Spokane: It really sells itself
July 26th, 2010 - Linda Miller
Near Nature, Near Perfect. All REALTORS® enjoy the opportunity to sell others on our region, but the Greater Spokane region really sells itself. Spokane – the name meaning “Children of the Sun” – was named for the Spokane Indians who lived near the Spokane River. History doesn’t sell the locale, but it does portray our long-standing appreciation of our desirable water access, pleasant weather and abundant natural resources. These are still the primary reasons we love our home. (continue reading - Spokane: It really sells itself)
Business pundits and bloggers, seeking the next sensational headline, have begun suggesting the death of the American Dream; home ownership. Let me state emphatically, while still remaining civil; they are wrong. The days of lax credit and undisciplined borrowing have been halted by reality. We know that in a free society, tough times never destroy the dream. 
There are five things necessary for every seller of a property! Listen, prepare, clean, repair and be flexible. Continue reading for more on each of these items. 
REALTORS are servants. All of us have experienced good service, and occasionally service that leaves us feeling neglected. Many books are written about how to give quality service. Realtors are trained to help and serve. There is something about a Realtor’s heart—they really care about their clients. Have you considered how difficult it is to move? Realtors work with their clients during difficult times and continue to be cheerful, encouraging and supportive. 
Spokane REALTORS® want to help consumers make the most out of owning a home, and we have a gift for you. It’s called HouseLogic. This is a new, comprehensive consumer Web site about all aspects of homeownership. It’s FREE and created by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) for you. The web site is designed to help homeowners across our region make smart decisions regarding their property’s value. 
I have finally realized that this identifies me. Why is it that we must go through so much of our life to find who we are? Recognizing personal strengths, and weaknesses, gives power to my goals. As president of our Spokane Association of Realtors I believe in a group of 1800 people who are caring, honest and ambitious in their endeavors. As their leader my desire is to direct their ambition so that it will grant all of us long term benefits. After much thought I came to the conclusion that we needed a focus of community service. 
I am noticing that there are more and more “for sale” signs going up in neighboring yards. Open house signs are popping up on the streets on Sunday afternoons. It must be spring. While I am busy with our Realtor association business, my priority is still helping my clients with their real estate needs. 
Let’s talk weather – common topic. Always changing and out of our control! When we’re taught how to carry on a conversation the weather is a real “opener”. Last year our great northwest was buried in snow – really buried. I was reminded of the extent of our record breaking snow fall while looking through the tax records and saw a picture taken December 22, 2008. I couldn’t see the house!