Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

As the Tri-City real estate market begins to heat up, more and more homeowners are considering putting their homes on the market.  Many are looking at Spring 2010, but have a relatively simplistic view of what is involved in preparing their home for sale. 

In today’s market, a market influenced by buyers who have neither the time nor the interest in fixing up a home, just adjusting the price to reflect condition doesn’t make sense.  In fact, if your house needs $30,000 worth of work to put it in good shape and you price it “discounted” by that amount, most buyers will estimate the cost to cure those defects at three times that amount.  At $90,000, you’re already $60,000 apart before they even see it!

In a series of blog entries, I will lay out a strategy for what it takes to prepare your home for sale.  It can take as long as six months to do those things that will make your property scream “buy me” to the buyer, unless you’ve been fastidious in how you keep the home.  There are several stages, and the first is potentially the most expensive:  the exterior, including landscaping and the building envelope.

Curb appeal is the buzz phrase for the exterior, but that’s a small part of the whole picture.  Let’s take a look at landscaping first.

Six months before your anticipated listing date, spend an hour or two walking about the outside of your house.  Landscaping is intended to be a setting for the house–not camouflage.  It should not be so overgrown as to cover windows, nor so close to the house that you can’t walk between the shrubs and house without difficulty.  Many shrubs take well to pruning and a well-manicured appearance can make a big difference.  Clear a path around your house and lower the shrubs that obscure the windows.  Be sure to notice trees that have shoots (called suckers, because they can suck the life out of a tree) protruding from the trunk and remove them.  Also, trim low hanging branches below six or seven feet–prospective buyers should be able to walk beneath a tree (non-weeping variety) without incurring lacerations.  

What about your lawn?  Does it look like a dried out rugby field or a putting green?  There are many products available to improve the appearance of your lawn and, of course, there are lawn services that can put your yard in top-notch shape.  Like landscaping, the lawn is the setting for the home and it is the first thing buyers see when they approach the house. 

So, start working on your lawn and landscaping now, so it will be in good shape by the time you are ready to put your home on the market come Spring.   The next step is to walk around the house and evaluate the building envelope.  And, that’s my next installment.  Stay turned… 

Submitted by:

Your Canyon Lakes Realtor

Sharon Sasser Warren, Realtor                         
   8022 W. Grandridge Blvd.    
   Kennewick, WA  99336

Spring must be here…I found three golf balls in my backyard this weekend.  Since the golfers are back on the course these days, I’m wondering how many know that the Canyon Lakes Golf Course is rated 4 1/2 Stars by Golf Digest and is the highest rated golf course in the Tri-Cities?  Additionally, Canyon Lakes Golf Course is tied as the highest rated golf course in Washington State!  And, Northwest Travel magazine selected Canyon Lakes as one of the “18 of the Best in the Pacific Northwest.”

Here are a few more facts about the award winning golf course right in our own backyard.  For example, Hole #12 is famous for being the largest green in the Pacific Northwest–a 12,000 square foot thing of beauty!  Hole #9 was selected as one of the Northwest’s Dream 18 Holes!  The Canyon Lakes Golf Course not only has won multiple awards, but also plays host to a number of prestigious tournaments and charity events each year.  If you are planning a golf outing and want more information, visit golf@canyonlakesgolfcourse.com.   And, don’t forget to wow your friends with the facts, now that you know that Canyon Lakes Golf Course is so highly rated!

Your Canyon Lakes Realtor,

Sharon Sasser Warren,                                                                           Distinctive Properties, Inc.                                                                             (509) 551-4393

Based on the March 10th Canyon Lakes Property Owners Association board meeting, it’s becoming quite clear that the ARC plans to take a more active role in enforcing ARC Guidelines and the community’s CC&R’s.   In the past, ARC review of home remodeling plans, exterior painting and construction of onsite structures like sheds, walls and fences was minimal.  Now, that is changing and the ARC is embarking on a more active role.   In fact, at the board meeting, it was reported that the ARC recently denied a homeowner’s request to build a shed because the plan submitted did not meet the ARC guidelines.  Another homeowner was present at the board meeting to ask about changing the paint color of her new home in Canyon Lakes #9.  She was advised that  an application and paint samples must be submitted for review by the ARC.  To avoid future problems, homeowners are advised to submit an application and plans, including proposed paint colors, once formal plans are completed.  Remember, too, that you can access ARC Guidelines and the Canyon Lakes CC&R’s through this blog’s website.

Your Canyon Lakes Realtor,

Sharon Sasser Warren  

The Canyon Lakes Property Owners Association held its annual meeting on February 17, 2009.   Jodi Landefeld, Secretary of the  CLPOA, received ballots from 252 property owners voting for Board members.  The 2009 officers and board member are as follows:  Todd Sprong, President; Jason Goffard, Vice-President; board members are Troy Bacon, Manny Beckmann, Ruth Beckmann, Ed McLaughlin, Jeanette Mefford, Christa Sasser and Gene Schreckhise.  

ARC committee members, Ed McLaughlin and Troy Bacon, gave the Board an update as to what the ARC has been doing.  Manny Beckmann told the Board he sent out a couple of voilation letters.  Troy Bacon suggested the Chief of Police, who is a Canyon Lakes resident, be invited to the next monthly meeting to discuss recurring violations in the community. 

Homeowners at the meeting had many questions for the Board.  One major area of interest concerned the handling of non-compliant Homeowners and the status of the new Master Documents, which will allow better enforcement.  The assembled group learned that a quorum was obtained for the Master Documents–369 property owners voted, of that 325 approved, 20 disapproved and 24 abstained.  Other areas of discussion at the meeting included maintenance of entryway signs, landscaping and fence vandalism, traffic issues and pet owners not picking up their dog’s waste from lawns and common areas.  Also discussed was the long range plan to build a clubhouse and develop CLPOA’s 3.2 acre lot.  Proposed building plans were revealed at the meeting.  Additionally, property owners were advised that the signs at Canyon Lakes #9, Canyon Lakes North and South Hill are being repaired.

If you are interested in getting involved, there are two open Board positions.  There is also one open position on the Architectual Review Committee.  Contact Jodi Landefeld at the Board office, if you are interested in serving. 

Your Canyon Lakes Realtor,

Sharon Sasser Warren

Combining this winter’s cold temperatures with economic concerns about saving money on heating bills means it’s a good time to audit your home for energy saving ideas.  Here are some ideas to get a big return on energy savings:

• Did you know that 10 to 50 percent of energy is lost through walls, ceilings and floors due to inadequate insulation?  The first place to look for missing or inadequate insulation is in the attic.  Where the interior of walls and ceilings is easily accessible, adding insulation can be a relatively inexpensive way to get a big return on energy savings.  
• Sealing the leaks from the heating space into the attic dramatically reduces heating costs and also limits the amount of moisture seeping into the atic. 
• Installing child proof electrical outlet caps is an excellent way of reducing air movement into the wall cavity, particularly in outlets along outside walls.
• Installing a programmable thermostat can help you save money on your heating bills by keeping the temperature lower when no one is home.
• If it’s time to replace any kitchen appliances, buy ones with the Energy Star label and reap energy bill savings.

Your Canyon Lakes Realtor,

Sharon Sasser Warren,

Distinctive Properties, Inc.                                                                        

(509) 551-4393                                                                         swarren2@charter.net

In today’s economy it’s nice to find ways to save extra money.  Even with gas prices down, you can still save money and reduce stress behind the wheel.  The way you drive affects the amount of gas you use.  Did you know you can lose almost 25 percent in fuel efficiency by the way you drive? 

First, don’t accelerate quickly.  Imagine you have an egg under the gas pedal.  If you push down too hard, you’re going to break that egg.  The second way to improve efficiency is by not stopping too quickly.  Every time you hit the brakes, you’ve turned gasoline into nothing but brake dust, tire tread and heat.  Back off the gas the moment you see a red light in the distance and you’ll conserve fuel.  It’s far more efficient to coast to a stop.  Also, lighten the load.  Every 50 pounds you carry in your trunk decreases fuel efficiency by 1 percent.  Proper tire inflation is important, too.  You use 20 percent of your gas energy overcoming the rolling resistance of your tires.  As long as you keep your tires full, you’ll use less gas.  And, if you’ve hit a curb in a parking lot, have your alignment checked.   

Finally, have a strategy for arranging appointments to make your drive more efficient.  Plan your route so that you go from one neighborhood to another in a nice continuous circle.  No zigzagging.  Also, don’t always rely on your GPS device, because it won’t give you the big picture.  Sometimes it’s best to get out a map.   When you get on the freeway, take your time.  The peak efficiency for a car is about 45 MPH.  Every 10 miles per hour you go over 60 is like paying an extra 50 cents per gallon for gas.  Use cruise control only on flat surfaces.  And, while you’re driving around the Tri-Cities, if you see a For Sale sign on a house that interests you, call me…

Your Canyon Lakes Realtor,

Sharon Sasser Warren, Realtor                         
   8022 W. Grandridge Blvd.    
   Kennewick, WA  99336