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Tacoma Side Sewers a Bedtime Story

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Effective October 1st. 2010 the City of Tacoma will begin to require a side sewer inspection for all homes sold in the city limits of Tacoma. It is only July why do you care? Why do I care? Let me tell you a little story….

I have a client who is getting ready to bring a home on the market. The home is part of an estate so very little is known about the home. My seller is a very thoughtful person and wants to make sure that the basic systems in the house are functioning as they should be. She called a company that was offering a free sewer line inspection. Free as long as there is an easily accessible clean out opening. Free as long as you do not want the DVD of the inspection. (The city of Tacoma requires the DVD to review the inspection) Almost $500 dollars later my seller is told that the side sewer is in need of repair. Almost $8,000 worth of repair. My seller is collecting additional bids and will have the work completed as she feels it is important. Now that we know the sewer line is broken it is material fact so this is a good thing to have done.

Here are some take away items from this little story.

Side sewer inspections will be expensive for the seller to have done
Sewer repairs are not going to be inexpensive to have repaired.
Waiting until the last minute will cause your home sale to take longer to close.
Buyers will be nervous that if the sewer line is broken what else is?
Lenders are going to be requiring the work to be completed and then they will most likely want to make sure the work is done prior to releasing the funds.
In Tacoma we now have another hurdle to get over to close on sales.

I am leaving out short sales, and REO’s. Who will pay for this if there is no money to pay for the inspection or repairs?

Just helping get you ready for buying and selling homes in Tacoma. Being prepared will help you make the best decisions. Get things taken care of prior to bringing your home on the market. Buyers knowledge is power too!

When you are ready to buy or sell a home in Tacoma please give me a call. Together we can put together a plan to help insure the success of your purchase or sale. I can be reached at (253) 219-1194

Posted in Buying a Home, Selling a Home, Tacoma | 1 Response »

Anderson Island Sales Year To Date

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

I am going to a listing appointment today on Anderson Island and I was pulling up the statistics for the island.

There are currently 59 homes for sale on Anderson Island. Minimum price $69,000 and Maximum price $1,750,000. The median value is $257,000 and the Average price is $333,000. Average days on market is 123 days.

7 homes have sold this year on Anderson Island.

Looks like there is enough inventory on the island for the next 4+ years at the current rates. If you are going to be selling on Anderson Island you need to make sure you are pricing your home right and working with an agent who gets the word out. Of course I think I am that guy but you need to see for yourself.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home on Anderson Island please give me a call today.(253) 219-1194. I would be happy to set up a time to meet with you to go over the market on Anderson Island. The island is a truly beautiful spot and is one of the Puget Sounds hidden gems. If you would like more information on Anderson Island there is a new blog about the island that I have been enjoying following. You can Explore Anderson Island here.

Posted in Puget Sound, Ramblings | 1 Response »

We’ve moved; did you notice?

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

Update 7/12/10

It appears the contact form in the sidebar is not working correctly. I will be working on the code to fix this. I just will not have time until this evening or 7/13/10 To contact please us scott AT classichomesnorthwest.com just replace AT with @ =)

Hopefully the answer to that question is what is he talking about?

My good friend Todd Phillips spearheaded the move of Classic Homes Northwest to a new hosting company this weekend. The previous hosting company one that I have used for years simply was not providing the service one expects when you are paying for a service. The new company which I will blog about in an upcoming post about the tools we use here at Classic Homes Northwest is a great fit for us!

We are still unpacking but a couple of things you should notice immediately.

Using WordPress 3.0 so the code is cleaner and the pages should load faster
New hosting company has better equipment so the pages should load faster
The pages should load faster… do you see the theme here?

There will be a lot of updates and moving of the furniture over the next few days. Please help me and let me know if you find any links that are not working.

Thanks for visiting!

Posted in Ramblings | 1 Response »

Tacoma Home Sellers Are You Ready to Have Your Side Sewer Inspected?

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Selling a home in Tacoma will get a bit more involved starting October 1st. 2010. Homes within the city limits of Tacoma will have to have their side sewers inspected prior to sale of the home.

As the ordinance is currently structured the inspection is simply to inform the buyer of the condition of the sewer line. No repairs will be required by the City of Tacoma. The sewer inspection will need to be conducted by a licensed sewer contractor with a business license in the City of Tacoma. The cost of the sewer inspection will vary by vendor. The City of Tacoma will not charge for their review of the video inspection. The

Directly from the City of Tacoma’s website

As of Oct. 1, 2010, Tacoma property owners are required to have a certified inspection of their private side sewers and other sources of inflow and infiltration prior to the sale or transfer of a home or business, major remodeling or any construction over an existing side sewer. This requirement is detailed in Tacoma Municipal Code 12.08.720, titled “Inflow and Infiltration Removal from Private Side Sewers.”

The inspection requires a video camera inspection of the sewer line. The DVD of the inspection will be given to the City of Tacoma for review. The city will then allow the property to be sold.

Here are some observations about the side sewer inspection and how it will impact home sales in Tacoma.

Sellers will now have another inspection to handle during the sales process. The seller will be asked to cover the cost of the inspection.
While repairs are not required by the City of Tacoma lenders will most certainly require any known defects to be repaired. Buyers will also be asking for repairs. This will cost will impact the bottom line of the seller.
It will take longer for a transaction close. The additional inspection and potential repairs will take more time than the current home inspection.

If you will be selling your home in Tacoma I would advise you to work with a reputable sewer company and have your side sewer inspected and

Tacoma Home Owners Lets Hope Your Sewer Pipes Dont Look Like This

repaired before you put your home on the market. An inspection is good for 5 years so having an inspection conducted prior to putting your home on the market will make your home just a bit more of a known commodity. Nobody wants a surprise like a defective sewer to stop a home sale. By being prepared and organized you will be able to sell your home for more money, with less stress in a shorter period of time.

If you want more information on how to sell your home in Tacoma please use the contact form on the right of the screen. I will send you some additional information that will help you get your home ready for sale. When you are ready to discuss what your house is worth please call me directly at (253) 219–1194. Working together we will get your Tacoma area home sold!

Posted in Selling a Home, Tacoma | No Responses »

Perhaps the Closing Date For the $8,000 Tax Credit Has Been Extended

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

It’s official…. the tax credit has been extended…..will this be the last time?…..Like a bad comedy skit we will not know until it’s over.

Update to the update… We are waiting on the Presidents signature to extend the closing date until September 30th. For more information.

Update- Went to press too soon…nothing has been decided for certain. In the meantime watch the video and get a laugh….

Like a bad TV skit the government simply cannot close the doors on the tax credit. If you were under contract prior to April 30th. 2010 you now have more time to close your transaction. Extended to September 30th. 2010. Or…… perhaps this video give you a better idea.

I hope you enjoyed the clip from Almost Live a comedy show from Seattle during the 1980′s…

Also, I wish I could take credit for finding the clip and using it in this context but my friend Don Reedy in San Diego posted this on Bloodhound Blog yesterday. I simply am copying Don. If you need a Realtor® in San Diego with a great sense of humor and some seriously sharp business skills give Don a shout!

Posted in Buying a Home | 1 Response »

Are you thinking of buying a home in Tacoma this year?

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

Thinking of buying a home in Tacoma this year? The summer buying season is upon us and the inventory is beginning to drop a bit. I am not saying that we are having a full on buying spree. I am saying that homes that are ready to sell, priced to sell and have the features that people are looking for are selling.

Homeowners have an advantage over the short sale, bank owned, foreclosures if they will take the time to make their home presentable and desirable. I have shown so many short sales and bank owned properties in Tacoma in recent weeks and the quality of homes is terrible! Homeowners you need to realize that you can shine compared to the junk if you take the time to clean up your home prior to sale.

Potential homebuyers you can do a couple of things to set yourself apart. Get pre-approved before you go shopping! If I write an offer for a buyer that has the financing already in place you come to the offer with a big S on your chest and a red cape You will be Superman! Also, be organized have your home inspector ready to work for you. Know what you want and what you can afford. Then we can go out and find you a great deal on a home. We might find the owner occupied gem that you’ve been wanting. We might find the bank owned fixer that will give you equity when you finish the repairs. No matter what you decide the buying season is happening and I hope to see soon.

When you’re ready for a Realtor® who cares about the outcome of your transaction. Give a call. (253) 219-1194 we are looking forward to working together with you to buy or sell your next home in Tacoma.

Posted in Buying a Home, Ramblings | No Responses »

Keller Williams Realty 2009 J.D. Powers Home Buyers Highest Satisfaction Award

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

The company you keep can speak volumes about you. I am so very happy that I made the move to Keller Williams in 2009. The people and systems are top shelf.

The people in this photo are the other Realtors® that I am lucky to share the office with.

Keller Williams West Sound J.D. Powers Award Photo

When it comes to making your decision of who to work with when you are ready to buy your next home in Tacoma or sell your home in Tacoma there is a difference. J.D. Powers says it’s Keller Williams. Call us at (253) 219-1194 and we will get started working for you!

Posted in Ramblings | 1 Response »

Tax Credit for Homeowners Closing Dates Extended; Not So Fast…..

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Many people are shouting that the tax credit has been extended…the tax credit has been extended!! this is not completely accurate.

The tax credit will only be extended for closing your transaction if you were already under contract by the April 30th. end of the tax credit.

To qualify for the tax credit you had to be under contract BY April 30th. 2010 and close the transaction BY June 30th. 2010. The only thing that will be extended is the date for you to close your purchase. Congress has not signed the extension into law as of today. We will update you when it is extended.

The extension does not help you if you are NOW looking for, or thinking of buying a home in Tacoma or anywhere else in the country. There still are many other programs to assist first time homebuyer’s purchase homes. Please look at our site and read our posts to learn more about the programs that are available.

When you’re ready to talk about buying a home we are ready to listen. Give us a call (253) 219-1194

Posted in Buying a Home, Lending, Ramblings | 1 Response »

Gig Harbor View Home Open House Sunday June 20th. Buy Dad a Home!

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Looking for a view home in Gig Harbor? We will be holding this home open Sunday June 20th. from 1pm to 4pm

This could be the view from you house. Offered at $530,000 this 3 bedroom 2.25 bathroom home sits on a double sized city lot over 17,000 square feet. The home has amazing views of Gig Harbor Bay, Mt. Rainier, and the Puget Sound. Lots of windows, and skylights help maximize the natural light in the home. The daylight basement has potential for an in home office for someone who works from home and wants an office. The parking is abundant with room for an RV and guests.

Stop by on Sunday from 1pm to 4pm and take a look. If you would like to schedule a private showing or have any questions please call (253) 219-1194 Is it time to buy dad that home with a view of the water in Gig Harbor he has always wanted?

Posted in For Sale, Gig Harbor, Open House | 1 Response »

What do You Look For When Buying a Home?

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

I have a question for the readers of this blog. What do you look for when you are thinking of buying a home?

I sell homes in and around Tacoma that much should be obvious if you are visiting my blog. I know what I do to find potential clients who can benefit from my services. I know what works and what does not work when it comes to finding clients. What I need to learn now is what do you look for when you are going to buy a house?

What is it that helps you to “know” when you’ve found a place you want to call home? When you are just looking do you search the Internet to look at homes for sale? Do you use a search engine and type in phrases like Buying a home in Tacoma or Homes for Sale in Tacoma. Feel free to insert the area that you are actually looking at for Tacoma in your responses. What is it that you are looking for from the big machine that sends your answers back to you?

One of the nagging questions I am looking for help with is when do you decide to work with a Realtor®? At what point during your search to you want professional assistance? What value to you expect your agent to bring to the table? You can go to dozens of websites and see every agent in Tacoma or any other city tell you that they are the best to help you buy or sell your home. What cuts through the white noise? What makes you pick up the phone, send email, or visit the office of the agent you decide you want to find out more about?

You can search here to see all of the homes for sale in Tacoma Washington. You can search a lot of places to find homes for sale. You can find out a lot about borrowing money to buy a home in Tacoma here. You can find a lot of information on just about everything related to buying home online. What I want to know is what do YOU want to help you look for a home? If you can clearly answer that question then you will find that when you’re ready to buy a home you will have a much easier time. By sharing your answers you can help me to be the best Realtor® I can be. Together we can help one another.

So, What do you look for when buying a home?

Posted in Buying a Home, Tacoma | 5 Responses »

Classic Homes Northwest

Helping people buy and sell classic homes in Tacoma and the Pacific Northwest