Anyone on the hunt for a Laguna Beach home probably will have ready-made criteria for determining which properties make the grade and which are flung straight into the land of the quickly forgotten. To help with the selection process, we all have a sophisticated personal scanning system that activates the minute we set foot on a prospective property. Our radar locks onto details such as wallpaper, colors, appliances, and furniture, all of them examined from every possible angle.
No doubt about it. These features are certainly important components of finding the ideal Laguna Beach home. But believe or not, most buyers don’t put enough emphasis on what rates even higher on the importance scale. According to Realtors, people often give far too fleeting glances to the more important details such as water stains in the basement, corroded electric boxes, windows that don’t open, rotting floor joists, and foundation cracks. That, however, is only the beginning. Other items that should be satisfied on the home-investigation checklist include:
-Check any hills for erosion to prevent homes slipping down slope.
-Look for driveway cracks. These could indicate foundation or geological problems.
Lawn should slope away to carry rainwater to the street.
-Driveway shouldn’t be too steep for vehicles.
-Never touch personal belongings – Checking out the contents of the fridge is mighty bad etiquette, to say the least.
Is there a right way to carry out this crucial search mission? Not really. Realtors employ a variety of approaches to get the job done. Some just let buyers go with the flow of wherever a home takes them. Others insist that buyers go through the house twice. The first look is a breezy stroll to get a feel for the Laguna Beach home under consideration. If the buyers get a positive vibe, a more detailed exploration follows.
No matter what approach is taken, Realtors agree that it’s best to get the inspection process off the launch pad early on — as in before buyers ever step inside. One way to kick of a preliminary investigation is by checking out the neighboring properties. If you like what you see, great. If not, time to reconsider. Also take a casual spin around the neighborhood at different times of day. What may be a quiet community in the morning might turn into a nightmare snarl of traffic when a nearby school gets out.
The good news is that your thorough home investigations ultimately will help you discover a Laguna Beach home you feel could be ‘the one.’ Great. But you want to be sure, right? So go back inside and explore the place to your heart’s content. As many times as it takes. After all, this is one of the great decisions of your life. You want to be 110% convinced before taking the final step.
If you’d like to learn more about finding the ideal Laguna Beach home, I’ll be delighted to help. As one of the area’s premier Coastal Property Experts, I can answer all of your questions and help you discover the numerous opportunities the Laguna Beach Real Estate market has to offer.
Feel free to contact me at 949.922.8490 or hillary@thecoastalpropertyexperts.com.
Regards,
Hillary Caston
Monday, January 24, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Tattletale Termite Tells All About Protecting Your Home
Hi, I’m a termite. Won’t tell you my name because my comrades would kick my antennae if they found out I told you what I’m about to tell you. Sorry that it can’t be more personal. But I’ve got to make sure I’m protected. Just like you should be from the likes of me and my kind. And I’m going to tell you how to do it. Not out of the goodness of my heart, mind you. It’s just that I’ve always wanted to get published. And I figure a meaty blog is the way to go.
OK, the first thing to know is that nobody escapes. In fact, it’s been said that there are two types of homes – those infested with termites and those that will be. There’s just no place to run. Even moving to a different state won’t help. We lurk in all of them, including Hawaii. In fact, the pineapple state has the highest infestation rate – 15.1 % of the homes there count us as live-ins. In the Continental United States, Georgia is the most generous with housing, with 5.5% of the residences boasting non-paying termite tenants.
What we’re especially fond of are homes built of concrete. I can hear you now – “But I thought termites were woodetarians.” True enough. It’s just that cracks in the concrete are fantastic entryways for me and the crew. We can slip through cracks no bigger than 1/64th of an inch! We also can mosey on in alongside plumbing pipes or places where underground wires run into a house. And, of course, any place a wood wall sits atop concrete is an open invitation. Treated lumber won’t always do the trick. We have no problem building mud tunnels right over treated wood to reach our target destinations – typically those very nutritious 2x4’s or the even more satisfying 2x6’s. We’ll also make a smorgasbord out furniture, cardboard boxes, drywall paper, and anything else made of wood. Yum town!
So how do you keep us out? Definitely not by showing us the door. We’ll eat it. But if you’re serious about trouncing termites, here’s what I would do:
1. Install a good termite monitoring system. For a couple of hundred bucks, you’ll get ample warning of any uninvited wood-chomping guests stopping by for a snack.
2. Protect your home with termite barriers. You have a choice of three types – chemical, physical, and biological. All are great at sending us packing for the nearest home that isn’t as prepared as yours.
3. Make sure wood siding, latticework, door and window frames, and the like are at least six inches above ground. Wood to ground contact gives us instant access to your home sweet home. And the feast within.
4. We like it wet, so keep moisture from accumulating near the foundation of your home. Gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks are very effective water-diverters.
5. Minimize humidity in crawl spaces. You’ll keep things a whole lot drier with vents that are free of obstructions such as leaves.
6. Avoid storing lumber, firewood, or other wood near a foundation or inside of a crawl space. For obvious reasons. Wood…termites…hello.
7. Cut back on the mulching. Mulch is a moisture-retainer and a very loud call to termites everywhere to come on down and enjoy the damp.
Well, there it is. Straight from the source. Hope it helps. Gotta dash now. I’m due at the Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival.
If you’d like more information about protecting your home from termites, I’ll be happy to assist you. And, of course, if you dream of finding the perfect Laguna Beach home at the perfect price, I’m available to help you reach your goals. As one of the area’s premier Coastal Property Experts, I can answer all of your questions and help you discover the numerous opportunities the Laguna Beach Real Estate market has to offer.
Feel free to contact me at 949.922.8490 or hillary@thecoastalpropertyexperts.com.
Regards,
Hillary Caston
OK, the first thing to know is that nobody escapes. In fact, it’s been said that there are two types of homes – those infested with termites and those that will be. There’s just no place to run. Even moving to a different state won’t help. We lurk in all of them, including Hawaii. In fact, the pineapple state has the highest infestation rate – 15.1 % of the homes there count us as live-ins. In the Continental United States, Georgia is the most generous with housing, with 5.5% of the residences boasting non-paying termite tenants.
What we’re especially fond of are homes built of concrete. I can hear you now – “But I thought termites were woodetarians.” True enough. It’s just that cracks in the concrete are fantastic entryways for me and the crew. We can slip through cracks no bigger than 1/64th of an inch! We also can mosey on in alongside plumbing pipes or places where underground wires run into a house. And, of course, any place a wood wall sits atop concrete is an open invitation. Treated lumber won’t always do the trick. We have no problem building mud tunnels right over treated wood to reach our target destinations – typically those very nutritious 2x4’s or the even more satisfying 2x6’s. We’ll also make a smorgasbord out furniture, cardboard boxes, drywall paper, and anything else made of wood. Yum town!
So how do you keep us out? Definitely not by showing us the door. We’ll eat it. But if you’re serious about trouncing termites, here’s what I would do:
1. Install a good termite monitoring system. For a couple of hundred bucks, you’ll get ample warning of any uninvited wood-chomping guests stopping by for a snack.
2. Protect your home with termite barriers. You have a choice of three types – chemical, physical, and biological. All are great at sending us packing for the nearest home that isn’t as prepared as yours.
3. Make sure wood siding, latticework, door and window frames, and the like are at least six inches above ground. Wood to ground contact gives us instant access to your home sweet home. And the feast within.
4. We like it wet, so keep moisture from accumulating near the foundation of your home. Gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks are very effective water-diverters.
5. Minimize humidity in crawl spaces. You’ll keep things a whole lot drier with vents that are free of obstructions such as leaves.
6. Avoid storing lumber, firewood, or other wood near a foundation or inside of a crawl space. For obvious reasons. Wood…termites…hello.
7. Cut back on the mulching. Mulch is a moisture-retainer and a very loud call to termites everywhere to come on down and enjoy the damp.
Well, there it is. Straight from the source. Hope it helps. Gotta dash now. I’m due at the Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival.
If you’d like more information about protecting your home from termites, I’ll be happy to assist you. And, of course, if you dream of finding the perfect Laguna Beach home at the perfect price, I’m available to help you reach your goals. As one of the area’s premier Coastal Property Experts, I can answer all of your questions and help you discover the numerous opportunities the Laguna Beach Real Estate market has to offer.
Feel free to contact me at 949.922.8490 or hillary@thecoastalpropertyexperts.com.
Regards,
Hillary Caston
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