Today’s Friday Featured Property is a spacious Northwest Contemporary style home in Newcastle that has been extensively renovated and updated with vaulted ceilings and great room concept floor plan. Western exposure and large picture windows naturally light this 3,300 sq. ft.  home that has 3 bedrooms upstairs, 2 bedrooms downstairs, 2.75 baths and a huge bonus room downstairs.

This lovely home also has a 1-car garage, hardwood floors and a large outdoor deck.

If you are interested in this property, you may view it here or MLS# 311486 or by contacting the seller’s agent, Cynthia Carver, at Realty Executives Evergreen: 425.427.0800.

The Chalkboard Decals come in fun shapes such as stars, hearts, circles, cupcakes, elephants and rococo. The Dry Erase panel decals are like a regular whiteboard; easy to use and clean.

The wall decal kits contain enough removable, reusable peel and sticks to transform a plain space into a sophisticated haven without making a mess. They are as simple to install as a sticky note and can be easily rearranged numerous times.

Find them at WallCandy Arts (affiliate link).

What would you use yours for?

You’ve heard this tip before: When in the clutter-banishing mode, pack things you want to let go of into boxes. Label the box with the date and put the box in the basement or garage. One year later, if haven’t unpacked it, let it go immediately-WITHOUT OPENING IT! If you open it you will have to start all over. If you haven’t missed whatever is in the box for a year, you don’t need it.

Unfortunately, many people refuse to believe that they won’t need their “put aside” things later. We blame the evil Clutter Fairy*. What can you do if you get a case of the “might need it laters”? Here are a few tips:

1.  “I’m saving it for a special occasion” (candles, “good” china, perfume, etc.). We can’t tell you how many senior move clients we’ve worked with who have had to give away these lovely items because they are not ABLE to use them any more. LIFE IS NOW! Enjoy your things while you can.

2. “It just needs a small repair.” Call an upholster, handyman or glass repair shop and see if the fix you had in mind will cost more than you are willing to pay. If so, let the item go. If you intend to repair it yourself, put an appointment on your calendar for this weekend to do the project.

3. “It might be worth something someday.” Call an appraiser or estate sale professional today and find out! We regularly check on items our downsizing clients have been saving for many years, only to find the amount the items are worth may not have been worth the space (and sometimes cost) to store them.

4. “My dear departed aunt gave it to me.” That’s so sweet. If you love it, keep it and use it! If it is hidden away in a box or closet, how well is it reminding you of her? We recommend taking a photo of the item as a keepsake, then offering it to a family member who can use and enjoy it.

Let’s defeat the evil Clutter Fairy at her own game!

* Cartoon used with permission of www.clangnuts.com.

Today’s featured property is a NW custom home with Cascade views.

The 1.76 acre home-site rewards you with privacy and room to park your RV vehicles (includes RV bay & dump station). Expansive view living room with vaulted ceiling, floor-to-ceiling bookcase and custom timber beams. Main floor master with private bath and walk-in closet. The downstairs is fully equipped with a full kitchen, family room, two bedrooms and a full bath. Perfect for college-aged children or live-in parents.

The listing price of this home as of today’s date is: $679,000

If you are a Realtor or home buyer interested in this property, you may view it here or MLS# 278379 or contact the Seller’s agent Larry Lamb at (206) 841-4041.

Most cities include recyclables pick-up at no cost with your curbside garbage pick-up, except Skykomish, Snoqualime Pass and Vashon communities, whose residents may still take their recyclables to their local transfer stations.

We were curious what happens if you have more recyclables than will fit in the curbside pick-up recycling cart, such as after a move when you have lots of boxes and packing paper you don’t wish to keep. We confirmed with both Waste Management by telephone and with the City of Renton curbside recycling page on their website that there is no limit to the amount of clean recycling you can set out for collection. Put recycling that doesn’t fit in your cart in recycling bins, cardboard boxes (limit 2′x2′x2′), or a 32-gallon can with handles marked “recycling.” Check with your city of residence and garbage pick-up service for their policies.

Of course, it will take you some time to cut up your used moving boxes into 2′x2′x2′ pieces, but that is the requirement for having them picked up curbside at no cost.

Seamless Moves offers removal of moving boxes and packing materials to our unpacking clients, but what are alternatives for the moving do-it-yourselfer?

You may take clean, used cardboard and paper to a recycling center such as SeaDruNar Recycling in Seattle who pay you a small amount for them or 1 Green Planet in Renton who accept these and many other items (appliances, electronics, scrap metal, etc.) at no cost to you.

If you would rather have someone pick them up for you, we recommend Rubbish Works. Owner John Davies says, “Rubbish Works can help with any type of recycling services. Our two-man crews will show up on site and take co-mingled recycling – metal, cardboard, plastic, etc.  We then distribute it to the proper recycling center.” Rates depend upon the amount you have them pick up.

OR: Skip the cardboard altogether and use Frogboxes!

1. Bathroom supplies

2. Cleaning supplies

3. Mittens, gloves, socks, belts (and of course) shoes.

4. Craft supplies

5. Children’s toys

6. Office supplies. Use a plastic over  the door shoe organizer to sort and store home office supplies. The pockets are great for pens, glue, stapler and staples, CD’s and paper clips.

What do you use yours for?

Have you ever received a gift and wondered, “Do I need to keep the box this came in?” With the Holiday Gift Season upon us, here are our Top 5 Tips to help you decide.

1. Flatscreen Televisions: We recommend ALWAYS keeping the original box and any included styrofoam and screen protection. If you don’t have the original box next time you move, the moving company will charge you between $75 to $135 for a new one.

2. Other electronics: Stereo speakers, turntables, computer printers and monitors – keep. DVD players, desktop towers and other “square” items – keep if you’ll be moving across country; maybe not if just across town. Your decision may be determined by the amount of dry, clean space you have to store boxes.

3. Collectibles: We don’t profess to know which collectibles are more valuable if you have the original box, but we do recommend keeping boxes and associated packing materials for extremely breakable or fragile items. WE know how to wrap a figurine for shipping so that it arrives with all 5 fingers intact, but do YOU want to pack that item yourself?

4. Toys: We recommend keeping boxes for toys that have many small parts and for toys that may be handed down to future generations (such as a train set or special doll).

5. Kitchen items: Unless the item is extremely fragile, a professional packer can pack your item to move as well as or better than in the original box. Therefore, keeping the box is not necessary.

Additionally, any items that you only use occasionally, such as holiday decorations and entertaining dishes, should be kept in their original boxes as your space allows when not being used.

Now that you have boxes figured out, here are some great wrapping tips: GiftWrap1, GiftWrap2 and GiftWrap3. Have a wonderful Holiday!

Today’s Friday Featured Property is a 2-bdrm/ 2-bath condo in the heart of downtown Kirkland, within easy walking distance to the waterfront. Freshly painted and carpeted and bathed in natural light. Peaceful and serene view from living areas and covered balcony of the zen courtyard and its lush landscape, fountains and trellises. High ceilings and a double-sided gas fireplace for a sense of space with intimacy.

We have seen this newly-listed condo and noted that the master suite is larger than often found in a downtown condominium, with generous closet space. It also comes with two storage areas: one on the same floor and one in the secure garage.

The listing price of this home as of today’s date is $319,000.

If you are a Realtor or home buyer interested in this property, you may view it here or MLS# 289999 or by contacting the seller’s agent, Robin Vogel, at (206) 406-2752.

Today’s Friday Featured Property is a newly-remodeled 1,025 sq. ft. waterfront condo in Seattle’s Madison Park neighborhood.

This 2-bdrm/2-bath home has waterfront views of Lake Washington, the Cascades and the 520 bridge. Enjoy the move-in ready, brand-new: bathrooms, kitchen cabinets, countertops, appliances and flooring. You’ll have a front row seat to the best the Pacific Northwest has to offer in Madison Park, one of Seattle’s best neighborhoods! Walk score = 78.

The listing price of this home as of today’s date is $420,000.

If you are a Realtor or home buyer interested in this property, you may view it here or MLS# 280810 or by contacting the seller’s agent, Mindy Garner, at (206) 914-2970.