This blog is special to me — it’s personally composed by me and certainly not generated by AI — in part because it’s special to you. It has what some may call a following: When I send it out to those of you on my mailing list, very rarely does anyone unsubscribe and more readers join each month!
Unlike blogs like this where people opt in to read what a trusted person says, there’s social media. Social media spreads a dizzying amount of information indiscriminately, leaving us to try to separate the truth from attention-getting, social media hits — crafted to serve a particular interest — that may hold very little truth in them at all. Don’t let social media hits knock you out. The real estate industry is in a bit of a frenzy to consume every possible adjacent discipline that may be considered relevant. Their interest? Their goal? Often it’s to make a nickel off any relevant service be it through commissions or by providing the service itself. So many services are springing up that we’re having to wend our way through Zillow, Redfin, title & escrow, staging, decluttering, grounds clean-up, photography, Instagram, Facebook, search optimization, e-sign, your sign, we all sign together… So here we are juggling passwords from hell to enter websites where, to our dismay, our information is leveraged in ways we can’t even dream of understanding.
Attempting to keep above the noise and trying to understand the current way to purchase or sell a home successfully has become daunting. We’re asked to jump through hoops to win a bid on a home we hope we really want, hoping not to write an offer only to lose out.
The first half of 2023 has been one of the most challenging periods ever, bringing me to take pause and refine my process. I’ve had MANY successes and some not-so-great experiences this year and, while I like to win, nothing for me is at any price. For one thing, I will not represent clients who step outside the boundaries of what I consider reasonable behavior.
While it’s fun to search and scroll social media and look at perfectly staged homes with perfectly expensive price tags, there’s so much more that goes on behind the scenes. As a good, solid Real Estate Broker I take your purchase or sale seriously and walk you through what’s ahead no matter what the current conditions are. I’m honest with you: It’s never a slam dunk because the process to bring a home on the market correctly and professionally takes time and thoughtfulness; when all this is properly executed, the end is clearly worth the means no matter how much noise we had to wade through.
For example, purchasing a home: Read the contract, read the supplements, understand the pricing, and make sure you’re feeling comfortable with your decision. I help you do that so you don’t feel pushed. I insist that you ask any and all questions until you understand the answers. While scrolling, we risk becoming so dependent on the opinions in carefully edited “testimonials” and “likes” that we can forget to think for ourselves. That’s where the other kind of “social” comes in. A good agent you’re interviewing will ask the tough questions, learn about all your wants and needs, and keep the list handy so we may refer to it periodically as you make an informed decision. With a good agent by your side, you don’t have to worry about looking like a pro: You’re not a Broker and it’s up to that person who is representing you to explain how they earn their money, earn your trust, and keep you apprised of what the complete process looks like. Your Broker doesn’t need to be your best friend, but it helps if there’s a certain level of chemistry; you’ll likely have a stressful moment or two, and it’s easier to work with someone who thoroughly understands and supports your needs, wants, and goals.
For me, the most enjoyable part of this profession, regardless of what changes and what doesn’t, has always been meeting clients where they are, finding out what they need, and implementing the best strategy to meet that need so they may move into their next adventure. That’s the dependable kind of “social.”
Your SOCIAL friend,
My recently sold homes
Sold representing the seller: 9140 Battle Point Dr NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 MLS #2075053 ($1,325,000)
Sold, representing the buyer: 11003 Rolling Bay Walk NE Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 MLS #2066711 ($925,000) and 9870 NE Nelson Hill Lane Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 MLS #2069288 ($2,100,000)
Sold representing the buyer: 917 Dove Tail Lane NW, #23 Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, MLS #2141153 ($985,000)
Sold representing the buyer: 4748 NE Hendrickson Road Poulsbo, WA 98370 MLS #2129915 ($764,500), 14425 Kestrel Place NE, Poulsbo, WA 98370 MLS #2073504 (Sold $555,000)
Pending, representing the seller: 6205 Harbor Crest Drive NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 MLS #2139707 ($1,100,000)
Bainbridge Island real estate over the past 30 days
14 Active residential listings High $3,900,000, Median $1,798,000 Low $825,000, Average days on market 12
2 Pending inspection listings High $2,098,000, Median $1,886,250 Low, $1,674,500 Average days on market 36
26 Pending listings High $4,380,000, Median $1,093,475 }Low $379,000, Average days on market 44
34 Sold residential listings High $3,500,000 Median $1,090,250 Low $52,000, Average days on market 11
2 Sold Unlisted residential listings High $1,300,000, Low $975,000 Days on market 0
1 Unlisted vacant land listing High $275,000 Median $275,000 Low $275,000, Days on market 0