Eastside Real Estate Working-for-you!

Home Improvement -- On The Cheap

CNN Money just published this outstanding article on "Home Improvement On The Cheap". 

Topics include: Pro style appliances, stone counter tops, wainscoting, container plants, copper roofing, soaking bathtubs, marble, picture windows, hardwood floors, closet organization and built in media center.

Click the link to view the article!

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/real_estate/0803/gallery.cheap_renovations.toh/index.html

Preparing Your Home For Market -- Change Out Those Dated Light Fixtures!

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

One of the most overlooked areas by most sellers and agents to update are those old, nasty outdated light fixtures.  You will instantly recognize the fixtures in the first group photo.  Flat bedroom squares, ugly chandelier, those '70s ball lights and u-shape bath bars.  We live with these and don't see them.  You better believe YOUR BUYERS WILL!  Nothing screams of dating more than old light fixtures!

In the scheme of things, new fixtures give you excellent "bang for your buck".  Updating old fixtures is relatively inexpensive and will give your home a more modern look.  

One of the services that I provide is a complete consultation on what to do to Prepare Your Home For Sale.  In this project, we matched a brushed chrome finish theme throughout the house; ie. door knobs, cabinet trim, faucets, hinges and fixtures.  I have assisted many clients pick out new fixtures to give their listing a competitive edge in this tough market.  

To see the rest of the Preparing Your Home For Sale series, visit these links:

Kitchen Update

Paint, Baseboards and Interior Door Update

 Preparing Your Home For Market - Curb Appeal 

Preparing Your Home For Market - Entry Update! 

 

I was also quoted in a Seattle Times Sunday feature article on this project:
Kirkland Realtor Greg Perry Quoted in Seattle Times Article 

 

 

Preparing Your Home For Market -- Kitchen Update!

By Greg Perry
Eastside Realtor
www.425Realty.com

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most important areas in a house to most buyers.   So many times I hear, "it's nice....but that kitchen!".  

Here, we invest a a very modest amount of money to dramatically improve the cosmetics on this old, tired kitchen.  The basic improvements included: 1. Painting the cabinets, 2. Replacing hinges and door hardware to polished chrome. 3. Replacing the counter material with a textured laminate and tile back splash, 4. Replacing the sink and faucet, 5. Replacing the light fixtures and 6. Painting walls and new baseboards.

The entire kitchen area cost approximately $1500.00 to update.  Here are the before and after photos:

Counter detail:

   Links to other before and after photos for this home:

Preparing Your Home For Market - New Paint, New Baseboards and Interior Door Update

 Preparing Your Home For Market - Curb Appeal 

Preparing Your Home For Market - Entry Update!  

Stay tuned!  More to come!

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

 

Greg Perry quoted on national AP wire article on how to sell a listing.

Recently, I was approached by AP reporter, Melisa Kossler Dutton, who was doing a story on the impact of neighborning eyesores on the salabilty of close by listings.  She was attracted to a comment that I had made some time ago in Seattle's Rain City Guide on the subject. 

After a phone interview, she called again and asked if I would be willing to stand for an AP photographer, and I agreed.

Here's my contribution to the AP article:

"If homeowners are uncomfortable contacting their neighbors, real estate agent Greg Perry is happy to do it. He's had varying degrees of success. Some neighbors have seen the value of improving their property, others haven't, said Perry, who sells homes in Kirkland, Wash.

"You run into all kinds of people," he said. "There are belligerent people in life and there are accommodating people in life."

"A lot of agents need to think a little bit outside of the box," Perry said. "I'm always willing to help my seller out, and sometimes that means actually arranging for the neighbor's cleanup. I've done it on my own dime."

To see the entire article: click here

I thought it was a well done article on the subject (and I was quoted correctly)!

Why All Home Buyers Need An Inspection!

Greg Perry
Eastside Realtor

If you walk through enough old houses, you'll eventually run into most anything that a past home owner did to the electrical, plumbing and general construction of the house.  Even the best of homes -- on the surface-- have strange things done to them in the crawl space and attic.  Here are a few bizarre examples for your viewing pleasure!

Home Depot had a sale on yellow wire nuts!

 
Redneck junction box

 

 
A receptacle is highly overrated, especially close to a burner!

 

House comes complete with pantry storage for grits, ascetone and tools!

 

 
Need a creative dryer vent?  Just do-it!

 

  
Ok, don't have that Nike box?  Just tap that dryer vent into the heat escape vent of your water heater!

 

More bizarre photos to come on another day!

 

Crawl Space Diving....... or Fall Maintenance Guide - Revisited

Last week we posted a Fall Maintenance Guide.  As I was typing it out, I realized that it had been a long time since I participated in the dreaded CRAWL SPACE DIVE!

I live in an updated 2 story, 3200 s/f house on the Eastside that was originally built in 1969.  My crawl space has a whopping 2 foot clearance and 40 years of dust.  YUCK!  I hate going into the crawl.

So, over the weekend I girded myself and put on my in my worst jeans, long sleeved shirt and junky shoes.  I donned my hat, coveralls, knee pads, gloves and placed my respirator over my face.  I opened the hatch, grabbed my high intensity flashlight and dove on in.

A horror movie could be made in my crawl.  Again, YUCK!

Here's what I found:

• Those pesky rodents (that I paid to have exterminated) had found their way back in.
• A heat duct (an item right from the list!) had fallen.  I was heating the crawl space!
• A copper plumbing pipe had developed a pin-hole leak and was creating a small pool of water on the vapor barrier.
• The vapor barrier needed to be cleaned and re-spread in areas for coverage.

So there you have it!  Real life issues from the Fall Maintenance Guide.  I immediately repaired the fallen heat duct and have arranged for professional help in the other areas.

If you haven't been in your crawl space in a few years, now is a great time.  If you WILL NOT go into that crawl the next best thing is to hire a residential building inspector!  If you want the assistance of a good inspector, give me a call.  I know the best!  We'll get him out to you so your home will be sanitary, safe and energy efficient.

Fall Maintenance Guide

  Around the House:

• Replace the furnace filter
• Have your heating system serviced
• Inspect the ductwork in your crawlspace to insure the ducts have not fallen and the system is intact.
• Have your ducts cleaned.
• Have your chimney serviced and cleaned.  Check for missing mortar and obstructions.
• Clean your gutters throughout the fall to prevent blockage.
• Check and repair an window cracks or holes in weather stripping or caulking.
• Check to make sure your thermostat works properly before the cold weather hits.
• Make sure all storm doors latch properly to protect against high winds.
• Check crawl space for flooding after first long rainfall.
• Check locks on windows to make sure they work properly.
• Make sure you have new batteries in your flashlights and that they are easily found around the house.
• Stock up on bottled water and food staples in case of power outage.
• Is it time to re-insulate?
• Clean out the bathroom fan.
• Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Make sure fire extinguishers are in place and up to date.
• Review your fire escape plan with your family.  Keep rope ladders in each of the second story rooms.

Around the yard:

• Fertilize and seed your lawn.
• Cut back an tree branches that are growing towards your house or a power line.
• Plant your spring bulbs.
• Start a composting pile for your leaves,yard debris and grass clippings.

Nobody blogs about the LIVING ROOM!

Kitchen yes, bathrooms yes -- but the living room often gets left out when it comes to writing about home improvements. 

In fact in some house designs these days, great rooms are replacing formal living rooms.

But what if your living room could use a face-lift?

Generally speaking, remodeling your living room means doing one or more of the following projects:

• Replacing or renovating the floor.
• Refinishing walls.
• Upgrading lighting and other electrical systems.
• Adding or changing features, such as a new fireplace or built in bookcase.
• Applying moldings, wainscot or a new mantel.
• New window coverings.
• Expanding the overall space.

Your living room is one of the most straightforward of rooms to remodel.  And, because it's your home's most public space, redoing the living room gives the whole house a new look.

Greg Perry, Kirkland Realtor 

Cooking up a new KITCHEN!

By Greg Perry
Kirkland Realtor

Industry remodeling experts agree that a kitchen remodel delivers the most bang for the payback buck.  The last cost vs. value study by remodeling magazine shows that a major kitchen remodel will return an average of a 107.6% payback in the Seattle area .

So are you dreaming of granite counter tops, a center island, farmhouse sink or stainless steel built-in appliances?  How about new cabinets with drawers that close automatically with a fine furniture finish?   Would your flooring choice be hardwood, cork or tile?  And how about adding distinctive hardware?

The National Kitchen and Bath Association indicates that a major kitchen remodel should have a budget between 10% and 25% of the value of your home.  Of  that amount, expect the cabinetry to use up a full half of your budget.

Here are some tips to help get you started:

• Plan your lifestyle.  How do you want to cook and live in the kitchen? 
• Create an efficient floor plan.  Most designers recommend grouping elements into a "work triangle".  Consider how the traffic will flow through the room and your entertainment aspects.
• Visualize your new kitchen.  Have your designer or contractor supply a 3-D rendition so you can see what the "picture" will be.  Visit design centers and showrooms to see colors and textures.
• Research your options.  Buy home topic magazines and create a scrapbook of the ideas that appeal to you. 
• Remember storage.  Now is your chance to increase the storage you've always wanted.
• Light it up.  Great lightning makes a kitchen, but lighting is often an afterthought.  Plan your lighting needs before the cabinets are installed.
• Keep safety in mind.  Carefully consider the potentially dangerous aspects of a kitchen, including placement of all appliances.  Hazardous material storage should also be considered.

Give yourself plenty of time and pad the budget for those unknown incidentals that always crop up.  Great planning will go a long way to keeping your budget in line and creating the dream kitchen you've always wanted.

If you are looking for expert help to assist you with your kitchen project, give us a call.  Because we're so active in the market place, we know some of the very best contractors and service providers.  We'll happily give you great referrals!