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SeattlebyDesign | Condos & Lofts, Houseboats, Waterfront, & Residential Real EstateSeattlebyDesign | Condos & Lofts, Houseboats, Waterfront, & Residential Real Estate

(206) 790-7874

Reviving Your Lawn After Winter

Image of a stressed lawn.
Frozen grass requires reviving your lawn after winter.

If you have prepared your lawn for winter, it will be that much easier to revitalize it in spring. But even if you haven’t, reviving your lawn after winter is a straightforward process. It will take some time and effort, though, so flex your green thumbs and learn how to bring back your Seattle lawn into shape.

Stages of lawn care after winter

Just as your home requires spring cleaning, your lawn craves attention after cold, snowy months. Mid-March is the optimal time to start reviving your lawn, although you should wait for a few dry days in a row to begin. Put the following lawn care tasks on your checklist:

● Raking
● Mowing
● Overseeding
● Aerating
● Weeding
● Fertilizing
● Watering

Timely preparation implies inspecting your gardening tools and confirming they’re in good working order. The best way to ensure every tool is functional and ready for the spring season is to learn the right way to store it over winter. Cleaning the tools and emptying fuel and oil containers is as necessary as dry and clean storage space. Which tools will you need?

● Lawn rake
● Slit seeder
● Manual core aerator (spike aerator) or aerating machine
● Long-handled weed puller
● Push mower, power mower, or mulching mower
● Soaker hoses, drip irrigation system, sprinklers, rainwater collecting system

Service the mower and repair all other tools that have visible signs of wear and tear. The perfect time to do it is while the temperatures are still low. Don’t let the spring surprise you!

Starting a spring cleanup: Raking

As soon as you can tie three dry days by the end of February or the beginning of March, start raking. By the time temperatures have risen enough to start gardening, your lawn should have exposed any potential problems like snow mold and thin spots.

A man and a girl rake the lawn.
Vigorous raking serves to remove the thatch and eliminate moss.

Thatch build-up is responsible for fungal diseases like pink and gray snow mold. Removing the mold is not only important for restoring the infected lawn patches but also for preventing allergic reactions. Although the snow mold dies out when temperatures go up, you can dispose of it sooner. Raking helps revive your lawn after winter by allowing it to dry sooner.

Overseeding bare spots

Raking should give you a clear picture of thin spots on your lawn and break down any large chunks of soil. The empty patches will develop in places where the grass died due to freezing or drowning. Even though you can’t influence how weather impacts your lawn, you can refresh the bare spots by overseeding them.
And although you don’t need any tools to do so, a slit seeder will expedite germination and increase its success. When overseeding your lawn, use native grass seed blends. Choosing Northwest-adapted varieties of grasses like Fescue or Kentucky Bluegrass also improves your home’s energy efficiency by preserving water and fuel used for mowing. Should you need to replace the larger parts of the lawn, resodding service in the Seattle area costs between $1.53 and $1.85 per square foot, depending on the lawn size.

Aerating your lawn

Aeration will loosen the soil and allow the water and oxygen to reach the grassroots through aeration holes. Otherwise, if the soil is already too wet, aeration will help it dry. All you need to do is insert a spike aerator in the ground and wiggle it slightly to raise the soil.

A man inserting a garden fork in the ground.
If done on time, aeration will increase the success rate of compost and fertilizers.

Repeat the process at about every 6 inches until you aerate the whole surface of the lawn. Aerating takes time if your lawn is too big and you do it manually, but you have an option to partner with professionals. Aeration services in the Seattle area range from $80 to $120 per 1,000 square feet of lawn surface.

Fighting weeds and pests

There are a couple of ways to combat weeds in spring. By overseeding and growing a dense lawn, you bring in healthy competition. Use the weed puller to extract stubborn weeds’ roots. Bear in mind that it’s a lot easier to pull them out while the soil is still wet. The last resort is pesticides but be cautious when using chemical weed killers.

According to Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), improper lawn care in Seattle is responsible for the pollution of streams and excessive water consumption. If you do need to use weed killers and pesticides, apply the chemicals in the dosage recommended by the producer and spread it directly over the weed patches.

Grubs vs. Birds

Weeds are not the only ones interested in your lawn in spring. After the winter fasting, your lawn may become a feasting ground for crows and other birds. The good news is that birds will eliminate Chafer beetles and other harmful insects. The downside is that they leave ugly 1-inch holes behind and damage the roots. Metaphorically speaking, you can kill two birds with one stone if you eliminate grubs in the first place.

Chafer beetles have one more natural enemy – nematodes. However, the problem is that you can apply nematodes only once the temperatures rise significantly – in July. So, if you have a grub-infested lawn, prepare on time. Keep your lawn aerated, dethatched, and healthy. Purchase nematodes from April through June in a local gardening center. In the summer, apply nematodes as instructed by the producer and water the lawn regularly. Moreover, Fescue grass doesn’t attract grubs because it doesn’t produce thatch. One more reason to grow native varieties!

A crow on a bright green lawn.
Birds will damage your lawn by digging holes in turf, searching for (and finding) grubs.
Mowing and fertilizing your lawn: when and how

Ideally, you will mow your lawn on the highest setting as soon as it dries after raking. Grass clippings produced this way will not cause thatch build-up. On the contrary, they will get “grasscycled” into free fertilizer. Bi-weekly mowing at two inches is optimal.

The best time to fertilize your lawn is in late April or early May, when grass growth starts to slow down. Whenever you can, use compost, grass clippings, natural organic, or slow-release fertilizers to feed your lawn. If you wish to hand over the lawn care to local experts, know that the bi-weekly moving with fertilization service costs between $30 and $50 for every 1,000 square feet of lawn surface. Consider liming your lawn once every couple of years to restore the optimal pH value of the soil.

How to water your lawn and be eco-friendly

It IS easy being green, so to speak. Do your best to adopt an eco-friendly practice of recycling rainwater and save water you’d use for gardening. Seattle gets about 0.7 inches of rainfall during July and August and about 1.5 inches in June and September. This fact makes rain the most valuable resource for environmentally conscious lawn owners.

Take advantage of the fact that Seattleites can get rain barrels affordably from the SPU. With the right watering system, you will boast a vivid green lawn even during the dry summer season and protect the environment. Remember this while reviving your lawn after winter and collect rainwater while it’s available.

Posted in: Education Tagged: Lawn Care, Realogics SIR, realogics sotheby's international realty, RSIR, SBD, seattlebydesign, SeattlebyDesign.com, SIR, Sotheby's International Realty

How to Organize, Plan and Prepare for a Move

A family carrying boxes for relocation.
How to Organize, Plan and Prepare for a Move

You have purchased a new home in Seattle, and now it’s time to continue onto this exciting chapter. However, most relocating experiences can be tiring, time-consuming, and stressful. Whether you do the work yourself or hire professionals, it can all seem overwhelming. You need to pack up and haul your entire life, often in a short period, and it isn’t easy to know where to start. But, with proper preparation, you can cross everything off your to-do checklist while still having time to sit back and breathe. For this reason, we have created a guidebook to help you organize, plan, and prepare for a move. You’ll be well equipped for the moving day and ready to settle into your new place seamlessly.

Organize, Plan and Prepare for a Move: A guide

To move like an expert, you should understand that planning is essential. It’s easy to get disorganized with all the scheduling, arranging, and paperwork you’ll need to do in the coming weeks. These suggestions can help you stay on track with your upcoming relocation.

Devise a moving strategy

Early in the preparation stage, you need to decide if you need professional relocation services for your Seattle relocation. Reliable movers can help with every part of the process, as long as you do your research and check their references. Also, look at their website and see what options they provide. Before agreeing to anything, you should ask for a moving quote in advance.

Then, set up a plan for when you will carry out activities. Should everything be moved in one day? Are things to be moved to multiple places, such as a storage space and your new home? Do you have to throw out junk?

A mover next to a moving truck.
Movers are there to do the heavy lifting, which might make your portion of the work much easier.

There is also the matter of how far away your destination is. Any move that occurs within state boundaries is referred to as intrastate moving. On the other hand, interstate relocation involves crossing state boundaries. You may be subject to different moving rates depending on the sort of relocation you are planning. It is useful to do your research before even contacting the movers.

Have the necessary equipment

Make sure you have enough cardboard boxes, containers, etc. Check if you have something in the storage room or garage, ask friends and acquaintances, or visit the shops. A useful suggestion is to fill up baskets, suitcases, and other containers with items.

A couple sitting on the floor surrounded by moving boxes.
You will need A LOT of boxes.
Throw away, give away, and sell

Get your things in order BEFORE you pack. Sort everything that needs to be thrown away, given away, sold, and kept. Maybe you have some old furniture or clothes you can sell. Are you going to throw away the old dining table? Post it online, and a lucky family can benefit from it. If you do this a couple of weeks before the actual move, you will have less to move, less to clean, and you will feel that you have got off to a good start.

Take a systematic approach

Maintaining order during the moving chaos is not easy. For this reason, try to create a system – a good tip is to label the boxes with the contents and which room they should be placed in. This will save you time when you start unpacking in your new home. You can also use transparent plastic bags to pack clothes and bedding, so it is easy to identify the contents.

It may pay off to check if you are insured in case an accident occurs. To limit any damage, have plenty of bubble wrap, newspapers, towels, etc., to wrap fragile items such as glass and frames.

Packing fragile items

You should know the best way to wrap up and box your sensitive possessions so that they arrive in one piece at your new residence. Consider wrapping your valuables in plastic wrap and photographing your devices before disconnecting them.
Be careful when moving large and heavy furniture since it is easy to get scratches on both the furniture and the floors. If you are dismantling larger pieces, remember to fasten the corresponding screws to each piece of furniture.

If you have any precious artwork, like paintings and sculptures, you need to put extra special care into the process of getting them ready for transfer. Artwork can be big and bulky, and even the elements designed to protect it—the frame and glass—might damage it during relocation. You will need to match the artwork with appropriately sized boxes, secure it with paper and bubble wrap, and specifically mark the boxes so whoever carries them knows to treat them with extra care. As an added precaution, you can hire art movers who specialize in these types of items.

A couple preparing artwork for a transfer.
Fragile items, like artwork, often require a lot of special care.
Check the technicalities

Check deadlines for termination of various services related to your home. Services that may be worth checking are electricity and rent, internet, cable, and newspaper and magazine subscriptions.
If you have children, you also need to enroll them in a new school, which means doing research on the school districts is a must before the move.

Pack an essentials bag/box

After a long day of packing, the last thing you want is to look through all the boxes for essential items. Therefore, pack a box with a change of clothes, toiletries, toilet paper, coffee maker/kettle, and some plates and cutlery. This way, the first day in your new home will be much more comfortable.

The big moving day

Moving day is finally here, and you have hopefully completed the points above and are as prepared as you can be. Put aside plenty of time for the relocation, whether you are using a moving company or doing it yourself. It always takes more time than you think. Moreover, if any friends or family members are helping you relocate, make sure to treat them with some food or drinks. They will surely appreciate it and might even want to help the next time you decide to move!

Final thoughts

Having to organize, plan and prepare for a move isn’t a piece of cake, but it is very manageable and doable – with the right advice and a positive attitude. Once you’ve made it through the hard part, you get to design your new home however you envision it and enjoy all the wonderful things that await. Good luck!

 

 

 

 

Posted in: Relocation Tagged: How To Move, Moving 101, Moving Guide, realogics sotheby's international realty, Relocation, RSIR, SBD, seattlebydesign, SeattlebyDesign.com, Sotheby's International Realty

Who Gets the Earnest Money?

Cash with a new house key and keychain

Have you ever wondered what happens to the earnest money deposit when residential transactions fail to close?  The answer is found in a piece of legislation created by the State of Washington called the Interpleader.  Intending to resolve uncertainties surrounding the proper disposition of earnest money deposits, this process was clarified for SeattlebyDesign, by one of our favorite Title & Escrow companies, and we felt obliged to share it with you.  Note that earnest money can be held by title companies, escrow agents, and real estate licensees.

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Posted in: SeattlebyDesign Properties Tagged: earnest money, new home, Real Estate, Real Estate Market, realogics sotheby's international realty, residential real estate, residential transactions, Seattle Real Estate, seattlebydesign

Where Next: Kauai

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Posted in: Destinations, Relocation, Sothebys Tagged: Andrea Healey, Island Sotheby's International Realty, Kauai Homes for Sale, Kauai Real Estate, Moving to Hawaii, Moving to Kauai, realogics sotheby's international realty, Relocate to Hawaii, Relocate to Kauai, seattlebydesign, Sotheby's International Realty

Where Next: Hood River, Oregon

This month, Where Next visits Hood River with Greater Seattle native, Molly Donnell, and her distinguished team at Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty. The SeattlebyDesign team puts great effort into ensuring we have a solid network of brokers from around the corner to around the globe so we can assist our clients wherever their journey may take them. When it comes to Hood River, there’s one go-to advisor we are eager to recommend to our clients, Molly Donnell. Without hesitation, Molly was willing to share a little insider knowledge with our team for those considering a move or secondary home in Oregon.

When asked to share about her now-home of a dozen years, Molly offered this:

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Posted in: Destinations, Investment Property, Relocation Tagged: Cascade Sotheby's International Realty, Hood River, hood river homes for sale, Molley Donnell, mt. hood, Oregon, outdoor activities near seattle, Real Estate Agents in Hood River, seattlebydesign, The Columbia River Gorgeo, vacation home in hood river, vacation towns near seattle

Annual Waterfront Report

The beautiful landscapes of the Pacific Northwest aren’t complete without our water views. From in-city waterfronts along our lakes and the majesty of the Puget Sound, to Seattle’s iconic floating home communities, there’s nothing like finding a piece of waterfront to call your own.

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Posted in: Education, Market Update, Realogics Sotheby's International Realty, Waterfront Tagged: Eastside, Floating Homes, Floating Homes in Seattle, Houseboats, Houseboats in Seattle, Lake Union, Puget Sound, seattle, seattlebydesign, south lake union, Waterfront, Waterfront Expert

Deeds: Most Common Ways to Convey Title in Washington State

SeattlebyDesign is dedicated to successful outcomes, which often starts with educating our clients.  Today we’re going to dive into the topic of deeds!  Real estate transactions use a variety of deed types to convey title and this blog post identifies the eight most commonly used in WA State. The differences between them are primarily the covenants and warranties conveyed by the grantor—the individual or entity transferring the property—to the grantee, the individual or entity who is receiving it.

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Posted in: Education, General Real Estate Information, Uncategorized Tagged: Convey, Deeds, Home ownership, Property, seattlebydesign, title, Transfer

Flood Insurance: What’s the Law?

Thank you to HomeBridge Financial Service and Branch Manager, Brandon Ehrlich, for providing this easy-to-understand capsule on Flood Insurance.

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Posted in: Education, General Real Estate Information Tagged: FEMA, Flood, flood insurance, HomeBridge Financial, Insurance, mandatory, mortgage, seattle —, seattlebydesign, zone map

Where Next: Insights from Our Broker Network

This month’s Where Next takes us to Park City, Utah! Area experts Jillene Cahill and Kambrine Harline of Summit Sotheby’s International Realty have graciously shared an informative report: The 2020 Resort Report.

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Posted in: Destinations, Relocation, Sothebys Tagged: hiking, Jillene, Jillene Cahill Kambrine Harline, Kambrine, mountain biking, Park City, Real Estate, Resort Report, Resorts, seattle —, seattlebydesign, SIR, Ski destinations, Sotheby's International Realty, Summit, Utah

Where Next: Insights from our Broker Network

Views at Dazante Bay

Danzante Bay at The Islands of Loreto, Mexico!  Located on the eastern side of Baja California Sur, Loreto looks out upon the Gulf of California and is quickly transforming into an upscale Cabo San Lucas. Realogics SIR is the exclusive Northwest partner for this development and invites you to experience all the area has to offer at Villa del Palmar—the premier destination resort in Loreto for luxurious spas, fine dining, sight seeing, water sports, golf, tennis, and so much more.

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Posted in: Destinations, Realogics Sotheby's International Realty, Sothebys, Waterfront Tagged: dazante bay, Destinations, golf, loreto, Luxury, New Development, Real Estate, realogics sotheby's international realty, RealogicsSIR, seattlebydesign, travel

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