Shelley@Valley West Realty

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Shelley@Valley West Realty: Willamina Oregon aka TimberTown USA

Shelley@Valley West Realty: Willamina Oregon aka TimberTown USA: Willamina Oregon, also known as TimberTown USA Willamina is a small town, population 2167, near the western junction of Hwys 18 and 22. Be...

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Willamina Oregon aka TimberTown USA

Willamina Oregon, also known as TimberTown USA

Willamina is a small town, population 2167, near the western junction of Hwys 18 and 22. Being so close to the junction of the two highways makes it an easy commute on Hwy 22 to Salem, only 29 miles away. On Hwy 18 it is 18 miles to McMinnville to the north. On Hwy 18 to the south it is 7 miles to Spirit Mountain Casino and 31 miles to the coast.

Willamina Creek flows through the town to join the South Fork of the Yamhill River. The town is named in honor of Willamina Craig Maley Williams. One of the several versions of how the town became named for Willamina, is that she fell off of her horse into the creek.

Rusty the Logger stands near the bridge over Willamina Creek. Rusty was created by artist Walt Mendenhall, a lifelong resident of the Willamina area. Walt's father was a logger in this region, some of his tools are in the artwork.

Also greeting visitors to Willamina is the Galloping Goose.

Main street with its nicely upkept buildings.

The library.

City Hall.

Willamina has an Elementary through High School school district.

Even the parks have awesome views.

Time to visit Willamina!

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Buying a new, to you, home

Things to do before purchasing your new home.

Pre-approval from a lender:

Use a Credit Union, Mortagage Broker, large Bank or Private Money to find a loan to fit your needs. This will let you know what your price range is for your new home.

Once you have your pre-approval letter you are ready to start your search.

Tour the areas that you would like to live in:

Drive around the neighborhood during the day and evening on week days and also on the weekend. The neighborhoods can be very different on the weekdays than on the weekends. There could be a gravel pit, logging or heavy commuter traffic on the weekdays. Weekends could mean no parking spots on the street.

Walk around the neighborhood, talk with the residents. These are the people who know the area. Check out the parks within walking distance.

Look on social media for the neighborhood groups.

Research the schools, parks, walking paths, bike paths, bus routes and shopping nearby.

Check out the real estate search sites. Not all of the information on the real estate sites are up to date, but you will see the prices of homes in the different neighborhoods.

Use a Real Estate Agent:

Your agent has access to the most current housing availability information. Your agent will be able to assist you in finding the information you need to help you purchase your new home.

Come on, lets go house hunting!

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Shelley@Valley West Realty: March Things to do in the Garden

Shelley@Valley West Realty: March Things to do in the Garden: Yay! It is almost Spring! Flowers to start from seed outdoors in your garden at this time of year: Alyssum Baby'...

March Things to do in the Garden

Yay! It is almost Spring! Flowers to start from seed outdoors in your garden at this time of year:

Alyssum Baby's Breath Bachelor's Buttons

Calif Poppies Calif Bluebells Clarkia

Larkspur Lupines Phlox

Sweet Peas Shirley Poppies Toad Flax

Veggies to plant now in your garden:

Onions Carrots Cilantro

Peas Radishes Spinach

Flowers to start from seed indoors:

Bee Balm Begonia-tubers Black eyed Susans

Daisies Nicotiana Mallow

Petunias Phlox Snapdragons

Stock Salvias-tender Verbena

You may start seeds in seedling trays or egg cartons, using this seedling soil mix:

1 part soil

1 part leaf mold or moss

1 part sand, granite grit or pumice

Soil mix for transplants, after first true leaves appear. Carefully lift plant using the leaves and not the stem.

1 part Soil

1 part Leaf Mold

2 parts Granite Grit, Sand or Pumice

1/2 part Compost

1/2 part worm casings

A before pruning tree photo. It still looks like this, only larger now.

Now is the time to prune your plants.

Remove branches that rub together, are dead, badly damaged or diseased. Densely branched plants should be thinned out to allow sunlight in and let air circulate, helping to reduce diseases. Knowing if your plant blooms on the old wood or new growth will be helpful when pruning, so you do not lose this season's flowers.

Now is the time for bare root plantings:

Look for plants with strong stems and well-formed roots. Do not buy if the roots are slimy or dry. Only purchase plants that have not leafed out yet. Plant bare root plants as soon as possible after purchasing. Soak roots overnight in a bucket of water before planting.

Dig a hole at least twice as wide as the roots. Make a cone in the center of the planting hole, speading roots over the cone. Refill hole up to the same depth, or slightly higher, as when the plant was in the field. The plant usually has a mark showing the dirt line. Hold the plant firmly while filling and firming planting hole to keep it straight. Water well to eliminate air pockets in soil, using more dirt as needed to fill in as the ground sinks. When growing season arrives, form a watering basin, using dirt mounded around the outer edge of the planting site.

Kitten tree! My favorite kind of tree.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Shelley@Valley West Realty: Tips for Selling Your Home:Clean, Clean, Clean

Shelley@Valley West Realty: Tips for Selling Your Home:Clean, Clean, Clean: Februum: Roman ritual cleansing ceremony using lavendar and other herbs to scent homes. Do not just de-clutter, deep clean to let ...

Tips for Selling Your Home:Clean, Clean, Clean

Februum: Roman ritual cleansing ceremony using lavendar and other herbs to scent homes.

Do not just de-clutter, deep clean to let your home shine!

Start at the top when cleaning your house.

If you do not have a ceiling brush, a broom with a clean, dry towel wrapped around the bristles will work for dusting and de-webbing your ceiling. Sweep the whole ceiling, especially the corners and door frames, being careful of light fixtures and pictures on the wall.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda as cleansers:

Wipe down the walls with the following recipe, this will clean and deodorize:

1 Cup Ammonia
1/2 Cup Vinegar, White or Apple Cider
1/4 Cup Baking Soda
1 Gallon Warm Water
Mix well, then use with clean towel to wash walls, ceilings, doors and cabinets.
If using on wood surfaces, it may dull finishes.
If using on softer stone surfaces, it may cause etching.

Clean your windows to show your beautiful view.

Clean windows and glass doors improve the first impression of your home. The best way to avoid streaks when cleaning windows is to not wash in the direct sun.

Glass Cleaner:

1/2 Water and 1/2 Vinegar, White or Apple Cider. Mix together in spray bottle.
Spray on glass surface and wipe dry with a clean, dry towel.

Using Vinegar and Baking Soda as a toilet bowl cleaner:

This recipe is great for cleaning the toilet bowl, especially if you have a septic tank:

1/4 Cup Baking Soda
1 Cup Vinegar, White or Apple Cider
Put the Soda in the water in the toilet bowl, then add the Vinegar. It makes a neat foaming action, like the volcano experments in school. Let sit for at least 10 minutes, then brush with toilet brush. If there are hard water lines or marks, use a pumice stone to remove.

Freshen up your drains. Sprinkle 1/8 Cup Baking Soda in your sink, tub and shower drains, add Vinegar. Let sit at least 10 minutes, then flush with hot water.

Clean litter boxes.

Remove the litter boxes, from the rooms where there are no kitties, when showing your home.

Clean up, do not be Cleaned Out.

Secure Jewelry, Cash, Keys, Valuables and All Medications before showings. I also recommend hiding Calendars, your appointments are in plain sight showing when you will be out of the house.