a list of foreclosures in your desired area for your review, all for FREE and with no obligation. Plus I will also share with you other homes that might peek your interest, this way you are not limited to what is currently being offered.  Fill out the form by clicking here and I will get you your first Free Report right away! If you have any questions, always feel free to call 206-335-3689 so I ... 08/20/2008

  Renton Real Estate Agent now offering a Guanteed Sale Program. If you would like to learn more about my 30 Day Guarantee that pays YOU if I don't sell your home, click here for a complete explanation.   08/20/2008

Sign Up for a FREE Local Home Search and receive a free list of homes for sale for your desired area. What is the MLS? The MLS is where agents in this area and across the country place their listings, so other agents are able to find exactly what their clients are looking for. If you are looking for a home to buy,  this is exactly where you want to start! If you would like to Search the Entire MLS Database... Just like Renton Real Estate Agents do... Click here 08/20/2008

Renton Real Estate Agent is proud to announce that he has brand new signs. These signs are some of the best in the industry. Innovative technology allows sign to be seen 24 hours a day when car lights hit them just like traffic signs. These signs are just 1 of the 89 Steps Ryan uses to sell your home. If you would like to find out more about Ryan Ward and his complete marketing plan you can visit his website at www.RyanWardGroup.com     ***WARNING*** At the Ryan Ward Group, it is our understanding that these new signs will help you SUCCESSFULLY sell your Renton Washington home. The average Ryan Ward Group sign will only stay at your home for 42 days before it get's a Sold Sign added to it (as pictured above)! We understand that this half the time of the average Renton Real Estate Agent.... 08/20/2008

      Hi there, Vern Funk here, the owner and president of Vern Funk Real Estate. For years I have been the leading low cost (even lower service) Real Estate Broker in Renton, Washington. And I'll tell you what... I have made a fortune by fooling all you homeowners into believing that all you need to sell your home is the MLS (Multiple Listing Service).       Recently though, many of you guys are calling Ryan Ward when it's time to sell. What's going on? I mean... do you actually think Ryan and his 89 Step Home Marketing Plan are what you need to sell? Well, I've been reading Ryan's 89 Step Marketing System for less than 3 minutes now and I already found a list of things he offers that you just don't need. Here are a couple things you do not need...     #1 You don't need a sign. Not onl... 08/19/2008

This week I was on a listing appointment with a potential home seller. This home was over in Maple Valley and had been listed with another Realtor for over 6 months with nothing happening. After doing some research on the property, I found out that the home across the street (same floor plan as their home) had just sold a month ago for 25k less than they were asking. Their response... "Of course THEY sold their home...they GAVE IT AWAY!!! For these sellers, they wanted to be moved by the end of October, yet there asking price reflected an unrealistic price. They were 25k over any home in the neighborhood. This market is for serious sellers only! If you truly need to sell, you need to "get real" and realize that if you have been trying to sell for 6 months and no one has bought your home... 08/14/2008

Earlier this week, I was talking with Kathy (one of the fellow Realtor's at my office) and she was telling me about a sale she was working on. Here's the story... Kathy represents the buyers of this particular deal. She went out and showed the buyer multiple homes and then the buyer made the decision to buy in particular condo complex. The problem was that there is only one unit for sale in this particular complex. The buyers saw that unit and fell in love with it. Now your probably thinking great, huh. But, here's the problem. When Kathy researched recent sales in that complex she realized that this unit was really over priced by about 50k. Now, she told her clients that and they still wanted to make an offer. So they made an offer considerably lower and presented the comps to the sell... 08/14/2008

I'm sure that you all have read the reports on how horrible the real estate market had become. The truth is the market is struggling, home prices are down and inventory is at a high. But when the real estate market gives you lemons, there is always a way to make lemonade. Recently I helped a past client of mine sell their home and buy up to another larger home. Even though there current home sold for less that what it once could have, they actually were better off to sell now, in a down market, than had they sold when the market was at the top. Here why... Last year, their home would have sold for about $330,000 and now is only worth about $300,000 a decrease of about 10%. Not good, but keep reading. My clients are qualified to buy a home at $450,000 and this new home has also gone down... 08/13/2008

Right now, I am thinking about something that I cannot get off my mind. I cannot believe the number of Real Estate Agents that do not use a professional photographer to photographer their listings. Before deciding to write this blog, I was reading an article that reported over 90% of all home buyers found there home on the Internet. The article also said that these buyers will only look at an individual house for less than 2 seconds before making a decision to keep reading or continue on to the next home. Fact is that today's market is tuff. There are many homes on the market and buyers do not have the patients try and imagine what the home is like. You need to have clear pictures with good lighting and wide angle lenses that SHOW THE ENTIRE ROOM. If the home doesn't show at its full p... 08/13/2008

When selling your home, there are two ways to go. You can decide to list your home with a Full Service Broker or a Limited Service Broker. With a Full Service Broker they will handle step involved with selling your home. With a Limit Service Broker you hire them to handle various tasks while you take care of the rest. For a long time I was a strong supporter of the Limited Service Companies. I know, hard to believe coming from a guy who hangs his license at one of the larges Full Service Brokerages. Back when the market was great, not everyone needed a Full Service Broker to sell there home. And because of this were able to save a lot of money buy doing some of the work themselves. Now, in 2008. My opinion has completely changed! If your planning on selling your home in today's market,... 08/13/2008

This home recently came back on the market. We reseived another offer on this beautiful home in 26 days. Are you thinking of selling your home? We know the market and what it takes to get your home the exposure it needs to sell in today's market. You can find out more about how we market homes by visiting our website at www.RyanWardGroup.com. YOUR HOME SOLD IN 30 DAYS... OR I'LL PAY YOUR MORTGAGE UNTIL IT SELLS!Ryan WardJohn L. Scott RE MPV(206)335-3568 08/12/2008

Renton, WA As an independant agent and partner with Keller Williams Realty, I constantly strive to keep all systems in check, and to know what needs to be done to run the business right. If you are a small business owner like me, and you live in the greater Puget Sound Area, then you may want to check out Biz Fair 2008 at the Renton Technical College. Entrepreneurs and small business owners may want to save the date of September 6, 2008 for the Washington Small Business Fair. The event has a great line-up of seminars and exhibitors for the small business owner, and the best part, the event is FREE! Learn about planning, marketing, websites, taxes, business structure to name just a few topics covered in the 1 Day Business Fair. There is also a brochure available and I have linked it  HER... 07/27/2008

Renton Wins Pacesetter Award The City of Renton's employee transportation program has been recognized as a "Pacesetter" by the Commuter Challenge organization for the city's efforts and programs to reduce drive-alone commute trips by city employees. The city provides a free FlexPass for transit, subsidies towards King County Metro VanPool and VanShare fares, and other incentives for employees who walk, bicycle, or carpool to work, as well as a Guaranteed Ride Home program. Congratulations, Renton. David EdwardsREALTORKeller Williams Realty Southeast SoundPhone: 425-890-8045E-Mail: david@davidjedwards.comWebsite: http://www.davidjedwards.comBlogsite: http://www.davidjedwards.com/renton-info-blog.aspMobile Site: http://davidjedwards.mofuse.mobiCommunity Reports: http://www.topmarketer.net... 07/15/2008

Well Renton and Kent home buyers and all my great buyers who have met Bill Moore, home inspector extraordinaire.....  He sent me this in part of an email today.  Glad this wasn't my client and not my inspection.   I had an inspection today... " it was just remodeled and in perfect condition...you won't find anything wrong"  ...some shingle missing from the roof..."P" trap missing in the half bath...no fire door to the garage (the new one looks nice) ...no handrails on the stairs...the new tub control was installed upside down and leaked in the wall...and the best of all...they didn't fully connect the waste lines in the crawlspace...there was enough waste that they are going to have to have a septic company come in and suck it up...take out all the vapor barrier and install new...I woul... 07/02/2008

Are you looking for some fun things to do this summer?    Renton Summer Calendar of Events     July 2               Coulon Family concert 7pm Admission:  Free   Duwamish Dixieland Jazz July 4              Fabulous 4th of July Celebration - Gene Coulon Park 7am-10pm  Admission:  Free July 6               Return to Renton Cruise in  The Piazza  10am-3pm  Admission:Free July 9               Coulon Family concert 7pm Admission:  Free     Handful of Luvin' July 10             Picnic Pizzaz - A kids entertainment series Kiwanis Park 12pm-1pm  Admission: Free July 11             Summer Chocolate Festival   Renton Public Library  2pm-4pm  Admission:   Free July 12             Summer Splash-tacular   Henry Moses Aquatic Center  Admission: Free July 12             Moonlight movies at Liberty Park... 07/01/2008

  More than 1,800 people work for the Boeing Company at their Renton plant, and many of those people have families and pets and cars . . . in short, they have full lives. That kind of life can be more fulfilling for a family that lives in their own home, whether it's a single family house with a fenced back yard or a modern condo.   Now is a good time to begin looking for that perfect home for your lifestyle. There is a wide variety of properties to choose from in Renton. It is not difficult to find a home over 3,000 sq.ft., and it's equally easy to locate a small, 2-bedroom cottage. Do you want a home near the lake? Are you looking for something with a fireplace? Take a look at what's available in Renton.   You can find a large selection of newer homes and condominiums in Renton, as we... 06/30/2008

Hi all: Last night Helen Martin of Keller Williams and myself held a homebuyers seminar at the Green Lake Library in Seattle. We felt it was a success and plan to build on it and hold a seminar quarterly. Although we didn't have alot of people attend (3 showed up), we felt we were able to convey a message and we answered several questions from experienced homebuyers who wanted to know about how our business worked. Personally, I love to teach and share and Helen does as well. Going forward we plan on repeating so if you're reading this here, and live in the Seattle area, I invite you to attend the next one. Although we touched on first-time homebuyer programs such as FHA and Nehemiah, we also talked about how reverse mortgages work and what a customer should look for in a realtor. I dis... 06/24/2008