Susan's Blog

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Full time real estate services in Fair Oaks CA, with friendly professionalism, 20+ years experience. I work hard to give my buyer or seller a low-stress transaction. "Happy clients make me happy."

For all your real estate needs or questions, call me at (916) 705-8951 or visit my website at www.SusanNealFineProperties.com.

I was reading Jim Frimmer's post about people taking out their pools, and when I started writing a comment, I realized that my comment was way too long, so I decided to turn it into a separate post instead (didn't want to hijack his post).  Read his post as well as this one, and let me know what you think on the issue.

When we bought our home, it had an old pool that badly needed updating.  It had been drained, and the surface needed work.  It was 20x40, 10 feet deep, had no floor drain and only one skimmer - very inefficient.  There were a diving board and metal ladders.  The insurance company came out to do their inspection and insisted that we fill the pool with water or dirt to get coverage, which meant it was a top priority.

We found that it would be almost as expensive to take out the pool as it would be to turn it into the pool we wanted.  They took off the old surface and found there was solid concrete beneath the gunnite.  Now we have a beautiful 20x40 pool with no diving board, beautiful formed stairs, darker gunnite surface, a very efficient system with floor drain (we put the plumbing in the floor of the pool and made it 8 feet deep instead of 10), two skimmers and all new decking and pool equipment.  We use very little chlorine and our pool is always sparkling.  We have enough shade to reduce some evaporation, and we wouldn't trade our pool for anything.

All of this for a mere $36,000 (gulp)!  Needless to say, it moved some of the other upgrades down the to-do list a bit.  With the 100+ degree summers we have, it is an asset that increases our property value.  I think having a lot of huge trees helps with water evaporation, and it also allows us to use less water for our lawns.

I happened to catch the new Dr. Oz show in TV a couple of days ago, and he had several experts on the program to discuss the H1N1 virus (swine flu) and ways to protect yourself from it.  I took some notes and here is what I learned.

It has clearly become a pandemic according to the World Health Organization (WHO).  The flu pandemic of 1918 killed 40 million people worldwide (including my mother's mother).  One million people in the United States are already infected with H1N1, and WHO is predicting that up to 90,000 will die of it in the U.S. 

They've determined that it began in Mexico, and is just one of those flukes of mutation.  Somehow the human strain of flu and the bird flu combined in a pig and mutated into a new strain, which became H1N1.  The difference between this new strain and the seasonal flu we get every year is that it spreads much more quickly and attacks mostly younger people.  They believe that is because it is similar to a strain that hit in 1957, and people who may have gotten exposed to that flu may have some degree of immunity to this one.

Be alert for these symptoms as to the progression of the disease:

Day 0-2, there are usually no symptoms at all; day 3 aches and pains; days 4-6 fever, cough and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea; and days 7-10 you will either start feeling better or suffer breathing problems.  If there is shortness of breath, seek medical attention, as it may be going into pneumonia or other complications that could be deadly.

If someone in your family gets sick, treat it as contagious like you would for a common cold.  If you are caring for them, make sure that you don't get sick.  They should wear a mask, but if they are having difficulty breathing so that they can't wear one, or if it is a small child, then you should wear a mask.

Very small children may have difficulty breathing, have dizziness or confusion, vomiting, bluish or grey looking skin, not waking from sleep easily, or seeming to get better, then worse.

To prevent complications: make sure to get seasonal flu shot AND the H1N1 shot.  It takes about 2 weeks after the shot to have protection from the virus.

Other steps you can take to protect yourself and your children:

•  Have basic cleaners and keep surfaces clean.

•  Make sure that you and your children wash their hands frequently through the day and use sanitizers and wipes when you can't wash

•  Probiotics and prebiotics will nourish the bacteria in your system that protect you against viruses (these include garlic, yogurt)

•  Take basic supplements, and make sure to get vitamin D and North American ginseng

•  Have regular emergency products, such as fever reducers, thermometer, aspirin (not for children), masks and electrolyte replacements.

 Since you will be asked to self-quarantine, make sure that you are prepared not to have to go out in public while you are sick.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that you have 1 month of supplies, including key foods and any medications that you take regularly.

 And get your flu shots!

I hope you will spread the word and that we can make the predictions of WHO be wrong - the numbers can be reduced if everyone does their best to follow these recommendations. 

 Stay healthy!

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Full time real estate services in Fair Oaks CA, with friendly professionalism, 20+ years experience. I work hard to give my buyer or seller a low-stress transaction. "Happy clients make me happy."

For all your real estate needs or questions, call me at (916) 705-8951 or visit my website at www.SusanNealFineProperties.com.

There are many things a seller can do to fix up a home for a quick sale, but most are expensive and time consuming.  Major repairs may be nice, but many upgrades will not bing a return on investment equal to the cost.

This post lists a number of things that cost little or nothing, yet can make a great difference in how soon your home sells and at what price.  And non of them take long to do.  If you are considering selling your home, use this checklist for some quick fixes to put a happy face on your property.

What do you know about the praying mantis?

I stepped out my front door the other night and was greeted by this little guy – a praying mantis.  I have always thought they were so cute with their big eyes and the pose that makes them look like they are praying.  They are out at night, so you don’t see them much during daylight hours, but I remember being outside after dark on some late summer nights as a child and finding them in the bushes next to our house.  I haven’t known very much about them, though, so I thought I’d see what Wikipedia has to say.

While they look so innocent, it seems that in their world, they are both prey and predator – to some little bugs, mantises are probably fearsome monsters, and not the cute little critters that I see.  Here is part of what Wikipedia says:

“Mantises are masters of camouflage and most species make use of protective coloration to blend in with the foliage or substrate, both to avoid predators themselves, and to better snare their victims. Various species have adapted to not only blend with the foliage, but to mimic it, appearing as either living or withered leaves, sticks, tree bark, blades of grass, flowers, or even stones.

“Some species in Africa and Australia are able to turn black after a molt following a fire in the region to blend in with the fire ravaged landscape (fire melanism).  While mantises can bite, they have no venom.  They can also slash captors with their raptorial legs. They do not appear to be chemically protected; nearly any large predatory animal will eat a mantis such as Scops owls, shrikes, bullfrogs and chameleons.”

That fire melanism trick is pretty interesting.  Funny how nature develops ways to protect its species in seemingly impossible situations.  I used to play with them when I was little, and have them crawl all over my hands, and they never slashed me with their “raptorial” legs!  Just lucky I guess, or they knew somehow that I wouldn’t hurt them.  I know I was probably an unusual little girl, but I had pet bugs all the time as a child.  I never kept a praying mantis, but I enjoyed them in the yard.

Now what do you know about the praying mantis?

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Full time real estate services in Fair Oaks CA, with friendly professionalism, 20+ years experience. I work hard to give my buyer or seller a low-stress transaction. "Happy clients make me happy."

For all your real estate needs or questions, call me at (916) 705-8951 or visit my website at www.SusanNealFineProperties.com.

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Full time real estate services in Fair Oaks CA, with friendly professionalism, 20+ years experience. I work hard to give my buyer or seller a low-stress transaction. "Happy clients make me happy."

For all your real estate needs or questions, call me at (916) 705-8951 or visit my website at www.SusanNealFineProperties.com.

Growing your business takes plowing, planting, and maintenance to reap a harvest!

Katie Brown just wrote a great blog post that says something that I have told many people lately.  Some agents, perhaps those who got spoiled by the crazy wild market of a couple of years ago, are moping around because their phone isn’t ringing and they have no clients.  Meanwhile, I’m climbing up our office “leader board” (really just a list of who has listings and who has properties in escrow) to compete with the agents who have been swamped with REO listings.

When other agents in the community ask me why I’m so busy and they aren’t, I tell them that I work hard.  When they complain that they work hard too, but aren’t getting any business, I go through my regular checklist:

ME:   Do you hold open houses – even asking other agents in your office if you can hold open their listings?

THEM:   I spend my weekends with my family and I don’t want to work weekends.

ME:   How about a weekday evening open house?

THEM:   I have to fix dinner and get the kids to bed.

ME:   Do you have a “farm” where you regularly keep in touch with the residents to remind them you are in real estate?

THEM:   I feel uncomfortable knocking on doors just to give them a commercial about me.

ME:   That’s not really how I do it.  I’m going out in a few minutes.  Would you like to come with me?

THEM:   I’m not even dressed yet today (this is 11:30 in the morning).

ME:   Do all the people in your own neighborhood know you sell real estate?

THEM:   I don’t know, but they aren’t home that much and I don’t really know them.

ME:   Well, how about picking a block in any neighborhood and handing out invitations to your open house (oops - you won’t hold them), or calendars or even little bags of candy with your business card?

THEM:   Calendars are too expensive and not everyone can eat candy.

ME:   There are a number of sources for free ready-made newsletters that you can personalize, print and hand out.

THEM:   I don’t like the articles they write.

ME:   How about writing your own articles, and even better:  how about blogging on Active Rain?

THEM:   I don’t have time.

ME:   These are just a few ideas.  I learn a lot and get lots of ideas and encouragement from my friends at Active Rain, and it is worth the time spent, on many levels.

THEM:   I told you I’m too busy.  And I don‘t need to learn anything.  I know what to do once I have a client, I just can’t get a client.

About this time, I give up.  I don’t know what they are busy doing!  They have no clients, their kids are in school all day, and they have time to call other agents and complain about having no business.  I guess it just proves the old adage that you can lead a horse to water …

Meanwhile, I am plowing, planting, maintaining and harvesting new business all the time!

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Full time real estate services in Fair Oaks CA, with friendly professionalism, 20+ years experience. I work hard to give my buyer or seller a low-stress transaction. "Happy clients make me happy."

For all your real estate needs or questions, call me at (916) 705-8951 or visit my website at www.SusanNealFineProperties.com.

Crime isn't funny, but criminals sometimes are!  I love hearing these stories, and these are allegedly true stories taken from news reports.

LICENSE TO STEAL

Two Kentucky men tried to pull the front off a cash
machine by running a chain from the machine to the bumper
of their pickup truck. Instead of pulling the front
panel off the machine, though, they pulled the bumper
off the truck. They panicked and fled, leaving the chain
still attached to the machine, their bumper still attached
to the chain, and their license plate still attached
to the bumper.



IN THE BAG

A "tourist," supposedly on a golf holiday, stood in
line at the customs counter. While making idle chatter,
the customs official thought it odd that the golfer
didn't know what a handicap was. The officer then asked
the tourist to demonstrate his swing. He did - backwards.
A substantial amount of narcotics was found in the golf
bag.


MADE FOR TV

"Guns For Hire", an Arizona company specializing in
staged gunfights for Western movies, got a call from
a 47-year-old woman who wanted to have her husband shot.
She was sentenced to four years in jail.



OR … DO YOU ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS?

A Texan convicted of robbery worked out a deal to pay
$9600 in damages rather than serve a two-year prison
sentence. For payment, he provided the court a forged
check. He got his prison term back, plus eight more
years.


YOU MEAN ME?

A pair of Michigan robbers entered a record shop nervously
waving revolvers. The first one shouted, "Nobody move!"
When his partner moved, the startled first bandit shot
him.



DEADHEADS

A man in Orange County Municipal Court had been ticketed
for driving alone in the carpool lane. He claimed that
the four frozen cadavers in the mortuary van he was
driving should be counted. The judged ruled that passengers
must be alive to qualify.



THIS WOULD BE ME

The judge called the case of People vs. Steven Lewon
Crook. The bailiff opened the door to the holding cell
and called, "Crook, come forward." Five of the prisoners
entered the courtroom.



LEARN YOUR LESSON

When asked for her occupation, a woman charged with
a traffic violation said she was a schoolteacher. The
judge rose from the bench. "Madam, I have waited years
for a schoolteacher to appear before this court," he
smiled with delight. "Now sit down at that table and
write 'I will not pass through a red light' five hundred
times."



AHH, THAT'S BETTER!

A judge in Louisville decided a jury went "a little
bit too far" in recommending a sentence of 5,005 years
for a man who was convicted of five robberies and a
kidnapping. The judge reduced the sentence to 1,001
years.



OOPS!  I BLEW THAT ONE!

A lawyer defending a man accused of burglary tried this
creative defense: "My client merely inserted his arm
into the window and removed a few trifling articles.
His arm is not himself, and I fail to see how you can
punish the whole individual for an offense committed
by his limb." "Well put," the judge replied. "Using
your logic, I sentence the defendant's arm to one year's
imprisonment. He can accompany it or not, as he chooses."
The defendant smiled. With his lawyer's assistance he
detached his artificial limb, laid it on the bench,
and walked out.

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Full time real estate services in Fair Oaks CA, with friendly professionalism, 20+ years experience. I work hard to give my buyer or seller a low-stress transaction. "Happy clients make me happy."

For all your real estate needs or questions, call me at (916) 705-8951 or visit my website at www.SusanNealFineProperties.com.

This post makes some interesting points, which I feel are worth considering.  And since your Realtor will provide you with a pretty complete market analysis, and since that analysis will very likely approximate the appraisal that will be ordered by your buyer's lender, it is a good idea to pay close attention to that analysis in pricing your home.

If you overprice your home and the appraisal comes in lower, it may be impossible for your buyer to purchase your home.  Better to price it close to what the appraisal will probably be, and a happy and smooth sale is more likely.

Of course, it is impossible to perfectly predict what an appraiser will find, and Realtors are not appraisers, but we can come pretty close a great deal of the time.

Anyway, here is the post that inspired my comments.