Santa Cruz Real Estate
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Are you looking for something to do around your Santa Cruz home this weekend that will also help the environment? Why not do a quick green renovation at home. Incorporating green products and practices in your home helps save our natural resources and are better for your health. Here are a few simple projects you can work on this weekend.

1. Floors. You can easily replace the floor in a room during a weekend. Bamboo and cork floors are excellent, environmentally-friendly choices because they are renewable sources. They come in a variety of colors and styles so you can find something that will match your current décor.

2. Paint. Painting a room is a quick and easy way to change its look. However, traditional paint is loaded with toxic fumes that can aggravate respiratory conditions like asthma. When you paint your next room, choose a paint that contains less or no amounts of dangerous chemicals. Your room will look just as good, and your lungs will be happier.

3. Windows. If you still have old, single pane windows in your Santa Cruz home, it’s time to replace them with double pane energy efficient windows. These newer windows will lower your energy consumption by keeping your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Make sure you seal the windows properly so they don’t let air escape.

4. Insulation. A well insulated home saves money on your utility bill and cuts back on the amount of energy you use. Make sure you have adequate insulation in your attic. Check your doors and windows for cracks and leaks that allow air to escape. Seal them with caulk or weather stripping.

Are you looking for a green Santa Cruz home? I can help you find one. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

LINKS:

1. How to install cork floors

2. Eco-friendly paint

3. Energy efficient windows

In some ways selling Santa Cruz vacant land is no different from selling a single family home. Basically, you want to make sure your land looks as good as possible. Even though vacant land doesn’t have a home for you to prepare for sale, you still need to consider what the buyer will see when they look at your property. There are a few quick and easy improvements you can do so your land is easier to sell.

1. Keep the grass mowed. Nothing will turn away a buyer quicker than overgrown property. All they will see is the amount of work they will have to do to maintain the Santa Cruz vacant land. You certainly don’t have to landscape the property like it’s your front lawn, but you should at least be able to walk around on it.

2. Remove overgrown trees and bushes. Overgrown trees and plants are a sure sign that you haven’t taken care of the property. Your buyer may wonder if you’re trying to hide flaws on the property. This can convince them to look elsewhere.

3. Add a fence. A fence defines your property. This makes it easier for buyers to see exactly what they’re getting. It can also be an important selling point. If your buyer has children or pets who will play on the property, they will appreciate knowing they can let them run around outside without getting too far away.

Make sure your Santa Cruz vacant land looks as good as possible when you put it on the market. Let me help sell your vacant land. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

 LINKS:

1. Grass cutting tips

2. How to trim trees

3. Types of fences

When you buy a Santa Cruz home, the last thing you want to deal with is a natural disaster like a flood. Although you cannot prevent a flood from happening, there certainly are steps you can take to reduce your home’s risk of flooding. This starts with purchasing a home that is not in a low-lying area. Even if your seller doesn’t tell you if your home is a potential flood hazard, it’s easy enough to find out on your own.

1. Check the FEMA maps. The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) regulates the 100-year floodplain for many bodies of water. FEMA maintains Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that show these floodplains. You can find these maps on file at your local city hall or county government office. They can tell you if your Santa Cruz home is in a flood plain.

2. Look at the property. Water doesn’t quickly drain from low-lying land after a storm. This is what leads to flooding in wetlands. If it’s possible, visit the property after a heavy rain. This way you can see yourself how well water drains, which direction it flows, and if any areas retain water.

3. Pay attention to the plants and soil. Certain plants and trees thrive in wetlands. Water-friendly plants and trees like cypress, willows, cattails, and sphagnum moss are a sure sign the property is low. A local horticulturist or nursery manager can give you tips for spotting wetlands vegetation in your neighborhood.

Floods don’t have to be a problem for your next Santa Cruz home. Let me help you find the right home for you on dry ground. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

LINKS:

1. National Flood Insurance Program

2. FEMA Map Service Center

3. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

When your Santa Cruz home is in foreclosure, you go through a variety of emotions. It’s embarrassing to give your home back to the bank. It’s also frustrating to know your credit score will drop considerably. However, foreclosures do happen, and you can rebuild your credit after you lose your home.

1. Educate yourself about credit. You need to understand how credit works so you don’t end up in this same situation again. For example, did your Santa Cruz home take up more of your budget than you expected? There are several great books and courses available to show you how to manage your finances.

2. Create a budget. A budget lets you see exactly how much money you have to spend each month. It also helps you track where you spend your money. Put together a budget that fits your lifestyle and then stick to it no matter what.

3. Build an emergency fund. You never know when an emergency will happen. When you’re prepared for a financial emergency, you’re better protected from those financial problems.

4. Get new credit. This can be tricky after a foreclosure. New credit will give you a chance to prove you can manage debt. However, you certainly don’t want to find yourself owing more than you can possibly pay. Choose your new credit wisely.

5. Give yourself time. It takes time to rebuild your credit. Don’t expect your credit score to be in the good or excellent range within weeks or even months after your foreclosure. Your foreclosure is going to stay on your credit report for seven years anyway, so there’s no need to rush.

A foreclosure is not the end of the world. Let me help you find your next Santa Cruz home that fits your budget. Call me at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

LINK:

1. Use credit wisely

2. How to create a budget

3. Find your credit score

When you move in to your new Santa Cruz home, you want to make it your own by decorating. Painting a room is a quick and inexpensive way to transform the look of the room. Even if you’ve never painted before, the perfect paint job is easy to achieve if you take your time. Here’s how.

1. Choose the right paint. Consider the size and use of your room when you choose paint. Dark colors can make large rooms feel cozier, while smaller rooms may look bigger with light colors. Glossy paints are easier to clean than flat paints, but they make imperfections more obvious.

2. Test your color. Even if you use the lighting tools at the paint store, you don’t really know how paint will look until it’s inside your Santa Cruz home. Buy a small container of paint and test it on your walls before you invest your time and money in paint that doesn’t look right.

3. Clean thoroughly. Wipe down each wall to remove spider webs and dust. Then wash them with a mild soap so they are clean and ready for new paint. This will also help you see any spots that need extra attention before you get started.

4. Prepare the surface. Fill small cracks and nail holes with spackling paste. After it dries, use fine sandpaper to even out the surface. Remove switch plate covers and tape around anything you don’t want painted.

5. Use enough paint. You really need two coats of paint. The first coat covers the existing paint, which often bleeds through. The second coat of paint makes wall look good. If you’re painting a light color over a dark color, you may need a third coat.

6. Use consistent strokes. Whether you’re using a paint roller or brush, make sure you cover the same amount of wall space with each stroke. This keeps your coverage even. Move in the same direction as you work around the room so you get a uniform finish.

Decorating your Santa Cruz home is one of the benefits of home ownership. Let me help you find your next home. Call me at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

LINKS:

1. Choose the right paint brush

2. Easy drywall repairs

3. Tips for choosing the right paint color

Trying to sell your Santa Cruz real estate in a slow market is definitely frustrating. You may find that it takes longer to sell and you cannot get as much money as you could during a booming market. However, you can’t believe all the hype about a sluggish real estate market. Do your research and separate the facts from the fiction.

1. You won’t get a decent price. Your Santa Cruz real estate will sell for whatever a buyer is willing to spend on it. A comparative market analysis shows you what other buyers spent on real estate like yours. Of course, if you bought your real estate when values were up, you may have to take a loss. However, most people can get a fair price and even make a profit in a slow market.

2. Your real estate will stay on the market too long. While it’s true that real estate tends to take longer to sell during a slow market, it’s not impossible to sell them. People do still buy real estate in slower markets. If your real estate is priced right and prepared for sale, you can still sell it within a reasonable amount of time.

3. Buyers only want foreclosures and short sales. The truth is that buyers want good deals, and this can be in the form of money or time. The price of a foreclosure or short sale may certainly be attractive, but they can take a considerable amount of time to close while the banks negotiate their terms. Paying slightly more for a traditional sale is sometimes well worth the time they can save.

Selling your Santa Cruz real estate in a slow market isn’t easy, but it can be done. Using my proven marketing plan, I can help you sell your real estate whether it’s a slow market or a booming market. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

 
LINKS:

1. Find your home’s value

2. Prepare your home for sale

3. How foreclosures work

De-cluttering your Santa Cruz home is an important part of preparing it for sale. Buyers want to see themselves and their belongings inside your home. However, this idea isn’t limited to the inside of your home. It also applies to your garage. Cluttered, over-crowded garages turn buyers away. Fortunately, sprucing-up your garage is easier than you think. Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Start with a list. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t even know what’s inside your garage. Take a pencil and paper and walk through your garage, writing down everything you see. You don’t need a detailed list. For example, screws, bolts, and nails can be listed together as hardware.

2. Reduce the list. Cleaning your garage means getting rid of anything you no longer need or want. A general rule is that you can toss any item you haven’t used in 1 year. If you don’t use it, it’s only taking up space. Give it away, trash it, or recycle it.

3. Group related items. It just makes sense to store items together. If all your camping supplies are stored in one place, you won’t waste time anymore looking for them. Place each item on your list in a group, like painting supplies, home repairs, winter blankets, etc.
 
4. Create zones. Decide what you want to do with your garage. If you want to park a car inside, designate a parking zone and don’t let anything but your car in that zone. Choose a work area where you can place a workbench or household projects. Storage zones should be at different heights throughout the garage.

5. Give it some personality. Once your garage is organized and clean, make it more attractive with some decorative touches. Paint the floor or install garage flooring. Decorate it with an automotive theme. Install a parking guide system. Upgrade to an automatic garage door.

With a little work, your Santa Cruz home will be ready to sell in no time. Let me help you prepare your home to sell fast and for the most money. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

LINKS:

1. Find new homes for unused items

2. Garage storage solutions

3. Garage floor options

After you sign the paperwork at the closing table, it’s time to move into your new Santa Cruz home. Unpacking your belongings can be overwhelming. However, with some careful planning and delegation, you can have your home running smoothly in no time.

1. Involve the whole family. Unpacking and arranging your entire Santa Cruz home by yourself would be an overwhelming task. Send smaller children to their bedrooms to unpack their boxes and put away their toys and clothes. Older children can help move furniture and unpack boxes in other rooms before they tackle their own.

2. Start with bigger and heavier items. Move your furniture into each room and place it where you want it to go. Then hook up major appliances, like the washer and dryer, stove, and refrigerator. With this out of the way, your home will look more finished, and you can concentrate on the smaller tasks.

3. Work around your home in small sections. Don’t expect to have everything unpacked and put away in a single day. This is going to take some time. Start with the kitchen and bathrooms since you most likely use these rooms the most. Put away just what you think you will use right away, like the pantry and toiletries. Move on to the livingroom and bedrooms, spending 30-45 minutes at a time in each room.

4. Don’t be afraid to discard. Even if you gave away and discarded unused items before you left, there’s still a chance you overlooked some things. As you unpack and decide where everything is going to go, ask yourself if you really need to keep each item. Start your life in your new home as clutter-free as possible.

Moving into a new home is a great adventure. Let me help you find the right Santa Cruz home for you. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

LINKS:

1. Kid’s storage solutions

2. Appliances

3. Kitchen pantry basics

Purchasing Santa Cruz vacant land is very different from buying a home within a development. In fact, vacant land can be downright scary to someone who’s never dealt with it. Don’t let this keep you away from buying vacant land. Do your research and separate the truths from the myths about vacant land.

1. It takes too long to build on. The truth is that you can build on your Santa Cruz vacant land as soon as you’re ready. What can take time is getting the right building permits and fitting into your builder’s schedule. However, none of this has anything to do with the land itself. You can run into these delays if you build in a planned community.

2. It has no value. You’re most likely not going to be able to flip a piece of vacant land like you could a home. Yet, like any other type of real estate, land generally goes up in value over time. If you add improvements to land, like septic and water systems or even a home, its value will go up even more.

3. I will have to pay cash for it. Although it may not be as easy for just anyone to get a bank loan for vacant land, it is possible. Even if you can’t get a bank loan for land, many land owners are more willing to offer owner financing or a lease to own arrangement so you can purchase it.

4. It’s just too risky. Of course there’s a risk involved in buying vacant land, but it’s no different than any other real estate investment. There’s always a chance the market will shift and make it more difficult to sell.

However, as long as you do your homework and buy land in a desirable area, it’s still a rather safe investment.

If you think Santa Cruz vacant land is right for you, let me help your property. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

LINKS:

1. Find a home builder

2. Septic systems

3. Loans for buying vacant land

A beautiful yard is an excellent selling point for your Santa Cruz real estate because it increases curb appeal. However, traditional landscaping can be time consuming. Xeriscaping is a great way to plan your landscaping so that it’s easier to take care of and uses less water. With a little planning, you can have a beautiful yard that fits your lifestyle. Here’s how you can get started.

1. The first thing you have to do is draw a map of your property. Make sure it is to scale so you have an accurate idea of what kind of space you have in your yard. Include the location of your Santa Cruz real estate, the orientation of the sun, outdoor structures and outcroppings, and existing vegetation. This will help you decide the best place for each plant.

2. Once your base map is complete, look around your yard and decide which places you want to emphasize or hide. For example, you may want to cover an old water pump. Mark drainage problems, like areas where water stands after a rain. Note how much sun and shade each area of your yard receives during the day.

3. Divide your yard into sections: public, private, or service. Public sections are those that can be seen from the street. Private sections are those used by you and your family. Service areas are the places you walk through to reach the private sections or to access the electric and water hook-ups. Plan your plants for each section. You want public areas to be the most attractive, practical private sections, and easily accessible service regions.

4. Choose the right native plants for each area of your yard. Native plants require less water, attract fewer pests, and use less fertilizer than plants from other regions. They are also already adapted to your climate and will last longer than other plants. Native plants are simply easier to take care of and are better for the environment.

Renovating your yard is just one way to help your Santa Cruz real estate sell. Let me help you sell your home fast. Call me today 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

LINKS:

1. Draw a base map

2. Common drainage problems

3. Guide to native plants