It's Pumpkin Season

Check out these great tips for carving your Pumpkin!

Pumpkin Carving Tools

A serrated knife works well for creating a hole in the pumpkin. It's preferable to carve the hole in the bottom of the pumpkin to cut off any bumps so the pumpkin will sit level. It's also much easier to place the pumpkin over a light source. A large metal spoon or ice-cream scoop is great for removing pumpkin seeds. Small paring knives are great for carving designs into the pumpkin. Pumpkin-carving kits, made specifically for kids or adults, are another good source.

Preserving a carved pumpkin

Mold and dehydration are the two main contributors to pumpkin rot. Prevent both by covering the carved areas and interior of pumpkin with petroleum jelly. This will keep the pumpkin from drying out and will slow the growth of mold. Another option is to add a small amount of bleach to a spray bottle filled with water. Spray the pumpkin daily with the bleach mixture; the bleach fights mold while the water keeps the pumpkin from drying out too quickly. A cut pumpkin will only last for a few days to a week, so it's best to cut your pumpkin no earlier than a few days before your festivities.

Illuminating the pumpkin

The candle-free options are nearly endless for showcasing your pumpkin designs. Check stores for color-changing strobe lights, battery-operated tea lights and rainbow LEDs that are made specifically for pumpkins. Votive or pillar candles, placed on a plate that is large enough to catch any drips, are also an excellent option. A good tip when illuminating a pumpkin with a candle is to cut a small hole in the top of the pumpkin, like a chimney, allowing the heat to escape. Speaking of safety, a general reminder: Always exercise due caution whenever fire is involved.

Remember - The Real Estate Market Doesn't Have To Be Scary!
In the past few years, many homeowners who have considered moving felt the market was too uncertain. As a real estate professional, I’m thrilled to report a positive outlook for those who are thinking about buying or selling.  Contact your Ventura County Prudential California Real Estate Specialist today to learn about local market conditions or for a FREE no-obligation real estate consultation. Visit www.prucalhomes.com to contact your agent today.

Houzz Lets You Design Your Dream Home

Houzz is both a great app and website!  Get Inspired by photos of perfectly designed rooms, you can find a local design or remodeling professional, or get advice and decorating tips - many of the products you see will even provide you with direct links to buy them online.  Houzz allows you to assemble and organize your ideas and photos into idea books, that can be categorized into rooms.  

For more information on getting the home of your dreams, please visit www.prucalhomes.com today to search for homes and find a Ventura County Real Estate professional.

Making the Most of Small Kitchens

Many people complain about small kitchens but tiny spaces aren't always to be dreaded. If you're selling your home and your kitchen is, well, compact, know that you can find ways to achieve big appeal with a little creativity.

Bring in the light. Sometimes small kitchens can be dark, making them feel even smaller. But if you remove the curtains from any windows in your small kitchen, it'll let light in and open up the area. Instead of curtains, you can use small blinds that are recessed inside the frame of the window. These are easy to clean and still provide some privacy even when the blinds are open.

De-Clutter the counter tops and the walls. Most people have a tendency to let kitchen clutter build up on the counter tops and walls. Take the appliances and either store them in the kitchen cabinets or, if there isn't enough room, pack them up. You're moving soon, anyway. Clearing off photos and miscellaneous papers that are stuck on your refrigerator door or kitchen walls will also help make your kitchen look bigger. The same goes for hanging pot racks from the ceiling. Be sure to leave some open wall space and to use storage units that aren't completely solid. The open units, if the shelves aren't stuffed, will give a less closed-in feeling.


Opt for lighter and brighter wall color. Going with lighter colors tends to open up a room. Light and bright colors are also very inviting and friendly, making them a perfect choice for the kitchen. You can use a darker accent trim to create some contrast. You can also use decorations including floral arrangements or even some colorful kitchen appliances to add spice to the kitchen.

Wall-mounted appliances and reduced counter-top depth. Wall-mounted or under-the-cabinets-mounted appliances can save valuable kitchen counter-top space. You might even have a way to wall-mount your kitchen faucet. In one small home design, the faucet was mounted to the wall, creating a very distinctive look. The counter-top was a standard 24 inches deep but elsewhere the counter-top was reduced just slightly down to 21 inches–very subtle and hardly noticeable but it allowed more floor space in a tiny kitchen.  
From the Realty Times Feature Article by Phoebe Chongchua

Please contact your agent for other helpful tips on keeping your home in buyer-ready condition.  With five offices throughout Ventura County, Prudential California Realty is independently owned and operated. Please visit www.prucalhomes.com to find an agent.

Prudential Ventura County Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction

Prudential Agents Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Care to know what it takes to receive a lifetime membership into the largest trade association in the country? Start by dedicating everything you've got to your industry, like Carole Hernandez,  with Prudential California Realty's Camarillo office who was recently awarded a lifetime membership to both the National Association of REALTORS^® and the California Association of REALTORS^®. 

The longtime broker said that during her 40 years—and counting—helping clients buy and sell homes, there's been little distinction between real estate and real life. "We put all of ourselves into our business," she said. "We don't really separate the professional from the personal."

Since 1971, Hernandez and her husband, Manny Hernandez, have been a dynamic and successful real estate team, even receiving Prudential Real Estate's prestigious "Legend" award in 2007. But of all her accomplishments and accolades, Hernandez is most proud to represent an industry that matters. "It's very personal to be involved in someone's finances and in their hopes and dreams," she said. "A home is probably the most important thing in someone's life and finding the right one is the most rewarding feeling of all."

To Contact Carole or Manny, or for any Ventura County Real Estate needs, please visit our website at www.prucalhomes.com 

Tips To Sell Your Home Quickly

What's the quickest way to get a home sold?  Well, there is the obvious answer of listing it with a Prudential California Realty sales professional. But aside from that, here are some other tips to help you if you are considering making a move... 

1. Price your house correctly: Working with your agent, choose a price that is similar to the homes that have sold within the last 6 months. Let your agent establish a price he or she feels will make your house the buzz of the neighborhood. The amount may not be what you had envisioned—remember, the market has changed substantially over the last five years—yet when priced slightly below comparable sales you should attract serious buyers.

   

2. Be flexible, compromise: Know your basement price and don’t be offended by offers within those parameters. Consider negotiating housewares and fixtures that may appeal to prospective buyers, such as those expensive new drapes you just installed, the dining-room chandelier or that slick, washer-drier combo. Conduct a complete inventory of household features to determine what you can and can’t live without.  

3. Remove the clutter from your home: This must be done regardless of time frame. Throw away anything you won’t be taking with you and pack in storage items that you won’t miss during the sale process. Consider renting a storage pod that can be picked up and eventually moved to your new home.

4. Offer incentives: One popular incentive for a fast closing is to share or pay for your buyer’s closing costs. You may also offer higher commissions for a fast sale, which may lead to even more showings.

5. Rent to buy: If there’s interest in your home but no one is willing to step up to meet your timeline, offer prospective buyers the chance to rent your property with the right to buy it in six months or a year. Both parties win, as buyers can experience the home and neighborhood firsthand while you transition with cash flow to cover expenses.

If you are in a rush to get your home sold, hurry and contact your Ventura County Real Estate Specialist at Prudential California Realty:  www.prucalhomes.com or 888-352-1652

Confidence is Up - Americans are on the move

The national media finally has it right - Housing markets are heating up across the country, and Ventura County is no exception.  As of June, Home prices were up 23% across the county - we have also seen a dramatic decrease in distressed property sales.  These stats mean that more people are seeing equity in their existing homes again.  More Americans are on the move, whether first time buyers, downsizing, upsizing, or relocating - check out this great video from the National Association of Realtors, or contact your Prudential California Realty agent today at www.prucalhomes.com