I have always viewed the real estate market liking to a shopping center. In a successful shopping center you always have your anchor stores, Nordstrom, Macy’s and JCPenneys. Windermere, Coldwell Banker Bain and John L. Scott are the anchors of the industry. Redfin is nothing more than that goofy little “Sun Glass” cart in the middle of the mall and without the large anchor stores, it would cease to exist. I often ask my new clients “Are we looking for a home or are we looking for a deal?” Along with being the largest financial investment most people will ever make it also the place you must go everyday, and if you end up unhappy with your purchase after 6 months is that 2% rebate going to make you feel any better? Probably not.
I saw the house Scott Davis and his wife purchased. WOW a split level in Woodinville for $427,000, including a sofa. What a buy. Here’s some things I would have brought to their attention before proceeding with this purchase.
1) Woodinville to Microsoft – a rough commute to say the least. Avondale crawls all the way from Woodinville to 520 and most locals do what they can to avoid it.
2) Split levels are the least desireable floor plan. On average they receive the lowest price per square foot because they are the cheapest homes to build and also tend to have longer days on market than traditional two stories or even tri-levels.
3) As a mom with a baby do you really want to carry everything up two flights of stairs. Groceries, baby, etc. every time you come and go?
4) The deck on the back of the house could become a maintenance nightmare. I caution my buyers that wood decks built at ground level in Washington is a recipe for rot. Then there’s the hot tub – a whole set of different issues and concerns.
5) What kind of guidance were they offered during the insepction process? Where did they find their inspector? Did they even have an inspection?
In the end, you get what you pay for. They got an o.k. house in an average location that had been on the market for 48 days – but they got that $9,000 . . . and a sofa!!!
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