January 21, 2019

Seattle Home Buyer Story: Tamar and Jacqui

Diva Dwellers Tamar and Jacqui in their home

“Finding this house was quite a story,” says Jacqui. When she first saw it on Redfin, it looked…well. “Pretty hideous,” in her words. A Tale of Two Gals and One Grand Remodel Tamar and Jacqui’s Seattle home buyer story started many months before they bought, with a tale of two gals in love and two households that were ready to meld into one. Jaqui was working at Microsoft and living in Bothell with her dog Twiggy and kitty, Seamus. And her horse was in a stable in Mill Creek.Tamar was working in Fremont and living in Phinney Ridge with her son Stav. Besides needing to sell both homes, we Divas needed to find them a home that was equal distance from both work locations and the stable. Not an easy task. So they knew some home sacrifices would need to be made. We were all up for the challenge. Chavi… Read More »

January 21, 2019

Seattle Home Buyer Stories: Jackie and Mike

Jackie and Mike have dubbed their 10-acre homestead in Monroe Ponderosa. They were able to work up to owning this property by investing wisely over the years, but the impetus to move out there came from something really scary. Jackie was diagnosed with and breast cancer. The reevaluation that followed made her and Mike wonder, “What are we doing here?” Making the Move to Monroe They were living in Fremont, a neighborhood they had loved for many years. But when the bustle and noise of nightlife was no longer attractive to them, they envisioned a home with acreage and space to make magic happen in their own crazy fun way. We first met these fab folks when we sold them a cute basic rental home in Haller Lake. We were able to help make their Monroe magic dreams come true after selling both their Fremont home and the rental for… Read More »

January 21, 2019

Diva Dweller Profile: Hollie and Dave

We have know Hollie and Dave for over almost 7 years and in that time they have long since stopped being clients and have become friends. We have helped them buy and sell seven homes from Leschi to Queen Anne and from Seattle to Ellensburg. And this last one may just be their “forever” view home in West Seattle. They have honed their instincts over time, which means there has not been one bad investment in this mix. Finding Their “Forever” Home When Hollie first saw the photos of their current home on Redfin, they weren’t exactly attention-grabbing. But being the detail oriented gal she is, something in the marketing remarks made her stop and take notice. And once she did, my phone started ringing. All she had to say was “I think this is the one” and Chavi and I were in the car. Hollie and Dave had been… Read More »

May 10, 2018

Just Listed Just Sold – Stylish Ballard Home

We Just Listed and Just Sold this Stylish Ballard Home on Dibble Ave NW.  This home shows how our sellers are killing it in this market when they have #DivaDifference on their side. We sold this home in 6 days for $215,000 over asking! How did we do it?  By advising our clients to fix what’s broken and make it beautiful we are able to market the heck out of the home and “voilà” – magic. Without a doubt, our sellers, Kellie & Jonathan, had done an amazing job designing and remodeling this home. And it is clear the details of this remodel made many buyers’ hearts go pitter patter. Before listing the home we Divas stepped in to make sure every minor detail was completed inside and out. Then we had this home staged to perfection by the team at Open House Staging. They loved the remodel so much they even… Read More »

January 24, 2018

Happy Holidazed! Our Holiday Hangover Party Was A Blast!

We are so passionate about our jobs as real estate agents because of the people we meet and work with. Nothing makes us happier than helping our sellers get top dollar, and our buyers to find total gems. Both tasks require persistence and savvy. Even if you are selling in a hot market like Seattle. Buying or selling a home is, without a doubt, one of the most stressful things one can do. Especially if one is doing it without professional guidance. We are so honored that our clients trust us and the Diva Difference to work for them. Our Annual Holidaze Party is just one way we like to say THANK YOU! Diva Dwellers enjoyed delicious Old Fashioneds and Ginger Mules at the open bar in the distillery. Veraci pizza andantipasti wass served in the main room. Naturally, we also had a photo booth courtesy of John Beursken Photography.… Read More »

September 16, 2017

Just Listed Just Sold | The Historic Amalfi Co-Op

Just Listed Just Sold | The Historic Amalfi Co-Op   Yes – we Divas “Just Listed and Just Sold” another stunner of a home in The Historic Amalfi Co-Op. The #DivaDifference strikes again. We sold this home in 7 days for 18% over asking. How you ask? Our three step plan to success: fix what’s broke, make it beautiful, and market the heck out of the home – aka The Diva Difference. This adventure started way back in 2016 when our #DivaDweller, Jennifer, decided to sell both of her top floor units at the Amalfi. She purchased them separately but then converted them to one big penthouse palace. Which meant this co-op unit was sans kitchen. Since the south corner home, unit #5 was pretty much ready to go, we were able to quickly spiff and stage that co-op and sell it easily last fall. Once 2017 rolled around – it… Read More »

September 13, 2017

First Time Home Seller – Low Down On The Appraisal Process

Perfect Presentation

Congratulations, you just sold your home for $100,000 over the asking price. In fact, your home is the most expensive home to sell in your neighborhood all year. All the prep work you put into your home coupled with the marketing and market know how of  Team Diva paid off. All you need to do now is move out and wait for the check to roll in right? Not quite so fast. Selling your home for top dollar does have some risks, and one of the biggest is the Appraisal. What Is The Appraisal? The buyer’s lender wants to make sure they are not lending on an inflated sale price. To ensure this, the lender contracts an appraiser to evaluate the fair market value of the property. The appraiser is also making sure that the home is safe and habitable for the buyer. If the appraiser does not value the home at… Read More »

September 12, 2017

Just Listed Just Sold | Grand Phinney Ridge Craftsman

As always – it is all about our #DivaDifference strategy – fix what’s broken, make it beautiful, and market the heck out of the home. It’s clear with this home that the results speak for themselves. We Divas sold this Phinney Ridge Craftsman for a record $278,000 over asking. Talk about a happy seller! How Did We Get to This Point of Goodness? The adventure started back in 2012 when we first found this home on the market. It had just been stunningly renovated with a new addition and an upgraded kitchen and master suite. Our client, Tamar, immediately fell in love (you can see why) and with the winning offer, she and her son made this their home for many years. Warp speed to 2017. The time had come for her and her new love to make a home transition together. After finding this adorable family their new mid-century retreat in… Read More »

July 27, 2017

Team Diva Makes Real Trends’ 2017 List of Best Real Estate Agents in America

Team Diva Joins 47 Other Coldwell Banker Bain Seal Brokers on the Real Trends 2017 List Team Diva has made it onto Real Trends’ 2017 best real estate teams list for Washington state based on volume and sides. (For those who don’t know real-estate speak, a side is a home sale/purchase.) Real Trends looks nationally at the performance of teams and individual agents to determine their rankings. Team Diva snagged the #40 (WA) spot for volume and #55 (WA) for sides. We learned of the honor this week from Coldwell Banker Bain’s COO Mike Grady. It was a perfect mid-year ego boost (and an early birthday present for Team Diva co-founder Chavi Hohm). You can check out the Real Trends site for more info about their process and see the full list. Without a doubt, Mike Grady and his team provide his brokers with an exceptional amount of support, technology… Read More »

May 19, 2017

Love It Or List It: Deciding When to Sell in Seattle

Making the decision to sell your home (probably your biggest investment) is not to be taken lightly. Before making the leap, here are a few questions you should consider. 1. Is your current home satisfying most of your living needs? This is probably the most important question to ask yourself and your family. Between job transitions, births, graduations, and just general changes in how we live, our home needs can fluctuate drastically in a few years. Are you struggling with finding space for your growing family? Do you find that you have whole rooms in your home devoted to just the cat? Have you acquired a love of BBQing but live in a condo? Has your new job added an hour to your commute time?  Have you wanted to sledgehammer open a wall just to feel less claustrophobic? If you no longer “love it,” then it may be time to “list… Read More »