As for covenants, there are some on the shortplat calling for — as Kary noted — roof/painting. We overlay that with an eight page document that our attorney writes for each project which hopefully covers more of the eventualities. Sort of like the CCR’s for a planned development like Mill Creek with some design covenants and “no blue tarp” rules.

I own a condo and I really dislike being part of an association — too many cooks in the kitchen. I want to spend money to maintain and upgrade, and most owners want to just do the bare minimum. Like those neighborhoods of neglected ramblers. I’d rather take care of my own spaces like we can do with the zero lotlines.

To me it’s just a single family home. Some are attached and some aren’t. You get to paint your front door whatever color you want. Plant whatever you want. Just like any other neighborhood with no covenants to me.

Same for future value issues. Some houses have deferred maintenance and some don’t. Not any different than a neighborhood of old ramblers really.

Does being afraid of them go back to having an aversion to “messy” neighbors What do you do in any neighborhood where an owner doesn’t mow their grass, has weeds, has rotted eaves and a patched roof?

Some people like a neighborhood where the neighbors get to dictate to one another regarding home maintenance issues. Others like the freedom of being restricted only by City regs.

One unit I saw in Seattle had covenants that required the unit exteriors to be painted every 10 years. That just doesn’t seem like a very good way to run things.

I do it (not just advise) myself, but I am not equipped to bring in furniture other than a few items. In the Bryant house in the top two photos, Kim and I brought in the table and matching coffee table, but I hurt myself and had the homeowner help Kim in with the big glass table top once we got to the house. Looking at those two photos, I brought in the pictures and the candles and the flowers and the small things on top of the kitchen cabinets. The sofa, chair and globe/bar are the owners. I use what I can of theirs and add.

In the lower photos at the townhome, I brought two carloads of stuff, but the furniture, except for two bar stools that I bought specifically for that townhouse, is the owners. I made the arrangement of silverdolars on the bureau and put the wreath up over the bed to soften the starkness of the purple.

The owners and I work together until we have it the way we want it.

Here are the rest of the photos in the Zillow links. oops…Zillow is down. I’ll try later.

I’m not equipped to do a vacant from empty to fully furnished, though I have done some blow up beds with bedding and things we can carry without a big truck. We have two round glass tables. Both are “out” at properties I have a Meadowview coming up next Wednesday and will be staging that on Monday.

I don’t show before and after photos, as I find that to be insulting to the homeowner. I only show the after shots.

In the second photo you can see how placing pictures and things on each wall in sequence, you create “depth” and a 3d effect to the flat photography.

Stagiong is NOT “decorating”, and that is the hardest thing to explain to owners, and even to some stagers. You enhance the real estate…you don’t decorate a room. You have to be able to see “the forest for the trees”.

Again, I appreciate your comments. It’s hard work. Probably the hardest part of the listing for me, and very rewarding when people take notice. Thanks!

I don’t like Redfin any more than Coldwell Banker…I just don’t like them any LESS either…and neither should YOU. Refusing to spell their name correctly tells us all we need to know about you…and that is just SO WRONG!

The closest the Eastide comes to Seattle as to building townhomes is here in Downtown Kirkland where they similarly and sometimes take an individual SFH lot and put a couple of townhomes on it. I’ll check if those are SFH when they finish or condos. Otherwise they are most often condos and more than 20 units.

We do have what I call “twin” single family developments…a couple. One in Kirkland and ne in Bellevue. Two units, one party wall, separated lot parcels. The Bellevue one runs like a condo with high dues and a pool, etc. The other runs like single family with no HOA maintenance of the units and dues of $50 or so a month for common areas. Those are included in the Residential Stats, though most agents list them as both Residential and Condo.

The difference is the value and availability of large parcels of land. Downtown Kirkland…NOT. Most of Seattle…NOT. No room to put a lot of units and common amenities translates into non-condo, most of the time.

Now I seriously have to get dressed for my Broker’s Open in Bryant. See ya there!