How protected is your home while you’re away?
By many accounts, Oceanside is a peaceful place. Crime is reportedly low, and people exhibit a welcoming warmth shared by so many of San Diego’s residents. But even peaceful neighborhoods are subject to petty theft. Whether it’s the work of locals or thieves from other areas praying on the easy-going nature of the town, residents of this Pacific Ocean adjacent neighborhood shouldn’t take their safety for granted. After all, victims of robbery don’t ever plan to get robbed.
To make sure your home doesn’t become the exception to the rule, check out these tips for improving security.
Keep the yard maintained
Whether or not it’s warranted, people make up their minds about your based on how your yard looks, aka curb appeal. A manicured lawn and flawless exterior suggests the presence of a homeowner who cares about appearances, and is generally on alert. By contrast, homes with overgrown bushes, weeds, and faded paint jobs indicate a lack of interest in ownership.
Unfortunately, safety experts claim that these types of properties are hit most often by burglars. The good news is that you can improve appearances fairly easily. Simply keeping your lawn mowed and the large, over-hanging branches trimmed. To go the extra mile, call the most experienced outdoor plumber in Oceanside. Boyd Rogers can equip you with a sprinkler system to keep the lawn looking fantastic. Whether you live over near The Oceanside Pier or The California Surf Museum, our team of experts will help ensure that thieves steer clear of your house.
Consider a security system
Security systems aren’t a reality for everyone. Depending on how extensive you want to make them, they just might be too expensive for the average homeowner. However, they do provide several benefits. Mounted video cameras keep an eye on the exterior and interior while you’re not there. If anyone breaks in, they’ll be caught on tape. Additionally, you can rest easy when you’re away from the house. Knowing that your property is being protected can deliver peace of mind. After all, let’s face it. While many consider Oceanside to be a vacation destination, local residents like to get out of town as well, without having to worry about theft.
Start a neighborhood watch program
If you haven’t met your neighbors, it’s never too late to introduce yourself. Having a strong network of watchful neighbors is a great way to prevent crime. All neighborhood watch programs function differently. Some are very active; residents take turns patrolling the streets during different days and hours. Meanwhile, others simply involve neighbors keeping in touch with each other. One common practice is to keep a running list of people’s names, numbers and addresses. You can simply start an open online document, and update it as needed. This helps keep the lines of communication open at all times.
Sometimes neighborhood watch committees in Oceanside take the most simple form possible. When you ask your neighbor to collect your mail while you’re away – that’s a form of watch. The idea is to stay in touch with your neighbors to ensure safety for all.
Don’t put your house on the market until you read this
In some ways it’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to move out of Carlsbad. As one of San Diego’s nicest North County beach communities, the area is home to nice houses and terrific coastal views of The Pacific Ocean. On the other hand, the housing market is finally turning around, and sales are competitive once again.
However, if you’re a seller who’s been out of the game for a while, you may be surprised to learn that selling tactics have changed just a bit. The fundamental concepts to getting the best price from the right buyer are still the same, but check out these tips that reflect the current state of the market.
Get strategic with your price tag
Conventional wisdom suggests that you should price your home a bit higher than you think it might be worth. This way, you have room to negotiate with buyers. However, experts now recommend the opposite. Instead, they suggest you price your home below your idea of a fair price. The strategy here is that, if your home is genuinely a good deal, the low price will get buyers who may otherwise be reluctant to jump at the bargain. And if it appeals to one, it’s bound to appeal to another. Hence, a bidding war is born. Eventually, you just might get more than you thought possible.
Upgrade carefully
It stands to reason that most homes will need repairs over time. If you have a list of light cosmetic, electrical or plumbing fixes that need to be covered, you should take care of them before you place the home on the market. If you have the budget, time and help from the most skilled plumber in Carlsbad, then maybe investing in a full bathroom upgrade will help. Boyd Rogers can assist you in a remodel, whether you live near Legoland or The Carlsbad Raceway. Nice bathrooms are sure to add value to the home.
However, don’t go overboard. While a washroom with modern sinks, showers and fixtures is a good idea, completely re-doing the kitchen may prove to be more effort than it’s actually worth.
It’s all about that curb appeal
Achieving great curb appeal in Carlsbad isn’t that difficult. The neighborhoods here are lined with classic San Diego-style homes. Yards feature healthy grass or rock gardens while stucco exteriors add a cool southwest aesthetic. But sometimes letting maintenance slip over time is a little too easy. While fixing outstanding plumbing problems like clogged drains and leaky faucets is important, we shouldn’t neglect the yard. Many of us tend to neglect cracks in the exterior and faded paint jobs. If you really want to impress buyers, put effort into presenting a beautiful home, starting with your front yard. Just adding a fresh coat of paint and trimming the hedges can go a long way to leaving an impression.
Speaking of impressions – first impressions are everything. Despite some modern updates to the home selling process, this is one that will forever stay permanent. People make up their minds about your house within seconds. So make people want to buy before they even walk through the door.
