Who Lives in Seattle?

We have certainly seen many changes in Seattle in the past few years. The tech industry and growth of Amazon as well as many other companies  both tech and healthcare has created a population explosion and housing challenge for all of us here. Oh yes, and don't forget about the traffic problems.

The latest reports however show that Seattle is reaching some of it's density and transportation goals for downtown.

This infographic demonstrates how our commuters got downtown last year. This is certainly good news for other folks on the road as well as good news for the environment and downtown congestion.



Since 2010 downtown Seattle has added more than 60,000 new jobs.  We will certainly need more housing and will be grateful to have the new light rail links completed.

Here's to Seattle of the future!

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.

It's Moving Day!

Once you've bought and sold a house it's time to move. Now this can be fun or it can be a dreaded chore. You've change the utilities, you've checked the kids school records, you've made arrangements for the pets while you move. Moving day has arrived. After checking Pinterest and downloading all the moving checklists you think you have this move all organized and are ready. Then comes the first night in your new home. You did find the linens for the beds and the kids school clothes for Monday but oh dear, you didn't think about the first few hours in that new home. My solution is a moving day kit. All you need to do is head for Target or Fred Meyer or even the local drug store and buy a clear storage container. In this box add a few things that you know  you're going to need as soon as you arrive. Several of the items that I want in my kit are:

• Roll of toilet paper
• Hand soap
• Roll of paper towels
• A few trash bags
• All purpose cleaning spray or wipes
• A shower curtain liner
• Shampoo and conditioner
• A few snacks like granola bars
• Pain relievers
• Plastic utensils
• Paper plates, cups and bowls
• Box cutter
• Shower curtain liner

This box can be packed ahead of time and should travel in your car with you to your new home. Now at least you're ready with a few essentials to get the show on the road.