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About Me
Rebecca "Reba" Haas has been in corporate sales, high level B-2-B contract negotiation, marketing and real estate for over 18 years with a reputation as an excellent communicator and top sales performer. This reputation has helped Team Reba become a top producer in the region working with both investor and residential clients in the Puget Sound area.
Attention to detail is particularly important in a large transaction such as the purchase or sale of a home and/or investment property and Reba helps make the transaction a successful one. Reba and her team strive to help Buyers and Sellers achieve satisfaction with the outcome of the transaction and provide protections against legal and financial exposure. Reba's success is reflected through: 1) High rate of referrals, 2) Return clients, and 3) Excellent service ratings.
Reba is a of REALTOR(R), member of Commercial Broker's Association (CBA) and an Associate Member of the Rental Housing Association of Puget Sound (RHA). She has earned the Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designations along with completing the Accredited Home-Staging Professional designation complementing her early career experience in retail furniture merchandising.
Reba is also actively involved in community (member of Phinney Neighborhood Association) as well as charitable organizations having co-founded the non-profit FEAR Project (www.FEARProject.org). It is her belief that "we only gain by giving" which is why a portion of her commissions each year are donated to charity. A list of charities Team Reba gives to annually can be found at: www.TeamReba.com/teamgiving.htm
Team Reba also developed real estate investment seminars such as the "No Fluff" series currently taught at DiscoverU by her partner, Michael Lindekugel.
Attention to detail is particularly important in a large transaction such as the purchase or sale of a home and/or investment property and Reba helps make the transaction a successful one. Reba and her team strive to help Buyers and Sellers achieve satisfaction with the outcome of the transaction and provide protections against legal and financial exposure. Reba's success is reflected through: 1) High rate of referrals, 2) Return clients, and 3) Excellent service ratings.
Reba is a of REALTOR(R), member of Commercial Broker's Association (CBA) and an Associate Member of the Rental Housing Association of Puget Sound (RHA). She has earned the Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designations along with completing the Accredited Home-Staging Professional designation complementing her early career experience in retail furniture merchandising.
Reba is also actively involved in community (member of Phinney Neighborhood Association) as well as charitable organizations having co-founded the non-profit FEAR Project (www.FEARProject.org). It is her belief that "we only gain by giving" which is why a portion of her commissions each year are donated to charity. A list of charities Team Reba gives to annually can be found at: www.TeamReba.com/teamgiving.htm
Team Reba also developed real estate investment seminars such as the "No Fluff" series currently taught at DiscoverU by her partner, Michael Lindekugel.
My Q&A
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Reba Haas's Questions (0)
Reba Haas's Answers (7)
Reba Haas answered:
Traditionally for many agents this time of year gets to be slow partly because of sellers that are reluctant to put their home on during the holidays. Many people find they are too busy to want to think about selling a home although it can still be a good time to buy or sell, depending on your circumstances.
I'd have to say the main reason that activity drops off is the segment of the market where families are involved and the choice to move is an open one versus a requirement causes this big fluctuation. Most families with children are reluctant to move mid-year particularly if children are of school age. The properties I see being bought or sold right now are mostly our clients that are single, or couples with no kids (or kids out of home), or kids that are too young for school yet. It's not an absolute, but that is the majority. We also find a lot of investors are active at this time of year because of either timelines to meet for tax purposes, or to meet a certain plan. Also, many investors hope to find better bargains at this time of year when fewer other competing buyers are around.
Personally, I've got 5 closings set up for this month already so we're staying pretty busy here at Team Reba and this final quarter of the calendar year is just as busy as last year was for us. We expect to come into the new year with a pretty strong book of business as well.
I'd have to say the main reason that activity drops off is the segment of the market where families are involved and the choice to move is an open one versus a requirement causes this big fluctuation. Most families with children are reluctant to move mid-year particularly if children are of school age. The properties I see being bought or sold right now are mostly our clients that are single, or couples with no kids (or kids out of home), or kids that are too young for school yet. It's not an absolute, but that is the majority. We also find a lot of investors are active at this time of year because of either timelines to meet for tax purposes, or to meet a certain plan. Also, many investors hope to find better bargains at this time of year when fewer other competing buyers are around.
Personally, I've got 5 closings set up for this month already so we're staying pretty busy here at Team Reba and this final quarter of the calendar year is just as busy as last year was for us. We expect to come into the new year with a pretty strong book of business as well.
Reba Haas answered:
I agree with Kip to a degree but I would take that a step further and ask if the previous insurance company was involved in the remediation because if they were then you are hopefully going to get a much better assurance that the problem was handled correctly.
There are also companies that can do mold testing with infrared type meters that will let you know definitively if the mold is gone. The good thing about mold is that once you remove the source (water) it generally will stop growing - but you still have to make sure all the mold is removed to limit any exposure to mold spores in the air. There will always be some forms of mold in the air, but it's understanding what levels and types are appropriate. I would find a mold expert in your area to help you.
There are also companies that can do mold testing with infrared type meters that will let you know definitively if the mold is gone. The good thing about mold is that once you remove the source (water) it generally will stop growing - but you still have to make sure all the mold is removed to limit any exposure to mold spores in the air. There will always be some forms of mold in the air, but it's understanding what levels and types are appropriate. I would find a mold expert in your area to help you.
Reba Haas answered:
Given that many people don't spend as much time in their yards nowadays this home could work well for someone although being next to the highway certainly isn't the best option. The same could be said for many of the houses that are being put into new developments that are 2500 sqft on a 3500 sqft lot. Since people's time is at a premium there are tradeoffs and we've seen nationally that the average US home has stretched from around 900 sqft in the 1960's to 2500 sqft as today's standard. Apparently we've all collected so much stuff that we need bigger houses more than we need yards to enjoy.
However, there is a new trend growing just in the past year or so where the architects and builders are starting to consider smaller, more organized building spaces. Personally, I'm a big fan of this concept. In areas like Puget Sound where density is growing we need to be softer with our human footprint but I can tell you that in places like the mid-west where there are few boundaries to stop development and building size you'll see this mindset come along much later. It's true of most major metropolitan areas. Look at places like NYC, Paris, London - you don't see lots of McMansions on every street because they can't afford the space for it.
However, there is a new trend growing just in the past year or so where the architects and builders are starting to consider smaller, more organized building spaces. Personally, I'm a big fan of this concept. In areas like Puget Sound where density is growing we need to be softer with our human footprint but I can tell you that in places like the mid-west where there are few boundaries to stop development and building size you'll see this mindset come along much later. It's true of most major metropolitan areas. Look at places like NYC, Paris, London - you don't see lots of McMansions on every street because they can't afford the space for it.
Reba Haas answered:
I have plenty of people I can refer you to that are true professionals in the lending world. Check out the web references link below to access their information. I believe you may have posted this question already though and I have answered it there as well.
Reba Haas answered:
There are statistics about how many homes an average buyer will review before making an offer but you don't have to live by those rules. I've had some clients buy the very first house I showed them (and I was very picky about what I showed them based on their criteria) and then there are other clients that have taken close to a year to find the perfect home. Having owned a home before you know what it is that is important to you. If you haven't already given that all important list of "absolute must have" and "would be nice to have" to your agent then do so now. It will help them to understand better what your needs are. You might also ask the agent to "scrub" the list of potential houses prior to going to view them so you don't waste your time.
If your agent is losing patience with you then you may not be working with the right person. I know that I look at my job as helping clients find the best house for them for their price range - an agent that is losing patience is probably not working with too many other clients to help offset income requirements and they may be focusing on the wrong reasons for your purchase. Have a heart-to-heart with your agent first and then evaluate based on how well that goes. It could be what you need to jump start your search and to get this person re-motivated to consider your needs and wants. Clearly, if you've been continuing to look you are earnest about your desire to purchase and you aren't just a "look-ee-loo". It sounds like some solid communication could really help you out right now.
Good luck!
If your agent is losing patience with you then you may not be working with the right person. I know that I look at my job as helping clients find the best house for them for their price range - an agent that is losing patience is probably not working with too many other clients to help offset income requirements and they may be focusing on the wrong reasons for your purchase. Have a heart-to-heart with your agent first and then evaluate based on how well that goes. It could be what you need to jump start your search and to get this person re-motivated to consider your needs and wants. Clearly, if you've been continuing to look you are earnest about your desire to purchase and you aren't just a "look-ee-loo". It sounds like some solid communication could really help you out right now.
Good luck!
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