If my home sold in a day, was it underpriced?The answer to this is…..it depends. It depends upon:• What are the seller’s goals, needs, timing?• What is the current market?• Is the house the only similar home available in the neighborhood?• Are you positioning the house to deliberately create a bidding war? The seller is the bossThe listing agent’s goal is to educate the seller on all aspects of the current real estate market so that the seller can make the best decision about where to position (price) the home within the market.Pricing depends on not only what is happening in the market but also what are the seller’s goals?For some sellers, time is of the essence and a speedy sale has monetary value for the seller. It might be worth a seller pricing just below the market in order to get... 06/20/2017

Home inspections, in my opinion, are always a valuable tool, and provide an overview of the condition of the property.  But an inspection is not just for buyers.  A home inspection can also be important for sellers when they are getting ready to list their home.  Here are some examples of how getting a home inspection prior to listing your home for sale can help you have a successful transaction.   Know what you are selling Location, size of the home, lot size, number of bedrooms and baths are just some of the criteria used to determine a list price in comparison to other properties.  Condition is also a big factor in that decision.  If you don’t know your condition, you could be pricing your home incorrectly.   Pricing confidenceWith the knowledge of the condition of your house, you ca... 06/15/2017

What do I do with my pets during showings?Sellers with pets can have an extra burden when listing their house for sale. If the pets cannot be removed from the house during showings, here are some tips that will ease the stress for you, your pets and the potential buyers touring your home. Indoor-only catsAs a buyer’s agent, I certainly have had to chase down an indoor cat that decided to become an outdoor cat! It’s very stressful on everyone because how horrifying would it be if the cat got out during ashowing and was lost?  You know your cat best. If strangers scare the cat into hiding, you might be okay. Posting reminders and warning notes on the front door that the cat is an indoor cat and to keep all doors closed is helpful to the buyer’s agent. It’s also helpful to have a screen/st... 06/12/2017

Remember the iconic Realtor advice about baking cookies or bread when hosting an open house or for buyer showings?  That is still sage advice but who can do that for every showing and open house?  Why can’t a scented cookies ‘n cream plug-in work just as well?  Unfortunately artificial scents that come from candles, plug-ins, perfumes, air fresheners, etc. can easily set off a sneezing attack or cause irritation to many potential buyers.  That’s not the type of experience you, as a seller, want for your showings.    The best way to go about having a pleasant-smelling house it to clean it from top to bottom.  Eliminate odors at the source.  It would be wonderful if you could just burn a scented candle and have a fresh-smelling house, but what you end up with is still a smelly house but n... 06/10/2017

Congratulations - you closed on your house!  Transferring the keys over the new owner is probably the easiest part of the whole transaction but even this task can go awry!  Take these simple steps to deliver the keys to the new owner and avoid getting calls after closing.  How to get the keys to the new ownerCommonly, your listing agent will have the house key from the lockbox and then will ask you to leave all the keys belonging to the house on the kitchen counter.  Or you can give all the keys to your agent.   What to do with all the keys – label them, please!House keys - If the front door has a different set of keys than the patio door, please label them appropriately.  If your front door has a keypad, leave a note in the house with the code.Mailbox keys – do not deliver the keys to ... 06/09/2017

7704 Dominion Ave NE Lacey, WA 98516 7704 Dominion Ave NE Your new home awaits! Spacious home, loaded with special amenities & amazing back yard, perfect for entertaining. Conveniently close to shopping, I-5, JBLM, parks, beach and golf. Interior Features: Laundry Room, Den/Office, Pantry, Hardwood Floors, Walk-In Closet, Fireplace, Dining Room, Main Floor Bathroom, Appliances, Forced Air. Exterior Features: Fenced Yard, Deck/Patio, Landscaping. Custom Features: Yard : Fully fenced Parking : 3-car attached garage Roof : Composition roof Price: $384,900 Type: Single Family Residential for Sale Floors: Multiple Parking/Garage: 3 Bedrooms: 4 Baths:2 Half Baths:1 Square Feet: 3005 Year Built: 2006 MLS #: 1125388   www.sandynelsonrealestate.com/listings/366971A7-A0CA-D5CC-CEFA512AA9A82E85.s... 05/23/2017

Why should the REALTOR you hire be a CRS – Certified Residential Specialist?With more than 1 million REALTORS working in the United States, only 3% have achieved their CRS credential. Why is this important to you?The more education I have, the better educated my clients are in their sale or purchase of their home.The education and training that CRS offers to its members drill down on the details of key issues for buyers and sellers.Earlier this month, I attended a 2-day CRS class in Olympia, WA.  This class was 16 hours of instruction on helping sellers achieve the best results when selling their home. This is just one example of the in-depth training CRS offers.    I believe the goal for all REALTORS is to have seamless and positive outcomes for their clients, but there is a lot of exp... 05/11/2017

Buyers want to live in your neighborhood, Stikes Woods homeowners! The two sellers I recently represented in your neighborhood experienced the joys of a seller’s market! And you can too if you are thinking of selling. 5514 Jackson Farm Loop SE, next to Stikes WoodsSold for $273,450 (over the asking price) in 1 day.Sold February 2017    3605 Silver Maple Ct SEPending in April 2017 just 4 days after being listed.The seller had to decide on 1 buyer from the multiple offers!  Both of these sellers prepared their homes for sale, priced the homes right, and had professional promotion; all of these actions created the perfect storm for a successful home-selling experience.  Right now, there are limited listings available for buyers in your neighborhood. And with two recent sales, I know this f... 04/13/2017

Do you own a home in Horizon Pointe (SE Lacey, WA)? Considered Selling?Buyers inquire on this area consistently. Currently there are ONLY 3 Active home listings; 22 Pending, 8 in less than 10 days; and 64 SOLD homes in the past 6 months.Our Local Team is looking to partner with Home Sellers in this Hot Market - Take Advantage & Give us a Shout Today! (360) 870-2605, PM or QuallsTeamInfo@gmail.com 04/03/2017

Scientists stunned by health benefits of living on a golf course!Scientists have recently discovered the stunning health benefits of living on a golf course.   Benefits found to include a reduction in male-patterned baldness, and increase in overall happiness which in turn has led to a decrease in gum disease.  The cause of this?  The dimples on the golf balls.  Who knew?!  With the combined efforts of doctors, scientists and golf professionals, they have analyzed the homeowners who sit on their oversized, covered patios of their newly built homes, watching golfers have a secondary health benefit as the golfers tee off.  The golf balls that whiz by are having astounding health benefits that even baffle the top minds in the medical field.   What they have discovered is that the dimples o... 04/01/2017

Just sold a great house in Lacey, WA to a great family this past month!  These first-time home buyers learned lessons that are good for ALL buyers in this busy sellers' market.  When the perfect home came up, it was also the perfect home for about 10 other buyers!My first-time home buyers were nervous but confidently submitted their first offer, hoping to beat out the other buyers.  Unfortunately, they didn't get the house, but what they did get were valuable lessons about being buyers in a sellers' market.  And they were smart to learn what they needed to do on the next house they found.  First, they had all their finances in order and submitted everything the lender needed quickly.  They knew what their budget was, what their monthly payments would look like, so making an offer on the... 03/28/2017

9012 Merrrill Ct NE, Lacey 98516 This luxurious 3 bedroom/3 bath home has every upgrade imaginable. Double crown molded ceilings in the living, dining, & master. Hardwood floors, formal dining, spacious kitchen w/granite counters and large island. Den w/french door entry. Double sided fireplace in the master bedroom/bath. Fireplace in living doubles to outside with a covered patio for outdoor entertaining all year. One owner home has been meticulously maintained right down to the beautiful mature outdoor landscaping. Must see! Gail Smith(360) 561-0852The Ben Kinney TeamKeller Williams Western Realty 03/28/2017

::Own a Home in Capitol City Golf Course? Inventory is Needed!::Buyers Love this Highly Sought-After Neighborhood. Currently there are only 3 Active listings, -0- Pending, & Strong Sold Comps within the past 6 months.We're offering a FREE Custom Analysis & Marketing Plan to Capitalize on your Capitol City Home - Give us a shout! PM or 360.870.2605 02/08/2017

Ramblers for sale in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater WA are hot properties and are desired homes for residents in the Thurston County, WA area.Search here for the current ramblers for sale in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and surrounding areas of Thurston County.  What is a rambler?A rambler is a single-story home.  Some may call it a ranch.  Others call it the perfect floor plan!  Why are ramblers desirable?No stairs!   The convenience of not having to navigate stairs is appealing to a wide range of buyers.  Young, old, single, married with kids, empty-nesters and multi-generational buyers all find value in ramblers over 2-story homes.  Why are new construction ramblers hard to find?In our Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater areas, brand new ramblers are available but not as many as buyers would like. ... 02/07/2017

 Riddle: What do saltwater pools and saltwater aquariums have in common?Answer: Water.That’s about all. When some house hunters see “saltwater pool” in Lacey listings, the first thing apt to come to mind is that last trip to the ocean seashore or swaying palm trees—or perhaps some NatGeo TV show about endangered species on the Great Barrier reef. Visions of having their own playful pet dolphin in the backyard might flit through their consciousness (training: easy; maintenance: not so easy) before the practical questions begin to intrude— like having to rinse salt off after every dip, worrying about salt spray wrecking the lawn. Ultimately, the question would probably be, who in their right mind wants a saltwater pool instead of freshwater? The answer: some practical-minded Lacey homeown... 02/06/2017

  To end the suspense, the answer to the title question about when is the optimal time to buy a home in Lacey has been officially answered. The answer is, more or less, “now.” All right, there’s an alternate answer, “as soon as practical”—but that is a less dramatic-sounding version of the same thing.The official nature of that answer is due to its source, generally considered to be the apex of the residential real estate industry: the National Association of Realtors®. The “®” is there after “Realtor” because the group literally owns the word “Realtor”—that’s how much of an industry leader the NAR is!I’m a member because of all the resources it makes available for the benefit of my Lacey clients. Among the raft of those is a steady stream of research about the market, new and proposed ... 02/02/2017

  When you recall how thoroughly public confidence was shaken during that last financial meltdown, you probably also remember how reluctant most people were to presume that Lacey real estate values would rebound anytime soon. Those who saw nosediving property values as nothing less than a great buying opportunity were in the courageous minority—even though a cool-headed review of the history of home values’ ups and downs made such a conclusion pretty safe.Today there may be a similar Lacey real estate opportunity—although, in truth, you have to look a lot harder to see it. It’s emerging in the realm of Lacey rental real estate investments. Instead of resulting from a dramatic global financial shakeup, it’s the by-product of a less headline-grabbing phenomenon—namely, an emerging shift i... 01/26/2017

   Showing a home in bad weather might seem to be a blueprint for disappointment, but sometimes that’s not what happens. Of course, prospective buyers do find that house hunting in Lacey is easiest when the sun is shining, but homes continue to be bought and sold in every season, and sometimes bad weather can even prove to be advantageous.Now, it’s true that when you stick the word “bad” in front of anything, you can bet it will stifle enthusiasm. If you’re trying to promote something, it’s hardly the go-to adjective. “Let’s try out that new Chinese restaurant—I hear it’s bad” isn’t a quorum-builder. That’s why “let’s schedule some serious house hunting; it looks like the weather will be really bad,” isn’t likely to spur a lot of enthusiasm—even if a deadline looms and people need to fi... 01/19/2017

   The holiday season surely makes for a neat package: wrapping up the whole year in a sort of satisfying finale. Whether it’s your Christmas or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or any other holiday you can think of, for most Lacey residents, the last weeks of December make up a sort of endpoint/beginning point for more than just the calendar. These days mark a kind of emotional capstone that rounds out the year nicely.Now, it’s also true that these milestones have a whole lot to do with children. In fact, a whole school of thought has it that these holidays are pretty much for the little ones—we adults are supposed just to be along for the ride.Thinking back to when we were little, it could be that our first recognition that this was a very special time of year was also our first inkling that years h... 12/23/2016

   Most of us favor a high degree of predictability when it comes to things like the interest rates on mortgages. In that realm, “poised” is a bad word. When anything is poised, it means it’s about to do something different: change. For those who like predictability, change is unwelcome.But this week should provide both good and bad news when it comes to change and Lacey mortgage rates. For once, a change in the immediate future is pretty nearly a sure thing. Although rates are poised, they’re poised for a comfortingly predictable change.What happens after that is a different story.Up until very recently, the mortgage interest rates offered to Lacey home buyers has been an island of calm in a sea of…well, less calm, if the year’s turbulent election cycle is any example. Predictability h... 12/16/2016