Quick Fixes to Common Home Problems

Owning a home can be wonderful, but sometimes the amount of repairs required, big and small, can begin to feel overwhelming. While there are many household problems that should be fixed by a professional—think plumbing and electrical work—there are other, less prominent problems that you can solve on your own!

Problem:
Countertop scuff

Solution:
You’ll need a crayon, a spatula knife, and a microwave-safe bowl

1. Pick the Crayon whose color comes closest to matching your countertop. Peel off the paper and place it in the bowl. 
2. Pop the crayon and bowl in the microwave. 
3. Pour the hot, melted crayon onto the scuff mark and work it into the indentation with the spatula knife. 
4. Scrape off the excess with the spatula knife.

The Crayon mixture will harden and dry quickly, erasing your countertop flaw. 

Problem:
Loose cabinet hinge

Solution: 
You’ll need wooden matches, wood glue, and a hammer

1. Remove the cabinet hinge screw. 
2. Dab wood glue on a match and stick it into the screw holes. 
3. Tap it in with the hammer. 
4. Break off the match part that’s sticking out. 
5. Let the glue dry for about 4 hours. 
6. Twist the screw back into place. The match piece will create a new solid base for the screw.

Problem: 
Squeaky floor

Solution:
You’ll need talcum powder

1. Sprinkle the powder over the squeaky section and sweep it into the cracks. 

Problem: 
Stained bathtub

Solution:
You’ll need cream of tartar, baking soda, lemon juice, and a soft cloth

1. Combine equal amounts of cream of tartar and baking soda with enough lemon juice to make a paste. 
2. Rub the mixture into the stain with your fingers or a soft cloth. 
3. Let sit for a half hour, then rinse well with water.

Problem:
A stripped screw

Solution:
You’ll need a hacksaw

1. -Use the hacksaw to cut into the top of the stripped screw to create a new groove for the screwdriver.

Voila, your screw is back to new!

Problem: 
Drywall hole

Solution:
You’ll need wire screen, a pencil, a joint knife, masking tape, sandpaper, and drywall compound

1. Cut the wire screen 2 inches larger than the hole. 
2. Tie one end of the string to the pencil and thread the other end through the middle of the screen—then bend the screen, and insert it and the pencil into the hole. 
3. Pull the string until the screen is flat against the hole (the pencil helps push the screen flat against the drywall) and hold it taut while you apply the drywall compound.
4. Tape the string to the wall to hold the screen in place as the compound dries. 
5. Cut the string when dry. 
6. Sand and smooth compound with joint knife. 

Problem:
Torn window screen

Solution:
You’ll need clear nail polish

1. Slather nail polish over the hole in the screen, both inside and outside. Let it dry and no more bugs will sneak in!

Looking for a new home? If you or a friend or relative is looking for a new home, have them contact me. I can help you sell your current home and find the perfect new home. Complete the Client Registration form to receive daily listings by email that match your specific search criteria.

Creating a Pet-Friendly Home

A pet-friendly home is not just a fun and safe space for your pet, but also a space that can stand up to...the kinds of things pets do to houses. Making pet-friendly choices in landscaping, design and the materials you use will ensure that both you and your pet can enjoy your shared space together.

Opt for durable flooring

Even if your pet is perfectly well house-trained, they're bound to have an accident or two. Choose a flooring material that's easy to clean and won't be damaged by accidents. Linoleum cleans easily and is naturally anti-microbial. Bamboo, cork, tile, and stone are also good picks. If you want carpet, try a modular kind, made of separate carpet squares. Buy back-up squares so if a section gets ruined, you can pop it out and replace it. Avoid wood and laminate floors. Wood is easily scratched and damaged by water and slippery laminate can cause injuries. 

Choose pet-friendly materials and décor

Opt for satin paint instead of flat paint on walls. A glossier finish won't show stains as prominently and wipes clean. Chose low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, especially if your pet bites or licks walls. Match the colors of throw rugs, upholstery, and other décor to your pet's fur color to give yourself a little more leeway in how frequently you'll be vacuuming and de-furring the furniture. Set up a feeding area in a spot where you won't be accidentally kicking over the water bowl. Find a nearby place to store dog food, ideally in a sealed container, like a plastic bin or a metal garbage can with a lid. 

Protect furniture

Choose upholstered pieces covered in tough, easily-cleaned fabrics like leather or ultrasuede. Consider washable slipcovers, throws to protect furniture, or extra-durable fabric designed especially for pet owners. Keep pets from chewing furniture by spraying with store-bought, anti-chewing spray or applying a bit of cayenne pepper to their favorite biting spots. If you need to keep a pet out of a particular area, put up baby gates and provide the pet with plenty of sturdy toys for diversion. Set up a special bed or blanket so your pet has a comfortable, cushiony place of his own.

Eliminate dangers around the house

Walk around your house and assess possible pet hazards. Move chemicals and cleaning materials to high shelves or locked cabinets. Make sure trash cans are safely secured so pets don't get into something that could be harmful to them. (Many common household articles are toxic to pets including: coffee grounds, onions, grapes, and even nutmeg.) Latch lower cabinets with child locks if necessary and keep curtain and electrical cords out of pet reach. Put screens in upper level windows and make sure they're intact and securely attached. Keep toilet lids closed and avoid automatic bowl cleaners. Wipe up spills in the driveway and garage immediately so pets don't ingest poisons like antifreeze. Remove any indoor plants that are toxic to pets. You can find a list of toxic and non-toxic plants on the Humane Society's web site (www.humanesociety.org).

Consider a pet door

If you are frequently away from home, consider putting in a pet door. Pet doors can be put in windows, doors, and walls. Smart models recognize your pet electronically and will only open for them, not for other animals. The doors can be controlled remotely and deactivated if you need the pet to stay inside. If you're worried about the resale value of cutting a hole in the wall, consider a model that's built into a glass sliding door. When you sell, you can replace that part of the door with a regular slider.

Create a yard for pets and people to share

Find safe, pet-friendly materials for plants and hardscape. Put in some mint or catnip for cats and a clover ground cover for dogs because it won't yellow with urine. Outdoor cats like places to hide and things to climb and will make good use of trees and bushy areas. Dogs instinctively patrol the perimeter of the property and like running paths that follow the yard's circumference. If your dog has already created a path, embrace it, covering it with mulch and lining with attractive plantings. Make sure your fence is in good condition with no secret ways out (including benches, large rocks, or other items that can serve as pet launching pads). Consider putting in a small eye-level panel in the fence so dog can peek out and keep a watch on things. For safety, keep sharp tools put away, keep compost bins covered, and avoid chemical like fertilizers and pesticides. Make sure plants are non-toxic and avoid plants with thorns. And pets like a lot of the same things humans like, so you'll both be pleased if your yard has a shady spot to cool off and comfy places to sit.

Looking for a new home? If you or a friend or relative is looking for a new home, have them contact me. I can help you sell your current home and find the perfect new home. Complete the Client Registration form to receive daily listings by email that match your specific search criteria.

Top Seller Mistakes

Selling a home involves more than putting up a “For Sale” and waiting for the offers to roll in. But what, exactly, does it take to make the process as simple and successful as possible? The first step is knowing what NOT to do by avoiding the following most common mistakes home sellers make:

---Not choosing the right REALTOR®. 

Common mistakes people make in choosing a REALTOR® include: picking someone based on personal relationships instead of professional credentials, choosing the agent that recommends the highest listing price or choosing the agent with the lowest commission.

--Over-improving the house.

Don't improve the house above the general level of other neighborhood homes and make sure remodels don't end up making the house much pricier than the rest of the neighborhood. Avoid unusual improvements like adding second stories that don't fit in with the neighborhood. 

--Making staging mistakes.

Be ruthless in depersonalizing the house. Repaint atypically colored walls, put in neutral flooring, and put away collections, family photos and other mementos. Be equally ruthless in decluttering the whole house, including storage spaces. Clear out unnecessary furniture, pack away nonessentials, and put items in an off-site storage facility. Do a deep cleaning before showing—hire a cleaning service if necessary. And remember to keep up with maintenance cleaning while the house is being shown.

--Neglecting curb appeal.

Most people won't even come inside to look it they get a negative impression from the street. Give as much attention to staging the outside of the house as you do the inside.

--Not removing evidence of a pet.

It's tough, but keep your pet away during showings. Deep clean carpets, upholstery and wall treatments or replace them entirely. Remove all evidence of fur throughout the whole house. Patch up walls, screens and other spots pets have scratched up. Remove stains and marks from a bathroom or kitchen cat litter box. Clean and deodorize wood floors and, if pet smells persist, strip and revarnish, seal or paint. Getting the airducts cleaned can also help with odor issues. Have a non-pet owner stop by to assess your de-petting success.

--Limiting showings.

Buyers need to be able to see the house so sellers have to be flexible to get the most potential buyers through the door. Some buyers do a sweep of house tours during a specific time period and if a home isn't available, it won't make the schedule.

--Going to showings

Owners who attend showings tend to hover; inhibiting buyers and making them feel uncomfortable. Owner also may find it difficult to hear people talking their homes without taking comments personally and can reject good buyers for emotional reasons.

--Trying to hide problems or failure to make required disclosures. 

Be clear and honest in disclosing all problems. You can still be sued after the sale if problems are later uncovered.

--Not making repairs. 

A house that needs more work becomes less appealing than its competition. If a home needs a major overhaul, it immediately reduces the pool of people willing to look at it. Offering a credit to buyers upon closing to make repairs tends to be less effective than just making the repair beforehand.

--Making mistakes with offers.

Don't ignore early offers. If the house is priced correctly and gets an offer in line with what you're asking, take it. Be ready to act immediately--a house get the most attention and highest offers in the first weeks after it's listed. Also don't blindly accept the highest offer. When all aspects of a contract are considered, the highest bid might not actually be the most advantageous.

--Not trusting the REALTORS® advice. 

You know your home, but a REALTOR® knows how to sell it. Take advantage of their experience and listen to their advice on things like staging, pricing, and repairs.

--Not paying attention to the legal and financial details. 

Even with a REALTOR® onboard, you need to stay involved with the process. Make sure you read contracts, understand offers and know what you are and aren't agreeing to.

--Not getting a house inspection.

Although a buyer will get an inspection too, getting one first ensures you'll be forewarned of any major defects.

--Expecting an unrealistic price.

Pricing mistakes include: pricing too high, not understanding the local market, not heeding a REALTOR®’s advice, setting the price according to money you want or need for another purchase, and not being willing to lower the price when necessary.

--Unwillingness to negotiate.

Like it or not, negotiation will be necessary throughout the entire process on things like what repairs will be made, what fixtures and appliances might stay with the house and the dates when things will happen. Being stubborn will slow the process and can cut into your profits. Failure to negotiate on price, for example, can mean losing a sale during the crucial first weeks when the best offers will come it.

California 2015 Housing Market Forecast

With more available homes on the market for sale, California’s housing market will see fewer investors and a return to traditional home buyers as home sales rise modestly and prices flatten out in 2015, according to the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ (C.A.R.) “2015 California Housing Market Forecast.”

The C.A.R. forecast sees an increase in existing home sales of 5.8 percent next year to reach 402,500 units, up from the projected 2014 sales figure of 380,500 homes sold. Sales in 2014 will be down 8.2 percent from the 414,300 existing, single-family homes sold in 2013.

“Stringent underwriting guidelines and double-digit home price increases over the past two years have significantly impacted housing affordability in California, forcing some buyers to delay their home purchase,” said C.A.R. President Kevin Brown. “However, next year, home price gains will slow, allowing would-be buyers who have been saving for a down payment to be in a better financial position to make a home purchase.”

“Moreover, prospective buyers should know that it's a misperception that a 20 percent down payment is always required to buy a home. There are numerous programs available that allow consumers to buy a home with less down payment, including FHA loans, which lets buyers put down as little as 3.5 percent,” continued Brown.

C.A.R.’s forecast projects growth in the U.S. Gross Domestic Product of 3 percent in 2015, after a projected gain of 2.2 percent in 2014. With nonfarm job growth of 2.2 percent in California, the state’s unemployment rate should decrease to 5.8 percent in 2015 from 6.2 percent in 2014 and 7.4 percent in 2013.
The average for 30-year fixed mortgage interest rates will rise only slightly to 4.5 percent but will still remain at historically low levels.

The California median home price is forecast to increase 5.2 percent to $478,700 in 2015, following a projected 11.8 percent increase in 2014 to $455,000. This is the slowest rate of price appreciation in four years.
“With the U.S. economy expected to grow more robustly than it has in the past five years and housing inventory continuing to improve, California housing sales and prices will see a modest upward trend in 2015,” said C.A.R.

Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “While the Fed will likely end its quantitative easing program by the end of this year, it has had minimal impact on interest rates, which should only inch up slightly and remain low throughout 2015. This should help moderate the decline in housing affordability we saw occur over the past two years.”

“Additionally, the state will continue to see a bifurcated market, with the San Francisco Bay Area outperforming other regions, thanks to a more vigorous job market and tighter housing supply.”

The Best Homemade Eggnog Ever!

I love to cook for the family and mixing homemade concoctions has always been part of the fun. In the past we used to spike store bought eggnog, but it never tasted just right. Then we found my mother's copy of the White House Eggnog. This is definitely a cocktail your holiday guests will remember. Just don't forget to serve this in small glasses!

Ingredients

6 Eggs Separated

1 3/4 Cups Sugar

1/2 Cup White Rum

1 Cup Brandy

1 Cup Bourbon

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

3 Cups Heavy Cream

3 1/2 to 4 Cups Milk

1 Teaspoon Nutmeg

Method

1. Blend just the egg yolks together with the sugar until it is light and fluffy.
2. Stir in the alcohol and the vanilla.
3. Beat the egg whites until they are stiff.
4. Fold the egg whites into the mixture.
5. Pour the mixture into your favorite punch bowl.
6. Sprinkle the nutmeg on top.Refrigerate until the mixture is chilled.

Decorating for the Senses

When starting a new decorating project, the big decisions are mostly about how the results will look. And the visuals of a room or house are important. But another big part of how a space feels to us is how we perceive it with our other senses. Think of how a luxuriously soft throw tossed across a worn leather chair makes a reading spot seem extra appealing or how the background scent of eucalyptus makes a spa seem clean and calming. Keeping all the senses in mind when making decorating choices will create spaces that feel more inviting and are a pleasure to inhabit. Here are some ideas:

Taste
Decorating for the sense of taste is all about implication—creating a space where food is enjoyed and celebrated. Make sure your house facilitates easy, communal eating by assessing your dining spaces. Is your table large enough for extra guests and durable enough to handle inevitable food and drink spills? Do sitting areas have handy spots for people to set drinks upon? Do you have room for an outdoor dining space? Other ideas: create a window sill garden with herbs, tiny hot peppers or tomatoes or a lettuce mix for cutting fresh mesclun. Plant a fruit tree that's visible from the kitchen or living room window. Set a warm pot of fragrant herbal tea on a guest's night table at bedtime. And don't forget the time-tested standby—a bowl full of seasonal fresh fruit.

Smell

When appealing to the sense of smell, subtlety is key. Try incorporating the outdoors by using the fresh scents of nature. Hang a eucalyptus cutting on a shower head to release a fresh, clean scent with every steamy shower. Plant a fragrant bush like honeysuckle, rose, or gardenia under a bedroom window to wake up the scent of flowers wafting in. Put a lavender plant in a bedroom or bathroom. Plant a rosemary shrub by the front door—whenever someone brushes by it, it will release its piney scent. Go seasonal with outdoor scents, bringing pine boughs in during December or fresh flowers in spring. Cedar blocks or shelves in a closet smell pleasantly old-fashioned and keep moths away too. Toss scented pine cones into the fire on wintry nights. Or just open a window and let a fresh breeze drift in.

Sight
Whether your taste is classic, mid-century modern or eclectic, there are certain visual rules that apply for all styles: Create a focal point in each space. Use harmonious colors for calm and high contrast for excitement. Group like things together and display objects in odd numbers. Allow for plenty of clear spaces on table tops and other surfaces for the eye to rest. Use a variety of light sources, including natural lighting and task lighting, and incorporate candlelight and light from a fireplace. For a cost-free makeover, walk through the room looking at everything as though seeing it for the first time. Purge art and objects that no longer suit you and rearrange furniture to engage with the space in a fresh way.

Touch
Engage the sense of touch with contrasts. Contrast crisp sheets with a soft warm comforter and big puffy pillows. Set off the smooth tiles of a bathroom with oversized fluffy towel or drape a luxe silky throw over a modernist chair. Add things that can be touched and look fun to touch, like a worn handmade wooden table, a curvy piece of sculpture, or a nubby throw pillow. Think about what flooring would feel best under your feet—the cool minimalist feel of tile or polished cement or the cushy warmth of carpet with thick padding underneath? When putting in new fixtures like door knobs, faucet handles and light switches, consider their feel. Do they move smoothly? Do they have a nice weight to them and feel good in your hand? Consider investing in luxurious items like heated towel racks, a premium showerhead, heated floors, or a quiet ceiling fan to bring in a cool breeze.

Sound
Appealing to the sense of sound is not only about emphasizing pleasant sounds but de-emphasizing or eliminating unpleasant sounds. The most obvious way to bring sound into a space is with music, but other ways include adding water feature, bamboo wind chimes or even just opening a window to bring in the sounds of the outdoors. Run a fan or white noise machine at night to create a peaceful sleeping space and install double-paned windows to mask traffic noises. Soften the sound of large open rooms with textiles and cork flooring. And don't forget ambient noise: oil squeaky doors, fix rattling appliances, knocking pipes, and creaky stairs.