Small Yard? Vertical Gardens I Tell Ya!

I've been wanting to do a vertical succulent garden wall thingy for a while now. I've done a little bit of research. Talked with a friend of my hubby's the other day about building one.

A wall one for me that will last a long time cannot be made of wood. It's got to be super heavy guage plastic or, and this is what I want, a metal material.

Our lot size is about a 1/4 acre, but the way the house itself is positioned our rear living space isn't much bigger than both side yards. When I look out my kitchen window I see trees and plants. But, when I look out my bedroom and master bath windows....I see slump stone wall.

So, when I read the most recent National Association of Realtors blog post about vertical gardens....needless to say I thought if I'm thinking about it and N.A.R. peeps are thinking about it....well, you just may be as well.

Different ideas for vertical gardens were shared:

The one above I'd seen before...it's really more to separate spaces.

This one is pretty spectacular but more for a walkway, right?

Meh, I'm thinking entryway only.

This is sweet, I see this almost like a rooftop garden, you?

But this, now this is the succulent wall garden I want!!!

So, my guy is working some figures, some measurements, some ideas. We're talking 10 feet wide by 4 feet high....I can hardly wait!!!

Oh Mark.....Facebook Ads For Real Estate....Under Fire

In marketing a home for sale, price & presentation are the most important things. I tell all my Sellers this, right from the start.

Spreading the information about their home for sale is vital as well. Social media is a great way to get listing information out to people that may not see it for some reason. Maybe they don't think that neighborhood should be looked at. Maybe they are looking for, or think they are looking for, something bigger, smaller, more room count, less room count, higher priced, lower priced,....etc.

Sometimes they are counting just on their agent to send them listings to consider and they happen to see one of mine on social media.

A big one being Facebook. I do, however, utilize several platforms of social media to reach as many prospective buyers as possible.

Sponsored posts on Zuckberbergs site are under attack. And, quite honestly, it shouldn't be Facebook, it should be the Realtor that sets the criteria that is getting in the hot seat.

Facebook allows the ad maker to choose target audiences. I've never seen an opportunity to "Exclude" any audience. Why the heck would I want to do that? Why would anyone? But, it appears that you can. At any rate, when I pick my target, I focus on all ages (unless it's a senior community), gender....don't all sexes buy homes?, location is a no-brainer, and a list of other things depending on if there is a pool, tennis, HOA, granite kitchen, whatever the property amenities are I'm going to be sure I target those interests.

So, poor Mark, under attack yet again....and, this time, for the ethics of any crappy Realtors out there....well, their lack of ethics. Guess what? It's no wonder the Association of Realtors is making everyone take an ethics course to renew their licenses again. 

I've just done mine....good to help people in and out of homes til June of 2022! My ethics were always good though.....always.

Yikes ~ FHA Funded Almost 2 Billion In Loans They Shouldn't Have

I'm catching up on reading so you may have heard about this already. And, quite honestly the amount they shouldn't have funded is negligible compared to what was correctly funded.

BUT, I bring this to your attention so you are aware of this caveat. Surely the FHA will be watching much more closely.

If you have a delinquent federal non-tax debt, like  Department of Education, the Department of Justice, the Small Business Administration, or the Army and Air Force Exchange Service.....or you are subject to Federal administrative offset for delinquent Child Support.....FHA is not supposed to provide any federally insured loans to you.

But, they did. Well, now, how about that? Well, they did fund over 200 Billion in 2016, so yes, it is a teeny-weenie amount. But, still, they did it.

At any rate, since it's been discovered, the FHA is going to fix some things, or try to fix some things. And, this means, you best beware.

Seems like the lender should know this, or the underwriter at the very least. Right?

The article didn't state the loans would be called back. If I had one of those delinquent debts and I got an FHA loan last year? I'd investigate it though!

E-Mail VS. Texting When Selling or Buying Your Home

I know we are all in this text-message speed era. Yes indeed. And, for short messages. Hello's. Hey ya wanna go look at this house? Or, hey we got our first offer in!!

Those are great.....most freaking definitely....those are awesome!

But, for important stuff, things that need to be documented......e-mail is absolutely the only way to go.

So, forgive me in advance if I text you and say "Hey, please respond to my e-mail so I know you received, understand, approve" or whatever it needs. SMS, Short Message Service, does not get saved.....e-mails do. Well, in the Real Estate world at least.

And, quite honestly it's truly a CYA, yours and mine!

Got questions about Real Estate documentation? Just holler. Lauren@KeepYourWitz....see? Notice I gave you my e-mail address? LOLOL

Never Knew! Quartzite or Quartz? What's the Difference?

We bought our home because of the floor plan and knew we'd have to change out the kitchen tile...even though it's still in good condition....to a different counter eventually. Seven years later, we still haven't done it!

But, I keep an eye on all counter tops while showing homes. New and Re-sale homes of course.

Houzz article caught my attention this morning about two different types of materials that many people interchange the names without even realizing there is a difference.

I'm still not sure which one we would use! I'm leaning towards the man-made Quartz though....

Quartzite is a natural stone that is extracted from the earth, 

just as marble, limestone or soapstone are quarried.

Quartz, or engineered quartz, is man-made. It’s composed of roughly 90 percent ground quartz (the actual mineral), with the remaining 10 percent being a mixed cocktail of resins, polymers and pigments that varies by manufacturer.

Variation vs. Uniformity

Because quartzite comes directly from Mother Nature, it displays infinite variation in color and pattern, meaning no two slabs are exactly the same.Meanwhile, quartz attempts to replicate those distinct characteristics, such as veining. Technology is always advancing, and engineered materials are getting harder to distinguish from the real deal. But because quartz is produced in a controlled manner on a large scale, at some point patterns emerge and repetition happens.

Heat Resistance vs. Stain Resistance

In addition to hardness, most people are concerned with whether a stone will resist heat and staining over time, especially if you’re talking about an enthusiastic entertainer or a bustling family with young children.

Quartzite wins in terms of heat resistance, making it a prime candidate for kitchens. (No worries if you happen to set that hot pan down for a moment on the counter next to your stove. 

On the other hand, the density of quartz makes it more able to combat stains than its fully organic counterpart. Which means you can opt for solid white quartz in the kitchen and won’t need to fret over any of those inevitable messes and spills.

Differences Between Quartz and Quartzite

Quartz 

• Pros: Durable; can come in solid colors for a more uniform look; very stain resistant; not prone to etching
• Cons: Because it’s an engineered product, sometimes pattern repetition occurs; not as heat resistant or scratch resistant as quartzite

Quartzite 

• Pros: Durable; because it’s a natural stone, there is infinite variation in color and pattern (no two slabs are the same); very heat resistant; not prone to etching; more scratch resistant than quartz
• Cons: Not as stain resistant as quartz

A Little Bit More Than One Month's Inventory

Always looking at activity in the MLS. Listings, price changes, fallen out of escrow, under contract, pending, and final sales. Minimum of 3 times a day!

Right now, in Santa Clarita, and surrounding neighborhoods, we only have 431 active listings. Yes, only 431. That includes homes, townhouses, and condos.

The matter to be aware of is that it means we have just over a months worth of inventory. Because, we are usually selling about 325-335 homes every month. Last month we closed escrow on 285 homes.

Currently we have 492 in contract. Which means a lot of people want to buy houses, right?

Yes, a lot sure do!!!

With rising rates, and low inventory, it's getting more challenging. But, interest rates are still remarkably low! And, with the right Realtor in the trenches working to find your next home....it will happen!

But, you've got to get approved, find a great Realtor, and get working on it....before rates and home prices go up further!

Some Home Improvement Thoughts Via First American Home Warranty

The article had so many good points of what not to do and what may be okay to try, I copied and pasted the entire thing! Thanks Dawn Zirbel of First American for sharing!

Maybe it’s the word “shortcut.” It’s hard to find home improvement ideas that make for good shortcuts, but there are plenty of home improvement shortcuts that are bad ideas. Here’s a look at four shortcuts every homeowner should avoid doing, and four that could be good ideas when done right.

Never do these home improvement shortcuts

1. Neglect to get a permit

It may seem like a cost-saving device, but cutting the permit corner is always at a homeowner’s peril. When you don’t have a permit for a home improvement project the completed work may not meet the minimum standards required locally, state-wide, or federally. This invariably leads to additional costs to fix problems created by not having a permit. Whether you are doing the work yourself or hiring a contractor, a permit protects you and your home. If a contractor tells you a permit isn’t needed, as the homeowner, you need to research to protect yourself.

2. Electrical work

Considering the dangers related to working with anything electrical, unless you’re a homeowner who is also an electrician, spend the money to hire a pro. DIY electrical is a shortcut that could cost you in serious injury, electrical fires, and worse. No amount of cost-savings makes sense when it comes to electrical work. Don’t do it yourself.

3. Plumbing re-piping or replacing

Ill-fitting pipes and old plumbing are disasters in the making. Whether it’s replacing a section of pipe to fix a leak, or removing old piping completely, don’t try this at home. Replacing only a section of leaky pipe can lead to bigger leaks than the one you’re attempting to stop. And removing old plumbing can expose you to hazardous materials such as asbestos. Hire a professional plumber for these two plumbing jobs every time it’s needed.

4. Surface makeovers

A “surface makeover” is the shortcut any seasoned homeowner would say to never try: that is, painting over of old wall paper or putting new flooring over old. It may seem like a quick way to get a new look in place, but in the not-to-distant future you will have to scrap off painted wallpaper instead. And you will have to replace the floor again. What is underneath inevitably rises again and you will pay again.

Sometimes do these home improvement shortcuts

1. Improve drainage

If you notice standing water anywhere on your property after a storm, but particularly near your home, garage, or other out buildings, you can put in a French drain in a day. A quick web search will give you the step-by-steps instructions. The only caveat is when you are ready to dig your trench, request a visit from your local utility company to be sure you’re not going to dig into underground gas or electrical lines. Most utility companies will come out for free.

2. Add GFCI outlets

See shortcut no-no number 2 above if you even a glimmer of doubt, and hire a pro, but if you know how to turn off your whole home’s electricity at the panel, this is the only type of electrical work a skilled homeowner might try. Older homes in particular may not have standard GFCI outlets in kitchens, laundry room, or bathrooms. And GFCI outlets do not last forever, so if you suspect an outlet is more than 10 years old, consider replacing them particularly any closest to sink or other water source.

3. Temporary fixes

Sometimes you just can’t get a plumber in a hurry. But when you find a small plumbing leak, you don’t want to just let the leaking water continue its damaging ways. A quick fix is to buy a repair clamp from your local hardware store. Ask a specialist if you’re unsure what to buy, but a repair clamp can be a great short-term solution to minimize water damage until your plumber arrives.

4. Add heat

If you just can’t get warm enough in winter, you may be tempted to close vents in rooms other than the one you’re in. This is a no-no as it can make your HVAC system work less efficiently and can impact system performance over long run. A better shortcut is to invest in an indoor space heater. For under $100 you can find one to suit the room size you need, and look for one with an automatic shut-off timer and temperature control. If you follow safety precautions, you can keep one room nice and cozy all winter.