As a Mission Viejo Realtor, I am often asked what is the best way to find a great deal on Mission Viejo homes in today's real estate market.
First we need to determine what type of buyer you are. Are you an investor looking for basic rental property in average condition, an investor/contractor looking for fixer upper Mission Viejo homes to renovate? Are you a first time buyer with only enough cash for a basic down payment? Are you "buying up," with enough cash from the sale of your current home to make the down payment and then do some remodeling after the sale? Or, are you looking for something move-in ready that won't involve costly upgrades and repairs. There are hundreds of buyer circumstances.
Sometimes people want to find homes selling for far below market value that need no updating or repairs. This would be a rare find indeed, and in most cases a bidding situation would develop where the price finally agreed upon would be higher than that bargain-basement listing price they were hoping for.
All-cash buyers with full proof of funds who are able to close escrow quickly with no loan contingency are able to snag the best deals. Most buyers do not fit into that category. Having liquid assets sufficient to pay cash for a home does not prevent you from getting a loan to purchase it, it just means that if you can't get the loan in time, you agree to use those assets to purchase it on the agreed upon closing date or you lose your earnest money deposit which would be at least 3% of the purchase price in this scenario.
The best way to find a great home is to communicate to your agent exactly what you want. First, get pre-approved for a loan amount that demonstrates your ability to buy. Next, decide on the basic area where you would like to live. Then, discuss with your Realtor the minimum size and the features you absolutely need in a home. It may be necessary to adjust your minimum criteria to match your ability to pay. This is something you can discuss with your agent and get recommendations on certain tracts and neighborhoods to consider.
A professional real estate salesperson will not take you window shopping for homes until you have provided proof of an ability to pay for a home. This comes in the form of a loan pre-approval or a financial statement that indicates you have cash available for the purchase. Once the financial component is complete, she will ask you a series of questions that will help her to filter out homes that you obviously will not be interested in. She will take an in-depth look at the inventory of homes that are available in you price range and locate ones that most closely match your criteria. She will search for the best values for homes in your price range, call the listing agents for additional information and check on what the recent sales prices have been in those areas. She will then provide detailed information on these homes, and set up a time to show them to you. By proving up front that you are a ready buyer, you can expect the highest level of service from your real estate agent.
It's a fact that short sales and foreclosures are having a downward effect on the pricing of the whole market. "Teaser Pricing" of short sales by some agents can create an inaccurate impression that homes are available for unbelievably low prices when actually they are not. This is where a buyer needs to rely on an experienced agent who can research what actual sales prices have been to determine whether a particular offer on a home is likely to be accepted or if it will sit on the lender's shelf for months, waiting for a better offer to come in. So often potential buyers say that they have seen homes shown on the internet are selling for extremely low prices and they want to pay even less. What they may not realize that today's listing prices are irrelevant to what actual sales prices are due to short sale teaser pricing.
Once a home is lender owned, the lender is more committed to selling. These "Bank owned" properties are normally sold as-is and without a warranty. Sometimes they are referred to as REOs, which stands for Real Estate Owned. If you want a home warranty, you most likely will have to purchase it yourself. Also, pre-existing conditions of the home are not likely to be covered by one of these one-year warranties..
Some bank owned properties are in pretty rough shape. Appliances may be inoperable, components may have been removed. The electricity and gas have typically been turned off, so it may be impossible to know what works and what doesn't work. The previous owner, angry because of their loss of money and credit, may have damaged the home in some unseen way. There are a lot of unknowns when buying a lender owned property.
With a short sale, the lender has not made a commitment to sell for any particular price. The listing price set by the agent can be far below what the lender is willing to accept. When any offers come in, the lender makes the final approval of the accepted offer. There is no deadline of how long the lender can take to make up its mind whether an offer is accepted or not, so the lender can stall indefinitely as it waits for higher offers to come in, even if the offer was the listing price. We have seen a lot of this.
I am not an advocate of teaser pricing of short sales. I price short sales based on what other exact match short sales have actually recently sold for. Of course, all offers are presented to the lender, no matter what price they come in at. But why would I want to trick some unsuspecting buyer into thinking he could buy the home for much less than the lender is likely to accept, tying up his or her ability to purchase another accurately priced home. Teaser pricing further deteriorates area property values which can result in more homeowners being "upside down on their home loans.
I have found that a home being sold as a regular sale may cost a little more, but the value in terms of condition, having a home warranty in place, upgrades already accomplished, and speed and certainty of the acceptance of an offer can far outweigh trying to buy a short sale for an unrealistic price. It is not uncommon for a buyer to spend time looking at short sales and then determine they would prefer buying a regular sale even if it might cost a little more.
Many people think they are going to get fabulous deals on foreclosures and short sales, but it is often not true. Those short sales advertised at extremely low prices may not really be available for those prices to the average buyer and they may be disasters that will cost a lot of money to make them livable.
If you want to find a good deals on Mission Viejo homes or homes in any area of Orange County, call me and we can set up a time to meet. When you come to my office, we will start the process by going over your loan pre-approval. If you need to get pre-approved, our loan division can take care of that for you right away. We will go over my buyer's agreement and my commitment to service and you can ask me any questions you might have about buying a home. I will ask you a series of questions to help me determine what kind of home meets your criteria. Once this groundwork is complete, I will be committed to working for you to find the very best deals on homes that match your criteria and price point. When we locate a home you want, I will negotiate the best possible price and terms.
I was recently asked by a repeat client what I thought was the best type of property to buy in South Orange County. I told her that, personally, I thought Single Family residences with large yards and/or a view are most likely to hold their value over time. I also told her to avoid homes with old pools that have not been cared for, that they can be problematic and expensive to maintain and repair. Buying a home with no HOA is fine if you want to save a little money, but don't let a small HOA fee deter you from buying a home. HOAs can be good value protectors in that they have the power to keep neighborhoods looking better, which helps maintain the property value. Even Mello Roos may not be as bad as some people suspect. Some Mello Roos fees are very low and others will soon be paid off. Others are very high and do have an effect on affordability and resale. Each property is different, so don't totally discount all homes with Mello Roos. Look at each one separately. If a home is 20 years old, the Mello Roos may be close to being paid off very soon. Mello Roos is a bond, and these bond payments don't last forever.
Important considerations when buying a home are:
1. Is the area nice and does it show neighborhood pride of ownership,
2. Does the home meet your basic needs,
3. Are you buying it for a good price,
4. Can you imagine living there for 4-5 years and being comfortable,
5. Does it have most of the features you want,
6. Is the condition good so you won't have to invest a lot of money in it. Replacing carpeting and flooring and repainting is expected, but it you have to do major work to get it up to the level of today's homes, it can cost a fortune. When people upgrade a home, they usually spend more than they get back, unless they have been very careful to only do the most cost-effective upgrades in the proper level for their community.
Buying a home in nice condition allows you to take advantage of all the money the previous owners have already spent and gives you a home you can enjoy immediately and for years to come.
For more information on buying homes, contact April Hay
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
Friday, May 9, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Diet On the Cheap!
April Hay
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
Some people who live in Mission Viejo homes have tried to go on costly weight management plans. Some have even resorted to gastric bypass surgery. Why is it that when it comes to weight loss we can't "Just Do it," as Nike would say. I think the reason is because once we start dieting, impatience sets in. We want to lose the weight immediately. Of course, that's not going to happen, but we can lose fairly quickly and do it for a minimal cost.
About 6 years ago, I went on a diet and lost 70 lb. It was great. I got new clothes and felt really proud of myself for what I had accomplished. Then, a few years ago a series of serious life challenges hit me broadside and ice cream, chips and cheesecake seemed like the only things that could ease my pain. The weight all came back and even increased. Seeing myself in the reflection of my office window recently, I began to cringe at what I was doing to myself.
The moment of reckoning came last month when after my vacation I came back to my Mission Viejo home, got on the scale, and found that my weight had hit an all-time high. I dug out my diet book and decided to take control of my eating, of my looks, of my life.
When you have had a long period of overeating, the first challenge is to condition yourself to eat a lot less. The next challenge is to condition yourself to give up all sugar and high fructose sweetener and excess fats and carbohydrates.
The diet that works for me is, I believe, the world's cheapest healthy diet. I use the Scarsdale Diet, a diet that was popular during the 1970s. The diet is described in an inexpensive paperback book available in a lot of bookstores or online. There are no exotic foods to purchase, no nutrition bars to buy. Everything in the diet is made up of good, easy to find foods.
A half a grapefruit is eaten every day for breakfast along with a piece of dry toasted high-protein bread. With a cup of coffee, somehow this is enough. I actually look forward to it every morning. Lunches are composed of plain but good foods. No processed, ready-made foods, no starches, no sugar. Fast foods are basically out.
There is a regimen to follow as far as what choices you have every Lunch and Dinner, but there are certain food that you can eat without a limit, such as radishes, onions, dill pickles, peppers. These foods really help in the early days of the diet before you get used to eating less.
Eliminating all alcohol is necessary during the reducing stage of the diet. Water, diet soda, coffee, and tea are allowed as drinks. Exercise is great, but I don't start exercising until I lose enough weight to know exercise will not damage my knees and back. I take it slow and easy, and as the weight drops, I increase my activity level. You can plan on losing about a pound every day or two at first. As you are able to increase the amount you exercise, the rate of loss may increase.
A side benefit of the diet is the elimination of heartburn and a reduction in blood pressure. Cholesterol levels also drop. Snoring decreases. There are a lot of good things that happen with the Scarsdale Diet. It was written by a heart doctor many years ago.
Being older this time, the weight is coming off a bit slower than it did the first time. I have been on the diet for 3 and a half weeks and have lost 20 lbs. But that's okay. I know it works and I can be a little more patient this time. I have not started exercising at all because I have knee problems and I don't want to injure myself. After I lose another 30 lbs, I will start to exercise. I look forward to walking my area of Mission Viejo homes, knocking on doors and talking to people about Mission Viejo real estate.
I have a few friends who have gone on the Scarsdale Diet, and all of those who follow it say they have benefited not only by the fabulous weight loss, but also by the improvement in their general health. It costs very little to get started, and actually ends up costing less than you would normally spend because you are eating fruits and vegetables and small portions of meat instead of a lot of expensive saucy, processed foods that are not good for you.
Sometimes people cannot eat the grapefruit because it interferes with the absorption of some medications they are taking. That is a problem for them, and they may not be able to use this diet. The morning grapefruit seems to be an integral part of the diet. Of course anyone going on any diet ought to talk it over with their physician before starting.
More and more, we hear on the news how overweight we are becoming as a nation. The increase in diabetes is frightening, as are the incidences of heart disease. For me, it was time to take my weight seriously. My skinny jeans are still waiting for me in the back of my closet and I have eight sizes to go. I can't wait to wear them again!
If you are planning to buy or sell your Mission Viejo homes, please visit my website:
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
Some people who live in Mission Viejo homes have tried to go on costly weight management plans. Some have even resorted to gastric bypass surgery. Why is it that when it comes to weight loss we can't "Just Do it," as Nike would say. I think the reason is because once we start dieting, impatience sets in. We want to lose the weight immediately. Of course, that's not going to happen, but we can lose fairly quickly and do it for a minimal cost.
About 6 years ago, I went on a diet and lost 70 lb. It was great. I got new clothes and felt really proud of myself for what I had accomplished. Then, a few years ago a series of serious life challenges hit me broadside and ice cream, chips and cheesecake seemed like the only things that could ease my pain. The weight all came back and even increased. Seeing myself in the reflection of my office window recently, I began to cringe at what I was doing to myself.
The moment of reckoning came last month when after my vacation I came back to my Mission Viejo home, got on the scale, and found that my weight had hit an all-time high. I dug out my diet book and decided to take control of my eating, of my looks, of my life.
When you have had a long period of overeating, the first challenge is to condition yourself to eat a lot less. The next challenge is to condition yourself to give up all sugar and high fructose sweetener and excess fats and carbohydrates.
The diet that works for me is, I believe, the world's cheapest healthy diet. I use the Scarsdale Diet, a diet that was popular during the 1970s. The diet is described in an inexpensive paperback book available in a lot of bookstores or online. There are no exotic foods to purchase, no nutrition bars to buy. Everything in the diet is made up of good, easy to find foods.
A half a grapefruit is eaten every day for breakfast along with a piece of dry toasted high-protein bread. With a cup of coffee, somehow this is enough. I actually look forward to it every morning. Lunches are composed of plain but good foods. No processed, ready-made foods, no starches, no sugar. Fast foods are basically out.
There is a regimen to follow as far as what choices you have every Lunch and Dinner, but there are certain food that you can eat without a limit, such as radishes, onions, dill pickles, peppers. These foods really help in the early days of the diet before you get used to eating less.
Eliminating all alcohol is necessary during the reducing stage of the diet. Water, diet soda, coffee, and tea are allowed as drinks. Exercise is great, but I don't start exercising until I lose enough weight to know exercise will not damage my knees and back. I take it slow and easy, and as the weight drops, I increase my activity level. You can plan on losing about a pound every day or two at first. As you are able to increase the amount you exercise, the rate of loss may increase.
A side benefit of the diet is the elimination of heartburn and a reduction in blood pressure. Cholesterol levels also drop. Snoring decreases. There are a lot of good things that happen with the Scarsdale Diet. It was written by a heart doctor many years ago.
Being older this time, the weight is coming off a bit slower than it did the first time. I have been on the diet for 3 and a half weeks and have lost 20 lbs. But that's okay. I know it works and I can be a little more patient this time. I have not started exercising at all because I have knee problems and I don't want to injure myself. After I lose another 30 lbs, I will start to exercise. I look forward to walking my area of Mission Viejo homes, knocking on doors and talking to people about Mission Viejo real estate.
I have a few friends who have gone on the Scarsdale Diet, and all of those who follow it say they have benefited not only by the fabulous weight loss, but also by the improvement in their general health. It costs very little to get started, and actually ends up costing less than you would normally spend because you are eating fruits and vegetables and small portions of meat instead of a lot of expensive saucy, processed foods that are not good for you.
Sometimes people cannot eat the grapefruit because it interferes with the absorption of some medications they are taking. That is a problem for them, and they may not be able to use this diet. The morning grapefruit seems to be an integral part of the diet. Of course anyone going on any diet ought to talk it over with their physician before starting.
More and more, we hear on the news how overweight we are becoming as a nation. The increase in diabetes is frightening, as are the incidences of heart disease. For me, it was time to take my weight seriously. My skinny jeans are still waiting for me in the back of my closet and I have eight sizes to go. I can't wait to wear them again!
If you are planning to buy or sell your Mission Viejo homes, please visit my website:
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
Monday, April 14, 2008
Mission Viejo Homes Ranked as Best Buy!
April Hay
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
It has always been my belief that Mission Viejo Homes deliver the biggest bang for your housing bucks spent. A recent report by Entrepreneur.com seems to agree:
"Whether you're an investor ...or you're looking to purchase that next move up, here are my picks for the best areas to buy a home:
Killeen, Round Rock, Austin, Texas: Killeen has the lowest average home price in any market in the nation while still maintaining quality. Round Rock and Austin have seen incredible job growth and very stable home prices despite the downturn nationwide. Jobs continue to grow here--a factor for keeping inventory low and prices stable.
Mission Viejo, California: Mission Viejo has the lowest crime statistics in the nation. With no murders in 2007 and a low rate of violent crime, this is a good place to raise a family. Prices are relatively stable, and the job market in the nearby cities of Irvine and San Diego means there is consistent demand from job seekers.
Palm Beach, Florida: I'm taking a risk here because this area has been pummeled by foreclosures in 2007. But there are also a lot of boomers retiring, and Palm Beach is looking mighty attractive. If you don't like this high of a risk (which translates to great prices), check out Tampa or Clearwater in the same state.
Las Vegas, Nevada: Yes, Las Vegas has been hit hard by incoming investors, who watched their home values disappear and then left those homes empty. Las Vegas comes in quite high on the national foreclosure list, almost always within the top three metro areas. But there's an upside--a very strong job market. In 2007, Las Vegas experienced a 12 percent increase in population, partly driven by retirees looking for Sunbelt states to move to. Coupled with low prices, we could see inventories reduced here, which would also stabilize prices. Be careful what you buy, but I like it."
If you are planning to buy in South Orange County, Mission Viejo Homes tend to be a great choice. Other nearby areas, including all of the Saddleback Valley, also continue to have some of the best buys in real estate.
Contact me for information on Mission Viejo Homes or homes in any part of South Orange County and I will be glad to assist you in finding a great deal!
April Hay
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
It has always been my belief that Mission Viejo Homes deliver the biggest bang for your housing bucks spent. A recent report by Entrepreneur.com seems to agree:
"Whether you're an investor ...or you're looking to purchase that next move up, here are my picks for the best areas to buy a home:
Killeen, Round Rock, Austin, Texas: Killeen has the lowest average home price in any market in the nation while still maintaining quality. Round Rock and Austin have seen incredible job growth and very stable home prices despite the downturn nationwide. Jobs continue to grow here--a factor for keeping inventory low and prices stable.
Mission Viejo, California: Mission Viejo has the lowest crime statistics in the nation. With no murders in 2007 and a low rate of violent crime, this is a good place to raise a family. Prices are relatively stable, and the job market in the nearby cities of Irvine and San Diego means there is consistent demand from job seekers.
Palm Beach, Florida: I'm taking a risk here because this area has been pummeled by foreclosures in 2007. But there are also a lot of boomers retiring, and Palm Beach is looking mighty attractive. If you don't like this high of a risk (which translates to great prices), check out Tampa or Clearwater in the same state.
Las Vegas, Nevada: Yes, Las Vegas has been hit hard by incoming investors, who watched their home values disappear and then left those homes empty. Las Vegas comes in quite high on the national foreclosure list, almost always within the top three metro areas. But there's an upside--a very strong job market. In 2007, Las Vegas experienced a 12 percent increase in population, partly driven by retirees looking for Sunbelt states to move to. Coupled with low prices, we could see inventories reduced here, which would also stabilize prices. Be careful what you buy, but I like it."
If you are planning to buy in South Orange County, Mission Viejo Homes tend to be a great choice. Other nearby areas, including all of the Saddleback Valley, also continue to have some of the best buys in real estate.
Contact me for information on Mission Viejo Homes or homes in any part of South Orange County and I will be glad to assist you in finding a great deal!
April Hay
Monday, April 7, 2008
Is Your Realtor Working For You?
April Hay
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
Doing open house yesterday at one of the Mission Viejo homes we have listed, it amazed me to hear many who attended say that they have agents whom they were "working with." One woman went so far as to say her agent had told her to go out and look at open houses! I looked at her in disbelief and commented that it seemed odd that she was actually working for her agent rather than vice versa. In my own business, I work for my clients, not the other way around. If they want to buy a home, I help them find one that matches their criteria.
The first step of determining a true business relationship with a real estate client is to find out if there is a means to doing business: financial qualification. If a person is able to qualify for a loan and has a sufficient down payment, they are ready to do business. At that point, my client becomes my top priority and I will do whatever it takes to help them find the perfect home. I provide them with information regarding the purchase. After a purchase price is negotiated, I complete every detail of the transaction afterward that will assure a smooth transition into their next home. If a qualified buyer is being told they should go out and find their own home via driving around to open houses, then I think the buyer should question--who is working for whom?
During these past two weekends, all of our agents have reported seeing more attendees at open houses for Mission Viejo homes than there has been in a long while. Most lookers seem interested in traditional sales rather than short sales or foreclosures and are willing to look at homes that are priced fairly.
One of the best ways I know to get a great overview of local real estate sales and pricing is to go to http://www.mlssnapshot.com/. Log yourself into the feature and you will receive an instant one page report that gives you a bounty of information on which homes are for sale, photo flyers on them, which homes have recently sold, what price they sold for, what the trend in sales prices is for that area. I own this service, so you can be assured that your email address will not be shared with anyone. The report is set to come every month; however, you can change the setting yourself to have it come more frequently if you choose. Those who get this report rave about it.
If you are considering buying a home, call me and I will work hard for you. I will help you find the home you have been dreaming of and will negotiate the best price and terms.
Contact April
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
Doing open house yesterday at one of the Mission Viejo homes we have listed, it amazed me to hear many who attended say that they have agents whom they were "working with." One woman went so far as to say her agent had told her to go out and look at open houses! I looked at her in disbelief and commented that it seemed odd that she was actually working for her agent rather than vice versa. In my own business, I work for my clients, not the other way around. If they want to buy a home, I help them find one that matches their criteria.
The first step of determining a true business relationship with a real estate client is to find out if there is a means to doing business: financial qualification. If a person is able to qualify for a loan and has a sufficient down payment, they are ready to do business. At that point, my client becomes my top priority and I will do whatever it takes to help them find the perfect home. I provide them with information regarding the purchase. After a purchase price is negotiated, I complete every detail of the transaction afterward that will assure a smooth transition into their next home. If a qualified buyer is being told they should go out and find their own home via driving around to open houses, then I think the buyer should question--who is working for whom?
During these past two weekends, all of our agents have reported seeing more attendees at open houses for Mission Viejo homes than there has been in a long while. Most lookers seem interested in traditional sales rather than short sales or foreclosures and are willing to look at homes that are priced fairly.
One of the best ways I know to get a great overview of local real estate sales and pricing is to go to http://www.mlssnapshot.com/. Log yourself into the feature and you will receive an instant one page report that gives you a bounty of information on which homes are for sale, photo flyers on them, which homes have recently sold, what price they sold for, what the trend in sales prices is for that area. I own this service, so you can be assured that your email address will not be shared with anyone. The report is set to come every month; however, you can change the setting yourself to have it come more frequently if you choose. Those who get this report rave about it.
If you are considering buying a home, call me and I will work hard for you. I will help you find the home you have been dreaming of and will negotiate the best price and terms.
Contact April
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
Saturday, April 5, 2008
4-Star Staging When Selling Mission Viejo Homes
April Hay
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
Often I am asked what can be done to a home to make it sell quickly and for a better price. As we all know, home prices have dipped due to more short sales and foreclosures being on the market. If you want to sell your home, you must compete with those listings by having your home stand out in a very positive way.
Sparkling move-in condition may put Mission Viejo homes ahead of those foreclosures that are not nearly as pristine. Not all buyers want to paint and make repairs when they buy Mission Viejo homes; many are inspired to put in offers on homes that they can imagine moving into immediately. Some sellers make the mistake of thinking their collection of stuff is going to be appreciated by buyers. This in not usually the case. Personal items and knick-knacks are very distracting to buyers; they start wondering about the seller more than thinking about living there themselves. So what can you do to make your Mission Viejo home make the very best impression on the greatest number of buyers? There are several things you can do that can make a real difference.The most common advice is to remove all knick-knacks, personal photos, excessive furniture, etc. This is great advice, and I completely agree with it, but I have found that most of us have a hard time discerning how much stuff is too much and what stuff if a turn-off to buyers. Often sellers benefit by a professional staging consultation to identify items that should be removed.
Try this mental excercise:
Imagine walking into a 4-star hotel suite and looking around. You would expect to see only the basics in the way of furniture, minimal yet tasteful decorations, impeccable cleanliness, no evidence of personal items or trash, beds made neatly, everything in its functional place. You know others have stayed in the room, but there is no obvious evidence of it. Imagine the suite has tasteful decor, only a few pictures on the wall, the curtains are clean and open, and there aren't any personal items of someone else sitting around. Take a deep breath and you expect that clean smell of fresh linen and fragrant cleaning solutions. You also expect the glasses (dishes) to be clean and put away, the kitchen sink clean, the bathroom to be spotless with the toilet lid down, sparkling sink, a clean shower curtain or door, and no wet towels hanging on the rod. You expect the walls to be clean and fairly recently painted. You don't expect to see fingerprints on doorways or by light switches. The closet doors are closed, and so we cannot see whether there are clothes in them.
Now see how close you can make your home match this image.
It's true, our Mission Viejo homes are not hotel suites and this may seem like an extreme staging goal. We all have normal lives with the need for normal personal items in our homes. Nonetheless, during the selling period, you will benefit greatly by making the sacrifice of trimming down your possessions, by moving them to storage, by packing them for the move, or by selling them or giving them away to charity. The 4-Star Hotel Suite image may be extremely difficult or impossible to achieve, but keep it in your mind as a do-your-best goal to attract the greatest number of buyers. Don't beat yourself up if you can't quite get the look, but aim for the uncluttered, ultra-neat-and-clean look for your home and buyers will be impressed and more willing to put in offers.
The three most important factors in getting a home sold are: Price, location, and condition. You may not be able to fully control the price or market value, and you can't control the location of your home, but you do have control over the showing condition which can affect the price and the length of time on the market.
Call April Hay for assistance in selling your home. If you mention this blog when you list your home, I will provide a free staging consultation by one of Orange County's top interior designers.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
College Road Trip Time
Call April Hay
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
We've lived in one of two Mission Viejo homes for 25 years and have raised three wonderful boys here. Mikie is a senior at Mission Viejo High now, so we decided to make a college road trip up the coast of California to tour all the UC campuses where he had been accepted. We invited our oldest son, Steve, who was visiting from D.C., and his wife, Caren; our youngest son, Mark, also came with us. To transport all six of us, we rented a big black Chevy Suburban.
Mission Viejo to Sacramento was the first leg of our long road trip. Up the I-5, we munched on trail mix and apples for about 6 hours until we arrived at a nondescript two-star motel . Bad beds. The next day, we toured the UC Davis Campus and then drove to the charming little town of Davis where we ate fish and chips at a greasy little dive. The homes in the central part of town were not like Mission Viejo homes, they were older, some built in the 1920s with a Queen Anne influence. Other homes were boxy and had large flat roofs. On and off campus, thousands of bicycles were neatly parked by every building, as most students get to classes via bike. Davis was a nice place, despite the fact that a student had been arrested a few weeks earlier for building a pipe bomb in his dorm room. Only freshmen get housing, so he must have been a freshman. Kids do dumb things sometimes.
In the early evening, we continued our trek, finding another two-star in Berkeley. This one looked depressing from the outside--very grayed with freeway dust. However, the motel was doing some experimental remodeling in one of the rooms and offered that room to four of us. At my Mission Viejo home, I recently painted the downstairs light yellow, which I thought was a bit bright and daring. Well, this room really gave us a sample of the avant garde. Our room was bright turquoise with IKEA-like furnishings and imitation brown wood floors and a bright Orange shag rug between the beds. Above the two queen beds were two giant panel photographs that captured an image of the sign at Mel's Diner. The counter in the also-turquoise bathroom was a multi-level slab with an inlaid vinyl print of bright party colors. The bedspreads were turquoise and brown striped. The room had a very nice flat screen TV. Staying in this room was good in that everything was brand new and clean, and the bed was great. The decor was like nothing I've ever seen in Mission Viejo homes before, but it made me laugh, which was good.
Our tour of UC Berkeley was a real treat. The guide was smart and knowledgeable. The campus was phenomenal. I was in awe. This was the only school my son had not received a decision from yet, so I was hesitant to build up his hopes or show how impressed I was with it. I didn't want him to feel like we would be disappointed if he didn't get accepted. So we all kept our excitement under wraps. Mission Viejo homes in our area send the kids to Mission Viejo High School. The outstanding IB program and AP classes there really enabled my son to apply to good colleges. The high school was the main reason we chose the Mission Viejo homes that we did.
That afternoon we drove to San Francisco and did some very quick sightseeing before going to our aunts home in Sunnyvale for a Hungarian Dinner that she cooked for all of us. She is a very smart and very nice Hungarian woman who worked for Intel for many years It was a delicious dinner! We spent the night at a two-and-a-half star in Sunnyvale. The next day, we drove around UC. Santa Cruz. The rustic campus didn't quite suit us, so we skipped the tour and headed for Pismo Beach.
As we were driving up to the very nice Lighthouse Suites hotel in Pismo, Caren tapped me on the shoulder and handed me her I-phone. It had a message that Mikie had been accepted at Berkeley! We all cheered and decided to go out to dinner at a nice restaurant and share a bottle of Champagne. It was a happy evening.
The next day we drove to the beach and rented 4-wheel ATVs to ride on the sand dunes. This is a favorite family activity whenever we go to Pismo. We had a blast and spent a couple of hours zipping up and down the dunes. That night we had dinner at the Cracked Crab, another favorite place. They throw a whole bucket of crab and shrimp on the table and give you all sorts of implements to pry open the crabs. Yum!
The next day we headed back to our Mission Viejo home, a bit tired and sore from the ATVs, but happy nonetheless that we had not only seen some of the UC campuses, but that we had spent several days together with all three of our boys.
If you are interested in finding out more about buying Mission Viejo homes,
please call April Hay today.
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
We've lived in one of two Mission Viejo homes for 25 years and have raised three wonderful boys here. Mikie is a senior at Mission Viejo High now, so we decided to make a college road trip up the coast of California to tour all the UC campuses where he had been accepted. We invited our oldest son, Steve, who was visiting from D.C., and his wife, Caren; our youngest son, Mark, also came with us. To transport all six of us, we rented a big black Chevy Suburban.
Mission Viejo to Sacramento was the first leg of our long road trip. Up the I-5, we munched on trail mix and apples for about 6 hours until we arrived at a nondescript two-star motel . Bad beds. The next day, we toured the UC Davis Campus and then drove to the charming little town of Davis where we ate fish and chips at a greasy little dive. The homes in the central part of town were not like Mission Viejo homes, they were older, some built in the 1920s with a Queen Anne influence. Other homes were boxy and had large flat roofs. On and off campus, thousands of bicycles were neatly parked by every building, as most students get to classes via bike. Davis was a nice place, despite the fact that a student had been arrested a few weeks earlier for building a pipe bomb in his dorm room. Only freshmen get housing, so he must have been a freshman. Kids do dumb things sometimes.
In the early evening, we continued our trek, finding another two-star in Berkeley. This one looked depressing from the outside--very grayed with freeway dust. However, the motel was doing some experimental remodeling in one of the rooms and offered that room to four of us. At my Mission Viejo home, I recently painted the downstairs light yellow, which I thought was a bit bright and daring. Well, this room really gave us a sample of the avant garde. Our room was bright turquoise with IKEA-like furnishings and imitation brown wood floors and a bright Orange shag rug between the beds. Above the two queen beds were two giant panel photographs that captured an image of the sign at Mel's Diner. The counter in the also-turquoise bathroom was a multi-level slab with an inlaid vinyl print of bright party colors. The bedspreads were turquoise and brown striped. The room had a very nice flat screen TV. Staying in this room was good in that everything was brand new and clean, and the bed was great. The decor was like nothing I've ever seen in Mission Viejo homes before, but it made me laugh, which was good.
Our tour of UC Berkeley was a real treat. The guide was smart and knowledgeable. The campus was phenomenal. I was in awe. This was the only school my son had not received a decision from yet, so I was hesitant to build up his hopes or show how impressed I was with it. I didn't want him to feel like we would be disappointed if he didn't get accepted. So we all kept our excitement under wraps. Mission Viejo homes in our area send the kids to Mission Viejo High School. The outstanding IB program and AP classes there really enabled my son to apply to good colleges. The high school was the main reason we chose the Mission Viejo homes that we did.
That afternoon we drove to San Francisco and did some very quick sightseeing before going to our aunts home in Sunnyvale for a Hungarian Dinner that she cooked for all of us. She is a very smart and very nice Hungarian woman who worked for Intel for many years It was a delicious dinner! We spent the night at a two-and-a-half star in Sunnyvale. The next day, we drove around UC. Santa Cruz. The rustic campus didn't quite suit us, so we skipped the tour and headed for Pismo Beach.
As we were driving up to the very nice Lighthouse Suites hotel in Pismo, Caren tapped me on the shoulder and handed me her I-phone. It had a message that Mikie had been accepted at Berkeley! We all cheered and decided to go out to dinner at a nice restaurant and share a bottle of Champagne. It was a happy evening.
The next day we drove to the beach and rented 4-wheel ATVs to ride on the sand dunes. This is a favorite family activity whenever we go to Pismo. We had a blast and spent a couple of hours zipping up and down the dunes. That night we had dinner at the Cracked Crab, another favorite place. They throw a whole bucket of crab and shrimp on the table and give you all sorts of implements to pry open the crabs. Yum!
The next day we headed back to our Mission Viejo home, a bit tired and sore from the ATVs, but happy nonetheless that we had not only seen some of the UC campuses, but that we had spent several days together with all three of our boys.
If you are interested in finding out more about buying Mission Viejo homes,
please call April Hay today.
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Why We Live in Mission Viejo
Call April Hay
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
We have chosen Mission Viejo homes for various reasons. Some of us came here to live in one of the safest cities in the United States. Others of us chose to buy Mission Viejo homes because we liked the focus on family life in this area. Some moved to Mission Viejo homes in adult communities, such as Casta del Sol and Palmia, because we wanted the serenity of senior living. Some of us moved here because of the focus on sports, with this city producing many Olympic medalists in a variety of sports. Some moved to Mission Viejo homes to enjoy the luxury of the lake. Many of us continue to live here because the schools are excellent. We enjoy the absence of graffiti and the feeling of acceptance of the various ethnic groups.
If you are considering a move to Mission Viejo, contact me, April Hay. at ERA Pacific Meridian. I have lived in Mission Viejo for 25 years and am very familiar with this part of South Orange County. I can help you find Mission Viejo homes that exactly match your criteria in any of the many desirable areas of this great community.
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
We have chosen Mission Viejo homes for various reasons. Some of us came here to live in one of the safest cities in the United States. Others of us chose to buy Mission Viejo homes because we liked the focus on family life in this area. Some moved to Mission Viejo homes in adult communities, such as Casta del Sol and Palmia, because we wanted the serenity of senior living. Some of us moved here because of the focus on sports, with this city producing many Olympic medalists in a variety of sports. Some moved to Mission Viejo homes to enjoy the luxury of the lake. Many of us continue to live here because the schools are excellent. We enjoy the absence of graffiti and the feeling of acceptance of the various ethnic groups.
If you are considering a move to Mission Viejo, contact me, April Hay. at ERA Pacific Meridian. I have lived in Mission Viejo for 25 years and am very familiar with this part of South Orange County. I can help you find Mission Viejo homes that exactly match your criteria in any of the many desirable areas of this great community.
Visit GreatMissionViejoHomes.com to begin your initial search. Once you find Mission Viejo homes your are interested in, give me a call and we can set up a time to meet and discuss how your can get pre-qualified for a purchase amount. We can look at homes to find the right one for you.
April Hay, GRI, Realtor, http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Shuttering
Contact April Hay to get Your Custom Shutter Referral Coupon!
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
Many Mission Viejo homes like my own are situated in such a way that sun bakes in through the largest of the windows and sliding doors, creating an oven effect that wastes energy by increasing the need for more air conditioning. Selecting the right window coverings can make a noticeable difference in utility bills. As current gasoline prices skyrocket, utility bills for Mission Viejo homes are sure to follow, so if it is time to replace window coverings, while indoor shutters may not be your first choice in design, it may be time to recall the words of 20th Century archetectural guru Louis Sullivan:
"It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic,
Of all things physical and metaphysical,
Of all things human and all things super-human,
Of all true manifestations of the head,
Of the heart, of the soul,
That the life is recognizable in its expression,
That form ever follows function. This is the law."
Wood Shutters are a functional addition to Mission Viejo homes in that they are able to morph from full window enclosure, to partial covering, to no covering at all, suiting a variety of times of day and occasions. It is a common misperception that other forms of window coverings are less expensive than shutters. This may be true if you don't shop around to find the highest quality for the best price. Being the ultimate bargain hunter that I am, I think I have found the biggest bang for the buck in the realm of plantation shutters for Mission Viejo homes.
Before you order custom shutters, consider what the choices are. Basically, there are three types: solid hardwood, solid-core vinyl, and aluminum-core vinyl. Aluminum-core vinyl have the benefit of being lighter; however, they have little endcaps on the edge of every blade that can come loose and may not give as rich an appearance as a solid-core product. The solid-core vinyl have the advantage of being suitable for installations where there may be a problem with water intrusion because they will not warp if they get soaked. They never need to be painted; however, they have the disadvantage of being heavier than wood and there is not usually a color choice, so your window trim may not match your shutters. Typically, they cost more, too. For my Mission Viejo home, I chose solid wood shutters.
Wood shutters in Mission Viejo homes give them a clean appearance. Drapes and heavy curtains are more likely to hold odors and can be expensive to have dry cleaned. Shutters need to be dusted and occasionally wiped down with a damp cloth to keep them looking fresh. If you have a rather pesky house cat like I do, you won't have to worry about her scratching and clawing them and biting of cords like she does with other window coverings.
Custom wood shutters come in a wide variety of colors. For the shutters in my Mission Viejo home, I have chosen a Dunn-Edwards Swiss Coffee, which is an off white for which I can easily buy matching trim paint. I like "easy," and off-white suits me because, in my Mission Viejo home, it doesn't grab attention the way bright white does. This way, other furnishings in my home can have dominance. Some people may prefer matching the shutters to their wall color. Having the choice of color can be important when buying shutters.
In shopping for shutters, I found a wide range in pricing. It was easy to find shutters for $35 per sq.ft., which is probably why many people think they can't afford them. On the other hand, I found a company that works through direct referrals and they sell high-quality shutters for as low as $13.95 per sq. ft., depending on the quantity ordered. I ordered shutters for two sets of double french doors with side windows (6 ft wide each) and two large (50-inch square) picture windows and two narrow (2-ft wide) windows and was able to get the lowest price. They have a person who comes to your home and measures, assuring the shutters will fit. Everything is done very professionally and the quality is great. You pay 50% upon placing the order, the rest is paid when they come to install them.
If you are interested in being one of my personal referrals to this custom shutter company, contact me , provide your name, address, telephone number and email address, and I will provide you with a referral coupon that you can use for setting up an appointment for a company representative to measure your windows. The company will sell shutters to owners of Mission Viejo homes, and to owners of all Orange County homes. While I cannot personally guarantee you will be satisfied, I can tell you that I have been extremely pleased with the shutters that were installed in my own Mission Viejo home.
http://www.greatmissionviejohomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
Many Mission Viejo homes like my own are situated in such a way that sun bakes in through the largest of the windows and sliding doors, creating an oven effect that wastes energy by increasing the need for more air conditioning. Selecting the right window coverings can make a noticeable difference in utility bills. As current gasoline prices skyrocket, utility bills for Mission Viejo homes are sure to follow, so if it is time to replace window coverings, while indoor shutters may not be your first choice in design, it may be time to recall the words of 20th Century archetectural guru Louis Sullivan:
"It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic,
Of all things physical and metaphysical,
Of all things human and all things super-human,
Of all true manifestations of the head,
Of the heart, of the soul,
That the life is recognizable in its expression,
That form ever follows function. This is the law."
Wood Shutters are a functional addition to Mission Viejo homes in that they are able to morph from full window enclosure, to partial covering, to no covering at all, suiting a variety of times of day and occasions. It is a common misperception that other forms of window coverings are less expensive than shutters. This may be true if you don't shop around to find the highest quality for the best price. Being the ultimate bargain hunter that I am, I think I have found the biggest bang for the buck in the realm of plantation shutters for Mission Viejo homes.
Before you order custom shutters, consider what the choices are. Basically, there are three types: solid hardwood, solid-core vinyl, and aluminum-core vinyl. Aluminum-core vinyl have the benefit of being lighter; however, they have little endcaps on the edge of every blade that can come loose and may not give as rich an appearance as a solid-core product. The solid-core vinyl have the advantage of being suitable for installations where there may be a problem with water intrusion because they will not warp if they get soaked. They never need to be painted; however, they have the disadvantage of being heavier than wood and there is not usually a color choice, so your window trim may not match your shutters. Typically, they cost more, too. For my Mission Viejo home, I chose solid wood shutters.
Wood shutters in Mission Viejo homes give them a clean appearance. Drapes and heavy curtains are more likely to hold odors and can be expensive to have dry cleaned. Shutters need to be dusted and occasionally wiped down with a damp cloth to keep them looking fresh. If you have a rather pesky house cat like I do, you won't have to worry about her scratching and clawing them and biting of cords like she does with other window coverings.
Custom wood shutters come in a wide variety of colors. For the shutters in my Mission Viejo home, I have chosen a Dunn-Edwards Swiss Coffee, which is an off white for which I can easily buy matching trim paint. I like "easy," and off-white suits me because, in my Mission Viejo home, it doesn't grab attention the way bright white does. This way, other furnishings in my home can have dominance. Some people may prefer matching the shutters to their wall color. Having the choice of color can be important when buying shutters.
In shopping for shutters, I found a wide range in pricing. It was easy to find shutters for $35 per sq.ft., which is probably why many people think they can't afford them. On the other hand, I found a company that works through direct referrals and they sell high-quality shutters for as low as $13.95 per sq. ft., depending on the quantity ordered. I ordered shutters for two sets of double french doors with side windows (6 ft wide each) and two large (50-inch square) picture windows and two narrow (2-ft wide) windows and was able to get the lowest price. They have a person who comes to your home and measures, assuring the shutters will fit. Everything is done very professionally and the quality is great. You pay 50% upon placing the order, the rest is paid when they come to install them.
If you are interested in being one of my personal referrals to this custom shutter company, contact me , provide your name, address, telephone number and email address, and I will provide you with a referral coupon that you can use for setting up an appointment for a company representative to measure your windows. The company will sell shutters to owners of Mission Viejo homes, and to owners of all Orange County homes. While I cannot personally guarantee you will be satisfied, I can tell you that I have been extremely pleased with the shutters that were installed in my own Mission Viejo home.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Mission Viejo Homes with Curb Appeal
YOU'VE SEEN Mission Viejo homes with curb appeal. They look like everything is beautiful and is in its correct place. For some Mission Viejo homes, curb appeal comes naturally because of the way the house is set on the lot. But true curb appeal requires more than just where the house sits.
Other things that add to the curb appeal of Mission Viejo homes are: The yard looks meticulously manicured, the curbs are not scuffed with black tire marks, the numbers on the curb are clearly painted, the gutters and sidewalks are swept and clean, there are no cobwebs or dust on the front of the house or the front porch, the windows are sparkling clean and you can see portions of the inside of the house through open curtains. The garage door is down, and no cars are parked on the driveway. The house has been painted within the past few years, and special attention to the front door area has been taken, with new door handles and a new doorbell button. The front door has a fresh coat of semigloss. If the house has shutters, they are freshly painted, too.
Most Mission Viejo homes can have curb appeal. Regular maintenance and gardening are the biggest factors contributing to curb appeal. The biggest turn-offs are: dirty exterior, peeling paint, oil stains and old cars in the driveway, basketball hoops in the street, skateboard ramps in front of the house, garage doors left open, plant overgrowth, dirty walkways with toys strewn along them, too many potted plants on the porch, rusty/tarnished hardware on the front doors, closed drapes at every window, torn window screens. You can see how inexpensive it is to get good curb appeal. Clean, Clean, Clean. Unclutter. Stash the toys and sports gear. Paint a little. Replace a few worn items. And clean some more.
Those who have Mission Viejo homes with curb appeal can get a higher price for their homes. If you would like more information about selling your Mission Viejo home, call April Hay or visit:
In Search of a Functional Family Room
Call April Hay
http://www.GreatMissionViejoHomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
I'm fairly sure most Mission Viejo homes have a family room that could use some decluttering and refurbishing. I just painted mine and the pale yellow walls are already lifting my spirits. Because our family room is the most used room in the house, it is crammed with all the paraphernalia of a modern middle class family.
What used to be my mantle is now the perch for a 5-ft wide flatscreen. So the flat screen really determines the seating arrangement in this Mission Viejo home. We have a very wide leather chair and ottoman on one side of the room, a recliner made for two people on the other side, and a full size leather couch on the side wall. This basically means the room is wall-to-wall seating area. Opposite the ottoman is a full stack of electronic sound equipment doo-dads that operate the surround sound, dvd carousel, tuners, etc. Then there are the two 1.5-square ft. subwoofers and some sort of partially assembled computer and a monitor that also works as a second television. There are two other black contraptions as big as the subwoofers; I have no idea what they do, but I am told they are necessary.
Everyone in the family has a laptop, so we are always on them in the family room via wireless. Sometimes we even email each other while we are sitting together in this 21st Century Mission Viejo family room. There is no coffee table because there's no room for one. There are a couple of end tables crammed here and there. My printer is on a small bookshelf near a window which is where I keep too much stuff. Mission Viejo homes come in all sizes, but mine is medium--about 3000 sq.ft. Our family room is where we do most of our living so we might as well live in a smaller home.
So how do I make any changes in this room? Well, I just moved the couch out and replaced it with the love seat that was in the music room. (Yes, we have a dedicated music room, but I never go in there.) I removed one of the larger end tables and replaced it with a cute little bombe chest I picked up at a consignment store a few years ago and which had been in my upstairs hallway. It is a painted Drexel Heritage piece in yellow and gold--perfect for the new decor. I also had a pale yellow lamp from when my company was at a larger location, and it goes great on the bombe.
My kids are both artists and we have tons of framed oils that they have done. I am thinning out the collection in the family room to de-clutter the walls. Incidentally, the paintings seem to look much better hung on the pale yellow walls. It seems to bring out their colors more. We never use the fireplace, so I am storing some of that computer stuff in there. I got the owner of the gazillion laser disks to put them in the bin for the Goodwill. The player went too, thus lowering the black stack by one. April Hay, you are making progress! In the realm of all Orange County homes, this one is a real challenge. Buy we seem to be gaining.
The book shelves need to go. I am going to pull the encyclopedias from one shelf and move them up to the boys' room. Yes, I have two teens who share one gigantic room. And they don't fight! The rest of the books can go up there too, and the board games stacked on top can go into the upstairs linen closet. We also have a nightstand in the family room, a leftover from our first set of furniture 35 years ago. That's going to the Goodwill. Today I shopped at the Goodwill and found a wonderful, country french ladies desk. The drawers were all stuck, so I brought it home and put beeswax on the drawer slides and voila! the drawers work great on this truly elegant piece of furniture. With the bookcase and the end table gone, I think I can fit my desk along the wall near the big chair and ottoman. If not, then it will need to go in the living room, in front of the bay window--a rather nice place to be.
So, as Mission Viejo homes go, this one may not end up so bad. I haven't spent much money at all, but the difference should be great.
http://www.GreatMissionViejoHomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
I'm fairly sure most Mission Viejo homes have a family room that could use some decluttering and refurbishing. I just painted mine and the pale yellow walls are already lifting my spirits. Because our family room is the most used room in the house, it is crammed with all the paraphernalia of a modern middle class family.
What used to be my mantle is now the perch for a 5-ft wide flatscreen. So the flat screen really determines the seating arrangement in this Mission Viejo home. We have a very wide leather chair and ottoman on one side of the room, a recliner made for two people on the other side, and a full size leather couch on the side wall. This basically means the room is wall-to-wall seating area. Opposite the ottoman is a full stack of electronic sound equipment doo-dads that operate the surround sound, dvd carousel, tuners, etc. Then there are the two 1.5-square ft. subwoofers and some sort of partially assembled computer and a monitor that also works as a second television. There are two other black contraptions as big as the subwoofers; I have no idea what they do, but I am told they are necessary.
Everyone in the family has a laptop, so we are always on them in the family room via wireless. Sometimes we even email each other while we are sitting together in this 21st Century Mission Viejo family room. There is no coffee table because there's no room for one. There are a couple of end tables crammed here and there. My printer is on a small bookshelf near a window which is where I keep too much stuff. Mission Viejo homes come in all sizes, but mine is medium--about 3000 sq.ft. Our family room is where we do most of our living so we might as well live in a smaller home.
So how do I make any changes in this room? Well, I just moved the couch out and replaced it with the love seat that was in the music room. (Yes, we have a dedicated music room, but I never go in there.) I removed one of the larger end tables and replaced it with a cute little bombe chest I picked up at a consignment store a few years ago and which had been in my upstairs hallway. It is a painted Drexel Heritage piece in yellow and gold--perfect for the new decor. I also had a pale yellow lamp from when my company was at a larger location, and it goes great on the bombe.
My kids are both artists and we have tons of framed oils that they have done. I am thinning out the collection in the family room to de-clutter the walls. Incidentally, the paintings seem to look much better hung on the pale yellow walls. It seems to bring out their colors more. We never use the fireplace, so I am storing some of that computer stuff in there. I got the owner of the gazillion laser disks to put them in the bin for the Goodwill. The player went too, thus lowering the black stack by one. April Hay, you are making progress! In the realm of all Orange County homes, this one is a real challenge. Buy we seem to be gaining.
The book shelves need to go. I am going to pull the encyclopedias from one shelf and move them up to the boys' room. Yes, I have two teens who share one gigantic room. And they don't fight! The rest of the books can go up there too, and the board games stacked on top can go into the upstairs linen closet. We also have a nightstand in the family room, a leftover from our first set of furniture 35 years ago. That's going to the Goodwill. Today I shopped at the Goodwill and found a wonderful, country french ladies desk. The drawers were all stuck, so I brought it home and put beeswax on the drawer slides and voila! the drawers work great on this truly elegant piece of furniture. With the bookcase and the end table gone, I think I can fit my desk along the wall near the big chair and ottoman. If not, then it will need to go in the living room, in front of the bay window--a rather nice place to be.
So, as Mission Viejo homes go, this one may not end up so bad. I haven't spent much money at all, but the difference should be great.
Paint Clean Up Tip
Call April Hay
http://www.GreatMissionViejoHomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
Have you even stood over the sink, washing out your paint brush, and it seemed like the paint just kept on coming out of the bristles. You rub it and paint gets all over your hands. It's a mess! When I painted my Mission Viejo home recently, I discovered a way to clean brushes fast.
First, wipe as much of the paint as possible on the wall you are painting. Take the brush to the sink and wet it. Pour a large amount of baking soda on the brush and work it through the bristles thoroughly. Rinse the brush and you will see most of the paint come out of the brush. Pour another dose of backing soda onto the bristles and handle and work it into a paste. Let it remain on the brush for a minute and then rinse. The brush is clean and there is no paint remaining on your fingers. Let the brush dry. The next time you paint, the bristles will be soft and ready for the job!
I have owned older Mission Viejo homes for the past 25 years have always dreaded painting. Discovering this technique of brush cleanup really makes the job a lot easier. The manager of the store in Mission Viejo where I purchased the paint had never heard of my technique, so I am assuming it is something new. If not, then maybe it's one you haven't heard about. I like it because you don't need to waste as much water and it's environmentally safe.
When I painted my Mission Viejo home, I found that the cleanup of the paint tray also was made easier using baking soda. I like to use the plastic trays that are a little smaller than the big metal ones. They have hooks that attach to the ladder I use as a paint stand.
As money gets tighter due to increased fuel prices, painting your own home may become more popular. Owners of Orange County homes are really feeling the sting of higher fuel prices, so do-it-yourself projects may become more of a necessity than ever. Make your Mission Viejo home look beautiful with a new coat of paint. Lift your spirits with a lighter, brighter shade. Mission Viejo homes that are freshly painted sell for more.
http://www.GreatMissionViejoHomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
Have you even stood over the sink, washing out your paint brush, and it seemed like the paint just kept on coming out of the bristles. You rub it and paint gets all over your hands. It's a mess! When I painted my Mission Viejo home recently, I discovered a way to clean brushes fast.
First, wipe as much of the paint as possible on the wall you are painting. Take the brush to the sink and wet it. Pour a large amount of baking soda on the brush and work it through the bristles thoroughly. Rinse the brush and you will see most of the paint come out of the brush. Pour another dose of backing soda onto the bristles and handle and work it into a paste. Let it remain on the brush for a minute and then rinse. The brush is clean and there is no paint remaining on your fingers. Let the brush dry. The next time you paint, the bristles will be soft and ready for the job!
I have owned older Mission Viejo homes for the past 25 years have always dreaded painting. Discovering this technique of brush cleanup really makes the job a lot easier. The manager of the store in Mission Viejo where I purchased the paint had never heard of my technique, so I am assuming it is something new. If not, then maybe it's one you haven't heard about. I like it because you don't need to waste as much water and it's environmentally safe.
When I painted my Mission Viejo home, I found that the cleanup of the paint tray also was made easier using baking soda. I like to use the plastic trays that are a little smaller than the big metal ones. They have hooks that attach to the ladder I use as a paint stand.
As money gets tighter due to increased fuel prices, painting your own home may become more popular. Owners of Orange County homes are really feeling the sting of higher fuel prices, so do-it-yourself projects may become more of a necessity than ever. Make your Mission Viejo home look beautiful with a new coat of paint. Lift your spirits with a lighter, brighter shade. Mission Viejo homes that are freshly painted sell for more.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Painting My Mission Viejo Home
THE LAST TIME I painted inside my my Mission Viejo home, I got tons of advice from a family member. This time, I'm doing it my way, and guess what! The results are much better!I think the biggest problem is that I am not a big burly man. While I dislike the term "weaker sex," I have to admit, I am just not physically strong. What I do have is patience and a moderate amount of intelligence, and with that, I can paint!
Looking back on my previous painting experience, I remember that the "right way" to paint this old Mission Viejo home was to use a big wide brush, use an ordinary paint roller, and use a 5 ft. ladder to reach the high areas. Luckily, the older Mission Viejo homes like this one came with 8-foot ceilings, so at my tall height, I don't have too far to reach.
That first time I painted it was a disaster that someone else had to finish. I used all the recommended items to paint, but by the end of the first day, my hand ached from holding that huge heavy paintbrush, my wrist hurt from going back and forth with the roller, and my arches ached from perching on the rungs of the ladder. By the next day, I didn't even want to think about painting, much less do it. I was sore all over, had green paint splatters everywhere in my hair and all over my arms, and my brush and roller were toast because I didn't have any energy left to clean them out properly at the end of the day.
I think I have things figured out better now. For any middle aged woman who is not in tip-top shape, consider these suggestions the next time you get the urge to paint the inside of your home:
1. Use a 2-inch brush. It's lighter, smaller in your hand and it doesn't weigh as much, especially when filled with paint. Its ease of use will make the job much simpler and your hand is less likely to get sore and stiff. It's small enough that you may not need any other brush.
2. Get a roller with a long handle. This will enable you to use both hands when applying the paint, thus giving you greater strength and endurance. You can use the leverage afforded by the handle to apply the paint, plus it will enable you to reach all the high spots.
3. Don't stand on a ladder. Use a sturdy plastic box to stand on. It is much easier to keep your balance, you won't over-strain your arches, and you will be more comfortable. I only use the 4-foot ladder as a place to put my hook-on roller tray so it is within easy reach.
4. Have the ceilings painted white by a professional painter. I do this because the ceilings don't really need to be repainted every time you want to freshen the paint or change the color. White ceilings make the rooms look bigger and save time and money every time you want to repaint. Have the ceilings painted in the same white you paint your trim.
5. If you want to paint the ceilings yourself, use a sturdy, covered coffee table to stand on with the ladder nearby for the roller tray and to grab in case you lose your balance. The long handled roller will give you that leverage to apply the paint with more strength.
6. If your doctor says it's okay, take a dose of your favorite analgesic at the very first sign of an ache, not after it's too late. Another dose before bed may help if you will be finishing the job the next day.
7. If you do need to paint the next day, don't clean your brush and roller. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and they should be good for the next day.
A new paint job can really brighten up a home. Even my older Mission Viejo home now sparkles in its new sunny yellow tint. If you are planning to sell your home, fresh paint is one of your best investments. It doesn't cost a lot, especially if you do it yourself. You will reap the benefit of a higher sales price. Avoid dark shades as lighter colors tend to make the home look larger. If you really want one of those deep designer colors, try it on just one wall to get the effect without darkening the whole room.
Call April Hay
Free MLS Property searches for your Mission Viejo Homes. Contact April Hay http://www.aprilhay.com/
Photo credit
http://www.GreatMissionViejoHomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
http://www.eragenerations.com/
http://www.usethemls.com/
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Twilight Savings
I didn't grow up during the Depression, but my parents did. It definitely affected their behavior with regard to saving, spending, and a need for financial security. I can see that the effects of this somehow rubbed off on me. I'm a Mission Viejo bargain hunter. I love finding a good deal!
When my mother passed away a few years ago, I got a chance to see the unbelievable cache of a true bargain hunter who honed her skills during the Depression era. My Mission Viejo home seems like it's loaded to the gills with "good deals." Now I realize that I am a mere rookie at bargain hunting.
As my sister and I cleaned out Mom's stuff from her Mission Viejo home, our eyes were opened to what the Depression did to many women. Evidently during that time, and to some extent reinforced during the years of WWII, most of what people really wanted was not available. If you ever found a good buy on something rare and desirable, the next step was to quietly scoop it all up, buy it, and hide it in a safe place. The inelegant word for this would be horde.
My parents both told me that during the Depression, they had very little when they were children. Even food and the necessities were in short supply. If they happened to get something that wasn't immediately consumed, they put it away to hold for a time when they really needed it. The fear of being totally without guided this pack rat tendency.
Even long after the Depression was over, my mother held onto that fear of one day "running out." Whenever she found some inexpensive treasure at Pic'n'Save (which is now BigLots) she would buy up a dozen and carefully hide them in her Mission Viejo home, in her storage room, under her bed, in the backs of cabinets, under the sink, in the attic. We found hundreds of pairs of shoes, most we had never seen her wear. Many of them appeared to be quite old.
One of my Mom's favorite things to stash away was fabric. She was a fabulous seamstress, but no one could sew as much fabric as she acquired during the 70 years since the Depression. There were flats of mint green boucle polyester and polyester prints of every kind. My mom really liked polyester, I guess because it was certain to last into eternity. There were hundreds of spools of thread, dated best by the colors that coincided with the fashion trends of the various decades since the Depression. Most of the cottons had rotted, but those neon pink polyester threads of the '70s had really hung in there.
Being a good sewer, my Mom made a lot of clothes, especially pants. Being tall, she always had a problem finding pants long enough. We must have found 150 pairs of handmade polyester pants in her stuff, most never worn, just put away for a time when she ran out, I suppose. U doubt if you could find another Mission Viejo home that had as many pairs of pants in it.
Cleaning out my Mom's horded valuables took a lot of hard work and many calls to the Goodwill. Being a good bargain hunter myself, it was very difficult to see all this stuff she cared about enough that she horded it being hauled awa6. Actually, I felt compelled to transfer a lot of her stuff to my own collection of things I'll never use. It makes no sense, but somehow I thought it would have pleased her.
When I got the stuff to my own Mission Viejo house, I discovered I really didn't have enough room to keep everything, so out of respect for her inability to throw anything of any value away, I ended up getting rid of some of my cache to make room for her stuff. It's crazy, but it seemed like the honorable thing to do. I put her need to horde over my own. Isn't that what a good daughter should do in this circumstance?
To tell you the truth, my fondest memories of my Mom were the times we spent looking for bargains. We both got the same kind of thrill out of finding a fabulous deal. Even when we weren't shopping together, we would call each other and talk about our latest "find." I really miss those days. I loved my mother so much. She taught me so many things. I wish she were still alive to teach me more. I may be a pack rat, but one thing is for certain, I learned from the best.
Call April Hay
http://www.GreatMissionViejoHomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
http://www.eragenerations.com/
Photo credit
When my mother passed away a few years ago, I got a chance to see the unbelievable cache of a true bargain hunter who honed her skills during the Depression era. My Mission Viejo home seems like it's loaded to the gills with "good deals." Now I realize that I am a mere rookie at bargain hunting.
As my sister and I cleaned out Mom's stuff from her Mission Viejo home, our eyes were opened to what the Depression did to many women. Evidently during that time, and to some extent reinforced during the years of WWII, most of what people really wanted was not available. If you ever found a good buy on something rare and desirable, the next step was to quietly scoop it all up, buy it, and hide it in a safe place. The inelegant word for this would be horde.
My parents both told me that during the Depression, they had very little when they were children. Even food and the necessities were in short supply. If they happened to get something that wasn't immediately consumed, they put it away to hold for a time when they really needed it. The fear of being totally without guided this pack rat tendency.
Even long after the Depression was over, my mother held onto that fear of one day "running out." Whenever she found some inexpensive treasure at Pic'n'Save (which is now BigLots) she would buy up a dozen and carefully hide them in her Mission Viejo home, in her storage room, under her bed, in the backs of cabinets, under the sink, in the attic. We found hundreds of pairs of shoes, most we had never seen her wear. Many of them appeared to be quite old.
One of my Mom's favorite things to stash away was fabric. She was a fabulous seamstress, but no one could sew as much fabric as she acquired during the 70 years since the Depression. There were flats of mint green boucle polyester and polyester prints of every kind. My mom really liked polyester, I guess because it was certain to last into eternity. There were hundreds of spools of thread, dated best by the colors that coincided with the fashion trends of the various decades since the Depression. Most of the cottons had rotted, but those neon pink polyester threads of the '70s had really hung in there.
Being a good sewer, my Mom made a lot of clothes, especially pants. Being tall, she always had a problem finding pants long enough. We must have found 150 pairs of handmade polyester pants in her stuff, most never worn, just put away for a time when she ran out, I suppose. U doubt if you could find another Mission Viejo home that had as many pairs of pants in it.
Cleaning out my Mom's horded valuables took a lot of hard work and many calls to the Goodwill. Being a good bargain hunter myself, it was very difficult to see all this stuff she cared about enough that she horded it being hauled awa6. Actually, I felt compelled to transfer a lot of her stuff to my own collection of things I'll never use. It makes no sense, but somehow I thought it would have pleased her.
When I got the stuff to my own Mission Viejo house, I discovered I really didn't have enough room to keep everything, so out of respect for her inability to throw anything of any value away, I ended up getting rid of some of my cache to make room for her stuff. It's crazy, but it seemed like the honorable thing to do. I put her need to horde over my own. Isn't that what a good daughter should do in this circumstance?
To tell you the truth, my fondest memories of my Mom were the times we spent looking for bargains. We both got the same kind of thrill out of finding a fabulous deal. Even when we weren't shopping together, we would call each other and talk about our latest "find." I really miss those days. I loved my mother so much. She taught me so many things. I wish she were still alive to teach me more. I may be a pack rat, but one thing is for certain, I learned from the best.
Call April Hay
http://www.GreatMissionViejoHomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
http://www.eragenerations.com/
Photo credit
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Why Do We Have to Move?
http://www.aprilhay.com/"Why do we have to move?" Kids always seem to ask this question whenever there is a move from one home to another. We may fumble around with an answer that will make the most sense to them, but the reality is, there usually is no answer that will truly comfort and satisfy a child who is leaving the home, the school, the neighborhood and the friends that he or she has come to love. When the move is due to foreclosure of your Mission Viejo, Orange County home, the situation becomes even more difficult, especially if the child is an adolescent or teen.
So, what do we tell the young teen when we realize we can no longer afford to pay the mortgage and loss of the Mission Viejo home is inevitable? Chances are the tension over finances has already been the object of many discussions before the final news is delivered. Still, the fact that what was home will soon be something quite different is very hard for a kid to accept.
Older children can learn from life's difficult situations. I think it's good to be honest and open with them and let them know how difficult losing a home is to us as parents. Using it as a life lesson is more valuable to them than trying to protect them from the truth. Eventually, friends and neighbors will know when the foreclosure sign goes up in front of your Mission Viejo home. Having a serious discussion with the children beforehand will help them know we trust them and understand how they will be affected.
In my recent experience working with leases, I have seen that landlords know short sales and foreclosures are happening much more frequently. When looking at applications and credit reports, they are not necessarily going to deny the lease because you have gone through a foreclosure. What can help is to have a credit report that reflects you never stopped paying all your other bills on time. If the delinquent house payments are isolated occurrences from the rest of your bill payments, it shows the landlord and his agent that you have maintained a level of financial responsibility in every area except the mortgage. It shows you care about paying your bills. Sometimes a homeowner heading toward foreclosure will delay paying utility and credit card payments in order to get the mortgage payment paid. This is not always the best plan because once the short sale or foreclosure happens, not only are there nicks on the credit report for the mortgage, but also on all the other accounts. This can make everything more difficult.
If your goal is to get the kids through the school year, research the steps of foreclosure to determine how you can delay the process so you won't need to leave until summer. Kids rarely relish moving, but by explaining the reasons and causes, they may be more supportive of the need to move.
Autism in Teenagers
For those who have a young child diagnosed with autism, the future seems uncertain and a bit scary and the challenges seem insurmountable. There are a bounty of opinions as to the cause, and it is easy to get wrapped up in finding someone or something to blame rather than dealing with the hand that has been dealt.
I remember when I first got my son's diagnosis 14 years ago. I really didn't have a clue what autism was. I did what the neurologist said, and went to the library and looked at a few books and immediately decided not to accept what the books said. Why? Because they offered no hope. I was not in denial about the diagnosis--the characteristics of autism of my son were undeniable--I refused to accept that there was nothing that could be done but prepare for my child become a fairly useless member of society. I loved my son and saw such good in him, I refused to accept anything but a successful outcome in helping him to realize a "normal" life. Whatever was to happen, I wanted him to be happy and proud of himself for whatever he could accomplish.
At age 2, his first year of early intervention through the county school system began, but it was a waste of time. There was no solid plan to deal with his specific problems. Various therapies were tried and educational plans were hit or miss, but none were specifically tailored to deal with the problems of autism. I knew something more global and intense was needed for him to progress. Luckily, at about that time, a new pilot program for autistic preschoolers was being developed in the county school system. It offered more intensity and the program was based on a Lovaas model that was specific to autism. I had to fight for one of the 6 openings, but was able to get my child into the program.
I then started reading up on what the Lovaas model entailed and found that the program only worked with about 35 hours of intense applied behavioral modification per week, and only if a competent home program was establish and adhered to. The county program provided 16 hours, but I would have to provide the other 18-20 hours for it to have a chance of being successful.
This type of program was new at the time. UCLA was very involved in coming up with training for people to develop and implement the applied behavioral analysis required to make the program work; however, program managers were in short supply. I could not find anyone to hire to manage my son's home program. I knew it was an essential part of the program, so I had no choice but to study and become my child's own program developer/manager. I was lucky in that my degree was in Communication Arts, and much of what I had learned would give me a basis for developing the program and understanding the nature of basic communication.
I gathered as much information on the methods of applied behavioral analysis as I could, created documentation, tools for implementation, record keeping systems, and designed discrete trials that would complement what was being done at the school. I interviewed, hired and trained people to assist in working with my son. All the time I felt blessed that my husband had a good paying job that would allow me to spend my full time devoted to the task of working with my son and still being the mom to my two other sons.
When the whole program started, my son was almost 3 years old. He could not say any words, he couldn't look at anyone in the eyes,he was in diapers and he was very out of touch with the world around him. I worked out of fear that he would be this way for the rest of his life. It propelled me into dedicating my life to helping him out of this void.
The next 2 years are somewhat of a blurr. I worked every day, creating and shopping for materials to use in the program. At that time, not much existed in the way of materials. Every noun he was to learn had to have a clear and distinct photograph or picture. Then the verbs, then the adjectives, then the adverbs. Emotions, cause and effect, consequence, social interaction and everything in life had to have a picture in order to teach my son. I pored through magazines, scouring for pictures that captured what we needed, clipped and laminated and categorized the pictures and created binders of data collection pages that I and the other workers could document the results of each trial so we could record and retest each success and failure. In the back of my mind, I kept Gippetto's goal of having a "real boy" through creating a child able to communicate and enjoy life.
We started seeing success quickly. At first the words he could say didn't seem to have a lot of meaning to him, and to an outsider it may have looked like a dog being trained to bark for a treat, but we continued in the pursuit of language. Once enough nouns were attained and he could recall them from the cards through the use of a reward, we worked on some basic verbs. Then we connected the two in to two-word sentences. Then a few adjectives to describe the attained verbs. It was all baby steps toward what is called the "Theory of Mind."
After three years of this, my son had very basic communication skills. I had taught him to read phonetically, which was the only way he could begin reading. Phonetics has a system and I knew autistics thrive on rules and systems, so my home program employed phonetics. Despite my argument that phonetics was the best approach, the school insisted on using sight reading. In the end, phonetics was shown to work best with my son, as admitted by the instructor.
Despite his growing ability to have basic communication, we would often find gaping holes in his understanding, because these particular things had not been specifically taught to him. When this happened, it made me realize just how much he had missed by not being able to speak as a young child and how much he had never learned through the normal activities of growing up, through having typical conversations, by understanding what was being said on television, out of everything that a normal child hears and says in their toddler and preschool years. It was very easy for someone communicating with my son to assume he knew or could infer each word they were saying. I would have to interrupt and say, "Do you know what ___ means?" and then explain that word. In a conversation, if there were too many unknown words, he would "zone off" and be unresponsive.
In early kindergarten, he was put into a Severely Handicapped Class at the district level with pull out sessions for discreet trials. I could see this was not effective. He needed to be with typical kids to learn to be typical himself. The next year, I had him mainstreamed and have never gone back to a special ed classroom setting, except for a one-hour socialization class for a couple of years.
So now, here I have a 16 year old who is a freshman in high school. He is on an IEP, fully mainstreamed. He is taking French 2, Cultural Geography, Biology, Geometry, E-Core English, Advanced Art, and PE. Is he an honor student? No. Does he have an aide? Yes. Is he getting good grades? He is getting Bs and Cs. Do I care what grades he gets? I am not concerned as long as he can cope and he passes. Will I always feel that way? Maybe not. What am I most concerned about? I worry that he does not have a best friend. I worry because he wants to have a girlfriend and go on a date. I worry because I know he wants more out of his life, but the things he wants I can't give him. He is now to a point where he is going to find them on his own and it is not going to be easy. But one thing I must say is that I have confidence in him that he is going to get where he wants to be. It may take a little longer than it does for most kids, but I think he is going to make it, and when he does, it will be all his own doing and he can feel proud of himself for arriving.
My son is popular among many kids at the school. He has a great sense of humor, he is handsome and smart and extremely talented at art. The kids who have known him through the years seem to really like him. They know there is more to him than his little autistic idiosyncrasies. On the other hand, I think these idiosyncrasies are what prevents these teenagers--who by definition are insecure about who they are--from including him in their social life. But I think one day they will mature, and perhaps then my son will have some friends to "hang out with."
Being the parent of an autistic child is filled with challenges, with feelings of success, with fears of failure, and with the feeling that you should have done more or known more. I have had to ease those fears and feelings by telling myself I have done the best I could. I feel the key to helping an autistic child is never to let the diagnosis become more important than the child.
It is so important for the autistic child to know they are unconditionally loved, understood, and accepted for who they really are at home. Home needs to be the true refuge from the critical outside world, because his world is much more critical than a typical kid's world. He will hear the comments, get the stares, see the snickering. Home needs to be a place where emotions can be experimented with, a voice can be raised, a tear shed, all the while knowing there will be understanding and no severe consequence merely for the awkwardness of expressing those emotions. When there is awkwardness and inappropriateness, it needs to be looked at by the parent as an incredibly valuable opportunity to work through those problems in a safe environment, rather than have these problems occur somewhere else where they will be misunderstood by others.
For the autistic teenager, home is a place to learn the difference between right and wrong and to talk about those things openly without fear. Home is a place for the autistic child to allow his thoughts to be heard, no matter how scattered or unformed, and for someone there to care enough to help him clarify his thoughts, look for their basis, and to help the child understand himself better.
For the parent of an autistic teenager, if you have managed to arrive at the teenage years with a happy child and your home life intact, you can consider yourself one of the very lucky ones. You certainly have needed to gain a different perspective on life. You have most likely developed a personal sense of humor that gives you the ability to cope with the things your autistic child has done and continues to do. All of this has been good. Having an autistic child has been a humbling experience, in the best sense of the word. You are able to accept and weigh just about anything. You don't make snap judgments based on a person's initial behavior. You analyze situations for what they really mean. You pick up on body language quickly. You listen better. You are able to read between the lines quickly. You continue to have hope because you see you have a happy teenager who is starting to go through the things all kids go through.
http://www.GreatMissionViejoHomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
http://www.411short.com/
I remember when I first got my son's diagnosis 14 years ago. I really didn't have a clue what autism was. I did what the neurologist said, and went to the library and looked at a few books and immediately decided not to accept what the books said. Why? Because they offered no hope. I was not in denial about the diagnosis--the characteristics of autism of my son were undeniable--I refused to accept that there was nothing that could be done but prepare for my child become a fairly useless member of society. I loved my son and saw such good in him, I refused to accept anything but a successful outcome in helping him to realize a "normal" life. Whatever was to happen, I wanted him to be happy and proud of himself for whatever he could accomplish.
At age 2, his first year of early intervention through the county school system began, but it was a waste of time. There was no solid plan to deal with his specific problems. Various therapies were tried and educational plans were hit or miss, but none were specifically tailored to deal with the problems of autism. I knew something more global and intense was needed for him to progress. Luckily, at about that time, a new pilot program for autistic preschoolers was being developed in the county school system. It offered more intensity and the program was based on a Lovaas model that was specific to autism. I had to fight for one of the 6 openings, but was able to get my child into the program.
I then started reading up on what the Lovaas model entailed and found that the program only worked with about 35 hours of intense applied behavioral modification per week, and only if a competent home program was establish and adhered to. The county program provided 16 hours, but I would have to provide the other 18-20 hours for it to have a chance of being successful.
This type of program was new at the time. UCLA was very involved in coming up with training for people to develop and implement the applied behavioral analysis required to make the program work; however, program managers were in short supply. I could not find anyone to hire to manage my son's home program. I knew it was an essential part of the program, so I had no choice but to study and become my child's own program developer/manager. I was lucky in that my degree was in Communication Arts, and much of what I had learned would give me a basis for developing the program and understanding the nature of basic communication.
I gathered as much information on the methods of applied behavioral analysis as I could, created documentation, tools for implementation, record keeping systems, and designed discrete trials that would complement what was being done at the school. I interviewed, hired and trained people to assist in working with my son. All the time I felt blessed that my husband had a good paying job that would allow me to spend my full time devoted to the task of working with my son and still being the mom to my two other sons.
When the whole program started, my son was almost 3 years old. He could not say any words, he couldn't look at anyone in the eyes,he was in diapers and he was very out of touch with the world around him. I worked out of fear that he would be this way for the rest of his life. It propelled me into dedicating my life to helping him out of this void.
The next 2 years are somewhat of a blurr. I worked every day, creating and shopping for materials to use in the program. At that time, not much existed in the way of materials. Every noun he was to learn had to have a clear and distinct photograph or picture. Then the verbs, then the adjectives, then the adverbs. Emotions, cause and effect, consequence, social interaction and everything in life had to have a picture in order to teach my son. I pored through magazines, scouring for pictures that captured what we needed, clipped and laminated and categorized the pictures and created binders of data collection pages that I and the other workers could document the results of each trial so we could record and retest each success and failure. In the back of my mind, I kept Gippetto's goal of having a "real boy" through creating a child able to communicate and enjoy life.
We started seeing success quickly. At first the words he could say didn't seem to have a lot of meaning to him, and to an outsider it may have looked like a dog being trained to bark for a treat, but we continued in the pursuit of language. Once enough nouns were attained and he could recall them from the cards through the use of a reward, we worked on some basic verbs. Then we connected the two in to two-word sentences. Then a few adjectives to describe the attained verbs. It was all baby steps toward what is called the "Theory of Mind."
After three years of this, my son had very basic communication skills. I had taught him to read phonetically, which was the only way he could begin reading. Phonetics has a system and I knew autistics thrive on rules and systems, so my home program employed phonetics. Despite my argument that phonetics was the best approach, the school insisted on using sight reading. In the end, phonetics was shown to work best with my son, as admitted by the instructor.
Despite his growing ability to have basic communication, we would often find gaping holes in his understanding, because these particular things had not been specifically taught to him. When this happened, it made me realize just how much he had missed by not being able to speak as a young child and how much he had never learned through the normal activities of growing up, through having typical conversations, by understanding what was being said on television, out of everything that a normal child hears and says in their toddler and preschool years. It was very easy for someone communicating with my son to assume he knew or could infer each word they were saying. I would have to interrupt and say, "Do you know what ___ means?" and then explain that word. In a conversation, if there were too many unknown words, he would "zone off" and be unresponsive.
In early kindergarten, he was put into a Severely Handicapped Class at the district level with pull out sessions for discreet trials. I could see this was not effective. He needed to be with typical kids to learn to be typical himself. The next year, I had him mainstreamed and have never gone back to a special ed classroom setting, except for a one-hour socialization class for a couple of years.
So now, here I have a 16 year old who is a freshman in high school. He is on an IEP, fully mainstreamed. He is taking French 2, Cultural Geography, Biology, Geometry, E-Core English, Advanced Art, and PE. Is he an honor student? No. Does he have an aide? Yes. Is he getting good grades? He is getting Bs and Cs. Do I care what grades he gets? I am not concerned as long as he can cope and he passes. Will I always feel that way? Maybe not. What am I most concerned about? I worry that he does not have a best friend. I worry because he wants to have a girlfriend and go on a date. I worry because I know he wants more out of his life, but the things he wants I can't give him. He is now to a point where he is going to find them on his own and it is not going to be easy. But one thing I must say is that I have confidence in him that he is going to get where he wants to be. It may take a little longer than it does for most kids, but I think he is going to make it, and when he does, it will be all his own doing and he can feel proud of himself for arriving.
My son is popular among many kids at the school. He has a great sense of humor, he is handsome and smart and extremely talented at art. The kids who have known him through the years seem to really like him. They know there is more to him than his little autistic idiosyncrasies. On the other hand, I think these idiosyncrasies are what prevents these teenagers--who by definition are insecure about who they are--from including him in their social life. But I think one day they will mature, and perhaps then my son will have some friends to "hang out with."
Being the parent of an autistic child is filled with challenges, with feelings of success, with fears of failure, and with the feeling that you should have done more or known more. I have had to ease those fears and feelings by telling myself I have done the best I could. I feel the key to helping an autistic child is never to let the diagnosis become more important than the child.
It is so important for the autistic child to know they are unconditionally loved, understood, and accepted for who they really are at home. Home needs to be the true refuge from the critical outside world, because his world is much more critical than a typical kid's world. He will hear the comments, get the stares, see the snickering. Home needs to be a place where emotions can be experimented with, a voice can be raised, a tear shed, all the while knowing there will be understanding and no severe consequence merely for the awkwardness of expressing those emotions. When there is awkwardness and inappropriateness, it needs to be looked at by the parent as an incredibly valuable opportunity to work through those problems in a safe environment, rather than have these problems occur somewhere else where they will be misunderstood by others.
For the autistic teenager, home is a place to learn the difference between right and wrong and to talk about those things openly without fear. Home is a place for the autistic child to allow his thoughts to be heard, no matter how scattered or unformed, and for someone there to care enough to help him clarify his thoughts, look for their basis, and to help the child understand himself better.
For the parent of an autistic teenager, if you have managed to arrive at the teenage years with a happy child and your home life intact, you can consider yourself one of the very lucky ones. You certainly have needed to gain a different perspective on life. You have most likely developed a personal sense of humor that gives you the ability to cope with the things your autistic child has done and continues to do. All of this has been good. Having an autistic child has been a humbling experience, in the best sense of the word. You are able to accept and weigh just about anything. You don't make snap judgments based on a person's initial behavior. You analyze situations for what they really mean. You pick up on body language quickly. You listen better. You are able to read between the lines quickly. You continue to have hope because you see you have a happy teenager who is starting to go through the things all kids go through.
http://www.GreatMissionViejoHomes.com/
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/
http://www.411short.com/
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Help Your Child Own a Home
A few years ago, I often heard parents of young adults wondering how their kids would ever be able to afford to buy a home in Orange County. The prices of homes had skyrocketed so that even older one-bedroom condos were selling for $500,000 or more.
Now that the buying frenzy is over and home prices are lower, you may want to consider assisting your older child in becoming an Orange County homeowner! With this plan, you make the down payment and are the guarantor on home loan. Your child pays as much, or all, of the monthly payments instead of rent. After a few years, when real estate prices go back up, you can sell the home for a profit, get your down payment back, give your child his or her share of the equity, and he or she can use this money to make a downpayment on a another home. Or, if your child wants to stay in the home, you can get it refinanced, get paid back your investment, and feel good knowing you have helped your child to buy a home in Orange County.
If your child does not keep up with his or her part of the agreement, then they would need to move out so you can rent out the property until you decide to sell.
It is important to set the ground rules before entering into this sort of arrangement. Of course, not every older child is suited to this type of deal. The older child must fully accept that this is a financial investment on your part and that it will always be handled that way. Make a written agreement in clear language and have the older child sign it prior to the purchase to prevent any misunderstandings.
April Hay, GRI, Realtor Call Me!
http://www.GreatMissionViejoHomes.com/ ,
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/ ,
http://www.411short.com/ ,
http://www.eragenerations.com/ ,
Now that the buying frenzy is over and home prices are lower, you may want to consider assisting your older child in becoming an Orange County homeowner! With this plan, you make the down payment and are the guarantor on home loan. Your child pays as much, or all, of the monthly payments instead of rent. After a few years, when real estate prices go back up, you can sell the home for a profit, get your down payment back, give your child his or her share of the equity, and he or she can use this money to make a downpayment on a another home. Or, if your child wants to stay in the home, you can get it refinanced, get paid back your investment, and feel good knowing you have helped your child to buy a home in Orange County.
If your child does not keep up with his or her part of the agreement, then they would need to move out so you can rent out the property until you decide to sell.
It is important to set the ground rules before entering into this sort of arrangement. Of course, not every older child is suited to this type of deal. The older child must fully accept that this is a financial investment on your part and that it will always be handled that way. Make a written agreement in clear language and have the older child sign it prior to the purchase to prevent any misunderstandings.
April Hay, GRI, Realtor Call Me!
http://www.GreatMissionViejoHomes.com/ ,
http://www.socdreamhomes.com/ ,
http://www.411short.com/ ,
http://www.eragenerations.com/ ,
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