Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

We’ve all heard it’s a buyers market, so your are competing with the other homeowners’s attempting to sell there homes in this market.  Your home needs all the appeal to get those potential buyers in there!  Unless your house is silver and shiny, you may want to shine it up a bit with these simple ideas can help show your home at it’s best.

Have your home pre-inspected.

When an offer is made, a home inspection must be performed. Reeling in a buyer, only to lose them to unseen problems with the house is one of the worst things that can happen.  Have your home pre-inspected to uncover any unknown issues.  Prices vary for home inspections ($250 – $500) and an agent here at Distinctive Properties can recommend a professional for you.

Check warranties and get estimates.

If the inspection turns up anything, get estimates for any repairs.  If they are affordable, repair them.  Check warranties on some items, such as furnace, dishwasher, and other real property that stays with the home.  

Make minor repairs.

Not every repair will cost you a lot.  Repair torn screens, squeaky doors, running toilets, etc.  Replace any rotten trim or other small items to increase the look of care to the home.

De Clutter.

Clutter can make the storage in the home seem small.  while you see years of perfectly fine living, other see a house that can’t hold it all.   Clear off the kitchen counters of just about everything.

Clean out closets.  Pack up lightly used items like summer clothes and camping equipment and toys.  You may want to invest in a small storage unit.  A small price to pay for curb appeal.    Store away any bulky furnishing and keep the home simple and basic.  Remember, people are looking at the home and want to picture their belongings in it.  That may be difficult with all the spaces cluttered up.  You basically want to ”depersonalize” your home by removing pictures and knick-knacks.  

Let the buyer see a blank canvas.  

Clean!

You’ve heard about first impressions and how important they are.   A buyer walks into a super clean home is left with the impression that the home is well cared for.   So clean the windows, air out the house to eliminate any natural odors from food, pets, etc.  Have carpets shampooed or steam cleaned and dust off blinds, and launder drapery. 

We hope these tips are helpful.  Visit us on our website at www.distinctiveprop.com for more information. 

The temperatures have been in the teens for the past few days.  This morning it was 16 degrees, but I didn’t have to scrape any ice of my vehicle so the air seems to be fairly dry.  However…..forecasters are saying there’s a likelihood of snow accumulation in the valleys of Eastern Washington.  

Two years ago, I came home from a long day at work to find my driveway running with water and a sheet of ice beneath.  As I clicked the garage door opener and watched the door rise, there was a cascade of water falling down across the white and blue checkerboard pattern, glistening in the light of the motion detectors.   A pipe, in the attic over the garage (un-insulated) burst when the temperatures were below freezing for several days.  With the low temps we experiencing here in the Tri Cities, I am making sure I am winter ready this year!   Are you? 

 Here are a few tips to stay safe and warm during snow and icy conditions.     

Let’s start with the most obvious…..Prevent Freezing Pipes!  Insulate your homes pipes with proper insulation or even newspapers and plastic and allow your faucets to drip a little during cold weather to prevent them from freezing. Even at a trickle of running water helps prevent frozen pipes. 

Be sure you know where your water shut off valve is located.

Avoid drafts and save on heating costs with a check of windows and doors.   How is the caulking and weather-stripping?  Does it need to be replaced?  Installing storm windows or cover your windows with plastic to keep heat in. 

Clean out rain gutters, repair leaky roofs and cut away tree branches that could fall on your house or outdoor buildings during a wind storm.

Be Safe: Avoid any fuel-burning equipment indoors.  Any fuel burning equipment should be vented to the outside.   If you are burning any fuel source, please keep a fire extinguisher close by.  A house fire can be devastating.

When driving, practice safety for you and your passengers.  Allow additional driving time so you are not rushing. 

Take it easy.  Slow your speed, braking and acceleration during your travels.  Don’t use the cruise control.

Don’t Tailgate.  The last thing you need to do is step on the brakes in the ice.  

Keep a blanket and some protein bars in the vehicle in the event of an emergency. 

 if you have any other tips to contribute, please comment below! 

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY JANUARY!

In November and December, Realtors across the Tri-Cities will come together to participate in service of their communities by raising food and funds for 2nd Harvest. 

Bags will be dropped off  on their neighborhood doorsteps and bags and donations will be picked up December 2nd, 2011 and all donations will be be delivered to KNDU the morning of December 3, 2011.

The summer edition of our Distinctive Newsletter is out!  If you haven’t read it yet…check it out of our website here….

http://www.distinctiveprop.com/files/files/julynewsletter.pdf

Find out how you can search for homes from ANYWHERE!!

Data analysis firm, ProximityOne, has made their population predictions stating the U.S. Population will rise from 2010 to 2020 to a total of 337.1 million people; this will be a 8.9% increase. 

Tri-Cities is ranked number 2 of 10 to see this population increase.  They predict our area will see a 35.3% increase, raising the population from 255,485 in 2010 to 345,779 in 2020.  Below are the other areas that made the top 10. 

Kennewick, Richland, Pasco was ranked #2 following the 32.6% population increase seen from 2000 to 2010.  Due to the areas relatively low unemployment rate (7.3 percent in April) and a multi-industry economy, Inman’s voted Tri-Cities #5 in their top ten Real Estate markets to watch in 2011.

Among the 366 metro areas in the U.s., 43 areas are expected to see population decreases. 

If you are ready to buy, sell or relocated….Contact Distinctive Properties, Inc.!!  (509) 783-1431!

Are you ready to sell your home?
Let Distinctive Properties, Inc. help you do that!

Currently, we have 27 agents ready to list your home. 
Here are a few of the things our agents will do for you and your home: 

• Give advice regarding price and terms; prepare Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).
• Estimate closing costs and net proceeds.
• Promote seller’s best interest.
• Negotiate best price and terms for seller.
• Disclose buyer’s motivation and strategy, if known.
• Use the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), and a variety of other sources to help determine the best selling price for your home.
• Place your home in MLS, so all local REALTORS can help find the right buyer.
• Qualify buyers before showing them your home.
• Promptly counsel you on all contracts and offers presented.
• Attend the closing and help explain all the details.
• Turn over house to buyer.
• Maintain confidentiality.

Not only will your agent be knowledgeable about your home and its features and benefits, but all of our agents take a weekly tour of all our new listings.  This way whenever potential buyers inquire about your property, everyone can provide the knowledge it will take to sell your home. 

So if you are ready to sell, call Distinctive Properties today to have your home put on our DISTINCTIVE TOUR!