Comments on: Get Creative http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/ Seattle's Leading Resource for Real Estate Information Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:01:18 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dallas Real Estate Buyer Rebate http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-318623 Dallas Real Estate Buyer Rebate Wed, 28 May 2008 22:40:42 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-318623 I think the real estate commissions will drop enormously. Our company offers a 2% buyer rebate as we think that most of our customers search for their homes online anyway. It is only a matter of time before the middle men will be reduced or their commissions slashed. I think the real estate commissions will drop enormously. Our company offers a 2% buyer rebate as we think that most of our customers search for their homes online anyway. It is only a matter of time before the middle men will be reduced or their commissions slashed.

]]> By: Dallas Homes http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-42839 Dallas Homes Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:06:57 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-42839 Things are changing very fast in Real estate industry because of some public limited company. Like homegain, realestate.com and some others. Search engine are slowly thinking about dynamic content rather than static. The commission or RE agent is already dropping very fast and it will be par with all other parts of world which 1.5% per side. In a recent study commission is dropped from traditional 6.0% to 5.25% in last 4-5 years and majorly bog brokers are finding it difficult to defent their status. Actually this broker stuff will go away very soon because they are of no need at all. I guess they are a useless entity in this new real estate world. Things are changing very fast in Real estate industry because of some public limited company. Like homegain, realestate.com and some others. Search engine are slowly thinking about dynamic content rather than static. The commission or RE agent is already dropping very fast and it will be par with all other parts of world which 1.5% per side. In a recent study commission is dropped from traditional 6.0% to 5.25% in last 4-5 years and majorly bog brokers are finding it difficult to defent their status. Actually this broker stuff will go away very soon because they are of no need at all. I guess they are a useless entity in this new real estate world.

]]> By: Eileen http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40763 Eileen Mon, 27 Nov 2006 19:21:01 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40763 Martin, I agree with the butting of woods that Ardell suggests is a bad idea, but I have vinyl floors and not too nuts about stone either, so my vote is to match the oak as well as you can and do that, in which case you'll probably need the skinnier wood. Does your oak floor now need refinishing? if it does, match the stain of the prefinished. I prefer tile counters and backsplash too and the biggest bang for the buck is to do a full backsplash, i.e. if you can do it yourself. The granite squares at home depot are only 1.79/ft so it's pretty cheap and looks good. Hate the week after TDay cuz now I have to starve to get rid of all those calories! Martin, I agree with the butting of woods that Ardell suggests is a bad idea, but I have vinyl floors and not too nuts about stone either, so my vote is to match the oak as well as you can and do that, in which case you’ll probably need the skinnier wood. Does your oak floor now need refinishing? if it does, match the stain of the prefinished.
I prefer tile counters and backsplash too and the biggest bang for the buck is to do a full backsplash, i.e. if you can do it yourself. The granite squares at home depot are only 1.79/ft so it’s pretty cheap and looks good.
Hate the week after TDay cuz now I have to starve to get rid of all those calories!

]]> By: Eileen http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40761 Eileen Mon, 27 Nov 2006 19:16:12 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40761 Ardell, Yes, I think most everyone has switched to gas, at least in the city. There are too many burn bans, plus wood is so messy and alot of work. (I used to burn and cut down and split dozens of cords of wood. I know, more than you needed to know!) I have to light mine right at the logs and it's a pain, so I like the switch, but it has to be built in before the sheetrock otherwise it's hard to retrofit. In fact, we have a fireplace in the bedroom and it had a gas fireplace and we couldn't get a gas line to it, so removed the box and installed the new electric ones that slipped right in, and you can't even tell the difference. I'm seeing more and more of the electric ones in condos that are spec because they are so simple and cheaper to install. This one works with a remote on my bedstand. Ardell, Yes, I think most everyone has switched to gas, at least in the city. There are too many burn bans, plus wood is so messy and alot of work. (I used to burn and cut down and split dozens of cords of wood. I know, more than you needed to know!)
I have to light mine right at the logs and it’s a pain, so I like the switch, but it has to be built in before the sheetrock otherwise it’s hard to retrofit. In fact, we have a fireplace in the bedroom and it had a gas fireplace and we couldn’t get a gas line to it, so removed the box and installed the new electric ones that slipped right in, and you can’t even tell the difference. I’m seeing more and more of the electric ones in condos that are spec because they are so simple and cheaper to install. This one works with a remote on my bedstand.

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40583 ARDELL Sat, 25 Nov 2006 22:13:19 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40583 Martin, I don't agree on that one. I think one wood butting up to another is not good. I'd go for a high quality one piece floor that goes well with whatever countertop you choose and appliances. Avoid "color" vs neutral tones. Stone look is good, though I'm partial to lighter colors in smaller houses. Given your total square footage of the house is just over 1,000 square feet, I'd stay away from darker stone looks that diminish space. If you do cover the brick on the fireplace, as was suggested, I'd match it to the kitchen counter for continuity, again, given the small square footage overall. A large house can mix and match better than a smaller one. I have original wood in my living room which I like. But when I do the whole first floor it will just have to go, because I can't see butting and older wood floor against a newer one. The old one looks great! Until you put a new one up against it. Dangerous combination. Martin,

I don’t agree on that one. I think one wood butting up to another is not good. I’d go for a high quality one piece floor that goes well with whatever countertop you choose and appliances. Avoid “color” vs neutral tones. Stone look is good, though I’m partial to lighter colors in smaller houses. Given your total square footage of the house is just over 1,000 square feet, I’d stay away from darker stone looks that diminish space.

If you do cover the brick on the fireplace, as was suggested, I’d match it to the kitchen counter for continuity, again, given the small square footage overall. A large house can mix and match better than a smaller one.

I have original wood in my living room which I like. But when I do the whole first floor it will just have to go, because I can’t see butting and older wood floor against a newer one. The old one looks great! Until you put a new one up against it. Dangerous combination.

]]> By: Martin Stewart http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40581 Martin Stewart Sat, 25 Nov 2006 21:32:29 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40581 Hi, The kitchen floor is right against the oak floor in the dining room so would prefinished wood look good right up against the oak? As far as vinyl vs. linoleum I mean natural linoleum made from linseed oil or flax. Hi,
The kitchen floor is right against the oak floor in the dining room so would prefinished wood look good right up against the oak?
As far as vinyl vs. linoleum I mean natural linoleum made from linseed oil or flax.

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40573 ARDELL Sat, 25 Nov 2006 19:44:15 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40573 Eileen, Have you noticed that a lot of people seem to prefer gas fireplaces that you can turn on with a switch? I've noticed that from the "showing property" side of things. Used to be, if you couldn't burn real wood in them, people didn't like them. Now I find everyone looking for "the light switch that turns the fireplace on". I had one listing with a "remote control" for the fireplace. It had so many options, I had the seller write out instructions for how to test it, for the home inspector. Eileen,

Have you noticed that a lot of people seem to prefer gas fireplaces that you can turn on with a switch? I’ve noticed that from the “showing property” side of things. Used to be, if you couldn’t burn real wood in them, people didn’t like them. Now I find everyone looking for “the light switch that turns the fireplace on”.

I had one listing with a “remote control” for the fireplace. It had so many options, I had the seller write out instructions for how to test it, for the home inspector.

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40572 ARDELL Sat, 25 Nov 2006 19:39:49 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40572 I posted a few photos. http://ardell.realtownblogs.com/for-homesellers/untitled/ I think photo #3 sounds like what you have, and #4 is mine with the crown molding tops. Maybe Eileen can talk about the knocking down wall issue. It's not in my normal "toolbox' to suggest knocking down walls to sell a house :-) I think Eileen deals with more investors than I, who do full renovations. I posted a few photos.

http://ardell.realtownblogs.com/for-homesellers/untitled/

I think photo #3 sounds like what you have, and #4 is mine with the crown molding tops.

Maybe Eileen can talk about the knocking down wall issue. It’s not in my normal “toolbox’ to suggest knocking down walls to sell a house :-) I think Eileen deals with more investors than I, who do full renovations.

]]> By: Eileen http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40569 Eileen Sat, 25 Nov 2006 18:16:34 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40569 Hi Martin Sorry I've been away from the computer but I'm waiting for clients, now, so just a quick response to let you know I'm still here. Re:transition strip. I'd router out the oak and make sure the stain matches. If you're using 3/4" hardwood hopefully that won't be too noticable, but if you can find a prefinished thinner product, that would be the best then the transition won't be so noticable. re: Fireplace. I wouldn't do a one legger. In a situation light that, I put on just a heavy mantel (4X6) and stained it (or paint). If you're good with tile, a slate bought from Home Depot will really dress up the front of the fireplace if it's normal brick. Those fireplace walls are really dated. We painted one chalk black (same house as the black shutters) and it looked really sharp, tough I was sure it was a dumb idea. Personally I prefer slate, but that's probably overkill. However, do beef up the mantle. If you're going modern, black would be cool, not shiny black but a dull black. Another cool thing to do with a fireplace wall it to build shelves right on top of the bricks and put a plywood back on them. However, again, I tend to overdo. I actually sold my first fix and flip without a fireplace a couple years ago. I was shocked as I always thought of the fireplace as a major focal point, but it wasn't missed in this house at all. Did you mention that you were replacing cabinets? Let me know. I can refer you to a good cabinet source and she'll measure. She came close to those Home Depot make it yourself cabinets, but they were far better and she has cherry stained and they look great. Re:vinyl. What's the difference between 'actual real linoleum and vinyl? I sure through down some prefinished wood before I'd do vinyl. Tile isn't real popular here.They're here, so gotta go. Hi Martin
Sorry I’ve been away from the computer but I’m waiting for clients, now, so just a quick response to let you know I’m still here.
Re:transition strip. I’d router out the oak and make sure the stain matches. If you’re using 3/4″ hardwood hopefully that won’t be too noticable, but if you can find a prefinished thinner product, that would be the best then the transition won’t be so noticable.
re: Fireplace. I wouldn’t do a one legger. In a situation light that, I put on just a heavy mantel (4X6) and stained it (or paint). If you’re good with tile, a slate bought from Home Depot will really dress up the front of the fireplace if it’s normal brick. Those fireplace walls are really dated. We painted one chalk black (same house as the black shutters) and it looked really sharp, tough I was sure it was a dumb idea. Personally I prefer slate, but that’s probably overkill. However, do beef up the mantle. If you’re going modern, black would be cool, not shiny black but a dull black. Another cool thing to do with a fireplace wall it to build shelves right on top of the bricks and put a plywood back on them. However, again, I tend to overdo. I actually sold my first fix and flip without a fireplace a couple years ago. I was shocked as I always thought of the fireplace as a major focal point, but it wasn’t missed in this house at all. Did you mention that you were replacing cabinets? Let me know. I can refer you to a good cabinet source and she’ll measure. She came close to those Home Depot make it yourself cabinets, but they were far better and she has cherry stained and they look great.
Re:vinyl. What’s the difference between ‘actual real linoleum and vinyl? I sure through down some prefinished wood before I’d do vinyl. Tile isn’t real popular here.They’re here, so gotta go.

]]> By: Martin Stewart http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40388 Martin Stewart Fri, 24 Nov 2006 05:38:31 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/11/get-creative/#comment-40388 Yes there is a dinning room. Is the explanation about the kitchen understandable now? My wife would not allow a gold transition strip any where near the house let alone on the floor. Our question was about the relative levels of the two floors. I brought home a nice aluminum hinged strip left over from a job I was on which looks very space age in design but does not stand out when installed. Or I could make one from a piece of oak and rout out the space where the new vinyl goes. The bathroom was remodeled about three years ago with a new maple sink cabinent, two piece marble countertop and marble backsplash, new white porcelin sink,new toilet, new nice quality vinyl flooring and a new steel tub which has a chip in it allready, new built in medicine chest,nice new window surounds with a wide sill and a new tub suround. All it needs is to have the paint redone and it will look good. I looked at the web site that had the pictures of mantles around the fireplaces. Our fire place is not in the middle of a wall, the brick on the left side goes up against the adjoining wall so there is nowhere to put a wooden mantle leg on both sides like in the pictures I saw. I just have a top made now but it might be good to make a new top and put crown moulding on it and leg on at least the one side where it could be done and then paint it in White Dove. I would be happy to list it for 349 950 Our house has all new copper supply pipe from the meter in, new vinyl windows about 5 years ago, a new roof about 3 years ago painted the exterior about 4 years ago, it has a functional sprinkler system , a nice cedar board and bat garden shed about 9x10, and a front lawn improved by Scotts Lawn Service. Granite tiles on the countertops sounds good Would it make any difference in this house wheather we put in vinyl flooring in the kitchen or actual real linoleum? The crown moulding is something I sugested to my wife as I installed some on cabinets in an assisted living facility I worked on a few years ago. In that case the cieling was at least a foot above the to of cabinents in our case it will be more like 8 inches Yes there is a dinning room.
Is the explanation about the kitchen understandable now?

My wife would not allow a gold transition strip any where near the house let alone on the floor. Our question was about the relative levels of the two floors. I brought home a nice aluminum hinged strip left over from a job I was on which looks very space age in design but does not stand out when installed. Or I could make one from a piece of oak and rout out the space where the new vinyl goes.
The bathroom was remodeled about three years ago with a new maple sink cabinent, two piece marble countertop and marble backsplash, new white porcelin sink,new toilet, new nice quality vinyl flooring and a new steel tub which has a chip in it allready, new built in medicine chest,nice new window surounds with a wide sill and a new tub suround. All it needs is to have the paint redone and it will look good.
I looked at the web site that had the pictures of mantles around the fireplaces. Our fire place is not in the middle of a wall, the brick on the left side goes up against the adjoining wall so there is nowhere to put a wooden mantle leg on both sides like in the pictures I saw. I just have a top made now but it might be good to make a new top and put crown moulding on it and leg on at least the one side where it could be done and then paint it in White Dove.

I would be happy to list it for 349 950

Our house has all new copper supply pipe from the meter in, new vinyl windows about 5 years ago, a new roof about 3 years ago painted the exterior about 4 years ago, it has a functional sprinkler system , a nice cedar board and bat garden shed about 9×10, and a front lawn improved by Scotts Lawn Service.
Granite tiles on the countertops sounds good
Would it make any difference in this house wheather we put in vinyl flooring in the kitchen or actual real linoleum?
The crown moulding is something I sugested to my wife as I installed some on cabinets in an assisted living facility I worked on a few years ago. In that case the cieling was at least a foot above the to of cabinents in our case it will be more like 8 inches

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