MID-MARCH 2019
NORTH SEATTLE HOME & REAL ESTATE
Your Home is Your Castle: How to Protect it Through the Years (StatePoint) For many people, owning a home is the American dream, and the single biggest financial investment they will ever make. With the stakes so high, in addition to picking out the perfect property, it’s critical to have the right insurance. While homeowners may start out with the right amount when they first purchase their home, over time, their policy can become outdated. Why? One big reason is inflation. “Labor and building material costs go up over time, which means that if your home were destroyed by a fire or natural disaster, for example, and you had to rebuild it in today’s dollars, it would very likely cost much more,” said Bob Buckel, vice president and product manager, Erie Insurance. “That’s why we recommend that all homeowners get ‘guaranteed replacement cost’ coverage.” In addition to making sure your insurance keeps up with inflation, experts also recommend homeowners reach out to their insurance agent when: • You remodel: 2019 is expected to be a popular year for remodeling, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity.
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Whether it’s putting on an addition or finishing the basement, be sure the extra square footage and finishes are listed on your policy. Why? If something were to happen (think: fire, water damage, etc.), you’ll want your insurance policy to provide enough funds for everything to be repaired or
Is repairing an appliance on the fritz worth the effort? BY JAKE SHORT MIKE’S HANDYMAN SERVICE LLC Your washer is leaking, food in the freezer is thawing, the clothes in the dryer are damp, and the oven refuses to bake. When should you replace an appliance? Some of my older home appliances, such as my washer, dryer, and kitchen appliances, aren’t working as efficiently as they used to. How do I determine when it’s time to replace an appliance? Broken appliances can be a headache. When your appliances stop working, most homeowners will kick the old appliance to the curb and purchase a shiny new replacement. But that isn’t always the best decision. Oftentimes, it’s more practical and cost efficient to repair rather than replace, should your appliance fit certain criteria. Consider repair cost, lifespan of the product, and what a brand-new appliance may cost. If the appliance breaks down past its average lifespan or the cost of repair would surpass half the price of a new one, it may be time for a replacement. To save time, money and trouble, here are some key factors to consider when you are deciding what to do with a defective appliance. ➧ REPAIRING, Page 6
replaced. • You make changes to outdoor space: The same is true with any remodeling to your outdoor space. The addition of an in-ground pool or fence can add value to
your home. There are also liability concerns associated with certain equipment, such as a swimming pool or trampoline. Unfortunately, at least 148 children drowned in swimming pools last summer and many more were injured, ac➧ PROTECTION, Page 7
After the blizzard It was beautiful. be the gardener. Characteristically, the A downed or splincity turned the event tered tree? Cut it up for into a party It will be firewood, chop up the interesting to see if small stuff and put it in there is a spike in births the garden waste recycome next November. cling bin. It may take My nephew, who was several weeks to get it all staying with me, ever Steve Lorton in and hauled off; there’s the organized, well pretime. Make certain the Tree Talk pared soldier, rushed jagged and rough spots to the grocery store to where limbs broke off stock up. The place was mobbed. are sawn smooth. Wait for spring. Shelves were empty. He ran into You can expect new shoots to the manager and sagaciously emerge from the wound. Let asked, “When this happens here, them go. The following spring, what sells out first?” The answer: pick the two or three strongest, toilet paper and booze. prune off the others and allow How can one not love this city? the strong ones to develop. You Then the snow started falling may want to edit that even more and falling… and falling… and in subsequent years, but stout piling up. Shrubs bent over, some new branches will replace those trees came down, early bloom- that were lost to the snow. ing perennials and camellias were Bent over or flattened shrubs? flattened and frozen. Will they Give them a good shake. Prune ever be the same? off broken or damaged branches. Of course they will. Nature is resilient… and so, too, must ➧ BLIZZARD, Page 7
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Seattle landmarks board seeks structural engineer There is an opening for a structural engineer to serve on the 12-member Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board. The board makes recommendations for designating properties as landmarks and reviews and sets conditions for all proposed physical alterations to landmarked properties. The board is composed of two architects, two historians, a structural engineer, representatives from urban planning, real estate and finance, a Get Engaged member and three at-large members. The mayor appoints all members, subject to city council approval. These are volunteer positions for three-year terms open to Seattle residents. Board meetings are held at 3:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Interested applicants should email a letter of interest and resume to landmarks coordinator Erin Doherty at Erin.Doherty@ seattle.gov by Monday, April 8.