10 Ways to Make Your House in Snohomish County WA More Saleable

1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4. Get rid of smells! Even if you think you house does not have smells, spring for a good carpet and drape cleaning to eliminate any possible cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Keep the windows open when possible (if road noise is not an issue).

5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Clean your gutters. Remove any debris such as pine straw that has accumulated on the roof.

10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers. Remember, the door is the first part of the home potential buyers see!

For more information on selling your home in Snohomish County WA, visit my website. Or give me a call for more personal service, 425-308-3669. I would love to help make your home more saleable!

Market Trends Report For Snohomish County, WA – July 2007

Home prices are expected to recover in 2008 with existing-home sales picking up late this year and new-home sales rising early next year, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.

Lawrence Yun, NAR senior economist, said a good buyers’ market has evolved. “Buyers now have an overwhelming advantage given the wide selection of homes available in many markets,” he said. “But with profit margins coming under pressure, homebuilders will limit new construction well into 2008. This should help the overall inventory level to move steadily into a more balanced state.”

Active listings in King County increased in June 2007 by 4,271 homes or 45% compared to the same time period in 2006. Although there are more homes being sold, there is also a marked increase in inventory causing the average market time in June to increase to 46 days vs. 36 days in 2006.

King County continued to experience rising prices, with the average sales price 11% higher in 2007 than 2006, bringing the average sales price to $507,969.

On the other hand, Snohomish County had a 12 percent decrease in sales - 191 more homes were sold in June of 2006 than of 2007.

Despite the sluggish sales, the number of active listings increased by 62 percent in June and market times increased 31 percent or 18 days. The average sales price increased by 9 percent compared to June 2006, increasing to $394,710.

Year to date, sales declined 15 percent, and the average sales price increased 11 percent.

June statistics show it is a great time to buy a home. Buyers have more homes to choose from, making sellers negotiable. But, buyers also need to keep in mind that buying a home is a long-term investment and can't expect to see the double digit annual appreciation of a few years.

For more information about living in Snohomish County or Snohomish County real estate, please call me at 425-308-3669 or visit my website at www.KarensVillas.com.

Statistics compiled by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service and are deemed accurate but not warranted.

Fun Things To Do In Snohomish County, WA

Summer is in full swing and as the novelty of being out of school begins to wear off, most parents are bracing themselves for the inevitable “I’m booooored” that is just bound to come out of their children’s mouths soon.

Below are links to several fun things to do with your children this summer to get them outside and enjoying this beautiful time of year in Snohomish County:

Snohomish Parks
Fishing
Museums
Horseback Riding
Outdoor Adventures
And more…

For more information about living in Snohomish County or Snohomish County real estate, please call me at 425-308-3669 or visit my website at www.KarensVillas.com. Here’s to an exciting second half of the summer!

WA Homeowners Insurance & Fire Stations

So what does the location of my Washington home have to do with the fire station?

Most insurance companies will ask the proximity of your home to the nearest fire station or fire hydrant. The closer together they are the cheaper the insurance.

The theory behind this is, if there were to be a fire, the closer the house is to the fire station, the faster the response time and the less damage done to the house.

Often, your insurance agent will ask you how far the house is from the fire station and if you are like most new home buyers, you don't have any idea. This link shows the name and address of all Washington fire departments. After locating the fire department for your town, you can map the distance from your house to the fire station.

For more information about homeowners insurance or Snohomish County real estate visit KarensVillas.com or give me a call at 425-308-3669. I'm glad to help!