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How to Avoid a Kitchen Extension Disaster

An open kitchen is a hot home feature right now, and homeowners all across the country are extending their kitchens to include a living space. Unfortunately, many are seeing disastrous results due to poor planning and other complications.

Kutchen Haus offers the following tips to help you avoid a kitchen extension disaster:

1. Look for inspiration
This may sound simple, but look in magazines, on the TV and in kitchen showrooms, ideally with lifestyle room-sets for different kitchens that you like. You may see something you like, that you haven’t seen before which is just perfect for you.

2. Meet your kitchen designer before you start
All too often we meet customers who have decided to extend their property and want a new kitchen. Great! However, rather than speaking with a skilled kitchen designer prior to starting the building work, they plough ahead and in some cases, actually finish the build. This is not the best way to undertake a kitchen extension as the kitchen plays such a pivotal role in the whole scheme, so you must talk to a designer first. They will see things the builder won’t, plus

they will also be able to tell you what is possible with your room dimensions.

3. Make a kitchen wish list
It may sound simple enough, however customers struggle time and again, to understand that they can no longer have an island in their kitchen, as their dimensions or budget will not allow it. By making a list of your ‘must haves’ and ‘would like to haves’ you can avoid making compromises on key areas. Also think about worktops, appliances, flooring and lighting here. If you need to cut costs down later on, this list will help so much though a process of elimination. You may want the granite worktops for example, but the wine fridge can go.

4. Agree your kitchen design before the building plans
As previously mentioned, your kitchen should be as important as the building work so ensure you have everything thought through. It is so much easier to move windows and doors on a design that it is during the build itself.

5. Avoid building work changes
Changes made during the building work also eat into your kitchen budget. Try and avoid this happening so that you don’t have to cut costs down on the kitchen later on. After all, your dream kitchen is the main reason for the extension.

Above all, take the time to think, research and speak to professionals.

Source: http://www.kutchenhaus.co.uk

Who is tracking you online – home safety update

Property Search PrivacyEver visit a website looking for something, for example houses? Then every other time you searched for something else, Zillow, REALTOR.com, Trulia or some other real estate brokerage website shows up first in your search rankings! Some say “pretty cool… how’d they do that”. More and more are saying “OK, that’s enough”. Enter the growing area called Online Behavioral Advertising.

Many of the ads you receive on Web pages and on web searches are, believe it or not, customized just for your eyes only. Ads you see will be based on predictions about your interests generated from your visits over time and across different Web sites.

This type of ad customization – sometimes called online behavioral or interest based advertising. It works through a system of files on your computer called “cookies”. Like crumbs used to document “where you have been” these cookies tell websites a lot about where you have visited, what you have searched on and what you are clicking on. Then, this pattern of interest gets documented and entered into a profile created just on your viewing habits. They may not know your name (at this point) or street address but they know your city and what interests you. This data is them merged into other data collected such as DMV auto registrations and other data. Then when they can collect an actual name, the systems can then add street addresses and other personal data.

This website uses session based tracking cookies that enhance your property search experience, but we do not harvest behavioral or tracking information from your computer like many other property search websites. The only way we retain any information about you is if you create an account. If you look at our privacy policy, you will see that we retain the information but keep it safe and confidential.

On many other real estate websites, Big Brother Is Watching! Recently the Federal Trade Commission dug deep into these data warehouses to make sure no privacy issues are being raised. Well they found a lot. There is an entire internet industry based on profiling and segmentation.

Giving consumers an option of “do not track me” has been a hot topic of discussion in Washington. The White House and the Federal Trade Commission claim they want to work with the advertising industry on a voluntary basis to make it easier for consumers to opt-in or out data collection for advertising purposes. Just the fear of regulation prompted some of the internet’s biggest players to agree to “talk” about their policies.

Yahoo, just this past week, said they would have a simple button consumers can click if they want a Tracking-Free experience.

With the White House’s involvement ratcheting up the issues, it has theoretically forced Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and AOL to stop monitoring the Web-surfing habits of users who click a “Do Not Track” button on their browsers.

So if you care to, go to http://www.aboutads.info/choices and let the system do its magic then you can OPT OUT of tracking from the data collectors, make a complaint or learn more about the policies.

 

 

 


What to know about purchasing a condo

Looking to buy a condominium? Here are some tips to keep in mind before you sign on the dotted line. You are about to buy into a group, and the rules of the group rule the way you can live. You can always ask one of our Bakersfield Real Estate agents or Central Coast Real Estate agents. Here are the 10 questions buyers should ask when deciding whether to purchase a condominium unit:
1.What is the monthly condominium fee and what does it pay for? The monthly condominium fees vary dramatically from condominium to condominium. The fee is a by-product of the number of units, the annual expenses to maintain the common area, whether the condo is professionally managed or self-managed, the age and condition of the project, and other variables such as litigation. For budgeting and financing you need to know the monthly fee and exactly what you are getting for it.
2. What are the condominium rules & regulations? Condominium rules can prohibit pets, your ability to rent out the unit and to perform renovations. Make sure you carefully review ALL the rules and regulations before buying. Needless to say, your real estate agent should provide you with a review of all condominium documents, including the master deed, declaration of trust/by-laws, covenants, unit deed and floor plans to ensure compliance with state condominium laws as well as Fannie Mae and FHA guidelines, as necessary.

3. How much money is in the capital reserve account and how much is funded annually? The capital reserve fund is like an insurance policy for the inevitable capital repairs every building requires (like a new roof on the building). As a general rule, the fund should contain at least 10% of the annual revenue budget, and in the case of older projects, even more. If the capital reserve account is poorly funded, there is a higher risk of a special assessment. Get a copy of the last 2 years budget, the current reserve account funding level and any capital reserve study.

4. Are there any contemplated or pending special assessments? Special assessments are one-time fees for capital improvements payable by every unit owner.  Some special assessments can run in the thousands. You need to be aware if you are buying a special assessment along with your unit. It’s a good idea to ask for the last 2 years of condominium meeting minutes to check what’s been going on with the condominium.

5. Is there a professional management company or is the association self-managed? A professional management company, while an added cost, can add great value to a condominium with well run governance and management of common areas.

6. Is the condominium involved in any pending legal actions? Legal disputes between owners, with developers, or with the association can signal trouble and/or a poorly run organization. Legal action equals attorneys’ fees which are payable out of the condominium budget and could result in a special assessment.

7. How many units are owner occupied? A large percentage of renters can create unwanted noise and neighbor issues. It can also raise re-sale and financing issues with the new Fannie Mae and FHA condominium regulations which limit owner-occupancy rates. If your buyer is using conventional financing, check if it is a Fannie Mae-approved condo. If FHA financing, check if it’s an FHA approved condo.
8. What is the condominium fee delinquency rate? Again, a signal of financial trouble, and Fannie Mae and FHA want to see the rate at 15% or less.
9. Do unit owners have exclusive easements or the right to use certain common areas such as porches, decks, storage spaces and parking spaces? Condominiums differ as to how they structure the “ownership” of certain amenities such as roof decks, porches, storage spaces and parking spaces. Sometimes, they are truly “deeded” with the unit, so the unit owner has sole responsibility for maintenance and repairs. Sometimes, they are common areas in which the unit owner has the exclusive right to use, but the maintenance and repair is left with the association. Review the Master Deed and Unit Deed on this one.
10. What Does The Master Insurance Policy Cover? The condominium should have up to $1M or more in coverage under their master condominium policy. For a buyer’s own protection, they should always buy an individual HO-6 policy covering the interior and contents of the unit, because the master policy and condo by-laws may not cover all damage to their personal possessions and interior damage in case of a roof leak, water pipe burst or other problem arising from a common area element. Ask for a copy of the master insurance policy and don’t forget to check the fine print of the by-laws. Sometimes, there’s language that would hurt a unit owner in case of a common area casualty. Condominiums over 20 units should also have fidelity insurance to protect against embezzlement.

Paso Robles Home Showing Report

Foot traffic to properties for sale can provide great insight into the direction of future home sales. SentriLock is the lock box provider to the regions real estate professionals. Today’s lock boxes are smart. They record information each time the lockbox is accessed, and record who access the box. Aside from the enhaned security features, knowing the number of showings is indicative of real estate buyer activity.  SentriLock, LLC. provides showing data to the National Association of REALTTORS Research with monthly data on the number of showings.

Foot traffic in the area covered by the Paso Robles Board of REALTORS® (CA) declined by 13% in February of this year relative to the same month last year. This was the 4th consecutive year-over-year decline.

However, foot traffic from a year earlier was atypically strong, while current levels remain robust relative to the strong, tax-induced levels from the spring of 2010.

paso robles real estate showings report
Click Image to enlarge

Preparing for a Home Inspection

For buyers and sellers alike, home inspections are a crucial part of the home-buying and -selling process. While setting up a home inspection once you have an offer on your home is an important piece of the puzzle, taking the time to prepare for the inspection can be just as essential. Home sellers who take the time to get ready for the inspection will pave the way for a smoother inspection and, therefore, a smoother transaction. The good news is that preparing your home for inspection doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, as the items that need to be addressed are things that homeowners typically take care of on a recurring basis.

Preparing for a home inspection doesn’t have to be a huge expenditure.  The most important thing to keep in mind is timing.  Taking the time to prepare your home for inspection is crucial for sellers who have an offer on their home, as this signals a pending home inspection, so they know the buyer and inspector are coming to the home.  Once the inspection is scheduled, sellers should plan to spend the week before the appointment getting the home ready.

The home is examined from top to bottom, both inside and out. While the inspector will look at and evaluate more than 1,600 items inside and outside the home, including its systems and structural components, there are numerous small things the seller can do beforehand to make the job easier on everyone involved. The most important items that should be addressed prior to the inspection include:

• Clearing all walkways of debris and obstacles so the inspector can easily move around.
• Providing clear access to the attic hatch, which is oftentimes in a closet, so be sure to clear shelves, etc.
• Replacing dirty furnace filters.
• Making sure all lights and receptacles are operational. This includes changing any burnt-out light bulbs.
• Clearing a path in the basement, whether it’s finished or not, so the inspector can walk around the perimeter of the wall.
• Making sure there is access to any mechanicals, such as the furnace, air conditioner and water heater.

Taking care of the little things, like changing burnt-out light bulbs, is a simple and inexpensive way to eliminate any big suspicions that are totally unnecessary. In addition, paying attention to the items above will enable the inspector to access every part of the home that needs to be addressed in order to thoroughly inspect a home and see if there are any issues that need to be taken care of.

Sellers should also consider printing out paperwork that documents any recent service in order to eliminate any mechanical issues.

As we continue to adapt to the “new normal” and make our way through today’s challenging market, home inspections are becoming more prevalent, whether they’re performed once a potential buyer has made an offer on the home or to lay the groundwork for future negotiations before the home is even listed.

No matter what the economy and housing market look like, there is always a sense of worry among potential buyers in regard to what will be found during the inspection.  However, a little preparation goes a long way toward eliminating that worry from the equation entirely.

Not only will taking the time to prepare your home for an inspection be worth it in the long run, it will give buyers peace of mind while eliminating doubt and suspect.  If a home inspector isn’t able to access a specific area of the home, they’ll have to put a question mark on the inspection report, which causes suspicion in the buyer’s mind; and nine times out of 10, there’s nothing wrong. 

Is There Lasting Value in Remodeling Trends?

When you’re spending thousands to remodel a kitchen or bath, you want those updates to last a while.

To help you get ahead of and sort out the kitchen and bathroom trends — pity the last fool to install an avocado appliance in the 1970s. Enjoy your home; remodel so that you love where you live.

Still, with a couple of exceptions, these five kitchen and bath trends offer lasting value:

1. Kitchen cleanliness.

By clean, we’re talking design, not germs. Kitchens are going clean, contemporary, and horizontal (open shelves, long and horizontal pulls, thick countertops). Even in a classic kitchen, go with simple, flat cabinets rather than highly carved cabinet details.

Tip: This is a trend to get on board with. A simple, tidy, fresh appearance will have broad appeal if you decide to sell.

2. Color is out.

This year, colors are cycling out except for black and white used together.

Tip: Practically speaking, black and white are hard to keep looking good. Black kitchens show every scratch and white cabinets show every speck of dirt. Here on the Central Coast and in Bakersfield, natural colors found in the surrounding landscape are the norm – warm browns with a tinge of orange and red.

Regardless, color is fickle; choose what’s best for your space.

3. Dark wood is where it’s at.

If you’ve had white cabinets, you know they show every speck of dirt, which can drive you crazy unless you have a cleaning fetish. Combine those white cabinets with another up-and-coming trend: dark wood. Or if your budget can handle the hit, go with specialty woods like mahogany or zebra wood that can make an island look like a piece of furniture.

Tip: Alternatively, you could invest your money in more kitchen storage and functionality than trendy decorative elements that might not stand the test of time.

4. Appliances that blend in.

The more open our kitchens get, the more we want them to look like the rest of the house. That’s fueling a trend away from the big pro range and ginormous stainless-steel refrigerator and toward concealed, high-performance refrigerators and dishwashers. Induction cooktops, which use less electricity than electric cooktops, are growing in popularity.

Tip: When you buy appliances, look for the Energy Star label or go even deeper on energy performance ratings with Consortium of Energy Efficiency. California also has had a history of offering rebates. Check with the retailer for information.

5. Ageless design gets easy.

What the Baby Boom wants, the Baby Boom gets. And Baby Boomers want to live in their homes forever. That’s led manufacturers to create DIY remodeling products with built-in universal design features — like toilet paper roll holders strong enough to hold your weight as you arise from the throne.

If you wanted a no-threshold shower five years ago, you had to have it fabricated as a custom piece. Today, companies sell no-threshold shower kits with trench-style drains covered with grills so you can roll yourself right in. Visit Home Depot or other building supply store for examples.

Tip: We love the trend to universal design-ready remodeling products. To get started, check out anti-scald valves.


Hard Water is Harsh on Appliances

 Most Americans have hard water flowing through their plumbing, and it’s taking a silent, but pricey toll on their water-using appliances and pipes.

“If you think you’re not affected, think again: 85 percent of Americans have hard water,” says Angie Hicks, founder of the website dedicated to consumer reviews of contractors and service companies. “Water with a high mineral count is really hard on your appliances and can take years off their useful lives.”  Hicks advises that homeowners watch for the following red flags to see if their water is an issue:

  • Reduction in supply of hot water from a traditional tank water heater
  • Clothes are dingy or unclean after going through the washer
  • Calcium rings or deposits in tubs, sinks and dishwasher
  • Shower head and faucet clogs
  • Spotty or unclean dishes, glasses and flatware after the dishwasher has run
  • Water pipe leakage

Determining if you have hard water is simple and relatively inexpensive to address. Step one is to have your water analyzed, says Hicks. Some utilities and health departments offer this service, but companies that specialize in water conditioning also offer it, often free-of-charge. Because those companies have a vested interest in the outcome of such tests, consumers should consider getting at least one outside opinion.

Consumers have a few options when it comes to removing calcium and magnesium, the troublesome minerals that make water hard. Traditional water softeners use salt to remove those minerals. Devices that do not use salt to accomplish the same thing are often called “water conditioners” or “descalers.”
Here are Angie’s List tips for buying a water softener:

  • Water softeners can range from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000 depending on size and type. Some companies offer rental equipment for a nominal monthly charge. Installation typically runs $150 to $300.
  • Before you buy a water softener or conditioner, research available products and service companies. Insist on a money-back guarantee.
  • In most states, installation does not require a licensed plumber. At a minimum, use a company with technicians certified by the Water Quality Association.
  • Understand and follow the maintenance required to keep the unit operating properly.

Simple Tips to Increase Your Central Coast Curb Appeal

Have you been wanting to change the look of your house but aren’t sure what you can do to increase your curb appeal? Handyman Connection, one of the largest networks of home repair and remodeling contractors in North America, has released a few home improvement ideas to help you enhance the street view of your home.
The front door is the gateway to your home and can often be an easy and inexpensive way to add a different dimension to your home’s curb appeal. You can paint your door a different color to accent the exterior paint on your house or you can get an entirely new door. Pick a color that stands out from the rest of your house but a color that also meshes well with the rest of your color scheme.

Painting or re-painting your house is a great way to drastically alter your home’s curb appeal and it may be the perfect option if you want to give your house a brand new look. Give your exterior walls some flair by picking a color different than what was previously on your house and accentuate it by finding a nice color for the trim as well. Don’t wait too long to paint your house because that could make the job much more difficult; you should paint before the previous coat begins to show signs of wear and tear.

Fencing around your yard is a great way to increase your home’s appeal. A small white-picket fence is a simple way to give your house a nice, cozy look. Putting up a fence on the sides of your yard is a practical way to increase your privacy and your curb appeal at the same time.

Adding a deck or a wing to your deck could be perfect if you like to spend time outside and also want to increase your home’s curb appeal. Adding a wing to your deck is easier than enlarging it and gives you two areas to gather instead of one. Painting or staining your deck is crucial to adding the curb appeal you seek, so dedicate a weekend or two every other year where you or a professional handyman can make your deck look good as new.

Housing inventory in decline

Everyone knows the old supply and demand curve. As demand goes up and supply goes down and prices usually increase. Clearly there are numerous factors that have influence over this rather simple economic model. All things considered, when you have more buyers than sellers, prices rise.

If you look at supply curve of real estate inventory over the past decade, you quickly notice that the supply curve went way up for the past 6 years. The climb began in 2004 and peeked in the middle 2006. From there, the supply curve to real estate for sale has had an erratic, but slow downturn. This supply curve would indicate that inventory levels in real estate have returned to normal. This is a great indicator of health in the housing market.

There are reports that banks are holding a lot of foreclosure inventory off the market. By holding back inventory, they stabilize supply curve of the housing market and preserve home values. This bank owned inventory is called Shadow inventory.

In any case, the good news for home sellers is that low inventory puts upward pressure on home values. This is also a clear signal to potential buyers – buy now or pay more later.

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