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By Adrian Willanger | Agent in Shoreline, WA

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Seattle Homes with A Garage

Posted Under: Home Buying in Seattle, Curb Appeal in Seattle, Remodel & Renovate in Seattle | April 30, 2012 7:57 AM | 63 views | No comments
So you have narrowed down your list, know the exact type of house you want and intend to look at Seattle homes with a garage. Well why not? A garage will keep your car safe and sound and will give you extra space to store things. Everything seems fine and dandy until you happen across the perfect house and it doesn’t have a garage. What do you do? Do you keep looking for another home that has one or do you take a look at your other options?
There is other of options available when you are set on finding Seattle homes with a garage. If the house does not have a garage beside it you can always find out whether local bylaws would allow you to have one added. In most cases you’d be able to add a garage onto your property as long as it meets all the coding for approval.
Once you have established that the odds are good for adding a garage to the Seattle property, there is nothing wrong with having your real estate agent approach the seller and let them know the situation. Sometimes good old-fashioned communication can lead to an unexpected outcome. It is possible that the seller may reduce the price on the home to factor in the cost of adding a garage. Sometimes a person loves their home so much that they want to see somebody take it that loves it just as much as they do, and are willing to come down in price to see that happen.
If all else fails, you’ll have to look at other Seattle homes with a garage until you find one that fits the bill. If you have a specific use for a garage and are not willing to get a home without one you should point this out to your Seattle real estate agent. He’ll then only show you homes that have a garage so that you don’t end up falling in love with a Seattle home without one.
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Should You Turn Your Garage Into A Part of Your Home?

Posted Under: Home Selling in Seattle, Remodel & Renovate in Seattle, Property Q&A in Seattle | April 23, 2012 10:06 AM | 82 views | No comments
If you are one of the many people that has found that their family has outgrown their home and are thinking about converting your garage into a part of your home, here are a few things to consider. While it may seem like a brilliant game plan, you’ll need to also consider the effects it will cause if you list your home for sale.
In most cases the square footage of your garage may or may not count as a part of your Seattle home since it has been turned into a limited space. Many people use this garage space as an added recreation room and it will be difficult to turn this area of the garage into anything else really. The original design of the home did not incorporate the space into its planning and there will be issues with keeping it well heated or cooled.
In most cases adding an addition to your home is going to be a lot more valuable in terms of selling your Seattle real estate property later. A home appraiser will definitely take into account that the garage was converted and will base the price of your home on other houses in the area that did the same. For the most part, you can’t expect the price of your house to rise substantially by converting your old garage into a room that makes up a part of your home.
You’ll also want to consider other aspects as well. If you plan on staying in this home until you retire, you may not be interested in the Seattle real estate aspect of the conversion at all. You need more room in your house now since your family is growing and it would certainly be nice to have an extra room where people can gather without feeling too clustered. Maybe you don’t have a basement in your house and have always dreamed of owning a pool table and the only way to get one is to fit it in your garage and make a nice recreation room out of it. There’s nothing wrong with that if you are planning on staying in your home for a while and not worried about what will happen down the road later when it’s time to sell.
Turning your garage into a part of your home should be a personal choice that is based on both short-term and long-term goals. As far as Seattle real estate goals, however, you’d be better off adding an addition to your home if at all possible.
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Buying a Fixer in Seattle

Posted Under: General Area in Seattle, Curb Appeal in Seattle, Remodel & Renovate in Seattle | January 20, 2012 10:38 AM | 413 views | No comments
Rehabbing a Seattle house refers to the rehabilitation of a building while a rehabber is the one who does the rehabilitation work. Rehabbing can be enjoyable and gratifying in many ways and it can also be done commercially.
The knowledge of what repairs a house needs and the cost of the repairs are vital for rehabbing a Seattle house. There are four important aspect of rehabbing. These include foundation and structure, plumbing, roofing and electrical.
5 things to to look for when considering a rehab project
1. Stroll around the peripheral of the house and check any cracks or gaps in the foundation. If you find any, hire an expert for the repairs.
2. Unlock the cabinets beneath the lavatory and kitchen sinks. Examine the showers, restrooms and bathtubs to find out whether there are leaks, distorted floor covering or bleached areas.
3. Inspect the front gutters and the soffits for termite spoil or wood decay. Check whether all the roof shingles are present and if they are in good shape. Also, look at the ceiling for water stains. Find out whether the house has a fuse or breaker box and look out for naked electric wires.
4. For aesthetic repairs, find out whether the carpet requires replacement or a fine clean up. If there is hardwood under the carpet, it is good to remove the carpet and check the woodwork.
5. Check if the house needs repainting on the outside and inside. A fresh coat on the inside walls can work wonders. Paint the ceiling the same as the walls but in a lighter hue. Slash any weed or unkempt turf. Landscaping is crucial since it attracts potential home-buyers.
6. Ensure that light fixtures, doors and windows, the hot water heater and the furnace are in good condition. This is essential for safety, efficiency and compliance with local codes.
Use of a comprehensive and itemized list while inspecting potential property eliminates the possibility of overlooking potential rehabbing needs. It also makes it easier to note the full amount needed to rehab a property.
These are only the preliminary steps you should take if you are considering rehabbing a Seattle house. If everything looks fine in this initial phase you will then call in an inspector for a professional opinion.
This Seattle real estate market update is courtesy of Adrian Willanger at Coldwell Banker Danforth& Associates 206 909-7536 helping people buy and sale homes in the Greater Seattle area.

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Staying Neutral To Sell Your Home In Shoreline

Posted Under: Home Selling in Shoreline, Curb Appeal in Shoreline, Remodel & Renovate in Shoreline | August 17, 2011 7:59 AM | 299 views | No comments

When you are ready to sell your home in Shoreline you should consider what potential buyers will be looking for when walking through your house. This can be tricky since it will be different from one individual to the next. One thing you can do is try to make the environment as neutral as possible in order to allow viewers to visualize the house the way they want it to be.
Walls, floors and patios
These are some of the things that people selling their homes often overlook. Just because you love yellow does not mean that others will too. You should keep all colors neutral and very basic. White or beige are good colors to use since they don’t stand out or create impressions, which can turn a lot of people off. Floors should be nicely finished. Cracks and depressions should be repaired to maximize its beauty. Also, the floors should be visible with little clutter, leaving the buyer able to fill it up in his own mind. It is the same with backyards and patios. They should also be left empty. Having things like pools, barbecues and swings can be a distraction to some buyers if it stops them from visualizing the backyard the way they would want it to be.
Kitchens and Living Spaces
These are often the most important parts of a house to potential homebuyers. They would like to be able to see the potential that each room has and how they could use it to their liking. Having a neutral layout, meaning minimal to no furniture in these rooms, will enable them to see what they can do with each room. Kitchens should be nicely finished. Cabinets, floors and counter tops should all be empty and clear. These tips will help you sell your home in Shoreline as quickly as possible.
Having a neutral layout will increase your potential buyer’s ability to view the home as they wish it to be. Having uncluttered and empty rooms with neutral colors creates a space that they can fill up. If you wish to sell your home in Shoreline follow this advice to get your home sold quickly.
For more information on buying or selling real estate in the Shoreline area contact Adrian Willanger, Coldwell Banker Danforth & Associates.
Recent Shoreline Real Estate blogs:
Understanding Mortgage Fraud and How It Affects Shoreline Real Estate
2 Crucial Tips To Help You Sell Shoreline WA. Land For A Larger Profit
5 Must Know Moving Tips for Shoreline Home Sellers
Shoreline Real Estate Agent offers 5 Negotiating Tips to Get the Best Deal
Final Walkthrough - Your Final Steps Towards Owning Your New Shoreline Property
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What Kind Of Flooring Are You Looking For In A Bothell Home For Sale?

Posted Under: Home Buying in Bothell, Home Selling in Bothell, Remodel & Renovate in Bothell | June 16, 2011 8:49 AM | 253 views | No comments

One of the things to keep in mind when you are looking for a Bothell home for sale is the type of flooring in the home. If you are looking for a specific type of flooring then you should stick with your preferences or else be willing to face the high cost of replacing the floors.
Carpeting
While carpeting looks beautiful, many people with asthma or other respiratory problems tend to stay away from it. If the Bothell house you are looking at is full of carpeting it will take a lot of restoration to convert it all to flooring. Also, if the carpet is in rough shape, you'll have to factor in the cost of replacing it into the price of the home. If the carpet is really bad, you can try asking for a price reduction on the home in order to cover the cost of a replacement.
Hardwood flooring
When you see a home with beautiful hardwood flooring that has been maintained, this is special. A lot of Bothell homes have worn hardwood flooring that needs to be re-finished.
A floor with hardwood is worth quite a bit and it may be worth the effort to get the floor re-finished in order to bring out the beauty in it. Since the house will be vacant after the owners leave and you take possession of it, it will be fairly easy to get the floor handled within a few days time. The hardest part of handling a hardwood floor is usually removing all the furniture so that it can be worked on.
Ceramic floors
If you are looking at a home that has ceramic floors you should find out if the owners have any extra tiles on hand. If a ceramic tile chips or cracks, you want to be sure that you can replace it without having to replace the entire floor. If the homeowner does not have extra tiles, it is worth finding out if the tile is still being sold and can be replaced easily should something happen to one of them.
Linoleum floors
You don't really have to worry too much about linoleum floors. This type of flooring is very easy and cheap to replace. If you don't like the style of the linoleum on the floor in the Bothell home for sale you are viewing, you can hire a handyman to replace it with new linoleum in a style you prefer.
For more information regarding buying or selling Bothell real estate contact Adrian Willanger 206-909.7536.
What Kind Of Flooring Are You Looking For In A Bothell Home For Sale?

Posted Under: Home Buying in Bothell, Home Selling in Bothell, Remodel & Renovate in Bothell | June 16, 2011 8:49 AM | 242 views | No comments

One of the things to keep in mind when you are looking for a Bothell home for sale is the type of flooring in the home. If you are looking for a specific type of flooring then you should stick with your preferences or else be willing to face the high cost of replacing the floors.
Carpeting
While carpeting looks beautiful, many people with asthma or other respiratory problems tend to stay away from it. If the Bothell house you are looking at is full of carpeting it will take a lot of restoration to convert it all to flooring. Also, if the carpet is in rough shape, you'll have to factor in the cost of replacing it into the price of the home. If the carpet is really bad, you can try asking for a price reduction on the home in order to cover the cost of a replacement.
Hardwood flooring
When you see a home with beautiful hardwood flooring that has been maintained, this is special. A lot of Bothell homes have worn hardwood flooring that needs to be re-finished.
A floor with hardwood is worth quite a bit and it may be worth the effort to get the floor re-finished in order to bring out the beauty in it. Since the house will be vacant after the owners leave and you take possession of it, it will be fairly easy to get the floor handled within a few days time. The hardest part of handling a hardwood floor is usually removing all the furniture so that it can be worked on.
Ceramic floors
If you are looking at a home that has ceramic floors you should find out if the owners have any extra tiles on hand. If a ceramic tile chips or cracks, you want to be sure that you can replace it without having to replace the entire floor. If the homeowner does not have extra tiles, it is worth finding out if the tile is still being sold and can be replaced easily should something happen to one of them.
Linoleum floors
You don't really have to worry too much about linoleum floors. This type of flooring is very easy and cheap to replace. If you don't like the style of the linoleum on the floor in the Bothell home for sale you are viewing, you can hire a handyman to replace it with new linoleum in a style you prefer.
For more information regarding buying or selling Bothell real estate contact Adrian Willanger 206-909.7536.