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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



Happy Yom Kippur!

Curb Appeal Matters (Even When You're Not Selling)

First impressions aren’t just important in the business world; they’re also crucial in the real estate world. Consequently, curb appeal is a detail that shouldn’t fall to the wayside, whether you’re currently selling your home or not. While it goes without saying that attention to curb appeal can make all the difference in getting a prospective buyer to part with thousands of dollars more when a sale occurs, there are plenty of reasons to boost your home’s curb appeal now (even if a “For Sale” sign isn’t posted on your front lawn).  

If you really pay attention to the way your home looks from the street, your mind won’t necessarily be drawn immediately to home sales. After all, pride in your home’s appearance maintains the value of your investment and curb appeal also attracts good neighbors. If another home is for sale on your street, strong curb appeal keeps a neighborhood’s values intact. New neighbors also will be committed to home upkeep if other homes set a positive example.  

Here are a few tips to improve your home’s curb appeal: 

Clean up

If you have kids, a messy array of toys sprawled across your front lawn isn’t the most appealing look. Keep your front lawn as tidy as possible and your garage clean enough so that you can park your vehicle inside, as both actions add to your home’s curb appeal. And if you have any lingering weeds or dead plants, then it doesn’t take much time to remove them.

Personalization

No one wants to buy a home that looks like all other homes and therefore you probably don’t want to live in a home that doesn’t reflect your tastes and uniqueness. Curb appeal also can be a means of self-expression, such as whether you love brilliant colors or prefer a more subdued palate. A strong landscape design can really make your home stand out from the crowd.

 

Doors and Windows

If your doors and windows are showing significant wear-and-tear, then you may want to consider upgrading or cleaning them because they are some of the first items that people notice. Chipped paint on the front door or dirty windows detract from your home’s look and can be easily fixed with a fresh coat of paint or window washing.

Porch

People may be more likely to camp out in front of a television rather than on a front porch, but a porch significantly adds not only to the selling value of a home but its curb appeal as well. If your home has a porch, ensure that it is free of dirt and that there is inviting outdoor furniture—all of which makes for a home that looks welcoming.

Outdoor Lighting

From a visual standpoint, portable outdoor lamps, solar garden lights, or other means of outdoor lighting can really bring out your home’s exterior features and keep your home looking sharp during the evening hours.

It’s clear that whatever you do, curb appeal is an important part of your home and it comes down to planning and execution. 

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 more pricey 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. 

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

5 Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Trends That Will Last

To help you get ahead of and sort out the kitchen and bathroom trends — pity the last fool to install an avocado appliance in the 1970s — HouseLogic.com went to this month's trend central, the International Builder's Show. Our takeaway: For gosh sake, enjoy your home; remodel so that you love where you live.

Still, with a couple of exceptions, these five kitchen and bath trends offer lasting value:

1. Kitchen cleanliness.

By clean, we're talking design, not germs. Kitchens are going clean, contemporary, and horizontal (open shelves, long and horizontal pulls, thick countertops). Even in a classic kitchen, go with simple, flat cabinets rather than highly carved cabinet details, says designer MaryJo Camp of Design Camp, Denver, N.C.  

Tip: This is a trend to get on board with. A simple, tidy, fresh appearance will have broad appeal if you decide to sell.

2. Color is out.

This year, colors are cycling out, Camp says, except for black and white used together. 

Tip: Practically speaking, black and white are hard to keep looking good. Black kitchens show every scratch and white cabinets show every speck of dirt.

Regardless, color is fickle; choose what's best for your space.

 

3. Dark wood is where it's at.

If you've had white cabinets, you know they show every speck of dirt, which can drive you crazy unless you have a cleaning fetish. Combine those white cabinets with another up-and-coming trend: dark wood. Or if your budget can handle the hit, go with specialty woods like mahogany or zebra wood that can make an island look like a piece of furniture.

Tip: Alternatively, you could invest your money in more kitchen storage and functionality than trendy decorative elements that might not stand the test of time.

4. Appliances that blend in.

The more open our kitchens get, the more we want them to look like the rest of the house. That's fueling a trend away from the big pro range and ginormous stainless-steel refrigerator and toward concealed, high-performance refrigerators and dishwashers. Induction cooktops, which use less electricity than electric cooktops, are growing in popularity, Camp said.

Tip: When you buy appliances, look for the Energy Star label or go even deeper on energy performance ratings with Consortium of Energy Efficiency. 

5. Ageless design gets easy.

What the Baby Boom wants, the Baby Boom gets. And Baby Boomers want to live in their homes forever. That's led manufacturers to create DIY remodeling products with built-in universal design features — like toilet paper roll holders strong enough to hold your weight as you arise from the throne.

If you wanted a no-threshold shower five years ago, you had to have it fabricated as a custom piece, said Mary Jo Peterson, a Brookfield, Conn., designer. Today, companies sell no-threshold shower kits with trench-style drains covered with grills so you can roll yourself right in.

Just Sold!

5 Traps To Avoid When Selling Your Home

Do you ever find yourself completely overwhelmed by real estate advice from every direction on how to stage, market, negotiate, and ultimately sell your home?  With all the information we see on a daily basis, it’s easy to overlook to most important details.

Avoid these traps to get the best offer with the highest value, and take the stress out of selling your home.

1. Online-only Marketing.

Don’t drown in the world wide sea of online data!  With the overload of information that is force fed to us every day, it’s important that everyone sees your home everywhere.  Advertising your home in print makes you stand out locally.  At The Real Estate Book, our magazines even use QR and text codes that instantly connect home shoppers to your home listing on their mobile phones.  You’ll reach home buyers where they live, shop, work and play.  Ask your agent about advertising opportunities with The Real Estate Book in your area!

2. Poor Pricing.

No matter what they’re buying, it is not a surprise that consumers want the most bang for their buck.  Home buyers tend to stay away from overly high prices and are drawn to the homes that are priced competitively.  However, if the price is too low, buyers will wonder if there is something wrong with the property.  Make sure you research your competition and consult with your real estate agent before deciding on a price.

3. Hovering.

Although you may want to stick around during a showing, it may not be the best idea.  There is definitely an emotional aspect when selling your home, so hovering while a potential buyer is touring your home may make it difficult for them to envision the home as theirs, and may feel uncomfortable or that they’re intruding on your space.  Take a breather and go run some errands while your real estate agent does the work.

4. Clutter Inside & Out.

First impressions are everything, and the first thing that buyers will see is your home’s exterior.  Have a well-kept yard, clean driveway and overall curb appeal, which will increase the likelihood that buyers will want to see more.  Now for the interior . . . Make sure your home is absolutely free of all clutter – it should be clean and sparkling!  Help buyers imagine their own things in your home by stashing personal items, including photos and mementos.

5. Lack of Appealing Photos.

Before a buyer even thinks about contacting a real estate agent or coming to see a house to buy, they “pre-shop” online.  Be sure to provide photographs that frame your house and its amenities to sell. Capture full rooms that are well lit and don’t even think about including pictures of cluttered messy spaces!  Home buyers want to see what your home has to offer, and be able to visualize themselves living there.

As you go through the home selling process, avoid these traps to get the best offer quickly.  Remember that your real estate agent is more than happy to answer any of your questions and provide the most valuable help possible.  Be sure to always take advantage of all your resources.

Title Terms: CC&Rs - What does it mean?

As part of the disclosure process, once a prospective buyer has an accepted offer on California real estate they will need to review the CC&Rs (if there are any) that exist for the home being purchased.

CC&Rs stands for Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions 
Sounds complicated, but it’s not really...although they can be VERY lengthy with LOTS of legal terms.  You will find them most commonly in subdivisions/housing tracts and they are generally recorded documents.
Simply put, CC&Rs are a description of things a homeowner can and cannot do with their property on the area in which the property resides.

Covenants are promises to do or not do certain things.
The homeowner might be prohibited from parking an RV on the street or in the driveway (a separate area would normally be provided).

Conditions are pretty much the same as covenants, except that it refers to either the monetary penalty, court injunction or action taken against the homeowner for violating a covenant.  A condition can also specify an action that a homeowner must take in order to correct a covenant violation.

Restrictions limit the activities of homeowners
(e.g., You can’t turn your property into a farm) to assure that the property use is consistent with the land use in the general area.

If there is a Home Owner’s Association (HOA) they have the authority to enforce these rules.  Please Note: CC&Rs DO NOT report on the status or solvency of their governing HOA.

L.A. Council backs $39-million subsidy for downtown hotel project

The Los Angeles City Council moved forward Tuesday with plans to allow a real estate developer to keep $39.2 million in taxes expected over 25 years from a downtown hotel and residential project planned next to the 110 Freeway.

The council voted 11 to 0 to negotiate agreements that would let Greenland L.A. Metropolis Hotel Development retain one-fourth of the property, sales, hotel, parking, business, utility and other taxes that would normally flow to the city budget.

Ovrom has said Greenland officials knew what could be built on the property when they purchased the land for $150 million. He argued that the company probably would have constructed the project without taxpayer assistance.Greenland L.A., a company afiliated with Shanghai-based development firm Greenland Group, is seeking to build a 19-story hotel and a 38-story residential tower on a site just north of the L.A. Live entertainment complex. The taxpayer help was approved despite objections from Robert "Bud" Ovrom, top executive at the city's Convention Center.

Policy advisors to the council disagreed, saying Greenland proposed a hotel tower only because city officials had asked them to do so. "If no assistance is provided, the developer would construct a residential tower instead of hotel," Chief Legislative Analyst Gerry Miller said in a report to the council. 

Ovrom had no comment Tuesday. City officials say even with the subsidy, Metropolis will generate more than $117 million for city coffers over 25 years.

  

Miller has been recommending taxpayer subsidies as a way to lure hotel builders to downtown, saying the added rooms would help the convention center book more national events. Over the last decade, the council has agreed to let hotel builders retain more than $500 million in tax revenue -- projects that are all within three blocks of Metropolis. Yet another hotel developer, Related Cos., is looking to keep at least $138 million from a project through 2043.

  

The vote on Metropolis took place minutes before employees with the Coalition of L.A. City Unions showed up at the council to decry what they described as "predatory" fees charged to the city by Wall Street banks. Labor activists who packed the council chamber voiced similar concerns about the deal for Metropolis.

"To say that the city is having a hard time on the one hand, and then say here's free money to a developer who's going to make all this money back, is outrageous," said Roy Stone, president of a union local representing city librarians. "Don't give away the house to encourage them to build something."

Victor Gordo, an attorney for the coalition, also questioned the proposal, saying lawmakers need to re-evaluate their strategy for improving the economy.

Men and Women and the Homebuying Process. Couples Therapy?

MVP REAL ESTATE GROUP CLOSES ANOTHER DEAL!

MVP REAL ESTATE GROUP just closed on this fabulous home, representing the happy buyer!

Take a look: