Restaurant Reviews • October 20, 2020

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Smarty Pants in Georgetown

by Don Koonce

Alan and I have been going to Smarty Pants in Georgetown for years, and it always seems to be a favorite for out of town guests. For many of our friends, a trip to Smarty Pants is a must-see on their Seattle agenda.

Smarty Pants has the classic biker bar atmosphere, which, in my opinion isn’t a bad thing, considering how much character Seattle has lost due to gentrification. It’s fun and relaxed, and they have a large patio with a cool back yard feel. Part of it is covered, which makes it a great place to eat during the COVID era.

They also have limited indoor seating as well as takeout, and are open for lunch and dinner, and brunch on weekends.

Smarty Pants has a fairly large menu of mostly sandwiches and salads, with more breakfast-y entrees for brunch. They also have a full bar along with beer, wine, and ciders.

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Buyers • CoBuy • October 16, 2020

COBUY SUCCESS STORE: Mom & Daughters Buy Home Together

by Don Koonce

I became a CoBuy certified agent so that I could help buyers that may have been priced out of our housing market. As a CoBuy partner, I’m able to focus on my client’s home search and offer process, while leaving the very important details of co-ownership to the experts in that area.

Once I learned about this mom and her two daughters, I was eager to help them find a home. They all work in healthcare, which I have a ton of respect for, especially now.

I arranged a Zoom meeting to meet with them and learn about their criteria for a home. Once I knew what they were looking for, I set up a unique MLS search and began sending listings. They would also find interesting properties and let me know which ones they wanted to tour, so I set up several tours and we saw lots of homes.

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Sellers • October 13, 2020

Dangers of an Overpriced Home

by Don Koonce

When it comes time to sell your home, determining its exact value can be a challenge. Naturally, homeowners want to get the most value for their home. However, if it hits the market at too high a price, it could cause serious complications in the selling process.

Attracting the wrong buyers

An overpriced home creates a kind of seller’s limbo that draws the attention of the wrong buyers, which is a surefire way to start your selling process off on the wrong foot.

A vast majority of homebuyers begin their home search online, especially during these days of social distancing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. If your home is overpriced in comparison to other listings in your area, it won’t appear in their search results. In this way, an overpriced home is blind to its intended buyers and actually drives traffic to nearby listings that are more accurately priced.

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Real Estate Listings • October 12, 2020

NEW LISTING: Modernized Queen Anne Condo

by Don Koonce

1312 6th Ave. North
Seattle, WA 98109
Listed at $324,000

SQFT: 450
Bed: 1
Bathroom: 1
MLS #: 1665854
Taxes: $2,884 (2020)
Year Built: 1986
Style: 30 – Condo (1 Level)
Views: Territorial

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From Don • October 6, 2020

How to Have Loads of Halloween Fun without Trick-or-Treating

by Don Koonce

With new Halloween guidelines just issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing that door-to-door trick-or-treating, indoor haunted houses, costume parties and “trunk or treating,” where children go from car to car to receive treats, are considered “higher risk activities” that should be avoided this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, here are 7 ways to have loads of Halloween fun without risking exposure.

pumpkin carving
decorating your house
hosting a virtual costume contest
having an outdoors Halloween scavenger hunt and having a “scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search” indoors with members of your household
small, outdoor costume parades
outdoor Halloween movie nights where attendees are spaced at least six feet apart
participating in one-way trick-or-treating that includes individually wrapped treats and social distancing

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Events • September 29, 2020

RESCHEDULED: FREE Recycling & Paper Shredding Event

by Don Koonce

DIY • From Don • September 28, 2020

Virtual Tour of Alan & Don’s Latest DIY Home Project: New Slate Covered Stairs & Patio

by Don Koonce

As the son of a building contractor, I developed a passion for home building and learned so much from my Dad about almost every aspect of the building trades. I eventually became an electrician, ran my own electrical contracting company for 10 years, and then purchased and remodeled two homes.

These days, my partner Alan and I stay busy making DIY improvements to our home in Seattle’s Rainier Beach, like the beloved garden we shared with you last spring, and—most recently—our new slate covered stairs and patio.

In 2018, we covered over the concrete patio with some gifted slate and then this summer Alan and I finished the stairs down to the backyard after pre-cutting all the tile in advance. It was quite the challenge but turned out great!

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Restaurant Reviews • September 22, 2020

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Southcenter’s Miyabi Sushi

by Don Koonce

I never expect much from strip mall restaurants, so I was pleasantly surprised the first time I tried Southcenter’s Miyabi Sushi many years ago.

Miyabi has a nice cozy atmosphere with booths, tables, and the sushi bar. Bonus: the bar stools at the sushi bar have backs and are actually comfortable.

We used to love to sit there pre-COVID because it is so fascinating watching the sushi chefs. They are artists! We have also found the staff in general to be very friendly and efficient.

Miyabi has a huge sushi menu and a large menu of entrees, salads, appetizers, desserts, and cocktails.

Personally, I like a few kinds of sushi, but I am not the best judge of sushi in general. That said, almost everyone that we have taken to Miyabi raves about the sushi.

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SOLD • September 20, 2020

Sold this Month: Immaculately Maintained Mid-Century in Burien’s Three Tree Point

by Don Koonce

16812 28th Ave SW
Burien, WA 98166

Listing Price $548,000
Selling Price $623,000

Immaculately maintained Mid-Century home in desirable Three Tree Point community. Many updates/new: PVC roof, 30 windows, appliances, covered patio & more. Open-concept kitchen & dining w/ floor-to-ceiling windows to backyard. Great floor plan & vaulted ceilings! Lower level daylight basement family room features 2nd fireplace. Large 2+ car garage w/deck above. Beautiful mature landscaped yard. Great location- scenic walk to public beach and trail. 200 sq ft attached studio w/utils not counted.

Giving • September 16, 2020

The Seahawks and Windermere Team Up Again to #TackleHomelessness

by Don Koonce

As the “Official Real Estate Company of the Seattle Seahawks,” all of us at Windermere are proud to kick off our fifth season of partnering with the Seahawks to #TackleHomelessness. For every defensive tackle made at a Seahawks home game this season, Windermere will donate $100 to Mary’s Place in support of their mission to provide safe, inclusive shelter and services that support women, children, and families on their journey out of homelessness. Mary’s Place has provided resources, housing and employment services to the homeless in the greater Seattle area since 1999.

Thanks to the Seahawks’ defensive efforts last year, we were able to donate $30,000 to Mary’s Place, bringing our grand total to $128,200 raised over the past four seasons. We look forward to raising even more this year!

Our partnership with Mary’s Place is in harmony with the mission of the Windermere Foundation—to support low-income and homeless families in the communities where Windermere operates.

You can follow our progress throughout the Seahawks season on our social media pages. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for updates. Go Hawks!