As of April 1, 2012, Washington State law (RCW 19.27.530) requires homes to have CO detectors installed. Why the change? Every year folks die from carbon monoxide poisoning from bringing inside outdoor cooking devices, generators, and even a additional heat source. Typically, people resort to these measures when the power goes out for an extended period of time. The State decided it is time to enact a law to save lives yet it still requires folks to actually purchase and install CO detectors, $15 – $35 at Home Depot.

When out showing homes CO detectors can be readily seen throughout the homes, we encourage our sellers to install them so a home inspector doesn’t note them in the inspection report. Yet, time and time again, and primarily with bank owned homes, I see the carbon monoxide detectors install incorrectly. In the right hand image, the CO detector is placed next to the light switch and every foreclosure I’ve sold the detectors are in the same place. That is a horrible place to install them. Why? Because CO is a heavier than air gas and CO fills a room from the bottom up.
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Last year I became addicted to watching Halloween light shows, view last years top 10 list, and I’ve been feverishly awaiting new releases. Well after combing the interwebs for new electric displays to dazzle my senses, I came across a Gangnam Style light show video.

One reason why it may have taken so long to find videos by the famous Kevin Judd is his HOA imposed new rules to block the display, read it on the Huffingtonpost.com. Massive crowds can be annoying yet there are less positive things a neighborhood could be known for.

Totally weak sauce as it has to be one of the coolest displays to ever be put together. Well without further ado its Gangnam Sytle.

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Remodeling is a excellent way to improve the comforts of home while increasing curb appeal and selling potential. As we all know, many homeowners are stuck paying for a home in which the value has significantly decreased yet they cannot sell and capitalize on getting more for their money, like many buyers out there. So what does that leave these homeowners with? Well if you’re handy or have some money stashed away then remodeling maybe an option.

With any home, unless its a custom, there are usually features you would like to have or change with the existing floor plan. It could be to knock out a wall and expand a room, or update a dated kitchen with a modern look and feel, or maybe it’s a maintenance item you wish to tackle. In Washington, some remodeling/improvement items maybe more pressing than others; especially if your home still has first generation LP siding.

According to eLocal.com’s infographic, which doesn’t say the sq/ft of the home and it should be noted that actual cost may vary, the siding cost is approximately $9,500. Updating the siding of a home helps prevent against mold, rot, and costly repairs down the road – or unexpected problems when selling. By updating the siding a homeowner can reasonable expect to get an 87% return on the initial cost. Review the infographic below for other expected returns for a remodel project.
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Yes, garage door and coolest are in the same sentence. What would you choose to store in this garage? Race boat, hot rod, street bike, pickup truck or just Christmas lights? You can put me down for the race boat, truck and few sets of snow skies that way there is room left over for the beer fridge and lawn mower.

I really enjoy the Christmas holiday with all the lights, cookies, hot chocolate, cutting down a Christmas tree, music, and the crisp winter air. Christmases of years past conjures memories of family crammed into Grandpa’s and Grandma’s small house on the outskirts of Sutherlin Oregon. Presents would be bulging from the tree, family would be sleeping in chairs and on floors, or eating popcorn balls next to Grandpa’s iron melting fireplace. Those are memories I wouldn’t trade for anything.

For families of the 21st century some new traditions are arising, Holiday Light Shows. In October I posted 10 Halloween light shows that I found to be rockin and now it is time for Christmas light shows. A few years ago the Wizards of Winter brought a new awesomeness to the traditional Christmas light displays and cemented holiday light shows as something anyone can do – check out Lights-O-Rama kits. Lights + Music = Winner.

My Attempt on My Girlfriend’s Home

The home is decorated with strands of minis totalling 1800 lights. I’m still debating to do the roof line. This is just one home in Eagle Heights that has been decorated. Check out the neighborhood if you’re out driving through lights as there are many cool homes (1 even has music).

Halloween could be a HallowWasn’t (borrowed that from Winnie the Pooh) if not for all the fright, pumpkins, haunted houses, and large amounts of candy. Lights are not something that comes to mind when thinking Halloween, mostly ghost stories and spooky houses, yet there are a host of people who beautify their homes with superb lighting displays to holiday music.

Match the thrill of lighting with sweet technology and the limits are endless. Animated Lighting displays are increasingly popular (remember Wizards of Winter?) and Halloween 2011 is showing how talented animators have become. I personally can’t get the first video out of my head, THIS IS HALLOWEEN, THIS IS HALLOWEEN! I think these videos are great! One of the funniest comments I’ve seen is on video # 3 and the video had 34 dislikes and the comment was “this guy has 34 neighbors”. To funny! Have to say, I am FAN! Well done to all who have took time to make rad stuff for us to watch.
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As a person who doesn’t watch a lot of TV unless its on the History Channel, Discovery, and/or the Science Channel, I do try and stay somewhat current on home/real estate related shows. This morning while reading the Family Matters Blog, I was pleasantly surprised to see Extreme Makeover Home Edition is activity seeking military families for an upcoming episode. In a episode airing next week, the Extreme Makeover crew helped Barbara Marshall with “a shelter and resource center for homeless female veterans”, highly noble in my opinion, and I think the first sentence of the below quote says it all.
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As a real estate agent, everyone now and then you get the opportunity to work with people that have an amazing and long connection with the home they’re selling. It comes in many fashions, a home has been in the family for generations, it many found memories of holidays, summers, and family, and in this case, the home was built by the father and, after 30+ years, one the sons was entrusted to sell the home.

Gene Goosman Jr, a client we represented in the sale of his father’s home, told me stories of building the home, what went into the passivsolar system, and how it was ahead of its time – the home was built green just after “global warming” was coined a term and long before the general public would come to accept “global warming” as a real threat. With all stories and the memories comes the heart ache of parting with a home which has been a focal point of family relationships.
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Residents of Washington are gearing up for a La Nina winter with weekend storms possibly producing snow. In 2008, Washington was engulfed by a winter storm that lasted weeks that rivaled the big snow storm of 1996 – 1997. The storm incoming winter blast, as the news stations label it as, will start late this evening and coninue into the weekend and hopefully, yes that is the skier in me coming out, there will be 5-6 inches on accumilation (depends on what part of Snohomish County you lived in).

Darrington and east Snohomish County has been getting an early does of snow and the view of White Horse should be specatular if you are up that direction picking up a Christmas tree or just playing in the snow. This weekend I plan on getting out and playing the snow just for kicks and may even purchase and Advantage Pass for Stevens Pass.
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The cold winter is in full effect and the amount of rain fall and cold weather will definitely be felt walking out the door. The holidays are here, money is tight, and putting more green in your pocket while doing a small part for the environment.

The biggest cost homeowner’s face during the winter is heating. The cooler winter temperatures can produce higher and higher heating bills. Homeowner’s can combat this trend by taking a look at their attic’s insulation. Heat rises and the attic maybe the last place you think heat, and more importantly energy, is lost.
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Homeowners will get a tax break this year and I am not referring about the first time home buyer tax credit or extension. Homeowners who invest in energy efficient household items will be eligible for tax credits if purchased between January 1 and December 31, 2010. In addition to December 31, 2010 cutoff date, there are the Products Purchase before & on/or after June 1, 2010. Product Purchased on/or after will be held to tighter restrictions that the Products Purchase before June 1, 2010.
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When it comes to owning a home, most men will agree that there needs to be a part for “him”. A place to call his own, where friends can sit around and talk shop and argue everything under the sun all the while have a good laugh. This place has been called many things but its most commonly known as the man cave. Yes, the infamous man cave.

The man cave is the place a guy likes to hang out after a hard days work and have a cold beer. Man caves appear in many forms. From the weekend getaway man cave to dialed in garage man cave, they all look different but they serve the same purpose — relaxation.
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During the spring and summer friends and I tend to barbeque a lot and finding fresh vegetables can be a hassle. So this year I made the decision to try a home garden for the first time; ok its just a few tomato plants but its a start. Some of my favorite foods require tomatoes and having fresh, juicy, and big tomatoes makes all the difference in the world.

Driving to Fred Meyer and gathering supplies I soon had everything needed to grow tomatoes in the back yard: flower pots, potting soil, and tomato plant starters where all it took. I purchased 2 Brandywine Reds, 1 Big Boy, and 1 Arkansas Traveler to get an assortment and to see which ones grew and tasted the best. Tomato plants require 60-90 days to grow so this is the perfect time to get them going.
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It is rapidly approaching that time of year again, at least on the calendar months that is, and lawns all over Washington are going to be going into bloom. If your lawn has been soaked by the winter snow and rain or it’s just in need of some clean up work these ideas should help out.

Since the construction boom around Snohomish County many drainage problems have arisen despite efforts of retention ponds and other city collecting systems. Drainage problems are usually caused because of soil composition. In Snohomish County we have a rocky surface soil with a layer of hardpan underneath (typically clay). The hardpan layer is not very porous and water has a difficult time penetrating it like other soil so the water just collects above it.
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Fueling many aspects of life in Washington, environmental sustainability is on the minds of citizens of Snohomish County. Citizen based environmental advocacy organizations such as Environment Washington push independent research and a tough minded approach to tackle Washington’s special interest groups. Drawing on over thirty years of success, their goal is to help push Washington the current eco-friendly paradigm.
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As summer quickly slips away from us Washingtonians it is time to start thinking energy savings. With 9 months of rain, snow, freezing temperatures and more rain, overall household energy cost will be on the rise. Previously, 3 money saving energy tips where discussed, (lighting, faucets and idle electronics) but that was just a shortlist of energy saving tips.

Free Ways to Save Money

Dress Warmly: As temperatures start to decrease saving money is as adding an extra blanket on the bed, where warm pajamas around the house and have a throw blanket on the couch. If you can stand to lower the temperature just 2 degrees, holding a constant 68, 69 degrees, a lot of money can be saved through the colder months.
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The shorter Washington days mean home owners will be forced to keep lights longer, using more energy (natural gas or electric) to heat their home and probably spend more time using electronics like TVs, DVD players and personal computers.

According to EnergyHog.org home owners “can save 10-50% on your home energy bills by making some energy smart improvements to your home”. That can be a dramatic savings considering the average home owner with spend almost $2,100 in annual energy costs. By using energy efficient techniques the average home owner can save anywhere from $17.50 to $87.50 per month. [Read more...]