Just Announced Panera Bread coming to the Town Center.  Also just recently is At&T and Sakura Japanese already in the Town Center. I have never tried Sakua but I want to.  My wife is looking forward to Panera Bread.

January 31, 2009

When to Hire a Pro to prune Trees

I think the most important item for yard care is to prune your trees annually for many reason. I think branches or tree can cause injury to people and structures.

House threats: Wood density varies, but as a guide assume a cubic foot weighs 50 pounds.  Additional branches and leaves on a limb only add to the weight.  Call a landscaper or tree care professional that has experience bringing down, threatening limbs or even the tree.

Wire threats: If you do cut prune yourself make sure no aluminum ladder or pruning poles because they conduct electricity. Some utilities company will prune the tree themselves by wires.

Here is a couple of website you should check out. Wwwisa-arbor.com, asca-consulants.org, natlarb.com

Ben Bahrami

Dickson Podley Realtors

www.BenBahrami.com

How to find a good refrigerator

Now a day spending $1500 or even $500 can be a little scary, especially if you don’t know much about refrigerators.  Another thing my dad found which I love is the refrigerator is on the top and the freeze on the bottom. It did cost $50 or $100 more but it was worth it.  Do you open the refrigerator and the freezer more?

My father was buying a refrigerator last year so I was helping do some research.  One of the things he found after buying the refrigerator is that is electric bill went way down.  I believe in 5 years he can save the money he spent on the new refrigerator.

Consider energy efficiency: Replacing an old refrigerator can save you a lot of money on your electric bill like my father. Top and bottom refrigerators are more efficient then side-by-side.

Know the trends: You can get spill proof, slide out, and more in mid range or even low priced refrigerator. Stainless-steel doors are stylish but add money.

Beware of Claims: Today’s higher energy costs have put energy and space efficiency on many shopping lists.  Check on measurement because manufacturers tend to inflate their interior capacity claims by measuring every nook and cranny.

Max your space: Top and bottom-freezer give you more space then a side by side. Look for adjusting shelves, pull out shelves.

Weigh up repairs: An ice maker and ice-and-water dispenser increase the fridge will need to repair. Build-ins appears to have had higher repair rates then freestanding models.

Ben Bahrami

Dickson Podley Realtors

846 Foothill Blvd

La Canada, CA 91011

www.BenBahrami.com

How can you save money now a day on cooling?

One of the most important things you can do is to replace an old air conditioner unit with a new one.  Replacing a 15 year old unit with a new higher efficiency unit will save you about 20%.

How to stretch your unit’s life

Central air system:

Automatic Thermostat: don’t run the air on all day if you are not there.  Set it to start an hour before you come home.

Seal and insulate Ducts: 30-40 percent of the cool air can be lost or heat can get in your uninsulated ducts.

Clear the condenser coil of obstructions. Anything that impedes airflow makes the unit work harder and will likely break easer

Check out energystar.gov

Ben Bahrami

Dickson Podley Realtors

846 Foothill Blvd

La Canada, CA 91011

www.BenBahrami.com

Everyone asks me which browser should I use for internet.  I thought I had to use the one the DSL company gave me.  That is not true at all.  I like Mozilla Firefox the best.

1. Less hassle to use/easy to use

2.Tabs, you can controll multiple windows.

3. You can edit the top toolbars, so you can take things off/on

4. the downlad window is handy

5.It looks nice and inturtive

I do tell people if they know Internet Exploer stict with that browser, but I think everyone should use Mozilla Firefox

La Canada Caravan

On Caravan today I walked in a home today and was shocked how it showed.  It was dark and gloomy.  I wanted to get out of that house as quick as possible.  When I talked to the agent, she had no idea want I was talking about.  I told open some blinds, get some sunlight in the house, and turn the lights on.  It was a great home: Good floor plan, great area, great back yard, but the house was so dark. 

Here are some simple ideas

Let in the sunshine: Window are the best, open the drapes up. Also hang rods above the window frame to make windows appear longer

Lighten up: Light colors or natural colors make the room more spacious.

Get centered: group your future together, instead of by the walls. 

Reflect on your style: add a mirror can increase light and open small spaces.

Keep your room clutter-free: don’t put so much stuff in a single room. Organize get rid of anything that you don’t need.

Has anyone else had this problem before?

La Crescenta and Montrose Market Update

January 27, 2009

Everyone is asking me "hows the market" There are 4 new listing in the last 7 days in La Crescenta and Montrose area. Only 1 home sold in the last 7 days.   This year 9 homes sold.  So homes are Selling in the area.  People are still getting loans in the area.

La Canada Market Update

Januruary 27, 2009

Today we had the best carvan Ive seen for a long time. 2 great home above 3 million came on the market.  The last 7 days 5 new properties came on the market.  I think in a month or two the market will have more homes on the market.  So we will have more inventory.  Also the prices in La Canada are high on some of the inventory.  Sellers are being a little gritty on there homes.

Deals

How many of you love getting a great deal on things you buy.  People around the united states find deals and then post them on these websites.  It has every kind of deal clothes, GPS, TVs, Computers, coupons and much more.

bensbargins.net

slickdeals.net

fatwallet.com

Woot has one item for a great price per day.  They sell one item every day till they run out of stock.  Starting at midnight. When there is a great price on something the sell very quickly.

woot.com

 I love these two websites.  They are my favorite site.  I usually check them out at least once a day.

Give me some feedback what you think of the sites.  I personal love them. Also my friend use them all the time.

Here are the recently Solds in La Crescenta.

La Crescenta

November 27, 2008 –January 19, 2009

Address                         Bdr/Bath              DOM      Sq. Ft.  Price           Closed

3117 Montrose Ave.                2 Bed, 1 Bath               44                    970      $374,000         01/06/09

3707 Danny St.                        2 Bed, 1 Bath               135                  1098    $397,000         12/24/08

3163 Orange Ave.                    3 Bed, 2 Bath               187                  1400    $460,000         11/28/08

2834 Los Olivos Ln.                 3 Bed, 1 Bath               137                  1259    $475,000         12/18/08

2926 Adams St.                       3 Bed, 2 Bath               101                  1321    $510,000         11/18/08

2857 Stevens St.                      4 Bed, 2 Bath               57                    1575    $605,000         12/05/08

5139 Frederick Ave.                3 Bed, 2 Bath               21                    1588    $621,000         12/12/08

2520 Los Amigos St.                4 Bed, 2 Bath               36                    1945    $625,000         12/30/08

2424 Fairmount Ave.                4 Bed, 2 Bath               71                    1830    $650,000         12/31/08

3521 Fairesta St.                      3 Bed, 2 Bath               125                  1659    $659,000         12/19/08

2748 Henrietta Ave.                 3 Bed, 2 Bath               342                  1691    $682,000         01/05/09

2446 Frances Ave.                   3 Bed, 2 Bath               48                    1456    $699,000         01/05/09

2516 Kemper Ave.                  2 Bed, 2 Bath               56                    1540    $700,000         01/15/09

2609 Pinelawn Dr.                    3 Bed, 2 Bath               72                    1880    $759,000         12/11/08

3013 Gertrude Ave.                 3 Bed, 3 Bath               54                    1530    $770,000         12/18/08

4563 Briggs Ave.                     4 Bed, 3 Bath               50                    2636    $815,000         01/09/09

2316 Pickens Canyon Rd.        4 Bed, 4 Bath               91                    3147    $850,000         12/11/08

5047 Humphrey Way               5 Bed, 4 Bath               64                    3480    $1,225,000      12/31/08

2427 Whittier Dr.                     5 Bed, 5 Bath               334                  4586    $1,500,000      12/19/08

Average                             145         1905 $685,500