Is It Simple to Sell a California Luxury House?

Selling a luxury home in San Francisco, Los Angeles or elsewhere in California is rarely quick and easy. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to plan ahead for the Golden State luxury house selling journey to boost the likelihood of enjoying a fast, profitable property selling experience.

Now, let’s take a look at three tips to help you get ready to sell your California luxury residence.

1. Prioritize Your Home’s Curb Appeal

How your luxury home looks to buyers is crucial, regardless of whether your residence is located in Malibu, Cupertino or any other California city or town. If you prioritize your Golden State luxury residence’s curb appeal, however, you can make your home an appealing option to buyers.

To upgrade your California luxury home’s curb appeal, you should maintain a neat, tidy front lawn. In addition, you should perform lawn care tasks regularly to limit the risk of weeds and other problems that may impact your Golden State luxury residence’s curb appeal.

Don’t forget to repair or replace any damaged home siding, too. That way, you can make it easy for buyers to fall in love with your California luxury residence as soon as they see it.

2. Revamp Your Home’s Interior

A drab home interior is unlikely to do you any favors. Conversely, if you update your California luxury house’s interior, you could differentiate your home from comparable residences in your city or town.

Oftentimes, it helps to clean each room of a California luxury residence. You also may want to hire a home interior expert to help you transform your Golden State luxury house’s interior from drab to fab.

You should devote time and resources to cut down on clutter inside your California luxury house as well. Remember, you can always donate unwanted items in your home to a local charity or give them to family members or friends. On the other hand, you may want to sell your unwanted items online or host a yard sale prior to listing your Golden State luxury residence.

3. Hire a Real Estate Agent

For those who are unsure about how to sell a luxury home in Beverly Hills, San Jose or another California city or town, it may be beneficial to hire a real estate agent. If you have a real estate agent at your disposal, you can take the guesswork out of the Golden State luxury home selling journey.

A real estate agent understands what it takes to help a California luxury house seller achieve his or her desired results. Thus, if you want to sell an Anaheim luxury home as quickly as possible, a real estate agent can help you do just that. Or, if you want to maximize the earnings from the sale of your Santa Monica luxury home, a real estate agent will work diligently to help you get the best price for your residence.

Ready to list your California luxury house? Use the aforementioned tips, and you can simplify the Golden State luxury home selling journey.

Try These Ideas for Free Moving Boxes

Cardboard moving boxes are everywhere. However, when you’re moving, you may feel you never have enough. While major retailers sell moving boxes, the price can add up quickly. If you’re moving a sizable amount of items or just want to recycle a few unused boxes, free moving boxes are the way to go. Luckily, there are many ways to get them. Here are some suggestions of places to look for free moving boxes:

Recycling Centers

Used cardboard boxes often end up at recycling centers. While they’re likely to be broken down, it’s common to find discarded boxes in great shape. You can use packing tape to rebuild them and repurpose them for your own move. Speak to an attendant or employee before grabbing anything, though.

Dorms & Apartment Complexes

If you live near college dorms or student apartments, you may be sitting on a cardboard box goldmine. Since these communities use large communal recycling containers, you can often find a ton of discarded cardboard boxes from students moving in or out. Try visiting during the beginning or end of the school year and speak to a property manager or student housing representative before helping yourself.

Retailers

Local stores go through a lot of cardboard boxes. It’s worth asking if retailers have any extra boxes they don’t need. Some of the best sources of moving boxes are electronic and office supply stores, home improvement stores, bookstores and liquor stores. The worst that can happen is they say no. Otherwise, you can help a local business with their recycling and get the boxes you need.

Local Social Media Groups

Finally, look at various social media platforms for your area to see if anybody is giving away moving boxes. It’s very common for people who have just finished moving to offer their used boxes to the community. You can typically find these opportunities under the “free” section of your favorite marketplace website. Act quickly, though—these types of offerings are first-come-first-served and in high demand.

There are a lot of sources of free moving boxes as long as you know where to search and who to ask. However, always check with whomever is in charge of the area before taking boxes. Even though they’re just boxes, taking without permission could still be considered theft. Plus, a bit of courtesy can have enormous benefits.

Bring a Wooden Floor Back to Life

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Starting an extensive renovation or replacement of hardwood flooring can be costly. Thankfully, there are other ways to bring your floors back to life if they are not deeply damaged. If you want to give your floors a facelift, try out these tips. 

Give It A Good Clean

Sometimes, all a dull hardwood floor needs to help it sparkle again is a thorough cleaning. To begin, remove furniture and rugs from the space. Lift your furniture to avoid additional scratches or damage. Once the room is empty, vacuum and wipe down the floor with a damp cloth. If your wooden floor is very dirty, use a gentle cleaning product, but in most cases, warm water alone works well. Take care to use cleaning products formulated specifically for wood surfaces. Consider steam cleaning but only if the seal on the floor is in good shape before you begin. Otherwise, the added moisture may worsen the condition of the floor.

Screening and Recoating

Screening and recoating your floor is an effective way to bring the sparkle to your old wooden floor without completely refinishing it. This process works well on floors that are not deeply damaged. The first step is to lightly sand the surface with a buffing machine to prepare the floor for a sealant like polyurethane. Hiring a buffer from a hardware store is reasonable if you have a large area of wood flooring in your home. Once the floor has been buffed, apply a new coat of finish. Be sure to allow for plenty of drying time before bringing your furniture back in. If you have a few smaller areas that are dull or distressed, you may be able to sand by hand then apply a sealant product with a rag.

Consider A Full Sanding and Refinish 

If there are deep scratches or other similar damage on your floor, you may consider working with a flooring contractor for full sanding and refinishing. This project can be daunting, but the result is a consistent finish and color. For those that have engineered wood flooring, ensure the veneer or solid wood top layer of your flooring is thick enough to withstand a sanding.

Visit your local hardware store for supplies and advice if you choose to DIY. Otherwise, ask your real estate agent for recommended contractors in your area.

Why now’s the perfect time to purchase a Florida luxury home

Top signs to purchase a Florida luxury home featured image

Florida, also known as the Sunshine State, has loads to offer – with beautiful beaches, state parks and entertainment, homebuyers are drawn in from all over the world.  

Now may be the perfect time to purchase a luxury home in Florida, whether it be in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay or another Florida city or town. There are many signs to help you determine whether now is the ideal time to pursue a Sunshine State luxury house, and being able to identify them can help you initiate the move. 

You’d like to upgrade your current residence

If you find your current residence no longer fits your needs, there’s many exceptional Florida luxury homes available, offering space, comfort and proximity to amazing resources.  

Before making a purchase, consider making a list of must-haves you’d like for your new residence to possess. Perhaps if you enjoy sports, you may want a home with a basketball court or if you enjoy movies, a home with an indoor cinema may be to your liking. Having a clear picture of your wants and needs can help you find the perfect home. 

You wish to live in a warm weather area

For those who are tired of living in areas with colder temperatures, buying a luxury home in Florida may be a wonderful choice. The Sunshine State boasts warm temperatures almost year-round, providing those who prefer higher temperatures with sunlight and heat.  

As you start your Florida luxury homebuying search, consider homes equipped with amenities to help you deal with the warmer weather more comfortably.  

It may be beneficial, for example, to buy a Florida luxury home with a central air conditioning system. Or, you may want to consider a Florida luxury residence featuring a swimming pool.

You enjoy all Florida has to offer

If you want convenient access to world renowned attractions, pursuing a luxury home in Florida may be most ideal.  

Perhaps you enjoy some of their famous resorts or want to get closer to nature by living in proximity to one of their beautiful national parks. Florida offers so many resources to fit varying aspects of your lifestyle.  

Ready to purchase a luxury home in Florida? Start your Sunshine State luxury home search today, and you may find your dream residence in the near future.

How to Create Your Own Accent Mirror

A mirror is one of the most underrated pieces of home decor. Not only does a mirror serve a useful purpose by giving you and your guests an opportunity to catch a quick glance of your reflection, but it also helps to increase the perceived size of your room. A mirror can be a valuable accent piece, as it complements other types of decor such as wall art, monogrammed letters and more.

Instead of opting for a standard accent mirror that can be found at any department store, you can follow this step-by-step guide to creating your home.

Step 1: Find a Mirror that is the Right Size and Shape for Your Space

Accent mirrors can range in size and you need to find the one that fits the space you are designing. You can go looking for old mirrors at thrift stores and you may even find mirror pieces that can be designed into a truly unique decorative display for your wall.

Step 2: Brainstorm Materials for Designing Your New Mirror

Once you have a mirror that is ideal size and shape for the room you are decorating, you should begin thinking about materials that you can use to finish the mirror. A few examples of ideas that you could consider include:

  • Decorative beads or gems
  • Wooden frames
  • Shells or stones

Step 3: Gather the Materials You Need and Make a Plan

After you have decided on the materials that you want to use, get what you need to complete your project. Come up with a plan for how you are going to put your new mirror together, and don’t forget to allocate the space you will need in your home or workshop to finish it.

Step 4: Get to Work on Your Accent Mirror

With your materials and plan ready, you can begin working on the mirror itself. Many people find that designing a custom creation and making it themselves is both therapeutic and rewarding.

Step 5: Display Your Mirror with Pride

Your accent mirror could take anywhere from hours or days to complete, but when it’s done, you will have a beautiful mirror that no one else has in their home. Display it in your chosen spot with pride, and be ready to tell your guests about how you designed the mirror and completed it yourself.

Accent mirrors are one of the simplest DIY projects that you can take on. There’s nothing better than making a custom creation that works perfectly with the existing color palette and theme in your home.

Top items to sell to help simplify your moving process

Top items to sell to help simplify your moving process featured image

Selling your home and moving away can be stressful. Packing up all your belongings and moving them takes much time,
organization and attention to detail. However, to lessen the strain of this task and perhaps make a few extra
dollars, it pays to sell items that are no longer needed. 

Furniture

Have an old couch, bookshelf or sofa that simply doesn’t fit the aesthetic of your new place or would take up too
much space? It may be time to sell these pieces of furniture so they can be made of great use with another household
or donate them to charity organizations.

Appliances

Appliances such as  refrigerators,a washer and dryer as well as other home features can be too large to move to
your new place. They may also prove extra difficult to move if your new home is far from your current one. 

For this reason, it may be more efficient and time saving to purchase new appliances or your new place, and sell your
old ones, especially if you’re in a time crunch. There are many online services to advertise your appliances,
however as mentioned previously, you can donate these items to charity. You can also offer them as an added benefit
to whoever purchases your current home. 

Home decorations

Your home decor may be well-suited to your current residence, however it may not have the same impact in your new
home. This may be a sign that it’s time to let these items  go to make room for new decorations.  

If you would like a more hands-on approach to selling these items, consider costing a yard sale or dropping them off
at a local thrift store which can also be used as a tax deduction. 

Moving away can be stressful, however by letting go of the old, you make room for your new adventure. 

Cost-effective ways to save on your heating bill

How to keep your heating bill low this season featured image

As the weather gets colder, finding ways to keep your household warm becomes important. Blasting the heat can be
effective, but is sure to take a toll on your heating bill. It’s estimated heating can make up around 40 percent of
your overall utility bills – sometimes more in the winter months.  

Luckily, there are some simple ways you can stay warm without breaking the bank.

Keep warm clothes on 

Bundling up is a great way to stay warm during the colder seasons. Wearing layers of warm clothing means you won’t
have to use your heating system as much. 

Consider purchasing heavy sweaters and thermal socks. Thermal socks are affordable and do an impressive job at
retaining and helping your body to regulate heat. 

A heated blanket is also great at providing additional warmth. Heated blankets come in many sizes, meaning if you
want a fitted one for your bed, or perhaps a small throw blanket, you have plenty of options. 

Seal cracks & holes

Consider investing in quality sealant during the colder months. As a home ages, it’s natural to find cracking and
holes around the windows. These openings extend the way for warmth to escape the home. It also leads the way for
cold outside air to enter the space. 

Sealant closes these gaps and waterproofs the area so rain and snow can’t make its way inside easily. Just be aware
that most sealant takes about 24 hours to dry, so make sure the area is left alone for the duration of a day. 

Set the thermostat to work in your favor 

Lowering the temperature on your home’s thermostat can make a big difference in the cost of your heating bill. It’s
estimated that decreasing the temperature down about 8 notches for 8 hours of the day can result in savings of
almost 10%. 

With these tips and tricks, you can keep warm during cold seasons and save money along the way.

Why Should You Set Up a House Showing?

For a buyer who is interested in learning more about a residence, it may be beneficial to set up a house showing. In fact, there are many reasons why now may be a good time to schedule a home showing, such as:

1. You can determine if a home is right for you.

Many houses are available in cities and towns nationwide, and as such, differentiating a good home from a great one sometimes can be difficult. Fortunately, a home showing offers a worry-free opportunity to get an up-close look at a residence. And after a showing is complete, you can decide whether a house matches your expectations.

During a home showing, a seller’s agent can respond to any of your house concerns and questions. This agent also can provide details about why a seller has listed his or her residence, as well as other information about a home that you may be unable to obtain elsewhere.

Of course, if you are satisfied with a home following a showing, you can submit an offer to purchase this residence. Or, if you find that a home fails to meet your expectations, you can continue your pursuit of your dream house.

2. You can compare and contrast similar houses.

A home showing provides a valuable learning opportunity, as it enables you to compare and contrast houses against one another. If you set up multiple home showings, you may be able to review a wide range of residences in a short period of time.

You can set up as many home showings as you want, too. Therefore, if you find you still have questions about a house after a showing, there is no need to stress. Simply schedule a follow-up showing, and you can take a second look at a residence at your convenience.

3. You can make an informed homebuying decision.

As a homebuyer, it is important to gain as much information about a house as possible. And if you believe a home may be your dream residence, there is no harm in setting up a showing. That way, you can view a residence in-person and make an informed decision about whether to proceed with an offer to purchase.

Pursuing a home may be challenging, regardless of whether you are interested in buying a home for the first time or have purchased residences in the past. If you collaborate with a real estate agent, you can receive comprehensive support as you search for your ideal house.

A real estate agent can help you schedule home showings and weigh the pros and cons of different residences. Plus, if you find a home you want to buy, a real estate agent will help you craft a competitive offer to purchase this residence.

Want to accelerate your quest to acquire your ideal home? Schedule a showing today – you’ll be glad you did. Because if you allocate time and resources to view a residence in-person, you may discover your dream home.

Is VR Technology Right for You? Here’s What to Consider

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Virtual reality, or VR, has increased in popularity and accessibility over the last few years. With multiple comparable devices and platforms available, what might have seemed like science fiction is now part of some peoples’ regular gaming routines. VR is something you can have in your own home and use anytime, but it might not work for everyone. Here we’ll go over the important things to consider when setting up VR in your home.

Floor Space

While each VR device on the market is different, most have basic requirements for physical space. Most companies recommend a minimum of 3 feet by 3 feet space to sit or stand and ideally more. Because a VR headset will completely disguise your surroundings, you won’t know if you’re about to bump into an end table or even a wall. Setting a clear boundary on the floor will help keep you (and your furniture) safe.

Ceiling Height

It’s a common misconception that you need high ceilings for a successful VR setup. In actuality, only one of the VR sets available on the market has sensors you attach to ceilings or walls. Otherwise there are no height requirements beyond what makes sense for your personal height. Some sensors you can attach to the top of a computer monitor, while others you can place using free-standing mounts like camera tripods.

Internet Connection

Not all VR games require the internet, but a solid connection is essential for multiplayer gaming. Connecting directly via wired Ethernet connection is ideal, though Wi-Fi will also work as long as the signal is powerful enough. This is another thing that’s important to factor in to your VR design plans, as having the router nearby can give you an advantage.

Cable Management

Unfortunately, VR comes with a lot of cables that can cause frustration and even safety hazards if not properly managed. The most common issue is the head mounted display cables that connect to your PC or other platform. While these cables are typically extremely long to allow for flexibility and movement, it’s easy to trip over them. Some VR enthusiasts use ceiling-mounted cable management systems to keep these cables off of the floor and out of the way.

Flooring

Technically, there is no type of flooring required for using VR. However, a lot of VR games and apps available encourage physical movement and exercise. Depending on the game, you might be jumping, crawling, jogging in place or crouching on the floor. Most experts recommend setting up your VR system in a room that has carpeting, ideally with thick padding underneath. Other options include large foam mats or interlocking tiles, which come with the added convenience of movement and storage when VR time is over.

If you’re considering bringing VR into your home gaming life, it’s important to be mindful of your environment. Staying safe is key, but the better outfitted your room is for VR, the more fun you’ll have. Measure carefully and look for retailers that have rental options so you can give this technology a try.

3 Common Container Garden Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Creating a container garden is more than just beautiful design. In order for your container garden to thrive and look its absolute best you need to make sure the plants are happy and healthy. Here we’ll go over some of the most common mistakes and problems in container gardening and how to avoid them.

Combining Plants With Incompatible Needs

Think of your container plants like roommates: without compatible traits, they won’t enjoy living together in a small space. While plants are luckily far less complex than humans, it still requires some careful planning when choosing plants to go together in a container garden. It’s crucial to choose plants with similar needs when it comes to sunlight and water. We should not combine plants that need partial shade with those that need full sun, for example. Drought-resistant plants don’t pair well with moisture-craving tropicals.

To avoid this issue, try using a garden planner or “companion” plant guide. You can also base your decision off of a single plant and build a design around it. If your ideal focus flowers require full sun, then you’ll know to look for other plants who need the same. Research before you buy your plants to make sure everything will thrive in the same container conditions.

Watering Too Much

The number one reason house plants die is because of over-watering and container plants often have the same problem. Planting in a container compared with planting in the ground limits the plants’ access to natural water supply. This means the soil in a container will dry out more quickly. The container itself might also contribute to the moisture issues: terra cotta, for example, can absorb excess moisture and cause the soil to dry faster.

To avoid over-watering, try making a schedule. Rather than planning to water every single time, just make a note to check the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. If it feels damp, it might be better to wait. This will depend on the specific plants you choose, as well. Some plants are happy with more frequent watering than others, especially in the warmer summer months.

Forgetting to Fertilize

Regular fertilizing is crucial to the success and health of your container garden. Adding fertilizer will help your blooming plants produce more flowers and look their absolute best all season. Fertilizer can also benefit non-flowering plants by boosting new growth and helping to maintain color. Look for a liquid fertilizer with the important macronutrients plants need. A simple way to add fertilizer into your plant care routine is to dilute it with water and add it as part of your watering schedule. Keeping your container garden fed will keep it looking vibrant and healthy as long as possible.

These are some of the most common issues gardeners have with container gardens. However, all have simple solutions. The key to happy plants is knowing what they need—therefore, the more you can learn about your plants, the more healthy and vibrant they will be.