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Meet My Windermere Mount Baker Real Estate Team
I am in awe of the Windermere Mount Baker Real Estate support staff, they really live up to their name.
The Windermere Mount Baker Real Estate office opened in 1979, the fourth office of now over 300 total Windermere offices, and is the only major real estate company with an office in South Seattle. The office combines the character of the local, family owned business with the marketing power and support of the one of the nation’s largest residential real estate firms.
I made this office my home since I was a rookie realtor, in the late 1990’s. Right from the get go, I felt like it was the right fit for me. There is a big emphasis on educating and supporting agents and over the years it has felt more like a family than a traditional office culture.
Although real estate is competitive, and we are all basically self-employed, we support each other, with shared information and advice, price opinions, mentoring new agents and having regular celebrations.
Our office also has a huge commitment to our local community, through volunteer service and financial contributions to many local non-profits. As a board member of the SE Seattle Community Center and a founding member of the Columbia City BeatWalk, giving back to my community is very important to me. I am proud to be part of the Windermere Mount Baker team.
I am also in awe of our support staff, they really live up to their name. They are…
Office Manager Beverly Powers, is also my transactions coordinator and the rock of our office. Her 30 years of experience is invaluable, as is her competence, patience, and caring attitude.
Internet & Broker Care Coordinator Freda Leomiti is the sunniest person I know; she always has a smile on her face, has the patience of a saint and is willing to do pretty much anything for agents.
Heidi Devereaux, our amazingly creative graphic designer, has added so much to our office. We used to have to design all our own marketing materials, which was incredibly time consuming. Heidi is also extremely patient and can juggle lots of agent’s needs and requests and never complains!
Joe Easterday, as a managing broker, I could not ask for a more kind, considerate and knowledgeable manager. He is always asking us for feedback on how to improve the services our office provides. Joe is always willing to listen to agent’s concerns and offer advice and never seems to get ruffled, he is the calmest person I know.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact our office with any of your real estate needs. We are located at 4919 South Genesee Street in Seattle, Washington, and can also be reached via phone (206-725-7255) and email (MountBaker@Windermere.com).
(Sur) Real Estate Glossary: Top 24 Descriptions Defined
By Serena Heslop
After 20 years as a realtor, I’ve seen it all! So if you’re having trouble deciphering those real estate ads, here’s what they REALLY mean…
- Move-in condition = front door is missing
- Light, open spaces = many holes in the walls
- In-city oasis = a swamp
- All original = original mold, original termites
- Territorial views = sweeping view of neighbor’s blackberry bushes and rusty car collection
- Close to buses = the bus stop is at your front door
- Retro = orange shag carpet, avocado appliances and dark wood paneling
- Wide-open floor plan = previous owner removed supporting walls
- Outstanding = sticks out like a sore thumb
- Convenient = located on a freeway entrance ramp
- Cozy = oversized doghouse
- Lower level family room = Ping-pong table over sewer opening
- Gardener’s paradise = chiropractor’s meal-ticket
- Gourmet kitchen = includes cutting board
- Convenient to shopping = is located in a Safeway parking lot
- Modern appliances = includes flushing toilet
- Mountain view = from a tiptoed stance atop the chimney
- Doll House = big enough for Barbie (sans Ken)
- Unique floor plan = kitchen is in the living room
- Just needs your personal touches = i.e., walls
- Fixer = faux foundation
- Handyman’s dream = Joe Blow’s nightmare
- Mint = someone spilled mouthwash on the carpet
- Sweat Equity = you’re in a for a real stinker
SELLER SUCCESS STORY: Great Offer Despite Cooling Market
Janis and Steve Lush found me in two ways: Janis via my monthly postcard mailing and Steve by an internet search. We met in the spring and hit it off, straight away. They were both retired and had lived in their super cute Columbia City craftsman bungalow for 15 years, and now they were ready for a change. Given the hot local housing market, they realized it was a good time to sell.
They planned to move down to Tacoma with their two cats and rent an apartment for a year to see if that is where they wanted to settle.
We planned to have their house listed by early June, which gave them a couple of months to get rid of stuff they no longer needed plus get some minor work done. We had an inspection ahead of time, so there were no surprises and we were able to deal with some electrical issues that may have alarmed a prospective buyer. Once they moved out, my painter came in and spruced up the kitchen cabinets and other areas that needed painting, then the cleaning crew and stagers, so we were ready to list on-schedule.
However, the real estate market slowed down at the beginning of June, as a lot more houses came on the market and many buyers seemed to have disappeared, partly due to fatigue. So despite many showings and interest in the property by several agents and their buyers, we did not receive any offers on the review date. This was odd and disconcerting, as the house was in such great shape and in a lovely location.
I had my marketing specialist boost the listing on social media sites, contacted a lot of agents to alert them to what a great house this was, and held more open houses for the public. After three weeks of no offers, we decided to drop the price, but that morning we received a good offer.
However, the buyer wanted to have their own inspection, which of course they had the right to do. There were some things on their inspection that they wanted to address, and we decided to work with them and after some negotiating, came to a final price that my sellers and the buyers could agree to.
In real estate, you never really know when an offer is going to come in. The outcome was good, as we did not have to drop the price.
Janis and Steve were remarkably calm and pragmatic during the entire process, and I really appreciated their total trust in me. Congratulations, you two!
Ready to sell your home? Go here to see what you’ll gain by having me by your side during this complex process. Ready to get started? Contact me today, or go here to learn more about me. Want more information? Check out my Top Secret blog post of FAQs for Sellers.
NEW LISTING: Private, Elegant, Spacious Condo Blocks From Google, Inc.
11234 NE 68th St 1
Kirkland, WA 98033
Listed at $850,000
Private, elegant and spacious condo in a small well-maintained six-unit complex in the heart of Houghton, just blocks from Google. This residence is a classy remodel with a lovely open floor plan, wide-plank hardwood floors, crown moldings, carefully integrated built-ins and a gourmet kitchen with slab granite counters. The two spacious bedrooms have walk-in closets and beautifully appointed baths. There is a big west -facing covered deck with a lake view and 1-car garage, plus an extra spot.
- MLS: #1335356
- Taxes: $2,018 (6764)
- Lot Size: 0.47 acres
- Type: Condo/Townhouse
- Year Built: 1989
- Style:Condo 1-level Unit
- Views: Territorial, Partial, Lake
- County: King County
- Community: Houghton
Information provided as a courtesy only, buyer to verify. For more, go here.
NEW LISTING: Charming, Well-Cared For Hillman City Home
4225 S Raymond St.
Seattle, WA 98118
Listed at $535,000
- MLS #1326087
- Taxes: $4,578 (2018)
- Lot Size: 4,200 SQFT
- Type: Single-Family Home
- Year Built: 1925
- Style: 1 1/2 Stry W/Bsmt
- Views: Territorial
- School District: Seattle
- County: King County
- Community: Hillman City
Sellers have lived in this charming, well-cared for 1 story home since the 80s, now its your turn to update and make it your own. Located in a quiet enclave, block to a big park and an easy stroll to the Hillman and Columbia City fun spots. Lots of vintage cool, hardwoods under carpets, original doors and a real fireplace. 3 bedrooms up with a full bath and 1 on the main. The daylight basement has a bonus room + 7 ft ceilings to expand further. South-facing deck and fenced back yard w/alley access.
Information provided as a courtesy only, buyer to verify. For more, go here.
NEW LISTING: Classy Capitol Hill Condo
731 East Broadway #202
Seattle, WA 98102
Listed at $595,500
- MLS: #1322565
- Taxes: $4,229 (2018)
- Lot Size: 8,000 SQFT
- Type: Condo/Townhouse
- Year Built: 1966
- StyleCondo 1level Unit
- Views: Territorial
- School District: Seattle
- County: King County
- Community: Capitol Hill
Centrally located spacious corner unit, on a lovely quiet tree-lined street on Capitol Hill. This classy updated condo has a generous open-plan living space, a gas fireplace, bamboo floors, a wall of windows & a private deck. The kitchen has granite & stainless, a gas cook-top & breakfast bar. There are two bedrooms with big closets & full bath. Coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, library & Volunteer Park are literally around the corner. Pet friendly. 1 parking space plus guest.
Go here for a virtual tour.
Information provided as a courtesy only, buyer to verify. For more, go here.
SELLER SUCCESS STORY: Caitlin Sullivan, a Happy Seller With a Big Heart
Caitlin received five offers on her Lakewood/Columbia City mid-century, but she did not accept the highest offer.
Sometimes a personal letter can really sway a seller, these are sometimes discouraged by agents as you must be very careful not to violate the fair housing laws. However, I like to give my sellers the choice to look at personal letters if they want to, although sometimes with a lot of offers it can just be too overwhelming. Many sellers, especially if they have lived in their house for a long time, would like to know who they are passing their home on to. So, it can be an emotional decision. I always remind my clients that it is a financial decision as well as an emotional one, but it is ultimately up to them as it is their house after all! Caitlin believes in good karma and just felt these buyers would be the best fit for her house and neighborhood.
Caitlin was one of my first clients way back when, she was a first- time buyer and had lived on Capitol Hill for many years in a rented condo. She was able to buy a house in South East Seattle as it was much less expensive than other parts of the city. Hardly anyone had heard of Columbia City and light rail was years away.
Now 18 years later, Caitlin and her long-time partner Ann were ready to move. They had been thinking about making a big change for a couple of years and when Ann was offered a great job at the University of West Virginia, her home state, they felt that the time had come.
They were lucky enough to be able to buy a really charming remodeled stone house on five acres, that had been built by the WPA during the 1930’s for out-of-work miners, and they moved before their Seattle house went on the market.
This was perfect as their house really needed a quick make-over. Firstly, the kitchen needed help. Caitlin and Ann were not big cooks and it had not been updated, the counters were really worn, and the dark wood cabinets made it seem very dingy. I told Caitlin that most likely, the new buyer would remodel the galley kitchen to make it bigger, either by knocking down a non- supporting wall into the living room or bumping the kitchen out at the back. However, we really needed to do something to make it look better. I had a contractor replace the counters and back-splash in a light grey and the kitchen cabinets and walls painted in white, and it looked so much cleaner and brighter and useable.
The rest of the rooms were painted too, in an off- white, including the wood work. The old front screen door was removed and both front and back doors painted in a brighter more welcoming color. The worn front steps got a fresh coat of paint too.
The over- grown yard was a mess as well, so my landscape crew was hired & they did a great cleaning up job. In just three weeks we were able to get the house painted, cleaned, staged, listed and sold!
Ready to sell your home? Go here to see what you’ll gain by having me by your side during this complex process. Ready to get started? Contact me today, or go here to learn more about me. Want more information? Check out my Top Secret blog post of FAQs for Sellers.
FROM SERENA: Increasing Inventory, School Supply Drive & More
Dear friends,
It’s been a busy month with three new listings already pending: A secluded, turn-key craftsman in Columbia City, a Columbia City mid-century, and a 19th century duplex on First Hill.
And more of the same next month with two new listings on the horizon: a pristine Capitol Hill condo and a 1920’s Craftsman in Hillman City. So while Seattle-area home prices have reached record highs, increasing inventory does offer a ray of hope.
In other news, my office, Windermere Mount Baker Real Estate, is currently in the midst of our annual Project Cool School Supply Drive for homeless students. We use this time to help provide each child with a sturdy new backpack filled with quality school supplies, books, toothbrushes, and more. You can help with donations from the wish list found here through mid-July.
Also, I’m proud to share that we recently partnered with Wellspring Family Services in the Rainier Valley to sort, organize and fold clothing for children ages 0 – 17 who are experiencing poverty and homelessness (photo above). We’re so grateful for all the great work this South Seattle-based organization does for our community, and encourage you to learn more about them.
There are a few upcoming community events that you may be interested in:
- 7/8: July Beatwalk in Columbia City: R&B, Funk, Soul, Hip Hop
- 7/13: Rainbow Bingo Sixties Fever at Southeast Seattle Senior Center
- 7/13: Windermere Mount Baker Summer Art Show & Reception
Finally, if you or someone you know needs a Special Agent by their side in this wacky market, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Referrals are the mainstay of my business, and I am truly grateful for your support.
Cheers,
Serena
serenaheslop.com
NEW LISTING: Solid Mid-Century in Awesome Columbia City Location
4215 46th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98118
Listed at $585,000
- 2 Bed / 1.75 Bath
- 1,460 SQFT
- MLS #: 1314235
- Taxes: $5,083 (2018)
- Lot Size: 6480 SQFT
- Type: Single-Family Home
- Year Built: 1951
- Style: 1 Story W/Basement
- Views: Territorial
- School District: Seattle
- County: King County
- Community: Columbia City
Solid mid-century, (with AC!) in an awesome location; light rail, Columbia City, the lake and tons of parks, are all super close. This freshly painted home has an open and bright living/dining area with newer windows, fireplace and oak floors, + 2 bedrooms and an updated tiled bathroom. The kitchen has brand new granite counters and a bamboo floor. A daylight basement with fam room and bath is ripe for expansion. Big west-facing private fully fenced yard, with a patio and hot tub. 1 car garage too.
Information provided as a courtesy only, buyer to verify. For more, go here.
NEW LISTING: Spacious, Well-Maintained Craftsman-Style Duplex
1023 E Jefferson St
Seattle, WA 98122
Listed at $879,500
- MLS #: 1310562
- Taxes: $5,168 (2018)
- Lot Size: 2400 SQFT
- Type: Single-Family Home
- Year Built: 1907
- Style: 2 Stories w/basement
- Views: Territorial
- School District: Seattle
- County: King County
- Community: First Hill
Spacious, well-maintained craftsman style duplex, in a prime location. Super close to Seattle University, hospitals, downtown Seattle, freeways and public transportation. Walk score of 95! A great investment property, always rented, or live in one and rent the other unit. 10-foot ceilings, comfortable living spaces, big newer windows for great light, lots of original features, plus updated kitchens, bathrooms, and systems. Gas heat, washer and dryers in each unit, plus extra storage space in basement.
Information provided as a courtesy only, buyer to verify. For more, go here.
