JUST SOLD IN PLEASANT HILL!

324 Grapevine Pl, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523


$549,000 | 2 beds | 2 baths | 1,133 SqFt

Tucked away in a lovely enclave of this special neighborhood, is a home that is delightfully charming! Step inside and experience the bright and open floor plan with attractive flooring and lighting that is so appealing and efficiently functional as well. Freshly painted interior and extensively updated. The renovated white kitchen is a true joy! Both bedrooms upstairs feature vaulted ceilings and open to a pleasant deck/balcony. No rear neighbors and a sense of “country”. Also plenty of greenbelt and walking paths to enjoy! Great location and close to shopping, dining, commute access and services.

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JUST SOLD IN DUBLIN!

11576 Manzanita Ln, Dublin, CA 94568

$1,075,000 | 4 beds | 3 baths | 1,936 SqFt

Beautiful home on the cutting edge!! Updated and renovated to please the most discriminating Buyer! Great location in the much sought after west side. Very practical floor plan with a very trendy decor. Gorgeous, modern kitchen with all the conveniences to please. The main floor features one bedroom plus a full bath. The flooring and all 3 baths have been tastefully updated. Lovely grounds, including a pleasant, good size back yard. There are great views all around as well! Located close to schools, shopping, dining, services, commute access and BART. Don’t miss this great home – it shouldn’t last too long on the market!!

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JUST SOLD IN ALAMEDA!

817 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501

$850,000 | 2 beds | 1 bath | 1,078 SqFt

Charming and delightful home filled with nostalgic character! Many quality improvements and upgrades make this property truly special. Wonderful front porch to enjoy and relax in. Tasteful exterior and interior paint colors, gleaming hardwood floors, refinished kitchen cabinets and pleasant garden back yard are all so pleasing to the eye! Major benefits include newer central air conditioning system, furnace, duct work, dual pane widows, insulation, security system, water heater, roof, driveway and fencing. Wonderful location in the heart of the city as well!!

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New Home, Better Living

When you’re house hunting, focus on the things that will improve your quality of life.

There are so many factors that go into a home buying decision that it can make your head spin—especially if you’re in a competitive market where time is of the essence. The desire to purchase a property makes it easy to look past issues that could detract from your enjoyment of the home and cause some regrets down the road. That’s why when you’re weighing your options, quality of life should always be the top priority.

Location Is Part Of Lifestyle

Buyers often focus on “must haves” that can be added via renovation, but will downplay factors that are impossible to change. For example, if you work and spend much of your free time in the heart of a busy city, a house in the suburbs may mean more space for the same price, but it could also mean long commutes and a major hit to your nightlife. A centrally-located condo might be a better option.

On the other hand, if you’re a weekend warrior who looks forward to skiing, hiking, and mountain biking trips, living outside the city may be perfect—you’re that much closer to the trails when you wake up on Saturday morning. It’s a cliche, but it’s true: Location, location, location.

Big Homes Aren’t For Everyone

If you love entertaining friends and family, a big house makes perfect sense. You’ll have all the space you need to prepare meals and throw big parties, and your guests won’t have any trouble finding parking.

But a big home also means more cleaning and maintenance—more lawn to mow, more bathrooms to scrub, more things that will break and need fixing. Before you dive into an alluring big home, consider your tolerance and enthusiasm for the upkeep. For some, a smaller home or a professionally-maintained condo are better options.

Need-to-knows For Smart-home Technology

Homeowners have the ability to automate anything from locks to lights to air conditioning and more. With new technology popping up every day, it’s hard to stay up to date on the smart-home trend.

If you are considering installing smart-home technology in your home or looking to buy a home that is equipped with some of those devices, you want to ensure you do your research so you can make educated decisions. Here are three important factors to consider!

Security

Because a large percentage of smart-home devices rely on Wi-Fi, they are vulnerable to being hacked. Although this may not be much of a concern for devices controlling your lighting or sprinkler system, it may be for automated locks or garage openers.

Cost vs. Value Add

The initial setup costs for some smart-home technology can be daunting for homeowners, so it’s important to thoroughly map out the upfront cost versus your savings and its value to you over time. Many of these can help you be more energy efficient, reduce monthly bills, and save you time and stress. Plus, if and when you are ready to sell, smart-home technology can help improve your home’s resale value.

Compatibility

With so many companies throwing their hats into the smart-home ring, it is can be difficult to select the right devices for your home. If you are considering automating various features in your home, you may want to take a look at the big picture and try to choose devices that are compatible with one another or that can be controlled by a singular hub.

Five Steps For Organizing Your Garage

For many people the garage is the place you mindlessly store stuff just to get it out of the way, and before you know it, you’ve got a cluttered mess on your hands. Here are five steps toward organizing your garage for good.

Make a plan: What do you want you garage to be? Is it a workshop, a storage space, or a nightly place to park your car? Before you roll up your sleeves and get to work, decide on a plan for your garage’s primary use, and prioritize around that goal.

Be vigilant with clutter: There might be items in your garage that you haven’t touched in years—you’ve probably even forgotten they’re in there. It’s easy to justify keeping items when you’re in the moment, but look a the big picture. If you can’t remember the last time you used an item, it’s probably ready to be thrown out, recycled, donated, or sold.

Make use of vertical space: Garages often have space in the ceiling where you can hang your gear or even store some boxes. Store the rarely used items—like holiday decorations—higher up and out of the way.

Keep common items accessible: On the other hand, you don’t want it to be a hassle to get to the things you use often. Create a specific place for each item that is easy to reach.

Stay vigilant: Now that you garage is properly organized, be more mindful of what you’re adding to it. If there’s something new that’s important, choose a specific place for it. If it’s just junk, go through the extra effort to just get rid of it!

The Difference Between Home Warranty & Home Insurance

When purchasing a new home, it’s important to do in-depth research on all facets of the homebuying process. One thing you’ll need to understand is how to best protect yourself and your investment if anything were to go wrong. Check out the information on home insurance versus home warranty below to educate yourself on your options.


Home Insurance

Homeowners insurance pays for any accidental damages and loss that are caused by fire, lightning strikes, windstorms, and hail, however, damage from earthquakes and floods is typically not covered. It also covers the replacement of personal property in case of theft or damage and liability if a person were to get injured in your home or on your property. According to American Home Shield, the average annual cost of a homeowner’s insurance policy ranges between $300 and $1,000 and the bank usually asks you to obtain a policy before the mortgage is issued. Make sure to keep in mind that each type of coverage in the policy is subject to a limit and, in most cases, you will have to pay a deductible.


Home Warranty

A home warranty is designed to cover the cost of repairs and replacements of larger appliances and crucial systems in your home that may fail or break due to age and wear and tear. This includes but isn’t limited to HVAC, electrical, or plumbing components, kitchen appliances, and your washer and dryer. With a home warranty, you are required to pay premiums year-round, even if you do not use it, and it won’t cover damages if appliances were not maintained properly or if the damage is from a fire or other disaster.

Just Sold in Discovery Bay!

9601 Boca Raton Way, Discovery Bay, CA 94505

$608,900 | 4 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,263 SqFt

Great location in the private gated community of The Lakes! Open floor plan concept with lots of natural light to enhance the experience. Beautiful flooring, attractive counter tops, vanities and cabinetry. One bedroom and full bath located on the main level. The upstairs has three bedrooms, a loft, plus two baths to allow for a good, functional floor plan with flexibility. The three-car tandem garage also provides for added storage space as well. Relax in the back yard with an inviting “California Room”. Large corner lot location with a spacious side yard creates a great entertaining atmosphere. Enjoy the privacy and amenities of “The Lakes” community, such as: security gate, greenbelt, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts & soothing fountains.

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Just Sold in Danville!

182 Pulido Rd, Danville, CA 94526

$1,149,000 | 4 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,032 SqFt

Updated and expanded single story rancher located in the desirable Cameo Acres Community of Danville! Four bedrooms, 3 baths (all updated), newer flooring, lighting, corner lot with a pool. Close to three levels of schools, commute access, downtown shops, restaurants, and Diablo Country Club.

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Sale Pending in Pleasanton!

3466 Smoketree Commons Dr, Pleasanton, CA

$419,000 | 1 bed | 1 bath | 648 SqFt

Fabulous top floor condo located near Historic Downtown Pleasanton. Lots of updates! Corner unit overlooking trees and park. Vaulted ceilings create a nice open feel. New quartz countertops in kitchen and bathroom. New faucets and sinks as well. New stylish tile floors in kitchen, bathroom and entry. Newer carpet. New 5 inch baseboards. All interior walls, doors, cabinets and fireplace repainted. New interior door and cabinet hardware. Replaced all light switches and outlets. New shower head and shower doors. Cedar flooring in closets. Installed new space efficient shelving system in master bedroom closet. New furnace. Replaced water heater. Newer kitchen appliances including refrigerator, dishwasher, stove and oven, garbage disposal, stackable washer and dryer plus microwave mounted over stove w/dedicated electrical circuit. All this plus a 1-car garage and garage shelving w/exterior access including large hall closet and outside closet for extra storage. Nestled in a secluded setting just minutes to downtown.

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