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Home Security Systems: Protecting the People and Things You Value the Most
Home Security Systems: Protecting the People and Things You Value the Most
With warmer weather come open windows and extended vacations, so it should come as no surprise that the highest percentage of home burglaries happen during the summer months. With that in mind, now is a good time to start thinking about the security of your home. From old-school security tricks to new digital home monitoring tools, there are many options when it comes to keeping our homes safe. Read on to learn more about how you can modify your home and keep it safe from intruders.
Security bars and gates:
Sometimes the simplest security is just deterring people from trying to get in. While security bars across windows are a great way to keep intruders out of your home, they can be a real eyesore. Luckily, there are now options for decorative security bars that simultaneously protect your home while enhancing its beauty.
Upgrade you locks:
A poorly installed deadbolt can make it easy for an intruder to kick in your door. Start by making sure that your doorframes are in good condition and then look into getting a higher quality deadbolt. You’ll find everything from classic models with keys, or digital options that require passcodes or a fingerprint.
It’s also a good idea check all the locks on your windows. Some older models are easy to jimmy open with a little wiggling. For ground floor windows, you may want to consider double locks. It goes without saying, leaving windows open during the summer is a bad idea – especially those that can be easily accessed.
Exterior and interior home lighting:
Having your exterior lights on timers or motion sensors is a good way to deter nighttime snoopers. Add sensor lights to key entry points on your home, including the front door, back door, and/or basement entries. If you have an unused side yard, consider lighting there too. Keeping your home lit makes unwanted visitors weary of being seen.
If you will be gone from your home for an extended period of time, consider using timed lighting options in your home to make it appear someone is around. You can select timers for bedrooms or living areas. Also, you can program a radio to turn on and off for sound.
Alarm systems:
If you are considering an alarm, you have an array of options that vary from self-install motion detection kits to full-service home security systems. If you choose to do-it-yourself, you will want to install motion detectors on doors and windows – especially those that can be easily accessed on the ground floor. In most cases, these kits also offer a 24 hour call service for an extra fee.
Full-service security systems can include everything from an alarm system and panic buttons to and integration with your smoke detectors/ fire prevention system. These services are expensive up front, but usually have a reasonable monthly rate. And keep in mind, having a home security system installed can also reduce your insurance rates.
If installing an alarm system is cost-prohibitive or does not fit your lifestyle, consider purchasing stickers and a sign that state that your home is monitored by a trusted security system, and place them so they are visible at every entrance.
Security cameras:
Security cameras are readily available for home installation. You can install these in prominently viewed places to deter burglars. There are do-it-yourself install options, and professional systems that come along with monitoring services. There are even options that will work with your smart phone. If the cost for security cameras is too steep for your budget, you can purchase fake cameras to act as a visible deterrent for intruders.
Build your community:
Programs like Neighborhood Watch are very successful in some communities, by creating an environment where everyone is looking out for each other. Building close-knit relationships with your neighbors can go a long way in making you feel safe at home. Whether this is through a formalized program, or a shared agreement with your community, developing relationships with your neighbors is a great way to keep your home safe.
Sometimes the best part of security systems is the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home is protected. Many of our personal items can be replaced thanks to homeowners insurance, but you cannot put a price on feeling safe at home. How do you keep your home safe?
For more information on Windermere Evergreen please contact us here.
Preparing Your Home for a Winter Wonderland
As they say, winter is coming, and while it is tempting to curl up and hibernate in bed for the next few months, you shouldn’t put off these important home maintenance duties.
Clean and check the gutters: While you are on the roof hanging holiday lights, make sure your gutters are clear of leaves, secured to the house, and in good condition. If you do find problem spots, seal, secure, and make note to fix these in the spring. You want to divert water away from your home.
Insulate external water sources: In cold climates pipes can freeze, which can then lead to cracked pipes and flooding. Bring hoses and sprinklers inside for the winter and use insulation to wrap external faucets. Insulating interior pipes can help prevent disaster. If you don’t have insulation, you can keep a faucet dripping during particularly cold days so water is flowing through the pipes.
Check your water heater: One way to save money during the winter months is to wrap your water heater, so it doesn’t have to use as much energy to keep the water hot in a tank. You should check on your heater to make sure it isn’t leaking and in good repair regularly.
Interior insulation: Keep the heat in and the cold out with increased insulation in your attic and basement. This is an investment, and best done before the winter hits, but can make a big difference in how warm your house feels and how high your heating bill goes.
Check for cracks and leaks: Do you feel a draft? Check the sealing on your windows and doors. You can add weather stripping and silicon to seal these leaks. Foundations can leak as your home settles, so you should also check your basement for water coming through the walls, pipes, and older windows. You will want to seal these appropriately to minimize damage from flooding or mold.
Weatherize your windows: Your windows can be a great source of heat leakage depending on their age and condition. If you have older windows, you can use a clear film to help insulate them during the winter. If you don’t want to film the windows you can install extra thick drapes or curtains to help keep the interior of your home warm.
Check your heating system: What is one thing gas fireplaces, wood burning stoves, and central air heating systems all have in common? They all need to be cleaned and maintained. Check and clean your indoor heating system thoroughly. If you use an old fashioned wood stove, make sure there are no leaks and that all soot build up or nests are removed. If a furnace is what you have remember to change the filters as recommended or clean out your reusable filters.
Check your chimney with care: Nothing is as cozy as sitting by the fireplace during the winter, but use with care! Have your chimney checked by a professional to ensure that it’s in good condition and clear of critters or nests. You can also use a creosote log at the start of the season to help break down any old residue.
Invest in home security: The holidays are prime times for burglars looking to score some extra gifts so make sure your home is safe and secure at all times. Check your locks to make sure these are secure and consider a home security system with visible cameras to act as a deterrent. Keep evidence of big gifts hidden from view too. And make sure you discreetly get rid of any large boxes that might alert a prowler that you have new big-ticket items in your home.
Deck the halls and be merry: Decorate your home and prepare for guests. If you have a Christmas tree, keep it from drying out (and creating a fire hazard) by watering regularly. Keep decorative candles and menorahs away from children and flammable materials. You may want to consider battery powered candles, these can be a safe alternative to traditional candles.
For more information on Windermere Evergreen please contact us here.
Affordable Tips To Up Your Home’s Curb Appeal
You’ll never have a second chance at a first impression, so let’s make it count! When it comes to upping your home’s curb appeal, there are plenty of small changes you can make that have a big impact. And best of all, you don’t need to call in the pros or spend a fortune to get beautiful results. Below are some helpful and affordable tips.
A Well-Maintained Yard
Mowing: The first step to a well-manicured lawn is to mow it regularly. The experts recommending mowing high because mowing it too short can damage the grass and allow weeds to set root.
Weeds: To prevent weeds like crabgrass use a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring. These herbicides manage the weeds by stopping the seeds from sprouting in your lawn. Broadleaf weeds like dandelions can be stopped by applying granular weed control products.
Feeding: Lawns consume mostly nitrogen, so look for mixes of fast and slow release fertilizers; they will feed your lawn over time while keeping it lush and green.
Watering: Nighttime watering can result in long spans of moisture on the blades, potentially exposing your grass to disease. Consider watering your lawn in the morning – the sun helps dry out the blades throughout the day.
Flowers: You can quickly and affordably dress up your yard with colorful pre-made flower pots and containers. When placing your flower pots and containers remember that asymmetrical arrangements and staggering plants will provided the liveliest setting.
Dress up the Front Door and Porch
Paint: A fresh coat of paint in a pop color can give your home a well-deserved facelift. If you are hesitant to add a bright color to your front door, check out our article Energize Your Home This Winter With Bright Hues.
Replace Old Hardware: Clean off any dirty spots around the door knob, and use a metal polish on the fixtures. Change out house numbers for an updated feel, put up a wall-mounted mailbox, or add an overhead light fixture. Keep in mind that well thought through elements, instead of mix-and-match pieces, will add the most curb appeal.
Create Perfect Symmetry: Symmetry is one of the simplest design techniques to master and is the most pleasing to the eye. Maintain symmetry by flanking your front door with two sidelights (just make sure that your hardware matches); find two urn planters or a unique visual detail to put on either side of your door.
For more information on Windermere Evergreen, please contact us here.
DIY: Giving Our Fireplace a Facelift
A story of a DIY project… While we were willing to do some major updates to the bathroom, plumbing and electrical, we decided to pick a few areas of our 1940s fixer to do some smaller, mostly cosmetic updates. One of these projects included giving the fireplace a little facelift to bring it into this century.
When the house was built, we believe the fireplace was a simple plaster build-out. At some point, the original owners of the home laid on these tan tiles in a decorative pattern around the fireplace. They may have added the wooden mantel piece, as well. And in the 70s, perhaps they added the black and bronze fireplace cover. Not completely sure as this home was an estate sale (which means the owner either passed away or moved into an assisted living community — and in this case, we know the owner passed away in her 90s in another home).
We were told that there is gas available on the street so at some point, we’ve love to add a gas insert for a gas fireplace and stove. Rumor has it, Seattle may outlaw burning real wood in fireplaces within the next couple of years. But that gas fireplace update will take more time, money and permits. So for now, we paint.
After the contractors left, we noticed some brown/yellow stains on the plaster facing. My wife, our resident painter, tried to paint over the stains. Even after two or three coats, the marks were still pretty apparent. We waited until we could have our young daughter, out of the house before trying to prime the fireplace with industrial strength primer. The guy at the hardware store even suggested buying a “throw-away” paintbrush for a few bucks because to get this primer off of a normal brush would take more industrial strength cleaner. Two coats of that primer stuff and voila! Stains hidden.
After the primer dried, she painted the tiles (sorry previous owners!) and fireplace face a bright white which instantly modernized the whole room. We contemplated painting the black half circle that’s part of the fireplace cover but decided against it, mostly because we had already put our paint supplies away and #tired.
The fireplace has some areas that need some grout repair and one of the tiles is cracked (and has been for God-knows how long) but this was a nice, easy win. When you’re doing home renovations, not much feels easy so three cheers for a white fireplace that only required three trips to the hardware store.
For more information on Windermere Evergreen and our team, please contact us here.
Seven Phases of Home Renovations
The 7 Phases of Home Renovations:
Phase 1: Get super pumped about an idea. Pin, pin, pin on Pinterest until you’re bursting with excitement. Tell everyone about your amazing project.
Phase 2: Collect materials. Realize things cost a lot. Begin project fueled by coffee, nervous anticipation and adrenaline.
Phase 3: Get halfway through the project. It doesn’t look exactly like your Pinterest board but it’s still cool. Realize you haven’t showered or shaved in +/- 3 days. But it’s all good because you’re 50% there!
Phase 4: There’s visible progress but it’s not totally done. It looks done on the Instagram photo though! But in reality, the project is about 85% complete and it bugs you every time you see that one grout line that needs a little attention or that one corner that needs a little touch up paint. It’s okay though, you’ll get to it this weekend.
Phase 5: Weeks have gone by. The blisters on your hands have healed. You stop noticing the grout line that needs filling or the wall that needs paint. You’re busy enjoying the house and admiring your clean fingernails.
Phase 6: Write a blog about how you’re still not done with that one bathroom you started two months ago.
Phase 7: Complete project, details included. Toast to celebrate. Post more photos to Instagram. Start dreaming of a new project. Pin, pin, pin…
Some people may say the hardest part of a renovation is starting the project. We say it’s that last pesky 5%. We’ll get it done . . . eventually.
For more information on Windermere Evergreen and our team, please contact us here.
Find your Real Estate Agent
You have many tough choices to make as you start looking for the home of your dreams and prepare to make one of the largest financial decisions of your life. Finding the right agent to represent you shouldn’t add to your worries. I’ve met a few real estate agents over the years and here are 5 tips to help you find a great one.
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- Ask your friends and neighbors. Most consumers find their agents’ through referrals from those close to them. You’ll get real world references (good and bad) from the people you trust.
- Search your online networks. Search for real estate agents within your professional network on LinkedIn.com. LinkedIn can show you the agents who are 2nd and 3rd degree connections within your network. LinkedIn will even show you the agent’s resume and recommendations, mutual connections and offer to introduce you.
- Search local listings. Spend some time looking at homes similar to the one you wish to purchase or plan to sell on your favorite real estate website. Which agents are posting the best photos and doing the best to represent homes through their marketing efforts? Which agents are the most active in the area?
- Search Yelp. Yelp.com started as a place where people could write reviews and rate restaurants and bars. Today, Yelp has become the one-stop site for reviews of local businesses and professionals. Take a look at the highest rated agents in your area and read what your neighbors have to say about their service.
- When in doubt, Google it. When you’ve narrowed your search down to a list of possible agents start typing their names into Google. Google is a quick and easy way to see how active an agent is in the online world. If your agent has a common name include location or company search terms as well. You’ll be able to see any blogging or community activities they are involved in. You will also be able to see how active they are on real estate sites like Zillow and Trulia. Working with an agent who is active online benefits you because they are more likely to have larger networks and a greater reach with marketing efforts.
For more information on Windermere Evergreen and our team please contact us here.
Top five words of advice for a seller today
As a seller today you are faced with a challenge when it comes to selling your home for a fair price and getting it done in a reasonable amount of time. Even though inventory is lower than it was five months ago, we are still looking at about 9 months of inventory in many areas. This large amount of inventory indicates there is a lot of competition out there to attract the right buyer.
We all know there are more than five steps involved when it comes to selling your home. We asked a few of our Windermere agents what advice they would give a seller today if selling your home came down to just five key things.
Top five by Liz Talley Windermere Ballard
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- Declutter.
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- Refresh the garden.
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- Clear the entry and front porch.
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- Minimalize & depersonalize.
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- Price it a wee bit under the competition so that it pulls in buyers.
As always, market presence, professional photos, etc. all make an enormous difference but these five steps are the key right now.
Top five by Jamie Johnson Windermere Camano Island
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- Price. Listen to your real estate expert and don’t try to “start high.”
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- Clean and stage. You are competing with other great deals out there. Yours needs to stand out and shine.
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- Follow a marketing plan. Drop your price 3% every 30 days.
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- Ask yourself – what is your goal? Most sellers have a dream of making a lot of money off the sale of their home. If your goal is to purchase another home, you will make up for your “loss” there. It’s all relative.
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- Hire a local expert. Interview at least three agents. Do your research. A good agent will do all that for you.
If you are looking for a great Real Estate agent please contact us here.
Going from homeowner to home seller
How do we transition from the mindset of a homeowner to a home seller? Homes bring us shelter, comfort and are a place to express our individuality. But when it’s time to move on, that same home will now be the financial springboard to the next chapter in our lives.
We start by letting go of the home layer by layer.
Both buyer and seller benefit when the seller- perhaps with some judicious coaching from their skilled Realtor- peels away those things that made their home uniquely theirs. In essence, the serious packing begins once the decision has been made to sell; bookcases and closets should only suggest their function with a few items, rather than store seasons and years worth of books and clothes. Carefully removing prized collections and family photos is also vital- nothing should distract the buyer from seeing the house, and seeing themselves in it.
Personal colors are just as important to remove as objects. After all, if you were serving ice cream to a few thousand people (that’s how many will see your house photographed online)- would you serve them mango flavor? It’s a lot more likely you would choose vanilla- and that’s pretty much what the color of your walls should be- neutral or deep neutral tones.
The last touch is a good deep cleaning- ask your REALTORtm if they have the name of a reputable company.
The seller can then replace those familiar objects with a fresh new welcome mat at the front door.
This process allows the buyer the visual and emotional space to move in.
This process allows the seller to move on.
For more information on Windermere Evergreen please contact us here.
Considering becoming a landlord? How to evaluate whether to rent or sell your property
Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in homeowners choosing to become landlords rather than placing their homes on the market. In deciding whether or not becoming a Landlord is right for you, there are a number of factors to consider, but primarily they fall into the following three categories: Financial Analysis, Risk and Goals.
The financial analysis is probably the easiest of the three to assess. You will need to assess if you can afford to rent your house. If you consider the likely rental rate, vacancy rate, maintenance, advertising and management costs, you can arrive at a budget. It is important both to be reasonably correct in your assumptions and to have enough reserves to cover cash-flow needs if you’re wrong. The vacancy rate will be determined by the price at which you market the property. Price too high and you’re either vacant or accepting applicants that, for some reason, couldn’t compete for more competitively priced homes. Price too low and you don’t achieve the revenue you should. If you want to try for the higher end of an expected range, understand that the cost may be a vacant month. It is difficult to make up for a vacant month.
Consider the other costs renting out your property could accrue. If you have a landscaped or large yard, you will likely need to hire a yard crew to manage the grounds. Other costs could increase when you rent your home, such as homeowner’s insurance and taxes on your property. Also, depending on tenant turn-over, you may need to paint and deal with maintenance issues more regularly. Renting your home is a decision you need to make with all the financial information in front of you. You can find more information about the hidden costs of renting here.
If your analysis points to some negative cash-flow, that doesn’t necessarily mean that renting is the wrong option. That answer needs to be weighed against the pros and cons of alternatives (i.e., selling at the price that would actually sell), and some economic guesswork about what the future holds in terms of appreciation, inflation, etc. to arrive at an expectation of how long the cash drain would exist.
Risk is a bit harder to assess. Broadly though, it’s crucial to understand that if you decide to lease out a home, you are going into business, and every business venture has risks. The more you know, the better you can mitigate those risks. One of the most obvious ways of mitigating the risk is to hire a management company. By hiring professionals, you decrease your risk and time spent managing the property (and tenants) yourself. However, this increases the cost. So, as you reduce your risk of litigation, you increase your risk of negative cash-flow, and vice versa… it’s a balancing act, and the risk cannot be eliminated; just managed and minimized.
In considering Goals, what do you hope to achieve by renting your property? Are you planning on moving back into your home after a period of time? Will your property investment be a part of your long-term financial planning? Are you relocating or just hoping to wait to sell? These are all great reasons to consider renting your home.
Keep in mind that renting your family home can be emotional. Many homeowners LOVE the unique feel of their homes. It is where their children were raised, and they care more about preserving that feel than maximizing revenue. That’s OK, but it needs to be acknowledged and considered when establishing a correct price and preparing a cash flow analysis. Some owners are so attached to their homes that it may be better for them to “tear off the band-aid quickly” and sell. The alternative of slowly watching over the years as the property becomes an investment instead of a home to them may prove to be more painful than any financial benefit can offset.
In the process of considering your financial situation, the risks associated with becoming a landlord, and the goals you hope to achieve with the rental of your property, – ask yourself these questions. Before reaching a conclusion, it’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the landlord-tenant-law specific to your state (and in some cases, separate relevant ordinances in the city and/or county that your property lies within) and to do some market research (i.e. tour other available similar rentals to see if your financial assumptions are in line with the reality of the competition across the street). If you are overwhelmed by this process, or will be living out of the region, seek counsel with a property management professional. Gaining experience the hard way can be costly.
For more information on Windermere Evergreen please contact us here.
Deciding to sell – Home Resolutions
Choosing to put your house on the market is rarely easy, but if you must sell to move onto the next phase of your life, then you want to make sure your house is purchase-ready to get the most out of your investment. If you aren’t sure if you are ready to sell, you can always consider becoming a landlord or finding a property manager to handle tenants. But if you have decided to put your house on the market, it is time to let go of sentimentality and start thinking of it as a house again–not your home. Here are some tips for getting your house ready to sell and placing it on the market:
Do an audit: Go through the house, making notes of any projects that need to be completed, and anything that needs to be replaced, repainted or repaired. Here is a good checklist to get you started. If you are unsure about any major problems, you may want to hire an inspector to look at your home prior to putting it on the market so you can fix all issues and avoid getting stuck in heavy negotiations.
Start with a blank canvas: Look at your home from the perspective of a potential buyer. You will want to neutralize your space so anyone interested in the house can see its full potential. Keep in mind that you may love your red wall, wall-to-wall carpet or lavish art, but others may find it hard to see beyond the decorations to imagine their own taste in the house. Neutralizing the space can be as easy as painting the walls a soft white, paring down possessions or scaling back on updates. Once your home is turn-key with the basics, start to think about the updates that will make the most difference in your return on investment.
Get the most bang for your buck: If you are considering upgrades to increase the value of your home, stick to projects that will make the most sense, such as increasing the curb appeal by re-painting or replacing an outdated front door and upgrading the landscaping with easy-to-maintain plants and pathways. The first impression your home makes on a buyer is key to selling your home quickly. If your appliances are out-of-date, you may want to consider upgrading to energy-efficient models, which will appeal to a wider set of buyers. Avoid laying down new carpet; if the carpet needs replacing, consider wood flooring, as more people are replacing carpets with hardwood these days. Also keep in mind that your aesthetic will likely be different than those looking at your home, so avoid updates to the kitchen and bathroom that may offend the next homeowner. They will consider the need to replace these as a part of their offer. For more ideas on projects that bring a return, go here.
Find a listing agent: Once you are ready to put your home on the market, find a listing agent you trust will promote your home and bring the most return. Interview a number of agents to learn about their methods of marketing your home to other agents and potential buyers. They should be knowledgeable about the area, the market, comparable listings, staging and marketing techniques that will work best for you. Look at potential agents’ past listings to see the techniques they employ, the photographs and language they use to market the homes, how long homes have been on market and what their listings look like.
Price your home to sell: Pricing your house right the first time will help it sell faster. The great news is there are plenty of buyers looking to purchase homes right now, and this trend should continue. The concern for many homeowners ready to sell is that their expectations for the selling price of the home will not necessarily be met. Increase your chances of getting your home off the market fast by working with your listing agent to price your home right. Your listing agent will factor in a number of considerations when helping you determine the best price for your home, including comparable homes that have sold in the area or similar locations, the type of home, neighborhood, condition, etc.
Staging: Now that you have gotten through most of the process for putting your home on the market, look at your home through fresh eyes. Staging your home is a fine balance between making your home inviting and setting a canvas for the next homeowner to envision the space with their stuff and to fit their life. Your home should look inhabited but clean, uncluttered but not sterile. Whether you work with a stager or do most of the set up yourself, you will have to get rid of the clutter and pare down all your belongings to the essential.
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- Thin out your closets; full closets look small.
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- Remove all personal items, photographs, trophies and excessive collections so prospective buyers can envision the home as theirs.
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- Pare down all your belongings to keep your home efficient and cleaning easy.
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- Pay attention to the details; you want your home to be welcoming in every way.
Putting your home on the market can be stressful, but you can minimize stress by following these tips and other ideas for getting your home ready to sell. The better prepared you are prior to listing your home, the easier it will be to sell to prospective buyers. In the end, realistic expectations about how long it will take to prepare your home to go to market, what renovations will get you the best return, and what is the right price to motivate buyers will help your home sell quickly, saving you money in the long run.
What are your home-related resolutions for 2018? How are you doing on reaching your goals?
