Keely's Broker Blog

Quick Clean Up Tips (Prior to Showings, etc.)

1. Take a laundry basket and go from room to room filling it with things that don't belong, then store it behind a big piece of furniture or in a closet until you have time to sort it.

2. Straighten up the bathroom and wipe everything down with an all purpose cleaner (I keep one stored beneath the counter with a roll of paper towels). Light a candle!

3. Run the vacuum and fluff pillows.

4. Turn on all the lights and open all the blinds, morning, noon or night.

5. Spray some fragrant room spray (my fav's are from Pier 1, they aren't overtly sweet).

Good to go!

Record Sales of Alternative Home Heat Sources

This post couldn't be less timely considering we are having a mini heat wave in Seattle right now but sales of pellet stoves and other (more economical) heat sources are at all time highs.  People are already worrying about another winter of inflated energy costs, and they SHOULD BE.  I moved from a 3000 sq ft to a 1600 sq ft home and my heat costs nearly tripled between this past winter and the one before.

I am also battling little to no insulation in my 1960's era house which I plan to remedy in short order to avoid the $500 average heat bill I'd experienced from November to April. 

Right now it's nearly impossible for people nation wide to find a pellet stove.  I am enjoying finding ways to save in that it also has the lovely benefit of saving Mother Earth.  I'm getting quite a bit out of my bike and the local Farmer's Markets! If you'd like to find out where a Farmer's Market is in your area (yay organic and half the cost of the market) check out http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/.

Homeowner's Insurance - On Fire? On Your Own

In some western states insurers are dropping fire coverage from their homeowner policies.  States like California and Arizona (I didn't see W. Washington named but fair warning!) are asking owners to enact fireproofing methods like clearing brush within a certain radius of your house.  If their asks aren't done within six months you lose your fire insurance, if not your policy entirely.

I never used to read the insurance renewals I got each year, then I had a tenant that completely destroyed one half of a duplex I owned.  When I called my agent, assuming I'd be 'covered', I was informed that vandalism wasn't covered, and vandalism was what it was considered.  Sigh.  VERY expensive lesson learned. 

Another thing to keep in mind, if you aren't occupying your property (say it's vacant for sale or lease) it's important to have a vacancy rider or you can be exposed to liability in the event of a disaster.  One more thing, if you are renting your property and it's occupied, ask your provider about landlord coverage (it can save you money over your regular policy).

Hot or Not: Updates for the Home

A recent MSN real estate article discussed what will be 'in' and what will be 'out' when it comes to future home upgrade considerations.  The list goes on as follows:

IN: The Destination Bathroom: People want a tranquil get away and anymore the last door with a lock in a house is the bathroom (which is one of the reasons I spend an inordinate amount of time in the tub!)  I'm seeing bathrooms with phones, televisions, and fireplaces, and people seem to be drawn to homes with bathrooms like this.

IN: The 'Smart' House:  Everything electric operated wirelessly and/or by remote; the lights, the blinds, etc.

IN: Outdoor Living Spaces: including exterior lighting, artwork treated to stand the elements, gazebo's and ornate landscaping.

IN: Glam Furniture: IKEA is out, baroque is BACK!

IN: Concealed Appliances: those that blend with the cabinetry.  Stainless steel is overused in many instances and there is a return to a more natural and less stark look.

IN: Home Elevators: appeal to aging baby boomers and are a novelty not in high supply

IN: Bolder color palettes: we are moving ever further away from white and 'real estate beige' walls.

OUT: Living Rooms??  Who knew, this one surprised me but according to the article 'great rooms' have the most mass appeal, in other words, kitchens that are essentially incorporated into the living space.

OUT: Dark stains on wood, ceiling beams, and decking.  Even Maple (blech!) is making a comeback!

OUT: Decorative Tiles: obviously.

Carpenter Ants

Ewwww.  Over the past week I saw one, then three, then six large black ants in my BEDROOM of all places.  You truly have not experienced horror until you wake to one crawling down your abdomen.  Oh I shudder to think of it now. 

I wasn't sure that what I had was carpenter ants so I called a pest inspection company and sure enough that's what they were (I saved a few of the little carcasses).  So while I didn't have an infestation, thank God, the whole stomach crawling incident necessitated what was surely a carcinogenic spraying, drilling and filling of wall voids, plumbing joists, et al. 

Thankfully my inspection last fall didn't find anything of the sort, nor did the pesticidal perpetrator today so I don't think those ants will be back.  Another good reason to always have an inspection when you buy, and then every few years afterward!