1730 East Ocean Boulevard, Newport Beach | Balboa Peninsula Point Homes for Sale

This charming single family home located on Balboa Peninsula Point in Newport Beach has just been listed for sale. This three bedroom home is being offered for consideration at $1,795,000.

This charming cottage style home located on the Balboa Peninsula Point features three bedrooms and two and three quarters bathrooms. With a nice outside patio and entry area, this home is designed to enjoy the Newport Beach climate.

The entry of this beautiful home for sale in Newport Beach is located opens into the great room with a beautiful fireplace.

This home located on Balboa Peninsula Point has a great room with open feelings, creating an open and airy feel. The living area in this fantastic home in Newport Beach has a fireplace to enjoy gatherings with friends and family.

For more information, view the property website at www.BalboaPeninsulaPointHome.com

Originally posted at NewportBeachRealEstateCafe.com

According to Trulia’s latest  Metro Movers Report the 5 top Los Angeles zip codes chosen by local Los Angelenos for living are: 91436, 90036, 90066, 90064, and 91604.

Where are these desirable zip codes?

91436 covers upscale Encino which lies in the heart of the San Fernando Valley.

159 single family homes were sold over the past year
Median price $934,000
49 Active listings
Median price $1,000,000
Absorption rate*  - 3.82 months

91 single family homes were sold over the past year
Median price $950,000
Active listings 25
Median price $999,100
Absorption rate*  3.19 months

260 single family homes were sold over the past year
Median price $726,000
Active listings 51
Median price $688,800
Absorption rate*  2.41 months

169 single family homes sold over past year
Median price $906,000
Active listings 41
Median price $849,000
Absorption rate*  3.47 months

232 single family homes were sold over the past year
Median price $805,500
Active listings 74
Median price $999,450
Absorption rate*  3.96 months

Los Angeles home sellers in the above areas should be doing well.  There is little inventory and buyers ready to buy.

Buying or Selling Los Angeles Real Estate

Buying or selling a Los Angeles home can be a daunting process in a city this size, especially if you’re new to L.A. Town. You’ll need a resident expert to show you around and help you narrow down the areas where you might like to live. I will help you find the perfect home in the right area to fit your lifestyle, budget and needs!

When I list and sell Los Angeles homes for my clients I strive to make the experience a pleasant one. My mission is to provide outstanding service while utilizing the best practices and systems available.

If you are an absentee owner, you’ll need someone to handle all the details that you can’t handle remotely. That’s where I come in – I’m there when you can’t be. I also specialize in lease property in Los Angeles.

Westside Los Angeles Real Estate, including, but not limited to:

• Westwood Real Estate - Westwood single family homes, Westwood condominiums, Wilshire Corridor condominiums, Century City condominiums
• Brentwood Real Estate - Brentwood single family homes, Brentwood condominiums
• Santa Monica Real Estate - Santa Monica single family homes, Santa Monica condominiums
• Beverly Hills Real Estate - Beverly Hills single family homes, Beverly Hills condominiums
• Culver City Real Estate - Culver City homes
• Silver Lake Real Estate - Silver Lake single homes
  
• Echo Park Real Estate - Echo Park homes

For more information on how I can best serve your Los Angeles real estate needs, don’t hesitate to fill out the contact form or give me a call at 310-473-6919.

Read more: http://www.homejane.com/5-top-los-angeles-zip-codes.html#ixzz1liO8Umxj

My family and I are so proud to call Wellington Florida home, as we have for over a decade now.  We’ve watched our boys grow up in this little ‘Village’ and my how it has grown — in fact, the Village of Wellington has grown nearly as quickly as my boys!  What a wonderful place to raise our children, live, work and play!

It has meant so much to be a part of the incredible journey and here are just a few of the things we’ve witnessed over the last decade…….

The Mall at Wellington Green Opened in October 2001:
10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Wellington Florida

The Mall at Wellington Green was the Palm Beach County’s very first central western area mall.  You will find anchor stores like Dillard’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, JCPenney and more than 170 other specialty shops at the mall.  Surrounding the Mall at Wellington Green you will also find more shops and restaurants, like Whole Foods, Olive Garden, Pier 1 Imports, Macaroni Grill, Kirklands and many more.

Village Park Expansion January 2005:
11700 Pierson Road Wellington Florida

Commonly referred to as Pierson Park, the road it’s located on, Village Park is the largest park in Wellington Florida and sits on 114 acres.  Back in 2004-2005 another gymnasium was added onto the main gymnasium at Village Park along with locker rooms, offices and classrooms.  Many of Wellington’s sporting events take place at Village Park, which has soccer fields, baseball diamonds, football fields, skate park, basketball court, volleyball courts and a childrens playground. (Read More About Village Park)

Wellington Library Remodel July 2007:
1951 Royal Fern Drive Wellington Florida

The Wellington Florida library was closed for well over a year and I can tell you as a Wellington resident who makes frequent trips to the library it seemed like a decade, BUT it was well worth the wait.  The Wellington Library went from 8,000 square feet to 30,000 square feet and it was an amazing transformation.  They increased their collection, added more computers, meeting room space, a larger children’s section, more customer service staff along with additional parking. (Read More About the Wellington Library)

Peaceful Waters Sanctuary Opened in May 2008:
11700 Pierson Road Wellington Florida

The Peaceful Waters Sanctuary is a 26 acre wetlands park located at Village Park.  Nature lovers will enjoy walking the 1,500 feet of boardwalks and one mile walking trail that features a variety of animals and plant species native to South Florida.  The Peaceful Waters Sanctuary in Wellington is also the perfect place for photographers to capture beautiful images.

Scott’s Place Barrier Free Playground Built in March 2010:
12300 West Forest Hill Boulevard Wellington Florida

Scott’s Place is a playground in Wellington Florida that I will always hold near and dear to my heart for two reasons; One it was built in honor of Scott Williamson who lost his life to Cerebral Palsy, which is the same disability I lost my cousin to and the second reason is because my family and I took part in the Community Build.  I look forward to the day I get to take my grand children to Scott’s Place, show them our family paver and let them know their dad help build this park. (Read More About Scott’s Place)

Wellington Aquatics Complex Remodel May 2010:
12150 West Forest Hill Boulevard Wellington Florida

Another amazing remodel took place at the Aquatic Complex in Wellington Florida.  The pool was deepened, the pool decks were raised and widened and items like electronic touch pads were added.  They also replaced the old Aquatic building with a 10,000 square foot structure that includes a concession stand, showers, a restroom, weight room and classrooms.  The Aquatics Complex is one of my boys’ favorite places in Wellington and it is a great place to beat the Florida heat especially during the summertime. (Read More About the Wellington Aquatics)

Wellington Amphitheater Opened in July 2010:
12100 West Forest Hill Boulevard Wellington Florida

The Wellington Amphitheater is by far one of my favorite spots in Wellington Florida.  Every week you’ll find an event going on at the Wellington Amphitheater; FREE Movie Night, FREE Concert Night, the Green Market.  The main building has approximately 3,200 square feet, which features a main stage complete with a full sound and lighting system.  The Wellington Amphitheater also has restrooms, green rooms, a loading area and has a capacity of 1,500 people. (Read More About the Wellington Amphitheater)

City Hall Opened in December 2010:
12300 West Forest Hill Boulevard Wellington Florida

This 54,000 square foot building was a massive project in Wellington Florida that had a budget of $15 million dollars, but was completed for $10.5 million and will become LEED Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.  Wellington residents are able to pay their utility payment at City Hall, obtain permits, licensing and register for parks.  It also houses Wellington’s Counsel, staff and other Wellington employees. (Read More About Wellington’s City Hall)

Wellington Patriot Memorial Built in September 2011:
12300 West Forest Hill Boulevard Wellington Florida

On the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 Wellington unveiled this beautiful Memorial honoring all of the heroes who lost their lives on that tragic day.  The Patriot Memorial is a place where people can honor and remember those who died in the September 11th attacks.  The Patriot Memorial features a steel beam from the south tower of the World Trade Center, an eternal flame and four glass panels etched with the names of everyone who lost their life on 9/11. (Read More About the Wellington Patriot Memorial)

Wellington Communities Built Over the Last Decade:

Black Diamond ~ Buena Vida ~ Equestrian Club ~ Georgian Courts ~ Isles at Wellington ~ Mayfair ~ Oakmont Estates ~ Olympia ~ Towne Place ~ Versailles ~ VillageWalk ~ Wellington Shores ~ Wellingtons Edge

Wellington Schools Built Over the Last Decade:

• Elbridge Gale Elementary School
• Equestrian Trails Elementary School
• Emerald Cove Middle School
• Palm Beach Central High School

Wellington Restaurants Built Over the Last Decade:

Bonefish Macs~ Buca di Beppo ~ Chilis ~ Earl of Sandwich ~ Flanigans ~ Jason’s Deli ~ Macaroni Grill ~ Moe’s Soutwest Grill ~ Olive Garden ~ Panera ~ Pei Wei ~ Pyro Grill ~ Ruby Tuesday’s ~ Saitos’s Japanese Steakhouse ~ Smokey Bone’s ~ Stonewood ~ Tijuana Flats ~ TwoJay’s

Other Wellington Transformations that have Taken Place Over the Last Decade:

• Wellington updated their Logo
• Village of Wellington signs have been updated
• Village Of Wellington signs have been installed
• Two major roadways have been completely renovated; Forest Hill Boulevard and South Shore Boulevard, that included the addition of trees, plants, flowers, pavers and lighting.
• 441 also known as SR-7 expanded and went from four lanes to eight lanes
• Stribling Way was added
• 120th was paved

Read more: http://wellingtonhometeam.com/wellington-florida-a-decade-of-development/#ixzz1lFYgodXb

I read a post recently discussing how effective holding open houses is these days.  A few years ago that was the best way for a home buyer to find  Los Angeles homes for sale.  

Read more: http://www.homejane.com/is-the-los-angeles-open-house-going-the-way-of-the-dodo.html#ixzz1kzCqO6ON

You have prepared to sell your Newport Beach home to sell, and you have addressed deferred maintenance, made necessary repairs, you are thinking like a buyer, you have selected your Newport Beach Realtor, and this post will be addressing managing your listing. This is the last post in the series of preparing your Newport Beach home to sell, and the next series will be on the process and steps of selling your home.

Important considerations include the following:

1. Put away valuables and prescription drugs. Don’t keep them in a drawer, sometimes prospects open drawers. This is for your own safety.
2. I mentioned in the first post, remove personal photographs. Prospects and even Real Estate agents get distracted and look at personal photos. You want your home to be as generic as possible. I have had showings when the Real Estate agent walked around and looked at every single personal photograph in the property.
3. Keep home organized and clean during listing period – including beds made, dishes done, counters clean, etc. You never know when you are going to have a showing. Also, keep your yard clean as well especially if you have a pet.
4. Regarding showings, are you going to require an appointment to view the property? That is a discussion for you and your Real Estate agent. Keep in mind easy access to the property is preferred, however if you have children, pets that need to be managed, perhaps consider a couple of hours notice.
5. Don’t stay in the house when the Agent comes to show your house. Buyers generally do not feel comfortable if the owner’s are in the house. If you have a pet – go and take it for a walk during the showing.
6. Are you going to require your Real Estate agent to be there for all showings? Every homeowner is different. I can argue both sides of this – by having the listing agent in the property then they can describe amenities and neighborhood as well if someone is from out of area. However, sometimes a buyer prefers to only have their agent with them as they tour the property.
7. Consider the use of an electronic lock box. First of all they can be programmed to only allow it to operate during certain hours (which is something I do). The benefit of lock boxes is that it is easy access, the agent has to be a member of the board to utilize the lock boxes (as opposed to combo lock boxes), and lastly the lock box records everyone who enters the property and the listing agent can see their name, email, and contact information. I utilize this to contact the agent for feedback so I can pass it along to the seller/owner.
8. Is your Agent going to hold Broker Preview or opens? This is something that I do recommend and think it is beneficial as it allows the agents to come through the property who may have a buyer for your property.
9. Are you going to allow open houses? Again a discussion for you and your real estate agent. Open houses typically do not sell homes, however it does happen.

One last comment, if you do not get a lot of action during the first two weeks that your property is listed for sale, then you need to consider the price. You may be above the market.

If I can answer any questions about preparing your home to sell, please contact me.

Read the entire series here on preparing your home to sell.

Addressing Deferred Maintenance
Getting Top Dollar
Think Like a Buyer
Selecting Your Realtor
Managing Your Listing

Originally posted at NewportBeachRealEstateCafe.com

America’s Best Downtown Portland Oregon

Forbes Magazine recently gave the nod to Downtown Portland Oregon as being one of America’s Best Downtowns. I could not agree any more! Downtown Portland is truly a wonderful place.

When it comes to cities, Portland, Ore., is a unique urban playground of high-end culture, green living and DIY arts scenes. But for a taste of Portland’s best, natives point to the city’s downtown area. There’s independent live theater, beautiful parks, the largest independent and used bookstore in the country and some of the best doughnut shops on the Pacific Coast (not to mention a plethora of Portland’s celebrated food trucks). ~~ John Giuffo, Contributor Forbes

Normally, I can’t stand the “lists” of the Best Places to Live, or the Best Places to Retire. There’s typically a 10 top and that makes me wonder what about all the other GREAT PLACES in America to live?

Lifestyles Across America is a great portal for all things best, but I digress.

Portland, Ore.

Although Portland is well known as a city that is friendly to bicyclists, it also has a walkable and attractive downtown that offers a wide variety of cultural options and commercial options. There’s a vibrant and active arts scene, great food on both the high and low ends, the country’s best selection of locally-sourced craft beers, an attractive and popular riverside park, and Powell’s, the largest and one of the best independent bookstores in the country. And while you can, with some effort walk around much of Portland’s relatively small downtowns, its best to mike (sic) like a local and rent a bike – you’ll get around more effectively, see more of the area, and get a little exercise – all good things in the greenest of “America’s 50 Greenest Cities.” ~~ Forbes

America’s Best Downtown Portland OR

Portland, Ore has one of the best Downtowns in America. I know, because I live here and I love Downtown Portland! I’ve always felt Portland’s Downtown was clean, safe, charming, quaint and very reminiscent of some European city centers such as Amsterdam.

Here’s a few topics left off the list of America’s Best Downtowns:

• The Alphabet Blocks in Downtown Portland
• The Pearl District
• Pioneer Courthouse Square
• Director Park Downtown Portland
• Downtown Portland’s Directors Park
• Downtown Portland Saturday Market
• Downtown Portland Farmers Market
  
• Downtown Portland Streetcars
• Portland Zip Cars
• Downtown Portland Walking Tours
• etc.

More about Downtown Portland being one of America’s Best Downtowns

Even more America’s Best Downtown Portland OR

Portland Buyers Agent – Real Estate Expert in the Portland Metro Area

EBA Portland, LLC is an Exclusive Buyer Agency serving the Metro Portland real estate market since 1999. I only represent Home Buyers and never home sellers. If you’re looking for a home anywhere in the Portland Metro area, there is no better representation than an Exclusive Buyers Agent. I assist investors, folks relocating to Portland area, those moving to the Portland area in-state, home buyers who are looking to down-size or move-up and of course . . . love working with first-time buyers. I help Buyers in the Portland Metro market find exactly what they need in the Tri-County markets of Clackamas County, Multnomah County and Washington County, as well Portland cities including but not limited to:

• Beaverton homes for sale
• Tigard homes for sale
• Hillsboro homes for sale
• Lake Oswego homes for sale
• Portland homes for sale

When you’re ready, talk to an Exclusive Buyers Agent. Exclusive Buyers Agents do not work for listing brokerages or Sellers. An EBA’s fiduciary duty is: 100% BUYER REPRESENTATION . . . 100% of the Time. Contact me for all Portland Housing.

Carla Muss-Jacobs, Principal Broker/Owner
EBA Portland LLC
1722 NW Raleigh St., Suite 116
Portland, OR 97209
BEAVERTON OFFICE:
14845 SW Murray Scholls Blvd, #110-518
Beaverton, OR 97007
Office: 503.524.2560
Direct: 503.810.7192

EBA Portland ~~ 100% BUYER REPRESENTATION . . . 100% of the Time

All rights reserved ©

Did that catch your eye?  Unfortunately, leaving investors out of the equation, as a Los Angeles home buyer you are probably not going to find that bargain home you are looking for.

Why?

Because the real bargains often don’t make it to the general market.  They are bought through word-of-mouth or on the courthouse steps.  And, if by some chance a good one slips through, there will be a buying frenzy with multiple offers, making the home no longer a bargain.

Also, many of the neighborhoods of Los Angeles were not hit as badly as the rest of the country and here you absolutely get what you pay for.

But a foreclosure is going to be a bargain, right?

Probably not.  Generally by the time a Los Angeles foreclosure gets to the market it is pretty much going to be in poor condition, if not completely gutted.  So by the time you fix it up any savings you might have will be wiped out.

So I can buy a short sale for a bargain, right?

Wrong.  A short sale occurs when a seller owes more on the mortgage than the home is worth.  Instead of walking away and being foreclosed on they opt to put it on the market.  The lender is already taking a loss so they are going to ensure that the home is priced according to the market.  No bargains are going to be found here.  Generally, you will find these homes in better condition than one that has been foreclosed on, but the time involved in waiting for a short sale, and the fact that repairs are most likely not going to be done may you may end up with a buyer paying more than if they had bought a traditional home and were able to negotiate with the seller for repairs.

I can offer way less than the list price right?

Pretty much the only way you may  buy a Los Angeles home for way less than the list price is if it is way overpriced in the first place.  Your Los Angeles Realtor® will have done the comps on the home and advised you as to whether the price being asked is at market or not.  If the home is priced correctly, the seller is probably not going to let it go for much less, if they will let it go for less at all.  Not every home seller is desperate.  In fact most aren’t.  And don’t be fooled by homes that have been sitting on the market for awhile.  There is a reason they have not sold.  It could be that they are overpriced or there is something wrong with them.

In today’s Los Angeles real estate market, where new inventory is low in many areas, homes that come on the market well-priced are going into multiples and selling very quickly.

If you find a Los Angeles home that you love, and it is well-priced, you will have found your bargain home.

Search homes for sale in Los Angeles

Buying or Selling Los Angeles Real Estate

Buying or selling a Los Angeles home can be a daunting process in a city this size, especially if you’re new to L.A. Town. You’ll need a resident expert to show you around and help you narrow down the areas where you might like to live. I will help you find the perfect home in the right area to fit your lifestyle, budget and needs!

When I list and sell Los Angeles homes for my clients I strive to make the experience a pleasant one. My mission is to provide outstanding service while utilizing the best practices and systems available.

If you are an absentee owner, you’ll need someone to handle all the details that you can’t handle remotely. That’s where I come in – I’m there when you can’t be. I also specialize in lease property in Los Angeles.

Westside Los Angeles Real Estate, including, but not limited to:

• Westwood Real Estate – Westwood single family homes, Westwood condominiums, Wilshire Corridor condominiums, Century City condominiums
• Brentwood Real Estate – Brentwood single family homes, Brentwood condominiums
• Santa Monica Real Estate – Santa Monica single family homes, Santa Monica condominiums
• Beverly Hills Real Estate - Beverly Hills single family homes, Beverly Hills condominiums
• Culver City Real Estate – Culver City homes
• Silver Lake Real Estate - Silver Lake single homes
• Echo Park Real Estate – Echo Park homes

For more information on how I can best serve your Los Angeles real estate needs, don’t hesitate to fill out the contact form or give me a call at 310-473-6919.

Read more: http://www.homejane.com/buying-a-los-angeles-home-for-a-bargain.html#ixzz1k4BKL8sR

How do you go about searching for a Los Angeles home for sale?  

If you are like the majority of Los Angeles homebuyers  you start your search online.  After all you can buy almost everything online these days including, believe it or not, supposed stem cells.  But unless you are a doctor would you attempt to buy stem cells online?

The same thing goes for such an important transaction as your future home.  Finding a Los Angeles home for sale  is not a simple process, let alone buying one.  There are so many sites on which you can do the research, and a lot of information to process, much of which can be misinterpreted.  I get so many calls from people wanting to see homes which are already in escrow or off the market, or turn out to be a scam.

I understand the desire to try and do the home search on your own.  There is no pressure.  No agent pushing you when you don’t want to be pushed.  Many of us walk into a store, and when the salesperson comes over and asks if they can help we generally say “no thank you, I’m just looking”.  I have learned that phrase in many languages.  But we are there to buy, and our time would be less wasted if we accepted that offer of help.

The same with buying a home in Los Angeles.  You are not “just looking.”  You could use the help and save yourself a lot of heartache and wasted time.

What can a Los Angeles Realtor® do that you can’t do on your own?  Let me count the ways:

1. You may, or may not know, unless you are paying all cash, that you are required to be pre-approved by a lender before making an offer on any property.  No offer will be accepted without that pre-approval.  If you don’t have anyone in mind, your Realtor® will have some referrals for you.  Whatever you do, don’t get a do-it-yourself approval either, it will not be worth the paper on which it is written.  Here we go, back to why you need to deal with flesh and blood people
2. How well do you know the neighborhoods in which you are searching?  If you have specific requirements, why go through all the trouble of doing the research on each home, when your Los Angeles Realtor®  will have the answers, and if they don’t they can do the work for you.
3. Do you know the history of the home you are investigating?  Did if fall out of escrow recently, and if so, why?  Are you going to try and call the listing agent on each one of the homes?  Which leads me to…..
4. Have you tried setting up appointments with listing agents?  Do you know how difficult it can sometimes be, especially when you are trying to coordinate several showings at once.  Guess who can take that load off your back!
5. Oh, and no, you do not want to use the listing agent to purchase the home in which you are interested.  Reasons for not doing so are included in an earlier post,  “Understanding the Benefits of Using a Buyer’s Agent.“
6. When you do find that perfect home, what next?  You now need a strong negotiator to cement the deal for you.  There can be a lot of back and forth between you and the Seller before you come to a meeting of the minds.  Your Realtor® is going to have your back.
7. Wouldn’t you love to sit back and have someone else take over the reins.  All you have to do is sign the paperwork and come up with the money!  And believe me, there is a ton of paperwork, much of which can be overwhelming.
8. Do you know good licensed home inspectors?  Your Realtor® sure does.  They have worked with them over the years and know the best ones.  You need to find out everything there is about the house before committing to buying it.  And your Realtor® will help you negotiate any repairs which need doing as a result, with your best interests in mind.
9. During the course of escrow there are contingencies to be met by both sides.  Your Realtor® will keep you honest and ensure that the other side meets their obligations also.
10. And lastly, all these services are provided to you for free.  If you connect with a good Realtor® and trust them, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  You may find you have more to lose by not using the services of a Los Angeles Realtor® than you do by taking the leap and hiring one.

One thing I can promise you is that you will get no pressure from me, just the assistance you need in order to find the home you are going to love.

Buying or Selling Los Angeles Real Estate

Buying or selling a Los Angeles home can be a daunting process in a city this size, especially if you’re new to L.A. Town. You’ll need a resident expert to show you around and help you narrow down the areas where you might like to live. I will help you find the perfect home in the right area to fit your lifestyle, budget and needs!

When I list and sell Los Angeles homes for my clients I strive to make the experience a pleasant one. My mission is to provide outstanding service while utilizing the best practices and systems available.

If you are an absentee owner, you’ll need someone to handle all the details that you can’t handle remotely. That’s where I come in – I’m there when you can’t be. I also specialize in lease property in Los Angeles.

Westside Los Angeles Real Estate, including, but not limited to:

• Westwood Real Estate - Westwood single family homes, Westwood condominiums, Wilshire Corridor condominiums, Century City condominiums
• Brentwood Real Estate - Brentwood single family homes, Brentwood condominiums
• Santa Monica Real Estate - Santa Monica single family homes, Santa Monica condominiums
• Beverly Hills Real Estate - Beverly Hills single family homes, Beverly Hills condominiums
• Culver City Real Estate - Culver City homes
• Silver Lake Real Estate - Silver Lake single homes
  
• Echo Park Real Estate - Echo Park homes

For more information on how I can best serve your Los Angeles real estate needs, don’t hesitate to fill out the contact form or give me a call at 310-473-6919.

Read more: http://www.homejane.com/need-help-buying-a-los-angeles-property-10-reasons-why-you-should-talk-to-a-realtor.html#ixzz1jGhUDTD8

It is the first week of January, are you considering selling your Newport Beach home? This is part 1 in a series to provide information to you in the Newport Beach home selling process and preparing your home to sell, and the necessary steps that need to be taken when selling your home.

Does your home have deferred maintenance? You are planning on selling your Newport Beach home, and don’t want to invest the extra money to repair items on the home that need attention. You might want to think again! 

Buyers will perform a home inspection as part of their due diligence and when they do, any deferred maintenance will show up. The inspector will document about all the systems of the home including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, kitchen appliances, etc. If you know that there is are items which need to be addressed such as a plumbing leak – I HIGHLY recommend that this be addressed. A concern would be if a buyer wants to purchase the property and they start to see “things” that need to be addressed, and the buyer will wonder – if that needs to be addressed, then what else needs to be addressed.

Some recommendations include:

1. Inspect the HVAC  and ensure it is working properly.
2. Make sure there are not additional visitors in the property (i.e. rodents) because that will not only be documented by the home inspector, but also by the termite company which is another inspection which is typical and customary in California.
3. Are there plumbing issues? If there are leaks, then repair them right away, water can be very damaging to a property.
4. How is the roof? Does it leak? Are there water stains on the ceiling? These are things that a buyer may see, or if not a home inspector will, and may recommend an additional roof inspection.
5. Do you have a pool or a spa? Is it serviced on a regular basis? Are there service issues that need to be addressed?
6. Do the windows open and close smoothly?
7. Is there a fireplace? Has the chimney been swept lately?
8. Is there a fountain or water feature outside? Does it operate properly or is it filled with green moss?

If you are selling your home, repair the basics. If there are issues with systems and you trying to save money, then think again. Your potential buyer will see these items if they are savvy, and will ask their agent to negotiate in their behalf because of the deferred maintenance. And, it will come up on the home inspection, and the buyer may ask for it to be repaired, or they might be scared away. Do you want to take that chance?

This is part 1 in a series of Selling Your Home.

Originally posted at NewportBeachRealEstateCafe.com

This past weekend my youngest son, Aidan, donated his old bike to Jack the Bike Man.  If you are not familiar with Jack the Bike Man he runs a non-profit organization that accepts new and used bike donations and gives them away to needy children.

Besides accepting new and used bike donations Jack the Bike Man also accepts bikes that are in need of repair along with monetary donations.  While Jack the Bike Man gives away the children’s bikes that he receives he sells the adult bicycles as a fundraiser for the charity.

This is truly an awesome program that keeps bicycles out of landfills and gives back to the community.  Every Christmas Jack the Bike Man gives away hundreds of bikes to children, this year he gave away over 800 and told me if he starts getting bikes now that need repair can have them fixed and ready for next Christmas.

Jack the Bike Man’s Resale Bicycle Shop
4401 Broadway (US1)
West Palm Beach Florida
(1 1/2 blocks south of 45th on the west side)
561-863-1530

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00am to 6:00pm & Sunday 12:00pm to 5:00pm

Visit Jack the Bike Man online at www.JackTheBikeMan.org
Like him on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jackthebikeman

Read more: http://wellingtonhometeam.com/have-an-old-bike-donate-it-to-jack-the-bike-man-in-west-palm-beach-fl/#ixzz1ibfc36Ho