September 2020 Newsletter

the

Home Connection

Volume 11 | Issue 9

SEPTEMBER 2020

eye on the market Our local market remains hot with the pentup demand from early and late spring still yielding those who are willing and able to buy and sell. They’ve been ready and that pent-up demand has resulted in vigorous competition for available listings.

With many in our region able to ride out the pandemic working from home, decisions are being made to see what the suburbs have to offer. Recent sales statistics show a mini-exodus is in progress as some choose to move from the more densely populated parts of our region, and move to outlying areas. Expanded work from home policies also mean that many are exploring moving to other states or even abroad. While this trend is supplying some much-desired new inventory,

experience this! it’s not enough to hold down home prices which continue to rise as a result of the competition.

In the most recent stats available from the Northwest MLS, median closed sales prices for single-family homes are up almost 7 percent in King County year-overyear. When looking farther out, prices are up 12.35 percent in Thurston County, 13.33 percent in Pierce and 14.54 percent in Snohomish County when compared to the same time period last year.

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Mortgage rates continue to play an enormous role in the current market increasing what buyers are able to pay. At the same time, list prices continue to rise, but even with those rising prices brokers report the competition for listings remains fierce as shown by the ever-present multiple offers received on properly priced properties.

As the usual change of seasons approaches, Fall 2020 appears to be unlike any we’ve seen before.

fall home improvement projects Fall is the perfect time to tackle home improvement projects to prepare for the winter months ahead. Here are a few fall projects to improve aspects of your home.

• Lawn care for fall. Composting, raking leaves, aerating your yard, and fertilizing grass, trees, and shrubs will allow your foliage to enter its winter sleep comfortably and properly nourished and ensure your lawn is healthy when spring comes.

• Replace or install new windows as needed. If you need new widows or your current windows need repair, try glass with double panes, spacers, or filler. Those materials help keep in heat during winter and cool air in during the summer. Signs that you need new windows include; if your current windows are more than 15 years old,

condensation or frost frequently builds up on windows, if glass is hot to the touch in summer and cold in winter, or it there are cracks or rot in the window frame.

• Paint the exterior of your home. Fall is a great time to paint your home’s exterior since many days are warm enough to work with exterior paint while being cool enough outside to work comfortably. Paint touch-ups can also help prolong the life of your siding and trim. A new coat of paint or sealer on surfaces that potentially will be covered with snow, such as wood floors or stairs is also important.

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september important dates Friday, September 4 National Wildlife Day

Sunday September 13 Grandparent’s Day

Saturday, September 5 International Day of Charity

Monday, September 21 International Day of Peace

Monday, September 7 Labor Day (CW & Counties Closed)

Tuesday, September 22 Autumn Begins

Friday September 11 Patriot Day

Monday, September 28 National Good Neighbor Day Tuesday, September 29 Coffee Day

Checking in on your neighbors Checking in with neighbors is important during these difficult times and even small gestures can go a long way in helping your community. Even though social distancing guidelines having changed how we interact, there are great ways we can still connect and care for our neighbors.

• Help a less tech savvy neighbor

stay connected. Assist those in the neighborhood who have less knowledge of technology to set up emails, video calls, or lessons on social media so they can stay connected with their family and friends.

• Donate supplies, games, and activities • Leave a note. An in-person visit may not be safe under current social distancing guidelines. However, you can still thoughtfully check in on your neighbors by leaving a note on their door. A note is a great way to offer assistance, give someone an encouraging message, or just a nice way to say hello.

• Phone call or video chat. Talking on

the phone with a neighbor is a great way to catch up and socialize safely.

Or, video chatting on your phone allows for a ‘face to face’ experience.

• Deliver groceries or pre-cooked

to neighbors. If you or your neighbors have supplies you can donate, such as cleaning products, hand sanitizers or wipes, disinfectants and/or toiletries, reach out to neighbors to see if anyone is in need of those items. You can also help the kids in your neighborhood by offering donated board games or activities they may enjoy.

• Help with tasks around the

neighborhood. You can offer to take turns with your neighbors doing things around the neighborhood such as dog walking, yard work, or wiping/ sanitizing common areas. A group effort can help to accomplish more and foster a strong community spirit.

meals. Since not everyone is able to go to the grocery store safely, one • Set up a virtual party or event. Hosting way to look after your neighbors is a virtual party or event is a great way by asking if they need any groceries to connect with your neighbors and or supplies dropped off. Remember have fun while staying safe. A few to drop-off in a distanced fashion by examples are a virtual happy hour, scheduling a time to leave groceries game night, movie night, book club, at the door. Some neighbors may etc. Using programs like Zoom, Face also have difficulty cooking or need Time, or other video platforms makes extra help with meals. You can deliver party possibilities endless. pre-cooked meals to them that can be frozen and heated up later or share your favorite recipes.

Volume 11 | Issue 9

FALL HOME improvments continued from previous page

• Power wash your house. Having your home’s exterior and windows power washed makes your home look fresh, and it also prevents the growth of mold and mildew during the wet winter months ahead. Keeping your exterior clean of mold will ultimately mean longer periods between replacements on the siding and repainting.

• Add insulation & seal gaps. Cooler fall temperatures will lead to contractions in wood and walls, which exposes cracks and gaps in walls, doors, and attics.

Sealing any gaps and adding insulation will help keep your home retain warmth during the winter. Since warm air is not being lost, you may also see a lower energy bill.

• Clean carpets. With the more humid days of summer having passed and the freezing days of winter yet to come, it’s a great time to deep clean carpets.

Rent a carpet steamer to lift stains and odors from your carpeted areas. After steaming carpets, open windows for ventilation, which should speed the drying process.

• Repair walkways and driveway.

Small gaps and cracks in a driveway or walkway can rapidly expand during winter’s freezing temperatures. Cracked cement and crumbling asphalt can create dangerous walking conditions for pedestrians. This can be prevented by applying concrete caulking or concrete sealer to damaged areas of your driveway or walkways.

• Repair Fireplace. A fireplace during the chilly winter season is not only incredibly cozy, but a well-maintained fireplace can also be a cost-efficient heat source. Autumn is a great time to have your chimney and fireplace serviced and inspected by a professional. Your fireplace should be checked for signs of cracks or deterioration, debris, soot, and creosote buildup. It’s also important to double-check the seal on your damper to make sure cold air won’t come in during the winter.