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Winter Events
Check out what is happening in the Puget Sound area for the holidays! There are so many things to do! I’m definitely going to go to see some lights. What about you?!
November King County Market Update
Check out this months King County Market Update. Click to make the image bigger and check out our blog at the same time!
New Girl in Town – Kirkland
It’s Katie, the assistant to Mike and Jennifer. My latest adventure sent me to Kirkland. Kirkland is north of Bellevue along the banks of Lake Washington.
My first experience in Kirkland was for their Oktoberfest celebration. Oktoberfest is a big deal where I went to college in La Crosse, WI, so I had to make up for missing it this year. Also, my boyfriend needed an excuse to wear his Lederhosen. We decided to take the bus so we could drink as much as we wanted. Before we got to the grounds we stopped at an Irish pub called Wilde Rover so my boyfriend could put on his Lederhosen. We started talking to a guy who grew up in the Kirkland area and has seen it change from a small town to a busy business city throughout his lifetime. Kirkland has changed significantly over the years, similar to the rest of the Greater Seattle Area. The current average home price is $650,000, Which makes it one of the most expensive areas of King County.
I’ve spent most of my time in Kirkland near Marina Park and Downtown Kirkland. Marina Park is right on the edge of Lake Washington and you can see for miles. It’s a beautiful little park where they have lots of city events. Down the street from Marina Park are a lot of little shops. I didn’t stop in many because I don’t need a surf board and I wasn’t that hungry. However, it was a great little place to walk around and see what they have to offer.
5 Ways to Get Your Home Sold this Holiday Season
So, it’s November and you need to sell your home. King County averages about 2,000 home sales in December. That’s about half as many homes as in the Spring/Summer months. The good news is houses do sell! There are also less house options for buyers than in the summer, so you have less competition. Here are the top 5 things to consider when selling this holiday season.
- Price it right – This is not the time of year to “test the market.” Prices flatten out in the fall and winter. Stay conservative and price it based on actual Sold Comparables, not homes currently trying to sell.
- Pack up – Your Moving!! If you are going to dare compete with the big boys this time of year, make it count. Houses do sell. Pack your house, nik naks, family pictures, everything off the counters etc. It needs to look like that sterile, perfectly tidy house that your one annoyingly perfect girlfriend has mastered (I mean that affectionately Wendy.)
- Every showing counts – There are less buyers this time of year. Don’t worry, these buyers are serious home purchasers, they are going to buy a house and it might as well be yours. Let them come see the house…when they want to…not when you want them to. They often don’t come back to see it a different time. It might mean you are kicked out of your house during dinners and have to eat Chinese Food on Christmas like Ralphie’s family. Ok, that’s extreme.
- Holiday Decorations – Yes, you can have them. But keep them minimal and coordinating. This is not the year to put the tree out with the 22 art projects from your children’s k-6 grade classes. It’s not because they look tacky (maybe a little) but because it will distract buyers from looking at your home. If they don’t look at your home, they won’t buy it.
- Light up your FOR SALE sign with a string of lights. Why not….I just told you basically you were going to have no fun this holiday, but this is one tacky thing that might be good. Helps people see your house is for sale in the dark, which happens to be about 18 hours during the winter.
Cheers!!
5 Ways to Get Your Home Sold this Holiday Season
So, it’s November and you need to sell your home. King County averages about 2,000 home sales in December. That’s about half as many homes as in the Spring/Summer months. The good news is houses do sell! There are also less house options for buyers than in the summer, so you have less competition. Here are the top 5 things to consider when selling this holiday season.
- Price it right – This is not the time of year to “test the market.” Prices flatten out in the fall and winter. Stay conservative and price it based on actual Sold Comparables, not homes currently trying to sell.
- Pack up – Your Moving!! If you are going to dare compete with the big boys this time of year, make it count. Houses do sell. Pack your house, knick knacks, family pictures, everything off the counters etc. It needs to look like that sterile, perfectly tidy house that your one annoyingly perfect girlfriend has mastered (I mean that affectionately Wendy.)
- Every showing counts – There are less buyers this time of year. Don’t worry, these buyers are serious home purchasers, they are going to buy a house and it might as well be yours. Let them come see the house…when they want to…not when you want them to. They often don’t come back to see it a different time. It might mean you are kicked out of your house during dinners and have to eat Chinese Food on Christmas like Ralphie’s family. Ok, that’s extreme.
- Holiday Decorations – Yes, you can have them. But keep them minimal and coordinating. This is not the year to put the tree out with the 22 art projects from your children’s k-6 grade classes. It’s not because they look tacky (maybe a little) but because it will distract buyers from looking at your home. If they don’t look at your home, they won’t buy it.
- Light up your FOR SALE sign with a string of lights. Why not….I just told you basically you were going to have no fun this holiday, but this is one tacky thing that might be good. Helps people see your house is for sale in the dark, which happens to be about 18 hours during the winter.
Cheers!!
King County Market Update
Check out this months King County Market Update. Click to make the image bigger and check out our blog at the same time!
October events
Here are your area events for the month of October! Click on the image to make it larger and check out our blog!
Should I scope the sewer line when I buy/sell a home?
What is it? How much? Should I get one? What is a typical problem?
A Sewer Scope is a type of inspection where a sewer expert or plumber runs a camera through the sewer line between the house and the street connection. They typically gain access through a sewer clean out at the house or they pull a toilet. A sewer clean out is an entry point to the sewer line. “Pulling a toilet” is when the plumber physically lifts the toilet off the floor and accesses the sewer line. He then reattaches the toilet. The goal is to confirm the line is in good condition with no breaks, blocks or trees growing in it. The cost is $200-$250. This would be done during a buyer’s inspection timeframe, or, on occasion, it makes sense for a seller to get one prior to putting their house on the market.
Should you get one if you are buying or selling a home? If you are selling a home, you would typically not get a sewer scope as it would be part of the buyers due diligence. That said, in the current market there may be an exception. If you are selling a home built before 1980 in Seattle, and you anticipate multiple offers, handing a potential buyer clean sewer paperwork may allow them to feel more comfortable making a stronger offer and/or bypassing an inspection contingency. If you are buying a home, and it’s built prior to 1980, it is recommended to inspect the sewer. After 1980, the type of line material was changed from concrete to ABS and/or PVC which is more flexible than concrete and does not erode It’s also glued at the seams so roots cannot get in the line and block it.
What if there is a problem with the sewer line found? It needs to be fixed and it can be expensive. Repairs typically run $2000-$8000. Most common issues are trees growing into the line, which can often be cleared through a rooter. If there is a break in a line, it will need to be dug up and fixed.
New Girl in Town – West Seattle
Katie, assistant to Jennifer and Mike, here again. My latest adventure was in West Seattle, where I live. While moving here I knew nothing about the area, but after being here for a couple months I have learned a lot more.
West Seattle is still apart of Seattle, but it is far enough away it feels like another city. There are tons of things to do! I started my day by heading to the Junction . This is an area of California Avenue that is lined with businesses and it is known as the heart of West Seattle. My first stop was Elliott Bay Brewery and Pub because I love food and I love beer. So, I stopped in and ordered the fish & chips with a flight of their beer. It was some of the best fish & chips I have ever had, and I’ve been to England. After I was full, I took a walk down the street to see what else I could find. I happened upon a pet store called Next to Nature. I don’t have a pet, but I walked in hoping to see some dogs. To my disappointment there were none. However, this store offers a wide variety of healthy treats and food for dogs and cats. It is a very large store that anyone with a pet should check out.
I kept walking down the street and after some time I noticed a small bakery that multiple people told me was a must. Bakery Nouveau has a great selection of pastries and I ended up buying some macaroons. My favorites were the salted caramel and coffee. They were delicious! After window shopping some more I noticed the new looking apartments in the area. However, surrounding these newer apartments were older homes. After some research back in the office many of the homes are from the early to mid-1900’s and the remodeled homes start around $550,000.
King County Market Update
Check out this Market Update to see what prices are doing in the King County area. Click the picture to make it larger.
