2011 Tour of Homes : Wenatchee, Chelan, Malaga & Peshastin

credit: http://www.nchba.cc

The North Central Home Builders Association’s annual Tour Of Homes is coming up on Sept. 22-25th.  Most homes are in the Wenatchee area but you’ll find one in Lake Chelan, Malaga and Peshastin.  For complete details about the tour, directions, coupons and more visit their website.  As members of NCHBA we are proud to be a part of this great event!  In Leavenworth pick up coupons at Marson & Marson Lumber or Dan’s Food Market.

Winthrop Home Inspection Photo: Rattlesnakes!

Check out this recent photo from a home inspection in Methow Valley.  I came across a dead rattlesnake in the crawl space.  This deadly guy may have entered through the ventilation while chasing dinner.  Make sure your crawl spaces are adequately sealed!

Winthrop home inspection in Methow Valley

Improper aluminum wiring ‘sparks’ interest in a hot water heater repair.

How hot is too hot?  We recently observed this hot water heater on a Leavenworth home inspection in the upper Wenatchee Valley.  Aluminum branch circuit wiring was used to supply the hot water heater’s energy.  Improper installation caused a potential dangerous situation.  The unions between the aluminum and copper wire created galvanic corrosion which can weaken the terminal at the switch, receptacle or union.  As the branch circuit is energized the aluminum and copper wires expand and contract at different rates causing the terminal termination at the switch, receptacle or union to loosen.  The loose connections can allow arcing and pitting, creating a hazard for shock or fire, and eventually causing the circuit to fail.  To learn more information about aluminum wiring read my earlier blog entry.

And the hot water heater was still being used, but not anymore!  Based on our inspection they hired a professional electrician to fix the improper installation.  Do you want to know how your home is performing?  An AMS Home Inspection can indentify potentially dangerous conditions.  Call today for more information on home inspections in Leavenworth, Chelan, Seattle, Wenatchee and surrounding areas.

Washington State building permits increase: A positive sign.

Now that our Seattle and Wenatchee home inspection company offers HVAC testing (duct blaster) for new construction homes we like to keep an eye on the new construction permits.  The 2009 Energy Code for HVAC Sealing requires a third-party verifier to make sure the HVAC system complies with the minimum performance requirement, therefore, we are hired to conduct the HVAC duct testing.

In the May/June issue of the BIAW’s Building Insight Newsletter the chart below displayed a positive sign of recovery in the building industry since 2010.  Spokane, Pierce, King, Franklin and Benton Counties helped to push the May 2011 building permits over the May 2010 totals.  The overall improvement for 2011 shows a 38% increase in building permits year-to-date in May.  Chelan, Mason, Kittatas, Cowlitz, Island and Jefferson Counties didn’t have much change from May 2010 to May 2011.  Let’s hope the trend keeps improving for Washington’s building and real estate industries.

Source: BIAW Building Insight, Residential Building Permits Issued May 2011

Washington building industry to recover by end of 2012.

Our Wenatchee home inspection company is a member of the North Central Home Builders Association.  In the May/June issue of the Building Industry Association of Washington’s Building Insight Newsletter they included the chart below.  The green states show the best recovery predicted from 18 months from now.  These are promising numbers.  It is careful to note that the building demand may return but the cost of building may also increase.  With many out-of-work skilled laborers finding different jobs and mills shutting down during this construction lull the labor and materials may be in short supply and thus increasing the cost of new homes.  Those that are able to make investments right now are in a fine position to get the best deals.

Source: BIAW Building Insight May/June 2011

Pre-listing home inspections are worth every dollar and more!

Pre-listing home inspections from Seattle to Wenatchee, Leavenworth and Lake Chelan.

Ready to sell your house?  Give yourself an edge in this tough market with a pre-listing inspection. 

Sell your home faster! Put your best foot forward from the beginning and let buyers know that you have nothing to hide.

Receive better offers when you have disclosed the true condition of the property with a pre-listing inspection report. Avoid “low ball offers.”

Eliminate price negotiations based on the buyer’s inspection. If you’ve priced the home based on the pre-listing inspection’s findings then you’ve decreased the reasons for price negotiations after mutual acceptance.

Avoid walk-away buyers by removing surprises. Frustrated buyers will often walk away from a deal when the inspection report exposes concealed repairs.

The price is right! Resolve all issues before the house goes on the market and price it accordingly. Don’t want to fix it? Reflect the current condition in the listing price.

Increase profits when you have completed the repairs yourself. Even minor findings in the buyer’s inspection can result in profit losses. The buyer will frequently provide the higher contractor bid while you would have chosen the best value bid.

HERE’S A COUPON FOR YOUR PRE-LISTING INSPECTION!

pre-listing home inspection coupon

July 4th Celebrations in the Greater Seattle Area

By: Rebecca Darley, AMS Inspection:  Home Inspections in Seattle and surrounding areas.

Seattle:  Family Fourth at Lake Union

July 4: Gas Works Park.  Games 12-8 p.m. Food vendors, beer garden, personal picnics OK, no BBQ or alcohol allowed. Fireworks at dusk. (www.family4th.org).

Bellevue Family 4th

July 4: Celebration with live music, kids activities and food 4-10:30 p.m. Fireworks at 10:05 p.m. Bellevue Downtown Park (www.bellevuedowntown.org/events/familyfourth).

Kirkland:  Celebrate Kirkland

July 4:  Kid parade, hat making and face painting at 10 a.m.  Main parade at 12 p.m.  Food vendors 1-5 p.m..  Bouncy Toys 2 p.m.  Heritage Park live music in the evening.  Fireworks at 10:15 p.m. Marina Park (www.celebratekirkland.org).

Sammamish:  4th on the Plateau

July 4: Live music, food, playground.  Fireworks at 10:15 p.m.  Sammamish Commons Park (www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/events/4thJuly.aspx).

Carnation: Fourth of July

July 4: Craft vendors, Hot Rods and Harleys, 5K Run/Walk, music, food, pony rides and bouncy toys.  Kid Parade at 10:30 a.m.  Grand parade 11 a.m.  Fireworks at dusk..  Tolt Commons Park (www.carnation4th.org).

Renton: Fabulous 4th of July

July 4:  Free kids activities, food vendors, face painting, 12-8 p.m. Stage entertainment 1:30-9:30 p.m. Fireworks at 10 p.m. Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park (rentonwa.gov).

An Edmonds Kind of Fourth

July 4:  Fun run at 10 a.m.  Children’s parade at 11:30 a.m. and main parade at 12 p.m.  Firefighter waterball competition at 3 p.m.  Entertainment at 7:30 p.m.  Fireworks at 10 p.m. Civic Stadium (www.edmondswa.com/events/fourth-of-july.html).

Bothell Freedom Festival

July 4:  Free pancake breakfast at 8:30-10:30 a.m.  Kids parade at 11:15 a.m. Main parade at 12 p.m. (www.ci.bothell.wa.us).

Everett’s Colors of Freedom

July 4: Parade at 11 a.m.  Kids activities, food fair, live music and fireworks over Port Gardner Bay, 1-11 p.m.. Legion Memorial Park (www.enjoyeverett.org).

For a more complete list Puget Sound July 4th Celebrations read the Seattle Times article that was sourced.

Federal Radon Action Plan brings together government agencies to demonstrate the importance of radon testing.

By: Rebecca Darley

During our 6 years in business in Seattle, Leavenworth and Wenatchee home inspections we’ve received probably 5 calls requesting radon testing.  That’s not a lot, but that may change.  Today  the EPA and other federal departments joined in efforts to implement programs that reduce America’s homes from the exposure of radon.  The Federal Radon Action Plan will use national campaigns, incentives and programs to reduce the estimated annual 21,000 lung cancer deaths from radon.  As you’ll see in the map below some of North and Southern parts of Washington State have higher threats of radon.  Radon is a is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless  gas, occurring naturally as the decay product of uranium.  Radon gas can accumulate in buildings, especially in confined areas such as attics, and basements.  The EPA findings  say that “approximately one in 15 American homes contain high levels of radon. Millions of Americans are unknowingly exposed to this dangerous gas.”

Washington Counties Radon

What do the colors mean?

  Highest Potential – Zone 1 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) (red zones)

 Moderate Potential – Zone 2 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (orange zones)

  Low Potential – Zone 3 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (yellow zones)

CHART SOURCE:  http://www.epa.gov/radon/states/washington.html

“The Federal Radon Action Plan brings together government agencies to demonstrate the importance of radon risk reduction, address finance and incentive issues to drive testing and mitigation, and build demand for services from industry professionals. The plan will help spur greater action in the marketplace, create jobs in the private sector, and significantly reduce exposure to radon. The plan includes strategies to reach low-income families, many of whom do not have the resources to make the simple fixes necessary to protect their homes and loved ones. Through its network of residential, educational, and care facilities as well as programs that address health, prevention, housing, and finance, the federal government is poised to directly or indirectly influence an estimated 7.5 million homes, schools and daycare facilities. “

Federal Radon Action Plan:  

• Cross-government outreach initiative to educate families about the health risks associated with radon exposure and the solutions to address the risks.
• Incorporate radon testing and mitigation into federal programs.
• Invest in new standards and update codes for measurement and mitigation in schools, daycare facilities, and multi-family housing.
• Establish incentives that drive testing and mitigation in the private and public sectors.

Source: Feds Launch Action Plan to Protect People and Families from Radon/Radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer.  Contact Information: Stacy Kika kika.stacy@epa.gov 202-564-0906 202-564-4355 Cathy Milbourn Milbourn.cathy@epa.gov 202-564-7849.  Release date: 06/20/2011

Seattle Real Estate: Investors Buy North Lake Union Parcel for $3.58 Million

What will we see moving to North Lake Union?  An investment group is taking advantage of competitive commercial real estate prices and scooping up a half acre parcel in the great location between Wallingford and Burke Avenues.

“An investment group led by David Zarett paid $3.58 million for a second half-block property overlooking the north end of Lake Union. Northlake LLC now owns the full block along North Northlake Way between Wallingord Avenue North and Burke Avenue North. The investment group bought the 0.47-acre site at 3301 Burke Ave. N. from Restaurants Unlimited founder Richard Komen and his family. The property includes the 8,051-square-foot Restaurants Unlimited office building. Northlake LLC acquired the adjacent 0.31-acre parcel at 3301 Wallingford Ave. N. for $850,000 back in 1998. Six years later, Zarett filed for permits to construct a mixed-use residential office building on the site but never moved forward on the project.”

Original Post: Investors buy North Lake Union parcel
Puget Sound Business Journal
By Jeanne Lang Jones
May 24, 2011

Zillow Goes Public

“Real estate site Zillow.com filed for a $51.75 million initial public offering Monday.  The Seattle-based company didn’t say in its Form S-1 filing how many shares it planned to sell, nor how it would price each share. However, it did say that Technology Crossover Ventures and PAR Investment Partners agreed to buy a total of $5.5 million of common stock directly from Zillow.”

Source: NEW YORK (CNNMoney) By Julianne Pepitone, staff reporter (April 18, 2011: 4:50 PM ET)

Overall home sales may still be down since the boom, but the real estate tech industry is looking good.  Trulia, Zillow, Estately and Redfin have started to thrive in the dot com world.  Capitalizing on social networking integration and web advertisement these companies are providing better tools for the home buyer, seller, real estate agent and other real estate industry professionals.  As a home inspector working from Seattle to Wenatchee these websites have been a valuable tool for marketing our services over a board service area.  I’m looking forward to the many opportunities these sites present as they grow.