Real Estate Listings • September 20, 2024

NEW LISTINGS: Spacious Pike/Pine Unit + Upper Rainier Beach Bungalow

by Don Koonce

5733 S Gazelle Street
Seattle, WA 98118
Listed at $478,800

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 w/i 1mi. radius, from Light Rail to Launch-the-Kayak! Here’s your chance to work less, play A LOT. More.

1707 Boylston Avenue #101
Seattle, WA 98122
Listed at $429,800

MLS #2282361
CLIP #2510631346
Beds: 1
Baths: 1
Days on OneHome: 14

Uncommonly spacious 1bedrm main floor unit just steps to the Pike/ Pine Corridor. Upscale urban finishes, cork floors thru-out, granite kitchen w/ SS appliances & accents, liv/din easily expands onto private balcony for a fresh-air start to your mornings, end-of-day relaxation, or extra seating for guests. Building amenities incl. swank lobby entry, common rm, gym, secure parking, bike storage and a deluxe pet spa/ grooming station after visiting Plymouth Pillars off-leash dog park. Within a few blocks in any direction is nearly every conceivable variety of restaurant, entertainment, and cultural venue, or hop the Light Rail for longer distances. Strong HOA, high reserves & earthquake insur. This is the whole in-city package! More.

Design • September 19, 2024

Kitchen Remodel Must Haves

by Don Koonce

Many kitchen remodels are prompted by a desire for more storage, but there are plenty of reasons to want an upgrade. Whether your complaint is crowded counters, out-of-date appliances, or spending too much time cleaning up after a meal, there are ways to add functionality without sacrificing your aesthetic when you renovate your kitchen.

Storage

If you’re tired of finding expired food at the back of your lower cabinets or needing a step stool to reach items in the upper ones, roll-out cabinets and pantry shelves are a necessity. A roll-out garbage cabinet will keep trash and recycling cans out of sight (and smell). Be sure to use heavy-duty, reinforced hinges that can bear the weight of two, full cans.

Toasters, coffee makers, blenders, and air fryers can easily overcrowd kitchen counters. Appliance garages that hide away commonly used kitchen appliances now come in just about every configuration you can think of. If you love baking, you probably love your stand-up mixer even more. But moving it around can be a pain. Fortunately, installing a mixer riser into a lower cabinet is relatively simple and will put your favorite appliance right where you need it, only when you need it.

Cooking

Though some passionate cooks still swear by their gas ranges, induction cooktops have become all the rage for several good reasons. In addition to being easier to clean than gas stoves, induction cooktops are more efficient because all the heat they produce goes directly to your cookware rather than into the atmosphere of your home. And with inductor stoves, you never have to worry about dangerous fumes or open flames.

You don’t have to be an avid entertainer or the one who hosts Thanksgiving every year to reap the benefits from a double oven. Even cooking dinner for one or two people can be a challenge when you need to roast or bake things for different times or at different temperatures. A double oven fixes that, and it can improve efficiency if you prepare a dish using only the smaller oven since it takes less energy to heat up a smaller space. For extra user-friendliness, install the oven at counter height so you don’t have to bend over to pull out heavy dishes

Speaking of heavy… if your sink and cooktop are a bit distant from each other, a pot filler installed on the wall behind your stove could be a game changer. Say goodbye to heaving large pots of sloshing water across the kitchen!

For as long as microwaves have been around, people have wondered how to get them off their counters or make them appear more attractive. These days, microwave drawers are the new must-have kitchen upgrade. Instead of a door that swings open, the microwave is the entire drawer that slides out, and it can go in your kitchen island or along any cabinet wall.

Cleaning

Kitchen floors are notoriously difficult to keep clean. Between meal prep, quick snacks in front of the fridge, and near-constant traffic, crumbs and dust pile up quickly. If your home already has a central vacuum system, putting a vacuum slot in the kitchen makes clean ups a breeze. Simply sweep scraps into the slot—no more bending over with the dustpan. If you don’t have a central vacuum system, there are vacuum slot inserts on the market that use a traditional replaceable bag to collect what you sweep up.

If you’ve ever watched a mixologist or bartender shake up your cocktail and then place the shaker on top of a device that shoots up warm water to clean it, you’ve seen a glass rinser in action. Installing one in your own sink adds a touch of sophistication to your kitchen and makes cleaning glasses easier and more efficient, especially for those glasses that can’t go in the dishwasher or don’t fit on the top shelf.

It seems that a modern kitchen renovation isn’t complete until you’ve installed a large, single basin sink. There’s good reason for their increased popularity: more room to soak large dishes, easier to clean, etc. To really boost the usability of a single basin sink, consider adding hardware that makes it an efficient workstation. Drying racks, cutting boards, and colanders are readily available, easy to install, and will make your extra-large sink extra handy.

Real Estate News & Information • September 17, 2024

Will declining mortgage rates push up home sales?

by Don Koonce

Last week the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to its lowest level in 15 months, representing the single biggest one-week drop so far this year. Softening of mortgage rates, coupled with a recent increase in the number of local real estate listings, creates a welcome opportunity for prospective home buyers; their selection and buying power are both suddenly enhanced.

On August 8th, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported that the 30-year fixed rate had fallen to 6.47%, from 6.73% the previous week. It was the second straight weekly rate drop. The borrowing cost on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages also fell, from 6.34% a year ago to 5.63% earlier this month, incentivizing homeowners to think about refinancing. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s refinance index, refinance applications were up almost 60% from the same week in 2023.

Elevated mortgage rates have discouraged home shoppers across the nation in a housing slowdown that’s entering its third year. Recently the average rate for a 30-year mortgage has sat around 7%, which is more than double the average rate in 2021. The recent fall in rates is a sign of easing inflation and a cooling job market. If these trends persist, we can expect more refinance applications and higher refinance mortgage volumes. And if mortgage rates continue to drop, we may see more Seattle area homes and condos change hands in the coming months.

This post was based on information found on  Seattle Times.

Architecture • Design • September 12, 2024

Elements of Modern Farmhouse Architecture

by Don Koonce

Traditional Farmhouse architecture represents the history and the industriousness of rustic living. Clean lines, natural materials, and a focus on communal spaces are staples of farmhouse living that were ripe for a modern update. Modern Farmhouse architecture reflects elements of the traditional, but with 21st Century touches that make it especially attractive for today’s homeowners.

Rustic Wood

Because many farmhouses were just that—homes built for and by those who worked on the farm—they often used the materials that could be found nearby. The wood from trees native to the area would be used for both the interior and exterior. Since the people building the homes were mostly concerned with the functionality of the living space and speed at which they could put it together, they didn’t spend time sanding the wood to perfection or painting it, creating a rustic look and feel many modern homeowners desire. Exposed beams and reclaimed wood accents are signatures of Modern Farmhouses.

Clean lines

The simplicity borne from the need to build homes quickly and efficiently lent itself to the clean lines and minimalist spaces we see in both Traditional and Modern Farmhouses. From shiplap paneling to the often-symmetrical shapes of the home itself as well as its interior rooms, you won’t find arched doorways or curved walls in Farmhouses. Look for straight lines, gabled roofs, and large, square windows to identify a Modern Farmhouse.

Covered porches

At the end of a day of hard work on the farm, who wouldn’t want to sit on the porch, sipping something cool and enjoying the view of your property? Contemporary homeowners may define work differently than those who originally called Farmhouses home, but the appeal of spending lazy summer evenings is timeless. A large, covered porch is a telltale sign of Modern Farmhouses.

Muted color palette

Again due to the need to use nearby materials and keep things simple, Modern Farmhouses tend to use palettes that range from white to natural wood colors. Contemporary residents often break up the monochromatic tones with black industrial touches on items including light fixtures, bath and kitchen faucets, and accessories such as doorknobs and drawer pulls.

If the idea of a Modern Farmhouse style appeals to you, look for these elements as you search for homes or make plans to build your own.

Sellers • September 10, 2024

How to Improve Your Curb Appeal

by Don Koonce

When it comes time to sell your home, first impressions are crucial. Improving your curb appeal helps to make the most of a buyer’s first glance and sets the stage for their interest in purchasing your home. The following projects are simple and inexpensive ways to enhance both your home’s first impression and its value.

Landscaping

Lawn: A healthy, well-tended lawn goes a long way towards improving your curb appeal. Clean up all weeds, leaves and debris, and consistently water your lawn to give it that fresh green look. If you live in an arid climate, consider grass alternatives like artificial turf for the best lawn aesthetic.
Plant colorfully: Adding color variety to your front yard will grab buyers’ attention. Align smaller plants, like groundcover and flowers, neatly within your flower beds, aiming for symmetry when possible. Use larger plants and trees to frame in your entryway or walkup. If your front yard doesn’t have flower beds, try adding hanging planters or window boxes.
Lighting: Landscaping lighting boosts your curb appeal during nighttime, accentuates your shrubbery, and adds a welcoming touch for visitors as potential buyers, lighting the way to your door.

Porch

Front porches set the stage for all your home has to offer. Improvements here will play a significant role in how comfortable potential buyers feel about the property and how inspired they are to explore the inside of the house.

Door: Your front door is an opportunity to make a tasteful statement. Look at bold color choices that are within or slightly stretch your home’s exterior color palette. Take time to prepare the surface for a fresh coat of paint to make the color pop as much as possible. Try stylish doorknob options that accentuate the aesthetic to give your door some added flair.
House numbers: New and stylish house numbers are an easy, eye-catching touch to the look of your porch. Look for styles that match with your exterior color palette and any exterior lighting fixtures.
Go for comfort: Incorporating classic front porch elements like a porch swing, sitting bench, and other outdoor furniture gives a welcoming aura to the front of your home and creates a sense of comfort for prospective buyers.
Shutters: Windows are the gateway to the inside of your home. Shutters of delicate fabric will bring elegance to your front porch, while wooden shutters deliver a solid, cozy vibe.

Other

These miscellaneous projects will add the finishing touches to your home’s curb appeal and get it in prime selling condition.

Quick maintenance: Small chores and minor fixes like cleaning gutters, repairing chipped paint, and cleaning windows are important for buyers with a detailed eye.
Staining: Instead of replacing fences or garage doors, look into applying a fresh stain. This brings a refreshed look and is much cheaper than a full renovation or replacement.
Power wash: Power washing your walkways and driveways makes a significant difference in curb appeal. If buying a power washer is outside your budget, explore rental options from the big-name hardware stores.

Sellers • September 5, 2024

Deciding to Sell Your Home

by Don Koonce

Deciding when to sell your home can depend on a variety of factors. Perhaps your local market conditions are favorable to sellers, or you’ve recently changed jobs, or your family is growing and you need to upsize. Whatever the case may be, making the decision to sell your home is the first step in your selling journey.

Deciding to Sell Your Home

Once you know it’s time to sell your home, it’s natural to feel a wave of emotions. A home is an integral part of a homeowner’s life. They provide countless memories and, for many homeowners, are their greatest investment. But once you’ve decided to sell, it’s important to look at your home with an objective eye to appeal to a wide variety of buyers.

Which repairs should I make before selling my home?

To get your house in top selling shape, identify its outstanding repairs. As you fill out your list, separate the projects into categories which are DIY-eligible and which require a professional. This will help you to budget for your overall repair expenses and build a reasonable timeline. Some of the most important repairs to make before listing your home include fixing appliances, making sure your sinks and faucets work properly, repairing any cracks or holes in the walls, fixing all leaks and water damage, and ensuring that all systems in the home are functioning properly. Making repairs before you list your home will bode well for home inspections, negotiations, and can even give your home an advantage over other listings. Your agent may suggest a pre-listing inspection to make your home more competitive in a seller’s market.

DIY Remodeling vs Professional Modeling

Which upgrades should I make before selling my home?

When you sell your home, you’re inevitably competing against other listings in your area. The aesthetics of a house play a significant role in its ability to catch buyer’s attention, which emphasizes the importance of improving your curb appeal as you prepare to hit the market. Landscaping projects, new exterior paint, and upgrading your front entry are just a few ways you can spruce up the outside of your home.

And what about the interior? Consider upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, which are known for their high ROI potential. This is a great time to repaint your home’s interior as well. Consider using a neutral color palette to make it as appealing as possible to a wide-array of buyers. It’s also a good idea to identify rooms in which the flooring should be replaced or repaired. When remodeling your home’s flooring, choose a material that is within budget and has good resale value.

Working With an Agent

Listing agents are trained professionals who work with homeowners to sell their homes. Your listing agent will be there to answer any questions you may have throughout the selling process and will negotiate with buyer’s agents to get the best price for your home. But their value doesn’t stop there. A listing agent will list the home, coordinate showings and open houses, and market the home. When searching for a real estate agent, find someone with whom you are compatible both emotionally and professionally, and who cares about the goals of you and your household.

What’s my home worth?

Homeowners can get a general idea of how much their home is worth by using online home value estimators, like Windermere’s free Home Worth Calculator. Though these tools can provide some context behind the value of your home, nothing compares to the in-depth analysis of an agent’s Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). Using a CMA, an agent can accurately price your home to get it sold quickly.

For more information on your local housing market and how to sell your home, connect with a Windermere agent today by clicking on the button below.

Featured Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: Inside Creative House

Homeownership • Real Estate News & Information • September 3, 2024

You’ve Moved into Your New Home. Now What?

by Don Koonce

Congratulations on your new home! You made it through the arduous process that is buying a new home. Now it’s time to take on the task of moving in.

You did your research about the neighborhood and you feel like you know the home like the back of your hand. However, there are some things to do as you move in to protect your newest investment, and yourself, from the unknown variables in and around your home.

Change the locks garage door codes

Previous owners might have changed the locks, but they may not know who all has a key or a code to open your garage, especially neighbors who they trusted to watch their place while they were away. Changing the codes and locks on all the doors ensures that you have complete control over entry to your home.

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Living • August 29, 2024

6 Commonly Missed Cleaning Spots

by Don Koonce

It’s easy to get into a routine when cleaning your home season after season, year after year. While simply going over the same spots may make your home feel cleaner, at the same time, it allows the neglected areas to become dirtier. Here are six commonly missed spots around the home that, once given the attention they deserve, will help make your home feel completely clean.

6 Commonly Missed Cleaning Spots

1. Underneath & Behind Furniture

Dirt and dust love to hide in tough-to-reach, tucked-away spots like behind your nightstand, under your bed frame, and on the underside of your tables, chairs, and couches. Cleaning these areas may require some heavy lifting and rearranging but it’s worth your while. If enough dust and grime have accumulated over the years that your vacuum can’t remove the buildup, try using a washcloth to loosen the sediment.

2. Vents and Fans

Vents and fans not only collect dust, but they also distribute it around your home. Ceiling fans are one of the hardest spots in your home to reach, so you may need to use a ladder and an extended duster to clean them. Clean your vent grates with a dusting brush or a wire brush depending on the thickness of the buildup. If your home has central air, remember to replace your air filters periodically. A clean ventilation system is key to protecting your home’s air quality.

3. Bathroom Surfaces

We all know the feeling of picking up a rarely used shampoo bottle in the shower to discover a grimy ring underneath it. Wipe off your bottles and surfaces in the shower to keep it sparkling clean. Scrub away the debris from your shower head and soak it in a mixture of water and white vinegar to cleanse the device and to prevent a buildup of mineral deposits. To reach behind the toilet, you may need knee pads and an extended cleaning tool. Use a disinfectant-water mixture to prevent the spread of germs. Tackling chores like these will help make your bathroom feel brand new in no time.

4. Switches & Handles

Light switches, door handles, drawer pulls, and knobs are all hotbeds for germs and dirt and can easily be forgotten while cleaning your home. Take a two-step approach to cleaning these high-touch surfaces: first clean, then disinfect. Cleaning will get rid of contaminants, while disinfecting targets pathogens. The combination of the two will help make your home feel cleaner while reducing the spread of germs. Other high-touch surfaces such as keyboards, phones, tablets, and other devices require regular cleaning as well.

5. Appliances

It’s easy to think of your appliances strictly as devices that help your home stay clean and organized, but they are magnets for dirt and gunk, too. After cleaning out the refrigerator and scrubbing down the shelves, find the coils and clean them of debris with a vacuum or a brush. The floor underneath your refrigerator can be a seriously grimy spot, so a quick mop of that area is worth your while. Give your dishwasher a good cleanse to prevent mold buildup and bad odors. Remember to clean out the filter occasionally with soap and water. Cleaning your appliances routinely can help avoid repairs and can even extend their life expectancy.

6. Baseboards

Baseboards are the perfect settling point for dirt and dust. The space between your walls and floors is an easy trap for buildup, and upon closer inspection, you’ll find some combination of scuffs, dust, food remnants and scratch marks. To thoroughly clean your baseboards, you may need to move your furniture away from the walls but be careful not to scratch the floor or damage the baseboards. Wipe away the dust before cleaning the surface. Use either a mix of soap and water, water and vinegar, or the proper wood cleaner for wooden baseboards.

Living • August 27, 2024

10 Tips for Sustainable Gardening

by Don Koonce

Spring is calling and the flowers are in bloom. It’s the time of the year that many homeowners start spending more time in the garden. Having a healthy garden is one of the best ways to create a sustainable home and reduce your household’s carbon footprint. Here are some eco-friendly tips that will help to make your garden even more sustainable.

10 Tips for Sustainable Gardening

1. Compost Your Waste

Composting, which puts your natural waste to good use, is the cornerstone of any sustainable garden. All grass clippings, dead leaves, plants, flowers, and the like are rich in nutrients. By composting, you provide your garden with a natural fertilizer, free of contaminants. Not only will this provide nourishment, but it will also help to produce healthier and tastier food.

2. Mulching

If having a sustainable garden is your goal, it’s important to treat your soil with care. Mulching enriches the soil and ensures it’s as healthy as can be. Mulch conserves the moisture in your soil, ensuring it won’t dry out. It also reduces weed growth and naturally moderates the temperature of the soil. Mulching can cover either bare soil or freshly planted food and flowers.

3. Garden Design

It’s natural to want to accentuate the beauty of your garden when designing it, but the sustainable gardener will prioritize giving plants what they need. Take into consideration which plants need direct access to sunlight, which need the most space in the garden, and any special requirements a plant may need to inhabit optimal growing conditions.

4. Use Natural Weed Killers

One of the pillars of organic gardening is to reduce the use of chemicals whenever and wherever possible. Homemade recipes involving vinegar and corn gluten meal are effective substitutes for harmful, chemical-based weed killers. Whichever method you choose, it’s important to weed by hand often.

5. Use Water Efficiently

Substantial watering is critical to keeping your garden healthy, but overwatering is a common practice and leads to an unsustainable garden. Research the amount of water your plants and flowers need to make sure you aren’t overwatering. If you live in a rainy climate, rain barrels are a useful tool as their function is to catch and conserve the water from your downspouts.

6. Animal Manure

For a more sustainable garden and even healthier soil, consider adding animal manure. Chicken, sheep, and cow manure are all popular choices. Rich in nutrients, it can be used both as a fertilizer and as a soil conditioner. Make sure the manure you purchase is free of pathogens and ask about the recommended window of time from application to harvest before you begin using it.

7. Go Local

Planting natively is a fast ticket to sustainable gardening. Native plants are innately acclimated to local climate conditions, making them easier to grow and maintain. Native plants often require less water to grow due to their familiarity with the soil and rainfall in your region, which cuts down on your garden’s total water intake.

8. Collect Dried Seeds

Believe it or not, you can save your seeds and sow them next year. Wait until the seed is fully ripe before you collect it. It’s important to gather seeds when the weather is dry and to store them in a dry place. To produce healthy plants in the future, the seed must be completely dry.

9. Control Garden Slugs

Slugs are known to wreak havoc on gardens, eating through leaves and fruit, leaving a trail of destruction. There are many ways of controlling slugs in your gardens, but some may do more harm than good. If you choose to use slug bait, go organic. Many slug baits contain chemicals that are highly toxic to other animals.

10. Replace Your Gas Mower

How else can you reduce your garden’s carbon footprint? Replace your gas mower with a more sustainable alternative. Electric mowers and push mowers are functional and more eco-friendly replacements. For added sustainability, consider replacing your other gas-powered equipment, such as trimmers and leaf blowers.

Living • August 22, 2024

Decorating with House Plants to Match Your Décor Style

by Don Koonce

Interior design solutions come in all shapes and sizes. After all your furniture items, art, and other physical items are all in their right place, decorating with house plants can provide the perfect final touch. The best plants for your home are the ones that will thrive in your local climate while complementing your existing décor. Here are a few common house plants and their corresponding interior design styles to aid your decorating efforts.

Decorating with House Plants to Match Your Décor Style

Mid-Century Modern

Mid-century modern interior design is ubiquitous, and for good reason. Its simple concepts, open spacing, and emphasis on natural elements make it one of the premier interior design styles for homeowners and design experts alike. A Split-Leaf Philodendron, or “Swiss cheese plant,” is ideally suited for these interior spaces, and its signature leaf holes make it a visual focal point. Swiss cheese plants will thrive in open spaces with access to natural light, climbing toward the ceiling as space allows. For the same reasons, Fiddle-Leaf Figs feel at home in a mid-century modern aesthetic.

Woman watering a Swiss cheese plant from a watering can in her living room

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: funebre

Industrial

There’s an inherent give and take with industrial interior design in that it foregoes traditional elements that we associate with comfort for stylistic choices that create a strict-yet-visually appealing environment. Decorating with house plants can add vibrance to an industrial backdrop of wood, steel, brick, stone, and copper without compromising the edginess of the style. Both Snake Plants and Cast Iron Plants will harmonize with an Industrial space. Both are low-maintenance plants that mesh well with materials that evoke toughness and durability.

Minimalist

The combination of minimalism and house plants is a match made in heaven. Given minimalism’s focus on the reduction of waste and clutter and the importance of bringing the outdoors in, all signs point toward decorating with house plants. Being selective about which plants you include will keep everything in line with the fundamental concepts of minimalism—too many plants and things would easily feel off balance. Large-leaf plants are a perfect solution for minimalist decorators, such as Rubber Plants, Bird of Paradise, and Silver Evergreen.

Comfortable chic living room with Traditional interior design style features, like neutral color pallet with wood and wicker accents, is expertly designed with large houseplants next to the couch

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: Liudmila Chernetska

Farmhouse

The Farmhouse interior style prioritizes cleanliness and an inviting spirit. Its white-washed backdrop of whites, grays, and beiges makes it a fitting canvas for the lush green additions that a selection of house plants can provide. Spider Plants work well to fill shelf space, which come in both solid green and white-striped varieties. These plants are easy to take care of and thrive in partial sun or shade. Aloe Vera plants in the kitchen can refresh the look of your shelving or counter space.

Modern farmhouse living room with a large grey couch, a coffee table, a fireplace, and big windows, with large wooden beams across the ceiling

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: xavierarnau

Traditional

Homeowners with traditionally styled interiors have a whole host of options to choose from. Any classic plant species will complement its traditional surroundings, but more specific choices can bring out the uniqueness in your home. If your decorations are rife with patterns and geometric shapes, perhaps a fern or Amazon Lily would help to balance the room. Bamboo may be a natural fit for your home depending on your existing décor. If you’re looking for a hanging display to fill empty wall space, consider Devil’s Ivy.

As always, research the watering and sunlight needs of a house plant before bringing it into your home. For more on decorating with house plants, be sure to read our room-by-room guide:

The Best Indoor Plants for Every Room

Featured Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: Tanya Paton