Cleaning to Sell

When getting your home ready to sell, spending some elbow grease cleaning can save you some money and make your home more attractive to buyers. Here are a few of the items to try.

Cleaning Painted Walls

When cleaning painted walls, start with a clean microfiber cloth or sponge and water. Gently wipe or sponge walls. If the grease, grime, and dirt persist, use mild water-based cleaner or dish soap. For difficult stains like soot or tobacco smoke, use a spray kitchen cleaner or all purpose cleaner. Do not use the abrasive side of a sponge, steel wool, or other metal mesh cleaners as these will remove the paint and may mar the drywall.

Caring for Stainless Steel

Ideally, clean stainless steel appliances once or twice a week. Disinfect with a disinfectant spray or bleach and water solution (1 part household bleach to 9 parts water), then use a wax-based aerosol spray. Lightly mist a soft, lint-free cloth and wipe over the surface to remove fingerprints and other marks. Don’t use anything abrasive—not even liquid cleansers or soft scrubbing pads as they can scratch or ruin the surface. If you have hardened, burned-on foods on your stove burners, remove them, and soak them in warm water and dish soap until it is soft enough to remove.

Caring for Your Tiles

Clean your bathroom and kitchen tiles using a neutral pH cleaner or make your own with a gallon of water and to 1/4 cup baking soda. Apply the mixture to floors with a soft mop or sponge. To clean your grout, use the same baking soda and water mixture, or use a toothbrush to apply a paste of an oxygen-based bleach and water. Allow the mixture to sit for 10-15 minutes, the wipe with a soft cloth or sponge and water. Once grout is clean, use a grout sealer to protect it. Apply the sealer with a small, slanted foam brush.

Countertop Stains

Various types of countertop material requires different approaches:

• Granite: wipe up stains immediately and have your granite sealed yearly. For rust stains, use a poultice of a half-gallon of water to 1/4 cup household ammonia. Use hydrogen peroxide in water for juice or coffee stains. Add a couple drops of ammonia for harder stains. Everyday scratches and wear respond to superfine, grade 0000 dry steel wool.
• Butcher block: To remove stains and scratches from solid butcher block, sand lightly with a fine wood sand paper. Oil the surface with food-safe wood oil.
• Solid Surface: Composite, solid-surface materials respond well to gently sanding with a fine dry steel wool or mildly abrasive cleanser. Remove stains with the oxygen-based bleach and water paste described above.
• Laminate countertops: Stains on a laminate countertop respond will to the bleach and water mixture or kitchen cleaners, but scratches are more difficult to disguise. Try a wax-based polish to fill in small lines and scratches or try this recipe. If your countertop is very marred, consider replacing it or using one of the DIY countertop faux finishes to give it an updated look.

Wood Floors

Clean wood floors with a water-based household cleaner or wood soap, or follow the instructions here. If your floor has scratches, use an oil-based polish in a color similar to your wood to fill in the scratches. If you have many scratches, consider lightly sanding the area and applying a stain-finish combination available at most hardware or paint stores.

Carpet

For synthetic carpets, you might rent a carpet-cleaning machine. Be sure to use only the soap or cleaning solution suggested, and avoid applying too much soap as the residue may attract more dirt.

If you are unsure of any of these projects, call in the professionals. We can offer suggestions for you, so give us a call.

Stan Rector

805-577-7902

www.StanRector.com

Compliments of Virtual Results

Buying Your Home and BackUp Offers

As a potential home buyer, you may have started to wonder how and when you are going to find your home… your perfect home.

The home that calls your name and makes you feel like you could never leave. The home that you see in your dreams.

Or perhaps you’ve adjusted your mindset and determined that you don’t need “everything” on your want/need list for your new home. Maybe you’ve even gotten to the point where you are just grateful to have at least found a home that is for sale.

In areas with tight inventory, you may be having a hard time finding your home and, as such, you may be considering writing a backup offer for the home(s) you are considering.

A backup offer is an agreement you make with the home seller after they have accepted another offer by a different buyer. A backup offer places you second in line for the property.

If the first offer contains any contingencies requiring sale or appraisal of another home or financing or even an inspection, and they are not met, then you are the next in line and under contract to purchase the home. The offer applies unless or until you find another home that you want to place an offer on. In that case you would need to withdraw your backup offer.

In this day and age, with inventory at all time lows, finding a home, your home, can be difficult. Choosing to submit a backup offer is not easy, either, but could be worth it.  Contact us to see how we can help you “win” the home of your dreams.

Wanting More From Your Home

Is your home not giving you the lifestyle you need? Thinking about purchasing a second home in Simi Valley? Now could be a great time to do so, but there are several things to keep in mind before taking the leap and purchasing a second home.

Does buying a second home make sense financially? Keep in mind not only the mortgage payments, but also upkeep and potentially paying a property manager if you plan to rent out your home. Think about the location and type of second home you want to buy. A town home or condominium may require less upkeep, but you do pay extra fees with those types of properties.

Be sure to research the tax implications of owning a second home, both in terms of property taxes and income taxes. Consider how you will be paying for your home. The more money you put down, the better. Perhaps a family member can help with some of the down payment to save on interest. Another popular trend is to go in on a second home with another couple. This could be a good idea if you are only interested in using your home for a getaway for only part of the year. Purchasing any type of property is a big decision, so be sure to thoughtfully consider your options before purchasing a second home.

Give us a call today to help you on your way to buying you next home. We can help you go over the numbers to make sure you are making a wise investment. We have a great lender to help you get the loan that will work best for your situation.

Call Now!

Stan Rector

805-577-7902

http://www.StanRector.com

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Quick Tips for Adding Resale Value

When you’re in a hurry to sell, you need top dollar, try some of these tips:

1. Have us evaluate your home. As real estate professionals, we know what sells and what doesn’t and we can help you spend your money wisely to get the best return.

2.Have a home inspection. A certified home inspector can point out areas that need correcting, fixing or removing.

3. Paint walls a neutral but modern color. Gone are the days of all white walls, but sticking to taupe and gray tones gives a hint of freshness while remaining timeless.

4. Request a home energy audit. Most utility companies offer this service. Sometimes simple lighting changes or additions to insulation give your home a higher energy rating and make it more attractive to buyers.

5. Clean up landscaping and add regionally appropriate, low maintenance ground cover.

6.If your home has “popcorn” texture on the ceiling, removing it and replacing it with a smooth or more modern texture will increase home value. Before you DIY this, however, make sure that your ceiling texture is not made with asbestos. Up until the late 70s, many textured ceiling preparations used asbestos flakes. If your home is newer than this, you’re probably fine doing this on your own, but if your home is older, higher a licensed professional with experience in asbestos removal and disposal.

7.Replace your roof. If you live in a storm-prone area, your roof may have hail or wind damage that you cannot see. Have your roof inspected (most roofing contractors do this for free) and if your roof has storm damage, contact your homeowners insurance to see about getting it replaced. Often, storm damage replacement is time sensitive, so if you’ve had a heavy hail or windstorm, do not delay in having your roof evaluated or you may end up paying for it yourself. .

8.Remove dated wallpaper. Simple removing outdated, stained, peeling, or faded wallpaper from kitchens, baths and bedrooms gives the home a fresher, less outmoded look. Instead of replacing it with new wallpaper, simply finish and paint the area with a neutral color in an appropriate finish.

9.Replace light fixtures. Ceiling and vanity lights that you replace with high-efficiency fixtures upgrades your home with very little expense and bring your home into the compact fluorescent era. Upgrading exterior lights with automatic lighting options adds a safety factor to your home’s exterior while reducing energy costs.

10. Expose your hardwood. If you have hardwood flooring hiding underneath stained, faded or worn carpeting, remove the carpeting and expose the hardwood. If you can refinish the floor, do so, but even if you cannot, you can use some quick fix options to make your wood floors look inviting when your home is showing.

When in doubt, refer to number one above: call us. We’ll help you determine the best options for your home.

Stan Rector

805-577-7902

Compliments of Virtual Results

Choose the Right Paint

Whether you’re preparing your home to move in, or preparing it to sell, choosing the right paint from the myriad choices available to day can be daunting. Paints come in up to six different finishes, so even if you’ve chosen the colors, you still have to decide on the finish for your application.

On a gradient from matte or flat to high gloss, there are both textural and visual differences in paint finishes. In texture, the gradient moves from a “dryer” feel to a “slicker” feel, but visually, it moves from less light reflective to more light reflective.

• Matte Finish: Called either Flat Finish or Wall Paint, this basic paint type has a chalkier feel and is not light reflective. It also hides imperfections, cracks and bumps because light does not bounce off them. This finish works well on interior walls such as living rooms and bedrooms, but can be more difficult to clean and may mark easily. Because it absorbs rather than reflects light, a darker matte-finish paint color is perfect for a media room.
• Flat Enamel Finish: The addition of the enameling elements combines some of the advantages of flat paint with a more durable finish that holds up to periodic cleaning. This is a good choice for interior walls in homes with children. Sometimes this is called “Kids Room Paint.”
• Eggshell Finish: Slightly more durable and light reflective than matte or flat, eggshell has just a minimal amount of gloss added to it, and a deeper color saturation. It holds up to cleaning better and often works well for living rooms and dining rooms where more light-reflection is desirable but a glossier finish is not necessary.
• Satin Finish: Often used for window and door trim, or ceilings needing a more reflective finish such as a the bath area or a workroom, satin finish holds up to cleaning and resists stains, marks and smudges better than matte, flat enamel or eggshell.
• Semi-gloss Finish: Used for trim, doors, cabinets and railings, semi-gloss resists most stains and marks while cleaning more easily. It reflects and refracts light, so it magnifies imperfections or textures in the surface. When using semi-gloss, care with surface preparation is vital to the finished product. Semi-gloss can work well in bath areas too, where a more reflective surface is helpful to make the room lighter and brighter.
• Glossy Finish: When applied properly, glossy or high gloss paints have a reflective surface similar to enamel, and creates a smooth finish for furniture and cabinetry. Because of its light-reflective quality, a glossy finish reveals and amplifies imperfections, but is the easiest surface to clean. When using high-gloss paints, carefully follow preparation instructions to get the best results.

If you are looking for a painting contractor, give us a call and we can give a few to you right away!

Stan Rector

805-577-7902

Compliments of Virtual Results

Keeping Your Home Debris Free

There’s definitely a chill in the air, and we are even starting to experience the first storms of the season. Now is a great time to clear away any debris from the exterior of your home. If you have spider webs, and we do here in Simi Valley your home might be well on its way to resembling a haunted house and it’s still a little early for that!

If you have spider webs on any outdoor furniture or fixtures that need gentle care or that can’t get wet, use this little trick. Tie an old flannel pillowcase securely around a broom. Use it to gently remove spider webs around light fixtures or other delicate items. It’s great for use inside your home, too.

Here is a few tips on keeping your home debris free:

A good sweep with a stiff outdoor broom should take care of most of the debris and cobwebs outside your home. A leaf blower will do a good job, too, though they can be rather loud. Wear ear protection when using one. If there’s any mess left after you’ve swept, spray the outside of your home down with a hose with the water pressure turned up.

Sometimes spider webs really get out of hand, and you need to take preventive measures. You can call in a professional exterminator to take care of the spiders around your home. You can also try a bug spray. A visit to the local garden store should put you on to a good one. Follow the directions on the bottle carefully and make sure to keep all poisons locked away from children

Should I Sell As-Is?

As one of the most difficult decisions in real estate marketing, the idea of selling “as-is” (without making any repairs, renovations, or upgrades) appeals to homeowners needing to sell quickly or that are cash strapped.

Can you do it? Yes.

Should you do it? Well…that depends on your market and how badly your home needs fixing, how much you owe on it and how much you need from it.

Buyers that lean toward purchasing a fixer typically fall into three main categories:

• Flippers – a flipper is a real estate investor that purchases property with the intent to generate revenue quickly. Often, they are willing to purchase a fixer or distressed property with good “bones” (structure, foundation, etc.), fix it up quickly for resale or rental.
• Fixers – a fixer purchases distressed property to fix up, but they tend to live in the property while they fix it with the goal of eventually selling or renting when they invest in a new property to fix. Different from flippers, they look to own the home longer term, so may be more willing to purchase a home that needs more work.
• First-timers – a first-time buyer is either someone that has never owned a home, or someone that has not held title to a home for more than three years so they are not rolling the proceeds from a previous property into the new one. First timers that have never owned a home, but have some skill in the DIY area may look for lower cost, as-is properties for the low entry cost. This category includes former property owners that may have lost their home during a financial crisis or bankruptcy and are now in a position to buy again.
• One final category is investors purchasing a home for the land and location, intending to demolish the home and build new. If your property is on the verge of a rezoned business area, is transitioning to multi-family dwellings, hotels or some other type of property, an investor may purchase your home for its location rather than for its amenities.

 

In each of these cases, you might benefit from a quick sale, freeing up cash for yourself. Just know that the buyer expects a discounted price that reflects the additional amount they will have to invest to make the property livable. Seeking these types of buyers in a hot market is more likely than in a slow market area.

Note: FHA has specific minimum property standards (MPS) required, so selling “as is” may reduce your buying pool by those wanting FHA loans if your property does not meet those standards.

What are the minimal fixes?

Fixing up your property, at least by bringing it up to code, will increase its value and bring you nearer to fair market value for your home. If you owe money on your home, this is an important consideration. Unless the investment to fix it up will cost more than the amount you might still owe if it sells low, you should figure out a way to fix it up. We can help you determine which items are important to fix, which can be concessions in your contract and which you can ignore.

Here is a short list of items to consider fixing if you can:

• Patch cracks in ceilings and walls
• Remove peeling paint
• Paint walls with a neutral color
• Replace broken windows
• Fix code violations
• Repair leaky or broken pipes
• Repair the roof if there are leaks
• Remove and replace moldy drywall
• Trim overgrown vegetation
• Remove anything dangerous that could make you liable for injuries to potential buyers visiting your home.

 

If you need to sell your home quickly, let your real estate agent know immediately so that they can best advise you on which items to repair, which to ignore, and which to offer concessions for.

Call today today if you are ready to talk about selling.

Stan Rector

805-577-7902

Compliments of Virtual Results

Avoid Time and Budget Scope Creep in Construction

Whether you’re remodeling to sell or renovating to make your place your dream home, there are two faces to the enemy of your plans: time scope creep and budget scope creep. Either can wreak havoc on your project, and both together can spell disaster.

What is scope creep? It is the unintended expansion of both a project’s size and expense, causing the unavoidable extension of the time it takes to complete.

Budget Scope Creep

Even the best estimate for a project is still only an estimate. Experienced builders and contractors can be blind-sided by astronomical increases in materials costs, unforeseen shortages in normally available fixtures and fittings, unseasonable weather delays and myriad other events out of their control that raise costs and introduce scope creep into your best planned remodeling project.

Another cause of budget scope creep happens when you have a new idea or what to change something after your contractor has quoted his price. You see an advertisement for a different light fixture. Or, you walk through a home improvement store and see the latest in paint or carpet colors or any other amendment that you ask for after the quote.

Unforeseen causes: A natural disaster on the opposite side of the country can affect the prices of materials in your location. If the disaster is very large—like a tornado—those costs can rise monthly as materials are redirected to the disaster area for rebuilding. If your contractor bid your project just a couple months earlier, but you didn’t start purchasing materials until now, your whole budget is just a bunch of meaningless numbers.

Another unavoidable change may be increases in the cost of permits. Local and state governments probably don’t consult you before they make changes and set timetables for implementation. Changes in materials necessary to comply with a new code may cause delay from the manufacturer or require reconfiguring your scope to include an alternate choice.

To avoid budget scope creep:

• Hire an experienced builder or contractor. They know about scope creep, so they will warn you about each change and how it will affect your budget.
• Purchase materials near to the time of the bid.
• Know what you want before you get started and avoid making unnecessary changes.
• Add 15 to 20 percent to any bid you get.

 

Time Scope Creep

When your project takes longer than you anticipated, it may disrupt your whole life. If you are remodeling to sell, scope creep delays putting your house on the market. You may miss that window of opportunity for your area, or be unable to buy the place you have on contingency. If renovating to live in, scope creep throws your family life into disarray. When the project stretches into a different season, for example, your best-laid plans for coping (cooking outdoors on the barbecue while your kitchen is torn up) become meaningless.

Any of the causes of budget scope creep can increase time scope creep. In addition, delays in receiving materials, illness or injury, and a host of other unavoidable events can stretch the time it takes to finish your renovations.

Don’t add to time scope creep by constantly making changes, additions, or “little requests”— changes that seem minor to you, but take much longer than you anticipate for your contractor to make. When you request changes, it throws off the entire timetable for that special dance between one sub-contractor and another required to finish your remodel.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Welcoming Pets Into Your Home

If you are an animal lover, You might welcome pets into your home. As you know a feathered or furry friend can make your home feel more welcoming. However you may find that your neighbors do not share that opinion. If you have an animal friend in your home, you can follow a few easy rules to live peacefully with neighbors who may not be animal fans.

First of all, respect the fact that some people are genuinely afraid of animals, especially large dogs. Train your dog to avoid jumping on people, large and small. And, when your animal-free neighbors invite you over, leave your pet at your home. Although Fido or Fluffy may be part of your family, your hosts probably will not be expecting any additional guests, especially in the form of animals.

When out for a walk with your pet, keep your dog on a leash and be prepared to pick up after your pet. If you have a cat, be sure to keeps its litter box clean to discourage it from using a neighbor’s sandbox or flowerbed.

While you can’t always calm an animal or quiet it down on command, don’t allow your pet to habitually growl, bark, hiss or shriek. Minimize these noises by creating an environment in your home that your pet finds relaxing and enjoyable. It’s possible to keep the peace between your non-animal loving neighbors and your pet, if you are willing to teach your pet to be a good neighbor, too!

Selecting Architectural Style for Your Home

The architectural style of a home is often highlighted in its online description to help buyers understand its features. But if you don’t know your Tudor from your Craftsmen Bungalow, don’t worry. We can help you sort it out with this condensed “cheat sheet” designed to help you determine what style of house you want or what type you’re currently trying to sell to potential buyers.

Cape Cod
Popular in the 1930s, Cape Cod homes are usually one-story houses with wood siding, a steep roofline, multi-pane windows and hardwood floors. While most Cape Cod homes are fairly small, many have dormer windows and often these upstairs spaces can be finished or remodeled to give you more square footage or storage space.

Colonial
Colonial is the most popular style of home in the United States and typically has two to three stories, brick or wood exterior, and a fireplace, with the kitchen and family room on the first level and bedrooms upstairs. If the house is symmetrical and has evenly spaced shuttered windows, there’s a good chance it’s a Colonial.

Craftsmen
This type of house became popular during the Arts and Crafts Movement, when the focus was on natural materials like wood, brick and stone. Known for their charming front porches and open floor-plans, Craftsmen homes also tend to have fireplaces, plenty of woodwork and built-in shelves and seats, exposed beams, and decorative braces under the gables. Craftsmen homes also have unfinished but useable space in the attic.

Tudor
The name sounds like it’s derived from the Tudor Dynasty, but today’s Tudor houses are a more modern take on the late Medieval English style. You’ll be able to spot a Tudor easily because of its incredibly steep roofline, narrow windows and half-timbers added for decorative effect. This style of architecture is perfectly suited for snowy and rainy climates.

Victorian
Named for Queen Victoria, this style originated in the 1800s and is all about beauty, sometimes at the expense of functionality. Victorian homes tend to be asymmetrical, ornate, and feature multiple rooflines, a front porch, bay windows and patterned shingles. This romantic style also spawned other similar styles such as Queen Anne, Romanesque and Gothic Revival.

Federal
Often called the first pure American style of architecture, the Federal style home is almost always made of brick and has a high, impressive façade with tall windows placed symmetrically on either side of the front door. Look for the fan-shaped, semi-circular window that usually sits atop the front door.

Country French
France occupied a large part of eastern North America during the 18th the Country French architectural style originated. Country French homes have steep rooflines, paired shutters, stucco walls and are typically one story. Look for French double doors and rustic design elements throughout this style of home.

Ranch
This style developed as builders imitated Western ranches. These more modern homes feature open floor plans with easy access to the outdoors. First seen in the 1930s, the popularity of this style exploded during the building boom of the 1950s and 1960s in American suburbs. It’s a great choice for buyers who want to upgrade or expand with a home addition.

For more information about the different architectural styles in our area, please contact me.

Stan Rector

805-577-7902

http://www.StanRector.com

Landscaping – A Key to Selling Your Home In Simi Valley

When you meet someone for the first time – what do you notice?   If you’re like many of us, that initial impression is largely determined by outside appearance. Believe it or not, that concept rings true with your home, too! That’s right, your home can foreshadow clues regarding your personality and sense of style, and its landscaping tells a story as well. Is your landscape sending the message you WANT to convey? If your home is for sale, the following tips can help to make sure you are not missing the mark!

Is your home sending the correct messaage?

If not, it may be time to consider hiring a gardener or getting help from family and friends to make some needed changes as soon as possible. The right gardener can transform the most jungle-like backyard into a beautifully manicured area of peace and tranquility, in as little as a day! With all the other tasks associated with selling your home, landscaping is a great project to outsource.

Before hiring a gardener, ask friends or neighbors for referrals. Once you have a few recommendations, ask questions and raise any concerns you may have with the gardeners/landscapers you decide to interview. Some key points to discuss are how often you would like service and what you need included at each visit. Services range from simple mowing to complete care, with reseeding, watering and fertilizing options. Don’t be afraid to ask your new gardener for help with ideas and improvements that could increase your property value and alert your gardener as to the property status, since there may be times when extra special service is needed (such as before an open house). You might even request that any extra cut blooms be left for you to use inside your home.
Keep in mind that a specialty garden is not the same as basic maintenance. If you have special circumstances, you may want to consider sharing written along with any verbal instructions with your chosen landscaper. Of course maintenance and seasonal costs, liability insurance and worker’s compensation coverage are all topics you will want to discuss before entering into any agreement.

Once you have begun your service, inspect the initial work and take time to notice the changes occurring in your landscaping. As you offer feedback to your gardener and become a part of the process, you will see your home evolve into a well-kept, beautifully groomed masterpiece. Your home will create the best impression possible and deliver the message you want to share with potential home buyers.

What to Know about Summer Lawn Care

Lush greens and rolling verdant fairways stoke homeowner dreams of the perfect lawn. In most areas, July starts the season with the highest demand on the water supply. So maintaining those lavish landscapes takes knowledge and a plan.

Planting

Not all grasses are equal. When designing your lawn, be sure to use a grass that tolerates your climate. If you spent your childhood in one part of the country and have visions of a deep dark thick-bladed St. Augustine as your ideal lawn, but now live in a more drought prone area, where a Bermuda may be the optimal choice. The wrong grass species can increase watering and feeding requirements and reduce your enjoyment of your lawn.

Consult a local turf expert before you order seed or sod and end up with a lawn-care nightmare.

Watering

Drought or wet conditions in your location determine how often your lawn needs watering. With drought conditions being widespread, however, you may only have one or two days per week that you’re allowed to water, so it is important to maximize your results.

• When to water: If walking across your lawn leaves visible depressions in the grass and blades don’t pop back up immediately, your grass needs water.
• Water summer grasses once every three days (or as allowed by your city’s watering plan).
• Use sprinklers designed to deliver larger droplets nearer to ground. Mist and small drops evaporate more quickly than large drops. For more information on sprinkler systems, read the section below.

Irrigation Tips

Install sprinklers based on your property’s topographic needs. Consult and expert for your area even if you plan to install the system yourself. Most manufacturers can help you develop a plan and offer custom-designed systems for you.

Once installed, check your sprinkler heads often. Adjust sprinklers to water only your lawn sidewalks or the side of the house. If water runs down the street, both your frequency and spray may need adjusting.

• Only apply water as fast as the soil absorbs it.
• If you have water runoff, divide watering times into shorter periods.
• Adjust your watering schedule each month to match seasonal conditions and landscape requirements.
• Have your system checked yearly for leaks and broken parts.

Water Saving Tips

Periodically aerating your lawn allows water to seep to the roots rather than run off the surface. A pattern of holes every six inches provides excellent root access for most lawns.

Avoid cutting lawn too low. When you cut to a height lower than 1.5 to 2 inches, grass blades can no longer shade the soil, allowing water to evaporate more quickly. When you mow, leave the clippings on the lawn to further protect the soil and hold in moisture.

We can help you find a property with the lawn of your dreams, so give us a call today.

Compliments of Virtual Results.

Three Home Safety Features You Should Keep Up To Date

In the midst of all the summer activities, there are a few things you should add to your to-do list to keep you and your family safe in your home. Here are three:

Fire Extinguishers

If you don’t have a fire extinguisher, you should get one. Install one in the kitchen and other areas prone to fire. Once installed, however, we tend to forget them, but even if you have not used it, a fire extinguisher may depressurize and you won’t know it until you need it unless you check it. Your owner’s manual should have a maintenance schedule. If not, contact the manufacturer to get one.

When checking it, make sure:

• Nothing blocks it so that you can quickly access it in an emergency. If installed in a cupboard, place it at the front or mount it inside the door.
• Check the pressure. Most extinguishers have a gauge, so make sure the pressure is in the safe zone.
• Make sure the pin and tamper seal are intact, the nozzle and hose are not cracked and there is no corrosion on the tank.

The last thing you want is to learn that your extinguisher is inoperative during an emergency. Have your extinguisher serviced or replaced every five to ten years.

Smoke Detectors

Check your smoke detector at least once a month, and according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, replace batteries at least twice a year. Check them more often when:

• Frequent cooking smoke activates it. Constant activation can wear it out.
• It gives false alarms.
• The alarm regularly emits short beeps.

Never put old batteries in a battery-powered smoke detector. Even if powered by your home’s electrical system, be sure to check the back-up batteries to be sure it will function during power outages.

Electrical Panel

Many of us never think about our electrical panel unless we blow a breaker or the power goes out. Preventative maintenance to this vital home system is far more economical than repairs once it fails. Breakers and wires age and can cause arching and overheating. Have your panel and electrical system checked by a certified electrician every three years, and more often if you

•        Often have to reset a breaker.
•        Have frequent power outages.
•        Have medical or other equipment reliant on electricity.
•        See sparks, flame or smoke when flipping a switch or plugging into an outlet.
•        Have a very old home with an old electrical system.

We can help you find home safety specialists to inspect your home’s systems, so contact us today.

Stan Rector

805-577-7902

www.StanRector.com

Compliments of Virtual Results.

Creating Summer Buyer Attraction

Summer is a great time to invest in outdoor upgrades and indoor options that make your home appealing to buyers. After months indoors, homebuyers respond quickly to outdoor amenities when scoping out homes to buy. Creating outdoor living areas and highlighting outdoor views give potential new owners the impression of both expanded space and bright, fresh access to nature.

Establish an inviting entry

Make sure your entry is bright and enticing. Set flowerpots to either side of the entryway. Make sure the door itself is clean of fingerprints and grime, or freshly painted a cheery color. Provide a doormat so guests do not track debris into your home.

Bring the outdoors in

In the winter, homeowners often cover windows with heavy drapes to keep out the chill air and drafts. When showing your home in the summer, remove heavy draperies so potential buyers can clearly see the outdoor views. Clean off fingerprints and smudges from windows and window frames and dust vertical or horizontal blinds and set them to allow both light and views.

Add colorful summer-weight throw cushions to living areas and beds, and add flowers to both your bed and bath areas. A bowl of bright seasonal fruits completes a summery look to your kitchen table.

Store away quilts and afghans. Clean ashes from your fireplace and clean the soot from fireplace glass to remove the last vestiges of winter. Set a floral arrangement or plant on the hearth. Use light, fresh scented beads or reed diffusers instead of candles. Use the same scent throughout the house to avoid competing odors.

Keep your home cool but not cold. If you have air-conditioning, make sure to set it to cool your home in plenty of time before your potential buyers arrive. If you use fans to move your home’s air, make sure they are dust free and running quietly. Be sure attic fans and other cooling devices operate correctly.

Extend the living area

Showing your home in the summer means potential buyers will check out the outdoors much more thoroughly than in the winter months. Set up seating areas, hammocks, picnic tables, or other patio furnishings to display the full range of your property. Add planters and box gardens with bright, colorful flowers. Keep the lawn and landscaping trimmed and neat. Take care of pests like wasps and ants that might scare a potential buyer away. Take care to trim bushes away from windows and doorways.

Make sure the exterior of the house is clean and fresh. Clean mold off vinyl siding and moss off brick and stone exteriors. Clear gutters and downspouts and make sure they attach to the structure correctly. Wash windows and screens, and touch up paint on doors, window frames, and trim.

Make sure to organize tools, hoses, and other yard and garden clutter. Protect visitors to your home from tripping over lawn toys or the garden hoe. Remember that buyers want to check out every nook and cranny, so keep garden sheds and storage areas accessible and organized.

Summer buyers want to know they can use the entire property for their own summer fun. If you need more suggestions on how to prepare your property for a summer sale, contact us today.

Compliments of Virtual Results

9 Ways to Celebrate Independence in Your New Home

No matter when you close on your new home, there’s probably a holiday just around the corner giving you the perfect opportunity to host a party in your new digs. With Independence Day coming up, here are some ideas for celebrating your independence from landlords and rent, while showcasing your new place.

Hang a Flag

There’s no better way to celebrate the nation’s independence than hanging a flag. Take care to follow the correct instructions for displaying the flat. You can find complete instructions for hanging the flag here. If you plan to install a flagpole, contact your neighborhood association or community clerk’s office so that you follow any regulations, rules, or ordinances regarding pole location, height, and other considerations.

Combine colored flowers

Fill your planters and container gardens with mixtures of red, white, and blue flowers. Create a mixture of blue ageratum or lobelia, white alyssum, petunias or heliotrope and red salvia, geraniums or snapdragons.

Door decorations

Create a wreath of miniature flags to grace your entryway. Hang bunting or create a bow of red and white striped or blue-starred fabric and add colorful wooden start, flower picks, or garlands.

Centerpieces

Set up picnic or card tables on the patio and cover them with patriotic colors. Make a centerpiece of a small red or white painted bucket filled with blue floral stones and small flags, sparklers (if allowed in your location), and pinwheels.Alternatively, if your party extends into the evening, place lanterns with red, white, and blue candles on each table. You can hang lanterns from planter poles or on chains from trees too. If mosquitos are a problem in your area, use citronella candles in patriotic holders to keep the pests away from your visitors and provide a pleasant scent and candlelight ambience.

Slake your thirst

If you’re ambitious, create red, white, and blue-layered drinks for the kids and try these patriotic cocktails for your more mature guests. Create frozen treats or sorbet from pureed strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, or put guests to work churning old-fashioned ice cream.

Stay cool

Make sure to provide shade for your guests. If you don’t have a covered porch, set up umbrellas or a gazebo, and give everyone a celebratory hand fan to keep cool.For the kids, consider setting up a mister. Children love to play in them and parents don’t need to worry about accidental drowning. In addition, a mister can cool the surrounding temperature by several degrees.

Yard games

What’s a patriotic celebration without a little friendly competition? Yard games such as lawn darts, horseshoes, croquet, corn hole, bocce, and badminton are easy to set up and fun for all ages.

Simplify your menu

Sometimes we forget that the cook wants to celebrate too. So simplify your menu to items you can make ahead, serve finger foods, or pre-smoke the ribs and them throw them on the barbecue for a quick reheat just before serving time. Cupcakes in ice cream cones, layered Jell-O, fruit skewers, or individual strawberry-blueberry trifle make dessert time easy.

Set tour schedules

Your guests are going to want to see your new home. Remember that you cannot keep an eye on the grill and give a tour at the same time. So, set specific tour times when you can easily leave the yard and inform your guests that you’ll happily show them around at those times. Remember to provide towels or doormats if your guests might be wet (from playing games or keeping cool), keep your tour quick, and move everyone back outside when you’re ready to move to the other activities.

We can help you get into your new home to celebrate the next big holiday, so give us a call today.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Rearranging Deck Chairs on the Titanic

Okay, so it’s not the Titanic. It’s your new house and you can’t seem to make your older furniture fit. Buying new furniture is out of the questions, so how do you make your round pegs fit into those square holes?

Make a plan

Literally … make a floor plan. This can be a rough sketch, or a sophisticated layout, but having a floor plan helps you visualize your options. You can find some useful tools on the Internet to create a basic layout and add virtual furniture. Here is a list of programs to choose from with different options.

Create a couple of options. Since a floor plan doesn’t give you a sense of height, you may need to try taller or shorter pieces in various locations to see what works for you.

Have an open mind

When your new space is a different shape from your old space, you need to change how you think about space. Often, we place our seating furniture against one wall and our entertainment center opposite and fit everything else in-between. Consider different groupings for different purposes. Do you watch TV with a large group of friends, or just the two of you at the end of the day? If it’s just the two of you, group your favorite seating with your entertainment area and move other seating to the opposite end of the room as a conversation area.

Empty the room

When the movers place everything in the room, the extra boxes, bunched up furniture and general clutter hampers your ability to visualize arrangement options. Move as many boxes and furniture out of the room as possible and bring them in one at a time as you form your arrangement.

Place large pieces first

Set your sofas, cabinets, large storage pieces and tables first. Try the different options from your plans to see which one feels right. Don’t be afraid to use a large shelf as a room divider. If your new living room is much longer than your old one, you may find it cozier to split it up. Group a couple of chairs near a window for reading or set two sofas back to back … one for watching television and one for conversation.

On a side note: wait to hang pictures and wall ornaments until you’re satisfied with the basic furniture arrangement—it saves repairing holes in the walls.

Don’t hug the walls

Free up your options by moving furniture away from the walls. There is no rule stating that the sofa must be against a wall. Bring your seating toward the center of the room anchored by a rug, coffee table or trunk. Check out these images for ideas.

Try again…

Once you’ve set up an arrangement, try it for a week or so. Adjust your smaller pieces—lamps, side tables, smaller bookshelves and artwork—to compliment the larger pieces. If it feels crowded after a week, consider removing a piece. If it seems off-balanced, try placing larger pieces opposite of each other. If it feels empty, consider a piece of furniture or décor to fill the void … then start shopping. But don’t buy until you’re sure it’s what you want. After a few months, you may change your mind or feelings about the arrangement.

Therapy

For those of you that love to rearrange furniture—you know who you are—your spouse or significant other (or friend you always call to help you move things) will thank you for using the planning tools and ideas ahead of time.

Compliments of Virtual Results