SEATTLE DREAM HOME ESSAY CONTEST - RULES
Deadline Extension: There have been a lot of wonderful entries submitted, but it is obvious from hundreds of inquiries we have received recently that many people are waiting to see whether we have the minimum number of entries before they participate. As a result of this trend, we have decided to extend the deadline for the Seattle Dream Home Essay Contest to August 31, 2003. (This means entries must be postmarked by this date, NOT received by then). This will be the only extension and we encourage all of you who are sitting on the sidelines to participate and help to ensure that this contest is successful. If you don't enter, you can't win this wonderful home!
1) SUBJECT: All essays must be a maximum of 300 words, written in English, and must answer the following questions - " What would it mean to you to live at Greenlake in Seattle?"  Submissions must be original.  Essays will be judged on wit, human interest, expression of thought, creativity, and originality.

2) ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open to any U.S. resident at least 18 years of age with valid identification. The sellers of the Seattle Dream Home and all family members are disqualified from entering the contest and shall not enter. Multiple entries are permitted by an individual or group, but each entry must be submitted individually and with its own entry fee attached, and must follow the Technical Requirements set forth below. The contest is void whereever prohibited by law.
3) ENTRY FEE: The contest entry fee is $250.00 and must be paid via cashier's check or money order in US dollars only. Personal checks will not be accepted. All entry fees shall be held in a designated escrow account until the contest is complete and a winner announced and notified.
4) REFUNDS: No refunds shall be made for non-compliance. Should the contest be cancelled for any reason, or should the minimum number of entries not be received, the original entry fee, less a $20.00 processing fee, will be returned to the entrant in their provided self addressed stamped envelope.
5) CONTEST LIMITS: The contest shall have a minimum requirement of 2500 entries and a maximum of 4000 entries. The owners reserve the right to accept less than 2500 entries at their sole discretion and/or continue the contest. If the amount of valid entries received in a single day causes the total number of entries to meet or exceed the maximum, the entries will be accepted and the contest will be deemed closed. Entries received afterward will be returned to the entrants.
6) JUDGES: There will be a panel of three judges to review and determine the winner. Each submission, which meets the technical requirements, shall be judged on the basis of originality, human interest, expression of thought, creativity, and wit. The decision of our judges is final.
7) TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:
 
  • a) Each complete entry shall consist of an entry form, a written essay, an entry fee, a signed copy of the contest rules, and one self-addressed, stamped envelope.

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  • b) Written essay must consist of no more than 300 words, written only in English.

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  • c) Entrant's name and address must appear on the entry form and on the top of the essay.

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  • d) Essay must be typed or legibly printed.

8) DEADLINE: Entries must be postmarked no later than Sunday, August 31, 2003 at midnight. Entries should be addressed to "Seattle Dream Home Essay Contest, P.O. Box 31940, Seattle, WA  98103." Owners are not responsible for lost, late, misdirected or postage-due entries. Entries received or postmarked after the respective deadline listed will be returned to the entrant, unless an extension of the contest has been announced on the web site.
9) EXTENSION OF CONTEST: If the minimum number of required entries are not received by the original entry deadline, the Owners reserve the right to extend the deadline for a period of at least 30, but not more than 45 days.
10) DETERMINATION OF WINNING ESSAY: The winner and one runner up shall be chosen within 20 days of the contest entry deadline or the extended deadline. The sole winner will be contacted by telephone, certified mail, and/or email.  If the winner refuses the prize or cannot be reached or contacted within 10 days, then the prize shall be awarded to the runner up. The winning essay will be posted for 30 days on our web site.
11) COPYRIGHT & PUBLICATION: Essay contest entry constitutes an assignment to the Owners of all copyrghts. By entering this contest, entrants grant permission to the Owners to publish all or a portion of the submitted essay and to use the entrant's name to publicize the winning entries; all is granted without royalty, monetary or other consideration.
12) TAXES/FEES: The winning entrant is solely responsible for all taxes & fees due arising from the successful participation in this contest, including, but not limited to, income taxes, property taxes, attorney fees, and/or excrow fees.
13) DESCRIPTION OF PRIZE:  This contest's first and only prize is the unencumbered title/deed to a four-bedroom, 3.5 bath residential home and property located at 6516 Latona Avenue NE, Seattle, Washington  98115 (appraised value of $590,000). Please visit http://www.essaycontests.com/seattle-essay  for further information.
14) PRIZE TRANSFER: The transfer of the prize must take place within 45 days of notification to the prize winner. The Owners may grant an extension of 30 days if deemed necessary.

 

[ last revised: 8/2/03 ]