'MO - September 2008 - (Page 20)

cover story Click here to comment on the cover story. 3 REFRESH YOUR FLOORING Another area for improvement that our panel agreed on was ﬂooring. Lynn Robertson, owner of YourSeattleHomeTeam.com, said that “New carpet can make a significant difference in increasing the value of a home … It’s not necessary to go with top of the line carpet, but if a thicker pad is used, a medium grade carpet feels like a much more expensive one.” Hardwood ﬂoors are a popular draw for homebuyers as well as being convenient in Seattle’s damp climate. If you’ve got hardwoods under the wall-to-wall carpet, James recommended pulling them up and refinishing the ﬂoors. If you’d like to install wood ﬂoors, the folks at Kwanchai are fans of using bamboo, cork or reclaimed timber instead of exotic woods. Bamboo is particularly fast growing meaning that it is more PHOTO COURTESY KWANCHAI sustainable that using new tree-deDesigner Jonathan Mathews of Kwanchai rived lumber for ﬂoors. Be careful though and research the particular color or warp. If you do decide to buy carpet, product thoroughly by asking designers and get something that doesn’t “off-gas” VOCs. contractors what they recommend. Also look Not only are some of these fumes mildly on online discussion groups to help you steer toxic, they can also make your home smell clear of cheap ﬂooring that may scratch, dis- “funny” during a sale. KITCHEN (continued from page 19) Forbes Magazine who called them one of the “worst” home investments. However, while the initial investment in green products and benefits of a green home may or may not be initially reﬂected in the appraised value, it can set your house apart from competitors during a sale, as well as saving you money while you’re living there. “In 2007, Washington state was considered by Forbes the 2nd greenest state behind only Vermont. Although green buildings cost, on average, about 2%—3% more to build, it is estimated that they use an average of 25%—30% less energy than conventional buildings. As you can see, the savings alone are easily a big draw!” wrote Christina. PHOTO COURTESY KWANCHAI Stainless steel appliances and upgraded countertops add appeal and value to a kitchen. FRESH PAINT Another spot to watch for off-gassing is in your paint. All of our real estate experts agreed that a fresh coat of paint is one of the best (and cheapest) ways to freshen the look and value of your home. Lynn said painting has a “HUGE impact!” However, choose low or no-VOC paint. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies found levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants were found in concentrations two to five times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were located in rural or highly industrial areas. Ick. Fortunately, there PHOTO COURTESY KWANCHAI are now a wide variety of low VOC paints available. Look for the GreenFresh paint hides imperfections in the Guard certification. Freshaire Choice, walls and makes a room look new. which is available at Home Depot, is one such paint and only runs about $40 a gallon. Mark said, “At least paint your front door. Your door is what makes the first impression on a visitor. By sporting a smart color or new stain, your door says to the world, this home is loved. If you home is ﬂaking and pealing, then get the entire place painted. If you don’t know what colors you like, then drive around and find a home with the perfect colors. Then ask the owner. You’ll be surprised how complimented someone will be that you liked their color pallet enough to ask. The best part is that it eliminates the guesswork, and you don’t end up with a hideous color combination. Check if the inside needs paint too. If you have a room that looks “used,” such as loads of fingerprints or scratches, it’s time to get out the brush. You can often paint a single room in a day, two at the most. One other thing that I suggest to everyone is to get a ‘Mr. Clean’ sponge or one of the knock-offs from the grocery store. These will remove fingerprints from doors and door jams as well as small scratches on walls and cabinets. Doors and trim that you think might need fresh paint may simply need a little elbow grease.” 20 celebrating seattle’s gay community http://www.YourSeattleHomeTeam.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of 'MO - September 2008

'MO - September 2008 Contents Letter From The Editor Voices Instant Activist Pet Project Legally Speaking: Starting Your Own Business EarthTalkTM: Soak Up the Sun ’mo-BIZ: Sternola-Brown Interiors HRC President Hails Biden as V.P. Pick Governor to Attend Annual GSBA Candidate Forum Form & Function: Cable Exercises Build Definition Gay City Health Project Makes a SHIFT Throw a Lifejacket Around Your Home’s Value Feature Film Review: A Jihad for Love Feature Film Review: Ghost Town, starring Ricky Gervais The Return of The Puyallup Fair Book Review: Life with My Sister Madonna by Christopher Ciccone Live Event Preview: Shrek The Musical at The 5th Avenue Feature Film Preview: Trumbo Now on DVD: Itty Bitty Titty Committee SceneOut: People@Places Capitol Hill Guide

'MO - September 2008

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