Today's Home - Summer 2015

Supplement to the Federal Way Mirror, Auburn Reporter, Covington Maple Valley Black Diamond Reporter and Kent Reporter

Today’s

Home

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Is A Career in Real Estate Right for You?

By Susie Horan I have run Career Nights for over 25 years and have introduced hundreds of people to the career of selling real estate. I have hired people new to the business and I have trained them to be very successful. It is so rewarding to see someone join our team, hit the deck running and find success quickly. For others it may take more time but we have the training and support to help them win at this new career. This is a business of passion.

People who have the passion don’t mind working evening and week-ends. They are helping people make major life decisions both emotionally as well as financially. It is a labor of love.

I have a Career Night once a month at our Federal Way office. I tell people “I am going to share with you in one hour everything that you need to know to make a good decision about whether or not a career in real estate is right for you.” I don’t try to sell people on the idea – it has to be a fit for them. But I do give them information about how to get their real estate license, how much it cost to get started and how much it cost to stay in the business. I talk about our extensive training program and then I share the tools that you need to be successful in real estate.

Since we are a full service company, for our clients as well as for our agents, we provide all of the

Susie Horan, Manager and Marketing Director, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate, standing by the readerboard at their Federal Way office.

tools including a personal website for each agent that shows all of the listings in the Northwest Multiple Listing Service as well as a Mobile App that they can give to their clients to easily search for properties from any mobile device. Fifty percent of today’s buyers search for homes from their mobile device and we’ve got that covered.

We have a fabulous 65 page Marketing Plan that agents use to share with sellers everything that we are going to do to market their home and give it maximum exposure. And finally, I show some of our automatic stay in touch tools including a “What’s Active, Pending, and Sold in Your Neighborhood Report” that goes out automatically to clients wanting the report.

At Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate we have 7 offices in the greater Puget Sound area that have regular Career Nights.

They include offices located in Kent, Bellevue, West Seattle, Lynnwood, Burien, Puyallup and of course Federal Way. On our Real Estate Career website www.realestatecareer.org we answer many of the questions that people considering a real estate career want answered as well as providing a portal to register for our next career night seminar. The dates and times are on the website. We even have “Career Night on Demand” for those people whose schedules do not match our Career Night dates. We also have a special program for veterans providing financial help so that they can get started with a new career in real estate. If someone has a particular question on any aspect of getting started in a real estate career they can contact our Career Resource Center at 253-765-2355. Or email me at susiehoran@ bhhsnwre.com. I am happy to answer any questions.

Susie Horan has been in real estate management for over 30 years in the South King County area. She is also the Marketing Director for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate Merges Oregon and Washington Offices for a Total of 26 Offices in the Northwest

By Susie Horan In January of this year the eight Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate offices in Washington merged with the 18 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate offices in Oregon creating one company covering both states comprising 26 total offices with over 750 agents.

This merger moved the company ranking to number 10 among the 1100 national Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices offices. The newly formed Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices franchise, launched in the fall of 2013, now has 37000 agents, 1100 offices and is in 47 states. This year the franchise started a global

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expansion as well. Mike Gain, President/CEO, of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest offices, who just attended the Berkshire Elite Circle Awards meeting in Washington D.C., said “I am excited about the future of real estate and the future of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate. 2015 is already off to an incredible start.

Buckle up! It will be a good ride for many years to come.” With historically low interest rates and a growing economy he added “Anyone who can buy a home today at today’s prices with today’s low interest rates should do it. In my opinion, prices and monthly payments will never be lower than they are today.”

Today’s Home

Mike Gain, President/CEO, of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate SUMMER 2015

Julie Siegler 253-653-8540

Kyong Kwon 253-332-5388

Kai Jensen 808-636-3138

Sandi Kleist 253-332-2342

Cindy Lucas 206-714-9716

Cindy Smalley 206-841-5321

Jae Chung 253-224-9347

Cris LeCompte 206-595-7422

Crystal Elvig 253-545-1322

Meg O. Harrison 253-961-3613

James Smith 206-290-6387

Dawn Dube 206-396-8926

Denise Tholl 253-740-6986

Bob Almeda 253-377-5600

Jim McConville 253-229-4510

Duane Coleman 206-818-1706

Elizabeth Waloweek 253-217-6173

Darlene Nguyen 206-288-9119

John Valentine 206-399-4732

Florence Ong 253-347-0510

Jan Glenn 253-261-3025

Jasmine Santana 206-422-5618

Joan Hanson 206-949-4811

Joy Urakawa 206-669-6828

Julie Horton 206-300-0400

Karen Stevenson 206-251-6200

Larry Davis 206-949-3434

Laura Slankard 253-569-0698

Leon Lyman 253-639-3350

Lisa Kimball 253-223-7444

Lorelei Windhorn 253-569-1058

Connie Sprickman 253-350-6122

Tom Brunner 253-332-7400

Paulette Pedersen 253-297-3479

Roxanne Kurosky 206-890-9801

Tami Wooding 253-221-6945

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Kathy Gendron 253-332-6300

Adam Arzino 253-720-6297

Alex Clark 206-307-5683

Cathy Jacobs 206-755-4840

Chuck Barrios 206-841-9101

Good to Know

®

©2015 BHHS Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Suzanne Cheney 253-740-4168

Barbara Geraghty 253-332-1924

Don Donat 253-380-2612

Robin Stanko 206-853-3030

Gayle Miller 206-795-6284

Miky Hyun 206-941-9821

Mary Schultz 253-529-0843

Robert “Bear” Carper 253-222-0831

Marilyn Maras Cade 206-963-5300

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Shari Song 206-790-9044

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Susie Horan 206-227-3900

Charlotte Carper 206-601-6821

Alison Pedersen 253-569-6964

FEDERAL WAY .................................... $545,000 Panoramic views of Puget Sound and the Olympics with private beach access in this well-designed Dash Point home. 253-9464000. #20781367

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Teresa Lyman 253-709-0913

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Zdenka Kalezic 206-407-4404

Today’s Home

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Tips to Set Up a Great Home Theater Room (StatePoint) These days, home theaters are particularly popular rooms in many houses, and are even viewed as selling points. In fact, this trend has become so popular that eight in ten builders now offer home theater prewire, according to a study from the Consumer Electronics Association.

By following some tricks of the trade, you can add excitement to your living room or create a superior home theater space.

Immersive Visuals To capture the stunning visuals you see in the theater, consider a projector that can create a more immersive experience for gaming, movies, concerts, and sports. Be sure to select one with a fully connectable interface, including three types of video and audio inputs, as well as HDMI, RGB and RS-232C terminals.

A projector lets you replace an ordinary TV with a larger screen, and if you choose a light one, it can even be moved around from room to room. For example, weighing in at just five pounds, Casio’s SLIM projectors are thin and compact, require little setup time and provide maximum brightness in as few as five seconds to put you into the action in no time. The SLIM series of LampFree projectors offers an estimated 20,000-hour lifespan with minimal brightness degradation and continuous operation, outshining conventional projectors requiring mercury lamp replacements. More information is available at www.

CasioProjector.com.

And experts also stress that projectors can be economical, as the cost per image area is less than with traditional televisions.

Powerful Sound

Easy Comfort

You want powerful sound that can move you, but not so loud it moves your home’s foundation.

Most experts agree surround sound is best. You will need at least four speakers and a subwoofer. And don’t just place speakers on either side of your screen. Create an equilateral triangle, with the right and left front speakers as two points and your primary seat as the third point.

Meaning, if you are seated seven feet away from the screen, your speakers should be seven feet apart from each other and angled toward you. Place them at the same height as ear level.

Seating is just as important as incredible visuals and powerful sound to create the perfect home theater atmosphere.

Think of seats as primary and secondary. Primary seating is for family or friends who use the space regularly.

Secondary seating is used when you have that huge party for the big game, a new movie or an awards show.

Some prefer dramatic theater-style seating with classic flip-up chairs and built-in cup holders. Others like recliners or sofas on which they can lean. Just make sure every seat has an unobstructed view and no seat is too close to speakers.

Top Time-Saving Tips for Household Chores (StatePoint) On average, people spend more than two hours daily on such household activities as cleaning and organizing, according to the 2013 American Time Use Survey by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. But there’s no need to spend the bulk of precious free time achieving a spotless home.

Here are a few tips for making once tedious chores easy and effective.

Clean Kitchen The kitchen often attracts the most mess. However, cleaning as you go can keep it looking spick and span.

Fill your sink with hot soapy water when you start dinner.

Place used pots, pans and dishes in the filled sink to soak while you eat. Never give sauces, oils or spices a chance to sit around -- wipe up spills immediately.

Cleaning a dirty oven is easy when you line the bottom with a nonstick oven liner. Simply wipe the liner with a paper towel, place it in the dishwasher and reuse -- no additional scrubbing required.

Bacteria can feed on food put down the drain and on what’s left on dishes, according to a study conducted by Dr. Charles Gerba, a.k.a. “Dr. Germ.” Your dirty kitchen sink has more bacteria than your toilet seat and is actually the prime place for E. coli to live and grow. To sanitize your garbage disposal, pour one half cup of baking soda down the drain followed by one cup of white vinegar. Place the stopper in the sink and allow the solution to work its magic for a few minutes. Rinse with boiling water.

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Spotless Bathroom A regular vanity wipe down is a must, but an additional way to keep these areas looking spotless is with the right fixtures. Some faucets now feature Microban antimicrobial protection built into the faucet finish, a technology that helps inhibit the growth of stain- and odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew. For example, the new Moen Vale collection, available at The Home Depot, features Microban as well as Spot Resist finish, which helps resist fingerprints and water spots to maintain a brilliant finish.

If you have a cloth shower curtain, throw it in the laundry, then hang it outside to dry. Bathroom humidity can make fabrics look limp quickly, so swap out towels frequently for a fluffy and fresh look.

De-Cluttered Living Spaces According to a recent survey, 28 percent of consumers said they only straighten up a few times each week. The survey, conducted by Moen, also found that most homeowners don’t strive for a perfectly organized home; but they would if there was more time available to devote to organizing.

To find more time, conduct a five-minute sweep of the house nightly before bed, taking a laundry basket with you.

Place anything in the basket that doesn’t belong in that particular room, and then put the basket contents back in their proper place.

By regularly taking a few moments out of your week to clean and organize, you can easily have a fresh feeling home with minimal elbow grease required.

Today’s Home

SUMMER 2015

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SUMMER 2015

Today’s Home

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Three Good Reasons To Kill A Plant When was the last time you killed a plant – on purpose? Other than those pesky weeds, we make heroic efforts to keep our plants alive, protecting them from pests, and feeding and watering them to help them thrive. But occasionally, the best thing you can do for your garden is to kill something. In my world, not all green things are sacred; it’s alright to hurry the demise of a plant if a greater good results.

and well-intended, but sometimes, misinformed plant selections.

Take a serious look at your garden, and consider the possibility that it may be time to ‘kill a plant.”

Some things to consider: 1. Wrong plant, wrong place. Plants can’t read nursery tags so there are times they may not perform the way they were intended. Plants that are covering windows, overpowering surrounding landscape, sending out invasive roots, hopelessly out of shape or blocking important views need to go.

2. Failure to thrive. If a plant is not happy in my yard I will attempt to help it thrive. But don’t spend too much time and money on it. No matter how great a plant looks on the internet or in a neighbor’s yard, if it does not thrive in my yard is has to go.

3. I don’t like it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. No matter how enthusiastic the local garden guru is about a plant, it has no place in your yard unless you love it. Have a plant you just don’t care for taking up space in your garden? Let it go and replace it with something you love.

And then there was life.

Unlike a sculpture or other works of art, gardens are not things we conceive, create, and declare “done.” Gardens area work in progress. Change is driven my evolving personal taste, changing needs,

FIND

YOUR

TWO

Celebrate that last trip to the compost bin with a visit to Branches Garden Center. We will help you find the perfect plant that will thrive in your garden and you will love for years to come. At Branches we can give you hundreds of reasons and dozens of ways to NOT kill your plants. We are here to help you

PERSONAL

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enjoy a yard that is lush and thriving and a place you will enjoy. Together we will bring your garden to life.

While at Branches you will want to explore our huge gift shop brimming with gift ideas, home décor, clothing, jewelry, framed art, fountains, and so much more.

PARADISE

YOU

320th & Military Rd., Federal Way, WA 253.941.7705 • Federal Way Commons Mall (Next to Starbucks Coffee) 253-736-4644 • branchesgardencenter.com

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Today’s Home

SUMMER 2015

Welcome to Tile Lines…

What project are you working on?

We’re a family-owned retail tile and stone showroom located in Kent, Washington. We provide a wide range of quality products to homeowners, designers, and contractors from Seattle, Tacoma, Kent, Renton, Auburn, Federal Way, and the greater King County area. We have a great selection of porcelain tiles, granite and marble tile for floors and countertops, travertine tiles for showers, floors, and backsplash projects. We can help you order solid surface countertops in granite, marble, and quartz. We have many decorative glass, metal, and stone tile and mosaic options on display. In-store designers can assist with ideas and product selection and answer many installation-related questions. We stock many installation supplies, including thinset mortar and grout, as well as shower waterproofing kits such as Wedi and Schluter Kerdi. Unlike the big box home improvement stores, we deal exclusively with tile and tile products; so we have consistently better selection, better information, and better customer service. Stop by today and see what’s in store!

Over 1OO,OOO tile options, and we’ll help you find the perfect one.

Our new retail showroom is open to homeowners, designers, and contractors.

We offer complimentary in-store design assistance and professional installation advice.

Stop by to see thousands of products: from durable floor tiles to sleek shower tiles, from decorative accents for kitchen backsplashes to beautiful granite, marble, and quartz for your countertops...

Whether you plan to install your new shower, floor, or backsplash yourself or if you’re just supervising, we have the experience and the knowledge to guide you through your project!

S Kent Des Moines Rd Willis St

253.872.0449

Open Mon–Fri 7:30–5:30, Sat 9–5

HWY 167

1531 Central Ave S Kent, WA 98032

Tile Lines

info@TileLines.com

S 277th St

TileLines.com

Auburn

Central Ave S / E Valley Hwy / 83rd Ave S

Downtown Kent

Facebook.com/TileLines

Pinterest.com/TileLines

Twitter.com/TileLines

Houzz.com/Pro/TileLines 1320949

SUMMER 2015

Start your Project & Get Inspired!

Allow us to guide you through your next tile or countertop project! Whether you need a kitchen countertop with a coordinating backsplash or are replacing your bathtub with a walk-in shower, we can provide installation advice, design assistance, and one of the biggest selections of tile and stone in the Northwest.

We offer complementary design assistance! Our talented staff can help you choose the right tiles, countertops, and decorative pieces to fit your style and your home. We also have numerous in-store design boards, product samples, and idea books that can help with the design process.

Frequently Asked Questions about our Products: Why can’t I buy any products on your website? Tile and stone can look extremely different on a computer screen than they do in real life. We strongly recommend you see the color and feel the texture of a tile in person before buying. Choosing a product that you’ll live with for 10+ years without seeing it in person is like buying a new car without taking it for a test drive!

We may, in the future, sell non-design items such as thinset and tools on our website and have them available for delivery or in-store pick-up. Subscribe to our quarterly email newsletter, to keep up to date on our latest website and product developments.

I found a tile/stone at another store. Can you order it for me? More often than not, yes! We work with over 30 different tile distributors, hundreds of tile manufacturers, and can order over 100,000 tile and stone products. Contact us with the name of the product and when and where you saw it, and we’ll be able to tell you if we can get it and how much it would cost.

However, if a man-made product has been discontinued, is exclusive to another retailer (such as a Home Depot or Lowe’s), or is unavailable in our region, we might not be able to order it.

When looking for natural stone products from several different sources; so even if Company A stopped carrying a product, Company B might still have it.

We always recommend seeing a sample of the current batch of any natural stone material in person, due to the high variation inherent in the product. The stone sample you saw three months ago might look very different from a current sample from the exact same company or quarry.

I have a tile I’m trying to match, can you help? We’ll certainly try! At least once a week, a homeowner comes to us with a broken piece of tile from a damaged shower or an old floor and asks if we can order it or something like it.

Occasionally, we can track down the manufacturer and order more of the exact same tile.

But if the tile is out of production or completely unavailable, we’ll let you know up front and recommend alternatives.

Submitted by Darrell Helbling, owner of Tile Lines, website www.tilelines.com.

Today’s Home

7

Drywall Recycling

Keeping used gypsum out of the landfill Almost 30 years ago, the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) in British Columbia, Canada, became one of the first jurisdictions in the world to ban the disposal of gypsum from landfill sites. With this ban came opportunity. In an effort to ensure that no gypsum ever made its way to a landfill, Tony and Gwen McCamley established New West Gypsum Recycling, Ltd. (NWGR) in 1985. Over time, a highly-efficient process was developed to pulverize the gypsum core and remove the backing paper, leaving the recycled gypsum ready for use. This process – now patented – is the cornerstone of nearly 5 million tonnes of gypsum material that NWGR has recycled to wallboard manufacturers. The recycled material is a consistent, quality blend of pre- and postconsumer gypsum material that is a readily available source for use in the manufacture of new drywall products. Since 1990, NWGR has been expanding its processing capabilities. We have been operating in Washington State since then. NWGR has developed methods of recycling the paper backing for re-use in many different applications. NWGR has streamlined their processes and business model and has

expanded around the globe. Today, NWGR has well over 100 people employed at plants world-wide. NWGR is the most efficient gypsum recycler today – not only can we recycle dry gypsum, but we are experts at recycling wet gypsum.

Our goal is that no gypsum material ever ends up in a landfill. Since there is no product degradation during the recycling process, gypsum is an infinite re-use material. NWGR works with recycling associations, green building associations and governments to educate and bring awareness to industry stakeholders so that landfill does not have to be a choice for gypsum.

The paper backing material is baled and re-used or repurposed, any post-consumer materials, like nails or screws, are culled from the gypsum recycling process and moved through a separate recycling stream.

As a business, our primary imperative is the re-utilization of materials. The bottom line is we care about the environment and want to do our part to help make responsible decisions to positively affect where we live. We are relentless in our efforts to educate public and private sectors about gypsum recycling. Today, NWGR plants have capacity for 1 million tonnes of mate-

rial per year – and we challenge ourselves to grow that number. We will continue to invest in technology to gain process and quality efficiencies as well as cost reductions.

The ideal solution for gypsum material is a closed-loop re-utilization of the material. That is, recycled material is returned to the wallboard manufacturer to re-enter the wallboard manufacturing process.

NWGR offers a closed-loop sustainable solution that ensures gypsum is not ‘lost’ as it is with composting or land spreading. Gypsum can essentially be recycled forever with no degradation to the material. NWGR’s philosophy keeps gypsum material in the supply chain, reducing the need to extract virgin material which helps to preserve valuable, natural resources for generations to come.

Construction waste management guidelines are documented in every green building program. NWGR provides documentation and an audit trail to certify recycling of gypsum materials for participants in programs such as LEED. NWGR has a proven business model – it’s worked for almost 3 decades. We have strong relationships with wallboard manufacturers who have consistently grown the recycled content of their wallboard products. NWGR is so confident in our business model and solution technology that we offer risk mitigation to wallboard manufacturers. Our process

model is tried, tested and true. Since the beginning, we’ve never had a load rejected.

We continually work with the wallboard manufacturers on process improvement and our modular equipment allows for efficient technology evolution. An essential part of our process is human ability – hand sorting before processing assures the highest quality feedstock for manufacturers.

Our business model dictates that a maximum percentage of gypsum material bound for recycling is post-consumer. That is, material that is diverted from landfill from building renovations and new construction (off-cuts). In order to efficiently collect this material, NWGR utilizes existing transfer stations at key locations surrounding the recycling plant locations.

In some instances, NWGR has built their own transfer stations in particular regions.

We recognize that this is not our primary business and would prefer to partner with companies who are adept at that business model. Material brought to transfer stations is typically pre-sorted at that location prior to the gypsum wallboard material being transported via waste haulers to the recycling facility. Additionally, for construction sites and large project sites, wallboard dedicated waste bins can be made available on-site and once full, transported directly to the recycling plant.

Drywall Recycling Continued on Page 11

Whether you call it Drywall, Gypsum Wallboard or Sheetrock, its all 100% recyclable to us!

190 F Building, 8657 South 190th St, KENT, Wa Mon-Fri 7 am-5 pm

Documentation for LEED certification available!

$55/Ton

New or Used

“A product designed for your safety and made to be infinitely recycled into new gypsum wallboard!”

8

No min or max Open to the public Credit cards accepted

Office: 800-965-8870

www.nwgypsum.com

Today’s Home

SUMMER 2015

Why Customers Choose ProTect Painters?

We are ProTect Painters, a full-service, interior and exterior painting company. We believe in helping others fully realize the pride and joy of home ownership.

We, not only treat our customers like family, ProTect Painters treats your home like it was our own, by finding the right color that represents you and your space.

We’re professional painters that never cut corners in delivering unparalleled quality - YOUR home is our showcase.

What makes ProTect Painters different? We always do what we say we are going to do! We’re proud of the Top 5 reasons why customers choose ProTect Painters:

1. Gift of Time: ProTect Painters manages the entire project from beginning to end.

2. Upfront Pricing: A detailed plan. No hidden costs.

3. Color Consult: Our painting professionals provide the right color for your surroundings.

4. Flexible and Reliable: Experienced in working with your schedule.

5. Communication: Always knowing what’s happening and when.

Terry & Jeanette Koubele

ProTect Painters of Federal Way & NE Tacoma 253-561-8493

Chuck Reger

ProTect Painters of Covington 253-200-3272

Exterior Painting Preparation Tips for Home Owners Prep and Painting You can make prep work go quickly and smoothly by doing some prep of your own. The following is a helpful checklist to follow to ensure your home’s exterior is ready prior to the ProTect Painters professionals arriving at your home.

Pressure Washing

• Trim back landscaping to allow painters close access to siding and trim • Move items, such as potted plants and/or lawn furniture, to allow close access to siding and trim • Make sure water spigots are in good working order for pressure washing • Close your windows on pressure washing days • Check window sills for water after pressure washing is completed

Transform your home with a new coat of paint!

e When you hir ou rs, y ProTect Painte wing can relax kno ing be your home is able li cared for by re ls! professiona

• Have paint colors selected approximately one week prior to scheduled painting • Move items, such as potted plants and/or lawn furniture, to allow close access to siding and trim • Ensure that the painters will have access to electrical outlets • Designate a safe area where the crew can leave their ladders and miscellaneous equipment • Coordinate your painting plans with other potential tradespeople working on your project • Reschedule lawn service and turn off sprinklers while your house is being painted • Unlock windows on the days they are painted – it is necessary to open and shut • Ensure access to doors that will need to be painted, as they may need to be open for several hours on the day they are painted Call TODAY for your free estimate!

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• Top Quality Materials • Environmentally Friendly • Exterior/Interior • Dependable Scheduling • 100% Fully Insured

Call today for a free estimate SUMMER 2015

LOC ALLY OWNED & OPERATED

1-888-497-2468 ProTectPainters.com Today’s Home

9

Silhouette® Window Shadings diffuse sunlight to create soft, beautiful illumination.

A room exposed to the sun’s harsh rays.

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Silhouette® Window Shadings help you manage incoming light on long summer days. Diffuse harsh glare into a soft, gentle glow. Filter damaging UV rays, while preserving your view. Tilt the vanes from open to closed, and create your perfect light. Ask for details.

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118 Railroad Ave S Kent WA M-F: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Sunday Closed 253-852-2517 www.pugerudesblinds.com

Follow Us At Facebook *Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 7/18/15 – 9/14/15 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. A qualifying purchase is defined as a purchase of the product model set forth above in the quantity set forth above. If you purchase less than the specified quantity, you will not be entitled to a rebate.

Offer excludes Nantucket™ Window Shadings, a collection of Silhouette Window Shadings. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim receipt. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 7 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. © 2015 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved.

All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas. SUM15MB3

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7 Home selling mistakes you can avoid Buying a new home can be an exciting process, but first you have to sell your current home. Here are seven selling mistakes you can avoid to expedite the process, adapted from the National Association of Realtors®.

1. Ignoring sales prep. If you are eager to move, you might skip the needed steps to properly prepare your home for sale. Take the extra time to paint, make minor repairs, and do a deep cleaning.

No time? Hire professionals to do these tasks for you. –Ask your Realtor® for their professional advice!

2. Failing to disclose necessary information. It is important to be honest about your home’s trouble spots, even if they’re hidden from view and might not be identified during an inspection. Mention leaks, needed repairs and replacements, flooding issues, and any other problems that could cause a new homeowner problems later. The WA State Law-Required Seller Disclosure Form will guide you through this process.

3. Pricing your home too high. Work with your Realtor® to identify comparable properties and unique selling features, and set a reasonable and fair

price for your home. Pricing too high, allowing the listing to linger on the market can actually do more harm than good. –Not to mention bring you much frustration!

4. Ignoring curb appeal can be costly if your home’s exterior turns away potential buyers. “A pictures says a thousand words”.

5. Not working with a Realtor®. Selling Brokers affiliated with the National Association of Realtors® have additional skills and training and pledge to uphold the industry’s highest ethical standards.

Confirm you’re working with a true Realtor®.

6. Failing to depersonalize your home.

You may love your home “as is,” but a potential buyer wants to be able to envision him or herself there. Store your photos, artwork, collectibles and other personal possessions. –Again, your professional Realtor® should be a huge asset, using their “buyer’s vision” while assessing your home, furnishings & décor.

7. Being unprepared for next steps.

An experienced Realtor® can help you understand and prepare for the complexities and contingencies that go along with selling a home.

– Marti Reeder

Marti Reeder REALTOR®, Broker, CRS

Your Award-winning South Sound Real Estate Broker.

206-391-0388 marti-realtor.com

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Drywall Recycling Continued from Page 8 NWGR’s recycling facilities are capable of processing an average of 25 tonnes of blended wet and dry gypsum drywall material per hour. Current capacity for each plant is 100,000 tonnes annually.

To date, we have recycled nearly 5 million tonnes of gypsum drywall material.

Combining all recycling facilities, NWGR has the capacity to annually recycle up to 1,000,000 tonnes of gypsum drywall material. All of our recycling facilities are built in close proximity to or are co-located in a manufacturing facility. This helps to reduce our carbon footprint relating to transporting material. As well, since we are in such close proximity it helps to strengthen our relationship with the manufacturer.

2. The raw material gypsum waste is loaded into a large feed hopper, which feeds the waste onto a sorting belt where a quality control agent can sort through the material to ensure suitability for the manufacturer’s feedstock. A conveyor belt then moves the material under an electromagnet which removes minute ferrous metal fragments.

3. The material is then conveyed to an enclosed processing area that separates the paper line from the gypsum core.

4. The recycled gypsum is conveyed to drywall manufacturers, where it is blended with virgin or synthetic gypsum to make new wallboard.

5. The paper is further processed prior to recycling for use in a wide variety of applications.

6. Any metals collected enter a separate recycling stream.

Recycling Process

Environmental

Recycling Facilities

New West Gypsum Recycling receives pre-and post-consumer gypsum waste, reconstitutes the materials into useful products and provides the raw material for new manufacturing. Our successful business model incorporates agreements with wallboard manufacturers that secure a strong supply and demand for the gypsum material.

Acceptable materials from construction, deconstruction or reconstruction sites and scrap from drywall manufacturers include: • Waste drywall board material • Strip-out gypsum wallboard products • Construction off-cuts Gypsum moulds from porcelain manufacturers are also accepted at our recycling facilities.

Waste wallboard and gypsum goes through the following general processing stages: 1. Inbound wet and dry loads of waste wallboard product are dumped on the NWGR plant’s tipping floor and handcleaned (pre-sorted) of metal, plastic and other debris.

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Recycled gypsum combined with raw gypsum produces desirable consistency levels in the manufacture of new gypsum-based products. Recycling and re-using gypsum material will reduce the need for virgin raw material.

The business model for drywall manufacturers using recycled gypsum is compelling – they save by paying a low fee for disposal of their manufacturing scrap and they lengthen the useful life of their gypsum mine resources. With virtually no capital investment, manufacturers are helping to conserve natural resources while responsibly endorsing sustainable processes and products.

NWGR works with recycling associations, green building associations and governments to educate and bring awareness to industry stakeholders so that landfill does not have to be a choice for gypsum.

We are proud of our people, our plants, our partnerships and our commitment to an environmentally responsible business framework. We will continue to invest in technology to gain process and quality efficiencies as well as cost reductions. We ARE Gypsum Recycling.

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How to Keep Your Gutters from Clogging Take a good look at your home. See the area that your roof covers. It’s as large as your home. Your roof is designed to keep all the water out of you home. If your roof is working, you’ll stay dry and comfortable. At least inside.

Now, take another look at your home, see the gutters?

They’re designed to catch all the water that hits your roof and move that water away from your home. Why? The answer is both simple and complex. So let’s go with the simple answer. Water can actually destroy your home. In Washington State our climate causes us to deal with lots of water and a large amount of small debris.

Other than catastrophic injuries that you may sustain from falling off a wobbly, sliding ladder, you’ll know that you’ve saved the hundreds of dollars that a gutter cleaning service might have charged. And like a trip to Vegas, you’ll know that ‘you’ve beaten the odds’, since falls from ladders around the home are in the ‘top five’ lists of causes of accidental deaths. You might ask yourself if the risk is worth the reward?

If everything goes well, you can take comfort in knowing that if you don’t live anywhere near Pine, Fir, Cedar, Hemlock or other Evergreens you may not have to clean them again for a few months. If you do have a home near Evergreens, be prepared to repeat the process at least three to six times a year.

keep all the stuff but water out of the gutters. All the stuff, not just some of the stuff.

Reverse Curve Leaf Guards and Helmets and others like them…

Systems with a gap in the front simply can’t keep all the small stuff out. The first patents for this type of product were issued in 1906 and very little has changed from this concept since. Small debris flows right along with the water and into the gutters. Even if these ‘reverse curve’ product marketers promise to clean your gutters for free when they clog, be aware that clogged gutters can do great damage to your roof, fascia, foundation and more and it can happen quickly.

Hire a Gutter Cleaning Service.

Debris like Pine, Fir, Cedar and other small debris like roof shingle grit will be swept into your gutters along with the water. When your gutters are filled with debris or the downspouts aren’t working correctly your gutters will clog. The result can be damage to your home. And that damage may cost thousands of dollars to repair.

In a typical year, your roof will catch enough water to Yes, you can grow things in an open gutter. But, you fill a large swimming pool a few times over and that water shouldn’t. may carry millions of small pine and fir needles all moving with the water rushing into your gutters. This debris forms a lattice and may block your downspouts from draining the water from your gutters. Think of a kitchen sink, just a small amount of debris can clog the small drain at the bottom of the sink. The drain from the gutter to the downspout is smaller than the size of a softball. So it doesn’t take much to clog your gutters.

How to Keep Your Gutters from Clogging Here are several ways to keep your gutters working.

Clean them yourself.

People do it all the time. Basic equipment needed: a ladder, a bucket, a good pair of gloves, and a scoop to pull up the muck and debris, a hose and fresh clean water and a good bit of luck. It takes just 6 to 10 hours and with any luck, and barring injuries you’ll have the pride A romantic viewyou’ve of gutter cleaning. of knowing that safely completed one of the most Actually it’sfilthy muchand more messy and home maintenance dangerous, troublesome dangerous. jobs there is.

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Perhaps a better choice versus self-cleaning. There are some good ones, gutter cleaners that are licensed, bonded and properly insured with lots of experience but they don’t come cheaply. They know the risks and difficulties of doing the job right. Unfortunately, there are also many ‘gutter cleaners’ who are not licensed, bonded and properly insured with little or almost no experience. This type of cleaning service is a disaster waiting to happen.

If they fall or get injured, it could be your home owners insurance thatcan they’ll file a things claim against. could wind Yes, you grow in anThey open gutter. up suing you too, as ridiculous as that may seem. You’ve shouldn’t. heard the stories of burglars who were shot by homeowners while they were in the act of looting a home. Several have sued the home owner for inflicting injuries on them.

It just doesn’t seem right, does it?

if you do hire a professional cleaning service, ASo, romantic view of gutter gutter cleaning. you’ll save yourself from injuries. And if you live near lots Actually it’s much more messy and of Evergreens, you should prepare to see these pro gutdangerous. ter cleaners often. The more stuff that falls on your roof, the more that will enter your gutters. To mix metaphors, if you don’t just ‘want to sweep the dirt under the rug’, you’ll have to have your gutters cleaned three to four times a year to keep them in top condition. Remember, it’s your gutters job to protect your home from water damage and it’s a full time 24/7 job. Stuffed gutters just won’t cut it. After just a few years, you could well spend more on gutter cleaning than you’d spend on a real gutter protection system.

Install a Real Gutter Protection System There are over one hundred brands of Gutter Protection on the market and all promise to keep your gutters from clogging. A few of these systems work very, very well. Most don’t. Especially here in The Evergreen State, the trick is to

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But, you

A full reverse curve type system can cost more than twice as much as a PineBlock gutter filtration system and yet reverse curves fail to keep out all the debris, all the time.

Stainless Steel High Tech Gutter Filtration Now considered ‘the state of the art’ in Gutter Protection these products do keep all the stuff out of your gutters.

Some even keep the water out too. Whoops!

Some of these filtration products use the cheaper 304 grade of stainless steel which is far less corrosion resistant than the 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel used by the best makers of gutter filtration. Some of these products use a plastic base that can warp in high heat and are also installed almost flat. Flat installation is like creating a shelf on the gutters that can hold tons of unsightly debris right on the filter. And while some of these marketers promise to ‘give you your money back if your gutters ever clog’, they won’t guaranty that the filter itself won’t clog!

And sometimes their filters do clog, and then not even the water can get past.

The inventor of PineBlock, Alex Higginbotham, holds 9 U.S. Patents and is the acknowledged authority of filtration technology. He is the inventor of brands you may know such as LeafFilter™, LeafSolutions™ and now PineBlock. He states that PineBlock is the best performing gutter protection product with more filtering technology than any other product. And PineBlock warrants that your gutters will never clog nor will the PineBlock Filter. It will work, day after day, year after year. And nothing but water will ever get in your gutters. Best of all, he says, “I invented PineBlock for the average family to be able to afford.” It’s the best product value on the market. Check out the competition and see PineBlock last for the whole, true, story.

SUMMER 2015

You Don’t Have To Be Smart You Don’t Have To Be Smart To Buy PineBlock To Buy But ItPineBlock Helps.

But It Helps.

The Volkswagen 64 Beetle was awas classic.

The Volkswagen 64 Beetle a classic.

PineBlock is the Gutter Protection.

PineBlock is VW theofVW of Gutter Protection.

It wasIt inexpensive. was inexpensive.

It’s costs farfar lessless thanthan similar It’s inexpensive. inexpensive.It It costs gutter products. products. many filtration gutter protection

It lasted almostalmost forever.forever.

It lasted It handled everything nature nature could hitcould it It handled everything hit it with.

with.

What it lacked in beauty it made up for with What it lacked in beauty it made up for brains.

with brains.

It cost far less than other cars.

It cost far less than other cars.

People who owned one, were considered PeopleWise, whoinowned very smart. fact. one, were consid-

ered very smart. Wise, in fact.

Protect your home from water damage from clogged or overflowing Save thouProtect your home fromgutters. water damage from sands onorhome repairs.gutters.

And never have to clogged overflowing Save thoudo thaton dirty, dangerous sands home repairs. and And thankless never havejob to of your gutters again, ever. docleaning that dirty, dangerous and thankless job That should your makegutters everybody of cleaning again,happy. ever.

That should make everybody happy.

(TM)

It It keeps everything but It lasts lastsalmost almostforever. forever.

It keeps everything water out ofout your Everything. but water ofgutters. your gutters.

Everything.

It’s inexpensive. It costs about half of similar It’s inexpensive. It costs far less than gutter filtration products. Oh, did we say that?

many gutter protection products. Oh, did

PineBlock is the finest filtering Stainless Steel we say that? technology on the market. People who select PineBlock is the Stainless Pine Guard are verybest smart.

Wise, inSteel fact. tech-

nology. People who select PineBlock are very smart. Wise, in fact.

Of course, if you want to spend twice as much on gutter protection, don’ttosay that twice we didn’t warn on Of course, if you want spend as much you.

PineBlock you’ll out of gutterWith protection, don’t saykeep that everything we didn’t warn your and our high priced out you. gutters With PineBlock™ you’ll keepcompetitors everything out of of your your wallet gutters and our high priced competitors And you canwallet. use the savings for a nice vacation. out of your

And you can use the savings for a nice vacation.

GUTTER PROTECTION

Call 425-333-7677 or visit Call 425-333-7677

Twice the Value, Half the Cost.

www.PINEBLOCK.COM or visit www.PINEBLOCK.COM

TheMost MostAdvanced Advanced Micro Filtration FiltrationCONTRACTORS LICENSE #: PINEBI*851JB The

© 2015 PINEBLOCK,INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

© 2015 PINEBLOCK,INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

SUMMER 2015

CONTRACTORS LICENSE #: PINEBI*851JB

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Licensed, Bonded and Insured

Licensed, Bonded and Insured

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Getting Set to Sell: Which Home Upgrades Matter Most?

(StatePoint) Whether you’re preparing to sell, or just looking to increase your home’s value, it’s important to think about strategic upgrades -- and not just how; but where to remodel.

Here are a few ideas to help you prioritize home remodeling endeavors.

Create Curb Appeal

Imagine walking up your driveway as a potential buyer.

Does the exterior leave a lasting impression? Begin the process of preparing your home for sale at the front door by creating an inviting entryway that will entice potential buyers even before they step foot inside. Adding a pop of color to your front door will make a statement, and changing out the hardware fixtures will update the look instantly.

Cleaning up your lawn, power washing siding, and planting trees, bushes and flowers are simple ways to invest in your home’s curb appeal. Lining the walkway with solarpowered lights is also a nice touch.

Update the Bath

Bathrooms and kitchens are the most popular renovation projects, with the greatest number of consumers concentrating their attention on the bath, according to a recent Houzz and Home survey of homeowners.

When remodeling, focus on details that can quickly update the space, such as installing quality fixtures. As you

begin the selection process for new bath fixtures, consider those with a timeless style that will be appreciated by you and a wide variety of home buyers. For versatility, check out the Wynford collection from Moen, which offers a wide range of faucet options and finish choices.

Increasing storage, along with a few other fixes, can add thousands of dollars to your home’s value, according to a Bankrate.com report. Key updates improve both the look and functionality of the bathroom. Try adding storage or installing a new shower curtain rod. A curved shower rod, such as those from Moen, can add up to an additional seven inches of space in the shower.

A Little Clean Up

More than two out of five real estate professionals rank dirt, smells and clutter high on their list of costliest homeselling mistakes, according to a recent survey by Consumer Reports. Smells could indicate a serious problem in the home, such as mold or mildew.

Use a dehumidifier to dry out damp areas. Also, have your carpets and drapery professionally cleaned on a regular basis, especially if you have pets. If your home could use a deep clean, it might be worth investing in a professional service.

Concentrating on essential repairs and easy updates can instantly change the perception of your home and help you make the most from your sale.

4 Time and Money Saving Home Improvement Projects (StatePoint) When you began shopping for your home, you may have envisioned white picket fences, the perfect kitchen, and decorations mirroring those from your favorite glossy magazines. Soon, you realized your taste and budget weren’t on the same page. However, every home can be a glorious fixer-upper as you add appealing features -- especially if you know some tricks to save time and money on home improvements.

With limited time and budget, you may not know where to begin. Here are four home improvement tips to help get you started.

Boxed Storage

Wall Repair

Your trim and baseboards can take quite the beating over the years. Moving furniture, kicking off your shoes, or playing with toys can lead to dents and gouges. Apply wood filler to damaged trim to quickly bring them back to life. Not sure when it’s ready to sand? Color Change Wood Filler changes color when it’s dry, taking the guesswork out of the drying time. Finally, apply a fresh coat of paint or stain.

You’ve decided the ugly bathroom mirror needs a makeover, but when you remove it from the wall, some of the drywall paper comes off too. For larger wall repairs, remember to prime twice. Cut away any loose paper, apply a thin coat of primer, followed by three coats of spackle or compound -- sanding between each layer for a smooth finish. Apply primer again to prevent “flashing,” or a dulling in the finish, and paint the area with your desired wall color. For a quick bathroom update, consider framing the mirror instead of removing it.

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Large retailers offer stylish storage solutions for minimal cost. The downside, besides having to assemble things yourself, is the lack of stability these units provide.

Have a little peace of mind with a simple fix – before screwing the pieces together, simply add a small amount of Elmer’s Wood Glue. The bond will hold strong, even as your screws loosen over time. For projects with mixed materials, such as metal and wood, use ProBond Advanced.

ware store or simply sprinkle baking soda onto the grout. Pour a little vinegar over it before scrubbing. Use an old toothbrush and some elbow grease, and your old grout will look new in no time. If you need to replace the caulking around your tub or base of your backsplash, apply painter’s tape on the base and wall to ensure you’ll get a straight, clean line.

Home improvement doesn’t have to be daunting. Tackling small, effective projects can provide a large impact while requiring little time, money and DIY expertise. From home repairs to furniture fixes, these quick tips will help you make your house feel more like a home – leaving you more time to kick back and enjoy it.

Fill in the Gaps

Tile Transformation

Tile adds a touch of luxury to your kitchen or bath, but can be an eyesore if it starts looking dingy. For an easy refresh, pick up grout cleaner from your local hard-

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V.I.C.E (Veterans In Construction Electrical) is a 560 hour classroom-based training program. Students spend the first two weeks of class honing their 21st Century essential skills, stress management and study skills, and later earn First Aid/CPR, Forklift, Scissor Lift and OSHA 30 certifications. In just 14 weeks students complete their first year of related supplemental instruction for the IBEW/NECA registered apprenticeship for Inside Wiremen. Most are dispatched to their first jobs within a couple of weeks after completing the V.I.C.E classroom program.

Veterans who complete the V.I.C.E program don’t have to fight so hard for a job because the training prepares them well and is in demand by employers. V.I.C.E is an accelerated version of the first year of the registered apprenticeship training program operated by the Puget Sound Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (PSEJATC). Together, the JATC partners: the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 46, designed the V.I.C.E. program to give Veterans a jump-start in the electrical industry.

To be eligible for V.I.C.E, applicants must be 18 years old or older, have a valid driver’s license, high school diploma or GED, sealed high school transcript, honorable discharge within 7 years from application date, and proof of honorable discharge.

The Puget Sound Electrical JATC is an apprenticeship training program that is jointly sponsored by the Puget Sound Chapter, NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association) and IBEW Local 46 (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers). For more information about them, please see: www.psejatc.org

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