by Jeff Pittman | Feb 4, 2015 | Events
February 2015 brings tons of things to do and events in Orange County. From Valentines Day fun to festivals and parades, check out what’s happening this month in Orange County, CA. Here are the events in Orange County February 2015. Plus, don’t miss out on events going on nearby in LA County like the Long Beach Comic Expo and L.A. Bacon Festival – check out the list of Los Angeles County events too. Girls Night Out – Robbins Brothers Fullerton Thursday, Feb 5th 6PM at the Robins Brothers Store in Fullerton As we get ready to usher in the most romantic season of the year, get pampered with sweet treats, drinks, and everything sparkly. There will be mini manicures, desserts and drinks, and fun giveaways. Check out the website to find out more store locations participating in this lovely event! Event website: robbinsbrothers.com Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series Friday, Feb 6th – Sunday, Feb 8th 8PM and 7PM at the Honda Center See the top 35 bull riders in the world compete against the fiercest bucking bulls on the planet, providing two hours of thrills and spills guaranteed to keep you on the edge-of-your-seat and your heart pounding. The event is nationally televised, contestants competing for the coveted Championship Buckle and $1 Million! Event website: pbr.com Monarch Butterfly Day Saturday, Feb 7th 10AM-2PM at Mile Square Park Learn more about Monarch Butterflies in their natural habitat and take a close up look during the 6th annual Monarch Butterfly Day. The event is free and takes place inside the Butterfly Garden at Mile Square Park’s Camp Sycamore. Step inside the netted...
by Jeff Pittman | Feb 4, 2015 | Sellers
Keeping Your Cool | 3 HVAC Basics for Homebuyers and Sellers A home’s HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system is an important consideration in all home sales. Whether you are buying or selling the home, you should be prepared to discuss the age of the HVAC system, the warranty status, and the general performance. The answers to these questions can affect the value of the home, so buyers and sellers should be prepared to shift their expectations regarding an offer based on the state of the system. 1. An HVAC inspection is not optional. Sellers A service technician, not just a home inspector, should go over a home’s system before it is placed on the market. For sellers, this is essential information you can either use as a selling point or to prepare for negotiations, depending on the results. Buyers For buyers, getting a thorough report on the age and condition of the system lets you get a good idea of how long it will last after you buy the house. If a system is going to struggle to make it through the next season, that affects the value of the home in a much different way than a state-of-the-art high-efficiency system. 2. HVAC systems should be replaced all-at-once. Sellers For many homeowners, replacing two major appliances at once is a significant financial burden that they prefer to avoid. Be mindful of systems mixing new and old equipment. You will likely be at the mercy of the older equipment when it comes to determining when you replace everything. Buyers If the home you’re looking at has a five-year-old...
by Jeff Pittman | Jan 30, 2015 | Real Estate News
The expected flow of the real estate market goes something like this: First-time buyers enter the market in starter homes, the generation in starter homes moves up into larger houses and those at retirement age move to downsize. Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1964) are nearing retirement age however it seems the reality is, they’re not following the expected progression of buying and selling. Baby Boomers’ Reality – Baby Boomers are staying in their homes longer than other generations and 59% do not plan to sell their home when they retire. Via First Team Real Estate. Thank you for reading. I hope you found this information useful. Jeff Pittman, Realtor in Ladera Ranch – Orange County,...
by Jeff Pittman | Jan 30, 2015 | Weekly Quote
“The energy of the mind is the essence of life.” ~ Aristotle
by Jeff Pittman | Jan 23, 2015 | Sellers
Here are a few prep tips for keeping safety first! 1. Start packing early Getting a jump in packing is not only a responsible thing to do, it’s safe! The more you get out of the way and set to leave, the less you have to do once moving day rolls around. Plus things like your valuables and personal information will already be put away before anyone stops by for an open house. 2. Get a temporary storage unit If you’ve already started packing, renting a temporary storage unit just makes it easier to get those valuables and personal items out of the danger zone entirely. You can put large pieces of furniture in storage as well to protects them from bumps and scrapes when you have large open house crowds coming through. Putting unnecessary furniture and clutter away can also help sell your home quicker. The emptier your home is, the larger and more appealing it looks to potential buyers. 3. Keep up your curb appeal Taking the time to clean up your curb appeal keeps your home safe from the hazards listed in the infographic above. Plus while you’re clearing your driveway and sidewalks of debris and clutter like pet toys, ice or stray shoes, take some time to power wash the drive way or trim your bushes. Curb appeal keeps you safe and your home looking irresistible to buyers. 4. Work with a real estate agent A real estate agent is a great buffer between you and the public when selling a home. An agent will be there to walk through your home with potential buyers and keep...
