Gig Harbor Undressed

Gig Harbor Open Houses

Here is the list of open houses in Gig Harbor for this weekend.  If you’d like a list of opens for Tacoma, Port Orchard, or Key Peninsula, please contact me and I’ll get that right out to you!

 This information is taken from the NWMLS and deemed reliable.  I am not the listing agent of all of these homes, but as a Realtor am able to show you and represent you in the purchase of any of these homes.  If you see some homes you like, and are interested in buying a home in Gig Harbor, please feel free to contact me.

Gig Harbor Wildlife

The following shots were taken by Mark, a Gig Harbor resident and faithful reader of this blog.  Thanks for the photos!

New! Talk to me Directly!

I have added a new feature to this blog that will allow you to talk to me directly in real time.  If you scroll down on the right hand side you’ll notice a new box titled “Plugoo.”  If I am on the computer, it will show a green dot with “I’m online.”  Just type in a message and we can chat.  If I’m not around, a red dot will appear with “I’m offline.”  You can still send me a message, but I won’t get it, so I wouldn’t bother if I were you.

Now if you have a question about Gig Harbor’s real estate market, a specific home for sale in Gig Harbor, or if you have a blog idea for me (maybe you own a small business or your child is in an upcoming play, or maybe you’d be interested in writing a review of the Gig Harbor schools from a parent’s perspective) you can send me an instant message.  Try it, you may like it!

Oh, Deer!

I recently rediscovered  this photo that I took this past summer.  I pulled into a clients’ home on Fox Island and these guys were enjoying a nice snack in the front yard.  Gig Harbor and Fox Island are home to many wild animals, but I’m afraid that the animals are getting squeezed out by all of the new construction.  Deer aren’t an uncommon site, and it’s pretty easy to spot coyotes running around.  Down by the water you’ll easily spot seals, and the occasional otter.  I’ve even seen a fox down on the beach once.  Bald Eagles are also a fun and common site in the Gig Harbor area.  A few folks have even had bears wander into their yards.

If you have any photos of Gig Harbor’s wildlife, I’d love to post them.  You can email them to me at mthomson@kw.com.  Please size them down first so they’re not massive files!  Here are a few of my other favorites.

Make Relocating to Gig Harbor Easy

Are you considering relocating to Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, or the surrounding area?  Moves don’t have to be intimidating, in fact, I think I can make moving to Gig Harbor quite easy.  First, you need to gather information.  Far too many people seem to bury their heads in the sand and try to avoid gathering facts.

Many of the online forums that I participate in seem to be flooded with people who have grown tired of the home search process, and it often seems as though real estate agents are to blame.  Three times in the past two weeks real estate agents have been referred to as “used car salesmen” on these forums I read.  From the context, I know that’s supposed to be an insult, but I really like most of the car salesmen I’ve dealt with, and if I don’t like them I tend to “fire” them and “hire” another.  Same deal in terms of finding a Realtor in Gig Harbor.  Don’t hide from us, get to know your area real estate agents and interview them.  When you find one you like, hire them.  Don’t ever feel as though you have to settle on an agent because they’re the first you found, or your cousin went to high school with them, or they send you the most postcards.  A good Realtor can be your best friend when it comes to relocating.

If you’re moving to Gig Harbor, I’d recommend two things.  Gather as much information about the area as you can, and find a Realtor whom you trust and like.  This blog is designed to bring attention to Gig Harbor, to be Gig Harbor’s “Good News Source.”  I want small businesses in the Harbor to gain attention here, I want visitors to learn about the area here, I want Gig Harbor’s scenic beauty to be displayed here.  I also want to earn people’s business.  I hope that this blog provides the information about Gig Harbor that you are looking for, and if not I’d hope that you contact me and ask.  I also hope that my personality shines through in this blog and that through reading it daily you can come to know and trust me a little bit.  I can’t imagine moving to a new place, not knowing the area, and working with a real estate agent whom I didn’t fully feel comfortable with.  I truly believe that if you hire me to introduce you to our community and to show you the home inventory we have available and to represent you in the purchase of your Gig Harbor Home, you’ll be able to hold your head up high and know you made a good choice.

Many Realtors and real estate offices will offer you a “relocation package” with all of the information you could want on the area.  I view that kind of like a fast food burger…it is indeed a burger, but it’s pre-made and not likely to satisfy you.  My Gig Harbor relocation package is sure to fit your needs exactly.  How do I know this?  Because I haven’t made it yet, and won’t make it until you order it (did I steal that line?).  Folks looking to move to Gig Harbor can contact me, and we’ll chat briefly about what’s important to YOU, and then I’ll provide you with relocation information that matters to you.  Why do you need stats on the schools if you have no kids?  Do our golf courses matter to you if you hate golf?  I don’t suppose you care about boat rentals if you’re afraid of the water.  I want to know what you want to know about the area, then I’ll compile the relevant information and get it out to you.  Gig Harbor is full of good real estate agents and good real estate companies.  My clients seem to agree that they’ve found the best.  Some have even made some pretty lofty claims, like I can walk on water.

Okay, that last one isn’t true.  I have a different approach to real estate, and I hope that this blog is just a small sampling of that difference.  If you’re relocating to Gig Harbor, or if you are selling your house in Gig Harbor, I’d love the opportunity to interview with you and earn your trust.

Gig Harbor Home Sales Report

 Here is my weekly look at the Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, and Key Peninsula real estate market.  The following graphs show how many single-family homes were listed for sale each week, and how many homes went under contract for sale each week.  You’ll notice that this past week saw a decrease in homes on the market (inventory), and an increase in pending sales (activity).  One week doesn’t indicate a trend, but it is encouraging to see houses moving. 

For a full report on homes for sale in Gig Harbor, or if you are looking to move to Gig Harbor and would like more information on our real estate market, please feel free to contact me.  This information is free to you!

Helping Love, INC in Pierce County

Later this month, a group of folks from Believer’s Fellowship church here in Gig Harbor will be setting out to renovate a barn at Love, INC’s headquarters in Puyallup, WA.  Love, INC’s mission is to “mobilize the Church to transform lives and communities In the Name of Christ.” 

One thing that Love, INC does is provide families who have lost everything to a flood or a fire, or someone who abandoned all they had to flee an abusive relationship, with new furniture for their home.  The furniture is not really new, but to someone who has literally nothing, gently used furniture can be an amazing gift.

Currently, Love, INC doesn’t have the space to store the donated furniture that they distribute to folks in need.  That’s where we come in, and where we can use your help.  On Saturday the 16th, we will begin by clearing junk out of a barn currently on Love, INC’s property.  Then on the 17th, we’ll pressure wash the inside of the barn and begin painting the lumber.  The following Saturday (the 23rd), we will begin building the structures that will transform the old barn into an adequate storehouse for furniture.  Then, on Saturday March 1, will will need to fill the re-habbed barn with furniture.  IF YOU HAVE ANY FURNITURE THAT YOU’RE WILLING TO DONATE, please bring it to Believer’s Fellowship on March 1st.

 If you have the desire to serve the community, we would love your help at any of these stages.  You don’t have to be a member of our church (well, I guess there are no members of our church as we don’t have membership…if you join us you’re as much a member as anyone!) to help out.  This is just a group of Pierce County residents, most of whom happen to go to church here in Gig Harbor, who have decided to help out a great organization in need. 

If you’d like to help with any of the construction phases or by donating furniture, please contact me so we can plan for any necessary transportation and tools.  Caring about our communities is what makes us a community.

Gig Harbor Open Houses this weekend

Following is a list of open houses for the Gig Harbor area this weekend.  For more information on any of these homes, driving directions, etc, please feel free to contact me.  While I am not the listing agent for all of these homes, as a Realtor it is my job to know these houses and show them to prospective buyers.  It is interesting to note that 17 of the 24 open houses this weekend are listed by Keller Williams agents.  You can swing by our office at 11515 Burnham Drive to pick up a Keller Williams open house packet, or simply use the form here.

Be sure to check back each Friday for the new list!

SuperSpa Sunday in Gig Harbor’s Target

The Seahawks are out, Favre is done, so what to do on Super Disappointment Sunday? Gig Harbor resident Nancy Presser works as a Beauty Advisor for an English company called Boots which is new to the United States. They offer an extensive skin care and cosmetic line at the Gig Harbor Target and she is available for FREE skin care consultations, make-overs, facials, and hand treatments every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This Sunday, during the Superbowl, Nancy is offering a SuperSpa Sunday with free services for those that may not be interested in sports. She’ll be doing mini spa treatments, i.e. massage, facial, make-overs, etc. in the Boots cosmetics aisle at Target. Make sure to visit Nancy at the Target store if watching Brady instead of Favre and Eli instead of Peyton is just not your idea of a good day.

Nancy Presser
Boots Lead Beauty Advisor
Gig Harbor Target
Store (253)858-9777
In Store Hours: Friday 12pm - 6pm, Sat 12pm - 6pm, Sun 11am - 4pm or by appointment during the week.