Emergency items for the home.

I have 15 water shutoff valves in my house and I know exactly where each of them are and how to operate them. Do you?
Many small home emergencies become huge disasters because we don't know how to take care of the property when the unexpected happens. Buying a home of your own is not just about building wealth and saving taxes -- it's not just about money. Since homeownership represents the largest investment for most people, you definitely need to become a project manager as well. Homeowners' losses for 2002 from all perils totaled $25.6 billion, down from $26.8 billion in 2001, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Get to know your home intimately. Knowing where the shutoff valves are located, for instance, can save you a lot of money and grief later if disaster strikes. .
In this article will discuss emergency items for the home. I hope that this information is helpful in the maintenance of homes.

Water Shutoffs
Some bathrooms have three cut-off valves -- one for the commode, two under the sink (hot and cold water). If, for some reason, those break and there is water coming through, it is important to know where the main water valve is located and to test it to make sure the knob doesn't break off in case of a real emergency. There also may be two water shut off valves going toward the outside water faucets. It's easy to let these valves age into disrepair.

Hot Water Heater
How's the hot water heater? Have you checked the bottom of it lately to see any evidence of rust? For many homeowners, this is one of those household items that never gets checked until water is running everywhere. The hot water heater should also have a cutoff valve. Know how to use it and have your kids try it out too.

Insurance Claims
Finally, if you find that you didn't do the above preventative activities, then you should at least know where your insurance policy is located and understand what is covered and what is not. If you live in attached dwellings, like condos and townhouses, then you want to make sure you keep enough insurance to cover your house and any damage that might cross your limited property line. To keep your rates down, take care of the little stuff -- anything under $500 -- and report the more expensive accidents (flooding of the basement). If you're looking for lower homeowners insurance rates, you could even consider a higher deductible. Switching your deductible from $250 to $1,000, for instance, could cut your premium by 25 percent. Emergencies can become less taxing with a little testing, preventative maintenance and knowing your home's systems.

Large Fairwood home.

This wonderful home is larger than it looks.

Your family can enjoy game night with the open floor plan. The 4 bedroom plus the bonus room will open up opportunities for your family.

Don't miss the great back yard with the large deck and the fire pit that you will want all your friends to enjoy.

The master bedroom will have all the ladies happy with a full wall of closet space.

Great shed or shop out back and there is a garden around the side of the home.

1 Year AHS Warranty.

Check out this and other homes on my featured properties.

I Pull Out All The Stops To Sell Your Home

Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

Electrical Panel

Have you looked over your electrical panel as well?
If you've remodeled, the labels may need to be changed (that's assuming you have labels). If they aren't clearly marked you've got a great family project on your hands. This can take either a few minutes or an hour or so, depending on how many outlets, switches and lights you have in the house. If you have those handy walkie-talkies or a mobile phone, it makes the job of identifying the circuit breakers or fuses a lot easier. One person stays by the panel flipping switches, while the other teammate walks the house letting you know what's on and what's off.
To identify the circuits will require turning on all the lights in the house. For outlets, you'll just have to switch off the breaker and have your partner flip on an appliance, radio or lamp that's plugged in that outlet to determine the match.
The good thing about this project is that it won't have to be done again unless you remodel and add on more outlets and switches on more circuit breakers.

I Pull Out All The Stops To Sell Your Home
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South
Bellevue.Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

Water Damage

Well the rains have begun here in Renton WA. There are a few things you can look for when buying a house. In addition to causing destruction, water damage also has an adverse affect to the indoor air quality of your home. Damage from water can cause wood rot, insect infestation and mold . The obvious causes of water damage are leaking roofs, windows, doors, foundation cracks and visible plumbing leaks. These are fairly easy to detect, enabling a quick repair before maximum damage occurs. The not-so-obvious culprits are moisture behind finished basement walls that are insulated with fiberglass; poor grading around foundation walls and air leaks that occur between the living space and attic. Insulating finished basement walls with fiberglass is not a good idea. Fiberglass will absorb water and not allow it to travel through the wall, preventing a drying effect.

The Answer To Moisture Traps:
Some people think installing a plastic barrier in the wall is the answer, but this approach only traps moisture. A better way is to use rigid insulation (also known as blue board). This insulation is semi- permeable and allows moisture to travel through the wall, allowing it to dry. Water can also enter the basement if the grade of the land is pitched toward the house. Grading the soil away from the house and adding rain gutters will guide rainwater away from the house. Openings from the house to the attic and poor ceiling insulation in houses located in colder climates can lead to ice dams that cause water to back up into the house. Air leakage from the house to the attic will carry moisture in the form of humidity into the attic that can form water on the underside of the roof leading to rotting and mold.

The House and The Attic
Leakage Points
Typical leakage points between the house and attic are: · Leaky attic hatches · Holes drilled for plumbing pipes and electrical wires that penetrate the attic and are usually not sealed · Recessed light fixtures that are not the airtight type · Exhaust fans that vent directly into the attic



I Pull Out All The Stops To Sell Your Home
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

Avoid Water Damage

Five easy ways to avoid water damage
Today we address the matter of water damage in homes. We hope this information will be of value to you in preventing saturation challenges in the future.
1.Switch to stainless steel hoses.
Switch to stainless steel hoses: Consider replacing standard rubber or plastic hoses with stainless steel- braided or mesh hoses. Worn out hoses with kinks, cracks or bulges need to be replaced immediately.
2. Don't leave dishwashers and washers running if you leave the house.
If something breaks while a home owner is away, what could have been a small mop-up job often turns into a thousand-gallon mess best left to professionals.
3.Check the attic air conditioners and swamp coolers.
Check attic air conditioners and swamp coolers: When attic systems fail, water damages everything that lies below. At least once a year, go up to the attic or roof to check these appliances before they wear out. Look for wear and tear and loose connections -- particularly if the unit is mounted on the roof and exposed to sun and rain. exposed to sun and rain.
4. Water Heaters.
Replace old water heaters: Water heaters do damage when they get too old and the tank rusts and bursts, allowing water to pour into adjacent rooms. On average, water heaters last 10 to 12 years. Don't wait for them to fail; replace your tank once a decade. Today's energy-efficient systems will also be cheaper to operate.
5. Consider water alarms.
Consider water alarms: Home owners can install water alarms for a quick alert when an appliance isn't working right. Hooking up the system to an appliance is usually as simple as hooking up a hose to an outdoor faucet.


I Pull Out All The Stops To Sell Your Home
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.
Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

Facts About Gas And Electric Heating Systems

To make your home more energy efficient, you need to understand the energy efficiency of different types of heating and cooling systems. Knowing this information can be of great help when it comes time to buy or sell your home. Many times people are confused by inaccurate information they receive from manufacturers and sellers of heating and cooling equipment. But all you need to know in order to make wise decisions when purchasing this equipment are a few simple facts.

Sizing and Equipment Is Important.
First of all, the proper sizing of equipment is of utmost importance for comfort and low utility bills. Once the proper size is known, then you must decide what type of system best suits your needs. Let's look at three ways houses are heated: natural gas furnace, air-to- air electric heat pump, geothermal heat pump (electricity). Now, let's consider how efficient they are. And when I talk about heating efficiency, I'm talking about how efficiently the system converts either natural gas or electricity to heat for your home.

· Gas Furnace - 80% Efficient
A typical gas furnace will be rated at about 80 percent efficiency when it is new and if it is installed properly. That percentage will lessen with each year's use. An 80-percent efficiency rating means that 80 percent of the gas used will provide heat and the other 20 percent goes up the flue. For example, look at your neighbor's gas flue on a cold winter morning and see the steam coming out.

· Another Type Of Heating - An Air-To-Air Heat Pump
Another popular type of heating system, an air- to-air heat pump, uses electricity instead of gas. An air-to-air heat pump, properly installed, would operate at an efficiency of around 250 percent. I know what you are thinking. "How can anything be more than 100 percent energy efficient?"

Efficiency
Remember, we are talking about how efficiently a unit uses either electricity or gas to move or create heat. Unlike a gas-fired furnace, a heat pump does not actually create heat, it simply moves heat from one location to another. Air-to-air pumps extract the heat from the air. With a heat pump, you use one unit of electricity and get about 2.5 units of heat. A good point when selling your home.

· Thermal Heat

My favorite system, the geothermal heat pump, is simply the very best there is. Most geothermal heating systems operate at close to 400 percent energy efficiency! That's five times the efficiency of the 80 percent gas furnace. As this heat pump is extracting heat from Mother Earth, which is a constant 57 degrees, it is operating on minimal stress and using a very small amount of electricity to move the heat from the earth into the house. With a geothermal system, you buy one unit of electricity (one unit of heat) and Mother Earth will give you three more units of heat for free (that three units of heat is solar energy that Mr. Sunshine gave us over millions of years). WOW that still blows my mind.

I Pull Out All The Stops To Sell Your Home
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

Anyone can be a victim of identity theft

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New FHA Guideline on Condo's

Effective October 1, 2009, FHA is implementing new condo guidelines that could devastate the values in condo developments. FHA is one of the primary sources of financing for condo developments, especially those with a large number of units that are priced within FHA loan limits. Because many of the homeowners in condo developments had zero to very low down payments, the foreclosure rate has increased, causing huge losses to FHA. When insurers, such as FHA experience huge losses, they write new regulations to limit those losses in the future.
The new lending guidelines are going to be so tough, fewer developments will qualify for FHA financing, which will significantly limit the buyer pool.
Until now, most condo developments could apply to FHA for an approved status, therefore making FHA financing available in that development. In addition, in developments that were not approved, spot approvals were sometimes available for individual units. (The lender applied for an approval for the unit you wanted to buy, in spite of the development not being approved).
Following are the new guidelines: (This is not pretty, so prepare yourself)1. There will be NO more spot approvals.2. All development not considered primarily residential are out. For instance, a development with more than 25% of the total floor area dedicated to commercial business use is out.3. Noise issues is a new concern, so any development within 1,000 feet of a highway, freeway, or heavily travelled road, 3,000 feet of a railroad, 1 mile of an airport, or 5 miles of a military airfield will become ineligible for approval.4. If the property has an obstructed view , or is located within 2000 feet of any facility handling or storing explosive or fire prone materials, it is not insurable - we're not talking just fireworks factories here. A gas station 2 blocks away can disqualify this development.5. Any property located within 3000 feet of a dump, landfill, or superfund site, is ineligible.6. No more than 10% of the properties can be owned by a single investor, including builders or developers who are renting out or have not yet sold vacant units. For 2-3 unit developments, no one can own more than one unit.7. No more than 15% of the homeowners can be more than 30 days late on their homeowner dues.8. For new developments, at least 50% of the units must be sold prior to applying for FHA approval (valid presales include those with purchase agreement and lender validation of an approved loan in process)9. A minimum of 50% of the units must be owner occupied or sold to owners who intend to occupy as their principal residence.10. Projects in designated wetland and flood zones will not qualify.11. All current condominium project approvals will be invalid (with the exception of projects approved on or after October 1, 2008) and projects must be re-approved under the new options available. Going forward, all projects will require recertification every two years.
Heres why these changes will likely hurt condo values:1. Obtaining the approval from FHA is a very time intensive and expensive process. Many condo developments are not currently approved because of the time and expense. Imagine how many fewer projects will be approved if the homeowner association has to re-apply every two years, beginning this October.2. Many condo projects are very close to major transportation, deliberately. Condo owners are often looking for ease of transport, and that is often a factor in choosing a development.3. Many existing developments will be excluded from insurability simply because of the arrearage rule, due to the current economy. 4. What happens to a development that was built in a great location, but a gas station is now just a couple blocks away (flammable materials?) Condo owners cannot control what businesses are approved once the development is already there.5. A decrease in the buyer pool will hurt re-sales. Conforming loans require better credit, and larger down payments. What can you do if you are a condo owner?
The first thing I would do is call a meeting of the homeowners association and try to figure out if your development will qualify for FHA financing based on the above new rules. If it will, I would definitely be taking steps to get your development FHA insured (unless it was certified after October 1, 2008).
If your development was FHA approved, and no longer will be, I would be contacting the FHA, your congressional representatives, etc. I think you need to get pro-active to keep these new rules from being implemented as they are.
If you are a home buyer, and thinking about buying a condo, should you wait to see what happens? I can’t advise you to do that, but it is probably time to do some soul searching before you make that investment.
There is always a chance that some of these rules will change prior to October 1, 2009, especially if the outcry from the public, and those directly affected, are loud enough. Outcry is the only tool we have available to us right now, so make your voices heard.

I Pull Out All The Stops To Sell Your Home
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.
Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

There Are Defects In Every Home

We'd all like to buy the perfect home. Unfortunately, it doesn't exist. Even new homes have defects. That's why it's important to have any home you buy inspected by qualified professionals-even if it's brand new. You'll undoubtedly discover defects during your inspections. In fact, you should hope that any significant defects are uncovered before you remove your inspection contingency from the purchase contract. It's far worse to be surprised after closing by unanticipated repair expenses.
Armed with a complete assessment of the current condition of the property, you can make an informed decision about whether to purchase the property in its present condition. Or, you may want to renegotiate the terms of your contract with the seller. If defects are incurable, you may want to withdraw from the contract altogether. Your purchase contract should set guidelines for how inspection defects are to be handled. For example, the seller may have had a "termite" inspection completed before marketing the property. If so, the contract might specify which party-buyer or seller-will pay for the required corrective work. Not all inspection contingencies are the same. Some specify that the buyers have the unilateral right to approve or disapprove inspections. In this case, if the buyers disapprove the inspections, the contract may be cancelable at the buyer's option.

HouseHunting Tips
What To Consider
House Hunting Tip: Even if your contract allows you to withdraw due to inspections, carefully consider before electing this option. You will already have spent considerable time, effort and money finding and inspecting the property. If the defects are correctable, it's usually worthwhile to try negotiating an agreement with the sellers rather than starting the process over again. Some inspection contingencies provide for buyers to give the sellers the opportunity to correct defects, rather than just walk away from the deal. In this case, the terms of the contract often become subject to further negotiation. Before asking a seller for inspection-related concessions, make a list of the significant defects that you discovered during your inspections. Then find out how much it will cost to repair these defects. When you make your request, put it in writing and include a copy of your cost accounting list along with the reports and estimates on which you're basing your request.
You may find that the seller is not willing to negotiating over items that were disclosed to you before you made an offer to purchase the property. It still may be worthwhile to point out that the cost of the previously disclosed items in addition to the newly discovered defects alter the amount you can reasonably pay for the property. Sellers are wise to consider any reasonable proposal from a well-qualified buyer. If the inspection- related defects are significant, they are likely to be a concern to other buyers. Depending on the law in your state regarding seller disclosures, you may have to provide copies of the buyer's reports to future buyers who are interested in the property. There are several ways in which sellers can participate in buyers' repair requests. They can have the work done by closing, if time permits. Often contractors will accept payment at closing. Or they can credit money to buyers as long as the credit is called a credit for buyers' nonrecurring closing costs. Lenders usually limit the amount of such a credit to 3 percent of the purchase price or equal to the actual amount of the nonrecurring closing costs, whichever is less.

I Pull Out All The Stops To Sell Your Home
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.
Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

Six Things NOT to Do to an Electrocution Victim

If you are with someone who is electrocuted, here is what NOT to do, according to the National Institutes of Health:
· DO NOT touch the victim with your bare hands if the person is still in contact with the source of electricity.
· DO NOT remove dead skin or break blisters if the person is burned.
· DO NOT apply ice, butter, ointments, medications, fluffy cotton dressings, or adhesive bandages to a burn.
· DO NOT touch the skin of someone who is being electrocuted.
· DO NOT get within 20 feet of someone who is being electrocuted by high-voltage electrical current until the power is turned off.
· DO NOT move a victim of electrical injury unless there is immediate danger.

Lets all be safe.
Thank you.

Electrocution Danger Points Cont.

. Electrical outlets
Most electrical outlets are located in areas of the home that children can easily reach. Close to 4,000 injuries associated with electrical outlets are treated in U.S. emergency rooms every year, says the CPSC, and about one-third of these occur when kids looking to explore insert metal objects like keys and hairpins into the outlets.Since you can't move your outlets away from your kids, it's imperative to cover your outlets with the Sliding Decora Outlet Cover (for outlet covers requiring two screws, as in most newer homes) or the Standard Sliding Outlet Cover (for outlet covers requiring only one screw in the middle, as in most older homes.)If you routinely have kids in your home, check out these simple, inexpensive but ingenious outlet covers by clicking on either link above! These easy-to-install outlet covers are spring activated, so they automatically cover outlets when any plug is removed. This means kids can't insert objects or fingers into the outlets at any time!It's important to only insert appropriate plugs into electrical outlets (any other object poses an electrocution danger) and use caution when you do, such as being careful not to touch the metal prongs when inserting the plug.

. Electric appliances.
We become so accustomed to using electric appliances in our daily lives that it's easy to become careless with their use. This is often when electrocution can occur. Even touching an electric appliance like a hair dryer with wet hands can cause a shock. Here are some other safety tips to keep safe around electric appliances:
· Don't use electric appliances near water or while touching faucets or water pipes.
· Don't use appliances that have worn plugs or cracked wires.
· Don't attempt to fix electrical appliances on your own, even if it appears simple.
· Unplug appliances when they're not in use.

Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.
Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

Electrocution - Top Danger Points and How to Avoid Them

When you think of things that are strong conductors of electricity, power lines, wires and metals likely come to mind. Surprisingly, the human body can also be an excellent electricity conductor, and when electric currents hit the body several types of injuries may occur.The body may go into cardiac arrest because of the electricity's effect on the heart; muscle, nerves and tissue can be damaged due to the current; or thermal burns can occur if the body contacts an electrical source.The severity of the injuries depends on a variety of factors (the voltage of electricity, the person's state of health, how the current travels through the body and how quickly medical help is received), but, according to the National Institutes of Health, some 1,000 people die in the United States each year because of electric shock.Fortunately, you and your loved ones can dramatically reduce the risks if you are aware of top electrocution threats in and around your home and take the simple measures to prevent them:


1. Extension cords.
These handy tools can cause electrical burns and shock if they're not used carefully. Cords that have exposed wires should never be used, as kids and pets can (and will) chew on them if they can get them. In fact, electrical burns to the mouth account for half of the extension-cord-related injuries to young children, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).Even an intact extension cord poses a risk. For instance, in one case a 15- month- old girl put an extension cord in her mouth and suffered electrical burns that required surgery.
To reduce the risks, keep extension cords out of reach of kids and pets, and always purchase cords that have the UL and OSHA labels on them (these cords have been subjected to strict tests to ensure they meet certain safety standards). Further, use common sense measures to be sure the cords are in good shape, including:
· Inspect them regularly for signs of wear and tear.
· Replace old extension cords that are cracked or frayed.
· Only use exterior extension cords for outside use.
· Don't overload cords or sockets.
· Pull the plug, not the cord, when disconnecting it from the socket
· Only use extension cords when they're absolutely necessary, and try not to use them for long- term purposes.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.
Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

Electricity Safty

Electricity is a wonderful part of our lives, clearly enabling us to do so many of the things we take for granted. Food preparation, entertainment, communication, and so much more are all dependent upon the delivery of electricity. And yet, coming into direct contact with electrical current can severely injure you. In some cases, it can even kill you. Here are some things you can do to keep safe. Some of what we suggest may seem obvious, but we include it here because we believe it's impossible to over emphasize the importance of safety.
· Downed Power Lines
Your power company wants to know about any outages or power lines that are down. Please call them immediately if you experience or see a problem. You can call them 24 hours a day and they'll send emergency crews out to make repairs.
· Inside a Car Touched by a Power Line
Fallen power lines can be extremely dangerous. Never touch a downed power line or anyone who's in contact with it, and stay away from a vehicle if a power line is touching it. If a power line touches your vehicle, stay inside and warn others to stay away and have them call the power company. If you MUST get out of the vehicle for safety reasons, jump clear. Do not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time.
· Electric Lines and Trees
Trees are certainly beautiful and enhance our neighborhoods. However, trees planted in the utility right of way must be tended to so that electric service can be maintained on behalf of all of our citizens. If your tree encroaches into the utility right of way, it becomes your responsibility to keep it trimmed; otherwise, the City will clear those trees that have not been maintained and threaten the electric service. Trees that grow into or near the power lines which go to your house are also your responsibility and are only trimmed by the City when they threaten continuity of electric service. To trim near power lines safely: · Call you power company if there is any question as to whether or not a tree is contacting the electric wires before trimming it. They can move power lines away from trees so that they may be trimmed safely. Call them a couple of days in advance of trimming so that they can coordinate with you. Never hire unqualified tree trimmers or do the work yourself when trees are contacting high voltage electric wires. Never cut tree limbs that are touching power lines or that could fall into them.
· Electrical Lines and Flying Objects
Don't let metallic balloons or kites get away. Balloons and kites with shiny, metallic surfaces or strings can be very dangerous if they come into contact with electrical lines. As Benjamin Franklin discovered, they're excellent conductors of electricity, and, if they get tangled in the line, they can cause a short circuit. This can melt an electrical wire and cause it to fall, resulting in a power outage and possibly severe injury or even death. Fly kites safely. Kites and electrical lines can be a potentially deadly match. Use common sense when flying a kite; always use dry string, wood, and paper and never use wire or any metallic material. Don't fly your kite in the rain and never try to retrieve your kite if it gets caught in a power line. Call the power company.
· Going Underground
Call before you dig. You need to find out if there are lines in the ground before you dig for any reason, such as planting trees and bushes or installing fences and posts. If you fail to call you could end up in JAIL or worse.
· Safety Indoors
Be just as careful with electricity indoors as out. In fact, odds are you and your family are more likely to come into contact with electricity inside your home, so take precautions. · Cover all your electrical outlets and wall switches with cover plates. · Put plastic safety caps in all unused wall outlets to prevent children from pushing objects into the outlet openings. · Know when your wiring needs attention. Power company employees will check equipment when an electrical problem such as flickering lights is reported. If they are unable to find a problem on their end, then the wiring in your house may need to be repaired. Find a licensed professional to check your home's electric panel, circuit breakers, fuses, and internal wiring. · Do not use damaged or brittle electrical cords. They can cause shorts, shocks, or fires and should be replaced. · To avoid damage, remove cords from outlets by pulling the plug, not the cord itself. Never attach a cord to any surface with nails or staples, which can break the insulation. Also, kinking, twisting, binding, or walking on cords can harm them. · Never remove the third prong from a three-pronged plug. The third prong has been included to safely ground your electrical appliance. Most power tools and major appliances have three-prong plugs for safety. If you don't have three-hole outlets, adapters are available at your local hardware store. · Protect yourself from shock with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI's). These special outlets can help prevent serious injury by detecting electrical faults and shutting off electricity to the outlet when necessary
· Safety Outdoors
Undoubtedly, first and foremost, stay clear of all power lines, especially those on the ground. Consider a downed wire to be "live" with electrical current going through it. Take these easy steps to keep yourself from coming into contact with overhead lines: · When you're using equipment outside, look up to make sure that the equipment isn't going to collide with the lines. · Do not try to remove anything caught in power lines, not even an animal. Instead, call your power company. · Be especially careful when you're doing any jobs that require you to use tools which might extend up over your head. · Keep electrical equipment on your property clear of all obstacles such as trees and bushes.

I hope you have found this information helpful. Thank you.

Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.
Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

How To Repair Holes Holes In The Sheetrock

In this newsletter, you will learn how to repair holes in the walls of a home. There will be two sections; one with instructions for small holes, and another for large holes. Removing wallpaper or removing old wallpaper can sometimes result in some of the drywall or sheetrock coming off with the wallpaper. Don't worry this is a common occurrence - especially when the wallpaper is very old.

The question is how do you fix the holes in the sheetrock once the wallpaper is removed?

There are a couple of ways you can easily repair the holes - The first method, if it's a small hole, is to purchase some drywall or sheetrock filler. There are a number of manufactures that produce the filling agent and it can be easily purchased at your local hardware or DIY retailer. The filler is usually white in color and has the consistency of putty. Depending upon the size of the hole, follow these directions-

How To Repair Small Holes

1. To repair the hole, use a small "filling knife" or you can even use the wallpaper scraper you used in your removal project.

2. Sprinkle or spray the hole and area with clean water - just enough to get it wet.

3. Using the filling knife or scraper, push the filling agent into the hole. Apply enough filler until it is level with the surface of the wall. Remove the excess with the edge of the filling knife or scraper.

4. Allow the filler to dry completely. Depending upon the product you are using, the filler may shrink slightly during the drying process. If this is the case, you may need to make a second application

5. Once the filler is dry, use a light grade sand paper to remove any excess filler that is not level with the wall.

6. Finally, you can now paint or wallpaper the wall.

Repairing The Surface Large Holes

1. For large holes, you will need a filling knife or wallpaper scraper, a few sheets of newspaper, and a small roll of "Drywall Seam Tape.

2. Start by removing any dust or small pieces of sheetrock or drywall from the hole. Next, sprinkle or lightly spay clean water on the hole and surrounding wall.

3. Moisten the newspaper and gently push it into the hole so that it fills up the majority of the whole area.

4. Next, apply the filling agent on top of the newspaper and to the remaining whole area.

5. Using the drywall seam tape, cut a piece of tape to just fit over the whole area. Apply the tape over the hole.

6. Again apply the drywall filler over the tape and smooth the area with the edge of the filling knife or scraper.

7. Allow the filler to dry completely and then sand the area with light grade sandpaper


We hope that this information is useful and that you continue to read our newsletters and pass on tips.

Simple solution to common problems

First Common Problem - Doorbells
Don't be afraid to try to repair the doorbell. All of its parts are low voltage-12 to 24 volts-and can't really hurt you. However, you should not attempt to repair or replace the transformer for the unit, which will be located in the basement or near the main power panel. It converts a 110-volt supply to 12 or 24 volts. Most often, the chime unit consists of an electromagnetic plunger that strikes a chime when activated-one sliding movement (and one chime) for the rear door and two movements for the front door's double chime. Some door chimes consist of a low- voltage buzzer or a vibrating hammer on a bell. Others have huge chimes and complicated parts best left to a service company. If the doorbell thumps or hums when you press the button, you need to clean the chime and plunger. If pressing the button doesn't trigger any sound, the button itself is probably at fault. The doorbell button is the most common source of problems because of its exposure to weather. For a button that's flush with the wood trim, slip a screwdriver or putty knife under the edge to pry the button out of its hole. If the button is screwed to the frame, remove the screws. Now you can see the low- voltage wires. If they are loose or broken, this could be why the doorbell isn't working. If the wires look okay, disconnect their ends and touch them together to complete the circuit. If the doorbell rings now, you have found the problem, a bad button. You can easily replace the button with a matching button from the hardware store. If the doorbell does not ring when you manually complete the circuit, the problem is in the chime or transformer. Check the chime: remove the cover, and take a peek at the chime. Make sure it is level. Vacuum away any dust. You will see a round plunger that needs to move freely in the magnet surrounding it. Look for broken parts or damaged brackets. After you have checked these items, the next step would be to use a voltmeter to analyze the transformer and wiring. This is a task you may wish to leave to a professional because it involves working with 110-volt power. Or, for about $20, you can buy a new battery-operated chime/button set that needs no wires. The button is mounted anywhere within 100 feet of the chime. This is a great option when wires are damaged.

Second Common Problem - Wobbling Ceiling Fan
When properly installed and balanced, a ceiling fan should not wobble excessively. Make sure your fan has been mounted properly; there should be an electric box or special bracing to support the fan's weight and movement. You may be able to stop the wobble by switching blade positions and balancing the fan. Contact the manufacturer of your fan for specific instructions, and ask if a balancing kit is available. Typical balancing instructions:
1. Check that the fan is properly installed and that the blades are securely attached.
2. Run the fan on high speed (set to downdraft) and observe the wobble. Stop the fan; switch positions of two adjacent blades. If this improves the balance of the fan, leave it as is and use balancing weights.
3. With the fan stationary, attach the manufacturer's balancing clip on the leading edge of one blade, halfway between the outer tip of the blade and the attachment bracket. (A balancing clip, available from most fan manufacturers, is a small plastic weight that firmly clips to the blade.)
4. Run the fan on high speed, set to downdraft, and observe the wobble. Stop the fan; move the clip to the next blade. Again run the fan and observe the wobble. Repeat this for all fan blades.
5. Move the clip back to the blade where you noticed the least wobble. This time, attach the clip to the leading edge of the blade near the blade bracket. Run the fan and observe the wobble. Stop the fan and move the clip outward toward the end of the blade in small increments until you find the position where the fan runs best.
6. Attach a permanent balancing weight on the blade next to the clip. (Weights are often self-stick lead strips provided by the fan manufacturer.)
7. Remove the clip and run the fan. If the wobble was not completely corrected, you may be able to further improve the balance by repeating the above steps and removing the fan.

I hope that you find this information helpful.
If you know of anyone thinking about buying a home please let me know so I can help them.
Thank you.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.
Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

Great experiences in Seattle WA

Experience the thrill of seeing orca whales, harbor seals, California & Steller sea lions, Dall's & harbor porpoise, gray & minke whales, bald eagles, cormorants, great blue herons and so much more on one of our whale watching trips!

San Juan Excursions specializes in safety and environmentally oriented owner operated whale watching tours and wildlife cruises departing from picturesque Friday Harbor, Washington (only 90 miles north of Seattle on sunny San Juan Island). Our classic 65 foot, twin-engine vessel, “Odyssey”, has the perfect combination of comfort and space. Additionally our fun/informative crew and perfect departure location make for an ideal whale watching tour and wildlife excursion. We use biodiesel to protect the environment and are USCG licensed for up to 97 passengers giving us the most flexibility of any vessel based in the San Juan Islands. Note: We limit our tours to 80 people maximum to ensure the comfort of our guests.

Washington's San Juan Islands are a hidden gem nestled between the snowcapped Cascade and Olympic Mountains. With dramatic rocky coastlines, pebble stoned beaches, and tranquil evergreen islands dotting the horizon, your San Juan Island whale watching tour and wildlife cruise with San Juan Excursions will surely be the highlight of your vacation.

2009 IKEA Renton River Days

Wow, it is time for Renton River Days again. Here is some information on what is going to be happing.

Events in Liberty Park: July 22 and July 24 – 26, 2009
Renton’s Community Family Festival and Celebration
Renton: “Explore the Heart of Renton” is more than a theme for 2009 IKEA Renton River Days. It’s an invitation to explore the diverse offerings that highlight Renton’s passion for music, art, food and an active lifestyle. With various events and activities for all generations, the festival brings the community together for a mid-summer showcase of family fun and entertainment. Originating in 1986, this celebration unites families, residents, businesses, organizations, and Puget Sound region tourists for a wonderful variety of events, stage entertainment, food, arts and crafts, recreation, special features for kids, plus much more. Come “explore” for yourself!
Weekend festival highlights include the Parade on Saturday, July 24 at 10:00 a.m. and the Rubber Ducky Derby on Sunday, July 25 at 4:30 p.m.
Other festival favorites include Kids’ Day, Senior Day Picnic, stage entertainment, Nibble of Renton, Art Market, Renton Annual Art Show, Quilt Show, Chalk Art Contest, Petting Zoo, and the Pancake Breakfast. For the active, don’t miss the Golf Tournament, Volkssport Fun Walks, Canoe and Kayak Regatta, Tennis Tournaments, and the youth Six-A-Side Soccer Tournament.
Many events and activities are featured especially for kids of all ages: Wenatchee Youth Circus performances, Pacific Science Center Exhibit, photo ID cards, LEGO Playzone, inflatables, Junk Chimes, Ms. B Hooping Allure, Dizzy’s Tumble Bus, Toymaker’s Workshop, Sound of Culture booth, Coloring Contest, face-painting, and craft and activity booths.
For the complete list schedule of festival events with dates, times, and locations call 425-430-6528 or visit www.RentonRiverDays.org.

Street Closures and Shuttle for IKEA Renton River Days
2009 Festival Street Closures Begin Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Houser Way between Mill Avenue and Bronson Way will be closed at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, and will reopen on Monday, July 27 at approximately 1:00 p.m.
The River Days Parade will proceed down South 3rd Street from Shattuck Avenue to Liberty Park beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 25. In order to form the Parade, South 3rd Street between Rainier and Bronson will be closed to all traffic and parking from 7:00 a.m. until completion of the parade at approximately 1:00 p.m. All side streets adjacent to or leading to South 3rd Street will be restricted to local access only during the same time period.
2009 Festival Shuttle Service Information:
Free, continuous shuttle service will be available Saturday, July 25, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 26, noon to 7:00 p.m., as follows:
Renton Memorial Stadium, next to the Cedar River (Parking)Liberty Park on Bronson Way N., near the tennis courts(Stage entertainment, food, arts and craft booths)
Look for the sandwich signs that read, "River Days Shuttle Stop."
Have a fun time and Send me your photos to post here.

Buying Home Appliances With Wisdom

This article should help you determine how to spend money wisely on home appliances. We hope this service is valuable to you!
Buying Appliances Wisely
When you add up all the money that you can spend on home appliances and fixtures it becomes obvious that you need to spend wisely and carefully to keep costs under control. These items tend to be some of the larger ticket purchases around the home and lots of money can be wasted if buying isn't done properly.
One of the most important suggestions for buying appliances and fixtures the smart way is to decide before you begin shopping exactly how much money you wish to spend, or what will fit in your budget. Surprisingly, this is often not done until the customer is already in the store. Unfortunately, the heart often takes over when looking over the latest high-tech gadgets and features on the item being considered and results in the purchase of a much more expensive item than is truly needed. So take some time to decide exactly what your spending limit is before you even begin to shop and then stick to your guns on that decision all the way through the buying process.
Helpful Hints To Help You Buy
It's also a good idea to research your buy before you start looking at actual products themselves. These days there are many consumer publications that help you make a wise choice on a broad range of consumer items, including home appliances and fixtures. They extensively test the major brands and give their unbiased opinions on a wide variety of features and issues related to each product. This is valuable information that can't be had almost anywhere else, so take good advantage of it. You can find most of these publications available for free at your local library. This kind of research will also help you decide in advance exactly which features are most important to you and which should be avoided as unnecessary expenses, in other words, invest your hard-earned money into essentials not features. Always opt for better quality over more features too.
Don't just assume that buying locally is the smartest move either. Sometimes, the same item can be found online at a much lower price than is possible locally and you can often even avoid sales tax on an online purchase too. Be careful though and determine how much installation is needed for any item you make and factor installation costs in with any purchase that doesn't include those costs in the purchase price.
Measuring Is Important
It may seem like a simple thing, but be sure to measure very carefully to determine that the item you want to buy will fit in the space that you have designated for it in your home. Surprisingly, this is something that is often overlooked until the delivery of the product and can result in plenty of unnecessary aggravation. Just get the measuring tape out in advance and know the space required to save this headache from happening to you.
Finally, consider the warranty on the items you want to buy. Be sure to ask questions in advance so that you know what the warranty will cover and how long it will last. Also, will you have to send the appliance out to be repaired under warranty or is home repair covered under the warranty contract? If you follow these simple, effective guidelines, buying home appliances and fixtures will be a breeze and you will make smart purchases that will last and give you good service for many years.

I Pull Out All The Stops To Sell Your Home
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.
Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

Renter Revolution video contest.

Quadrant's newest promotion is all about the renter. LoseTheRent.com is homebase for the Renter Revolution - which you'll see invading some summer events this year including a major sponsorship with Bite of Seattle 2009. We'll be there all weekend (July 17-19) with a huge booth by the KISS 106.1 / Quadrant Homes Main Stage. Look for our street team handing out flyers directing traffic over to the booth. We're giving away lots of prizes and videotaping bad renter stories on-site!
This promotion is much more than a new angle on getting renters to own, it's a Quadrant cannonball into the waters of social networking and sets us up for one-to-one interaction with prospective buyers online.


Generating buzz and getting into the channels popular with users that rent is very important, and that means social networking. You can now find Quadrant on Twitter and Facebook - we encourage you to add us as a friend and/or follow us if you're already utilizing these sites.
Another integral part of this campaign is the Renter Revolution video contest. Designed to collect as many horrible and hilarious renting stories as we can, we're also rewarding the best one with $1,000!
Owning is much more than a financial decision, it's one of freedom and an important step in life. In some cases, we just can't compete financially against renting. This is why our message hits on an emotional level. LoseTheRent.com is meant as an informative site to "soft sell" our product and to collect leads for Homebuyer Solutions.
With that, we hope you'll take a look at LoseTheRent.com and the Renter Revolution video contest and adopt the promotion as part of your interactions with clients.
Spreading the word begins with you!

Love the kids

Foreclosure Prevention Program

State Foreclosure Prevention Resources
For legal help in Seattle and King County, see this list of organizations providing fee legal counsel to low-income people. The Northwest Justice Project and Columbia Legal Services have attorneys working exclusively on foreclosure prevention cases.
Washington State Department of Financial Institutions provides a vast amount on information on avoiding foreclosure rescue scams, mortgage counseling and navigating the foreclosure process.
Federal Programs
The Obama Administration announced the Making Home Affordable program in February 2009. This program provides resources to homeowners who are making good-faith effort to make their mortgage payments. An overview of this program is available on the federal Road to Stability site. Detailed information and self-assessment tools are available at Making Home Affordable.

Find out if you qualify.
To qualify for the program, household income must be below 80 percent of the area median income (see current eligibility limits). Homeowners must also prove the capacity to afford the mortgage for the long-term.
Homeowners in need of assistance should contact Solid Ground or the Urban League directly to see if they qualify:
• Urban League (800) 368-1455
• Solid Ground Mortgage Hotline: (206) 694-6766
Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
All screenings and appointments must go through the hotline.
Counselors are not able to take walk-in appointments.

Party for the Seattle Housing

Kickoff Party for the Seattle Housing Levy Campaign!
Celebrate Successes and Get Ready to Vote

On June 15, the City Council took formal action to renew the current Seattle Housing Levy, a $145 million, 7 year package that will provide a critical housing safety net for thousands of Seattle residents. It's now up to us to help make sure voters pass the levy this November. Join us at our kickoff event to learn more about the levy and find out how you can help. The kickoff will feature remarks from Mayor Greg Nickels and City of Seattle Councilmember Richard McIver.

Event Details :
Wednesday, July 15 from 5-7PM
Swedish Cultural Center*1920 Dexter Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109

The event is free, but a suggested donation of $25 will go a long way to help protect affordable housing for seniors, people with disabilities, homeless and low income working families.

*The Cultural Center offers free parking in three parking lots that are located adjacent to the building (one South and one East), the third is located across the street from the Center on the West side of Dexter Avenue and is available after 6:00. Click here for a map and driving directions.

Preparing a basement for remodeling.

In this article you will learn precautions when insulating and preparing a basement for remodeling.

Before adding insulation to the basement walls or the crawl space foundation, and prior to refinishing a basement room, it is essential that you repair any leaks and solve any problems with dampness. Wait until it is thoroughly dry before you install the insulation, to be sure all problems have been eliminated. If you are unsure whether or not you have such a problem, tape a square-foot piece of plastic to the basement wall or floor. Leave it in place for a week. If condensation builds up under the plastic, you have a problem that needs to be solved.
Insulation Installation

Before adding insulation to the basement walls or the crawl space foundation, and prior to refinishing a basement room, it is essential that you repair any leaks and solve any problems with dampness. Wait until it is thoroughly dry before you install the insulation, to be sure all problems have been eliminated. If you are unsure whether or not you have such a problem, tape a square-foot piece of plastic to the basement wall or floor. Leave it in place for a week. If condensation builds up under the plastic, you have a problem that needs to be solved.
Preparing The Basement

The causes of such condensation can be extensive. Some of the most common are leaks and cracks in the concrete, and seepage, condensation, or drainage problems around the foundation. That may sound like a lot of work but a systematic going over of each potential trouble spot will save you a great deal of time, trouble, and money later on. Cracks can be caulked. Seepage can be lessened by painting waterproofing sealant on the interior walls. I recommend installing closable vents for the crawl space. Open them in warm weather to air out the crawl space and close them in winter to prevent heat loss. In low-ground areas where drainage is a problem, install drain tiles or pipes around the perimeter of the foundation. In some cases you may even need a sump pump to pump out excess water. Be sure the clothes dryer is properly vented outside. For more information on caulking and sealing, see the section on Weatherization. Weatherization goes hand in hand with insulation, and many of the solutions overlap.
Different Types Of Insulation

Insulating basement and crawl space sometimes calls for a different type of insulation than does insulating attic and walls of a home. In the first place, the basement and crawl space are more susceptible to moisture seepage, which can lead to problems like wet or damp surfaces, stained finishes, mildew, and so on. Water vapor moves easily through most materials used in construction, including brick and concrete block. A basement wall that is not adequately insulated with a moisture-resistant material will conduct warm moist air from the living space through to the cooler outer wall where it is likely to condense. If you are not heating the basement or crawl space, you will want to insulate underneath the first floor. This is best done with fiberglass insulation installed between the joists with the vapor barrier up toward the heated area. You may want to use a closed-cell, rigid foam panel or the reflective layered type of insulation in these areas if you plan to heat the space below the floor. In this case, you will be insulating the basement walls, not the floor. Rigid foam panels can be used to insulate both interior and exterior walls. The closed- cell type is not as susceptible to moisture as are other types of insulation. Use only closed-cell types in below-grade application. It usually comes in 2' x 8' sheets and should be covered with a fire-resistant material, such as drywall, when exposed to the inside.
I Pull Out All The Stops To Sell Your Home
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.
Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS

Great homes under 250K in Renton

Looking for a great home. There are a lot out there right now.
Here is my top 15 pick.
Click here for the list.

There are changes and updates Daily from this list.

If you would like an up to date list please Email Me.

Thanks.

Avoiding Leaks When Installing Vinyl Retrofit Windows

These days a lot of homeowners are replacing their old windows with vinyl windows using the retrofit style of window frame. This is particularly true in the west. The number one argument that I have heard against using the retrofit method, is that it is susceptible to water leaks.
Sealant And Costs:
That's true if you don't do it properly. But, if you do a complete tear out of your old window down to the studs, you're going to have water leak issues there as well if you don't install the new window properly If you are installing retrofit frames against a stucco house, you want to put a thick bead of sealant right on the outside face of the old window frame, all the way around. Latex caulk should work fine, but if you want to spend a little more to get the best sealant available, use 100% silicone. Depending on the number of windows you will be doing, this extra cost can add up. You pay approximately $1 for a tube of acrylic latex caulk, and $4 or more for a tube of 100% silicone. You are going to use 1-3 tubes per window, depending on the size. So you can see how it could add up.
How To Save Money:
Here is a trick to save a little money; The most vulnerable part of your installation is the top of the window, because gravity will have the water running down from the roof to the ground. It's not likely that water is going to find it's way through the sides or bottom. So, carry two caulking guns, and load one with the silicone, and the other with the acrylic caulk. Run the silicone across the top of the old frame, and caulk the sides and bottom. Then, put your new window into the opening and have a helper hold it firmly in place while you plumb and level it, then screw it into place. After you have the window completely installed, your final step should be to caulk where the retrofit lip meets the stucco You now have a double barrier against water infiltration. After about a week, check the sealant around each window for signs of cracking. Because stucco is usually uneven, there could have been gaps that were larger in some areas than in others. If you don't force the caulk into the gap to completely fill it, the caulk can sag before drying, causing a crack to form. Simply recaulk over any cracks that you see. You can check the silicone on top as well, but because silicone dries like a rubber substance, you shouldn't see any cracks there.
More Instructions:
OK, what if the replacement windows are going between wood trim surrounding the opening? If you are using the retrofit lip, and trimming it to fit between the wood, then you still apply the heavy bead to the old frame before installing the window. But, instead of sealing where the retrofit lip meets the stucco, you seal where it meets the wood. Then, you want to be sure to seal above the window, where the top piece of wood meets the stucco. Again, use silicone up there. Now, no water can run down the stucco wall and get under the top piece of wood. Sometimes, though, you might decide not to use a retrofit style frame between the wood, choosing a block replacement frame instead. If you choose to do it this way, you have to add trim to the outside. You still want to apply the sealant to the old frame, then apply your trim so it contacts the new window as well as the sealant on the old frame. If you follow these procedures, you won't have to worry about any water penetrating into your home.

I Pull Out All The Stops To Sell Your Home
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.
Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

Acting as Your own General Contractor when Building your Dream Home

This article is intended for the DIY (Do It Yourself) home builder; however, it is very useful information for the new home buyer to understand what processes you can monitor even if you are not acting as the general contractor and hiring a general contractor. For the inexperienced DIY homebuilder, acting as a general contractor is one of the most stressful things anyone can undertake. After that statement, you ask yourself "Why would anyone really want to be the general contractor for his or her new home?" Well the number one reason is to save money, and in our society it's all about the money isn't it? It doesn't necessarily mean that you are building the home (but with this approach sweat equity has a whole new meaning), you are only managing the sub- contractors. Successful general contactors are either born good, or have been trained to be good. You, as your own general contractor, do not have the time to be as good as a contractor who makes their living building homes. For this reason, I will give you some guidelines to help you out and feel a bit more comfortable managing your new dream home as your own general contractor:

Define Your Project Home
Floor Plan Designing
Home Floor Plan Designing for Your Future Home. Once you have decided on the floor plan and all the associated up front planning projects, such as: · finding the right plot of land · gathering information on building codes and permits · having signed construction drawings, etc. You have to apply for the building permits. With the homework of gathering this entire information prior the application process and having your construction drawings drawn to comply with city, county and state codes this process is just a paper work issue. If you have not properly done this entire process prior to the application, this will slow your time frame down considerably. Most DYI builders wait for the building permit application to find out what is needed. Make it easier on yourself and do it first.
Execution Of The Project
Getting Accurate Quotes
Now that you have a clearly defined project you can get accurate quotes from the contractors. The construction disciplines you will need are as follows: · Electricians · Plumbers · HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) · Framers · Concrete · Drywall · Finishers · Painters · Roofers · Siding · Landscaping · Windows and Doors · Garage door. etc. Keep in mind that most contractors will have multiple disciplines and will try to combine them as much as possible either with their own work force or they may hire out subcontractors as well.
This is how you execute the project:
1. Do your homework on the contractors that you will want to work with on your home.
2. Ask people who you know that have recently built homes who they have used as contractors.
3. Actually any resource on contractor evaluation is helpful.
4. Have them evaluate the experience.
5. With this process you can then get three to five contractor references from trusted resources without involving any salesmen.
6. Have a set of construction plans ready for each of the contractors that you are going to have bid from the list you have generated.
7. Make sure that all the disciplines will be bid upon.
Deciding Who To Hire As A Subcontractor
Who Is Most Qualifed?
You do not always have to take the lowest bid! You want the contractor that is the most qualified and most prepared to build your home. It is highly suggested that each of the contractors break down the categories and itemize how they arrived at their price. Communicating this up front before receiving their price best does this. Once you have all this information, evaluate the prices according to their breakdown. Rate the contractor on their responses on a scale of 1- 10 with 10 being the highest rank. If the bids are close then it's a matter of what contractor you favor the most. If there is a large gap in the prices, you need to determine why. This is where your breakdown of the work performed and the associated prices can help you determine this. This is also where you find out which contractors are the most serious and most qualified and which contractors are easier to work with. This might lead you to conclude that the best contractor isn't always the lowest price. You get what you pay for!
Managing The Subcontractors
Time Scheduling
If you thought deciding whom to hire, as your subcontractor was difficult, try managing them! To help you in your management, have a schedule ready during the bidding war between contractors. Have this presented at the time you present the construction drawings. In fact, have three schedules! What this will generate is three different prices from each contractor. Use this as part of your evaluation as mentioned in the previous paragraph. Your long schedule, medium schedule and short schedule will generate different responses. You want this information up front so that when it comes time to sign a contact with the subs, you can put in clauses that if they do not hold the schedule there are financial burdens placed on them. This will protect you from mismanagement on their part. After all the schedules and contracts are agreed upon, you become more than the customer, now you are the boss. Everyday you need to communicate with the subs and get an updated detailed report on what, where, when, how and why they are on or off schedule. Manage the project by the schedule. Keep in mind that the schedule will change if you decide to change your scope of work by issuing change orders (example: changing the cupboard or cabinet size, the flooring, or appliance). Keep in mind that during this time, this is a small business and your profit is represented by how close you come to your original agreed upon costs associated with the schedule after the contract signing. We could talk about management all day long. In fact there are training courses on this subject that cost thousands of dollars. Hopefully this bit of information will get you on the right track and help make a smooth transition from concept to actually building your dream home. Remember this rule of thumb, the more you prepare the better you will be when handling the bumps in the road. Gathering information prior to needing it will actually save you more money, time and stress than you can probably calculate.

Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.
Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

A Thorough Cleaning Can Make Your Home Look Like New

In this newsletter, you will learn what a difference a detailed cleaning can make! We hope you continue to learn about home maintenance in the upcoming newsletters. Thank you for your time!
Considering Home Improvement?
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Warmer weather means home improvement for many Americans. But, before you hire workers or purchase expensive tools to transform your home, consider the little things you can do that may make a big difference.
Do you need to renovate, or will a new coat of paint or thorough cleaning do the trick? Nearly 75 percent of Americans set aside a specific time for a yearly top-to-bottom cleaning, and most say it takes a whole weekend to complete. With a few quick and simple tips, you can easily improve the look of your home.
Get Organized!
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Get organized! Spend a few minutes in each room you plan to improve and make a list of everything that needs to get done. Include everything from the obvious, like making a bed, to the not-so-obvious, like cleaning a dusty light fixture.
Color Change. Instead of revamping an entire room with new furniture or carpeting, spruce it up by changing the color of the walls. A fresh coat of paint, which you can apply in a day or two, will liven up a room without too much expense or hassle.
Flip Or Dip!
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Flip or Dip. When you change the bedding or launder the bedspread, turn over your mattress. Experts say mattresses should be flipped at least twice a year to prevent dips in the middle. Closet Close-up. Change in season is the perfect time to store away your winter wardrobe and take out your warm-weather clothes. Remember, overlooked stains can become permanent over time, and there is nothing worse than getting out your favorite shirt for the season, only to realize last year's red wine stain has left some remnants. Take out your bleach pen before storing to conquer the stain. It can target those hard-to-remove spots, especially between stripes. · Clean Routine. For the most thorough and sparkling clean, start at the top of the room and work your way down to the floor. Wipe down light fixtures, clean mirrors, wipe down cabinet doors and dust off baseboards. · Got Mold? Instead of replacing what looks like permanently moldy or mildewed grout, try using a convenient cleaning tool to scrub and whiten. Use the Clorox Bleach Pen to remove stains on grout and reach pesky tile corners in the kitchen and bath. The scrubber tip of the pen works wonders on stubborn spots, while the fine point is great for targeting stains in tight spaces around sinks and drains.

Helping Hands: Almost half (49 percent) of Americans engage their spouse or children in cleaning tasks around the home. Make a list of chores and give everyone an assignment.
Diligent Donator: Installing new kitchen appliances but reluctant to throw away your old ones, which are perfectly good? When cleaning out areas of your home -- closets, cupboards and cabinets -- put items to donate aside. Check with your local donation organizations for lists of needed/accepted items.
Do Disinfecting. Instead of using germy sponges, dishrags and paper towels, use a disposable disinfecting wipe so you can clean and disinfect in one easy step. Small places are easy to forget and often harbor the most germs. Don't forget to wipe down toilet flushers, light switches, cabinet handles and doorknobs.

I Pull Out All The Stops To Sell Your Home
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.
Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.

Homes for sale: $200,000 or Less

Looking for homes that are under$200,000?
Here is a free list of them.
Click here.

Looking for anything else? Just ask.
Click here.

Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
Email: snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.Oh, By The Way. . . . . I AM NEVER TOO BUSY FOR REFERRALS.