Prices
Admission: $2. Children under 12 are free.   Parking: Free

Enjoy the "unofficial" end of Summer in Orange County

Susan

Orange County Real Estate

Home repair is always challenging, some days you are fixing it as it breaks and can hardly keep up let alone do preventative maintenance, and then you have to decide what preventative tasks are most important.  In my last post I discussed safety issues, today we are looking at security issues:

•  Electrical outlets: Outlets should be periodically tested to ensure the ground-fault circuits are working.
Security
Addressing security concerns should be another top priority when considering home repairs or upgrade projects. Protecting your home, your family and your possessions often involves investing in your home's indoor and outdoor security.
Some common security-related home repair and upgrade projects include:
•  Windows: Repair any loose or faulty window latches, and carefully check the security on lower level windows that could be accessed from the outside.
•  Doors: That loose exterior door knob is more than a slight nuisance, it also represents a security risk inviting potential burglars into your home. Promptly fix any finicky doorknobs, deadbolts that won't turn or other door security problems.
•  Outdoor lighting: Just as replacing lighting indoors can be a safety measure, making sure your home is adequately lit outdoors adds another layer of security. Exterior security lights, often operating on motion sensors, illuminate the darkness around your home when someone enters the immediate vicinity. Promptly replacing burnt out bulbs in exterior security lights, porch lights, and outdoor walkway lighting helps make your home a less attractive target for would-be thieves.
•  Garage doors: Burglars frequently target garages as a weak point by which to gain entry into the homes they rob. Garage doors that aren't closing properly or unreliable automatic garage door systems represent a significant home security disadvantage. Promptly address garage door problems as soon as they crop up to avoid leaving your home vulnerable.
•  Security systems: Adding even a basic electronic security system can enhance your piece of mind and provide added security to your home. Alarm systems provide a deterring factor, but they also need to be maintained to work effectively.

Until Next Time,

Susan

Homes for sale in Irvine California

When it comes to home maintenance and repair, deciding where to start can be a daunting task. Beyond the "fix-it-after-it-breaks" emergency situations, prioritizing preventative maintenance can be a bit challenging.
When looking at the laundry list of potential home repairs for your house, you'll want to move to the top items that threaten your family's safety and security, and the structure of your home and its critical systems.

Safety First
Potential safety concerns should always be fixed as soon as they are identified. Any problem area in your home that could adversely affect the health or well-being of your family members or pets is not a "to-do" list item that you schedule when time and budget allows.

Some of the most commonly needed "safety" home repairs include:
•  Railings and banisters: Ensure all hardware is securely fastened to the wall or support structures to prevent serious falls. Split or worn railings should be replaced with new hardware.
•  Walkway cracks/uneven walkways: Outdoor footpaths are often overlooked, but cracked or wobbly walkways can easily lead to slip-and-fall injuries.
•  Smoke detectors: Smoke detectors should be tested monthly as part of your home safety plan, and batteries should be replaced semi-annually. Consider adding additional smoke detectors in bedrooms or guest rooms where they do not already exist.
•  Lighting: When lights burn out in walkways and stairwells, move quickly to replace the bulbs to prevent any potential night-time slips or falls.
•  Porch steps: A porch step that falters or feels springy may be on the verge of giving out, potentially leading to a nasty landing. Secure loose steps as soon as the issue is noticed, and repair any stairs that show signs of wear or structural issues. •  Electrical outlets: Outlets should be periodically tested to ensure the ground-fault circuits are working.

In my next post we will explore the "security" items on the list. 

Until Next Time,

Susan

Irvine Real Estate

Last year I installed a reverse-osmosis system in my home. It goes under the sink and purifies water through the use of multiple filters. I love the convenience, and the water tastes great and tested amazingly well against bottled water and tap water.

Recently, I found out that the company (where I purchased the system online) has a program to help those who need clean water but cannot afford these systems. APEC donates several reverse osmosis systems every month to people who are having medical and financial difficulties. According to APEC, "As a small and hardworking company in a tough economy, it is often difficult to dedicate the proper time and resources necessary to finding qualified candidates." That's why they're asking for help. Get the word out, tell your health care provider, and contact the company for more info. No catch. No gimmicks. They just want to provide qualified applicants (lower income with medical conditions) with clean, pure water.

You can write to Free Drinking Water Charity Program, 17085 Green Drive, City of Industry, CA 91745 or call them at (626) 965-3199. Email charity@freedrinkingwater.com or go to their web site for more information www.freedrinkingwater.com/charity.

I hope you know of someone who can benefit from the program. Thanks for passing the word.

Until Next Time,

Susan

Irvine California Real Estate

As we discussed in the last post sometimes you just need a little more space in your home, not a whole new house, or an expensive addition, just a little room. 

One of the most popular "needs" for home owners these days is a home office.  You can create an office nook for about $250. 

You can re-do a corner of a room or change a closet into a home office.   If you working the closet idea you will first want to remove the shelves and hanging pole, then paint the closet.  Think about the walls, maybe you want a light color to add brightness to your work space, or maybe a sea scape scene or clouds.  You can add corkboard to the wall to provide a place to hang pictures, tasks lists, calendars. Another idea to add light to your office nook is to install a "skylight" - research tube lights that can be installed.  (this idea will put you over the $250 budget but may make all the difference in your space)

There are closet kits that provide quick and easy storage with shelves and brackets that attach to tracks which are screwed into wall studs.  Some kits come with solid (not mesh) 30-inch long shelves, and a deeper shelf to use as a desk.  You can add a rolling file cart to store under your desk shelf; or use a hanging file frame and two drawers that attach to the track system.  You can add corkboard to the "back wall" to provide a place to hang pictures, tasks lists, calendars. You can also add baskets or magazine racks to the tracks to provide additional storage. 

Don't forget electrical outlets you will need for your office equipment. 

If you remove the door of the closet to make more space you may want to consider a spring rod and some decorative fabric to "close" the office at the end of the day. 

Until Next Time,

Susan

Homes for Sale in Irvine California

You have a great home in a great community but it has one or two flaws you would like to "fix" and yet not break the bank to do it.  Well, over the next several posts I am going to offer some suggestions on just that topic.  I will cover different rooms or areas of the home and some fun and creative ways you may enhance your home.  

Let's start in the kitchen - cabinets are usually the quickest and least expensive thing to change and give your whole kitchen a new look and feel.  

• You can paint the cabinet faces.  It is important to plan and do the proper prep work to do the job right.  Remove all the faces, clean them; sand them; prime them and paint them with an oil-based or 100% acrylic paint.  Taking the time to do all of these steps are key to a good looking, long lasting result.  HINT: use a paint sprayer (you can rent them) to make the job more consistent and faster.  You can also add glass panes or contrasting colors to come cabinets. 
• Hardware - if you don't have hardware on your cabinets just adding pulls or knobs will give it "dressed up" look. If you have hardware now you can change it for a whole new look.  Go to a local hardware store and plan to spend some time looking at all the options, you will find a LARGE range of prices too. 

Doing these changes yourself can save you hundreds of dollars - a professional will charge more than $500 for one coat of paint on 150 square feet of base and wall-hung cabinets, you can do it for less than $300. 

And you can't put a price on the pride you will feel when you show off your new kitchen that you did yourself!  

Happy "fixing",

Susan

Irvine Real Estate

It doesn't take a full remodel or removing walls to open up space in an otherwise small bathroom. Here are some cost-effective methods for making tiny bathrooms feel a little more spacious: 

Pedestal Sinks
Pedestal sinks are not only stylish - they also eliminate the boxy, space-eating traditional vanities that can close off small bathrooms. Switching from a traditional vanity to a pedestal sink will reduce some storage space in the room, so you may want to install small shelving above the sink or additional towel racks/hooks in the room.

Minimalist Storage
When space is at a premium, you may not have room for a large storage unit or vanity. Keep only what you absolutely need in the bathroom, ideally in a slim vertical storage unit or on built-in shelving. Store non-essentials like extra towels, bathroom cleaning products and other supplies in the nearest closet.

Light Colors
Larger bathrooms allow you some design freedom to play around with darker colored wall and trim paint, accessories, and major fixtures. In small bathrooms, those dramatic touches can actually make things seem more cramped. Stick with classic white tubs, sinks and toilets and brighter splashes of color on shower curtains, rugs and towels to lighten up the space you have.

Simplify Fixtures
Ornate fixtures can be appealing, but many are bulkier than their simpler counterparts. When space is at a premium, you may opt for sleeker, slimmer fixtures throughout the room.

Illuminate
Small spaces without proper lighting will have a drastically more claustrophobic atmosphere. Try combining wall fixtures with overhead lights to improve the aesthetic while providing illumination for applying makeup or shaving. For bathrooms on exterior walls, consider adding a window to let in natural light.

If you are preparing your home for sale, you will want to remove as much personal stuff and "storage items" as possible from the bathroom.  Bathrooms are one of the top things people look at and consider when deciding which home to buy next, make sure yours shines!  

Until Next Time,

Susan

Irvine Real Estate

Recently the City of Irvine celebrated it's 40th Anniversary - so much has changed in 40 years and yet so much is the same! 

The beauty of our area, the friendliness of our neighbors, the activities we all enjoy, the business that calls us home and help us grow.  From our young students that are part of the Irvine Unified School District, to our senior council members we are all IRVINE! 

Take a moment to watch and enjoy all that is Irvine here.....

Oh Yea- one last thing.....I AM IRVINE!

Until Next Time,

Susan

Irvine Real Estate

We all know that good credit is important for so many things these days, and if you are buying a home it is more important than ever to have a good clean credit record.   We also know in today's real life ways there can be some hiccups along the way, so here are some tips on how to improve your credit: 

1. Know your credit score
Credit scores range from 300 to 850, and the higher, the better. They're based on whether you've paid personal loans, car loans, credit cards, and other debt in full and on time in the past. You'll need a score of at least 620 to qualify for a home loan and 740 to get the best interest rates and terms.

 *   You're entitled to a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the major credit-reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and  TransUnion. Access all three versions of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com. Review them to ensure the information is  accurate.

2. Correct errors on your credit report
If you find mistakes on your credit report, write a letter to the credit-reporting agency explaining why you believe there's an error. Send documents that support your case, and ask that the error be corrected or removed. Also write to the company, or debt collector, that reported the incorrect information to dispute the information, and ask to be copied on any materials sent to credit-reporting agencies.

3. Pay every bill on time
You may be surprised at the damage even a few late payments will have on your credit score. The easiest way to make a big difference in your credit score without altering your spending habits is to diligently pay all your bills on time. You'll also save money because you'll keep the money you've been spending on late fees. Credit card or mortgage companies probably won't report minor late payments, those less than 30 days overdue, but you'll still have to pay late fees.

4. Use credit carefully
Another good way to boost your credit score is to pay your credit card bills in full every month. If you can't do that, pay as much over your required minimum payment as possible to begin whittling away the debt. Stop using your credit cards to keep your balances from increasing, and transfer balances from high-interest credit cards to lower-interest cards.

5. Take care with the length of your credit
Credit rating agencies also consider the length of your credit history. If you've had a credit card for a long time and managed it responsibly, that works in your favor. However, opening several new credit cards at once can lower the average age of your accounts, which pushes down your score. Likewise, closing credit card accounts lowers your available credit, so keep credit cards open even if you're not using them.

6. Don't use all the credit you're offered
Credit scores are also based on how much credit you use compared with how much you're offered. Using $1,000 of available credit will give you a lower score than having $1,000 of available credit and using $100 of it. Occasionally opening new lines of credit can boost your available credit, which also affects your score positively.

7. Be patient
It can take time for your credit score to climb once you've begun working to improve it. Keep at it because the more distance you put between your spotty payment history and your current good payment record, the less damage you'll do to your credit score.

If you have questions or concerns, contact me, I can refer you to good quality resources. 

Until Next Time,
Susan

Irvine Real Estate

Shop and compare more than 100 local wedding product and service companies.  Featuring a honeymoon giveaway, fashion shows, groom's contest, magazines, workbook & Expo shopping bag. 

January 8, 2011, Saturday

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Orange County Fair & Event Center - Buildings 14, 16 and East Breezeway

Admission: $10 - Senior's $8 - Children under 12 free

Parking fees apply. 

More Info

Susan - Irvine Real Estate