Design Trends Due To COVID-19

 

All of us have felt the impacts of the current pandemic. It's altered our lifestyle and our wants and needs. 

In the current real estate market, I'm seeing people looking for different amenities in their homes. Instead of wide open spaces, people are now looking for spaces they can use in different ways. Builders and people remodeling now want flex spaces in their homes. These spaces can be used for things like exercise studios, home offices, a place for school and studying and more. 

People are also looking at ways to reuse the space in their homes. Maybe that dining room could be used for online schooling or a laundry room might also make a good arts and crafts area. 

Good air quality, storage and more outside space is also more important to todays homeowners. 

Have priorities in your home changed? What would you most like to add to your home?

Make Your Home Shine For Buyers

I've created a short video to share tips and tricks about making your home shine for buyers.

If you would like to have more conversation about this or any real estate subject, please contact me. 

D. Lisa West

Dlisa@dlisawest.com

206.694.0610

ADU's and the City of Seattle

In 1988 when I bought a house that was previously a duplex (after WW2 Seattle eased housing restrictions to allow apartments in homes, as there was a housing shortage then). In the 80's and 90's Seattle cracked down on the "illegal' MIL apartments, and I had a hard time getting two garbage cans and two recycling bins so my tenant and I could have separate cans. The city came to "inspect' the house and the regulation was you could have a family member live in your apartment in your home, not a stranger, so there must be an interior staircase connecting the two units and if there was a second kitchen, there could be no stove, in fact the city made me remove my range/oven.

fast forward to now: OK to have both a MIL and a backyard cottage, and OH! they can cook while they live in your basement or backyard...

For more information on this current Seattle regulation, here is a article that was published recently by Curbed Seattle

Daylight Saving Time

Washington State is trying to join the states of Arizona and Hawaii and no longer observe daylight saving time. For many years, there have been other bills proposing the permanent switch to permanent standard time like we use in winter. If the law passes this time, it will go into effect on the first Sunday in November following the effective date of federal authorization. If congress does not authorize the revision, legislators are proposing that the state seek approval to change Washington to year around Mountain Standard time which would have the same effect.

Apparently studies show that about 400 lives are saved due to more light in the late afternoon hours when more people are up and out.

It is estimated that there would be 20% less crime because the preferred working hours for criminals would be reduced due an hour less of darkness.

It would improve the well being by avoiding disruption in schedules.

Opponents say they don't like the idea of children standing in the dark waiting for buses as the sun would rise at 9 am rather than 8 am.

If you count out the months however, we do spend 8 months of the year in daylight saving time and only 4 months in regular time.

 The federal Uniform Time Act followed in 1966, instituting a nationwide daylight saving time, but allowing states to opt out as long as the entire state (or the entire part of a state that’s in a given time zone) does so. That exemption allowance is what could let Washington and other West Coast states make this change.

What do you think, would you like to eliminate daylight saving time?

Clock Hour Video Class!! Press and Record!

Guess what, I'm also now a licensed Real Estate Instructor and I'm teaching my first class about making a video on your phone December 6th from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm.

Content will include best practices of shooting engaging video and also include helpful information such as editing video and types of video that you might shoot for your audience. I'll also talk about how to market your video.


It will be held at:

Windermere Wall Street office
2420 2nd Ave,
Seattle 98121.

Parking is available at 3rd and Wall (we'll give you a parking pass). Cost is $25 for 3 clock hours. You can pay at this link.

PAY FOR CLASS HERE.

I hope to see you there.

HQ2 and Amazon and Seattle Housing

Many of us here in Seattle have been waiting for the news about the new HQ2 for Amazon. The bigger question has been how it will impact Seattle housing costs. Now that the locations have been announced, it appears that Seattle housing will probably not be impacted in the near future. Both New York and Virginia have housing costs that are equal to the Seattle area and both areas also have state income taxes as well as high corporate taxes. Most current employees will not be moving for cheaper housing. The real draw in both cases is most likely the access to talent. In Seattle Amazon has 8,200 jobs listed but there were only 3.200 people in King County actively searching for jobs. Amazon is still hiring here in Seattle and is planning to continue expanding in Seattle and in Bellevue.

The good news about the housing here in Seattle continues to be more inventory and dropping prices. We're starting to see a more balanced market and this will make a better market for buyers in the new year.

Staging Your For Sale Home

If you've been looking for a new home to buy, no doubt you've been in lots of homes already. Did you think about how you felt about the house when you walked in? Do you know why you liked or didn't like that home? Curb appeal is certainly a contributing factor but how about the furnishings.

A homeowner who is selling their home wants to appeal to as many people as they can. How can you do this in your home? The easiest way to help those potential buyers "move in" to your home is by removing your personal belongings. Help those buyers envision this house, as the perfect home for them, the one they've always wanted to lived in. You don't want to sell the house with your "lived in" look but instead, stage your home with neutral belongings. A staging professional will remove the clutter and create the sense of a warm, inviting atmosphere.

This is a good time to appeal to the emotions of a home and the neighborhood. Who will most likely buy your home? Is it a single person living in the city or is more likely to be a growing family? Maybe it will be a couple or friends so think about how your home fits into the neighborhood.

Fresh paint, designer furniture and accessories meant to appeal to the perfect buyer will enhance your homes appeal. This is a best reason to use a staging professional when you sell your home.

Remember that you can control the message your home displays to potential buyers. Make it the best that you can and let's chat about the benefits of using a staging professional.  ~ D. Lisa

Do You Have or Want A Smart Home?

Do you have or want a smart home? Maybe you're confused about what a smart home is. Basically, it's a home that has some automation. You have products in your home that have an internet connection so you can control the devices with your phone, tablet or computer. Sounds complicated doesn't it? The devices are not complicated to operate but do seem a bit magical.

Several common smart devices that you might have heard or know about are things like the Nest Thermostat for your furnace. You set this thermostat to control the heat in your home, schedule when it should come on or go off, when you want the heat to come on if you're away from home and even if you want it to gradually turn up the heat so your home is warm when you get up. If you have set the thermostat to be off during the day when you're at work or school, you can log if from your phone if  you will arrive at another time of day and have the heat come on or off for that days schedule. Very handy, fuel efficient and cost saving.

Another smart device you might have in your home are smart plugs. These plugs work in a similar fashion to the thermostat. You plug them into an outlet, plug your lamp, radio or item you want to control into the smart plug and then use the corresponding app to control the time of day you want the lamp to come on, go off etc.

Did you know that you can also buy smart light bulbs? Same principle here, put the bulb in your lamp, control from the app on your phone. Some of the smart lights also can produce different colors on the light spectrum, so white during the day, maybe blue at night or any other color you choose.

When the Amazon domes opened this week, did you see how they controlled the roof opening in the roof with Alexa? So yes, there are also devices like the Amazon Echo or Google Home. These devices can turn on lights, play music or answer questions or other actions of your choosing.

There are also smart door bells, security cameras and more.

So yes, the smart home is the wave of the future but it's also here today. Of course there will continue to be smart devices added and still more that are available already so imagine what else you would like to see and maybe it's already in the stores for you to buy.

Seattle Music

Seattle has been known as a town where we have great tech companies, but we also have music, opportunities and some great local bands. On our office blog, there is a post about great local bands and musicians to add your playlist. Check them out, do you have a favorite or is there one that you think should be added? I know that art is subjective but these names keeps popping up. Give them a try and let me know what you think. 12 Seattle Bands and Musicians.

Seattle Real Estate Market

For those of you watching the Seattle real estate market, the increase in home prices is not a surprise. It's been in the news for many months and now has made notable headlines by being nearly double in increase of the next closet contender. Seattle is at +13.5% and Portland at +7.6% What are your thoughts? Is this good news or difficult news? I suppose it depends on if you're selling or buying a home or even just watching the property tax bill go up.  Let me know what you think.

If you want current information on what your home may be worth give me a call or get in touch. I'd love to have a conversation with you.

Places To Visit

I can't believe that it's almost May and now I'm thinking about places that I want to visit this summer.

I just found a very cool list about some great ice cream stops in the eastern part of the state. While I'm dreaming about summer, I just might make a trip east of the mountains to visit some wonderful sounding ice cream stores in Spokane, Pullman, Yakima and even in Ellensburg. In fact a trip to Ellensburg makes a great day trip. Here is a link so you too can read all about these yummy sounding places. The Ice Cream Trail.

What Color Paint Should I Use?

We all know that one of the simplest ways to update a space is with a can of paint. The question remains however about what color of paint to use. If you're selling your home this is an especially important decision.

One of the first things you should do is to research your area and see what other people are using. Look at the homes for sale and see what colors are being used in areas like kitchens and dens. These will be great colors for you to consider.

Did you know that all colors have undertones? All grays have a tint to them like blue, green or even purple. This is true for all colors. Make sure that the color you choose doesn't highlight something you weren't planning on.

Your paint colors should enhance the colors in the room that are part of the fixed materials.  Pay attention to the wood finishes, countertops and tile.  These fixed materials will probably not be changed. Don't pick a color that will compete.

Now let's think about the finish. Do you want a semi-gloss or a matte finish. Semi-gloss is the most durable but it will also show imperfections in your walls. A matte finish is less durable but can hide some of the imperfections.

When you choose a color remember that colors can create emotions. A bedroom should be calm and relaxing so you might want to choose a warmer tone that makes the room feel cozy. A color that's more energetic can be used in the kitchen.  Cooler colors can make a room look larger and warmer colors can make a room look smaller.

When you choose an outside paint color, choose one that keeps in character with your neighborhood. Using tones of tan, light gray or beige can make your home look larger.

Warm colors are inviting and can give a home a little more character but bold colors may turn buyers away. Keep the ceilings and trim white to five things a clean, fresh look.

Daylight Saving Time 2017

This weekend is the change to daylight saving time.  Yes, we get the pleasure of moving those clocks ahead an hour. For so many this can be a challenge. Who likes to crawl out of bed an hour earlier? It certainly can take a few days to make the adjustment.
This semi-annual ritual however is also the perfect time to change the batteries in the smoke alarms and the CO alarms in your home. As you put fresh batteries in these safety devices, you can also look forward to the sunny warmer days that are just around the corner.

Best Time To Sell Your Home?

When is the best time to sell your home?

For many sellers this is question of the day. The number of homes for sale in Seattle is near a 10 year low. When there are fewer homes for sale there are more buyers competing for each home. Currently the interest rates are also rising which makes buyers nervous about finding a home and wondering if that home will even be affordable. This has created a fervor in the market place with buyers wanting to make their purchase quickly. The end result is homes that are selling far about the list price.

So where does this leave buyers and sellers? Spring and the second quarter of the year is typically when we see the most inventory in the market. If you don't have your home ready to list, or are still thinking this might be a good time, now is a great time to find out. Call me today and let me create a Market Analysis to help determine the current value of your home. We can talk about the best time for you to sell your home. Maybe summer or even fall is a better time for you and in this market where the inventory is low, any time will be a good time if your home is well priced.

Interesting People

We all love to meet interesting people. Just what is it that makes one person more interesting than another however?

There have been many conversations about this topic. Some people are just naturally interesting but you can also learn to become more interesting.

Several things that I love about interesting people is their passion about specific subjects and their quirkiness.

Usually interesting people have interests in something outside of my expertise or experience. Maybe it's old sewing machines, or new technologies. It might even be something like how many different kinds of Hummingbirds there are in Washington. I had no idea there were four different types that called Washington home.

I also love their quirkiness and their willingness to not hide the fact that they are unique. So many people try to hide the things that make them different. This can be with clothes, ideas or even lifestyles. I know a woman who got tired of her hair color and although she is well about the age of senior citizen, she now sports a short vibrant purple hair style.

As I'm learning new things this year, I'm going to try and meet more interesting people and listen to their stories.  I'm sure that I will have some things to share with my friends as we move through the year.

Getting Organized

Getting organized always seems like a great goal for the beginning of the year. Sometimes it's a challenge however, to know where to begin. This year I'm starting with a new goal of cleaning off the desk and keeping it clear. Here are a few of the tools that I've decided to use.

Of course the standard pencil holder is good and then they are all contained.

 A paper planner. I do use my phone but like the visual reminder of a paper planner.

The third thing is file folders. With many transaction, personal documents and art related documents, there is always paper around. Files are good. And well labeled files so I don't have to search very far.

How about you, what are your organizing goals for 2017?

Anti- Burglary Tips

At all times of the year we're concerned about theft and burglary from our homes but during the holiday season this seems to be even more of a concern. There are some specific things that you can do however. 

1. Maintain your property. This is especially true during the winter when it's easy to ignore the overgrown yard and maintenance that you might do when the weather is nicer. You want your home to look like it's occupied so pick up the fallen branches and sweep the walk.

2. Get to know your neighbors. This is especially true if you're going to put your home on the market or have guests, or will be going out of town during the holidays. You will want your neighbors to know if there should be people in and around your home.

3. Use Technology to make your home look occupied. Use timers or smart technology to have the lights go on and off and music playing. 

4. Remember to lock your doors. Although this seems like a standard practice it's always surprising to me how many people think they live in a safe neighborhood and don't need to lock the doors.

5. Check your homes vulnerability. Walk around the outside and think about what you would do to get in if you were locked out. Is there a window lock that needs to be fixed? Or a door that doesn't shut all the way?

6. Don't forget about lighting. You want to have good outdoor lighting as well as indoor lights. A criminal doesn't want to be seen so make your doors and windows are visible with good lighting. 

7. Mark your valuables and keep records of the details. You can use a sharpie, invisible pen or engravers to mark your belongs and remember to take pictures of the them. 

So be aware and be thoughtful about your safety and the safety of your home and you will be have less vulnerability for a residential burglary. 

Newcomers in King County

According to a recent article in the Seattle Times, the population in King County now compromises more out of town residents than native Washingtonians. Am I surprised? Well no I don't think so. We have seen a large influx of people moving to Seattle and the outlaying areas because they have landed jobs in the tech industry. I recently read that tech jobs here pay approximately $10 more per hour than in other areas. While this has been great for the local economy it has also had an impact on those of us who live here. The biggest impact has been in affordable housing. People are moving farther out into the suburbs and even leaving the city and the state. Although this movement has not been going on long enough to call it a trend, we do expect that it will continue as Seattle continues to grow and the tech industry remains strong.