Valerie's Belfair WA Real Estate Blog

As 2009 winds down, we are all looking forward to a Successful, Happy, Healthy and prosperous New Year! 

With that said, which kind of driver are you when it comes to driving your business?

Are you focusing on the rear-view mirror more than you are focusing on looking forward through the windshield?

"Focus on looking forward through the windshield to achieve your goals; use the rear-view mirror to reflect upon what is behind you" is something one of my friends is always telling me.

He is always reminding me that we need to "see" where we are going all the while using the rear-view mirror for an occasional look at where we have been and what could be creeping up on us; Knowing that we can't change that part, but use the past as knowledge and experience.

Our true attention needs to remain focused on looking forward through the windshield to see where we are going.

We can't change where we have been but we can learn from it as well as take direction from it while looking through the windshield to the future.

The rear-view mirror shows us places we have been and things that are done. Gone. Can't change. But we can use them to our advantage while facing forward and focusing on what is to come.

Granted there are more than likely going to be a few curves thrown in front of us that we weren't anticipating but it's all in how we use our (rear-view) past experience to successfully navigate and help us through it.

Knowledge gained from our rear-view mirror experiences will make us better drivers facing forward looking through the windshield.

Which are you going to do? Are you going to drive your career and goals focusing on what has happened in the rear-view mirror or look forward to new experiences and better roads to come through the windshield in front of you?

Here's to everyone a wish for a very successful, happy, healthy and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Home for the Holidays....They all start making their way home to LakeLand Village Allyn WA... The first part of the Holiday Season...

Thanksgiving starts it off!- Tradition has most of the kids coming to my house for Thanksgiving and this year is no different. I am really excited this year about Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Some years I am not as excited but more worn out from it all happening so quickly and there being so much to do...

This year seems a little more special and a little different. And there really is no distinct reason other than it has been a TOUGH year for everyone. That has made me really appreciate even more the close relationship that our family DOES have. And it's made me more aware of that and how special our times together during the Holidays are.

Becky's making her way home from Pullman.  She's got one shot basically to get across the mountains with all the winter weather that has been here and is still expected. She doesn't like driving it (it's a 5-1/2 hour drive over the mountain pass)  and her car -w ell it's not the greatest, most reliable automobile in the world...

So we wait with bated breath- as we watch the weather and track her progress through text messaging!  So far so good!  She's in Ellensburg! That's about still 3 hours away but closer!

One almost home for Thanksgiving!  

I am even actually excited about decorating the house this year!  

RED SHIRT FRIDAY.....

This came to me in an email.  I do not know who the originator is so I can't give credit where credit is due other thanking the person who sent it to me... Brian McLellan thank you for serving and forwarding this on to me.

Whoever the originator is and this "man" thank you for the story and sharing it....

Also - it came in a very nice format, but I have no idea how to change the font and stuff so here it is in its raw format...

   
If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below a man's story and how it went for him.

RED SHIRT

"Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. 

After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

No, he responded.
Heading out I asked? 

No.  I'm escorting a soldier home.

Going to pick him up?

No. He is with me right now.  He was killed in Iraq ; I'm taking him home to his family. 

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.  

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.  

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom. 

"Ladies  and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have  had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the  United States Marine Corps join us on this flight He is escorting a fallen comrade back  home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American. "

So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.

Red Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority."  We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing. 

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of  showing solidarity and support for our troops  with dignity and respect starts this Friday --  and continues each and every Friday until the  troops all come home, sending a deafening  message that .... Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women a far will wear something red. 

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than  ever, certainly more than the media lets  on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is. "We need your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.

IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON.Reblog. Email it.

IF  YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN DO NOTHING.

Mesmerizing... I couldn't resist posting this picture. My husband just sent it to me via a text message as he sits by the campfire after a long hard day of hunting.....

I can hear the crackle of the fire. Look at the amazing colors. 

 One of my husband's favorite times of year - hunting season. Sitting by the campfire with the guys. Telling stories. Enjoying good company. Relaxing and letting the little things go. 

 Getting back to simplicity-the simple things in life and the basics. We should all remember to do just that every once in a while....

 Enjoy the simple things and get back to the basics.

You have to leave the Emotions at Home to sell your House. 

It's Okay you are selling your HOUSE not YOUR HOME....

Selling your home is a business decision for your "home and future home." As well as for living your life in the future and making memories.

A home is where memories are made and lives are lived. It is within your heart. That means that your HOME goes where ever you go!

A house is a stick built material  box where you can achieve that. YOUR home is and always will be within your heart, memory and future memories.

No one wants to hear that someone is offering a lower than asking price on their home.

 BUT selling your home is a negotiation process. 

It is not like going to the grocery store and paying exactly what the grocer is asking for a price. It is an agreement between the buyer and seller of mutually acceptable terms including price. 

A HOME IS WORTH WHAT A BUYER IS WILLING TO PAY FOR IT AND A SELLER IS WILLING TO SELL IT FOR - A MEETING OF THE MINDS.  A mutually accepted agreement.

It is not a clear cut and dry process by any means and that is one of the many important reasons to use a professional, knowledgeable, local and SKILLED Realtor; to guide you through that process and help you price your home correctly as well as more importantly, look at any and all offers objectively based on your goals as well as the market.

DO NOT LET YOUR HOME EMOTION INTERFERE WITH YOUR HOUSE SALE....

~Valerie~

For more information on selling your home in the Belfair, Allyn Real Estate Marketor if you are thinking of buying a home for sale in the local Belfair and Allyn Real Estate area, give me a call.

Windermere Peninsula Properties

My website : www.valspaulding.mywindermere.com

My Belfair Real Estate Blog & More : www.BelfairWARealestate.com

360-710-5622

email: vlsallyn@windermere.com

Okay so I called it Silent Sunday and the Sunday theme was supposed to be speechless maybe not silent?? There was no way this Sunday was silent that's for sure!  SPeechless? YOU BET!!!

We rode into Anacortes about 8:30AM to get our usual parking spot in front of the Post Office. this year there were more Motorcycles already in town than the 3 previous years that we've been...

It was a picture perfect day too....

We wandered down to have breakfast at the cafe only to find a waiting line. Again an unusual thing! This was starting to look like there was going to be a busy day with a lot of motorocylces!   event...

Back to the bikes to watch them all roll in...... and boy did they roll in....

 It was hard to get pictures - there were so many bikes coming into town... I wasn't quite tall enough!

This was actually the calm before the storm.  By 10:30AM, Main Street was tail light to tail light of bikes rolling in looking for a parking spot.

The variety of bikes, the styles, the variety of people -everything is a sound, taste,smell, see, hear sensory alert around each and every corner...

Specialty bikes like the "school teachers" GoldWings that we see there each year.....

How about this One??? "YEEHA!"  is the license plate!

If it could be thought of it was probably there ! As well as a lot of beautiful bikes!

If you haven't read Matt's Blogs, then you are really missing the boat. A "blogger" with passion about everything he writes about comes out in each and every word.  I can only imagine that his cry for help will be heard in expectation of the super blogs that will come out if He gets to the Big Event  in Las Vegas!  Here's for you Matt!  Good luck!

Okay so it wasn't very silent!  But it was sure impressive!!! 

Anacortes, WA 2009 Oyster Run

Oyster Run 2009 in Anacortes, WA! The entire main street blocked off with 4 rows of bikes parked the entire length.I counted 100 bikes coming in every ten minutes. And just when you think you've got the coolest bike...

I don't know what kind of a bike you would call it, but it was suuuuuurree pretty!   Not so sure it's for a long road trip! What do you think?

An incredible day with incredible bikes, incredible weather, and incredible people!......

So how was YOUR Monday? I don't care to have a repeat of today thank you..... 

It all started out fairly normal. Monday's though are typically always little more hectic and this one turned from hectic to- maybe not hell- but pretty gosh darned close. I generally can pull it all together and get it settled down and done.... but today it was JUST NOT going to happen.

I had my scheduled planned as usual. It was going to be a tight one today between phone calls, paperwork to catch up on, errands to run, appointments to be met, signs to put up, pictures to be taken.... I think you get it. And that's just for my business, throw in home, husband, children and AAAARRRRGHHHHHHHH!!! CALGON PLEASE TAKE ME AWAY!!!  And oh wait - was there time in there for me?? Not typically on a Monday.  

But Calgon did not show.So I hustled and bustled and plugged along and as the day went on, the appointments got further and further behind, I was late meeting the sign guy so he left. I drove right by the house I was bringing flyers to for the flyer box. My camera batteries died after two pictures and someone took my extra batteries out of my bag (grandkids have moved in with us...);My car was turning over extremely sllllooowwww when starting -(how many more cranks will I get out of it?);the phone calls were running longer than planned which meant I had voicemail after voicemail (DID EVERYONE WAIT UNTIL MONDAY TO CALL??).... and so it went on....

I finally caught up with the sign guy, I decided the pictures were going to have to wait until tomorrow, I went back to the office in the hopes of finishing the paperwork and returning voicemails...

My phone rings. It is my daughter who is graciously cooking dinner tonight (It is her and her two children that have just moved back in with us) and she tells me that the barbecue is on fire....I take a deep breathe and ask her to explain.....

"the whole thing is on fire," She is not panicked but anxious I can tell (I am trying not to panic as our home burnt down in 2004). Is she exaggerating or should she be talking to the fire dept instead of me?.

We quickly determine that yes, grease has caught on fire and yes, the barbecue inside is ablazing but she has shut the propane off, hose standing nearby to protect my deck and house and it quickly burns out.... Whhheewwww. She laughs "dinners done!"  Oh yes my children are quite humorous at times.

Okay back to work-but my mind would not concentrate with still so much to do and all of the interruptions...  I finally said "that's it. I'm done. I can do no more today." Packed up my things and headed for the car...

I turn the key and NOTHING.... I should have known that I was not going to get one more crank out of the car today - I mean seriously- this was the puuuuurrrfecttt day for it to head south....~~~DEEEEEEEP SIIIIGH~~~

My husband is nowhere to be found. And now all of a sudden when I TRY to call someone - no one wants to talk to me and all my calls go to voicemail.....

After an hour waiting for SOMEONE -ANYONE- to answer their phone, my husband shows up to the rescue- Very apologetic that he did not hear his cellphone (uh huh).... and rescues me... THANK YOU!!!!

So How was YOUR Monday?? Because I don't care to have a repeat of THIS Monday anytime soon! If for some reason I did not get to talk to you today, or you left me a message - I'll be back tomorrow and pick up where I left off!  But for now -

oooooh Yes - I do believe it is wine and hottub time! and I am counting on a terrific Tuesday!  

Does your niche market reflect in your niche office? Virtual or not? To be or not to be.....

There is a lot of discussion going on regarding whether to be a virtual office or having a standing physical office location. Everyone has a different opinion and strategy and of course I do have my own opinion!

But my humble opinion is based on what has and is working for me.  Your office, whether it be virtual or physical, needs to fit your niche market and what works for you, your clients and prospective clients. I am all for keeping up with the times and do implement where and when what works for me.

What works for me, may not work for you.

I think you first need to know who you are trying to target.

• DO you have a niche?
• Or are you looking for that niche?
• Are you looking for "out of thin air lead generation" or producing mass leads that you have to filter through to find "A" buyers and sellers?
• or working from an established database?
• Do your target clients require face to face contact?
• What type of community do you live in?
• What type of buyer does your community draw?
• Are you well known in the community?

There's a lot more to think about as well, but those are partly or mostly going to determine whether you need a physical location or you can be virtual...or maybe both is the way to go?(although I do think no matter what you do you have to also have a good online presence as well).

I am a huge, huge Customer Service person as well as a local resource.  Being that local resource, it is important to me that when I am out in the small communities of Belfair, Allyn, Hood canal and Puget Sound,  that they KNOW where to find me - whether it be on the internet or IN THE OFFICE. My presence is there for both.

I want anyone and everyone to be able to stop by and see me; ask me about the market, or just stop by for the "hello" and/or to ask a question. I also feel that I have a better chance at them stopping by if I have a centrally located professional office rather than saying "sure just stop by my house"??  Probably very few people who want to physically meet with me are going to come by my house.

And as for meeting in a location within the community, to me I would rather have the resource of an office where I know all of my tools are available and is a professional and quiet atmosphere. I want my clients to be able to focus on the matter at hand, not what's going on around us in a different location. 

My niche market (although I like to think of my success market as my "niche "service") brings with it a fairly good following within the Belfair and Allyn community. Small communities also tend to be more "face to face" in general, where familiar faces walk and drive the streets every day- With that said, I base how I run and work my office for that niche.

My main focus is small town "Customer Service" and local resource.  Sort of like a "live" person on the phone rather than 400 buttons and instructions to get to MAYBE a live person. If I am only VIRTUALLY out there in this community, I am not going to be very well known or looked for if I don't have a centrally located resource center (that would be my office).

We all have use of pretty much the same tools out there, but its how and what you utilitize that is important and tayloring it to fit YOUR needs and YOUR clients needs - not following what I do.

LEAD your business utilizing the tools that fit it.  Just because "virtual" seems to be a wave of the future - don't give up on what actually works for YOUR business.  

and that's just my humble opinion....

~~Valerie~~

If you would like more information about the Allyn, Belfair, Hood Canal and Puget Sound area and homes for sale, you can visit me on the internet at : www.valspaulding.mywindermere.com or my blog www.Belfairwarealestate.com; or if you would prefer to stop in and say hello or request some information stop on by at my LOCAL Belfair Office at 30 NE Romance Hill Rd, Suite 102, Belfair WA!