Third hand smoke...Can this effect the price of a home and inspections? - 05/31/11 12:51 PM

Third hand smoke...Can this effect the price of a home and inspections?
I was just reading an article in my MORE© Magazine titled Ghosts of smokers past where the first paragraph says "If you're hunting for a new home, add "smoking history" to your inspection list".
Well..that sure caught my attention! These days the inpection list is getting longer and longer..radon, underground oil tanks,mold etc. on top of your basic home inspection, will be be seeing this one in the future?
We all know the dangers of first and second hand smoke...but what about third hand smoke?
The study … (18 comments)

In memory of all those that have laid their bodies down for the freedom of others - 05/30/11 12:41 PM
In memory of all those that have laid their bodies down for the freedom of others
You know when you're a kid and you just sing along to a song because you like the tune...but you really have no clue what the words mean? Of course even getting the lyrics correctly is always a good thing...I mean, I just recently found out I was singing "stepped on a pop tart" instead of the "stepped on a pop top" to Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville.
Anyway, I love how music can take you right back to certain moments in time. Well, I can remember … (10 comments)

Twitter etiquette..do you follow all that follow you? - 05/30/11 12:31 AM
So I recently started to use Twitter and am think I've finally gotten the hang of it. I haven't really used it fully and want to start engaging with those that follow me..as well as those I follow (hmmm..sound familiar?) Before I started doing this, I felt the need to just get a good feel for it and learn the lingo..and watch what other are doing..sorta like when you start ActiveRain before I jumped in. But now I'm ready to jump in!
So my question to all you Tweeters out there..is there an etiquette rule that you should follow those that … (16 comments)

What my home means to me on Memorial Day weekend - 05/29/11 12:57 PM

What my home means to me on Memorial Day weekend.
I recently read a blog that asks 365 thought provoking questions to ask yourself this year, and "When you think of 'home' what specifically does it mean to you" was one of them. Since this is Memorial Day weekend, I was sitting here sipping my morning coffee thinking of what home means to me.
What first came to my mind was of course my physical home, this house I love that we moved into almost 2 years ago. I love waking to the sight of the birds and woodland … (16 comments)

When selling your home.. changing the light fixtures can be a quick easy update with a high impact - 05/27/11 08:33 PM
When selling your home..changing the light fixtures can be a quick and easy update with high impact.
If you're ready to put your home on the market, one of the easiest ways to update your home is by changing out the light fixtures. Is your entry way sporting that original brass fixture? Do you get ready every morning to the light of those round globe hollywood lights that I like to call builder specials?
As Jerry Seinfeld says.."Not that there's anything wrong with this" style while your living and enjoying your home, it's just one of those common things I … (18 comments)

Portland Rose Festival City Fair kicks off May 27th 2011 - 05/26/11 11:28 PM
Portland Rose Fesival City Fair kicks off May 27th 2011

 
 
You know summer's not to far away when the Portland Rose Festival City Fair starts. Located at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park, you'll enjoy some fun and scary rides...no, you won't ever catch me on the "Vertigo"! I don't need to go on a ride for that! 
Here you can stroll the park, listen to music, enjoy some special entertainment as well as carnival games and tasty food.They're predicting some fairly good weather for Saturday and Sunday..but this is Portland....nothing stops in the rain!
 
 
… (6 comments)

Willamette Park in West Linn Oregon - 05/25/11 11:02 PM
(Cindy's Blog about Portland Real Estate & Stuff)
Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in West Linn, Oregon
It"s Willamette Park in West Linn Oregon..answer to this weeks Where is it Wednesday 5/25/11


Each week I'll be posting a new picture on Wednesday morning. The title of the blog will have the City where the picture is taken and I'll post the answer Wednesday evening...not only here on my blog, but on  facebook business page  (please click like and add yourself there) as well as tweetin it on my Twitter page as well.
Do you know where it is? Care to … (10 comments)

Yes, there is something you can do for the survivors in Joplin, MO - 05/25/11 11:20 AM
 
After reading Charles Edwards post about how very close to home this tornado hit, as well as the others that did some major damage yesterday. I know I'm one that is willing to donate, but it's one of those things that I say I'll do later...and never get to it then feel bad. All good intentions really don't help.
So, I am re-blogging this post because Charles cleverly added all those links to the American Red Cross on the bottom that give one no excuse. So, get your credit card out, click the link to donate as I did yesterday … (6 comments)

Here..let me link that for you! - 05/24/11 08:28 PM
Here, let me link that for you! 
As your REALTOR®, there are times when you ask me some questions and might get the impression that I'm not doing my job when instead of answering them, I direct you to the places where you need to go look for yourself. No, I'm not lazy, I just can't read your mind as to the answers you're looking for and sometimes it's best to go right to the source. This is often called doing your due diligence.
Questions like:
* What is the crime rate in this area? I have no way … (7 comments)

My first born left the nest today - 05/22/11 08:19 PM
My first born left the nest today.
I've always thought that my role as a parent was to raise my sons to grow up to be good people..people I like being around, respect, and have a good ethical and moral compass.
One tries through the years to teach them all the things they need to succeed and go forward in life, so when they move out of the nest and on their own, they will enjoy it, prosper and create a life of their own. This is healthy.
Today my first born Justin moved out and I am proud of … (15 comments)

Wisteria Blooms in my West Linn Oregon backyard - 05/21/11 09:24 PM

 
(Cindy's Blog about Portland Real Estate & Stuff)
Wisteria blooms in my West Linn Oregon backyard
 
I don't seem to recall this wisteria blooming this much last year, so hoping it's due to the new irrigation system we installed, so it received lots of good water during our usually drought summer months. 
I've always loved looking at wisterias in the gardening books and magazines, so when we were buying this house, I was excited to see it had a nice strong vine.
When we bought our home this vine had been left on its own for quite … (11 comments)

Tualatin Police Department..answer to 5/18/11 Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Tualatin Oregon - 05/18/11 12:58 PM
(Cindy's Blog about Portland Real Estate & Stuff)
Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Tualatin, Oregon


Each week I'll be posting a new picture on Wednesday morning. The title of the blog will have the City where the picture is taken and I'll post the answer Wednesday evening...not only here on my blog, but on my facebook business page as well. Feel free to click the link below to go to my facebook business page to add yourself there. I'll also be tweetin it on my Twitter page as well.
Do you know where it is? Care to guess? … (6 comments)

What is a sewer scope inspection and why it's important for you to have one when buying a home in Portland - 05/15/11 03:19 PM
What is a sewer scope inspection and why it's important for you to have one when buying a home in Portland.
Why should you have a sewer scope inspection you might ask? This inspection is usually done on a home that is older than 20 years. With any home that is in an older neighborhood, sometimes there have been cracks, corrosion and holes in the sewer line that can happen from soil moving, tree roots, etc.
Having been at one recently with my client, It was recommended for this home as although the home was built in 1996, the neighborhood … (13 comments)

ActiveRain Tutorial | SEO Blogging | Optimizing Your Name Fields - 05/15/11 12:15 PM
Check out this great ActiveRain Tutorial on SEO blogging and Optimizing your name fields by Katerina Gasset. I don't know how I missed this one since it was a featured post as well, but I did. I just caught it though through Katerinas' tweet this morning and went through the steps outlined in her tutorial video. Man was I SOO not taking advantage of some very simple steps that not only made sense as I saw them, but will hopefully boost some google juice in my direction!
If you haven't seen this one, I highly recommend you checking out the video! … (10 comments)

Take a video tour through the Victoria Woods Neighborhood, Tualatin Oregon - 05/13/11 01:28 AM
Take a video tour through the Victoria Woods Neighborhood, Tualatin Oregon
The Victoria Woods neighborhood is one that has some luxurious homes in the higher end price range in Tualatin. With homes built in the later 1990's to some currently new, you'll find elegant, larger homes ranging in price from the higher $400,000 and up..some getting into the $800,000 range.
With it's location not far from I-5, a commute to downtown Portland will take you around 20 minutes or so and all the shopping ammenities that anyone would need are close by. Victoria Woods homes have larger lot sizes, mature lwell … (13 comments)

The Charthouse restaurant in the Hillsdale, Terwilliger area of Portland..answer to this weeks Where is it Wednesday - 05/11/11 10:56 AM
(Cindy's Blog about Portland Real Estate & Stuff)
It's the Charthouse Restaurant..answer to this weeks Where is it Wednesday...somewhere around the Hillsdale, Terwilliger area Portland


Each week I'll be posting a new picture on Wednesday morning. The title of the blog will have the City where the picture is taken and I'll post the answer Wednesday evening...not only here on my blog, but on my facebook business page as well. Feel free to click the link below to go to my facebook business page to add yourself there. I'll also be tweetin it on my Twitter page as … (16 comments)

Tualatin Oregon Real Estate Market Trends Report for April 2011, posted May 2011 - 05/10/11 08:00 PM
Tualatin Oregon Real Estate Market Trends Report for April 2011, posted May 2011
(Cindy's Blog about Portland Real Estate & Stuff)
Here is the latest 12 month Market Trends Report for Tualatin, Oregon. We are always one month behind so these are the statistics for April, 2011. It looks like the inventory went slightly down at 7.6 months from 7.9 months. What this means is that it would take 7.6 months to sell all the current active homes on the market.
According to the market trends statistics, the average list price compared to sold price was roughly -32.7% and the median list per … (0 comments)

What is the biggest bang for your buck in home remodeling in Portland Oregon? - 05/07/11 09:38 PM

 
What is the biggest bang for your buck in home remodeling in Portland Oregon?
As a REALTOR® I often get asked this question when someone is thinking about selling their home. When you're listing a home that has had updates and some remodeling, it's important to know the costs that you'll be able to recoup in the best of cases.
Of course there are many variables on this. One being how long you've been in the home since these have been added as well as if you have many updates that price you out of a neighborhood. Others … (12 comments)

I had to draw the line when my client wanted to spend the night - 05/06/11 10:04 PM
I had to draw the line when my client wanted to spend the night.
When I nicely explained the reasons why it wasn't a good idea, he seemed to understand when he said " no problem..I just threw it out there", but I think there was a sense of dejection at my not taking to this idea.
This got me thinking about how crazy it really is that a buyer usually sees the home they're purchasing only a couple of times.
Sometimes they can get in more than once before they make an offer...but after that, it's usually during the inspection … (69 comments)

Willamette Falls..answer to this weeks Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Oregon City - 05/04/11 11:26 PM
 
(Cindy's Blog about Portland Real Estate & Stuff)
Willamette Falls..answer to this weeks Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Oregon City, Oregon
It's Willamette Falls!

Each week I'll be posting a new picture on Wednesday morning. The title of the blog will have the City where the picture is taken and I'll post the answer Wednesday evening...not only here on my blog, but on my facebook business page as well. Feel free to click the link below to go to my facebook business page to add yourself there. I'll also be tweetin it on my Twitter page as well.
Do … (12 comments)

The Portland Saturday Market - 05/03/11 11:42 PM

 
The Portland Saturday Market
When we have out of towners coming in to visit, they usually want to take advantage of our no sales tax and want to go shopping. A good place to take people for some fun shopping is the Portland Saturday Market. Although the name has Saturday in it...it is also open on Sundays.
Located downtown at at Waterfront park and Ankeny Plaza, the Portland Saturday Market you'll find just a bit of everything like creative items made out of silverware, hand dyed silk scarves ( I bought two), jewelry, and the famous duct tape wallets. … (16 comments)

Sellers, Is your home making a great first impression? - 05/02/11 11:15 PM
I was just reading John McCarthy's post about remembering your first blog post Do You Remember Your First AR Blog...And Your First Commenter? and it made me go back and look at those first ones I wrote. I wrote this one which didn't get any comments at the time, so with a little tweeking and a new title, I'm going to see how it goes over this time around!
Sellers, Is your home making a great first impression?

 
I don't know about you, but when I know I am having guests coming to visit and stay at my house, … (14 comments)

Pretty in Pink..Cherry blossoms in West Linn Oregon - 05/01/11 10:42 PM
Pretty in Pink..Cherry blossoms in West Linn Oregon
My Cherry trees have finally blossomed that line the one side of my yard. When we bought our home in the summer of 2009, the yard was very overgrown and had not been taken care of for quite some time. The Cherry trees had the "wilt" so were not looking too good. We had an arborist come in and trim them back and they put something in the soil at the base of each one to help the wilt..so fingers crossed. Right now they look beautiful!

 
… (14 comments)

My haul from the Canby Spring Garden Fair...twas a good day! - 05/01/11 09:35 PM
My haul from the Canby Spring Garden Fair...twas a good day!

 
What a great day to be out strolling along the over 200 booths at the annual Master Gardener Spring Garden Fair in Canby. With the temperature reaching 71 degrees and the sun shining away, I could literally feel my pupils widening, my body taking in that blessed warmth as I meadered through rows of annuals, perrenials, veggies, conifers and trees.
Interspersed in between all these were garden art, furniture, bird feeders, as well as some antique yard items.
Breathing in all the scents of the flowers, the … (6 comments)

 
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Cindy Westfall ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate Agent!

Tualatin, OR

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Premiere Property Group, Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon

Address: Attn. Cindy Westfall 5000 Meadows Rd.,, Ste 150, Lake Oswego OR 97035, Portland Metro, Tualatin,Lake Oswego, West Linn, Sellwood,closer in SE Portland, Wilsonville,Oregon City, Sherwood areas

Office Phone: (503) 670-9000

Cell Phone: (503) 819-5241

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