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Preparing for a Seattle open house

Adrian Willanger: Real Estate Agent in Seattle, WA

Preparing for a Seattle open house

Having a Seattle open house is one of the best ways to sell your property. It gets potential buyers into your home and they can look around without feeling any pressure. There are some things that you can do to make your home look more appealing for prospective buyers. Here are some suggestions to help you prepare for a Seattle open house.

1. Your home should not have any excess clutter. It can be hard to organize everything in your home, but your counter tops should be free of anything besides necessary appliances. Dishes should be cleaned and put away. Vacuum and sweep the floors. Think about how your home looks to someone who has never seen it before. People who see a neat and tidy house are far more likely to be drawn to it.

This goes for the outside of your home too. Keep all of your property in good shape. Mow the lawn and make sure that the yard is free of any debris like brush or leaves. If the paint or siding on the outside of your home is fading or peeling, get it replaced.

Double-check everything before the Seattle open house occurs. Take a quick walk through your home and tidy up anything you may have missed. It is a good idea to make sure valuables like jewelry or cash are safely stored away too. Most people are honest, but some might take advantage of being in another person’s home.

If you can, take out a couple pieces of furniture from the rooms. This creates the illusion of having more space. Also, turn on all the lights. It creates a brighter and friendlier atmosphere. Open all the curtains and shades to allow sunlight in. If you are using a real estate agent, ask them for suggestions that might be more specific to your Seattle open house.

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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Frequently Asked Questions about Buying A Condo In Seattle

Adrian Willanger: Real Estate Agent in Seattle, WA

Frequently Asked Questions about Buying A Condo In Seattle

If you have been thinking about buying a condo in Seattle you may have a few questions about condo life in general that you need answered. Here is an overall view of what you can expect with condo living to help you decide whether this would be the lifestyle of choice for you or not.

Are there any fees involved?

Yes, you will have to pay certain fees as a condo owner. These fees will depend on a lot of different factors. Every condo has its own set of fees that are determined by the cost of running the buildings and all the amenities with it. For example, if you are living in a building with a pool, you will have to share in the maintenance costs for it, even if you don’t intend on using it. This is why it is so important to find a building with the right amenities that you will actually use so that you don’t end up paying for one’s that you never plan on using.

Can I make changes to the condo?

It depends on what kind of changes you want to make. Any structural changes are usually a no-no while painting the walls is usually permitted. This will all be laid out in the rules and regulations of the building you’re looking at. If you’re buying a condo in Seattle ask your real estate agent for a list of the condo guidelines to find out exactly what changes are allowed and what aren’t.

Are there a lot of rules to follow?

Again, this is determined by the owner and the management of the building. Some condos are very relaxed and have only general rules that are set up to keep all of the tenants happy overall. Some condos, however, have very strict rules in place and severe policing of these rules. A condo with stricter policies in place may be better for singles or couples that enjoy peace and quiet, while a condo with more relaxed rules would fit a family with young children or a pet owner better.

Do condos include parking?

Most condos have parking areas set up but some will require that you pay a fee to have your own parking spot. Some condos include a parking space in the price. You can ask your Seattle real estate agent about the specifics if you see a condo that you are interested in.

The city is growing at a remarkable pace and condos are definitely a growing trend.

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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Northeast Seattle sees upper tier home prices on the rise

Adrian Willanger: Real Estate Agent in Seattle, WA

Northeast Seattle sees upper tier home prices on the rise

Seattle Zip Code 98125 -Northeast Seattle Upper Price Tier

Seattle Zip Code 98125 -Northeast Seattle Lower Price Tier

Northeast Seattle’s neighborhoods experienced much of its growth in the 1940-1960s as the city limits started to push both the south and north boundaries further from the city’s core. Much of northeast Seattle is very walkable and very well designed leaving many wooded areas while the areas around them were being developed. The neighborhoods, almost always, were developed around a “playfield” or a family gathering place. Northeast Seattle’s neighborhoods; Maple Leaf, Pinehurst, Jackson Park, Lake City, Victory Heights, Cedar Park, and Meadowbrook all have residents with strong social and community ties.

Real Estate Trends as of January 23, 2012

Inventory and prices for lower tier homes in Northeast Seattle continue to trend downward. Price for homes under $249K have continued to slide in value since July of 2011, even with inventory shrinking price levels keep going down. Unlike the upper tier market in Northeast Seattle which reacting like a normal marketplace should.

Upper tier home sales, homes over $530k, in Northeast Seattle started to see closed sales prices trending higher beginning in September of 2011 where the median sales price was $530k trending upward to slightly over $557k. Inventory levels have continued to slide from a brief leveling off in November of 2011 to where they are currently at the 12 month lows.

Typically we start to see inventory start to pick up slightly by the end of January through May.

Search available homes for sale in northeast Seattle.

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Finding the Right Seattle Neighborhood for Your Kids

Adrian Willanger: Real Estate Agent in Seattle, WA

Finding the Right Seattle Neighborhood for Your Kids

Kids are influenced by their environment, which is why it is very important to find the right Seattle neighborhood to raise your children. With so many possibilities, however, this can present something of a challenge. The first step you should take is to define what a good Seattle neighborhood means to you. Do you value diversity? Do you want to be close to a highly rated school? Spend time figuring out the qualities you desire in a Seattle neighborhood before you start your search.

When you are finally ready to begin looking, take advantage of the myriad resources online to conduct research on the various residential areas around you. There are several websites online that specialize in gathering data about a particular locale. You can find out things such as the average income, prevailing home values, schools in the area, and other demographics. Using these tools, you can narrow down your selection.

Tell your real estate agent what you are looking for in a Seattle neighborhood. Since they spend a lot of time showing homes, real estate agents will get a general sense about the different residential areas and can point you in the right direction. When you start taking tours, don’t be afraid to talk to the neighbors. After all, you will be living in the home for a number of years. It is best to know upfront who you’ll be living next to during that time.

If you have found a few homes that you like, take a tour of the neighborhoods at other times of the day and week. Friday and Saturday nights are a particularly good time to visit a residential area because you can see what the neighborhood is like when everyone is at home. This will provide you with a sense of the area’s true character.

This blog 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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How to Make Your Seattle Home Come Alive for a Quick Sale

Adrian Willanger: Real Estate Agent in Seattle, WA

How to Make Your Seattle Home Come Alive for a Quick Sale

Most people who put their homes on the market are hoping for a quick sale. In addition to hiring a good real estate agent and setting the right price on your home, you should also work on turning up your home’s visual appeal. A Seattle home that looks great inside and out will attract buyers hand help you sell your home faster.

The first thing people will notice is the home’s exterior. Therefore, you need to invest in boosting the Seattle home’s curb appeal. The lawn should be perfectly manicured at all times and it is a good idea to strategically plant flowers or shrubbery to give the house a picturesque quality. Putting up a privacy fence is an excellent way to ease potential buyer’s worries about nosy neighbors.

Homebuyers must be able to visualize living in the home for sale. However, they will be unable to do that if it is still filled with your stuff. Remove personal items like family photos and any artwork that is not being sold with the house. Paint the walls in a neutral color like white or cream. Spend time arranging the furniture in ways that emphasizes your home’s best features.

Your Seattle home should feel welcoming and adding a few decorative touches can go a long way towards making buyers feel right at home. If you have a fireplace, put a vase with real or fake flowers on the mantelpiece. Surround the base with unlit candles in a variety of sizes. Fill bare walls with black and white photographs of neutral subjects like animals or buildings.

This blog 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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