Eastside Real Estate Working-for-you!

Energy saving tips part II

In part 1 of this mini series about energy conservation, we looked at a few things we can do at the beginning of, or preparing for the winter season.  Here are some things that we can all do every day to save energy and make our homes as efficient as possible when the mercury drops.  For all of you new home owners out there preparing for your first winter's worth of energy bills, take note! :)  Besides saving moolah, we can brag to our friends that this winter we are "going green" and you'll look really cool at holiday parties.

• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees F or lower during the day and 55 degrees when you leave the house for more than 4 hours or before you go to bed.

• Open the drapes and blinds on all South facing windows to allow light and energy into your home during the day.  Close your drapes and blinds at night to keep energy from escaping.

• Close off rooms that don't need heat if you have automatic thermostat controls.

• Turn down the heater when using the fireplace.

• Close the damper when not using the fireplace.

• Keep your furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted.

• Clean and replace the furnace filter regularly.

• Keep warm indoors by wearing layers of lightweight clothing.

The Dangers of Overpricing

The Dangers of Overpricing

Just about every property owner in the world believes that their property is worth more than the current market will bear.  It is a given just about every time a real estate professional or an appraiser determines a range of value. There are risks attached if the seller prices their property over the current market value.

The two greatest risks that can affect a seller are:

• The Property may never sell
• The Seller will not get top dollar

If the owner intends to sell the property and attempt to get “top dollar” there are dangers to intentionally overpricing the property.  The dangers included but are not limited to the following.

• The home may not meet lender qualifications.  It must appraise for the buyer to get a loan.
• It will take longer to sell.  It will be on the market too long and become “shopworn.”
• The property will have fewer showings limiting the market.  Buyers, as well as agents, are wary of overpriced homes.
• The seller may receive very low offers.  Don’t wait for them because they are rare and often insulting.
• The property will help sell the competition.  The buyers will compare it against another property they are intending to purchase.
• The sellers have to weigh the “holding costs” during the longer marketing time.
• Once an agent sees an overpriced listing, they never go back.  Agents don’t want to show properties that are overpriced.
• Sellers end up selling for less than what they would sell for if the property was priced right initially.
• Overpriced listings attract the wrong buyers.  Buyers have certain images of homes in that price range based on what they have seen.
• The sale price reflects motivation and sellers are competing with sellers that HAVE to sell.
• Sellers look greedy by asking more than the competition.
• If the seller were a buyer, he wouldn’t buy an overpriced house.  Just put the shoes on the other feet.
• About 40% of properties sell in the first 30 days if they are priced competitively regardless of the market conditions.
• The impact from lowering the price is minimal and often overlooked.  Therefore, it is highly recommended to list at a competitive price initially.

Monday's Inspiration -- Overcoming a Disability

Inspiration is really all around us.  We generally don't think to look for inspiration at our 4 footed friends.  Here's an inspiring story of a loving pet that overcame a crippling disability.  This 4 foot is really a 2 foot.

Friday's Did You Know? Before Kenmore was Kenmore...

Did you know, that before Kenmore was a city that it was mostly dense forest owned by investors?  The major land holder was Philo Remington, the man who invented Remington guns.  Kenmore all began when Mr. Remington sold some of his property to Watson C. Squire, his son in law and last territorial governor of Washington, who promptly erected a water tower.  This water tower and availability  of water attracted Kenmores first residents... water squatters. 

Once Kenmore became a city, the real fun began... prohibition, nudist colonies, speakeasy's and a brawling bloody nightlife!  Stay tuned for another Friday's Did You Know!

King/Snohomish Residential Real Estate: What's hot and what's not.

Yesterday on the Seattle PI Professionals Blog, I posted inventory absorption rate heat maps for the NWMLS zones for Snohomish and King counties.

The Changing Colors of Seatte
(To see heat maps for July, August and September, click the above link.)

If you have any questions on what's happeing in the residential real estate market give us a call:  Greg 425.829.7012 or Brian 206.852.0902.  Or you can send an email to gregperry@working-for-you.com

Statistics compiled from, but not verified by NWMLS

Energy saving tips pt. 1

There is a change in the air.  Today the weather on Seattle's Eastside is absolutely beautiful, not a cloud in the sky, sun blazing... but its cold.  The days are growing shorter and I've noticed my wife and I have been inching that thermostat up day by day.  Its time to think about energy savings.  Here is part one of a two part series with some helpful tips for you to cut down on your energy bills this winter.  In this first section we'll look at some things you only need to consider once a season. 

• Insulate your house. Cover walls, floors and heating ducts as well as ceilings and attic access and basement trapdoors with the proper insulation.
• Cover your windows with insulating shutters, drapes or clear plastic for extra insulation at night.
• Weather-strip doors and windows. Caulk any holes or cracks in window frames, or door frames.
• Check for and plug any gaps around pipes, ducts, fans and vents that go through walls, ceilings and floors from heated to unheated spaces.
• insulate the water pipes running under your house, and wrap your water heater.
• Do furnace maintenance to ensure proper and efficient funtion.

Here is a brochure from the EPA that provides step by step do it yourself instructions, for these and other energy saving processes.

In our next article we'll look at tips you can use on a day to day basis.

Vacant Land for Sale, Mazama Wa

Linda Schmal | John L. Scott | lindaschmal@johnlscott.com | 509-996-3360 Misty Circle, Mazama, WA Woodsy, Private land in the Lost river communtity of Mazama. .33 acres Vacant Land offered at $69,900 Lot Size .33 acres DESCRIPTION Woodsy and Private. Located on the banks of the Methow river in the Lost River community of Mazama, just outside of Winthrop. Mazama is the first town on the East side of the North Cascades national park off Highway 20. This is the last community before the seemingly endless Pasayten wilderness area and Hearts Pass. This is absolutely the perfect spot to build a vacation home for person who loves to be active outdoors. A site elevation study was done in 2006. see additional photos below LOCATION FEATURES Electricity at road Community Sewer Community Water Site Elevation Study ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Seller contact info: Linda Schmal John L. Scott lindaschmal@johnlscott.com 509-996-3360 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Oct 22, 2007, 1:28pm PDT

Monday's Inspiration -- Winning

Winning is not a sometimes thing.  It's an all the time thing.  You don't win once in awhile.  You don't do things right once in awhile.  Winning is a habit..........  Unfortunately, so is losing.
                                                                            Vince Lombardi

This is the third of my 6 friends that I have hanging on my office wall.   This quote reminds that my daily choices become habitual. 

Here are my other friends:
Resolve
Doing - The man in the arena.

Friday's Did You Know? Donkey Kong comes to Redmond...

Ok, I have found some interesting, funny, tragic and amazing tidbits about the Eastside of Seattle, but of all the random things.. this one has to take the cake.  Did you know that our own city of Redmond is the home for the current day Donkey Kong champion and world record holder?  Not only that, the current day Donky Kong champ is a teacher at Finn Hill Jr. High!
From Wikipedia:

Steve J. Wiebe (pronounced IPA: /ˈwiːbi/, born c. 1969) is a math and science teacher at Finn Hill Junior High, a school in Kirkland, Washington. A competitive gamer, Wiebe was the first to achieve over a million points in the arcade game Donkey Kong and is a former overall world record holder in the game with a score of 1,049,100^[1]. He is one of the primary subjects of the 2007 documentary, The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters.^[2][3][4].

Be Prepared (for stormy winter weather)

One of my clients, Rebecca, just sent me an email that was so thoughtful that I thought I would pass it on.

Here it is:

Hi Everyone,

Remember last year being dark and cold during the snowstorms and windstorms? 

Well, we have a decent windstorm coming soon (but not as bad as last year) - http://www.komotv.com/news/10605932.html 

Today is a great day to go out and pick up fire logs, batteries, flashlights, portable radios, propane and extra non-perishable food. Plus it is good to have a nice, warm blanket, some water and food for your car.

http://www.govlink.org/3days3ways/ has a pretty good list of things you might need to make life without power a little more pleasant and safe.

When I created my kits last year, I basically just needed to go to Home Depot and Fred Meyer for about an hour; they have everything you'll need.

Be safe and take care,

Rebecca