La Jolla Real Estate Blog

It is probably true that on half the home inspections I do the filter is installed backwards.  It is important that the filter be installed the right way!  Why?  Because one side is stronger and meant to handle the air flow's pressure.  There is an arrow drawn on every filter to tell you the air flow direction.  Put in backwards, and as it gets loaded with dust, the filter can literally get sucked into the system and even cause damage to the fan.

Someone took the time to draw which way the filter should be installed.

That way, when it is put into the slot, you only have to put the arrow on the filter in the direction of the arrows drawn on the return duct.

What if the arrows are drawn wrong?

THESE ARROWS ARE POINTING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION!!

How do you know which way the air blows?

The air will always be drawn TOWARD the blower.  From the blower it gets heated in the furnace or cooled on the AC coils.

So the air-flow arrows on the filter should point TOWARD blower.

This unit is 5 years old.  It was filthy.  The ducts in the house were filthy.  Could it be the bad information on the arrows contributing to that?

My recommendation:  If you don't know which way the air is blowing, put a piece of toilet paper on the end of a pair of pliers and stick it into the slot.  See which way the paper is drawn.  That is your air flow direction!  Don't believe me?  Check it yourself.  AND THEN DRAW YOUR ARROWS THE RIGHT WAY!

Even the most cursory viewing of home improvement shows, has reinforced the mantra; kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. What the shows don't tell you, is how to get the most bang for your buck. Too often, the homes featured, showcase budget busting kitchen improvements. Sure, the kitchen is arguably the most important room in the home. But most people don't have seventy five thousand dollars to spend on hand made cabinets, commercial grade appliances, and overpriced counters.

So where should homeowners invest their money, when it comes to the kitchen remodel? Well, here are seven do's and dont's to follow:

Open The Kitchen- Open the kitchen as much as possible. Any changes that can make the kitchen more accessible to the rest of the home is  a benefit. This can mean knocking down walls, raising ceilings or cutting holes in walls that open to a living or dining area. Open living is not a trend, but a permanent change to how we live in our homes.

You Aren't Emeril Lagasse- Don't pretend to be. The commercial refrigerators, huge ovens and gigantic vent hoods are totally unnecessary. Chances are, you aren't cooking for dinner parties on a regular basis. And here's a tip- most chefs don't have these appliances in their own homes. Now, a luxury homeowner may want these items. But ninety percent of the population, will do just fine, with some nice, well thought out purchases.

Lighting Is Key- This applies to the entire home. But kitchen lighting is so important because it is a gathering place. The money that is saved on overpriced appliances, can go in to putting glass or windows wherever possible. Add recessed lighting and stylish hanging lights.

Never Pay Retail- With the internet, uber competitive big box stores, and stores dedicated to kitchens, there is no reason to pay high prices for cabinetry, appliances and fixtures. Moreover, many states offer tax free weekends for appliances once a year. Of course, most retail outlets run significant sales in conjunction with the tax break. That is the time to load up on those high dollar purchases.

Islands and Built in Desks- Are popular, because they make the kitchen multi funtional. Along with built in bookshelves, they give the kitchen an extra purpose. Also, they provide a good alternative to traditional storage.

Flooring- Can really change a kitchen.  A tile floor upgrade, brings a nice, strong, durable look to a kitchen. Adding hardwood flooring is also a new trend, that adds a touch of class. Just make sure that any flooring remodel, can withstand drops, spills, and lots of wear and tear.

Classic Cabinets- I tell clients, if there is one area you are going to push the budget. Do so on the cabinets. Spending on cabinets that will stand the test of time will pay off. While granite, slate and concrete counter tops may come and go, the well built cabinet is the highlight of a kitchen. 

Temecula is on the map now and has grown up FAST!  Temecula, California;  Located in beautiful Southwest Riverside County has so many attributes!  Not to mention, great prices on Temecula Homes For Sale, and it made Relocate America's list for top 100 places to live in America.

Here's some other great information about Temecula

and why it made Relocate America's List of 100 places to live!

Temecula Schools

Temecula Wine Country Homes

Temecula Old Town

(Public comments have been disabled but I would love to hear from you via the links below.)

Jane Grant     Southwest Real Estate   Telephone:  866 621-0155
 
FACEBOOK, LinkedIN,  U-Tube, Twitter, Trulia

Contact me for information regarding Real Estate in Riverside County, My office is in Temecula, and I specialize in selling homes in the Temecula Wine County, De Luz, La Cresta, Bear Creek, Murrieta, Wildomar and Menifee, Canyon Lake, Canyon Hills, Lake Elsinore.   Anywhere in Southwest Riverside County and North San Diego County. 

 

 

Broker of Record- DRE  01109492
Southwest Real Estate, Inc. 
Telephone:  866 621-0155

Temecula Homes For Sale

Riverside County Homes For Sale
 

"Riverside County Living"

  Click Here for disclosure of non affiliation!

 

 

 

Time For a YARD SALE!

House in escrow? Need to move? Want some extra cash? Too much JUNK? Or maybe you are bored and just need something to do on a Saturday morning! Whatever your reason, you have decided it is Time for a YARD SALE!

As one who loves to frequent YARD SALES, I have experienced some great sales and some really bad sales. Planning a good yard sale takes a little work. How about some tips on creating a successful sale?

• Advertise ~ There are many avenues available to advertise your big sale. Craigslist is a great free way to get people to your sale!
• Signage!~ If I can't read your signs or they don't lead me to your house, how am I going to find my long lost treasure you have to offer?
• Items For Sale ~ Have stuff for sale! I know you want to get rid of the clothes the kids grew out of, but if that is all you have consider hooking up with your neighbors and seeing if they would be interested in having a neighborhood sale! You are more likely to sell the items this way, rather than holding a yard sale with nothing to sell. People tend to drive by and look and if there is nothing that catches their eye, they aren't stopping!
• Pricing ~ Pricing is everything. Most people visiting a yard sale are not coming to pay retail, and probably won't even consider paying wholesale! Just because it was purchased for $20 doesn't mean after 5 years it is worth $15! Price things to move if you want to get rid of them. Price by easy increments that are easy to give change. Don't price below a quarter.
• Organization ~  Although digging through boxes is fun, if all of your stuff is piled into boxes that your patrons have to dig through, you won't sell as much. They have other yard sales to get too! They don't want to miss those! By having your stuff out and easy to see you will sell a lot more!
• Have Change ~ This is really important especially if you are selling a lot of stuff. Consider having $200 worth of change in $1, $5 and $10 bills. Get a few rolls of quarters as well.
• Holding Items ~ Be prepared to be asked if you will hold an item for someone to get a truck or bring back mother. If you are going to hold an item, set a time period; a short one if they are not willing to pay for the item in full. Let them know if the item is not paid for and they are not back in a half hour or an agreed upon time you are selling it! You want to get rid of this stuff, right?

Having a Yard Sale is a great way for you to get rid of unwanted items you have accumulated over the years. Plus, who would argue over a little extra cash? By taking a little bit of time to plan your Yard Sale you will have great success in addition to getting rid of JUNK. Hey, you know what they say "One man's trash is another man's treasure!"

Looks like it is Time For a YARD SALE!

Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!

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