One of the best projects to consider during Winter is interior painting. Not now, of course, as it is impractical while holiday decor and entertaining is in the works. But when the Holidays end, and decorations come down, you might find your home’s interior lacking. Color is an important component of every interior decorator’s repertoire. Especially with the rich, bold colors …
Avoid Freezing Pipes
When it gets cold there is nothing worse than when a frozen pipe bursts. The mess, the expense, is easily avoided with a few simple steps. 1. Protect all outdoor hose bibs . You don’t have to buy those Styrofoam covers. Simply wrapping the fixture with a thick rag will do the job just fine. Plus, you won’t have to chase …
The Peak Has Passed, Now What?
Graph From Seattle Times Article 12/07/07 We noticed early last Spring that prices had begun to soften on the Eastside. As we made listing presentations to potential clients, it was apparent that the media, and thus the public, had no clue. More than a few homeowners turned us away, saying our market evaluations were too low compared to others that …
When It Rains This Hard, Check Crawl Space and Gutters
It looks like today’s storm may set a rainfall record. It is the right time to take a peak in your crawl space in verify that it is draining properly. A little bit of water under your vapor barrier is to be expected, but there should not be any water accumulation on top of the plastic. After this heavy rain subsides for …
Dangers of Misinformation About Buyer Agency….
The Seattle Times lay-ed an unfortunate egg last Saturday when it elected to reprint a column by Washington Post syndicated columnist Mary Ellen Slater entitled: “Factors to weigh before choosing a buyer’s agent”. Before jumping into this, I suggest reviewing the Washington State pamphlet: “The Law of Real Estate Agency”. There are parts of this article that are simply not true …
Thank You Mortgage Professor!
If it hasn’t happened to you, perhaps it has happened to someone you know. While interviewing potential lenders, whether to refinance or buy a new home, it is puzzling at best to discern what the various quotes mean. For example: (1) why is an interest lock free at one lender, but costs 1/4 pt (.25%) at another?; (2) why is the interest rate …
Hot Tub? Do It The Right Way…..
Did you see the Saturday, Nov 10, ’07 article in the Seattle Times about hot tubs? “If you don’t want hot tub, no need to get soaked”. We have experience with hot tubs, both owning one and selling houses that have them, and there are a few things you should know before you invest in one for your current home, or buy …
Appliances: Enough is Enough!
We have owned many appliances in the course of our home-ownership lives. As agents, we have witnessed thousands of issues involving home-ownership and maintenance. However, never before have we encountered such a pesky, unrelenting, annoying issue as a dishwasher that requires more than annual service, and has never performed properly. We have had the same service folks out repeatedly, the …
Seattle Times Saturday Headline: “Let The Buyer Rejoice” Oct 6, 2007
For the full text of the article referenced here, use THIS LINK. The focus of the story is the the sea change in the local real estate market. I don’t know if there is much for buyers to rejoice, other than the fact that there are more choices than there have been. But buyers have to be patient and smart …
Important Loan Tips For Owners and Buyers
Sometimes the best information regarding real estate is in the Saturday editions of the Seattle Times, rather than Sunday. This week there were two helpful articles, one for owners with adjustable rate mortgages and one for prospective buyers providing tips on getting ready to apply for a new mortgage. If you have an ARM that is poised to reset it is …