Real estate broker Ty Brown hosts open houses that feel like private parties. She sets up jazz music and appetizers for evening showings and offers giveaways to local retailers or services that draw more attention to a residential property’s special amenities.
On Sunday, July 28, she’s inviting people interested in finding a home or adopting a rescue dog, or both, to visit her open house 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at 7802 N.E. 173rd Ave. in Vancouver.
She’s calling the event Adoption Pawlooza Open hoUSE and her theme is “everyone deserves a home.”
“We are collaborating with the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society,” said Brown of Keller Williams Realty’s Millennial Group. “We plan on bringing three to four dogs and have them play out in the dog run and meet their potential owners.”
She said there will be food and beverages available for guests and a free raffle to win a private dog training lesson.
The goal of the open house is to introduce home shoppers to the two-story residence for sale on a 10,018-square-foot lot and help the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society find the best match for a successful adoption.
Open houses, when people can tour without making a commitment, are one of the top fact-finding sources relied on by serious home shoppers, according to the National Association of Realtors’s 2024 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends.
The contemporary-style dwelling for sale, built in 2017, has a dining room that opens to a covered patio, a family room, dedicated office space, five bedrooms and three bathrooms among 3,478 square feet of living space. The asking price is $839,000.
Important to pet owners, interior spaces have durable Mohawk wood floors and carpet over water-resistant padding. The fenced yard has a dog exercise run and a large lawn. Nearby are hiking trails, parks and other recreational opportunities.
Another perk to the buyer: “We are offering a $16,000 seller credit toward an interest rate buy down,” said Brown.
The National Association of Home Builders’s report on What Home Buyers Really Want includes these features that benefit dogs and dog owners:
- Fenced yards: Many pet owners prioritize homes with fenced yards, providing a safe space for their pets to roam freely.
- Gardens and landscaping: Pet-friendly landscaping can be a well-maintained lawn or a garden.
- Pet-friendly flooring: Durable and easy-to-clean flooring materials such as hardwood, tile or laminate, are often preferred by pet owners.
- Built-in pet spaces: Features such as built-in pet beds, feeding stations or even designated pet rooms can be a draw to pet owners.
- Easy cleaning features: Homes with mudrooms, pet washing stations or minimal carpeting can be appealing.
- Pet friendly entryways: Mudrooms or side entrances make it convenient for pet owners to clean and care for their pets before entering the main living spaces.
- Pet monitoring systems: The integration of smart home technology such as pet monitoring systems or automated pet doors can be an appealing feature for tech-savvy pet owners.
- Space for future additions: Some pet owners might be interested in homes that offer the potential for future pet-related additions such as the ability to install a pet door.
— Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072
jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman