The Lawhead Team would like to share another great One Cool Thing from the California Association of Realtors about choosing your next house:

There are a lot of assumptions about the housing market, but some of those beliefs may be causing you to miss out on a great house.

Check out some of the biggest misconceptions that home buyers have:

1. Assuming you need 20% for a down payment. If you’ve been waiting to save 20% for a down payment, you may be missing out. About 60% of home buyers actually put down less than 6% on their home purchase.
2. Refusing to consider a house that doesn’t have everything on your list. A list of everything a buyer wants in a home is a starting point, but compromising is likely for some features.
3. Judging a house on price alone. You may find an appealing home that’s way under budget. But if the home is in need of some major TLC, you’ll need to factor in the fix-up costs to determine whether it’s still a great deal.
4. An online home value estimator is always accurate. Several real estate websites offer home value estimator to see what a home is worth – but consider this a ballpark on value, not fact. Your Realtor will provide the most accurate estimate, taking into consideration the home and the current market.
5. Fixating on a few grand. If you and the seller are only a couple of thousand dollars apart on the sales price of the home, you may want to consider the bigger picture. Is it worth it to lose the home over a few thousand dollars that could merely add only a few dollars to the monthly mortgage payment?

Source: HouseLogic.com and REALTOR Magazine.

The Lawhead Team has these steps from HomeAdvisor to help you organize your garage and make it more useful! 

Step #1 – Categorize Items

It’s hard to whip your garage into shape without taking inventory. Take a look at your possessions and divide them into categories based on use. Keep frequently used and important items close at hand and store everything else. Here’s a list of items to keep close by:

• Recycling
• Sports and recreational equipment
• Automotive maintenance/repair tools
• Seasonal décor
• Garden and yard tools
• Major equipment

You may find that storing some of the items — like decorations — indoors will free up space and make it easier to organize your garage.

Step #2 – Group Similar Items Together

Next, pull everything out of your garage and group similar items together. This might seem like an unnecessary step, but it can actually help you later on when you start to reorganize these items. Additionally, it’s easier to purchase storage solutions when you know the amount and size of items you’re dealing with.

Step #3 – Let it Go

Whipping your garage into shape is the perfect time to identify and dispose of any unused, broken or forgotten items. If you run across any items you haven’t used in some time, throw them away or donate them to make room for your more important possessions.

Step #4 – Determine a Layout

There are a number of ways to organize your garage. But, no matter how you do it, it’s best to decide on a location for each item or group of items before you start putting anything back. It’s also important to consider factors like the frequency of use and available space during this phase.

Step #5 – Install Cabinets or Purchase Storage Bins

Grouping items together will help you decide on the perfect storage solution for your garage. Once you’re ready, purchase and install cabinets or storage bins. Organizational tools help you keep similar items grouped together and within easy reach. This is especially important with tools and other items that help you keep your home in good shape during the colder months.

Perhaps the most important part of the process is giving yourself time. Don’t rush yourself or assume you’ll finish everything in a single day. Set aside an entire weekend to allow yourself plenty of time to go through all of your stuff, group it, clean the garage and then put everything back in its new home. If you have to, find some friends to lend you a hand with moving items around. You’ll have a clean, organized garage before you know it.

The Lawhead Team would like to share these projects from Coldwell Banker to do before you list your home.

Use this checklist to get your home ready:

Project 1: Front Door and Entryway

The first project on your homeowner’s checklist is to address your front door and entryway. Beyond your front yard, your door and entry will be the very first impression on a potential buyer. Literally look at everything from the ceiling right down to the floor and draw up your list of to-do’s. Here are some common areas you can spruce up to make this area truly shine:

• Door finish or paint: Is your door dull or drab? Consider repainting, restaining, or adding another level of varnish to erase aging.
• Door hardware: How do your hinges and handles look? If they are a bit dull, try to shine them up using the right type of chemical for the metal type. If they’re banged up or in truly bad shape, now is the time to spend a few dollars to replace.
• Entry flooring: What type of flooring does your entry have: rug, wood, tile? No matter the type, clean it vigorously, fix any issues, or consider replacing it entirely if it’s in dire condition.
• Floorboards: Floorboards show aging in your home like no other accoutrement. They get banged up, accumulate dust and dirt, and just sometimes look awful. Clean these and possibly repaint.
• Lighting: Look at the lights both right outside your front door and in your entry. Replace light bulbs, clean out light surrounds, and add additional lighting if necessary.
• Furniture and belongings: While your entry might serve as the area in your home where things are dumped as you come in the door, your prospective buyers don’t want to see this. Clean up and clean out to provide a spacious and inviting area.

Project 2: Painting

Painting is one of the lowest cost ways to totally transform your home, and it’s also one of the easiest and fastest DIY projects you can undertake. Go through every room of your house with a brutal eye. Is the paint dingy or peeling? Are the colors of some spaces more likely to scare off sellers than reel them in? Consider using very neutral colors that will allow buyers to picture their own furnishings in your space.

Project 3: Landscaping

Although this is listed last, it’s actually one of the best ways you can entice buyers into loving your property. Cut back overgrowth, prune trees judiciously, plant attractive annuals, put down seeding or sod for missing patches of grass, and basically just spend the day — or five — working up a sweat around your yard, turning it into a masterpiece. This is the largest sweat equity project, so you’ll likely not need to spend much, but your own hard work can bring buyers inside.

The Lawhead Team would like to share these tips from Coldwell Banker to keep your home sparkling through out Spring.

1. Wall Cleaning

A Magic Eraser is your best bet for tackling walls — it can spot clean anything from splatters to crayon marks. It’s tough enough to reach the cobwebs that collect in the corners of your walls and ceiling. You can also cover the bristles of a broom with a cloth or old T-shirt and use it to knock down any dusty spots.

2. Carpets and Rugs

Take a little more time vacuuming the high-traffic areas of your house. (Make sure you don’t forget to spot treat any stubborn stains with a stain-removal product.) If your rug or carpet has lingering odors, sprinkle some baking soda over it and let it sit for a few hours. Vacuum up the baking soda and you’ll find the odors have disappeared.

3. Mattress Ideas

Give your mattress cover a thorough spring cleaning in the washing machine — don’t forget to throw in a cup of white vinegar to boost the cleaning process. Sprinkle baking soda on your mattress while you’re washing the cover. You can vacuum it up later when you’re making the bed.

4. Shower Care

Don’t knock yourself out trying to clean glass shower doors. Add a couple drops of water to your dryer sheets and use them to wipe down your shower doors. You can even let your showerhead clean itself overnight while you sleep. Simply tie a bag filled with white vinegar around your showerhead and let it soak overnight. Remove the bag in the morning for a non-clogged shower experience.

5. Toilet Scrubbing

Have water stains built up in your toilet? Cola can help you attack these stains with little effort. Just pour some in the toilet, let it sit for several minutes, then flush.

6. Oven Shine

If you have an oven with a self-cleaning feature, spring is a great time to finally run that cycle. Otherwise, mix baking soda with a bit of water and use it to quickly clean up grease and various other spills inside the oven.

7. Clutter Solutions

When you don’t have time to clean but you need your house to look presentable, tackling clutter is the quickest way to create the illusion of a clean house. Zip through each room of the house and put anything that doesn’t belong into a basket. This strategy requires very little work and can make a big difference in your home’s appearance.

Click here to read the entire article.

The Lawhead Team would like to share the following tips to keep you and your family safe at home.

Bedroom – Fire

• Since smoke can further hinder visibility, keep a rechargeable flashlight plugged in by your bedside to light your way or to signal firefighters.
• Place space heaters at least one yard from anything flammable. Turn them off when you’re not in the room.
• If you live in a two-story dwelling, a rescue ladder that can attach to your windowsill adds another escape route during a fire.
• Make sure security bars on windows have quick-release mechanisms.

Childproofing

• Install window guards. They aren’t a substitute for parental supervision, but they do provide reassurance.
• Check the crib. Make sure it meets safety standards. (Request a list of recalled products from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at cpsc.gov.)
• Keep cords away from the crib.
• Keep the crib away from windows, if possible.

Bathroom – Slips, Trips, Falls

• For extra support getting in and out of a slippery shower, attach a grab bar to your shower wall installing it into studs.
• If your tub has a slippery bottom, add nonskid decals. Make sure your bath mats are nonslip, with rubber backings.
• If standing in the shower is difficult, use a handheld shower and a shower seat to prevent injuries.

Shocks

• Keep portable heaters out of the bathroom. Water and electricity don’t mix.
• Disconnect appliances like hair dryers and curling irons after use, and stow them away only when they’re cool.

Kitchen – Fire

• Don’t leave pots unattended on the stovetop.
• Turn the handles of pots and pans inward so you’ll be less likely to knock simmering food off the stove.
• Keep a lid close to the stove to snuff out cooking fires. Don’t use water, which can spread burning grease around the kitchen.
• Keep pot holders, towels, and other flammable items away from burners.
• Use only dry oven mitts―wet ones are a scalding danger.
• In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed. If there’s a microwave fire, keep the door closed and unplug the microwave.

Click here to read the entire article from Real Simple for more tips to keep your home safe.

The Lawhead Team would like to share the following interior design trends from Coldwell Banker.

Rich Colors and Textures

The color of the year for 2015 is Marsala, according to Pantone. Marsala’s a deep wine color, making it a great pick for fall interior design. Incorporate the hue into your decorating by choosing throw pillows or a set of curtains that feature it. If you really love the color, try looking for an armchair in that hue. If you’re not a fan of Marsala, consider other intense colors, such as aubergine, rich blue, and mustard.

It’s not only colors that are rich this season. Fabrics are, too. Create a sense of luxury in your home by choosing heavy, rich fabrics like velvet or brocade for furniture, pillows, or curtains.

Metallics

Metallic details, particularly metallics paired with something more low key, such as wood, are big this fall. While pretty much any type of metal will do, brass seems to be having the biggest moment. To add a touch of metallic to your interior design scheme, look for table lamps or other light fixtures made out of your favorite metal. If you want something a bit more subtle and temporary, try trading in your current drawer and dresser pulls for an upgraded version.

Bold Patterns

Bold and graphic patterns are also big this fall. The safest way to work them into your home’s interior design is to invest in a few throw pillows or pillow covers. A more permanent, slightly more daring option is to pick out a wallpaper in a vivid or eye-catching pattern. Use it to create an accent wall in a room or even to cover the ceiling.

A Bit of Contrast

Contrast, or mixing and matching styles lets you put your personal stamp on a space. It also happens to be a big trend this year. When thinking of ways to use contrast in your decor, think of opposites, such as warm and cool, light and dark, natural and man-made. Mixing metals with wood is an example of using warm and cool together, while placing an aubergine colored, velvet pillow on a light gray couch is an example of combining light and dark. For natural and man-made, try mixing organic elements, such as cut flowers or plants placed in concrete planters.

Some Greenery

The 1970s called and they’d like their clothing and houseplants back. This fall, the 70s trend continues both in fashion and at home. Houseplants that were big in that decade, like aloe, snake plants, and succulents, are making a big comeback this season. Fortunately for many people, those plants are also pretty easy to care for. Just go easy on the water and pick a spot that doesn’t get too much direct sunlight.

The Lawhead Team invites you to a FREE Paper Shredding Event to turn those documents into indiscernible bits of paper!

Stop by the office located at 740 Garden View Court, Suite 100 Encinitas, CA on November 14th from 10Am-1PM. Click here for directions.

A professional shredding company will be here to shred all your private documents and old tax returns for FREE!!

Brought to you by Coldwell Banker Encinitas/La Costa

The Lawhead Team would like to share the following information from SafeWise to make your home safe for the cute ghosts and goblins this Halloween.

The Lawhead Team wishes everyone a safe and spooktacular Halloween! 

1. Secure railings
Young children, and the adults who often accompany them, will need the security and support of railings while climbing steps to get to your front door. If you’ve been putting off fixing that rickety railing, Halloween is the time to get out the toolbox and make it secure.
2. Clear walkways
Trick-or-treaters are too busy counting candy to pay close attention to where they’re walking, so it’s critical to survey your yard for potential trip and slip hazards. Be sure your yard is free of tripping hazards like hoses and sprinklers, clear walkways of loose gravel, and be sure to clean moss off steps. If your home has an irrigation system, turn the system off well in advance of the big night so your lawn and walkways have a chance to dry.
3. Avoid using candles
A glowing jack-o’-lantern makes your home warm and welcoming to candy seekers, but using a candle to illuminate a pumpkin can be dangerous. Costumes, paper decorations and ornamental straw can easily catch on fire. Instead of a traditional candle, use one powered by batteries.
4. Consider candy choices
No doubt buying Halloween candy is fun, but keep in mind that not all candy is appropriate for every child. Avoid candy that poses a choking hazard for toddlers, and keep in mind that a number of children have peanut allergies. Even if the candy doesn’t contain peanuts, it could be made in a facility that handles peanuts. Check the candy bag’s label for a peanut allergy warning.
5. Use lots of lights
A dimly lit entryway helps set the spooky mood of Halloween, but it’s also increases the chance of an accident. Make sure the exterior lights of your home are working, and consider turning on flood lights to illuminate the darkest areas of your yard. Even if you’re not going to be home, leave on lights for safety reasons and to dissuade unsavory characters from vandalizing your home. And, if you won’t be there, make sure you set your security system, just to be safe.
6. Contain your pets
Barking dogs not only scare trick-or-treaters of every age away, they also present a danger. A dog that breaks away from your home might not bite, but he could knock down a toddler or scare a teen right into the street, causing even more danger. Keep all pets securely confined inside your home until the hustle and bustle of the night has passed.
7. Don’t put out candy
Maybe you won’t be home on Halloween or perhaps it’s difficult for you to answer the door, so you’ve put out a bowl of candy for kids to help themselves. While this seems like the right thing to do, someone could taint the candy. It’s probably unlikely, but it’s definitely not worth taking the chance.
8. Make room in the garage
If you’re headed out on Halloween, clean out the garage and store your car securely in it. From teen antics to serious vehicle vandalism and theft, your car is best kept in the garage on Halloween.
9. Use discretion when opening the door
While nearly all trick-or-treaters are innocent kids out to collect as much candy as they can possibly carry, you must still be cautious of whom you open the door for. If you have an uneasy feeling about the person approaching your door, don’t open it. And as the barrage of trick-or-treaters fades to just a few here and there, it’s a good idea to stop opening the door for the night.

Source: 9 Ways to Prepare Your House for a Safe Halloween

The Lawhead Team would like to share these tricks for a clean and shiny bathroom from Nourishing Joy.

Tip #1: For bathroom faucets that really shine, wipe down faucets and similar surfaces first with a slightly damp cloth, then buff with a dry towel. I like to do this at the end of each day with a used handtowel and washcloth, then toss them in the laundry bag and place out fresh towels. Doing double duty makes me feel like a smart mama.

Tip #2: Use floss to get the grimies out of anywhere around your faucet or toilet handle that look, well… grimy.

Tip #3: Save old toothbrushes to scrub small and hard-to-reach places in the bathroom, such as shower door rails, the tops and bottoms of baseboards, heater vents, and those pesky fan covers that are always hard to reach.

Tip #4: To clean showerheads, pour an ample amount of white vinegar into a plastic produce bag or plastic zippered bag (large enough to fully submerge the showerhead nozzle) and tie it in place for an overnight soaking. Remove it in the morning and run the water to rinse. You can also use one of your saved toothbrushes from Tip #3 to scrub away loosened minerals and other build-up, if necessary.

Tip #5: Refresh plastic shower curtains and liners by placing them in the washing machine with a few old towels, which act as scrubbers to help get rid of soap scum and mildew. Wash on warm with a normal amount of detergent. Rehang to dry.

Tip #6: Scrub away soap scum and bathtub rings with eggshells or other natural abrasives you have around the house. A loofah sponge also works wonders in the bathroom.

Tip #7: Clean your toilet brush by dumping 1 cup of washing soda, 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide, and 1/2 cup white vinegar into the water of the toilet bowl and letting the brush sit in the mixture for several hours. Flush and rinse the brush in the fresh water, then let the brush dry by laying the brush across one part of the seat so that brush itself hangs over the water, then closing the lid to hold the brush in place.

Tip #8: Clear scum and build-up out of your drains by spooning 1 cup baking soda into the drain, trying to get it as far down the pipe as possible, then pour 1 cup white vinegar down the drain and let it fizz for 5-10 minutes. Pour 1 kettle of boiling water over to flush.

Tip #9: To make mirrors shine in your bathroom, use vodka or isopropyl alcohol. I make my glass and window cleaner with 1 part vodka, 1 part white vinegar, and 2 parts distilled water. Spray, wipe, then buff with a lint-free cloth for a perfectly streak-free shine.

Tip #10: Sliding shower door tracks can be infuriating to get really clean, but no more! After you’ve wiped away as much gunk as you can with a sponge or a cloth, spritz the tracks with all-purpose cleaner, then place a thin, sturdy cloth over a flat-head screwdriver or a pointed chopstick and scrub all the way into the crevices along each side. You can sprinkle very lightly with baking soda if you need a bit more oomph. I like to finish this by running a cotton-tipped swab along the length of the crevice. Wipe and rinse until all the grime residue is gone, then spray lightly with WD-40 or rub with coconut oil for a smoother glide, if necessary.

Click here for more helpful cleaning tips for your Kitchen and Laundry Room from Nourishing Joy.

The Lawhead Team would like to share the latest “One Cool Thing” from the C.A.R. on what you should know when you hire a contractor to work on your home.

Buyers and sellers will often have to hire a contractor to do work on a home. But who do you hire and where do you look? Here are some tips that can help you avoid problems down the line.

• Get multiple bids from licensed contractors. Remember that you’re the shopper here, so don’t settle for just one bid. Check with the Contractors State License Board to make sure each contractor’s license is active and in good standing. If one of the bid is noticeably low, watch out – that person may be cutting corners or not pulling necessary building permits.
• Get it in writing. Since a written contract protects you and the contractor, all agreements should be put in writing.
• Specific contracts are golden. Make sure the contract includes everything that has been agreed to, up to and including complete clean and removal of debris and materials, along with special requests like saving lumber for firewood or saving certain materials or appliances.
• Get a copy. Once you sign, both you and the contractor are bound by everything set down in the contract. Make sure to get a copy of the contract and keep it for your records.
• Check the financial terms. The contract should include the total price, when payments will be made, and whether there is a cancellation penalty. You should expect to make a down payment on any home improvement job. That down payment should never exceed 10% of the contract price or $1000, whichever is less.

Source: Contractors State License Board (CSLB)