Amazon Archives » Larry & Kathy Reichle

Just how much more bang for your buck do you get tacking 15 minutes on your commute?

July 31, 2018 by Kathy Reichle Leave a Comment

You don’t have to get far out of Seattle to reap the reward.

Your money typically goes further outside Seattle. But is that change in commute worth the extra money?

A new report from Zillow and HERE Technologies looked at exactly how much homeowners could save by adding 15 minutes on to their commute. As it turns out, it may be worth a bit of compromise.

In the Seattle metro, the typical home becomes 11.3 percent less expensive when it’s shifted 15 minutes away from downtown, or about $54,599. For renters that number is more like a 6.2 percent drop in monthly rent, or around $125 per month.

That places Seattle as one of the top cities that see the greatest home value savings by moving at least 15 minutes further from the city core (others include Washington, D.C. and Chicago).

Of course which direction you take your 15 minutes will affect both your commute and your home: Heading north or east from downtown puts you smack in some of the priciest and most sought after neighborhoods in the city right now.

So where’s the best bang for your buck according to Zillow? If you’re a homeowner that’ll be Highline, where the current median home value is $387,700, and the median commute time in a car during rush hour is 38 minutes.

Which makes the first-time-on-the-market, Mid Century Modern above, which is listed for $599,000, on the higher end of the market.

Almost any neighborhood south of Seattle is going to see more “bang for your buck” than the neighborhoods to the north.

Then again, if you want to remain a renter you should be looking elsewhere, according to Zillow’s report: The best “bang for your buck neighborhood” for renters are South Park and Georgetown, in the 98108 zip code. There the current median rent is $2,356, while the median commute is 27.2 minutes in rush hour.

By Zosha Millman, SeattlePI

Can You Use Bonus Income to Help Qualify for a Home Loan?

July 2, 2018 by Kathy Reichle Leave a Comment

Yes, you can. But the bonus income needs to follow a few rules, first. Employees get paid in different ways. The most common is a regular paycheck on the 1st and the 15th of each month or maybe every other week. One of the primary responsibilities of a mortgage lender when evaluating a loan application is to make the determination the borrowers have the ability to repay the new mortgage along with any existing monthly credit obligations. The process is relatively simple. The lender compares total monthly credit obligations with gross monthly income. When calculating the mortgage payment, which includes an amount for taxes and insurance, lenders like to see this amount be somewhere near 28-33 percent of gross monthly income and closer to 41 percent when including all monthly payments.

Lenders then verify income by reviewing the most recent paycheck stubs covering a 30 day period. The stubs will show the gross income, deductions and net pay. It will also show a year-to-date amount. In addition, copies of your last two years of W2 forms will be needed. Lending guidelines require there be at least a two-year history of employment and then make the determination the income is likely to continue into the future. If someone is self-employed, then the last two years of personal and business income tax returns will be reviewed along with a year-to-date profit and loss statement.

Okay, but what about a bonus? Can that be used if needed? Guidelines for bonus income follow the same type of review as other types of income. Is there a history of receiving bonus income? There needs to be verification the bonus income has been received for two years. In addition, the bonus income needs to be regular and of a similar amount each time. Let’s say an employee gets a bonus each quarter for reaching a particular goal. The bonus amount is $1,000. The lender will need verification this amount has been received for the past two years. With this history, the lender can reasonably determine the bonus is likely to continue. Using this example, there is an additional $333 per month that can help the borrowers qualify.

If on the other hand, the bonus amounts vary in amount or frequency, it’s possible the income cannot be used, even though there is evidence the employee has received it. Or, the bonus might be an annual bonus paid at the first of every year. In this instance, the additional income can’t help, even though it’s been the same for the past two years. Why? Because a bonus paid in January probably might not be around come August or September.

One final note about bonus income- if more than 25 percent of the individual’s income comes from a bonus or as a commission, that person is then considered self-employed and will be underwritten as such. If you’re planning on using your bonus income to help qualify, it’s a good idea to speak with your loan officer first to see how you’ll need to document this additional income.

Written by: David Reed

How Seattle spent its boom money

June 19, 2018 by Kathy Reichle Leave a Comment

Now that the construction boom that made the city of Seattle rich is starting to decline—and putting newfound pressure on homelessness spending—it’s time to ask where the money went.

After analyzing the city’s budgets over the last eight years, we found some answers.

How rich were we? Are we still rich?

The year 2013 was a clear turning point. Seattle’s general fund started ramping up from $800 million then to $1.1 billion now. That’s 30 percent growth. Overall city revenue grew, too, from $4 billion to $5.6 billion. But overall revenue also contains the money gushing through Seattle’s utilities. The general fund is where the political action is, and where the tough decisions are made. And yes, Seattle is still loaded compared to the way it was during the recession. But the city is spending pretty much all of it.

Which taxes made Seattle this money?

Business taxes, and sales taxes and new property taxes, in that order, all related to construction. These were the taxes that led the way. Forty million dollars-worth of tax revenues from construction in 2010 ballooned to more than $100 million this year, according to the City Budget Office.

So how did the city spend this dough?

Infrastructure: buttressing the Seawall, roads, and other growth-related investments.

Police officers: Mayor Ed Murray wanted 100 new cops on the beat. He got those cops, and then he wanted 100 more. That didn’t happen. But permanent funding happened: In 2016, the city hiked business taxes, largely pay for this ongoing expense. With the Chamber of Commerce’s blessing.

Homelessness: It is very hard to follow homelessness spending through every annual budget process. But the Budget Office’s 2018 budget proposal reports that Seattle’s spending on homelessness rose from $39 million four years ago to $63 million in 2018. That’s an increase of 60 percent. Until the head tax, many of the commitments already made for homelessness were not secured by their own revenue source, meaning they were paid for by construction boom money. Meaning they could be at risk when the boom stops. The head tax did pass, but it only lasts five years before it must be renewed. And now the tax faces stiff opposition from people who want it repealed.

How did the politics of spending change over the boom?

The politics of spending changed a lot.

After several hard years of killing jobs – 294 in 2011 alone – and snipping away at expenses, in the 2012 budget year the Seattle City Council pushed back. It said no to more cuts and pulled money out of the city’s Rainy Day fund to cover the $18 million crater in its budget.

If council members were gambling on a turnaround, they were right. In 2013 the money rolled in. Cash was back in the Rainy Day fund and spending resumed. Mayor Mike McGinn had a “new approach to address street disorder,” including money to address homelessness, and the council added more money for homelessness on top of that.

It was the start of a new pattern. Each year mayors put forward their own spending proposals, and the City Council usually added more spending on top of that.

In 2015, Mayor Ed Murray and the City Council allowed a $26.4 million budget gap. “Surprise” boom money arrived to cover it.

The following year, the city spent big on everything, including homelessness. The council added $7 million in social services spending. And then Mayor Murray declared a homelessness state of emergency, throwing an additional $7.6 million at the problem. At first, the goal was emergency housing, but last year the focus turned to permanent housing, leading to deeper investments, like $29 million in affordable housing bonds.

But today, with revenue from construction in decline, the Budget Office is telling the city it’s risky to spend on faith that more boom money will cover budget gaps. “A shift to slower growth could happen very quickly,” the director of the Budget Office wrote in a 2018 proposed budget summary. The same document acknowledges that homelessness is “the most significant policy challenge that the City is currently facing.”

5 Smart, Easy Ways To Add Smart Home Technology To Your Place

May 21, 2018 by Kathy Reichle Leave a Comment

Has technology passed your home by? It’s never too late to update it. Whether you just want to bring the home’s function into this century for your personal use or are looking to put it on the market, incorporating some smart home items is, well, a smart strategy.

The stock advice for homeowners putting a house on the market used to go like this: Give the exterior, or the front door, a fresh coat of paint; tame unruly shrubs; and swap out a few light fixtures. But today’s homebuyers are expecting a little more according to Consumer Reports, most potential homebuyers want smart-home tech preinstalled.

Specifically, Seventy-seven percent want smart thermostats, 75 percent want smart smoke detectors, 66 percent want smart home security cameras, and 63 percent want smart locks, to name a few.

Smart thermostats

Not only will a smart thermostat make your air conditioner function better and make your house more comfortable, it will save you money in the process. With a smart thermostat, easily control the temperature in your home from a central control panel, with the sound of your voice, or using your mobile device. Combined with a smart assistant that intuits and learns your preferences and behaviors, your thermostat can automatically adjust the temperature – saving you valuable time, energy, and money.

The Nest Thermostat is one of the most popular options on the market. It currently costs $249 but projects an average savings of around $173 per year. We also love the ecobee because it has multiple sensors. The latest version, the ecobee4 ($249), also has built-in Amazon Alexa.

Smart door locks

There are lots of smart door locks out there, which eliminate the need for a key and replace it with a keypad and code that are used for entry. But, we love this August Smart Lock, which takes smart home capabilities up a notch.

The battery operated device sells for $199, and communicates with your smartphone via Bluetooth. When the Smart Lock identifies your Bluetooth signal approaching, it unlocks your door, and can lock it behind you if you choose that setting. It also allows you to set up virtual keys for guests, with the ability to grant access for only certain dates and times for each key. The activity log keeps track of when each unique user comes and goes. Perhaps the best part about this smart home upgrade is that it goes over your existing lock, meaning that you can have strong security and an intelligent lock. If you choose, you can pair the Smart Lock with the ‘August Connect’ for $79, which lets guests in and locks the door behind them. The Connect also grants real time status of locked or unlocked, and alerts you instantly when somebody comes or goes.

The August Smart Lock Pro is also a Consumer Reports fave. They tested the previous-generation August Smart Lock and found that it offers a wealth of smart features that potential homeowners will appreciate.

Video doorbell

The humble doorbell has come a long way in the past few years, according to Business Insider. Gone are the days when all a doorbell would do is alert you to the fact that someone’s at the door. These days, doorbells can connect to your Wi-Fi network to offer enhanced home security with built-in cameras and microphones. Of all the doorbells you can buy, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 (currently $199) is our top pick because it doesn’t have to be hard wired and it has an excellent 1080p camera.

Smart smoke detectors

If you’ve ever dealt with a smoke detector going off in the middle of the night, this product should thrill you. But, of course, knowing your family is safe is obviously your No. 1 priority. And why not save a little money at the same time, right?

Another smart technology product, the smart smoke detector, could not only save you money (approximately 5% on your insurance premiums), but could even save your life. One 2014 CBS news report cites a figure of 2/3 of all home fire fatalities occurring in residences where the smoke detectors are missing or disabled — which is something many of us have resorted to at one time or other out of sheer frustration when our typical ‘dumb’ detector insists on shrieking an alarm every time we try to fry up some bacon. A smart detector will allow you to keep on frying without fear of interruption. Two such products, the Birdi and the Nest Protect, will not only monitor smoke but also carbon dioxide and general air quality. They can even send an alert to your smart phone or tablet if anything is amiss. These products retail for $119 and $99 respectively.

Smart irrigation system

The SkyDrop: Smart Irrigation System Controller is a next-level automatic sprinkler system that allows you to control your irrigation from anywhere by using their app, and, “The best part is the irrigation will adjust itself based on your local weather,” said Nerds on Call. The SkyDrop can be programmed to adhere to local water restrictions in order to contribute to saving water. An amazing part about SkyDrop is that it can calculate how much water your lawn uses every day and adjust the amount of watering time to keep your lawn healthy. This device sells for $200 on Amazon, and connects to your existing irrigation system along with your WiFi network.

WRITTEN BY JAYMI NACIRI

Why is Seattle home inventory so low?

March 27, 2018 by Kathy Reichle Leave a Comment

Current homeowners are staying put—leaving fewer options for first-time buyers

Low inventory was the theme of last year’s Seattle real estate news, and so far this year, inventory has been even more sparse. The latest data from Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) shows less than a month of inventory available in King County during February—as opposed to about a month that time last year.

It’s a statewide, and nationwide, problem, but it’s especially pronounced in Seattle; according to a report released by Remax earlier this week, the Seattle metro area is tied only with Denver for lowest housing inventory and has one of the fastest markets in the country, driving up competition and prices for would-be buyers.

But why is inventory staying so low—and getting lower?

According to a survey by Equation Research on behalf of home financing company Valueinsured, with real estate prices at a record high—Seattle homes are routinely seeing year-over-year increases in the double-digits—current homeowners are unsure of their prospects after selling. 65 percent of Seattle homeowners who would be open to selling are choosing to hold off because they don’t want to buy their next home in this market.

Those same homeowners wouldn’t blame potential buyers for not wanting to buy in the current market. 67 percent of surveyed homeowners said that people who buy in their neighborhood right now are “overpaying.”

It speaks to a general air of uncertainty around Seattle’s home prices; 30 percent of homeowners surveyed said they are “not confident” that their current home, or any home bought today, will be worth more by the end of 2019. 48 percent of Seattle residents don’t consider the current market healthy.

“Experienced homeowners and buyers know we are at the top and are sitting out to avoid buying,” said Valueinsured’s CEO Joe Melendez in a statement on the survey. “Inventory is, therefore, pushed way down, inflating prices for those who are willing to buy high. But for the most part, there are not enough people who are willing to buy high. That’s why sales volume is down. It is not a sustainable picture.”

Overall, Seattle residents were “more pessimistic” than the rest of the United States, with 76 percent believing they could “witness another 2008-style housing crisis again in their lifetime.” (There are huge differences between the market then and the market now, although the prices do gate many out of homeownership.) That increased among millennial, interested first-time buyers to 85 percent.

A more negative outlook among people who aren’t yet homeowners shouldn’t be a shocker; those who already own a home tend to be in a much better economic position than those who don’t. According to data from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, 45.4 percent of Seattle-area renters were cost-burdened in 2015—meaning their housing costs make up more than 30 percent of their income—as opposed to 25.4 percent of homeowners. That same data found that median owner income in the metro is $96,400, compared to $50,000 for renters.

That means, despite a general uneasiness around the market, current homeowners tend to feel a little more secure in owning a home. Despite many not being willing to move, a whopping 82 percent of current homeowners said they could afford a down payment on their next home, as opposed to 25 percent of first-time, millennial buyers. Among senior homeowners—65-plus and planning on downsizing—20 percent plan to buy a new home without a mortgage.

Regardless, with the coming of spring, inventory could improve when the March numbers roll in. “The arrival of daylight savings triggers a burst in new listings,” said J. Lennox Scott, chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate, in a statement with the NWMLS numbers. “More listings lead to more sales.”

An inventory crunch, as many argue, isn’t the only thing driving up home prices in Seattle, and it’s not like we’re adding new homes for sale at the same rate as we’re bringing rental homes on the market—or new people to the region—anyway. But shrinking inventory certainly isn’t helping.

By Sarah Anne Lloyd

Amazon Has Massive Expansion Plans For Seattle

March 15, 2018 by Kathy Reichle Leave a Comment

(RTTNews.com) – Amazon.com Inc. ( AMZN ) plans to grow its Seattle headquarters to almost 14 million square feet of office space, an addition of more than 2 million square feet from the last time the company updated its local real estate plans, the Seattle Times reported.

As Amazon continues its search for a second headquarters, the retail giant has increased its forecast for the size of its campus in Seattle by about 2 million square feet, the equivalent of three additional skyscrapers.

Amazon now occupies more than 10 million square feet of office space in Seattle, according to a tally the Downtown Seattle Association released in a report Monday and the company confirmed. The retail giant plans to have almost 14 million square feet upon the completion of current and planned construction.

Back in September, when Amazon started its search for its so-called HQ2, the company’s footprint stood at 8.1 million square feet, with plans to grow to about 12 million square feet. At the time, Amazon’s was already the largest presence of any company in a major U.S. city. The company, with more than 40,000 employees in Seattle, is the city’s largest employer.

Amazon has continued to scoop up real estate since, leasing all of the office space planned for a downtown skyscraper called Rainier Square, most of the Macy’s building, and two mid-sized buildings in South Lake Union.

Amazon’s voracious appetite for real estate, taken for granted in Seattle for most of the decade since the company announced its South Lake Union campus, has taken on a new importance after the announcement that it planned to build a second, “equal” headquarters somewhere else.

The company has said it plans to staff that campus with up to 50,000 workers, in a campus of up to 8 million square feet. Amazon hopes to staff HQ2 with its first employees next year.

The real-estate listing company Zillow surveyed dozens of housing experts and economists on what city they believe could land Amazon HQ2, the company’s $5 billion headquarters.

Atlanta, Georgia and Northern Virginia are their top picks.

The survey’s conclusions are similar to other HQ2 analyses, many of which have also pointed toward the Washington, DC area and Atlanta as top contenders.

Earlier this year, Amazon said that it selected the 20 metropolitan areas to move to the next phase of the selection process for the company’s second headquarters. The company planned to invest over $5 billion and grow the second headquarters to accommodate as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs.

What home sellers need to know about appealing to millennial buyers

January 18, 2018 by Kathy Reichle Leave a Comment

Millennials make up more than 50 percent of all first-time home buyers and represent a growing segment of the Washington-area population. These young professionals and activists are looking to make their mark on the world at the epicenter of American politics and culture.

Despite lingering college debt, millennials hold a significant amount of buying power and many see the value of investing in a home versus renting. As products of the information age, they are more committed than their predecessors to the search process and are eager to absorb information from peers, reference sites and, of course, local real estate professionals. Their mobile lifestyle coupled with their innate curiosity will likely result in pursuing real estate transactions more frequently than generations before them, buying and selling at an even higher rate.

To underestimate the millennial influence on the Washington real estate market is to bypass a major opportunity. Here are a few things sellers need to know about millennial buyers and what they look for in a home:

Call it the Instagram effect, but millennials are in search of the “picture perfect” home. They’ve grown up watching house tours on HGTV, scrolling through Instagram photos of perfectly staged homes and making Pinterest boards of their dream home. And while the DIY trend has its appeal, not everyone has the time or resources to take on a fixer-upper.

Busy with work, community causes and social activities, most millennials don’t have time to tear down, remodel or replace. They are looking for a home that is move-in ready — the ideal aesthetic, with little to no maintenance. While some buyers may be willing to take on deferred maintenance in exchange for a price cut, millennials are less likely to go for this. They want a home that looks and operates in ship shape so that they can focus their time on work, travel and political and social engagement.

The right home at an affordable price

Millennials came of age in the housing crash of 2007 and the subsequent recession of 2008. When they entered the workforce, they faced a post-recession job market and their salaries are just catching up. Today, low interest rates have made ownership more affordable with payments comparable to monthly rent, especially in the Washington area.

These factors and experiences continue to inform millennial purchasing habits — they are looking for great value at an affordable price. As the first generation of digital natives, they have a knack for scouring the Internet to research and find the best price on everything from clothes to groceries. The way they shop for homes is no different — they will take their time and do their due diligence until they find the perfect house for the right price.

The generational difference

Each generation of home buyers has its own unique set of values and priorities. Gen X-ers and baby boomers were more willing to overlook deferred maintenance issues in return for a better price. A broken dishwasher? Probably not a dealbreaker for a baby boomer. They would fix it, save to buy a new one, or negotiate appliance costs into the sale of the home. In contrast, a millennial might walk away from an otherwise great property to avoid the hassle of repairing or buying new.

The social and cultural value of a property is another factor to consider when looking to attract millennial buyers. While Gen X-ers and baby boomers tend to prefer the privacy of the suburbs, millennials want to be in the middle of the action, with a bevy of cultural, food and entertainment options all around.

Winning the millennial buyer

So how can sellers catch the eye of millennials? Since millennials are looking for move-in ready properties, it’s critical to stay on top of regular maintenance. Sellers should make any necessary updates, such as exchanging old kitchen appliances for stainless-steel appliances, replacing carpet with hardwood floors or adding outdoor living features — before listing on the market. If sellers are not able or willing to make updates, they should consider lowering the price of their home — according to market values — to compete for millennial buyers.

As the millennial presence in Washington continues to grow, sellers should work with their real estate agent for guidance on how to update and market their home to tap into this new audience. Though different than the generations before them, they hold significant buying power and are eager to engage in the home-buying process.

David Charron, chief strategy officer of Rockville-based multiple-listing service Bright MLS, writes an occasional column about the Washington-area real estate market.

16 Cool Kitchen Gadgets And Tools That’ll Save You Tons Of Time (Or Make Great Gifts)

December 6, 2017 by Kathy Reichle Leave a Comment

The best kitchen gift is something they’d never buy—or even think of buying—for themselves. Just like this stuff.

byAmanda Brower

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

Whether culinary novice or chef extraordinaire, most cooks can agree on the joy in opening up an unexpectedly life-changing kitchen gadget gift they’d never justify buying for themselves. It’s the kind of gift that makes meal prep easier, food taste better, and time spent in the kitchen more enjoyable.

(Transform your health with 365 days of slimming secrets, wellness tips, and motivation—get your 2018 Prevention calendar and health planner today!)

There’s magical “soap” that banishes strong, lingering scents and mixing bowls that stay put even when the whisking gets tough; a sleek little planter that brings the pleasures of gardening indoors and a delightful, plate-warming device that elevates dinner gatherings to five-star heights. Like we said, the kind of stuff the favorite cook on your list wouldn’t either think to get, or wouldn’t buy on their own, but that is crazy-useful to have.

This list of useful kitchen gadgets and tools are great for gifting, and will be appreciated for years to come. And, at a variety of price-points, in a range of sizes, and selected with the goal of fulfilling real needs, you might just fall in love with something yourself, too.

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

Made from durable stainless steel, dishwasher- and freezer-safe, and designed to nest with space-saving ease, this set of three mixing bowls with lids is a baker’s dream. (So are these 25 perfect gifts for bakers!) Our favorite features? Volume measurements within the bowls eliminate the need for measuring cups—especially useful when there’s limited countertop space—and the anti-slip silicone bottoms make for reliable grip and no-slide mixing. Nearly 650 Amazon reviewers who sing its praises agree with us.

Buy it: $35.99, amazon.com

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

The perfect egg is a culinary masterpiece that even the best chefs can take years to master. Luckily, the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker eliminates the need for years, instead needing only minutes for yolk perfection every time. Soft- or hard-boiled, poached or deviled, scrambled or omelet, the top-selling egg cooker on Amazon does it all. Cook up to six eggs at a time with just a push of a button. And it’s cute to boot.

Buy it: $24.35, amazon.com

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

We’ve all been there: cooking on multiple burners, with timers abuzz, pots dangerously close to boiling over, pans sizzling, and utensils nearly spinning through the air. It’s supposed to be a feast, but it turns into a production. A must-have for any chef who enjoys orchestrating culinary productions but isn’t a pro juggler, this inexpensive stainless-steel, dishwasher-safe stand tidily holds everything—lids, spoons, splatter screens, you name it. That way, that your hands are free to conduct kitchen magic.

Buy it: $8.99, amazon.com

MORE: How To Make Cleaning Up After Cooking Suck Less

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

Sleek, soilless, and stress-free, this is indoor gardening at its best. This indoor gardening kit is the ideal gift for organic plant lovers, healthy eaters who want to control what they consume, and even the nature-curious kid. iRSE’s hydroponics technology and two LED modes that mimic the sun’s light make it simple to grow your favorite greens inside year-round. One impressed Amazon reviewer raves that “the veggies and herbs tasted amazing.” Another found it to be the perfect conversation starter at the office: “The seeds sprouted in just two days, and the plants are growing nicely. The best part about the garden, is that it’s drawn people to my cubicle. To me, it isn’t just a gadget for growing plants, it’s also helped me to grow some relationships, too!”

Buy it: $79.97, amazon.com

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

For the cook with a clean aesthetic and taste for organized, practical style, this is the spice rack that will complete their kitchen vision. The transparent acrylic shelves blend well with any décor and allow sorting: by color, name, frequency of use, or whatever system makes sense to your recipient. That the three shelves are designed to be individually wall-mounted encourages personalization—hang them side by side, stack them in tiers, or get creative and integrate them into a space in new and unexpected ways. (These 5 spices will make everything you cook more flavorful.)

Buy it: $27.99 for three shelves, amazon.com

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

Some of the best kitchen hacks and food tricks are passed down reliably through the ages (mix apple cider vinegar and soap to repel fruit flies; use baking soda to absorb fridge stench; and place avocados next to ripe bananas to speed-soften them). Another less popular but just as useful? Steel soap! It’s a must-have for any kitchen. Under cold running water, rub the “soap” between your hands; within seconds, your skin will be odorless. It even erases the lingering smells of fish and garlic. Many variations on the market resemble bars of soap. We like the playful, food-inspired shape of Alessi’s “Savon du Chef” best, and every cook on your list will, too.

Buy it: $24.94, amazon.com

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

OXO’s conceived a classic in this space-saving utensil holder, equipped with a removable drip tray and stocked with 14 of the most essential kitchen gadgets. The handy set includes a spoon and a slotted spoon, grater, square turner and flexible turner, 12-inch tongs, pizza wheel, can opener, balloon whisk, spatula, ice cream scoop, swivel peeler, meat tenderizer, and potato masher. Phew! This purchase is a bit on the pricier side, but it can last through a lifetime of meals and memories. It’ll serve as great gift for the young adult who’s beginning to fill their first home with essentials, and for a family member who deserves a kitchen upgrade but will never splurge for themselves.

Buy it: $99.95, amazon.com

MORE: 6 Kitchen Mistakes You’ve Been Making Your Whole Life

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

We love gadgets that improve our lives on several levels without complicating or cluttering them. This set of three streamlined canisters ensures dry ingredients, like granola, grains, cereal, and beans, stay fresh for up to 45 days, while also deploying them cleverly. Contents are dispensed in neat, 1-ounce portions with the turn of a knob. The small portions promote conscious, healthy eating, and the clear canisters make it a breeze to keep track of what you’re running low on before you run out. A smart gift for any organization freak or turbo-busy mom. (Psst! We found the 5 best meal-prep food containers for weight loss.)

Buy it: $35.15 for triple canister, amazon.com

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

Slicing herbs has never been smoother than with this smart, gourmet gift. Designed for versatility and comfort, this herb tool features a soft-touch ergonomic handle that feels good in the hand, stainless-steel cutting blades that rotate to allow for palm or grip use, and a top that pops off for easy cleaning. One satisfied Amazon customer loves how it “zips through leafy stuff like basil, parsley and cilantro with ease,” and another offers this pro-tip: “The drier the herb, the better this thing works with it.”

Buy it: $16.24, amazon.com

MORE: 15 Herbs And Spices Every Kitchen Should Have

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

Shred and slice everything sans mess—chocolate, cheese, and veggies—with this stainless-steel grater set. Outfitted with five interchangeable grating blades (for thick shredding to feathery shaving, plus slicing, grating, and zesting), the multipurpose set comes color-coded and stacked inside a handy, lidded storage container. Consider this an essential gadget gift for any kitchen. (Add a spiralizer to your kitchen collection with one of these top picks from Amazon reviewers.)

Buy it: $8.99, amazon.com

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

Serious chefs know that hot food must be served on a hot plate; otherwise, it risks becoming less appealing to the eye and palate. For the at-home cook who doesn’t have the at-restaurant luxury of extra ovens for stashing plates, the Waterbridge Plate Warmer is the perfect solution. Thermostatically controlled and safe to set atop any surface, the insulated electric plate warmer can heat up to 15 large plates at once in a series of stacked folds. It’s even safe to use on fine bone china. This is such a cool thing for anyone who likes to entertain, and would make a great gift to express your appreciation for all the memorable meals and gatherings your recipient has hosted.

Buy it: $74.99, amazon.com

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

As elegant as it is functional, and as much kitchen gadget as it is art object. Part of the Object Bijou collection by Alessi, the stainless-steel Voile, with its variable-sized rings, makes it a cinch to perfectly portion out spaghetti in serving increments of one, two, or five. This is one of those timeless chef accessories that seems much too beautiful to justify purchasing for oneself, but that anyone would be delighted to receive as a gift. This will please both the design and carb lovers in your life. (Here’s your guide to finding the healthiest pasta.)

Buy it: $26.56, amazon.com

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

Ditch that old metal splatter screen and file this under genius innovations we can’t believe someone didn’t come up with sooner. The Gowanus Kitchen Lab Frywall is the first guard to offer consistent protection and access to the cooking surface. Amazon customers love it. “[It’s] great to be able to access the food without having to remove anything,” one writes. No more oil leaping from the pan to the stovetop or, worse, onto your clothing or skin. Frywall’s design allows steam to escape, which means sauces reduce faster, veggies sauté without becoming soggy, and meats sear perfectly. It’s also dishwasher-safe, and rolls nicely into a sleeve for easy storage.

Buy it: $21.95, amazon.com

Photograph courtesy of Amazon

Savvy and sleek, this battery-free, touch-free soap dispenser helps to cut down on the transfer of bacteria and mess when you’re washing up between tasks. Place your hand close to the valve for a dash of foam or lower beneath it for more; it’s as easy as that. The pump comes with a lavender soap cartridge, but click-in cartridge refills are available from a variety of partnered brands in a range of scents, all delightfully aromatic. It’s available in brushed or polished stainless steel, or rose gold steel, so pick the best one to match your recipient’s décor.

Buy it: $49.99, amazon.com