Susan Peters's Blog

How do You Treat the Little Guy?

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:03:41 -0600

Most agents will pull out all the stops for their high-end listings.

Staging
Professional Photography
Glossy, full color flyers...the works

But if you really want to know how they're going to treat your house, take a look at how they market their most affordable listings. Too often, you will see:

Dark, amateur photography
No staging efforts
The MLS reports printed out in black and white for flyers

Well, not me.

I believe every listing deserves my best. This little condo I listed in Magnolia was sited on a lush ravine and had been totally remodeled by the owner. It just needed the finishing touches. With some classic staging and gorgeous photography to capture the setting, it sold in thirty days.

The other unit in the same complex is still sitting there six months later...

These photos really captured the setting and the fact that this was an end unit wrapped in windows. You can see the difference staging and professional photography makes. This level of service is included in my commission at no additional cost to the seller.

Equal rights for all listings!

Who Said Seattle's Market is Dead?

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:56:44 -0600

It certainly isn't dead for classic bungalows in Ballard under 500k. This is one I listed on my birthday, the 23rd of October. No I'm not going to tell you the year. It sold on the 27th for full price!

Classic houses like classic cars never go out of style. Of course staging, out of the box marketing and spot on pricing go a long way to getting any listing sold in any market.

Staging vs. Re-Design or How I saved my clients $7,000!

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:25:09 -0500

While staging and re-design have much in common; working with smaller budgets, editing, and organizing, there are a couple of major differences. Namely with a staging job your are creating a look for a stranger. The perfect stranger, a ready willing and able buyer. It also needs to be done in a very short period of time.

With re-design you have a lot more time but you are creating a more personal look, often for two people who may have very different taste. That was certainly the case with my last re-design. He wanted a clean, contemporary, cohesive, space. She on the other hand, loved anything whimsical, eclectic and was drawn to bold colors.

Like many couples they had he stuff, she stuff, their stuff (hand-me-downs) and some good stuff. They needed four rooms done and they had a budget of $20,000. This is how we (it's definitely a collaborative effort) did it for $13,000. 7k under budget! And that includes my fee.

Since she had just re-painted the house in her favorite colors and they were not planning on selling, I decided to go with it. And as you can see from the before picture on the left they had too much furniture and it was very dark and antiquish.

We took almost everything out and replaced it with light contemporary pieces. Working with neutrals; ivory, taupe, black and gold, the blue walls settled right down and actually became quite soothing.

For this room I purchased the following:1 sofa, 2 chairs, a mirror, artwork, a custom cut rug, 2 side tables, 1 sofa table, 3 lamps, a dozen pillows, accessories and a mid century coffee table. The coffee table is a nod to her whimsical side and it was actually a nice counterpoint to the contemporary upholstered pieces.

We were able to re-use the rug in the family room and I re-matted a couple of bird prints (compliments of his mom). They worked just fine with the new blue heron printed on linen.

The dining room just needed a little accessorizing. I changed the buffet mirror from a portrait to a landscape placement, re-placed the red Victorian chandelier with a silk drum shade, added candles and sconces and more candles. Throw in a runner, a few extra table linens and some wooden balls and they were good to go

For the bedroom I took artwork that had previously been languishing in the living room. It made a great statement over the bed and that little bit of orange became a jumping off point for an accent color amidst all the taupe. It was just enough to satisfy her love of bold color.

A bamboo duvet cover and 600 thread count sheets made the most of this elegant bed. As you can see from the before picture the bedside lighting was wimpy to say the least. These gorgeous glass lamps brightened everything up and gave balance to the bed.

A throw, candles, silk pillows and a handful of accessories in the orange family completed the look.

In addition to everything you see here, we were able to purchase extra linens, a sectional couch for the family room and still stay 7k under budget.

With staging, your goal is to de-personalize where with Re-design your goal is to re-personalize.

A couple of hours with your favorite stager makes a great housewarming gift for your buyers!

Re-Design Your Closet?

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:58:04 -0500

I knew that I had met a kindred soul when I was introduced to Patricia Gorham, owner of Inside/Out Style. She does redesign for your closet, just like I do redesign for your home.

When she's done, you have totally coordinated wardrobe that expresses your personal style. You don't know what your style is? Don't worry, she'll find it for you. And to top it off you'll end up with more money in your pocketbook than you would have shopping on your own. She knows the difference between a real bargain and something that's just on sale. In her latest newsletter she had an excellent idea for organizing your clothes for the entire week. What a time and stress saver!

You don't have to be a movie star to have your own stylist. Click here for the whole article.

My 3 Favorite Things in West Seattle

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:49:53 -0500

1. Capers

This is one of the best little interior design shops in Seattle. They have fabulous accessories and if you are looking for smaller-scale "bungalow-sized" furniture, this is the place to go.

CAPERS 4521 California Ave SW Seattle, WA 98116-4110 (206) 932-0371

2. Fresh Bistro

Fresh Bistro is my new favorite restaurant. It was started by Seattle Catering Company Herban Feast. Not only do they have wonderfully fresh ingredients, but their recipes are truly inspired.

http://www.herbanfeast.com/freshbistro/ 4725 42nd Ave SW, Seattle, WA‎ - (206) 935-3733‎

3. Shoofly Pie Company

If you are going to have a piece of pie, Shoofly Pie is the place to have it. If you want to make your own pie but don't want to mess with the dough, buy some fresh Shoofly dough and knock yourself out!

4444 California Ave SW Seattle, WA 98116 (206) 938-0680

Are You Suffering from Refferalexia?

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:58:09 -0500

I have to admit that over the years, when it comes to referring business out I've been striking out! No matter how much research I would do one of two things would happen: either the agent who looked so good on-line and sounded so good on the phone didn't live up to their first impression, or they just weren't a good fit for my clients.

I'm happy to say that those days are over! This month I found two exceptional agents for my out-of-area clients. The first was Elaine Stewart in Palm Springs, who found a fabulous home in record time and negotiated a jaw-dropping price. My client's thrilled and so am I. My second client is in Pennsylvania. She'll be calling the agent I vetted this week and I expect the same stellar results.

Where did I find these paragons of virtue? Activerain, of course. There is something about reading an agent's blog that gives you a level of insight miles above viewing a website.

Now I'm looking for an agent in Rochester Michigan.

If you're moving out of Seattle and need an excellent agent or a talented Stager call me at 206-781-1724 or email me at susan@susanpeters.com

I know where the great agents hide out!

Where can you find some of the best artwork in Seattle?

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:31:32 -0500

On Bainbridge Island, just a 35 minute ferry ride away.

When it comes to interior design my philosophy is “fast and cheap,” with one exception: artwork! Take some of the money you’ve saved on furniture and spend it on something you’ll love for the rest of your life.

Director’s Gallery on Bainbridge Island is my new favorite resource for beautiful, evocative, original paintings. Owner and director Jack Mclaughlin not only has an incredible eye (there was not one thing in the place I didn’t like), but he is so knowledgeable and so not pushy! While his taste is exquisite, his prices are very reasonable.

When you buy artwork, but something you absolutely love!

Director’s Gallery 126 Madrone Lane Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 206.842.6000 www.TheDirectorsGallery.com

Café Nola, also on Bainbridge Island

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:29:32 -0500

After three or four hours of power shopping, you’ll probably work up an appetite. You can’t go wrong with Café Nola! Excellent service, fresh ingredients, prepared with care and imagination. Take a look! www.cafenola.com 101 Winslow Way E Bainbridge Isle, WA 98110 (206) 842-3822. Cafe Nola is closed on Wednesdays.

Mistake-Proof Color

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:27:01 -0500

Do you get overwhelmed when you go to a paint store? Then you should let a pro do the work of selecting the right color for your house. Companies like Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn have spent small fortunes putting together their definitive and elegant color schemes, so when you get ready to paint, pick up one of their palettes and use it throughout your house. Every color will work with every other color. It’s almost impossible to make a mistake!

One of my favorite combinations (particularly if you think you may be selling your house in the near future) is Latte for walls, with The Right White molding, and Silver Sage for the ceiling. I can't tell you how many houses I've sold using these colors.

In the photo I used this combination with Flax above the picture rail. Stop by the University Village store (4635 University Village Place Seattle, WA 98105 - (206) 522-2775) to pick up a samples and paint chips.

Stay Forever Young

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:59:53 -0500

Get the skinny on bio-identical hormone replacement, natural skin rejuvenation, weight loss & flexibility at a small roundtable discussion hosted by the Kerala Ayurveda Clinic. Not only is it free, they are providing a light complimentary dinner! Space is limited to 20 participants so sign up today! Click here for more details: Kerala Event

Kerala Ayurveda Academy & Clinic
4210 Stone Way N Seattle, WA 98103
206.729.9999
www.ayurvedaonline.com
www.ayurvedaacademy.com

Get Gorgeous For Less

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:58:18 -0500

Get Gorgeous For Less: PHASE 3

Phase 3 in Belltown is the advanced training center for the Gary Manuel Salon. All of the stylists have competed for their coveted position and they are the cream of the crop! This salon uses Aveda products and their prices average at half of what you pay for the same service in a comparable salon anywhere in Seattle. Dawn gave me one of the best haircuts I have ever had! They consistently get rave reviews and I can see why.

2127 First Avenue  ///  Seattle, WA    ///  98121
phone:  206-728-1234  ///  fax:  206-728-0161
email:  salon@garymanuel.com

Don't Get Swine Flu

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:56:35 -0500

When President Obama was telling us to wash our hands the other night, he should have taken it just one step further. He should have told us how to wash the inside of our nose! I know this sounds a little gross, but the practices of cleansing sinus passages with a netty pot has been around for centuries. I can personally vouch for this; Whenever I feel a cold coming on I use a netty pot for a day or two and it knocks it right out. Even those horrid colds you catch while flying.

Although I have been exposed to tons of stuff, I haven't had the flu or a real cold in three years. My acupuncturist gave me a tip: in addition to filling the pot with salt water, add a tiny bit of organic tumeric to the solution. Tumeric is an incredible anti-microbial! So if you think you've been exposed to anybody who has anything, play it safe and use the netty pot. This great demo will walk you through the entire process.

Bathroom Chat Part III: Just when you think you've seen it all...

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:20:50 -0500

Think again! While showing houses yesterday, I came across this little artifact. It's a toilet seat,in case you can't tell. And if that wasn't enough, take a look at the second picture of the master bath. What were they thinking?

This certainly injected some humor into a long day of touring, but it didn't do a thing to get the house sold. The moral of this story is: De-personalize, re-personalize but get rid of the joke toilet seats!

Any Stager with a pulse would have told you to change these out.

How to Get What You Want For Free

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:09:43 -0600

Local Marketing Specialist Dominic Canterbury has just launched Dibspace.com - a new service-bartering website for business owners and everyone else.

Dibspace is a virtual currency for independent businesses. It works like a barter credit system but it's a couple billion times better than anything you've ever seen.

For a business with some open space in their schedule, this is an easy and free way to fill up your time and earn credits to spend on other fantastic services. AND even if you don't have a business, there are ways for you to earn credits, so everybody can join.

When you sign up your business you'll automatically get 100 Dibits (that's the currency of the site). And there are incentives to earn more Dibits by doing things like inviting friends and posting offers, so you can get Dibit-rich pretty easily.

Check it out at: dibspace.com

Now For The Gluten-Intolerant

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:06:39 -0600

If you are gluten-intolerant, you don't have to give up pasta all together. Trader Joe's has come to your rescue with a brand new product that is actually pretty delicious: Gluten Free Mac 'N' Cheese! It's great for kids, or a quick meal for adults too. Or, use the pasta without the cheese sauce and create your own gourmet gluten-free dish.

By the way, the new Trader Joe's in Ballard just opened today. Finally!!!!

A Little Piece of Heaven in Your Mouth...

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:05:06 -0600

That is what it tastes like when you bite into a handmade ravioli from Picolinos, a brand new restaurant in Sunset Hill. (It's on the west side of Ballard.) They serve a classic Italian menu crafted with a light but incredibly flavorful touch. Everything from pizza to pasta to salmon! The fare is not only delicous, but the setting is delightful.

They're open 7 days a week, and are located slightly off the beaten track in a neighborhood setting where you don't have to hunt or pay for parking! Try it today, you will not be disappointed!

Is the Kitchen Dragging Your Listing Down? It Doesn't Have To...

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:50:08 -0600

Everyone knows that a kitchen can make or break a sale. With some major de-cluttering and a minor remodeling job a tired kitchen can become the queen of the prom! So to speak. The elements that went into this makeover were a new stove, sink, countertops, hardware, light fixtures, fresh paint and 19 inch vinyl floor tiles.

Everything except the countertops came from Lowes. They came from IKEA. The cost for the materials was just under $1500 and most of the labor could be tackled by a reasonably handy homeowner. It was well worth it--this was the only house that sold in Ballard in the 400-450k price range in the month of December.

The furniture, window treatments and accessories were all courtesy of the Stager. That would be me!

Get Your Fashion Fix & Fix a Heart

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:52:12 -0600

If you're addicted to Project Runway, you have to attend this fashion show. This event sold out last year so get your tickets today! More information can be found out at: www.projectreddress.com This is just in time for Valentine's Day! Don't miss the second annual Project Red Dress event held on February 13th at 7:30pm in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel.

Local and national judges, including Project Runway's Nick Verreos, will judge one-of-a-kind red gowns all designed by local fashion design students. Proceeds from the event benefit the student winner of Project Red Dress with a Fashion Group International-Seattle scholarship and the American Heart Association. Last year's sold out, one-of-a-kind event made history in Seattle. Be sure to add this event to your calendar today!

Meet Aida & Zane Gray

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:47:39 -0600

They are currently residing at Crown Hill Pet Supply in Ballard. They were found as feral kittens months ago, and although the staff takes excellent care of them, they are looking for a permanent home.

In addition to being quite handsome, they are sweet and very attached to one another, so they must be adopted together. They have been spayed and neutered and the adoption fee is $180 for the pair! In addition to fostering kittens, Crown Hill Pet Supply is the place to shop for natural, healthy pet products. Contact Crown Hill Pet Supply in Ballard: 9053 Holman Road NW, Seattle, WA (206) 783-9570. www.crownhillpet.com Isn't this better than boring old roses for Valentine's Day?

There's a Really Cute House in Ballard...Buried Under Here Somewhere!

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 01:04:46 -0600

With the help of my very cooperative clients we found it! It was there all the time hiding under 15 years of living. Ten days after we listed it the buyers found it too. My clients also spent about 15k getting their home in market ready condition, but it payed off. Theirs was the only property in Ballard that sold in the 400-450k range during the entire month of December. Using a talented photographer didn't hurt either.

The Better it Looks...the Better it Sells!

How to Lose Weight and Save $ in the New Year Part III

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:24:56 -0600

I know this has nothing to do with real estate or staging (unless you you think you can do a better job if you're not schlepping around extra weight when you're schlepping your inventory hither and yon) but I hope you will find it helpful.

Let me tell you about Kate Wells - Hypnotherapist Extraordinaire. I lost 15 pounds over the holidays after just two sessions with Kate. That's right--over the holidays! It was almost effortless! Now she is offering a 20% discount on your first session or class.

Whether you're trying to lose weight, quit smoking, or change other bad habits, stop struggling and call Kate today. You will not be disappointed!

For those of you who don't live in Seattle, I believe Kate does phone consultations and she has some very dynamic tapes. Actually they are cds.

www.katewells.net (206) 779-5655

How to Get in Shape for the New Year and Save Money Part II

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:20:59 -0600

Bria Pilates & Physical Therapy in Interbay

1. If you're like me and you hate the idea of going to a gym and you know you're not going to do this at home with some kind of sold on tv program, then this is for you.

2. These people don't mess around and they're offering a 50% discount on your first month's dues. Whether you need to recover from a serious injury or just need to shape up, you'll find yourself in very good hands.

3. The other advantage of working with a seasoned instructor is you get strong without hurting yourself.

www.briaseattle.com

How to Get in Shape for the New Year and Save Money Part I

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:18:39 -0600

Located in Wallingford, Kerala Ayruveda is not only the home of Seattle's best acupuncturist, but also a full service ayruvedic clinic. The accupucture face lift is one of my favorite services. It's amazing!

For a limited time only they are offering their Purva Karma Cleanse for $125 which includes a Massage and Steam. That is $60 off the regular price and it's good for what ails you and the perfect start to a new year.

Visit their website or call for more details: 206.729.9999 ext. 0

What do you do with a big old ugly mirror?

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:31:10 -0600

My client had a cute little house in a great Seattle neighborhood a with a big mirror attached to the wall in a totally random spot.

Since I wasn't about to rip it down and chance having to repair the wall, I had to figure out how to make it work. And I think this was a pretty dang good solution!

The table is one that I've used many times, and the beauty of it is it looks really substantial even though it doesn't take up a lot of space. The frame hung on the mirror is a trick I've used with big mirrors over fireplaces that are typically found in 1950's style homes. It creates a focus and brings down the scale.

All-in-all, a little staging turns something that's a detriment into a design feature and created an entry way where none existed.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Susan Peters - The Better it Looks the Better it Sells (Dove Realty Inc.) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:10:19 -0500

But it doesn’t have to be for your baby…! This is one of the greatest ideas I’ve seen. It totally eliminates the “I’m-too-hot” “I’m-too-cold” dressing dilemma for small children.

Leggings aren't just for ballerinas and they aren't just for legs. Baby Legs has arm warmers too.

Check out http://babylegs.com/ This is just one of the many successful, small business started in Seattle!