Santa Cruz Real Estate
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A koi pond is a popular way to add beauty and serenity to your yard. Listening to the soothing sounds of running water and watching fish glide beneath the water surface is a great way to unwind after a long day at work. Building a koi pond at your Santa Cruz home is a simple process that can be completed in a weekend.

Here’s how:

1. Choose a location. The best spot for a koi pond is one that you can easily access from your Santa Cruz home and gives your fish adequate security. You need to be able to reach the pond to take care of it. You also want your fish to be safe from wild animals and extreme temperature changes.

2. Dig a hole. Measure your pond frame. Dig a hole 2-3 inches larger than the pond frame. Make sure you dig deep enough. The frame needs to fit inside the hole. You always add sand to level the pond and fill gaps.

3. Fill the hole. Place a pond frame or pond liner in the hole. Level the pond by adding sand. Make sure the pond is firmly inside the hole and does not rock when you add pressure. Fill the pond with clean water and add chemicals to remove chlorine.

4. Decorate. Line the edges of the pond with decorative rocks and tropical plants. Add lily pads and other aquatic plants to the pond. Install a pond fountain to aerate the water and fill your backyard with the sound of running water.

5. Add fish. Give the water in your pond a few days to rest before adding the fish. When the water is ready, choose the fish based on your pond’s size. Your local koi dealer can help you determine how many fish you can safely add.

Give yourself another reason to enjoy your Santa Cruz home by adding a koi pond. Are you looking for a home to call your own? Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

LINKS:

1. Koi

2. Chlorine remover

3. Aquatic plants

It seems like everyone is going green and doing their part to conserve resources. One simple way you can help out is to cut back on your water use at home, especially in the bathroom. Consider how much water is used there. In fact, a family of four can easily use 8,000 gallons of water just by flushing the toilet.

Fortunately, there are a few simple tricks to help you save water in the bathroom of your Santa Cruz home.

• Turn off the water. Show your children how to turn off the water while they brush their teeth. Explain to them that there’s no reason to let water run if they are not actually using it. Encourage everyone in the family to take shorter showers. You can even make it a competition to see who can take the shortest showers each week in your Santa Cruz home.

• Install a flush regulator. Your local home improvement or hardware store should carry a flush regulator that lets you control how much water you use. You can also do the same thing by filling a 2-liter bottle with water and placing it inside your toilet’s water tank. This simple addition reduces the amount of water your toilet can use.

• Purchase a dual flush toilet. Dual flush toilets look like standard toilets, but they have two separate flushes: half and full. These toilets use between 40-70% less water than traditional toilets. You can find dual flush toilets at your local plumbing supply store or through an online dealer.

Small conservation changes at home can make a big difference in our world. Let me help you find a green Santa Cruz home. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

LINKS:

1. Home improvement

2. Dual flush toilets

3. Showers

If you’re trying to decide on the perfect yet practical housewarming gift for friends, you should consider creating your own gift basket. All you need is a theme and a few supplies to make a gift basket your friends will adore. Here are 4 easy to make housewarming gift baskets for a new Santa Cruz home.

• Tool Basket. Searching for a screwdriver in stacks of packed boxes just isn’t fun. This makes a tool basket a great housewarming gift. Put together basic home tools like an assortment of screwdrivers, tape measure, pliers, hammer, scissors, and an adjustable wrench. Present them in an attractive tool box or tool belt for simple, practical storage.

• Wall Art Basket. Your friends will no doubt want to hang art on the walls of their new Santa Cruz home to personalize and decorate it. Instead of just giving a collection of frames for their art, go the extra mile and create a wall art basket. Include picture hooks, hanging wires, a hammer, a small level and instructions for how to hang a picture.

• Garden Basket. Whether the homeowners are beginning or expert gardeners, a garden basket is a welcome housewarming gift. Gather basic gardening tools, fertilizer, potting soil, a gardening magazine, and seeds or small plants. Store these items in a sturdy plant pot for the start of a garden your friends will enjoy for years to come.

• Painting Basket. Personalizing a new home with fresh paint is more fun when you have new supplies for the job. All you need for a painting basket is a roll of painter’s tape, a drop cloth, spackle, spackle blade, roller sponge and handle, screwdriver, and a well-made paint brush. You can also include a decorating magazine and specialty painting tools like corner brushes.

A well-thought-out housewarming gift can make your friends’ move easier.

Are you thinking of buying or selling your Santa Cruz home? I’m an expert in this area and would love to help.  Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

1. How to hang a picture 

2. Gardening tools 

3. Painting supplies 

A cooling real estate market is a great time to complete renovations in your home that will boost its value. You may be able to get the work done at a discounted price because contractors don’t have as much work to do when homes aren’t selling. However, not all home improvement projects are equal. Before you renovate your Santa Cruz home, here are four things to consider.

1. Renovations in the kitchen or bathroom always increase the value of your home. Nothing dates your home quicker than harvest gold appliances or old countertops. This makes these renovations your best investment if you hope to boost your home’s value. Other important areas are the master bedroom and media rooms.

2. Maintenance improvements do not increase your home’s value. Some tasks, like painting your home’s exterior or replacing an old roof are part of being a homeowner. These are called maintenance improvements, and they do not add value to your home. At the same time, skipping maintenance jobs may actually decrease your home’s value and lead to more significant repair costs later.

3. Cosmetic improvements like stripping wall paper or painting inside won’t give you a good return on your investment compared to the cost of hiring someone do it. For this reason, it makes more sense to complete cosmetic work on your own instead of paying someone else to do it for you.

4. It is possible to over-improve your Santa Cruz home. If you live in an established neighborhood lined with ranch homes, it may not make sense to build a three-car garage or install bay windows in the living room.  You run the risk of making your home an oddity in your neighborhood which can lower its market value. Check with other homes around your area to see how any renovation affected their sales.

Are you looking for a newly remodeled 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. Kitchen renovation ideas 

2. Exterior paint colors 

3. Stripping wall paper

When you sell your Santa Cruz home, you want it look as good as possible. To do this, your real estate agent will help you stage your home or, if needed, help you find a professional to stage your home. This means de-cluttering your home, re-arranging furniture, and de-personalizing each room.

A staged home is more appealing to buyers and helps to highlight your home’s positive features. However, staging is not meant to cover major flaws in your home. Some things just have to be repaired.

1. Roof problems. It doesn’t matter how pretty your Santa Cruz home is, your buyer is going to expect you to fix roof problems or adjust your price to cover them. Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home.

2. Cracked tile. Of course, you can use throw rugs to cover cracks in your tile, but chances are your buyers are going to look under them. Then they may think you are trying to hide a serious problem like a shifting foundation. Save yourself the headache and have your floors fixed.

3. Broken windows. You have to expect your buyers to walk around your home checking out the views from the windows. They’re going to notice any cracks. If you have the budget, consider upgrading your windows and making your home more marketable. At the very least, you should have the glass replaced.

4. Torn screens. If you have torn screens, your buyers may think you don’t take care of your property. Yet, screens are fairly easy to fix on your own. With the right supplies from your local hardware store, you can have new, sleek screens in less than a day.

As your agent, I will make sure your Santa Cruz home is ready to sell fast. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

 LINKS:

1. Common roof problems

2. New windows

3. How to repair a screen

Remodeling your Santa Cruz home is a great way to increase its value and marketability. Home values are only partially based on the size of a home. Buyers often prefer homes with modern touches. The key to a successful remodel is the right contractor. You want to find a skilled contractor whose work and word you can trust.

Here’s how you can do this.

• Ask for referrals. Word of mouth is still one of the most honest forms of advertising. Chances are you already know someone who has done some work on their Santa Cruz home. Ask them about the contractor they used. Find out if they were satisfied with the contractor’s work and whether or not they would use them again. If you really don’t know anyone who’s remodeled recently, you can also check with building inspectors and trade organizations for recommendations.  Or, get a referral from an online service like Angie’s List who provides recommendations for local contractors.

• Check their documentation. More than half of the states in the U.S. require general contractors to be licensed. Nearly all of them have licensing requirements for plumbers and electricians. If you live in one of these states, make sure your contractor is licensed by your state board. This means they had to show the state that they know what they’re doing. If the work is unsatisfactory, you can file a complaint against them. In addition to their state license, make sure they carry their own liability insurance. Otherwise you can be held responsible for accidents that happen on your property.

• Watch out for red flags. Some behaviors just cannot be ignored and are sure signs that you cannot trust this person. Do not hire a contractor who expects you to get your own building permits, only accepts cash payments, or refuses to give you a written estimate. Although it’s perfectly acceptable to pay a down payment on your project, you should never pay for the entire job upfront.

A Santa Cruz home is a great investment. Let me help you find your next home. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

LINKS:

1. Get local referrals

2. State contractor licensing requirements

3. Written estimate 

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

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