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MARCH 14, 2018
VOL. 99, NO. 11
Home Remodels to Improve Resale Value
How To Build a Planter Bed
One common concern shared by both long-time and new homeowners alike is which updates or upgrades translate to the highest return on investment. When homeowners anticipate owning appliances, cabinets, countertops, a property for over a decade their backsplash, and, in some cases, flooring are valued by virtually all buyers. priorities skew towards the updates and upgrades most appealing to their Add a master: household. Today, most buyers anticipate Most of the area’s homes were owning their home for significantly constructed prior to master bedrooms less time. It is still not uncommon being normative. Today, a true master nationally for homeowner tenure to bedroom nears the top of most buyer last for ten or more years. But based Sam Konswa wish lists. So, finding a way to transform on a 2016 statistic, 53% of millennial existing square footage into a master homeowners expect to own their home QUEEN ANNE bedroom will help a home stand out for five years or fewer. As a result, more REAL ESTATE to buyers as most buyers seek to add and more homeowners are prioritizing this feature when not already present. the project’s impact on resale value into When adding an en suite bathroom to an their home improvement plans. The existing bedroom doesn’t work with a home’s current most accurate way to address this question is to bedroom layout, unfinished basement or attic spaces consider the typical constraints of most Queen Anne are other strong candidates for adding a master suite. and Magnolia homes. In general, the three projects we recommend homeowner focus their efforts and Finish basement or attic: funds towards are a kitchen remodel, adding a When looking to expand their livable space, most master bedroom if one doesn’t exist, and/or finishing homeowners on Queen Anne and Magnolia are an unfinished basement. limited to their property’s existing footprint. Due to the neighborhoods’ hilly geography, most properties have basements, attics, or both. If the ceilings are sufficiently high, transforming unfinished basement or attic space into finished living space is a relatively inexpensive way to make a past era’s floor plan livable for today’s households. Assuming a master bedroom is already present, we typically suggest the addition of a second living room or bonus room. When feasible, we suggest adding an adjacent halfbath to the new living space as well. Most buyers will view this added living space as an asset to their lifestyle. Most commonly, buyers state intentions to use these types of finished spaces for media rooms, children’s playrooms, home offices, or occasionally, guest bedrooms. The addition of a half-bath to these types of spaces makes for a logical addition to any of these common uses.
Upgrade the kitchen: An upgraded kitchen is one of the most highly desired home traits amongst first time and veteran buyers alike. We find that although many buyers voice a willingness to make this update on their own, it often winds up being a deciding factor on the property they ultimately decide to purchase. We find buyers consider higher priced homes with this update completed more than any other home improvement. If your kitchen hasn’t been updated in 20 or more years, this update is worth the investment. We frequently help homeowners select finishings to maximize buyer appeal should they desire or need to sell within a few years. A more elaborate kitchen remodel may involve opening a wall to create an open concept living space, as this is a trait many buyers find desirable. This solution isn’t right for every home’s configuration. Updated
By Kirsten Dunn, Dunn Lumber
Q: Any easy outdoor projects to plan while waiting for warmer days to start rolling around? Usher in the spring season with a DIY planter bed—it’s easy, affordable and can be completed in an afternoon. Not to mention, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as growing your own garden. One of my favorite springtime projects is building a planter bed. It’s not only a reminder that sunnier, warmer months are on the horizon, but it’s also easy and affordable to make—a DIY win-win in my book. The nice thing about a planter bed, as opposed to a Tools: traditional garden, is that you can Hammer or sledgehammer start completely from scratch— Drill you don’t even have to have a soil Driver bit foundation. Plus, a planter bed is Tape measure customizable and allows you to Circular saw or hand saw control the soil and weeds without having to till your yard. Let’s get to Materials: it! 1 3/4” exterior screws
Step 1: Choose a spot
3 1/2” exterior screws 2x8 boards (6) 1x2 wood stakes Landscape fabric Difficulty: 1 | Cost: $$ | Estimated Time: 3-4 Hours
Sold Price
Sold Price/ Asking Price
$550,000
$591,000
107.45%
If you’re growing produce that requires a lot of light, keep that in mind as you plan your space and choose the best spot for your planter. Try to find some earth that’s relatively level—if you need to even things out, a shovel and a little bit of elbow grease will get the job done. I built a 4x8 planter because that’s what worked best for my yard, but the steps are scalable, so choose the dimensions that work best for you.
7
$499,000
$610,000
122.24%
Step 2: Purchase and cut your lumber
1982
6
$525,000
$610,000
116.19%
1210
1992
7
$579,000
$625,000
107.94%
1.75
1043
1968
7
$589,000
$672,500
114.18%
2
1
1010
1928
8
$675,000
$735,000
108.89%
2524 9th Ave W
2
1
1060
1906
6
$629,950
$750,000
119.06%
123 Queen Anne Ave N #602
2
1.75
922
2000
7
$649,000
$790,000
121.73%
3638 B 13th Ave W
3
2.5
1600
2009
7
$789,000
$814,000
103.17%
1812 6th Ave W
3
1.5
1480
1907
8
$850,000
$860,000
101.18%
1935 A 7th Ave W
2
2
1497
2018
4
$899,000
$899,000
100.00%
730 W Etruria St
3
1.75
2400
1940
12
$775,000
$908,000
117.16%
568 B Galer St
3
2.5
1616
2008
6
$875,000
$961,200
109.85%
621 W Emerson St
5
3.5
1840
1906
36
$1,050,000
$1,025,000
97.62%
1921 8th Ave W
3
1.75
1630
2015
25
$1,140,000
$1,140,000
100.00%
1220 B 5th Ave N
2
2
1587
2018
10
$1,095,000
$1,145,000
104.57%
1414 1st Ave W #603
2
1.75
1117
2004
6
$1,075,000
$1,221,180
113.60%
VALUE, Page R4
Queen Anne Home Sales (Low to High) Address
Bed
Bath
Sq Ft
Built
Days on Market
654 W Olympic Place #201
2
2
1075
1968
7
621 5th Ave N #404
1
1
637
1999
410 W Roy St #105
2
2
1071
2419 8th Ave N #302
2
1.75
654 W Olympic Place #503
2
2205 Bigelow Ave N #10
Asking Price
2008 5th Ave N
3
1.5
2740
1923
88
$1,400,000
$1,325,000
94.64%
2459 Nob Hill Ave N
4
2.75
3190
1927
9
$1,295,000
$1,410,000
108.88%
717 W Blaine St
4
4
5000
1921
155
$4,495,000
$4,350,000
96.77%
Most people choose a naturally rot-resistant wood like cedar or juniper, but you can use pressure-treated wood, too. I opted for cedar, which comes in 8-foot boards. Juniper should be around 8 feet, but it’s not precision-cut, so double-check your measurements before you get too far! We’ll be using six boards total—four will remain the 8-foot length, and two will be cut in half to equal 4 feet. Make your cuts with a circular saw or hand saw (or have Dunn Lumber do it at no extra cost). Once you’re finished, you should have eight boards— four 8-foot boards and four 4-foot boards.
Step 3: Lay out your planter Start by framing a rectangle on the ground, using two of the 4-foot boards for the short end and two of the 8-foot boards for the long end. Attach the boards with two 3 1/2-inch exterior screws in each corner. I put the shorter boards on the inside, but the choice is yours. Once the rectangle is screwed together, make sure it’s positioned where you want it. Then, if placing over a soil foundation, hammer in 1x2 wood stakes in the inside corners and along the walls—two on each long side and one on each short side. If you’re working over concrete or another hard surface, hold the stake level to the ground. Once the stakes are placed, attach them from the inside with 1 PLANTER, Page R4