Rain City Guide at Inman Connect Promo Shot - 07/28/08 02:08 PM

Rhonda Porter's Husband took this photo of "Dustin's Angels" at the Trulia Party at Inman Connect.  The Trulia Party had GREAT music!  And the huge pillow sofas on the floor were so comfy, we didn't want to get up.
A photo like this one doesn't happen every day...it's a keeper for me.  That's Dustin Luther, owner of Rain City Guide in the center.  Right is Rhonda Porter of The Mortgage Porter and above me is Jillayne Schlicke an Ethics and Training Consultant and Trainer.  We all blog at Rain City Guide and attended Inman Connect.
My thoughts on Inman Connect … (14 comments)

When House For Sale gets angry at House SOLD - 07/26/08 12:38 PM
In my travels of the last 24 hours, I have noticed a lot of people who have been trying to sell their homes since April or so, getting very angry at those who have SOLD very quickly.
"Of course THEY sold their home...they GAVE IT AWAY!!!
These are the days, the important days that say "will you sell before November?" when owners decide IF they are going to sell their homes, stay in them, or rent them out.  Those who truly are selling vs. listing need to "get real" and realize that if no one has bought it since April...holding out … (18 comments)

Inman Connect - San Francisco - Part 3 - 07/22/08 11:15 AM
Packing the laptop.  Almost forwarded my email to Gmail instead, but Kim talked me into bringing it so I can blog from Connect.
On my can't wait to meet or see again list:
David G. Zillow - I can't get enough of him.
Todd Carpenter - I feel like a Princess in his Presence
Jonathan Miller - Matrix - want to compare notes on "Larry" in person
Saul Klein - some unfinished business and a latte - something stronger
Active Bob Stewart - MAJOR HUGS!!!
Dez Daniels - cause everyone loves Desiree
Glenn Kelman if he's coming - he's been so … (5 comments)

Inman Bloggers Connect - Part 2 - 07/21/08 10:28 PM

When you are going on a long trip, you expect to get your nails done mid-stream.  Or...if I'm going to L.A., well you just get your pedicure and nails done as soon as you arrive.  But when you are going to be sitting in a conference for days with no time for touch ups...
You have to break out the Sally Hansen NO CHIP 10 day Nail Color.  We only need it to be half as true as its name...but just to be sure, choose a light color like this one "Infinite Natural" so chips aren't as noticeable. Plus I … (19 comments)

Is the Housing Market Stabilizing? - 07/21/08 05:22 PM

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride, and wishing the market to be better is not providing a good and valued service to your clients.
I wrote a blog post today about where I think the market is...and where it is heading, but not with wishful thinking...but cold-hard facts and a bit of projection regarding some red flags I am seeing.
Seattle is quite different from most parts of the Country, in that our cup is 95% full as to price and half empty as to volume. 
But I do urge those who shell out advices day in and day … (2 comments)

Inman Connect - San Francisco - Part 1 - 07/21/08 05:04 PM
Well, it's almost time to leave for Inman Connect in San Francisco.  Not much left to do but pack...except...choose the mascara.  Last year I went with Triple X mascara for 3X the lashes!  But...new year...new mascara.
So what's my choice of mascara for Inman Connect San Francisco 2008?
First we ask the people who need to look as good as possible:
 
 
Then we balance that with a consumer opinion.
 
That's my choice for Blogger's Connect 2008, though no one will ever convince me that these ladies didn't also use fake lashes :)  I'm not going that route.  My … (15 comments)

Which color of green should I paint the walls? - 07/19/08 01:08 PM
I received this question in my email this morning in response to a post on my "other blog".
"hi.. i found you somehow and need help please!! i would like to paint my front room a green, I think. Everyone seems to like the restoration hardware silver sage.. what do you think?  Is it too grey?  Would the Sherwin Williams sea salt be better?  I would like a nice tone.. not too grey or green.  I am usually pretty traditional..pottery barn style. 
 My front room has a deep forest green leather sofa and two matching traditional bombay wing back herringbone plaid chairs … (24 comments)

Before and After Staging Contest Photos - 07/19/08 12:59 AM
Another Entry for  Realty U's "I Staged It" Photo contest. 
This room has two before and after photos taken from both sides of the room.  The BEFORE photos were the photos from the mls from when I bought the property.  The AFTER photos are how they will appear in the mls now that I am going to sell it.  I have lived here three years.
BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER
I painted the triangle at the ceiling to highlight the height of the room and I painted the furthest wall back to create depth.  I always had the piano in … (14 comments)

Realty U's Before and After Photo Contest - With PRIZES! - 07/18/08 10:44 PM
My good friend Andy Capelluto asked me to enter Realty U's "I Staged It" Photo contest.  So I have to submit lots of entries.  I'm a real estate agent and not a stager, but I did attend Barb Schwarz ASP Class, which was a blast, and do help clients get their properties ready for sale.  This happens to be my own house the way it was in the mls when I bought it (before) and the way it is now prepared for market (after)
This room is part of "the great room" at the rear of the house.  The previous owner … (15 comments)

Tune in to NAR's Chief Economist at 5 p.m PST Today!!! - 07/17/08 02:01 PM
I don't usually "plug" things that are going on around the Blogosphere, but Dustin Luther is hosting a call in show today (or questions by chat room) with Lawrence Yun, NAR's Chief Economist.  That's 8 p.m. for those of you on the East Coast.  The in the middle people will have to figure out the time :).
Take a minute to get familiar with how to call in to speak or to just listen in.  I've never gone into the chat portion, but the calling in is really very simple.
The questions addressed to Yun will come from both agents and … (5 comments)

Lot is 3X bigger does not "value out" - 07/17/08 12:29 PM
Recently on Rain City Guide, a local area resident asked why we don't first add an additional 2X the land value and then value the structure value, when coming up with a listing or offer price.
In the post itself, I explained the 10% rule for extras, including extra land.  That rule being that when you pull the nearby comps and value the property based on it being a "normal" sized lot for the neighborhhood, you can only add 10% of that value to the total to account for extra lot size, a pool, a tennis court and any other extras … (11 comments)

Stained-glass Stairway Landing - Kirkland is an Art Town - 07/17/08 09:54 AM

Kirkland, Washington is a City known for many thngs, but two of its biggest claims to fame are that it is a City built on a Lake and it is known for its many Art Stores.
The stained glass "window of vases" on the stairway landing of my home are not part of the window,  They are free standing separate pieces that can be re-arranged.  The stairway window art was made by my sister Loretta, she was creating the effect of vases on a shelf.  The Mondrian paintings to the right were done by me.  To the left you see … (6 comments)

My Claws are Green and my Balls are Blue - 07/16/08 10:29 PM

I'm starting to get the photos ready for listing my property right after I get back from Inman Blogger's Connect in San Francisco.
I know you all know I'm a bit odd and eclectic.  It's a big decision not to neutralize everything in my house, but since I've painted the furniture to match the house...well I'm sure it's a stager's nightmare, but it is what it is.
I have always loved ball and claw furniture and have had many traditional pieces in my younger years.  Back in Philadelphia everyone knew what Queen Anne vs. Chippendale and Ball and Claw were.  … (28 comments)

Buying and Selling Real Estate in 2008 - 07/13/08 11:41 AM

Generally speaking, I have been a strong proponent for Do It Yourself Real Estate at times, more times than most agents.  But I have to say I'm doing a complete about face in 2008.  It's a really bad time to not have someone assist you in navigating through the process of buying or selling real estate, and having an agent vs. not having an agent can clearly make the difference between a soft and hard landing.
I love the visual of the guy in front being the person looking at property to buy, or a seller trying to figure out how … (13 comments)

My Favorite Agent Video Blogs - IanWatt.ca - 07/12/08 01:32 AM
I adore Ian Watt, and liked his style even before he started doing his video blogs.  Now that he has the videos going, he is even more awesome!
Everyone can learn a lot from watching Ian's daily video blogs. 
1) They are short
2) He has charm and personality and a great twinkle in his eye
3) He says what he means and he means what he says
4) He ALWAYS ends his videos the same...almost always.  Creates a feeling of familiarity.
I really like his style.  I'm going to try to embed a few here, but you can catch all … (31 comments)

A tip for choosing timely blog post topics that people will really read and find - 07/11/08 01:12 PM
I can't say that I have utilized this to its full advantage, but over on my blog I have a widget for a "stat counter" in the right sidebar.  Sorry to use a link instead of a "screen shot", but I'm terrible at screen shots. 
Once you have access to the free Stat Counter (I'm sure there are others that you may already use) there should be an option for"
"RECENT KEYWORD ACTIVITY"  I'm pretty sure I have seen someone using this on an AR blog as well, so you should have access fairly easily and free to this type of … (21 comments)

The Color of SOLD is - BROWN - 07/11/08 01:45 AM

This one is for Jo Soss, taken right off the stairway wall of a recently sold home in Seattle.
The color was really a Brown Sugar like the one below from Benjamin Moore

But the lighting from the bottom to the top of the staircase gave it that variated pattern and color tone.
A slightly lighter version of Seville Brown below would give you the mid-tone

Here's a trick I use all the time and recommend to my clients.  Instead of playing with color swatches to do tone on tone, buy the darker color like Seville Brown.  Do … (5 comments)

The Real Estate Market is Not Getting Better - 07/11/08 01:22 AM

Here in the Seattle area we have enjoyed a really great market until July or August of 2007, unlike the rest of the Country.  The big story is in the fewer number of sold property, the higher and growing numbers of property for sale.  But in reality what we are looking for is for the reduction in volume to slow down or stablilize.  Unfortunately, no signs of that happening yet.

The rate at which sales are getting few is going higher.  In the 4th quarter when the slowdown started due to the mortgage and credit crisis, volume dropped to … (7 comments)

The color of SOLD - ORANGE - 07/11/08 01:11 AM

Above is an actual swatch from a recently sold property.  The huge living room was painted in this color.  The furnishings were very neutral, the walls were not.
In fact I've seen quite a few shades of orange and brown-orange lately.
Here are a few ideas:

Benjamin Moore's Flamme Orange above
Robust Orange below:

And one of my favorites from Pottery Barn that mixes well with Robust Orange
Semolina:

These colors go especially well in properties with lots of natural light that were built in the eighties and have warm caramel colored wood trims.
But they go … (3 comments)

The color of SOLD - Green - 07/11/08 01:03 AM

Do what I just did.  Go into the mls and look for property that sold very recently and in a short period of time.  You may be surprised when you look at the walls inside.  Not all white or beige!
The above color was taken from a recently sold home and it was used as an accent color in an alcove in a hallway.  Just a splash of color.
In person it was actually much brighter and resembled Banjamin Moore's Malachy Green below:

A great color, especially for urban condos.
… (3 comments)

Staging and Feng Shui not always in sync - 07/09/08 08:24 PM

When you stage a bedroom, you have to remember that people often don't come into the room if you don't grab them at the doorway.  For a room to say "come in", you often have to "invite" the people in by appealing to their senses.
Would you sleep in this room?  Does it say, "come inside"?  I think it does!  So for staging you most often will face the bed toward the doorway to maximize your largest piece and you biggest decorating opportunity...the bedding.
But Feng Shui suggests that you should not sleep with your feet facing a doorway.  Your … (15 comments)

Choose a photo - which is best? - 07/07/08 07:33 PM

Above is the photo of the sink side of the 5 piece master bath as it appeared in the mls three years ago.
Below is the same photo with some light added and cropped to remove the bedroom from the shot.


Above is the same room with some changes and no lights on.  Would it look better if the bedroom was showing as in the first photo?  The gold light fixtures were changed to match the silver faucets.  The placement of the lighting was changed to be over the sinks, the third mirror was removed and glass shelves … (38 comments)

Fireworks from Kirkland - Happy 4th of July! - 07/05/08 01:01 AM
I took these from my bedroom window.  Enjoy! 

Awesome!  And I didn't even have to leave the house!
 
… (16 comments)

Are you a two-faced agent? - 07/04/08 03:11 PM

One of the hardest parts of being a Real Estate Agent, is that one minute we are advising a Seller and the next minute we are advising a buyer.  I will not make light of that...it is very difficult to be in that position and where understanding what Fiduciary means becomes so very important.
I just finished writing two articles on my blog.
Should I buy a house NOW?
Should I sell my house NOW or should I WAIT?
One of the best tests of determining whether your advices are best for YOU or for you clients, is to write … (138 comments)

 
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ARDELL DellaLoggia

Kirkland, WA

More about me…

Sound Realty

Address: Kirkland, WA, 98033

Office Phone: (206) 910-1000

Cell Phone: (206) 910-1000

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