Cape Cod Open House

Dear Friends:
Today, I am venturing into new territory - for me. I have this vision of me being a kind of cross between Daniel Boone, pushing back the western frontier and Captain Kirk, boldly going where no man has gone before, except for the fact that millions of people have done this before me. Except for that part.
I have started a Spokane real estate blog.
My real estate blog, to be a bit more precise.
Blogging seems like a good way to communicate about what I see going on in real estate - and to communicate with a wider audience about what's going on in that portion of my (and your) life. I started out with a post about the beautiful rancher I have listed over on Garfield (that I will have an open house at on Sunday from 2:30 to 4:30)
From noon to 2:00 I will be at 1108 W. 15th in a really cool Cape Cod. Totally redone inside and out. By all means, come by and take a look. 3 bdrm, 1.5 bath, and as cute as it can be. When you look at it from the outside, you can almost hear Peggy Lee singing "Old Cape Cod".
All this house needs is a sand dune. And less snow.
Thanks in advance for checking out the blog.

Doug

South Hill Rancher

You can't be in real estate too long before you bump up against the rancher/downsizing/one level living conumdrum.

It goes like this: you own a house that is too big for you, that costs more in utilities and heating and general upkeep than it is worth (or that you want to spend, which is pretty much the same thing) and you think the answer is to downsize. If you have creaky knees and hips and stairs are starting to be a chore, you may also see an answer in a rancher design - everything is on one level: master bedroom and bath, family rooms and especially, the laundry. (There is nothing quite like hauling six loads of laundry up and down a flight of stairs to make you think a new house with a main floor laundry is a good idea.)

The problem is, there is this immutable law of nature that says, "Your stuff expands to the square of the space you have to store it all." Meaning, you've already got more stuff than space t store it all, so if you downsize, you only exacerbate the problem. Put another way, if you are coming from a 3000 square foot house to a 1500 or 1600 square foot house (essentially the same house but without the basement) you have to get rid of at least half your stuff.

For some people, that's a problem. Do your parents come to mind?

It's also a problem to adjust to the fact that there isn't going to be a spare bedroom for company (even though the last time you had overnight guests was 12 years ago), and the dining room may now become the dining area.

So, what's the answer? I'm so glad you asked.

The answer is this: a rancher with a full basement and with the laundry on the main floor.

This rancher has a new kitchen, a beautiful new master bedroom with a masterbath and walk-in closet, a sunken famly room, updated bathroom, main floor laundry and hardwood floors under most of the carpet. Plus a full basement with a bedroom, two huge storage rooms a workshop and a family room!

It also has a beautiful back yard with fruit trees and vegetable gardens, a sun shaded patio, and more. For someone who wants a beautiful house with space for stuff but everything you need on one floor, this is it. For a complete tour, go here: http://www.tourfactory.com/386454. You can get all the information there. Or call me for a showing. That works too.