As flowers bloom and the weather warms, it’s time to think about spring cleaning and annual home maintenance. Whether you gather family members for a long work weekend or chip away a little at a time, maintaining your property protects your investment. One of the smartest things you can do each spring is to plan ahead. … Read more
I recently attended a presentation by Janet Pauli, Ph.D., the preeminent expert on our local water supply. She made a compelling argument about why all of us should understand a little more about where our water comes from, so we can avoid running out in the future. This is a complex issue to tackle in … Read more
Wildfires and subsequent winter rains have affected thousands of Northern California homes since October. If you are considering purchasing a property affected by the fires, be sure you know how to protect yourself from unanticipated costs related to the clean-up or rebuilding process. Recently, the North Bay Association of Realtors released a fire disclosure form … Read more
Last week, I shared some of the smart-home innovations made possible by modern technology, things like thermostats you can adjust with your cell phone regardless of your location, and smart doors and doorbells that allow you to unlock your door automatically or respond to a visitor at your door without being home. These are … Read more
In 1898, the commissioner of the U.S. Patent Office, Charles Holland Duell, reportedly said, “Everything that can be invented has been invented.” Wouldn’t he be surprised if he attended the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas each January to see all the latest tech creations? For decades, technology has developed at an astonishing pace, changing … Read more
It’s no secret that home sellers want to sell their property for the highest possible price, while homebuyers want to buy for the lowest possible price. One of the ways people try to save money is to avoid paying the commission typically charged by Realtors by choosing to sell the property themselves. This is called … Read more
As long as there have been schools, there have been students who knew sitting in a classroom all day wasn’t for them. This feeling doesn’t necessarily go away when it comes to the workplace; not everyone is meant to sit behind a desk. But because kids often hear that they have to go to college … Read more
Our Property Management division has seen some crazy things in their day, from tenants (residents) parking motorcycles indoors to ankle-deep water after botched faucet repairs. Happily, most of our residents are reasonable, responsible people, but a few of them—or sometimes their children—get themselves into some wild situations. While I was still in college, I bought … Read more
When you fall in love with a house, it’s easy to get swept away in the emotion of it all, imagining summer barbecues in the backyard and holiday celebrations around the hearth. However, before you begin arranging the furniture, be sure to look for these warning signs that things may not be as perfect as … Read more