Queen Anne Real Estate - August 2015

Serving Queen Anne & Magnolia since 1919

& Real Estate QueenAnne Magnolia news Ceiling improvements can & QueenAnne

AUGUST 12, 2015

Magnolia news Vol. 96, No. 33

Queenannenews.com

get things looking up in your kitchen When you’re planning a full kitchen renovation, or even just a few choice upgrades, counter tops, cabinets, appliances and flooring command your attention.

But do you ever look up? Unless a lightbulb burns out or you want to replace a light fixture, you probably don’t think much about the ceiling in your kitchen or other rooms.

Yet with all the cooking and living that goes on in the kitchen, a whole lot of unpleasantness can gather in the top half of the room, including heat and moisture, cooking odors and grease. All that can make the ceiling dingy, darken the room and turn the air in your kitchen stale and unpleasant. As you’re refurbishing your kitchen, here are some ways - simple to lofty - to improve the ceiling and brighten the whole room:

The simple stuff Just as painting walls is the easiest, most cost-effective way to create a new look in a room,

Space saving skylights free-up kitchen wall space for more cabinets and shelves while admitting abundant daylight and natural ventilation. Energy Star-qualified VELUX no leak solar powered fresh air skylights and blinds are operated by touchpad programmable remote control and close automatically in case of rain. The skylights, blinds, and installation costs are eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit. Details at www. whyskylights.com.

painting the kitchen ceiling can have a huge impact on how the room feels and functions. For example, if your kitchen is short on windows and often feels dark,

painting the ceiling a high gloss white can help brighten it by reflecting light back down into the room. You can also add faux tin ➧ CEILING Page 3

Get Ahead of the Game: Inspect Before You List

Smart Sellers Eliminate a Hurdle As a listing agent, I advise my sellers to hire state-licensed inspectors to conduct a home inspection and sewer scope before we list their house. Why do this in a sellers’ market? Because you can increase the number and quality of offers you receive. Buyers will have full knowledge of your home’s condition, which could

Kim Wesselman Windermere Real Estate mean more offers and possibly a higher sales price.

Just last month, one of my sellers

provided the home inspection and sewer scope reports to prospective buyers. On the day we were scheduled to review offers, two prospective buyers saw the house for the first time. With no time to schedule an inspection, they would not have made an offer.

But both submitted offers with confidence, since they had seen the inspection reports.

As a result, we received four offers instead of two—and received a higher sales price. The sellers

What makes a person or a family decide a home is the perfect for them?

Is it all location, location, location? What about price, schools or the neighborhood? Or is it something else; a feeling they get when they walk in the door, a detail they notice or a scent in the air.

If you’re selling your home your home, your location, neighborhood and school district are predetermined. Yet there is plenty you can do yourself to make sure your open house has that wow factor and captivates would-be buyers. Here are five tips to get you started so that next family will determine your home is the perfect home. * Get clean. It sounds simple, but it’s amazing how many homeowners don’t clean their homes before an open house. This is one case where lived-in isn’t going to cut it. The kitchen and bathrooms should be spotless, cracked tiles should be repaired and any plumbing issues should be addressed. Expect that people will try the sinks and flush the toilets. If you don’t feel you can get your home ready on your own, hire a professional cleaning service to do the job for you. The money you spend on the cleaners will be well worth it when your house sells quickly. * Add a fresh sent to the air. Your home should be pleasing to the eye as well as pleasing to the nose. Realtors have recognized the benefits of great smells for years. You can keep your home smelling great throughout the showing - and without synthetic ingredients - by using pure essential oils from Aura Cacia. Try this simple recipe to create a warm, comforting atmosphere that can help put potential property buyers at ease with these recipes: 1 cup coarse-grained, chunky sea salt 1 teaspoon jojoba or grapeseed oil (just enough to make the salts glisten) 25 drops vanilla precious essential oil 10 drops lavender essential oil ➧ HOUSE Page 3

➧ INSPECT Page 2 — S e r v i n g c li e n t s i n —

MAGNOLIA , QUEEN ANNE & SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS

{

Specializing in Home Purchases & Refinances for Over 20 Years.

Come see me for a no cost, no obligation home loan consultation today!

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The real estate market is hopping and you may have heard about buyers who are so eager to get a property that they waive the inspection contingency. Why would anyone do that?

They wouldn’t or, at least, shouldn’t. When we hear that buyers waive the inspection contingency, they have typically conducted the home inspection and sewer scope before making their offer. Now their offer, without an inspection contingency, will be more attractive to the seller.

I advise my buyers to never make an offer on a house without either conducting a pre-inspection or including an inspection contingency in the offer, unless they’re qualified to assess the condition of the house. And in this sellers market, pre-offer inspections are the standard procedure.

What isn’t standard is for sellers to do a home inspection and sewer scope before listing their home.

5 ways to get buyers to see your open house as their next house

S.A.F.E Licensed Mortgage Professional Lic # MLO-94009 206-200-8773 Jneal@salmonbaylending.com

SELLING?

Understand the 5 keys to successfully selling a home, in any market.

BUYING?

Select a broker that understands current market conditions, uses strategies which will ensure your offer stands out among others, and understands your needs and timeline.

|

206 409 3705

| robbie@windermere.com | robbiewaldtradal.com

Residential Listing Broker | Accredited Buyers Representative | Relocation Specialist

www.SalmonBayLending.com Powered by American Pacific Mortgage Corp. NMLS # 1850

WINDERMERE REAL ESTATE/NW

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August 12, 2015 | www.QueenAnneNews.com

Working for Your Best Interests

Eliminate a Hurdle ➧ INSPECT, from Page 1 are very happy they invested the $700 for the home inspection and sewer scope. They got a great return

on a no-risk investment. Please send your real estate questions to kwesselman@windermere.com.

Kim Wesselman is Managing Broker at Windermere Real Estate. She has advised clients on buying and selling properties in Queen Anne and Magnolia for 12 years.

Queen Anne Home Sales for July 2015

HEIDI WARD Real Estate 206.419.4285 HeidiWard@360modern.com 360modern.com

specializing in residential & condominiums

Jan slaWson

jslawson@windermere.com www.janslawson.com 206-949-4Jan (4526)

Windermere Real Estate/Wall St., Inc.

Queen anne | magnolia | doWntoWn

Reserve your space today for the next issue of the Queen Anne Real Estate section.

Call: 206 461-1322

Serving Seattle for 33 Years!

Computer Aided Kitchen and Bath Design Available

Address 2803 Queen Anne Ave N 1629 5th Ave W 3812 A 13th Ave W 412 W Fulton St 410 W Fulton St 2205 Bigelow Ave N #5 2443 Queen Anne Ave N 408 W Fulton St 316 W Newell 3650 13th Ave W 3421 10th Ave W 723 W Dravus St 1813 12th Ave W 2541 10th Ave W 1824 8th Ave W 1202 W Armour 103 Newell St 1633 5th Ave W 3407 10th Ave W 3042 10th Ave W 1521 9th Ave W 524 W Highland Dr

Bed 2 3 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 3

Bath 1 1 2.25 2.25 2.25 1.75 1 2.25 2 3.25

Sq Ft 1,840 2,020 1,594 1,517 1,517 1,390 1,020 1,527 1,710 2,410

Year Built 1926 1904 2015 2015 2015 2003 1907 2015 1926 2012

Days on Mkt 8 5 26 8 9 6 12 7 0 7

Asking Price $575,000 $499,777 $669,950 $667,000 $677,000 $639,000 $629,997 $717,000 $780,000 $725,000

Sold Price $625,000 $650,000 $660,000 $667,000 $677,000 $705,000 $725,000 $753,000 $780,000 $785,000

Asking Price/Sold Price 108.70% 130.06% 98.51% 100.00% 100.00% 110.33% 115.08% 105.02% 100.00% 108.28%

5 3 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 6 6

2.25 1.75 3 2.75 1.75 3.75 2.75 4 3.25 3.5 4.5 3.5

3,030 2,080 4,000 2,740 2,640 2,930 2,450 3,056 3,800 4,476 4,560 8,390

1914 1948 1913 1913 1906 1991 2006 2008 2008 2010 1931 1909

103 7 25 6 6 8 11 10 6 16 43 618

$850,000 $775,000 $875,000 $850,000 $865,000 $995,000 $995,000 $1,329,000 $1,495,000 $1,895,000 $2,500,000 $3,650,000

$810,000 $850,000 $883,000 $888,000 $963,000 $1,122,500 $1,180,000 $1,330,000 $1,480,000 $1,790,000 $2,362,500 $3,450,000

95.29% 109.68% 100.91% 104.47% 111.33% 112.81% 118.59% 100.08% 99.00% 94.46% 94.50% 94.52%

Magnolia Home Sales for July 2015 Address 3413 21st Ave W #B 2108 W Ruffner St 3302 W Government Wy #A 3048 21st Ave W #A 2504 30th Ave W 2309 W Crockett 3455 33rd W 3029 23rd Ave W 3207 W Harley St 2621 37th Ave W 3820 36th Ave W 3053 32nd Ave W 3056 24th Ave W 2615 37th Ave W 3645 23rd Ave W 2608 23rd Ave W 2807 30th Ave W 2610 23rd Ave W 4444 29th Ave W 3242 25th Ave W 1962 Thorndyke Ave W 2346 W Viewmont Wy W 2921 W Ruffner St 3042 32nd Ave W 2317 W Ruffner St 2800 26th Ave W 2011 30th Ave W 2917 24th Ave W 2253 Viewmont Wy W 3222 24th Ave W 2315 Eastmont Wy W 2110 Condon Wy W 2612 30th Ave W 2508 W McGraw St

Bed

Bath

Sq Ft

Year Built

Days on Mkt

Asking Price

Sold Price

Asking Price/Sold Price

3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 2 3 3 4 4 5 3 4 3 5 4 5 4 4

3.5 2 2.25 2.25 1.5 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.5 2.75 2.5 1.75 3 3.25 1.75 3.25 3.25 2.25 3.25 3 1.75 3.25 3 2.25 1.5 3.5 2.25 3.5 2.5 3.5 3 2.5

1450 1550 1440 2,010 1,500 1,530 1,760 2,000 1,790 1,600 1960 2,580 1,713 1,631 2,370 1,886 2,180 1,928 2,980 2,420 2,622 2,640 2,300 3,270 3,370 2,620 3,410 2,890 2,980 3,160 2,760 2,927 2,850 3,140

2008 2007 2003 2007 1949 1994 1943 1918 1955 1939 1908 1947 2011 1939 1996 2015 1939 2015 1986 1963 2009 1922 1951 1999 1985 1955 1937 2005 1936 2008 1939 1927 2002 1958

7 16 5 8 7 4 5 7 14 10 9 7 25 13 10 7 8 15 13 7 9 70 6 5 40 7 6 5 9 22 8 36 10 17

$475,000 $495,000 $469,000 $550,000 $559,000 $579,900 $562,500 $625,000 $649,000 $649,000 $635,000 $680,000 $785,000 $715,000 $649,950 $750,000 $599,000 $800,000 $799,000 $735,000 $844,000 $899,950 $699,000 $889,000 $910,000 $899,000 $800,000 $979,000 $895,000 $1,150,000 $1,100,000 $1,250,000 $1,100,000 $1,350,000

$485,000 $495,000 $500,000 $550,000 $559,000 $579,900 $590,000 $625,000 $645,000 $649,000 $661,000 $685,000 $710,000 $715,000 $749,000 $750,000 $757,000 $775,000 $787,500 $841,400 $850,000 $858,888 $863,000 $875,000 $875,000 $890,000 $905,000 $990,000 $1,050,000 $1,100,000 $1,152,500 $1,183,800 $1,191,466 $1,320,000

102.11% 100.00% 106.61% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 104.89% 100.00% 99.38% 100.00% 104.09% 100.74% 90.45% 100.00% 115.24% 100.00% 126.38% 96.88% 98.56% 114.48% 100.71% 95.44% 123.46% 98.43% 96.15% 99.00% 113.13% 101.12% 117.32% 95.65% 104.77% 94.70% 108.32% 97.78%

Information supplied by Northwest Multiple Listing Service

$50

Two Locations: Ballard: 8055 15th N.W. 206-789-3205 Wallingford: 3627 Stone Way N 206-547-1617

www.morgansonline.com

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www.QueenAnneNews.com | August 12, 2015

10 tips to make your home safer for kids 10 simple home safety tips that could save your child’s life Home is where the heart is, and for most people, it’s where they feel safest. Yet for children, the home isn’t as safe as you might assume.

In fact, you may be surprised to learn that 3.5 million children go to the emergency room every year for injuries that happen in homes.

Some parents are unintentionally putting their children at risk by making common mistakes in the home. For example, parents say they are worried about fire safety and 96 percent report they have a smoke alarm, yet 14 percent never check their smoke alarm battery, according to “Report to the Nation: Protecting Children in Your Home,” from Safe Kids Worldwide and Nationwide.

“Parents just can’t imagine a tragedy could happen to them, but it happens far too often,” says Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. “Sadly, 2,200 kids die from an injury in the home every year. The good news is that we know how to prevent these injuries, and parents can take simple steps to protect their kids.”

Safe Kids Worldwide teamed up with Nationwide and its Make Safe Happen program to help families keep kids safe in the home. “We know parents want to protect their children,” said Terrance Williams, Nationwide’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “It’s our hope that by bringing this information to families and caregivers, we can help them protect what matters most.”

Here are 10 tips to make your home kid-safe so you avoid preventable injuries. To learn more, visit SafeKids.org or MakeSafeHappen.com.

Utilize natural light

1. Make sure there is a working smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home, especially near sleeping areas. Test the batteries every month.

2. Create and practice a home fire-escape plan with your family.

Know two ways out of every room in case of a fire.

3. Give young children your full and undivided attention when they are in and around water. Only 1 percent of parents list drowning as a concern, according to the Safe Kids report, yet every week a child dies from drowning in a bathtub.

4. For young children, use safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, attaching them to the wall if possible.

5. Keep cribs clear of toys and soft bedding, and make sure that babies sleep alone, on their backs, and in a crib every time they sleep.

For children under the age of 1, suffocation is the leading cause of injury-related death.

6. Keep all medicine up and away, out of children’s reach and

Feels like home ➧ HOUSE, from Page 1 10 drops sweet orange essential oil Mix salt and oils, pour into a decorative dish or bowl and set out on a table. Placing the crystals in a warm sunny window or near a heat register will help diffuse the delicious aroma throughout the room. Stir in additional essential oils to boost the scent as needed.

More recipe ideas and open house tips can be found at www. auracacia.com. * Time for a makeover. If your home needs a more substantial makeover before it can sell, focus your energy and your money on the most important rooms in the home.

Kitchens and master bedrooms sell homes, meaning that a granite countertop, new appliance or fresh coat of bedroom paint will give you a better chance to sell your home than other projects may allow.

* Cut the clutter. Even the cleanest homes still feel messy if there’s lots of clutter. Before your open house, adopt a minimalist approach and keep your home as clutter-free as possible. Remember, you want buyers to see the beauty of your home, not simply the items you keep in it. * Start at the curb. Poor curb appeal can put buyers off to your home before they even step foot inside. Make sure your home’s outside is every bit as beautiful as the inside. Paint the exterior if you need to, plant flowers in the flower bed and mow the lawn. Buyers should never walk up to your front door already thinking it’s a fixerupper.

An open house provides an excellent opportunity to showcase your home and help buyers fall in love with. And once they do, they’re sure to make your current home their future home.

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sight. Think about places where kids get into medicine, like in purses, on counters and on nightstands.

7. Store all household cleaners, liquid laundry packets and other toxic products out of children’s reach and sight. Use cabinet locks to prevent young children from getting into products that may cause them harm.

8. Save the Poison Help line number into your phone and post it in your home where anyone can find it easily in an emergency: 1-800-222-1222.

9. Secure flat-panel TVs by mounting them to the wall and place box-style TVs on a low, stable piece of furniture.

10. Properly install window guards or stops to help prevent falls from windows. Each year, 3,300 children are injured by falling out of a window, yet 70 percent of parents say they have never used window guards or stops that prevent these falls.

(BPT)

➧ CEILING, from Page 1 ceiling tiles to reflect light and to create a vintage look.

Stuck with light-colored flooring, countertops and cabinets that make the room look washed out? Adding a subtle hue to the ceiling can help bring color to the room without the aggressiveness of a heavy wall color.

Even if your kitchen has no design issues you need to resolve from the top down, repainting the ceiling can impart a fresh, bright look.

Perhaps new light fixtures aren’t in your budget or you really like the ones you have. In either event, replacing incandescent or flourescent light bulbs with LEDs or CFLs can soften harsh overhead lighting and use less electricity at the same time.

Practical luxury Kitchens cry out for light but with wall space often largely devoted to cabinets, it can be a challenge to get enough natural light into the room through windows alone. Adding a skylight is a cost-effective way to compensate for a lack of windows and to bring balanced natural light and fresh air into a kitchen.

Skylights can help vent cooking odors and moisture from the kitchen if you choose Energy Starqualified solar-powered fresh-air skylights, like those from Velux America. A programmable touch pad remote control operates the skylights as well as accessories like blinds. Solar powered blinds, which improve the overall energy efficiency of the skylights even more, are available in colors and patterns and allow you to make a

design statement while giving you full control of the light that enters the space.

In addition to kitchens, bedrooms and baths are the most popular rooms for skylights since you get the same natural light and passive ventilations benefits while maintaining privacy.

And no-leak solar powered skylights, which close automatically in case of rain, as well as solar powered blinds, can be upgrades that partially pay for themselves since both can qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit, as do the installation costs. Visit www. whyskylights.com to learn more.

Lofty aspirations Adding a ceiling medallion is a simple yet high-impact way to change the look of your kitchen ceiling. You can either position it around an existing light fixture or place it above a kitchen island.

Installing a medallion is well within the abilities of most do-ityourselfers and you can accomplish the project in less than a day.

Wood accents, such as paneling, crown molding or a wooden frame add luxury and depth to kitchen ceilings. These are complex installations that may require you to hire a professional but they can pay off big to create your dream kitchen.

Investing some money, thought and effort into upgrading your ceilings can help give the rooms a new look and feel while providing benefits that are both beautiful and practical.

BPT)

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