A new assignment...

I got assigned an REO today from a bank.  I am not new to foreclosures and have actually listed and sold quite a few of them in the Seattle area.  I am happy to have the assignment and I will do a great job with it, but the state of the house was so telling and really left me depressed for the evening.  I will get on with it and do the job at hand, but foreclosure is so sad. 

Many neighbors might see the real estate agent come around and think that the vultures have arrived, but that just isn't the case here.  I have actually worked for practically free on many occasions to try and save someone from losing their home.  I believe that there has to be altruistic intentions as a Realtor or it just doesn't work.

Every house has its story...

The house was typical of a foreclosure - run down with lots of deferred maintenance.  I estimate that the trash out will probably be over two thousand dollars because it is crammed full and even though I am six feet tall, the grass hit me in the teeth as I tried to wade through it.  What stopped me in my tracks and made me so sad were the little shoes thrown around the yard and also the Fisher Price toddler slide.  My son has the same slide and it hurt a bit to know that another child like mine had to leave their home and their slide.

I am very diligent with my REO assignments and make sure that I treat each one systematically and with respect.  It is sad, though, when the history is so clearly written on the walls (literally as well in this case)...

Are you interested in Seattle real estate?  Seattle foreclosure listings?  realestate@cooperjacobs.com

Here is my tacky picture for the week - okay the month.  I have the pleasure of driving by this lovely blue piece of art every day at one time or another and I have to share.

OK, let's start with the fact that it is hideous and belongs in the back yard.  This is especially rude and ugly to your neighbors when there happens to be two houses on the street that are for sale and this is the first house on the street as they drive in - what a great first impression, right?

Putting aside that it is ugly and a bit rude to have something like this in your front yard for extended periods of time, let's look at the danger factor.  A child can drown in a bucket of water and definitely in one of these babies.  There are always tons of kids running around this area - I am surprised the owners risk such a liability in their front yard!

Hopefully they will take it down soon to give everyone the extra benefit of a giant brown circle.

Here is the real estate tip:  If you are putting your house on the market in a neighborhood that has a neighbor like this who ignores the dangers of putting a giant pool in their front yard and doesn't care about your buyers' first impressions, check city codes and make sure they are allowed to have it.  Many codes require barriers to prevent drowning which is what every city should do.  Of course that would be even less attractive, but at least it might save someone's life.

Update:  The pool is down and the brown circle is there so at least all the kiddies are safe!  Not such a bad neighbor after all?

Recently during an inspection at a Shoreline house, we came across something wonderful that the parents had done.  In their toddler's room, they had installed a vocal smoke alarm.  This reminded me about my own tests on my then six year old daughter when I learned many years ago on the news that children don't hear the high pitched tone of a smoke alarm. During the middle of the night, my husband and I set the smoke detector off and watched as she didn't budge while we covered our ears.

The parents of the house we had inspected had recorded their own voices telling their child to wake up and that everything was going to be okay, but that he needed to head out to the previously discussed meeting place and wait for his parents.  It was impressive!

I think these are a great invention and plan on equipping my children's room with them now - not sure why I didn't know they were around, but thrilled to find them and wanted to share. Might be a good closing gift for clients with kids?

I work in the Seattle area.  It rains here.  Despite this basic fact, I am constantly amazed at the lack of attention we give our gutters in this state! I even bought a beach house in Ocean Shores, WA and it had no gutters on it!  I am just as guilty as everyone else and used to have a waterfall coming down from my clogged front porch gutter.  My husband never ever cleaned the gutters out!

I have seen so many bad things happen as a result of clogged gutters.  The water starts flowing over the gutter and right back on to the house, into the foundation or basement and causes great damage.  I never actually thought the damage could be so significant until I had a string of clients that neglected their gutter duties. 

 The hundreds of thousands of dollars I saw in gutter related damage repairs prompted me to finally take the gutters into my own hands.  I hired a company that comes out twice a year and cleans them.  They have my credit card on file and just have me on an automatic schedule to clean the windows and the gutters.  It costs me about six hundred dollars a year, but takes away all of the uncertainty of not knowing whether or not my home is being properly maintained.

I recently saw that iRobot has a new gutter cleaning robot.  I have a Scooba floor washing robot from iRobot and am very curious to see the iRobot Looj in action!  It might be a cheaper  option for someone in a one level home!

Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Associate Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County - Experienced and with a background in accounting - I love my clients and work hard for them!

Mountlake Terrace has big plans!  Activity is evident everywhere in this little city just north of Seattle and city hall has big plans for the growth and improvement of Mountlake Terrace!  Mountlake Terrace us one of the Seattle suburbs to keep an eye on!

In a less formal environment than a city council meeting, the city manager of Mountlake Terrace is hosting "Coffee with the City" where you can come and sit down and learn more about this fun city.

When?  October 23rd, 2007 6PM

Where?  Pavilion Jungle Room, 5303 228th Street SW

Come give the city manager some feedback and input regarding events in town and services provided by the city.  Come learn what is next on the horizon! 

Email me if you have questions!

courtney@courtneycooper.com

Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Associate Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County - Experienced and with a background in accounting - I love my clients and work hard for them!