Pullman Washington Homeowners....You Ready for Snow?


Our corner of Washington state here in Pullman is about to get its first fall snow!   Many of our leaves are still on the trees, but with a wind advisory this afternoon, I suspect they will be blowing right off the trees! And colder temperatures and precipication means one thing...SNOW!

I thought I would take a moment today to provide my clients, both new homeowners and sellers, with a 5  tips today.

1.  If you haven’t done so, make sure your hoses are disconnected and put away.

2.  Clean your gutters.  It is important to have clean gutters for water to move down your gutter system and away from the house.   Overflowing gutters leads to lots of problems from water in your basement to ice dams during freezing temperatures.  So although you might have done this you might need to double check them again after leaves are down to be sure water is moving as it should.




3.  Think twice before grabbing that ice melt product.  It absolutely ruins concrete.  Really the best bet is to get that snow shoveled and let it melt naturally.  If you need something for traction, try sand or gravel.  

4.  You might want to get your furnace serviced now.  And don’t forget to change your filter regularly! With the temperatures dropping, you want your furnace working effectively and efficiently.  

5.  If you have a wood burning fireplace, consider getting in a chimney sweep to get it cleaned.  And make sure you have the damper closed off when not in use so your heat doesn’t go straight out the chimney.

And of course, last but not least, enjoy the change of seasons that make living in Pullman Washington such a great place to live! I know I do!

Lori Cofer, Realtor®


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4 comments • LORI COFER ~ PULLMAN WA -- Realtor® ~ 509-330-0086 • November 11 2011 03:41PM

Relocating to the City of Pullman Washington?

 

City of Pullman Cougar Plaza
 
By: Lori Cofer, Realtor:  Moving To Pullman WA
 
As a Realtor who has lived in Pullman Washington for many years now, I often get calls from clients who are relocating to Pullman.  Many of course, have questions about our housing market here in Pullman compared to other parts of our country.
And I am always happy not only to answer their questions, but also to provide a tour of our town.

I also find myself getting calls about the City of Pullman in general.  And I enjoy being that first connection to our great community.  I liken myself to the Internet version of the old fashioned welcoming wagon.   I enjoy helping folks find places to eat, places to play, and even buy a new pair of shoes in a hurry when necessary.

I know if I had to relocate from Pullman to a new town, it would be simply overwhelming.  Especially if I only a had a few days to decide during a job interview if we were going to move to Pullman.  And, like many of those who call me, I would be on the Internet researching in an attempt to acquire as much of a feel as I possibly could.

And make no mistake, the Internet is certainly a great tool, in fact an invaluable tool.  And as consumers we are we are all using it more than ever before. It is true that most folks buying a home begin on the Internet.  And so it stands to reason that sellers want a great presence on the Internet for their homes.  And that, of course, happens to be where I put my marketing power to work.

But  lest we forget, the bottom line is always people.  People who need homes.  People who need to sell their homes.  And for me, that is my favorite part.  The people.  The people who weave their lives into their homes, and entrust me to be a part of that process, whether it is buying a new home or selling their homes.  And as I gazed on facebook last night at many of my clients pictures of their little ones on Halloween, I often saw them standing on the front porch of their homes, or by the fire place of their homes, or by the front door of their homes.  Homes that they entrusted me to help them purchase or sell.  And that, my friend, was a very warm feeling indeed.



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3 comments • LORI COFER ~ PULLMAN WA -- Realtor® ~ 509-330-0086 • November 01 2011 06:26PM

Pullman Washington Real Estate Market Report - 9/16/2011 Year to Date

As we draw near an end to the 3rd Quarter of Pullman Real Estate Sales, I thought it would be a great time to look at some statistics on our Real Estate Market here in Pullman Washington.

 

 

 

As of September 16, 2011 we have 130 Active Homes on the Market, which includes single family homes, condos, townhouses and manufactured homes.  We have 26 Homes Pending Closing.  And we have Sold 161 Homes this year.  Interestingly, this compares very closely with the same time in both 2010 and 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of those homes Sold, 88 of those are in the up to 200,000 price point.  67 Homes have Sold in the 200,000 to 400,000 Range, and only 6 in the above 400,000 range.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have chosen to break down the days on market as well but by neighborhood, or in our case by hills.  College Hill has an average 127 days on market.  Military Hill 191 days.  Pioneer Hill 136 Days on Market.  Sunnyside Hill 155 days.  And surrounding Pullman, 94 days on market.

 

 

 

 

 

It will be interesting to once again look at this as our market winds down into the end of the year.  I suspect, of course, things will be slower, but I know I personally still have some pending sales that will impact the figures.  And listings that are priced to sell for those who are looking for great deals with these incredible interest rates!



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2 comments • LORI COFER ~ PULLMAN WA -- Realtor® ~ 509-330-0086 • September 21 2011 04:21PM

Getting Your Home Ready in the Fall For the Spring Pullman Real Estate Market

I have been busy preparing for our Real Estate Beasley Realty Home Sweet Home Buyers and Sellers Workshop here in Pullman on Saturday at Gladdish 10-5.

I will be presenting on tips for getting your home ready for Spring Market.  I am firm believer that if you are already have your home on the market, to keep it on the market during the fall and winter months.  There may be less buyers looking, but those that are looking are serious buyers!

For those of you considering putting your house on the market for next year, I will be presenting some tips on what you can do in preparation.
Here are just a few of the many tips I will be sharing.

Spring Pullman Market1.  Plant Bulbs Now!  Our weather in the early spring can get quite cold at nights, so annuals have to typically wait to go out till mid May.  Bulbs will provide a wonderful spring show for you….and your buyers!

I find in our area the a selection of snowdrops and crocus will give you early color, followed by the welcome color of daffodils giving way to tulips, and then lovely lilly’s as we move to early summer.

Some early plants that thrive in those cool nights that you might consider early in the spring is primroses and pansies.

2.  Do exterior touch up painting!  If you need a fresh coat of paint on the porch or front door do it now!  Again with our cooler early spring weather, now is the time to have your entrance spruced up. I have had folks desperately need to have this done who have to wait till better weather, losing valuable first impression time!  And don’t forget to re-stain the deck!

3.  Do any pruning you possibly can now.  This is a great time to take a look at your landscaping is pleasing to the eye and in proportion to the home.  You might even want to consider a new plantings to give you appeal in the winter months.  Lovely red dogwood shrubs and quite striking against the snow which as we know can fall into early spring.

4.  Fertilize the grass.  Give your lawn a jump start with a a fertilizer best suited for fall.  It will help root growth providing you with a lusher and healthier lawn come Spring!

 



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3 comments • LORI COFER ~ PULLMAN WA -- Realtor® ~ 509-330-0086 • September 21 2011 03:19PM

This Pullman Washington Realtor's® View of Real Estate Agency

 

 

As a Realtor® in Pullman WA, I personally have chosen not to represent both a buyer and a seller on the same transaction which is known as dual agency.  

It is a conversation I have with my clients when we first discuss the Law of Real Estate Agency at our first meeting, whether it for a buyer when we begin the house hunting process, or a seller at a listing presentation.

 It is a decision I made when I first started in the Real Estate business, and one I continue to hold to.  Some agents I know feel differently, but it is one I strongly adhere to, and one my clients  appreciate.  


And if I should happen to procur the buyer for one of my listings, I have a provisional plan set into place with my sellers and my buyers.  Because of the intense on line marketing that I use, it is not uncommon for me to have someone call and desire to see my listings.  And because I do the very best I can to make my seller's houses stand out, it is often a home they might consider making their home.


Again, this is a matter of choice for the agent and the client, but again and again in today's market place, I again and again see the necessity on practicing single agency rather than dual agency.  

 

Agents today are  like lightning rods during difficulties that do typically arise during a real estate transaction.  And a lot of what real estate agents, do is behind the scenes to keep eveyone calm, cool and collected during a rather heated time in our clients lives.  Sellers often feel frustration over losing value in their homes in the last few years. Add to that  the fact that the buyers today are quite aggessive.  Buyers also face frustrations too, typically with the financing process.  And both are dealing with two important basic needs of man, their need for shelter and their financial means.   And between all those frustrations is the agent who acts like a lightning rod, attempting to ground all this electricity flying through the air and a firewall between parties.  


I guess everyone has their measure of success when the transaction is over, but for me it is sitting at the closing table with my client and watching them sign the documents.  Or the joy of watching one of my clients children show me their new room as one client's children did earlier this week.  Or like last night,one of my sellers came into to sign contracts bringing their precious little girl that I have watched grow since they purchased a home with me previously....to me that is the measure of my success....

 



If you are not already working with an agent, and have any questions about agency or the role of a real estate agent in your transaction, I would be happy to answer your questions.  Feel free to call me.  



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6 comments • LORI COFER ~ PULLMAN WA -- Realtor® ~ 509-330-0086 • June 17 2011 11:52AM

Pullman's Off Leash Dog Park Softball Tournament and Mutt Strutt Fundraiser!

 

On Saturday after my open house I stopped at the store to pick up my sign and do some shopping.  The open house had lots of folks stopping by to see what the Pullman Real Estate Market had to offer.  As I went into Dissmores, I met one of the nicest ladies named Lori Ammons who was  promoting the Whitman County Humanity Society were at Dissmore's reminding folks that they have some wonderful pets up for adoption.

I told them that I would be happy to blog about the upcoming softball tournament and the Third Annual Mutt Strutt.  Yesterday I got this email from her with permission to pass along.  I would encourage you to do all that you can to help our four legged friends.  As the proud owner of 2 dogs, as well as 2 previous kitties and a new addition to our kitty family that we rescued up a tree, I know they will appreciate all you can do.  

I also think having a Off-Leash Dog Park will be a wonderful asset to Pullman!  I know many folks both in Pullman now, and considering re-locating to our area will appreciate this facility and all the hard work and donations to make this possible.  My hat is off to My Office Bar and Grill for supporting the softball tournament.  And  the Mutt Strutt sounds like a lot of fun, not to mention the possibility of winning some great prizes!






 
The tournament features 2 tournament brackets: featuring top teams from all over the Pacific Northwest.  There will be great prizes for winning teams.  There will be food concessions, raffle tickets and tournament T-Shirts sales with proceeds to go toward the dog park benches.

The Third Annual Mutt Strutt takes place Saturday, September 24th, 2011 at Sunnyside Park in Pullman from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.  This community event raises money for the Whitman County Humane Society's Off-Leash Dog Park. The event features a dog walk-a-thon as well as a dog costume, dog photo, and dog/owner look-a-like contests. Participants in the walk-a-thon can enter individually or as part of a team.  Children age 6-13 can register for the walk-a-thon for free and are eligible to win a WII if they raise the most money.  Partipants 14 and older are eligible to win an IPAD 2.  The team that raises the most money wins a bowling party for up to 40 people at Zeppoz's. Learn more about the individual events and registration by visiting our website at www.whitmanpets.org/muttstrutt or our Facebook page atwww.Facebook.com/wchsdogpark.
 

For more information and details regarding sponsorship opportunities contact Heather Goodrich at 509-336-9440."

 

 



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4 comments • LORI COFER ~ PULLMAN WA -- Realtor® ~ 509-330-0086 • May 23 2011 07:21PM

Things Are Blooming in the Pullman Real Estate Market!

One of the things I love about living in Pullman is the neighborhoods.  There are four basic hills in Pullman, Military Hill, Sunnyside Hill, College Hill and Pioneer Hill.  Today was a beautiful day.  I have been so busy in the real estate market lately, like most Realtors, my own home suffers a bit. And like many of my neighbors I was working outside, trying to get the garden into shape.  My daffodils and ground covers are in full bloom, and I hadn't even begun to clean up the leftover debris from winter.

But with the sun shinning and the contracts from last week settled, and a few spare hours I thought I would hit the beds and get done what I could!  The first stop was Henry's Ace to pick up a few perennials and pansies.  After all, a girl has got to have some rewards, right?

I found the coolest tool, and I just had to share.  It is a narrow hand held rake with really long tines.  It made spring clean up a breeze!  I don't know how I have survived without it.  I was  able to get around those daffodils in bloom and rake that debris right up.  It gets between the shrubs and under them as well.  And I is great to fluff up those ground covers too!

I hear the next few days will be bringing showers.  And I know it will be a busy one in the real estate market for me as well.  I guess I will think of the upcoming rain a bit different now that I have had my sunshine and flower fix.  The rain will water those flowers while I get back to work helping buyers find that perfect Pullman home and sellers find that new buyer for their homes for sale!  Have a great week!



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6 comments • LORI COFER ~ PULLMAN WA -- Realtor® ~ 509-330-0086 • May 01 2011 08:08PM

Time To Plant Those Flowers To Sell That Pullman Home!

If you are thinking of selling your Pullman Washington Home, now is the time to get out there and spruce up the yard and get some color in around that front walk or doorway!  

The weather here in Pullman has been a bit colder and rainy compared to years past.  So a lot of folks are having a yard time getting the yard in shape.  I am no exception.  Every time I have some time to get out there it is raining.  And when it is pretty, I always seem to be working.  Such is the life of a Realtor!  Our houses always seem to suffer a bit!

But if you are considering selling you really want to have the yard looking tip top as soon as you can!  The grass is very green now and could probably benefit from a cutting to give it a nice even look.  Don't forget to clean out debris around the flower beds.  A nice new fresh layer of mulching bark sure can make your house and plants pop!

And don't forget to put in some flowers!  Typically in Pullman you want to hold off on annual until after mid-May.  Around Mother's Day is a great time.  But there are some things you can do in the mean time!   If you don't have bulbs stealing the show right now and some blank places to fill, you might want to try some pansies. They are one of my all time favorites here in Pullman as they can stand those colder nights when we can dip to the freezing mark.  They look so happy and cheerful and greet your visitors to your home.  And while you are at it, how about picking up a nice new welcome mat to welcome that new Pullman buyer to your beautiful home.  



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2 comments • LORI COFER ~ PULLMAN WA -- Realtor® ~ 509-330-0086 • April 24 2011 10:14PM

Pullman Washington's 2011 Easter Egg Hunt!

It is that time of year again for Pullman's Annual Easter Egg Hunt.  This year's easter egg hunt is Saturday April 23, 2011 at Kruegel Park (705 Dilke) The little tykes ages 1-4 are set to have their egg hunt at 10:00.  Those ages 5-9 start their hunt for easter eggs at 10:10

 
This is great family fun!  The Kiwanis and the City of Pullman invite you to come and have fun for the 50th Annual Easter Egg Hunt.  I think next year, my little grand daughter will be ready to join the fun.  I can't wait!

I sure hope the weather co-operates this year!  Saturday's weather forecast is calling for partly sunny with a high of 59 degrees. The night before it will drop to 34% so dress those little ones in layers.  Have a great time! 



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4 comments • LORI COFER ~ PULLMAN WA -- Realtor® ~ 509-330-0086 • April 19 2011 11:41PM

5 Tips For Selling Your Pullman Washington Home

If you are selling your home in Pullman, or anywhere for that matter, here are a few very basic tips.

1.  Make your home available!  I know it isn't easy to have your home on the real estate market.  In fact, it is downright inconvenient.  Buyers have their own schedules too.  Do try to accommodate showings.  If you don't show it, you won't sell it.

2.  Keep the lights on for showings!   Not only does it make your home bright but welcoming.  Ever struggle around in the dark to find a light switch?  It makes the showing so much smoother and helps us to appreciate the flow of the home.

3.  Keep it clean!  The clean home is so much more welcoming.  And nothing, and I mean nothing, beats the smell of clean.  Do keep your cleaning products smelling fresh, not over powering.

4.  Keep a lid of it!  There is no polite way to say this, but keep the toilet lid down.  With the lid up folks look right in the bowl, not your fantastic bathroom.

5.  Stay away!  Sorry but it is true.  Sellers need to let the buyers look.  The buyer needs to see themselves in the home.  And they need to feel that they can speak freely with their agent.  Please give the buyers the space they need to consider making the space you call home theirs.



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4 comments • LORI COFER ~ PULLMAN WA -- Realtor® ~ 509-330-0086 • April 17 2011 11:49PM