Your Home Needs Annual Check-Ups too!

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Miranda Merritt
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1 Your Home Needs Annual Check-Ups too! Dear Friend, October 2011 Welcome to Fall a wonderful (and important) time of year to give your property a check -up to be sure that it is as safe and healthy as possible. Deferring home maintenance can be risky even small issues often have the potential to become more serious in a heartbeat. And what might have been a simple do it yourself cleanup or weekend project can become expensive if the issue is allowed to worsen, requiring an expert to actually resolve it. (It is important to note here that homeowners insurance does not cover repairs that become necessary as a result of normal use and aging.) This month, I want to remind you about the preventive maintenance that we all can do to hopefully avoid those unforeseen, and frequently urgent, costs. You will see a two-page document from the American Society of Home Inspectors that will give you a list of things to check (and when), both inside your home and out. And at the bottom of this page, you will find a summarized reminder list of all of the resources that we have available for you if you need help with any of these items. Every time we refer these resources, we follow up and ask for feedback so that, going forward, we can give you the best possible experience with anyone we recommend. I consider helping you keep your home in good condition and protecting your investment an important component of the service I am committed to delivering to you. What kind of preventive maintenance resources do we have for you? A snapshot of the vendor types we have appears below. I would like to tell you we already have someone for everything you might possibly need, but that s not quite accurate. What we do have is an extensive list of resources, and we are always refining it. If you need a resource that we do not already have, we will go to the trusted resources we do have in a related field. They will have first-hand knowledge of the more specialized vendors who likely offer what you need. We are happy to do that it helps you with what you need and continues to expand our level of service. So please ask and keep asking! We enjoy hearing from you Crawlspace work Licensed Contractors Chimney Cleaning Chimney Repair Inspectors Interior Painters Exterior Painters Gutter Repair Gutter Cleaners Roof Cleaners Roofers Window Cleaners House Cleaners Window Replacement Garage Door Repair Electricians Plumbers Heating System Service Septic Inspection Septic Pumping Landscapers Tree Service Air Quality Mold Remediation Pest Treatment Remember that your car may also need a checkup, new tires, new washer fluid, etc Oh yes! A quick tip from one of our inspectors. Ever wonder why your lovely white wall heaters tend to get black over time? The heat meets the dust that has built up on the louvers and incinerates it to black. To avoid it, all you need to do is vacuum them once in a while. So what else do I have for you? The flyer will give you some basic guidelines on budgeting, and a simple process to eliminate debt from credit cards and loans in a fraction of the time it would traditionally take, all with the goal of achieving financial freedom. If you re like millions of Americans, Christine Estes Chris@GroupEstes.com AN AFFILIATE OF THE IRWIN GROUP Group Estes Realty NE Novelty Hill Road Suite B-221, #402 Redmond WA 98053

2 you dream of the day when you will be debt free. Even for those fortunate enough to have retained their jobs, the economic recession has prompted many families to restrict spending in order to take control of their finances, pay down outstanding debt and make saving a priority. In fact, the average household debt has fallen over 8.2% since its peak in 2008.* For many people, eliminating household debt may feel unattainable; however, with the right tools, anyone can take control of their spending and begin to build wealth. *Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit: May 2011 We have quarterly market numbers for you too. The short version, as you know if you ve been tracking our earlier updates this year, is that 2011 is not seeing stability in pricing. Average sale prices are down quarter-over-quarter across the King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. The more positive notes are visible when you look at the annual numbers, where we can compare 2011 yearto-date with 2010, all the way back to 2002 actually... And here you will see that we are seeing levels of inventory that reflect a market that is continuing to balance. In some areas, properties are taking a little longer to sell, however, when you re talking about +6 days (that would be for Seattle Metro) a change from 83 to 89 days to get a contract that is certainly not a harbinger of doom! Most areas are relatively the same, although the Eastside is actually down 18 days (from 125 days in 2010 to 107). Pricing, however, is struggling. While the inventory levels reflect balance, the number of distressed properties is evident in the average pricing levels. Even Seattle and the Eastside are now below 2005 pricing levels and Snohomish and Pierce are now below 2004 levels. I can tell you that sellers surrounded by distressed properties, where the distressed ones are the majority, are needing to comply with those pricing levels to sell. Sellers, where distressed properties are still the minority, are able to sell at levels that are not as affected by the distressed properties. Either way, buyers are still able to exercise a remarkable amount of clout as they pursue the right property for them! As always, we like to give you an idea of the breadth of resources that we have available to you in our vendor database. This month s five highlighted vendors follow: Spotlight Vendors for October Debbie Pinney - Morning Glory Services, Inc dpinney@wildblue.net Personal Concierge Services, Resume Doctor Toni Cross - Seasonal Color Pots toni@seasonalcolorpots.com Landscape Pots John Woodford - Woodford Electric WoodfordElectric@aol.com Electrical Brian Ahrens - Ahrens Company Appraisal Services brian@ahrensco.com Appraiser Salley Anderson - Apulent Catering Caterer Thank you for reading! Please do share this information with your family or friends who want to improve their financial security. And please be sure they also give their homes an annual check-up! And if you have any questions or would like more information, do give me a call, text or . Sincerely, Always looking for more ways to be of service if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service I provide, please call or me with their name and business number, and I ll be happy to follow up and take great care of them. Page 2 of 2

Imagine having the money to live comfortably, take a dream vacation, pay for your child s education and maintain your lifestyle during retirement.

day and alleviate the stress you feel every month when you pay your bills. 58% of Americans track their spending against a monthly budget. Source: Bankrate.

If you can t pay for it on-the-spot, then you should wait to buy it until you have saved the cash.

Though it may feel overwhelming, a spending plan is necessary in order to meet your short- and long-term financial goals.

List all of your irregular expenses. These expenses are due throughout the year, including taxes, car maintenance and vacations. 3.

B s are needs you can be more efficient with, like utilities or groceries. C s are wants. 5. Total your expenses and compare them to your net income.

Save: Paying Yourself First Make it automatic.

3 Imagine having the money to live comfortably, take a dream vacation, pay for your child s education and maintain your lifestyle during retirement. For many, financial freedom may seem like a pipedream; however, by adhering to a spending plan (budget), it is possible to eliminate debt, save for a rainy day and alleviate the stress you feel every month when you pay your bills. 58% of Americans track their spending against a monthly budget. Source: Bankrate.com How to Achieve Financial Freedom If you have to finance it, you can t afford it. The only exceptions to this rule are homes and cars. If you can t pay for it on-the-spot, then you should wait to buy it until you have saved the cash. Budget: Spending Money on Purpose To achieve financial freedom, you must create an intentional spending plan and stick with it. Though it may feel overwhelming, a spending plan is necessary in order to meet your short- and long-term financial goals. Get a clear picture of your current financial situation: 1. List all of your fixed expenses, such as utilities, groceries and debt payments. 2. List all of your irregular expenses. These expenses are due throughout the year, including taxes, car maintenance and vacations. 3. Every other expense is discretionary spending. This includes shopping and your daily gourmet coffee run. 4. A, B, C your expenses. A s are needs. B s are needs you can be more efficient with, like utilities or groceries. C s are wants. 5. Total your expenses and compare them to your net income. If your expenses total more than your income, then it s time to reassess your spending habits and make cuts from your B s and C s. Save: Paying Yourself First Make it automatic. Sign up for your bank s automatic transfer program and move a percentage of your paycheck to your savings account each payday. Ask for discounts. For example, ask your insurance company about discounts that you may qualify for, which can lead to savings on your premium. Think before you buy. To resist impulse buys, wait 24 hours to buy an item. It may turn out that you do not need it after all Buffini & Company. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. LGK OCTOBER IOV S

Christine Estes The average American with a credit file has over $16,635 in debt, excluding a mortgage.

com Group Estes Realty 23515 NE Novelty Hill Rd Ste B-221, #402 Redmond, WA 98053 206-910-7926 Most loan payments are calculated using compounding interest,

Although it s designed to work against you, it is possible to pay off the loan three to four times faster with minimal additional cost to you, just by

To pay your loan off quickly, double, triple or quadruple your principal, or magic number each month.

* If you have outstanding balances on two or more credit cards, use the rollover formula to pay them off. and pay the minimum on the rest. VISA 21.

9% $25 Monthly = Total Monthly Payments minimum amount you were paying on the card with the second highest interest rate. DISCOVER CARD 17.

4 Christine Estes The average American with a credit file has over $16,635 in debt, excluding a mortgage. Source: US News and World Report Loans Chris@GroupEstes.com Group Estes Realty NE Novelty Hill Rd Ste B-221, #402 Redmond, WA Most loan payments are calculated using compounding interest, which is the interest that is added to the principal of the loan each month that the balance is outstanding, causing you to pay interest on interest. Although it s designed to work against you, it is possible to pay off the loan three to four times faster with minimal additional cost to you, just by knowing your magic number. Your magic number is the portion of your monthly payment that goes to pay the principal. To pay your loan off quickly, double, triple or quadruple your principal, or magic number each month. Eliminate Debt Credit Cards The average credit cardholder has 3.5 cards.* If you have outstanding balances on two or more credit cards, use the rollover formula to pay them off. and pay the minimum on the rest. VISA 21.9% $45 Monthly = $145 Total + *Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston DISCOVER CARD 17.9% $35 Monthly + MASTERCARD 11.9% $25 Monthly = Total Monthly Payments minimum amount you were paying on the card with the second highest interest rate. DISCOVER CARD 17.9% $35 Monthly +$145 = Total + MASTERCARD 11.9% $25 Monthly = Total Monthly Payments the third card, etc. until you have paid off all of your credit cards. MASTERCARD 11.9% $25 Monthly = Total = Total Monthly Payments Congratulations, you ve eliminated your credit card debt. Now apply your payment to your monthly savings. Tips to Help You Stick to Your Budget to know where your money is going. Enlist a friend or loved one to help you remain accountable to your budget. Imagine how you ll feel when you ve paid off your debt and have achieved financial freedom.

to Renovation Financing

YOUR GUIDE to Renovation Financing IT S MORE THAN A MORTGAGE It Can Be Your Custom Home If you re shopping for a home, you likely have a wish list and with each house you enter, you re wondering if you