September 2008

 This is an unsolicited letter that I wanted to write to express my admiration of and appreciation for Phyllis Haaland.  Phyllis has been instrumental in the successful interstate relocation of my husband and myself on two different occasions. 

 I first met Phyllis via e-mail when we were preparing to relocate from Los Angeles to Seattle in order to work at the University of Washington .  We were completely unfamiliar with the Pacific Northwest and so needed to quickly learn about the general area as well as learn about real estate values in various communities.  Trying to identify a desirable and affordable community that met our rather long list of criteria was no easy task, and required a great deal of on line research on my end as well as follow-up by Phyllis.  Phyllis was the consummate professional.  She was warm, courteous, patient, and knowledgeable of all factors related to the real estate market.  Because of her ongoing long distance collaboration with me over a period of several months we were able to make one trip to Seattle to identify, make an offer on, enter into negotiations for, and ultimately purchase a home in one weekend.  We purchased a beautiful home in Edmonds, a beautiful community on the Puget Sound .  It was the perfect home in the perfect place for us.  I cannot overstate the professionalism with which Phyllis represented us. 

 This year, after eight years, when it came time to sell our Edmonds home in order to relocate back to Southern California , we were very concerned that we would have difficulty in selling our home because of the national housing crisis.  I had already begun to work long distance at my new position in Southern California and the cost of commuting was a factor, so selling the house quickly was important.  We were feeling pretty anxious.    Needless to say, we called Phyllis. 

 Now here is where Phyllis’ talents and heart really becomes evident.  First, Phyllis greeted me over the telephone like an old friend; I was immediately put at ease.  She came over to our home right away.  We sat and had tea and she listened, listened listened.  She wanted to not just get the facts but understand the context in which the intended sale of our home was occurring.  She understood our lingering attachment to our home coupled with our need for it to sell as quickly as possible.  She is well versed on the real estate climate nationally and locally and knew what it would take for our house to compete in a market where beautiful homes were sitting on the market for up to a year.  Phyllis is adept at knowing where to price a house so that it is not being under or overvalued. 

 Most homes, no matter how lovingly maintained need some work in order to compete in the selling market and ours was no exception.  So you can imagine how pleased I was to learn that in addition to her training, knowledge, and experience in real estate, Phyllis has a fine arts degree.  At this point I must mention that most people consider me to be a stickler for detail and used to running the show.  I am a professor and a researcher so I am use to taking the lead.  However I am also smart enough to know when to take the advice of someone when she has a proven track record of consistently demonstrating her expertise.  So when, on her next visit to our home, Phyllis brought her artistic and real estate critical eye and identified what in our home needed to change in order to make our home more competitive on the market, I listened.  We did EVERYTHING that Phyllis instructed us to do.  We put away all of our pictures, we put away beautiful artwork from Venice because Phyllis said it was too unique and people would not be able to see themselves living in a room that was so unique.  Phyllis led us in working within our budget to upgrade key areas inside and outside that would allow us to set a higher selling price.  Again, this is where her amazing fine art skills came into play.  Phyllis is an artist who helps you to maximize color, objects, and space.  Our house looked so great that we were sorry we hadn’t made those upgrades sooner. 

 An extremely important aspect of selling your home is knowing where to set your asking price and knowing when and how much to decrease that price should that become necessary; and more often than not decreasing the asking price becomes a necessary fact of life.  Phyllis is particularly skilled at this.   Her evaluation of similar properties is extensive and methodological.  Her recommendation of where you should set your asking price is based upon her evaluation of sales that range over many months and several miles. 

 Presentation of your home is everything and Phyllis starts by having a professional photographer takes pictures of your home.   This means that the pictures of your home will stand out among the thousands of pictures of homes that are listed on the internet; and yes if you want your house to sell, you must show it on the internet.  Don’t worry though, Phyllis works to ensure that you do not feel inundated with people who are window shopping but not really interested in buying.  Of course the reality is that if you want your home to sell, you must be willing to make it available for viewing, and you must keep it in viewable condition.

 All of the steps that I have mentioned are absolutely critical to getting your house sold, and fortunately Phyllis walks you through this entire process and helps you to retain your sense of humor and optimism.

 When you get that all important offer on your home, Phyllis again demonstrates her expertise by shepparding you through the potentially landmine filled process of negotiating the price, disclosures, home inspections, and working with title and escrow companies.  She did all of this for us.  She encouraged my frequent telephone calls, called to check in when she hadn’t heard from me in a few days, and lent her energy when my was sagging.

 We are blessed; our home was on the market for approximately six weeks, a record in today’s market.  We got a very respectable price that enabled us to purchase another beautiful home.  We feel blessed to have had Phyllis enter our lives not once, but twice when we needed someone of her caliber and her compassion.  She has become a dear friend and I trust her implicitly.  I cannot recommend her highly enough and I am grateful her.

 Sincerely,

Sheryl Tyson , PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC

Professor

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Dear Phyllis,

The other day we were reflecting on how you have become so much more than a realtor to us and wanted to take a moment thank you and let you know how much we appreciate you.

Our relationship with you began when we needed to relocate to Seattle for work.  We started our search for a house before we even lived there.  From the start, you clearly understood what we were looking for and were exemplary of "Seattle hospitality" in dedicating yourself to an entire weekend of showing us around the entire area.  For 4 months you kept in touch with us long distance, constantly checking in with us and keeping us posted on new listings.  You adjusted your schedule for times we were able travel and be there in person.  You demonstrated immense patience with us as we exhausted every option.  We were ever more impressed, and pleased, with your trusted network of home-inspectors, financers, etc that you connected us with throughout the process.  And you were personal and thoughtful up to every detail, including everything from having us to your house for dinner to review all our closing paper work to leaving wine and flowers to greet us on our doorstep the first day we got the keys (even though it had snowed!).  All of that and we ended up with a house and neighborhood that we love.

Now, over a year and half later, as we're planning improvements to our home, you have volunteered your time and spent hours at the house with us reviewing our plans and giving us sound (and much needed) advice.

We so appreciate your candor and thoughtfulness, not only as our realtor, but also our friend.
Needless to say, we couldn't imagine recommending anyone else as a realtor.  We have happily referred our friends, who have become satisfied customers, and we plan to refer many more!

Sincerely (with hugs),
Becky and Rob Pezely
July 2008
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Phyllis Haaland was our realtor in both the selling of our home and the purchase of another. Both of these homes were listed in the “Premier” price range.

 Not only did Phyllis do an excellent job in keeping us informed of the market trends in our area, the competitive analysis she frequently provided kept us updated for comparable home pricing, location, and sales status.  Her recommendations were always right on target and she was very helpful in obtaining information for us.

 Phyllis was very accessable by phone and prompt in returning calls.  She was always willing to show us properties that we were interested in.  Her follow through with paper work and dealing with the other parties involved was always expedient and thorough.

 We would highly recommend Phyllis for any real estate dealings you might have.

 Pam & Scott Cameron
2008

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     I was so lucky to have met Phyllis. We hit it off right from the start. She epitomizes superb client service, anticipating questions even before I thought of them. Having renovated properties herself, she knew what to look for when we went out and inspected homes, pointing out potential problem areas I wouldn't have thought about and suggesting ways in which they could be overcome. Phyllis exceeded my expectations - from recommending contractors for me to use on my window coverings and wood flooring, to helping me picking the right styles and color schemes - you wouldn't believe how many shades of white there are! 
     Phyllis also made sure that all the legal documentation on the purchase of the house was in order. Not having bought a house in years, I was surprised at all the documentation that was required. I did read each document carefully and when I asked Phyllis questions about specific clauses, I could tell from her responses that she'd taken the time to read them carefully as well. Moreover, as I was buying a newly built house, she recommended that I get a formal inspection done and am I glad I did!  A number of items were discovered and some, if unattended, could have caused damage to the structure.
     I can't say enough fantastic things about Phyllis' after sale client service. I and my new neighbors moved into our respective new houses around the same time, but I wasn't able to attend the first home owners’ association meeting, so Phyllis attended on my behalf. Later, my neighbors commented that I had a great agent - one said her agent abandoned her right after she had sold the house. Not Phyllis - when I went on vacation, she oversaw some additional improvements I wanted, and ensured that the builder of the house worked toward completing the outstanding items before I returned.
     Last but not least, on top of Phyllis' professionalism, expertise, and excellent design sense, she has such a warm and outgoing personality. It made looking at houses a lot of fun. What a great lady!

     Joyce - June, 2006

     One of the things we truly valued about Phyllis is her total commitment to her clients. We always felt she had our very best interests at heart and never gave us a reason to think otherwise. When she needs to be, she can be a tough negotiator and won’t shrink away from an unpleasant situation if her client’s best interests are at stake and they need an advocate. We had used other agents in the past (prior to meeting her), and had some experiences that were far from desirable, making us appreciate her all the more. She went out of her way to help us get our house ready for sale, even helping us weed the garden and plant flowers!  She was always enthusiastic, happy and a pleasure to work with. Phyllis was at all times thoroughly knowledgeable, courteous, honest and professional. We subsequently used her as our buying agent when we built our current home, as well as having her sell my mother’s home last month.

     Over the last few years, Phyllis is not only our real estate agent but also a good friend; one with whom we look forward to sharing many good times and meals in the future. In short, we would recommend Phyllis Haaland without reservation to anyone in need of a first-class real estate agent!

     Rocky & Maria - April, 2005

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     This letter is in good reference for Phyllis Haaland, Windermere Real Estate, and Greg Frost. I worked with Phyllis both when I moved to Seattle and was searching for a home, and when I sold the condo I purchased with Phyllis’s help.

     On both ends, as an assistant to a buyer and seller, Phyllis worked hard for me. When I was searching for a home, she was always available and willing to take me to lots of different places. When I finally decided on a condo in Magnolia, she was a great person to have on your side—a fighter, but practical enough to tell you what was fair and what was not.

     When I called to say I was considering selling, she had comparative market analyses done for me within 24 hours. Less than 4 days later, we had the condo listed at over the price I had anticipated. Less than 40 hours after that, the condo was sold for more than the asking price. Through all parts of both processes, she and Greg were both available and smart with assistance and answers when needed.

     I believe Phyllis does good work because it is a vocation for her: Her job is to find a place for people to call home and help get them into it in the best ways possible. It is likely, when you’re done, that you not only have a real estate agent you can trust and recommend, but you also have a new friendship.

     Holly - February, 2005

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