Thursday, October 22, 2015
Spacious Historical Charmer In Chehalis, WA
$ Click for current price
Thursday, October 8, 2015
11 Tips For Halloween Safety
Halloween is a lot of fun for adults and
kids, but nothing ruins the ghoulish night like a trip to the emergency room or
a lawsuit. (This is also a good time to make sure your homeowner’s insurance is
current!) In that “spirit,” I thought I’d share 11 tips to help you balance
spooky and safe this year:
For more creative pumpkin carving ideas, go to www.carvemypumpkin.com
1. Survey all approaches to your home,
beginning from the property line. Keep an eye out for hazards, including loose
bricks/stones, or holes in the yard.
2. Resist using open flames inside or
outside. Use electric light effects, glow sticks, or electric candles instead.
3. Check your smoke alarms and make sure
all exits to the house are clear of clutter.
4. Before dark, check for exposed
extension cords and make sure cords avoid wet areas.
5. Determine how much darkness you really
want. Lighted pathways and porches are both inviting and safer for your guests.
6. Make sure children can see in their
costumes! Obstructed vision from masks can keep them from noticing cars,
hazards, or other excited kids.
7. Also make sure children can be seen by
others. Glow sticks are fun “high visibility” items, especially when costumes
are dark (also: reflective velcro bicycling bands around ankles or wrists can
be a good idea).
8. Never let a child trick-or-treat
alone. If they’re going out unsupervised, make sure they stay in a group.
9. Don’t let pets run loose! Halloween is
a scary time for pets and they may become aggressive in protecting your home or
themselves.
10. Be allergy-sensitive and skip treats
with nuts or peanut butter (or offer allergen free alternatives).
11. Do a “treat check” before letting
kids dive in, chucking anything questionable either for safety concerns or
spoilage.
Have a ghoulishly safe Halloween this
year!
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Country Rambler on Bay Rd in Winlock!
247 Bay Rd, Winlock, WA
Just Listed
$ Click for current price
3 BEDROOMS | 3 (1 full, 1 half, 1 ¾ bath ) BATHROOMS | 1804 SQUARE FEET
Property Description
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
TOP 6 CLEVER KITCHEN HACKS
You probably don’t need a scientific study to tell you that the kitchen is one of the most used spaces in a family home. It serves as a hub for food, a communal space for gathering, and often a message center for family traffic. Some consider it the “brain” of the home. While giant master bedrooms might sound nice, a kitchen with abundant space can be surprisingly satisfying!
Image courtesy of LifeHack.Org. For more clever kitchen ideas and more, check ‘em out!
Hack #1: Hang it high. Long-handled pots, pans, and other utensils can be easily accessed with an appropriately-installed ceiling rack. Use your longest-handled pan as a guide and install a rack high enough above your head.
Hack #2: Play all the angles. Corners are often wasted space, consumed by knife blocks that are mostly wood beasts. You might install corner shelving, or even place a magnetic knife strip near a convenient corner.
Hack #3: Shelve it for later. Counters and cabinets don’t have to do all of the storage work. Nesting shelving in windows or even on surrounding back splashes and walls can be a great solution.
Hack #4: Save the sink space. Seldom are you using the sink while you’re prepping veggies, so why not get a large cutting board and lay it across the surface? This way, you turn a sink into a temporary counter.
Hack #5: See the studs. Open up a wall or two in your kitchen to access the recessed space between studs. Subdividing this space with shelves or hanging hooks can be a space saver. Properly finished, it doesn’t have to look like an eyesore!
Hack #6: Jar it up! Take a mason jar lit and screw it to the underside of an existing shelf or overhang. Now, put items in the mason jar and screw the jar into the lid. Bingo! New hanging storage.
Of course, if no amount of clever hacks will open up your kitchen, it may be time to upgrade. I can put together a list of local homes with killer kitchens for you. Just get in touch!
Image courtesy of LifeHack.Org. For more clever kitchen ideas and more, check ‘em out!
Unfortunately, many homes have kitchens which are small or overrun by clutter. The mess can be a major barrier to enjoying the space, and without some systems in place to keep it organized, the kitchen can be rendered almost useless for many of the enjoyable aspects of cooking and entertaining. So, what’s the solution? Does opening up your kitchen require a total renovation? Not necessarily. Below are six clever kitchen hacks to open up your usable space.
Hack #1: Hang it high. Long-handled pots, pans, and other utensils can be easily accessed with an appropriately-installed ceiling rack. Use your longest-handled pan as a guide and install a rack high enough above your head.
Hack #2: Play all the angles. Corners are often wasted space, consumed by knife blocks that are mostly wood beasts. You might install corner shelving, or even place a magnetic knife strip near a convenient corner.
Hack #3: Shelve it for later. Counters and cabinets don’t have to do all of the storage work. Nesting shelving in windows or even on surrounding back splashes and walls can be a great solution.
Hack #4: Save the sink space. Seldom are you using the sink while you’re prepping veggies, so why not get a large cutting board and lay it across the surface? This way, you turn a sink into a temporary counter.
Hack #5: See the studs. Open up a wall or two in your kitchen to access the recessed space between studs. Subdividing this space with shelves or hanging hooks can be a space saver. Properly finished, it doesn’t have to look like an eyesore!
Hack #6: Jar it up! Take a mason jar lit and screw it to the underside of an existing shelf or overhang. Now, put items in the mason jar and screw the jar into the lid. Bingo! New hanging storage.
Of course, if no amount of clever hacks will open up your kitchen, it may be time to upgrade. I can put together a list of local homes with killer kitchens for you. Just get in touch!
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Peace & Seclusion in Winlock, WA
259 Bay Rd, Winlock, WA
$ Click for current price
3 BEDROOMS | 2 (2 full ) BATHROOMS | 1716 SQUARE FEET
Monday, August 10, 2015
5 Tips for Saving on Your Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance is vital for protecting your investment. It’s also required by lenders holding the mortgage on your home. For some reason many homeowners overlook ways they can save money on their premiums. Shopping around is a good idea, but much like auto insurance, there are many simple things you can do to impact how much you pay annually to protect your home.
Raise your deductible.
Do you really need a low deductible on your insurance policy? Many people can absorb the hit if they go from a $500 deductible to a $1000 deductible, and in some cases this simple move can reduce rates up to 25%. Deductible can have a dramatic impact on your premium, so ask your company rep to quote you the difference.
Don’t insure for your home’s purchase price.
Remember, you don’t have to re-buy the land your home is on if you have to rebuild. If you’ve asked for coverage which includes the land cost as well as the structure cost, you could be paying far more than you need to pay to protect your home.
Retired? Seek a discount.
If you’re over 55 and you’re retired, your insurance company may be willing to drop your rate by as much as 10%. Retired folks are home more often. This can help reduce burglaries and provide an early warning system for fires.
Ask for a loyalty discount.
If you’ve been with your insurance company for at least three years, call them up and bring this to their attention. Let them know you’re considering shopping for a new policy, and you’re curious if they can extend you a discount for being a loyal customer. Savings can range from five to ten percent.
Adjust your coverage for possessions.
You may be insuring for more than you own. Certain high-end computers and other luxury goods may depreciate over time. If the limits on your policy far exceed the value of your possessions, make changes to your policy. The difference can add up. (Do this every year.)
Factoring in insurance costs is an important part of determining how much home you can afford. For more information on how different types of homes can have different insurance costs, talk to me today!
Raise your deductible.
Do you really need a low deductible on your insurance policy? Many people can absorb the hit if they go from a $500 deductible to a $1000 deductible, and in some cases this simple move can reduce rates up to 25%. Deductible can have a dramatic impact on your premium, so ask your company rep to quote you the difference.
Don’t insure for your home’s purchase price.
Remember, you don’t have to re-buy the land your home is on if you have to rebuild. If you’ve asked for coverage which includes the land cost as well as the structure cost, you could be paying far more than you need to pay to protect your home.
Retired? Seek a discount.
If you’re over 55 and you’re retired, your insurance company may be willing to drop your rate by as much as 10%. Retired folks are home more often. This can help reduce burglaries and provide an early warning system for fires.
Ask for a loyalty discount.
If you’ve been with your insurance company for at least three years, call them up and bring this to their attention. Let them know you’re considering shopping for a new policy, and you’re curious if they can extend you a discount for being a loyal customer. Savings can range from five to ten percent.
Adjust your coverage for possessions.
You may be insuring for more than you own. Certain high-end computers and other luxury goods may depreciate over time. If the limits on your policy far exceed the value of your possessions, make changes to your policy. The difference can add up. (Do this every year.)
Factoring in insurance costs is an important part of determining how much home you can afford. For more information on how different types of homes can have different insurance costs, talk to me today!
Friday, August 7, 2015
Huge Home on desirable Galaxie Road!
194 Galaxie Road, Chehalis, WA
Just Listed
$ Click for current price
4 BEDROOMS | 2 (2 full ) BATHROOMS | 2555 SQUARE FEET
Property Description
Absolutely Stunning Estate in Centralia!
802 State Street, Centralia, WA
Just Listed
$ Click for current price
3 BEDROOMS | 3 (3 full ) BATHROOMS | 3490 SQUARE FEET
Property Description
Spectacular home in the desirable Fords Prairie area!
3105 Russell Road, Centralia, WA
Just Listed
$ Click for current price
4 BEDROOMS | 2 (2 full ) BATHROOMS | 1442 SQUARE FEET
Property Description
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