The Future has the Best Agents

The Future has the Best Realtors Here’s Why The Days Of Pushy Real Estate Agents Are Numbered   Stereotypical pushy real estate agents give the profession a bad name. Agents often get portrayed in fiction as slick, schlocky or manipulative. Buyers and sellers are leery about running into this type of character at open houses or when calling prospective agents... Read More »

Spying on Buyers

  Spying on Buyers We have occasionally plotted out offers with our buyers while still inside the home. Seated comfortably at the seller’s kitchen table, those conversations likely included sensitive information like how much our client was willing to pay. It was fine – the sellers were not listening. And speaking of sellers not listening, buyers sometimes critique a seller’s... Read More »

Negotiating

Why should you be negotiating toward win-win? I was recently quoted in an article on negotiating entitled Top 15 Real Estate Negotiation Strategies from the Pros.  I enjoyed seeing the ideas from other contributors. For starters, I think it is important that the term “win-win” jumps out a lot from this set of ideas. Why is that a big deal?... Read More »

Amazon Go

Jonathan and I checked out Amazon Go for you…     You probably heard that behemoth Amazon opened a store in downtown Seattle called Amazon Go. The big idea is there is no checkout line. Just swipe your phone as you enter and grab what you want. Your designated card is charged automatically. The top secret, proprietary system seems to... Read More »

First Night Tacoma – (video)

FIRST NIGHT in Downtown Tacoma – New Year’s Eve My wife and I usually ponder the same two options for New Year’s Eve; go to a party or lay low and hit the sack before the ball drops. In recent years the latter option is a heavy favorite. However, last year we decided to give First Night a go, along... Read More »

The Misunderstood Appeal of Cash Offers

Show Me The Money!  Cash offers… Some people just don’t understand what makes cash attractive to home sellers. Consider these stories. A man recently made a verbal cash offer on one of our Tacoma home listings. He didn’t merely want to close the sale with cash; this guy wanted to bring the seller a suitcase full of money in person... Read More »

Chalet Bowl in Tacoma’s Proctor District

Chalet Bowl Hidden in the heart of Tacoma’s Proctor District is Chalet Bowl, the longest continually operating bowling alley in Washington State. Twelve bright and shiny lanes beckon beginner and experienced bowlers alike. While the boutique facility dates back to 1941, it boasts plenty of modern-day conveniences. Each lane is equipped with a state-of-the-art scoring system, touch screen and overhead... Read More »

UPS Area Home Features Craftsman Flourishes (video)

UPS Area Tacoma   In the heart of Tacoma’s UPS neighborhood sits this charming early century classic. It has a unique Chalet vibe happening along with select Craftsman stylings such as its large covered front porch, a distinctive gabled roof with Craftsman knee bracings and exposed rafter tails under the gables.  Further enhancing this home’s curb appeal are its shake... Read More »

3706 N Adams St

On Tacoma’s Proctor hillside above Commencement Bay sits this charming clinker brick and stucco home. It offers an updated kitchen with stainless appliances, granite counter tops, shaker cabinets.  It is open to generous family room. The home also has formal spaces; a large living room with lots of natural light from big windows, a gas fireplace, hardwood floors and built-in... Read More »

Ice Cream Social in 6th Ave District Tacoma

Ice Cream Social When the sun comes out and the mercury rises, two words come to mind: ice cream. Especially after a long winter (and especially for those of us who live in the sun-starved Northwest). So we shouldn’t have been surprised when we stopped by Ice Cream Social in 6th Ave Tacoma last weekend and encountered a long line... Read More »