Leslie's Blog

The "Parade" section of the paper that came in "The Seattle Times and "The Seattle Post-Intelligencer" yesterday, had Natalie Portman on the cover.  You will maybe remember her from the movie "Star Wars Episode 1" (1999)  Her story is entitled "What I've Learned (So Far).  Unlike some young women celebrities that have gotten a lot of negative press lately, Portman says she has "taken some time off to think about what I really want and how I define myself.  I've realized that some of the most important things I've learned have come through difficult experiences--and sometimes from my own mistakes."

She talks about how she has gotten involved with a group called FINCA (Foundation for International Community Assistance), "an international organization that grants loans, mostly to women, to start small businesses.  Rather than donate food, it helps people earn the money to buy their own food and gives women the opportunity to better their lives."

She has traveled all over with the organization and says, "I didn't really know anything about poverty before, and this opened my eyes to know how the rest of the world lives.  Sometimes it's hard to maintain a sense of hope."

Natalie Portman's most profound conclusion was, "You have no idea whether the life you impact will go on to bring peace to the Middle East or will go blow up a building.  All you can do is act with the best intentions and have faith.  Maybe it's selfish, but I just don't think it's worth living if you don't feel like you can change something."

I like her idea of wanting to make a difference.  I remember one of my older aunt's saying "I am so bored."  She repeated the phrase often to her daughter.   She was still healthy at the time and could have put her talents out there to help others in a variety of ways.  Making a difference doesn't have to be a "big thing," that involves traveling the world or spending lots of money.  It can be as small as checking on your elderly neighbor and seeing if they need something from the store.

I don't think I want to hear how badly some celebrities are screwing up any more--I want to hear the success stories that can be repeated as good examples for all of us.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

In the latest issue of Time Magazine there is a insert entitled "Make your Money Last a Lifetime" by Walter Updegrave and the editors of Money Magazine.  There is an article called "Better Planning Trhough Technology," that gives five different websites you can go to for very helpful calculators.  Some of these calculators, I have seen before, others I have not.  I was thinking some of this information would be good to put on a postcard mailing.

• To estimate you life span NMFN.com has the Northwestern Mutual's "Longevity game."  Go to the "Learning Center" tab.   (I am suppose to live to 85.)
• Calculate how much cheaper or more expensive housing, food etc. would be elsewhere.  http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/  Go to the "Compare Cost of Living Tab"  It showed if I moved from Seattle to Boise, Idaho, I could save $5,000 a year.
• Create a retirement budget www.fidelity.com  Select "Retirement Planning" on the column of tabs at the left; then hit the "Plan" tab (under Retirement Resource Center), then you will see the "Retirement Income Planner."
• TROWEPRICE.COM will show you if your savings will last.  Go to the Investment Guidance & Tools heading; then "Tools & Calculators,"  and then "Retirement Planning Tools," and then "Retirement Income Calculator."  While there you may want to check out their Investment Planning Tools, College Planning Tools, Tax Planning Tools etc.
• immediateannuities.com is where you can see how much income an immediate annuity will give you based on how much you have to invest.

I always find these kinds of things so entertaining!

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Wallingford, Queen Anne, and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings. 

If you have lived in Seattle a while, you will realize that people call the biggest lake in Seattle "Greenlake."  If you are looking for it in the Northwest Multiple Listing Service it is listed as Green Lake.

Green Lake Park at 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N, is a fabulous place to go for biking, walking, swimming, bird watching, tennis, basketball, baseball and volleyball (just to name a few activities).  When the sun comes out, the place is buzzing with activity and a wonderful place to go to people watch. 

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont, Greenlake and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

Since I grew up in Seattle and lived near the Woodland Park Zoo, our family went there often (probably because then it was free).  Back then, from our house on 3rd NW, we could hear the seals barking.  What--you wanted to see a picture of an animal?  This was actually taken at the zoo.

Did you know that the zoo has an overnight adventure?  It is called "ZSI: Zoo Scene Investigation" and the website says this, "Grab a flock of your favorite ‘detective' friends and join zoo staff to unravel the Mystery of the Missing Penguin. Has he flown the coop? Did someone plan the perfect penguin caper? Is this a case of ‘fowl' play? During your adventure you'll come up-close and personal with an interesting zoo resident and get the inside scoop on our animals. Follow a trail of evidence on a guided zoo tour to determine whodunit. In the morning after your continental breakfast, compete in the comical Best Bed Head Award, then head out for another exciting Zoo tour! Overnight participants will receive a Zoo Scene Investigation patch as well as free admission to the zoo the morning..."  It is offered Friday and Saturday nights March - November.  A minimum group size of 25 is required.

Take a look at the website, the zoo has lots to see and do, it even offers classes for kids, teens and adults.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

Fox News has a story tonight entitled "Officials: Major California Wildfire Declared Arson."  It says: 

SAN DIEGO - A major wildfire that has scorched thousands of acres and destroyed hundreds of homes in Southern California has been declared an arson, according to Orange County law enforcement and FBI officials said on Wednesday.

Officials said that there is a $70,000 reward for information leading to an arrest for those responsible for the Santiago fire in the rugged eastern part of the county.

I was reading the California Conference of Arson Investigators website about arson.  They say: 

Each year more than 500,000 fires of all types are caused by arson, about one fourth of all fires.  Every 10 seconds $600.00 of property is destroyed by arson, that is more than 2 billion per year.  More than 700 lives are lost annually due to arson.  Of those arrested for the crime of arson, more than half are under the age of 18. Arson is the leading cause of death for pre schoolers, accounting for 88 of every 100 deaths.

In the last few years, apparently, someone didn't like condos being built, among "craftsman" style homes in the Ballard, Fremont and Wallingford neighborhood's of Seattle.  Several of the buildings were burned down before they were completed.  It hasn't happened for quite a while now.

It is not comprehendible how people can set fires and put people's lives at risk, not mentioning leaving people with nothing.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

In my quest for getting support on the passage of DNA bills, I have been asked "Why do you have an interest in this?"  Okay, it is time for my story.

Let me start back when I was in grade school.  I walked a mile each way to school and several times different men would start circling the block in their cars either trying to get my attention or just staring at me.  It would scare the devil out of me and I would run through neighborhoods to lose them.  When I told my mom about this, she said turn around and write down their license plate number.  It was a great idea, but I never was able to get over the urge to run.  One time I was playing at a close by playfield with a couple of friends, and a man was on the other side of a high fence (exposed) saying "I will pay you $1 to watch me."  This "following me in cars" continued througout high school.

When I was in my 30's I started receiving calls at my home and work (of a sexual nature) and it turned out to be a supervisor that had gotten home telephone numbers from a list that work provided.  He called many women that worked in the office and in the end was transferred.  The police probably should have been called.

I have been a volunteer for the Seattle Crisis Line and a Victim's Advocate for, what was at the time called, King County Rape Relief.

In July of 1995, one of my cousins was found murdered in Monroe, Washington (she had been badly beaten and I do not know what else) and the person that did it has not yet been found.

Those are more than enough reasons to want to do something about people that conduct sex crimes.   So, I am supporting bills that expand the list of qualifying offenses; and trying to get a law passed, here in Washington State, like Katie's Law. 

Washington State HB 1023 - 2007-08 provides for broader collection of DNA samples for the CODIS identification system.  The following is the list of the "expansion of qualifying offenses" that is currently in the bill:

• Animal Cruelty in the second degree;
• Assault in the fourth degree;
• Custodial Sexual Misconduct;
• Failure to Register as a Sex Offender;
• Indecent Exposure;
• Malicious Mischief in the third degree;
• Patronizing a Prostitute;
• Possession of Stolen Property in the third degree;
• Prostitution;
• Sexual Misconduct with a Minor in the second degree;
• Theft in the third degree;
• Unlawful Harboring of a Minor and Criminal violations of a protection order.

Remember that these DNA samples are only taken after a person that is convicted.  The sample is gathered via a cheek swab.  The following is the recommended list of "Additional Qualifying Offenses" that I received from the Washington State CODIS Lab Administrator when I was on tour last week:

• Animal cruelty in the second degree
• Assault in the fourth degree
• Coercion
• Custodial sexual misconduct in the second degree
• Cyber stalking
• Failure to register as a sex offender
• Indecent exposure
• Malicious mischief in the third degree
• Possession of stolen property in the third degree
• Reckless endangerment
• Sexual misconduct with a minor in the second degree
• Telephone harassment
• Theft in the third degree
• Unlawful harboring of a minor
• Aiming or discharging firearms, dangerous weapons
• Criminal impersonation in the second degree
• Dangerous weapons
• Domestic violence-any misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor crime committed by one family or household member against another
• Duty in case of personal injury or death or damage to attended vehicle or another property
• Escape in the third degree
• Making or having burglar tools
• Patronizing a prostitute
• Possession of another's identification
• Prostitution
• Reckless burning in the second degree
• Riot
• Vehicle prowling in the second degree
• Violation of court orders issued under chapter 26.50, 10.99, 26.09, 26.26, or 74.34, and foreign protection orders as defined in RCW wy.52.020
• Weapons apparently capable of producing bodily harm

You probably noticed that some of these offenses do not have anything at all to do with sex crimes.  Law enforcement research will show you that may times people involved with sex crimes have conducted other crimes in the past--some they call stepping stones (like animal cruelty).

And for you that do not know, the other law I am interested in, Katie's Law (still to be written here in Washington State), is to be able to take a DNA sample upon arrest.  This not only saves lives, by finding people that are wanted for crimes elsewhere, it also clears people that are innocent.  One of my representatives wrote back to me; "I strongly support the collection of DNA samples from persons convicted of the above crimes, but I would not advocate for the collection of DNA from persons simply arrested on felony charges.  In order to preserve democracy, I believe it is critical that we continue to presume innocence until the accused is declared guilty by a court."  The law has nothing to do with presuming someone is innocent or guilty.  It is simply another tool, exactly like a fingerprint, used to see if the arrestee's DNA was found, dealing with a crime, elsewhere.  Fingerprints are always taken whenever someone is arrested and there is no presumption of guilt.

We have a very liberal state here and I am getting "push-back" from people for reasons that are not valid.   The information that goes into the CODIS national database has no more information than is on a fingerprint.   There is not genetic information that an insurance company may be interested in--if someone uses that as an argument against this--they are just plain wrong.   You cannot even look people up in the CODIS database if you know someone's name--it is not there! 

In my research I came across a very interesting chart provided by the National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Laws on DNA Data Banks Qualifying Offenses, Others Who Must Provide Sample," (September 2007)  It lists what every state is doing regarding their collection of DNA samples.  For instance, it shows the eleven states that now are collecting DNA samples upon arrest.

www.lesliebloss.com

My grandson's parents took him to the Children's Museum today.  As you can see--he loves the place.  As I have mentioned in a previous blog, it is located at the Seattle Center on the ground floor of the Center House. 

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

Brett Noel today wrote a good blog entitled, "What if we kept a Happiness Journal."  It reminded me of something I have been thinking about for a long time. 

I have been thinking about how great it would be if we could read letters from our ancestors.  Letters that told us how they spent their days, what they were concerned about and what were their dreams, goals and accomplishments.  Wouldn't that be interesting to you?  

Since the past is past (duh!)--this is only going to happen if we start with ourselves.  This could be accomplished if we wrote one letter a year (like on New Year's Eve or on our birthday).  

It could start with grade school kids.  They would be able to look back on their own growth throughout the years and think about what and who comes after them.

www.lesliebloss.com 

I recently found out about Google Alerts.  Google Alerts "are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic."

It is very easy to do.  You just put in your search term, what type (for example news, or blog or comprehensive), how often you want the search completed, and your email address.  Since I am interested in seeing anything that comes up regarding "Katie's Law," I  put in a “Google Alert” for that.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

Today, CurrentArgus.com has an article entitled "Sepich to receive Redbook hero'award."   Jayann Sepich is one of four "grassroots heroes" who will be recognized by Redbook Magazine, along with four celebrity heroes, for "making big changes in our world, one small step at a time.  Sepich is being recognized for her work to get Katie's Law, requiring DNA collection in every felony arrest, adopted by all states."  The feature will come out in Redbook Magazine in the November issue.

I received a "Google Alert" to a very nice article that was in Earthtimes.org.

I was happy to see Jayann and her husband get this honor.  They worked very hard getting Katie's Law passed in New Mexico and their continuing work is being done while they still run a business. 

I have spoken with Jayann and we have emailed back-and-forth several times--ever since I first saw the piece on CNN about Katie Sepich's murder and their efforts to get the law passed.  My first email started out by saying "I am so sorry for your loss, what can I do to get a law like this passed in Washington State?"  She has been very encouraging and helpful.  I did ask her if anyone else had contacted her from Washington State and she said "no."  I was surprised, because CNN and America's Most Wanted (they aired the story also) have such large audiences and it was such a moving story.

In a recent blog I mentioned that I was going to tour the CODIS Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory.  The DNA identification system is to help with criminal investigations and to identify human remains or missing persons.  One piece of the system is to put the DNA information into the CODIS national database.

The lab was very interesting!   They showed me three robots they use in the preparation of their samples.  I saw the DNA kits they send out (free) that are used for gathering the DNA samples.  I heard about how they are looking at software that will help improve their process.  I heard about how the director has recently gone to Olympia to ask for money so that he can hire more scientists and administrators to take care of the back log (currently 58,000 samples) and the projected additional workload.

The CODIS administrator gave me the list of Qualifying Offenses that they want included for a broader collection of DNA samples.  This is what Washington State House Bill 1023-2007-08 currently is working towards--although some of the qualifying offices on the list have been taken out of the bill.

It is crazy that DNA is not currently being taken from people covicted of the above crimes.  Currently, Governor Gregoire had a press release that said "we want to ensure that we have on file DNA of every sex offender."

The lab administrator also gave me the following two charts that showed:

More than 50 % of our CODIS Hits are in serious cases such as homicides, rapes and assaults.

Over 70% of our CODIS Hits are to a convicted offender in the database for a "minor" crime such as drug possession or burglary.  We need to expand our list of qualifying offenses to include crimes such as indecent exposure and animal cruelty in the second degree.

The expansion of qualifying offenses and a form of Katie's Law are equally important.   Katie's Law takes DNA upon arrest but only from arrestees that have committed a felony.  The two laws both need to be put in place.

I am writting this for clarification because it is an important point.  I had recently written two bloggs: Germ Warfare--Superbug Scare and It is Flu Shot Time -- Especially for Seniors.  Regarding the Superbug piece, GITA BANTWAL left this good comment, "I heard about this on the radio yesterday and it is scary. I did not know that flu shots help. I will research it on the internet.  Thanks for the info."   I responded that I should have cited where I had heard the information.  I know I heard it on a news channel on television so I conducted a search on the internet for flu shots + MRSA. 

I have found an article that was written in the New York Times, Op-Ed Contributor, JESSICA SNYDER SACHS, published: October 10, 2007, entitled "Nice Shot."  

"The most compelling reason to get a flu shot this year is a new and deadly threat - methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, a dangerous kind of staph that has been causing outbreaks of deadly pneumonia among the otherwise young and healthy, typically on the heels of the flu.

Unfortunately, we have no practical way to eradicate MRSA. About a third of us silently carry staph at any given time, and trying to eradicate MRSA or any other staph strain from a community of symptom- free carriers is difficult to impossible. Worse, the experts conclude, any widespread effort to do so is certain to breed greater drug resistance.

Flu shots don't guarantee protection from MRSA pneumonia. It can piggyback on other kinds of viral respiratory infections. But protecting yourself and your children from the flu may be the best way to reduce your family's risk. Whether dealing with the flu, other "routine" infections or even the chickenpox, the message is the same: In a world abounding in harmless, even beneficial microbes, don't embrace the tiny fraction that can make you ill."

What I have been able to understand from my reading is that people usually have the flu before they get MRSA.  So if there is any way to prevent getting the flu it should help.  

I make it a point of citing my sources when I write a blog, but when I went back and responded with more information I didn't mention where I had heard it.  This was a big mistake and I am sorry.  Thank you Jessica for the lesson.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

I was surfing the net and stopped at www.kirotv.com.  I spotted their "Going Green Northwest" tab on their website (which I had never noticed before).  This is broken into several sections, i.e. Going Green, Conservation, Green News, Resource Links, Prevention. 

I went over to "Resource Links," and clicked into "Building Green," (since I am a real estate agent).  They had a link to BuildingGreen.com.  When there, you will see they have a tab titled "Green Products."  Below I have lifted the titles they have listed under that tab:

Browse Green Product Listings

Sitework & Landscaping (77 Articles, 211 listings)
Decking (75 Articles, 47 listings)
Outdoor Structures (43 Articles, 112 listings)
Foundations, Footers, and Slabs (32 Articles, 108 listings)
Structural Systems & Components (109 Articles, 214 listings)
Sheathing (28 Articles, 20 listings)
Exterior Finish & Trim (30 Articles, 24 listings)
Roofing (38 Articles, 75 listings)
Windows (17 Articles, 77 listings)
Doors (3 Articles, 14 listings)
Insulation (91 Articles, 149 listings)
Flooring & Floorcoverings (126 Articles, 179 listings)
Interior Finish & Trim (91 Articles, 127 listings)
Paints & Coatings (33 Articles, 90 listings)
Caulks & Adhesives (2 Articles, 16 listings)
Mechanical Systems/HVAC (67 Articles, 159 listings)
Plumbing (86 Articles, 167 listings)
Lighting (46 Articles, 78 listings)
Electrical (41 Articles, 73 listings)
Appliances (26 Articles, 45 listings)
Furniture & Furnishings (55 Articles, 107 listings)
Renewable Energy (29 Articles, 78 listings)
Miscellaneous (93 Articles, 84 listings)
Distributors & Retailers (19 Articles, 85 listings)

There is also a tab called "High Performance Buildings Case Studies."

"The High Performance Buildings Database provides case studies of projects ranging from homes and commercial interiors to large buildings and even whole campuses and neighborhoods. These may be certified green projects, or simply projects that have one or more notable environmental features." 

There are different ways to view the projects they discuss.

• list all 194 projects
• list all 88 LEED® certified projects

This was material from just one link on the Going Green Northwest tab.  I could spend hours perusing this stuff.  When you have time you might want to check it out.  I hope you find it helpful!

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

I just received a call from a Washington State Representative that said he will probably sponsor a bill like "Katie's Law."  It deals with taking DNA, upon arrest, to be put in the CODIS national database to see if the arrestee is wanted elsewhere.

If you have been following my blogs lately, you know that getting a law like this passed in Washington State is a priority for me.  There is a high probability that someone from both the State House and Senate will be sponsoring bills.  As soon as the bills are written, people will be able to "get the word out" as to how important this law is, and that the bills need to be passed.

Tomorrow, I am going to tour the CODIS lab for Washington State Police.  I hope to come home with facts and data that I can use to help educate lawmakers, and the public, as to the importance of passing these bills into law.  I have conducted quite a bit of research, already, and really believe when people understand the information they will "get on board."

By the way, I did blog "Katie's Law" on Yahoo and Google and there is more than one law with the same name.  One puts new restrictions on elderly drivers; and another bill would create an emergency fund available to rural law enforcement agencies engaged in major criminal investigations.

Have you ever dreamt of pirate ships and their booty--well, check this out.  KOMOTV.com has a story today, written by Molly Chen, entitled "'It's hard for me to believe'.  It is about the Spanish galleon, Santa Margarita, that “left Manila in 1600, overflowing with gold, silver, gems and artwork bound for trade fairs in Acapulco....Seven months into her doomed journey, most of the crew was dead of scurvy and starvation.   At the tiny island of Rota in the Mariana Islands near Guam, the derelict ship broke apart, sending its treasure to a grave in the sea."

The shipwreck was found by a salvage company called, IOTA Partners, which Jack and Edris Harbeston, of Bellevue, Washington head.  100 people have invested in the expedition.  They've put up $10 million so far.

The story goes into some of the things that have been found--priceless artifacts.  What is amazing is that so many artifacts survived under the see for 400 years and are in good condition.

The salvage company has yet to reach the gold, which is estimated to be worth up to $210 million in today's prices.

There are some pictures of artifacts that they found.

What does this have to do with real estate you ask?  Well, maybe, after some of these investors cash in they will want to buy new houses. 

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings. 

I am writing about this today because, earlier this year, my grandson had a "superbug."  It took quite a while for the doctors to figure out what was wrong with him--luckily he did get better --it is very scary, serious stuff.

Today, FoxNews.com has a story entitled "Superbug Scare: Virginia District's Schools Scrubbed; Teen Not First to Succumb to Deadly Infection."  Some of what it says is: 

All 21 school buildings in Bedford County, Va., were being scrubbed and sanitized Wednesday after the death of a 17-year-old high school student from a powerful drug-resistant strain of staph bacteria.

The schools, all in Bedford County, Va., were closed after students there launched a protest over unsanitary conditions Monday, using text messages and social networking sites.  The students took Bedford County Schools Superintendent James Blevins on a tour Tuesday of Staunton River High School to show him how unclean it was, in particular the sports locker rooms.....One of its students, Ashton Bonds, died Monday after being hospitalized for more than a week from Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, a strain of staph bacteria that does not respond to penicillin and related antibiotics. Blevins subsequently ordered the schools closed for cleaning.

The story goes on to say:

In recent years, so-called superbug staph infections have been spreading through schools, hospitals, prisons and athletic facilities, CDC officials said, and more than 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly infections each year from MRSA....The bacteria often is carried on the skin and in the noses of healthy people and can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or sharing an item used by an infected person, particularly one with an open wound.

The best method of prevention is staying clean. Frequent hand-washing is a good way to prevent the spread of MRSA. And youths, as well as adults, who participate in sports or any type of physical fitness program, should shower immediately after...."Good old-fashioned cleanliness serves as the best barrier to these organisms," he said. "Just washing with ordinary soap and water is enough to remove any of the organisms that may have colonized in the skin."

The New York Times also had a piece (by Kevin Sack) today, entitled "Deadly Bacteria Found to Be More Common."  It says:

Nearly 19,000 people died in the United States in 2005 after being infected with virulent drug-resistant bacteria that have spread rampantly through hospitals and nursing homes, according to the most thorough study of the disease's prevalence ever conducted.  The government study, which is being published Wednesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests that such infections may be twice as common as previously thought, according to its lead author, Dr. R. Monina Klevens.

If the mortality estimates are correct, the number of deaths associated with the germ, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, would exceed those attributed to H.I.V.-AIDS, Parkinson's disease, emphysema or homicide each year.

Please pass the message on, especially, to your children why it is so important to wash their hands with soap and water and take showers right after participating in sports.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

I just received an email from Congress.org.  I am sending it along because I like how it enables us to write to our Congresspeople on issues we are interested in and spread the word so that others may take action.  If you go to the website link you can look up a Senator or Congressperson, and see the messages that they have received.  Lately, there has been quite a bit that I wanted to talk about.  Here is some of what their email said:

the most effective way to get others to write their Congressman on your issues.

Spread the word and get others involved today.

Soapbox:  

http://capwiz.com/congressorg/utr/1/FFIHDSJITA/LAZIDSJIVA/

Congress.org is a non-partisan, public service website provided by Capitol Advantage, LLC and Knowlegis, LLC.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

Rob Arnold had a good post on Oct. 13th entitled “How to screen for tenants - Part 1.”  I am going to discuss “why to screen tenants.”

On three different occasions I was “too nice” and rented to people because I was “helping people out.”  All three left owing me rent (two left property damage).  The last one was the worst. 

I received a call from someone that said “I heard you are going to be renting a home and I am very interested.”  She told me that she and her husband had gotten evicted and were staying with their family in a motel.  She elaborated on how they were suing their previous landlord.  She gave me three references; one was a previous neighbor, one was a co-worker of hers and the other was the previous landlord.  I was able to reach the first two and things sounded fine.

I met with the husband, wife and their daughter and they were very nice.  I said that I wanted to be assured that they could afford the rent.  The husband went into detail as to how they would be able to make the rent payment and that I would always have my rent the day it was due.

I received a call from a woman that worked at some State organization that wanted verification that these potential tenants were going to rent from me and how much I was going to charge.   She said she would check on the woman’s employer and then get back to me.  She called me the next day and said that they should have no problem meeting the rent payment and that they were going to send me a check for the prorated rent.  (She did send me the check.)

This family wanted to move in right away (before I was ready, because it needed to be cleaned).  They said they would do the cleaning.  I asked Mr. Tenant, “How much is this going to cost?”  He said, “We will work it out.” 

They moved in and I asked him two more times, “How much is this cleaning going to cost?” and I never got a straight answer. 

I finally was able to reach their previous landlord and he said, “I wish you had called me before you rented to them.”  He proceeded to tell me that “You will end up having to evict them.”  He had started the eviction process three times (for nonpayment), and finally went through with it the last time.

When it was time for me to collect the rent, Mr. Tenant said “Come in and sit down and we will talk about it.”  He said, “I think the cleaning is worth one month’s rent ($1300).”  (My home did need the windows washed, carpet cleaned and some walls washed.)  But I was flabbergasted, and, almost, speechless.  He said he would pay me half the month’s rent and then do the same the next month.  So I took the money and went home and stewed!

I am someone that has to think about things a while before it hits me that I have been taken advantage of.  I called him up and told him that “I never would have agreed to pay that much for cleaning the house.  I would have cleaned it myself first.”  He said he just wanted me to be happy and asked if we could “split the difference.”  I reluctantly said “yes.”  Later that day I received an email from Mrs. Tenant and she said that “her husband was unhappy about me going back on the agreement and that I needed to talk to him.” 

What followed was a miserable conversation and I found out that he is a “hot-head.”  That was the beginning of being on the receiving end of several tirades.  Besides not wanting to give me the rent money he owed, his intent was to be able to work off rent money by doing different projects around the house.

I never produced a lease because I was getting “bad vibes” from the beginning and that was a sore subject with Mr. and Mrs. Tenant.

This is a long-drawn out story and by the end, I never did get any more rent money and I had to pay to evict them (I used the same attorney as the previous landlord to do the process).

I hope this rant will keep someone from making some of the same mistakes I did.  The biggest one was “of having a big heart and not tending to business.”

Do any of you have horror stories about tenants that you want to get off your chest? 

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.  

Every time I see an article about retirement I usually read it--I actually look forward to reading it.  I have some friends and relatives that I know that are not being realistic in their planning for retirement--I also know some that are not thinking about it at all.  I really worry about these people!  Carol Moore today had a piece I read online in Yahoo, Finance entitled "Nine Dumbest Retirement Moves."  She says,”Many people carry their retirement concepts around in their heads.  They may imagine a luxurious recreational vehicle parked near a Florida theme park. Rounds of golf. Boating. Shopping. Taking a creative writing class. Gardening. Who wouldn't look forward to such a future?"

Ms. Moore's first item on her list of dumbest retirement moves is:

"Buy more home than you can afford

No time like retirement to grab that McMansion you've always wanted. By opting for a house that'll turn into an albatross in the face of climbing property taxes and soaring insurance premiums, you can ensure your home will become a real burden in your old age. Another instant path to bag lady-hood: escalating maintenance and upkeep.

Dave Ramsey, personal finance expert and talk radio host, says to temper wants with needs. He said he read a recent poll in which 80 percent of Americans said they believed their standard of living will go up at retirement. "Our culture today tells us that we deserve to have everything we want because we can charge it. Previous generations thought you could only have something if you could pay for it. Their lifestyles were much simpler and retirement was a time to simplify even more," Ramsey says.

Do it right: Pay off your bills, including your home if you can afford to do so, before retiring. If you have to move -- or simply want to -- don't buy something you can't afford in the long term. And minimize repairs by keeping up with the maintenance."

Moore has created a very good list that is worth thinking about.

Chris Urban wrote an interesting blog this morning, "The Secret" - Great Law Of Attraction Video, and since reading it, I have been asking myself "what have I really been focusing on in a positive light?"  Two things come to mind--my work and retirement/security (hence investing).   I can honestly say that because I am positive in these two areas, I pay attention and, therefore, am successful--it seems to be a circle.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings. 

If you have been reading my blogs for very long, you know that I respect and admire Ben Stein.  I was reading Yahoo, Finance this morning (something I do daily) where Mr. Stein had a piece he had written entitled "Ten Ways to Blow a Sale."  He is speaking to all sales people in general and it is right on target.  Here is what he says for item number two:

"2. Show disrespect to your customers. After all, you never know if the guy is serious or not. So make fun of him and belittle him until -- and maybe even after -- you actually see the color of his money.

Don't hesitate to be sarcastic and mock or criticize his choices and opinions. After all, it's your store, your dealership, your brokerage. You're the expert, not him or her. Besides, customers like being taken down a few pegs. They don't want to just be sucked up to -- they want to be treated badly. It makes them much more likely to buy."

Check out the rest of his list and if you are a clustomer and your salesperson is doing any of these things it probably time to have a chat with them or find a different one.  If you are the salesperson--take heed!

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.

My daughter and son-in-law took my grandson to another pumpkin patch this weekend--it is some place in Washington State.  They went as an outing with another family. 

My son-in-law's hobby is photography (can you tell) and I am always very happy to see his new pictures.  I have mentioned before that he posts them on blogspot.com.  I am always telling new parents that  this is a great way to keep friends and family up-to-date. 

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.