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The staff from Westcott has made the purchase of a new home a pleasant experience. Thank you.

cite-markDavid and Sheila Barry

Archive for the ‘Lifestyle’ Category

How Saying Yes When Shopping For Your New Home Will Help You!

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

If you are thinking about purchasing a home, be it for the first time or not, knowing what to say yes to along the way can help you tremendously.  The first and most important step is to say yes and commit to the process of buying a home.  Once you’ve decided that buying a home is the right choice for you, follow these tips for when to say yes and you will find that buying a home isn’t all that troublesome at all.

Where Do I Start?

At this point, you have already weighed the pros and cons and decided that home ownership is the best decision for you.  That’s huge.  You’ve probably already done dozens of searches online, browsed through virtual listings, and probably have a list of requirements for your new home.

Now What?

Now that you have defined your goals and have a good idea of what you are looking for, you should consider saying yes to hiring a buyer’s agent.  Real Estate Agents can help during this process as they have the education and knowledge to help you make the best decisions when purchasing your home and choosing the best upgradable features.  They should also listen to your wants and needs to help you find that perfect fit.

The Big Decision

You’re almost there, you’ve made the decision to buy, you’ve said yes to an Agent and now you’re looking to find that perfect home for your needs and desires.  Many buyers make the mistake of becoming the perpetual shopper but never the buyer.  Have you found the right home?  I’m willing to bet, you have; it’s the right fit, has the amenities that you are looking for, and believe it or not, it’s priced right.  So now I ask, why haven’t you made an offer?  At this point, stop shopping, you’ve found the gem that you’ve been looking for, say yes!  Often times, prospective buyers find themselves continuously shopping until they’ve realized that they found their home long ago.  Your search does not have to drag on and on, when you find the perfect home, buy it.

New Construction

This next step comes into play with new construction.  You’ve found your dream home, you’ve decided to say yes but, now you have to decide what options you want to upgrade in your new home.  It’s important once again to consider what you want in your new home.  Is it important for you to have air conditioning in the midst of summer?  Would you feel safer with a security system installed in your home?  These are the types of questions that you need to ask when deciding what to add to your purchase.  By saying yes you are avoiding the hassles of these issues rearing their head down the road.  My advice is, if it’s important to you, say yes.

Say Yes!

By following these simple guidelines, my hope is that you will find the home buying process simple and fun.  Saying yes at these 4 stages in the process, will ensure that you have a more pleasant and less stressful time purchasing your dream home.

Visit a Westcott Home today at:

Mountain Ridge in Monroe, WA
Langley Meadows in Renton, WA
May’s Ridge in Renton, WA

Your Home Your Options

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

As discussed in previous blog articles such as Our Standards Are Their Upgrades, Westcott Homes provides many of the amenities that other home builders consider upgrades as our standards.  What we didn’t mention was that not only do our homes come standard with items like granite slab countertops and hardwood entries; we give our buyers options to choose from when it comes to finish colors and fixtures.

Granite Color Selections

At each of our current communities, we give our buyers four different options of granite slab colors.

Hardwood, Cabinet and Carpet Color

For hardwoods, cabinets and carpet, you can choose from our Darker Finish Package or our Lighter Finish Package, which ever suits you best.

Come See for Yourself!

You can see all of our standard options in our Sales Offices at each of our communities.  When it comes to your home, we want to give you the opportunity to make it truly your own without the multitude of choices that can be overwhelming and difficult to choose from.  Our Agents are standing by to assist you.  See the list below for an idea of the choices you will need to make.  You can find more information about these choices and our available upgrades at our current communities including Mountain Ridge in Monroe and Langley Meadows and May’s Ridge in Renton. As always, you can Contact Us with any questions along the way.

Hardwood/Carpet/Cabinet Color Selection:

  • Dark
  • Light

Granite Color:

  • Uba Tuba Slab
  • New Venetian Gold
  • Baltic Brown Slab
  • Absolute Black Slab

Bathroom Color:

  • Dark
  • Light

Fixture Package:

  • Oil Rubbed Bronze
  • Satin Nickel

Fall In Love with Our Homes

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Here at Westcott Homes we take pride in building homes that our buyers can truly enjoy and cherish for years to come.  Throughout all of the planning and preparing for a new plat or neighborhood, we take into consideration many different components.  One of our main considerations of course is the opinions of our buyers from previous communities; their feedback is so important to us and has a strong effect on the future of our home plans, location choices, interior selections and more.

Dream Homes at May’s Ridge

At May’s Ridge, we have built a community that is nestled along a quiet treed street in the Renton highlands.  This community was built with those in mind that prefer spacious floor plans and a remarkable and private setting for their home.  Our attention to detail and to our buyer’s needs and dreams can be seen throughout the neighborhood.  Here’s what one of our May’s Ridge Home Owners had to say about their new home:

“We are so pleased with our brand new home!  We absolutely love the floorplan and the detail and design throughout the home!  We are impressed with how timely the house was completed and the knowledge of Robin and DW when they were giving our walk through.  We are in love with our new house and all our visitors are impressed with our home and the May’s Ridge neighborhood!  We highly recommend Westcott Homes!”     – A. Jacobson

If you find yourself wishing that you were one of the lucky home owners at May’s Ridge, there is no reason to wait any longer.  We’ve already sold 22 out of 27 homes in this community but, that means that there are still 5 homes left.  Click here to view our available homes at May’s Ridge.

Please contact one of our On-Site Sales Agents today!

Give Us Your Feedback

We are so thankful to hear feedback from our buyers and we encourage you to give us your thoughts as well.  Reply to this blog post or feel free to Contact Us.

Gardening in Small Spaces

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Generally speaking, most homeowners today do not have massive amounts of land nor do they have the time to undertake maintaining large gardens.  With that said, there still aren’t a lot of resources out there for gardening in small spaces.  Big ideas for small spaces are often overlooked but, at Westcott Homes, we know that gardening in small spaces is not insignificant to homeowners today.  That is why we’ve decided to share some of our thoughts and advice on this topic.

Personal Oasis

There are many positives about small gardens.  You can give a small garden a more personal touch as an extension of your home.  Giving your small space a dramatic feel is easy; it takes less planting and less maintenance than a large garden.  With a small space, gardeners can get to know every aspect of their garden and can make changes easily if a plant seems out of place or doesn’t fit with their scheme.

Another nice aspect of gardening on a small scale is that nearly any plant or style can be worked into a small space.  With a flowering hedge you can transform your space giving it the look and feel of an enchanted garden or you can add a simple garden fence to enclose and define your personal oasis.

Hints and Tips for a Beautiful Space

  1. View your garden as a composition that will be taken in as a whole.  Small gardens typically only allow space for one cohesive design.  Add a little differentiation with small paths or stones.
  2. Ensure that all plants in your small space serve a purpose.  There just isn’t any room for wasted space or plants that don’t fit with your design.
  3. Small gardens will pop with cooler colors.  In small spaces it is important to limit your color selection in order to provide structure and cohesion, if you are looking to liven up the space think more in the terms of texture.  Find different plants and flowers that fit your color scheme; you’ll want them to provide variation in height, shape and size.

Extension of You

Remember that gardening is supposed to be fun and relaxing.  This past-time should serve as an extension of yourself and your home.  The great thing about gardening in small spaces is that if and when your tastes as a gardener change, your garden can too without a lot of effort.  Keep these hints and tips in mind as you get started and you’ll be a happy successful gardener in no time.  Happy planting!

A Cut Above The Rest

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

In an earlier blog article, we discussed our standards versus our competitor’s costly upgrades.  As we mentioned before, we want our buyers to move into their new home without a laundry list of items that they need to upgrade, remodel or finish for that matter.  That’s why our homes come standard with many of the amenities that buyers cherish.  One of the items that we receive inquiries about is our full-yard professional landscaping.

Nothing Left Out

Landscaping is one of the items that our competitors tend to leave out.  In-fact many builders will only landscape the backyard for an additional cost and those buyers who do not upgrade are required to finish their landscaping no later than six months after the close of escrow.  With Westcott Homes you have this luxury day one; you don’t have to spend your evenings and weekends finishing your backyard.

Shear Details

Having a manicured yard that lasts is the key; that’s why each Westcott home has a unique landscaping plan that encourages the best results for years to come.  A number of factors are considered when landscaping the grounds surrounding your new home.  The Landscaper and Superintendent take into consideration many different aspects including, drainage, grading and the size of the particular lot.

Here are some pictures of our typical landscaping:

As you can see, each home has a unique landscaping plan that includes the layout that works best with the ground that it is being laid on.  You may notice that our plans include flora, sod, bark, and sometimes gravel.  On land that has a slope or that sees little to no sunlight, it is known that grass may not thrive therefore, we substitute those areas with a nice outline of gravel or bark.  At times city ordinances dictate what plants and trees we can use and/or remove.  What we can tell you is that we work hard so that your landscaping is both beautiful and functional for years to come.  If you would like to know more about what your landscaping may look like, it is important to speak with your agent about what you should expect.

The View at May’s Ridge

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Every time I visit the neighborhood of May’s Ridge, I must stop and take in the beautiful view that surrounds the community.  Nothing compares to the stunning views as you round the corner and enter May’s Ridge.

We are more than 80% sold out at May’s Ridge in Renton, WA.  So, you have not missed out on your opportunity to come home to these breathtaking views.  As of today we have 5 home sites left for you to choose from and 3 different floor plans.  Take the time to visit May’s Ridge before they’re gone!

These are just some of the snapshots from my trip today:

Natural Beauty Surrounds Mountain Ridge

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Residents of Mountain Ridge at Monroe can enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds our new homes.  Less than 1 mile away, you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking and many more outdoor activities.

Just minutes from your doorstep!

  • McCauley Falls is only .7 miles from Mountain Ridge
  • 12 miles to Olney Falls!
  • Just a 17 minute drive to Twin Falls and Wallace Falls!

A number of different beautiful hiking trails and waterfalls are just a short trip from the Mountain Ridge community.  This location is the perfect launching pad for an enjoyable day out in the Northwest.  The nearby fun activities and tourist attractions are perfect for the family and for when visitors are in town!

Mountain Ridge Makes Date Night Easier

Friday, June 11th, 2010

At Mountain Ridge in Monroe, you’re only minutes away from a fun night out on the town. The Mountain Ridge Community provides convenience for you and your family. Our homes are located only a ½ mile from many major amenities; including restaurants, the Galaxy12 movie theater, and many parks to enjoy a relaxing evening or summer picnic.

  • Red Robin is only .7 miles from the Mountain Ridge neighborhood
  • Canyon’s Restaurant is only 3/4 of a mile away
  • Galaxy 12 Movie Theater is 1/2 mile from Mountain Ridge

Dinner and a movie is only a 10 minute walk from home.  Imagine a summer evening walk to dinner and then a movie!  Mountain Ridge provides the perfect location for family fun and convenience all while owning your dream home!

Mountain Ridge is now offering amazing prices starting off in the Mid $200′s.  New homes are available and come with amazing features such as granite slab counters and hardwood entries as standard.  Come visit this beautiful community this week:

19685 Mountain Ridge Road SE, Monroe, WA 98272
driving directions

Model Open Hours:

Thur – Fri from 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Weekends from 11:00 – 5:00 PM

Monroe Community Activities

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

If you’re new to the Monroe area or are thinking of purchasing a new Westcott home in our Mountain Ridge community, we’d like to introduce you to some of the exciting and fun community activities the City of Monroe has to offer.

No matter your interests, Monroe has something for you.

The Evergreen State Fair

Every summer, Monroe hosts the Evergreen State Fair on its 185-acre, partially wooded, and landscaped fairgrounds. Since 1945, the Evergreen State Fairgrounds have contained all the fun, food, and entertainment of the state fair.

In addition, the grounds are used year-round for many other activities including:

  • The SCA Renaissance Faire
  • Quilters Anonymous
  • Spring & Fall Auto Swap Meets
  • Car Sales
  • Training Seminars
  • Small Animal Shows
  • Evergreen RV Show
  • Prospector’s Gold & Mineral Show
  • Cascade Mountain Show
  • Bull Riding Events
  • Horse Shows
  • Meetings

Outdoor Adventures

Camping, hiking, river rafting, skiing, swimming, and more!

For those of you who love the outdoors, you’ll be glad to hear that Monroe offers some of the best outdoor adventure opportunities in the Northwest.

City Parks

If you’re looking for a place to relax and enjoy the peaceful calm of the outdoors, consider visiting one of Monroe’s many city parks.

Monroe maintains several beautiful parks around the city, including:

  • Al Borlin Park
  • Blueberry Children’s Park
  • Currie View Neighborhood Park
  • Fairgrounds Education Wetlands
  • Fryelands Neighborhood Park
  • Lake Tye Park
  • Lewis Street Park
  • Skykomish River Park
  • Stanton Meadows Neighborhood Park
  • Travelers’ Park
  • Cedar Grove Neighborhood Park

Monroe Museum

The Monroe Historical Society Museum opened in 1982 in Monroe’s original City Hall building at 207 East Main Street.

The museum includes a wide-ranging collection of local historical artifacts as well as historical resources made available on a limited basis to the public.

Learn more about what Monroe has to offer by visiting the Monroe Chamber of Commerce website!

http://www.monroewachamber.com/

Renton Community Activities

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Are you interested in purchasing a home in the Langley Meadows or May’s Ridge community in Renton? Good choice. The City of Renton, on the southeast shore of Lake Washington, is a diverse city with an active community.

Below we’ve compiled a list of a few fun and enriching community activities offered by Renton.

Renton’s Performing Arts

Renton is home to a thriving arts community and the county’s oldest theatrical performing arts organization, the Valley Community Players.

Within Renton, there are three performing arts facilities where two regional theatrical companies, the youth orchestra, the City Concert Band, the annual Summer Teen Musical, and visiting artists perform.

Renton’s Public Art

Renton takes visual art seriously too. By simply walking the streets of Renton, you’ll encounter an impressive collection of public art.

To view pictures and descriptions of Renton’s public art exhibits visit this link below!

http://rentonwa.gov/living/default.aspx?id=402

Renton’s Farmers Market

From June to September, the Renton Farmers Market comes alive in Downtown Renton. The Piazza, Renton’s gorgeous urban park, plays host to the areas most scrumptious selection of fresh, locally-grown produce.

Here’s a list of some of the items you can find at the Renton Farmers Market

  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Beans
  • Berries
  • Cheese
  • Cherries
  • Cut Flowers
  • Dried Flowers
  • Fresh Meats
  • Bread
  • Herbs
  • Garlic
  • Honey
  • Jams/Jellies
  • Mushrooms
  • Organic Fruits
  • Organic Vegetables
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Peas
  • Peppers
  • Plants
  • Salmon
  • Shellfish
  • Squash
  • Tomatoes
  • And More!

Renton’s Moonlight Movies

During the summer, you can enjoy Renton’s summer outdoor cinema in Liberty Park. Seating starts at 7pm and the movies begin at dusk.