Blog - Stovall Team, Fountain Valley, CA, Real Estate

A Clean Kitchen Secret…

By Micah Stovall | Published: August 19, 2012

Grease and dirt build up on kitchen cabinets and backsplashes over time and use. To clean your cabinets, first heat a damp sponge in the microwave for 20-30 seconds until it’s hot. Put on a pair of rubber gloves, spray the cabinets with a vinegar/water solution containing orange oil ($4), then wipe
off the cleaner with the hot sponge. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain. Rinse and reheat the sponge as it becomes saturated.
Then wipe the cabinets with a cool, damp cloth. The orange oil leaves a shiny coating. This works for any wood or metal surface. The orange oil looks and smells great during the warm summer months.

The Stovall Team always offers complimentary pre market staging tips and complimentary staging with each listing. Our Staging program has proven to achieve a higher net and a faster marketing time for every one of our sellers. Call The Stovall
Team today at 714.343.9294 or 714.378.3438 for your free evaluation.

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5 Ways to Add Curb Appeal

By Micah Stovall | Published: August 18, 2012

If your home’s curb appeal makes a great first impression, everyone — including potential homebuyers — will want to see what’s inside. Check out these simple, low-cost improvements that you can do in a day, a week, or a month.
1.Create perfect symmetry. Symmetry is not only pleasing to the eye, it’s also the simplest to arrange. Symmetrical compositions of light fixtures and front-door accents create welcoming entryways.

2.Replace old hardware House numbers, the entry door lockset, a wall-mounted mailbox, and an overhead light fixture are all elements that can add style and interest to your home’s exterior. If they’re out of date or dingy, your home may not be conveying the aesthetic you think it is. These elements add the most appeal when they function collectively, rather than as mix-and-match pieces. Oiled-bronze finishes suit traditional homes, while brushed nickel suits more contemporary ones.

3.Do a mailbox makeover Mailboxes should complement the home and express the homeowner’s personality. When choosing a hanging drop box, pick a box that mirrors your home’s trimmings. Dress up posted boxes by staining or painting the wooden post to match the house’s trim and woodwork. Create structures for your box from materials found throughout the hardscaping. Warning: Consult a professional when designing and building structures.

4. Install outdoor lighting Low-voltage landscape lighting makes a huge impact on your home’s curb appeal while also providing safety and security. Fixtures can add accent lighting to trees or the house or can illuminate a walking path. If you aren’t able to use lights that require wiring, install solar fixtures.

5. Create a new planting bed Add contrast and color to your home exterior with a new planting bed. Prime spots are at the front corners of the yard, along driveways or walk-ways, and immediately in front of the house.

If you are considering selling your home, the Stovall Team wants to help you. Our outstanding marketing techniques and attention to details is second to none. Our staging program has proven to achieve a higher net and a faster marketing time for every one of our sellers. Call The Stovall Team today at 714.343.9294 or 714.378.3438 for information.

Stay Organized

By Micah Stovall | Published: July 8, 2012

Chances are you have heard of “staging” but we want to break it down for our neighbors. “Staging” is the process of preparing a home for sale via de-cluttering, depersonalizing and neutralizing, among other techniques. Staging, repairing and generally prepping your home for sale is quite important in today’s Real Estate market.

So how do you make your home open-house ready? Depending on your home’s current condition, it can be a large, overwhelming job, or it can be a few simple things. It is imperative to stay organized, take it slow and work step-by-step.

The Stovall Team always offers complimentary pre market staging tips and complimentary staging with each listing. Our Staging program has proven to achieve a higher net and a faster marketing time for every one of our sellers. Call The Stovall Team today at 714.343.9294 or 714.378.3438 for your free evaluation.

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What Does Home Inspection Cover?

By Micah Stovall | Published: July 7, 2012

What does your home inspection cover? And who is liable if a problem develops down the road? You need an inspection on any property you are buying, regardless if it’s old or new construction. An inspection is like a check-up for your house.

What repairs will need to addressed now and what might need to be addressed later down the road? This is what you have answered during an inspection. Having an inspection done prior to signing a contract allows you to negotiate your findings into the deal. Does the roof need replaced? The seller may give an allowance to pay for the repairs.

Keep in mind, however, that simply because a house needs repairs doesn’t mean you shouldn’t purchase it. Nearly every house will have a list of repairs that need to be done to get it “shipshape.” It is your decision to choose how much you are willing to spend and how much work you are willing to do.

There are limits, however, to what a home inspection will cover. They aren’t required to identify conditions that are concealed or are considered latent defects. That means if personal property, plants, or debris is covering an issue, the home inspector isn’t require to move those items to inspect it and isn’t liable if he misses it. They aren’t required to make determinations on systems that aren’t readily accessible.
And they aren’t required to note the presence of potentially hazardous plants and animals. That includes “wood destroying organisms” or even molds.

This means you should find a home inspector that you trust. The Stovall Team recommends you choose from our list of licensed professionals. Having a trusted inspector means that most every problem that can be identified, will be. And inspection is about peace of mind, and a good inspector gives you that.
By Steve Stovall

Posted in Sellers | Tagged Fountain Valley, Real Estate | Comments closed

Considering Diving Into a Swimming Pool Addition?

By Micah Stovall | Published: July 6, 2012

Adding a swimming pool to your property can add cash value and an enhanced lifestyle, but it’ll also cost you to keep it sparkling and, perhaps, some extra effort when it’s time to sell. The pros and cons are many. Home buyers love swimming pools and they hate them. The same goes for sellers. A pool can be a family oasis during swim season. Pools put small children at risk, but provide full body workouts for athletes.

With construction down, chances are, you can drive a hard bargain to have a new pool installed these days. However, it’s going to cost you tens of thousands of dollars and, because of buyers’ love-’em-hate-’em relationship with pools, don’t expect to get a full return on your investment when you sell. If you are going to add a swimming pool to your property take as much time considering and planning for the improvement as it will take the contractor to put you in the swim.

When it comes to value, get the opinion of a home appraiser in terms of how it will impact the value of your home. Even then it can be a toss up. In a community with many existing pools, a pool could boost your home’s value nearer the value of like homes with pools. In a community without pools, your return could be smaller because you’ll attract a smaller pool of buyers. The neighborhood also comes into play on the value scale. Even if you have the only pool on the block, if your neighborhood has excellent schools, is low on crime and is in a sought-after location, the pool could be a plus for the right buyer and your bottom line.

Also talk to the Stovall Team to determine how homes with pools sell. We talk to sellers in neighborhoods with both high and low pools-to-homes ratios and are able to see how they affect value and salability.

Of course, if you have a family of swimmers and plan to stay in your home many years, selling and a return on your investment is far less important. Consider that a pool will erase a large chunk of your property. It’s design must be a good fit for your family and your property.
Engage your neighbors. Ask about their likes and dislikes; what changes they’d make; how long and disruptive it was to install the pool; and unexpected costs. You’ll also want nearby neighbors to know major construction may be afoot. Pinterest at its best…start a collection of pool images collected from magazines, showrooms, online searches, your own photos and oth-er sources. Collect pool images that are alluring to you and stockpile images that contain pool features you like. The images will help you visualize the form and function you want built into your pool. After a while, you’ll see a common thread in the type of pool you desire.

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Summer Maintenance Checklist : Using Stovall Team as your Realtors ranks #1

By Micah Stovall | Published: July 5, 2012

Summer is the perfect time of year to break out the power washers and screwdrivers to keep your home looking its best, both inside and out.
Annual upkeep should be at the top of every homeowners to-do list in order to maintain its visual appeal as well as keeping costs to a minimum. It will always be less expensive to maintain your home rather than have to fix major problems that could have been avoided.
Thankfully the beautiful weather in coastal Orange County in early Summer draws us outdoors into our yards and into the home maintenance mode.

HOME MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST
1. Power Wash – You can either rent a power washer or hire a professional, but either way, concentrate on removing debris from the driveway, sidewalks, pavers or other outdoor space, and the exterior of your home.

2. Inspect the Windows – If you have outdated windows, warm Summer is the perfect time of year to replace them with energy efficient ones. If not replacing windows, be sure to give them a good cleaning, using newspaper instead of pa-per towels. Take down the window treatments and clean them too. Also check the screens to make sure they are not ripped and are securely in place.

3. Clean out the Gutters – You’d be surprised at how much debris can collect in your gutters during the rainy season. Break out the ladder (or hire a professional) and clean them out.

4. Check the Roof – Take a look at your roof to make sure you haven’t lost any shingles over the course of the year, which could cause leaks.

5. Change Air Filters – Every year you should replace the filters in your heating and cooling systems to get the most out of the units. This will not only help to prolong the life of the system, but will help keep allergens to a minimum.

6. Replace Batteries in Smoke Detectors – This one doesn’t need any explanation and you will avoid the jarring beep reminder.

7. Refresh the Mulch or Stone – No matter what you use as the surroundings for plants and flowers, giving it a fresh layer will have it looking its best.

Giving your home an annual inspection to check for damage is the best way to keep overall costs to a minimum and have your home looking its best.

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