Is Condo/townhome Living Right For You? Factors You Should Consider.

Living in a condo or townhome community with a high concentration of households on a small piece of land can present a unique set of factors. It’s important to be aware of these and consider them before making a decision to live in this type of community.

One of the main factors to consider is privacy. When homes are built close together, and with shared walls this can compromise privacy, as sound can easily travel between neighboring households. Additionally, if it’s a new development there is likely no mature trees or privacy landscaping, further reducing privacy between properties. Older condo or townhome developments often have mature landscaping, which contributes to increased privacy and noise control. 

Another factor is noise. With shared walls and shared outdoor spaces, noise can easily transfer from one home to another. Typical wood frame construction, commonly used in these communities, tends to amplify noise, making it even more of a potential concern.

Odors can also be an issue in close-knit communities. Each household has its own unique habits and preferences, which can lead to different types of odors, such as cooking smells, pet waste, smoke and more. If there are no rules or regulations in place to address these issues, or if the ventilation or construction methods are subpar, odors can easily transfer between units.

To mitigate these issues, it’s crucial to ensure that the community has clear Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) or Rules and Regulations that all residents must adhere to. While rules may not be everyone’s favorite thing, they are essential in ensuring that neighbors are considerate and respectful of one another in these close proximity living situations.

Equally important is an active Homeowners Association (HOA) that enforces these rules. Without proper enforcement, rules become meaningless. An HOA provides a valuable resource for addressing any concerns or issues that may arise, sparing you from potentially uncomfortable confrontations with neighbors.

When considering a community, it’s also worth looking into the history and effectiveness of the HOA. The track record of the HOA in maintaining the community and enforcing the CC&Rs can give you a sense of their commitment to preserving the value and enjoyment of the property for all residents.

Mediterranean Villas: In comparison to other condos or townhomes, Mediterranean Villas stands out for its superior construction. These townhomes are built with Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction, which means the exterior walls and walls between homes are made of concrete instead of typical wood framing. This construction method significantly reduces noise transfer, odor transfer, and enhances energy efficiency. As a result, lower power bills can be expected compared to a typical wood-framed home.

Mediterranean Villas was established in 2001 and consists of 224 townhomes.  It has a reputation for being an all around great investment, and has always been a sought after subdivision. This too sets it apart from new construction offerings.

While older townhouses may have outdated finishes and systems, these can be easily replaced when necessary. The absence of CC&Rs, an inactive HOA, or a lack of a track record in a community are factors beyond your control. It’s important to consider these aspects and choose a community that aligns with your preferences both now and with the future in mind.

Tips for Selling Your Home

With a little preparation and the guidance of a professional real estate agent at Referred Real Estate, you can help make the sale of your home go much more smoothly. Key factors include setting the proper price, effective marketing, and making your home sparkle inside and out.

-Inspect your home and make any necessary repairs or renovations
-Find an agent to represent you
-Tidy the exterior and give your home curb appeal
-Thoroughly clean the interior and get rid of unneeded items

Before putting your house on the market, you have the option to have a seller’s inspection. The inspection can help identify previously unknown problems, as well as give you time to make any necessary repairs or renovations. Likewise, many states require sellers to disclose known problems with their house.
Consider hiring a professional home inspector, as they can often identify problems that are easily overlooked by a novice. Important things to look for include leaks, evidence of wood rot and wood-destroying pests, structural integrity and a thorough assessment of major systems such as the plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems.

The right agent can help you set an appropriate price, advertise and show the house to buyers, handle negotiations, draw up offers and coordinate the closing. In short, we can help you sell your home in less time, with less aggravation, and for more money. To find the right agent, you can start by asking family or friends for a recommendation, using an agent that someone you know and trust has had a great experience with is a very good idea. Next, contact the agent and set up a meeting for a listing presentation. This is gives you an opportunity to hear the agent’s plans for selling your property, as well as learn other important factors such as:

-Information about the current market and comparable sales
-Plans for marketing the house, including advertising and open houses
-How long the agent has worked in the community, former clients, etc.
-How much money you’ll net based on different selling prices.

Give Your Home “Curb Appeal”
Even if your home is in good shape, there are probably a few things you can do to make it really sparkle. This is what’s known as “curb appeal,” and experts agree that making a good first impression is a crucial factor in attracting buyers. Improving your home’s curb appeal can be as easy as tidying up the yard, washing windows, touching up exterior paint or even adding a new bed of flowers.

Cleanliness and Clutter
Houses look a lot smaller if they’re crammed full of belongings-and you can’t just hide it in the garage either. Buyers like to imagine storage spaces full of their belongings, not yours. Get rid of clutter, and give the house a top-to-bottom cleaning. In particular, make sure the kitchens and bathrooms are immaculate. Buyers will notice right away if these rooms aren’t spotless.
If you want to go the extra mile, you might even consider “staging” your house for showings. This can be as simple as adding houseplants and some decorative lamps, all the way to hiring an interior designer to bring in elaborate rugs, antique furniture and expensive artworks.

Getting Your House Ready Inside and Out

Exterior
Mow the yard, trim hedges and edge sidewalks and driveways
Wash the windows, and repair screens and shutters
Clean oil spots from the driveway
Pressure wash the outside, or touch up paint if necessary
Keep the entryway attractive

Interior
Remove clutter and dust all surfaces
Touch-up paint scuffs
Thoroughly clean the kitchen and bathrooms
Mop floors, shampoo carpets and clean fireplaces
Organize closets so they appear spacious as possible
Clear out the garage by holding a sale or donating items to charity
Make sure light switches and the doorbell work
Store excessive photographs, trophies or other knick-knacks
Consider adding plants or other items to “stage” your home

Garner Property Services

Local Favorites Seal of ApprovalPhone: (509) 460-7660
Email: jim@garnerps.com
Facebook: Garner Property Services
Website: www.garnerps.com

Thinking of remodeling? Need someone to finish that “honey-do” list? Have residential or commercial properties that need ongoing maintenance? Never fear! Garner Property Services is here to help!
GPS is locally owned and operated with over 20 years experience in all phases of building repair and maintenance and even remodeling! The company is family-oriented, committed to our community. The owners have experience in residential and community property management, sales and leasing, and industrial construction property management.

What can GPS help you with? Just a few of the services include: Both interior and exterior painting, plumbing and electrical, doors and windows, cabinetry, carpet/tile/vinyl flooring installation, drywall installation and repair, roofing repair, HVAC, and other home repairs. What’s more? GPS employs in-house painters, finish carpenters, and home maintenance technicians so your installation or repair is top notch.

Jennifer and Jessica recommend Garner Property Services for all your home and business needs.

HOMEOWNERS: The New Carbon Monoxide Detector Law pertains to you!

The State of Washington recently revised RCW 19.27.530 which requires that all single family residences, condominiums, apartments, hotels and motels have working carbon monoxide detectors installed. Single family homes that were occupied before July 26, 2009 are exempt until the home is sold, at which point the seller must install a detector. This new revision requires strict regulation of carbon monoxide detectors in homes, condominiums, apartments, hotels and motels and allows for enforcement to make sure these regulations are being followed.

Carbon monoxide detectors are similar to smoke detectors in their operation. They are designed to save lives by sensing dangerous carbon monoxide levels and sounding an alarm to evacuate when these become too high and unsafe.

Under the past law, new residences must have carbon monoxide alarms installed upon completion. However, this new law applies to any home that is sold.

Why is there such a concern over carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide is a very dangerous poisonous gas which cannot be seen or smelled. It is so dangerous it can kill a person or an animal in a very short period of time.  Carbon monoxide can quickly build up to fatal levels in either enclosed areas, semi-enclosed areas or non-ventilated areas.

It naturally occurs when fuel is burned. Cars, trucks, small gasoline power equipment like trimmers, chain saws, boat engines, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, gas ranges, ovens, and furnaces produce carbon monoxide. It is also produced from tobacco smoke.

If you are thinking about selling your property this spring, you need to learn your options now and be prepared to have a detector installed.

And buyers listen up! If you are purchasing a bank-owned property, the property is not exempted from this law. Make sure that the home you are purchasing comes with a carbon monoxide detector.

We are advising our clients to make sure they have their carbon monoxide detector installed by a professional. This is essential for both safety and liability reasons.

If you have any questions about this new law as it might pertain to your personal situation please feel free to give us a call. You can reach Jennifer at (509) 947-5670 or Jessica at (509) 947-2230. We would happy to discuss your options with you.

SOURCE:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=19.27.530