“Loan, Loan, Loan” is also important

special thanks to Duane Gomer for these succinct words:

ALL HOMEBUYERS
Before you go to look at any open-house go to a bank and get pre-approved for a loan not pre-qualified.  This may take some work on your part but it is better to do the work sooner than later.  Two facts of which you may not be aware.  

#1 – Suppose you want to buy a $300,000 house and have the down payment but the bank says you can only qualify for a loan to buy a $240,000 house.

Before you go looking, find out what you will be allowed to buy.  You will hear the old adage, “Location, Location, Location.”  You may find out that, “Loan, Loan, Loan” is also important.

#2 – When you are making an offer, you will move to the head of the list if the sellers and listing agent know that you are pre-approved for a home of that value.  Also, sometimes when you get your approval, you will find out that the bank believes that you can afford a more expensive home than you thought.  That is a good feeling.  Perhaps, you are thinking too low.


WEB:  www.DuaneGomer.com
BLOG:  www.DuaneGomer.info
FACEBOOK:  Duane Gomer Seminars

A Priceless Gift
Instructions:

This keepsake idea is so easy for small children and says “I love you” so well, you’ll want to make them for grandparents, parents and anyone who needs a smile!


Wrap an empty box (hair dye, toothpaste, paper mache, any box will do) with colorful wrapping paper or paint a bright color.

Decorate the “gift” as creatively as possible and tie a big ribbon around the package.

Attach the following poem to the package:

I took an ordinary box

As empty as can be

I filled it with a special gift

And wrapped it carefully.

But please don’t ever open it

Just leave the ribbon tied

And hold it tightly near your heart

Because my love for you’s inside!



California Homes Network turns One Years Old

We have officially been in business as a boutique Real Estate Firm for one year.  We go off to a little rocky start.  Now we are gaining a foothold and are on steady ground and getting stronger and helping more Homeowners.  Come check us out and use our personalized for you service.

Hermia

(949) 742 0915

Let's Talk Kitchen Countertops

Now is a great time while considering spring cleaning to remember to thoroughly clean and reseal if necessary, the kitchen counter top. Depending on the type of material yours is made of, you will need to have different materials on hand and be prepared in some instances to not use the kitchen for a day or two.


Happy Home Maintenance Herm.

Depending on your surface type, following is a list of types and description of each. 

Listed Where Smoke Detectors are Required, How to Install, and How to Test.

with thanks to Bruce White of http://www.buyersprofile.com/ 

949-499-5859

thanks to:

 Bruce R White

Owner/Chief Building Inspector

room by room storage solutions

Clearing Up the Clutter    post 3

What makes smaller spaces so appealing is their warmth, coziness, and intimacy. But those virtues may be overlooked when you feel like clutter is all you see. Here's good news: A little room can go a long way when you have great solutions for stowing your stuff. With a few tips from our room-by-room guide, see what a big difference storage can make in your home.

Family Room Start with your most heavily trafficked space: the family room or living room. Furniture with built-in storage space is your best bet for living areas.

1. An armoire is the perfect place to store electronic equipment, CDs, puzzles, board games, and other recreational materials. Place photo albums, out-of-season décor, and other items you don't use daily inside decorative, fabric-covered boxes arranged on top of the armoire.

2. A coffee or side table with built-in drawers is the perfect place to keep coasters, playing cards, back issues of magazines, and more. Use small baskets or plastic bins to keep the contents sorted.

3. A front hallway bench or built-in window seat can provide storage for gloves, scarves, and hats. It's also a great catch-all for book bags and other school supplies.

Kitchen. Smaller or galley-style kitchens rely on creative storage for ease of use. Tackle this high-traffic area for more efficient meal preparation.

4. For easy access, add vertical dividers to lower cabinets for storing pizza pans, cutting boards, baking sheets, griddles, and pot lids.

5. To create extra storage space, attach wire organizers to the backs of your cabinet doors.

6. Put dry goods such as pastas, cereals, and rice in labeled, stackable plastic containers to create more shelf room and easier accessibility.

7. Use tiered wire shelving units in your cabinets and pantry to eliminate dead space and double your storage capability for everything from plates and cups to kitchen wraps.

Master Bedroom. Nothing says “sanctuary” like a neat and orderly bedroom, but too often, this room gets ignored in the rush of everyday activity. Try these storage tips to make this space more inviting.

8. Under-the-bed boxes are a great place to store gift-wrapping supplies, out-of-season clothes, baby books, and memorabilia you don't need access to every day. You can also fill luggage with out-of-season clothes and hide it under the bed.

9. Get your closet under control by doubling your hanging space. Move the eye-level rod up slightly, and install a second rod at about waist level. On the shelf, install inexpensive, stackable shelves to create more vertical space for sweaters and handbags. Clear plastic storage bins are perfect for scarves, belts, gloves, and other accessories.

10. Use an upholstered ottoman or cedar chest—ideal for the foot of the bed—to store blankets and other linens. A cedar chest gives the added benefit of protecting wool blankets and sweaters from moths during the warmer months.

Your child's bedroom. With limited space, a child's room is even more likely to need creative storage solutions. Try these suggestions for added storage in unexpected places:

11. Consider a captain's bed, with drawers in the wood cabinetry beneath the mattress, for additional storage.

12. Sort toys by category (action figures, doll clothes, and so on) and place them in plastic stackable storage bins on the closet floor. This will give those little hands easy access. Because children usually don't have much need for hanging clothes, use an old dresser, a bookcase, or stacked plastic crates in the closet for additional storage.

13. Think vertically and hang anything you can throughout the room. Hang lower shelves to stow frequently used books, toys, stuffed animals, and games. Install higher shelves for your child's display items and pictures. Put an inexpensive closet organizer over the door to store coloring books, crayons, stuffed animals, and other small items.

Bathroom. It's particularly tricky to find extra storage space in small bathrooms, but try these tips to make the space work harder for you:

14. Store small towels and washcloths in coordinating colors on the countertop in a wine rack. Rolled and tucked into the holder, they make a functional decoration.

15. If you are installing a new sink, opt for a traditional cabinet vanity to store cleaning products and extra soaps, shampoos, and conditioners. Consider mounting an 8-inch-deep mirrored cabinet above the sink for more storage. If you have a pedestal sink, place small baskets at the base for extra storage.

16. Try shelving that won't interfere with traffic—an over-the-toilet tank, a top-of-the toilet tank, or on any other available wall space. Store everything from cotton balls to swabs in baskets or colored bins that coordinate with your décor to pull the look together.


making a craft armoir or other storage unit

Clearing Up the Clutter   post 2

New Year, New Storage Organization

making-a-craft-armoire

 

Since it is a New Year and way before spring cleaning, I thought I would have you get started on making room for that spring cleaning.  This information gleaned from a Martha Stewart mag. will help start you organizing those little nics and nacs found around the home.

Organizing A Craft Armoire Most people can’t set aside an entire room for craft projects, but a smaller, well-organized space can serve that purpose almost as well.  Here’s how Martha organized her craft “room” in an armoire. Left: Small prefabricated wooden drawers are perfect for storing a variety of craft supplies.  Each drawer pulls out entirely, so it can be carried to the work area. Martha painted these natural-wood drawers a pretty shade of green. Right: Another shelf contains a row of magazine holders. The shelf directly above the holders had to be removed (be sure to save any shelves you remove from an antique armoire), and Martha utilizes the extra clearance by attaching a row of small wooden drawers with L brackets to the underside of the next shelf. Left: Don’t overlook the inside of the armoire door when planning storage space. Here, a café-curtain rod organizes wide rolls of ribbon. Martha positioned the rod where it would allow the door to shut tightly. Below it, a self-healing mat and a ruler hang from C hooks. A stainless-steel wall organizer, sold as a wall-mounted magazine holder, holds several rolls of tissue paper. Right: Martha utilizes recessed corner space with rotating lazy Susans. Single-level lazy Susans are perfect for tall bottles and jars, while two-tiered ones hold smaller containers. Martha labels each side of each small container so its contents can be viewed without lifting it out of place. Left: Galvanized-steel, wood, and plastic bins organize items within the drawers of the armoire. Each container holds a specific category of items such as kids’ paint supplies, a flower-arranging kit, or safety goggles and masks. The bottoms of the drawers are lined with sheets of galvanized steel to protect them from wear. Right: Martha is very pleased with the number of tools and supplies that the craft armoire keeps organized and easily accessible.

Clearing Up the Clutter         post 1

I have decided that since I know of so many people with a lot of clutter in their homes and in their lives, who have asked me for input; I will be doing a few posts on clearing clutter and making spaces to organize those items you do eventually decide to keep in your life.  Enjoy  Herm.