It’s also known as “Cap & Trade” and is supposed to reduce Washington’s carbon footprint to 50% below 1990 levels by 2050.  Whether or not you believe that CO2 is a threat, this bill would change your life if it passes.

Here are some of the highlights according to an analysis by Representative Matt Shea:

• New Taxes, lots of them!
• Tolling the I-90 bridge with the fund going to reducing greenhouse emissions, not transportation infrastructure.
• Mandates reduction in vehicle miles driven for both commercial and private vehicles (pay as you drive/don’t drive).
• Creates what appears to be stringent rent control regarding new buildings.
• Fully incorporates “green building codes” at an enormous upfront cost to builders and new home buyers.
• Implementation of “complete street principles” increasing the cost of transportation projects.
• Severely limits use and disposal of real property.

 Those are just some of the highlights of this bill.  Certainly this bill would impact real estate as well as almost every other aspect of trying to live and make a living in the State of Washington.  A hearing was held that started already, at 8:00 a.m. this morning.  However, you can still provide feedback to your legislature and others.  You can phone call the legislative hotline number at (800) 562-6000 to call and express your viewpoint.  The website to find your legislator’s contact information is at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

That, of course, is silly. Regarding staging of a home, the article states:

Home buyers impressed by such good looks, tend to overpay. According to home stagers, staged homes sell for 3% to 10% more than non-staged homes.

Wow, that’s something home sellers should want! Here in North Central Washington, we don’t have any home stagers at all that I am aware of. I have been trying to convince a couple of design folks that it would be a great move for them, but so far no takers.

I don’t agree with the Wall Street Journal writer that home staging is some sort of dishonest brain control over buyers. I do agree that a well staged home will sell for more and sell more quickly. Staging helps the buyer see how the spaces in a home work. Staging does highlight the good points of a home. Staging is no more dishonest than cleaning mud, grime and garbage out of a car you might be trying to sell. BTW, I suspect you already know a detailed car will sell for more money than a grubby one. The comments to the Wall Street Journal posting are worth reading as well.

If you are selling a property, you NEED TO KNOW about home staging. Check out the link on staging on this site. There is also a good post about PRICE as well. A good, honest real estate agent can also help with staging but a professional stager, with training and experience would be a very valuable asset to the community.