Salem Oregon Real Estate and Homes for Sale

One of Oregon’s premier events is happening next weekend for wine lovers and yes, your Salem Oregon Real Estate Agent plans to join in the fun!  Willamette Valley Vineyards is hosting the 7th Annual Wine, Cheese and Pear Jubilee. The jubilee will feature award-winning wines paired with local artisan cheeses and Oregon pears.  Admission is $5 and includes wine and food tasting, along with a complimentary Reidel wine glass.  Dates and hours are March 6th and 7th from 11 am to 6 pm.

Hope to see you there for some of the Willamette Valley’s best local wine, cheeses and pears, and of course, one of the most beautiful views in the Willamette Valley!

Tags: Salem Oregon, salem oregon community event, willamette valley, willamette valley vineyards

This is it! Your chance to own a 1 owner, single level home, that has been lovingly cared for. This three bedroom, two bath home has vaulted ceilings, large living room with gas fireplace, formal dining room and large master suite with WIC. The kitchen has plenty of storage and a breakfast bar. Nice backyard with large deck.

Single Level One Owner Home!

Overview Maps Photos Description

$209,000 Single Family Home For Sale Main Features 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Interior: 1485 sqft Lot: 0.12 acre(s) Location 5713 Flairstone DR SE Salem, OR 97306

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Mel Wagner Coldwell Banker Mtn. West Real Estate, Inc. (503) 931-1846 MelWagnerBroker@msn.com http://www.MelWagnerBroker.com      Listed by: Mel Wagner

Our recent listings Looking for a Home in the Downtown Historical District of Independence, Oregon? Single Level One Owner Home! Lovely Single Level 3/2.5 with indoor sauna Dual Living!! 4/3 in West Salem What a Cutie!! 3/1 with Fenced Backyard. Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Salem, OR real estate for sale

Tags: salem oregon home for sale, salem oregon real estate, south salem

SALEM OREGON AREA REAL ESTATE-INDEPENDENCE HISTORICAL HOME FOR SALE!!

If you love historical homes with all the charm and character from yesteryear, you will love this home!!

Don’t miss your chance to own this diamond in the rough historical home that was on the Independence Historical Tour of Homes. This home is loaded with potential and still has the original woodwork and built-ins. The moment you come through the door, you will be stunned by all the charm of yesteryear. With the proper tools and motivation this 5 bedroom, 2 bath home will be back on the tour agian!!!

Looking for a Home in the Downtown Historical District of Independence, Oregon?

Overview Maps Photos Description

$214,900 Single Family Home For Sale Main Features 5 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Interior: 2562 sqft Lot: 0.15 acre(s) Location 92 Log Cabin ST N Independence, OR 97351

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Mel Wagner Coldwell Banker Mtn. West Real Estate, Inc. (503) 931-1846 MelWagnerBroker@msn.com http://www.MelWagnerBroker.com Listed by: Mel Wagner

Our recent listings Looking for a Home in the Downtown Historical District of Independence, Oregon? Single Level One Owner Home! Lovely Single Level 3/2.5 with indoor sauna Dual Living!! 4/3 in West Salem What a Cutie!! 3/1 with Fenced Backyard. Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Independence, OR real estate for sale

Tags: historical home, independence home for sale, Salem Oregon Real Estate homes for sale and open houses

SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE-SPEND A LITTLE, GET A LOT SELLERS TIPS PART 2

It’s time for the second installment of our Spend a Little, Get a Lot series for Salem Oregon Home Sellers courtesy of your Salem Oregon Real Estate Agent.   When preparing your home for sale, there are many quick and easy tips that can get your home in top showing condition.  Here are a few more to get started on:

• Don’t have the time to keep the house clean?  Consider hiring a cleaning service to keep your house in shape while it’s on the market.

• If your wall-to-wall carpet looks fine except for a couple of worn spots, have it professionally cleaned and cover the imperfect areas with small rugs.

• Make sure stairways are safe by freeing them of toys or slippery mats, securing the handrail, and installing good lighting.

• Don’t wait until the last minute to call professional painters because their schedules may be filled.  Hire them as soon as you make the decision to sell.

• Keep your lawn looking thick and green by fertilizing during the appropriate season.

Now, mind you on the carpet tip-a good buyer’s agent will look under your throw rugs.  So, you aren’t trying to hide anything from the buyer concerning the carpet, you are just trying to give the home an overall better presentation.

If you are considering selling your home and would like more tips on preparing your home for selling, or would like a complimentary market analysis to give you a better idea of what your home will sell for in the current market, you can contact me directly at 503-931-1846.

For more seller tips visit:

Spend a Little, Get a Lot Part 1

Salem Oregon Sellers Top Dollar Series

Tags: salem oregon homes for sale, salem oregon real estate, sell home

HOW DO I LOVE THEE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY??  Still looking for that perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the one you love? Let your SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE AGENT give you some tips for a couple of local ideas, and a coastal one.

The first one involves fine wine and chocolate.  What woman doesn’t love good Pinot Noir and chocolate?  This is the one that my husband and I will be trying this year.  So, if you decide to try it also, and are there around 11 am on Saturday, please come up and say hi!!  We would love to meet you!!

This wonderful Valentine’s Weekend Event will be held at Willamette Valley Vineyards, and runs from 11 am to 6 pm on the 13th and 14th.  General admission is $5 and includes a complimentary Riedel wine glass. Upgrade to the Cellar Pass for an additional $5 for barrel tasting of the 2008 Quinta Reserva Port Style wine with our winemakers.

Wine and chocolate not your thing, or looking for something to continue on the weekend?  How about the Valentine’s Day special going on at Prudence Uncorked?  This year they have two options to make your sweetheart happy.  The first one, She’ll Love You Forever, includes a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride and a four-course dinner including a bottle of wine for $150.  The second option, She’ll Love You For Quite Some Time, skips the ride and goes straight to the four-course dinner and bottle of wine for $100.  Reservations for either option can be made by calling 503-362-0888.

Of course, there is always our old stand-by.  Heading to Lincoln City, Oregon for a couple of days to enjoy the coast. Check out these great escape ideas Part 1 and Part 2.

What are your plans this Valentine’s Day?

Tags: oregon coast, salem oregon real estate, salem oregon real estate agent

SELLERS, SELLERS, SELLERS-WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?  THIS TITLE MAY BE A DEAD GIVEAWAY THAT I HAVE NOT HAD A GOOD SHOWING, AND THERE IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT!!

So, I may have already “showed my hand” on this blog by my title, but really-this needs to be addressed!  For the sake of Real Estate Agents and Buyers everywhere.

I have this wonderful family that has been searching for “the home” for a few months now.  We are limited to a small town in the Salem Oregon area/Polk County.  The amount of listings that come on the market each month is limited because it is a smaller town.

We had a good one, or so it sounded, come on the market.  So, we immediately set up a time the following evening to view this wonderful home.   I arrived before the buyers and obtained the key from the contractor’s box on the front door.  I then proceeded to open the front door.  What happened next, I cannot even describe with appropriate words.  Here is this lovely home, in a well established neighborhood, where all of the other homes are kept up.  The door opened and I immediately was blown over by one of the worst dog/urine smells I have encountered.  So, okay, I am a trooper, and my buyers were really excited about this home from the outside.  I knew right away, there is NO WAY I would be able to spend any time at all in this home without some fresh air.  So the first thing I did was open all outside doors for some air, and then bravely sauntered through to turn on the lights.

Shortly thereafter, my wonderful buyers arrived.   I met them at the door to welcome them, and they stepped inside.  Now, in some areas of the home, the smell was not as bad at this point.  Mind you, the sellers did have the carpet cleaned, and had two rooms that they were going to replace the carpet.  Unfortunately, those are the two rooms that do not have the extra thick carpet.   My buyers liked the layout, the backyard is fabulous…. we have discussed the smell somewhat, and that my buyers would rather have a flooring credit than new carpet in the two rooms that are planned to have new carpet.   As we spend more time on this other plush carpet… we are really noticing that the biggest smells are coming from these rooms.  As we stand in the kitchen, where there is no carpet, debating on an appropriate offer, considering all the flooring will need to be replaced, and possibly some sub flooring….  I am now itching, really itching…. and trying to be cool about changing from one foot to the other, scratching my legs…. one of my buyers says….. “I’m sorry, I have to go outside”.  Okay, I had been feeling a little itchy, okay, maybe a lot itchy.   All of sudden we are all scratching madly as we make our way through to be sure the doors are locked, and the lights are off.  By the time that we are outside discussing the home, I am scratching everywhere, not just my legs, as are the buyers.

Sellers, when people cannot even remain in your home…. that may be a sign that you need to replace all of the flooring, or at least set off a bug bomb or two.

Needless to say, as much as my buyers loved the layout and the backyard.  We will not be making an offer on this home. Yes, once I shook off my pants legs and entered my car, I did lift up the legs of my pants in between scratching my head to see if there was anything crawling on me.   Thankfully, it was my last appointment on Friday night and I headed home at high speed.   I am blessed to have a hardwood entry on my main level that leads to the laundry room where I immediately put my clothing in the washer, wrapped up in a folded towel from the top of the dryer, and hit the shower. To my great delight, after the shower, the itching had stopped.

Sellers, smell is a very important part of getting your home sold.  If your real estate agent makes suggestions for you because of the smell of your home due to pets, or anything else…. listen to them!  If you have animals, be prepared that you may have fleas or other irritants….   take care of these issues before you list home and you won’t lose good buyers……

Thanks for listening to my vent for February….  I don’t think I can top this one, this month….. at least I hope not!!

Tags: salem oregon home for sale, salem oregon home selling, salem oregon homes for sale, salem oregon real estate, salem oregon real estate agent, sell home

SALEM OREGON HOME SELLERS, JUST WHAT IS IT THAT BUYERS WANT THESE DAYS?

As your Salem Oregon Real Estate Agent, I’ve been doing a series of articles for preparing your home to sell for top dollar the last few weeks, and I thought the latest report from the National Association of Realtors would be an interesting addition.   Today in Realtor Mag they reported on the top 10 things that buyers want according to Paul Cartus of Avid Ratings who conducts an annual survey of what buyer preferences for must-haves in new homes.

1. Large kitchens with islands
2. Energy efficiency including appliances, insulation and windows
3. Home offices
4. Main-floor master suite
5. Outdoor living space
6. Ceiling fans
7. Soaking tub in master suite and/or large shower with seating area
8. Stone and brick exteriors instead of stucco or vinyl
9. Community walking paths and playgrounds
10. Two car garages, however three car garages are even more desirable

So, I would like to hear from local buyers and Real Estate Agents from all over.  Do you agree with these must-haves?  I do get many requests for large kitchens with islands, energy efficiency, home offices, at least a two car garage, master on the main, and both a soaking/jetted tub and shower in the master bath.  What are your top requests?

Original source: Source: MarketWatch, Steve Kerch (01/30/2010)

Tags: salem oregon home selling, salem oregon real estate agent, salem oregon real estate market

SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE-SELLERS-LET’S TALK ABOUT CURB APPEAL PART 2. HELPFUL TIPS ON GETTING YOUR HOME SOLD FROM YOUR SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE AGENT.

In Part 1 of “ Sellers, Let’s Talk About Curb Appeal” we set the groundwork for the basics, in Part 2 we will go more in depth on the subject of curb appeal.

Improving the appearance of the driveway can be as easy and inexpensive as cleaning up oil spills, pressure washing to remove mildew or moving extra cars to another location. For damaged driveways, excessive cracks may be more unsightly if they’re filled with patches. In this case, resurfacing the driveway may be necessary.

Landscaping and lawn maintenance create the backdrop for the house. Like the scenery in a play, it showcases the main attraction. In his book, Sell It Yourself, Ralph Roberts vividly describes the ideal lawn. “You want your yard to look like a golf course fairway – lush, green and meticulously maintained.” This requires filling bare spots with grass plugs or sod, applying fertilizer and bug killer, and regularly watering the lawn.

For those with little spare time, it may be worth the money to hire a maintenance service to shape up your yard and keep it maintained as long as your house is on the market.

Add some color with a flowerbed or two of various annuals. A newly mowed and edged lawn accented with flowers makes a good first impression. The yard should look clean and green…with a few splashes of color.

Of course, once the lawn is golf course quality, you don’t want to spoil the effect with a cluttered yard. Neatly trim bushes and hedges so they accent the yard. Keep leaves raked and walkways swept daily. Trash cans, hoses, yard tools and toys should be stored in the garage or a shed. And while lawn ornaments – pink flamingos, elves, concrete geese or a statue of David – may make your life brighter, someone else might find them offensive. Put them in storage.

Want the most dramatic improvement in appearance for the best value? Paint the exterior of your house, including trim, window frames, shutters, gutters and downspouts, mailbox and front door. Opt for neutral shades of white, light grey, or pale beige, which are more universal.

If the existing paint on the outer walls is in good shape, consider touching up everything else in the list. This will make the house look brighter.

The front door is the transition area. At its best, it carries the pleasant look of the lawn – and the opinion of the buyer – over the threshold of the house. At worst, it undoes everything you achieved with the lawn and casts a pallor on the rest of the house. The buyer won’t miss the entryway, so the seller must not overlook it. Pressure wash the front steps, railings, and door. Clean out light fixtures, replace burnt-out bulbs and fix the broken doorbell. If the door is solid and in good working condition, give it a fresh coat of paint. If it’s damaged, cheaply made or otherwise unsightly, invest in a new, hardwood door. When this is done, add the final touch to the threshold: A brand-new doormat. After all, with all the work you just finished doing to spruce up the place, you want buyers to feel welcome.

By the way, Pam’s place now looks like a European country house, complete with shadow boxes, a wrought iron gate and English gardens. But the very first thing she did was paint the exterior…soft beige.

I hope you found these tips helpful to get you started on some great curb appeal for your Salem Oregon Home for Sale. For more selling tips from your Salem Oregon Real Estate Agent check out:

1. The Bathroom – Part 1
2. The Bathroom – Part 2

If you are considering selling your Salem Oregon Home, feel free to contact me for any questions that you may have, and a copy of my free book, “How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar, Fast“.

Tags: salem oregon home for sale, salem oregon real estate, salem oregon real estate agent, sell home