Creating a memorable 1st impression with the home improvements pays off, according to remodeling magazine of Nove 2010 Cost vs Value REeport and mos of them does not cost an arm or leg.

1. 1.PROJECT 1: Entry Door Replacement (Steel)

Cost $1,218

Resale value $1,243

Cost recouped 102.1% Removing the existing front door including a clear dual pane half glass panel, jambs and a threshold.

2. PROJECT 2: Garage Door Replacement

Cost $1,291

Resale value $1,083

Cost recouped 83.9%

3. PROJECT 3: Siding Replacement

(Fiber Cement)

Cost $13,382

Resale value $10,707

Cost recouped 80.0%

4.PROJECT 4: Kitchen Remodel  (Minor)

Cost $21,695

Resale value $15,790

Cost recouped 72.8%

5.PROJECT 5: Deck Addition (Wood)

Cost $10,973

Resale value $7,986

Cost recouped 72.8%

If you want to read more details about those project, please check the realtor.org cost vs value. The above content is credited to realtor.org.

When meet with the seller, the seller usually will tell me what is his or her budge to update the home. Some only wants to paint the house and sell the home as is condition. Some seller will go an extreme step to remodel kitchen, bathrooms, repair all roof then stage the home to sell.

The non-permitted construction is an issue in any home sale. The bank owned home sellers do not disclose it and it will only sell the homes as  “AS IS” condition also. On top of this some lenders don’t loan money to  the homes, so many of them sold to the all cash buyers.

The new buyers will assume all the responsility. If the neighbors complain to the city of this addition. then  the city  building code inspector  would decide if the structure stays or goes. Some of the cities will require the buyer to convert the garage back as an orginal garage. Some cities will allow you to  retrofite up to the current building code and issue you a code compliance.

Buying a Unpermitted alternation homes do have some risk involved.

1). Drive less: The cars are the major source of air pollution. Walking or biking will be he better to the air and health.

2). Take bus: Let the someone else do the driving.

3). Car pool or van pool: Find out if your employer or county has a guaranteed ride home program. You may visit 511.org for ride share information.

4). Telecommute: You can save commute time, gas and qualify of air.

5). Refuel in the evening and don’t top off: Refueling in the evening decreases the opportunity for volatile organic compounds (VOC) to “cook” in the heat and form found-level ozone.

6). Trip-link: Cold engines pollute five times more than warm engines. Link you errands to minimize cold starts.

7). Avoid polluting products: Household products, especially aerosols like hair spray, cleaners, air fresheners and spray paints cause 48 tons of smog forming each days.

8). Use water based paints: oil based paint and varnishes contain a high percentage of VOC.

9). Enjoy a BBQ without using lighter fluid: Lighter fluid causes about a ton of smog each day. Try using an electric or chimney briquette started instead.

10). Shed gasoline power from from your lawn & garden chores: Gas powered lawn mower produces as much pollution s 40 new cars each more. Switch to an electric or hand pushed mower.

The sources from the bay area air quality management district http://www.baaqmd.gov/

1). Front Yard femces: Most people dont know any fence in the front yard requires location and design review by the city of Sunnyvale planning Division and may also need a permit. The city has the design guidelines for front yeard fencing that encourage residential style and strongly discourage industrial plain cement blocks.      

2). Good Neighbor fences: The fence that separate properties along the side and rear.  A very popular and attractive good neighbor fence design is a six foot solid fence with a foot of attice along the top for total of seven feet. Any fence more than 6 feet high requires planning division review, a building permit and agreements signed by all affected neighbors. A cpy of the agreement os available at the planning division.

3). A few other tips: Fences taller than 7 feet will require consideration at a public hearing. If you live on a corner lot, there will be special fence setback provisions for your property. Aslo, fence codes change over time, and it cannot be assumed that any fence that has been in place for year, don’t need the permit. If you need more information, you may email to planning@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us

From the web site of www.saveourh2o.org you will find the water saving tips for both business and home owners.

In the home:

• Only wash cloth when it is full loaded – sae 16 fallons per load
• Run the dishwasher only when it is full – save 3-8 gallons per load
• Take shorter showers – use 5 min shower rather 10 min shower

In the office:

• Fix leaks – faulty faucets and tooilets waste a lot of water every year.
• Upgrde toilets and urinals – toilets and urinals account for more than 1/3 of the water consumed in the office buildings.

It is a difficult task to save money any time but if you determine to buy a home why don’t you follow my money saving tips:

1. Create a budget : You start writing down your monthly living budget such as rent, food, gas, insurance etc.  Put down your monthly income as next page. Figure out how much extra money do you have each month.  From the real number you create a realisic budget goal and maintain the budget as it goes. If you click the link of “create a budget” then you can find a budge builder tool from www.thebeehive.org to create a budget.

2. Put the extra income to an interest bearing account. You can set aside 10% of gross income in that account. In this way you wrould never know you have this money. You put the extra income like birth gife or raise to the saving also.

3. Cut down your living expense: Cut down the buying need can save money. Find ways to cut down expense: I remember my parent used to say:” A penny saved is a penny earned.”. Skip reading the “On Sale” advertising from the newspaper will be a good way to avoid the temptation. Have you heard about the “Latte effect”?  If the latte cost $3.00 a day then one month will be $90 and 10 years will be $18,559 based on the USA today. You will be amazed that how much money you can save.
4. Stick to your budget plan: the saving goal could $1,000 monthly or 10% of your monthly income. You have to keep on saving month after month.
5. Increase your income: Do you have extra time and energy to find a part time job?or sell your stuff that you don’t need on www.ebay.com

Tips

• Tell your friends and family member that you are going to buy home and you are cut down the unnecessary expense.
• Put your budget near computer screen so you will see it daily.
• Ask help from your family members or spouse to save together.

Nowadays I’m being more mindful of the water I use in my home, because I recently learned that we are in a drought. I no longer let the water run when brushing my teeth, and fill my vases and cups a little less these days. The Board of Santa Clara Valley Water District voted unanimously to implement a mandatory 15% in water use for its customers as the state enters spring in the midst of a drought. California is facing water shortage due to 2 successive dry years. The city of Sunnyvale has asked its residents to reduce their intake by 10% and have discussed ways to make sure that residents stay with this required rationing. There could be letters of warning sent to people who water their lawns and gardens between 8am and 5pm during the daylight savings time. Also people could get tickets for washing their cars without a shut off nozzle on the hose, and people who hose down their sidewalks instead of sweeping. This is the time where using extra water and being wasteful will not pay!

To help residents learn how to conserve water in the home, yard and inspect their homes for leaks and potential leaks, they can get a surveyor to come into their home and perform a free audit by contacting San Jose Water Co. 408-279-7900. They also will teach residents how to be more efficient with watering their gardens and yards like switching to a more efficient irrigation system and using a special hose attachment. You don’t have to be a homeowner to learn about all these water saving methods. You may learn more tips from the following link http://www.valleywater.org/Water/Water_conservation/Water_conservation_tips.shtm

There are thousands and thousands of foreclosures in Silicon Valley. The San Jose city official  announced that city has the funds to offer help for the troubled homeowners in

A “Foreclosure Help” workshop will be held April 23 at the Santa Clara County Fairground from noon to 5 p.m. It will feature city, county, non-profit groups, and the real estate and financial industries, offering information and resources on how to avoid foreclosure.“Foreclosure Help” will be a four-pronged approach that targets prevention, intervention, family stabilization and neighborhood stabilization, said San Jose City Mayor Chuck Reed.

Please check into the SJlibrary web page for the other information regarding foreclosure help.

Happy Valentine’s Day! The Valentine day will be a perfect day to find a romantic home. 

She managed to change a 1000 sf in  Campbell 4 plex apartment to be a beautiful French villa. Cindy Kihn-Santiago  is not a professional interior decorator by all means. She is a 48-year-old single mother of two kids who loves gardening, decorating, knitting, cooking and drawing. She shares her passion at the blogs of  my romantic home  .    After posting a photo on the network’s Rate My Space, the HGTV has found her also.   Cindy’s apartment was used as an HGTV inspiration for a couple who wanted a romantic bedroom. JCPenney handed her a $500 shopping spree for the home decor.Earlier this week she told her audience that she is hoping to land a spot on a new HGTV show, “HGTV Designer for a Day,” to work along with a host to make over a room.

The www.lookiloos.com did a story of her. If you look this web site you can find our local Silicon Valley realtors pay $75.00 to buy a spot to advertising a listing as long as the listing is alive. The aboved photo is Cindy’s kitchen window which is the courtesy from today’s  San Jose Mercury News .