Susan Peters's Blog

What's Better Than Twins?

2008-09-28T22:12:47Z

Triplets! If you need a substantial flower arrangement for a big table, do it in triplicate. This is also the perfect time of the year to pick the last of the hydrangeas. Don't worry if they are a little faded, it just adds to the autumnal look; And if you wrap the stems in a wet paper towel, then put it in a plastic bag they will dry slowly and last forever.

The beauty of fresh with longevity of silk...the perfect flower arrangement for Staging! Or just life in general.

And oh BTW, I got the vases at Goodwill for a song.

There's Staging ... And Then There's Staging! I've Shown You Mine Now You Show Me Yours.

2008-09-05T13:05:26Z

There are a lot of people who think that staging is just throwing furniture into an empty room and calling it good. You can see from the pictures below that is not the case. The true purpose of staging and photography is:

To accentuate the very best features of a room;
To draw the buyer in;
To make this house stand out amongst the competition;
Thereby creating the setting for the money shot.

Staging is an art, not just a skill-set. So the next time you’re looking for a stager in Seattle, look at more than just the bottom line: look at their body of work.

This is the same room in the same house. Both rooms have been staged. The room on the left was staged a year ago and the picture on the right was staged by me a few months ago.

Okay Stagers if you have any examples of rooms you've re-staged, post them now!

I am the Seattle Realtor who stages all of my listings at no addtional cost!

www.SusanPeters.com

"The Better it Looks ... the Better It Sells"

IPhone or the Instinct? That is the question.

2008-08-31T23:32:56Z

My contract with Sprint has finally ended (hallelujah) and I can get rid of my Treo. I've thought about taking a sledgehammer to it.

I love, love, love the IPhone and I can live without the key-box access but I'm still wondering about the Instinct. Before I make my final decision I'd Love some feedback. Thanks.

Top Ten Reasons to Spank Your Listing Agent

2008-08-25T18:07:31Z

10. Your agent doesn't bother to post pictures on your listing.

9. Your agent has taken pictures but your house is being featured on Bad MLS pictures. Yes, this is a real website.

8. Your agent has decided to call your circa 1953 Ranch a Tudor just because it has a brick exterior.

7. Your agent tells you "You don't need to paint (your dingy faded walls). The buyers will want to pick their own colors. You don't need to re-carpet (even though it smells). We'll (you'll) just give them a carpet allowance. What they don't tell you is that you're going to lose up to 10 times the cost of these simple improvements and you're going to gain days, weeks or months on the market.

6. Your agent tells you "It's okay for you not to have a sign if you don't want one. A serious buyer will find it." Believe me, when it comes to real estate, anonymity is a dirty word.

5. When you say you don't want to have a lockbox your agent weenies out and tells you what you want to hear instead of the truth. "You don't really need a lockbox if you don't want one. I'm sure the agents won't mind making a special appointment to see your home." Not!

4. No driving directions on your listing.

3. Worse yet, driving directions that lead agents in the exact opposite direction. My favorite is turn left or right with no point of reference. Sometimes your best offer will come from an out-of-area agent. Why make it hard for them to find your house?

2. An agent is standing at your door with their buyers and, try though they may, they can't get the key to work. After tracking down your agent they get the following instructions: "Insert the key half way in, take a deep breath, lean to the left while pushing the key in and turning it to the right at the same time." For pete's sake get a new lockset installed before you list!

Drumrolllllllll!!!!

1. Your agent neglects to mention in the listing, "You'll be greeted by Sally the friendly pitbull. Don't worry about about the fact that she'll charge you with teeth bared- she's actually very friendly." I'm not making this up, it happened to me just last month. Can you spell lawsuit?

Renton, WA: 3602 NE 11th Court, $319,500

2008-07-16T11:50:16Z

The 1st thing you need to know about this property is; the square footage from KCR is NOT accurate. This house is significantly bigger. The 2nd thing is; this is the very best value in all of Renton. Oak floors, vaulted ceilings, 2 full spa-like bathrooms & a romantic mastersuite all sited on an oversized street to street lot. Freshly painted in designer colors. This may be exactly the home you've been looking for. Take a break from the holiday & see for your self. You will not be disappointed!

How Many Times Does Jim Cramer Have to Say it?

2008-06-23T18:32:40Z

I thought that I was dreaming the other day when I heard Jim Cramer of Mad Money tell his audience: if they didn't buy a house in the next nine months they would regret it.

Back in January he recommended it as well. So how many folks are going to wait until they really, really know for sure?

And how will they know for absolute certainty that the market has turned?

Prices will begin to rise.
Sellers will get cockier
Selection will diminish.
In certain areas the dreaded multiple offer will rear it's ugly head.

Frankly my dears, I'd rather be a little ahead of a rising market than behind it; and in Seattle when our market turns it turns on a dime!

My Dad…I think about him everyday

2008-06-16T20:04:57Z

My dad, Leslie Hilton Shadwell was born in 1922 at the beginning of the Roaring Twenties and came of age during the great Depression. The last of six children, he was what was affectionately know as a “change of life baby”. Well loved and yet never spoiled. A classic Libra, he was slow to anger, quick to forgive, unassuming and his word was his bond.

Will Rogers may have ‘never met a man he didn’t like’ but I can honestly say that I never met a man, woman or child who didn’t like my dad. Everyone was drawn in by his quiet intelligence and delighted by his dry wit.

At Dad’s funeral many people were surprised to learn that he was a Purple Heart recipient for injuries received during the invasion of Iwo Jima. Although he had every right to be proud of this service to his country he would be the last one to tell you about it.

I miss him every single day.

Happy Fathers Day to all of the wonderful dads here on Activerain!

Another Secret to Share with Your Clients...

2008-06-02T18:05:20Z

Recently I put together a list of all my favorite retailers for home decor and remodeling. I emailed it to my clients and asked them to email me back with their suggestions. This is a really easy way to stay in touch with your clients and have them forward your expertise on to their friends and family.

Stagers, this could also be a nice peice to send to your favorite Realtors to pass on.

Click here to see Susan's Instant Interior's Resource List

Fighting Doggie Ear Infections

2008-06-02T17:57:26Z

For years I fought ear infections with my Lhasas and if you have a dog with long floppy ears, you probably have too! I would have to say in most cases, the ear infection won. Then I met Dr. Jacqueline Obando who is trained in both the traditional and naturopathic veterinary sciences. In one quick visit she gave me this simple secret to fighting ear infections. Here it is…

#1. Make a cup of green tea and let it cool to body temperature.

#2. With a cotton pad dipped in the green tea gently clean the inside your dog’s ear out to the best of your ability.

#3. Pat it dry with a clean washcloth.

#4. Using a tiny spoon and holding the ear open as much as you can, pour a half a teaspoon of boric acid into the ear canal (this is a slightly granular powder – you can find it at any drug store); work it in by massaging the ear for a minute.

#5. Repeat twice a day for a week. It works like a charm!

Since I’m not a veterinarian and I don’t play one on TV, ask your own vet about this first! If they haven’t heard about it, contact a homeopathic vet like Dr. Obando. http://www.mercyvet.com

What do you Think of Time Shares? I'd Like Your Honest Opinion!

2008-06-01T02:04:10Z

A client of mine called me up the other day to ask me about Time Shares. It could just be because it's almost June and we're still wearing our coats.

That being said, I'm trying to pull together some info and I have to admit that this is an area for which I not only have no expertise, I don't even have an opinion. So I'm asking you all to share any of your experiences: the good, the bad and the ugly. Thanks!

What are the typical cost?
Are they ever a good investment?
Do they take dogs and cats?

It's Really Hard to Sell a House with Your Legs Crossed!

2008-05-15T13:32:11Z

Bathroom Chat Part II

While following Kathy Somer's blog on faux staging last week (that topic was beat to death, but here it is if you were living under a rock and missed it...) something came up over and over again that I'd like to challenge address.

Stagers keep talking about tying their towels up with assorted doo-dads in order to keep anyone from using them or the bathroom period!
Well I have some news for you; we go to the bathroom too, just like everyone else. Especially when we have a 4+ hour tour.
Now do you want us to rush through the house you just staged so lovingly or skip it all together in order to find a gas station bathroom?
When you have guests do you send them down the street or make them use a port-a-potty in the backyard? I didn't think so.
A Realtor with qualified buyers is probably going to be the most important guest you will ever have in your home so treat them accordingly!
They're going to use the bathroom anyway and it doesn't matter if you tie your towels up with barbed wire ... they will find a corner to wipe their hands on!
So may I suggest providing a basket filled with nice disposable hand towels! If you're lucky, they may just use one to wipe up the sink.
Whatever you do, do not put plastic over the toilet or tape it down to keep people from using it unless it's non-functioning or there is another bathroom that has been made available. A note directing them to it would be a good idea so that they don't have to go on a wild goose chase.

In case you missed Part I, click here
Coming soon Bathroom Chat Part III...

How To Extend the Life of Fresh Flowers for Staging

2008-05-14T15:53:29Z

I know many things go better with Coke but cut lilacs last longer, look fresher, and smell even better when fed a diet of 1 part 7 Up (NOT diet) and 2 parts water. Before you put them in the vase smash the ends of the stems with a hammer or meat tenderizing mallet. It allows more water to be absorbed. This arrangement has been in my entryway for 5 days now and looks and smells as fabulous as when I first cut them!

Susan's May Favorites! An easy way to stay in touch with your clients.

2008-04-30T16:11:20Z

Easier, Breezier, (Less Fattening Too!) Eggs Benedict … For Mother’s Day or Anytime!

The secret to this recipe is definitely in the sauce…!

Shop Locally, Support Your Neighborhood Farmer’s Market

Now that the weather is finally getting nice, you can find farm-fresh produce right in your own neighborhood! Here is the schedule and locations of our local farmers markets…

Anyone want to flex their design muscles?

2008-04-23T19:20:12Z

This is a comment I received from a couple in Amsterdam on my ‘How do you dress a long, skinny living room?’ blog. This is a challenge if ever I’ve seen one so if you would like to chime in, I’m sure it would be greatly appreciated by Simon and Jennifer.

Long Skinny Living Room Blog

Hello everyone,

We've just bought this apartment in Amsterdam and we are struggling to come up with a solution for where the bedroom goes, bathroom etc...... as the house is 6.9metres wide and 28.5 metres long.

The photos are below and yes there is a whole work crew waiting in the wings to complete the renovation :-)

http://www.funda.nl/WoningAanbod/Koop/Detail/Fotos/?id=7bde323c-56c2-4717-a9ab-f6405c3faa5e&objecttype=DetailKoopObject

Any advice at all would be extremely welcome and much appreciated as i sit here at 11:29pm tugging at my remaining hair :-))

Many thanks and God Bless,

Simon & Jennifer

This is a Frame-Up!

2008-04-17T13:53:08Z

Finding original artwork isn't that hard but getting it framed is another story. It's not that easy to do yourself and its ridiculously expensive to have it done professionally UNTIL NOW.

Richard Lawson, one of my favorite Seattle photographers kindly supplied me with prints of the images you see here. I found the frames, with boring pictures, at Marshalls for $39 each. I carefully took them apart, popped in Richard's gorgeous prints, and voila! Instant original artwork, professionally matted and framed; for $39 a pop you can't beat that!

Easy way to stay in touch with your client base!

2008-04-17T13:32:58Z

I send out a monthly email "favorites" to my clients that links back to some of my favorite things on my blog. It's easy and un-obtrusive. Clients can opt-out if they want to, but in a year of doing it so far no one has asked to be removed from the list! If you want to borrow some of my "how-tos" (I have a year's worth to check-out) feel free to do so - just link back to my site and give credit where it's due!

-Susan

Here are my favorite Spring things!

The First Green is Gold

And it's also the easiest way to make a big arrangement for Spring…

Sansaco

Great Cheap Furniture!

Mold-Free Roses!

A new Green treatment to keep your roses beautiful all season!

UW Student Housing Solution- OPEN SUNDAY 4/27 11AM-1PM

2008-04-14T15:55:52Z

In my not to be so humble opinion, this is the best house in the Bryant/Wedgwood area in this price range. If you've been looking for UW student housing consider this; Instead of renting a funky apartment in a sketchy neighborhood, for a small fortune, why not buy this house and let your very responsible child/student rent out the 2 bedrooms on the main floor to 2 of her/his nice friends. Rentals are very pricey but property is at reasonable price for the 1st time in years. In 4 years you'll be way ahead of the game

How do you dress a long, skinny living room?

2008-03-03T15:00:24Z

How do you dress a long, skinny living room? The same way you dress a tall, skinny woman! Put a belt on!

In this case, the belt is actually going to be the couch that intersects the room with a sofa table behind it, thus creating a formal entry and an intimate conversation area.

In Seattle we have a lot of Tudors and bungalows with this floor plan and this is the best staging solution that I've been able to come up with.

The Secret Open House in Seattle ... Courtesy of the MLS

2008-03-01T13:10:56Z

I don't know what the rules and regulations are in other parts of the country but the MLS in Washington State will not allow agents to include any information regarding open houses in their marketing remarks. Now the marketing remarks consist of 500 characters that are swept by all other web sites. So essentially we cannot use the MLS to notify buyers of an open house!

Their reasoning is the multiple is not supposed to be used to promote an agent. They act as if the agents are going to include in their marketing remarks "come meet the fantastic Susan Peters who by chance will be hosting an open house at xxx this Sunday" as opposed to a simple "open Sunday 1 - 4".

I don't know if this makes any sense to you, but to me it certainly doesn't serve the best interest of the seller, the agents, or buyers! It definitely helps the dominate brokerages who contract significant ad space on a weekly basis. By forcing their agents (and consequently all other agents) to advertise and pay for it in print it certainly cuts down on the broker's budget. It's also a huge boon to print media.

As we've discussed on Active Rain almost ad nasuem, the print media is the least effective way for us to advertise. A simple "OPEN SUNDAY 1-4" in the marketing remarks is infinitely more efficient and impactful.

My final question is ... who does the MLS really serve?

Be the first to discover this fabulous French/Korean Fusion Retaurant

2008-02-29T17:52:48Z

If you'd like to try a restaurant that's totally different, for Valentine's Day or for any other occasion, check out Joule in Wallingford . It's only three months old but I'm highly impressed the atmosphere, execution, and service. Their French-Korean Fusion menu features unique combinations that somehow taste as if they were always meant to be. Try it - you'll like it!

This entry was posted on Monday 4th of February, 2008 at 11:45 am | Posted in Susan's Favorites

Great Cheap Fun Restaurant

2008-02-29T17:50:01Z

We had everything from appetizers to dessert plus drinks for four people and the total was under $100! Each plate was better than the last! Fun, delicious, and local.

"Black Bottle is a casual tavern committed to good eating and great drinks, offered at fair prices. Every dish is made fresh-to-order in sharable portions. We have a full bar and hard-working wines, priced to sell. The atmosphere is convivial and uncluttered; a modern design in a century old building. Our service standard is efficient and informal. Come with a largish group or for an intimate evening for two. Cheers!"

206.441.1500
2600 1st avenue + vine
belltown
seattle
21 years of age and older

MAP

LINK: Black Bottle

This entry was posted on Tuesday 27th of February, 2007 at 12:00 am | Posted in Susan's Favorites

Seattle Realtor Causes 100 Car Pile-up on I-75

2008-02-20T16:18:04Z

Seattle Realtor Causes 100 Car Pile-up on I-75.

This was the headline that was flashing before my eyes as I was spinning out of control, across two lanes of traffic, while driving through a classic Michigan blizzard. It was almost 5pm and I was just north of Flint so it was pretty much a sure bet that I was going to hit another car or be hit, thus causing a chain reaction.

How exactly did I get myself in this situation? It started a month ago with a call from my mom who lives alone in the upper part of the lower peninsula. Her niece got a hold of her credit and debit cards (with the pin number) and had gone on a spending spree in the Detroit area.

In order for the charges to be removed Mom would have to press charges against Mallory (I'm changing her name to protect the guilty) in the jurisdiction where the fraud had occurred. I volunteered to go home and help her with this for two reasons. Number one it was just the right thing to do and number two I thought that I could use my 20 years of experience in the power of persuasion to finally convince her that it was time to give up her remote house on the river and move to Seattle where her three daughters live.

So we set out in my Mom's LaSabre on Ash Wednesday at around 2pm. I wanted to leave in the morning but it is impossible to get my mom out of the house before 2pm. The weather wasn't bad but it started snowing about an hour out and by the time we got to Birch Run it was icy and the visibility was getting worse by the minute. With the exception of a few intrepid souls traffic had slowed to about 35-40 mph. I thought that I was doing just fine, slow and steady, when out of the blue the car spun out of control and we slammed into the guard rail facing on coming traffic.

Miraculously we didn't hit another car or get hit. Nobody was injured and since there was a nice cushion of snow the car came out without a scratch. With-in 10 minutes the state police showed up and got us turned around and headed in the right direction. By that time the weather was even worse. As much as I wanted to get off the freeway I was even more afraid of getting stuck on a side street in an unfamiliar area. So with my hands clenched around the steering wheel we soldiered on to Waterford in first gear. Mom said to shift down into PosiTraction which I did only to find out later PosiTraction comes on automatically.

The next day we got up early and made the rounds to the 3 police precincts involved. The blizzard was over but the roads were still slippery when we headed back up north. Seeing other cars in the ditch did nothing to boost my confidence but when we came across a snow plow that was "ass end over tea kettle" in the median I was just about ready to call it quits. My Dad had always told me that I have more guts than brains and I guess he was right because we continued on. About ten miles north of the snow plow debacle the sun came out and the roads dried up making the last part of the trip bearable. Actually, the sun shinning on the snow drifts made the farmlands look as if they had been covered in white satin.

The lesson learned from this story is...actually there are 4 lessons:

I'm never going back to Michigan in the winter again. Even thought I was born and raised there I'm a west coast wimp now.
My current car has All Wheel Drive and my next car will have All Wheel Drive. You can have that PosiTraction.
I have given up trying to get my mom to move to Seattle.
My hat's off to all of my fellow Realtors and Stagers and for that fact inspectors, photographers, and appraisers who brave these kind of elements 3 months out of every year

How many plates can you keep in the air?

2008-01-25T19:59:14Z

How about 7? That's what I used to create wall art for this boring white wall. Just 7 inexpensive plates from Marshall's or TJ Maxx or one of those places. All you do is layout your pattern, put little plate hangers on them and pop them on the wall. So the next time you're looking for art work, especially for a dining room, just look in your china cabinet!

How to make a Big Impact When Spending very Little Money!

2008-01-25T19:47:57Z

This is a conversion of a Historic Garden Home project. Unfortunately the seller did not call me in until after they had painted everything white. White walls, white molding, white everything! What's a girl to do? Add some inexpensive window treatments. The panels from JC Penney's (on close-out) were less than $15 a piece. The rod was a 3/4" dowel that I cut myself and put up with large hooks.

For this one in-set wall I painted it myself with the ever popular Latte by Restoration Hardware. I wish they would have painted the whole unit in Latte and left the molding white. Oh well.

I used a lot of red to infuse some color and drama.

All-in-all, I spent less than $150 on window treatments and I installed them myself. This is also a another case for using a professional photographer.

$8 Window Treatments. No Kidding.

2008-01-25T19:27:50Z

This is Part II of "Window Treatments to the Rescue."

Now, I know this is not on par with the window treatments that Scarlet O'Hara ripped off the wall and transformed into a frock to impress Rhett Butler but...

They do the trick when it comes to blocking out a parking lot without blocking the light. They're 36 inch wide fabric Readyshades installed horizontally as opposed to vertically. I trimmed them down to fit the height I needed, pulled off the sticker, stuck them to one side of the window jam and then used 3m Command Adhesive Strips to attach them to the other side of the window jam. In this application I used two sets. Be sure and get the fabric shades because the paper shades are too wimpy.