Living • November 14, 2024

13 Appliance Tips & Hacks for Household Chores

by Don Koonce

Modern home appliances make our lives so much easier. They tackle dreaded household chores, saving us time and effort. There are lots of ways to use them, however, that you may not have thought of before. Here are 13 little-known tricks for getting more than your money’s worth from your appliances.

13 Appliance Tips & Hacks for Household Chores

1. Regularly Clean Toys

Regularly clean your children’s toys. Use your dishwasher to wash teething rings, small plastic toys, mouth guards, and even baseball caps. Place items on the top rack and run the dishwasher as usual with detergent (without any dirty dishes). Put smaller items in a small mesh laundry bag so that they don’t move around.

2. Clean Ceiling Fixtures

At least once or twice a year, remove and clean your glass ceiling fixtures and light covers in an empty dishwasher. Light fixtures can be a magnet for dust and cleaning them will help your lighting shine bright in all its glory. Run the dishwasher on the normal cycle.

3. Eliminate Wrinkles

To smooth out wrinkled clothes or linens left too long in the dryer, toss a damp, lint-free cloth in with them. Run the load on the lowest setting for 10 to 15 minutes. Newer dryers also feature a steam setting that removes wrinkles and refreshes clothing between wears.

A woman wearing rubber gloves cleans and disinfects the handle of her oven range as she cleans the kitchen

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: VioletaStoimenova

4. Reduce Germs in the Kitchen

Disinfect sponges and dishcloths. Kitchen sponges and dishcloths contain billions of germs. Clean and disinfect them daily by zapping them on high in the microwave for two minutes to kill germs. Disinfecting these items periodically as opposed to throwing them away can help you cut down on waste in the kitchen.

5. Clean Upholstery

Freshen up your curtains. Vacuum heavy drapes with the upholstery attachment. Use the dusting brush attachment for lighter drapes. Wash sheer curtains in the washing machine on the delicate cycle, then hang them up while they’re damp to prevent wrinkles.

6. Remove Wax from Fabric & Carpet

To get the most out of your flooring and fabrics around your home, they require cleaning. To get rid of wax on a tablecloth, place it in your freezer until the wax is hard. Then put a flat paper bag over the wax and another under the fabric. Iron the top bag with a medium-hot iron until all the wax transfers to the bag. To remove wax from a carpet or rug, place an ice pack on the spot until the wax hardens. Shatter the wax and vacuum up the chips.

7. Clean Baseboards

Along with fans, vents, and underneath furniture, baseboards are not as frequently cleaned as other more common home surfaces but cleaning them can make a big difference in how your home feels. Dusting baseboards can be a backbreaking chore. Use your vacuum cleaner and the dusting brush attachment to avoid having to bend down. Do the same to clean chair and table legs.

A man wearing rubber gloves mops his hardwood floor in his living room

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: milan2099

8. Organize Your Refrigerator

Use the built-in features of your refrigerator to organize food by category. Designate certain shelves or areas for leftovers, preferably front and center, so you don’t forget they’re in there. Use special-purpose bins for their intended use: crispers for vegetables, deli trays for deli meats and cheeses, cold storage trays for meats. Newer models also feature convertible cooling zones to keep food fresh.

9. Dust Blinds

Extend the blinds fully and turn the slats to the closed position. Use the dusting brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean the slats from top to bottom. Then open and re-close the slats in the opposite direction and repeat the process.

10. Clean Your Microwave & Range

The best time to clean your microwave is immediately after using it. Thanks to residual steam, all you have to do is wipe it out with a paper towel or damp sponge. To clean old messes, microwave two cups of water on high for five minutes. The steam will soften cooked-on spills, which you can wipe off with a paper towel or cloth. Your gas/electric range needs regular cleaning as well, especially if you use it frequently.

A father and his young son work together to clean the kitchen, spraying the countertops with an all-purpose cleaning solution

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: PeopleImages

11. Exterminate Dust Mites

Dust mites live off human and animal dander and other household dust particles and can lower your home’s air quality. They thrive in sofas, carpets, and bedding. Use the upholstery attachment to vacuum your mattress and upholstered furniture regularly to minimize dust mites. Be sure to empty the canister in an outdoor trashcan.

12. Groom Your Pet

After you’ve groomed your dog or cat, use the dusting brush attachment to clean up after. It’s an easy way to collect shedding fur, especially from carpeted areas or upholstery.

13. Remove Grime in Shower

Wash plastic shower curtain liners in the washing machine with hot water and detergent on the regular cycle. Throw in a small bath towel to help “scrub” mildew and soap scum off the liner. Then rehang the liner and let it air-dry. Regularly clean your bathtub and light candles to keep your bathroom smelling fresh.

For more information on home appliances, protecting your home from damage, and more, head to the Living section of our blog:

Windermere Blog – Living

Featured Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: LumiNola

Sellers • November 12, 2024

Remodeling Projects to Avoid When Selling Your Home

by Don Koonce

It’s common for homeowners to feel compelled to remodel their homes before they sell. Renovating the spaces in your home can increase its value and help you compete with comparable listings in your area. However, some remodeling projects are more beneficial than others as you prepare to sell your home. Always talk to your agent to determine which projects are most appealing to buyers in your area.

Remodeling Projects to Avoid When Selling Your Home

When preparing to sell your home, you want to strike the right balance of upgrades. Making repairs and executing renovations will attract buyer interest, but you don’t want to dump so much cash into remodeling that you won’t be able to recoup those expenses when your home sells.

So, how do you know where to focus your efforts? Your agent is a vital resource in understanding your specific situation and will offer guidance on your remodeling efforts to sell your home for the best price. Here are a few projects sellers will want to keep off their to-do lists for the best return on investment.

A man and woman discuss a renovation project with their real estate agent as construction contractors work in the background

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: skynesher

Minor Cosmetic Upgrades

Whether you’ve made small cosmetic upgrades throughout your home typically isn’t a make-or-break proposition for most buyers. Let’s say you’re questioning whether to invest in a new toilet, vanity, and shower for your primary bathroom before selling. Unless these appliances are damaged and you can repair them without spending too much, it’s okay to sell as is.

Major Upgrades with Long Timelines

For any remodeling project, your agent’s analysis will help you determine its risk/reward potential. This dynamic is heightened with major remodeling projects and home upgrades, due to their higher costs. Four of the six lowest ROI remodeling projects found in the Remodeling 2022 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com)¹ are upscale or major upgrades, all with roughly a 50% return on investment.

These projects come with hefty price tags and longer timelines than minor repairs and upgrades, which can complicate factors as you prepare to sell, especially if you have a deadline to get into your new home. They have the potential to temporarily displace you from the property, meaning you and your household may have to find somewhere else to stay until the project is complete.

The Bottom Line: To go through with a major home upgrade before you sell, its schedule must fit with your moving timeline. It should also align with buyer interest in your local market. If the project doesn’t meet these criteria, it should be avoided.

Building Code Violations

The rules dictating whether you can sell your home with building code violations vary region to region. It also depends on what the building code violation is and whether neglecting to update it is deemed a safety hazard. The buyer’s mortgage lender may also have stipulations saying that the loan may not be used to purchase a home with certain features that aren’t up to code, which could lead to them backing out of the deal.

If you’re selling an older home, you’re not obligated to update every feature that may be out of code to fit modern standards. These projects are often structural and require a significant investment. If the violation in question was built to code according to the regulations at the time, then a grandfather clause typically applies. However, you’ll need to disclose these features to the buyer.

Trendy Makeovers and Upgrades

Lastly, it’s best to avoid remodeling projects that target a specific trend in home design. Trends come and go. Timeless design is a hallmark of marketable homes because it appeals to the widest possible pool of buyers. Keep this in mind when staging your home as well. Creating an environment that’s universally appealing and depersonalized allows buyers to more easily imagine the home as their own.

Learn more about remodeling your home as you prepare to sell here:

Should I Remodel or Sell My Home As Is?

Featured Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: eclipse_images

Living • November 7, 2024

Simple Garage Makeover Ideas

by Don Koonce

For some homeowners, the garage is the focal point of their home. For others, it is simply a storage space or a place to park their vehicle. Regardless of how you use your garage, these simple garage makeover ideas can help keep you organized, boost your curb appeal, and increase your home’s value.

Simple Garage Makeover Ideas

Garage Exterior

The garage door is a natural starting point for your garage makeover. A garage door replacement is a surefire way to increase the value of your home and is a common tactic for drumming up buyer interest when preparing to hit the market. But even if you don’t have the budget for a full-scale replacement, a DIY garage door makeover can still make a big difference.

Repaint Garage Exterior

Begin by prepping your garage door for a fresh coat of paint. Clean and scrub the surface with warm soapy water. Scrape off any loose paint with a putty knife or wire brush. If scraping manually is too taxing for you, use a wire wheel brush tool. Rinse and clean the door, letting it dry completely before you begin painting.

Once you’ve covered your driveway with a tarp or plastic sheeting to protect it from paint spills, you’re ready to begin painting. Choose a complimentary color for your trim to tie together your home’s exterior color scheme. Check out different styles of garage door hardware options that match the style of your home, choose your layout, and install the pieces.

A luxury lodge-style home at sunset with timber wood framing and stone columns. The garage is attached to the home. The exterior is painted a mix of forest green and brown with deep red trim and an orange door.

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: hikesterson

Garage Interior

As you turn your attention to your garage’s interior, consider refinishing the floor first. By starting with the floor, you won’t have to continually shuffle your garage items around as you continue your makeover. If you’re considering converting your garage into a home gym, factor that in as you work on the flooring.

Start by fixing any cracks or holes with a basic patch kit. Once the surface is flat, sweep and mop from end to end. If you are removing a previous layer of paint, use a buffer to jar the old paint loose before repainting. Finishing your garage floor off with epoxy will help protect it from stains and damage. Apply two coats of epoxy twenty-four hours apart, followed by a sealing topcoat.

Organize Your Garage

In just a few steps, you can turn your garage from a cluttered oversized closet into an organized storage space. Start by taking inventory of the items in your garage. Do you have lots of tools? Is the space filled with sports equipment? Grouping like items together will keep your storage orderly. Next, decide where you would like to store your items. Overhead storage racks, rollers, and ceiling storage can significantly cut down on clutter, but these storage options are best reserved for infrequently accessed or seasonal items like holiday decorations and camping gear.

Keep frequently used items within reach. Magnetic wall panels are a great resource for your everyday tools and gardening equipment. Install shelving and drawers near your workbench to keep smaller hand tools, screws, and nails tidy and organized and add labels so you can keep track of them. If space is limited, consider a wall-mounted foldable workbench.

A hardboard hanging panel in a garage full of common hand tools like screwdrivers, measuring tape, scissors, duct tape, vice grips, etc.

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: Bluberries

Add Finishing Touches

Now it’s time to put the final touches on your garage makeover. Though installation may require the help of a professional, adding electrical outlets will pay dividends for the functionality of your garage. Installing bike hooks on the ceiling will help to save floor space and may provide just the clearance you need to park a vehicle inside. Lastly, consider upgrading your lighting. Newly installed lights will add value to your garage and make it safer.

For more simple design projects that can give your home a makeover, read the following:

5 Design Projects to Improve Your Backyard

Featured Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: JodiJacobson

Sellers • November 5, 2024

How to Price Your Home for Sale

by Don Koonce

It’s natural for sellers to want to get every step of the selling process right, but a successful home sale depends on an accurate listing price. Your agent will work closely with you to set the price, but in the meantime, you can use the following information to better understand what goes into this process.

What’s your home worth?

Nothing can replace the professional knowledge and local expertise of a real estate agent, but automated valuation models (AVMs) can be a helpful first step in determining what your home is worth. Like comps, AVMs assess your home by comparing its information with the listings in your area. Windermere’s Home Worth Calculator evaluates your property and the surrounding market to give you an idea of how much it’s worth. Try it here:

What factors influence home prices?

Understanding what factors influence home prices will give you a deeper knowledge of the market, give clarity to the selling process, and help you work with your agent to accurately price your home.

Comparable Home Sales

Comparable home sales—or “comps”—have a major impact on the price of your home. Comps refer to the comparable homes in your area, both pending and sold, within the last six months. Your Windermere agent can provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to better determine the price of your home. CMAs factor in aspects such as square footage, age, and lot size compared to other homes in your area, to determine how your home should be priced among the competition.

Your Home’s Location

Naturally, your home’s location plays a significant role in its asking price. Depending on the market conditions in your area, whether you reside in a metropolitan, suburban, or rural location, and the home’s proximity to amenities, schools, and entertainment all contribute to the price.

A female real estate agent shakes hands with her client at a conference table

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: VioletaStoimenova

Your Home’s Condition

If you have recently invested in upgrades or other remodeling projects for your home, they could increase your asking price. However, the price increase potential depends on the kind of renovation, its ROI, and how valuable it is to buyers in your area. If the home needs repair, it will likely generate less interest from buyers than better maintained homes at your price point. Any outstanding repairs or projects looming overhead will make the home less attractive to buyers and could lead to a low appraisal.

Seasonality

Any factors that impact market supply and demand are worth taking into consideration when preparing to price your home, and seasonality is one that cannot be overlooked. Typically, market activity slows in the winter and picks up during the spring and summer months. However, market seasonality varies region to region. Talk to your Windermere agent about the seasonality trends in your area and how they factor into your asking price.

Market Conditions

Naturally, all sellers want to price their home competitively, but what a competitive price looks like depends on the market conditions, such as whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market. Some sellers think that pricing their home over market value means they’ll sell for more money, but the opposite can often be true. Overpricing your home presents various dangers such as sitting on the market too long, which can result in selling for well below what it’s worth.

Periodic Price Adjustments

Pricing a home isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it proposal. As with any strategy, you need to be prepared to adapt to fast-changing market conditions, new competition, a lack of offers, and other outside factors.

These are the basic tenets for understanding what goes into the price of a home. When you’re ready, a Windermere agent will interpret and expand on this information, perform a CMA for your home, and guide you throughout your selling journey.

Featured Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: SDI Productions

SOLD • October 31, 2024

SOLD: Upper Rainier Beach Bungalow

by Don Koonce

5733 S Gazelle Street
Seattle, WA 98118
$464,880

MLS #2281237
CLIP #2312727090
Beds: 1
Baths: 1
Size:642 sqft
Days on OneHome: 14

Carefree, low-maint. bungalow in Lk Washington’s highly favored Upper Rainier Beach, prized for its full slate of popular in-city amenities curated by a community with a BIG small-town personality. Flexible light-filled open design helps spaces live large, fully equipped kitch, updated subway tile bath, mini-splits for comfortable year-round heating/cooling, dbl-paned windows, metal roof, newer water heater. Fantastic condo alternative for those who dream of abundant private outdoor space for gardening/entertaining (future DADU?), no HOA or shared walls, quick access to shops, restaurants, parks & local favorite gathering spots. All is within a one-mile radius, from Light Rail to Launch-the-Kayak! Here’s your chance to work less, play A LOT. More.

Architecture • October 29, 2024

What is Loft Architecture?

by Don Koonce

Known for mixing spacious interiors, high ceilings, and often an industrial aesthetic, loft architecture has become synonymous with urban living. Whether you want to move into your own loft or seek design inspiration, loft architecture offers spaces that foster creativity and versatility. Let’s explore the history, significance, and defining features of loft architecture that fuel its popularity in cities around the world today.

History of Loft Architecture

Over the years, lofts have evolved from repurposed industrial spaces for budget-conscious artists into sought-after symbols of high-end urban living. Lofts, originating from abandoned warehouses and factories in big cities like New York and Boston, were first utilized by artists and innovators who turned these spacious industrial layouts into workshops and living quarters for next to nothing in price. With their utilitarian aesthetic, ample square footage, and sizeable windows that let in plenty of natural light, they were ideal spaces for the dual purpose of living and working. However, in recent years, loft architecture has shifted from utilitarian to more modern, luxury design.

Features of Loft Architecture

Loft architecture is all about maximizing space and embracing industrial features left behind by the buildings’ previous lives. So, along with tall ceilings, open floor plans, and large walls of exposed brick, lofts often also feature plenty of other industrial architectural and design elements. Elements like floor-to-ceiling windows, concrete and hardwood floors, exposed structural beams and duct or pipework, and large doors all contribute to the charm and functionality of loft architecture.

How to Maximize Loft Space

There are endless ways to design the inside of a loft apartment. But to truly make the most of your space, the key is to celebrate the unique features that define it as a loft while keeping both functionality and aesthetics in mind.

Here are a few tips to maximize your loft space:

Utilize vertical space, define areas, and invest in multifunctional furniture! By using the abundance of vertical space and installing bookshelves or cabinets, and by investing in multifunctional furniture like foldable dining tables or beds with built-in storage, you can maximize every square foot in your loft space. It also helps to organize your furniture and place area rugs in ways that define the different spaces within your loft and create a sense of separation.

Lean into the industrial aesthetic of loft living by incorporating industrial-inspired furniture such as metal stools or reclaimed wood tables. Many loft dwellers also enjoy showcasing the features that make lofts unique, like tall ceilings, concrete or hardwood floors, and exposed brick. Balance this out by complimenting your space with modern or minimalist decor pieces.

Personalization is the final touch to truly making any space feel like home. Try bringing your personality and creativity into your loft with artwork and decor that reflect your interests. Also, choose color schemes and lighting that create a positive, inspiring mood. These personal touches add character to your loft and help create a space that will bring joy every time you walk through the front door.

Real Estate News & Information • October 24, 2024

Housing & Economic Update: Numbers to know this month

by Don Koonce

This is the latest in a series of videos with Windermere Principal Economist Jeff Tucker where he delivers the key economic numbers to follow to keep you well-informed about what’s going on in the real estate market.

Hi. I’m Jeff Tucker, the principal economist at Windermere Real Estate, and these are the numbers to know right now.

2.4%

That’s the annual CPI inflation rate in September, meaning how much the Consumer Price Index climbed from one year ago. This was a step down from 2.5% in August, but it didn’t drop as much as the consensus forecast, which was expecting 2.3%.

Another data point here in red is the implied annual rate of inflation based on the monthly change: 2.2%. You can see that’s been more volatile, including some overheating back in Q1, but in general it’s been cool enough to bring annual inflation down.

Inflation has had a long, rocky path downward since it peaked at 9.1% in summer 2022. This is another step in the right direction, but still a little concerning that it’s not dropping faster.

Combined with the strong September jobs report I discussed last week, that means the Fed might be having second thoughts about how quickly they need to cut the Federal Funds Rate, especially after they started it off with a bang by cutting half a point in September.

Now there’s even some discussion of the Fed pausing on rate cuts at their next meeting in November.

In the meantime, the combination of renewed labor market strength and a slower cooldown in inflation, is enough to push up long-term yields, like mortgage rates, which brings me to the other number to know right now:

6.64%

That’s where the 30-year mortgage rate stood on Friday October 11th, according to Mortgage News Daily. It’s up about half a point from where it stood one month ago, although it’s still down about 1 full point from where it was at this time last year.

Looking ahead, for mortgage rates to resume falling, we probably need either some reassuring data showing inflation cooling down, or, would need to see more signs of labor market deterioration. Or both!

Interest rates went up so much because the economy was running hot, arguably overheating, for a couple of years, so now markets need to see more convincing evidence of a cooldown to get us out of that high-rate environment.

Real Estate Listings • October 22, 2024

NEW LISTING: Sophisticated, stand-alone craftsman in popular Highpoint

by Don Koonce

2809 SW Bataan Street
Seattle, WA 98126
Listed at $768,000

MLS #2300842
CLIP #4880015936
Beds: 3
Baths: 3
Size: 1,580 sqft

Sophisticated stand-alone craftsman in popular Highpoint. Traditional styling is beautifully appointed with understated, handsome finishes that support any personalized decorating choices. Classic covered front porch entry, expensive wood floors thru-out, cozy fireplace, creative easy-flow design open to dedicated dining rm, kitchen, stunning gardens & outdoor living space for comfortable entertaining. Towering ceilings, big picture windows push the sq.ft. to live large, all three bedrooms on the same level, Primary ensuite, mini-splits & A/C, garage off alley. A lot of perfect pairings here: Personal privacy, masterfully landscaped gardens, low maintenance living in friendly village setting a short hop from full menu of urban amenities. Just move in!

Go here for more information.

Buyers • October 17, 2024

Buying a Fixer-Upper

by Don Koonce

For some home buyers, a fixer-upper is their idea of a dream home. Preparing for the process comes down to creating a plan, knowing what to look for, and understanding what financing options are available.

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Real Estate News & Information • October 15, 2024

Local Market Update – October 2024

by Don Koonce

Local Market Update – October 2024

Our local real estate market has remained quite active so far this fall, with positive things happening for both buyers and sellers. Last month, every region in this report saw substantial year-over-year increases in the number of pending home sales. Residential inventory also rose in September, which is good news for buyers. And good for everyone was the continued decline of mortgage rates, which now hover about a point and a half below where they were last year. Meanwhile, sellers can take heart in September’s median sold prices, which held steady compared to August and were up compared to a year ago.

In King County, September’s median sold price for a single-family home was up 6% year over year, from $900,000 to $950,000, which is essentially flat with August’s median of $955,000. Sold prices seem to be holding steady even as the number of listings rises; September ended with 9% more residential listings than it began with and 28% more than a year ago. Pending sales were up 21% from the previous year, reflective of buyers taking full advantage of both growing supply and declining mortgage rates. The King County condo market saw increases in both median sold price – up 8% from $515,000 last September to $558,725 last month – and the number of active listings, which increased by 59% over the same span.

Seattle’s median sold price for a single-family home was $938,006 last month, up from $926,250 a year ago and $930,000 in August. September pending home sales grew by an impressive 28% year over year, still not enough to absorb the rising supply of residential listings, as the month ended with 18% more available single-family homes than it started with and 28% more than a year ago. Seattle condo prices were up 10% year over year, from $550,000 last September to $606,000 last month, even in the face of a 46% increase in the number of active condo listings over the same 12 months.

On the Eastside, the median sold price of a single-family home was $1,527,500 in September, up 7% year over year and down slightly from $1,550,000 in August. Pending home sales were up 16% from a year ago, while the number of active residential listings increased 7% from August and 10% from the same time last year. The Eastside condo market saw an interesting dynamic in September: median sold prices rose 11% year over year to $690,000, despite there being 93% more condos to choose from than there were a year ago.

Snohomish County saw September’s pending home sales increase 15% from a year ago but dip 11% from August. Last month’s prices followed these same trend lines, with September’s median residential sold price of $775,000 up 3% from a year ago but down slightly from August’s median of $780,000. By the end of last month, the number of active residential listings in Snohomish County was 21% higher than a year ago, but this inventory still only accounted for a relatively low 1.4 months of supply. County condo prices rose 6% year over year, from $498,500 to $530,000 last month, despite there being 53% more active listings than a year ago.

As we head into the cooler months, our real estate market remains relatively warm. Better mortgage rates and greater supply are creating a tentative balance between the ongoing seller’s market and newfound buyer confidence. To understand how these dynamics align with your interests and goals, reach out to your Windermere broker for real-time insights and expert advice.

More.