About Pierce County, WA

If you've been thinking of remodeling all or part of your Tacoma real estate home, you might want to consider a green remodel. Green building means that you use certain materials and practices that are better for the environment and for your health. By following a few guidelines, you can easily complete an eco-friendly remodeling project.

1. Recycle. Whenever possible, choose materials for your Tacoma real estate home made from recycled products. This cuts down on the amount of waste piling up in our landfills.
2. Use local materials. Local materials don't have as far to travel, so transporting them costs less and uses less fuel. They are also more durable since they are already adapted to your climate.
3. Think sustainable. Products made from bamboo and cork are better for the environment because they can be easily replaced. Bamboo can grow as much as 1 meter each day.
4. Save as much energy as possible. Install energy efficient windows and add insulation throughout your home. Seal cracks around doors and windows. Purchase new, energy efficient appliances. Not only will you help the environment, you'll also save money on your electric bill.
5. Always consider indoor air quality. Choose products with little or no volatile organic compounds. Use green cleaning products inside your home to reduce indoor air pollution.
6. Find ways to cut back on water use. Devices like high efficiency washing machines and dual-flush or low-flow toilets use less water than their traditional counterparts. Use xeriscaping for your yard. If you have the budget, consider installing a rainwater harvesting system.
7. Think before you throw away. Before you throw away anything, from appliances to building materials, make sure no one else can use it. Place an ad on Freecycle or Craigslist. You may be surprised by what other people need.

I can help you find green Tacoma real estate homes to meet your needs. Call me today at 253-222-6000 or email me at treyaffolter@kw.com.

LINKS:

1. Choosing energy efficient appliances. - http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/
2. Dual-flush toilets. - http://www.caromausa.com/toilets
3. Xeriscaping - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xeriscaping

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Improvements That Pay

Staging Your House

Getting The Highest Price for Your Home

Winterize Your Home

The Trey Affolter Team always welcomes comments and is available to answer questions about Tacoma Real Estate and the surrounding cities within Pierce County Real Estate, South King County Real Estate, and North Thurston County Real Estate.

253-222-6000

http://www.TreySellsHouses.com

Trying to sell your Tacoma real estate home in a slow market is definitely frustrating. You may find that it takes longer to sell and you cannot get as much money as you could during a booming market. However, you can't believe all the hype about a sluggish real estate market. Do your research and separate the facts from the fiction.

1. You won't get a decent price. Your Tacoma real estate home will sell for whatever a buyer is willing to spend on it. A comparative market analysis shows you what other buyers spent on real estate like yours. Of course, if you bought your real estate when values were up, you may have to take a loss. However, most people can get a fair price and even make a profit in a slow market.
2. Your real estate will stay on the market too long. While it's true that real estate tends to take longer to sell during a slow market, it's not impossible to sell them. People do still buy real estate in slower markets. If your real estate is priced right and prepared for sale, you can still sell it within a reasonable amount of time.
3. Buyers only want foreclosures and short sales. The truth is that buyers want good deals, and this can be in the form of money or time. The price of a foreclosure or short sale may certainly be attractive, but they can take a considerable amount of time to close while the banks negotiate their terms. Paying slightly more for a traditional sale is sometimes well worth the time they can save.

Selling your Tacoma real estate home in a slow market isn't easy, but it can be done. Using my proven marketing plan, I can help you sell your real estate whether it's a slow market or a booming market. Call me today at 253-222-6000 or email me at treyaffolter@kw.com.

LINKS:

Free Highest Price Analysis - Get your home's value (CMA)

Staging Your Home for Sale

Improvements That Pay

FREE Home Seller Resources

The Trey Affolter Team always welcomes comments and is available to answer questions about Tacoma Real Estate and the surrounding cities within Pierce County Real Estate, South King County Real Estate, and North Thurston County Real Estate.

253-222-6000

http://www.TreySellsHouses.com

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving. I divided my time between family togetherness and recovering from family togetherness at friends houses. While most of the city was off spending quality time with their families over turkey, 22 Tacomans bought houses!

Those houses ranged in price from $124,000 to $507,000. They sold for about 4% less than the price they were listed at and spent an average of 127 days on the market before selling. Also, they were all houses, no condos closed this week.

The last week of the month is usually the busiest as far as home closings go, and I heard through the grapevine that there were a lot of agents and lenders scrambling to get their clients homes closed before the Thanksgiving Holiday. Whew!

For more Downtown Tacoma Real Estate Information visit www.GetRealTacoma.com

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My 2009 Gig Harbor photo calendar is done, I just need to wait to get it shipped back to me. Several folks have ordered one (and some more than one) for $15. If you'd like one (or more), please email me at mthomson@kw.com. I don't know of any other Gig Harbor calendars that are available. I heard that the Elks puts one out, but I've never seen it. This year, my calendar includes photos from 3 other great photographers in the Gig Harbor area. Below is a sneak peak at the photos that are used. Like everything this time of year, "It makes a great gift!"

.Oh Tannenbaum!

For More Downtown Tacoma Real Estate Information visit www.GetRealTacoma.com