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        <title>Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/stay-at-home-vacations/</link>
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            <guid>http://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/santa-cruz-home-improvement-make-your-yard-a-refuge.html</guid>
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            <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
            <title>Santa Cruz Home Improvement:  Make Your Yard a Refuge</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Whats the best thing about owning your Santa Cruz home?&nbsp; Many people say its their yard.&nbsp; No matter your lifestyle, there are things you can do to improve your outdoor space and your quality of life. Here are a few ideas to help you get more enjoyment from your yard:

&bull;&nbsp;Relax:&nbsp;&nbsp; Buy a lounger for sun bathing or a hammock for shade bathing

&bull;&nbsp;Enjoy meals outdoors:&nbsp; Add a picnic table to make eating outdoors easier.

&bull;&nbsp;Grow a garden:&nbsp; Whether its a vegetable, herb or flower garden there is nothing more rewarding than eating food or smelling flowers that you grew yourself. Start small if youve never gardened before. Like anything else, its easy to get burned out if you bite off more than you can chew. A few of your favorite vegetables and herbs will ensure success this year and have you planning more for next year.

&bull;&nbsp;Install a water feature:&nbsp; You can put in a fountain or a pond. These neednt be elaborate constructions, as there are small ready-made versions available.

&bull;&nbsp;Go green by adding a clothesline: Believe it or not, there is something very satisfying about hanging your clothes out on the line and letting nature do its job. Its using low-tech solar and wind energy to save you money. Your clothes, towels and sheets will have a truly fresh smell, as opposed to the cloying smell left by fabric softener.

&bull;&nbsp;Invest in Solar-powered lighting:&nbsp; Options range from path lights that have built-in solar collectors, to string lights, to glow-in-the-dark globes that make your yard a magical nighttime delight. With no power cords to trip on, installation is a snap, and, of course, none of these features will add to your electric bill.

Day or night, there is nothing like having your own outdoor space. If youre looking for a new Santa Cruz home with a yard you can make your own, call me at (831) 662-6522 or email me at Lauren@LaurenSpencer.com.

For more information, please visit my website at www.MySantaCruzRealEstate.com.

hammockhttp://www.twinoakshammocks.com/

fountainhttp://www.homeandgardenideas.com/outdoor-living/landscaping/fountains-and-ornamentation/installing-outdoor-fountain 

solar-powered lightinghttp://www.solarhome.org/infobenefitsofsolarlighting.html
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            <pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:01:00 -0700</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/how-live-in-stagers-can-save-your-santa-cruz-home-for-sale.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/how-live-in-stagers-can-save-your-santa-cruz-home-for-sale.html</link>
            <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
            <title>How Live-In Stagers Can Save Your Santa Cruz Home For Sale</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
If you have a Santa Cruz home for sale and its sitting vacant, it's a perfect target for vandals. The signs are obvious, such as uncut grass and lights that never come on. In fact, a vacant house doesnt just look vacant; it feels vacant. 

Vandals arent the only problem for a vacant home for sale, however. The other problem is that a vacant home usually sells for less and sits longer than a well maintained, occupied home. So whats the solution?

Well, if you live close by, you can visit the home, cut the grass, turn the lights on and keep it maintained. However, if this is more trouble than youd rather go through, theres another option  a live-in home stager.

Youve probably heard or read a slew of information about home staging. If you havent, home staging is the practice of making a house look its best and has been proven to bring consistently higher prices for homes. Home stagers are trained to stage a house in the most attractive way to entice buyers.

Benefits of Using a Live-In StagerA live-in home stager is slightly different from a traditional home stager, but provides several benefits to homeowners wishing to sell their empty houses:

&bull;&nbsp;No vacancy, no vandals  An empty home brings vandals. However, people are much less likely to vandalize a home that is well maintained and occupied. A live-in stager, as the name implies, stays in the home until its sold.

&bull;&nbsp;Home staging and maintenance  One of the worst turn-offs for a potential homebuyer is to walk up a lane surrounded by tall, uncut grass into an empty, cold home. A live-in stager brings their own furniture to turn that empty home into a visually-appealing, warm living space. They cut the grass and keep the home looking beautiful until its sold.

&bull;&nbsp;Residual income  Best of all, you arent paying them; theyre paying you. Now, obviously they wont be paying full rent. In general, live-in stagers pay 25%  40% of the normal rental rate. However, a vacant home isnt doing anything but sitting there until its sold.

If youve been trying to sell a vacant Santa Cruz home for sale, and its still on the market, try a live-in stager. It may be the best decision you make this year!

If youre trying to sell your home, I can help. Call me at 831.662.6522 or email me at Lauren@LaurenSpencer.com for more information.

Links:

Live-in home stager

Information about home staging

Worst turn-offs for a potential homebuyer
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:01:00 -0800</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/5-easy-steps-to-taking-a-vacation-without-leaving-your-santa-cruz-condo.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/5-easy-steps-to-taking-a-vacation-without-leaving-your-santa-cruz-condo.html</link>
            <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
            <title>5 Easy Steps to Taking a Vacation without Leaving Your Santa Cruz Condo</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
These days, the thought of taking a vacation can lead to more stress than relaxation. So instead of worrying about booking hotels, buying plane tickets and taking time off work, enjoy a wonderful vacation without leaving your Santa Cruz condo. 

1.&nbsp;Turn off the news. Rent a video instead.

This is a great way to escape for a while without all the hassle. Think of places you've always wanted to go, but couldn't. Rent travel videos of a few of the places you'd like to visit and sit back, relax and let your mind wander.

2.&nbsp;Get lost in your favorite novel.

Do you enjoy the world of mystery, romance or even science fiction? Well, now's your time to relax in your Santa Cruz condo and get lost in another world. Just visit your favorite bookstore or library ahead of time and stock up on some good reads.

3.&nbsp;Send the kids to the grandparents.

There's never been a better time to let kids bond with family than the present. Pack up their favorite toys and goodies and send them on their way. Remember  you're on vacation!

4.&nbsp;Take a bubble bath

Instead of hopping in and out of the shower, take some time and revisit your bath tub for a long, refreshing bubble bath. Light some scented candles, put on soft music and just let stress drift away. 

5.&nbsp;Get a massage

You may be thinking you'd need to leave your property for this, but you don't! Plenty of massage therapists make house calls. Book one in advance and have him or her visit you on your vacation at your condo.

When you're thinking of your next vacation, take some time to explore your own surroundings. With a little planning, a lot of imagination and a bit of creativity, you can enjoy a wonderful, affordable vacation in the luxury of your own Santa Cruz condo. 

Tell me about your stay-at-home vacation.&nbsp; What did you do?&nbsp; Did you enjoy it as much or more than an &quot;away&quot; vacation?&nbsp; Post a comment here and help us all learn how to vacation at home.

&nbsp;

LINKS:

Good reads

Bubble bath

Massage therapists
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:25:00 -0700</pubDate>
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