Just wanted to let you know that if you need a referral to contractors or repair personnel in the Bay Area, we're happy to help you out. With the management company we have a gambit of people we work with regularly and can recommend……cleaners, retrofit windows, bath/kitchen contractors, tile/floor installers, electricians, etc. Feel free to email us and ask if you are planning to do some home remodeling. No strings attached!

Looking for a cosmetic fixer? 712 Vasona Street in Milpitas is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath in excellent location that just needs some paint and TLC. The home is quite liveable and this is a good opportunity for a handyman or contractor to live in and update the home to gain equity. Call for more info: 408-685-8050.

Each year in the Bay Area it's getting warmer. I remember when 85 was considered peak summer heat!

Many renters are looking for homes with A/C or asking landlords to add it. Understandably so, though don't be surprised if the owner says "No."

California law states residences must have heat, but A/C is not considered a legal requirement at this time. It is a convenience item and at the discretion or agreement between landlord and tenant. Installing a new, forced-air A/C system in a home usually costs $5000 to $8000 depending on the upgrades needed to the current heat system.

Most landlords will allow tenants to install portable or window A/C units at the tenant's expense. However, depending on the construction of the property, A/C may not be the whole solution to the heat. Attic fans, ceiling fans, dual-pane windows, blackout drapes, porch covers or shades, and insulation can all increase the property's ability to refract heat. These all fall under the "convenience" item category, so landlords are not required to provide or permit them.

Tenants, remember to check with your landlord before making any permanent changes to your rental property. Many landlords appreciate efforts made that will enhance the desireablilty of their rental in the future, so they may be quite agreeable to your suggestions and efforts. However, your changes, if not agreed upon, may be deducted from your security deposit for "restoration" of property.

So, why is this important if you are buying the home to live in? Because life throws a curve ball and if you have to relocate out of state, buy a new home so your mother-in-law can move in, or your income changes significantly, it’s good to have a backup plan.

Before you buy the “perfect” home, weigh pros and cons from the renter’s perspective. Are there modern conveniences? Garage and/or storage? How close is it to quality schools, public transportation, successful corporate jobs and commute routes?

As you update and make changes that suit your needs, keep in mind the resale or rental factor. You may love the cast-iron cookstove in the bathroom, but it probably won’t be a selling feature to most buyers or renters. High-maintenance flower gardens and landscaping is another con if you think your home may likely be a rental property after you build equity. In 30 years of property management I recall maybe one or two renters who willingly hand watered, pulled weeds, and trimmed gardens.

OK, I'll finish my interior paint speel today:

Remember the red-base vs. blue-base when selecting your interior colors. And, you want to use color but not close in or darken the room, try a light wall base color with a decorative wallpaper border at chairrail height, then finish with a bolder color on the bottom portion of the wall. Your furniture will cover a good portion of the bottom color anyway, so it will add color and eliminate drab, but keep the room still bright and homey.

There are also many paint finishes to choose from. Most people use a gloss or oil base for trim, base, and casings with a flat or eggshell finish for the walls. My painter friend told me to use a high-gloss white on ceilings. Always. The ceiling then reflects more light and you can get away with more color in the room. And use a satin or semi-gloss on the walls to add light.

Since we’re focusing on homeowners and sellers, this is my recommendation to add some color to your home for your own enjoyment and resale value. If you have really different color ideas (aka, hot pink bedroom), they may work for you but not 99% of buyers. Remember to think “Resale Value.”

The good thing about paint is it’s easy to do over. Even if the next owner doesn’t have burgundy curtains for the living room and just can’t deal with burgundy walls, they can repaint and start their own color.

Notes to the buyer: The down side of this coin is if you ever paint over a gloss or oil paint with anything other than gloss or oil, you will have to first prep it with Kiltz, then paint, or it will peel. And, if you have Venician Plaster or Bellagio in the house, consider keeping it the way it is. The texturing on the wall has been changed. So you will always have a “plaster” or “bumpy” look to the wall unless you sand and retexture before repainting. Texture comes in cans, but it’s expensive to redo large areas.

Whew! OK, enough of painting for now!