Category Archives: West Seattle

Why You Need A Local Expert

Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Real Estate, West Seattle, ,

When it comes to buying or selling what is likely your biggest asset, it pays to have a real estate agent who is not only a professional, but who also has the local expertise to help make sure you are investing your money wisely and that your investment will pay off when it is time to sell.

Here are just some of the items that an agent with local expertise can provide you:

  • Information on possible zoning changes and how those might impact future value
  • Historical market appreciation or depreciation data
  • Data on local amenities and services
  • School information
  • Information on upcoming local improvements to streets and thoroughfares
  • Information on big housing or commercial developments on the horizon
  • Updates on businesses moving in or out of the area
  • Information on trends such as population growth
  • Data on regional economic trends as these can have a strong impact on the demand for housing
  • Market information such as listings, pendings, and sold properties
  • Up-to-date notifications of new listings and solds in the neighborhood, and how the updated sold information can affect the value of your property
  • What your neighbors are doing to remodel their homes and how those changes can help their bottom line when it comes time to sell
  • Information on how property taxes are assessed and the relationships between assessed value and sold values
  • Information on developed and undeveloped land in the neighborhood, and what may be built on those.
  • Traffic trends information

And so much more! A local expert truly understands the special nuances of the different neighborhoods – such as those special pockets of parks and trails, the historic homes or businesses and their significance, or important events that have occurred there.

As much as people buy homes, they also buy areas. It is rare that one can buy a home and have it relocated, so it is important to have an appreciation for an area before one buys a home there. And when it comes time to sell, it pays to have an agent listing the home who can explain all the benefits of your home, not just what is behind your walls.

It is easy to hire a generalist in real estate, but remember, we hire medical specialists when we have a unique diagnosis and your asset should get the same specialist treatment. I would be more than happy to provide you with local information and how the changes I have seen affects your home value. Please let me know how I, YOUR local expert, can be of service. Give me a call or text: (206) 484-2777 or email: karenwi@johnlscott.com.

Homeowners Insurance – Are You Covered?

Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Real Estate, West Seattle, ,

In light of the recent hurricanes that have ravaged the East Coast, the earthquake that decimated parts of Mexico and wildfires in the West that are burning up homes and businesses,  it seems like a good time to check in with your insurance agent to review your policy and determine if there are holes. Here are some questions to guide that conversation:

How am I covered in the case of water damage? Water from a natural disaster is usually treated differently than water damage from typical weather. Ask questions around the different types of water damage your home might sustain so you understand what you are and are not covered for.

How am I covered in the case of wind damage? Does your insurance company treat a tree falling on your roof differently than the wind ripping the roof off? Think about the different wind events that might befall your property and ask questions.

Am I covered in case of an earthquake? It might surprise you to know that most policies do not cover earthquake damage, but often you can get coverage added on.

What happens if my belongings get damaged? Most insurance will cover your belongings in the home if they are damaged, but what about your lawn furniture and BBQ?

What are the holes you see in this policy? Your agent has probably seen a number of claims so it will be easy for them to see some typical issues that are not covered by their policy. Some may have additional coverage that you can get but in some cases, you will need to cover these items yourself (such as landscaping damage).

Your home is likely your most valuable asset! Don’t let a disaster drain your equity. Get smart about your homeowners insurance and protect your investments.

Outdoor Space May Be The Ticket to Sell Your Home!

Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Real Estate, West Seattle, ,

Outdoor spaces are highly desired by homebuyers young and old. If you have been evaluating your home’s outdoor space potential and are ready to make some improvements, consider the following:

  1. The flow from the inside to the outside –Glass folding door/walls are the newest rage, but if that is too costly, then look for more ways to let in more light and the view by changing walls into windows.
  2. Creating rooms – Through seating, places to put down drinks and books, plants, and even rugs to define spaces, create a sense of comfort by defining different spaces to relax.
  3. Getting cozy – Today’s outdoor furniture includes robust couches, coffee tables, and chairs with ample weather-resistant cushions.
  4. Checking out the lighting –Lighting in the garden, around seating areas, and highlighting certain garden features can have big impact!
  5. Power! – Adding outdoor power outlets allows you to do things like charge your phone and work on your computer while lounging.
  6. Music – Outdoor speakers that are hooked into a central sound system can also set the mood.
  7. The Fun! – Now for the extras! What kind of recreation do you want? A fire pit?  Out- door Kitchen? Horseshoes?

Of course, if you are just creating outdoor spaces to appeal to a wider range of homebuyers, you should make different choices than if you are actually planning on enjoying your space for several years to come.

 

 

Do I Really Need An Inspection?

Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Real Estate, West Seattle

If you are thinking about buying a home, you may be wondering if you really need an inspection. In areas that have very high demand and low inventory, some buyers are choosing to waive the home inspection so their offer is more appealing for home sellers. Especially in situations where the home buyer won’t be asking a home seller to fix any issues anyway, you may indeed be wondering if it is worth the time and expense to do one.

I always recommend that my buyer get a home inspection, even in a highly competitive market. If the inspector finds an issue with the home that may cost in the thousands and thousands of dollars to repair, I want my buyer to know that going into the purchase.

For listings that are likely to get multiple offers, one strategy is for the buyer to get a pre-inspection before the buyer makes an offer. Of course, there are pros and cons to this strategy. Virtually all inspections turn up issues – even in new homes. In a traditional offer situation, both parties have already gone through one set of negotiations to get the offer accepted by both parties before the inspection even takes place. Both have a vested interest in completing the sale, but with a pre-inspection, the buyer may be soured on a property before the offer has even been written and they are several hundred dollars out of pocket on every property they choose to do a pre-inspection on. The benefit of the pre-inspection is that once a buyer understands what they will need to fix down the road, they can make an offer without an inspection contingency. However, the seller may still choose another offer and all the buyers’ due diligence would have been for naught.

Some sellers in hot markets are doing a pre-inspection with the help of an inspector, and are choosing to get several items on the list fixed before putting the home on the market. They make the inspection and the record of improvements available for buyers in the hopes more buyers will make an offer if the need to get an inspection is off the table. Although this is an interesting solution to this problem, I have some concerns that I will share with you before considering purchasing a home with this option.

I even recommend getting an inspection for new homes! If you are buying new, it may be tempting to save that inspection, but even brand-new homes can have problems. For example, seals on windows can break as the house is settling, drainage issues, and even incorrectly-installed flashing around doors and windows are issues that can spell big trouble down the line if the builder doesn’t get them fixed.

If you are buying a home, getting an inspection lets you get to know the home and learn about the major and minor issues the property has before making the investment. No home is perfect, but having an inspection allows you to learn about how imperfect a home is before moving in. For more information, give me a call or text: 206-484-2777 or email: karenwi@johnlscott.com