Great Easter Egg Decorating Ideas

by MITCH DIETZ

Easter is just a few days away!

There are a lot of fun alternatives to the old tradition of dyeing Easter eggs from natural dyes to fancy and creative designs. Check out these fun ideas here athttp://blog.coldwellbanker.com/easter-eggs-2/

Also, don’t forget to check out all the local Easter Egg hunts around town this next weekend. For a full list of places to visit check out the list through our friends at Thurston talk at: http://www.thurstontalk.com/2013/03/20/thurston-county-easter-egg-hunts/

Scholarship Contest

Our scholarship contest begins in 3 short weeks!

One of our agents recently chatted with the mother of last years winner, Starlynn Simon. She shared with him how thankful they were to receive this award. The scholarship monies meant a lot to them and were so very helpful for Starlynn who is currently attending The University of Washington in Tacoma.

We love to hear these stories and are looking forward to adding three new students to the list of scholarship winners this year! Please be sure to pass this information onto all high school students you may know. Also note, this isn’t a contest just for seniors, all Thurston County high schools students are eligible.

For more information about our scholarship contest visit my website at www.mitchdietz.com

Olympia Youth Chorus

by MITCH DIETZ

Coldwell Banker is proud to be a sponsor of the Olympia Youth Chorus which performs this weekend at The Washington Center. This group is comprised of some very talented local youth singing a wide array of music! The chorus will be performing A Choral Tapestrythis Saturday, March 23rd at 7 p.m.

Tickets are still available for this event at: https://tickets.washingtoncenter.org/

Photo courtesy of The Washington Center

Re-purposing Home Furnishings

                                                                Turning something old into something new can be a lot of fun! From Pinterest to HGTV, ideas for re-purposing furniture and household items can be found everywhere. You can get very creative with recycling old furnishings from around your home.

Our client Mandy Nation, repurposed this old bookshelf by simply adding a fresh coat of paint and shelf liner. The process was pretty simple starting with sanding down the entire shelf, next painting with a semigloss paint (2 coats) and then covering with shelf/drawer liner. Mandy and her fiance Chad re-purposed several different pieces to furnish their brand new home!

HGTV recently shared 12 great and simple ideas for repurposing items around your home. You can check out these great ideas at: http://www.hgtv.com/decorating-basics/12-ways-to-repurpose-home-furnishings/pictures/index.html?i=1

Our scholarship contest is one month away!

by MITCH DIETZ

Selling homes is how we make a living but our home is where we make a life! Back by popular demand, our “What Makes a House a Home” scholarship contest begins April 15th.

Three high school students will receive scholarships with the top prize of $1,000. If you know a high school student looking for scholarship opportunities, be sure to share this with them.  Information on how to apply will also be available at the local area schools!

For more information and rules and eligibility check my website: www.mitchdietz.com

Mortgage Basics

by MITCH DIETZ

Low home prices and great interest rates on loans have interest in home buying on the rise.  It is important to know how to navigate through different types of loan programs,  interest rates, points and what you can afford.  The Washington Association of Realtors “Takes the Mystery out of Mortgage Information” with this great little video clip.

Video Courtesy of Washington Realtors

Around Town this Weekend

by MITCH DIETZ


There are some fun activities taking place around town this weekend.  From the Hands on Children’s Museum National Nutrition Month to the Artwork Exhibit at South Puget Sound Community College and Wind Up Here’s Locally Focused Fun.

For a preview of all events happening this weekend, check out the Community Events Calendar from our friends at Thurston Talk: http://www.thurstontalk.com/events/

Remodeling Costs Recouped

by MITCH DIETZ

Many homeowners take on remodeling projects as both a creative outlet and a great way to get desired space.  Also, with all of the bank-owned homes currently for sale, remodeling a home can also be a way to build some sweat equity.

It is often necessary to remodel or make home improvements based on actual needs or just personal style.  A careful eye toward resale is important, but some projects are done simply for enjoyment, and won’t help the bottom line.

As the chart below shows, projects such as kitchen and bath remodels, long considered the best investments for resale purposes, are not returning the entire cost of the remodel.  One of the top reasons people move is a desire to be in a different location or have a better lot.  These are things that a remodel cannot accomplish in any event.

However, for many people who already enjoy where they live, a remodel makes great sense.  If you have a great lot and location for your situation, a remodel might be the ticket.  Also, rejuvenating a home is often more than a pure financial investment – it is an investment in the way we want live.

If you are thinking of a remodel, I am  happy to discuss your plans with you, particularly if it is being done in anticipation of selling.  There are smart places to put your money and places that simply won’t add value.  In a market like this, it pays to have a strategy!

What Clients Recently Had To Say About Me

"We chose Mitch Dietz to be our Realtor after talking with our neighbors who he represented when they made the decision to sell their house.  Mitch had a good understanding of the neighborhood and was able to sell their house quickly. We met with another Realtor before speaking to Mitch. It was a case of age and experience versus youth and enthusiasm. We chose youth and enthusiasm. Mitch explained pricing strategies. Rather than tell us what we wanted to hear, he provided realistic expectations based on a sound market analysis. Mitch gave us valuable advice and explained the current housing market in ways we could understand. Together we developed a pricing strategy and a marketing plan. The strategy and plan helped us locate our new home, as well as sell our old home. Mitch was our Realtor and our adviser through the selling and buying process. He provided support through the negotiations to sell our old home and to purchase our new home. He helped us through this challenging process."

-Mike and Joan

"We just wanted to thank you for your service which purchasing our new place. We love it! Feel free to use us as references anytime.  We enjoyed your laid back, but professional style.  You were the best Mitch!"
-Kurt and Carla

"You did everything just as smoothly as possible."

-Orvin and Lois

"Overall our experience with Mitch was good.  We really loved his style with a quiet, non-abrasive approach to realty. We appreciated his great service and feel that he did a wonderful job in assisting us with the purchase of our (first) home."

"Excellent! Helped us every step of the way, always made sure we were informed. With every step you showed us the in's and out's of the whole process. You did everything to the utmost satisfaction."

-Brett and Robyn

"Mitch worked hard to get our listing and he followed through on everything we asked of him. The selling agent was very impressed with Mitch's professionalism and attention to detail. We highly recommend Mitch."

-Rick and Ellie Braman

"When my husband and I first met Mitch we were impressed with his positive attitude and his willingness to listen to all we had to say. He was very helpful with the paperwork and keeping us informed about the status  of what was going on. He attended to all the details in a professional manner. He usually answered his phone but if I had to leave a message he'd call back ASAP. With all the things that needed done, some days were overwhelming, we could always count on Mitch to come to the rescue. Gary and I would recommend Mitch to anyone wanting to sell their home, your home will be in good hands."

-Toni and Gary Odem

"Working with Mitch was nothing short of outstanding. He has a great work ethic and it shows. We couldn't have asked for a better agent and will 100% refer Mitch to friends and family, as well as use him in the future for any of our own purchases. Thanks for everything!"

-Gabe

Pending Sales Continue to Rise

by MITCH DIETZ

Good news again as 2013 continues to show signs of health returning to the market!

The National Association of Realtors shared that regionally, pending sales “rose in January, and have been above year-ago levels for the past 21 months”. As I have been sharing over the past few weeks, these statistics are still resonating here as well.  In Thurston county pending sales are rising like so many markets around the country.  We are seeing solid demand now that prices have come back to sustainable levels.  What we should see over the next 12-18 months is what the most of the rest of the country has already been experiencing for some time now – rising prices.

 To read the full article from NAR go to: http://www.realtor.org/news-releases/2013/02/january-pending-home-sales-up-in-all-regions?om_rid=AAD4r8&om_mid=_BRL8VTB8xEfr9p&om_ntype=NARWeekly.