Repairs Before The Sale

It goes without saying that you will want to make some repairs to your home before the sale. In fact most home sales include a home inspection clause, and depending on how its written, can allow the buyer to cancel the contract if the inspection report is not satisfactory or if the seller will not make certain repairs. How can you alleviate this headache if you are a seller? The process starts with a tour through your home, interior and exterior. When I take a listing part of my service is to do this with you and suggest necessary repairs for you to do before we get to negotiating with a buyer.
Some items can be as simple as a fresh coat of paint, others are more complex such as that sticky slider going out to the back door! You may have gotten used to it, but your prospective buyer will just look at it as a problem. {A quick fix ... Get a cube of solid paraffin wax and rub along all the tracks of the door, on the bottom and along all sides.}
The home inspection may uncover something that needs repair and after the buyer reviews the report with their agent, the buyer may come back and ask you for a discount ... And many times this reopens the negotiations. Something you want to avoid.
So what is really needed to be competitive in our present market? Every home is unique, Just give me a quick call and we'll see what's best for your home in today's market.

Heat and Air Conditioner Work Law

Contractors State License Board Alerts Contractors to
New Heat and Air Conditioner Work Law
Consumers will also feel the effect of new rules
Sacramento -- The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) has teamed up with the California Energy Commission (CEC) to get the word out about new energy code requirements that go into effect on October 1, 2005 that contractors must meet. Under the new law (Building Energy Efficiency Standards, Title 24, Part 6), contractors must test a home's ducts for leaks when a new central air conditioner or furnace is installed or replaced. If the ducts leak 15% or more, they must be repaired.
To read how it may affect you, visit the Air Duct Sealing, Contractors State License Board

The Termites In Mulch Myth

There has been a flurry of internet traffic related to an October 2005 press release on Louisiana State University's website regarding the potential spread of Formosan subterranean termites (FST) in mulch being produced from infested trees in hurricane effected areas of Louisiana.
This email erroneously implies that large retail home stores will purchase and re-sell bags of this mulch around the country – thereby spreading FST to currently infestation-free areas. Read the Pestworld article here
Related Reading: Break the Chain, help stop junk emails.
References: National Pest Management Association, Inc

Smiser Mule Ranch

{Was there a real mule ranch at that site? Yes! a real working mule ranch was located on the site at Calgrove Blvd just south of Lyons Avenue. The late Sam Smiser, owned the Smiser Mule Ranch in Newhall, Calif., and was known throughout the country for his expertise as a mule producer and promoter.}

3/19/2006
Josh Premako / Signal Staff Writer
An open pasture once home to 30 mules on the east side of Interstate 5 north of Calgrove Boulevard is set to be transformed into an “urban mixed-use village” in the coming years.
The Monteverde Development Co. filed a preliminary proposal for the 37-acre project with the city of Santa Clarita earlier this week.
Read The Entire Signal Newspaper Article Here.

Benz Road Traffic Relief

Benz Road residents can start enjoying some calm on their street. For years commuters within SCV have used Benz Road as a rush hour cut through when Copper Hill opened to Bouquet Canyon Road, with as many as 3,300 cars a day traveling through the sububia of this small street, natually homeowners have been downright angry at the city of Santa Clarita for not acting on the many complaints over the last couple of years.
The traffic engineer states that new restrictions on making turns onto the Copper Hill at Benz and Buckhorn Lane, and signs on Bouquet will prevent turns onto Sue Drive leading towards Benz. These are measures city officals say will aleiviate some 1300 cars from using the road during certain times of the day.
Residents have been quoted as stating that many drivers fail to stop at posted stop signs and are just plain bad drivers!

Love My House, Love My Dog

SCOTT CITY, Mo. (March 3)
Rocky the dog has a new owner and a "nose for real estate".
The new home owners met Rocky while house-hunting in Scott City, Mo., and knew they'd found their home - and their new dog.
The seller couldn't keep Rocky, so written into the contract was Rocky listed as "personal property to stay"
The realtor was quoted as saying "never seen a contract like it"
I give the seller credit here instead of Rocky ending up in a shelter they have given Rocky a new lease on life! and apparently, the former owner can visit Rocky whenever they want. Kudos to the new homeowners for acepting responsibility for this little pooch.

Arnold Comes To Castaic

Golf legend Arnold Palmer that is! The Los Angeles daily News reported Tuesday the 28th of February that Arnold Palmer is designing another of his signature golf courses. The first in the Los Angeles area.

"Los Valles" 18-hole par-71 private golf club will be located in the Hasley Canyon area of Castaic, I had driven thru the Canyon on Tuesday and saw the tents being set up for the annoucement.
The project is a joint venture between Palmer Investments Inc. and David Chapman Investment LLC.

The golf course will be surrounded by 209 estate homes within a gated community encompasing 433 acres. The lots, approximate half acre parcels with prices starting at $600,000, and golf course membership will start at $45,000.
Map courtesy of Los Angeles Daily News