Archive for November 2008

How To Winterize Your Home

Prepare For Winter
The fall Equinox is a good time of year to start thinking about preparing your home for winter, because as temperatures begin to dip, your home will require maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape through the winter.
Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts. Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly. Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat. If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them. Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds. If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote. Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home. Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing. Check the mortar between bricks and tuck-point, if necessary
Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them. Use weather stripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows. Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood. If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields. Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.

If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams. Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home. Replace worn roof shingles or tiles. Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris. Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.
Drain gas from lawnmowers. Service or tune-up snow blowers. Replace worn rakes and snow shovels. Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment. Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.

Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation. Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house. Tuck-point or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime. Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation. Secure crawlspace entrances.
Some cities require a smoke detector in every room. Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends. Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work. Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.

Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency. Drain all garden hoses. Insulate exposed plumbing pipes. Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off. If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.
Sincerely, George, Vicki, Meri and Juli Rinehart
Rinehart Inspection Services, LLC
Email: g_rinehart@hotmail.com
Phone: 206 901-1549

Great homes under 300K

Looking for a bargin in the Renton area?



Here are a few that you might want to look at.



3 Bed 2 Bath Condo $199,950
Beautiful top floor condo recently remodeled. Features include new flooring, designer paint, light fixtures and stainless steel appliances. You will love the open kitchen; large master bedroom with walk-in closet; vaulted ceiling, and view of greenbelt. Stackable washer and dryer and all appliances are included. Convenient to the freeways and shopping. Club house with an outdoor pool, athletic court, play ground. Perfect for the first time home buyer wanting an upscale home. 1 year AHS Warranty.


3 Bed 2 Bath Condo $214,950
Very attractive, very clean, and very well priced end unit condo! Well positioned in the building close to both reserved & open parking, & only 8 steps to the unit. All appliances inc. washer/dryer stay, wood burning fireplace never used, and granite top on the pony wall between LR & DR. Five mins. to Southcenter, 12 mins. to Bellevue, new shopping down Sunset, & close to Gene Coulan Waterfront Park, which has a Lake Washington boat launch minutes away.

1 Bed 1 Bath Condo $229,900
The builder is offering 6% towards closing costs. Also, the Renton city portion of the real estate property taxes is waived for the first ten years. $100 earnest money and early move-in programs available. Certificate of occupancy as of 10/29/08





3 Bed 2.5 Bath Tri-Level $299,900
Must see VALUE! 3 bedroom / 3 bathroom home on nearly a half acre (that backs up to a green belt) offering a remodeled kitchen, an efficient & comfortable layout, large living room & family room, and a fully fenced yard with a deck / hot tub / outbuilding storage. Don't miss this opportunity to live near Tiffany Park! Enjoy!



3Bed 1 Bath 1 Story $219,000
This is one of the largest lots in the Highlands! Lots of room for pets, kid's play toys, gardening, home addition or shop. Nice sunny rambler with attached garage converted to 3rd bedroom/bonus room. Fully fenced back/side yards. RV parking also. Sq ft does not include converted garage. Thermopane windows throughout. Situated on quiet street. Close to schools, shopping and freeways for fast commute to downtown Seattle, airport, Boeing and Bellevue. Great condo alternative with fantastic yard!

And that is just a few of the 100 homes that I found out there. If you would like a larger & more detailed list e-mailed to you. Just Click Here.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

How Staging Can Help You Sell Faster

With more homes on the market competing for buyers, there's been more demand than ever for the services of home "stagers" who are trained to maximize a home's appeal to a wide variety of buyers. Barb Schwarz, CEO of StagedHomes.com and a pioneer in the field, believes proper staging can dramatically improve the prospects of a home sale.
The idea of staging, Schwarz told U.S. News & World Report, is to create a look that allows buyers to "mentally move in"--to envision themselves living in the home. Here are six fundamental secrets home stagers rely on:
+ Create a well-maintained, inviting exterior. That means rake, mow, weed, power wash, trim and plant. Remove overgrown and dead or dying plants, toys, equipment and yard decorations that may not be to everyone's taste.
+ De-clutter. Pare down visible possessions--furniture, knick-knacks, decorations, countertop items--to the bare minimum. Be sure to remove photographs and personal items. De-clutter to the point where rooms feel somewhat empty and traffic flows easily through each living area. Schwarz notes that you're not selling your things; you're selling your space. And that's what buyers need to feel part of. Ultimately, you are simply packing early.
+ Balance hard and soft surfaces. Too many hard surfaces--flooring, wood furniture, tile, countertops, shutters, cabinets, etc.--make a space feel heavy. Too many soft surfaces--upholstered items, carpets and rugs, draperies, pillows, throws, linens--create an insubstantial feel.
+ Arrange by ones or threes. A single item on a small table top is sufficient, while three complementary items arranged together in a triangle on a larger table or other flat surface adds interest. Going beyond three items risks cluttering the look.
+ Create views with a room. Doorways are where visitors get their first impression of each room in your home. Make changes to rooms--furniture arrangements, artwork placement, etc.--based on what you see from the door leading in.
+ Go for "Q-Tip clean." Schwarz emphasized the need for your home to be immaculate, even to the point of using cotton swabs to clean corners and other hard-to-reach places.
I know of lots of other staging tricks that pump up a home's appeal. Feel free to call me to find out more!

Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Mens room makeover.

One thing I love about remodeling is that you are able to do all most anything now. They are coming out with ether cool new sinks, great tile ideas or crazy lighting. Here is a great example of letting your mind go crazy and coming up with something fun.


Edge Designs is an all-women run company that designs interior office space. They had a Recent opportunity to do an office project in NYC. The client allowed the women of this Company a free hand in all design aspects. The client was a company that was also Run by all women execs.............

The result.........well.....

We all know that men never talk, never look at each other....

And never laugh much in the restroom....

The men's room is a serious and quiet place...

But now...

with the addition of one mural On the wall......

lets just say the men's Restroom is a place of laughter and smiles.

And they say women don't have a sense of humor.

Tips For Reducing The Chance of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In The Home

With the winter months ahead, many of us will be turning up the heat. If you have fuel-burning heat appliances in your home, including woodstoves, fireplaces, kerosene heaters, and/or oil and natural gas furnaces, you may be at risk for Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning.
A colorless and odorless gas, CO can accumulate when--as a result of improper installation, poor maintenance or damage to an appliance—the fuel in use is not burned properly, or when rooms are poorly ventilated and the gas is unable to escape.

To help reduce the chance of CO poisoning in your home, the Home Safety Council recommends the following precautions and practices:

  • Install at least one CO alarm in your home, specifically near sleeping areas.
  • Ventilate the room when using a kerosene space heater.
  • Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune-up the central heating system each year and repair any leaks or other defects.
  • Open the flue before you build a fire in the fireplace.
  • Have a trained professional inspect chimneys each year and have any cracks repaired before using the fireplace.
  • Install and use wood-burning stoves according to manufacturers' directions and in compliance with local building and safety code requirements.
  • Keep gas appliances properly vented, adjusted and serviced.
  • Never use a range or oven to heat your home.
  • Never use a gas barbecue grill or generator inside your home or in a closed garage.
  • If you have an attached garage, don't leave the car running inside the garage, even with the door open.
  • Should your CO detector alert you to an increased level of carbon monoxide, turn off all heat sources and gas appliances, open windows and evacuate the home. Contact the fire department.
  • CO detectors detect dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. They are not substitutes for smoke alarms. Likewise, smoke alarms detect smoke from a fire, but they are not designed to warn you of dangerous CO levels.

Lonnie Snyder

REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Wanting to look at houses.

One good way to start to know what prices are and how homes are looking is to get out there and look at them. Take notes, see what you like or dislike about the kitchen or the layout of a house. This will help you to find the home of your dreams when it is time to buy.

Here is a list of open houses in Renton for Sunday.
Click Here To View Them.
These link will open a new window so you might need to hold down your "Ctrl" key when you click on it.If there is any other areas you would like posted or email to you please let me know.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Get your winter attire ready.

Making The Seasonal Clothing Switch
"Sweater weather" is around the corner. There's no better time than now to organize your wardrobe for the cooler seasons ahead.
Before you put away your warm-weather outfits, divide them into two piles: one for newer or in-good-shape items you'll want to wear next spring/summer (those will go to the back of your closet), and the other for things you know you'll never wear again. If you find something you haven't worn in at least two seasons, it definitely belongs in the "must go" pile.
Make sure the clothes you are storing have been laundered or dry cleaned. If stains are left untreated, you may find them hard, if not impossible, to remove later. Store out-of-season clothes in clear garment bags, under-bed storage boxes, stackable storage chests (with cedar blocks tucked in, if necessary, to repel moths), or vacuum packs for long-term storage and space saving.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

How To Clean Wallpaper

Maybe you've just noticed the constellation of grease spatters behind your stovetop, or maybe you just can't remember the last time you cleaned the wallpaper in your bathroom. There are many different kinds of wallpaper out there with a variety of finishes, so it's best to follow the cleaning recommendations of your wallpaper's manufacturer.
But there are a few basic guidelines:
1. Try to stay on top of the task. Wipe up stains as quickly as possible, before the spatter has a chance to permanently stain or discolor your paper.
2. Choose a mild soap and warm water to attack ordinary dirt. When you've lifted the dirt, rinse the wall with clean water. Go back and blot up the water with a lint-free towel. If the stain isn't budging, you may be able to use a stronger detergent. Be sure to test the detergent first on an out-of-the-way spot. Again, you'll need rinse the paper after using detergent.
3. Hold the elbow grease. Now is not the time to rub spots aggressively. You may end up with discolored paper. The same holds true for solvent-type cleaners like nail polish remover and abrasives like steel wool, scouring pads or powdered cleansers. All of these can damage your wallpaper.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Funny Things Kids Say

You will love this. Even if you have seen this before..you'll still grin alot.
Kids Are Quick
____________________________________
TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America .
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ?
CLASS: Maria.
____________________________________
TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
__________________________________________
TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.
____________________________________________
TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.
__________________________________

TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!__________________________________________
TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
_______________________________________

TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with 'I.'
MILLIE: I is..
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am.'
MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.'
________________________________
TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand.
______________________________________
TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.
______________________________
TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, sir. It's the same dog.
___________________________________
TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher
__________________________________

Have a great day.

What To Do When The Lights Go Out

Whether the culprit is weather or an energy shortage, power outages can be a real nuisance. Here are a few tips from the American Red Cross to help you get through:
Only use a flashlight for emergency lighting. Never use candles!
Turn off electrical equipment you were using when the power went out.
Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer. If you use medication that requires refrigeration, most can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.
Do not run a generator inside a home or garage. If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system.
Listen to local radio and television for updated information.
How To Be PreparedAssemble essential supplies, including:
Flashlight
Batteries
Portable radio
Bottled water and some canned, non-perishable food
Remember: Your cordless phone won't work during an outage. Be sure to have at least one conventional phone in your home in case of emergency.
Additional Reminders
 If you use a computer, keep files and operating systems backed up regularly. Consider buying extra batteries and a power converter if you use a laptop computer. A power converter allows most laptops (12 volts or less) to be operated from the cigarette lighter of a vehicle. Get a high-quality surge protector or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for all of your computer equipment.
 If you have an electric garage door opener, know where the manual release lever is located and learn how to operate it. If you regularly use the garage as the primary means of entering your home upon return from work, be sure to keep a key to your house with you, in case the garage door will not open.
 Keep your car fuel tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.
 Leave one light turned on, so you'll know when your power returns.
 Keep in mind that equipment such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and elevators may not work during a power outage.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710
E-Mail : snyder@kw.com
Website: http://www.callsnyder.com/
Blogsite: http://renton-real-estate.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington’s Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

What Is Asbestos?

This article is about the properties of asbestos and what to do if it is found in a home. We hope that this information is useful and we appreciate the opportunity to relate information about homes to you.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber found in rocks, of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibers. There are several kinds of asbestos fibers, all of which are fire resistant and not easily destroyed or degraded by natural processes. The fibers are strong, durable, and resistant to heat and fire. They are also long, thin and flexible, so that they can even be woven into cloth, because of these qualities, asbestos has been used in thousands of consumer, industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and building products. The above photo shows a typical asbestos insulated heating pipe found in older homes. During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of asbestos have been used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the United States. There are several types of asbestos fibers, of which three have been used for commercial applications: (1) Chrysotile, or white asbestos, comes mainly from Canada, and has been very widely used in the US. It is white-gray in color and found in serpentine rock. (2) Amosite, or brown asbestos, comes from southern Africa. (3) Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, comes from southern Africa and Australia.
Is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos has been shown to cause cancer of the lung and stomach according to studies of workers and others exposed to asbestos. There is no level of exposure to asbestos fibers that experts can assure is completely safe. Some asbestos materials can break into small fibers which can float in the air and these fibers can be inhaled. The tiny fibers are so small they can not be seen with the naked eye. They can pass through the filters of normal vacuum cleaners and get back into the air. Once inhaled, asbestos fibers can become lodged in tissue for a long time. After many years cancer or mesothelioma can develop.
How To Tell If Asbestos Is In A Home.
People who have frequently worked with asbestos (such as plumbers, building contractors or heating contractors) often are able to make a reasonable judgment about whether or not a material contains asbestos on a visual inspection. Many professional home inspectors also can make a reasonable visual judgment. To be absolutely certain, an industrial hygienist would have to make the identification.
What To Do About Asbestos In The Home.
In most cases, asbestos containing materials are best left alone. When it is necessary to disturb asbestos, you should contact a licensed asbestos contractor. You can also obtain a copy of Asbestos in the Home published by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (800- 638-2772) which discusses the situation and makes recommendations. Remember, do not dust, sweep, or vacuum particles suspected of containing asbestos fibers.

For more information about asbestos, visit our website at http://www.rinehartinspections.com and click "Useful Information."
email: g_rinehart@hotmail.com
phone: (206) 901-1549

Appropriate wages ...

Hey Guy’s,

I thought this was truer than we want to think.

A man owned a small farm in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Provincial Wage & Hours Department claimed he was not paying proper wages to his help and sent an agent out to interview him."I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them," demanded the agent.

"Well," replied the farmer, "there's my farm hand who's been with me for three years. I pay him $200 a week plus free room and board. The cook has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $150 per week plus free room and board.

Then there's the half-wit. He works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per week, pays his own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every Saturday night. He also sleeps with my wife occasionally."

"That's the guy I want to talk to... the half-wit," says the agent.

"That would be me," replied the farmer.



Thank you, and have a grand day!
Michael A. Marinelli [Mike]
General Manager Commercial Metal Recycling
Office: (253) 833-4146 Ext 104
General Fax: (253) 833-4148
Private Fax: (253) 638-0822