Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

real estate

Prepping Your Garden for Fall

As the leaves change color, signaling the winding down of the growing season, it's time to ensure your garden finishes strong and gets ready for winter. Take the necessary steps to prepare all areas of your landscape for the colder months. This comprehensive checklist covers essential fall outdoor chores that will leave your plants, lawns, and gardens well-prepared.

Start by giving some tender loving care to your permanent plantings, including trees, shrubs, and perennials. Clean up your vegetable garden, and make sure everything is set for the winter ahead. Take the time to winterize your lawn to protect it during the colder months.

By completing these fall gardening tasks, you'll free up more time in the spring for planting vibrant vegetables and colorful blooms. Instead of being overwhelmed with cleanup tasks and searching for garden tools, you can leisurely browse seed catalogs while you plan next year's garden. Follow this fall gardening tips and checklist, tackling a couple of tasks each day, and you'll have your yard ready for winter in no time.

Setting Records in Kitsap County: So Many Buyers. So Few Homes.

Karen Keefe Summertime.jpg
 

According to real estate experts, record low-interest rates combined with a robust demand for homes in Kitsap County despite a pandemic-fueled economic downturn are making available homes a highly coveted commodity. That frenzy is pushing the market to record territory. Kitsap's median single-family home price surged from $383,500 last year to $428,193 in July, the highest level ever. Homes for sale now average less than one month on the market. In many cases, they sell far more quickly.

“I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s mindboggling. If you’re a buyer, you need to be prepared to compete for homes. If you’re a seller, you better be ready to move quickly.”
— Irene Garcia, President of the Kitsap Association of Realtors

New to Market: Charming Cabin at Haven Lake

41 NE Haven Court
Tahuya, Washington 98588

1 Bedrooms / 1 Bathroom / 480 Sqft / Offered at $425,000

Serenity awaits you at the cabin on Haven Lake. This charming lakefront getaway features swimming, fishing, kayaking, and a private dock on 50' of medium-bank waterfront. Open floorplan with a cozy wood stove and space that would nicely host a Murphy Bed. Additional 200 sq ft. building for guests, hobbies, office. Surrounded by native landscaping with an expansive covered deck for relaxing or parties. Enjoy the evening fire pit on cozy summer nights.

ash-blaze-bonfire-burn-266436.jpg

Testimonial: What my clients are saying

3831 Portside Dr.jpg
“ Karen was fantastic! She spent a lot of time working with us long distance in the beginning and then when we moved to the area she showed us houses on three occasions, including December 23rd. She is a very professional lady and cares about being transparent with her clients. Months after the sale and amidst the chaos that is Covid-19, Karen checked on my wife while I was away at work and offered to go grocery shopping becuase my wife was six months pregnant. That says it all right there. Highly recommend that you use her! Karen, we will use you again if we sell this house! ”
— Will Tucker

Governer Inslee Relaxes Coronavirus Order | Staying Safe

winter wreath door.jpeg

According to the Seattle Times, “it came as a surprise to some Seattle-area real estate brokers when Gov. Jay Inslee on Saturday modified his statewide stay-at-home order to allow most real estate activity to continue unhindered — even in-person showings, provided proper social distance is maintained.”

The new order says that “in-person showings can go ahead as long as no more than two people are touring a home at once, and it clarifies that home inspections, appraisals and final walk-throughs are allowed to proceed.”

While we’re all trying to keep business moving forward, Windermere and myself specifically, are working to stay safe and to keep our clients safe as well. To do that, I’ve been offering online walk-throughs of homes and working to showcase listings with beautiful photography and smashing videography; basically trying to keep my home buyers and home sellers safe.

Wash Your Hands to Your Favorite Song

person-washing-his-hand-545014.jpg

With the outbreak of coronavirus affecting so many areas of our lives, one of the simplest ways to keep yourself and others safe is by washing your hands. The Today Show has a list of songs that are the best for counting the required 20 seconds of hand washing. Mine is definately number 3…

...*hums “Jolene”…

Kitchens: Design with Style

Our spending on kitchen remodeling continues to rise, according to a study on Kitchen Trends by Houzz.com. The median spend on the kitchen was $35,000 last year, a 17% rise compared with kitchen remodels of 2018. Nearly every homeowner changes something about the cabinetry (94%). While most choose to replace all cabinets (68%), one in four opts for partial cabinet upgrades (27%). And of course, refinishing the cabinets’ exterior is the most popular partial upgrade (64%).

While the farmhouse styling has started to ebb, modern style marches forward with the trend leaning toward kitchen islands as a unique design piece. Check out the full report before you start your kitchen remodel.