Curb Appeal: New Windows, Doors, Stucco Color Coat, and Paint

If you’re selling a home, one of the first things you should consider is improving its curb appeal. This might be critical if your home has been languishing on the market for some time now.

If that is your situation, it is likely your Realtor has suggested lowering the asking price significantly. Even the most honest Realtor is less interested in your financial math than their own financial math. If the home does not sell the Realtor is not paid: no commission.
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Hillsides homes are more expensive because they usually sit on more land, have an abundance of character and offer a multitude of views.

“Views,” in real-estate terms, are often defined by one or more: peek-a-boo, canyon, valley, mountain, ocean, vast, 360, infinite . Where we live, some homes straddling the crests of the hilltops have all of those views - sweet!

Hillside home ownership has other benefits: greater distance and separation between homes and the resulting privacy that distance affords; a feeling of SPACE; a more rural, outdoor-lifestyle; surprise visits from wildlife; less night-time “light-pollution” from rows of city street lamps.

Many folks consider these unique benefits worth the extra expense required to purchase a home in the hills.

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A High-Efficiency Appliance That will Save Energy and Money

It has been estimated that the third largest energy consuming activity in the average home is heating water. It also represents roughly 12% - 14% of all utility expenditures – gas, electricity, water, etc. There is a more efficient alternative than the conventional water heater: the tankless gas or electric water heater. When you use one you will save an amazing amount of energy.

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I used to tell relatives and friends — those who do not live in California– how we West Coast People — i.e. Southern California Locals  — how we really don’t require air conditioning:

“Dude, we live in
paradise - we don’t need air conditioning here…”

Then I started remembering the uncomfortable days and scorching weeks over summers past… Hot August nights sleeping on top of the covers - not even under a sheet.

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Homes in La Habra Heights have steep areas that can become Valuable, Usable, Floor Space…

When asked for deck recommendations, we typically survey the exterior of your home - to see where a ground-level or raised deck will dovetail in with the home’s view, the home’s design and the “flow” of the terrain. Oftentimes the owner has the design dialed-in, but sometimes by brainstorming together, other options evolve - some really clever, outstanding deck designs emerge.

Many homeowners never consider deck locations that may be physically-removed from an existing doorway.

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Pacific Polymers Elasto-Deck 5000 & 6000 - Polyurethane-Coated “solid surface deck…”

In the last POSTING we were involved in building a 42-foot long, elevated TREX DECK: an observation and entertaining deck - level with the surrounding treetops. Where that TREX deck stops, we are continuing around the front of the home with a different type of Deck System: a slightly-sloped, waterproof, Solid-Surface exterior deck.

Whereas Trex Decks allow sunlight to filter between the spaced boards - it is not a watertight covering. We want a Solid-Surface Deck to provide secure, dry space below.

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43-Foot Elevated Observation & Entertaining Trex Deck

In another POST we had constructed a smaller, Master Bedroom Trex Deck. On this same home we are building a higher, longer Observation & Entertaining Deck. Since it is directly outside of the new Great Room, this amazing NEW OUTSIDE SPACE will be perfect for entertaining.

It will extend the inside of the home to the out-of-doors. Moreover, it will allow the owners to to take advantage of some fantastic views: an amazing, cost-effective home improvement - time to plan some summer dinner parties!
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How to design and build a French Drain / Leach Line

Many of us have had water problems on the land around our homes and businesses. When the rains come we sometimes end up with water problems that range from bird-baths to small ponds to huge lakes! Oftentimes these water issues affect our homes - and cost $1,000’s in repairs. It’s time to take action!

Grading the land surface, or pouring water-deflecting, sloped concrete are the typical “first choices.” Other solutions involve adding surface drains and diverting problematic water by underground pipe to a better location.

Sometimes we inherit a soggy-situation or we create our own problems by installing expensive hardscapes that were really great until that first BIG RAIN - when we learned that we failed to adequately-allow for some water situations. In many circumstances there is no where to run drain lines and our choices are very limited…

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What do the “snow birds” who flock to Palm Springs, California and Palm Beach, Florida have in common? For the most part, they have already returned to their homes in Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Connecticut by now! They have better sense…

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