Washington State has some of the most iconic views across the nation. The Puget Sound set front and center to the marvelous Cascade Mountains provide a photographer's dream of perfect subject matter. These photographs have stem from around the state and have garnered national attention

Yet, locally, Snohomish County has best views in the State.

Why?

I'm biased, that's why. In all honesty, yes I am biased, I'm a lifelong County resident of Snohomish County and have had the pleasure to ski her mountains, boat on her waters, spend time on her lakes and rivers, and underneath the stars that bath her in light (when its not cloud of course).

So for this blog post, which has been long over due in writing, I will be updating as I take photos from around the area with my handy cell phone and karma. Please enjoy this ever evolving post and the Sunsets of Snohomish County!

Sunsets from my House in Lakewood

Selling a home has a lot of variables: home inspections, financing, title liens and more. Some of these variable can cause delays in the sale of the home and cost thousands of dollars. However, other variables and cost a few dollars yet still cause time delays that are unnecessary and preventable.

One item that is very common for sellers to miss in earthquake straps on a hot water tank. What are earthquake straps? Earthquake straps aka .. hot water tank straps, hot water heater restraints, metal bands .. . etc, are metal straps that secure a hot water tank in its location so it does tip during an earthquake or if someone tries to climb on it.

In the below video, Toby explains why earthquake straps are important to a seller and buyer when a home is being purchased using financing.

Are you considering selling your home or property in 2021? If so, here is a quick, really quick, video from Toby Barnett on the Snohomish County housing market and why now is one of the best times in local history to sell a property. If you'd like to reach Toby, his number is 425-210-0709 and email toby@barnettassociates.net.

If you'd like to learn more before contact, check out the Team's YouTube channel and Facebook page to see how Toby goes above and beyond for each on of the Team's sellers / buyers.

Its no surprise that Snohomish County is, and has been, experiencing an ever decreasing supply of homes for sale and with that, a strong seller’s market. I’m currently assisting sellers in preparing their homes for sale and part of that process to review Active, Pending & Pending Inspection, Contingent, and Sold properties to determine the property's real time market value.

To my surprise, housing inventory is far less than realized and if you’re considering selling, now is the time.

Below are the total Active residential homes for sale in their respective city. Be prepared for a bit of shock.

The Boeing Company's plan to move the 787 Dreamliner program to South Carolina has created shock and some panic; however, amongst us Snohomish County locals the writing has been on the wall.

The 787 program has been slowly outsourced, a topic of displeasure within my circle of friends and a discussion for another time, to South Carolina over the years.

When the most recent news broke of the planned move, there was immediate discussion on the impact to the local economy due to possible mass layoffs and increased unemployment throughout the county's aerospace industry and eventually, how those economic factors will drive down housing values.

Being Boeing is a major local employer and its employees direct their income back into the local towns and businesses; there is no doubt that losing the 787 program to Charleston will have some economic impact.

Yet, will the perceived mass exodus impact home values?

In my opinion, Boeing moving the 787 program to South Carolina will not impact Snohomish County home values.

On May 1st, Governor Inslee announced an extension of the "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order (the “Order”) and introduced a four-phased approach to re-open business in Washington. All counties start in Phase 1 and will be admitted into Phase 2 by the Governor, based on epidemiological and other indications specific to each county.

On May 19th, in cooperation with Washington Realtors, Governor Inslee announced modifications to the Order for real estate activities in counties that have been approved for Phase 2 re-opening, provided specific protocols are followed. The modifications for Phase 2 include:

• Real estate firms may open their offices in a limited fashion;
• Commercial brokers can engage in the same in-person services as residential brokers;
• Three persons (as opposed to two persons) are allowed on site for permitted in-person real estate activities for both residential and commercial brokerage (for both improved and unimproved property); and
• Sign installers may install real estate signs.

For both Phase 1 and Phase 2 in-person real estate activities, real estate brokers and industry partners (e.g. appraisers, inspectors, photographers, stagers, etc.) must wear cloth face coverings and should encourage clients and customers to do the same.

Public and broker open houses and similar invitations to view a property without an appointment are not permitted in Phase 1 or Phase 2. Only previews and showings by appointment are allowed. Brokers must adhere to the “phase” protocols for the county where the property is located, regardless of the location of the broker’s office or home. Brokers conducting real estate activities in a Phase 1 county, must continue to abide by the Phase 1 protocols, which include only allowing two persons in a property, including the broker, at one time.

A complete list of County Phases can be found here.

With the Governor's Stay Home, Stay Healthy order in place there has been lot of talk within our industry on how the order applies to real estate brokers, their services, and the greater home buyer / home selling industry in Snohomish County.

As you can imagine, the definition of essential business has been quite the talk-of-town and endless industry debate. I've been caught up with discussing since reading the Governor's Essential Businesses webpage, our Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS or MLS for short) bulletins, NAR publications and so-forth. So, to clear the air on what we know right now, here is a list from the NWMLS that was updated a few minutes ago.

LATEST NEWS FROM NWMLS MARCH 23, 2020

On Saturday, March 28th, in cooperation with Washington Realtors, Governor Inslee agreed to certain modifications to the Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order (the “Order”) for the real estate industry. Due to the fact that the vast majority of real estate brokers are abiding by the Order, several of the original restrictions on in-person activities have been revised –provided that strict protocols for social distancing are implemented.

The clouds have parted and Spring is upon us Washingtonians. In the continuing series of Preparing Your Home for Sale, Toby Barnett briefly covers landscaping to prepare a home for Spring selling season. Use this weather, social distancing, and bit of manual labor to clean flower beds, trim bushes and hedges, plant flowers, mow and edge the lawn, and to do any other clean up to increase your home’s curb appeal.

During this social distancing time, please like and subscribe for more quick videos on Preparing Your Home for Sale and out shine the competition. Also, if you’d like to hire Toby to sell your home please contact him directly at (425) 210-0709 and toby@barnettassociates.net.