“Going green” is one of the top trends in the Malibu real estate market. Once you have selected the perfect home,there are hundreds of ways to reduce your carbon footprint and conserve energy. If you want to create an environmentally friendly living space,follow these tips.

Electronic Communication

If you have a home office,chances are that you use a significant amount of paper by printing documents and typing correspondence. You can reduce your paper consumption by using electronic communication whenever possible. If you just need to send someone a quick note,use e-mail instead of using a sheet of paper and an envelope. Instead of buying a paper fax machine,sign up for an electronic fax service. If someone sends you a 10-page fax,but you only need two of the pages,you will save eight pieces of paper. These methods of communication can also help you cut telephone costs.

Energy-Efficient Appliances

Old appliances use a lot of energy,so think about buying new appliances instead of bringing your old ones with you when you move to your new home. Look for models that have the Energy STAR label on them,as these use energy efficiently. In addition to using less electricity with energy-efficient models,you will also use less water if you buy energy-efficient washers and dishwashers.

Solar Energy

If you really want to reduce your electricity consumption,ask your real estate agent to look for Malibu homes for sale that already have solar panels. Solar panels absorb energy from the sun so that you use less electricity in your home. While these panels have a high initial cost,they can save you thousands of dollars in energy expenses over time.

Eliminate Use of Harsh Products

When you buy a piece of Malibu real estate,it is only natural to want to keep it sparkling. What most people don’t know is that you do not need harsh chemical cleaners. Making your own cleaners out of ingredients like vinegar and baking soda can help you keep your home clean without worrying about the environmental effects of chemicals. Green cleaners are also better for people who have allergies,asthma and chemical sensitivities.

Use a Water Filter

Many people are concerned about the quality of the water that comes from the tap. However,buying bottled water actually harms the environment. Thousands of these bottles end up in landfills every year. Distributing bottled water also requires more use of natural resources. Buy a filter that you can attach to your faucet or purchase a bottle that has a built-in filter. This will help you save money and use less plastic.

Let the Sun Shine

On sunny days,there is really no need to use interior lights. Open the curtains or blinds and allow the sunlight to fill each room in your home. Only turn the lights on when it starts to get dark. This will help you cut down on energy consumption and reduce the number of light bulbs you have to buy.

Russell Grether of Coldwell Banker Previews International is a real estate agent based out of Malibu,CA. He specializes in Malibu real estate,Malibu homes for sale,Malibu properties,Malibu Land for sale,Malibu rentals and surrounding area real estate from Montecito to the Pacific Palisades.

Selling a home in a buyer’s market is a true competition. The winner is the seller who can set his or her home apart from all of the other Malibu homes for sale and get a buyer to make an offer. In a competitive market like Malibu,even the smallest differences between homes can mean the difference between making a sale and letting the deal slip through your fingers. There are several ways you can make your home more appealing for buyers. Fortunately,many of them are inexpensive and will not add a significant amount to your costs.

Painting the Walls

Choosing bold paint colors is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to express your personality. Unfortunately,not many buyers want to buy a home with pumpkin-colored bedroom walls or fuchsia kitchen walls. If your home features unusual paint colors,repaint the walls before you put your home on the market. Taking this small step can give you an edge when it comes to finding a buyer.

Exterior Maintenance

Any Malibu real estate agent will tell you that the outside of your home is the first thing potential buyers see,so you should pay special attention to siding,walkways,exterior lights and landscaping. Make sure all exterior lights work properly. If necessary,replace missing or burned-out bulbs. Sweep sidewalks and steps,making sure they are clear of any debris. If you have out-of-control shrubs,trim them so that they look nice and neat. Remove weeds and dead flowers from your garden. Wash the outside of the house and make sure they you also wash the outsides of all windows and doors.

Porch Repair and Maintenance

If you want to sell your Malibu real estate quickly,you need to give potential buyers a warm welcome. If people have to step over clutter just to get off the porch and into the front door,you will make a bad impression. Remove clutter from the porch,sweep away leaves and flower petals,and shake out your door mat. Make your home more inviting by adding a wreath or welcome sign to the door. These little touches can make a big difference.

Think Like a Buyer

Go outside your home and look at everything like a buyer would. Is the lawn mowed? Is the paint on the window trim peeling? Open the door to the house and look at the interior. Is it welcoming,or will it drive buyers away? Check the arrangement of the furniture and make sure that it is easy for buyers to move around. Straighten window coverings and picture frames so that they are not crooked. Look at every room and think about whether it will appeal to a buyer. If you find something amiss,keep making changes until your home is ready for a showing.

These simple steps can help you draw in potential buyers and help them imagine what it would be like living in your home. This can make the difference between receiving multiple offers and having to lower your asking price because no one has shown any interest.

Russell Grether of Coldwell Banker Previews International is a real estate agent based out of Malibu,CA. He specializes in Malibu real estate,Malibu homes for sale,Malibu properties,Malibu Land for sale,Malibu rentals and surrounding area real estate from Montecito to the Pacific Palisades.

Malibu banked owned properties are properties that have been repossessed by banks because borrowers failed to make their mortgage payments on time. Once a bank repossesses one of these homes,the home is not making the bank any money. This means that bank executives and asset managers want to sell the home as quickly as possible. Because they are so motivated to sell,buyers may be able to purchase Malibu homes for sale for as little as half of the true market value. However,dealing with bank-owned properties also has some drawbacks. Learn about the major benefits and drawbacks before deciding if this type of sale is right for you.

Pricing

The major benefit of buying a bank-owned property is that you may be able to pay a lot less than the home is actually worth. Banks want to recoup the loan money they gave to the original borrower,so if a borrower paid off a substantial amount of the loan before defaulting,the bank may be willing to accept less than market value just to get the property off of its books. Unfortunately,not every bank-owned property is listed way below market value. Some are listed only slightly below market value and others are actually listed at market value. This makes it very important that you discuss the deal with your Malibu real estate agent and determine if it will actually help you or hurt you.

Process

Buying a bank-owned property is different than buying a home from its owner. Instead of dealing directly with the bank,you have to work with an asset manager. Banks appoint asset managers to handle these bank-owned properties and get the best sales prices for them. You need to deal with an asset manager when gathering information and when making an offer. The bank manager has to get approval from the bank before agreeing to sell you the property. This complicated process generates a lot of paperwork and may increase the amount of time it takes to complete the transaction.

Risks

When borrowers fall behind on their mortgage payments,it is possible that they have also run out of money to maintain their homes properly or pay their bills. This means that the bank-owned home that looks nice on the outside may be a shambles inside. You may find that it would cost you a significant amount of money to make needed repairs. In some cases,you might find that the previous owners left their belongings beyond. If this is the case,you will need to sell or dispose of the items. This takes extra time and effort,so be sure the property is worth it before you make the final deal.

Buying Malibu bank owned properties can be a great way to start investing in the real estate marketing,but the process can also be filled with obstacles. If you want to do this type of real estate deal,pick an experienced agent who can help you avoid losing money.

Russell Grether of Coldwell Banker Previews International is a real estate agent based out of Malibu,CA. He specializes in Malibu real estate,Malibu homes for sale,Malibu properties,Malibu Land for sale,Malibu rentals and surrounding area real estate from Montecito to the Pacific Palisades.