Katy's Blog

Open House Saturday/Sunday-Cooper Point, Olympia, 12-2pm

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:56:45 -0500

Beautiful home on 1.27 acres, just minutes from Capital HS, west side shopping and Hwy 101. Come view this weekend!

Photo Gallery

Kitchen with island, stainless appliances, sinks	Kitchen showing island, pantry and ss refrigerator	Cozy family room with gas fireplace, builtin shelves and a wall of windows to the backyard
Breakfast nook off kitchen with view to deck and backyard	Master Bedroom with plenty of room for king bed, dressers and/or sitting area	Master Bathroom with marble tile, double sinks, soaking tub, separate shower
Formal living area with soaring ceilings	Formal dining room with view to backyard

Description

Lovely home in quiet cul-de-sac off Cooper Point Rd., just north of golf course. Beautiful landscaping and trees are your view from the multiple windows in back, with lots of privacy. Four bedrooms (3 bedroom septic) and large downstairs office on 1.27 acres. Many features: 5-piece master bath; crown molding; 9' ceilings; new furnace and heat pump in 2007. The updated kitchen is great for entertaining, opening to a large living space and eating nook with windows overlooking back yard. A/C; 3-car garage, garden shet; sprinkler system; wired for generator.

Features

Bedrooms:	4
Bathrooms:	2.5
Parking Spaces:	3
Year Built:	1997
Lot Size:	1.27
Garage Size:	3
School District:	Olympia
Square Footage:	3287
Agent Name:	Katy Stansifer
Broker:	Keller Williams Realty
MLS #:	29067242

Location

2627 41st Lane NW Olympia WA 98502

vFlyer Id: 2500854

Mortgages and Interest Rates - WAhomeowners.com

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:42:20 -0500

Are you looking to buy a home and are confused about loans, interest rates and payments? Watch this 3 minute video for some plain talk. You can also access at WAhomeowners.com and email it to a friend or family member who is looking to buy a home.

Best things in Olympia: Great outdoor dining

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:04:15 -0500

Is this a great view or what?

It's a Sunday afternoon, the air is crisp but the sun is warm. We wander in to the Hearthfire for a glass of wine and some fried calimari. NO ONE is sitting out on the deck until we stake our claim on the best table: out of the breeze and in the sun. And to top it off, it was still happy hour.

Best things in Olympia: Trader Joe’s is coming to town

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:52:48 -0500

So it's been rumored for months, probably even years. This time it's for real. See this picture? I took it myself and I was standing in a parking lot on the corner of Cooper Point and Black Lake Blvd. Yes...believe it. Trader Joe's is coming to Olympia! Their opening is set for later this month. There have been newspaper articles and blogs here on ActiveRain about it. But I kept wondering "Will it ever happen?"

Why do I like Trader Joe's so much? It's just fun to walk up and down the aisles and see and try different products: curry simmer sauces, olive oils, great prices on wines. Their own brands are good quality and are reasonably priced. This week, it's number one on my best things in Olympia!

Beautiful Home - Cooper Point area, Olympia WA

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:10:51 -0500

Photo Gallery


Breakfast nook off kitchen	Master Bedroom	Master Bathroom

Description

Lovely home in quiet cul-de-sac off Cooper Point Rd., just north of golf course. Beautiful landscaping and trees are your view from the large windows in back, with lots of privacy. Four bedrooms (3 bedroom septic) and large downstairs office on 1.27 acres. Many features: 5-piece master bath; crown molding; 9' ceilings; new furnace and heat pump in 2007. The updated kitchen is great for entertaining, opening to a large living space and eating nook with large bay windows overlooking back yard. A/C; 3-car garage, sprinkler system; wired for generator.

Features

Bedrooms:	4
Bathrooms:	2.5
Parking Spaces:	3
Year Built:	1997
Lot Size:	1.27
Garage Size:	3
School District:	Olympia
Square Footage:	3287
Agent Name:	Katy Stansifer
Broker:	Keller Williams Realty
MLS #:	29067242

Location

2627 41st Lane NW Olympia WA 98502

vFlyer Id: 2500854

How to Buy Your First Home

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:19:54 -0500

Whether you're considering purchasing your first home in the next few months or you've never given it two thoughts, you will find this presentation both interesting and valuable. There's an offer for you at the end. Please enjoy.

Some simple directions: Just below the presentation you will see a Gabcast logo. Please click on the arrow to start the audio, place your cursor over the presentation and then just follow along.

Gabcast! First Time Home Buyers #2

What Does “Staging” Really Mean?

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:14:03 -0600

I had an appointment a week ago with a woman who had her home on the market last fall. It didn’t sell and the listing expired. She left if off the market over the holidays and is now getting serious about selling again.

When going over my marketing plan, I told her I could assist with the staging of the home. Her reply surprised me. She said “Oh, I’ve seen all those shows on TV and I could never make my house look like a model home.” I think her perception was that she would need new paint, new furniture and designer art on the walls. I guess staging actually COULD mean that you completely make over a house with new paint, new furniture and designer elements. But it certainly doesn’t have to. Most sellers aren’t going to want to spend any more money than necessary to get their house ready to sell.

I told her that when I spoke of “staging” that it begins with basic things like making sure your front yard and front door are clean and appealing, the house is spotlessly clean and your closets and cabinets have been tidied and cleaned out. Then we should address each room: is it cluttered with books, magazines and toys? Are there lots of family photos on the walls and tables? How many pieces of furniture are in the room and do they make the room look crowded?

We want the home to look as spacious as possible while still appearing to be functional. A seasoned agent once told me: “Sellers need to SHOW their house differently than how they LIVE in their house.” You want a potential buyer to walk in the door and be able to visualize themselves living in the home with their own “stuff”. If you have too much of your “stuff” around, they will have a difficult time seeing past it.

Sellers need to give the impression that it is their intention to move. They have cleaned out their closets, and those personal photos and vacation knick knacks are safely packed and ready to go to their next home. Have you ever viewed a house where everything that the Seller has collected for the past 10-20 years is still on display or piled up in closets and in the basement? I wonder if these people really want to move? It’s not screaming out “I want to sell my house!”

Photos: Einstein Family Photos-Gaeten Lee; Office Junk-Blind Grasshopper

Get Your House Ready to Sell

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:40:08 -0600

So you’re thinking of getting putting your home on the market, but want to wait until spring or summer, hoping things are going to “heat up” in real estate. Or maybe you had your house for sale last fall and gave up, but are now thinking you want to try to sell your house again. What should you do to prepare your home for sale? You like your home just the way it is: it’s comfortable, tidy and suits your living style just fine, so it must be ready to go, right? Well, you’re probably wrong…or at least through the eyes of a potential buyer.

You’ve lived in your house so long, you don’t notice the windows are dingy, the walls could use a coat of paint, the carpet has a stain that you’ve covered by a well-placed ottoman and last year’s leaves are still sitting in the rain gutters.

Now is the time to take a good hard look around and pretend you are walking up to and into your house for the first time. Is the paint on the front door chipped? Is the floor cracked in the entry hall? Know this: buyers will be looking for things like this and if they see too many things wrong, they will never see past them to see what is right.

What to do? Where to start? Yes, the list of tasks can be daunting. What did you say? You don’t even have a list yet? Here is where a real estate agent can really help you focus on what you need to get done and help you get started. Most agents can provide you with a printed list of maintenance items, clean-up items, and more. It will help you focus on what you need to get done first, what you can do yourself and perhaps what you need to think about hiring out.

Your agent can also be a great resource for referrals to cleaning services, window washers, yard maintenance and a good handy man.

Don’t wait until you want to sell your house yesterday to start preparing. In just about every community there are more houses for sale now than a few months ago. Competition is tough – don’t set yourself up for getting passed over because you didn’t prepare your home to appeal to the most buyers possible.

Here is a list to get going – remember this is only a basic list. Ask a professional real estate agent to give you an objective opinion.

Walk from the street to your front door. Notice the lawn, shrubs and anything that needs tidying and trimming. There are spring flowers at the nurseries now, so put a pot of fresh color by your front door.
Speaking of the front door, does it need fresh paint or repairs? Does your door bell work properly? Do you keys open the door easily? Make sure you keep the walkway swept and your door mat clean.
Hose down any mud or dirt on the exterior and wash windows. Evaluate whether the exterior needs any repairs or paint.
Have roof and gutters cleaned and repaired, if needed.
Inside the home, first think of getting rid of your clutter. You will need to keep it put away while your home is being shown, so you might as well deal with it now! Pack it (you’ll be moving eventually), donate it, toss it or find a place for it. Do this in every room.
Go through your closets and storage cabinets (including kitchens and bathrooms) and do the same. Buyers will be looking – you don’t want them to think there is not enough room for their own belongings if your cabinets and closets are jammed full of stuff.
Remove and store anything of value.
Look for cracks in floors, walls and ceilings and repair them.
Fix leaking faucets and replace light bulbs.
Make sure appliances that go with the house work properly and are CLEAN.
Last, but not least, CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN. Clean like you never have before. Get into corners, under sinks, behind furniture. Clean the windows inside and out. Clean the bathroom until it sparkles and make sure the grout is in good condition. Go ahead and have your carpets cleaned if they need it. Don’t give a “carpet cleaning allowance” to potential buyers. What if that stain sticking out from under your ottoman doesn’t come out? Remember, the bottom line is that you want to make your home LOOK THE BEST THAT IT CAN!
One more item: CLEAN!

Next step: Staging your home…

Photos: Front door by dannohung; broken window by vazu; cleaning supplies by striatic

Selling During the Holidays

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:45:57 -0600

I’m hearing a lot of sellers say they want to let their listing expire for the holidays, or sellers wanting to wait until after the holidays to put their houses on the market. If they only knew that is what everyone else is thinking! Come January, the inventory of houses is going to get bigger and the competition hotter for those buyers.

I know it’s a hassle keeping your house in tip top shape at any time of year. Especially around the holidays, we all seem to have more on our plates with shopping, holiday parties and events, and visiting family and guests.

So if you have to sell or plan to keep your house on the market through the holidays, let’s think of this another way. This could be an opportunity to show off your house when it’s at its best! You have all those great holiday decorations up: it’s festive, it’s fun, it’s cozy and everything smells great from the scented candles to the fresh pine boughs.

Set your dining table with your best holiday china, string lights inside and out. You don’t have to decorate every inch of your house, nor should you go overboard with a giant inflatable Frosty the Snowman in your yard. Keep it simple, but use festive decorations to your advantage to show off your dining room, your great fireplace mantel, or the perfect nook for the tree. Hopefully everyone who sees your home will want to make it their “home for the holidays” next year!

Woodpeckers, moles and critters - oh my!

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:20:31 -0500

Are you or your clients battling with some kind of wildlife critter? There are ways to fix these pesky problems. Call in the professionals!

My husband and I recently bought a house and inherited a most unusual problem. AND of course, the problem arrived, so to speak, literally days after we had the house inspected. I don’t think it would have affected our decision to purchase the house (hmmmm…) but I wonder how we would have handled it nonetheless.

Just a few days after closing, I took a coworker by to show her the house. We were inside walking from room to room, when I heard this knock, knock, tap, tap, tap. We stopped. She looked at me and said immediately, “You have a woodpecker!” What? We went outside to the back deck to investigate. We had scared the little red-headed bird away, but we easily found where he’d left his mark. A hole the size of a golf ball in the siding around an upper floor window! There were also wood chips on the deck below the window. What the …?

We took a few weeks to do a little work to our house and move in. I would go inside and stand quietly by the back door. Sure enough, each time: knock, knock, tap, tap tap. I would rush out the door just in time to see woody-woodpecker fly off. His bright red head turning back to look at me, probably humming his “Woody Woodpecker” song.

I searched Google for any information I could find about woodpeckers. It seems they peck for two reasons: 1) to attract a mate and 2) to get at insects. I kept praying that this little guy was pecking for his future wife – please! I called numerous people and places to try to find help. Finally, I found someone (a wildlife specialist) who specifically deals with all wildlife (squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, moles, woodpeckers and more critters). By the way, he covers the South Puget Sound area.

After his inspection of the now numerous holes in the side of my house, he concluded that there didn’t seem to be any insects and that the little guy must be pecking out of loneliness. (That is a CD in the upper middle tacked on the the wood.) Could I sign him up for a woodpecker dating service? Anyway, his suggested solution was to install giant spiders that hang from the eaves and are motion activated. When the woodpecker lands and starts to tap, tap, the spider drops down and then crawls its way back up the string it hangs from (they operate on a battery). This, supposedly, will scare Mr. Woodpecker away.

Okay, we installed the mechanical spiders; four big black hairy things are now hanging from the eaves of our house. Guess what? I haven’t seen that woodpecker show up even once. I think the mating season is over. So we still don’t know if the spiders actually work!

All in all, they have provided some good entertainment value. Right after they were installed, my husband went out on the back deck and threw down an ice bag to break it up. Well, it set off the spiders and he, forgetting they were there, just about jumped out of his skin! So for the next month, ANYONE who came over was fair game. My husband would say, “Hey, come out and see this. We’ve got a big spider problem here.” Then as soon as they would get out the door, he would clap his hands and down the spiders would drop. He got the biggest kick out of that. I keep imagining that woodpecker sitting in a nearby tree laughing his little red head off.

Now I just need to figure out what to do about the mole that’s making funny dirt piles in my yard. Call in the professional!

So much to learn...so little time!

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:28:53 -0500

Hi all! I'm new to AR and a new real estate agent and new to blogging. You'd think I was 9 years old for all I know, but I'm a LOT older and trying to learn fast.

I've been working on my small website (for now it's the free one I get through my company) and want to have a link to my blog (I've posted one so far) on AR. I'll be meeting with my tech person who can help me with this, but want to make sure I can do this! This subject has come up before I'm sure, so sorry if it's a repeat.

Closing Gifts

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:39:23 -0500

I'm getting ready to close my first sale (which actually falls on my birthday - is that a sign?). The buyers also got married during this time and will be gone the week before closing. I'd like to give a nice gift mainly because I want it to be part of my marketing. They don't know that I'm a rookie real estate agent. Anyway, any ideas of what any of you do for your buyers, I'd love to hear! Also, when do you give the gift? Have it delivered? In person?

Making Your Relocation Easy on Your Cats

Katy Stansifer - Realtor - Olympia, WA (Keller Williams Realty - Olympia) — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:46:00 -0500

I recently just made my 8th move in 11-1/2 years, all with two cats in tow. It was during this last move, when I broke all the usual rules for my cats introduction to their new house when I realized that we really had moved too often. The cats actually seemed okay with it all. Not freaked out. Just another new house to explore.

Why have I moved so many times? Well, that's another story and a rather boring one. My plan here is to provide a few tips for those who are moving to a new house with cats to help make the transition easy. All my moves have been a four hour car trip (or much less), so if you are planning to transport your cat(s) longer distances or by plane and are concerned about being crated for long periods, talk to veterinarian.

Always transport your cats in a pet carrier. They will be much safer in your car if you need to brake quickly and you won't have to worry about them scampering for cover under the brake pedal. I even pull the seat belt strap through the handle and lock in place.
Leave your cat in a small room that will be undisturbed for the final moving process at your old house with food/water, litter box and their carrier. You don't want them darting out the front door while you are carrying out furniture and boxes. You should remove the food and water a couple of hours before it's time to transport them.
When you are ready to take them to their new home, put them in their carriers right in that enclosed room and take them straight to your car.
Have a room at your new house that you can take them directly to where they can have their food/water and litter box. This will allow them time to get adjusted to their new surroundings while you do a little unpacking. It doesn't necessarily have to be the place where you plan on keeping their food/water and litter box, but a place or room they can have undisturbed for at least overnight. Go in and visit them, but leave them there until bedtime.
If they have favorite toys or beds, be sure to have them with them as well.
When you go to bed, open the door and let them roam in their new surroundings during the night while everything is dark and quiet. If you are concerned about, or have ad problems with, your cat and the litter box, place an additional box somewhere you think they might be attracted to, like in your bedroom if they are used to sleeping with you.
Depending on how you feel your cat is adjusting, you may let them stay in their "quiet room" a few days or if they seem comfortable in their new surroundings, let them roam on their own after that first night. Once you feel they are ready to settle in, you can move their litter box and food/water to a permanent place.
If you have indoor/outdoor cats, do not let them roam outside for at least a couple of weeks. And never leave out food and water for them. You want them to come home (inside) for that.
Lastly, if you have moved far enough away and need a new veterinarian, be sure to get your cat's health records from you current vet before making your move or relocation. That way, you have everything you need with you in case of emergency. Ask co-workers, friends, neighbors, etc. for recommendations on a nearby veterinarian.

Most cats are pretty adaptable if you are patient with them. In no time, they'll be scratching the furniture...er...well hopefully sleeping peacefully on your lap and purring with contentment.

As a real estate agent, I'm happy to refer to my veterinarian and the local animal shelters for those looking to adopt. Moving is a big deal and even though it's usually a happy event, can be stressful when we are juggling many things including our pet's well being.