In the spring of 2011, all-electronic tolling will begin on the SR 520 Bridge to help pay for the construction of a new, safer bridge.

Good To Go! electronic tolling uses technology to keep traffic moving with no toll booths, no stopping, and no slowing down.

Customers can set up prepaid accounts linked to a Good To Go! pass that is installed in your vehicle or linked to your license plate. Automatic replenishment allows you to never have to worry about running low in your account. Simply link a bank account or credit card to the account and your Good To Go! account is automatically replenished when you run low.

As you drive under electronic sensors on the east high rise of the 520 bridge, the toll will be automatically deducted from your prepaid account.  If the driver does not have a prepaid account, a photo will be taken of the vehicle’s license plate, and a bill will be sent in the mail to the vehicle’s registered owner.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has launched an extensive outreach campaign to educate drivers about electronic tolling on the SR 520 Bridge.  To reach as many bridge users as possible, WSDOT  is on the radio, in newspapers, online and out in the community.  WSDOT is currently meeting with community and business groups throughout the region to answer questions about the SR 520 Bridge electronic tolling program.

The message is simple: Get ready for all-electronic tolling on the SR 520 Bridge by signing  up for the interest list at http://www.goodtogo520.org/, and stay up-to-date on tolling developments.  Subscribers will receive regular updates about rates, account options, special offers and customer service resources.  Interest list users will be among the first to be able to sign  up for a Good To Go! account beginning January 2011.

Thanks to the WSDOT team for helping with this article. For up to date traffic information and projects, please see the WSDOT website.

1. Know about exclusion to coverage. For example, most insurance policies do not cover flood or earthquake damage as a standard item. These types of coverage must be bought separately.
2. Know about dollar limitations on claims. Even if you are covered for risk, there may be a limit on how much the insurer will pay. For example, most policies limit the amount paid for stolen jewelry unless items are insured separately.
3. Know the replacement cost. If your home is destroyed you’ll receive money to replace it only to the maximum of your coverage; so be sure you insurance is sufficient. For example, if your home is insured for $150,000 and it costs $180,000 to replace it, you’ll only receive $150,000.
4. Know the actual cash value. If you chose not to replace your home when it was destroyed, you’ll receive replacement cost, less depreciation. This is called actual cash value.
5. Know the liability. Generally your homeowner’s insurance covers you for accidents that happen to other people on your property, including medical care, court costs, and awards by the court. However, there is usually an upper limit to the amount of coverage provided. Be sure that it’s sufficient if you have significant assets.

The Multiple Listing Service is an important part of the home-sale process. This database contains all of the homes for sale. Real estate agents use this tool to find homes for prospective buyers as well as list the homes of sellers. Once the house is part of the database, selling agents will show a copy to their sellers for review, explaining that this is what the public will see. The seller will proof for accuracy at that time as well.

However, sellers may find it wise to know how to optimize their listing. There are thousands of entries in the database and they all compete for the attention of active agents. Listings with certain elements–photography, complete information, and strong details–will attract more attention. More information provides the agent with a better understanding of the property and if it meets the clients’ needs. Photography and strong details will interest the buyers when they receive a copy of the MLS listing.

Since humans rely greatly on visual observation, photographs are an important part of the sale. A listing without pictures or with only a few will not attract as much consideration. This makes sense. The buyer wants to see the property, examine its tiled kitchen, explore its spacious bedrooms, and enjoy its lakefront view. This is to be someone’s home and they want to see as much as they can which usually comes in the form of the MLS listing. Those first impressions are crucial.

Thus, a seller should look at the kind of pictures in his or her listing. What story do these images tell? A picture cannot capture the lazy contentment experienced while resting on a deck and gazing into a span of green forest. Nor can it fully explain the warmth of watching a movie with family by the stone fireplace. Nevertheless, through this option the seller and agent should demonstrate the kinds of memories to be gained. A simple shot of the front of the house is unlikely to reveal the personality of the property and its capacity to be lived in.

Another area that can encourage a sale is the data provided in the General, Listing, Interior Features and Room Information sections. These sections are the nuts and bolts of the house; they are the details that let a buying agent know whether or not the property meets clients’ requirements. For instance, a wrap around deck might be a wonderful bonus, but the agent needs to know if there are three bedrooms or just two. In addition, these sections reveal what is beneath the carpets and if the home features extra storage space, views, garden space, or other unique features.

Again, the MLS entry is handled by the selling agent. But the seller will want to peruse the listing for accuracy. Trust is an important part of selling a home; all parties and their agents need to know that the information provided is correct. Purchasing a home is a big decision and it would be unfortunate for a prospective buyer to be disappointed by a minor typographical error in a listing. The entry should also be complete. Missing information could potentially make an agent wary of a property, as it may falsely contribute to questions at to whether it was the right property or not.

Adequate pictures and accurate, complete information improve a listing’s chances of success. One other way to do this is in the Remarks section. If the details and pictures have caught the eye of a searching agent, the Remarks section is another lure. The real estate agent can give words to the potential memories hinted at in the images. A balance must be struck in the Remarks section; there must be charming description and pertinent information. It is also a good area to include considerations that are not necessarily easily depicted in the rest of the listing. The overall possibility of the property can be remarked upon, such as the potential for a mother-in-law residence or possible financial gains after sweat equity.

All of the aforementioned items are suggestions that improve the attractiveness of a listing. With the right agent, a seller can know that these considerations are being handled. Please do not hesitate to contact Seattle Real Estate Association if you feel your listing is under-performing. We will ensure that your MLS entry has all of the important elements it needs to allow your property to be seen and sold.

Want to get familiar with the plethora of Real Estate terminology? Here are some commonly used terms to hopefully help define and clarify some meanings for you and to alleviate some confusion.

• Multiple Listing Service (MLS) – The MLS is an enormous database that organizes home that have been listed by real estate agents. The MLS acts as a portal for all licensed real estate agents to find and list homes for home buyers and home sellers.
• Real Estate Agent – A real estate agent is a real estate professional who’s job it is to make sure a person looking to buy a home, or a person looking to sell a home is represented.
• Seller’s Agent – A seller’s agent will make sure that information posted on the MLS is accurate and complete. He/she will ensure that images of the property or home are taken in a way that showcases the best aspects of a home in order to entice a potential buyer’s agent to view the home.
• Buyer’s Agent – A buyer’s agent represents a potential home buyer. The buyer’s agent will take into account the parameters set by the buyer and endeavor to find homes that meet the qualifications of the buyer. A buyer’s agent will work with and negotiate with the selling agent on the buyers behalf.
• Escrow – Escrow is money that is held by a third party, (usually an escrow agent) who works for both the lender and the borrower. The escrow agents role is to carry out instructions agreed upon by both parties. The money is released when all terms of the agreement are met.
• Lender – Any company or bank that provides money on loan to a borrower.
• Borrower – Any individual or group entity that contracts money from a lender.
• Equity – The market value of a real estate property less the amount of existing liens.
• Lien – A lien is a legal claim against an asset which is used to secure a loan and must be paid when the property is sold.
• Mortgage – A mortgage is a loan that is secured against a real property. Usually placed on a schedule of repayment.

If there are any more real estate related terms that you may want defined, please let us know.

Now that summer is nearing, the plants are starting to grow quickly. Seattle Public Utilities has asked that customers keep their meter accessible for their staff. This ensures that the meter reader can quickly and accurately record your usage. By doing this, it will help keep utility costs down, and maintain stable rates.

Here are some things you can do to help Seattle Public Utilities.

Trees, bushes and plantings

• Trim bushes, trees, and grass that block the way or cover the meter. During the growing season, plants can quickly overtake and block meters.
• Minimize plantings that are in the way of meters.

Pets

• Keep pets away from the area that leads to the meter.
• If you have a protective or guard dog, let Seattle Public Utilities know so that the meter staff is aware.
• It may be required to confine pets during the day that your meter will be read.

Objects in the way

• The meter staff needs to have access to the meter. If there are objects in the way such as garbage cans, construction equipment, or landscape tools and materials the meter reader won’t be able to access the meter.

Locked gates

• If you have a gate that you prefer to keep locked Seattle Public Utilities will often obtain keys from customers so that they’ll have access to the meter. As long as the lock is accessible from the exterior of the gate, this doesn’t present a problem.

Address

• Make sure your address is clearly visible and displayed on your residence.
• This also assists emergency personnel in finding your home quickly.

By making sure the above points are attended to should ensure accurate reading of meters. If you have further questions don’t hesitate to contact Seattle Public Utilities.

The after-tax season and the U.S. Census may bring out scam artists. Beware.

Tax refund Scams–Watch out for phony e-mail saying you’re eligible for a refund. According the IRS, the scam asks consumers to open an attachment or click on a link to a claim form. The form requires personal and financial information. Taxpayers do not need to complete a special form to obtain their federal tax refund, according to the IRS. Refunds are triggered by the tax return you submitted to the IRS.

U.S. Census: Scam artists may get in touch via phone, e-mail or in person in an effort to steal confidential information. A legitimate representative from the Census Bureau will never:

• Ask for your full social security number
• Ask for money or a donation
• Send requests on behalf of a political party
• Request PIN codes, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.

The Census Bureau also doesn’t conduct the Census via the Internet or send e-mails.

If you’ve ever gone spelunking (no, not throwing rocks into ponds spelunking) or cave exploring then you understand basically how geothermal heating works. It essentially taking the relatively cool constant temperature of the earth’s crust (about 55 degrees Fahrenheit) and bringing it up to help cool a home in the summer, or heating it in the winter.

In a building that uses geothermal heating, a pump brings 55-degree groundwater up into a heat pump. The pump extracts the heat from the water and sends cooler water back into the earth. In the summer, the process is reversed by pulling hot air from the house and sending it down to the earth.

Since geothermal heat pumps are more efficient than air-to-air heat pumps, and because the ground water is closer to the desired indoor temperature than the air outside, geothermal pumps use less electricity and work better in colder climates than the original heat pumps did.

Currently, there is a generous tax credit that pays for 30 percent of a geothermal system’s cost. Despite the government incentive, some find it difficult to fund the $40,000 – $60,000 upgrade to their current heating system.

However, once the new geothermal heating system is in place, heating and energy savings are substantial. Keeping heat and energy bills roughly the same throughout the year. Geothermal heat pumps offer high efficiency and a low operational cost. According to the EPA, geothermal heating/cooling systems can save homeowners 30 to 70 percent on heating and 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs over conventional systems.

As an added consideration, some homes are being outfitted with solar panels in addition to the geothermal heat pump. By using the energy provided by the solar panels, the heat pump can be nearly self sufficient energy wise by using the suns energy to power the pump.

It’s an amazing way to save on electricity without sacrificing comfort.

Despite the initial cost, the savings are immense and the return on investment is nearly equal.

Perhaps as technology improves and the cost of installation is reduced consumers will find time to go spelunking into the wonders of geothermal heating.

During the regularly monthly meeting in Olympia, the Washington State Transportation Commission will continue to discuss the SR 520 toll setting.

Tolls for the SR 520 Bridge have not been set but will be discussed during the meeting. There won’t be any toll booths on the bridge; tolling will be done electronically. Motorists will prepay into a “Good to Go” account. When cars approach the bridge, an overhead device reads a transponder sticker on the windshield and automatically deducts the toll from the account. For those who don’t have an account, cameras will record license plates and send out a corresponding bill.

During the meeting, the Commission will work with the Washington State Department of Transportation to develop the toll rate structure. The discussions will cover the setting of the timeline, potential rate levels, and the rate structure.

The meeting is open to the public if you’re interested in attending.

The two-day meeting will be held at the Transportation Building in Olympia at 310 Maple Park Ave. SE. Meeting times are 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18 and 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 19.

It seems Jack Frost forgot us this year. The Seattle-area northwest is the warmest it’s been for quite some time. With all this warm weather, it gives us time to not only enjoy the relative warmth, but also to go out and look at houses or spruce up the yard for those that are selling!

If You’re Selling

Pick up those sticks and sweep/pressure wash that walkway! Yes, it’s not spring yet but all this warm weather means potential buyers are out looking. So here are some things you can do to get your home looking its best, before spring arrives!

• Prune The Trees – Without all the leaves and feathered branches in the way, pruning becomes easier. Pruning and shaping your plants will keep the place looking uniform and less unkempt.
• Pick Up Leaves – This includes not only leaves from trees but also any flowering plants whose leaves wilt and die during the winter.
• Pressure Wash/Sweep the walkways – Over the winter, rain causes muck and grime to build up on your walkways. The best way to remedy this is to pressure wash the area clean making it look new. The alternative is to sweep off winter debris.
• Start Spring Cleaning Early – Grumble grumble… yes it’s “technically” still winter, but why wait for Spring when we’re given such lovely weather! (I bet in week we’ll get -20 below weather… knock on wood). Safely throw away or recycle unnecessary documents, tools, or anything that no longer is needed.
• Enjoy The Day! – It’s great weather, go out and have some fun.

If You’re Buying

The weather at the moment provides a great time to go out and start looking. But keep in mind, it’s still winter so the trees won’t be in bloom and the plant-life is still waiting for April. However, the lack of foliage can give you a good idea of what kinds of plants and landscaping you may like to have, how you would want it to look. This is a great time to see the homes and landscaping in their silent form. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy the weather and sight see!