The Best Condo Views in Seattle (via @LumaCondosSea)

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Luma Condo Terrace and Sky Lounge opening for homeowners and you all, the views were breathtaking! Being from Chicago, I'm a city girl at heart and location and views are everything to me. The Luma is technically located in First Hill, but sits a few blocks away from Capitol Hill, so the location is spectacular. You get to be in the midst of everything that matters in Seattle, but elevated high enough away from the hot mess that Cap Hill night life usually turns into.

The Luma also did a phenomenal job maximizing the space of their terrace and sky lounge to offer luxurious comfort in their indoor spaces, splurging on square footage, 360 degree views, and even a dipping pool and outdoor shower! It's the epitome of condo living in Seattle and absolutely stunning.

Southwest Pool Views at Night

Southeast Pool Views during the Day

Currently the building is 85% Sold Out with only 25 units left. The prices start in the high 500s for 1bdrm units (2bdrm range from the high 700s to "low" 1.3 million), but they're absolutely gorgeous and the views can't be beat. My girlfriend was able to snag a unit in the building, so I feel lucky to live vicariously through her.

The official Grand Opening party will take place Thursday, September 22nd from 6p - 9p, and feature local Pike/Pine area chefs battling it out to cook the perfect burger, along with local bartenders crafting the perfect drink. The free event is currently sold out, but you can add your name to the wait list.

The Luma residents toasting to their gorgeous new condo

If you're in the market to buy and the price range doesn't scare you off, I'd highly suggest checking out the building and seeing if it could be your next home. The views are the best I've ever seen in all of Seattle.

Luxe Living in Sweden

I stumbled upon this Swedish townhouse on a favorite blog of mine, Made By Girl, and had to share with my blog readers. Though a predominately white interior can easily look sterile, I think they did an amazing job. I love the use of space and the uber modern decor. This townhouse is seriously my dream palace.

Thank you...

I want to take the time out to thank the over 100 people that have visited my blog in the last 2 days...all because of the "customer service" based blogs that I posted. I am glad to have sparked so much conversation about the topic. Despite receiving messages like this:

1 – 1 of 1

jesus lady. just let it go. he wasn't THAT rude ... jesus lady. just let it go. he wasn't THAT rude to you and to post this stuff on the internet only shows a lack of character on your part. this really doesn't surprise me, because you're black. just ignore his email and go about your life instead of trying to damage somebody's reputation. people like you disgust me.

(mosesblimy)

8:55 AM

I still stand by my original posts. To clarify for all, this is my blog. It's an outlet for me to write about my experiences, opinions...anything and everything that crosses my mind. I had a bad experience with a leasing agent that happened to work for a certain company that in turn happened to be representing a certain developer....and I chose to write about it. Everyday people have bad experiences and decide to share that with their friends, family, etc...that is exactly what I did.

This has nothing to do with damaging someone's character/reputation or putting a company on blast...but instead shedding light on the fact that bad customer service is alive and well...and I, for one, find it to be unacceptable.

Buying real estate is NOT comparable to ordering a big mac and fries...you're potentially investing hundreds of thousands of dollars and I believe that the highest levels of customer service should be put forth. Whether you're a 60 yo seasoned pro or a 20 yo just getting started, you have to treat people with respect.

Update

I have to update everyone on the latest info regarding the leasing agent from hell.

I received an email this morning from the president of the Development company that had hired T-Rock, the company the leasing agent worked for, and was notified that he was no longer employed by the company! I kind of just stared at my computer screen...not really sure of how to feel...but continued getting dressed for work. Once I checked my myspace this morning, I had received a message from the leasing agent...(yes...he went on myspace and found my page...thank God it's private) and sent me this message:

From:

KrisShaun..

myspace.com/lifessweetbreath1

Date:

Sep 24, 2008 5:42 PM

Flag as Spam or Report Abuse [?]

Help: Flag
Message If you get a message that is spam (someone trying to sell you something, get you to look at their profile, or redirect you to another website), click the ‘Spam’ button to notify us. If the email is not spam, but is abusive in nature (cyberbullying, inappropriate content, or another matter), click on ‘Abuse’. You can then let us know what type of abuse the message is. Thanks for your help in moderating MySpace Mail!

Date Sent: 9/24/2008 3:42:00 PM
Body:
thank you. i lost my job. how was i rude? all i said to you was "you could have called or emailed"

" type="hidden">

...And then I smiled...and thought to myself that some people will never learn. I did not intend to get him fired from his job, but it definitely needed to be pointed out that his level of customer service was sub-par, unprofessional and a bad reflection on EVERY company he was representing...

Everyone, please find inspiration in this situation I just went through. You do have a voice and don't have to ever tolerate any unwarranted disrespect from anyone. You deserve the best in customer service especially when dealing with real estate, when hundreds of thousands of dollars are at stake.

Bad Customer Service: Part 2

I thought I was being polite by taking the high road and sending a professional email scrutinizing his lack of professionalism, etc...and then he went and replied to my email with this:

Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:26:35 -0700

From: (removed email) .

Subject: Re: West Loop Condo

Right. All it would have taken was a simple phone call or
email. Bye now!

I followed up with another nice, albeit strained, email:

To:(removed email)

Subject: RE: West Loop Condo

Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:22:43 -0700

Your level of immaturity and extreme unprofessionalism is beyond me. In a market that's not stable, you'd imagine that your level of customer service would be at an all time high...especially given that the nature of your business relies on the relationships that you create, nurture, and maintain. However, you've seemed to miss that. As a word of encouragement, you really should try to adjust your attitude. Try venting to your friends before a client. I do not care to hear or read your emotionally fueled rants and raves. Moving forward, please do not contact me anymore.

However, I am still unhappy with the level of service I received so I also sent an email to the developers that hired his company (T-Rock Enterprises, Inc) to handle all aspects of leasing for their company, I took it upon myself to find his myspace page and encourage everyone to take a look. Just like you want to research the company you do business with, it's not bad to research the agent as well.

To throw a little humor at this situation, as my friend Curtis said, "do not do any kind of transaction with a company called T-Rock unless it's a drug deal or something with music production..." lol...

Bad Customer Service

This morning I saw in my email box a rude, unprofessional and emotionally driven email from a leasing agent that worked with my boyfriend and I a few weeks ago. Not only was this guy not fully informed on the units he was showing us, but he had no idea the sale price nor the info needed for a lease/purchase. Basically, all he could do was open the door and describe what we could already see with our own eyes. Anyways, he sent me not 1, but 2 emails (in the same minute) and I thought I'd share with the world how unprofessional people can be:

Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:35:57 -0700 From: (removed email) To:
(removed email) Subject: Re: West Loop Condo

I deal with people wasting my time every day, but at least have the courtesy to tell me you have decided against it.
Thanks,

Kris On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 8:35 PM, Kris Mitchell (removed email)
wrote: Ishea, it would have been great if you guys could at least have told me you had decided against it. I spent my time and effort to work for you guys, and you can't at least call and say you have decided against it?

I don't do well with people, especially - - REAL ESTATE/LEASING AGENTS trying to vent to me about how their time was wasted, etc. To be frank, if you're a real estate agent your job is to show properties to people...that's what you do. Every showing doesn't result in a sale. Not to mention that this was the FIRST message (email/text/phone call included) that I received from the agent since he had last heard from me. No kind follow-up or checking in with you type of email...just straight to the "you've wasted my time" rant...So, here was my response:

To: (removed email) Subject: RE: West Loop CondoDate: Wed, 24 Sep
2008 06:50:14 -0700
Kris,

Being in the real estate profession I am sure you're used to the nature of the business: you show properties, hope to hear back from people, and eventually make a sale/close. So that you're aware, my boyfriend and I have been looking at numerous properties as well as going about our regular work schedule, etc. We did discuss the units on Wayman that you showed us, however in the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, replying to your email was lost in the shuffle.

I am not only surprised by your extreme level of unprofessionalism, but taken aback by your rudeness. The courteous thing would have been to send a follow-up email, inquiring if we were still in talks about the property or had found another. We did like the units, however after this blatantly disrespectful email we will not be doing business with you or your company, T-Rock Enterprise Inc.

Customer service is the foundation for the real estate industry and I think that you need a refresher course. You mentioned that your company was a young one, only having been around since November 2007...and with people like you representing it I can't imagine that it'd last much longer.

In the future, before you send a potential client a relationship damaging email, why not force yourself to take a few breaths and vent to your friends, because sending not 1, but 2 rude, unprofessional and overly emotional emails is not the way to build up your clientele.

I am not thoroughly experienced with the company, T-Rock Enterprises, Inc...but I do know that the agent that represented them and showed the units was a let down.

For anyone choosing to do business with this company, as they did have some nice properties, please DO NOT USE this agent:

Kris Mitchell - Leasing Agent
T-Rock enterprises Inc.