Maple Valley, WA

This information is taken from unimproved properties, or listings where the value was in the land, within the Tahoma School District which were listed through NWMLS and closed between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007

 If you're thinking about building or want to acquire property for future investment purposes, Winter is a great time to be looking to buy vacant land in our area. You can see where potential draining problems might be and get a good picture of any wetland situations. Also, if the County were to require a "Winter Perc" , you wouldn't have to wait...it could be done now!

-Colleen

Specializing in Maple Valley Real Estate since 1990!

Julianna Hind is a Real Estate Agent and Design Professional in the South King County, North Pierce areas, including, Maple Valley, North Bend, Issaquah, Kent, Renton, Auburn, Federal Way, and Gig Harbor.

(This Barclay Woods home Sold in ONE DAY) www.roomspinners.com

Is it bittersweet when you have a property that sells so fast you haven't even downloaded the pictures from your camera yet? Staging a home gives it that competitive edge in the housing market, but sold in one day? I have resolved not to be saddened when the home flies off the market so quickly without time to enjoy it's beauty, but what does concern me is the fact it could have perhaps been sold for thousands more than the original asking price.

A Realtor once told me that entertaining multiple offers is actually quite a bit of work, and she doesn't prefer it. This makes me wonder if sometimes there is a rush to get that property signed and delivered, and move on to the next big thing.

When Barb Schwartz and her staging team filmed the 20/20 piece out here in the Pacific Northwest, The ABC team also added commentary on how it is the homeowners that really benefit financially by having the home staged, and the percentage for the Realtor might not be enough of an incentive for a Realtor to recognize that home staging is something that is really needed.

This maybe especially true in a hot market, when the homes are selling like hotcakes. In an area where homes are being sold on the internet, almost sight unseen, this is what happens, and the seller really looses out! What would ten thousand or more dollars mean to the home seller? Well perhaps it is an education fund, an improvement to the new home, or well earned vacation.

The point that ABC's 20/20 made really asks why would a Realtor spend another week or two on a project for a slightly larger payoff rather than just selling sooner and putting another big ticket on the books as fast as possible? Well, what the smart Realtor realizes is staging is very much a part of "customer service." And it is the Realtors with excellent customer service that survive when the housing bubble has gone away. Some of the mass of Realtors that ramped up to join the colossal nationwide selling team will have to seek new professions as the market slows.

Home sellers are entitled to every ounce of equity they can squeeze out of their home. Owning a home require financial, physical and emotional investment, and a home seller that chooses to have their home staged is putting a very minimal amount of cash towards getting top dollar for their home, honoring that investment.

Julianna Hind, Real Estate and Design Professional

Maple Valley, Washington, Realtor/Stager Julianna Hind

Designers have something to celebrate, and that is going green with low or no VOC paint. The green movement has played a role in revolutionizing the paint industry, by reducing the odors and off-gassing with latex paint and at the same time enhancing coverage and performance. Sherwin-Williams is one of the leaders in the industry, developing its own standard that builds upon the requirements for LEEDS certification, by adding architectural performance requirements to the environmental standards. The certification, known as Green-Sure, makes it all the easier to be green.

Traditionally, the surfactants and other chemicals used in paint cause toxic gases to be released in the environment. These surfactants were necessary in latex paints for spreadability, but new formulas have less evaporation and even better coverage because more of the product stays on the wall. Additionally, these new latex paints perform just as well -- if not better than oil paint, with its high VOC content.

Julianna Hind is a Real Estate Agent and Design Professional in the South King County, North Pierce areas, including, Maple Valley, North Bend, Issaquah, Kent, Renton, Auburn, Federal Way, and Gig Harbor.