Tiled Parking Cutout
21 Apr 2024

Increase Home Appeal 5 Ways

by | posted in: Seller | 0

In Lacey most home prices are based on square footage.  But whether or not your home sells quickly often depends on curb appeal and what your home has that others don’t.  The best thing you can do is make your home so desirable that a bidding war ensues and you walk away with more than you expected from the sale of your home.  Here are some wonderful ideas for increasing the curb appeal of your home.

1. Extra Parking

Most homes in Lacey are part of a homeowners association or HOA as they are known.  HOAs have strict rules about parking.  You’re allowed to park in your driveway, but not on the street.  Street parking can be fined as much as $175 per incident.  That adds up quickly if you have teenagers or lots of parties.  But there’s a solution to that.

Here’s a wonderful DIY Video on creating a gravel parking cutout.

You can place a gravel parking cutout just about anywhere that leads to the street.  Obviously you wouldn’t want to place it next to a curb because it would require driving over the curb which may violate city ordinances.  But if you have a spot with easy access to the street or your driveway, call up the city, see if you need a permit, and design your gravel parking cutout. In the DIY video above, he creates the gravel parking cutout right beside his house and even designs a gutter drainage field under the gravel parking cutout.  That’s pretty clever.  The same concept would apply for sprinklers.

If you want a more refined look, you can create a tiled parking cutout.  And remember, there are a lot of landscapers who can include parking in landscaping designs.  Keep that in mind if you’re planning on landscaping your home as well.

2.  Covered Walkway

In Washington, it rains.  In fact, it rains most of the year.  A covered walkway to your front door is valuable.  It’s also an excellent way to landscape your front and back yard, providing a dry, shaded spot to sit out the weather whether it’s a hot sunny day or a rainy one.  Here are just a few ideas for store-bought solutions to covered walkways:

    • Pergolas lined together over a walkway (purchased from a home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowes)
    • Arbors lined together over a walkway and draped with trailing plants (please don’t use ivy as it is invasive and destructive)
    • DIY built arbors or pergolas (arbors tend to be rounded and narrower while pergolas are wider and square)

Pay attention to how other people pave the walkway that’s covered.  Flagstones, cedar wood planks, even concrete slabs all work.  Gravel, rocks, mulch, or even sand would work.  It depends on what look you’re going for and your budget.  Don’t count out anything until you’ve explored all the options.

3.  Polyvinyl Fence

I’ve always wanted a home with a white picket fence.  In fact, I’m not alone.  A lot of homeowners are looking for that straight-out-of-a-magazine home with a white picket fence around it.  Now it’s not only affordable, but easy to do it yourself.  Polyvinyl fencing is available at most home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowes.  Most brands require a few simple steps to install:

    1. Put together panels according to instructions.
    2. Layout panels inserted into posts to get an idea of where you will place everything.  Read the instructions.
    3. Dig holes for posts and fill with quick concrete.
    4. Insert panels and attach connectors.
    5. If you left space for a gate, connect that in the same way you connected the panels.
    6. Done. 😉

There are usually people available to help you at the store if you have questions, but I’ve found the most help comes from the reviews left for the products.

A few things to note about polyvinyl fencing:

    1. It is easy to cut the fence panels to adjust for hills, slopes, and dips in the terrain.
    2. It’s completely weatherproof.
    3. If a panel is somehow damaged from weather, vandalism, or whatever, it is super easy to replace just the panel without changing anything else.
    4. It’s extremely affordable.  We did our backyard for less than $700.
    5. The gates are more durable than wooden ones which tend to sag from the weight of the wood.
    6. They last forever and always look brand new.
    7. If they get dirty just wash with Dawn dishwashing soap and water.

 

4.  Landscaping

When you use the word landscaping it brings to mind different things for different people.  Some people automatically think “water conservation“.  Others think “Japanese garden“.  Still others think “functionality“.  No matter what you’re thinking, any type of landscaping adds curb appeal to your home.  And while you’re at it, do something with that backyard too.  There are so many possibilities and when a family comes to look at your home and sees the love and care you’ve put into it, they’ll want to move right in, and pay more to do it.

A few things to note about landscaping in Washington:

    1. Plants, bushes, and trees do better planted in the spring or fall, not the summer.
    2. We are zone 8 in Lacey, Washington.  We are close to the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound which gives us a temperate climate.
    3. There are more nurseries in Oregon than in Washington.  You can drive to Oregon and buy some, but it’s better to buy local.  Plan to order online or stake out the home improvement stores so you’ll get there before they’re gone.
    4. Farm supply stores have the best deals on dirt, sand, and mulch.  It pays to shop around and get a truckload rather than buy the large bags at the home improvement store.
    5. Flag stones break.  Consider one of the Rubberific pavers.  They’re lightweight, weatherproof, durable, and movable.  They also flip over for a different pattern and come in colors.  The brick color is especially attractive and sold at Lowes home improvement store.

5.  Security Screen Door

One of the first things that surprised me about Washington is that no one seems to have screen doors.  Not even the new construction homes.  If you come from the Midwest or the South this is kind of shocking because how do you keep the mosquitoes out when you open the door?  Or the moths if you have a light right outside your door?  Well, you don’t.  They fly right in.  So I love screen doors.  And I’m not alone.

My favorite screen doors are called security screen doors.  These are the ones that lock and are sturdy.  When you open your door to greet whoever is knocking, be safe.  Make sure your kids are safe, with a security screen door.  You can talk through it and keep it locked while you send away that solicitor that looks like a PSE guy with the fluorescent work vest (Yes, they do that).  They also keep debris from filling your doorway during windy days.

There are all kinds of things you can do with a screen door.  I mean that decoratively.  So make sure you check out the decorative designs before you decide on a door.  Most home improvement stores have a wide selection of screen doors.  If the one near you doesn’t then check out having one shipped from another store.  This is usually free.  🙂

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article about improving the curb appeal and value of your home.  Even in a competitive market like Lacey, houses are more than just real estate.  They’re homes, where people live, and that means we want them to be functional, but beautiful too.

Converted Garage
20 Apr 2024

5 Real Estate Misses

by | posted in: Buyer | 0

The real estate market in Lacey moves very quickly.  Even if you are quick to see a property, chances are it already has two buyers with offers.  So it’s very easy to feel rushed and not pay attention to the things you take for granted.  In fact, it’s very common to move into your new home and suddenly realize there are things missing, important things like a garage, a sidewalk, a yard, a bathtub, and a mailbox.

We take for granted that when we see a photo of a garage attached to a home that it’s actually a garage.  We assume it has a backyard and a mailbox close by.  We believe that it will have at least one bathtub where we can bathe our kids at night.  We think there will naturally be a sidewalk where our kids can walk to school or to the bus at the end of the street.  Those are 5 things many home buyers take for granted and don’t look for.  You should.  Because today we’re going to cover 5 real estate nightmares:  missing garage, missing sidewalk, missing yard, missing bathtub, and missing mailbox.

1. Missing Garage / Converted Garage

Homes in the Lacey area are priced mostly on the square footage.  Many real estate investors who bought up foreclosures during Covid are now dumping them on the market.  But when you look at that photo of the beautiful home with a two car garage, what’s actually inside?  A garage?  Or a living room?  A closer look will often reveal the garage is missing.  Well, actually it’s there, it’s not a garage anymore.  :0

There are two issues with converted garages.

1.  There’s no place to park your vehicles.  Here in Washington, it rains.  A lot.  The constant rain means you will get wet.  In fact, you will get soaked.  A garage is a huge convenience.  You can drive in, get out, and stay dry.  Grandma won’t slip on the wet sidewalk and break her hip.  The family dog won’t run into the mud and track it into the house.  A garage is more than just a convenience, it’s a necessity in Washington.

2.  A standard two car garage is 600 square feet.  If it’s converted and “living space”, you’re paying for that.  That 1800 sf house is really a 1200 sf house with a converted garage.  Honestly, a converted garage is NOT the same as a room inside your house.  It’s drafty, noisy, has a concrete floor covered with linoleum or thin carpet, and has no nearby bathroom.  There are no closets and no windows.  There are usually bugs, mice, and spiders.  But you are paying the same price per square foot as that master bedroom.  :0

So in the middle of the hot summer when you’re looking at homes and there isn’t a rain cloud in sight, pay attention to those photos in the NWMLS listing.  Is there a photo of inside the garage?  Or just outside?  Does the square footage match homes nearby?  Or is it looking suspiciously like a converted garage?

2.  Missing Sidewalk

You just bought your dream home for a whopping $800K.  It’s everything you ever wanted until you move in.  Then you notice something–the sidewalk is missing.  There’s a path from the door to the driveway but since you parked in the driveway when you viewed the home, you didn’t even notice that there is…NO SIDEWALK!

Even in the nicest neighborhoods, there is traffic.  Not just cars, but motorcycles, delivery trucks, garbage trucks, and Amazon delivery drivers.  Yeah, those guys.  If you don’t have a sidewalk, you, your kids, and your dog will be walking on the street with all that traffic.  Isn’t the point of living in a nice neighborhood being able to visit your neighbors and walk around the neighborhood?

When you’re home shopping, though, it’s not so obvious that a home has no sidewalk.  You pull into the driveway and follow the sidewalk up to the house and automatically assume there will also be a sidewalk at the street.  Not necessarily.  In fact, not usually.  Sidewalks are a convenience that most neighborhoods pay for through special assessments (property taxes).  When neighbors are having a hard time paying their mortgages they will fight this type of assessment because they can’t afford to pay it.  And the city will wait.

So when you’re out there looking at homes with your real estate agent, pay attention to the sidewalks.  Do this for two reasons:

1.  It’s a necessity when you want to keep your kids, yourself, and your pets safe.

2.  The city won’t make you pay for them because they’re already there.

So when you’re pulling up to a home to view it, take a moment and look.  Does it have sidewalks?  Or not?

3.  Missing Yard

Where do your kids play?  Where does the dog stretch her legs?  Where do you barbecue?  Where do you entertain guests in the hot summer?  The backyard.  Everyone has one.  Or do they?  Another common real estate miss is popping up a house with no room for any yard.  It’s not just missing side yards, it’s missing the back yard too!

Looking at online listings of homes for sale doesn’t always answer that question.  You always see the front of the house with that nicely manicured or landscaped yard.  But is there a side yard?  A backyard?  You’d be surprised to discover that Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) are making yards a thing of the past.  Now if you want a grassy space you’ll have to walk to the neighborhood park for it.

So what if you don’t really care if you have a yard?  Well there are still two very good reasons to have one.

1.  It gives you space around your property.  No one is going to pop up a house less than a yard from your home.  If you doubt me, take a look at the photos of recent PUDs.

2.  Windows with a view.  The worst thing is to own a home that makes you feel like you’re in a box.  Every view from every window is the neighbor’s siding.  It’s claustrophobic.  There’s also some distance between your window and your neighbor’s (for safety reasons).

So when you’re looking on Zillow or Redfin or Realtor, take a moment.  Are there photos of the side yards?  The back yard?  Or are all the views through the windows of another home’s siding?

4.  Missing Bathtub

Bathtubs are more than a chick necessity.  They’re a great way for kids to unwind and get ready for bed.  And it’s much easier to bathe a kid in a tub than in the shower, especially when they’re young.  Did I mention you can’t exactly bathe the dog in the shower either?  But most people don’t look specifically for a tub when they’re house shopping.  Then they move in and notice the tub is missing.

There are currently three major developers in the Lacey area with new construction homes for sale.  They all have homes with modular shower units.  Those molded showers with built-in seats.  Occasionally there will be a tub, but not often.  Some of the showers don’t even have doors.  Imagine a kid taking a shower in there.  :0

There are a number of reasons to want a tub in your home:

1.  Kids.

2.  Dogs.

3.  Mom.

4.  Washing large items that won’t fit in the kitchen sink.

5.  The average person spends 45 mins to an hour in the bathroom each day which amounts to 1.5 to 2 years of your life.  :0

So when you’re out there looking at homes, pay attention to the bathrooms.  You’ll be spending a lot of time there.

5.  Missing Mailbox

Long ago and far away, lol, there used to be mail slots in front doors.  That went away with tv dinners.  In Washington we have a lot of wind and a lot of rain.  So the post office decided to pop up these cluster mail boxes.  They’re sturdy and contain everyone’s mailbox plus two parcel lockers.  They can withstand the rain and wind, but since there’s one per neighborhood, that means you can walk half a mile to get your mail each day.  In the rain and wind.  Since your mail is in your hand on the walk back home, it’s also getting rain and wind.

The flip side of having a cluster mailbox unit far from your house is having one in your front yard.  That’s an eyesore.  It also means a lot of traffic at your front yard.  Cars, dogs, people, bicycles, and motorcycles, all stopping right there at the edge of your front lawn.  You’ll notice your lawn and your bushes turning brown and dying from the exhaust fumes.  Yes, it does happen.

So when you’re touring an open house, ask the real estate agent exactly where the mailbox is.  Is it at the end of your yard (too convenient with large foot traffic) or half a mile away (too far)?

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article about things you may miss while looking for a new home.  Even in a competitive market like Lacey, houses are more than just real estate.  They’re homes, where people live, and that means we want them to be functional, but beautiful too.

Lacey Home next to a lake | Floodplains | Cat Coleman, REALTOR®, eXp Realty
20 Apr 2024

Floodplains

by | posted in: Buyer | 0

In Washington it rains a lot. Few people who have never lived here can understand the level of rain we get here. That means flooding.

There are numerous lakes in the Lacey Homes area. Many of the homes built around these lakes are not built on hills. Take a look at these photos.

This is a beautiful home. If this was anywhere else, I’d want to move right in. Unfortunately, it’s right next to a huge “lake”. From the aerial photos this lake looks more like a swamp. Swamps are created from years of flooding. So I wouldn’t be surprised if this property was in a floodplain.

What’s a floodplain? A floodplain is an area of land that is susceptible to flooding when there is consistent rain or rain heavier than normal. If you look it up in the dictionary there are a few other definitions:

“A generally flat area of land next to a river or stream.”

According to this definition, this home is definitely on a floodplain. According to this definition, all of those “lakeside” homes are on floodplains. The exceptions are homes that have steep slopes up away from the lake. You will notice from photos online that there will be stairs in the backyard down to the lake access. This home does NOT have that.

“Composed of unconsolidated sedimentary deposits (alluvium).”

Alluvium is soil or sediment deposited by a lake or river. If part of your property is “swamp” then you are on a floodplain.

“Underlain by alluvium deposited by the associated river and is partially or totally inundated during periods of flooding.”

This is the definition we’re used to seeing. But you can’t just look at a property and know it’s past. Or what lies underneath it. That’s where a floodplain map comes in.

If you have a broker, then you have access to mls floodplain maps which are the easiest way to see if this property is on a floodplain.

If you don’t have a broker, then you can check many online sites that provide this service for free. Click here for the Washington Department of Ecology’s floodplain map.

Lacey Lake Home Take Two

Keeping our handy dandy ecology floodplain map link in mind, let’s look at another “lake side” property.

I don’t know about you, but if I had that view, I’d be terrified.  The land is flat.  Flat.  So when that lake floods, it goes straight to that house.  It is on a floodplain.

Lacey Home next to a lake | Floodplains | Cat Coleman, REALTOR®, eXp Realty

This is a snapshot of the Dept of Ecology’s floodplain map with this property.  As you can see, most of these homes are partially underwater when it floods.  NOT a good investment.

We get a lot of California transplants here and for someone from California, who hardly sees rain, it is difficult to conceptualize Washington rainy season which for the past few years has been 9 months of the year.  Take a look at that floodplain map.  That’s rainy season and what it can do to your home.  So be careful when looking at properties.  Investigate it yourself and make sure it’s a good investment.

Tip

The easiest way to tell if a lakeside property is on a floodplain is the view.  When you look at the online photos from the window of the property to the lake, you should be looking DOWN.  Not across.  Not up.  Not into.  DOWN.  And it should be a distance away, preferably at the end of a dock.  That’s precious space you need between your home and the lake should it flood.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article about floodplains.  Even in a competitive market like Lacey, houses are more than just real estate.  They’re homes, where people live, and that means we want them to be functional, but beautiful too.

William A Bush Park Lacey Washington | Lacey WA Homes
14 Apr 2024

William A Bush Park, Lacey, Washington

by | posted in: Buyer | 0

William A Bush Park is a local Lacey Park on 4400 Chardonnay Dr SE, Lacey.  It’s easily accessible by Yelm Highway, College Street, or the Chehalis Western Trail.  Among the amenities at William A Bush Park are picnic tables, an eating area, swings and play structures, a soccer field, a barbecue area, plenty of parking, and nice big shade trees to get out of the sun.  Dogs are allowed on leash.  

Across the street from William A Bush Park on the east side is Dairy Queen, McDonalds, and the QFC grocery store.  Across the street from William A Bush Park on the north side are Lowes, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Domino’s Pizza, and Jimmy Johns.  And if you keep walking past this area heading east, you’ll reach the Safeway complex with a Baskin Robbins, Burger King, and Safeway grocery store with a Starbucks inside (Yes, two Starbucks across the street from each other).  

  • William A Bush Park Lacey Washington | Lacey WA Homes
  • William A Bush Park Lacey Washington | Lacey WA Homes

Although there are two kids’ play structures, there are no adult swings at this park.  🙁  I personally like to swing.  There are plenty of benches and the Chehalis Western Trail is really close by, along the western side.  If you are not familiar with the Chehalis Western Trail, it’s a biking and walking trail that reaches all the way from northern Olympia down through Lacey and south to Yelm.

Chehalis Western Trail Map | Lacey WA Homes

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article about Lacey Parks.  Even in a competitive market like Lacey, houses are more than just real estate.  They’re homes, where people live, and that means we want them to be functional, but beautiful too.

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