Long Beach Real Estate-Long Beach Condos

Long Beach Homes Condos Lofts Design Upgrades

You don't have to live without a fireplace just because you bought a Long Beach home, loft or condo that didn't have one.  You also do not have to live with an existing fireplace that you do not like.  You can warm up your space with a spectacular ventless gas fireplace insert.  There are many designs to choose from or you can design your own look, go long and horizontal, vertical or conventional.  Build them right in and make them 'belong' in your space. 

There are tons of hip new ideas in fireplace design, you are only limited by your imagination. You can go long and horizontal, making the fireplace a focal point. Or you can have a two sided fireplace that warms two rooms. 

Living in a smaller space?  Still want a cool fireplace?  Maybe the answer is to go Vertical to conserve space.  There is no reason that you cannot have a fireplace with so many new designs to choose from. 

Have an existing fireplace that is causing problems?  Need to replace a chimney and finding out how expensive that will be?  Were you thinking about just removing the fireplace rather than going through the expense of replacement? Want to replace an old wood burning fireplace with a clean gas model?  Want to keep the fireplace design you have?  Perhaps a gas insert is the way to go.  There are many shapes, sizes and models to choose from, including the more traditional.  Just choose one that suits your design and taste. Gas inserts are a reasonably priced alternative to expensive fireplace and chimney repairs... they are just cleaner. And, they look great!

These designs were all found online at "Gas, Logs Fireplaces and More".  Their prices are quite reasonable, there are many details about their products on their site including installation instructions for the do it yourselfers out there.  They can even help you with installation in many areas. Lots of good ideas to be found on this site.  (not a paid advertisement)  There are many sites exhibiting many different designs available to you online, I even found some on Ebay, very well priced.  

Fireplaces are a great addition to any home, condo or loft, they make a home feel warm and inviting.  Many existing homes, new condo developments and lofts in Long Beach do not have them and rolling in a portable one just isn't the same, they never really look like they belong.  Incorporating one into the design of your Long Beach home just makes more sense and looks so much better.  When buyers come to see your home, they will imagine themselves curled up in front of the fire in their new home.  It's the warm and fuzzies that sell homes. 

Long Beach Home Owner Tax Credit Information:

• Home Buyer and Home Owner Tax Credit Bill Passed by House and Senate>>>
• $8000 Tax Credit for Long Beach First Time Home Buyers>>>
• Long Beach Home Owner Tax Credit For New Insulated Garage Doors>>>
• Long Beach Home Owners Can Deduct PMI>>>

When it's time to buy or sell call Laurie (562) 212-5420, your Long Beach neighborhood expert.

Laurie Manny Long Beach Realtor® (562) 212-5420 244 Redondo Avenue Belmont Heights Long Beach, California 90803 Buyers/Sellers/Investors Homes Condos Income Properties 1031 Exchanges

 

Inexpensive Bathroom Makeover - Home Staging on a Budget

Are you are thinking about selling?  Need a little inexpensive staging?  Maybe you just want to spruce up your Long Beach home or condo?  There is nothing better than making a major change in appearance for just a few dollars. Lets face it remodeling is expensive and many sellers in Long Beach just cant afford it, many can't afford the cost of staging.  If you can spend a few dollars and make a major difference in appearance it could be the difference in whether you sell or not and in the price you net when you do sell. 

We show a lot of homes and condos to buyers in Long Beach and receive feedback from them.  So many comment on how the condos feel like they are 'just apartments' or the homes will require too much after purchase money to make livable.  Often the source of that concern is the kitchen and bath.  Today we are going to show you how to fix part of the problem very inexpensively by showing you how to transform your bath from an ordinary, hum drum, boring, apartment style bath to an extraordinary room, with appeal, that you will want to spend some time relaxing in, and so will your buyer. 

Are you familiar with the 'apartment style' bathroom mirror?  You know the one, it's the size of the vanity with polished edges and clips holding it onto the wall.  It screams apartment.  By adding a nice rich looking, but inexpensive, frame to that mirror, and a few inexpensive accessories, you can change the whole appeal of the room.  Remember you only have one chance to make a first impression.

Mirror Mate will custom make frames for your boring old bathroom mirror that will transform your bathroom for very reasonable prices. Take a trip to Pier 1 or Bed Bath and Beyond and add a few coordinated accessories, a fabulous shower curtain and throw rug, a few green plants and you have transformed your ordinary, boring bathroom into an inviting space that you or your buyer will want to spend time in relaxing.  Check out their website, look at some of the before and after photos, see the difference a makeover makes and imagine how your buyer will see your bathroom after a few inexpensive changes.  All Mirror Mate product are 100% Made in the USA!  (This is NOT a paid advertisement) 

Pottery Barn is running a Dream Room give away sweepstakes through February 15, 2010.  They are offering a chance to win a $5000 shopping spree, head on over and register, somebody is going to win it.  

Additional Home Improvement Tips: 

• Space saving solutions for your Long Beach Homes
• Small living space solutions for your Long Beach Homes
• Curb Appeal on a Budget

When you are ready to sell, or need advice as you are getting ready to sell, give us a call.  Ask about our aggressive internet marketing plan to place your home in front of buyers shopping online. 

Laurie Manny Long Beach Realtor® (562) 212-5420 244 Redondo Avenue Belmont Heights Long Beach, California 90803 Buyers/Sellers/Investors Homes Condos Income Properties 1031 Exchanges

 

LONG BEACH REAL ESTATE - Expired Homes and Condos Listings

  Trying to Sell YOUR Long Beach Home or Condo?

Did you know that 845 Long Beach homes and condo listings expired this year? 

Lets see if we can get some perspective on that number.

2009 Long Beach real estate sales statistics 11/12/2009: 

• 881 Long Beach homes and condos for sale - Active on the market
  
• 735 Long Beach homes and condos in escrow
• 845 Long Beach home and condo listings expired
  
• 65 Long Beach homes and condos withdrew their properties from the market
• 859 Long Beach homes and condos cancelled their listings
• 2,833 Long Beach homes and condos closed escrow in 2009 - SOLD

PRICE - Overpriced homes do not sell!

The number one reason for expired listings is overpricing.  If your home is overpriced it will not receive many showings and you will be chasing the market down.  It is an unfortunate reality that many sellers believe their home is worth more than the market dictates.  Your home is worth what a buyer is willing to pay and the value an appraiser will attribute to it. If your home or condo is overpriced it is critical that you price it at or near market value. 

Condition - Homes in poor condition do not sell for full market value!

Before going onto the market your home should be de-cluttered and depersonalized.  It should be thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom, fresh paint applied where necessary.  All minor repairs should be taken care of.  There are many inexpensive ways to add curb appeal to your Long Beach home without spending a small fortune.  Your home should be in the best possible showing condition.  It should be kept neat and clean for showings for the duration of your time on the market. 

If it is possible a professional home stager should be employed.  While this can prove to be pricey there are ways to use a stager to improve the appeal of the home without spending a small fortune.  A good stager will provide a comprehensive list of items that should be taken care of prior to sale.  This list can be tackled by the home owner with or without the paid services of the stager.  Most stagers will charge a consultation fee.  How you deal with the issues is entirely your decision.  Professionally staged Long Beach properties just look better than their competition.  Buyers are no longer interested in purchasing homes or condos that need much in the way of upgrading, most are barely willing to paint.  They no longer have to do any of this to get a good buy in today's market, many just can not afford the upgrades after purchase. 

If your Long Beach home or condo needs paint and new flooring, your kitchen and bathroom are out of date or the home is in disrepair, you must reflect this in your offering price.  If you want a higher price, an investment in a professional home staging service may be the answer for you.  Staged Long Beach Homes and Condos sell faster and typically sell for higher prices. 

What is Home Staging?  Read the interview with acclaimed home stager Michelle Minch>>>

Many expired listings were not in sell-able condition.  They could not compete in their current condition.  Today's First Time Home Buyer could not afford the after purchase cash to put the home into the condition they desired or they just weren't willing to.  Buyers are looking for a "deal".  They want homes that are pretty much ready to move into. 

PHOTOS - They sell your home!

The most important sales tool for marketing your Long Beach properties is photos. Nothing attracts a buyer to your listings the way a large selection of good photos representing your home in an attractive and realistic manner will.  When buyers search the Internet, it is the photos that catch their eye and draw them in.  If the main photo is attractive and well presented, they will look at the other photos.  If the home or condo is still appealing to them, they will read the copy and call their agent for a showing. 

Many listings have 1 really bad photo of the exterior of the home.  Poor quality, bad angle, wrong time of day all contribute to a negative presentation of your home.  Poor exterior and interior photos are going to contribute to your home NOT being shown.  Your property should have many good quality photos of the exterior, interior and the grounds (front and rear).  The photos should show the buyer all of the good qualities of the home and inspire them to request a showing. 

Many expired listings were presented very badly with few photos and/or photos of very bad quality. 

INTERNET MARKETING - Over 80% of Buyers are searching on the Internet!

Why Hire an Internet Savvy Realtor?

Read more »

Laurie Manny Long Beach Realtor® (562) 212-5420 244 Redondo Avenue Belmont Heights Long Beach, California 90803 Buyers/Sellers/Investors Homes Condos Income Properties 1031 Exchanges

 

Long Beach Homes - Bathroom Remodels

Long Beach Homeowners want more space in their kitchens and bathrooms.  Bathroom remodels are reflecting many of the same design trends and choices as kitchens. 

Long Beach Homeowners want their bathrooms opened up.  They want more space, more light and room for more than one person to be comfortable in the room at the same time.  Adding windows and skylights, or enlarging existing windows brings light into the room, cheering it up and creating the illusion of more space.  Using lots of glass and glass block helps achieve this goal. 

We all know that the choice to live in a beach close Long Beach Home generally means higher prices and less square footage.  How can we create more viable living space when we only have just so much in the way of usable square footage?  

Adjoining closets are being eliminated and used to increase bathroom square footage while closets and storage space are reconfigured in other areas of the home.   At a loss for space but want to open up your bathroom?  Consider opening up the ceiling, utilize that wasted attic space and add cubic square footage.  Sometimes this is enough to remove the oppressive feeling and open up the room.

The Master Bath is the homeowners retreat, they want a little luxury here.  Homeowners are insisting on many of these items:

• Heated floors
• Towel Warmers
• Multiple shower heads
• Mounted Flat Screen TVs
• Recessed Lighting
• Dual sinks
• Soaring ceilings
• Decorative Fixtures

Consumers are leaning toward nickel and antique bronze fixtures, chrome is still popular but is waning.  Brass is so out!

Eco friendly, green remodeling is playing a role in bathroom remodels with an increase in interest in renewable materials and water conservation.  Dual-flush toilets and other technologies have become very popular.  In Japan over 70% of all homes now have Toto heated bidet toilet seats.  These seats come complete with remote control and have a rather hefty price tag. 

Homeowners are paying special attention to ventilation, many installing central exhaust fans or environmentally friendly fans that run constantly on low and adjust automatically to cycle up or down when someone enters or leaves the room.  Whole house fans have become very popular aiding in the ventilation and temperature control of the entire home. 

Baby Boomers considering remodeling are having bathtubs removed and are replacing them with large glassed-in showers with multiple heads.  Boomers like to spend a lot of time at home and are craving more luxury accommodations in their home.  Other features the Boomers are seeking are:

• Raised vanities and toilets
• Lower upper cabinets
• Larger Doorways

Boomers are expanding first floor baths and adding guest rooms on the first floor with the idea that this could eventually become a master suite. 

A well thought out and nicely designed kitchen and bath remodel can make the difference in whether a buyer decides to write an offer on your Long Beach Home or another.  These are upgrades worth considering. 

If you are considering a future sale and are remodeling in anticipation of that sale, it is wise to consult with your Realtor.  We work with and know what Long Beach Home buyers are looking for in their new homes.  A consultation could make the difference in the amount you net at the closing table. 

Thinking about a remodel of your Long Beach Home?  You may also find this article helpful: Long Beach Home Kitchen Remodels

Laurie Manny Long Beach Realtor® (562) 212-5420 244 Redondo Avenue Belmont Heights Long Beach, California 90803 Buyers/Sellers/Investors Homes Condos Income Properties 1031 Exchanges

 

Long Beach Homes - Kitchen Remodels

Nothing increases the appeal or saleability of Long Beach Homes and Condos more than a great kitchen and bath remodel.  With all of the information and choices out there it can get pretty confusing for a consumer. 

Where do you start?

The key is in the design.  If your kitchen is the center of activity in your home then the design needs to accommodate that.  Consumers are seeking more integration, more space and more high-end features in today's kitchen remodels.  They want a kitchen they can be proud of and show off. 

In most older Long Beach Homes kitchens are very closed off, separate rooms, removed from the activities of the family, Formal Dining rooms sit largely unused.  Many Long Beach Homeowners are opting to tear out the doors and walls between the kitchen and dining room and are incorporating the square footage into a more useful, functional and attractive space, integrating the kitchen with the rest of the home. 

Allowing more natural light to stream in can create the illusion of more space.  Many are adding additional windows, skylights or are just increasing the size of existing windows. 

While some homeowners are still opting for white cabinetry, the current trend is towards the darker woods, light cherry and maple are the most popular with some interest in hickory as well.  Oak is so out! 

Consumers are concentrating on the design and style, choosing more streamlined cabinets with less detail, instead placing more emphasis on pulls and hinges. 

Granite countertops have long been a favorite and still are.  Other popular countertop materials such as glass, wood and concrete are providing options for one of a kind looks.  Many homeowners are combining and incorporating different materials together for a unique look. Use of decorative concrete is very popular in the Downtown Long Beach Lofts, greatly enhancing the appeal of the Manhattan style loft lifestyle. 

Hewn and Hammered, a subsidiary of Rejuvenation.com published a wonderful article a while back on unique remodeling materials which I thought was outstanding.  While you may or may not be interested in their suggestions, the read really gets the mind working on the endless possibilities that are available in today's market.  Rejuvenation.com is a great resource if you are considering a home remodel of an older or historic home. 

Consumers are purchasing Energy Star rated appliances with their kitchen remodel.  The majority are leaning toward the higher-end stainless models which work best with the more streamlined designs.

Green building materials are becoming more available, for instance Richlite countertops, which are made from paper believe it or not.  These countertops blend well with the sleeker look consumers seem to crave. 

Green building choices have not made the impact that many have hoped that they will.  I wonder if it is because we are just not as familiar with what is available or because we just have our minds set on granite or another equally as popular surface?  They certainly are a viable option. 

This Downtown Long Beach Condo Kitchen Remodel reflects some of the above mentioned design styles and materials:

Some of the design elements of this beautiful kitchen include:

• Slate Flooring
• Cherrywood Cabinetry
• Sleek long pulls.
• Top of the line stainless appliances.
• Openness

Laurie Manny Long Beach Realtor® (562) 212-5420 244 Redondo Avenue Belmont Heights Long Beach, California 90803 Buyers/Sellers/Investors Homes Condos Income Properties 1031 Exchanges