Nesting and Investing

Buying a new home is a pricey proposition. Not only do you obviously pay and borrow for the sales price you negotiate with the seller, but there are closing costs like transfer and recordation taxes, escrow funding charges, and other loan fees and deed costs. Then you need to move your belongings, and even if you move yourself, there are costs for trucks, setting up utilities, packing materials and the like.

Once you move in, there may be features of the house you want to improve right away. You want to make this house your home, to nest. Maybe your son wants his room painted orange. And you want to remove the old carpet from the den. Perhaps you want to enhance the storage capabilities of the house (more on closet extenders in another post). And you might be like one of my recent buyer clients, who wanted to invest in increasing the energy efficiency and reliability of her home's systems. 

This particular home, built in 1940, came with a creaky old oil boiler which provided both heat and hot water to the house. Basically the furnace was running year round to provide hot showers and the like; not particularly energy efficient. My buyer client, now the new homeowner, invested in a new natural gas boiler for heating and a separate gas hot water heater.

The happy homeowner anticipates her energy bills to be drastically reduced. Of course there were upfront costs to invest in future savings and energy efficiency. She shared the numbers with me:
$9,800 to remove the oil tank from the utility room, leaving more space for storage too, plus the equipment and installation of the two pieces shown on the right.
$2,125 to install a new stainless steel flue liner into the chimney stack for safe ventilation of the new gas boiler.

She also gains peace of mind with new systems, a dedicated water heater, no need for oil delivery to the house, freed up a corner in the utility room with the removal of the oil tank to provide more storage space, easier future maintenance for the modern systems, and immediate monthly savings.  

She nested (the dining room in particular looks great in its lovely new shade of blue) and invested (it is a beautiful new boiler).

Holidays in a New Home

When you move into a new home, there are many firsts. First night sleeping there, first snowstorm, first spring blooms, first time the power goes out, maybe even the first time you bring home a newborn from the hospital. This time of year I particularly enjoy the concept of the first holiday in a new home.

A long-standing tradition in my family is the collection of Christmas ornaments.  We maintain lists of the new ornaments each year, documented by family member. My Mom used to keep the lists and I still have the original list from my childhood. The lists are treasured as they help me remember when I got a certain ornament and maybe even who gave it to me. We tuck the lists in a safe place for 11 months of the year, so safe in fact that one year we could not find the lists. The following Christmas season we discovered the lists, pressed between pages of the Bible.

Commemorating the first holiday in a new home with a special Christmas ornament or other holiday momento is a tradition I will carry on with my real estate clients. What holiday traditions around house and home do you treasure? 

Quote of the Day: Organize!

This Quote of the Day (heretofore QOTD if that's OK with everyone) is brought to you courtesy of my retired 2012 Franklin Covey planner, pocket-sized, spiral-bound.  This little guy was my failed attempt at having a full year of organization in my purse at all times.  This approach and format were short-lived, well, at least by my long-standing relationship with Franklin Covey planners.  I used this small size planner from approximately January 16 through October 22, 2012.

As background, I have been using the same time management system since... wait for it... 1991.  But, I need more space than two pages per week, page size 4" x 5.5" so I am back to the Compact two pages per day format that is comfortable like an old pair of jeans.

I digress... the quote is:

Don't agonize. Organize.
-Florynce Kennedy

In your daily life, or long term planning, or home search, or home sale preparation, just put pen to paper (or stylus to tablet, if you prefer) and make a list.  Then follow it to completion.  I can help if necessary. I was giving some time management advice to a colleague just the other day.  And I create customized home preparation checklists for my sellers as part of my standard listing services.  Let me know how I can help you make more effective use of your time, whether buying, selling, or even staying.

On the Ground: Southwest DC Waterfront

Welcome to my new occasional feature, "On the Ground." As you know from previous posts, part of my job involves previewing properties for current and future buyers and also to maintain my working knowledge of the local real estate market. A new goal of mine is to explore or rediscover neighborhoods in DC and Maryland on a broader level by viewing not only specific properties but also the surrounding areas.

My first journey took me to Southwest DC and the Waterfront area.  I had previously written about the new development in this area, so I wanted to get an On the Ground look at the current market, housing options, and neighborhood amenities.  Who better to assist me but a dear friend and current resident of one of the Harbor Square co-op buildings directly on the water.  Al was kind enough to guide me and my older daughter Lucy around on Bikeshare bicycles for about an hour, weaving through streets and developments with running commentary on the types of units and architecture, the accessibility to amenities and job centers like Capitol Hill, and other interesting and useful topics.

I must pause here to note that the photo above was taking directly in front of Al's building and his views are amazing of the water, Haines Point across the river, and of many of the notable landmarks in DC like the Washington Monument, the National Cathedral, and the Capitol Dome. And to give Al a big shout-out for his hospitality and his time.  

Back to my report on SW DC.... The recent redevelopment of the existing retail to include one of the nicest Safeway grocery stores I've ever seen (a far cry from the Soviet Safeway I used to rely on in my early days in Dupont Circle) and a CVS pharmacy add tremendous convenience to this area.  When they renovated the shopping, they also reconnected 4th St SW with the Mall to the North for better driving access.  With all the new planned housing development, it was awesome to discover the pockets of unique, mid-Century modern architecture throughout this area.  Some development from the 60s was in the style shown here. You can't find pockets of this style in many places in the DC Metro area.

I look forward to showing buyers this unique area of the city and to my next On the Ground adventure.

Buying, Selling, or Staying

So you might be thinking, "Lisa, I get the whole buying and selling thing, but staying? Why do you care about people who are staying in their current home?"

I believe people make all sorts of decisions each year while living in their homes which impact their daily lives as well as the future value of their real estate investment.  I'm not suggesting that all home improvement decisions should hinge on future resale value, but I do think that if all else is equal, getting input from a realtor could help.

Additionally, when working with sellers to help them prepare their home for sale, I tap into my Resource Rolodex with possible vendors if my clients do not have the time or skills to complete all the tasks. Since I have that database ready at all times, I can provide those resources to homeowners even if they are staying. It is all part of being a real estate resource and expert in my community.

So don't hesitate to call on me for my expertise and resources, even if you have no plans to move in the near future.  Staying is just as important a real estate decision as buying or selling.

The Royal Wedding and Our New House

Today is the one-and-a-half-year anniversary for William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and for my family's move into our home in Bethesda. To commemorate both occasions, I bought a handmade Emma Bridgewater Royal Wedding mug last year. Because we had sold our house one day before buying our new home, we were homeless for a day. Our generous friends Nick and Carrie let all four of us plus our two cats stay with them for that night. The Royal Wedding coverage started in the US at 5:30am ET on Friday, April 29, 2011, so Carrrie and I awoke before dawn to watch the ceremony. It is no coincidence that Carrie is the one who started my Emma Bridgewater collection and that we were watching the festivities together.

This is the mug I use every Friday for my morning coffee. I derive simple pleasures from the feel of the mug in my hand, that continued joy of home ownership, and the few moments of peace before the busy-ness of life.

I feel lucky every day that I wake up in my beautiful home, with its Tudor charm, gourmet kitchen, and cozy sunroom. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to help other buyers find their dream home, too.

New Feature: Quote of the Day

In a new occasional feature, maybe to become a side bar on this blog or to stay as brief posts, I will share a Quote of the Day.  Sources will vary.  Additional commentary is optional.

The first QOTD was printed on the top of my Franklin Covey day planner for the week of July 30 to August 5, 2012.

Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.
-Harriet Braiker

Ponder this in the context of a new home search.  There is no such thing as a perfect house.  Rather, one can strive and hope to find the most excellent home that meets the highest percentage of your needs and wants.

Taking Our Good Natured Time

There is an interior designer somewhere who is going to see this photo and think, "Bare light bulbs hanging from a sconce electrical connection, brilliant!"  Well, this presupposes that any interior designers actually read my little blog and that they have a unique perspective on design.

Sadly, we have had bare bulbs hanging over our non-existent mantel for longer than I care to admit (think last winter).  The light they emit does produce an almost blinding amount of light (dimmer to follow).  We just have not had the time, or funds, or decision-making capacity to select actual sconces, buy them, and install them.

When we bought our house in Woodhaven, it included an imposing wooden mantel piece which extended to the ceiling and about 12 inches out from the stone surround.  We removed it (well, my friend Pieter did) and discovered a plaster disaster plus two outlet covers.  Whoo hoo - possible light!

The electricians connected the sockets to a light switch by the front door.  To test the wiring, they "installed" these bulbs; everything is safe with no exposed wires.  They don't even match: one, as shown, in its modern efficient glory, and the other, old-fashioned and pear-shaped.

Sometimes it takes a while to figure out what you want to do in your home.  As I real estate agent, I care about these "staying" decisions as much as what you should do to prep your house for sale and how to choose the best home to buy.  I thought I'd share a personal example of how I can appreciate that these types of home renovation decisions are not always easy.

I'll post later once we get the sconces, and paint, and add a mantel.

In the Red Zone

Recently one of my colleagues likened the final 7-10 days before the closing on a real estate contract to "being in the red zone." For those not familiar with football of the American variety, the red zone is the twenty yards before the goal line.  NFL teams are ranked on their effectiveness in the red zone by percentages of touchdowns and field goals scored. This is equivalent to "closing the deal" in real estate.

When I started pondering this analogy further, I debated with myself about whether there actually are offense and defense in real estate.  Occasionally as an agent, one may feel on the defensive, to protect their client's best interests.  However, the period of time from agreement and signature on a ratified sales contract to the settlement table where parties transfer ownership of real property is one of mutual interest.  Both sides of the transaction, the buyers and the sellers along with their respective agents, want to get to closing (while still maintaining confidentiality and the best interests of their clients).  They share that goal.

Perhaps a better football comparison is the 2 minute warning. Let's consider the game clock to be the limiting factor and the whole team is working to get to the closing deadline with all issues resolved, all the money available, and the property in the condition as previously agreed in the contract. In both analogies, here is a goal and a time constraint (the number of downs or the clock).

Either way, this period leading up to settlement is busy.  Real estate agents, settlement coordinators, lenders, inspectors, and other professionals are solving problems, answering questions, working together in the best interest of their clients to reach the goal line.

I use three-page checklists as a guide through the period from contract to closing. This organized process helps me be particularly effective in the red zone of real estate.

Is This Really a Real Estate Blog?

What's with all these sports posts and sports-related analogies? This is supposed to be a blog about house and home (and occasionally gardening). Well, I love sports. And other topics.

And so sometimes I might just be inspired to write about the Washington Nationals who won game 4 of the NLDS last night with a walk-off home run crushed by Jayson Werth into the left field visitors' bullpen at the end of a stubborn 13-pitch at-bat. I only heard it live on the radio as I was driving my older daughter and two of her teammates home from softball practice last night.  I believe one of her friends had a brief heart palpitation because of my cheering in the car.

Wish I had been there.  Happy for all my friends and other loyal Nats' fans who were actually there (especially those who came back after the tough loss the previous night). It is cool to witness the excitement that sports teams can bring to our whole metropolitan DC region.

Another shout-out to the Os who won in 13 innings in NY. My nephew loves the Baltimore Orioles so I'm sure he was happy when he woke up for school this morning. Local sports teams can bring people together and as I've said before, they help create that sense of place, of home.  I will be cheering for the home team tonight.  Go Nats!

How Real Estate is Real

Real estate is real. That is one of the reasons I have enjoyed real estate for so many years: you can touch it, visit it, improve it, paint it, and of course, live in it.  Real estate is not some intangible investment for which you might get a paper proving ownership. Particularly for your primary residence, but even for investment properties like rentals or second homes, you don't just know about it once a month when you get a statement from your financial institution. To me, this all defines real.

It is worth understanding, I think, a few key terms with respect to real estate.

1. Land: The concept of owning land might seem obvious, but when you own land, you typically own not only the surface of the earth's crust but the soil and other minerals and materials from the outline of your land down to the center of the earth. You also own the air rights going straight up into the sky above your land. It gets a little more complicated if you or a previous owner has assigned some of the rights to those minerals or soil or the airspace above your land through an easement. But that is more Real Estate 201 than 101.  What this means generally is that, subject to local laws and regulations, you can build things upon, or improve, your land and you can grow things in that land and you can use the space above your land.

2. Real Estate: Real estate includes your land as well as any improvements or other human-made physical additions. Improvements include homes, sheds, garages, sidewalks, driveways, paths, sewer lines, and the like. Note that not all improvements allow exclusive right of use (like sidewalks and sewers), but if those are on your property, they are part of your real estate.

3. Real Property: Now it gets even more interesting, because real property includes land plus improvements plus your bundle of legal rights to the real estate. The nuances of these bundles of rights morph into Real Estate 301, but it is useful to know what they are at their core.

A. right of possession
B. right to control the property within the framework of the law (e.g., the right to forbid use of your property)
C. right of quiet enjoyment (meaning, to use it legally)
D. right of exclusion (to restrict access through installation of a fence)
E. right of disposition, to sell, will, transfer, or otherwise dispose of or encumber (restrict) your property

I am happy to explain any of these concepts in detail upon request.

And Teddy Wins!

Teddy wins!  This only means something to you if you, A) live in the DC area; or B) follow the Washington Nationals, which for the most part you'd only do if A) also applies.  The Nats have been bad, really really bad, from their first season in DC in 2005 until 2011.  This 2012 season is another story of course.  Today is the last day of the regular season and the Nats recently clinched their NL East division title and are playing today for the top seed in the entire National League.

So why am I writing about a baseball team in a blog about real estate?  Well, following a sports team, and I think in particular a baseball team given the lengthy MLB season and all the little details in this game that only a local newspaper bothers to cover, is a uniquely local occurrence.  This is not to say that someone can't live in Maryland and be a dedicated fan of the Green Bay Packers, for example, but many people follow sports teams that they either grew up with or adopted in their adult homeland.

Characteristics of a place, such as sports teams (whether long-suffering or dominant for a decade), local cuisine, weather patterns, and hobbies and other interests based on proximity to attractions and outdoor features, factor into decisions about where people choose to live.  They also draw us together to create a broader sense of community and home.  Home is your residence and it is your home town.  Let me know how I can help you find your next home.

And go Nats!

Be Trendy Before Everyone Else: SW DC

I went to a realtor event last week on development efforts in Southwest DC. Traditionally called Waterfront (because it is on the water, and that is the name of its closest Metro station), this area is the smallest quadrant of DC. It is slotted between the Potomac River, South Capital Street, a sliver of the Anacostia River, and the Mall to the North. It boasts the oldest fish market in the US (yes, even older than Pike's Place in Seattle). From SW DC rooftops, one has stunning views of the DC monuments and skyline and, of course, water.

New public and private development is afoot. A new concert hall, condos, apartments (including uber-efficiency units for minimalists), shopping of all varieties (think livability shopping like drug stores, grocers, dry cleaners, plus destination retail), office buildings, mixed use like churches with apartments attached, green space, walkable corridors, bike share, streetcars, the list goes on. There is a tremendous focus on sustainable development, LEED certification for both commercial and residential buildings, and multi-modal transportation and transit options built into the plans.

You heard it here first (well, at least that's my claim). Look to SW DC in the very near future as the place to be hip, before the word spreads. Give me call if you need help finding a rental or if you want to be notified when new properties go on the market in this area.

Home, as Defined by You

Everyone's vision of home is unique. What works for you might not work for your best friend or your sister or your neighbor, or even for that person you see walking through the same open house as you are. And home is something that really does conjure up an image in one's mind. Buying a home is often the most expensive purchase people make in their lives and although it is an investment, it is filled with emotion. Because of this concept of home.

As a real estate agent, I help buyer clients find a home. And I help provide guidance, data, and even some reasons they might not want to buy, to help confirm if they do want to actually put pen to paper and write an offer on a house.

I recently re-read "The Hobbit".  Immediately on the first page, I was struck by images of home. Home for a hobbit, of course, may be different than home for you. But I wanted to share a long quote to help expand your idea of home and help illustrate this concept that home creates a vision, an image, a picture. As a buyer's agent, it is helpful if my buyer clients can help paint their picture of home for me. It helps us work together as a team to find the house that will become their home.

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, ... it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. It had a perfectly round door like a porthole, painted green, with a shiny yellow brass knob in the exact middle. The door opened on to a tube-shaped hall like a tunnel: a very comfortable tunnel without smoke, with panelled walls, and floors tiled and carpeted, provided with polished chairs, and lots and lots of pegs for hats and coats - the hobbit was fond of visitors. ... The best rooms were all on the left-hand side (going in), for these were teh only ones to have windows, deep-set round windows looking over his garden, and meadows beyond, sloping down to the river.

The emotion of home comes back to Bilbo Baggins frequently during his adventures. Give me a call or email if I can help you articulate, then find, your next home.

Previewing Houses for Clients, Current and Future

I'll be honest - one of the reasons I went into real estate as a career is that I love houses. (Admittedly this is not a unique characteristic in agents; I just wanted to share.) And one of my best practices as a residential real estate salesperson is to preview houses.  I arrange to preview properties in my target geographic areas, in certain price ranges and of certain property types.  Sometimes I go for a particular buyer client, to assess whether I think they should take the time to see it themselves, or if I think it might not suit their needs so they can focus our showing times together on a better fit.  In other cases, I preview anything in a neighborhood for future clients, either as comps once those properties sell in the future or in case someone calls me and wants to know about that area.  It is helpful if I can say, "I've been in that house," or, "This is a very typical rambler in this area and price range."  And having seen a database of properties is what builds my own knowledge.

So I'm ready to be your agent, today and in the future.

On Greatness

Oscar Pistorius.  Katie Ledecky.  Aly Raisman.  Gabby Douglas.  Kimberly Rhode.  Sarah Attar.  Tom Daley.

If you have watched and been inspired by the London 2012 Olympics over the past two plus weeks like I have, these names and many more mean greatness.  Greatness for trying and greatness for winning.  Greatness for more than being there.  Greatness for being their best at that moment and representing their country, along with everyone who's ever tried hard at anything.

My favorite stories about the Olympics came from my friends Nick and Carrie who were there for about a week.  With the joy of having been part of something global where everyone is cheered for their accomplishments, they shared great moments supporting athletes.  There was the high jumper with personality and spirit and the basketball team that did not really have a chance to win.  The best part, they said, was being in the company of people witnessing all sorts of personal accomplishments.  And even some disappointments, mostly handled with grace.

Many people strive for greatness daily, at their job, as a parent, in their community, in their job search, as a student.  Most never earn a gold medal (or even bronze).  Yet they aspire to be great at what they do.

I have been considering what it takes to be a great realtor.  I have a network of close friends and colleagues who help me set goals, document plans to achieve them, and create new ways to organize my work.  I will constantly aim to be a great realtor.  I hope to have the opportunity to be great for you.

Learnings from Hosting an Open House

I have some keen insights into the world of real estate to share.  These are based on my experiences at a public open house I hosted on behalf of one of my colleagues today.

1. Don't mix paper and water in transit.
2. Putting those directional open house arrow signs up is harder than it seems (especially while wearing heels).
3. I should eat an early lunch *and* bring a snack.
4. It is great talking to neighbors.
5. Open houses are great marketing tools.

Observations From Some Broker Opens

Oh-for-three.  That's how the Broker Open Houses I attended this afternoon "batted" in agent coverage.  Being in the first year of my real estate career, I am not being judgmental.  I merely observe that if I am going to host a Broker Open House, the goal of that event is to expose my listing on behalf of my seller clients to as many real estate agents as possible.  These agents ostensibly have buyers who may want to see the property so the Broker Open House gives the agents a chance to preview without appointment and ask questions about the home as they view it.  If the listing agent is there, that is.  No agent equals no answers, no helpful tips, no "don't miss..." comments, no real selling of the house.

Adding to this gap, two of the three had not even one piece of paper, not one glossy brochure boasting about all the home has to offer.  Nothing to jot my notes on, nothing to help me remember the property.

Instead, I hope to be able to live up to this standard: Broker Open House means that I will be there and I will have professionally prepared brochures with all the home's features and benefits on hand.  Maybe I'll even serve coffee and muffins.

Herb Gardening and Household Maintenance

"Mom, I think the marigolds sacrificed themselves for the herbs," volunteered my younger daughter, Julia, as we reviewed our recently planted herb patch.  We had added 18 marigolds to provide a natural pest repellent to the only sunny corner of our yard capable of supporting herbs.  The marigolds are decimated, eaten to the stems; the basil, rosemary, cilantro and thyme are thriving.

Her observation got me thinking about home maintenance (oddly).  We plant marigolds to distract pests from the tasty herbs.  So, too, does our hot water heater contain a sacrificial anode rod of magnesium or aluminum so the rust particles attack it before the sides of the tank.  The rod will fail before the tank does, thus saving us a flooded basement.  Of course we have to inspect the tank and rod occasionally to make sure we replace the appliance before we experience that bigger flooding issue.

Even long-time homeowners can become remiss about completing basic preventive home maintenance tasks.  These chores are boring yet typically inexpensive ways to preserve the quality and functioning of your home systems and features.  Let's face it - it is not fun to change the air filter in our air-conditioning or furnace air handler and it is easy to forget.  Out of sight, out of mind.  The disposable filters range from $10 to $20 and though you should change them monthly, at least once a season try to switch them out.  Buy in bulk so you have them on hand instead of buying them individually when you need them.  I find the box of them in the utility room is a great reminder.

Bigger problems could stem from an old or wind-damaged roof.  In addition to the roof shingles themselves, even more critical to water deflection is the flashing at joints, changes in angles, edges, etc.  If you are not comfortable or capable on a ladder, it is not expensive to find a roofer or gutter expert to provide you with a brief visual inspection of the roof and flashing to determine if they need repair.  Better a couple hundred dollars on roof or flashing repair than thousands fixing water-damaged drywall, insulation and flooring.  Note in the photo: that extra edge of material just under the shingles as seen on my roof is the flashing, wrapping protectively around the wood trim.

As a real estate agent, I believe in helping people with real estate decisions whether they are buying, selling or staying, because maintaining your home while it is yours is just as important as the condition of a house during a sale.

The Role of Your Real Estate Agent

A very interesting article in the New York Times last week highlighted the roles and different styles of real estate agents.  Although the real estate market in Manhattan is obviously quite different than the greater Washington, DC, area (or anywhere else for that matter), there are some insightful comments in the article that can be useful to anyone thinking about making a move anytime soon.

The author, Vivian S. Toy, states, "A good broker can help you make sound decisions and guide you through what might easily be the most expensive and emotionally charged transaction of your life." Underlying this statement is the principle that your real estate agent should be someone you trust and someone whose advice and counsel you will accept and, in fact, welcome.  Complexities and idiosyncrasies in local markets, the myriad factors that go into selecting a home for your family or an investment property, and precise paperwork and disclosure requirements mean that an agent who is highly organized and detail-oriented is a valuable adviser.

I believe many people don't really understand the laws and ethics guiding the real estate profession.  As a newly licensed real estate salesperson in Maryland, I recently completed 60 hours of pre-licensing education before I could apply and then take a 2 hour test on Federal and State laws, regulations and codes of ethics.  Basically, a real estate agent has duties and responsibilities to their clients.  Clients are people who have signed an agency agreement with them as buyers or sellers (or tenants or landlords; I will simplify to talking about sales for now).  Customers, or the general public, have no contractual agreement with an agent.  Real estate agents still owe customers fair and honest dealings, factual information about properties, and general ministerial duties such as providing them with answers to their questions (assuming that does not interfere with their duties to their clients).

In an agent/client relationship, with a signed contract (a buyer's agent contract or a property listing for sellers), real estate agents have fiduciary duties.  These include care, obedience, accountability, loyalty and disclosure.  Confidentiality of financial and other personal information extends beyond the period of agency.  Although earning a person's trust does take time, holding these duties is a fundamental element of being a real estate agent.  As you interview new agents, be it for your first time home-buying experience, downsizing to retirement or semi-retirement, a move to a completely new part of the country or world, or moving a little closer to your children's schools or your office, spend the time to get to know them.  Observe how they listen to you, the questions they ask, the ideas they have about neighborhoods to consider, transit options, and marketing options.  Be sure to talk to more than one person before making a move.  Find the best agent for you.

As a new agent myself, I look forward to talking to you or someone you might know in the market or even considering a sale or purchase down the road.  I love to listen and plan and welcome the opportunity to help find creative real estate solutions.

Manageable Laundry Room Reno, Adding Value and Personal Style

Without much introduction to my new blog, I want to share a small renovation project I recently completed in my home.  With a manageable scope and timeline, and about $4,500, I added my personal style as well as value to my home by transforming my basement laundry room into a pleasant place. Of course I had help from my contractor, Mike, and his team.  I did select and purchase all finish materials myself, though Mike supplied the behind the scenes items like the drywall, rough in plumbing and electrical, 2x4s, and so forth.  My supportive husband Brian gave me the nod and the planning began.

Let me step back.  We bought our now 74 year old Tudor house in the Woodhaven neighborhood of Bethesda, Maryland 20817 on April 29, 2011, so we just celebrated our one year anniversary.  Though the house had undergone considerable and gorgeous renovations by the previous owners, the laundry room had been improved only by the addition of new front-load washer and dryer in 2008 and maybe the toilet was relatively new too.  Oh yes, there is a toilet in our basement laundry room.  But I strongly disliked the color and being in the basement without any windows, it was not the most cheerful place to make my laundry clean.

The washer and dryer were on pedestals, all the rage in laundry appliances, but being only 5'3" tall, rounding up, the tops aligned just below my shoulder and even if there had been a nice surface, folding would have been at eye level.  The old wash tub with drain pipe from the washer and the leaky old faucet, exposed pipes and wires and all, contributed to the overall mood.  I dreamed about shiny, happy laundry rooms.  I created a Laundress Pinterest board.  I coveted a new laundry room.  I set a budget, scheduled the work once I got an estimate from my contractor Mike, and went shopping.

A few more notes on my blog before the debrief and the reveal.  Although I am reasonably handy, this is not a Do-It-Yourself blog.  Certainly not an interior designer, I care about and plan to discuss room and house layout and design.  This is not an "on-a-dime" super budget conscious blog, though I find bargains where I can.  Tying it all together is my interest in real estate, homes and projects.  More on real estate in future posts.

Welcome to our perfect new laundry room!  Pretty pale yellow walls (Duron SW7123 "Yellow Beam") in eggshell finish, gorgeous "White Ice" granite counter (a remnant from Granite Works in Rockville) at comfortable folding height, bronze cabinet knobs, plenty of extra, always-appreciated storage, crisp white porcelain farm sink with stainless gooseneck pull-out faucet, all with a fresh and clean perspective!

Other details....

- New wall behind the washer, dryer, sink and toilet, hiding all electrical, outlets for w&d, pipes, etc., plus a backdrop for cabinets 

- New flush mount electronic ballast fluorescent ceiling light fixture from Home Depot, no flicker or delay so voila, instant light!
- Under-cabinet LED light strip with switch on wall above counter plus extra outlet, say for ironing (ha)
- White painted wood cabinets from Ikea, some with glass panels and others above and below the sink with solid doors

- Crown molding to tidily conceal the wires and some pipes
- Direct drainage for washer into behind-the-wall sewer stack
- Repair the broken dryer handle, switch order of washer and dryer and side of dryer hinge for easier transfer of wet clean clothes to dryer.

For the finishing touches, I need a towel bar and a toilet paper holder, to reinforce the combo powder room and laundry room functionality.  We kept the existing tile floor and just rerouted existing plumbing and electrical.  I spent a little more than I probably needed to on the cabinets because I wanted the nicer wood finish with glass and the bronze cabinet knobs from Union Hardware in Bethesda were an extravagance (I'd buy online for much less in the future).  

I did this project to make an everyday chore more pleasant for myself, to add some of my own personal style to my home, and to improve the value of my home, in that order.

But I am one cheerful laundress now.  I'll have a smile on my face for years to come.