Eastside Real Estate Working-for-you!

Staging Your Kitchen For Sale

By Greg Perry

Kirkland Realtor

 

Be Prepared! Emergency Resource Guide - Plan and Prepare!

By Greg Perry
Kirkland Realtor
www.425Realty.com

The images from Japan are sad and frightening.  My prayers go to those who have lost loved ones in the tragedy caused by the earthquake, tsumani and nuclear event.

As Washington residents, we know that our region is prone for a massive earthquake.  If a major earthquake strikes, do you know what to do?

The Washington State Department of Health has published an outstanding pamphlet called The Emergency Resource Guide.  It covers emergencies from natural disasters to common household danger and emergencies.  

It's time to PLAN AND PREPARE!

Download the Emergency Resource Guide. 

Greg Perry's Real Estate Report - Greg Perry Kirkland Realtor

By Greg Perry, Kirkland Realtor
www.425Realty.com

We all wonder about "what's happening" in real estate?   What are buyers thinking?  What are sellers thinking?  How about distressed properties?  What is the future of real estate?

Here is Greg Perry's Real Estate Report.  I think you'll find this a fun and informative piece.  Here you will find information compiled from the National Association of Realtors, US Census Bureau, Federal Reserve Board, Real Trends and Buffini and Company.

Enjoy the report!  If you have a real estate question, don't hesitate to call.  425.829.7012.  gregperry@working-for-you.com

Click on image to expand

If you a friend, co-worker or family member who has a real estate need, call me with their name and number and I’ll take good care of them.

 

QR Codes. What are they? How are they used?

It's fun to watch a technology hit a flash point.  QR codes have definately hit its flash point.  They're popping up everywhere!

What are QR Codes?   QR stands for "quick" response.  QR codes are a 2 dimentional bar code.  It is readable by barcode readers or camera phones.  It consists of black modules arranged on a white background.  The information encoded can be simply text, OR a common use today in marketing is a web address URL.

How are QR codes made?  QR codes are simple to make.  Just "google" QR code generator and you'll come up with many websites that will generate your QR code free of charge.  The QR code in this post is for 425Realty.com.  I used http://delivr.com/qr-code-generator to generate this QR code.  Again, you can create a QR code for text or for a destination website URL.

How do I read a QR code?  If you have a smart phone with a camera, you can download a QR code APP.  My favorite is Google Goggles.  It is a free APP.  Just take a picture or scan the QR code with the APP, and whatever is embedded in the QR code will come up in your phone.

How are they used?  They were originally used in tracking parts in manufacturing.  However, the marketing appications for QR codes are brilliant.  They can be used on signs, flyers, park benches, transportation busses, business cards and many other applicaitons.  I recently saw a business card from an auto mechanic that had a QR code that went to a discount for a service.  In real estate, we can direct people to our personal website.   We can also supply more information and photos by displaying QR codes on our listings and our real estate flyers.  Home buyers with smart phones can instantly get a detailed look at any property of interest.  We will work QR codes into all of our marketing.

Enterprising marketers are making QR code coffee mugs, t shirts, ball caps and other items.

Try it out!  If you don't have a QR code reader in your phone, download one free to your smart phone.  Scan my QR code in the post and you'll be on your way to understanding this neat technology.  Let me know how it works for you!

Greg Perry
Kirkland Realtor
www.425Realty.com

 

Preparing Your Home for Market -- Curb Appeal

We have just listed a lovely tri-level home on Education Hill in Redmond.  We put together an extensive portfolio of "before" and "after" photos that show how we prepared this home for market.  The first set of before and after photos start with curb appeal.

In the first photo, you can't see the house!  The shrubs were so overgrown that destroyed the view of an attractive house and reduced natural lighting inside.  The lawn need mowing, garden beds were full of weeds.  The front door was worn and faded.

 

Now, the house has much better street appeal.  We can see the house.  All the concrete was pressure washed to clean it up.  The front door was painted a nice, inviting burgundy color.

Greg Perry
Kirkland Realtor

www.425Realty.com
 

My Favorite Thing In Real Estate

By Greg Perry
Kirkland Realtor
www.425Realty.com

What is my favorite thing in real estate?  Giving Buyers the KEYS to their new home!  Congratulations to Fred and Jean for closing on your home today!

Preparing Your Home For Market - Video 1 of 2 - The Kitchen

By Greg Perry, Kirkland Realtor
www.425Realty.com

Presenting a 3 part video series titled, Preparing Your Home For Market with Jim Dixon.  This first video focuses on The Kitchen.

Inside A Home Buyer's Inspection (Voyeur's View)

By Greg Perry
Kirkland Realtor
www.425Realty.com

Let's face it.  Sometimes we're voyeurs at heart.  We love to see the dirt inside!  Here's a chance to see the dirt on a recent home buyer's inspection.  Enjoy!

To see the video discussion of the crawl space for this home, Click Here

New Lead-Based Paint Rules Affect Repairs and Renovations

By Greg Perry
Eastside Realtor
www.425Realty.com

The Environmental Protection Agency has changed current lead-based paint rules.  We just received this legal bulletin through Windermere (click to expand):

 

It looks like anyone renovating a pre-1978 home (being compensated) must be certified by the EPA. Both the contractor and at least one person on the job must have this certification.

For a complete view of the regulation, here is a link to the HUD website:  http://hud.gov/offices/lead/training/rrp/rrp.cfm

Sound off!  What do you think about this new EPA regulation?

Are You A Prisoner of Your Drywall?

You come home from work to your Townhouse that you purchased in 2005.  You notice your house smells a little, er, gamey -- like a rotting egg.  Your brass keys are turning black.  You've been experiencing computer and appliance failures.  It all gives you a headache and a nosebleed.  Your eyes become irritated and breathing becomes difficult.  You may have a case of TOXIC CHINESE DRYWALL.

Since 2001, suppliers have been importing a common household building material -- drywall -- for China.  This drywall it seems emits a sulfur compound that out gasses into the living environment andgives off a sour or "rotten egg" odor.  These sulfur compounds quickly corrode a very common metal found in our homes -- copper.  Copper is used in wiring, appliances, computers and many other devices.

Florida and Louisiana are the states that seem to have the biggest problems (especially New Orleans after Katrina), but Washington State has been impacted, too.

Properties at risk are:

• Any property built after 2001.
• Condominium projects built after 2001.
• Townhouse projects built after 2001.
• Single family homes, condominiums townhouses or commercial properties remodeled in the US since 2001.

What are the symptoms of Potentially Toxic Chinese Drywall?

• Continuous failures of air conditioning coils or HVAC units beyond normal
• Corrosion in electrical wiring or metals, especially copper and brass.
• Mild to sever upper respiratory problems, nosebleeds, headaches, skin and eye irritation.

Government and consumer agenciesare trying to figure this one out.  In the mean time class action lawsuits especially in Florida and Louisiana have started.

To learn more: chinese drywall.com