Additional Things To Evaluate When Looking For A New House

April 2, 2012 Jonathan Clark

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Evaluate Your New Home’s Efficiency

When you sit down to write out your wish list for your new home, it will probably include things like a big kitchen, three bedrooms, a finished basement, and a deck. It is easy to fall in love with a house with big, open rooms, newly painted walls, and a pristine lawn. However, it is very important that you look past the beautiful facade and keep your eyes open for some less glamorous details. If you allow yourself to choose a house based on the visuals, you could find your decision costing you dearly down the road.

The Furnace

As you are admiring the elegant chair molding and the beautiful door walls, do not forget to find out how old the furnace is and when it was last inspected and serviced. An old or faulty furnace will not stand out when you tour the home, but it is a detail that can cost you a great deal of money within the first few years of home ownership if you do not handle this detail before the sale. If the furnace is old, you can take this into account when you make your offer.

The Windows

The classic look of wood frames around the windows may give the home character, but it could also be a sign that the windows have not been replaced with modern thermal windows. Older windows will cost a fortune in energy bills because they allow far more in air leakage than new vinyl replacement windows. If your dream home still has older windows, you may want to keep looking or consider the cost of replacement windows when making an offer on the house.

The Roof

It can be difficult to assess the condition of the roof from the ground. Even if it leaks, there may be no evidence anywhere besides the attic. It is important to know how hold the roof is and to ensure that there is no damage, leaking, or sagging. Also, you will want to know if there is more than one roof on the house. In other words, you want to find out if the owners have placed a new roof on top of the old one. If there is more than one roof, or the current roof is over five years old, you will want to consider the cost of a new roof in the offer you make on the house, and you will want to have the home inspected for water damage before moving forward.

Be Suspicious

If there is any room in the home with a new floor or newly painted walls, be sure to pay extra attention to that area. Sellers may choose to put down a new floor or put up a fresh coat of paint to mask water damage or structural issues. Of course, this is not always the case, but certainly you will want to call your home inspector’s attention to those areas. Buying a home with mold, a rotting foundation, or damaged walls can cause headaches and a huge financial loss in the long run.

Buying a Home

How To Choose a New Home Builder for Your Next Home

March 31, 2012 Jonathan Clark

What to Consider When Choosing a Home Builder

It is quite likely that if you have made the decision to build a new home, you are about to embark on a brand new experience. Without ever having done anything like this before, it is easy to fall into any number of common pitfalls when looking for the right builder. These mistakes can be costly and can lead to regrets that could last for years to come. However, this can be avoided if you follow a few important tips before choosing a new construction home builder.

Check With The Better Business Bureau

Once you have narrowed your search to a few builders, be sure to check them out with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB website makes this very easy to do, and if there have been major problems reported by consumers in the past about one or more of the builders you are considering, you will find out about it here. The ratings are easy to find and spelled out so they are easily understood.

Read The Online Forums

Another great resource, although not as objective as the Better Business Bureau, is blogs and forums found on line. If you want to know what other consumers think of a given builder, just run a search online, using Google or Bing or another similar search engine. You will find forums, blogs, and chat rooms, where other consumers will share their experiences. It is important to note that often those who are happy with their experiences are less likely to post their thoughts and comments, so this may give you a skewed image of the builder in question.

Ask Around

Word of mouth is sometimes one of the best resources you can tap into. Talk to your friends, neighbors, and family members about experiences they have had and those their friends have had. Few people will give a dishonest reference to someone they know personally, so if your friend or neighbor recommends a builder, it is usually a solid, reliable reference.

Interview The Builders

Once you have chosen a few builders based on their model homes, their reputations, and other criteria, it is time to learn a little more. Be sure to ask them if they pay their own closing costs; not all builders do, and you may find yourself with bigger bills than you expected. You should also find out exactly how many amenities that you saw in their model home will be included in the home they will build for you. Often model homes are full of extras, and the dream house you think you commissioned only includes some of the details you loved in the model.

Finally, be sure to ask for a home warranty. Reputable builders will offer a one, or sometimes two-year warranty on everything in the house. It is dangerous, however, to assume that the warranty exists, and without it, you could rack up some huge expenses in the first year if the water heater leaks or there is a problem with the wiring. Covering these details upfront will protect you from losing money down the line.

Home Improvement

Building a Wooden Deck for Your Home in 7 Steps

March 31, 2012 Jonathan Clark

Steps in Building a Wooden Deck

A useful and valuable addition to any home is a wooden deck. Outdoor living spaces are very popular today and a wooden deck could definitely be the main structure for your outdoor activities. A regular DIY-er would find it intuitive and easy to build one. As a general guide for weekend handymen, here are the basic steps in building a wooden deck.

First, you should have a floor plan of the wooden deck and decide on where to construct the deck. Orientation-wise, it is best to locate the wooden deck on the north side as this is the coolest spot. If you prefer a sunny wooden deck, then build it somewhere south. Of course these orientations depend on the actual plan of your house. To play it safe, you can attach the wooden deck to the living room, dining room or family room.

Even a seasoned DIY-er would need the help of subcontractors such as an electrician or plumber. Feel free then to consult with them if there is a need to lay out pipes and electrical wires.

Prepare the area for the wooden deck construction. Make sure that the site is clean and leveled. Use wooden pegs to stake out the four corners of the deck. Tie strings on the wooden peg then put battens for markings. Note to position the stakes at least two inches wider than the proposed decking.
Prepare the header board. Ask the help of someone so you can securely anchor the header board to the house’s exterior at the indicated height on the floor plan.
Install the wooden deck’s posts. Make sure the holes for the posts are deep enough to satisfy the specification. If the general depth of holes is 6 inches, make the holes at least 12 inches deep if the wooden deck will be fitted with a Jacuzzi or hot tub. Put gravel on the holes before pouring concrete to set the posts.
Fasten the beams. After securing the posts, level and measure the deck’s height before hammering in the beams. Do not forget to adjust the deck’s finished flooring at least two inches lower than the adjoining interior area. The exterior and interior floor levels cannot be of the same height.
Position and attach the floor joists. Secure the joists to the main house’s structure with hangers. Space the joists at 12 inches on the center, making sure that you lay out the joists across the beams in the opposite direction of the proposed flooring. Lay out the wood planks on the joists and secure them with CW nails.
No wooden deck is complete without railings. You can buy ready-built railings and attach them to your wooden deck. You can also add some built-in seats and a wet bar if you care to.
Add some steps to from the garden to the wooden deck to make it accessible from outside the house. There is no need for you to sweat with the stairs as there are stair kits that you can buy.

Moving

What to Purchase for Your New Home – Curtains, Rugs, Appliances, etc.

March 30, 2012 Jonathan Clark

Your First Purchases For Your New Home

You have made it through the whirlwind excitement of buying a house. You have finally closed and the house is yours. Like so many other home buyers, you are likely now standing in a quiet, empty house, wondering what to do next. Of course, you have a list as long as your arm of plans for moving in, arranging, and interior decorating, but there are a few important purchases that must be made first.

Door Knobs

New door knobs“>door knobs are a must. You do not know if someone else has a key to the current locks, and security is very important. By replacing all of the door knobs, you can ensure that there are no other keys floating out there and no one who can simply walk into your home at will. Door knobs are reasonably priced and can be found at any home improvement store, and they are easily installed in an afternoon.

Window Treatments

A house with no window treatments“>window treatments is an easy mark for break-ins. By hanging curtains or blinds, you can hide from the world around you that the house is empty or that you have started moving in. With window treatments and a few lights, it is impossible to know if someone is in the house or not, so if you have not yet moved in, your property is better protected.

Appliances

Now is the time, while the house is relatively empty, to plug in and test the appliances. If the refrigerator, stove, washer, or dryer needs to be replaced, this is much easier to do without the rest of your belongings in the home. Besides, as you move in, you will want full access to these important appliances to make the entire process a little bit easier.

Floor Coverings

Whether you are considering replacing the current carpet, tearing it up and finishing the wood floors, or simply adding rugs“>rugs, now is the time. Once you have moved in your furniture and accessories, you will have to move things around in order to get to the flooring. If you are painting too, you might want to do this before tearing up your carpet, so any stray paint droplets land on flooring that you do not plan on keeping anyway.

Lawn And Snow Removal Equipment

Depending on your local climate and the season of your move, you will want to have lawn care or snow removal equipment on the premises right away. The city ordinances are clear that removing snow from your driveway and sidewalks and keeping your lawn neat and trimmed are required of each home owner, even if you have not yet moved in. You will want the necessary equipment on hand immediately upon taking possession of your house.

Tools

If you are a first time home owner, your tool box may hold only a screwdriver and a hammer. As you take possession of your new home, you will certainly need to stock up on a few more tools so you are readily able to make necessary repairs. A well stocked tool box can greatly diminish any repair emergency.

Apartment

Identify Any Illegal “Steering” While Looking for an Apartment

March 28, 2012 Jonathan Clark

Illegal Steering

Lack of turning away the prospective tenants that are based on the discriminatory reason, landlords, brokers as well as housing experts practice the subtle types of discrimination called “steering.” This term generally refers to when somebody tries and limits the renter’s housing options by guiding and encouraging person to look somewhere else, based on the protected characteristic. It is very disappointing while your housing options are limited by the low turnover as well as vacancy rates, and by the slim supply of the apartments in your region. However, the apartment hunters that experience the illegal steering face extra hurdles in form of the unfair and artificial restrictions.

Learn to Identify the Illegal Steering

Housing regulations identify 4 main kinds of the illegal steering practices. Prior to starting your search for an apartment, it is good to be educated about steering so that you may spot this and take some action.

Discouraging you to rent at the building

Instead of saying “We cannot rent to the [insert ethnicity here] people” or else “No kids permitted,” some landlords also claim having the nondiscriminatory plans but indirectly try and encourage the prospective tenants for looking elsewhere based on the discriminatory reasons.

Even less directly, the landlord might purposely leave out details that would encourage you to consider renting at the facility. For instance, if the apartment building has the amenities like swimming pool, fitness center or roof deck and your landlord and broker is not mentioning them, then it could be a potential red flag you are steered.

Other steering tactics can be summarized as the “its not you its them” technique – ie. “it’s not the building, it is the tenants.” Under this case, the landlord can try and discourage you from renting because he thinks you will not be the good fit with other tenants. In this case, press for additional details and examples to be sure you are not being steered.

Reason can be valid

For instance, you might have told the landlord or else broker you are searching for peace & quiet and he may honestly allow you know that lots of tenants love to hold the loud parties and that walls are thin and he has gotten many complaints about the noise. But in case, you hear landlord say, ” I do not think other tenants may like this fact you have children,” then you know it is illegal steering, and in this case it is based on the familial status. Though it is the less obvious type of the discrimination, this kind of steering practice leads to the flat out discrimination.

Apartment

Apartment Communitiy Amenities – What to Look For

March 26, 2012 Jonathan Clark

What Amenities to Search For?

Rental apartment amenities will turn the ordinary home in your dream house, this it is very good idea thinking about what you want, what you may live without and what you desire?

Some of the luxury apartment rentals generally come with the dryer and washer in every unit, and some have the small laundry room on every floor. The more common apartment facilities in this category are communal laundry room, accessible for all building’s residents, generally situated in basement. Obviously, for the people who will prefer paying somebody else to wash the clothes, having the Laundromat right close by that does laundry by pound is better apartment facility.

The rental apartment amenities, which have got standard in the contemporary and luxury residential tower, in the apartment itself & within building as the whole comprise of residents gyms, pet spas, pools as well as fitness centers; valet & concierge services; 24hour attended garages; party rooms, roof decks, as well as in building play areas; gourmet kitchens loaded with appliances, which includes microwave, dishwasher, and, at times, high end espresso makers; oversized soundproof windows; street level bicycle rooms; convenient, high powered showers and marble bathrooms; individual terraces and balconies; list continues.

In order, to avoid any potential pitfalls while looking for the apartment, it is the good idea coming to the apartment showings early & scout out block for the possible late night and morning noise makers:

Is there the fire station on block or around a corner?
Is there a nightclub or bar close by?

These might be noise if the apartment faces towards the street. In case, you have kids, ensure that you confirm with Board of Education that the public school is in a catchment area for the specific address. State of building’s common areas—lobby, elevator, stairwells, hallways as well as building’s exterior, which includes the sidewalk or courtyards and is generally the good indicator as to effectiveness & responsiveness of building’s superintendent, no matter whether she or he lives on the premises or not, and building manager’s commitment for maintaining the property.

You must presume that interior of any rental apartment itself is very clean as well as in the good repair; they have motivation and time to get this in shape prior to showing. Common areas, but, at times more rightly reflect what you may expect from the day to day living in the building. Many renters want the apartment amenities as well as on site community features, which complement the summer lifestyle. Half of the renter respondents said that they entertain themselves by seeing films movies and surfing on Internet whereas 20 percent enjoy the cookouts with friends and family. Given these famous summer pastimes, it must come as the no surprise that five apartment amenities renters that treasure the most during the year are:

Balcony, Patio, Deck, Porch and Yard
Air Conditioning
On Site Swimming Pool
Internet Access
In Unit Dryer and Washer

Moving

When Is the Best Season to Sell Your House?

March 24, 2012 Jonathan Clark

When to sell your house?

Have you decided to sell your house? To get the best possible price for your house you must sell it at the right time. It is impossible even for professionals to predict market trends accurately but often real estate markets have certain seasons when sales are at their peaks. Putting your house for sale at the right time can be crucial also because you do not want to keep your house in the market for too long without being sold. People tend to suspect something is wrong if the house remains on the market too long and your potential offers may come in lower than expected. Agents’ interests too will wear with time.

What is the best season to sell?

Summer and spring are usually considered to be the best seasons for selling your house and winter the worst. But putting up your house for sale in winter time has its advantages. You have much less competition. You can play up the decorations you may have made for Christmas or New Year and get a high price from the buyer. It is also a good time to close the deal in a short time as buyer would want to close the deal before the New Year.Seasonal trends also sometimes vary from place to place depending, sometimes, on climatic conditions. If you live in a temperate area then weather may not influence. The rule of thumb is that the best season to sell your house is when you have maximum number of buyers available in the market. Consult your local real estate agent for how the market trends have been in the past few years and what he expects this year to be the best time for selling your house.

What is the economic impact?

Keep track of current economic trends. Be on the lookout for any economic slowdowns. If property rates are going down fast too many sellers may try to sell their house as early as possible. This can cause the market price of your house to go down.

If there are any construction projects being carried out by municipality or is planning to carry out, better sell your house after these projects are finished. Buyers’ agent would most likely know about this too and getting a good price for your house may be difficult.

Moving

Moving with Kids? Consider the Affects

February 21, 2012 Jonathan Clark

Due to school holidays, and many clubs also having a summer break, the summer vacation period is a popular time for moving to a new area. It is often an extremely busy time for state to state moving companies. Of course, there are always concerns with a move. As well as the practical aspects of packing up your old home and moving to a new one, there are things such as helping the children to adapt to their new surroundings and preparing them for starting at a new school which also need to be addressed. Some kids may find this an easy period, while others may find it more challenging. Following, you will find some tips to make the transition to a new residence and a new place of study less stressful for you and your children.

Building Excitement

Getting your kids worked up and excited, in a good way, about the move to a new school can be one of the best ways to deal with the changes that are coming. Buying new school supplies is always a good start when moving to a new school, especially since most classrooms vary a bit as to what they want your children to have. Some of these things are necessary purchases; but if you generate some excitement by turning it into a shopping spree, it may well rub off on the kids. Buying a brand new backpack, some new pencils, and perhaps some new clothes will help them feel more confident when heading off to a new school even if they are worried.

Get Familiar

Another good idea can be to get with the school or school officials to plan a day to take the kids for a tour before they start. This is not usually a problem for the school, and can be very beneficial, as the children will have a head start on their first day feeling more comfortable with their new surroundings. If it is possible, organize this tour before the school year starts. Make sure that you consider the need for this tour, as to build some familiarity with the place before your children begin attending classes there, when you are setting up your moving schedule.

Be There and Communicate

Finally, and probably most importantly, let your kids know that you are there for them to confide in if they have any issues with the move. It can be very daunting, even overwhelming for children, to move not only to a new city and a new home, but to a whole new school environment as well. As the parent, you can smooth the way for them as much as possible by taking steps to put their minds at rest and assist them with all the adjustments they will need to make. In this way, they will hopefully settle in to their new environment quickly and with as little stress as possible.

Interior Decorating

How To Create The Illusion Of A Larger Room With Mirrors

February 17, 2012 Jonathan Clark

Small spaces can be tricky, so much so that there are monthly publications devoted to living well with minimum elbow room. So what can you do to create the illusion of space without knocking down walls?

What Size Mirror To Choose

Mirrors can be the focal point of the room or a decorative element. Choosing an oval, antique framed mirror hanging on its own will have a more dramatic effect than a rectangular one placed above a table displaying a vase of flowers. A mirror above or opposite the dining room table may prove too distracting, however, several long or square mirrors in a hallway can create the illusion of width.

Using Multiple Smaller Mirrors

Many home decorating stores, warehouses and chains sell decorative mirrors in packs of multiples, so repeating mirrors can do wonders for a wall with adequate room. Try a pack of four squares and arrange into a larger square. Avoid geometric shapes that are too varied or mirrored surfaces such as tabletops, which can make a room look dated.

Brighten Up Dark Or Unsightly Walls

Exposed brick can feel cold and dark colors can swallow the room. Play up the contrast by hanging a mirror to reflect some light off the surface and give the corner balance by placing light-colored potted flowers, like lilies or an orchid, on a small in front of it.

Using The Space You Have More Efficiently

If you’re short on space, make doors do double duty by placing a mirror on the closet frame or on the back of the bedroom door. Mirrored cabinet units can work if they take up just a portion of the shelf space and don’t overwhelm with a full wall’s worth of reflection.

Thinking About Making A Statement Instead Of Being Functional

Use mirrors as art pieces. Have a few mismatched mirrors or inherited frames? Place them in the same room or group on a wall to showcase them as art. Standing vanity mirrors can also find an appropriate spot if they’re ornate enough to stand with a small bowl of flowers or candles.

Where To Find Mirrors

You can find mirrors at home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s but for mirrors with a more decorative touch, look at stores like T.J. Maxx, Marshall’s, and Home Goods.

There you’ll be able to find mirrors that are less utilitarian and more stylish. You’re also more likely to find multiple mirror package deals. I recently picked up a three pack of stylish mirrors from Home Goods for just $30. We used one in the bathroom for over the sink and the other two in the hall just outside to tie the two spaces together.

You can get more home improvement or interior design ideas from this author at his website. Discover granite veneer countertops as an affordable alternative to granite or find out how to locate the best dishwasher sales that are happening right now.

Staging

Making a Home Attractive to Prospective Buyers

February 15, 2012 Jonathan Clark

If you are planning to put your home on the market, realtors will often suggest staging your home. What this means generally is making it clutter free and removing any “distractions”. You want buyers to be able to picture their things in the home.

Remember- they are looking to buy THEIR home, not yours.

Don’t strip it bare

It is not necessary to “move out”. You are, after all, still living in it. Most furniture should stay, unless it makes a room crowded. Too many dining room or kitchen chairs will make the rooms look crowded. Unless you need them all for day to day living, plan on removing the extras.

Determining what to eliminate

A table, filled with framed pictures, in the living room is a comfort to you, but a distraction to shoppers. Reduce it to one or two, or replace them all with one or two current magazines.

Cluttered, jam packed closets are not attractive either. Determine what clothes you can do without for the next several months and neatly box them up. Remember to thin out all closets (bedrooms, hall, etc.)

If you are a collector of nic-nacs and have them lining the tops of kitchen cabinets, go ahead and box them up, too. You and they will survive and you will already have them packed for the move.

The garage is another culprit of buyer turn-offs. You want buyers to picture their car in the garage. So, all of the items that accumulate and end up in the garage have to be relocated….box them up. If there is shelving in the garage, thin out what is on them so it doesn’t look overloaded. If there are bicycles stored in the garage, either remove them or make sure they are in working order and clean. You don’t want the garage to appear as a junk holder.

If the patio furniture is well-weathered, now is a good time to remove them or replace them.

Where it all goes

All of the items you eliminate to un-clutter your home can be temporarily stored at a self storage facility. They offer a wide selection of sizes so you can rent one by the month to store these items until moving day. You’ll also find moving easier if a lot is out of the way for the initial move. The managers at the storage facility can help assist you in determining the right size for your needs.

Climate controlled storage

Many self storage locations offer units that are climate controlled. They are heated in the winter and air conditioned in the summer. It would be like your items never left home.

How to move all of these things to storage?

There are some storage locations that offer a free move-in truck as part of their leasing promotions. It pays to do a little homework ahead of time.

Evaluate Your New Home’s Efficiency

The Furnace

The Windows

The Roof

Be Suspicious

What to Consider When Choosing a Home Builder

Check With The Better Business Bureau

Read The Online Forums

Ask Around

Interview The Builders

Steps in Building a Wooden Deck

Your First Purchases For Your New Home

Door Knobs

Window Treatments

Appliances

Floor Coverings

Lawn And Snow Removal Equipment

Tools

Illegal Steering

Learn to Identify the Illegal Steering

Discouraging you to rent at the building

Reason can be valid

What Amenities to Search For?

When to sell your house?

What is the best season to sell?

What is the economic impact?

Building Excitement

Get Familiar

Be There and Communicate

What Size Mirror To Choose

Using Multiple Smaller Mirrors

Brighten Up Dark Or Unsightly Walls

Using The Space You Have More Efficiently

Thinking About Making A Statement Instead Of Being Functional

Where To Find Mirrors

Don’t strip it bare

Determining what to eliminate

Where it all goes

Climate controlled storage

How to move all of these things to storage?

Information and Reviews of California Apartments