Bill Barrow & Chris Miller
Managing Brokers
LOCAL LINKS.... Make BainbridgeNeighbors your gateway to everything good on & about Bainbridge Island...
Coldwell Banker
McKenzie Associates
10048 NE High School Road
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Put Over 60 Years Experience to Work
For You
206-780-6125
206-780-6146
Find and connect with everything on and about Bainbridge Island as quickly as possible:
▪ The Bainbridge Events tab takes you to the Bainbridge Island calendar of events.
Feel free to submit events that you or your organization are sponsoring.
▪ Expanded Bainbridge Island community information, web links, recipes, and selected regional links are found under the Community Links tab.
▪ The Bainbridge Images tab includes links to some interesting vintage videos of Bainbridge Island and to pictures of favorite island events.
▪ We have also added enhanced Bainbridge Island residential real estate information and Market Watch statistics for home buyers and sellers, or those who just want to keep their fingers on the pulse of the Bainbridge Island real estate market. Click on the Market Watch bar above.
▪ If you are thinking about moving to Bainbridge Island, click on MLS SEARCH above to search the entire MLS for residential homes and condominium homes on the island. The PERSONAL RETRIEVER link will take you directly to a web page where you can save your favorite properties and get immediate alerts when a similar property on Bainbridge Island is listed for sale. INFO FOR BUYERS provides quick links to a variety articles and tips, as well as knowledgeable local mortgage loan professionals.
▪ INFO FOR SELLERS is just that... Links to tips and statistical information about the current Bainbridge Island real estate market. You can also request a confidential valuation of your property via PRICE MY HOME.
Your suggestions, comments, and questions are always welcome.
Appliance Longevity: How Long Should It Last?
Replacing a home’s windows, appliances, or roofing can be pricey. So knowing approximately how long before the refrigerator is likely to stop working or the roof might spring a leak can have value to buyers and home owners.
Buyers may want to factor in replacement costs for aging components when they make an offer. Owners can use the information to decide whether to replace a component before a move. Now, a new study by the National Association of Home Builders provides some insight that can help your clients estimate the average useful life of more than 100 household appliances and building materials.
The true longevity of any household material depends on maintenance, use, quality of installation, and climate conditions, so use these averages as a general guide. The NAHB report still beats asking handy Uncle Fred.
100 Years or More
Brick siding: Lifetime of the home
All wooden floors: Lifetime of the home
Cellulose insulation material: 100-plus years
50-100 Years
Slate, copper, and clay and concrete roofs: 50+ years
Copper gutters: 50+ years
Kitchen cabinets: Up to 50 years
Modified acrylic kitchen sinks: 50 years
Vinyl floors: 50 years
30-50 Years
Thermostats: 35 years
Wooden windows: 30 years
Wood shake roofs: 30 years
French interior doors: 30–50 years
10-20 Years
Built-in audio system: 20 years
Aluminum windows: 15–20 years
Asphalt shingle roofs: 20 years
Faucets, kitchen sinks: 15 years
Gas ranges: 15 years
Cultured marble countertops: 20 years
Dryers and refrigerators: 13 years
Air conditioning units: 10–15 years
Lighting controls: 10+ years
Interior and exterior paints: 15+ years
Electric or gas water heaters: 10 years
Air conditioners: 10–15 years
Furnaces: 15–20 years
5-10 Years
Security systems: 5–10 years
Heat and smoke detectors: 5–10 years
Dishwashers: 9 years
Microwave ovens: 9 years
Carpet: 8–10 years
Working with Elder Parents in Planning Financially for their Long Term Care
You may be taking care of elderly parents now or looking at that possibility in the near future.
According to a report from USATODAY ABCNews Gallup Poll, 41% of baby boomers are helping take care of elderly parents by providing personal help or financial assistance or both. If financial planning and long term care planning have not been done previous to the need for care the burden falls on the care giving family member. Decisions about how care will be paid for, who will be responsible for managing the estate as well as how the long term care will be given can cause stress and contention among family members. It is best for parents and all family members to be involved in planning for future financial needs. The financial resources being used today could change drastically with the occurrence of a stroke, illness or onset of dementia. In order to plan financially for long term care, you need to know what the costs are now and what they will be in the future...read the entire article by going to the link below
Please go to the following URL for the entire article and previous articles: Either click on the link http://www.planforcare.org or copy and paste the following into your browser: http://www.planforcare.org
Cabinet Meeting
Can’t afford a full kitchen makeover? Sprucing up the cabinetry is an easy fix for a fraction of the cost.
There are two options: replacing or refacing. Refacing includes covering the existing cabinet doors and drawer fronts with a wood or plastic veneer and replacing knobs and door hinges. Replacing cabinets requires removing them entirely and starting from scratch. So what’s best for your home? Here are a few things to consider, according to HGTV.
First, check to see if the cabinets are structurally sound. If you have problems opening the drawers, closing the doors, or if the cabinet’s interior isn’t as large as you need it to be, simply rejuvenating the look isn’t going to help in the long run. Also consider the age of the cabinets: Those made 20 to 30 years ago were typically built using thicker wood and sturdier construction. Such cabinets can often be refaced instead of replaced.
Next, consider how long you’ll remain in your home. Replacing the cabinets will add to the home’s value and could be worth the extra money if your home will be on the market in the near future. But for a potential buyer, a modern renewal of the cabinets with up-to-date veneers might be enough, making refacing your cabinets a cost-effective, viable solution. The typical cost of refacing with plastic veneer can cost up to about $3,000, while wood veneers can run up to $7,000. If you’re still considering replacing, make sure you budget accordingly.
Stock cabinets are pre-made in specific styles, shapes, and finishes. Basic cabinets (top and bottom) for a 10x12-foot kitchen start at $4,000-$5,000. Semi-custom cabinets give you more options, because they're built after you place your order. They're about double the cost of stock cabinets. Glass fronts, special trim patterns, and the like with increase the budget. Finally, custom-made cabinets can cost four times that of stock cabinet prices, or more. Delivery and installation of new cabinets, according to Costhelper.com, can run at least $10,000.
IKEA.com offers a free downloadable kitchen planner that lets you plug in the size and shape of your kitchen, along with details such as door, window, and electrical outlet locations. You then choose and place various IKEA cabinets. The planner automatically calculates the total materials costs.
Please also visit our other web site: Our Bainbridge Homes