July Shout Outs!

"Gratitude is an overflow of the pleasure filling your soul."

~Raheel Farooq~

We are grateful for getting to work with each of you on the sale/purchase of your homes and just being able to know you! Congratulations and thank you for your continued support. We wish you all the best!

~Lee, Jenny, & Jessi


Andy and Darr Tucknott - Big time congrats on the house and new baby!

Cindy Grandgeorge and family - congrats on the sale of your Corvallis investment home.

My Edson friends - Welcome to Corvallis.  You got an awesome home in Willamette Landing :)

Joyce and Larry - So happy for you to finally be in your home.  Enjoy the pool!

Dave - Happy to be on your team to sell your Willamette Landing investment.

Mariah - Congrats on your successful Corvallis home sale and moving on.  You did great.

Sam and Nancy - You did it!  Thanks for having us on your team.  Enjoy retirement in Bend.

Kari-Lyn and Brandon - Welcome to Corvallis!  You will love it here.

Caleb and Rachel - What can I say.  You are awesome.  Congrats on your great deal in Philomath.

Robert and Marlene - Welcome to Corvallis.  You got a beautiful home.

Mark Barnard - Big time congrats on the new coaching position - you are amazing.

Lanna - THANKS for hosting an awesome family reunion.

The Carpenter Family

How did you meet Lee?
We were referred to Lee by our friend Kelly. And we had seen his signs all around the area. When we met with him for the first time over a year ago, we were impressed by his knowledge and by the way he cared about what was best for us, not just what was best for him as a realtor.

What were you most excited about when selling your home?
The prospect of getting back what we put in to the house money-wise. Also, we were excited about how the process of decluttering before showing our house would help us as we transitioned into our new home.

What lessons have you learned from this process?
Listen to your realtor's advice! That's what you're paying him or her for, and we felt completely confident in the wisdom of all of Lee's suggestions (and those of his team).

What advice would you give to a friend who was selling a home, having gone through it yourself?
Find a realtor (Lee!) who listens to what you want and whose goal is to sell your house at a fair price without having to resort to playing pricing and other games.

What were some of your needs when selling?
Advice on selling in general since we had never sold a property before. We needed to know what were appropriate expectations and what potential buyers and their realtors would want to see in our house.

How did Lee help with these needs?
He provided invaluable advice and suggestions and reality checks!

What do you and your family do for fun?

We play board games, go on bike rides, and take short hikes (now along the Willamette River :D).

Corvallis Mountain Biking

I am very thankful for my good friend Craig Cole. There is not anyone I know locally with more passion about riding and hiking and who is committed to others having fun and success.  If it was not for Craig and his Blog I would have never had the passion I now have for mountain biking and being able to ride.  From Corvallis to Moab to most of the awesome rides in Oregon - Craig and our old men's mountain bike club has been crucial.  Are you interested in learning more about our local rides and riding opportunities?  Visit Craig's blog and stay connected. If you are ever interested in joining us for a ride - feel free to contact me or Craig!

Thanks for reading!
~ Lee

Talk 2 Lee Speaker Series - Recap and Invitation

First, thanks to all who attended our first Talk 2 Lee speaker series.  We were fortunate to have Oregon State University Land Use Planning Manager David Dodson.  It was a wonderfully educational evening.  For a full video of the evening see below! Thank you for sharing with us, Dave!

Second, I am very excited to announce our 2nd speaker.  Joining me for an interview will be Darren Dickerhoof of Dickerhoof Properties, LLC.  This will be our opportunity to learn more about what makes Darren and his endeavors successful.  Darren and his family have made a positive impact in Corvallis, and in Oregon, with their commercial and shopping center development projects.  One of their most recent projects in Corvallis is the Market of Choice shopping center on the corner of 9th and Circle.  That was a significant investment to improve Corvallis and offer better services.  Below is a bit more information about Darren.      

You are invited to our next  Talk 2 Lee event on Tuesday, August 12th from 6:30-7:30 here at Town & Country Realty located at 455 NW Tyler Avenue, Corvallis, OR 97333. 

Snacks and drinks will be provided. This is a unique, question and answer format opportunity to help open doors to your success and build new relationships as you meet and learn from local, community leaders who are making a positive difference. 

Because of the room size, our attendance is limited to 15 people.  Please RSVP soon to guarantee your seat!  If you know of anyone who might be interested, please be sure to share this communication with them.

Thanks and I hope to hear from you, and see you, soon.

Lee Eckroth

Town & Country Realty, Broker, CNE, C-RIS, e-Pro, GRI

Cell: 541-760-4742

Email: Lee@Talk2Lee.com

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Darren Dickerhoof is a principal at Dickerhoof Properties, LLC.  Dickerhoof Properties specializes in retail property acquisition and re-positioning along with property management and leasing of their assets.

In 1988, at age 18, he moved to Corvallis to attend OSU in Construction Engineering Management and purchased a fixer upper home near campus his freshman year.  Since that time he has been involved in dozens of renovation projects and has overseen the remodeling and development of over 1,000,000 sf of retail properties, the majority of which are located in medium to smaller towns around Oregon.  The largest project he has been involved in is Corvallis Crossing which is home to Market of Choice, Rite Aid, JoAnn’s, and many other shops and local businesses.

He and his wife Kristen have two sons in elementary school.

How to Choose a Quality Roofing Contractor - from HomeAdvisor.com

Installing a new roof is one of the most important, and expensive, home improvement projects you'll run into as a homeowner. Considering this, and since your roof is the first line of defense for your home against the elements, it's important that you hire the best roofing company possible. Roofing contractors are a dime a dozen, so it's important to follow a few basic rules when finding, choosing, and hiring a roofing contractor.

1. Talk to Several Contractors

You should talk to several roofing companies so you can gauge an honest and reasonable price range. You probably don't want to make your final hiring decision on a couple hundred dollars for a project that costs several thousand dollars, but you should be wary of any remarkably low or excessively high bids. Of course, this will also help give you plenty of opportunity to build rapport and trust and to adhere to the other rules for hiring a roof contractor.

2. Research Credentials

Besides talking to several different roofing companies, it's important that you do a little research on the contractor you choose to hire. Reputable contractors should be licensed and willing to provide you with at least three references verifying that they do good work. Once you've checked your roofing companies out and are satisfied that they're legit, hiring a roofing contractor is more fun than stressful.

3. Review the Contract and Warranties Closely

Never sign a contract without reading it over carefully. Professional contractors won't be annoyed by you taking the time to understand the terms of your agreement, and most will be happy to sit down with you and explain parts you don't understand. Also, make sure you understand the warranty that comes with your new roof. All materials and workmanship should be guaranteed for at least 5 years, and the roofing itself ought to come with a 20- to 40-year warranty.

4. Cover Your Bases

Before work begins, be sure to cover your bases. Check with your contractor about whether you need to acquire a permit or not (most roofing companies will take care of this as part of their service), and make sure their employees are covered by workers comp as well. Finally, if you're submitting an insurance claim on your roof, make certain that you've followed all the necessary procedures and had all work approved before work on your new roof begins.

5. Never Pay the Entire Balance Upfront

Never pay the entire balance of your new roof upfront. This goes for all large projects. If your contractor requires this of you, don't sign the contract. Asking for a deposit as a good faith offering or a payment schedule that parallels the work are pretty common and accepted practices. Either way, don't pay with money. Using a credit card increases the likelihood that, in a worst-case scenario, you can recover your money without expensive litigation.

Finding the right roofing pro can seem a bit overwhelming. However, by following the five tips listed above and using HomeAdvisor to find a pre-screened pro, you can take comfort knowing that you've found the right pro for your job.

Article from HomeAdvisor.com © Copyright 1999-2014, HomeAdvisor, Inc. All Rights Reserved 
Marcus Pickett, author, is a professional freelance writer for the home remodeling industry. He has published more than 600 articles on both regional and national topics within the home improvement industry.

Feature Pots are Worth a Lot!

Feature cards in listed homes can be extremely beneficial in pointing out the desirable traits in a home. Our team has used a few different types of feature cards but our favorite has been a recent development...

Feature Flower Pots! 

These cute, colorful little pots do a great job catching your eye and pointing out lovely spaces and home features. They can also be custom designed to fit each home or season!  We are really looking forward to placing them in any listings we have in the Fall or Winter and adding some pumpkins, leaves, or little snowmen holding the signs!

The best part about these little pots though is that they help sell homes! So far, all of the homes we have used these pots in have gotten full price offers, multiple offers, and have been sold quickly even after not previously selling! 

We know that it takes a team to sell a home and there are many tasks behind the scenes that help along the way...but we also like to think our little flower pots create some magic of their own. :)

Call or email and let us know what creative ways you have seen home features noted or highlighted!

Lee Eckroth, Broker

Town & Country Realty

541-760-4742

Lee@Talk2Lee.com

Evenflo Plumbing

Evenflo Plumbing was started in 1989 by Jim Hardman in California. In 2001 he relocated to the Willamette Valley to continue his business. Since then Evenflo Plumbing has become well respected in the Corvallis community, servicing residential homes and property management companies. Jim Hardman, founder, has been plumbing since 1984.

Evenflo Plumbing provides many services including:

• Whole house drain cleaning specialists
• Complete plumbing and drain service
• Kitchens, laundry, shower, tubs, sewer lines
• Re-pipes, toilets, faucets, garbage disposals
• Water heaters repaired/replaced
• Sump pumps
• High pressure water drain cleaning
• Preventative maintenance
• Multiple drain discounts
• Maintenance contracts

Evenflo is a part of our A-Team because they are very accessible, local, excellent at what they do, and always deliver on the projects they take on. They are friendly, easy to work with, and work quickly especially when there is a plumbing emergency! I have used their services on many occasions and would recommend them to anyone in need of a great plumber!

Thanks, Evenflo! You guys rock!


Contact Evenflo at 541-738-8853, by email at jim@evenfloplumbing.com, or visit their website at www.evenfloplumbing.com. Read more about what their customers have to say here!

Talk 2 Lee - Featuring David Dodson, OSU Campus Planning Manager

You are invited to our all new Talk 2 Lee events! 

My team is excited to bring you a new opportunity to learn more about Corvallis and real estate, while meeting some amazing people and expanding your horizons.

Each month you will have the opportunity to meet and learn from people who have knowledge and expertise, in their specialized fields and about Corvallis in general. The unique question and answer format opens the door for you to ask those interesting, and even tough questions, to local experts with qualified knowledge. The one hour events will be informal, quick, and information packed!

Here are the details for next Monday's Talk 2 Lee!

Monday, July 14th 6:30-7:30pm at Town & Country Realty
located at 455 NW Tyler Avenue, Corvallis, OR.  Appetizers and drinks will be provided.

Future dates will be:  Tuesday, 8/12, Tuesday 9/9, Tuesday 10/14, Tuesday 11/11, December 12/9 and we promise excellent speakers and information.  Check the blog, and emails for more details coming soon!

Our special guest for July, 2014  is Oregon State University Land Use Planning Manager David Dodson. He will be answering questions on the future of OSU, the recent growth we have seen and will hopefully provide us a look into his crystal ball for the future.  Below is some information about David.  He is an amazing person, awesome dad and an asset to Corvallis and OSU.

Because of the room size, our attendance is limited to 15 people and there are only a few spaces left!  Please RSVP today to guarantee your special seat.  If you know of anyone who might be interested, please be sure to share this communication with them.

Thanks and I hope to hear from you, and see you, soon!

Lee Eckroth

Town & Country Realty, Broker, CNE, C-RIS, e-Pro, GRI

Cell: 541-760-4742

Email: Lee@Talk2Lee.com

---

David Dodson graduated from OSU with a Bachelors of Science in Liberal Studies and went on to get a Master’s of Landscape Architecture from California State Polytechnic University.

Early in his career he worked with an international architectural engineering firm based out of Houston, designing overseas embassies, campus master plans, and corporate headquarters for Chrysler, 3M, IBM and Shell Oil. He moved to Corvallis 20 years ago where he worked in the City’s Planning Department processing land use applications, overseeing the City’s historic preservation program, updating the 2020 Vision Statement and the Comprehensive Plan. He left the City after 6 years and started Willamette Valley Planning, a firm that provided consulting services such as land use planning, landscape architecture, and preparation of development applications.

He has worked on a number of contentious projects including the Whiteside Theater, the new Corvallis High School, and numerous Annexations. For the past 4 years David has worked for OSU and he currently serves as the Campus Planning Manager.

How's the Market - July 2014

I often get asked "How's the market?" in response I have developed the following report to give a clear overview of the Corvallis real estate market and any changes over time. Read on to get some insights into the reports for this quarter!

We are 50% through 2014...where did the year go?!

We are starting to see some clear trend lines in the Corvallis marketplace this year –for at least the first 6-months. The first thing we noticed is that total home sales were down in the first three months of this year. Most of us in the business attribute this to a lack of quality homes for sale. That being said, the total unit numbers were down.

Another interesting trend is that for the first 6 months our average price is a little less than 2013 and our days on market are higher. This is a little concerning. We will have a clear view of the trend come October 1st – when we can see how our highest closing months –July and August –really end up.

At this time, there are no major red flags in the numbers –but we do have some minor concerns with some of the average sales price statistics.

In addition, here is a link to the very useful FHFA Pricing Index Report. If you would like to find out information on many cities, most counties, regions and stats in the country this FHFA report is an incredible resource. –Here are some points of interest:

In the last 12 months:

• Nevada has seen home values rise 20.96%.  Oregon has seen a rise of 9.71%

• Merced California has seen a 1-year appreciation of 30.63%

• Bend, Oregon, has seen a 1-year appreciation of 18.82%

• Albany, Oregon, has seen a 1-year appreciation of 5.85%

• Corvallis, Oregon, has seen a 1-year appreciation of 6.58% (This is lower than expected as we have seen some price reduction in the last 6 months)

If you would like more information about our marketplace, real estate in general, or would like an analysis of your home– do not hesitate to contact me.

Make it a great day!

Lee Eckroth
Town & Country Realty, Broker
Lee@Talk2Lee.com
541-760-4742

Finding a Great Realtor

Finding a Realtor who will represent your interests for one of the biggest decisions you will make is not always easy. Here are some tips to help guide you as you choose a real estate professional who will represent you well.

• Referrals are Gold

• A recommendation from a trusted friend or colleague can be an excellent way to find a Realtor.
• An agent is likely to work harder on a referral knowing that a friend or client may hear of his performance. 

• Scan the Local Market
• Look for reviews in local papers or real estate brochures.
• Drive the local area looking for Realtors signs at homes you are interested in.
• Stop in at a few open houses to collect some Realtors information.

• Interview a few different agents and ask great questions to learn about the local market and how the agent plans to represent you. Here are some possible questions. 

• May I see your resume?
• How long have you worked in real estate?
• What is your plan for finding me a great home?
• What makes you special?
• How often will I hear from you?
• How many transactions did you do last year?
• What do you know about the neighborhoods where I want to live?
• Have you ever had any complaints from past clients?

• Find a realtor who:
• Listens to your needs and takes time to explain things you may not understand.
• Works on your time schedule and is available when you need them.
• Provides multiple services such as market reports, and referrals to other service providers.

Information adapted from articles by realestate.msn.com and bankrate.com

Eckroth's in Australia

Life is about how you trade your time for experiences. Recently I had the opportunity to visit Australia with my family and it was awesome. A great example of trading your time for high value life moments.

After a 30 hour trip from our front door, we arrived at an amazing resort island called Hamilton Island. It started with a young man letting us know we would be greeted by “nibblies” in our condo and quickly turned into an amazing stay that included a visit to the Great Barrier reef, snorkeling, scuba diving and para sailing. It was an incredible break from life.

After a week in Hamilton Island we found ourselves back in Sydney staying in the heart of the financial district and loving every minute of it. Besides the trip being a family vacation, I was also fortunate to be there representing the Rotary Club of Greater Corvallis at the Rotary International Convention...Thank you Rotary! The city, harbor (in which we got a very special on-water tour), and Opera House were amazing. We even saw a stage production of the Lion King!!  We had such a great time and have 1000+ pictures to relive it on a regular basis.

I want to send a very special thanks to my good friends, Mark and Louise Barnard (who came to Corvallis from Sydney).  Without their help and friendship –we would have been lost.

If you ever get the chance,– GO!  The people of Australia were friendly, the country was clean and we had the time of our life!

Thanks for reading!

~Lee