The truth is there is no standard commission. In fact, there was a large “east coast lawyer” lawsuit regarding this issue. The big loser from the law suit was the National Association of Realtors and its members. I’d like to say that the big winner was the consumer, but I’m not sure that’s exactly accurate. … More What is the “standard commission” to pay when selling your home?
Historically, the very best time to put your home on the market has been late spring, through the summer, and up until school starts. That was the rule of thumb up until the Covid crisis. During and after the pandemic, those rules went out the window. Similarly, listing a home in the period of time … More When is the best time to put my home on the market?
If you are buying a residence that is more than a few years old and that is connected to a sewer line, a sewer scope is a must have add on to a home inspection. Plain and simple. The scoping itself can be done by a licensed home inspector while they are looking at the … More Sewer Scope Wisdom
In Thurston County there are several new subdivisions under construction. Builders involved vary from the cookie-cutter builders like DR Horton to the more boutique builders like Rob Rice Homes. These homes are hard to pass up, due to the modern features, open floor plans and safety features, like sophisticated overhead fire suppression sprinklers. Many of … More Buying new construction vs. an existing home
Why get a home inspection? Why not just buy it “as is” knowing that almost any problem can be fixed down the road? It depends on many factors including market conditions. In the crazy market a few years ago – when every home on the market had multiple offers, buyers were waiving inspections in order … More Be calm and get it inspected!
Clean up clutter, donate unneeded and unwanted items, clean, wash, rinse and repeat. As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a first impression. As a general rule, rooms should be freshly painted, clean and have just enough furniture in them to let the prospective buyer know what type of room it … More Thinking of getting your home ready for sale?
Just because a saying is trite, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be considered. The one that comes to mind is, “Marry the house and date the rate”. Simply put, commit to buying a home you love and keeping it for an extended period of time. Be open to refinancing it as rates become more attractive. Here’s … More You’ve heard it before, marry and date…
In the beginning of 2024 the experts were sounding the alarms for a very rough year for real estate professionals. By most measurements, they were correct. Real estate transactions that closed in 2024 were the lowest in 35 years. Prices in 2024 were up nationally 2.5 percent. Mortgage rates hit a 23-year high in mid-October. Many … More What I learned in 2024
There’s always plenty of advice from various sources about how to prepare your home when the home leaving for a week or two. At a very minimum, reach behind your washing machine and turn off the water supply lines to the unit. The hoses that supply the washing machine are under constant pressure and it … More Getting your home ready for your vacation
The idea of this cozy, less expensive housing solution has caught on in the last decade. The term “tiny home” seems to be used as a catch all for these types of homes. The range of prices for the structures themselves generally seems to be between $30,000 to $85,000 for basics models in Washington state. … More What a “tiny home” is and isn’t
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