And install some upgrades while you’re at it

By Matt Larson

Summer is coming! Unless you received this publication late, in which case, summer is here! If it’s even later than that … how was your summer?!

“What could I possibly do to get my home ready for the summer?” you might ask—well, we reached out to some of our trusted advertisers and turns out there are a few things you can do! We also asked them for some general home improvement tips as well. To make it easy, here are their responses in bullet-point form!

How would you recommend prepping one’s house for the spring and summertime?

• “Now is the perfect time to reseed and fertilize lawns,” said Steve Williams, General Manager of Foster Lumber Yards. He also recommended power washing driveways and parking areas, and staining fences and decks to add years of life to the wood. “Staining decks will add a layer of protection that wood needs in the hot summer sun,” he added. “Staining on an annual basis is like applying suntan lotion to your own skin—if you protect your deck on an annual basis, you will get additional years of use out of it.”
• To prepare for the hot summer months, spring is a great time to get maintenance done on your air-conditioning system. Jason Davis, Service Manager for A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air in Vallejo, told us that as the furnace runs during the winter months, the furnace blower is the same that moves the air for the air-conditioning system—in fact, the only thing that is not utilized on your furnace, while using your air conditioner all summer long, are the burners. “Over the winter months the blower collects small amounts of dust,” he explained. “These small amounts of dust can reduce the efficiency of the system by up to 20%.” Additionally, the outdoor part of the air-conditioning system often collects fallen leaves and debris over the winter months, severely impacting efficiency and performance. “Keeping the system in optimal condition by having maintenance done on a regular basis keeps the cost of operation as low as possible and helps greatly reduce nuisance breakdowns.”
• Renee Marie Jordan, Broker Associate for Jordan Real Estate, kept it simple: “Clean gutters, scrub walls/baseboards, replace filters, clean out dryer vent, wash exterior windows, and test smoke detectors,” she said. “These small maintenance items won’t take much time at all to do and will be very beneficial in the long run.”
• “Check your roof/gutters/downspouts, and prolong the life of these items by keeping them clean, and pruning back trees,” said Krystle Karimian, Realtor/Broker/CEO of Krystle Properties in Vallejo. She added, “Artificial turf is no maintenance, drought friendly, and can even come in a pet-friendly variety. Also, insulation and windows are great home improvements; this is an expensive improvement if your windows are single paned and older, but so worth the cost. They will make your home more beautiful and comfortable, and they have about a 75% cost recuperation at the time of sale—read up on tax rebates to see if you can be eligible for savings!” Also, if you’re looking to sell your home but don’t have much cash on hand for aesthetic upgrades, Krystle recommends considering a refinance, an equity line, a 203k construction loan, and/or a shared equity agreement.
• If you’ve been considering an upgrade or have been working on a project on and off, Jeff Laugen, President of Benicia Home Improvement Center, suggested finishing them now, once and for all. “Whether it’s as simple as changing a paint color to something bright, or a renovation that completely changes the look and feel of any space—spring and summer are optimal times to have projects completed,” he said. “Out with the rain and in with the new!”

What home improvements, big or small, would you suggest our readers consider?

• Paint; new floors; replace outdated lighting; replace rusty faucets; stain cabinets and replace handles; install mirrored closet doors to make a room look and feel larger; give your front door or your fireplace a makeover—if you need help with any of these projects, give Krystle Karimian a call. “We manage over 700 units and have had the pleasure of working with many handymen and great contractors,” she said. “On a daily basis we are getting homes ready for sale and for rent; please feel free to call and ask for vendor referrals!” Also, make sure to ask about her Pinterest inspirations and DIY ideas.
• “Adding stepping stones across the lawn can help reduce wear and tear on the lawn, and can add a bit of decoration,” Steve Williams suggested, among other things. “Adding some bark along the edge of driveways or walkways can add a clean new look; painting around window and door trim can add a fresh splash of color; adding a picket fence can be very easy and affordable!” For the picket fence, he recommends purchasing wooden stakes that are 1×3 24” or longer, and pre-paint them the color of your choice. “Attach these stakes to a pressure-treated frame with deck screws.” If you plan to do this yourself, might wanna stop by Foster Lumber Yards to get all of Steve’s installation details.
• Jeff Laugen suggested painting and experimenting with color as some great, cost-effective ways of improving your home, as well as changing up your cabinets: handles, hinges and all. “A simple finish change or shape of hardware can create a variety of looks,” he said. “Consider changing the kitchen faucet as well to tie the finishes together!” He also recommends replacing your interior doors and molding. “Doors can be inexpensive, and some nice molding details can be created for some beautiful custom looks.” Or just call him to renovate the whole place, as you may notice his craftsmanship in the before-and-after kitchen photo.
• “Landscaping is very beneficial with 100% return on the investment,” Renee Marie Jordan “And kitchen upgrade would be next on that list for most beneficial in the long run.”
• Heating and air conditioning systems have come a long way in recent years, and it’s all about the performance of your home as a whole. “The idea is to have a system installed that basically zeros out your utilities, called net zero,” Jason Davis “This includes solar, insulation, windows, and the heating and air system; it amazes people that we can install a system like this in their home and it pays for itself.” He also suggests replacing and/or sealing your duct system, as unhealthy particles may be pulled into your personal air stream, which a filtering system can help combat. “Very few people think of indoor air quality,” he said. “Filtering systems, humidifiers, or de-humidifiers added to your system can greatly increase indoor air quality.”

Well … that oughta be enough to get you started! To follow up with any of our aforementioned partners who may have peaked your interests, we’ve got their contact information below. Let us know if this article prompted any home improvements and send us some before and after pictures to share for next year!

Krystle Karimian, Broker/CEO/Realtor®

Krystle Properties, 2101 Tennessee St., Vallejo  (707) 563-0433, sales@krystleproperties.com

Jeff Laugen, President

Benicia Home Improvement Center, 736 1st St., Benicia  (707) 745-8337, info@beniciahomeimp.com

Jason Davis, Service Manager

A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air, Inc., 1768 Broadway St., Vallejo  (707) 645-0734, estimate@a-1guaranteed.com

Renee Marie Jordan, Broker Associate

Jordan Real Estate, 1038 First St., Benicia  (707) 746-4864, reneemarie@jordanrealestate.com

Steve Williams, General Manager

Foster Lumber Yards, 3280 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo  (707) 557-3000 and 1601 West Texas St., Fairfield  (707) 425-3400, fosterlumber.com

Larson is an actor/comedian/director from Vallejo who lives a double life between the Bay and LA. When he’s not writing for Local Happenings Magazine he could be editing a short film or working on his next rap album—who knows!

Keep up with all things Larson at www.MarsLegstrong.com.”