Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has published a great source of information for members of the NAR.  The geographic area in the report covers the Kennewick, Pasco, Richland metro area of Benton and Franklin Counties.  We at Distinctive Properties, Inc. are certain our clients and local residents will enjoy the comparisons between this area and the rest of the United States.  Please access the link below to share the wealth of information this report offers.

http://bit.ly/aQSk3X

With the changing weather, comes changing plans, shaking and moving.  Summer is when people relocate, buy a new home, sell an existing property, downsize, upgrade.  Distinctive Properties has the answer for each situation.  The Tri-Cities is a great place to make changes.  Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and the outlying areas offer a diverse selection for whatever a person needs.  Stop by and visit with an agent of your choice.

Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, as well as outlying communities are gearing up for the influx of tourists arriving in the Tri-Cities to enjoy the Annual Hydroplane Boat Races.  Restaurants and Lodging facilities welcome those attending various activities surrounding the event for at least three days on the weekend of July 23rd, 24th and 25th. Tourists and residents of Pasco, Kennewick and Richland enjoy sidewalk art, timed trials, airshows and the main event on Sunday when the hydroplanes roar around the bouyed racecourse.  The river is lined with spectators on the Kennewick side and the Pasco side of the Columbia River.  The flourish of activities continue up the river and extend into the park in Richland.  Welcome one and all from Distinctive Properties, serving the residents of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland and those desiring to relocate to the Tri-Cities.

Summer certainly has taken its time getting to the Tri-Cities, but it’s finally here and it is time to take a good look at bringing your winter remodeling ideas into fruition. Understanding that you might wish to be puttering around in your boat on the Columbia or Snake rivers, or taking a hike up Badger Mountain, strolling along the waterfront trail in Richland…it’s time to knuckle down and tackle some of those projects.

The warm and longer days are a wonderful time to work on the little repairs and renovations that can reap a financial reward in the near or far future when it’s time to sell your home.  Let’s take a look at some of these ideas:

Patios and Decks:   What a better way to enjoy these summer days than by creating an outdoor living space for everyone to enjoy. Decks and patios are among the most popular summer remodeling ideas and there are lots of consideration to take into consideration when making the decision whether a patio or deck is the best project to undertake. Some factors include soil condition and consistency, site terrain, actual use, capacity, privacy as well as the cost and maintenance you are willing to deal with throughout the length of the project.

Home Maintenance:  Throughout the seasons, your home has taken care of you and your family, and now is the best time to give a little love back to it. Go through your property to evaluate and create a checklist on areas that need mending or replacement. This list is a crucial preparation before calling a contractor or handyman for maintenance and repair services. Some common maintenance and repair include:  1) Waterproof the basement, 2) Re-caulk and replace weatherstriping, 3) Clean and seal wooden decks, 4) trim bushes and shrubs  5) Re-align downspouts and gutters, 6) Repair roof, 7) Clean the pool, 8. mend the fence, 9) Seal cracks along driveways, foundation, walkways, etc. and 10) Maintenance of HVAC systems.

Energy efficient renovation:  When it comes to summer remodeling, there’s no better way to invest your hard earned dollars than by making your home energy efficient. An energy efficient summer remodel is truly a worthwhile endeavor as it will result in years of savings on your enegery bills. Some of the common items you can buy and intregrate into your energy efficient renovations include: 1) Insulation systems and materials, 2) roofs that resist heat gain, 3) biomass burning stoves, 4) energy-efficient windows, 5) HVAC systems with the highest efficiency tiers, 6) solar panels, 7) fuel cells  8) geothermal heat pumps, and 9) wind energy systems.

So hurry and finsh up these summer project so that you can get back to enjoying all the recreational activities that the Tri-Cities and Mid-Columbia region offer! The theme here is “Fun in the Sun” for a reason!!

4000+ students from Tri-City elementary and middle schools gathered in Columbia Park to wish a fond farewell to the salmon fingerlings they have watched grow in their classrooms for the past 3 months. The 10th Annual Salmon Summit was held at Columbia Park in Kennewick on May 4th near the blue bridge. Throughout the period when the students were watching the fish, they learned about the stages of life for the salmon and about what the name “salmon” means, which is “jumping fish’.  Each of the past 10 years the Benton and Franklin Conservation Districts have established this release event, with students putting the fish into small cups and then releasing them into the waters of the mighty Columbia River.  It will be approximately 4 years before the salmon return to this area after their long and arduous trip down the river to the ocean.