More • May 16, 2011

Moving Life Home

by Guest Author

Ipod and water bottle in hand, Dave strolls down a flower lined path toward his first destination of the morning, his gym. At the door to the gym, he is greeted by his wife, Janet. Janet takes a sip of her latte, gives Dave a kiss and tells him she’s off to the studio. While Dave is turning on some music and contemplating how many miles he’ll put on the treadmill today, Janet walks up a staircase to her studio.

The kiln in the corner warms the studio from the chill of the rainy night before. Janet hangs her coat and inspects yesterday’s creations on the drying rack. In her mind, she’s sizing up what glaze and design she’ll use for each piece. Dave will head to his office on the other side of the building after his workout.

Depending upon where you live, you might have your own vision of this scene. Perhaps it’s a downtown building that has ground level shops, like a gym, and small spaces upstairs for rent, like a studio. Maybe an office park in the suburbs. Perhaps even a co-op village. For Dave and Janet, though, the gym and studio are in a part of their backyard that used to be home to a jungle gym, sandbox and 4-square court. When they became empty nesters, they decided to consolidate their life, cut commuting expenses, and take advantage of some unused space at home. They created a two story, backyard cottage that had a gym, bath and shower, and kitchenette on the ground floor, as well as side-by-side offices on the upper level. Dave, rather than a kiln and pottery supplies, has a desk and display of catalogues that he will use in presentations when clients visit him.

Backyard cottages have been gaining in popularity and attention lately. With the changes in the housing market making it impractical to sell some homes, possibly gas prices making long commutes impractical, or maybe the desire to simplify a life that’s been too removed from home, its’ easy to see why someone might choose to build one. Many people build them to be guest quarters, mother-in-law apartments, a rental unit for additional monthly revenue, or temporary lodging for boomerang offspring who are trying to land that first job out of college. Some of these are as simply built as a miniature starter home, and yet others are elegantly equipped as a five-star hotel.

To maximize the value of these buildings, they should be planned by an architect so that they will work for your intended use. In the example, Janet’s kiln would be heavy and very hot, so several building precautions would be warranted. One short cut to avoid would be to do anything less than fully permitted and inspected, as failure there can cost far more than the property tax levy to take care of later. It’s advised that unless you have lots of experience, have the riskier tasks done by subcontractors.

These buildings will add value to the homeowner’s property over time, as if they are built properly, they’ll appreciate in conjunction with the value of the home. The reasons for having one are many and personal, but if you were to drive down many city streets, you will find one hiding under the trees in a corner of the backyard.

Can you see a point of your life, and a place on your property, in which a backyard cottage would make sense?

By Eric Johnson, Director of Education

Johnson has several years experience as a real estate agent and real estate instructor, as well as experience in construction project management, digital media/publishing and insurance. He has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from University of Colorado.

More • May 8, 2011

May Perspective

by Jill Jacobi Wood, OB Jacobi & Geoff Wood

Yesterday marked the 25^th anniversary of an event that is a touchstone for our company, our family of offices and agents, and the University of Washington. The Windermere Cup, held annually on the first day of boating season, is both an international sporting event and an opening day party, followed by the world’s largest boat parade. But more than that, it’s a celebration of camaraderie, teamwork and a commitment to excellence.

The camaraderie is everywhere you look: on the banks of the Montlake Cut, where Seattle residents welcome visitors from around the world to the beautiful University of Washington campus; on the water, where great athletes join together to do what none of them could do individually. Thousands of people coming together for a common cause. That, in and of itself, is powerful stuff.

But what we find most remarkable about this sport, and what sets the Windermere Cup apart from most other major sporting events, is the teamwork. Though it may look easy from the sidelines, rowing is a physically demanding full-body sport. Rowers practice long hours, starting before dawn and ending after sunset, both on the water and in the gym. A crew boat can only race if all eight members plus the coxswain show up, and they can only perform as well as the weakest among them. There are no superstars in crew. It’s one for all, and all for one. So they leave their personal issues at home and push themselves to the limit, every time, for the love of the team.

It’s that commitment to excellence, seen on the face of every rower on every shell at the Windermere Cup, that makes us proud to sponsor this community event each year. It reminds us of our own guiding principles at Windermere: strong relationships built on trust, goodwill and mutual respect; a spirit of teamwork that makes us more successful as a whole than we are individually; and a ceaseless commitment to excellence and unparalleled service. It’s truly a great tradition to be a part of.

Thanks to everyone who’s ever come to the Windermere Cup. And here’s to 25 more years.

Photo by Steve Ringman, The Seattle Times on May 7th, 2011.

Photo by Steve Ringman, The Seattle Times on May 7th, 2011

Living • May 2, 2011

Spring in your step: smart ways to get rid of the clutter and update your décor

by Windermere Staff

Our bulbs went full bloom at my house a few weeks ago, which prompted the awakening of spring fever: mostly the urge to air out the house and get rid of clutter (again, didn’t we just do this?). In my desire to purge, I have been trying to find the best ways to get rid of things; to sell some items in order to reinvest in updated accessories, to support local charities, and just get rid of the junk in the most environmentally-friendly way possible. I am not as methodical as I’d like to be, but I am already seeing a difference with the reduced clutter. Here are some of my tips and favorite resources:

Office

Are you a piler or a stasher? We create stacks in our household, which we have to go through weekly, then move to our respective offices, where they wait (indeterminate lengths of time) to get filed. One of my first steps in clearing out the junk was to deal with the piles of paper. I shredded anything that should be shredded and recycled and filed the rest. If you are supremely organized, I suggest taking this time to note what bills you actually get paper invoices for, and move towards electronic billing. Also, if you haven’t already, take a moment to stop your junk mail, saving yourself a step in the filing process and reducing some paper use.

I finally went through the stack of magazines piling up next to the bed, tearing out any recipes, articles and ideas I wanted to reference later, and throwing the rest away. If you are looking for an electronic alternative to the magazine clutter, read your magazines online and save your favorite articles with a social bookmarking tool such as delicious.com to easily search your saved files with your own key words.

If there is a bookcase in our house, it will be filled so, instead of investing in ANOTHER bookshelf, I decided to make space for all the books I will likely buy this year by getting rid of books I probably won’t read. We will be reselling some books to amazon.com while others will either go to the local used bookstore for store credit or be donated to a local charity.

You can also gain a lot of space by going through your media. If you still have DVDs and CDs, inventory them and decide if you can move to a digital archive. It may take some time, but downloading and backing up your media could make you more organized in the long run and eliminate unnecessary clutter. Get rid of the disks once these have been backed up, reclaiming that shelf space.

As more and more of our lives are kept in digital files, it is important to take precautions to protect our files as well as the hardware that stores them. If you store important documents, family photos, media, or other items on your hard drive, make sure you have a backup plan. Learn more about digital storage options so if anything happens to your hardware you don’t lose everything.

Garage/ Basement

Whenever I go to the hardware store, I must suffer from temporary memory loss; what else would explain the multiples we acquire? This year we are doing an audit. If we have enough stuff to justify it, we will do a garage sale, but most likely we will sell what we can on craigslist or eBay and give away the rest on freecycle.org. These are all great options for ridding yourself of unwanted, outdated and duplicate items. We also have a pile of electronics to get rid of: an old microwave, tv, toaster oven, printers, juicer, etc. We don’t want to dump these if they can be recycled. We are looking into e-cycle options in our area, including local Windermere offices holding e-cycle events regularly, which also benefit the Foundation.

The same rules apply to our excess storage.

As you de-clutter and reorganize, make updates to your home inventory list. Spring is a great time to make sure your list of household items is up-to-date for insurance purposes. It is also a good time to check on your major appliances to determine if your furnace/water tank/septic or other major systems need to be serviced.

Closets

As the seasons change, it is a good idea to go through your clothes in order to renew and refresh your wardrobe. If you have items that can be updated with a few alterations, make a plan to spend some time with your tailor. Otherwise, look critically at the clothes you have. If you didn’t wear it in the last year and it cannot be altered to work with the rest of your wardrobe, consider donating it to Goodwill or your preferred charity. Throw any soiled or damaged clothes away. Spring is also a great time to get rid of any old linens and towels that have seen better days.

Furniture

You will likely be surprised by how light your load is once you have really gotten into the de-cluttering process. If you have furniture you don’t use or that doesn’t fit with your décor, consider your options. You may be able to repurpose your furniture for more efficient use, such as a console table as a landing strip next to the door, an armoire for playroom storage, or even old doors as a headboard. Or you may breathe new life into your furniture by painting or re-staining. If you can’t repurpose, why not recycle? You can donate your furniture, sell it on craigslist or give it away on freecycle.org. Getting rid of excess furniture can revitalize a room almost as much as buying new furniture.

Spring Forward

Once you have cleared the clutter and made way for a fresh perspective, figure out what will help keep the clutter at bay, and add design elements that inspire you. Decorative baskets keep magazines in order; decorative vases with flowers add natural elements help keep the indoors fresh; and new lighting or a new paint color can brighten up a room in an instant. Subtle updates in your rooms can make all the difference once the clutter is gone.

What are your tips for preparing for spring? What are your favorite spring rituals, once the cleaning is done?

More • April 22, 2011

Foundation Quarterly Report: Announcing the Building Better Communities Campaign

by Christine Wood

Greetings from the Windermere Foundation,

Thanks to you and the wonderful support the Windermere Foundation has received so far this year, we disbursed nearly $350,000 to qualifying social service organizations dedicated to serving low-income and homeless families throughout the West.

Our amazing agents, brokers, staff and owners, along with public supporters, continue to contribute generously to the Foundation, making these disbursements possible.

I’d like to share a letter from one of our recipient organizations illustrating how your support is truly making a difference in the lives of those they serve:

Shoreline Public Schools

“Thank you so much for the grant for our 6^th Grade Camp trip to Camp Orkila. We wish we could express the gratitude that the parents have when we tell them that we have scholarships to pay for camp. We always have kids tell us that they won’t be able to go to camp because it is too expensive. And we always tell them that we will find a way to get them to camp. The Windermere Foundation has supported us and these kids for the past several years – and it makes such a difference!”

Building Better Communities, One Home Sale at a Time

Windermere Real Estate and the Windermere Foundation have launched the “Building Better Communities, One Home Sale at a Time” campaign to build consumer awareness of the Foundation and the good work our offices, brokers and agents do in their communities. Large-impact projects and events will be happening in several Windermere markets throughout the year including a park in Seattle, the renovation of the Trail Blazers Boys & Girls Club in Portland, five-acres of soccer fields in Hawaii and more.

We have more projects across the Windermere market in progress; we are excited to share these with you over the coming months. Learn more about projects happening across the network, sign up to volunteer, or donate to a specific project at www.windermereandyou.org.

As always, thank you for your continuing support of the Windermere Foundation. Many low-income families are receiving basic necessities because of your commitment to helping others.

Best,

Christine Wood

Want to read more news about the Foundation?

Become a fan on Facebook to learn and share your stories about all the amazing things the Foundation is doing throughout the year.

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Buying • April 19, 2011

Can Mid-Century Modern Design Successfully Meet Today’s Energy Standards?

by Guest Author

It was an open house. The buyers came in, fell in love, and wanted the home. The only problem was, it had just sold. You’ve heard this scenario before, except these buyers loved the home so much, they built the same home on their own lot. What they loved was the fabulous, fresh contemporary style and the open feel of the home. It had high ceilings and big windows that captured views of the mountains, flooding the home with light. The design was elegant in its simplicity. Clean lines and sleek finishes captured today’s modern aesthetic. Given its modern flair, one would assume this was a new, cutting-edge design. But it was not. The home had been designed in 1955!

Solar Panels Provide Energy to the Home

- tankless water heater

- variable-speed pool pump

- drought-tolerant plantings

Drought-Tolerant Landscaping

- a drip system where there’s grass

- an integrated system for insulation, vapor barriers, thermal breaks, and venting

- rigid foam insulation, incorporating an air barrier between it and the roof sheathing

- tongue and groove ceiling

Tongue and Groove Ceiling

The 15 solar panels, for example, cut the owner’s energy bills from $4,000 to $2,000 a year. The variable-speed pool pump installed by HPE was another winner because, according to HPE, 25% more was knocked off the heating bill. You don’t have to live in Southern California, love mid-century modern or have a pool to save energy costs. Great design can work well with energy-efficient systems, whether you live in Southern California, Portland, Seattle or Boise. Consider energy usage when buying or building a new home or remodeling an existing one. Look at the “price tag” for energy-efficient systems. Find out more about how much it will actually cost to live in the home and use the existing systems, versus replacing or building with newer efficient systems. The initial cost should be balanced against the savings generated over time. Many systems pay for themselves in just a few years and continue to save money each year after that. More than likely, you’ll be surprised by the money saved overall. To increase the value of your home, buy with both great design and energy efficiency in mind. It’s the smarter way to buy a home.

Debra Sinick is a broker with Windermere Real Estate/East and has worked in real estate for the past twenty-four years, twenty-one of which have been with Windermere. She works at the Yarrow Bay office in Kirkland, Washington. Her blog focuses primarily on eastside real estate trends. She also writes about her passions: green living and modern, prefab and eco-friendly architecture and design. You can find her blog on local market news at www.eastsiderealestatebuzz.com.

Buying • Market News • Selling • April 8, 2011

Apples and Oranges – Do we have short memories?

by Windermere Economics

In recent weeks, I have been reading much about the lack of confidence in the housing market that is demonstrated by declining transactions and prices. Although it is clear that we are far from “out of the woods” at this point, I would like to suggest that this news may not be as dire as everyone is thinking.

Remember the tax credit that was implemented last year? How short the memories of our local and national reporters are. We are fighting against the tide of a dollar-induced market that we no longer have. I think that it is important to make this statement, as I have yet to see any mention of this in the media.

That said, we are still suffering from a surplus of homes and foreclosures that continue to weigh the markets down, in terms of both price and supply.

More • March 28, 2011

March Perspective

by Guest Author

Some things change . . .

Late one evening at the office, we wandered onto the topic of college applications and the sheer amount of paperwork involved. A session of family one-upmanship ensued: Who dealt with the most convoluted stack of forms? With a collective sigh, we finally agreed that all of them are tedious. But they just have to be done.

This led us back to where almost all of our conversations do: To the family business. Specifically to the paperwork involved in real estate. And another collective sigh. Thirty years ago, Windermere’s founders did not have to invest in infinite reams of paper. (Those little red and yellow stick-on arrows we use to designate places for myriad signatures – they hadn’t even been invented.) Not that the past was as ideal as a 1950s musical – think Von Trapp family – but when Windermere began, agents could and did write transactions on napkins.

Over the years, more and more companies entered real estate. Of course, rules and regulations followed on the heels of growth. Followed by attorneys. Followed by legalese and the aforementioned reams of paper. Even though Windermere didn’t need any documents to ensure best business practices, and even though these additions would be onerous to us and to our clients, there was no choice. Never whine. Just figure it out. That’s in our DNA. The solution was and is education.

To begin with, we hire people who value learning and understand that it equals success. Then we offer experts, special programs, seminars, mentoring, even old-fashioned libraries. Continuing education means that, even if paperwork attains the length of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, our agents can guide clients through with ease. Knowledge makes Windermere smart, savvy and trustworthy. And yes, we’re very proud of that.

Some things stay the same.

So, the era of Windermere contracts written on napkins is gone. Yet the most fundamental ethos will not change: The integrity that fostered transactions based solely on honor. Trusting relationships built this company. Trusting relationships will sustain it. And this has nothing to do with signing and initialing a bunch of paper.

Buying • Living • Selling • March 17, 2011

When it comes time to downsize

by Guest Author

When it comes time to decide if you want to downsize, there are many thoughts and emotions that go speeding through your mind. Maybe you have already decided this is your home for the rest of your life. Your home was the perfect place to meet your needs when you were in an earlier cycle of life, and will be the ideal home for all the events you see happening in your next. If you are inclined to feel that the home you currently reside in may have out-lived its purpose, you may be struggling with some of the same thoughts and emotions my husband and I had when it came to the emotional and financially sensitive decision to downsize.

In our situation, we loved our home. It provided everything we needed to raise our three children, plus nurture all the creative projects that identified who we are as a family as well as individuals. Our children were just like anyone else’s; loved, individually different, all requiring unique activities and space to help them grow, using their special talents. We loved our neighborhood and took an active part in making it an extension of our home. Considering that it had been our home for decades, deciding to leave was emotionally difficult.

We spent several years before we knew we would leave our home, looking at all the smaller options. We wondered, should we look for another single-family dwelling or check out other options like co-ops of condominiums? My husband had spent the past twenty-five years mowing our lawn and was quite willing to remove this task from his plate. I, on the other hand, still loved to garden. Was there a living environment that could satisfy both these expectations? We looked at every condominium and every co-op in the Seattle area for five years, but nothing really fulfilled everything we needed. We had a list of features including a garden spot, closets and efficient use of space, etc. I’m an Old World Charm lady, but guess what? Back in the 20’s ladies only owned three dresses. Let’s just say, I own a few more outfits than most pre-war closets were meant to hold. So the search went on.

When our children finally reached their 20’s and my husband wanted to retire, we knew it was time to make our move. Like I said, everyone loves their children, but not all the party time we now came to expect in our rec room every weekend. We were ready to have a space of our own, and it was time for our kids to begin their next cycle in-life. We also had too much of our finances tied up in a 3,000 square foot house, when in reality we needed less and could save more. We had to leave the home we had dedicated to making our unique expression of who we were, and leave very soon.

If any of this sounds familiar, your task will be a little easier than it seems! Here is some practical advice for making your move:

Define your needs: Narrow down your ideal needs. Start by deciding if you want a single-family versus multi-family dwelling. Consider your price range, and then space needs.

Downsize: We downsized a bit more than we should have, but we sure got rid of lots of items we collected over the past 25 years. Some of them were special to me. I’d purchased a beautiful wood serving tray at a yard sale with one of my dearest friends. I had to borrow money from her to buy it. I solved the problem by giving it to her when we moved, and I still see it when I visit her home. My children took much of the furniture they had a special connection to, and my nephew, who spent nearly every Christmas sitting in his favorite red chair, can now enjoy it in his own home.

Let go: Leaving the neighborhood and all our lifelong friends was the most difficult process, I think, of all the decisions we had to make. We still see them, but as I’m writing this my eyes are tearing up. It’s hard to re-visit my old neighborhood and see my old home cared for in a different way than I had lovingly done for twenty-five years. But it does give us plenty of things to talk about with old friends when we get together.

What did we end up doing? We moved into a vintage 1930’s co-op in a walkable part of town. I have just the right amount of gardening space that I share with other owners. We have made wonderful friends with some of our neighbors and get together frequently for happy hour and spur-of-the-moment gatherings. It’s a different lifestyle than we had before but, believe me, there are plus sides. In no way will any of our three wonderful, adored, adult children ever be able to move back home, since we now live in an 850-square-foot co-op with every space used on a daily basis. There were times when I wouldn’t go in one of my rooms in our old home for several weeks. This is not a problem now. Yes, maybe it’s too small, but we can always move into a larger place if and when we feel it’s time.

What are your questions about downsizing your home? What features do you require to live in a smaller, more efficient dwelling?

Pat Eskenazi is a Windermere veteran, working in marketing for the past 12 years. She has lived in Seattle since 1952. Her favorite place to walk is along Golden Gardens, and she especially loves to climb the stairs up to the Sunset Hill neighborhood where she lived with her 3 children and husband for 25 years.

More • March 10, 2011

Just a Dash of Feng Shui

by Guest Author

What is a home if not personalized to those who share its walls? Feng Shui is intended to create a place of peace, balance and harmony for you and yours. You can achieve this type of atmosphere through the things you bring into your home and the way that you stage your environment.

Feng Shui helps enhance your space and deliver positive energy by creating a more comfortable, clutter-free environment, and incorporating the influential elements found in nature. A recent article titled Feng Shui Basics for Home Decorating provides what I consider the simplest definition:“the use and placement of objects and materials to create a harmonious flow of life energy. As such, the design of each room should be based on the people who use it the most.”

To better understand Feng Shui, it is important to know the elements in which it is grounded: Water, Earth, Fire, Metal and Wood. Incorporating these elements into your home can be surprisingly simple, inexpensive, and do-it-yourself.

Element by element, here are some ideas and explanations of Feng Shui for your home:

Water: The water element also includes wind. Blues and blacks represent this element, as does integrating a water source in a home, which gives off a presence of refreshing movement. Rock fountains and indoor aquarium tanks are common in Feng Shui-oriented homes.

Using mirrors in your home can be another way to incorporate the water element. The reflective surface of a mirror is similar to the properties given off by a pond or lake. A fashionable mirror can be arguably as attractive as a framed picture, and doubles as being resourceful when you would like to check out your look. Decorating with mirrors can be perfect for a living room space that needs light and enlargement, and a flow of movement.

The living room is typically one of the largest shared spaces of movement in a home, so incorporating a tasteful mirror in this room would be oh-so-appropriate.

Earth: “Adding the earth element to your home quarters strengthens feelings of safety and security. The grounding support of earth energy should bring comfort to the soul and tone things down” is how Happy Home Zone describes home decorating with the earth element.

A simple way to add the earth element to your home is by use of color, and earth tones are the most obvious source. But if tans, browns and oranges are not your thing, try a deep red, mossy green or an off shade of white.

You don’t need to paint every wall or replace your furniture. Start small with a cream throw or piece of artwork. Cream is a color that matches almost any other. Earth tones in beiges, brown, tans and off-whites are also aesthetically pleasing accent colors.

Due to the calming, soothing properties earth tones extract, your bedroom would be a perfect place in which to add this element.

Fire: Another element you may consider incorporating into your bedroom is fire, due to its association with passion, happiness and love. Keep in mind, however, that fire should be used lightly; in large amounts its passionate properties can give off anger vibes.

An article titled How to Decorate with Earth, Fire, Wind and Water suggests incorporating the fire element through the use of “silks and synthetic fabrics, images of sunrises, geometric abstracts, triangular shapes, animal patterns, the color red and candles”.

Candles are always in style, fit well in nearly any room, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They can be inexpensive to buy or a fun Do-It-Yourself craft project. A candle display can work nicely in a bathroom and double as an air freshener.

Metal: According to Spiritual Feng Shui.com, “metal is a symbol of wealth and protection. Metals include stainless steel, aluminum, sterling silver, or iron.”

One of the most obvious places to incorporate metal would be in your kitchen. But metal has taken on a new trend outside of kitchen appliances; metal decorations can be used in any room you choose, and can be trendy and tasteful for both men and women. Check out these great precious metals and be inspired!

Wood: The wood element represents growth, and can be incorporated through almost any vegetation you choose to bring into your home. Indoor herb gardens or a potted houseplant can enhance your home aesthetically by being decorative and fragrant.

Growing your own edible vegetation can be a profitable experience, saving money on your grocery bill and adding flavor to your food. But if you lack the outdoor space to do it, read how indoor gardens can be accommodating. Indoor gardening is something your entire household can get involved in and enjoy.

Essentially, among other properties, Feng Shui is about balance – balance in your environment for you and for those with whom you who share your space. If Feng Shui is something you are interested in, start by adding a few of these elements into your décor and gradually increase them as you see fit, to find what balances your home best for YOU.

How do you achieve balance in your living space?

Brittany Lockwood works in Marketing at Windermere Real Estate. She is the in-house expert on weatherizing, yard-sales and interior design. She lives in Seattle in a renovated condo which she enjoys re-arranging and decorating.

More • March 2, 2011

Read Across America Day, with a side of Green Eggs & Ham

by Windermere Staff

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

–I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! by Dr. Seuss

I am sure many of us share a common memory of reading Dr. Suess, from childhood, or as parents and grandparents. Dr. Suess (Theodor Seuss Geisel) was born this day in 1904 and published 44 children’s books in his lifetime. Originally, he was called to write and illustrate books because he found the literature given to children to teach basic reading was boring. His work has inspired, and continues to inspire, readers of every age.

In commemoration of Dr. Suess’ birthday, the National Education Association has dedicated March 2 to the memory of Dr. Suess by celebrating Read Across America Day for the last twelve years. School children across the country will be reading all day. By celebrating reading in schools, the day is also bringing awareness to literacy issues. According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, as many as one in every four children could not read in 2003; literacy is tied to education, economic stability and crime.

Many of our offices across the West have supported literacy programs over the years, as well as organizations that help fill in the gaps; after-school and education programs that provide additional support for children in need. Today is an exciting day to celebrate reading and education. Not only is reading an important foundation for life-long learning, but it also opens the door to creativity and imagination, worlds only literature can create.

Today is a great day to share your favorite books with a child you know. What is your favorite book from childhood? What are your favorite books to share with your children or grandchildren?