New Mobile App for Android users in the Real Estate Market.

Realtor has come out with a new app for Android users to help with their home search. Here are the key points below.

  • Draw your search area directly on the map
  • Browse through big and beautiful home photos
  • Customize listings with your search criteria including square footage, price, hardwood floors, and much more
  • Save and share all your favorite listings with family and friends
  • Stay updated on the status of listings including new & pending listings, price-reduced homes for sale, and foreclosures
  • Receive price reduction notifications for your favorite homes and new listing recommendations based on your search criteria
  • NEW! Check out Sign Snap, instantly see listing details and photos by simply snapping a picture of a For Sale sign!
  • Compatible with Chromecast to stream home photos on your TV

This would be a great way to search for homes. Please find the link below to download and check out the realtor app for all your home search needs.

If you would also like a more personalized search, please don’t hesitate to call/text (360) 338-8355 or email (ron@vandorm.com).

http://www.realtor.com/mobile/android/

Tour of the Old Weyerhaeuser Corporate Building for Sale/Lease

A little nostalgia came to me when I was touring the old Weyerhaeuser corporate building this last week. It all came to me when I jumped up after my nice lunch which was included in the tour. I was in the first tour put on by the listing broker of the building. The tour was handled in small groups of 6-10 people and as we made our way up to the 5th floor the executive floor, I was excited to explore and look around. But instead of walking all around the tour guide/listing broker just walked to the middle of the floor and explained where things were laid out. And as we went to the third floor and we stand around in the center again really not touring the building but more being told what was in that area, I couldn’t help but to  slowly walk away and actually go look in the different rooms and areas. I wasn’t alone, as one of the other guys I met earlier in the lineup for lunch followed me to the rooms. He made the comment ” I really want to actually see the building, and was so excited for this opportunity”, I completely agreed with him. As we rounded the corner and started walking back to the tour group, they left and literally disappeared.

As we stood in the middle of the third floor, this is where my nostalgia kicks in. It was like I was back in high school when I used to walk around school while everyone else was in class I would be exploring the school. So my new found friend Jeff and I look at each other and knew exactly what to do, have our own tour of the building. Of course we walked to the back areas, explored and then we go through a few doors and more doors. Then one key door I was about to tell Jeff to hold the door, but I let it go and didn’t say anything out loud. As we head through the second door to the cargo bay, well you probably guessed it we were locked out. I couldn’t help but laugh, yep just like high school, but with high end clothes on and in a 50 million dollar plus building, and yes Im working, well sort of. I was not to concerned, as there is always a way out. After still laughing and letting Jeff explore to find a way out, which he did in a few 3-4 minutes later, and after having stopped to take a selfie. We headed out through the loading ramp back up to the main entrance. We look at each other and know exactly what to do and that was to continue on our private tour of the building. We explore every floor in and out, every door and notice every detail from the full wood door handles, to the engine room with ear plugs and old blue print plans of the building. At the end I had a huge grin on my face, I had 2 plus hours of exploring this amazing building, bringing back old good memories of not a worry in the world, just exploring and admiring beautiful architecture and being right in my element. Please find the pictures below I took of the epic adventure.

p.s. If you would like to buy the building for about $150 a sqft, comes to about $54 million with 40 acres  or  lease at least 100,000 square feet basically one floor for $17 a square foot, please contact me to be your broker to represent you. Ron Rougeaux (360) 338-8355.

 

Time to List your home

sunrise

The market is starting off again this year fast and strong. Actually it really has not slowed down since last year.

Folks are moving to the PNW in drones looking for that fresh water/air/trees/mountains and just a change of life. Most are acquiring new jobs in the area and businesses are hiring like crazy up and down the Puget sound area.

Most people selling are looking to down grade and up grade. Some have to big of a house and the kids are gone, and looking to find that perfect retirement home. Others are just moving up and need a bigger home for the kids and the best school locations. No matter what your reason is for selling, if you are just moving for constant sun even, let me help you sell your home.

When you go to sell your home, you want someone who will take care of the pictures – actually hiring a professional and even someone with a drone to get an ariel view, advertising – All advertising online/social media and newspaper/flyers. And if the home is vacant even home staging if required and holding “open house” on the weekends – to bring more foot traffic in the home ( if you are comfortable with an open house, some homes don’t require an open house). Pricing the home right – there is nothing worse then pricing the home to high and just having it sit on the market and then keep lowering the price, and maybe not even selling.

So before you go to list your home for sale, please contact me and I will run through the entire process and make sure you are taken care of properly and I get your home sold more importantly for a great price.

Have a great Tuesday,

Ron Rougeaux

Van Dorm Realty

(360) 338-8355

Real Estate Already Starting to Get Busy in – Olympia, WA.

It’s the start of the new year and most people are focusing on the gym and what healthy plans they will try this year. One of my neighbors is doing the “no drinking” for a month, and my other neighbor is doing the Paleo diet.

But others are already starting to hit the real estate market hard. Either due to higher interest rates that are starting this year, or realizing now is the time to get in a home before it is to late. Along with high rental rates which have sky rocketed in Olympia, WA.

A lot of sellers are also realizing this and starting to list a lot earlier then in the years past.

If you are a buyer or seller, there is no time like now. I would say you will catch the early buyers out on the market wanting a change now and trying to get a head start of the summer rush, and multi-bidding wars. And the sellers are also trying to get ahead of the multiple home listings that could also flood the market in homes in certain neighborhoods. And if you home is not the best or one of the best in the neighborhood, it could sit a lot long on the market then the other homes that will blow your home away and may even lower your value if then underprice their home.

If you are looking to buy or sell, and want to get a head start in the market and want someone to make sure you get straight forward help. Please don’t hesitate to call (360)-338-8355 or email me (ron@vandorm.com). Or if you like just discussing real estate and would like some questions answered or a realistic value on your home, just let me know.

Happy New Year and let the Real Estate Begin.

family-2017

Commerical Brandy and I were in.

It’s a funny thing to be in a commercial or someone filming you over and over again to get a scene. I am not a person who is used to this process at all, but I will admit it was fun to do. Especially when you have your wife by your side and she is a great at this style of work, and she is beautiful as well.

If you like the commercial or have questions about the house, please feel free to contact me at ron@vandorm.com

Real Estate and Weather

If you’re not from Olympia, Washington, and you just moved here the weather may be a huge factor.

Let me explain, the Summers in Olympia, WA are the some of the best I have ever lived in. The sun is shining, it is always a perfect 72-78 degrees, everything is green and the views of the woods, mountains and bodies of water are just stunning. But the winters can be long, not with snow but with rain/fog/clouds. This is the wettest season we have ever had in Washington State. So for new comers to the Olympia area you may love the rain, but be prepared some years can give you more cabin fever than others.

Family and Real Estate

Since I have started my real estate career, I have always let me family know that they were “Technically” required to use me as their agent or agent referral (if they lived in another state that I was not living in). I know this sounds a little aggressive, but when I told everybody it was said in the nicest of ways, with class and style.

This was 4+ years ago, and since then I have had 2 family members, sell 1 property, and buy 1 property with me. I have also had 5 family members (including my little sister, my parents, my uncle, my aunt, my niece, my extended cousin) Not use me for a home sale or purchase.

So to be honest, I am just done with working with family. Now to my defense I always answered their questions they had, I helped them out anyway I could.

I do need to give you more background information on some instances of why my family did not use me. (no I am not crazy, or suck at my job – which is what I would be thinking if I read this post).

  1. The first main reason family didn’t not use me as a real estate broker. They were just not educated or understand why to use a family member as an agent or even a referral. ( They don’t understand if you live in another state, you let me find an agent for them to use) Why is this good. 1A). We understand what to look for in a real estate agent and know what companies to send them an agent from and who to still clear of. 2A). We know what commission they should accept and how to get them the best price and all the bells and whistle for listing or buying a home with out paying for it. 3A). We get a commission because we are family, yes we did really nothing but find you a great agent that we think is a good fit for our family member. <But why wouldn’t you want to give you family member an extra few thousand dollars, instead of giving a complete (stranger) agent a full commission. No you may think the agent you are working with won’t work as hard, if they have to give us a piece of the commission. Or they will be mad at you for having them give money to your family member real estate agent. The answer is NO, we are used to getting calls from all over the country asking to working with family members of other agents for a commission . Normal it is around 25% so why wouldn’t you if you could give your family member a few extra thousand dollars instead of a completer stranger agent. Also the family member will know what is going on with the deal, and get updates if they picked a good agent for you. That way they can also make sure you are being treated fairly and give you more insight then you would normal have.

To Be continued…..

 

Olympia – Washington

Long Lake

Somedays you wake up and realize why you live in a certain area, and that you could not imagine living anywhere else. Please don’t get me wrong there are a millions places I would love to visit, and even some I could also see myself living at. But when it comes to Olympia, I just feel at home and that fresh crisp air that greats you all day long, seals the deal for myself.

You probably have heard the saying”theres something in the water”. Here in Olympia they were so confident in our water,the slogan on Olympia Brewery said”Its the Water”. When you come and visit you will be able to see it is just more then the water, but fresh water is always a plus. The trees, and mountains, the sound, and rivers will also let you see why when you wake up, this is going to be a great day.

Right now my daughter is in pre-school and during here classes twice a week, I try to duck out of meetings or showings to walk around Capital Lake, downtown Olympia for a stroll with my wife and little boy. Then we will walk up the streets through down town and grab a coffee/tea for my wife and look at all the boutique shops.

If you are looking for an Amazing place to live, and want a local who grew up in the area. Please give me a call, Ron Rougeaux (360) 338-8355 – to show you around and the great places to live.

capital lake

Walk

A great last 2015 year.

It has been an amazing 2015 year at work. I just wanted to take the time to thank everyone who has helped me and been a positive influence in my life. Thank you to all my friends and family, my clients and their referrals, and all the agents that have given me advice and knowledge at the office, and of course Jeff and Diane for being the most amazing Bosses I have ever worked for. I look forward to another amazing year at Van Dorm Realty, and look forward to sharing all the fun times ahead.

Van Dorm Realty Award