Found 79 blog entries tagged as Tips For Maintaining Your Home.

Selling a house in the current market can be tricky, but there are certain mistakes an owner can make that will cause a Santa Cruz home to sit still without a decent offer and cause the listing to go stale. In order to prevent that from happening, make sure you are not making one of the following mistakes when putting your property on the market.

Overpricing

While your Santa Cruz home may hold sentimental value, that value does not translate into dollars. Be realistic about your asking price and know the market. Look at the list price of similar houses on the market to get a rough idea of what you should ask for your property. Your real estate agent can also give you their expert opinion based on experience and comparables.

Neglecting Repairs

…

1580 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Without a doubt, spring is the best time of year to get your Santa Cruz home on the market and sold fast. The reason behind this trend is understandable. Most people don’t want to look at new houses, pack everything up and move in the cold of winter. Also, families want to wait until the kids get out of school for the summer, so they’ll start shopping in the spring. Thus, when the warm weather returns, so do the buyers in the real estate market.

Before your real estate agent lists your Santa Cruz home, it’s essential for it to look its best. Examine your living space and see it as a buyer would — then double check this list of staging tips to make sure you haven’t overlooked any important details.

• Clear out the clutter. Tidy up counter tops,…

1361 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

If the thought of cleaning your Santa Cruz home this spring doesn’t bring a smile to your face, you’re not alone. To help you get going now, here is a short list of the 6 essential spring-cleaning chores.

1. Store winter clothes.

It’s time to pack away your winter clothes. Coats, sweaters, and bulkier clothing need to be inspected, cleaned and packed away. Store your clothes somewhere clean, cool, dark and dry.

2. Wash window treatments.

You’ll be surprised at the huge amount of dirt and grime that a thorough window cleaning removes. Wash blinds, launder curtains that are machine washable and send drapes to the dry cleaners. While you’re at it, dust the window casing, wash windowsills and clean any window hardware.

3. Clean carpets and…

1313 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Going green is not just a new trend; it is a way of life that benefits not only the environment, but also your health — and your pocketbook. Green living cuts down on carbon emissions and creates a healthier environment both inside and outside of a Santa Cruz home. While green structures sometimes cost more initially, the money (and environment) saved in the long run is well worth the investment.

Health Benefits

Owning a green Santa Cruz home has significant health benefits. Many conventional buildings are not properly ventilated and indoor air quality is often more polluted than the air outside. Poor air quality is bad for your health and can aggravate asthma and allergies. Certified green properties tend to have excellent airflow and ventilation.…

1538 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

With spring right around the corner, you might be thinking about sprucing up your Santa Cruz home. However, it may not yet be time to work in the garden or on other outside endeavors. If cabin fever is setting in, this is a great time for indoor improvements to brighten your living space and get you warmed up to work outside when the seasons change.

Whether it’s over-stuffed closets or cluttered garages, everyone has problem areas on their property. Maybe you just need to give some attention to an area that has not been touched in a while. Whatever your vision, now is a fantastic time to tackle an indoor project. Below are a few ideas to get you started. Maybe you can even get the kids to lend a hand!

Organize that closet
Clear out the things you…

1545 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The first sign of mold you notice may be a musty smell in your Santa Cruz home. After looking around, you spot what looks like mold — don’t panic! You can remove unhealthy mold from your house without paying an arm and a leg.

Check to be Sure it's Really Mold

Mold can look many different ways, which depends on the type. Some are grayish-white or black and can look like a dirty smudge. If you're in doubt that a spot is mold, you can do a test with chlorine bleach. Simply put a drop on the spot. If the color immediately fades away, you have mold.

Mold needs moisture to grow. If you find mold, you know that you also have a water problem in your Santa Cruz home. So first, you’ll need to find the source of the leak and repair it. After that, you can…

1611 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Most of us want to do everything we can at our Santa Cruz home to be ready for an emergency.  There are a few things that most experts agree should be in every emergency kit.  Here is a quick list:

• Durable container: You’ll need to buy a plastic container that will securely latch and will be waterproof to keep food and clothing dry.

• Radio: A small radio is all you’ll need to keep in tune with the latest in weather news and emergency broadcasts.  It would be a good idea to pack extra batteries, or invest in a hand-crank radio to be sure you always have access to the news.

• Light Source: Pack a few flashlights and several sets of batteries in case of a power outage.  For added back-up, put in some candles and matches.

• Water: Pack bottled…

1325 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

A good way to save money in your Santa Cruz home is to improve your home’s energy efficiency.  You can save four to nine percent a year on water heating costs by installing a water heater jacket.  They’re quick and easy to install, here’s how:

Prepare to Shop

Before you go shopping, make sure you know if your water heater is gas or electric.  The access panels and materials can be different between the two.  The installation of a water heater jacket on a gas heater is more difficult.  You may want to have a professional do the installation on a gas water heater.

Write down your water heater model number.  Most water heater jackets list the compatible water heater models on the packaging.  Choose a jacket with a value of  R-8. 

Installation

…

1299 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has become an increasingly important element in home buyers' decision-making, and buyers have become more attuned to mold, radon and other issues that affect air quality.

Many air quality dangers once were invisible and difficult to quantify, but thanks to evolving technology, detecting and rating IAQ has gotten easier. In addition, new programs have emerged to inspect and rate homes' IAQ. One such program is the EPA’s Indoor airPlus.

Eric Werling, the Indoor airPlus coordinator, presented the April 2010 Webinar and discussed the one-year-old rating and home labeling program.

Indoor airPlus is a sister label to ENERGY STAR® and to get the label, a home first must meet ENERGY STAR® requirements. Gaining the Indoor airPLUS…

1340 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Green homes are great for the environment and will save you money over time. The EPA has identified components that qualify buildings as green to help in the process of finding Santa Cruz real estate that is environmentally friendly and energy efficient.

The cost of running a home can add up over time, but buying a home that is properly insulated, made out of sustainable materials and reduces waste provides many benefits to the homeowner.

• Energy Efficiency - According to the EPA, as of December 2012, buildings account for 68% of total energy consumption Green homes can reduce these two numbers with energy efficient appliances, well-sealed, double-glazed windows, and good insulation. Using alternative energy sources, such as solar panels, will also…

1422 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post