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My husband and I have bought and sold several homes over the years. The escrow portion is usually just an exercise in signature-writing. Not this time.
The Escrow Group in Seattle made a variety...
My husband and I have bought and sold several homes over the years. The escrow portion is usually just an exercise in signature-writing. Not this time.
The Escrow Group in Seattle made a variety of errors:
1) They got the selling price wrong. We caught that, but they didn't correct it throughout the signing papers.
2) They didn't credit back a negotiated $8,000 credit in the signing documents. This would have cost $18,000+ with interest over the years.
3) A document was missing and they didn't notice until after we'd left. We had to wait for a courier at home for several hours, then return it.
4) They got our address wrong, and when they sent us the refund check, it was delayed because of this.
5) Then, the refund check was $200 short for no reason (other than the escrow closer's incredible sloppiness). She ignored us when we pointed this out, until our agent called their company president.
6) It took them more than a week to get us the full amount, and even then, took multiple contacts from us and our agent (the escrow person denied receiving the initial e-mail -- which had been sent as a reply from one of her own e-mails).
Their communication in general was appalling. We had to call the closer three times just to get the amount of money we were supposed to wire, which was only an added hassle.
There are plenty of companies in Seattle that get this sort of transaction right. The Escrow Group is not one of them. If you have a choice, avoid them. If you don't, check your paperwork very, very carefully. Otherwise, you will pay dearly for it and have no recourse.
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This was my first new car purchase. So I'm sure I made newbie errors.
But I couldn't believe the sleazy treatment we got here. The salesman even said, "What do I have to do to sell you a car...
This was my first new car purchase. So I'm sure I made newbie errors.
But I couldn't believe the sleazy treatment we got here. The salesman even said, "What do I have to do to sell you a car today." Twice!
My gripes: They charged more than they quoted me via e-mail.
I left my driver's license there (they needed it for the sale and forgot to return it). They said they'd mail it. They didn't. Several days later, when I inquired about it, they said they'd mailed it. They hadn't.
Since I couldn't legally drive without it, I asked that they deliver it. They balked and insulted me. We finally got it back. But it was appalling customer service. It's one thing not to send the license. But to lie about it? And really, how much effort was it in exchange for a $20,000 car sale?
I wrote them a letter. Received no response. I'd never shop here again. They're obviously interested in sales, and not people.
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Having grown up near Seattle, I was amazed at the vastly improved quality of the Seattle Children's Theatre from the humbler stuff I remember seeing when I was a little kid.
We took in...
Having grown up near Seattle, I was amazed at the vastly improved quality of the Seattle Children's Theatre from the humbler stuff I remember seeing when I was a little kid.
We took in "Bunnicula" last year and I couldn't believe the quality of the sets and the acting. Although tickets aren't cheap, the overall experience is so good for kids and families that we're planning to see shows every year.
They also offer acting classes for kids. Though classes for younger kids are steep for what they get out of it, it's hard to imagine a better introduction to theater. Seattle is really lucky to have this as a resource.
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Viridis
Category:
Beauty Salons
117 Main St
Kirkland, Washington 98033
(425) 576-9345
If all the chemicals that go into building a hair salon freak you out just a little bit, consider Viridis. It's built with environmental concerns in mind - cork floors, sunflower-seed work stations....
If all the chemicals that go into building a hair salon freak you out just a little bit, consider Viridis. It's built with environmental concerns in mind - cork floors, sunflower-seed work stations.
They offer the same services any typical salon does, and have excellent stylists (mine trained with Vidal Sassoon), but with just a little cleaner, more pure experience.
I've been going there about seven years now, and have drastically fewer bad hair days as a result.
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If you've ever dreamed of a fun tour of Italy that focuses on what's important -- the food and wine! -- then this is the trip for you.
The tour leader, Bev Gruber, is hilariously fun, and very...
If you've ever dreamed of a fun tour of Italy that focuses on what's important -- the food and wine! -- then this is the trip for you.
The tour leader, Bev Gruber, is hilariously fun, and very experienced. She's led these trips for years, and this is after running the cooking school at Larry's Market. She knows food.
What's more, her groups are small, so you don't tromp through some of the most beautiful places on earth with a herd of tourists.
She has a Web site with photos and itineraries, and is currently offering an Internet special on some tours: http://www.gourmetravel.com
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It takes a certain kind of stupidity to bring home a puppy when you have a four-week-old baby.
We are that kind of stupid.
And this could have been disastrous if Susan Oshie and Paws4Training...
It takes a certain kind of stupidity to bring home a puppy when you have a four-week-old baby.
We are that kind of stupid.
And this could have been disastrous if Susan Oshie and Paws4Training weren't there to help. We took her puppy manners class then followed up with several one-on-one sessions.
The baby is now 18 months. The puppy is 18 months and one week. And they get along great. There haven't been any biting incidents, any inappropriate chewing disasters, or even any accidental tail-thwackings, thanks to the positive training tips Susan provided.
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I always expected small grocery stores to come with big prices. And I've been pleasantly surprised that my neighborhood Ken's Market competes with the larger area grocery stores -- and on certain...
I always expected small grocery stores to come with big prices. And I've been pleasantly surprised that my neighborhood Ken's Market competes with the larger area grocery stores -- and on certain items (avocados and SOBE Lean drinks) actually beat the bigger guys.
And about those avocados. One of life's little mysteries for me will be how Ken's always has the best ones in town. Seriously. They're deal-with-the-devil good.
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If you're looking for a well-structured, caring childcare, the Young Child Academy is a great choice.
The director is kind, patient and thoughtful, and all the teachers truly love kids. They...
If you're looking for a well-structured, caring childcare, the Young Child Academy is a great choice.
The director is kind, patient and thoughtful, and all the teachers truly love kids. They offer dance, piano, art, science and other quality academic programs, and even provide monthly haircuts (for an additional fee competitive with the Hair Chair).
What I also like is the quality of families that are part of the school. This can make a huge difference between a great daycare and a scary one, and the YCA families are friendly and committed, and have very nice kids.
They have a web site: http://www.youngchildacademy.com
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For housewarmings, holiday gifts and birthdays, it's hard to beat this little gem of a shop in upper Queen Anne.
The owner has great taste, and has assembled a stunning variety of jewelry,...
For housewarmings, holiday gifts and birthdays, it's hard to beat this little gem of a shop in upper Queen Anne.
The owner has great taste, and has assembled a stunning variety of jewelry, housewares, lamps, little toys and even baby goods. He's also really mellow and friendly, and always takes time with the gift wrap.
The only people I don't shop for here are manly men. There's REI for that. Otherwise, it's always a treat.
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We've been burned by contractors before. Two have gone to jail -- while on the job! And one just did sloppy work, despite good references.
Imagine our delight when we found the two brothers who...
We've been burned by contractors before. Two have gone to jail -- while on the job! And one just did sloppy work, despite good references.
Imagine our delight when we found the two brothers who make up S2 Builders, a new contracting company in Seattle. We tried them out on a custom cabinet for our daughter's tiny bedroom. We wanted it to be highly functional but appropriate to the 100-year-old house we live in. I drew up a design and they built it perfectly -- despite the fact that our house slopes not in one, but in two, directions.
They're honest, hard-working, friendly and skilled. And they don't gouge customers.
We're looking forward to working with them on bigger (and less crooked) projects.
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