Luxury Living Spotlight: San Marino, Pasadena, & South Pasadena
A mere stone's throw from Los Angeles is the Pasadena area, an infusion of suburban safety complete with the benefits and perks of living in a smaller sized city. A few of the most spectacular places in this region are San Marino, Pasadena, and South Pasadena. Perhaps most noted for the annual New Years Day Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl, "The City of Roses" and its surrounding areas are especially safe and clean, have countless shopping destinations, spectacular restaurants and fantastic public school districts. What more could you ask for?
San Marino and South Pasadena both have two of the highest ranked public school districts in California . In September of 2015, San Marino Unified ranked number one in all of Los Angeles County's districts in the new Common-core aligned statewide test scores. San Marino Unified also ranked number one in California in the new California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress . South Pasadena Unified ranked close behind at number five in California. Prefer private or parochial schools? Pasadena has a wide array of phenomenal schools, from elementary to high school levels, including two of the country's best: Pasadena Polytechnic and Westridge School. Polytechnic is a kindergarten through 12th grade co-ed private school ranking number two on the list of 75 schools in L.A. County. Westridge School, an all-girls private school , ranked number seven in L.A. County . There are numerous options, both private and public, for your children to receive some of the best education the country has to offer!
Particularly famous in these three cities are colonial and Craftsman style homes. Both beautiful in their own right, this region is rich with history and homeowners show this with great pride through their home designs, which reflect this tradition. Greene and Greene, the famous designers of the Gamble House, as well as Reginald Johnson, Myron Hunt and Sylvanus Marston are all notable architects arguably responsible for making Pasadena the vibrant community it is today. Home values in Pasadena are consistently valued at over 46% greater than California's average home. While San Marino does not have nearly as many Craftsman style homes, this quieter town certainly does not disappoint when it comes to beauty. Named after the Republic of San Marino, Italy, this exclusive city's homes homes are ranked as some of the highest valued properties in the nation.
With its incredible weather and very low crime rates, the Pasadena, South Pasadena and San Marino area is extremely livable with much to do. The annual Tournament of Roses parade is a mere day in the life for residents here, who tend to be very active in their communities through charitable organizations, golf and tennis, and many children's activities.
Happy Easter 2016
Moving into a new house is exciting and time-consuming, and no matter what time of the year it is, planning for the holidays can seem to take the backseat to other responsibilities. Considering that Easter is just around the corner, here are a few last-minute decorating ideas and recipes to make this Easter in your new home as memorable as possible, and hopefully the first of many wonderful Easters to come!
DIY Easter Egg Balloons
What you need:
-Balloon Helium tank
-Acrylic or Craft Paint
-String, Ribbon or Twine
-9’ or 11’ latex balloons
-Clear shipping tape
Directions:
1.Inflate balloons using your helium tank and temporarily tie a loose knot to the tail so they don’t slip away.
2. Flip your balloon over so it looks like an egg shape, and use your paintbrush and acrylic paint to paint your favorite Easter egg designs on them. Use enough paint to get even coverage, without it being too thick. (You don’t want to weigh down your balloon.) Then let dry.
3. Once dry, carefully untie the string from the tail and use a small piece of shipping tape to adhere the string to the “top” of the balloon, which will now become the bottom. Finished!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Peeps Skillet S’mores
What you need: (serves about 6):
-3 cups chocolate chips (I use a dark and milk mix)
-1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
-2 packages of PEEPS marshmallows (obviously more if you want all the colors)
-graham crackers for serving
Directions:
1. Place the chocolate chips in a 9-inch oven-safe skillet in an even layer. Drop spoonfuls of the peanut butter on top of the chocolate chips. Cover with an layer of peeps - you can stuff them in there! You'll need around 25 peeps.
2. Heat the broiler on your oven to HIGH. Place the skillet underneath for 1 to 2 minutes, just until the marshmallows get golden and the chocolate chips are melting. Watch the skillet the entire time. If you find that the chocolate isn't melted easily, turn the oven to 350 degrees F and let the skillet sit in there for a few minutes so it all melts. Serve immediately - carefully since it's hot! - with graham crackers for dipping.
5 Steps You Must Take When Selling Your Home
The real estate market is fiercely competitive. I work very closely with each and every one of my clients to ensure the success of their listings and top dollar earned. There are a few steps you can take before you list with me to make your home stand out from day one. It’s imperative that you do all you can to appeal to your potential buyers — presenting a clean and bright home might seem enough, but in my experience, it’s always advantageous for you to go the extra mile to make your home open house ready.
Consider your home as a product. You’re looking to make your property marketable and attractive to a large range of potential home owners. Hiring someone to actually stage your house tends to be pricey, so follow my below DIY steps to make your home look like it was done by professionals!
1. Declutter… Less is Best!
Clutter naturally collects after years and years of living in the same house. Because of this, homeowners can be unaware of the problem and become desensitized to it. Cleaning your space is a key step to allowing potential buyers to imagine the property as their own. A blank canvas, void of clutter and personal items, is a fantastic way to allow buyers to focus on the integral structure of the house.
Although selling a home is exciting, parting from clutter can be the hardest part for sellers. Emotional attachment can make it tricky to fully commit to selling your home. However, it’s vital that you set aside your sentimental feelings toward your home in the interest of a very successful sale. Decluttering is also a helpful, necessary step to get started on packing up for your move. It’s in your best interest to pack up 90% of your home and store your items in either a garage or storage unit. That way, you’re one step closer to a successful and easy move!
2. Repair & Repaint
Preparing to list your home is all about showcasing its best features and letting the natural beauty of your property glow. Don’t worry, though — this process doesn’t necessarily call for a slew of large renovation projects. There are minor improvements that take little effort and a low budget that will reap great benefits later on. These small fixes can include patching up damages like nail holes in walls, finishing up any repairs like leaky faucets or chipped paint as well as cleaning up your home where it may appear a bit rough around the edges. This can range from a blown out lightbulb, a broken window or a loose handle pull on a cabinet. Fixing these minuscule problems makes a great overall impact.
One of the most cost-effective ways to spruce up your home is to repaint the interior. A fresh coat of paint brightens up any room in a way that looks fresh and new. When considering paint colors, favor towards neutrals and avoid too bright or shades that are an acquired taste. Neutral colors like a shade of a cream or a classic light blueish hue are much more pleasant to the eye than a bright magenta or neon orange. It’s important to remember that even though you might love a certain color, most buyers aren’t positively receptive to colors that are too ‘out there.’ Plain, white walls can also feel cold, so don’t be afraid to warm it up a bit with a neutral grey or light blue.
3. Landscaping for Curb Appeal
The front and backyards of a home might not lie within the interior, but they're just as important of a part of the property for potential buyers. For buyers, a beautiful landscape is a beautiful investment. Don’t neglect the exterior of your listing. It’s the buyers’ first impression of the property and could very well be a strong selling point if presented correctly. On that note, your lawn must be green and mowed, plants should be well maintained, and all weeds must be removed. If need be, this is where to hire a professional.
In addition, direct your energy towards other fixtures outside of your home. Ensure that you’ve replaced your old and worn welcome mat with a fresh new one. Clear your sidewalk and driveway from any untidiness. You might go so far as to pressure-clean your home’s exterior. And most importantly, be sure that your address number can be clearly seen and read.
4. Pack Away Your Personal Items
It's in your best interest to remove items that could impair your listing in any way. For example, if your house is staged with your gorgeous dining room chandelier, potential buyers could consider it included with the home. Ultimately, if the buyer finds out you are taking those items with you, it could devalue your listing and potentially cause complications with the sale.
Therefore, it’s crucial that you remove any permanent fixtures you intend to keep. Take a look at your drapes or other light fixtures and consider whether or not they’re worth keeping. If they are, pack them up and keep them out of sight during the open house. You don’t want buyers to view these fixtures in the listing as part of a package deal.
Also, for the safety of you and your loved ones, remove all important personal items from the premises. Remember to remove all valuables such as, jewelry, passports, cash, credit cards, small electronics like iPods, iPads, and even computers and head phones. Make sure any collectible pieces, as well as all prescriptive medications are also locked up in a safe or removed from the property.
5. Make the Home Shine
There’s nothing that turns buyers off more than a dirty, unsanitary home. It goes without saying to make sure your home is presented smelling fresh and sparkling clean. Think about hiring a cleaning crew to get the job done really well — and quickly! Professionals can take care of cloudy glass doors, fingerprinted windows, dust bunnies and grime behind crevices. Don’t forget to make all beds, clear all dirty dishes from the sink and have your dishwasher turned off as well as your washer and dryer off. Clear all papers, mail and bills from the countertops and put them away.
Following these inexpensive steps is a necessity — with a bit of grunt work and elbow grease, you can set your property up to be any potential buyer’s dream home.
If you have any questions or are interested in selling your home, call me!
-- Melanie Hane
mmhane@gmail.com
