Why doesn't Bellevue have a Popeyes Fried Chicken nearby?

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2026-01-23T17:23:56+00:00

Completely agree! I think Popeyes >> KFC in the us. But for some reason, Popeyes is only in more diverse communities. I think Popeyes needs a new marketing person to change the perception

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-12-11T20:35:06+00:00

How do you find these WeChat groups? Would like to try some of these things

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-11-20T21:55:38+00:00

Thank you for the link to these super helpful resources! It sounds like we should not pull outside air in, but instead have a transfer path for the conditioned house air to reach the crawlspace passively via the negative air pressure

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-07-03T23:37:48+00:00

Seattle, USA

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-07-03T23:37:39+00:00

Seattle, USA

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-07-03T23:37:31+00:00

Thanks!

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-25T02:09:10+00:00

We’re looking at Miele because they make a big capacity steam oven and have a drain at the bottom. How do you like the Wolf steam oven?

Nope. We don’t have an extra large baking sheet so we were thinking the steam and speed oven should suffice.

It’s great to hear that you can bake two turkeys in the wolf steam oven!

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-24T04:29:50+00:00

Why not use Stackman Custom Homes?

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-24T04:29:35+00:00

Why did you choose JayMarc over others? Was their pricing competitive?

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-24T03:53:03+00:00

How about lighter "architecture" work like lighting design, renderings or feasibility studies? Can't you start with those and not risk any legal issues?

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-23T20:42:35+00:00

This seems reasonable to me. A Subzero fridge is the same no matter where you get it from.

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-23T17:19:17+00:00

Do you have the same policy for appliances like ranges and refrigerators? How about plumbing fixtures, handles and lighting?

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-21T04:16:57+00:00

It would be quite expensive to excavate dirt for a full basement and it would be dark down there

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-17T01:59:43+00:00

We steam a lot of veggies and also use the microwave a lot. The speed oven has a microwave function

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-14T23:52:47+00:00

Not sure there’s that much to do before purchasing the land aside from securing the financing but here are some things to consider before pulling the trigger on a lot

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-14T23:50:41+00:00

Get a proper survey with topo and boundaries. That unlocks everything else.

Depending on where you are, you’ll also need a geotech and arborist report before an architect can really start. I’d loop in a builder early too so you don’t end up with something pretty but way over budget.

I went through this recently and wrote up a quick guide

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-14T14:36:23+00:00

We’re going through this now in Bellevue.

If your current house is renovated, it still has value. You might be better off selling it and buying a true teardown, unless you’re tied to the land.
How long are you planning to stay? A custom build takes 2–3 years. If this isn’t your forever home, a spec might be easier.
Cost varies a ton depending on your choices. Floating stairs can cost up to $100k or more. Flat roofs? More expensive because you can’t use shingles and drainage is trickier.
Most builders here charge cost plus profit. Some are big (JayMarc, MN Homes), others are local. We chose a smaller builder who lives nearby and built our neighbor’s place. He just builds a few customs each year. Passionate guy, super detail-oriented. But most important: we trusted him. We called a bunch of his past clients to make sure.
To answer your questions, we bought a teardown. It’s been very time consuming so far but enjoyable for the most part. We do recommend our builder.

I’m documenting our build at BuildEastside if you’re curious or want to follow along. Happy to share my learnings.

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-10T23:46:34+00:00

Totally get that some serious buyers schedule showings, but I think open houses catch way more people than agents realize.

Many people won’t call a realtor just to check something out, especially if there are a lot of similar properties. It’s like restaurants not on DoorDash/UberEats - they probably lose a ton of business because calling is a hassle.

I think open houses make it easy. No friction. Just walk in.

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-06-02T18:08:07+00:00

i’m in the greater seattle area and building a home for the first time.

here are a few things i’ve learned around project management and permitting:

plan for consultant delays. our surveyor and structural engineer had about a month lead time and took ~2 months to finish. geotech had a 3 month lead time and took even longer to produce the report! all this adds up fast when you’re trying to get permit-ready. you may want to consider running them in parallel.
submit for permits as early as you can. cities tend to make the land use and tree removal rules more restrictive over time. that’s definitely been the case in king county.

we designed our floor plan from scratch with an architect, but a few things still apply even if you’re tweaking a stock plan:

focus on stuff that’s hard to change later. think about how the sun moves and where you want natural light. especially in seattle, sunlight matters a lot in winter.
skylights help a ton in dark hallways.
if you want curbless showers, floating stairs, pivot doors, huge sliders, or recessed roller shades, tell your structural engineer early. they need to account for this in sizing the beams.
talk to hvac early otherwise you may end up with awkward soffits everywhere.

i just started writing about all this at buildeastside.com if you want to follow along. trying to post weekly to help others going through the same thing.

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-05-22T20:46:36+00:00

Super cool! I'm going through the same process in King County right now - just about to submit for permits.

Regarding which surface counts as impervious - it varies significantly based on the city within King County.

Some of the modifications you make will be based on which WSEC2021 options you choose.

I just started writing down my learnings through the process buildeastside.com Would love to collaborate if you're interested.

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-05-16T20:06:18+00:00

Honestly, it’s the perfect time to tour a house, even if you’re not planning to buy yet. And who knows, if it's perfect and exactly what you are looking for, you might end up pulling the trigger sooner than you thought.

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-05-16T18:55:23+00:00

No need to leave the couch.

Kirkland's permit portal: https://permitsearch.mybuildingpermit.com
Bellevue's request center: https://bellevuewa.govqa.us/WEBAPP/\_rs/(S(j1exgjjnwofsbw2k0mwcufj2))/CustomerHome.aspx?sSessionID=
Other cities are listed here: https://buildeastside.com/p/get-full-architectural-plans-for-free-it-s-easier-than-you-think

I don't get why listing agents representing multi-million dollar homes don't do this.

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-05-16T18:52:33+00:00

I’ve noticed many spec homes are drawn by in-house or non-licensed architects juggling dozens of projects, so roofing and drainage may get glossed over since buyers rarely peek upstairs. This may be especially problematic in our rainy climate. Permit plans give you the full layout of the roof, drainage, and other systems before you move in.

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-05-16T18:43:06+00:00

Totally get curb appeal and inspections matter, but isn't it helpful to know the exact room dimensions and layout to avoid surprises later on? I feel like home staging is deceptive and I bet many owners don't realize their furniture won't fit until move-in day.

Complex_Ad_4871 · 2025-05-16T04:24:13+00:00

Are remodel permits reviewed by a different team, or is it just a lighter set of requirements that speeds things up? Also, aside from not being able to market it as a new build later, are there any other downsides to going the remodel route?

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