Remodeling on a Budget

We all have the one room in our home or even our rental that we absolutely hate. Do we put hundreds of dollars into making it nice or do we live with it? The decision is easy you simply remodel it yourself. These remodels below are all done on a budget and the results will amaze you!

Kitchen #1- This remodel cost the owners under $500!




Kitchen #2 Before- Note the countertops are green.

 After-
 

Looks like a whole different kitchen! Can you guess the price on this remodel?
$17.00 and yes I am serious.
The homeowner chose to refinish the cabinets and build the cornice above the sink. And to top it off she chose to paint her countertops instead of buying new ones. Who would have thought a remodel would be that simple.

As you can see no matter your budget a remodel is do-able! Keep this in mind the next time you walk into your kitchen that you wish you could change, because with this insight you can.



Information brought to you by: HGTV

Top Market Areas for Listing a Home in March

Living in the good Northwest definitely has its perks; while the weather is bad right now the market is seemingly good! This article made me appreciate living here as I can see how many other people wish they did!

The list for the top 5 markets for listing a home in March are as followed:

1. South Atlantic: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia

2.Peaks in the Mountains: Arizona, Idaho, Nevada

3.Central Spike Zones: Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma

4.The Lonely New England State: Massachusetts

5.The Pacific Corners: California and Washington

Washington is a hot spot for real-estate especially in the month of March as this article points out. If you are looking to sell your home keep in mind Team Runge has everything you will need in a team of agents.
Remember: Our personal web site is just a click away and it will tell you a little more about our team.

 

Article brought to you by Trulia

A Weekend Treat

It's Finally Friday and I am ready for this rain to go away. To keep you comfort on this rainy weekend here is a delicious recipe!

Thinnest Oatmeal Cookies

You can absolutely use brown or Muscovado sugar in place of the white sugar called for here (and I have in the past), but the cookies tend to lose their snap more quickly. Also, I used poppy seeds and fennel here, but you could introduce spices, or finely chopped nuts, or take them in whatever flavor direction you can dream up

1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
4 teaspoons poppy seeds
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup / 5 oz uncooked rolled oats (not instant)
1 egg, room temperature
2/3 cup / 4 oz natural cane sugar

Preheat oven to 350F / 180C with a rack in the top third. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, Silpat isn't as good for these cookies.
In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, fennel and poppy seeds. Set aside.
Gently melt the butter in a medium saucepan. When just melted, remove from heat and stir in the oats. Stir until well coated.
In a large bowl, whisk the sugar with the egg until it is the consistency of a creamy icing - I like to use an old-fashioned egg beater here. Whisk the flour mixture in, and then add the oats. Stir until combined, then drop, a level tablespoon at a time, onto the prepared baking sheets, at least 2 inches apart. I like to bake these one sheet at a time, in the top third of the oven, spinning once halfway through. Bake until very deeply golden, about 8-10 minutes. Remove, and let sit for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to continue cooling. Best enjoyed within 4 or 5 hours of baking - their texture definitely changes (for the worse) overnight. Repeat with remaining dough.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Prep time: 10 min - Cook time: 10 min

Brought to you by 101 Cookbooks

SPECIAL EVENT TONIGHT

Good afternoon everyone and I hope you are having a good Thursday. I know it is last minute but tonight we are having a special event here at American Classic Homes. Tonight we will be welcoming Steve Holman. We are very excited to expand our company and introduce out new commercial real-estate branch. This opens a whole new set of doors for us and we hope that you can help us celebrate!
Tonight's event will include food and drinks as well!
At 4pm the ribbon ceremony will start and last about a half hour.
At 5 pm. the open house is officially going and will last around an hour.

We hope to see you here!!

3016 Benson Rd. S
Renton, WA 98055

It's Not Too Late

Goodmorning everyone and I hope you had a fabolous weekend. Just a quick reminder that the Seattle Home Show has not ended yet and there is still time for you to get tickets! This Sunday will be the last day of the Seattle Spring Home Show so you have about 5 days left, don't miss out!!

A quick little bit of information for the day! This is a must read for those families with little children.

Child-Proofing: Avoiding TV and Furniture Tip-Overs:

**When children tip over a piece of furniture the impact is similar to them falling out of the 10th story window**

1. Use Anchors to mount TV's
2. DO NOT PLACE TOYS IN HIGH PLACES!
3. Keep remotes on low tables.

Also, Will Mortgage Interest Stay Deductable?

The federal tax code was established in 1913 where all interest was deductible on personal tax returns. In 1986 Congress eliminated the interest deduction for consumer debt. A recent NAR poll showed that 79% of Americans hope that the mortgage deduction will stay put while the others say in raises home prices and losing it will really only impact the wealthy. In January Congress boosted the tax rate for those single filers that earned more than $400,000 and married couples earning over $450,000. The others reduced the value of mortgage interest and income to $250,000 for singles and $300,000 for couples and for now that is the limit of takeaway.

Today's buyers are way better off than they were in the past dating back to the 1970's. The homes affordability and low home loan rates help buyers get their dream home.



Information brought to you by MSN Todays New's and Cobalt Mortgage

What is going on this weekend?

Good Afternoon all! I am sure glad that it is Friday because tomorrow is the start of an amazing event!

Seattle Spring Home Show

This weekend February 16-24 at Century Link Field is the Seattle Spring Home Show! DON'T MISS IT! This opportunity only comes around once a year and it's kind of a big deal. There will be different seminars each day and at different times so it is convenient for everyone. From the Top Ten Remodeling Pitfalls, to Home Organization, you name it they have it!

The cost is:

$12   Adults
$8     Seniors(60+)
$3     Juniors (7-15)
free   Under 7

Hours:

Saturdays: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Sundays: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Mon – Fri: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM

 

Here are a couple of tips that could be very useful!

• Was there just too much to see in one day? Go online and register for another day for FREE.
• If you carpool with 4 or more passengers in your vehicle you can park in designated areas for FREE
• If you purchase your ticket online, park for FREE
• Want to test drive a Toyota? Visit the Western Washington Toyota Dealers and receive 2 free admissions to the home show for FREE.

Hope you all have a great weekend at the Home Show I know I will!

Ten Worst Home Showing

While scrolling through my e-mail today I stumbled upon something I knew I had to share as I found it rather funny. I hope you think so too!

Happy Thursday!!

Top Ten Worst Home Showings

  By RealtorMag.com; Melissa Tracey


Don’t let one of your listings suffer from one of these common showing mistakes. When it comes to presenting a home to buyers, some sellers are clueless. Are your sellers’ homes leaving buyers with a bad impression? REALTOR® Magazine received more than 50 responses from buyer agents who revealed their pet peeves when touring homes with clients—offenses that, they say, have buyers racing for the door.

After 10 years of showings, we have practically seen it all, from the “fully loaded litter boxes” to the “roach-infested ovens.” “These situations have proven to be frustrating and embarrassing to my buyers and me. We suggests agents be proactive in discussing with their sellers the cleanliness and presentation expectations for showing appointments upfront. Don’t assume your clients know what to do. Also, agents might want to arrive early to a listing appointment to double-check that everything is in show-ready shape.

Here are the 10 most common responses from buyer’s agents when asked about the worst mistakes they see when presenting for-sale homes to clients:


1. Leftover home owners
By far, one of the top offenses cited by buyer’s agents was home owners still lingering around when agents arrived with clients to preview the home. Awkward encounters ranged from buyers finding sellers taking a shower, asleep in the bed, to even the “stalker sellers” who liked to follow buyers and the agent all over the home to see what they thought.
With the exception of the “stalker seller,” many of the home owners who were still at home blamed their listing agent for not giving them enough advance notice about the appointment prior.


2. Pets and their messes
Numerous agents also cited the not-so-friendly dog and kitty encounters as a top offense. Even pets left in a crate can pose a distraction since they might make noise the entire time others are in the house. Plus, if they seem mean, the buyer might not even step in the room.
Vicki Robinson, ABR, CRS, broker with Fonville Morisey Realty in Raleigh, N.C., says she recently was given showing instructions from a listing agent who told her the family’s “friendly dog” would be at home. But when Robinson unlocked the front door with her client for the showing, a pit bull was staring down at them from the top of the staircase, growling. “We closed the door and left!” she says.


3. Bad smells
A displeasing smell can really turn buyers off. Common offenses include cooking smells lingering around the home, such as garlic, fried bacon, or fish. Also, watch for cigarette smoke and animal smells, agents say.
“Sellers get immune to the smell that their pets have embedded on their property,” says Halina Degnan with Gables & Gates, REALTORS®, in Knoxville, Tenn. “Anyone opening the door will smell it immediately -- even if there are air fresheners trying to cover up the smell. If you have a pet, there will be an odor. Don’t send your buyers away: Paint and clean the carpeting. Take the odor seriously and do what is needed, even if it means replacing the carpet.”


4. Critters running wild
Wild animals and pests roaming around is a surefire way to send buyers running. Agents described worms crawling on the floor and bats and raccoons lounging in the attic. “I showed a house in Utah once with a baby alligator/crocodile [in a cage] in the dining room,” Kristi Hutchings, ABR, SFR, with the Wendy K Team The Real Estate Group in Utah.


5. Odd home makeovers
Do-it-yourself disasters were also prevalent, like doors opening the wrong way or unprofessional paint jobs. Also, rooms not being used for their intended purposes can confuse buyers, such as an office being used as a bedroom even though it has no closet, says broker Elaine Byrne with Elaine Byrne Realty in Austin, Texas.


6. Dirt and clutter
There were a number of offenses cited when it came to cleanliness: Dirty laundry piles, unflushed toilets, dishes on the counter or in the sink, unmade beds, clothes scattered about, soiled carpets, dirty air conditioner filters, and overflowing trash cans.
“One of the worst things I have seen is piles and piles of clothes in every room,” says Chris Leach, ABR, with Medel & Associates Realty in Riverside, Calif. “It was like an obstacle trying to walk around the mess.”


7. Personal information left in plain sight
Sellers should be careful not to leave in plain sight important documents that may pique buyers’ curiosity. Some agents say they’ve seen personal information like bank and credit card statements—even mortgage payoff notices—left on the kitchen counter.
“Buyers are nosey,” says Christopher Handy, ABR, GREEN, broker-associate with Bosshardt Realty Services LLC in Gainesville, Fla. “I’ve even seen the contract for the sellers’ next purchase sitting on the kitchen countertop or ‘final notice’ bills.”


8. Too dark
Dark or dimly lit houses aren’t showing the home in the best light.
“Particularly [homes lit with] CFL bulbs,” says Yvette Chisholm, ABR, CRS, associate broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Rockville, Md. “By the time [the bulbs] light up, the buyer is gone.” Energy efficient bulbs need time to warm up before they are at their brightest, so staging professionals usually recommend agents arrive early to a showing to turn on any light fixtures with CFL bulbs at least 10 minutes prior.


9. Keys missing from lockboxes
All too often, agents arrive at a listing appointment with their client only to find there’s no key to get in. “I actually had a [seller’s] agent who wanted me to open the door for my clients by going through the dog run as a large dog barked like crazy,” says Hutchings.


10. Distracting photos
Watch the photos displayed on the walls too, agents warn. Tara Hayes, ABR, e-PRO, with Rector-Hayden, REALTORS®, in Winchester, Ky., recalls showing a family a home that had life-sized, nude photos hanging, which left her clients racing for the door covering their eyes.
Similarly, Angela Gandolfo, ABR, SFR, with Citywide Real Estate & Investment in Phoenix, recalls showing a home to a client, who was staring at a painting in the master bedroom of a woman in lingerie. “Isn’t that the owner?” the client asked. “She was also the real estate agent!” Gandolfo says.