Carmen Tomlinson's Blog -Re/Max Select Maple Valley WA

Equestrian Dream

Carmen Tomlinson, King & Pierce Counties WA (Re/Max Select RE) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:46:52 -0500

Ravensdale Equestrian Dream Home with fantastic 2 stall barn, riding trails from the property, fenced & cross fenced. The perfect balance in home & equestrian features on a secluded 7.51 acre parcel.

Lovely granite kitchen with trash compactor, pantry & wet bar. This 4 bedroom home has been meticulously maintained.

Huge back patio with great sun exposure, wrap around porch & sports area. Excellent Schools!

Offered At $799,000

Riverfront Condominium

Carmen Tomlinson, King & Pierce Counties WA (Re/Max Select RE) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:08:57 -0500

Fantastic Riverfront Park at it's best. Great river views and close to the Sounder train and the new Kent Station which features lots of shopping & dining. Wonderful location & trail access from your back door. 2 bedrooms 1.5 baths with vaulted ceilings wait for you! A great value with all the upgrades & private back patio and deck. Two designated parking spaces included.

Little Miracles

Carmen Tomlinson, King & Pierce Counties WA (Re/Max Select RE) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:11:35 -0500

Little Miracles Happen Every day!

Our 2nd Annual Little Miracles Auction benefitting Children's Miracle Network & Children's Hospital in Seattle is fast approaching. This year we've decided to honor one member of the community who makes the difference in the lives of sick or disabled children.

This year we will be honoring Mr. Ken Eide, a Special Education teacher at Shadow Lake Elementary for his ongoing dedication to some of the most profoundly disabled children in Maple Valley. He is long overdue for recognition! He is a teacher who goes above & beyond with his care & nurturing of not only his students but their families.

He stops in at one particular student's home every morning to feed this child who gets anxious about going to school.

Congratulations Ken Eide! You are our 2008 Miracle Maker! The world is a better place because of you!

Foreclosures & Short Sales

Carmen Tomlinson, King & Pierce Counties WA (Re/Max Select RE) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:59:03 -0500

Foreclosures & Short-sales

Foreclosures & short sales are popping up like crazy in our region. I was out showing homes to a client and 3 of the 5 we were viewing were short sales. It's a trying time for a lot of homeowners right now. Whether it's a mortgage that's resetting or too much equity taken out, it's a difficult scenario. Home ownership is the American dream yet banks are taking homes back in record numbers.

The Pendulum has swung the other way. Lending guidelines & appraisals are not just conservative but amazingly conservative. I recently had my own home appraised. I was shocked when it came in grossly under value! I could have disputed it easily with comps. If I were selling, I would list it substantially higher, (not just 20 or 30K) and the market could bare it! It just made me even more aware of the lenders crunching to make sure they're underwriting responsible loans. That's a good thing though, within reason of course!

Dropping Like Flies

Carmen Tomlinson, King & Pierce Counties WA (Re/Max Select RE) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:02:31 -0500

They're dropping like flies!

I've been selling Real Estate for many years now. Over those years I've made a lot of contacts with other agents. You tend to see all the old familiar faces over time and get to know the ones who are in the business as a career. I have enjoyed bantering back & forth with agents from all the various companies. We have discussed market trends, price opinions & general information. We'll attend each other's Broker's Open Houses & call on each other's listings & most certainly show them when the opportunity presents because it's always nice to have another professional on the other end of a transaction.

Lately, I've heard about more fellow agents than I can count who are getting out of the business. Sure, the market is slower but this is the prime time if you ask me! I'm excited about what I do! The value of having a skilled Realtor is more apparent than ever! A solid Marketing Plan, a diligent Realtor to follow through with it, and when leads come in; an agent who will follow up on them timely! Not to mention, helping sellers with all the things they need to know about selling & preparing their home for sale with success.

I love my job and wouldn't trade it for any other.......unless it required me to sit on a beach & soak up some sun in the tropics!

Price Them Right!

Carmen Tomlinson, King & Pierce Counties WA (Re/Max Select RE) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:42:01 -0600

Price Them Right!

I've been on several listing appointments lately. Sellers are not digesting the reality of the market so well. It seems they still feel their homes are worth what they were in a booming market where bidding wars were commonplace.

I have always been of the mindset that I don't want overpriced listings. That has never been truer than now. Sellers don't want an overpriced listing either! Sometimes they just don't know it yet. They don't want to become shop worn on the market, sell for less than they would have & linger on the market longer than the increased time on market we're currently seeing. It's just a recipe for frustration, not to mention money wasted & the seller's time on market. It's my job to convey that. I have lost listings based not on me, but on the reality of the market. I'm ok with that!

I hope in your business you are too!

What your $ can buy in my area! How does it compare to your area?

Carmen Tomlinson, King & Pierce Counties WA (Re/Max Select RE) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:22:32 -0600

Maple Valley Meadows 3bedroom 2bath, 1100 sq ft home w/ two car garage on neighborhood lot near nature trails.

$269,000

Riverfront Park Condominium 2bedroom/1.5 bath 1,000 sq ft located on the Green River with a fantastic River view! Open floor plan with vaulted ceiling.
$189,950
Sun Ridge @ Elk Run 4 bedroom 2.75bath 2250 sq ft with 2 car garage plus shop! Near shopping, in great school district & around the corner from Elk Run Golf Course.
$369,000

What say you? What would these homes be worth in your area? It's alot of fun to see how prices compare from coast to coast. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Real Estate Downturn-when the investor gets Richer

Carmen Tomlinson, King & Pierce Counties WA (Re/Max Select RE) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:33:11 -0600

I am currently working with several buyer clients who ponder "when is the right time to buy?" They have all inquired at one point or another "when do you think we'll hit the bottom in the market?" What a great question! If I knew the answer to that I could stand to make alot of money! The real estate crystal ball. I would definitely get a Patton on that!

The best advice I can give is that by the time we know we've hit the bottom of the market it will have passed us by. Interest Rates are low! It's funny, I hear some agents that have been in the biz for ages telling the new ones about times where the mortgage interest rates were 15%. FIFTEEN! We're in a market which is much more "normal" than we've seen in years. I remember a couple years ago writing an offer on the hood of my car while people were lined up to get in to see the home we just saw! It was a circus! Everyone got too used to a quick market!

Real Estate is still a very solid sound investment. It's not meant to be a short term endeavor.

I'm telling my buyer clients "Now is the time to buy!" Strike while the iron is hot! I know a slower market breeds uncertainty but a slower market is when you can leverage your buying power! Now is the time to buy!

Web Commercials-Agents Ramp up your website!

Carmen Tomlinson, King & Pierce Counties WA (Re/Max Select RE) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:47:56 -0600

In the savvy high tech Seattle area there are many high profile corporations including Microsoft, Safeway, Starbucks, Kenworth & Alaska Airlines. It's typical for the real estate consumer to begin their search online. Once the consumer becomes more serious about making a move they want a real estate expert to assist them, understanding there is invaluable knowledge & expertise that goes into a real estate transaction.

Having a web video has been very helpful for my clients who are relocating to the area. They have enjoyed getting to know me before they meet me! Take a look at my website/web video. Let me know if you have any questions. Always happy to help!

First Impressions are Everything!

Carmen Tomlinson, King & Pierce Counties WA (Re/Max Select RE) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:02:00 -0600

I'm having some yardwork & pruning done on my property. I was standing outside talking with the landscape company and realized how messy my yard is with dead branches everywhere. Our grass is brown & looking very sad. I am really looking forward to having new soil added to the garden beds so I can add some color. Flowers have a way of beautifying any space. If I were selling I think people might drive up and keep on driving! Not really but I'm critical because I never take my Realtor hat off! First Impressions are Everything when selling.....but I'm not so I guess I'm ok while we're trying to get the yard back in shape!

My poor family, when we sold our last two homes I was like a drill sargeant! Yes, bootcamp! Before we left the house for each showing we would run the vacuum so there were nice lines in the carpet. Obsessive, I know. Hey, I was doing my family a favor, I didn't want them to have to endure the craziness longer than they had to!! Afterall, I knew how important the first impression is! It's fun seeing my client's reaction when we walk in the front door of a home that may belong to them soon!

Referrals-How to get them!

Carmen Tomlinson, King & Pierce Counties WA (Re/Max Select RE) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:43:01 -0600

We all know that being referred is the best source of quality clients! Personally, I am very particular about who I will refer. Attaching my name, thus credibility, to someone else's work is something I do not take lightly.
So, how do we inspire others to refer us? It's easy! Get caught up in genuinely striving to exceed expectations every single time. How do you do that on a typical transaction? It's the little things that mean so much. It astounds me how often I find myself in a transaction with a lackluster agent, unwilling to return phone calls, fax a form 17 timely for my client's review & do the typical duties required of them to perform at a par level. One might argue that such things are not exceeding expectations. Very true, people expect those things. Go beyond that. It is quite refreshing to me when I am fortunate enough to work with an agent who is competent, professional, timely & knowledgeable. Go the extra mile for people. I do simply because it's not good enough for me to be average. Consider this, have you ever had a conversation with a client who was completely unhappy with a previous experience? Here's your opportunity to shine! Those agents willing to go "above & beyond" build up a reputation not only with their fellow professionals who seek out their listings to show, but also with their clientele over the years and end up reaping repeat business as a result!

Testimonials
Doug & Phylis Coulbert
"Not only did she make herself available late at night, and willing to drive some distance to meet us, but she was always full of helpful information."
Mike & Carol Odom
"We highly recommend Carmen to anyone who expects their real estate agent to be diligent, hardworking, caring and honest. She went the "extra mile"."
Shelly Smith
"Carmen is the best realtor I've ever used. I recommend her whole heartedly. I would definitely use her services again."

Tina Owens
"I am so excited and proud to be buying my first home. I will never forget all you have done for us!"

Nancy Williams
"Thanks for going over & above in helping Larry & I with the sale of our home."

Jeff & Jacque Robinson
"Carmen's follow up with every agent and potential client was meticulous. Her suggestions on how to make our house "more sellable" were invaluable."

Maple Valley Area...A great place to live!

Carmen Tomlinson, King & Pierce Counties WA (Re/Max Select RE) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:35:47 -0600

Tonight my husband & I went for a walk around our neighborhood after putting our daughter to bed. It was really dark, as there are no street lights....just lamp posts at the end of the driveways. It's so quiet because we live in a somewhat rural area, away from all the lights of "town".

As we took our walk we went by a home with their garage door open. The house was dark so we thought maybe they went to bed with it up. Immediately, I began to replay a memory in my head when I was a young girl in junior high: It was also dark out and I decided to go right next door to visit my girlfriend. As I walked across the grass to her house I passed by their garage. The door was open, lights on and some stranger was in their garage rumaging through their belongings. I turned around and ran home through the door like a whirlwind, telling my mother. As it turns out he was stealing tools.

Being the security conscious guy my husband is, we decided we should go tap on the door to let them know. They were very grateful. It jogged a memory for my husband too, one neighbor we had a couple moves back, would always forget to close her garage door at night. By always, I mean 5 out of 7 days a week. This just didn't set well with my safety conscious husband, so at night he'd check ours and then check hers and promptly pick up the phone to call. Good Memories in Maple Valley!

Often times, people who are relocating ask me what the area is like. I really enjoy conveying to them a sense of community. It's fun to hear from my sellers about their neighborhood and what made them buy where they did, because likely, that will be the draw for the future homeowner. I've heard so many fun stories over the years from my clients about memories in their homes & great neighbors who are more like family. The kind of people who would definitely stop & let them know if they left the garage door open late at night!