Grounds Work

SAVVY HOMEOWNERS KNOW to spruce up a house before putting it up for sale: Repaint the walls, replace worn carpet, reduce clutter, etc. But in our city of lush gardens and carefully tended lawns, none of that will work if prospective buyers won’t even get out of their cars.” A house that looks junky on the outside won’t sell,” says real estate agent Rebecca Haas. “We used to drive by properties to see if we were interested in going inside. If the paint was bad or if the yard looked like it would take $20,000 and six months of our life to get it looking the way we wanted, we’d drive away.
 When Haas became the listing agent for a 2,230-square-foot home in Woodinville in 2006, she knew its uncared-for outdoor areas would keep it languishing on the market. So, she hired a contractor to power-wash and stain the deck, clean the hot tub, repair and plant multiple flower boxes, and get rid of a dog run and an unsightly greenhouse, “a disaster waiting to happen. It took away from the home’s aesthetic appeal,” she says. “We leveled off the concrete foundation and made it into a nice side patio. Instead of being a liability, it became a plus for the house.”
 Dressing up a home’s yard will make it sell faster, yes, but it will also add to the bottom line. Houses with a well-landscaped yard sell on average for 11.3 percent more than those without, studies show. Haas’s client spent $28,000 on upgrades and sold his home in two weeks’ time for $50,000 more than the asking price, making it the highest priced home in the neighborhood.
 At the very least, before putting their house on the market, sellers should trim the lawn, weed garden beds, and bring in colorful plants. Tear down unsightly or dangerous structures, and limb or transplant overgrown trees that block windows or views. Pressure-wash decks, porches, and driveways, and consider replacing unappealing, cracked concrete or asphalt patios and walkways with decorative stone versions.

BUYING POWER

Outdoor Living

It’s officially time to head outside and soak up as much sun as possible. Given our pleasantly warm and long summer days, many newer area homes include outdoor “rooms” that feature built-in grills, full kitchens, fire pits, pagodas, and, of course, covered sections for rainy days.

Kirkland $7,600,000
Details 2033 Rose Point Ln; 6,180 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 4½ baths, built 2001.

Selling points Lakefront property with city and Olympic views; custom stone patio overlooking grounds.

Listed by Rondi Egenes, Windermere Real Estate.

 

Magnolia $6,900,000
Details 3035 Perkins Ln W; 7,320 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, built 1995.

Selling points Formal stone balcony of Tuscan-style home offers unobstructed Sound views and private beach access.
Listed by Katharine Gibson and Lisa Strain, Windermere Real Estate.

  

Redmond $1,299,000
Details 24115 NE 122nd St; 2,410 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2½ baths, built 2005.

Selling points Next to the 17th fairway of Trilogy Golf Course sits a built-in grill, beer tap, refrigerator, and hot tub.

Listed by Sandra Moses, Windermere Real Estate.

 

 

Second Home

Chelan, Washington $519,500 

 
Just three hours from Seattle, Chelan sits tucked between the massive glacier-fed lake bearing its name and the Northern Cascade Mountains rising above the town center. With skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, boating, biking, and a laundry list of other activities available right out residents’ front doors, outdoors enthusiasts flock to Chelan year round. This nearly century-old Victorian-style home includes modern amenities such as granite counters, a master suite, and new cherry wood floors. The four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home sits on a secluded lot near downtown and Don Morse Park.

Listed by Valerie Conrad, Windermere Real Estate.

Published in the Great Outdoors Guide issue of Seattle Met.