3 DIY Renovations to Get the Family Involved In

Revamping the Mailbox

The mailbox doesn't need to be such a standard, serious item; there's no reason not to call the kids over to help decorate it. Since mailboxes are put in constant, direct contact with the natural elements, it's common for mailboxes to appear worn down after a year or two of use. Instead of watching TV with the family on a lazy afternoon, there's no reason not to gather the kids together to help give the mailbox a makeover. Clean the mailbox first with some warm water and mild soap. This will help make the true state of the mailbox more clear. Then, the fun can be given. The parents can either give the kids full control over the tiny renovation, or each member of the family can add their own artistic contribution to it.

Cleaning the Drains

It might seem like menial work, but as all parents know, it's important to instill a sense of responsibility in a child at an early age. More specifically, children should have a basic understanding of how drain works and should have basic first aid experience in the case of lightly clogged drains. There's no need to use abrasive chemicals every time the drains experience some form of blockage. 

Instead homeowners can form a paste comprised of tartar cream, salt, and baking soda, and apply it to the clogged drains. This formulation is entirely child-friendly and is proven to be effective on clogged drains. Parents can instruct their children on how to pout the mixture down the drains. The parent can then step in for the next step, boiling a kettle of boiling water down the drain. 

Leave the mixture to settle for approximately half an hour, then ask the little one to come back to the washroom to turn the tap on so that the water can run through the drains, effectively finishing the job. Small repairs like these not only help initiate children into basic home maintenance, but small details like these can go a surprisingly long way in raising a home's value, as real estate San Diego agents know.

Painting the Walls

This one can be fun for kids of all ages, especially as they start to grow older. Like clearing the drains, painting the walls instills valuable work ethic in children, and it's a fun activity, too. The paint job can either be taken on by the family as a whole, or the parents can take care of painting the walls, then call the kids over to stencil in certain wall designs. Or, the parents can simply give the kids full control of the brush, painting faces, animals, objects, or whatever else they choose.

4 Ways to Fight Odor in a Home

Real estate San Diego agents know the importance of presenting a nice smelling home to prospective buyers. Even homeowners who aren't planning on putting their property on the market anytime soon would benefit greatly from having a fresh, odor-free home. Here are 4 tips on improving a home's scent.

Smell-Proofing the Refrigerator

While it's advised that homeowners clear their fridge and scrub it down periodically, strong odors tend to persist unless they're specifically focused on. When getting rid of odors in a refrigerator, vinegar is the go-to solution. Simply mix a solution of hot water and vinegar and wipe down the fridge's entire interior space. Allow the solution to sit for up to 20 minutes before wiping it dry with a cloth. Additionally, homeowners can place lemon-halves in all corners of the refrigerator, allowing them to sit in the fridge with the door closed for a few hours in order to fully replenish the appliance's interior space.

Doing Away With Cooking Odor

It's no secret that cooking certain foods can lead to noticeable, persistent smells lingering in the kitchen and throughout the rest of the home. Foods such as garlic, fish, and brussel sprouts, while delicious to eat, don't carry the most welcoming of smells. Thankfully, there's a solution for that. When boiling vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, or brussel sprouts, homeowners can add some whole nuts such as hazelnuts or walnuts to the boiling water. This will allow the nuts to absorb the food odors as they are released. When cooking fish, homeowners can add some slices of fresh ginger to the frying pan while the fish is cooking.

Masking Cigarette Odor

Homeowners looking to minimize cigarette odor in their home have a variety of scented candles to choose from, and these will fight off a variety of odors aside from those derived from cigarettes. However, there's a more cost-efficient home remedy homeowners can employ here. By simply pouring a small amount of vinegar onto a wet cloth and shaking it for a short amount of time in a room that smells of cigarette smoke, the odor will be significantly reduced.

Refreshing the Microwave

Just because microwave zaps food particles inside it with incredible energy, that doesn't mean that food odors are effectively zapped away in the process. The fact is that microwaves, particularly those used several times per day, tend to grow into a source of unpleasant kitchen odors. If the odor seems to have gotten out of hand, and the interior of the microwave seems to have become encrusted through repeated use, the solution is simple. Mix a cup of water with the juice from a whole lemon and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Once done, any dirt accumulation inside the microwave will be easy to wipe off, and the only scent within it will be pleasant and lemon-y.

3 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Real Estate Agent

When choosing among the countless real estate San Diego agents, home sellers have a serious task on their hands. After all, the sale of their home is among the most significant that a homeowner will make in their lifetime. For that reason, it’s important to contract a professional, effective agent who will take the myriad of real estate factors into consideration in order to help the seller get the best deal possible on their home. To aid the investigation a little, here are a few things to look out for when choosing the perfect real estate agent.

Experience

No seller wants to be responsible for granting a real estate agent his or her first contract. While that seems like an admirable act of charity, it would certainly go against the seller’s best interests. The field of real estate is vast in depth and always fluctuating. The only people with a true understanding of it are seasoned, professional real estate agents who have personally dealt with a variety of cases themselves.

In contracting an experienced real estate professional, sellers can find relief in the knowledge that their agent has personally come into contact with the myriad of obstacles that can arise during a home sale. Only an effective response to each of these obstacles will ensure that the seller get the best deal possible on their home.

Honesty

A real estate professional must be as honest as he or she is experienced. All of the real estate knowledge in the world won’t be of much use if the real estate agent is consistently lying to their client. Since the sale is such a significant one in the seller’s life, it’s normal for several questions to arise along the way. 

These questions need prompt answering, and there’s no better person to go to than the real estate agent. If the agent’s demeanor makes it so that the seller is hesitant to present him or her with relevant questions, it might be time to consider another candidate.

Communication

Throughout the process of selling a home, it’s critical that the real estate professional establish an open, consistent line of communication with the seller. It’s advised that the agent deliver daily updates to the seller regarding how the home is being viewed on the market. 

By keeping a close communication line with their agent, sellers can assure themselves that their case is progressing gradually day by day. Since consistent, direct action on behalf of the real estate professional will likely be the main factor contributing to the home’s sale, it’s important that the agent stays on the project and reports developments to the seller regularly.

Why People Should Consider Buying Property in San Diego

Many people are buying homes in the wrong place. They are purchasing homes in cities that have a dim future. Without the promise of enterprise, many homeowners who purchase their home in cities other than San Diego, don’t get the benefits of those who purchase real estate san diego.

Higher than Average Median Incomes 

People who live in San Diego benefit from higher than average incomes. The median income in San Diego is $63,400, compared to $51,939 in the United States. With a higher median income, many people who live in San Diego will have the ability to afford a better lifestyle. They can send their children to schools that have strong curriculums. They can spend their weekends with their family at cultural events. With discretionary money, they can afford a happier life than many families across the United States.

San Diego’s Climate Is Always Nice 

Another reason people should consider purchasing a home in San Diego is the climate. The weather seems to always be perfect in San Diego. With that in mind, people flock to San Diego to experience the beaches there. Once there, many people find that they love San Diego, which increases property values for homeowners. If visitors and residents continue to purchase homes in San Diego, then that increases the value of homes in San Diego. For people who purchase a home there, they’ll see their value of their homes increase year after year.

The Education System Is Great 

People who want a high-paying job or who want to attend a school that values education should consider San Diego. It's one of the best choices throughout the United States. San Diego has the University of California San Diego, the University of San Diego, San Diego State University, and a host of other colleges and universities people can choose to attend. With so many colleges and universities, many residents have the ability to realize the American Dream after they’ve received their degree. San Diego is a cut above the rest when it comes to cities. As such, people should consider purchasing a home in the area. With all the benefits San Diego offers residents, people who are looking for a new home can’t go wrong when they choose San Diego.

3 Reasons San Diego Real Estate is Very Expensive

It's no secret that real estate San Diego is expensive. In fact, this city has recently made many lists of the most expensive housing markets in the entire country. Many California cities have expensive property values, but San Diego usually tops even that list.

Both homeowners and renters may struggle to find affordable housing in this city and even in surrounding areas. It's pretty common knowledge that San Diego housing is expensive; however, it's interesting to explore some of the reasons why this is true.

Three Reasons Why San Diego Real Estate is Expensive

This outlines the major reasons why housing and other real estate have such a high value in the San Diego Metro Area:

• Climate: The climate makes the city very desirable. Lots of sunshine and a nearby coastline attract residents to the area.

• Culture: People like the culture of the city. This multicultural city has many attractions. It also combines plenty of historical areas with high-tech industries.

• Environment: Environmental and building rules may limit supply to some extent. One thing that makes the city attractive is that many coastal areas have been preserved. However, this also limits the supply of land to some degree.

A lot of housing in San Diego is also owned by investors. This means that less property is actually for sale and may only be open for renters. The number of investors may drive up prices for property that is for sale. Investors may be able to wait longer for the right price than an average homeowner who is motivated to make a quicker sale.

Will Real Estate Remain Expensive in San Diego?

Some people compare San Diego to San Francisco. Both of these cities are famous for high housing prices. While some folks argue that the climate is much better in the Southern California city, the job market is better in San Francisco. 

That raises concerns about an affordability issue in San Diego that may be much greater than the one faced up north. It's likely that prices will continue to rise in this lovely city, but they may not continue to spike as they have in the past.