The year 2017 is officially winding down! (Where did it go?!!) There are so many activities and holiday events throughout San Diego but here are some great ones to check out – once you get all of your holiday shopping done of course!
Before we get into this fun festive holiday, I just want to give a shoutout to all the victims of the New York City accident and hope the residents of this incredible city know that they are in our thoughts and prayers.
Last day of October – can you believe it?! So crazy. Where did 2017 go? I’m not really sure but one thing is for sure – I’ve been working on my winter bod all year so I’m stoked to be putting my shorts away and bringing out those thick cable-knit sweaters! WOOHOO!
For those that have little ones, you are probably getting ready in the next few hours to go trick-or-treating! There are some great neighborhoods in the area! What I’ve learned over the years (obviously I’m talking YEARS ago back when I was 50 lbs), the best places to go hunting for candy are the tract neighborhoods – more families participating (#morecandy) and the houses that are closer together (#MORECANDY)!
When my sister and I were younger (late 90s), we would switch it up between Old La Costa and Terramar – both in Carlsbad. I will never forget this guy that lived in Terramar that always had the craziest haunted house. Every year was different – my personal favorite was when he turned his whole house into a haunted pirate ship. He claimed to do the whole thing himself but I swear there had to been some helpers – that thing was MASSIVE!
Now with so many newer homes, there are even more neighborhoods to explore! Bressi Ranch gets really into it and that neighborhood has a lot of families so I’m sure those decorations will be on point! Carmel Valley also has great tracts where the homes are closer together so you’ll definitely get a few pillow cases worth of candy!
But always remember there might be some crazies out there so keep those little ones close! You never know if some silly kid will be playing tricks on people. Hope everyone has a very happy and safe Halloween evening!
Even though it is “fall,” it’s 100 degrees outside. WHAT IS HAPPENING???
October is almost over and Halloween is ONE week away! Time to break out the decorations and start carving those pumpkins! Some might be thinking, “Mine are going to start rotting once I carve them” – the answer to that question is YES. However there is a solution to the problem!
Other people might be thinking, “I don’t have time to sit and carve a pumpkin.” No worries! There are other ways you can decorate a pumpkin. Something I’ve noticed that has become really popular is chalk paint! I currently just colored my pumpkins with a white and black chalk paint marker and it was SO easy. There’s metallic chalk markers too! You can get them at Michaels!
Some of the white pumpkins look so good (especially for those that have white/grey kitchens and living rooms) that you can use them throughout the holidays! We have a few white pumpkins at home and it looks awesome! Talk about #trendy.
Here’s our Pinterest board if you want more ideas! It also includes cool unique decorations for your home!
Before we get started, I just want to express our sincere condolences to all the victims of the Las Vegas shooting and that they are in our thoughts and prayers. #vegasstrong
Holiday Checklist
Now that fall is here, we need to get your home ready for the holidays! It’s always good to do a maintenance check on your home because lets be honest; it’s hard to find time! But could you imagine, it is Christmas Day and there’s about to be 20+ people coming over and a roof leak occurs?! Yikes!
Hopefully this checklist can help you feel less stress during the holidays!
1. Roof – Take a walk around the house and make sure there are no loose shingles. Check the flashing too! It’s always nice to have a professional do a inspection for those who have old roofs or live in rainy areas.
2. Caulking – This is a pretty critical maintenance action for any homeowner. The main areas to focus on is the top of exposed windows and lights to prevent rainfall from getting in.
3. Gutters – It’s always very important to have this system flowing smoothly. When leaves, dirt, and runoff water stays in your gutters for too long, it not only creates blockage but can also lead to corrosion and rust. Some people like to have mesh guards over their gutters to keep debris out!
4. Plumbing – Water. We need it, yet it can cause major issues to a home! Locate your main water shut off valve and make sure all family members know where it is. It will come in handy to have multiple people know how to shut it off in case of an emergency!
5. Heating and AC System – Time for a seasonal checkup! People forget to change their filters so now would be a good time. You can also adjust your system’s temperatures since we are transitioning from muggy to crisp and refreshing air.
6. Smoke and CO Detectors – Many forget to check, and just wait for the annoying beeps to alert them to a dead battery. The International Fire Chiefs Association encourages you to change your smoke alarm batteries every November when you set your clocks back for Daylight Savings Time!
7. General Cleanup – There is always lots of cooking during the holidays (duh). But there are also people running their fireplaces. This would be a great time to remove fire hazards, inside and out! Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, overgrown brush and trees, etc.
8. Thin out your holiday decorations – Some of us like to hoard the old decorations – but are we ever going to use grandma’s old ornaments? Whatever you don’t use, either give away or throw away!
If you want referrals to vendors/contractors to assist with any of these – my mom, Donna, has someone for everything. Email us at klingerealty@gmail.com.
I love the summer season – mainly because my birthday is in July 😉 – but there is nothing like the crisp cold air and putting on that fuzzy sweater and UGGS!
What I love even more, are the holidays and getting that fireplace going. Is there anything better than listening to Christmas music along with the crackling sound of that fire? Yeah, not really!
There are so many different looks for a good fireplace.
I personally like the sleek, horizontal modern look OR a farmhouse brick vibe that gives you that nice cozy “at home” feeling. Back in the day (as in a few years ago), many people had a huge built-in entertainment center. Some people still do!
However with the world moving at such a rapid pace, there isn’t a need for all the compartments of an entertainment center. You can basically stream anything with a Smart TV or Apple TV – so many people don’t even use cable thanks to Hulu and Netflix! I think when it comes to a fireplace, less is more! It will look a lot cleaner and be more of a focal point in your home if you get rid of all the “stuff” around it!
Below is a link to our Pinterest board with some of my favorite fireplaces. Some of our readers might even recognize one or two from our previous sales!
And for those that don’t have a fireplace but still want the feeling, once it gets closer to the holidays you can stream “The Yule Log” on your TV. I used to play it all the time in college. It’s a video of a wood burning fire and it plays Christmas music – it is very soothing and calming. So for those that hate the mess of an actual fire, this is the way to go!
One of my most favorite books of all time is The Great Gatsby. When it turned into a motion picture with another one of my favorites, Leonardo DiCaprio, I became even more in love!
In 2015, the mansion that inspired Gatsby’s home became for sale! I thought…YES! But then I saw the price tag of $100 million and was a little discouraged – I need to sell more houses!
This mansion boasts 18 bedrooms, 2 separate guest homes, indoor pool, a bowling alley, a shooting range, and a casino! Unfortunately at the end of the dock you will not see Daisy Buchanan’s green light, but the New York City skyline instead! Not bad!
Here’s a link with photos to see more! The house is now down to $85 million!
VR is becoming a huge part in real estate where you don’t even have to walk into an actual home! You can put on the headgear, and tour another home while being in your living room! Scary… but it’s what our world is coming to.
I bring it up today because the luxury home builder Toll Brothers has launched a VR app called “Kitchen 360.” You can now view your future kitchen in 360 and choose from many different configurations – swapping out appliances, changing colors, etc!
JtR: Virtual reality and the 360 tours are great gimmicks, but they aren’t necessarily a good thing for home sellers. Buyers are looking for any reason NOT to buy, and they can mis-interpret something they see on camera and decide against seeing the house in person – when it could be the right fit.
I don’t recommend the VR/360 tours for houses that aren’t perfect. But like Kayla said, it is what our world is coming to, so look for mass implementation.
I subscribe to Architectural Digest and I absolutely LOVE reading all their articles. I get so many ideas for interior design and it’s a great resource to see all the upcoming trends. It’s also great when you feel like looking at really cool homes all over the world!
Here is the most Instagrammed house in Los Angeles. A lot of brands like to use this home as a backdrop for their look-books. It’s also been used as a filming location for the past few years.
Now, this isn’t the most practical home for a family. It’s multi-level and has more of an artsy/zen-like feel, but that’s normal for Venice!
Here’s a good summary of how your phone can help manage your home!
The world is changing drastically before our eyes, especially when it comes to technology. Remember the days of flip phones? Not only do we have cameras and videos now, but we have thousands of apps in the palm of our hands to basically do anything for us – deliver food, order a car, book a hotel, you name it, you can do it!
Home appliances and furniture are now becoming “smart.” I won’t be surprised when all homes have smart features. Here are a few to update your home into a “smart home.”
1. Smart Refrigerator
Samsung has come out with a refrigerator that has what every mother needs! Their family hub refrigerators include a touch screen that shows everyone’s schedule for the week, leave notes, order groceries, and it even plays music!
Ikea is one of the first to come out with this but I’m sure many furniture companies will follow their lead. A lot of people don’t like a bunch of wires showing, so this is a great solution – a nightstand that charges your phone wirelessly.
Jenn-Air has a double wall oven that connects to Amazon’s Alexa AND Nest. With Alexa, the chef can make commands to preheat, turn on/off, etc. without touching the buttons with dirty fingers. With Nest, the oven senses the rise in room temperature when cooking food so it brings the temperature down to make being in the kitchen more desirable.
Locked yourself out? Baldwin Hardware has solved the problem! Your smart phone becomes your key. All you need to do is approach your door, tap a finger under the keyhole, and the door locks/unlocks. You can also provide family members and friends with an “e-key” so they can have access as well! Then you are able to keep track who comes in and out of your house, with time stamps! (Perfect for high schoolers!)
Kids are home alone and the doorbell rings. Sometimes it can be a little scary even for young women! With Ring, you can see who is at the door with your smartphone! It has night vision too!
Smart building materials. Roof shingles will notify you when there is a leak, drywall that detects moisture, and wood framing that will report termite infestation. John Galante, president of AE Ventures, says this is what we will be seeing in the next decade or so!
Samsung has come out with a refrigerator that has what every mother needs! Their family hub refrigerators include a touch screen that shows everyone’s schedule for the week, leave notes, order groceries, and it even plays music!
4. Smart Door Knob
