Real Estate Information

It is the time of year when we all like to do a little Spring cleaning to ready ourselves for a beautiful summer. Most of us spend our time cleaning and organizing the inside of our homes, but does that extend to our garages?

Garages are a great place to store all those products, or household hazardous waste, we don't want inside our house. These products may include (and are not limited to) automotive fluids, paint and lawn care products.

Now is the time to spring clean and rid your garage of these household hazardous waste (HHW) products and, where available, replace them with more environmentally friendly products.

Motor Oil can be disposed of at dealerships or vehicle repair shops.

Fertilizer for lawn care can be replace with certified organic products. Ask your local garden center for any certified organic products they may carry.

Pesticides can be disposed of by contacting your local sanitation department. An alternative to this HHW would be a less toxic product that can also be found at your local garden/yard center.

Paints should not be kept for long periods of time and can be disposed of at designated areas of your local sanitation department. New paints can be purchase with a low VOC (volatile organic compound) content.

If you're unsure of how to properly dispose of the Household Hazard Waste found in your garage, contact your local sanitation or fire department.

I think we are all aware that the environment is becoming increasingly more fragile and we need to take the time to educate ourselves and our families about environmental issues and how we can do our part.

April 22nd is Earth Day and San Mateo will be celebrating the environment with numerous events and activities. We encourage you take part in this celebration, with your families,  in an effort to recognize the importance of nature around us and preserving this wonderful planet for generations to come.

A few of the San Mateo County Earth Day celebrations include:

• Tuesday, April 22 - Focus on Going Green
   San Mateo Public Library

• Saturday, April 26th - City of Millbrae Arbor & Earth Day Event

• Saturday, April 26th & Sunday, April 27th - 36th Annual Wildflower Show
  California Native Plant Society

• Monday, April 28th - Presentation: Climate Change - Causes, Consequences, Solutions
  South San Francisco

I hope you and your families have a fabulous Earth Day. For more information regarding these events and other Earth Day information please visit the following links.

• RecycleWorks - A Program of San Mateo County

• Earth Day Network - everyday for everybody

In a time when the environment and air quality is a growing concern, how many people take the time to consider how everyday household items and appliances can affect the air we breathe in our own homes?

It is alarming to find out that it has been suggested that the air we, and our families, breathe in our homes is more polluted than the air outside. As a homeowner we can tackle and improve the air quality in our homes by following a few basic maintenance tasks.

According to National Geographics Green Guide there are a few things you can do to improve indoor air quality.

• Ventilate your home regularly
  

• Vacuum weekly
  

• Use a good quality air filter on your furnace and replace it regularly
  

• Maintain ventilation systems (If your home has one) and dehumidifiers
  

• Run exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens
  

• If you're considering an air purifier, avoid devices that generate ozone, as these can make lung problems and asthma worse.

Consider these options when taking steps to improve the air quality in your home for you and your family.

In Part 1 of the Moving Guide series we discussed the types of moves that are available. Now we would like to continue with Part 2. You have everything packed and loaded in the movers van or vehicle that you will be driving yourself. Once you arrive at your new home, you may or may not set out to unload and pack as soon as you arrive so you want to be prepared.

Below is a list of some of the essential items that you should pack separately and have with you during the move, for your first night in your new home. These few things will help to ensure that everyone in your family, including pets, is taken care of for the first night in the event that you don't get around to unpacking or if the moving truck hasn't arrived the same time as you.

Food & Kitchen Supplies
It's a good idea to pack a few snacks, sandwiches and bottled water as cooking may not be a top priority when you arrive at your new home. A few additional items you will want to have on hand include paper plates, cups, utensils, napkins and garbage bags.

Toiletries
With everything packed and in boxes or possibly still in the moving van you will need necessities such as toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and a few towels. Also you will want to keep with you any contact lens solutions and hygiene products that may be required.

Medication
Always pack prescription medication and keep it with you. A first-aid kit and extra band-aids are also a good idea to have on hand during the move and on the first night...just in case.

Tools
Try to have a few emergency tools on hand for unforeseen circumstances. Tools such as flashlights, candles, matches, screwdrivers, pliers and scissors.

Clothing
Clothing for a couple of days should be sufficient to see you through the first night (or two) and maybe a couple of extra blankets or sleeping bags.

Children's Items
For your children you will want to have baby food, diapers and their favorite toys and blankets for their first night in the new home.

Pet Items
Your pets are affected just as much by a move as you and the rest of the family are so be sure to have food, treat, water and any medication that they may require.

These are the necessities that will help you get through the first night in your new home. Keep this list handy well in advance to your move date and add or delete items that you feel will help you best in achieving a stress free first night in your new home.

Spring is among us and it is the time of year when people decide to list their houses and move on to their next place to call home. It is the time in between the listing, and the final sale, to the time when you are settling into your new house that can be overwhelming and stressful if not planned right.

In the coming weeks I will provide you with the information, tools and resources that will assist you with your move to help you and your family with this transition.

Part 1 of this moving guide will outline the three "types" of moves and which method will be best for you and your family.

Full-service Movers
This type of move is an all-inclusive type package. Full-service movers are professional and licensed and handle all aspects of your move from packing and loading to unloading. Full-service movers may cost more than the other options listed below, but keep in mind it may be well worth the investment to free up your own time and lessen the stress on you and your family.

Self Service Movers
If you want a little more control over the move, the Self Service move may be the way to go. Here you will be responsible for packing, loading and unloading of the moving vehicle provided by a professional and licensed mover while they take care of the actual driving. This is a popular option for small to medium interstate moves.

Do It Yourself Move
If working with a professional mover doesn't fit into you moving plan you can always "Do It Yourself". Consider the number of items you need to pack and move as well as the distance you need to go; it might be quit manageable on your ow using a rented truck. When renting a truck to drive yourself, you want to make sure it is large enough to accommodate all your boxes and furniture and whether or not the truck requires a special license to drive it.

Which ever method you decide to go with, try not to let it overwhelm you. There are a number of moving tips that we are going to share with you to make this transition as stress-free as possible.

Don't forget to check back for Part 2 of our San Mateo California Moving Guide.

It is no secret that the current buyers market that we are in has left home sellers wondering what it will take to get the best possible price for their home and as quickly as possible.

Many homeowners are turning to renovating their homes in an attempt to set themselves apart from other homes for sale in the community, but what renovations can be done to get the largest rate of return?

First and foremost it is important to keep in mind, whether you are selling now or in the future, general maintenance and upkeep of your home is a logical investment. Homebuyers are drawn to “move-in-ready” homes so they are not burdened with having to tend to basic repairs after moving in.

With that said, there has been a lot of discussion, articles written and blog posts made that outline the types of renovations, beyond general maintenance, that are commonly taken on, resulting in a reasonable return on your investment when selling your home. These renovations include:

•    The Kitchen
•    Bathrooms
•    Floors and Wall Finishes
•    New Siding
•    Extra Living Space
•    Windows
•    Decks
•    Energy Efficient Improvements

Before you decide to jump into any major renovations before selling, it is always a good idea to consult with your Realtor® to evaluate the market values in your community.  Ideally you want the renovations you decide to spend your time, effort and money on, to get you the best possible price for your home (within a reasonable neighborhood price point) and the largest return on your investment.

Major renovations before selling can be pricey, time consuming and a great investment, but shouldn’t be entered into lightly. Depending on your time frame and when you need/want to be out of your home, all renovations should be carefully planned and reviewed with your agent.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the typical U.S. family will spend in excess of $1,600 a year on energy costs. This amount could be lessened as a large portion of the energy used is wasted. There are a number of simple steps we can take to save energy, and money, in our homes.

 

The following energy saving tips by the U.S. Department of Energy are easy, and cost little or no money at all to implement into a new energy efficient home for you and your family.

 

• Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer. Install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating and cooling system.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120° F.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR^® label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR^® products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

This is the first step in making your home “energy efficient” and will also save you money. For more information on any of the tips listed here, or to learn how you can cut your energy use up to 25%, visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website for consumer tips.

 

 

 

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The Houseing Endowment and Regional Trust (HEART) has announced they will be launching a new home buyers assistance program this spring called Opening Doors in Our Community.

San Mateo County has a strong local economy, but it has become increasingly harder, for some people that make up our workforce, to afford to buy homes here. HEART wants to help these people "put down roots" here instead of having to relocate outside the county and commute to work everyday.

The Opening Doors in Our Community Program  will be available to low to middle income workers who live or work in San Mateo County and meet some specific qualification factors such as:

·          household income, up to a maximum of $150,000;

·          location of borrower’s current job or residence and location of property to be purchased;

·          borrower is a first-time buyer or a “move-closer” buyer—one who sells primary residence to buy another one that is substantially closer to the transit corridor; and

·          satisfactory credit.

Heart will officially launch the Opening Doors in Our Community, home buyers assistance program once they have reached a Reserve Credit of $1.5 million with the help of private-sector businesses. Once this Reserve Credit has been met, this will leverage $50 million in primary mortgage loans below market terms.

Visit HEART of San Mateo County for information regarding qualification factors and which occupations may qualify for the Opening Doors in Our Community program.