Fun Ideas for the Yard

If your yard is not living up to its full potential as a place for family and friends to relax, enjoy the weather, and gather for fun, then it’s time to get out there and make some improvements before winter sends everyone scurrying indoors again.  Because the yards around most homes account for such a large part of the property, any updates to outdoor spaces can make a dramatic difference for the better – for your own enjoyment, as well as the future resale value.  Here are seven yard improvements to consider:

WATER FEATURE

A garden fountain can make your whole yard seem more sophisticated.  The moving water is a great attraction for birds, plus, the sound effects are perfect for making the noise from surrounding streets, commercial districts, and noisy neighbors.

DRY STREAM

These water-less landscape features use carefully arranged stones to create the feel of flowing water in a nearly maintenance-free setting.

LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

With the right lights staged throughout your yard, you can bring your whole garden into view, make outdoor paths and walkways safer, and highlight the best architectural aspects of your home’s exterior.

OUTDOOR KITCHEN

Family and guests love to gather in the kitchen (and cooks enjoy the company), so why not create an outdoor kitchen in your backyard?  High-end versions often feature running water and natural gas.  But less-expensive layouts can be created using bottled water and propane gas tanks.

YARD AWNING

While everyone loves the sun, your family and friends may not want to sit directly in it for hours at a time.  Freestanding yard awnings (also called sun shade sails) offer an inexpensive way to create some respite.  Made of colorful, fade-resistant outdoor fabric, they can be relatively easily stretched overhead across areas of your yard using cables, turnbuckles, and other inexpensive mounting hardware.

BACKYARD MOVIES

Connect a projector to your existing laptop, erect a temporary screen, and before you know it, you can be watching mainstream movies in your backyard.

WEATER-PROOFING PING PONG

That 1970’s favorite, Ping Pong, is more popular today than ever – and weather-resistant tables made specifically for the outdoors make it easy to bring the excitement of this paddle sport to your backyard.

Another favorite is the Fire Pit.  Once dusk descends and the temperature drops, everyone loves to gather around a toasty fire pit – which is why you need to make sure it’s safe for all involved.

Choose Gas – A wood-burning fire pit is less expensive than a gas-powered model, but also much more dangerous.  IF you do opt for a wood-burner, always keep it covered to contain sparks.

Place it in Open Yard Space – Fire pits do not belong on decks or balconies, nor under low-hanging branches.  Place it on the ground, at least 10 feet from any structures, and surround the unit with stone or other non-flammable material.

Turn it off when there’s too much commotion – if children are playing near the fire pit, or there’s a lot of activity, simply turn the flame off or let the fire die down until things are calm again.

Source: Windermere Real Estate Home Update

Vacation Security

The vast majority of Americans (about 70%) will go on at least one vacation this year – leaving their homes vulnerable to thieves for days at a time.  There are lots of ways to secure your property against burglars, but the best ideas are usually centered on facts.  Following are the latest home-burglary statistics complied by the FBI and the insurance industry, as well as specific suggestions to prevent your home from becoming the next vacation victim.

VACATION TIME IS ALSO PRIME BURGLARY TIME

July and August are the most popular months for Americans to vacation.  But for thieves, it’s a time to get to work burglarizing homes.  According to the FBI, residential burglaries spike 10% during those two months, marking that 62-day period as the most active of all for home break-ins.  To play it safe, carefully consider who you tell about your vacation plans.  And wait until you’re safely home to post accounts of the trip on social media.

MOST THIEVES ARE NON-PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNISTS

The idea that professional thieves are monitoring your home, waiting for you to go on vacation, is seldom true.  In reality, the typical burglar tends to act quickly when a good opportunity presents itself.  To keep thieves at bay, make it always appear that someone is inside:

• Don’t let the mail, packages or newspapers pile up on the porch
• Use timers to make the interior lights turn on and off
• Arrange for someone to cut the grass if you’ll be gone for longer than a week during the growing season
• Ask a neighbor to care for your garbage and recycling containers when you’re traveling

MOST BURGLARIES HAPPEN DURING THE DAY

The majority of burglaries happen between 9am and 3pm, when you and most of your neighbors are at work.  Installing an alarm system is one very good way to protect your home during the day.  But another, often overlooked, option is to ask the retirees in your neighborhood to keep an eye on the place.

UNLOCKED DOORS & WINDOWS ARE A BIG PROBLEM

Many people think they won’t be burglarized, so they don’t make an extra effort to keep all the doors and windows locked.  The result: nearly 30% of all “unlawful entries” are made through an unlocked door or window.  The solution is simple: lock everything (including the garage door and any upper-floor windows) every time you leave.

ALARM SYSTEMS SCARE BURGLARS

Homes without an alarm system are two to three times more likely to be burglarized.  Fortunately, there are many types of systems available today, with a wide variety of affordable price tags.

PROTECT YOUR PIECE OF MIND

It’s tough to transition into a vacation state of mind if you’re worrying about your home’s security.  Take time now to implement the ideas above, and you’ll be able to leave those concerns behind on your next vacation getaway.

Source: Windermere Real Estate Home Update May 2017

Spring Maintenance Matters

The best way to avoid expensive, disruptive home repairs is to regularly inspect and address the areas prone to major problems.  Giving the house a deep cleaning has become a springtime ritual.  But if you really want to make a difference – and save yourself big money on future home repairs – take some time over the next couple of weeks to also assess these potential maintenance problems:

WATER LEAKS – Freezing winter weather can cause water pipe fittings to fracture.  Turn off all the water on your property, then look at the main water meter (typically located under a metal or concrete lid near the street in front of your house).  If the meter dial is moving – even a tiny bit – when all the water is turned off, it may mean a water pipe buried on your property, or hidden inside an interior wall, is leaking.

OLDER TREES – Large trees that have been growing in your yard for 35 years or more should be assessed every spring to ensure they aren’t prone to falling in a windstorm.  Those with dead branches, soft spots and other unhealthy attributes should be professionally inspected by an arborist.

RODENTS – During winter, rats and mice look for warm places in and around your home to take shelter.  Now is the time to take a close look at the places they like to hide (the attic, closed-off areas of the basement, behind the furnace and other appliances, in storage sheds and garages, etc).  If you see any droppings, it’s time to take action.

GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS – Venture out on a rainy day and look at the top and bottom of each downspout (the pipes attached to the side of your house that run vertically from your roof gutters to the ground below).  Is rain water overflowing at the top?  Is water pooling at the bottom?  Are puddles forming next to your foundation?  If so, don’t delay making any necessary repairs.

ROOF MOSS – When moss is allowed to grow on your roof, the burrowing roots can damage shingles and cause leaks.  To check for these build-ups, keep your feet safely planted on the ground, and use binoculars to scan the room for clumps of green.  Also look for signs of problematic wear: chipped or missing roof shingles.

WORN PAINT – If you wait until your house paint is peeling to put on a fresh coat, the labor costs will be far higher.  Instead, compare a sunny side of your house to a side in near constant shade.  If the difference in paint condition is dramatic, it’s time to get bids from painters.

Use the tips and suggestions above as a checklist, and you’ll be motivated to tackle these tasks before all the distracting sun and fun of summer arrives.

Source: Windermere Real Estate Home Update April 2017.

Moving Made Easy

The average American will pack up all their belongings and move to a new house or apartment 11.4 times during their lifetime.  Many of us – especially those of us with young children and a multitude of possessions – have come to dread the moving process.  Yet, there are people who have a knack for making it all look…dare we say…easy.  On the day that the moving trucks arrive, everything just seems to fall into place.  Everyone knows the plan.  Things happen quickly.

Truth be told, those are the people who planning and organized for weeks beforehand, which is the key to a smooth move.  To become one of those people, here are six suggestions:

1. Get Started Six Weeks Beforehand – Organizing for a whole-house move takes time.  This is not something that can be rushed.  Give yourself at least six weeks to prepare.
2. Hire a Pro to Help You Purge – If you’re like most people, you love the idea of streamlining your possessions before a big move, but you find it one of the most challenging of tasks.  The solution: Hire a professional organizer.  Typically, the organizer will provide coaching, support and recommendations, as well as physical help.
3. Develop Plans for the New Spaces – Move-in day will go much smoother if you determine ahead of time exactly where you want your furnishings to be place in the new property.  Take measurements.  Create a schematic.  Put notes on each piece of furniture.  You should even designate a space in each room where boxes can be safely stacked out of the way.
4. Include the Kids – If you have children, give them plenty of advance notice so they can get used to the idea of a new home.  Take time to answer their questions.  Visit the new home and neighborhood as a family.  And finally, arrange for someone to care for your children off-site on moving day.
5. Arrange a Smooth Exit – While you’re surely excited about your new home, you’ll want to focus some of that energy on your current residence too.
   1. Renters: Plan to meet on-site with your landlord at least two weeks before your move-out date to review all the move-out processes and expectations.  Ask if any of the required steps or paperwork can be completed before your final day.
   2. Sellers: Confer with your real estate agent about what items should/should not be left behind, how much cleaning needs to be done and more.
6. Set Aside the Essentials – Moving is an all-day affair – which means you won’t have time to do much unpacking before the next day dawns.  Red-tag the items you’ll want to access the first day in your new space (phone charger, essential kitchen items, etc) so they can be packed in a specially marked box.

Taking the time to plan in advance can save you a lot of stress on moving day and help you start enjoying your new home as quickly as possible.

Source: Windermere Home Update March 2017.

How Home Staging Sells

If you’re planning to sell your home anytime soon, give some serious thought to hiring a professional stager for an interior makeover.

After assessing your home, neighborhood and the most likely buyer, a home stager will physically arrange furnishings throughout your house and recommend other changes – which often include inventive ways to tackle clutter, high-impact painting suggestions, quick fixes for long-overdue repair issues, plus much more.

The process and underlying principles involved are akin to interior decorating, but are also very focused on the ever-changing desires of today’s home buyers and how best to appeal to them.

Here are some reasons why home staging can be well worth the investment:

Your Home Will Feel Bigger

Over the years, many homes fill with furnishings that make rooms feel awkward, cramped and crowded.  A professional stage knows what to remove and how to rearrange what’s left to make these areas feel more spacious and useful.

Problem Areas Can Ben Downplayed

Some homes have rooms that are too small, too big or oddly shaped; interior payouts that make it difficult to get from room to room; fireplace mantels that overwhelm the living room; closetless bedrooms; misplaced windows; and other problems.  Home staging can make those weaknesses seem insignificant, even unnoticeable; at the very least, it will demonstrate for prospective buyers how they can overcome the challenges.

Marketing Photos Look Better

Today, buyers begin their search for a new home online, where photos of the property will largely determine how many people will take the time to tour your home in person.  When the walls are hung with neutral artwork, the interior decor is balanced, and the lighting is uplifting, it’s far easier for the photographer to make your house a standout.

Buyers Will Feel At Home

It’s difficult for many prospective buyers to see someone else’s home and envision living there themselves – especially if the current owner has outgrown the space, is using rooms in unusual ways, has out-of-date design ideas, or just hasn’t maintained the property well.  The goal of home staging is to make every space in the house appeal to either the largest pool of prospective buyers or a very specific type of targeted buyers.

You’ll Sell Faster

A recent study performed by a team of real estate professors showed that most prospective buyers are not willing to pay significantly more for a house simply because it’s expertly furnished.  However, another marquee study has demonstrated that staged homes sell far more quickly – which also has a direct impact on the seller’s bottom-lined profit:

• Homes that sell quickly usually garner the highest asking price
• Sought-after homes often attract multiple bidders
• A fast sale means the homeowner can cut their expenses and move on more quickly

According to the most recent RECA study, professionally staged properties valued between 4300,000 and $499,000 sell in 22 days on average, while comparable unstaged homes were found to typically languish on the market for an average of 125 days.

For more information about staging, as well as referrals to professional stagers, contact me anytime.

Source: Windermere Home Update February 2017.

HOME MAINTENANCE ON A BUDGET

There’s no escaping the need for a home maintenance and repair, so you may as well budget for it.  Assume some aspects of your house will need work and put money aside each year to cover the costs.  When you’re a homeowner, there’s no landlord.  It’s up to you to fix or otherwise address whatever breaks and needs maintaining.  It’s one of the responsibilities that many new homeowners tend to under-estimate.  Even those who have owned a home for decades are often guilty of putting off necessary maintenance projects until the proverbial “next year”.

The daily- lift disruption these projects can cause is one reason why homeowners tend to delay or ignore the work.  However, the money involved is often the major hurdle.  The best solution, say experts, is to create a budget – plan ahead by putting money aside each year.

BUDGET SIZE

How much should you budget?  That depends on your home, its size, age and condition.  However, as a general rule, experts recommend you set aside between 1% and 4% of your home’s purchase price.  For a house that cost $350,000 to buy, that means the maintenance/repair budget should be between $3500 and $14,000 per year.  The lower amount would be appropriate for a new home or condominium; owners of homes 50+ years old should target the high end of the scale.

To develop a custom budget based on the cost of specific projects, see the “cost guides” provided for free on the ImpoveNet.com website.  But remember, your budget must also include funds for unexpected repairs (e.g., broken appliance, broken window, leaking toilet), not just the known maintenance projects.

DO IT YOURSELF

Because labor makes up most of the cost of many home repairs and maintenance projects, you can save significant money by doing some of the work yourself.  YouTube has become famous for its how-to videos.  And the big-box home-improvement stores (Home Depot, Lowes, etc) offer all of the necessary tools and supplies.

REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE KEY

The best way to manage your maintenance/repair money is via a separate savings account.  Try funding it by making regular contributions: for example, contributing $300 per paycheck until you reach your budget amount for the year.  If you don’t make the contributions a common practice, it’s too easy to spend the money elsewhere.

THE PAYOFF

Not only is a well-maintained house less expensive to operate, it will also sell for more money.  When it comes time to list it, you’ll be glad you saved, budgeted and quickly tackled maintenance problems.  For more suggestions that could increase your home’s value, contact me directly.

Source: Windermere Home Update December 2016.

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Here we have Gilles Nicault, resident winemaker at Long Shadows Winery, teaching me his tricks of the trade.  Congrats Long Shadows on their 2013 Merlot, Pedestal, being named #1 of 50 top wines of 2016 at the Seattle Times.  http://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/the-top-50-wines-of-2016/

Recently a pre-school child showed me her collection of savings—pennies, nickels, and the odd quarter stashed away in an old Mason fruit jar. It didn’t add up to  much, considering how little a dollar can buy you these days. But she was so excited, because she was going to buy herself a Strawberry Shortcake doll when she had enough money saved.

How basic. And what a great lesson for the rest of us.

Basic is how I see real estate investment. You buy a home or investment property and consistently make payments on it. Then one day you realize the benefits of investment—monthly payments that don’t inflate with demand, building equity or  increased cash flow.

Many people I talk to are disappointed that a home they paid $250,000 for in 2006 is now worth $200,000. Most of those people only put between $20,000 and $50,000 down, and have no plans to move anytime soon. They haven’t lost $50,000—they are just in a down part of the market. And in Walla Walla, all indications point to a recovery to those 2006 prices in the next three to five years.

So why invest in real estate now? Because housing affordability has not been this good since 1971 (HUD). Because 50-year low interest rates will not last forever. Because from January 2000 to March 2012 the DOW Jones return on investment was 18.4 while real estate was 36.7 (MSNMoney.com, Case Shiller). Because lending programs are available that make it possible for you to benefit.

So, here’s your action plan. Call a Realtor, talk to a lender, learn about your market and carefully evaluate whether home ownership or investment real estate can benefit you. Every week I meet people who are finding their opportunities in this market and experiencing all the benefits—and that’s just icing on the strawberry shortcake. free slots no registration no download

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