Fascinating Home Technology — Run Your House on a Battery

The biggest challenge to solar energy is the inability to both capture it and store it in any meaningful way. In fact, while efficiency in capturing solar power has increased from about 15 percent of most solar panel models to 35 percent efficiency in the higher ends, even when captured the energy grid is unable to store and regulate its flow throughout the day.

Enter the Tesla Powerwall

Elon Musk, CEO of electric carmaker Tesla Motors, announced earlier this year that Tesla’s new Powerwall for the home and Powerpack for commercial use already garnered 38,000 preorders. The Tesla Powerwall offers 92 percent efficiency in DC round-trip power.

Here are the basics:

The Powerwall home battery charges via electricity generated by solar panels. As solar energy wanes throughout the evening or on a cloudy day, the battery supplies energy back to your home instead of pushing it into the public power grid. The Powerwall also offers energy during a power outage, so homeowners in storm-prone areas or country homes with unreliable utility service can access emergency power.

The Powerwall utilizes a lithium ion battery with technology similar to that in Tesla automobiles and installs on the wall of your garage, basement or even outdoors. For larger homes, or those with higher power consumption requirements, multiple batteries can be installed together with up to 90 kWh total available power. Each battery in its weather resistant enclosure is just 51.2 inches by 33.9 inches and only 7.1 inches deep.

The system uses rooftop solar panels connected to the Powerwall and an inverter that directs current from both the solar panels and the Powerwall battery into your home’s alternating current power system.

For an example of how much energy your home uses in the day, consider that your refrigerator consumption is commonly 4.8 kWh/day (kilowatt hour per day) while your washer and dryer together equal about 5.6 kWh/day. Add to that your lights, laptop, flat screen television or stereo and you’re looking at about 2.5 kWh/day additional consumption.

Of course, the first question that comes to mind for a cutting –edge home technology like this is the cost. According to Tesla Motors specifications, the home-sized batteries cost just $3000 for the 7-kWh model and $3500 for the 10-kWh version. Each comes with a 10-year warranty.

If you’re looking for an energy efficient home that conforms to the requirements for solar panels, let your real estate professional know. We can optimize your search so that you find the home that is just right for you and your power needs.

Give me a call if you would like to talk about what is currently going on in the market. We have an incredible marketing plan that will help you get the the most money for your home, in the quickest amount of time. Or if you are looking to buy we can help find you the home of your dreams.

Call Now – Stan Rector 805-577-7902 (Office) – Your New Home Is Waiting!

 

 

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Capturing Clutter

Whether you’re preparing your home to sell, or your packing up to move to your new home … clutter can be your worst enemy.

But, getting chaos under control isn’t always easy.

The problem isn’t that you lack resources.

In fact, a whole industry sprang up to help folks tackle the problem of clutter: from simple lists and organizational tools to crews of “clutter police” to tackle your disarray for you, and even reality TV shows. You can find YouTube videos like this one to help you organize your linen cabinets and this one for your socks and underwear.

The abundance of resources might just seem like more clutter. For some people, even the thought of trying to de-clutter can seem overwhelming. And looking at pictures of the perfectly organized closets, cupboards and garages of organization gurus makes them feel like failures.

If clutter is messing with your home sale or move, don’t try to become the perfectly organized maven right now. Just get the basics down so that you can move on:

• Take small bites: Remember the old adage, ” How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!” Don’t try to tackle the whole house at once. If you have children, consider starting with their toys. Look for ones they’ve outgrown and no longer play with. You don’t need to get rid of them just yet; try putting them in a clearly marked box out of sight. If your biggest challenge is your closet, pull out the clothes from the season farthest away (winter if it’s spring or summer if it’s fall) and put them in clear storage bins. That way, you can see them, but they aren’t taking up the space that your current wardrobe needs.
• Time yourself: give yourself just one hour (or less) at a time to declutter one space. Tackle the junk drawer in the kitchen (yes, we all have one) and get rid of the odd paperclips, rubber bands, loose screws and broken pencils. Once you’re done with that one task, just get on with life … don’t think you have to do it all in one day.
• Use the doubling rule: if you think it’s going to take one day to organize—plan for two. If you think you can do it in two weeks, plan for four. That way, if you get done in less time you’ll be energized rather than being disappointed that it took longer.
• Use simple strategies: When organizing a room, use one box for KEEP, one for GIVE, one for DISCARD and one for SAVE. The KEEP box is for items that need to go back into that room, so it is a temporary resting place while you sort. The GIVE box is for anything you plan to give to friends, family or charity. Use the SAVE box for items that belong in a different location or that need to be in long-term storage. As you move from room to room, you’ll resort this box and return items to their proper room. The final box—DISCARD—may be the hardest one of all. Use it for anything broken, torn, damaged or otherwise unusable: just get rid of it. One caveat: if you plan to have a garage sale, add one more box called SELL for those items. If you don’t sell the items at your garage sale, move them to the GIVE box.

If you need to know which items to declutter for your home sale, talk to your real estate professionals. They know what types can turn off a buyer or make your home sale take longer … so tackle those items first.

Give me a call if you would like to talk about what is currently going on in the market. We have an incredible marketing plan that will help you get the the most money for your home, in the quickest amount of time. Or if you are looking to buy we can help find you the home of your dreams.

Call Now – Stan Rector 805-577-7902 (Office) – Your New Home Is Waiting!

 

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Disappointing Appraisal?

You’ve found the perfect home at the perfect price and made an offer that the sellers accepted. But, the appraisal came back lower than your offer.

BUMMER!

What do you do now?

Any home financed through a bank or mortgage lender requires an appraisal to protect them against originating a loan is upside-down (the loan is greater than the collateral).

There are many reasons that an appraisal comes back lower than the home price. The comparable houses used in the appraisal may not actually apply to the property you’re hoping to buy. For example, if the home you’ve put an offer on is semi-rural or rural, the comparable homes may not have as much land, or may have land but not as much house, or fewer outbuildings. In residential neighborhoods, the home you wish to buy may have upgrades that none of its neighbors currently have. Often, there are no other recent sales in the same neighborhood to compare to, so the comparables are from other neighborhoods that may not have the same quality of life or amenities as the neighborhood you’re hoping to buy into. Sometimes, the home is subject to a bidding war that drives the price higher than its actual market or appraised value.

Traditional banks and mortgage lenders offer mortgages for a percentage of the appraised value, not the sales price or the offer you’ve made. If the appraisal is less than the agreed upon offer you may need to come up with more cash, but sometimes there are other options:

Get a second appraisal. Yes, you can ask for a second appraisal from another qualified appraiser. Of course, you’ll have to pay for it, but it’s a small price to pay for getting the house of your dreams. Just know that the lender doesn’t have to accept the second appraisal … it’s value may be in appealing the first appraisal.

Appeal the appraisal. On the other hand, you can appeal the appraisal with the original appraiser. Review the appraisal carefully. Sometimes things get missed. Sometimes the comparables don’t really compare. Sometimes the appraiser doesn’t have all the information. Give as much information to the appraiser as you can. In recent markets, short sales and foreclosures of similar properties might skew the comparable data too.

Review the appraisal contingency clause. A contingency clause means that if the appraisal comes in lower than expected, you can renegotiate with the seller. Of course, they are not obligated to use the appraised value, but they may be willing to cover closing costs or other expenses so that you make the purchase. Sometimes the real estate agent(s) will take a lower commission to compensate for the difference.

You can agree to pay the difference, but you are betting on the price of real estate increasing, so you really wouldn’t want to do this unless this is your absolute dream home.

The best way not to have a disappointing appraisal is to work with a real estate professional that knows the market well and can advise you of fair market values ahead of your making an offer.

Give me a call if you would like to talk about what is currently going on in the market. We have an incredible marketing plan that will help you get the the most money for your home, in the quickest amount of time. Or if you are looking to buy we can help find you the home of your dreams.

Call Now – Stan Rector 805-577-7902 (Office) – Your New Home Is Waiting!

 

 

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Can My Real Estate Agent Offer to Buy My Home If There are No Offers?

The short answer is “yes,” but know what you’re signing up for.

In a seller’s market it seems like most homes should sell — given enough time and exposure on the market. But there are some situations where a home MUST sell: the owners need to move for work or because of a job loss; or, the home was left in a will and proceeds need to be split among the inheritors; the sellers are experiencing divorce, or any number of other reasons a home needs to sell quickly.

With a quick sale required, sellers may be temped to go for an agent’s offer that sounds too good to be true: The agent will “buy your home if it doesn’t sell!”

According to Angie’s List, such offers are not scams. They are, in fact, marketing tactics that might work for you in your situation — a win-win — or, might be a really bad deal. Before signing on the bottom line, make certain you know what you’re agreeing to.

Home sale guarantees

Real estate professionals may offer a variety of types of guarantees. Each has its own value to both the agent and the seller:

• “If I don’t sell your home, I’ll buy it” — Often, this type of guarantee offer comes from agents that work with investors. An investor wants to buy a home either to rent or to sell at a profit. In this scenario, you should plan to part with a chunk of your equity. This program may work for you if you need to sell quickly but don’t need top dollar from your home, if you need to sell to settle an estate, or if you’ve found a new home at a substantial discount and just can’t afford the two mortgages at once. Just know that you will see less return on this type of sale. If your agent only sells under this program and not to the general public, you’ll end up with less in your pocket.
• “If I don’t sell your home in X months, I’ll buy it” — When a program has time stipulations, it usually also has price stipulations. You’ll most likely be agreeing to a schedule of markdowns (monthly, bi-weekly or weekly) so that by the “I’ll buy it” date it reaches the price the agent will pay for it.
• “We guarantee you X% of the value” — In this approach, the agent offers a specific discounted price if your home doesn’t sell. Often, this is about 90% of its fair market value, plus fees and commissions.

The bottom line

Before you agree to any home sale guarantee plan, know that if the agent does not sell your home outright and the plan goes into effect you’ll be accepting far less for your home than on the open market. While this seems like a lose-lose for the typical home seller, it can be a win-win if the sale is urgent or the sellers have extenuating circumstances.

The best scenario

When selling your home, the best scenario is to work with a real estate professional that knows the home’s market, can advise you on the best way to prepare your home and create curb appeal, and offers all marketing resources (online, offline, print, local, signage, MLS, etc.).

Give me a call if you would like to talk about what is currently going on in the market. We have an incredible marketing plan that will help you get the the most money for your home, in the quickest amount of time. Or if you are looking to buy we can help find you the home of your dreams.

Call Now – Stan Rector 805-577-7902 (Office) – Your New Home Is Waiting!

 

 

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Backyard July 4th Celebration!

Celebrate your new home with a backyard barbecue!

Nothing speaks independence like owning your own home. If you’ve rented for most of your adult life, the freedom to paint walls, barbecue on the patio or hang party lights in trees is a special feeling. As July 4 rolls around, here are some ideas to celebrate you new home:

BYOM cookout

If you’ve just bought your home, you may be a little cash poor. That doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate with your friends and family. Just invite all guests to a potluck and have them bring their own meat (BYOM) to barbecue and a side dish or dessert to share. Everyone loves to share a favorite recipe and no one will mind helping foot the bill. Just make sure you have hot coals or a big enough gas grill for everyone to cook on.

Plan a few extras that won’t break the bank like watermelon wedges and iced drinks.

Decorate the yard

Get your kids in on the action too! Let them decorate with hanging lanterns, flags or pendants or red, white and blue streamers. Create table centerpieces from citronella candles (to keep those pesky mosquitos away), small buckets with flowers or patriotic wreaths, hang bunting swags on the fence or porch rails

If you haven’t done your landscaping yet, choose red, white and blue flowers to put in pots, hanging baskets or your flowerbeds for the big day. Add garden décor such as pinwheels and flags, and stars and stripes of any sort.

If your area allows fireworks, plan sparklers for the kids (under supervision, or course) and fireworks for the whole family.

Most of all, celebrate your freedom

Owning your own home is special and it’s part of the American Dream, so celebrate that you’ve stepped into what President Obama called “the most tangible cornerstone that lies at the heart of the American Dream, at the heart of middle-class life.”

Give me a call if you would like to talk about what is currently going on in the market. We have an incredible marketing plan that will help you get the the most money for your home, in the quickest amount of time. Or if you are looking to buy we can help find you the home of your dreams.

Call Now – Stan Rector 805-577-7902 (Office) – Your New Home Is Waiting!

 

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Relocating Made Simple

Okay, there’s really not a simple way to relocate … after all, you’re uprooting yourself, moving away from friends or family or both, leaving your comfort zone and launching out into the world. But, there are some things you can do to make it less stressful for yourself and your family. Each year, nearly 20 percent of the American population makes a move, so there is lots of tried and true advice for relieving some of the anxiety about your move.

Moving

The best advice you can receive when relocating is to be as organized as possible. Organizing may seem like a hassle when you’re in a rush to move, but arriving at the other end and starting a new job, new schools for the kids and setting up a home can be extra stressful when you can’t find your shoes or belt, don’t know which box has the coffee-maker or where your kids’ backpacks are. Lots of online sites are devoted to various organizational methods—some more complex than others—but finding one that works for your style should be one of the first things you do.

Create a checklist so that you don’t forget to move your satellite service, turn of the utilities or forget to pick up your kids’ school records. Utilize your smart phone or tablet to document which boxes contain which items. Number them or color-code them so that movers can deposit them in the correct rooms as they unload your belongings on the other end.

Selling

If you own a home and need to sell it before you can relocate, you’ll need to consider the best way to sell quickly. Managing a home sale from out of the area is possible, but can add lots of stress to your new situation … and having a home three states away that isn’t selling can cause tremendous financial burdens as well. Regardless of how quickly you need to make the move, in order to sell your home quickly and relieve you of having to think about it while you’re preparing to move, you must price your home correctly for the market. Your real estate professional knows the area, knows the market and can help you set the right price.

If you need to move soon, follow your agent’s advice on the most important upgrades, fixes or staging your home needs to be most appealing to buyers. This is not the time to consider major remodels, but you do want everything fresh and sparkling clean, with attractive and well trimmed landscaping.

If your home doesn’t sell

If your home doesn’t sell before you need to move, you have a few options available to you. Your agent could sell the home for you in your absence. Or, you can let your home become a rental. Before you think about becoming a landlord, however, let your real estate agent introduce you to a property manager. In fact, many real estate agencies and brokerages have property management divisions. You want someone handling the paperwork, marketing your home to potential renters, receiving payments of deposits and rent, and taking care of repairs and other requests from your renters.

Buying

You may already know the area of town you want to live in your new city, so by all means, work with your real estate agent to find the perfect property for you … but if you just aren’t sure, take the time to lease in the area you think you might like to live. Leasing temporary housing for three to six months while you test the waters in an area can save you from making a purchase you may be sorry for later. It also gives your real estate professional more time to find just what meets your needs. Often, your real estate agent can help you find a place to lease so that you can get settled while you look for the perfect home.

Give me a call if you would like to talk about what is currently going on in the market. We have an incredible marketing plan that will help you get the the most money for your home, in the quickest amount of time. Or if you are looking to buy we can help find you the home of your dreams.

Call Now – Stan Rector 805-577-7902 (Office) – Your New Home Is Waiting!

 

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Marketing Your Home Out-of-Town, Out-of-State, Out-of-Country

In a tough sellers’ market, homeowners looking for the best possible sale sometimes consider marketing to out-of-town, out-of-state and even out-of-country buyers. So, how do you attract buyers from out of your area?

Relocation Services

Statistically, homes most often sell to local buyers. But if you are in a prime growth area with new industry to attract jobseekers willing to relocate, you may want to market your home toward the newcomers to your community. Or, if your employer moves you to a new city, a relocation service can help you sell your old home. Working with agents familiar with employer relocation services (relo for short) can market your home directly through the company to those employees. In recent years, as many as 1.5 million sellers utilized employer-assisted relocation services to sell their homes.

Retirement

If your home happens to be in a prime retirement area, your agent will know that best options for promoting your home to retirees. Before you consider marketing directly to seniors, however, you may need to retrofit your home to meet their needs as they age. Consider widening doorways to 36 inches to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers and other medical aids. One useful option is to change out a tub for a step-in shower enclosure that can accommodate a medical shower stool and add grab bars to showers and near toilets. When possible, create a master suite on the main floor. If your home has steps into the entryway, look for options to make the entry easier to maneuver. Simple changes such as rocker switches in place of toggle switches, and lever handles on doors in place of knobs make simple daily tasks easier for people suffering from arthritis and other age-related afflictions.

Investment

Marketing your home to investors is another option. Of course, investors always look for the best deal, so don’t expect to get top dollar, but if your home is located in a prime area, marketing to investors may get your home sold more quickly. When considering this option, know that your buyer is looking for the best break-even home price. That means between the monthly mortgage, upgrades required, taxes and insurance, the buyer can rent the home and still break even, or better yet, make a profit.

Foreign Buyers

International buyers on the lookout for vacation or investment property in the United States probably won’t just respond to an MLS listing. Your online exposure is the biggest tool you have to attract foreign buyers. They want to see lots of high quality images and well-done video of the home, neighborhood and community. They need lots of extra information because they’re not easily able to visit your home in person.

Some agent specialize in promoting your property to foreign buyers while others align themselves with real estate groups that have international reach. Often, international buyers cluster in areas so that they have familiar shopping, dining and worship centers nearby. When your area already hosts international residents, promoting your property to that nationality can give your property great exposure.

If you’re interested in promoting your home to out-of-town, senior, relocating or international buyers, make sure your agent or broker knows so that he can pursue the best marketing plan for you.

Give me a call if you would like to talk about what is currently going on in the market. We have an incredible marketing plan that will help you get the the most money for your home, in the quickest amount of time. Or if you are looking to buy we can help find you the home of your dreams.

Call Now – Stan Rector 805-577-7902 (Office) – Your New Home Is Waiting!

 

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Mortgage Rates and Your Home Options

Curious about how rate changes may affect your home buying experience? Higher rates may result in adjustments needing to be made on the amount of loan you qualify for, so be sure to discuss your individual situation with a lender, so that you are aware of the options available for your home.

Recent rates released in the Primary Mortgage Market Survey(R) (PMMS®) continued to come in relatively high, due to market speculation that the Federal Reserve may reduce future bond purchases in response to June’s strong employment report.

According to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist of Freddie Mac, “June’s strong employment led to more market speculation that the Federal Reserve will reduce future bond purchases causing bond yields to rise and mortgage rates followed.”

An average 4.51% with a .8 point was seen with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM), an increase from the previous week’s 4.29% and well above last July’s 3.56%.

The 15-year FRM rose to 3.53% with a 0.8 point, from 3.39% and the average of 2.86% in July 2012.

Slight increases were seen on the 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) as well, which averaged at 3.26% with a average 0.7 point, versus the 3.10% rate last week and 2.74% one year ago.

Surprisingly, the 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM remained unchanged since last week, with an average 2.66% (average 0.5 point), which was very similar to the July 2012 rate of 2.69%.

View week to week comparisons for 2013 by visiting FreddieMac.com.

There are several lenders that we’ve been satisfied with over the course of our career, but there are a few that we, as well our clients, have been overly satisfied with who have a lot of experience and are super knowledgeable about lender costs, qualifying guidelines and loan structures.  We find Rob Scheuing to be very honest and ethical and works harder than most lenders I’ve ever done business with.  He won’t put you into any kind of funky loan and he’ll explain things to you in plain English and not “lender language.”  Which these days, is an art form in itself.  LOL!  You’ll find him super easy to work with and he will give you answers to your questions very quickly.  His information is:

Rob Scheuing

President, Sherwood Mortgage

Rob@SherwoodMtg.com

www.SherwoodMtg.com

805-496-2512

Give me a call if you would like to talk about what is currently going on in the market. We have an incredible marketing plan that will help you get the the most money for your home, in the quickest amount of time. Or if you are looking to buy we can help find you the home of your dreams.

Call Now – Stan Rector 805-577-7902 (Office) – Your New Home Is Waiting!

When to DIY and When to Hire a Contractor

Whether you’re preparing your home to sell, or you’ve just moved into your home and want to tackle some of the changes you have in mind to make it your own … knowing which items to do your self and which need a professional licensed contractor can save you from costly mistakes.

If you are really handy, tacking projects in your home may be right up your alley. If you spend lot of time watching home-makeover reruns on cable and envision creating a fabulous transformation all on your own … remember that there are always professionals (designers, craftsmen, tradesmen and carpenters) watching over (and correcting) the process. Doing-it-yourself (DIY) when the stakes are high (such as when selling your home, rewiring electrical or knocking out a wall) might give you a bigger headache than you want.

Here’s a basic list of what you might tackle yourself and which items definitely need that experienced touch.

• Is it doable? Painting walls, resurfacing or refinishing cabinets, hanging drapery rods, even changing light fixtures is easily doable if you have basic skills. If you’re looking at scraping that popcorn off your ceiling, however, you need to check with your local building authorities to see if yours might have asbestos. Homes built before the laws changed in the mid-70s may or may not have asbestos ceilings that require special (and often expensive) removal.
• Is it safe? You may have the skills to change light fixtures, but if they are located in the peak of a vaulted ceiling over an open staircase and require artful scaffolding to reach … you might need a professional with the correct equipment. If you do tackle a project, be sure to have all required safety gear including goggles, gloves and the like.
• Is it prudent? Many plumbing tasks—changing out a faucet, for example—are perfect options for a budding DIY-er. Moving pipes in the walls, installing shower pans and other projects that could cost you plenty if they created a leak inside your walls, might just end up being the proverbial Money Pit. When you hire a skilled contractor to do the work, make certain he is licensed, bonded and insured. That way, if a leak forms later and your tub falls through the floor, you’re covered. A seasoned professional should handle concrete work of any type since the chance for something to go wrong is quite high, but if you want to tile your bathroom floor … take it on.
• Exterior changes, such as roofing, new windows, skylights or siding, require a contractor that knows the requirements to make your home watertight and energy efficient. Removing a large tree can be dangerous unless you’re a skilled arborist, since falling limbs (or a falling tree) can cost you repairs to your own home or vehicles, your neighbor’s fence, utility lines or even injury from using unfamiliar tools such as a chain saw.

Be prepared

Before you start a DIY project for the first time, check with your local big box stores to see if they offer classes. The tools, glues, mortars and other materials your grandpa or dad used may have changed over the years, so be sure to ask professionals about drying times, set speed, the need to use undercoats or primers and anything else you can think of before you start.

When making changes before a home sale, check with your real estate professional too … some changes may be unnecessary and others could actually lower the price buyers are willing to pay for your home.

Give me a call if you would like to talk about what is currently going on in the market. We have an incredible marketing plan that will help you get the the most money for your home, in the quickest amount of time. Or if you are looking to buy we can help find you the home of your dreams.

Call Now – Stan Rector 805-577-7902 (Office) – Your New Home Is Waiting!

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Tax Tips for New Homeowners

Congratulations on your new home!

Whether a condominium, cooperative apartment, single-family home, townhouse or mobile home, your home-sweet-home affects your tax status. If this is the first year you’ll be filing your taxes as a homeowner, there are a few things you need to know to take the most advantage of your new status. Before filing your taxes, be sure to discuss each of these with your tax professional.

File a Schedule A

If you’ve been used to using the EZ forms to file your taxes, you’ll need to remember to use the 1040 Schedule A instead. It is more complicated than taking the standard deduction, but you’ll be able to itemize costs like mortgage interest, property taxes, the points you paid to get your loan, and mortgage insurance.

• Mortgage interest: By far the biggest tax break, your mortgage interest is the biggest expense reflected in your house payment. In fact, most of what you pay in your monthly mortgage payment often is interest. In fact, unless your loan is for more than $1 million, you may be able to deduct all of that interest.
• Home equity line of credit: In general, equity debts up to $100,000* are fully deductible.
• Points: If you paid points in order to get a more favorable interest rate on your home purchase, the IRS lets you deduct them in the year that you paid them under certain qualifications. Those qualifications include, among other things, that you used the loan to purchase or build your main residence, and are an established practice in your locality. Points paid on a loan for a second home typically must be amortized over the life of the loan.

In addition to the items connected directly with your home, the Schedule A also allows you to itemize personal property tax, state withholding and local taxes. If you donated furniture, clothing, appliances, and other items to charity when you moved, you’ll be able to itemize your charitable deductions as well.

Know your exemptions

When you file a W-4 with your employer, you choose the exemptions you are allowed to claim. When you own a home, you may be able to claim more exemptions on our paycheck. Carefully balancing your exemptions allows you to take home more money in your paycheck during the year, giving you more cash in hand to pay on your mortgage.

Conclusion

If you don’t know the questions to ask, or if you want to purchase a home so that you can take advantage of tax breaks for next year, contact us. We are your real estate professionals and we can keep you up to date on the latest information on the benefits of homeownership.

*Some exceptions apply.

___________________________________________________________________________

Give me a call if you would like to talk about what is currently going on in the market. We have an incredible marketing plan that will help you get the the most money for your home, in the quickest amount of time. Or if you are looking to buy we can help find you the home of your dreams.

Call Now – Stan Rector 805-577-7902 (Office) – Your New Home Is Waiting!

 

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Making a Move to a New Home with Kids

Amidst the excitement of moving to a new home is a lot of stress for families with younger children. Often they don’t understand what is happening. That can make them feel powerless and afraid. Here are some ideas for turning those stressors into an adventure for your little ones.

Involve children in decisions

House-hunting with children is neither practical nor advisable since you cannot expect a home to be childproofed. You can, however, sit down with your children and ask them what would be most important in a new home. Do they love the outdoors … a big yard is in order, or a home near a great park, or both! If a tree-house is on their radar, be on the lookout for a great backyard tree and a neighborhood that allows for tree-houses. Do you want a pool? A pool with a safety fence can narrow down your choices for you. What about a big playroom, game room or media room? Separate bedrooms for each child?

Bring your family’s wish list with you to your very first meeting with your real estate professional. She needs to know exactly what you’re looking for, and what your kids are looking for, so that she can find you the perfect new home. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, show your kids pictures of the houses that fit their criteria.

Plan their new room

Even before you nail down the house choice, children can trek with you to home stores to look at paint chips. Letting your child choose his new room’s color can heighten the excitement of the move.

If you plan to include new bedding, a theme or other enhancements to the room, start a scrapbook or Pinterest board for each child to add their favorite ideas.

Packing together

Of course your child won’t be involved in the bulk of the packing, but seeing all of their familiar things shut away in boxes can be scary. Give each child a box to pack his treasured items, favorite books or special toys. Have him color or draw on the outside of the box so that he knows which one is his. If practical, bring those boxes in the car with you as you travel to your new home.

Give everyone a break

According to child psychologists, the stress of moving (including during the planning stages and once you’ve arrived at your new home) affects children’s sleep pattern, behavior, appetite, toilet training habits and anxiety levels. They may cling more, or be more aggressive. They may wake up during the night more often or even revert to thumb-sucking and bedwetting. A change in time zones, and the unfamiliar new surroundings can disrupt sleep as well.

You may be frazzled and so might they … so give everyone some extra grace.

Say goodbye

If your move takes you to a new city or state, take the time to visit all of your children’s haunts. The park they play in, or their preschool, the homes of their favorite friends, even their place of worship should be on the list. Give them an opportunity to tell everyone and every place “goodbye,” take photos to add to a memory book.

Be organized

Of course, being organized is the key to a sane moving experience for people of any age, but it is especially true when children are involved. Mark ALL of your boxes. If you have a tablet or computer, create a numbering system and list all of the contents of each box. When you have an urgent need for those special toys to calm a restless toddler or keep a child busy, knowing where to find them can ease your own anxiety.

Most of all, let the move be as fun and exciting as possible for everyone.

Give me a call if you would like to talk about what is currently going on in the market. We have an incredible marketing plan that will help you get the the most money for your home, in the quickest amount of time. Or if you are looking to buy we can help find you the home of your dreams.

Call Now – Stan Rector 805-577-7902 (Office) – Your New Home Is Waiting!

 

 

Compliments of Virtual Results

Easy Update: Chalky Painted Kitchen Cabinets

If you’re hesitant to purchase an older home because you don’t love the kitchen or bathroom cabinets and the idea of having to sand all of that wood makes you cringe, fear not … chalk paint to the rescue.

You haven’t heard of chalk paint? Well, here’s the scoop:

The original “chalk paint” (a trademarked name of the paint developed by Annie Sloan) allowed furniture restorers to create the shabby chic look on reclaimed painted furniture. The paint leaves a chalky finish (hence the name) until application of a wax finish and buffing.

With the development of specialty chalk paint mixtures, chalk paint allows for refinishing cabinets without sanding or priming. In fact, the technique used with chalk paint simply calls for brushing the paint on a clean surface, with a high quality chalk paintbrush, then finishing with a specialty wax to set the paint and add a glow to the cabinets.

Devotees of the process swear by it. To try the process with the original Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP), you’ll find step by step instructions in blog posts like this one and even on YouTube. Various finishes from weathered and distressed to smooth require simple variations to the basic process.

The most common negative heard about ASCP is the cost. At nearly $40 for a quart of paint, critics say they achieve the same look for less using other brands and even their own mixtures.

Other similar brands include CeCe Caldwell’s paints. These non-toxic, natural mineral paint products offer an eco-friendly alternative to other paint finishes. Being health-friendly makes these paints safe to use around children or family members with respiratory problems.

Websters offers a chalky paint powder to add to any brand of latex paint. They offer a variety of video tutorials to achieve different techniques, accents, layering options and even a process for painting on metal. Big-box DIY stores offer paints that give a chalky finish and are much less expensive than the designer brands, although professional furniture refinishers claim a variety of success levels with these. Two of these include Valspar Chalky Paint (available at Lowes) and Americana Décor (from The Home Depot).

Very brave Do-It-Yourself-ers may choose to create their own chalky paint recipes using latex paint mixed with plaster of Paris (powdered gypsum) and/or calcium carbonate or sanded grout. You’ll find many different recipes, so only go this route if you have time to try different options before you tear your kitchen apart.

If you’re planning to sell your home and worry that your outdated kitchen might hinder a sale, the chalk paint methods provide a smooth finish and instant update to any kitchen.

Give me a call if you would like to talk about what is currently going on in the market. We have an incredible marketing plan that will help you get the the most money for your home, in the quickest amount of time. Or if you are looking to buy we can help find you the home of your dreams.

Call Now – Stan Rector 805-577-7902 (Office) – Your New Home Is Waiting!

 

 

Compliments of Virtual Results