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.

Smart Homes

Smart Homes are all the rage these days and not without good reason. It can be nice to be away from your home and look at an app on your phone to check in on the security cameras. It might feel a bit creepy inside your home if you're there and you know that someone is watching you but  what a great way to monitor the exterior if you're on vacation or even just away for an long day.

There are also thermostats like the Nest. This thermostat will learn your habits and you can even turn on the heat remotely when you're on the way home.

Samsung has a "Smarthings"  product list that features many products with smart sensors. Water leak sensors, small appliances and lights can all be controlled with your smart phone.

Let's not forget the Amazon Echo and Google Home.  These devices can do many amazing things such as playing games, ordering items from the internet and controlling items in your home.

I'm not sure that I need a device in my refrigerator to tell me what I need to buy at the store but I know there will be many new uses of  this technology.  It's hard to remember life before smart phones and that was only 10 years ago. What changes will the next 10 years bring?

Have You Used Houzz?

With the internet accessibility increasing every day and the popularity of smart phones and tablets it's no wonder that we're seeing more more websites offering advice and services, DIY information, sales, home deliveries of food and drink, dating services and more at the click of a finger. One of the websites that has become more popular in the past several years is a website called Houzz, They have many design ideas for a home owner. Once you've created your account you will have an opportunity to save ideas to an idea book. You can search for vendors, photos, search by rooms, and even looks for stories and advice. For homeowners or renters or just interested parties this is a great place to collect ideas and information for your home resource. Do you collect ideas and save them in the cloud? Do you use Pinterest and Instagram for your search? Houzz might be another website to consider.  Houzz

Art to Heal

Artists for Life is the artist partner program for First Aid Arts . They bring hope and healing to trauma survivors.


I learned about this program through a buyer of a home I had listed last year. It's a great program. We know that being in the creative part of the brain is healing.

Whats new at the Pike Place Market

Read about the expansion:























http://pikeup.org/

This shot is from the top of the West Seattle bridge. Seattle traffic, it seems is getting a bit challenging. Did you know you can check out Seattle traffic at these websites?

http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/seattle/default.aspx

http://www.king5.com/traffic/

The Thank You Economy

I've been reading this book, The Thank You Economy by Gary Vaynerchuk, and thinking about reading and connecting with people online and off. He has many great ideas in the book, including this: "the person who posts a negative comment is a customer you can talk to." (page 71)

I recently sent a comment to a man who makes soap locally, about his new packaging. His company: Ballard Organics. His soap, my favorite: Ubermoist.

This is what I said to him:




"I am a huge fan of your soap, which I found originally at the Ballard Sunday market. I recently was very disappointed to not find it at my local store. I was shopping at the Ballard Market.

I wanted to find Uber Moist.

I looked and looked and decided to by an alternative brand, which said it was FRAGRANCE FREE, hoping that would do.

I was AT THE CHECKOUT counter before I realized it was your soap, and Uber Moist.

The new packaging had me completely lost. I can't read the Uber Moist without a serious squint or my glasses. I miss the old package,and really don't like the shiny paper. It looks like the kind of paper that is coated and not recyclable.

A fan"

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AND TO MY SHOCK, this is what he said back:  "Can't please everyone I guess."

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On his site, it had a link for feedback. I think it should say, positive feedback only.

Some Home Remodeler's Blogs to look at

Lauren and Kyle Zerbey from Seattle

Morgan Satterfield in Hemet California

Vilde in Norway

Anna and Evan Dorfman in New York's Hudson Valley

NO BLOGGING about bad real estate photos

New rule from the NWMLS. Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

NO BLOGGING! Check this box, if you allow blogging. I am not allowed to give my opinion on a blog about anyone's property. What? Well, here is my favorite worst photo of the day. I won't say what house it is from, because it's a good representation of a million bad photos. Really...people! Hire a professional photographer. Please.

Geoprene

New Wet Suits, not rubber. Better technology. By Matuse.





I recently went to Westport to watch some people surfing. Lots of wet suits on bodies. Sunny day, but we all know that 56 degree water is COLD.

Real Estate Open Houses

Really, do open houses sell real estate? No. However, we can see them online easier now, due to a much deferred idea to share open houses online that aren't simply the open houses of individual companies. Read about it here:

Sewer Warning

This sign warns of sewer overflows in heavy rains...let's see. It's in Seattle! Swimming, anyone?

Here is what the city says about this issue: read this

Banks, money and all that

Here is a little peek into a neighborhood bank branch's weekend remodel.

This article in DWELL magazine talks about some great green buildings and project frog.

Polaroid Cameras

I was thinking of technology the other day as I took a Polaroid photo of a friend to make a kitchy calendar for the refrigerator, with a tiny premade calendar stuck on below it, and a magnet on the back.

I bought that camera in 1987 when I was in Real Estate and a new agent in Seattle. We would take our data (printed on dot matrix printers, and cut with a paper cutter) and glue them on to a page. Above the data about the homes that we were comparing, we would add a photograph.

If we had time, we would take the photos with a 35 mm camera, and then have them developed and glue them above the data. If we didn't have time, and were in a rush to get the information to the client, we drove through neighborhoods, taking Polaroid photos and gluing them onto the top of the page...

My daughters said, "You know, mom, they are going to stop making Polaroid film. Everything digital now." I realized I've had the camera for 21 years. It was a very good 25 dollar investment.