by Jeff Pittman | Aug 15, 2016 | Homeowners
4 Tips For Avoiding Clogged Drains Clogged drains are a common problem for homeowners – happens to the best of us. Clogged drains, if left alone for long enough, can have a serious impact on your plumbing and cause more serious issues down the road. That is why it is so essential for you to take care of things like this as soon as possible. However, the best solution is prevention, not repair. Make sure that you are doing everything you can to properly maintain your pipes on a regular basis. There’s nothing worse than having clogged drains, but luckily you can avoid them by following these simple rules. KNOW WHAT CAN’T GO DOWN THE DRAIN There are a number of things that aren’t supposed to go into drains or garbage disposals. If you are questioning whether or not something should go in the garbage disposal, don’t do it! Chances are that it will do more bad than good, and it is always better to be safe than sorry. There are quite a few things that you should definitely never put down your drain. First, and most damaging, on the list is grease. Grease can solidify in your pipes and cause a major build-up that’s expensive to repair. It sticks to the sides of your pipes and builds up over time. Also, remember that garbage disposals don’t work great with all foods. Fibrous foods, such as broccoli or celery, are bad to put down the drain. The stringy structure of these items are problematic for the garbage disposal. Obviously, don’t put non-food items in the garbage disposal, either. By...
by Jeff Pittman | Jul 15, 2016 | Homeowners
Choosing The Perfect Tiles For Your Home Designing or remodeling a home involves plenty of tough decisions. From opting for practical design features to picking out a complementary color scheme, the options available when it comes to interior design can be overwhelming. Today, we’re making your task a little easier by taking a look at the pros and cons of the most popular kitchen and bathroom tile materials – giving you confidence in the tile finish that you choose for your home. From taking a look at the properties of each tiling material, to breaking down the finishes available, our informative guide to all-things tiling means you can get one step closer to finishing your dream interior design project! TRAVERTINE Closely related to limestone, travertine is a popular tiling option. It’s quarried from hot springs and rivers, meaning no travertine tile is identical to another. Unique in every cut, the pale tones of travertine tiling reflect a room’s natural light – making it an optimum material choice for space-limited areas or darker parts of the home. While initial installation may be a little more expensive than other materials, travertine’s durability makes this natural stone great value in the long-term – with a finish guaranteed to last for years to come. Another great feature of travertine tile is its excellent heat-conducting properties, making it ideal for use in bathrooms with an underfloor heating system. PORCELAIN As a man-made ceramic, porcelain can be a little more expensive than traditional clay ceramic tiles. That being said, porcelain is a highly refined material – making it incredibly strong and durable. In high footfall...
by Jeff Pittman | Jun 29, 2016 | Homeowners
6 Location Factors You Probably Didn’t Realize Can Affect Your Home’s Value Everyone knows that other than the condition of the home itself, nothing is as important to a buyer as location. The adage of “location, location, location” rings true. There are many factors and considerations when looking at the impact location has on property valuations. Here are six location factors that may affect a home’s value. 1. TREES According to a recent study by the University of Washington, trees can have a significant impact on the value of a property. Here are some of the findings: Mature trees in a yard result in a 2 percent price increase Mature trees on the street equate to 3 a percent gain Trees in the front yard give a 3–5 percent boost Mature trees in a high-income neighborhood can result in as much as a 10–15 percent increase 2. CENTRALITY Being able to walk to nearby locations can help increase a home’s value. WalkScore.com rates neighborhoods in the US based on proximity to parks, schools, and grocery stores. Walkability has become even more valuable in recent years, since millennial’s find it particularly important for homes they buy. In 13 of the 15 areas studied, homes in highly walkable neighborhoods sold on average for $4000 to $34,000 more than homes in neighborhoods of average walkability. 3. PROXIMITY TO SCHOOLS Parents with school-aged children often make a determination on neighborhood based on the school ratings. In fact, buyers might even forgo certain features or property details just to get their kids into a good school. According to a study by Great Schools, going from an average...
by Jeff Pittman | Apr 14, 2016 | Homeowners
How To Create An Outdoor Living Space By The Ocean An outdoor patio space can be viewed as the perfect extension to your home. Luckily for residents of Southern California, we have the unique ability to take advantage of Mother Nature and enjoy our outdoor patio year-round! During a nice, sunny, 75-degree day, few things are better than sitting outside with your group of friends, relaxing by the water and enjoying the nice weather with some wine and fresh food off the grill. To ensure you and your guests are comfortable, here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing patio furniture for a property on or near the ocean. WHICH MATERIAL WORKS BEST? One of the first decisions you’ll have to make is which material to use. Popular materials for outdoor furniture include wrought iron, wicker, teak, and plastic, but not all of these materials are best suited for every climate. 1205 Ocean Front, Laguna Beach For residents living near the ocean, wrought iron may not be the best choice for your living area. For starters, if an outdoor patio space gets a lot of direct sunlight, the metal furniture can get extremely hot and uncomfortable to touch. Further, if you’re in a beachfront community such as Newport Beach, Laguna Beach or Del Mar, the salt water in the air can be rough on metal surfaces, resulting in rust and wear that can require additional maintenance. Instead, an alternative metal like cast aluminum, or a solid wood material like teak can perform well in this environment. Although more difficult to move around, heavier materials are a...
by Jeff Pittman | Mar 24, 2016 | Homeowners
How To Maximize Outdoor Living Spaces Long gone are the days when a simple pool and patio set would do to maximize the value of your luxury home. Outdoor living as defined by today’s luxury market doesn’t entail a few extras on a long list of amenities as much as it does a true extension of a home’s interior living spaces, and a seamless blend of interior with exterior. The furniture, textiles, and overall design of outdoor living rooms, terraces, and poolside patios are carefully considered as yet another reflection of a home’s design aesthetic. Outdoor living spaces are well on their way to becoming a requisite rather than simply a value-add; responding to buyer demand, the global luxury market continues to raise the bar for outdoor luxury ever higher. This week in “Luxury Defined,” global experts in the Christie’s International Real Estate Affiliate network share six trends for bringing the indoors out. 1. Four-Season Outdoor Living Room Fully realized alfresco living rooms are distinguished by one signature feature: fire. Whether a dramatic stone hearth and fireplace, a firepit, or a chiminea, a fire element turns an outdoor space into an outdoor room that can be used year-round in warm-weather states throughout the U.S., including Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona. “Florida’s weather is such that you can do virtually all of your living and entertaining alfresco, especially during the winter months, when the weather is characteristically warm and dry during the day and deliciously cool and comfortable at night,” says Michael Saunders of Michael Saunders & Company. Fire elements generate warmth and a welcoming ambiance; additionally, two-sided fireplaces can create a...
by Jeff Pittman | Feb 9, 2016 | Homeowners
Interior Design Trends That Are Taking Over In 2016 Although not always in the spotlight, redecorating is one of those New Year’s resolutions that could change your life for the better. Trends that have been all the rage are now vanishing in the presence of new, expressive styles. So, go ahead, give your space a makeover, and get ready for the new exciting year in interior design. LIVE AND LET LIVE 17 Premiere Point, Newport Coast Many people make the mistake of opting for a TV as a focal point in the living room. Others have begun to realize the advantage of unplugged rooms, places where the technology has been cast out. Fireplaces, for example, are a great way to add new tone to the family hub, and even a non-working one can take the central stage. Moreover, do not overlook the impact the lighting has. Pendants are used more and more as statement pieces to create a wow effect. Finally, muse on fluid geometric patterns for a nice finishing touch. SPARKS AND SPLASHES Now, turn to transforming all those dull corners into spectacles that spark attention. The best way to pull this off is by setting tall, perky pedestals. They are great décor pieces in their own right, and are used to display a sculpture, plant or DIY art. A few splashes of color can also make a difference and designers have embraced tones like rose quartz and serene blue. Furthermore, fabric wall art is one of the trends that are on a roll, and many designers also take inspiration from indigenous artists when adding thrilling spice to...
