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Random Acts of Kindness
Performing random acts of kindness can be a great way to brighten someone’s day and make the world a better place. The best part is that these acts of kindness don’t have to be big or extravagant – even small gestures can make a big impact.
We have compiled five simple things you can do as a random act of kindness:
- Buy coffee for the person behind you in line: Next time you’re waiting in line for your morning caffeine fix, consider buying a coffee for the person behind you. Not only will you make their day, but you will also inspire them to pay it forward.
- Create kind notes for your mail carrier: Our mail carriers work hard every day, regardless of the weather, to ensure that our packages and letters reach us safely. Take a few minutes to create some kind notes thanking them for their hard work. You can leave them in your mailbox for your carrier. You can also leave a small gift, like a snack or a drink, as a token of your appreciation.
- Do something kind for your significant other: Whether it is doing the dishes, folding the laundry, or making their favorite meal, doing something kind for your significant other can show them how much you care. It doesn’t have to be a big gesture – sometimes the little things mean the most.
- Pick up trash at the park: The environment is something we all share, and taking care of it is everyone’s responsibility. Next time you are at the park, take a few minutes to pick up any litter you see. Not only will it help keep the park clean, but it will also set a good example for others. You can find Washington State Parks here.
- Write a gratitude letter: Finally, taking the time to write a gratitude letter can be a meaningful way to show someone how much they mean to you. It could be a friend, a family member, or even a coworker – just take a few minutes to express your gratitude and let them know how much you appreciate them.
In conclusion, performing random acts of kindness is a simple but powerful way to make a difference in someone’s life. Whether it’s buying coffee for a stranger or picking up trash at the park, every act of kindness has the potential to make the world a better place. So the next time you have the opportunity to do something kind, seize it – you never know how much it might mean to someone else.
Valentine’s Day in the Place You Love Most: Home Sweet Home
Enjoy this list of ideas for your special day at home with the one you love.
Breakfast in bed:
What better way to start the day than with breakfast in bed? Surprise your Valentine by waking up early and preparing a decadent breakfast like pancakes, an omelet, or frittata. Pair it with some fresh fruit, and perhaps a pastry and coffee or champagne.
In-home spa:
In-home spa:
Couples massages are a fitting indulgence for Valentine’s Day. Luckily for you, this experience can be easily recreated in the comfort of your own home. Set the mood with some lit candles with relaxing music playing in the background. Take turns applying facial masks and giving each other massages to put you both in a state of relaxation and draw up a nice warm bubble bath. Try adding hand made body products from Oak Harbor local Little Town Cottage.
Playful scavenger hunt:
Playful scavenger hunt:
What better way to introduce joy and excitement than with the thrill and adventure and your memories as a couple than with a scavenger hunt around your home. Create each clue on a red heart tied to a special memory from your relationship and hide them around your house. Don’t forget to have the answer lead to the next clue. Get creative and plan something special for discovering that final clue!
Most of all enjoy the day with your special someone. Happy Valentines Day.
Love Letters to the Sellers
LOVE LETTERS TO THE SELLERS
There’s nothing quite like falling in love… with a home.
Every buyer has had that moment where, after what seems like an eternity of searching, they found “the one.” The home that’s vaulted ceiling, wood floors, large backyard, or perfect layout bring so much joy and visions of the future they “have to have it.”
For buyers, purchasing a home is as much of an emotional decision as it is financial/practical one. The same is true for the seller. The offers sellers receive aren’t just for a piece of land and a house; they are for a home. A place where they’ve spent hours of their life with family and friends. A place filled with memories of both tears and laughter. This emotional connection is something many buyers have been able to use to connect with sellers and possibly get a leg up in the offer process.
How? They write a love letter to the seller!
A love letter to the seller is a letter the buyer writes and delivers along with their offer to tell the seller a little bit about themselves and why they love the home. Although this practice isn’t necessarily new, it is steadily gaining in popularity. Like mentioned before; selling a home is an emotional decision. Bringing humanity into the transaction can often sway a seller in favor of the buyer they feel they know.
There is a flip side, though. Letters to the seller aren’t always the right choice. For some sellers the property might be one of investment instead of residence or the letter might backfire and cause more issue than it resolves. One Windermere agent recounted the time a buyer’s letter described how much she looked forward to her daughter growing up in the house. It turned out the sellers were not able to have children and the letter had brought up some rather unexpected negative feelings.
Love letters can also pose some legal complications for the seller. Anti-discrimination laws imposed both federally and locally do not allow sellers to select which offer they will accept on the basis of protected class identity (race, religion, gender, familial status, etc).
Suppose a seller gets a handful of similar offers on a property and a few have submitted letters along with their offer. If the seller verbally expresses to their agent, neighbor, or even a friend that they chose the buyer based on familial status (“We liked them best because they were a young family”), they are inadvertently put at risk for a fair housing lawsuit.
This doesn’t mean love letters are illegal. It simply means both buyers and sellers should be mindful when sending and receiving letters. All housing decisions should ultimately be made on the terms of the offer, not the identity of the buyers.
Sellers should always review all offer documents with their agent and ask about fair housing laws if they are confused or concerned. The most important thing is to make sure their final decision is not made based on the buyer’s demographics, but on if they are willing and able to purchase.
Buyers should try and understand the history and motivation of the seller. Did they live in the house? Design the home? Lose a spouse there? This information can help a buyer understand which topics are safe to mentions in the letter and which topics to avoid. However, the best practice for a buyer in EVERY letter to the seller is to focus on the home. Talk about the features you appreciate, what drew you to it, and overall why you think it’s the perfect home for you.
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