November 2023 - Page 2 of 2

PORTLAND COMMUNITY GROCERY GUIDE

EL CAMPESINO PDX

6611 SE POWELL BLVD. PORTLAND 97206

Phone: (503) 774-4124
Hours: 8am-9pm daily
Bus Lines: 2, 9, 14

It’s fitting that small but well-stocked El Campesino occupies the ground floor of a space where Peruvian restaurant Salt and Pepper is right upstairs. The two businesses are unaffiliated yet complement each other well. The market is predominantly Mexican, complete with a carniceria counter, cases of pan dulce, refrigerated salsas made by owner Jose Esparza’s wife, tamales courtesy of his mother-in-law, and bags of tortilla chips fried on site. Lucky shoppers might even snag a warm batch.Close to the Jade District, this area of Southeast Portland has far more choices for Asian groceries than Latin American ones. Even so, Esparza, who moved from the San Fernando Valley to Portland in 2008 after he and his wife fell in love with the city, saw a void in the local market. There were plenty of Mexican options, but there was little in the way of products from Central and South America.

Seeing that opportunity paid off. That’s why shoppers will find more than the usual supermarket suspects. El Campesino stocks sodas from Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, plus countless brands of Peruvian packaged goods like dulce de pechiche, jarred chochos, and aji amarillo paste, which draws shoppers from outside of the Portland area and even out of state.

Notable items: Customers come just for the chips and salsa. There’s also a great soft drink selection, Brazilian starches and flours, Argentine dulce de leche, and Peruvian staples.

CARIBBEAN SPICE

4516 NE 42ND AVE. PORTLAND 97218

Phone: (503) 493-2737
Hours: 10:30am-8pm Tue-Sat, 11am-5:30pm Sun, 12-8pm Mon
Bus Lines: 75, 72

As one of Portland’s only Afro-Caribbean specialists, Cully’s Caribbean Spice is the go-to spot for anyone’s Jamaican or Haitian culinary needs. Owners Aruna and Fitzroy Anderson, who hail from Kingston, Jamaica themselves, have been a reliable source of hard-to-find cuts of meat and dried herbs for the past 20 years. They’ve been serving the local African diaspora in the current location since 2004.While ackee and codfish might share little in common with, say, arroz con pollo, there is a good deal of crossover among commonly used Caribbean ingredients. Legumes like green and brown pigeon peas and tropical fruits like soursop and passionfruit, which they stock pulped and frozen, have broad appeal. Shoppers will also find oxtails, calves’ feet, and goat meat in the freezer section for curries and stews.

Caribbean Spice’s condiment game is also on point. Shelves are filled with a vast array of Marie Sharp’s Belizean hot sauces, as well as Costa Rican Lizano salsa and jerk seasonings and marinades. Grapefruit-flavored Jamaican Ting and ginger beer peacefully coexist with malta beverages from Cuba and Puerto Rico in the soda section.

Notable items: Dried herbs like sorrel, Irish sea moss, and hibiscus. Boxes of frozen Jamaican patties. Oxtails and goat meat.

COME THRU MARKET

831 SE SALMON ST. PORTLAND 97214

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May – October 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month, 12pm-4pm
Bus Lines: 15, 70

Come Thru Market, held outdoors at the Redd on Salmon the first and third Mondays of the month, moved to this Central Eastside location in 2020 after a stint at the Oregon Food Bank. The impetus for creating a market featuring BIPOC businesses was to demystify the process of taking products to market for makers who weren’t already immersed in that world.When founder Allinee “Shiny” Flanary, a Black queer farmer, found it overwhelming to navigate the frequently racist systems, she realized how alien farmers markets can feel to outsiders. That’s why this year, the incubator market added its own Farmer Training Program which prioritizes applications from new and emerging farm, food, and wellness businesses.

Visitors to the market might not find all the 30+ vendors involved present every Monday, but they will find sellers like Lukas Angus, a Nez Perce tribal fisherman and farmer, representing 7 Waters Canoe Family with smoked chinook and coho salmon for sale.

Produce options are often available from farms like Xast Sqit (Good Rain Farm) run by a founder with Sinixt ancestry, and Lomita, operated by Gonzalo Garcia Reyes who has Zapoteco heritage. Both grow mixed vegetables and participate in local CSAs.

The wellness arena is covered by vendors like Mariquita Medicinals, an herbal remedy business owned by Flynne Olivarez, a queer Latinx herbal medicine and flower farmer, and Sinensis Tea, which offers teas and elixirs made by Annette Aispuro, a Mexican and Native American who wants to share her tea blends with a more diverse community.

Notable items: Salmon belly from 7 Waters Canoe Family, chamoy treats from Chinitas Candy, Khalsa Salsa’s Indian fusion salsas.

TIENDA NOHBEC

18929 E BURNSIDE ST. PORTLAND 97233

Phone: (503) 667-4444
Hours: 8am-10pm daily
Bus Lines: MAX Blue Line, 20, 87

Similar to El Campesino, Tienda Nobec (formerly Becerra’s) has a dual personality. At first glance, it looks like a typical Mexican grocer. There’s pan dulce in a self-serve display case and a busy carniceria, offering milanesas and palomillas de res in back. The unassuming mint green building doesn’t stand out on this strip in Rockwood, but those in the know understand there are plenty of South and Central American gems crammed into the small store.The few aisles have entire sections devoted to items from Peru, as well as Argentine goods like yerba mate, complete with multiple brands to choose from, plus mate drinking gourds for good measure.

Nobec also punches above its weight in the beverage department. Anyone who’s ever craved familiar fizzy flavors will have their homesickness cured in an instant with Colombian Postobon, Peruvian Inca Cola, Parrot brand fruit juices, and Cuban soft drinks like pineapple-flavored Jupiña, Materva, and Iron Beer. It’s not unusual to see customers walking out with cases of malta stacked in their arms.

Naturally, the shop offers plenty of Mexican staples, including bulk dispensers filled with black and pinto beans and rice. Nobec also sells bags of its private-label dried chiles and corn, plus piloncillo, tamarind pods, and assorted spices.

Notable items: Hard-to-find soft drinks, bulk goods, and a large selection of Goya products.

DOS HERMANOS BAKERY

4082 N WILLIAMS AVE. PORTLAND 97227

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Phone: (971) 266-8348
Hours: 7am-2pm daily
Bus Lines: 44, 6, 4

Even if locals have never paid a visit to this Northeast Portland takeout counter, they might have tasted Dos Hermanos baked goods. That’s because the bakery is also a wholesale operation that supplies bread to local restaurants like Lardo and Screen Door.Gabriel and Josue Azcorra, the two namesake brothers, honed their artisanal craft at notable Portland bakeries for more than a decade before becoming co-owners of Dos Hermanos in 2018. With a foundation in French baking techniques, they’ve mastered traditional epi baguettes, delicate croissants, and brioche tarts studded with fresh berries.

While Dos Hermanos is a great source for sturdy sesame sourdough loaves, they’ve also become known for delicious hybrid baked goods like habanero and black bean batards and Yucatecan hojaldras, flaky, sweet-and-savory squares of puff pastry stuffed with ham, jalapeño rings, and cheese. The golden delights get dusted with sugar before going in the oven, which results in a brown caramelized top. This popular item is a regional nod to Merida, Mexico, where the brothers grew up.

Their Mexican heritage is also apparent in the conchas they make in Instagrammable neon and tie-dyed hues, as well as soft telera rolls and seasonal specials like the rosca de reyes.

Notable items: Hojaldras, conchas, breakfast sandwiches.

FAVELA BRAZILIAN CAFE

5300 FOSTER RD.
PORTLAND 97206

Phone: (503) 789-1291
Hours: 10am – 4pm, closed Tuesdays
Bus Lines: 14, 71

Foster-Powell’s Favela Brazilian Cafe is more than a place for grabbing a cup of strong coffee and some cheesy pão de quiejo to go. It’s also a gathering space for people who love Brazilian culture. Serving and connecting with people is the business’s primary goal, according to owner Rodgrigo Baena. “Community always has to come first,” he said. “Money is only the consequence.”Favela’s purpose is threefold: It’s one part cafe, one part community center, and one part Brazilian market. While the pandemic paused in-person events, the Brazilian movie nights, live music and poetry readings, and paint and sip parties that were regularly held at the cafe have been slowly returning.

In addition to offerings like fresh cashew and sugarcane juices, savory Brazilian baked goods, and occasional specials like the cachorro quente (a.k.a. Brazilian hotdog), Favela also makes dessert-like specialty coffees, one of which approximates the flavor of fudgy brigadeiros.

The shop also carries a small, curated selection of Brazilian groceries and packaged goods. Shoppers might find bags of farofa and feijão carioca or bottles of Xingu beer and cans of Guarana, the best-selling soft drink in Brazil.

Notable items: Fresh sugarcane juice, pão de queijo, Brazilian beer.

KAAH MARKET

7238 SE FOSTER RD. PORTLAND 97206

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Phone: (503) 523-9747
Hours: 10am-8pm Sun-Thu | 10am-9pm Fri-Sat
Bus Lines: 14, 17, 72

From Colombian arepas to Argentine empanadas and everything delicious in between, the Portland Mercado is a well-known one-stop shop for Latin American food. While the popular food carts might be the biggest draw, the Mercado is also home to Kaah Market, a source for fresh produce, meat, and bulk goods.Owner Erick Caravantes comes from a long line of grocers; his family in Guatemala was also in the business. In Mayan, “kaah” can be roughly translated as “neighborhood,” which makes sense for a store that serves local needs. It also does double duty for Mercado customers in search of items not easily found elsewhere.

One of Kaah’s biggest draws is its large selection of freshly made salsas. The shop sells as many as ten varieties on any given day, which is why they’re often set out for sampling with tortilla chips. Popular varieties include the pineapple mango salsa spiked with habanero and the smoky roasted tomatillo morita salsa.

Shoppers can also find Guatemalan brands of spices and seasonings like Malher and fresh produce like tomatillos, purple potatoes, and chiles, including poblanos and habaneros. The meat counter offers chicharrones and chorizos made in-house and popular Mexican cuts of meat like arrachera.

Notable items: The vast selection of salsas, chorizos, Guatemalan products.

LA PERLITA / REFORMA ROASTERS

721 NW 9TH AVE.
PORTLAND 97201

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Hours: 9am-3pm daily
Bus Lines: MAX Blue Line, 20

The Pearl District’s Ecotrust Building not only houses Republica, a creative restaurant showcasing Mexican ingredients, it’s also where visitors will find La Perlita, a stylish lobby coffee shop marked with cursive pink neon. During the pandemic, it served as a space for BIPOC-fronted food pop-ups, which drew much-needed foot traffic when the nearby offices shut down and regular customers dwindled.The cafe is also a retail space for Reforma Roasters, a small roasting company owned by Mexican American Angel Medina. Originally focused exclusively on Mexican producers, he’s since branched out to cultivars from countries like Colombia. But more than anything, the focus is on coffee and culture, without the gate-keeping nature that can be endemic to the local coffee scene. He likes to downplay language like small batch and single origin to avoid terms used by an industry with a “savior mentality.”

Matutina, helmed by Gabriella Martinez, was one of the bakeries involved with the series of pop-ups and now regularly supplies goodies like funfetti conchas for the cafe. Seasonal treats like bolillo con cajeta and empanadas filled with candied sweet potatoes are on the horizon.

People have been known to come from outside the Portland area just for the cafe’s True Mexican mocha, an espresso-based take on cafe de olla, topped with cocoa nibs. La Perlita’s signature drink is also a counterpoint to local cafes calling any spiced coffee drink a “Mexican mocha.”

Notable items: Any seasonal drinks like the Cebada Syrup Latte, puerquitos, the chocolatey Abuelita Blend coffee beans.

THREE SISTERS NIXTAMAL

7475 SE 72ND AVE. PORTLAND 97206

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Phone: (503) 616-0853
Hours: 1am-1pm Tue-Fri | 10am-12pm Mon
Bus Lines: 71, 72

Like Dos Hermanos Bakery, Three Sisters Nixtamal is a success story where its products are now carried by local supermarkets like New Seasons and happily used by restaurants all over the city.The operation is run by Adriana Azcárate-Ferbel, her husband Pedro Ferbel-Azcarate, and business partner Wendy Downing. None are the three sisters in question; rather the name refers to maize, squash, and beans, three crops that were traditionally planted together as part of a rotation plan.

Corn tortillas are the company’s core offering, but they’re not just any tortilla. Most commercial corn tortillas are made with masa harina (a.k.a. Mexican Bisquick,) but here they source heritage corn grown in Mexico, which is steeped and cooked in an alkaline solution, i.e. nixtamalized, and ground on site. The process brings out the natural corn flavor and makes all the difference taste-wise.

Depending on availability, the tortillas are sold in versions made with yellow, white, or blue corn (and sometimes even green) at the PSU farmer’s market and local supermarkets, but the Lents-area production facility also sells bulk masa, hominy, whole corn, tamale husks, and packaged tortillas for pick up, if ordered online.

Notable items: Chile-flavored corn tortillas when they have them, and the versatile fresh masa for turning into sopes, tamales, and more.

TORTILLERIA Y TIENDA DE LEON

16223 NE GLISAN ST.
PORTLAND 97230

Phone: (503) 255-4356
Hours: 10am-6pm daily
Bus Lines: MAX Blue Line, 74, 77, 20

Like many enterprises run by immigrants, Tortilleria Y Tienda De Leon is truly a family affair. The store was established in 1999 by Anselmo and Francisca De Leon, migrant workers who originally came from the state of Tamaulipas and ultimately ended up in Oregon. Now, daughter Lucy De Leon manages the business and is responsible for its transformation from an everyday Mexican grocery store to a food-lovers destination.Of course, it’s still a supermarket, complete with a selection of dried chiles and pinatas, but the big draw is the deli counter filled with steaming trays of braised guisados sold by the pound. Standouts include the spicy pork and nopales and the meltingly tender carnitas.

Located in a strip mall right on the border between Portland and Gresham, the store staked its claim when there was still a dearth of options for Mexican food and groceries in the area. Competition has heated up over the past two decades, but thanks to Lucy’s entrepreneurial spirit, Tortilleria Y Tienda De Leon has been able to differentiate itself.

Spurred by a class at Portland State University, she decided to start the family’s salsa business, and Salsas Locas was born. A handful are usually available in the refrigerated case, from larger tubs of pico de gallo to smaller containers filled with crimson salsa de chile de árbol en aceite.

Behind the counter, more than half the space is devoted to tortilla production. These corn tortillas are bagged up and sold in massive bags in the store–the smallest size available for purchase is three pounds, so it’s worth stocking up and freezing some for later.

Notable items: There’s no going wrong with any of the guisados, and don’t forget the corn tortillas and housemade salsas.

For this and similar articles, please visit Mercatus.com

November 5, 2023/by altpdx

10 Things I Couldn’t Live Without During My Kitchen Renovation

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10 Things I Couldn’t Live Without During My Kitchen Renovation

When we started our kitchen reno this fall, I didn’t anticipate exactly how disruptive the process would be. Of course, our brand-new kitchen will be totally worth the hassle, but living without a kitchen for a few months definitely requires some flexibility—and a few key products so that you’re not ordering pizza for every meal. Here are 10 kitchen renovation essentials that have made life bearable for me and my family while ours is being gutted.

A large folding table

Without a kitchen counter, I knew I needed a makeshift food prep and storage surface. We bought this surprisingly sturdy table, and it’s just the right size for our appliances. It’s also really easy to wipe clean!

Buy it: 6 ft Fold-in-Half Table, $60 at The Home Depot

A storage shelving unit

We already had this shelf in our basement storage area, so we moved it upstairs to create a temporary pantry for keeping snacks accessible. It’s quite lightweight, which makes it easy to move around between spaces, but it’s definitely too wobbly for heavy objects (which is why we don’t keep any appliances on it).

Buy it: HDX 4-Tier Garage Storage Shelving Unit, $36 at The Home Depot

A rolling cart

I’ve already raved about this rolling cart I’ve had for years. Right now I’m keeping cooking utensils and spices on it, so I can easily roll it over to the table when I’m making dinner in my air fryer or Instant Pot.

Buy it: 3 Tier Metal Utility Cart, $40 at Target

An air fryer

Speaking of air fryers: I have this one. I line it with foil when I cook to minimize washing, which is extra helpful because I don’t have a kitchen sink. I use this thing every day, sometimes multiple times a day, as a stand-in for an oven.

Buy it: Power AirFryer XL, $130 at Wayfair

A blender

In the absence of a stovetop, I’ve pivoted to smoothies for breakfast. This blender is super compact, making for easy storage, but it’s also surprisingly powerful (no chunks of frozen fruit getting stuck in my straw). It’s also wireless, so I don’t have to worry about using one of our few outlets in the living room food prep area.

Buy it: Ninja Blast Portable Blender, $60 at Best Buy

A power strip

Other than space, the biggest hassle has been finding outlets for all of our appliances in the living room. It’s always a good idea to keep extra power strips on hand for when outlets are in short supply.

Buy it: Amazon Basics Power Strip, $20 at Amazon

A microwave

Our kitchen had a built-in, over-the-stove microwave, so we bought this one to get by. It’s pretty small, so it doesn’t hog the table, but I haven’t had any problems fitting leftovers inside. I’d recommend a little microwave like this one for anyone with limited counter space!

Buy it: Kenmore Microwave, $50 at Target

An Instant Pot

We happen to be doing our reno during soup season, so you know I had to keep my Instant Pot on deck. I love that it’s faster than a crock pot, and it takes up less space. Right now, I’m using it for cooking jobs I’d normally do on the stove (mainly soups, stews, and sauces).

Buy it: Instant Pot Duo, $76 at Walmart

Long, shallow storage containers

With all that extra room under the table—and no cabinets to speak of—I’m using these long, shallow storage containers for my non-perishables. Because they have wheels, they’re really easy to pull out from beneath the table when I’m digging for a can of beans.

Buy it: Sterilite Underbed Storage Bin, $20 at Walmart

Compostable plates

We’re trying to minimize dishes since we don’t have a dishwasher or big sink, but I also wanted to be conscious of our environmental impact. I decided to buy compostable paper plates as a solution, and it’s been working well so far!

Buy it: Hefty ECOSAVE Compostable Paper Plates, $11 at Walmart

For this and similar articles, please visit Realtor.com

November 3, 2023/by altpdx

Home-Selling Checklist: 12 Things To Do Before Selling Your House

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Getting ready to sell your house? Then it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work because there are tons of things to do before listing your home!

Selling a home, after all, entails a whole lot more than just planting a “For Sale” sign on your front lawn or uploading a few random photos of your place—especially if you’re angling for the most cash. (And, honestly, who isn’t?) That’s why we put together the ultimate checklist for selling a house.

Things to do before selling your house

So before you put your house on the market, peruse this checklist for selling a house of what to do. Some of these tips are surprisingly easy, while others might require a bit more elbow grease. But they’re bound to pay off once buyers start oohing and ahhing over your place—and hopefully ponying up a great offer.

Home-Selling Checklist: 12 Things To Do Before Selling Your House

1. Find a great real estate agent

Think you can sell your home yourself, and pocket the cash you would otherwise pay a real estate agent?

It can be tempting, especially in a hot market, but resist the urge, says Jon Sterling, a real estate consultant with Keller Williams Realty in San Francisco. He’s found that a “for sale by owner” transaction is almost always a disaster, leading you to sacrifice both money and time. That’s why one of the most important things to do before selling your house is find a great real estate agent.

That said, don’t just blindly hire the real estate agent who most recently sent you a flyer or the one your uncle’s friend’s co-worker’s cousin used. Do some research to find a real estate agent who is knowledgeable about your specific market, and then interview her to make sure she’s a good fit.

Your real estate agent should be someone you feel comfortable working with, whom you trust to sell your house for top dollar. Don’t be afraid to talk to a few real estate agents before picking one.

2. Consider your curb appeal

Yes, for better or worse, buyers do tend to judge a book by its cover. You want to make sure potential buyers’ first impression of your home is a good one—and inspires them to stop by the open house or schedule a tour—so they can see more.

By investing some effort in relatively easy fixes, like planting colorful flowers and repainting your front door, the outside of your house can beckon prospective buyers to come on in.

If you’re not sure how to improve your home’s curb appeal, ask your real estate agent for advice on how others in your area have improved the exterior before selling their houses.

3. Declutter living areas

Less is definitely more when it comes to getting your house ready to show, notes Boris Sharapan Fabrikant, a real estate broker with Triplemint.

Do a clean sweep of counters, windowsills, tables, and all other visible areas, and then tackle behind closed doors: closets, drawers, and cupboards—since virtually nothing is off-limits for curious buyers.

If the house is overflowing with stuff, buyers might worry that the house won’t have ample space for their own belongings. They won’t sign up to pay a mortgage if they think they’ll also have to rent a storage space.

Take your excess stuff and donate it, or pack it up to be stored off-site. Not only will clearing clutter help your house look more appealing to buyers, it will also help you once you’ve accepted an offer and it’s time to move into a new home. Moving out will be easier if some of your stuff is already be packed.

4. Depersonalize your space

The next step on your checklist for selling a house? Sellers should remove any distractions so the buyers can visualize themselves and their family living in the property, says Kipton Cronkite, a real estate agent with Douglas Elliman in New York.

He says sellers should remove personal items and family photos, as well as bold artwork and furniture that might make the home less appealing to the general public. The goal is to create a blank canvas on which buyers can project their own visions of living there, and loving it.

5. Repaint walls to neutral tones

You might love that orange accent wall, but if it’s your potential buyer’s least favorite color, that could be a turnoff, warns Sharapan Fabrikant.

“You’re pretty safe with a neutral color because it’s rare that someone hates it, but the other benefit is that a light color allows [buyers] to envision what the walls would look like with the color of their choice,” he points out.

It’s the seller’s job to help buyers picture themselves in the house. If they don’t feel at home, they’ll probably look at other real estate options.

6. Touch up any scuff marks

Even if you’re not doing a full-on repainting project, pay special attention to scrubbing and then touching up baseboards, walls, and doors to make the house sparkle and look cared-for.

Selling almost any home can be tricky, but selling a home with lots of little problems and small repair needs can be downright difficult. When buyers walk into an open house, or go on a home tour, they want to fall in love with the house, not add a bunch of small repairs to their to-do list.

In order to impress buyers (and sell your house quickly), fix up your house before putting it on the market.

With a home that is fixed up and move-in ready, you will probably see more interest, and may even see multiple offers.

7. Fix any loose handles

It’s a small thing, sure, but you’d be surprised by the negative effect a loose handle or missing lightbulb can have on a buyer, notes Sharapan Fabrikant.

“It can make them stop and think ‘What else is broken here?’” he explains.

For a buyer, submitting an offer, and later committing to a mortgage, is a big deal. When you’re selling your home, you don’t want to give any buyers doubt that your house will make a great home.

8. Add some plants

When staging your house, remember that green is good: Plants create a bright and more welcoming environment. You might also want to consider a bouquet of flowers or bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter or dining table.

Some plants and natural elements will impress buyers by bringing some extra color and life to your decor.

9. Conduct a smell test

Foul odors, even slight ones, can be a deal breaker, and the problem is that you might not even notice them, says Sharapan Fabrikant.

He recommends inviting an unbiased third party in to try to detect any pet smells or lingering odors from your kitchen.

If the smells are pervasive, prepare to do some deep cleaning as many buyers are on to seller’s “masking techniques” such as candles or plug-in room deodorizers. Plus, covering up odors with a stronger scent might backfire if the buyer doesn’t like the smell of lavender or artificial citrus.

10. Clean, clean, clean

Once you’re done cleaning your house, clean some more. Even if you’re not worried about what buyers will think of your home’s scent, you want your property to look spotless.

Think of it this way: You’ll probably have professional photos taken of your house when it looks its best. Naturally, you’ll want your house to always look like it does in those pictures.

When selling your home, it’s important to keep everything tidy for buyers, and you never know when a buyer is going to want to schedule a last-minute tour. Remember to take special care with the bathroom, making sure the tile, counters, shower, and floors shine.

11. Hide valuables

From art to jewelry, keep your treasures are out of sight, either locked up or stored off-site, recommends Kronkite.

You can’t trust everyone who comes into your house, even when you’re trying to sell it. Sometimes things disappear during an open house, and there’s little the seller can do to get those things back. Take care to hide your valuables or move them to a safe space away from your home.

12. Consider staging

Does your house scream 1985? Nothing invigorates a house like some new furnishings or a perfectly chosen mirror. The key is getting your home staged by a professional.

Home stagers will evaluate the current condition and belongings in your house and determine what elements might raise the bar. They might recommend you buy or rent some items, or they might just reorganize your knickknacks and bookshelves in a whole new (that is, better) way.

Stagers know the real estate market, and what sells, so it’s important to take their advice and not take offense when they make big changes. Their job is to help drum up interest from potential buyers, which is always good news to the seller.