Eastside Real Estate Working-for-you!

Friday's Did You Know? Juanita hosts treaty signing?

Did you know that On May 27 and 28 in 1933,  members of Northwest tribes from all over the region gathered in Juanita for a re-enactment of the signing of the 1855 Point Elliott Treaty between the Indians and the Territory of Washington. Thousands of spectators gathered to witness the event and see Native American culture up close and personal. Prior to that, it was the largest celebration of Indian culture since white settlers arrived in 1851.

It wasn't easy.  Business men from downtown Kirkland decided since Juanita was such a distant outpost they'd take the Lake Washington Passenger ferry from Kirkland to Juanita.

Top Trends For New Homes, and what home buyers are looking for!

If you are looking at putting your home on the market, there are some things you may want to consider to get an edge in today's market.  Gone are the days of tradition!  Today's home buyers want versatility, with style and comfort. 

1)  MORE STORAGE:  That's the key phrase for home buyers out there today!  When I am out with clients storage is on a short list of must haves before they start looking at the details.  In new construction the three car garage is becoming the standard...not for a third car, but for storage!  If you have a basement, consider finishing it off for more storage space.  Here in Seattle's Eastside, basements are rare so I often see people create lofts in their garage.  Using your attic for storage is not a good idea.

2)  ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS:  Media rooms have replaced dens and libraries.  Many new home buyers are looking for a great place for their new 60" plasma HD tv's.  If you have a den or library, consider marketing and staging it as a great place for the monster TV and surround sound.

3)  HOME OFFICES:  No more doing the bills at the kitchen table!   Whether you work full-time at home or just occasionally bring a little work back from the office, the home office is becoming a standard feature.   Multiple phone lines and electrical outlets are necessary.  For serious home offices people are looking for more counter space and storage.

4)  LARGER ROOM FOR KIDS:  In a new world where parents are asking their kid's opinions on the place they live, the kids do have a say!  Whether surfing the internet or just playing games, most kids today are heavy users of computers.  When I grew up, I needed enough room for my bed and dresser.  Today parents want room for the bed, dresser and the computer work station with full amenities.

5)  FLEXIBILITY:  Rooms that do double duty, such as a den that converts to a guestroom are popular.  I would also include into this section the "Great Room".  A large room including the kitchen, dining room and living room.  More than ever people want a place that can host a small family gathering as well as a large social event.

6) PORCHES:  Many new homes, as well as home renovations are coming with large porches.  Outdoor living is overlooked by many home sellers, and in today's land of tract homes on small lots, if you have a larger lot with a good opportunity for outdoor living, consider slapping a porch on this spring.  Oh, and since we are in the Northwest, you might want to cover it!

7)  THE ALL-PURPOSE KITCHEN:  The plain kitchen design has been transformed into a planning center complete with computer, storage and built in latte maker.  Heck one of Oprah's favorite things was a refrigerator with a built in TV and DVD hook up.  The formal dining room has given way to the casual eating spaces that function both for everyday and special occasions ( see trend 5).

The common theme:  Funtionality of rooms.  If you can stage your areas that appeal to the largest variety of function, you might just get the wheels turning of your potential buyers.  Today's new home buyers are not looking for traditional.  They are looking for homes that fit their lifestyle.  Lifestyles have changed.  Have you?

Monday's Inspiration - Sowing and Reaping

Life responds to deserve and not to need.  It doesn't say, "If you need, you will reap."  It says "If you plant you will reap."  The guy says, "I really need to reap."  Then you really need to plant.     

Jim Rohn

Fried Turkey.... c'mon you know you want to!

Happy Thanksgiving!
I love this holiday... Hot oil, burnt flesh, fireballs and beer!  Yes, Thanksgiving. The one day my wife gives me the O.K. to play with all of the above.  I'm talking about frying turkeys!

We need more fried birds here in Seattle's Eastside!  Don't be intimidated. Go for it!

How to Deep Fry a Turkey:

Step One: Get all the gear...turkey fryers are available at any hardware store for about 50 bucks.  It,s like a huge pot on a jet engine.  Your turkey should be at LEAST small enough to fit in the pot, and the bird is best fried in peanut oil.

Step Two: Prepare the turkey. Make sure it's thawed, and all gutted.  Rub it or inject it with the flavoring of your choice and strap that baby down to the giant hook you get with the turkey fryer.

Step Three: To determine the perfect amount of oil you are going to be using, place the turkey in the pot and add water until the turkey is completely covered, plus an inch or two. With the turkey and the water there should still be several inches of room between the oil and the top of the pot. If it's a close call, then you need either a bigger pot or a smaller turkey. Remove the turkey and measure the water. This is the amount of oil you will need.

Step Four Dry your pot COMPLETELY.  Oil can cause a mess when it's boiling with water.  Snap, crackle and pop should be avoided.

Step Five: Add the oil to the pot and bring it to a temperature of about 400 degrees. Make sure you have a good thermometer to keep a careful eye on oil temps.

Step Six: This is where it gets fun.  Put the kids in the house, chain the dogs up and get the fire extinguishers out.  You're going to lower your bird.  The moment the bird hits oil it's going to set off some fireworks, so make sure you are in a safe location (away from the house, NOT on a deck) and have proper clothing on and good elbow length cooking gloves.  Lower her slowly so you make sure the oil doesn't over flow and land on your jet engine.  When this happens you may lose an eyebrow or two.

A good method here is dunking. When you lower the turkey into the oil it will boil up. This is why you want the burner off when you do it. People have been burned by hot oil hitting the burner. You might not need to do more than a single dunk but you should be prepared to raise the bird out of the oil it it starts boiling up. You can greatly reduce the mess and risk of personal injury by lifting the bird up as the oil boils around it. A couple of dunks and the turkey should be nicely settled in.

  Step Seven: Once the bird has landed, turn the burner back on to get to a temperature of 350 degrees.  This is the temp you want to maintain over the course of the fry. At this point you can go take a breather and have a beer. Your bird will cook at a rate of about 3 to 3 1/2 minutes per pound. A ten pound turkey should take 30-35 minutes.

Step Eight: Drink another beer.

Step Nine: Take bird out let it sit in its juices awhile, then carve and enjoy!  Just a warning:  It will potentially look like Freddy Krueger on a bad day, but reserve judgement until you get to the meat of it and taste this unbelievable turkey. 

Step Ten:  CLEAN UP YOUR MESS! (that is the step my wife made me throw in)

Fried turkey looks complicated on paper.  However, it's very easy, and makes a turkey you can actually swallow.  If you've never done it.. you owe it to yourself to give it a try.  Not only does the bird taste great, it is one of the more fun things we do during our Thanksgiving day holiday.

Home Maintenance -- Keeping Repair Costs Down

Neglecting major house maintenance not only affects your enjoyment of your home, it affects the overall value when you put your house on the market for sale.  Here 8 common household maintenance items that if you stay on top of, will keep major repair costs down.

1.  Malfunctioning gutters --  Creates water damage inside the walls and the house.
2.  Poor foundation grading -- Water in the crawl space.  Mold and dampness in the house.
3.  Faulty roof flashing, missing shingles -- Roof leaks -- cosmetic and structural damage and mold.
4.  Poor/missing caulking and grout in shower areas and damaged tiles -- Rot, mold and cosmetic damage.  Water can spread virtually anywhere.
5.  Not enough electrical outlets -- Overloading of existing outlets causing a potential of fire.
6.  Leaking exterior faucets -- Can rot siding, decking and create mold.
7.  Poor attic ventilation -- Roof sheathing rot and mold conditions from excessive moisture.
8.  Poor mechanical system upkeep -- Systems will not live up to expected lifespans.  Heating and cooling will not work efficiently.  Soot and creosote buildup in fireplaces can cause fire.

Overpriced home = The Pinball Effect

The Pinball Effect

When you overprice your home, buyers will use the high price of your home to justify the purchase of a lower priced home in a the neighborhood.  Don't allow your home to be the bumper that creates the "Pinball Effect".

Monday's Inspiration -- Change

Want things to change?

"We must become the change we want to see in the world."     Mahatma Gandhi

Hattie earns her AKC Championship!

Yesterday, our cairn terrier, Hattie, earned her final points to achieve her status as an AKC champion.  Her new formal name is now CH Clanmarr's Steele Princess. 

Our male cairn terrier, Kona (CH Cainrgorm Coffee Tea or Me, RN SE CGC), also earned a Rally Obedience title.  Kona also holds an AKC conformation championship, holds a Senior Earthdog title and is a Canine Good Citizen. 

Greg and Val are actively involved in AKC conformation exhibiting, performance events and breeding cairn terrers.  To see more, go to www.croftersdream.com, Crofters Dream -Working Cairn Terriers.  They own three cairn terriers, Kula, Kona and Hattie.

Fall Maintenance Tips

Your home may be the biggest investment you make.  Proper house maintenance ensures a safe and comfortable environment for you and your family.  Here are helpful tips and reminders of chores you may have overlooked for this fall season.

• Check gutters and downspouts for debris: touch up paint.
• Check for efflorescence, fungus and mold in the crawl space or basement.
• Look for loose shingles, siding, trim or anything that could become airborne in a winter storm.
• Caulk and patch all exterior cracks and openings.
• Caulk window trim and door frames.
• Check the condition of heat ducts and water pipe insulation.
• Check roof and decks for deterioration, damaged flashing and waterproof integrity.
• Replace filters, test furnace, clean burners and lubricate.
• Open and adjust fireplace damper.
• Clean and adjust fireplace screen and doors.
• Clean chimney and check condition of spark arrestor.

Greg Perry Completes Advance Listing Practices Course

GREG PERRY ATTENDS SPECIALIZED LISTING COURSE FOR RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE SPECIALISTS

Bellevue -- 11/16/2007 -- Greg Perry has completed a highly specialized course in the new skills involved in obtaining and servicing real estate listings, conducted by the COUNCIL OF RESIDENTIAL SPECIALISTS  of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.

The class was conducted in Bellevue, Washington and is one of the required courses that must be taken by real estate agents and brokers in order to qualify for the coveted Certified Residential specialist (CRS) designation.

The course include techniques in seller counseling, pricing, various client servicing activities, marketing techniques and other programs designed to close sales on residential properties.

"Today's real estate market is more complex than ever before and the listing process has become the key in the movement of residential properties," said Greg, "This course provided me with new input to enable me to serve both buyers and sellers of residences more effectively."

Certified Residential Specialist Courses are presented in various cities throughout the United States in conjunction with the COUNCIL OF RESIDENTIAL SPECIALISTS an affiliate of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.