Northern California Real Estate Podcast with Andrew Lamb

When should you paint your home? Is there a good time of year to do so? Who should you hire - a solo person or a team? These are common questions we’re asked by homeowners here in Northern California, and today we’ll try to answer them. Steve of Universal Painting joins us today to share the ins and outs of painting your home.

By the time Halloween rolls around, it’s too late to paint your home. The sun starts coming up later and setting sooner, so paint doesn't dry properly. We typically do interior painting from November to about the end of March and early April. The worst thing you can do is paint during the winter time because moisture is trapped in the colder months; when the warm weather returns, the first hot sun that hits your house will cause the paint to peel and crack. In other words, plan on having your exterior painted anywhere from April to the end of October!

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Plan on having your exterior painted anywhere from April to the end of October!

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People are often curious about what they can do about dry rot. Typically, dry rot occurs when the people who built the house forgot to prime the back. When Universal Painting replaces wood, it’s primed on all four sides to prevent dry rot. An open piece of wood is like a sponge: it sucks in the water and then rots. Using good paints and caulking are helpful deterrents to dry rot as well.

The first thing Steve and his team do before painting is powerwashing. Paint only sticks to clean surfaces. He and his team come out with two power washers and thoroughly clean the home. They then give it two full days to dry. Next, the team sands, caulks, and fixes stucco cracks before showing up with the whole crew the next day. Steve calls it “the big show” because he believes that the quality of the job rises when you have more people doing it. Bushes are draped and tarps are laid all around your house to ensure the only thing that’s painted is your home. Once the body of the home is painted, Steve’s guys hand-paint the shutters and more delicate areas of the home.

Once Universal Painting has finished the job, they walk the property with the homeowner to ensure they’re 100% satisfied. No money is asked for up front; you don’t have to pay a dime until you are 100% happy with the product you’ve received.

If you would like to reach Steve, you can give him a call at (707) 427-0445 or email him at [email protected]. Of course, don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any of your real estate needs. I would love to help you create a better life through real estate.

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Many clients ask us how to stay fit in the Vacaville. For instance, military transfers want to continue a workout schedule they’re used to already. We want to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle! Today, we join Gordon from Gold’s Gym to discuss what separates their health club from the rest in town.

Foremost, they’re a family-oriented facility active in the local community. They can help answer any questions you have.

They love the opportunity to meet new people. The gym offers discounts to anyone in the military, in addition to those who moved to the area. For those that moved to Vacaville recently, they offer a thirty-day free trial to try the gym out. You should be pleased with the facility before making a commitment. During my first visit, I received a tour of the gym in addition to a free personal training session. We encourage you to stop by!

Because you’ve stuck around this long, we’d like to extend a great offer to you. If you buy a home with us within the next six weeks, we’ll give you a pass for one free month at Gold’s Gym!

If you have any questions about real estate or fitness, give us a call or email today.

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Many homeowners have trouble keeping their kitchens updated, so today we want to discuss one of the most crucial components of any home: the countertops. Today, Tony from Carpets & More joins us to discuss some of the biggest trends when it comes to surfaces.

There are two different types of countertops that people are getting nowadays: granite and quartz. For a long time, granite was the more popular of the two, but quartz has started to take over. This is because the sheen is level throughout, so hot and cold items don't affect quite like they do granite at times. The two types of quartz are Cambria and Silestone, so keep those names in mind when looking at surfaces.

What is the difference between quartz and granite? Quartz is better as a cooking surface, as granite is porous, which means you probably don't want to put raw meat on there. Because the slabs come in smaller pieces than slabs of granite, quartz is more expensive. Sometimes, if a slab of quartz isn't big enough, another one needs to be shipped in; otherwise, the price is generally pretty close. Generally, quartz is also a bit more durable than granite, which is more susceptible to damage.

If you have any questions about floors or countertops, you can reach Tony at (707) 446-200. Of course, if you have any real estate questions, we're always available to chat. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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Today we are talking about homeowner’s insurance, earthquakes, and floods here in California. We are joined by Ken from i80 insurance, who is here to answer some common questions that we’ve been getting lately from our clients. So, let’s get right to it.

A typical homeowner’s insurance policy will cover the structure, the dwelling, and all detached structures like a garage or a shed. They are protected from wind, fire, hail, and water damage. It also covers your personal belongings and valuables. Finally, a homeowner’s insurance policy offers you lawsuit protection, also known as personal liability. It will also cover loss of use, if you happen to be out of the house for a certain period of time for whatever reason. All policies vary, however, and it’s a good idea to ask your insurance agent or broker exactly what you are covered for.

No, it does not. To get those coverages, you want to get a separate policy. Talk to your

insurance broker or agent to find out what your options are or what would work best for you.

If you have any questions about homeowner’s insurance or want to switch up your policy a bit, give Ken a call at (707) 402-8850 or visit their office right in downtown Vacaville. 

If you have any questions for us about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We would love to hear from you!

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Today, Bernard Martinez of Green Quest Lawn & Landscaping  is here to explain how to make the most of your curb appeal during this drought. So, what can you do to make your home look great when selling in these conditions?

A lot of people haven't changed their water schedule yet and they want to know why their grass is still turning brown. Well, the drought has caused the water table under the grass to drop so low that the water you're giving your grass dries up very quickly. The water dries so fast that the lawn hasn't had a chance to suck in the water and nutrients you're giving it, so it dies and turns brown.

Since you can only water 2-3 times a week, you need to make sure you're doing it right. When you water your lawn, you want to make sure you water deeply in order to ensure that the roots of your grass are getting the water. When it comes time to mow your lawn, we recommend only getting a third of the grass cut off. Mowing too short will lead to increased evaporation, which is obviously not good under current conditions. Lastly, you don't want to stop fertilizing because those nutrients and vitamins are as important as ever.

If you have any questions about this or any other real estate topic, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!

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Today I have James Nason, the owner of Vacaville Construction. He's going to be speaking with us about how you can choose a good contractor from a more mediocre one.

The biggest piece of advice that James gave me was to do your research. Go online and check that the company is insured and bonded. Don't feel weird about asking them for references, because they're going to be doing some major work on your home. It's important to know that they've done good work in the past.

You want to have a good working relationship with the contractor because you're going to be in contact with them for a while. Sit down for an interview with them to make sure that you'll be compatible.

  

James and his construction company focus on residential remodels and other repair work. The way they look at it is that no job is too small. Whatever you need, Vacaville Construction is going to help you with it. Between him and his partner, they have 60 years of experience in the business. James is careful about growing his business too fast because he doesn't want the quality to suffer.

Vacaville Construction relies on referrals for their business, so I think this says something about the quality of the work that they do. Please don't hesitate to contact me or James if you're looking for a reputable contractor.

As always, refer to me as your #1 real estate resource in Northern California!