Page 12 September 3, 2015 TORRANCE TRIBUNE 5 Outdoor Projects that Will Add Value to Your Home Roger Hart 310-781-2000 BRE# 00625505 2420 W. Carson St. #120 Torrance, CA 90501 REDUCED PRICE 3110 Merrill Dr. #78 One Bedroom/One Bath DRE #01344591 Kay Grundhaus is now with Shorewood Real Estate! 2141 Rosecrans Ave. Suite 1160 El Segundo, CA 90245 Kay Grundhaus 310.890.6407 kay@homesbykay.com CLIENT SPOTLIGHT: Cash Buyer Ready to Buy WE HAVE AN EXPERIENCED BUYER READY TO PAY CASH! Within the past 2 years, Buyer has closed over 50 transactions in the South Bay ranging from $300K - $2.2M. Transactions include: • Residential 1-4, 4+ • Land/Lot • Commercial ✔ NO REPAIRS ✔ NO TRAFFIC through your property * All benefits to seller not guaranteed. Benefits are determined upon details of each property. BENEFITS TO SELLER* ✔ NO APPRAISAL ✔ NO TERMITE ✔ QUICK CLOSE Give Us a Call Today if You’re Interested in Selling! (BPT) - Everyone wants a great outdoor space, but backyard projects can be a lot of work - and in many cases, a lot of money. So it just makes sense to choose projects that will enhance your quality of living for summers to come as well as yield a great return on investment. Here, then, are five value-building outdoor projects that pay off in more ways than one. 1. Add a wood deck. Decks are great additions for multiple reasons. They expand your living space outside, creating a useful link between interior and exterior spaces. Wood decks also offer one of the highest returns on investment of any home improvement project. In fact, a wood deck will recoup more than 80 percent of its construction cost when you sell your home, according to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report. Composite decking, in comparison, comes up short in terms of ROI. A deck constructed of Western Red Cedar benefits from the lumber’s natural rot resistance, low maintenance requirements (you can stain it or let it weather naturally) and its inherent beauty. What’s more, Real Cedar lumber comes from certified sustainable forests, so you can feel good about your deck’s environmental impact. Visit www.realcedar. com to learn more. 2. Update your landscape lighting. Lighting outdoor areas once required lots of wiring and professional installation, but advances in solar lighting efficiency and brilliance have made landscape lighting easy. From uplights that illuminate trees and architectural features, to light strands that provide visual delineation of stairs and railings, a variety of solar lighting options are available. Installation is often as simple as putting a stake in the ground. Plus, it’s cost-effective. True, you may need to make an initial investment in quality solar lights, but you’ll save in the long run on electricity. Also, doesn’t the idea of a warmly lit backyard space just seem more inviting? 3. Define your seating area. Creating an outdoor room that feels like an extension of your home is a win-win. It increases the square footage of your living space, which in turn, increases the value of your property. Of course, choosing the right material is paramount in terms of maximizing your investment. Whether you’re designing a fully loaded, outdoor kitchen/dining area or simply installing a pergola with some built-in benches, you need beautiful high-performance products. With that in mind, your best bet is a strong versatile wood such as Western Red Cedar. It’s pitch and resin-free, so it readily accepts and holds a variety of finishes. Or for an ultra-low maintenance option, you can let cedar weather naturally to a graceful silvery patina. 4. Build a fire pit. Right now, fire pits are the “hottest” thing in landscaping (pun intended). Landscape architects also cite a fire pit as an outdoor improvement that’s in high demand. That’s because they’re great for enhancing key areas and creating a sense of place, which in turn, adds value to your home. They can be both practical - warming an outdoor space on chilly fall evenings - and fun. Installing one is relatively easy, too. You can find plenty of design ideas, complete with building instructions, with a simple online search. Be sure to carefully consider where you locate your fire pit, keeping safety in mind. 5. Incorporate raised planters. Gardening is a popular outdoor pastime, and building raised planters or beds can make it easier to enjoy a variety of vegetables and flowers throughout the growing season. Planting in raised beds - instead of directly in the ground - affords you greater control over soil quality, moisture and pests. Plus, tending raised beds is easier on the back. For a longer-term investment, choose a durable, naturally rotresistant material, such as Western Red Cedar. This will ensure your beds are in good shape from season to season. And according to many home renovation experts, it’s little landscaping touches like this that can add substantial value to your home. • Here are some tips for layout and design so you can enjoy spending time at the office - while at home. • Make it a comfortable space - A comfy work chair, space to pace if you like to walk while chatting on the phone, a clear desk space dedicated to work-related materials ... all of these elements are important for designing an efficient home office. Just be careful you don’t get too comfortable. For example, a bean bag instead of a chair doesn’t provide a professional ambiance, and that can reduce your productivity. Finance Five Ways To Make Your Home Office Efficient And Productive (BPT) - Working from home is a growing trend, with 3.3 million people telecommuting at least half the time, according to the 2012 American Community Survey conducted by Global Workplace Analytics. The cost savings for not having to commute, being able to work in the comfort of your own home and having fewer distractions are all benefits to setting up a home office. If you’re working from home full-time, or just one day a week, having your home office designed for increased efficiency is important. • Install good lighting - You can put a home office anywhere in the house, including the basement or garage if these areas are temperaturecontrolled. To help ensure that it’s an enjoyable space in which to work, install quality lighting. Even if you have a window, you’ll need good quality lighting on cloudy days so you can boost your mood, energy and productivity. • Have efficient technology - The company office will likely have copy machines to sort, print, staple and even email documents for you. When you work from home, you need a printer that provides you with quick, quality prints, preferably without having to spend a lot of money. The Canon MAXIFY MB2320 Home Office Inkjet Printer holds a full ream of paper in the paper tray and delivers a high-page yield with its XL ink tanks. The MAXIFY MB2320 printer is built to last for all your home-business needs and is supported by Canon U.S.A.’s 100 percent U.S.-based customer service and support. • Connect with the outside world - Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you won’t be working consistently with others. A strong Wi-Fi connection is a necessity for a home office. Wi-Fi connectivity will allow you to work in your home office, and also anywhere in your home. Additionally, a quality headset for your phone or cellphone will allow you to communicate with co-workers and clients without forcing them to compensate for the background noises in your home, like your washing machine or barking dog. • Keep it homey - Office furniture, by its nature, is very industrial; and you don’t necessarily want your home looking that way. Decorate your office like you would the rest of your home. For example, if you need to store files, instead of using a file cabinet, tuck them into a cedar chest or an ottoman. And for drawer storage, consider incorporating other home furniture like a buffet or a wardrobe to keep everything handy - as well as hidden when you’re not working. Working from home isn’t just for entrepreneurs any more, as technology is making it very easy for employees of companies of all sizes to work away from the office. If your home office is arranged so you can work efficiently and comfortably, you’ll enjoy the benefit so much more. •
Torrance_090315_FNL_lorez
To see the actual publication please follow the link above