Renton Real Estate Blog

What To Do About Asbestos

2012-01-02T11:19:00.000-08:00

Is Asbestos Dangerous?

Asbestos has been shown to cause cancer of the lung andstomach according to studies of workers and others exposed to asbestos. Thereis no level of exposure to asbestos fibers that experts can assure iscompletely safe. Some asbestos materials can break into small fibers which canfloat in the air and these fibers can be inhaled. The tiny fibers are so smallthey cannot be seen with the naked eye. They can pass through the filters ofnormal vacuum cleaners and get back into the air. Once inhaled, asbestos fiberscan become lodged in tissue for a long time. After many years cancer ormesothelioma can develop.

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral fiber found in rocks,of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibers.There are several kinds of asbestos fibers, all of which are fire resistant andnot easily destroyed or degraded by natural processes. The fibers are strong,durable, and resistant to heat and fire. They are also long, thin and flexible,so that they can even be woven into cloth, because of these qualities, asbestoshas been used in thousands of consumer, industrial, maritime, automotive,scientific and building products. The above photo shows a typical asbestosinsulated heating pipe found in older homes. During the twentieth century, some30 million tons of asbestos have been used in industrial sites, homes, schools,shipyards and commercial buildings in the United States. There are severaltypes of asbestos fibers, of which three have been used for commercialapplications: (1) Chrysotile, or white asbestos, comes mainly from Canada, and hasbeen very widely used in the US. It is white-gray in color and found inserpentine rock. (2) Amosite, or brown asbestos, comes from southern Africa.(3) Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, comes from southern Africa and Australia.

How To Tell If Asbestos Is In A Home

People who have frequently worked with asbestos (such asplumbers, building contractors or heating contractors) often are able to make areasonable judgment about whether or not a material contains asbestos on avisual inspection. Many professional home inspectors also can make a reasonablevisual judgment. To be absolutely certain, an industrial hygienist would have tomake the identification.

What To Do About Asbestos In The Home

In most cases, asbestos containing materialsare best left alone. When it is necessary to disturb asbestos, you shouldcontact a licensed asbestos contractor. You can also obtain a copy of Asbestosin the Home published by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (800-638-2772) which discusses the situation and makes recommendations. Remember, donot dust, sweep, or vacuum particles suspected of containing asbestos fibers.

Ipull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® withKeller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers andsellers in Washington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Free Home Search

2011-12-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

Online and Available24 Hours a Day!

Login to www.CallSnyder.com. Your private, password-protected website allows you to ask questionsabout a property and request financing information, 24 hours a day.

These communication tools will save you valuable time andempower you during your home scouting efforts. Log intoyourpassword-protected website to view the listings that match your home searchcriteria with pictures, prices, address, directions, and maps. You can easilycustomize your search any way you like – search for homes by school district,square footage, price, number of bedrooms, and more.

Saveand track your favorite properties and receive email updates.

Be the First to Know

Manybusy homebuyers learn about a great property, only to find that it has alreadybeen sold. That won’t happen here at www.CallSnyder.com because you willreceive emails of new listings matching your search criteria as they becomeavailable.

Thereis no obligation. Using my web site will enable you to get a real sense of thecurrent housing market, right from your computer. Whether you are looking tobuy a new home soon, or just thinking about new home possibilities, we believethis is the best home finding service available.

I pull out all the stopsto sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller WilliamsRealty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

Lonnie Snyder is a fulltime real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing inResidential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton,Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Three level Chalet-style get-a-way.

2011-12-20T12:34:00.000-08:00

This is not bank owned or short sale! Tucked away on BensonHill you'll find this three level Chalet-style get-a-way. It sits on a largelot with ample parking with over 3/4 acre gated. The primary residence has newcarpet, a new deck off the living room & fresh exterior paint. The mastersuite has its own private bath & deck to enjoy the territorial view. Thepool house has a deck & gazebo on one side & an in-ground pool &hot tub on the other. The Cabana has 660 sq ft of living space with a 3/4 bath,wet bar & fireplace.

You need to see this home to appreciate all it has to offer.

To see more click here.

I pull out allthe stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

LonnieSnyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller WilliamsRealty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers inWashington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Free Foreclosure Database

2011-12-16T11:49:00.000-08:00

SearchForeclosed Homes Free - including Government Foreclosures (like HUDForeclosures, Tax Foreclosures, VA Foreclosures), Bank Foreclosures, and REOProperties

MyFree Foreclosure Database has the foreclosures you are looking for... at thebest price on the Internet - FREE. Access to Our Database ofForeclosed Homes Is All Free - All the Time!

Lets face it, foreclosure information is public domain. That means that realestate investors can access this information any time they want, nationwide,with a little perseverance. The problem is, the foreclosure propertiesinvestors are really looking for, are not that easy to find or compare to oneanother. That is where My Web Site comes to your aid, helping you findforeclosure investment opportunities that lay hidden. The top 5 web sitesdedicated to supplying you with accurate foreclosure data have a lot of thesame listings. Most of these membership sites get their foreclosurelistings from the same sources. We do too, the difference you'll find at MyDatabase is... all of our foreclosure listings are all FREE... all the time.

Many buyers and sellers who visit this site are soimpressed with this service that they will contactus (or one of our sponsors) in order to assist them in thepurchase or sale of their home.

We truly hope that youfind these reports, information, tools and resources helpful and welook forward to helping you with your move.

I pull out allthe stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

LonnieSnyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller WilliamsRealty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers inWashington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Sellers Behaving Badly

2011-12-14T09:14:00.000-08:00

Selling your home can be emotional which is why you want to make sure your home sells quickly, easily and for top dollar. Mistakes mean your home will sit on the market longer and eventually sell for less. Ensure you get it right the first time by avoiding the following mistakes:

Overpricing - Home sellers are often tempted to price their home way above market value but this tactic usually backfires. The longer your home sits on the market, the more of a stigma it'll develop forcing you to repeatedly drop the price.
Hanging Around - Owners should always leave before a showing so buyers can browse without distractions. You want buyers to make themselves at home and spread out on your couch so they can envision themselves living there.
Restricted Access - It’s easy for buyers to skip your home if it's not easily accessible. It may also be impossible to get into the home if another agent has the key. Your agent's goal is to show your home to as many people as possible so make sure you use a lockbox.
A No Show - Staging your home is critical. You may love the statement your pink bathroom makes but odds are it’ll sell faster and for more money with a neutral paint job. While you're at it, get rid of excess clutter and take care of any outstanding repairs to portray a pride of ownership.
Going It Alone - While some are able to sell their home privately, most quickly regret their decision. Selling your home can be overwhelming, time consuming and costly. A real estate agent’s job is to expose your home to the masses so that they’re in the best possible position to negotiate the highest price in the shortest amount of time.

Your home is most likely your biggest asset. Don't put it at risk by repeating any of the common mistakes above. Start by viewing the sale of your home as a business transaction and put aside your emotional ties to the home. Avoid these mistakes and you'll be on your way to selling your home quickly, easily and for top dollar!

Ipull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller WilliamsRealty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

LonnieSnyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller WilliamsRealty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers inWashington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

How to Deal With Major Home Renovations

2011-11-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

When donepurposefully, cleverly and competently, renovations and upgrades can increasethe value of your home by thousands of dollars. Good planning is the key tosuccess, whether you’re aiming for a small or a major remodeling project.

Renovations orupgrades are one of the best ways to not only increase the value of your housebut also to increase your enjoyment of your home. With a sound plan and a bitof imagination, your project can be a winner. Your first job is to make a listof objectives for your renovation. This list tells you how extensive yourproject will be. Budget will of course figure into your final decision.

You need to thinkabout what would be the most cost effective upgrade. The kitchen and bathroomsare first choice upgrades that convert into more money later. The kitchen isthe heartbeat of your home; and when you entertain guests, the flow often movesthere. The bathroom is another room home buyers love to inspect vigilantly, soyou’ll want it to have lots of appeal.

If you’re planningto begin a do-it-yourself home improvement scheme, you’ll need to think about anumber of issues before taking the plunge. Here are just a few to keep inmind:

Tools: It’s vital to have the correct tools for some jobs.
Skills: You have to evaluate your skills realistically and know your limits.
Time: You have to think about the time you have available to take on these home improvement and repair responsibilities.

If you’re not goingto do the renovation yourself, ask friends and work colleagues forrecommendations. It will be well worth taking the time interviewing andchecking credentials to ensure you have the right company. Make sure you get awritten contract that includes, amongst other points, what work is to be done,a timeline, terms of payment, and verify that the contractor is insured so youwon’t be held liable if they’re injured on your premises.

Planning yourrenovation project can take a good deal of time, but because home renovation isa huge undertaking, it’s time well spent. There’s no getting away from the factthat home renovations can be dusty, inconvenient and can often go over budget,but when you see your dream realized, it’ll all be worth it!

Ipull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller WilliamsRealty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

LonnieSnyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller WilliamsRealty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers inWashington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Tips for Organizing Your Recipes

2011-10-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

When it comes timeto actually think about making that interesting pasta dish, it’s often nearlyimpossible to locate the recipe. Why not start out with a simple organizationproject that will make looking for that recipe so much easier!

First off, gothrough all the recipes you’ve ripped out of magazines on a whim and discardany you really don’t think you’ll use. If you’ve got recipes floating about inyour Email Inbox or saved in your Favorites, now is the time to go through them,print off the ones you think you’ll use, and delete the rest. Use one of theseideas to organize them:

Place them in a photo album with self adhesive pages.
Copy them onto recipe cards and use dividers to organize a recipe box.
Use a three ring binder and protect pages with plastic protector sheets.
Organize recipes in an accordion file with various categories.

To easily retrieveyour recipes, separate them into different categories that make sense to you.It could be "Ones to Try", "Old Faves", "MainDishes", "Desserts", etc. You can always change the categoriesin the future if need be -- the main thing is to get them into some kind oforder.

Like many things inlife, organization is a key to success. Meal planning and cooking will becomeso much easier once you can find what you’re looking for. So set aside a blockof time and start getting organized!

Ipull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller WilliamsRealty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

LonnieSnyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller WilliamsRealty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers inWashington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Roasted Garlic and Brie Appetizer

2011-10-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

Here’s a new recipeyou can use and file under Appetizers! The delicate, mellow taste of roastedgarlic ensures this appetizer recipe will be a huge hit. Here’s what you’llneed:

2 - 3 whole garlic bulbs
1 round Brie cheese
olive oil
salt and pepper
sliced french bread
sliced pears or apples (optional)

1.) Preheat oven to375 degrees.
2.) Slice end off the garlic bulbs to expose the cloves.
3.) Drizzle olive oil over the cut ends and add a bit of salt & pepper.
4.) Put in aluminum foil cut side up and wrap around the bulb.
5.) Place garlic on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes or until cloves aresoft.
6.) Wrap the brie in aluminum foil and bake for the last 20 minutes.
7.) To serve, place brie and garlic on a platter with some bread and fruit.

Here’s a great tipto keep in mind. If you roast a few extra bulbs of garlic in the oven, you’llhave leftovers to be used for enhancing mashed potatoes, soups or even as a lowfat alternative for garlic bread!

Ipull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller WilliamsRealty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

LonnieSnyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller WilliamsRealty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers inWashington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

How to Customize Your Decor With Color

2011-10-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

You can personalize your next painting project with a color scheme especially suited to your style, taste or even fondest memories. The first step is to find a photograph that recalls a happy trip or vacation. Select the dominant color in that picture as the paint color for your room. For example, a trip to a resort or cottage can be recollected by using the blue of the sky as your dominant color, with the green of the surrounding trees as the accent color.

With colors it's all about adjusting perceptions. A paint color can actually change our perception of the size and shape of a room itself. The right color in the right place for example, can make a room appear larger and brighter, or more intimate and less empty. It can even make a long and narrow room look more square-shaped, or vice-versa.

To make a room appear:
• Larger: use a pale color to create the impression that the walls are further away.
• Brighter: use a pale shade, like a light yellow.
• Smaller: use a dark color to make the room more intimate and less empty. Reds and earth shades for example, give the impression that walls are closer to us.

To change the perception of room shape:
• Long & Narrow to Square: paint the shorter walls in a darker color than the longer ones.
• Square to Long & Narrow: paint the two facing walls you wish to look longer in a lighter color.

Flat paints add richness and depth to the color of your room. Even high-traffic household areas like hallways, playrooms, bathrooms and kitchens can hold up easily with a lower gloss, but washable paint.

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estateagent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential RealEstate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and SouthBellevue.

The Importance of Getting Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

2011-10-19T15:14:00.001-07:00

The first thing you should do before you begin shoppingfor a home is find out how much of a mortgage you qualify for. There arevarious tools on the Internet that can calculate this for you, but your bestbet is to get a formal pre-approval from a mortgage specialist. This involvesproviding proof of income and a credit check. If there’s a problem with yourcredit, now is the time to sort it out.

By getting yourself pre-approved, you’ll know exactly how much you’re able tospend. There’s nothing worse than realizing the homes you’ve been looking atare out of your price range. You may convince yourself that you can afford ahome with a double car garage and a family room only to learn later on thatthis isn’t the case. Readjusting to homes that are less expensive is painfuland takes all of the fun out of the home buying process.

Most lenders will lock in the current interest rate for a certain time periodso that you’ll be protected should rates increase. If the rates decrease,you’re automatically re-locked at the lower rate. On a $150,000 mortgage,you’ll pay $872 per month at 5%. If rates jump to 6%, then your monthly paymentwill also jump to $959. That’s a difference of $87 per month or $5,220 over afive year term!

When it’s time to put an offer in on the perfect home, a pre-approval will makeyour offer more attractive to the seller as you can present a cash offerinstead of making it conditional on financing. This can sometimes knockthousands off the purchase price or, in the case of multiple offers, willbetter ensure that your offer is the one that’s accepted. If you still need tomake the offer conditional due to a bank appraisal (as is often the case withlower down payments), you can attach the pre-approval to the offer.

A pre-approval can save you thousands of dollars, hours of time and can evenprevent you from losing your dream home. It’s easy, there’s no obligation and,in most cases, it’s free. If you have any questions or if you’d like me torefer you to a mortgage specialist, just let me know.

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estateagent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential RealEstate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and SouthBellevue.

Five easy ways to avoid water damage

2011-10-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

Water Heaters

Replaceold water heaters: Water heaters do damage when they get too old and the tankrusts and bursts, allowing water to pour into adjacent rooms. On average, waterheaters last 10 to 12 years. Don't wait for them to fail; replace your tankonce a decade. Today's energy-efficient systems will also be cheaper tooperate.

Switch to stainless steel hoses

Switch to stainless steelhoses: Consider replacing standard rubber or plastic hoses with stainlesssteel- braided or mesh hoses. Worn out hoses with kinks, cracks or bulges needto be replaced immediately.

Don't leave dishwashers and washers running if you leave thehouse

Ifsomething breaks while a home owner is away, what could have been a smallmop-up job often turns into a thousand-gallon mess best left to professionals.

Check the attic air conditioners and swamp coolers

Checkattic air conditioners and swamp coolers: When attic systems fail, waterdamages everything that lies below. At least once a year, go up to the attic orroof to check these appliances before they wear out. Look for wear and tear andloose connections -- particularly if the unit is mounted on the roof andexposed to sun and rain. exposed to sun and rain.

Consider water alarms

Considerwater alarms: Home owners can install water alarms for a quick alert when anappliance isn't working right. Hooking up the system to an appliance is usuallyas simple as hooking up a hose to an outdoor faucet.

I pull out all the stopsto sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

Lonnie Snyder is a fulltime real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing inResidential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton,Newcastle and South Bellevue.

The Importance of Using a 3rd Party Negotiator

2011-10-11T04:13:00.000-07:00

Successful negotiating skills aren't just for the business world; they're for everyday situations. Whether you're renting a car, asking for a raise or trying to get your kids to clean up their room, negotiating skills are essential.

Negotiating is a life skill that can be easily learned and eventually perfected. Your success isn't based on how well you can argue but how well you're prepared. The best thing you can do before entering negotiations is to do your homework. Listening skills and a positive attitude are also very important.

A home purchase is a huge investment that's fraught with emotions. If you negotiate with someone directly in such an emotionally charged situation, chances are that negative personal feelings will get in the way. It's hard to recover once that happens and often times, the home of your dreams will be lost due to ego, pride and principle.

The home buying process comes with a very steep learning curve so it's best to use an agent to ensure there are no regrets. Buyer's remorse is no fun, especially when it comes to real estate. In order to successfully negotiate, you need to know as much as possible about the house itself, the motivations of the buyer/seller, the local market conditions and so on.

Real estate agents can also point you in the right direction when it comes to financing to ensure you receive a mortgage that satisfies the conditions of your offer. Mortgage brokers negotiate with several banks at once to create a bidding war for your business. They can then arrange financing quickly and at the best possible rates and terms which translates into thousands of dollars in savings.

Emotions run very high when it comes to buying or selling a home which is why it's important to have a real estate agent represent you as a 3rd party negotiator. Professionals are able to see things through to the end by remaining calm and not letting their emotions get in the way. If you're thinking about a move, please get in touch so we can discuss your options.

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estateagent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential RealEstate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and SouthBellevue.

There Are Defects In Every Home

2011-09-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

We'd all like to buy theperfect 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 qualifiedprofessionals-even if it's brand new. You'll undoubtedly discover defectsduring your inspections. In fact, you should hope that any significant defectsare uncovered before you remove your inspection contingency from the purchasecontract. It's far worse to be surprised after closing by unanticipated repairexpenses.

Armed with a completeassessment of the current condition of the property, you can make an informeddecision about whether to purchase the property in its present condition. Or,you may want to renegotiate the terms of your contract with the seller. Ifdefects are incurable, you may want to withdraw from the contract altogether.Your purchase contract should set guidelines for how inspection defects are tobe handled. For example, the seller may have had a "termite"inspection completed before marketing the property. If so, the contract mightspecify which party-buyer or seller-will pay for the required corrective work.Not all inspection contingencies are the same. Some specify that the buyershave the unilateral right to approve or disapprove inspections. In this case,if the buyers disapprove the inspections, the contract may be cancelable at thebuyer's option.

HouseHunting Tip: Even if your contract allows you to withdraw due to inspections,carefully consider before electing this option. You will already have spentconsiderable time, effort and money finding and inspecting the property. If thedefects are correctable, it's usually worthwhile to try negotiating anagreement with the sellers rather than starting the process over again. Someinspection contingencies provide for buyers to give the sellers the opportunityto correct defects, rather than just walk away from the deal. In this case, theterms of the contract often become subject to further negotiation. Beforeasking a seller for inspection-related concessions, make a list of thesignificant defects that you discovered during your inspections. Then find outhow much it will cost to repair these defects. When you make your request, putit in writing and include a copy of your cost accounting list along with thereports and estimates on which you're basing your request.

Youmay find that the seller is not willing to negotiating over items that weredisclosed to you before you made an offer to purchase the property. It stillmay be worthwhile to point out that the cost of the previously disclosed itemsin addition to the newly discovered defects alter the amount you can reasonablypay for the property. Sellers are wise to consider any reasonable proposal froma 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 yourstate regarding seller disclosures, you may have to provide copies of thebuyer's reports to future buyers who are interested in the property. There areseveral ways in which sellers can participate in buyers' repair requests. Theycan have the work done by closing, if time permits. Often contractors willaccept payment at closing. Or they can credit money to buyers as long as thecredit is called a credit for buyers' nonrecurring closing costs. Lendersusually limit the amount of such a credit to 3 percent of the purchase price orequal to the actual amount of the nonrecurring closing costs, whichever isless.

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estateagent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential RealEstate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and SouthBellevue.

Using Your Computer to Help Make Going Back to School Fun

2011-09-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

The arrivalof the new school year brings an organizational challenge - a dash of carpoolrides here and a couple of unmade lunches there. This year, have some fun whilewrangling it all in with these back to school projects. They'll spice thingsup, make you look good, and hopefully get everyone to school on time. All youneed is a computer, a printer and a little imagination.

Stay organized with a homemade calendar that includes seasonal photos of yourlittle ones. Most word processing programs offer a calendar template. Simplyadd your digitized photos and some colorful clipart and you're good to go.Believe it or not, you can run paper lunch bags through some inkjet printers.Simply create a document based on the dimensions of the bag then add yourlittle student's name and some funky clipart. You can also print colorfullittle notes that you place in their lunch bags to give your child a boostwhile you're apart during the day.

Some word processing and most desktop publishing programs come with bookmarktemplates. Create your bookmark and print it on card stock or glossy photopaper to make it more durable. Your local computer store will likely have aselection of laser and inkjet labels. Simply follow the instructions on thepackage and turn them into book labels, cheery stickers, nametags and more.

Ipull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

LonnieSnyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller WilliamsRealty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers inWashington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Getting Into the 'Back to School' Routine

2011-09-02T11:10:00.000-07:00

All right it's back to school time again. Does the thought of having to get everyone organized and out of the door make you want to send for boarding school brochures? Here are a few tips to help get through the back to school routine.

The biggest cause of whining and tantrums in the morning is a sleepy child trying to make a decision. Eliminate the choices along with the grumpiness. Make sure their clothes are laid out the night before. This simple action can prevent wasting time looking for a missing shoe or favorite pants that are still in the dryer. Pack a lunch or put out lunch money the night before. If family members share a bathroom in the morning, work out a schedule and have them stick to it. A good night's sleep is essential to reducing some of the morning moodiness. Keep a regular bedtime for both the parents and children.

New situations can make children anxious and uncomfortable. Knowing what to expect the first day can ease some of the anxiety. If the child is going to a new school, attend the orientation session or arrange for a tour of the school. Navigating around a new place can be scary for a child. Suggest to the youngster to call friends to find out if they share any classes. What a comfort to have a friend to sit next in class or in the cafeteria. Buy only 1 - 2 new outfits before school starts. Usually it is still warm when school starts so children can wear last spring's clothes, plus this gives the child time to see what is "in" this year before buying.

Organization is key to keeping track of what's happening and when. Create a special spot for homework. Setting one location for studying can help with concentration as well as minimizes the chance of a book being misplaced. Have a system for the student to keep track of all assignments and upcoming tests. This system can be as simple as a small notebook where homework for all classes is written down. Start a family calendar to keep track of PTA meetings, school parties, extracurricular activities, etc. A daily family ritual can give the child (and parents) something to look forward to. Ideas are a card game after dinner, a walk in the park, or a crafts project.

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

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.

Electrical Safety in the Home‏

2011-08-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

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 pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

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.

Electric Radiant Floor Heating

2011-08-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

Electric radiant floor heating systems are heating systems designed

for use under carpeting, area rugs, tile, stone, and laminate

wood floors and have been used in Europe, South Africa,

and Australia for over 20 years.

Radiant heat does away with the age-old problems of cold rooms by offering easy-to-install zone heating. You can choose to either have radiant heat installed by a professional installer or DIY with their plug-n-play portable system for under area rugs. Concentrating on the advantages of floor heating (heat rising), radiant heat offers comfort from the ground up, heating the room evenly from floor to ceiling.

The product is designed to solve zone heating problems one room at a time without adding the expense or mess of adding additional ductwork and/or baseboard heating units. The ultra thin heating mat that can be assembled and installed by floor installers or do-it-yourselfers, is perfect for whatever your situation. It appears that homeowners, flooring dealers, and builders agree, as sales have already started to expand, and the line has been taken on by several high-end flooring retailers and builders alike.

Installation Flexibility

What makes electric radiant heat so unique is its installation flexibility. Manufactured in multiple size heating mats consisting of looped heating coils sandwiched between 4 layers of polyester for the carpet and area rug product, the resulting system measures less than 1/16". The ultra thin construction makes the heater thin and flexible enough to be installed between a carpet and its pad or under laminate wood without impacting floor height. Installers simply follow the easy to follow installation instructions provided with each system when placing the mats. Once in position, the leads from each mat are either connected to a 120-volt electrical circuit and 7-day programmable thermostat or simply plugged into a wall outlet. A qualified electrician should be used for final electrical connection if the system is to be hard-wired.

100% Maintenance Free

Beyond the installation and radiant heating benefits, radiant heat owners will find their systems to be 100% maintenance free and extremely economical to operate. With no moving parts to wear out or filters to change, the system virtually operates itself once the thermostat has been programmed. Simply set the thermostat and forget about it. Equally impressive is the system's average cost of less than a dollar a day to warm a 16' x 20' room for a full 10-hour cycle. The radiant heat fills the entire room with warmth from the ground up, eliminating the cold air zone close to the floor, which is created by traditional heating systems.

Studies show that heating is the largest energy expense for most homeowners, accounting for almost two-thirds of annual energy bills in colder areas of the country. Radiant heat's ability to warm a home from the ground up produces evenly heated rooms that are not only more comfortable to live in, but are more energy-efficient to maintain at the desired comfort level. In addition, radiant heat also reduces the levels of dust, pollen, and mold spread by conventional forced air heating systems, making your home a healthier place to live.

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

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.

Friends

2011-08-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

Friends are like panties....Some crawl up your butt.

Some snap under pressure.

Some don't have the strength to hold you up.

Some get a little twisted.

Some are your favorite.

Some are holy.

Some are cheap.

Some are naughty.

And some actually cover your butt when you need them to.

Re-post this for all the friends you know and love, give them a laugh today!

Buying Appliances Wisely

2011-08-02T08:41:00.001-07:00

Helpful Hints To Help You Buy

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.

Consumer Publications

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.

Consider The Warranty

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

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.

Critical Issues With Water Damage

2011-07-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, particularly with first-time homebuyers, the more obvious cosmetic home concerns, such as landscaping, painting and flooring overshadow the more critical issues, such as water damage, which can have serious consequences and cost quite a bit to correct or repair.

Surveys found structural damage, plumbing systems and water seepage are three of the most commonly found defects in older homes for sale.

Some Examples Of Water Damage

Some of the water problems to keep an eye out for during the inspection include: · Water seepage and wet basements. If you have small cracks in the foundation and porous walls, heavy rains can potentially build up against the foundation and ultimately leak into your basement and could eventually cause serious and costly structural concerns. How do you alleviate the problem? Make sure those foundation cracks are sealed. Also, surface water run-off should drain away from the house. Direct gutter downspouts away from the foundation. · Roof leaks. The biggest problem area is the flashing, the areas where the roof plane changes, like at a chimney or plumbing vent. Regularly check your flashings. Check the interior of your roof at least once a season. If you have constant leaks in the attic, damage or mold growth in the insulation can occur.

· Poor water pressure. This can be a sign of water service supply deficiencies or costly piping upgrades. First you should determine if the problem might be caused by blocked faucet aerators, partially closed or defective faucets. If you have old galvanized piping in your house, the issue might be interior corrosion or deposit build-up. The best thing you can do is replace the blocked sections of pipe. And perhaps the biggest water issue these days is mold, which can cause panic in homeowners and is prompting the number of insurance claims and amount of jury awards that are on the rise. Mold has been around for years and is commonly found in homes. But while often harmless, too much of certain kinds of mold in a home can be dangerous. Mold always indicates excessive moisture and the source should be corrected immediately.

Mold Damage

The following steps should be taken to prevent mold growth: · Wash mold off hard surfaces and then dry them completely. Absorbent materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be replaced. · Keep drip pans in your air conditioner, refrigerator and dehumidifier clean and dry. · Use exhaust fans or open windows in kitchens and bathrooms when showering, cooking or using the dishwasher. · Place vents for clothes dryers and bathroom exhaust fans outside the home. · Remove and replace flooded carpets and drywall. · Maintain low indoor humidity, ideally between 30-50 percent relative humidity. Humidity levels can be measured by hygrometers, which can often be found at local hardware stores. · Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products. · When painting the home, add mold inhibitors to paint. · Do not carpet bathrooms. If the problem persists, or if anyone in the house is susceptible to mold and mildew, have the problem evaluated by an expert in mold/moisture intrusion.