eureka: Planning a new property fence?
- 01/02/12 10:06 PM
If a new property fence or replacement of an existing property fence is in your plans this spring, use caution if you are going to be placing or replacing a fence near or around utility poles and utility cabinets. Public utilities depend on being able to find and access utility poles and cabinets in an emergency. If you obstruct their access with a property fence you may have a big surprise. In an emergency, utility companies will not wait for access to their right of way they will create it. If a fence is in their way and the gate is locked and it … (16 comments)
eureka: A kitchen remodel suggestion
- 01/02/12 09:49 PM
If you will be replacing the drywall during your DYI kitchen remodel, don't forget to add additional studs to the wall to properly support your new cabinets. Check the cabinet installation instructions and add 'studs' to make the cabinet installation easier. Once you complete the framing work, take clear photos of their location and "map" the location of the studs on a drawing. Or use 'story boards' to refer to as you place the upper cabinets. The additional studs and the knowledge of their location will make hanging your new cabinets a breeze! Additional framing is not a big expense! It is inexpensive insurance that … (4 comments)
eureka: Making plans to have your home 'On the Market'
- 01/02/12 09:42 PM
If you will be placing your home on the market for sale in the near future; Be Prepared! Your home will have to be prepared to sell. That means cleaning, packing, moving items to a storage area, having a yard sale etc. The home will have to be maintained while it is on the market. It will need to be 100% at all times and you will want to allow showings of your home on short notice. Once an offer is received you will need to continue to maintain the home while the inspections are completed. That means until the day … (3 comments)
eureka: If your 'listing price' is too high, buyers will know
- 01/02/12 09:15 PM
"Why is the price so high"? This is a question I am asked by buyers after they have viewed a home. In some cases the home interests them and they might consider writing an offer. The problem is they have also viewed other similar homes that are priced lower, in some cases considerably lower. How would you as a 'homeowner' answer that question? If you will be listing your home for sale on the market, start working with your listing agent early to determine the current market value of your home. You may want to drive by homes that have recently sold, you may … (3 comments)
eureka: Taking your 'plants' when you sell? Put them in pots now.
- 01/02/12 08:40 PM
If you will be selling your home in the near future, fall is an excellent time to transplant plants or shrubs you will be taking with you. Replant them in pots or planters. And do it now, before you list your home for sale! By transplanting the plants and shrubs into pots and planters now you will avoid any confusion with the buyer of the fact that they are not included in the sale of your home. You will also save your agent from the additional paperwork necessary to disclose that fact. Transplanting them now will also allow you time to … (5 comments)
eureka: Is your 're-model' contractor 'reputable'?
- 01/02/12 08:35 PM
If you are currently negotiating with a contractor for a re-model of your home or will be in the near future; one indication that your contractor is reputable and their estimate will be accurate is a visit by their plumber and electrical before the final estimate is presented to you for review. This visit by the plumber and electrician will be annoying at the least! Both will want access to your attic, the crawl space under the home, in an older home the electrician may want to open outlets and ceiling fixtures in rooms not included in the project. The reason? To accurately … (0 comments)
eureka: Replacing windows in older Eureka, California Homes
- 01/02/12 08:29 PM
If your plans include a window replacement in the near future, here are some items to consider when you do the window replacement. 1. Most window replacements are done in 'older' homes. These 'older' home may have other problems that should be addressed. 2. Is there insulation in the wall cavities? Would removing and replacing drywall allow you to insulate the wall? 3. If you do chose to remove drywall, what does the electrical service look like? Should you add outlets, should you replace two wire circuits with 'grounded' three wire? 4. Is there plumbing in the wall. Does it … (4 comments)
eureka: Does the seller have the plans for their deck?
- 01/02/12 12:23 PM
If the home you are considering purchasing has a deck, that is more than 18 inches off the ground, ask for a copy of the plans for the deck in your offer. The reason; decks could be a safety issue, the higher off the ground the deck is located, the higher the possibility of injury in the event of failure. Deck Inspections are challenging, knowing that the plans were approved is important, knowing that a second story deck was designed by a qualified engineer is very critical. In addition, the plans will provide information on the types of fasteners and connectors used … (4 comments)
eureka: The entrance to your 'crawl space'
- 01/02/12 09:26 AM
The entrance to the area under your home is very important and should not be concealed! An exterior entrance needs to be in plain sight, clear of trash, weeds etc. and securely covered. The cover needs to be tight but easy to remove in an emergency. If the cover is loose or the entrance is left uncovered animals will enter and you do not want to deal with skunks etc. under the house. The area around the entrance needs to be free of any objects that make entry difficult. Workers need plenty of room to enter, have tools available, run … (6 comments)
eureka: Thinking about an addition to your home? A 'site survey' is where to start.
- 01/02/12 08:18 AM
Are you considering an addition to your home? Will you be doing it yourself or planning it yourself? If so the first place to start is with a site survey. You will need to know where any utility lies are buried. In addition, if you have a water well you will want to know where the water line is located. The first thing to do is mark off the area the addition will be located in and get call for locates of all the public utilities. They may need to be relocated before you start construction. If you have a water … (6 comments)
eureka: Small Dances in Small Spaces at the Redwood Curtain Theater in Eureka, Humboldt County, California
- 12/31/11 04:53 PM
BIG North West Dance Group and the Ink People’s Center for the Arts present, Small Dances in Small Spaces, a collaboration by a clutch of local contemporary dance artists, pushing the boundaries between dance, theater and community at the Redwood Curtain Theater in Eureka on Friday, January 6th, 2012 at 8:00 PM . BIG North West Dance Group is a new project of the Ink People’s DreamMaker Program, committed to the creation and performance of concert dance in Humboldt County by supporting the development of new work by independent choreographers and small companies. BIG NWD has brought together members of the … (7 comments)
eureka: "Arts! Arcata" in Arcata, Humboldt County, California January 13, 2012
- 12/30/11 12:59 AM
The free, self-guided, public art phenomenon known as "Arts! Arcata" brings together art lovers and community friends to the ever-growing downtown area of Arcata. With exciting and unique offerings around every corner, the city of Arcata in concert with Arcata Main Street celebrates the arts each and every month on the 2nd Friday. "Arts! Arcata" transforms downtown Arcata into an arts district, featuring the work of more than 60 visual artists and live musicians at 30 participating locations. The event is free to the public and has become a much-anticipated monthly event drawing visitors from all over the county. … (6 comments)
eureka: Christ Church Concert Series Presents Organist Christoph Bull in Eureka, California
- 12/28/11 11:01 PM
Christ Church Concert Series Presents Organist Christoph Bull on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 7:30 PM. Christoph Bull hails from Mannheim, Germany and has been University Organist and organ professor at the University of California, Los Angeles since 2002. He is also Principal Organist at First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica, California. "Christopher Bull likes organ music, rock music and rocking organ music". "He plays classical organ music with a rock musician's sense of rythem and a jazz musician's sense of improvisation". Christoph will be performing on the new Charles Kegg organ recently installed at Christ Episcopal Church. The Church … (7 comments)
eureka: World Healing Day Service, Eureka, Humboldt County, California
- 12/27/11 10:49 PM
The annual World Healing Day Service will be held in Eureka, Humboldt County, California on Saturday, December 31, 2011, beginning at 4:00 a.m. (12 noon Greenwich Mean Time) and ending at 5:00 a.m. It will take place at the First Congregational Church at Hodgson and J Streets, Eureka, California 95501. This Meditation service featuring prayer for peace from the Native American, Jewish, Christian, Ba’Hai and Science of Mind communities. Juice and muffins will be offered at the conclusion of the service. There is no fee to attend this service. For additional information on this world wide event, please … (8 comments)
eureka: "Arts Alive"! Old Town Eureka, Humboldt County, California
- 12/26/11 11:28 PM
"Arts Alive"! Old Town Eureka, Humboldt County, California. Saturday, January 7th, 2012 from 6 until 9 PM. This is a monthly celebration that includes food, music and incredible art. If you will be in the Eureka area or if you have never attended "Arts Alive", stop by 'Old Town" and enjoy all the community has to offer. All the shops will be open, great entertainment and the opportunity to view local art work. A wonderful location to take a walking tour and the weather will be mild and warm. Old Town is located to the west of Highway 101, follow the … (9 comments)
eureka: Older Homes and Outlet Testers in Humboldt County, California
- 12/26/11 01:48 PM
"Outlet Testers" that you purchase in a hardware store for $10.00 or less are great to determine if an outlet is wired correctly, if your home and wiring are recent. They are not meant to determine the quality of a ground. Be careful when using one in an older home! In the 1950's and 60's electricians would run a separate 20 gage bare copper wire to tie all the outlets together. Sort of a ground but not really! This is different than a 12 gage or 14 gage ground wire that is present in modern Romex used to wire homes. In … (8 comments)
eureka: Thinking of selling? Think about what appliances you will leave.
- 12/26/11 01:08 PM
Before listing your home for sale, one important decision needs to be made concerning what appliances will stay with the home. It goes without saying that 'built in appliances' like dishwashers and trash compactors will remain with the home. A little input on that subject: 1. Do not leave 'old' appliances that have are near the end of their useful life. They will just become a problem for the buyers. 2. Do not expect 'included appliances' to increase the value of your home. 3. Do not let a request for an appliance to be included become a 'deal killer'. If the price … (6 comments)
eureka: You may want to finance the purchase of your home.
- 12/26/11 12:39 PM
If you will be placing your home on the market in the near future and it is not in 'perfect' condition, you may want to consider financing the purchase for the buyer. An 'owner-carry'. Providing owner financing for a period of three years would give the buyer the time to make necessary repairs that would be required for a conventional loan. You would want a significant down payment from the buyer to provide owner financing. You would receive interest on the financing you provide. You would be the first to receive any home owners insurance payment in the event of damage … (8 comments)
eureka: 'Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption', do you qualify?
- 12/26/11 12:20 PM
Are you aware of the 'Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption'? In Humboldt County, California and most counties in California there is a Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption. A veteran who is rated 100% disabled due to a service-connected disability or the unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran may be eligible for an exemption of up to $175,269.00 off the "assessed" value of their home. In many cases in this county, due to proposition 13, the disabled vet or there unmarried surviving spouse may not own any property taxes. An application is required, contact the Assessors Office for additional information and the … (3 comments)
eureka: A "Supplemental Assessment", of your property taxes?
- 12/26/11 12:00 PM
What is a "Supplemental Assessment" of your property taxes in Humboldt County, California? In the case of change in ownership of a property or a new addition to a home the Assessors Office will reassess the property and issue a "Supplemental Assessment". That ‘Supplemental Assessment' will reflect the difference between the prior assessed value and the new assessed value. The value is then prorated based on the number of months remaining in the fiscal year ending June 30. This ‘supplemental' is in addition to the regular tax bill you receive. To appeal a ‘supplemental assessment', an application must be filed with the … (0 comments)
If a new property fence or replacement of an existing property fence is in your plans this spring, use caution if you are going to be placing or replacing a fence near or around utility poles and utility cabinets. 
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