real estate Archives - Official Home for Puyallup Washington

The Best Tips for Selling your Home in Puyallup

Posted on January 27, 2017by Thera

After the deep freeze we have been experiencing in the Northwest, it is nice to see some sunshine in the forecast. Since the sun is starting to come out, it is time to start getting your home ready for the market if you are planning to sell this spring. The market is crazy right now and on average, a home gets at least 3 offers within 24 hours of being listed but that is only if the home is in market ready condition. If you have ever wanted to sell your home, now is the time. It can be quite pricey to hire companies to stage the home or update it to get it market ready. However, there are simple and budget-friendly ways to update the home and then stage it for potential buyers. These inexpensive tips and tricks can be the difference between your house sitting on the market for 7 days or 70 days.

A major selling point to potential buyers is an updated kitchen. When updating the house, always put the kitchen first. Many agents say that you aren’t selling the home, you are selling the kitchen. The kitchen is the focal point of the whole home and the benefits of remodeling your kitchen can make the difference of about $10,000 in the listing price. An outdated kitchen can turn off potential buyers and a few simple fixes can include repainting the kitchen in a neutral color and adding inexpensive hardware. There cabinet repainting kits that can help you give your kitchen cabinets a new, fresh look. Giving your kitchen a neutral makeover can help the potential buyers envision their own style in the kitchen.

Minor repairs can also make a huge difference when it comes to attracting a buyer. Small details can turn buyers off because all they can think about it how that is just another thing that they will have to fix themselves after the exhaustive process of moving. Also, making minor repairs is a lot cheaper than a major overhaul and sometimes if you dump a lot of money into high-cost upgrades, chances are you will not get a good return on your investment. Paint the interior with neutral colors like eggshell and taupe to help create a backdrop that inspires the imagination of the buyers. Replace door handles, clean the grout in the bathroom, and fix any cracked tiles or leaky faucets. These small upgrades will help get your home market ready quickly and cheaply.

Once the upgrades have been completed, it is time to prep the home for staging. The first step in prepping is to completely let go of the idea that this is your home. This act of disassociation will help to get you into the selling mindset. Picture yourself handing over the keys to the new owners and make the mental decision that you will be moving into a new home. Say good-bye to the house and the great memories that were created there. Always remember to look towards to the future and not the past.

Once the kitchen has been updated and the minor changes have been made, it is time to get the home prepared for staging. The biggest aspect of getting your home ready for the sale, is to de-personalize the home. Carefully pack up all those personal photographs and family heirlooms. You want the potential buyers to envision their own personalized touches in the house to help them see themselves living there. Also, de-cluttering the home will also help create a clean slate for the buyer’s imagination. People end up accumulating a lot of stuff over the years and their homes and become full of excess things. De-cluttering will not only help make your move easier but will also help create that clean slate discussed above. The best way to approach the de-cluttering process, the KonMari method is the most comprehensive method of letting go of your stuff and getting organized. The KonMari method to tidying up revolves around the concept of purging those items that do not bring you joy. This no-excuse elimination process will help get your home ready for the market. If there are items that you absolutely must keep, then rent a storage unit to store the extra items that you wish to keep for your new home.

Once all the clutter and the personal items are gone, it is time to clean your home until it sparkles. When an agent starts bringing buyers into the house, those buyers go through everything. They will open the fridge and pull back the shower curtain. An unsightly home can turn off potential buyers so make sure to wash the windows, re-caulk tubs, shower and sinks, wax the floors, polish any chrome or stainless steel surfaces and dust everywhere. Also, we end up getting used to certain smells in our house but that doesn’t mean that the general public will enjoy those smells. Banish those smells with a neutral smelling air deodorizer. A clean home is easier to sell and will cut the time it sits on the market in half.

After these changes have been made, it is time to list the home. Working with a listing agent that you trust is key to making sure that your home sells quickly and efficiently. If you need to stage the home, make sure to keep it simple. Once again, the goal is to give the home a neutral tone to help the buyers envision their stuff inside the home. These simple yet effective tips will help you to sell your home quickly. If you are looking for an agent, make sure to contact us!

Puyallup, Real Estate

Tips for Picking a Real Estate Agent

Posted on March 31, 2016by Admin

Puyallup Real Estate Agent

For anyone looking to buy a home, the market is super hot right now! The real estate market is starting to heat up and get competitive and if you are looking to buy or sell, the right agent can make a difference between you finding your dream home or missing out. Building a good relationship with an agent is a key component to the buying and selling process. But what is the best way to go about building that relationship and that trust? How do you find the right agent for you and your needs? There are certain steps you can take in order to find the perfect agent to help you on this real estate journey.

The first step when hiring an agent is getting feedback and recommendations from previous clients or from friends and family. This can really help boost the trust between you and an agent. The best way to find these clients is to ask the agent to provide a list of homes that they have sold and listed in the past year with contact information for the buyers and sellers. Ask the permission of the agent to contact past clients and ask the agent if there is anyone that he or she thinks would give a positive review or a negative review. Get the agent’s reasons for why they worked well with certain clients and not well with others. When speaking with previous clients, ask them what they liked about the agent and what they didn’t. Make sure to find out what the listing price was of the home they purchased and what the sale price was after the transaction was completed. From the list of homes that have been sold and listed, you can determine the overall success rate of the agent as well.

Another crucial preliminary step when looking for an agent is to make sure to find one who understands where you are in life. A couple with a baby on the way has different needs than a single individual. For example, with a couple that has a baby on the way, it makes sense to work with an agent that maybe has children and understands what to look for when it comes to a new home and a neighborhood. Understanding a purchase timeline helps as well. Your agent should know when you’re moving to the area. Certain aspects of home can make it difficult with a newborn and the new parents won’t understand that until they have an agent that can point out potential issues. Certain layouts are designed to be more family friendly. The needs and wants for an individual can vary but working with an agent that was once in the same position will help highlight what would be the best investment choice for your money.

A background check into the agent can provide key details regarding their credentials. Look up licensing with the state board to see the license of the agent and if there are any disciplinary actions against that agent. Also looking into the credentials of the real estate agent is a good idea to see if they specialize in specific areas of real estate. Look for certain acronyms like CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative) and SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist). The CRS credential means an agent has completed additional education in residential real estate, ABR means that the agent has completed training in representing buyers in a transaction and SRES means that they have completed training that is aimed at helping buyers and sellers in the 50 and over age range. There is also a distinction between a relator who refers to themselves as a “Realtor” versus a “realtor”. If they use the term “Realtor” then that means they are member of the National Association of Realtors. Members are required to uphold certain code of ethics and standards when it comes to selling and listing homes.

There are a few crucial questions that you should be asking a potential real estate agent when trying to find one that will be the best fit for you. Two of those key questions is finding out what geographical areas and the types of properties that the agent handles. Certain neighborhoods have certain idiosyncrasies that are important for an agent to know when helping their client to navigate buying or listing a home in that area. For example, certain older cities have homes with historical value and the city might restrict certain additions or updates to that home. Moving out of a city and into the suburbs or vice versus can present their own challenges. People looking to start families have different needs and wants when it comes to a neighborhood and finding an agent that has that particular type of expertise can help you find the home of your dreams.

Another important question to ask the agent is how long they have been in business. In the real estate business, experience is everything. More experienced agents not only understand the ins and outs of the market but they have also had the time to build a valuable network within the real estate community that you could benefit from when buying or selling a home. Some agents are only part time and some are full time. The part time agents usually sell or list properties for friends and family whereas the full time agent have created a business and a career out of buying and selling homes. Make sure to check and see if they are part time or full time and decide which works better for you. Most people find that a full time agent is more motivated and has better connections that a part time agent.

When looking for a real estate agent, it is important to be as thorough as possible with your research. A home is one of the most important investments that an individual can make and the agent is the main facilitator in that transaction. There are plenty of real estate agents operating in the Puyallup area so get recommendations and ask questions to find the person that will best fit your needs. Looking to buy or sell your home in the Puyallup area? Contact an agent using this link: https://www.puyallup.com/real-estate-listings/

Puyallup, Real Estate

Getting The Most Out Of Selling Your Home

Posted on February 18, 2016by Admin

Although it doesn’t feel like it, spring is around the corner and for those people looking to sell their Puyallup homes it is time to amp up your resale value. Curbside appeal can go a long way when it comes to selling your home. After homeowners have dumped a ton of money into the inside of their home, they rarely then turn their focus to the outside. Most homeowners mistakenly think that it’s too expensive to fix up the curbside appeal. However, not making the effort to spruce up the outside a bit can see your home sitting on the market for quite awhile or worse, having to lower the price on your house. Unfortunately most potential Puyallup homebuyers do not have the time or the know how to help fix curbside appeal. Most buyers are looking for turnkey homes because the amount of effort that goes into finding and moving into a house can be daunting. So when a potential buyer sees that the outside also needs work, it could be the deciding factor when buying the home. Even though Pinterest has helped open the door to more people that want to do DIY projects, rarely do buyers actually want to take the time to do them. As a seller, it is worth the time and some money to fix up the outside of your home.

One of the easiest ways to help curbside appeal is to paint your front door a complimentary bright color. Bright colors on the outside of the house can intimidate some people but using it as an accent color can help give the home a fresh, updated look. The main issue is how to pick the correct color to match the overall look of the home. Here are some tips to help ensure that the color you pick will be a perfect match for your home. Bring whatever you can to the paint store from the outside of your home. For example, bring an extra brick from your home, or a painted shingle. If you still have the original paint color, paint it on a small board and bring it with you. Also bring as many paint swatches from the store home with you to compare them against your current paint job. Some stores sell tester samples and you can paint these tester samples onto a large board and place it over the door. Step back to get the overall look to see if the color matches the rest of the house. There is an app too called Front Door Paint that will take a photo of your door and let you “paint” it so you can see the overall look without a lot of effort. Picking a complimentary door color is very important so take your time when deciding.

Painting Front Door of Home

Using some cheap crown molding around your newly painted door will help that door really pop. You can pick up some crown molding at your local hardware store for anywhere from $15 to $30 to help frame your door. Once again, as a reminder it is important that the trim color match the door or at least complement the door and house color. The introduction of Urethane foam molding to market has allowed home owners the ability to spruce up their homes with molding for cheap. Urethane foam trim is lightweight, easy to cut, paintable and will never rot making it the ideal trim for the outside of your home. Here is an easy guide from the DIY Advice website to help guide you through the project.

Once you have the door and the frame, adding accessories to the door will really help add some appeal to your front entry way. Adding some house numbers, doorknocker, and some lights add a lot of personality to your curbside appeal. You can either install numbers yourself or find some nice decals to add to your door. You can add the numbers to either the door or next to the door. You can find affordable house numbers on websites like Etsy or a local home improvement store. Also adding a nice doorknocker or a decorative letter will help complete the look.

Curb appeal of house

Moving on from the front door, there are also inexpensive ways to update your garage door. It is as easy as painting it with a gel stain. The most important part of the process is to make sure that your current garage door is power cleaned or at least cleaned with vinegar and a sponge. When painting the door, make sure that you have good weather and that the door isn’t in direct sunlight. The gel stain dries very quickly so make sure that you are properly prepared. For under $25 you can get the paint and the brushes and update your garage to give it a polished look. Another way to update your garage is to add a trellis or a pergola at the top of the garage. Adding a pergola is a little more complex of a project, but the finished product is worth it. This video from www.thisoldhouse.com will help make the process a little easier. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20827877,00.html

Garage Pergola

Even though electrical boxes and air conditioning units are a necessity to homes, they are almost always an eyesore unless they are properly camouflaged. Paint your electrical boxes the same color as your home to help hide them a little better. Hiding an AC unit usually requires a little more effort. You can plant some bushes around the unit which only requires your time and some plants that will properly provide coverage. The second option is to use a lattice to hide the unsightly unit. The lattice usually provides more coverage. You can then add plants and flowers around the lattice for an extra spruced up look.

Air Conditioning Yard

Once the garage and the front door are completed, it is time to focus on the windows on the front of the house. Nothing brightens up a house more that some gorgeous brightly colored flowers. Adding some window boxes below the windows will not only help to frame the windows but also will help catch the eye of some potential buyers. This tutorial from Two Twenty One.

gives simple step by step instructions on how to make your own flower boxes. Adding shutters to the windows also help to frame your windows and give the front of the house some character. Adding shutters is one of the easiest ways to make the greatest impact on the overall appearance of your home. However, if not properly installed, the shutters have the potential to ruin the appearance of your home. This post by Old House Guy (http://www.oldhouseguy.com/shutters/) gives some in depth details about the proper way to install shutters on your home and how to not ruin the look of your house.

before and after

The old saying that first impressions mean everything is equally true when it comes to selling your home. People are more likely to drive past your home and not even look inside if the outside looks terrible. Quality curbside appeal can increase a home’s value anywhere between 7 and 15 percent. So not only are you getting a return on your investment but you are making your home more inviting to help attract potential buyers. No matter how much work you put into the inside the house, if you haven’t taken the time to fix up the outside, chances are potential buyers won’t be interested in coming in. Some people mistakenly think that it is too expensive or they are burnt out from all the work on the inside of the house and decide to forgo fixing up the outside. This mistake could cost you money and a quick sale of your Puyallup home. The tips above are a few inexpensive ways to get your home to sell quickly and when you are ready to sell contact a Puyallup listing agent to get your house on the market.

Puyallup.com has a full real estate listings section if you’re in the market or just interested to see what homes in the area are selling for.

Puyallup, Real Estate

Moving To Puyallup

Posted on December 14, 2015by Admin

Moving To Puyallup Guide

When families decide to move to a region or a new city, a lot of thought and planning must go into that decision. There are so many factors to think about when moving to a new city. Certain questions like is the city affordable, how are the schools and is there a low crime rate are just a few that come to mind when contemplating whether a certain city is right for both you and your family. We are lucky in the Pacific Northwest to have access to so many activities both cultural and outdoors. From the museums in the cities to the mountains in the Cascade Range and the sea and the lakes, people here have the opportunity to lead full lives. There are so many reasons to pick Washington for a new place to settle down but where exactly is the best city? Taking certain factors into account, Puyallup, Washington is the best place to settle down.

Table of Contents:
• Top reason you should move to Puyallup
• Getting settled into Puyallup
• Car and boat licensing information
• Hunting and fishing licensing information
• Pet licensing
• Government numbers to know
• Puyallup historical society and museums
• Post offices
• Recycling and garbage information
• Utilities
• Moving, storage, and truck local companies
• Local moving companies
• Local truck rentals
• Local storage companies
• Conclusion

Here are the top reasons why Puyallup is where you should make your next move.

1. Cost of Living: City living is only really great if you can afford it. Seattle is starting to become one of the most expensive cities in the United States. With Amazon moving taking over the city, the more affordable neighborhoods are disappearing. The current average house price in Seattle is $525,00. Puyallup’s, on the other hand, has a current median home price is $224,500 and home appreciation is climbing steadily each year. The cumulative appreciation rate over the last ten years has been 30.30%, which ranks in the top 30% nationwide and even during the recession the Puyallup housing market continued to experience growth. Review our guide for more real estate information. Currently, gas prices in Puyallup are some of the lowest in Western Washington. They are fluctuating between $2.15 a gallon to $2.30 a gallon.

2. School District: For people who have children, there is nothing more important that a good school district. According to the Great Schools website, the Puyallup School District is rated 7 out of 10. Across the boards, both the elementary, middle and high schools, like PHS, in the Puyallup area rated above the rest of the state in proficiency in reading and math. Also the Puyallup school district has an average class size is 20 whereas the Seattle School district currently has an average of 30 students per class. Research and studies have shown that smaller class sizes are linked to positive educational benefits such better test scores, lower dropout rate and higher graduation rates.

3. Entertainment: Puyallup is the home to one of the top ten fairs in the United States. There are two annual events held at the fairgrounds every year. There is a 17 day event held every September and a four day Spring Fair every April. The local fair has live musical concerts from famous stars, comedy, rides, delicious food, and special exhibits. Throughout the year the fair has a variety of events each month all of which are held at the Washington State Fair. There are also three different movie theaters in the Puyallup area that play the latest movies. The city also holds a lot of family friendly events during the holidays like a community trick-or-treating event for children and the Lighted Santa Parade. Considering all the other local cities, Puyallup, Washington is one of most popular for entertainment.

4. Culture: Puyallup is a small city but with a busy community spirit. Puyallup hosts the Meeker Days Street fair, which is Pierce County’s largest street fair. The Meeker Days event is right downtown in Pioneer Park and covers several blocks. This street fair features live music, over 130 arts and crafts booths along with activities for children and teens. The food selection is massive and there are a lot of vendors as well. Also Puyallup’s annual Art and Wine Walk has become quite the popular event that features fantastic local, national and international wines. People get to sip on delicious wines while being able to shop and admire art in the downtown area. Puyallup also hosts one of the best farmer’s markets in Washington thanks to Puyallup being surrounded by fertile farmland. The farmers market features delicious local produce along with some arts and crafts booths. There is also a holiday farmers market that features unique holiday items like gifts and home décor.

5. Social Scene: A social scene is a key aspect to a quality of life in a city. People love an active social scene that allows them to go out meet new people and gives them something fun to do in their city. Most people think they should head to Tacoma or Seattle but Puyallup’s budding social scene is a casual yet fun scene that features bars, breweries and delicious restaurants. There are places to dance and sing karaoke and parking there is hardly ever an issue.

6. Commute: Since Seattle’s cost of living has sky rocketed and people are leaving the city in droves and moving outwards to the outlying cities. Seattle traffic is some of the worst traffic in the United States. According to a national ranking by the Tom Tom Navigation Company, Seattle ranks as the fifth most congested city in the United States. Even navigating through the city itself takes forever. Luckily, Puyallup has the Sounder station right in downtown for a quick and painless 40 minute ride to the city. The sounder is spacious and comfortable and a lot less stressful than the sitting in traffic. Also parking in Seattle is outrageous and costs an arm and a leg. Taking the Puyallup Sounder eliminates the need for parking and helps save you money. It gets very busy, however, at the Puyallup location so come early to grab a parking spot at the Sounder station. Parking is free.

7. Outdoor Activities: Western Washington is blessed to have so many different kinds of outdoor activities within in one state. From skiing in the mountains to swimming in the ocean, Washington is filled with a lot of beautiful natural wonders. Those who live in the Puyallup area are fortunate because Puyallup is smack in the center of all of it. Mt. Rainer is only about an hour away, the Puget Sound in only 20 minutes away, beautiful Lake Tapps is only 15 minutes away, and skiing at Snoqualmie in only 90 minutes away. All those fun outdoor activities are so close to Puyallup and for those who love being outdoors, Puyallup is the most central location to all these exciting activities. It’s truly a great place to move to considering it’s central location alone.

8. Community: As mentioned above, the City of Puyallup hosts a lot of community events for families. This is one of the reasons that Puyallup has gained the reputation for being one of the friendliest cities in the state. Puyallup is filled with very down to earth people that love their city and work hard to be neighborly. The city is constantly working on bringing the community together by creating events that bring together local businesses, people and community leaders. The Main Street Association’s sole focus is creating fun events for the city that have become hugely popular over the years.

Getting Settled into Puyallup

Anyone who has ever moved before understands how stressful and overwhelming it can be. There are so many aspects to consider before and after you move. Packing all your furniture and things, selling your home, finding movers are just a few things that one has to do before making the move.

After you have finally settled in the city, there is a vast amount of information that is required in order to help you get established. Whether you are relocating your business, family or just yourself the amount of tasks that must be completed can be daunting. Here is a list of all local government agencies or businesses that you might need to contact to help make your relocation to Puyallup a little bit easier.

Licensing Information:

Car/Boat Licensing

Driver Licensing office:
There are so many car dealerships in Puyallup so finding a new or used car here will never be a problem after your move. By law, however, you have 30 days to get your Washington state drivers license after you have moved to the state. Washington also has different offices for vehicle licensing and driver licensing. First you must establish residency in Puyallup. You are considered a Washington resident if you do any of the following: register to vote, receive state benefits, get any Washington state license at resident rates, or receive in-state tuition fees. Once you have established residency, you can decide if you want a standard driver license or an enhanced driver license. The enhanced license or EDL is an acceptable alternative to a passport for re-entry in to the US at land or sea border crossings. Once you determine the type of license, find out whether you can pre-apply online. See if you can apply online here: http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/preapply.html

Visit a driver license office to start your application or finish your application that you started online. Make sure to bring your proof of identity, payment for the fees, and your social security number. At the office you will need to be able to pass a vision screening, pay any fees, decide if you want to register to vote or be an organ donor, and pass any other required tests. Once you have taken care of all that, your out-of-state license /ID card will get punched and returned to you. You will then get a temporary license but you will not be able to use it for ID purposes. Your permanent license will be mailed within 7-10 days.

Address:
733 River Rd
Puyallup, WA 98371
Phone: (253) 840-4590
Fax: 253.840.4564

Vehicle Licensing in Puyallup
First you must get your valid Washington drivers license in order to get you vehicle license. You have 30 days to license your vehicle once you have moved to the state. You then must submit your forms and payment and bring or mail them to a vehicle licensing office. You must bring or mail the Vehicle Certificate of Ownership Application, the current Certificate of title of your vehicle and payment for the fees. If you go to the office you will get your plates that day if you mail the forms in it might take up to 3 weeks. Once you get your plates sign up for a License express account in order all your vehicles in the future. There are two Vehicle Licensing agencies in Puyallup.

Address:
(Main) McCallum License Agency, Inc.
1325 East Main Ave
Puyallup, WA 98372
Phone: (253) 845-8811

McCallum License Agency, Inc.
(South Hill – Puyallup Area)
16126 Meridian E
Puyallup, WA 98375
Phone: (253) 841-0245

Puyallup Department of Driver’s Licensing
733 River Road
Puyallup, WA 98371
Phone: (253) 840-4590

Boat Licensing in Puyallup
Within 60 days of moving to Washington to must register your boat. In order to title and register your boat in Puyallup Washington, you must complete the Vessel title Application and bring that along with the current out-of-state registration and title, proof you paid sales tax on the boat, and a check or money order to pay the fees. You can submit this packet by mail or you can visit a vehicle or boat license agency.

Hunting and Fishing License in Puyallup:
Washington is filled with all kinds of outdoor activities. Hunting and fishing are very popular due to all the forest and lakes and access to the ocean. For all the hunters and Puyallup fisherman there are multiple places in the city to get a license. You’ll want to make sure get your fishing license for the Puyallup River as it’s often checked on site. Here are few places in order to get your license.

Wal-Mart 3525
Address:
16502 Meridian Ave. East
Puyallup, WA 98375

The Sports Authority #554
4423 South Meridian
Puyallup, WA 98373

Sportsman’s Warehouse #213
120 31st Ave. SE Suite G
Puyallup, WA 98374

Pet Licensing in Puyallup
All cats and dogs must be licensed through the Metro Animal Services. You can also adopt animals from the Metro Animal Service. Licensing can be completed in person at the following locations:

Puyallup City Hall
333 S. Meridian
Puyallup, WA 98371
Phone: (253) 841-4321

Puyallup Police Department
311 W. Pioneer
Puyallup, WA 98371

Metro Animal Services Shelter
1200 39th Ave. SE
Puyallup, WA 98374
Phone: (253) 299-7387

Government numbers to know for the City of Puyallup:

Puyallup Municipal Court
929 E. Main, Suite 120, Puyallup, WA 98372
Puyallup Court Clerk: (253) 841-5450 ext. 2
Puyallup Court Probation: (253) 770-3347
Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Puyallup City Clerk
333 S. Meridian, 4th Floor, Puyallup, WA 98371
Telephone: (253) 841-4321
Fax: (253) 770-3352

DSHS
Address:
Puyallup Valley Community Service Office
201 West Main Street, Puyallup, WA 98371-9987

General Information: (253) 476-6818
Mailing Address:
Puyallup CSO
PO Box 2116
Tacoma, WA 98401-9915

Puyallup Library
The Puyallup Public Library focuses on an open environment that brings literacy, imagination and inspiration to all the patrons both young and old. The library was also built in 2002 and is filled with books, DVD’s, newspapers, and magazines of all genres. You can visit the main library downtown by the Ezra Meeker statue in Puyallup’s Pioneer Park. The land the Puyallup Library sits on was donated by Ezra Meeker himself with certain terms.

Address:
324 S. Meridian
Puyallup, WA 98371
Telephone – (253) 841-5454
Fax – (253)841-5483
E-mail – puylib@ci.puyallup.wa.us

Puyallup Historical Society and Museums:
The Puyallup Valley has a very rich history (and daffodils) dating back to 1830’s. The first European settler in the area was Dr. Tolmie. When he first passed through the area, it was a beautiful fertile valley that had a scenic river meandering through the valley. The Puyallup Tribe of Indians had a permanent dwelling along the riverbank and their tribe name originated from their hospitable nature. The word Puyallup translates to “generous people” which is the same spirit that the city is known for today. It later grew into a very popular hop industry here in Puyallup. If you are looking to learn about the history of Puyallup once you have settled in here or our local societies and museums also check out our Puyallup history timeline.

The Meeker Mansion
312 Spring St
Puyallup, Washington 98372
Tour information: (253) 848-1770

Karshner Museum
309 4th St NE
Puyallup, WA 98372
Phone: (253) 841-8748

The South Hill Historical Society
They hold regular meetings on the third Tuesday of the month at 11:00am. There are no meetings in July and August. To become a member, please download this form: http://www.southhillhistory.com/Meeting-Membership/Membership_Form.pdf

Address:
502 43rd Ave. SE
Puyallup, WA 98374

Puyallup Post Office
There are two US Post Offices located for your convenience in the Puyallup area.

Address:
(Downtown Puyallup)
204 2nd Street SW
Puyallup, WA 98371
Phone: (253) 435-5146
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:30am-5:30 pm
Saturday: 9:00am- 3:00pm
Sunday: Closed

Address:
(South Hill Puyallup)
13516 Meridian Ave. E
Puyallup, WA 98373
Phone: (253) 435-1148
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:30am-5:30 pm
Saturday: 9:00am- 3:00pm
Sunday: Closed

Recycling and Garbage in Puyallup
Washington is a very environmentally friendly state and focusing on a recycling is an important part of living in the state. You can recycle glass, cardboard and newspaper at the following Elks Lodge location. You can drop off your items 7 days a week 24 hours a day. You can also arrange for curbside pick up service for recycling and garbage through DM Disposal.

Elks Lodge
314 27th St. N.
Puyallup, WA 98372

D.M. Disposal
PO Box 532
Puyallup, WA 98371
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed on Saturday and Sunday

Utilities in Puyallup

Mailing Address:
City of Puyallup Utilities Billing & Customer Service
PO Box 35160
Seattle, WA 98124-5160

Visit in-person:
Puyallup City Hall
3rd Floor, 333 S Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98371
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm
Phone: (253) 841-5550
Fax: (253) 770-3335

In an effort to keep your utility rates low, calls to the Utility Billing Office are answered by “Freedom Voice” during heavy call times. It helps the clerks return your call more quickly and effectively. Freedom Voice converts your voicemail into an email that goes directly to the city’s Utility Billing Clerks. All calls are returned by the next business day and all calls/emails to our office are scanned prior to utility shut-offs.

Water:
Water Distribution Division
Craig Hale, Supervisor
Phone: (253) 841-5503
Address:
1100 39th Ave SE
Puyallup, Washington 98374
Public Works Main Office: (253) 841-5505
Fax: (253) 841-5437
Water Maintenance: (253) 841-5512
Water Operations: (253) 841-5508
Cross Connection Control: (253) 841-5524
After Hours Emergency: (253) 841-5431

Firgrove Mutual Water Company
10408 144th St E
Puyallup, WA 98374-4958
Phone: (253) 845-1542
Emergency: 253-934-0032

Valley Water District
14515 Pioneer Way E
Puyallup, WA 98372
Phone: (253) 841-9698
Emergency: (888) 205-0118

Gas:
Puget Sound Energy
Website: www.pse.com
Phone: (888) 225-5773

Voter Registration in Puyallup
To be eligible to vote, you must be at least 18 years of age and have lived in Puyallup for at least 30 days prior to the election that you wish to cast a vote in.

Pierce County Annex
2401 South 35th Street
Tacoma, Washington 98409
253-798-7430
Pierce County Elections Website

Voter registration forms are available at the following locations:
Puyallup City Hall
4th Floor, 333 South Meridian
Puyallup, WA 98371
Phone: (253) 841-4321

Moving companies and services

Moving is always the worst part of relocating to a city. It is always stressful and sometimes finding a moving company or a storage unit just takes so much time to research and vet. Experienced movers can be hard to find and working with local companies will help make the transition easier. In the midst of moving, it is nice to have one spot where you can find all the information regarding the different companies in the Puyallup area. Here is a complied list of local moving, storage and truck rental companies in Puyallup. If you’re considering moving to Puyallup start here to learn more about Puyallup, Washington.

Puyallup Moving Companies:

Bousch Moving has been in business since 1919 and offers a moving service, a packing service and free estimates.

Boush Moving and Storage
820 4th St. NW
Puyallup, WA 98371
Phone: (253) 845-8829

Apex Moving and Storage offers both local and out of state moves. They also do corporate and office moves as well. As a bonus they do offer long and short term storage so instead of having to deal with two companies, one company can take care of your moving and storage needs.

Apex Moving and Storage
801 Valley Ave NW
Suite B
Puyallup, WA 98371
Phone: (253) 864-7870

This company offers portable storage units that you load at your own pace and then the company will pick it up at your home when you are ready. They offer local and long distance moving.

1-800-Pack-Rat
914 Valley Ave. NW
Suite 101
Puyallup, WA 98371
Phone: (206) 456-6681

If your plan is to do all the moving yourself – then all you’ll need is a truck. As you know truck rental prices vary depending on size and miles driven. Almost all require you to replace the gas to the level it was at originally. These truck rental companies are all located in Puyallup, Washington.

Puyallup Truck Rentals:

Budget Truck Rental
12413 Meridian Ave. E St D
Puyallup, WA 98373
(253) 841-0877

Penske Truck rental
1310 39th Ave SE
Puyallup, WA 98374
(253) 845-3381

A storage company maybe needed during your move as well. These storage companies are all located in Puyallup and are able to help you. We included some of the more popular ones in downtown Puyallup and on South Hill as well. Prices vary depending on the size of the storage unit, location, and the duration of use (months).

Puyallup Storage Companies:

Public Storage
4015 S. Meridian
Puyallup, WA 98373
Phone: (253) 466-4356

Extra Space Storage
239 15th St. SE
Puyallup, WA 98371
(253) 770-2378

Safeland Storage- South Hill
1310 39th Ave. SE
Puyallup, WA 98374
(253) 770-1900

Affordable Self Storage
3501 14th PL SW
Puyallup, WA 98373
(253) 841-1818

Daffodil Storage Puyallup
10715 Valley Ave E
Puyallup, WA 98372
(253) 770-3257

Conclusion:
The Northwest is one of the most beautiful parts of the country. There are many reasons to move to this area in the first place and even though there are many wonderful cities in the area to move to, Puyallup is one of the best for all the reasons listed above. You can’t go wrong with the gorgeous surroundings, fun activities for the whole family, and the low cost of living. All of these elements make Puyallup a great place to move to and live. It’s a great place for education as well for the whole family (colleges and public schools). If you plan on moving there soon don’t hesitate, homes are selling fast in the area. Make sure to contact a real estate agent today to find your dream home in your dream city.

There you have it! The top reasons why living and moving to Puyallup is great. Hopefully the information above will make your move here easier. After the move, make sure your new place is all hooked up with the local services like water, gas, and utilities mention above and good luck.

Find a new home in Puyallup. Fill out the form below and a local real estate agent will provide you a full list of Puyallup homes for sale.

Puyallup, Real Estate

Good Neighborhood Manners 101

Posted on July 14, 2015by Admin

New Puyallup Neighborhoods Being Friendly

Though moving into a new Puyallup neighborhood can be exciting and getting to know the community is also a good way to integrate, there are some rules that everyone should abide to for building a good reputation and also maintaining proper respect towards the people in your neighborhood.

Here are a list of do’s and don’ts:

1) Introduce yourself to your neighbors. For everyone this is beneficial. Having a nice welcoming and also beginning is always a good sign for comfort and connecting with others around you. Make your presence known helps others feel at ease and also gives you the opportunity to meet them. To don’t feel bad if they are not as welcoming as you are, however, that is just the way this process works. Overtime you’ll most likely get to know them better. Go by, invite them over or simply introduce yourself. Sooner rather than later you will get to know them and have a better idea with whom you are living next door to. The City of Puyallup Washington is (mostly) a very friendly town so don’t be shy.

2) Keep Noise Low: Though having a party, or doing anything that requires a high volume of noise, is to be expected, it is only common courtesy and sense to keep your noisy tasks between normal working or active daytime hours so that you keep the peace with your neighbors. A common time frame of yard work, or social events and whatnot outside the house is between 9am-9pm weekdays and 10am-9pm weekends. Try to keep noise at a minimum between 9pm-9am as this is usually the time when things are quieted down and people sleeping. Any parties, just out of respect also, possibly should be let known to your immediate neighbors just as a heads up. If you like them, even better, invite them over. It is a great way to get close to your neighbors. Most people are ok with extra hours of noise or activities if you just give them a heads up.

3) Parking. If there is a party, best thing to do so you don’t annoy your neighbors is to direct and fix the parking scheme so that guests do not obstruct the parking spaces or entryways of your neighbors. Don’t block your neighbors or take their parking sports without their permission first.

4) Cleanliness. Keep your garden well kept and uniform in terms of cleanliness and proper maintenance in congruency to your neighbors. Neighbors love to live in a community where they feel safe, understood, respected and with like minded people. Of course, you don’t have to be uniform and exact but a proper kept yard and garden shows that the shared respect and dedication is there meaning it is something important for everyone. In neighborhoods where this is practiced, it is proven that an unspoken knowledge of looking out for each other is performed.

5) Pets: Having a pet can go into several categories; Noise and Cleanliness. When having a pet, not everyone likes them, and sometimes find them more of a nuisance than a friend. Try to keep them quiet if they can be, or if they are a slightly noisy type, then they should be outside and active during waking hours (stated above in the Noise section) and inside during sleeping and relaxed hours. No one wants to hear a dog barking in the middle of the night. Also, keeping your yard, and more importantly your neighbor’s yards clean, so picking up fido’s waste afterwards is a must. People in general love animals, but sometimes more often than not, it is the owners they don’t like if they happen to not clean up.

There you have it! Some quick tips to living in your new Puyallup neighborhood. If you’re considering living in Puyallup make sure you read our real estate guide here.

Puyallup, Real Estate

Puyallup Is An Excellent Place To Raise a Family

Posted on June 18, 2015by Admin

Puyallup Valley Living

Located in Pierce County there is a town which goes by the name of Puyallup. From shopping, Puyallup Restaurants, bars, and colleges Puyallup is filled with everything you need. The education system viewed as one of the best in the state. The medical industry is popular as well. With that being said homes are affordable and many families feel comfortable raising their children here. Each year this city continues to grow. Puyallup gets its name from the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans. The name means “the generous people.”

As of 2010, the population was approximately 40,000. The Washington State Office of Financial Management believes this number will continue to grow. If you’re a resident here, you know Puyallup is growing extremely fast.

Breakdown population

The population of this town is almost 100% urban. Since 2000 the population has grown at a modest clip of 15.6%. Here are some other numbers you might find interesting:

• Males – 18,498 or 48.5%
• Females – 19,649 or 51.55%
• Median age of a resident is 36.8 years
• Median household income was estimated in 2012 to be $59,700

This should tell you that this is one of those towns where people go to raise their families or start their businesses. This is the hub for:

• Retail
• Business
• Medical services

Puyallup, Washington’s ancestries includes:

• German 17.3%
• Irish 10.5%
• English 8.7%
• Norwegian 6.3%
• United States 5.6%
• French 3.2%

Puyallup has one community college in town Pierce College. It’s accredited by the state of Washington. They also have a campus just south of Puyallup in Lakewood, Washington. Education plays a large part in the town. This fits in with the comment about being a good place to raise a family. The Puyallup School District includes 4 high Schools, 7 Junior High Schools, and 21 elementary schools.

When the City of Puyallup is compared to Washington state averages here is what you come up with:

• Unemployment is below the state average;
• Median age is above average for the state;
• Percentage of foreign-born is below the state average.
• Home values in Puyallup continue to appreciate each year.

Most residents work in the manufacturing industry and retail trade is not far behind. Construction is 12 percent and transportation and warehousing equal 7%. Health care and social assistant, professional, scientific, and technical services are all at 6% as is wholesale trade.

Of course you cannot think of this town without learning about the Puyallup Indians as they have lived up and down the Puget Sound shores for over hundreds of years. Their name means ‘generous and welcoming behavior to all people who enter our lands’.

The tribe membership has grown significantly in recent years and is now more than 4000 people. The majority of members live in the region of Puget Sound; however this tribe is spread out across the United States. They continue to be very active in the community.

Those tribal members who live in the Puget Sound area play spirited roles in almost all aspects of their lives. The adults in this tribe work as fisherman, attorneys, doctors and construction workers. Many are entrepreneurs who have thieving businesses. Many are actively sharing their Puyallup culture with the surrounding communities through art exhibits, pow wows, and other variety of activities. They also provide scholarships and fundraisers for the youth.

This is a small part of the Puyallup community culture and one can begin to draw a picture of a city that is perfect for growing families to live in. Good jobs, income, opportunities, plus an excellent variety of schools to choose from. Whether its community or private schools, families have so many options as it relates to education.

The beautiful country side in Washington makes this a perfect location for the outdoor families or individuals who love camping, hiking, and mountain exploration. Clark’s Creek is a small trail located in Puyallup. If you visit it at the right time of year you can witness the spawning salmon in the creek. If you really want an adventure then you can head up to Mt. Rainier. The Mt Rainier National Park is about a 1.5 hour drive.

Information provided by Puyallup.com

Official City of Puyallup logo below.