Residential

This article originally appeared in The La Jolla Light

In San Diego County, there are many new building opportunities for investors and homeowners alike. We are seeing many urban renewal projects in the heart of Downtown San Diego, as well as new development throughout the county, including La Jolla. You have a big dream for a brand new project, either a business, a multi-unit dwelling, or your new luxury dream home. One of the first things you’ll need to do, however, is to check the zoning laws for the land you want through City Hall or the County Assessor’s Office.

The main consideration is that California has long been regulated by the Subdivision Map Act. This means that you can’t divide or combine land in California for sale, lease, or financing without getting approval from your local jurisdiction. This also governs the rezoning of property to take over previously divided spaces. While this can be inconvenient, the purpose of this act is to prevent fraud and exploitation while protecting public health and safety from overcrowding or building on unsafe (toxic/over fault lines) land, to regulate design of improvements and the division of real property, and to protect public and private property interests. In most cases, unless you are a developer taking over a large swath of public land, you should be able to get the property rezoned without going through too many hoops.

There’s also a good chance you may only need to apply for a lot line adjustment. The lot line adjustment allows owners of real property to change ownership boundaries between lots of adjoining owners or multiple parcels under a single ownership. This is not a subdivision of land and so these adjustments are exempt from the Subdivision Map Act. To apply, you can choose either a Lot Line Adjustment Plat (an unrecorded map of the requested boundary adjustment) or a Parcel Map (superior to the plat and may be prepared from record information) to make your adjustment. The plat needs to show all existing lots or parcels as well as the new proposed lines. Keep in mind you will also need a Coastal Development Permit if the parcels to be adjusted fall under the Coastal Overlay Zone.

You’ll have to fill out a General Application Package and pay the processing fees, and provide a title report with associated reference documents. A lot line adjustment or consolidation can’t increase development rights, however, unless additional approval is obtained.

You will be eligible for a lot adjustment if:

• You’re only adjusting four or fewer existing (adjoining) parcels in which land taken from one parcel is added to an adjoining parcel;

• A greater number of parcels than originally existed is not created;

• All the proposed lots for adjustment are legal, buildable lots;

• Lot consolidation is limited to the adjustment or consolidation of four or fewer adjoining lots or parcels into three or fewer parcels.

Fortunately, no public hearing is required for a lot line adjustment, as they are decided by city staff, who will determine whether the application meets the eligibility requirements and satisfies current zoning and building regulations. Upon approval, a land surveyor may prepare and submit the final lot line adjustment plat with legal descriptions OR the parcel map for technical review. City staff will then review the final documents and identify any encumbrances (such as easements, trust deeds that require adjustment to convey a clear title, tax liens, etc.).

There are not many reasons to deny combining properties, unless the city requires the maximum density for that area, which is more likely to occur in the city center than in the suburbs. Also, combinations or mergers deemed to be haphazard might be denied—for example, if two properties are to be combined, the next property skipped over, and then two or more combined on the other side of that. Basically, you probably would not be able to turn an entire block in the city into a single-family dwelling.

For a comprehensive list of all the codes and regulations of San Diego, visit sandiego.gov/development-services.

And for more information on combining lots or building your luxury dream home, multi-unit dwelling, or business, contact us athttps://starnorthapartments.com.

 

This article originally appeared in The La Jolla Light

Just as with winter, summer has its own set of requirements for home preparedness. Here is a brief guide to get you started.

Inside:

Check Your Air. If you have an air conditioner, change your filters—this is often neglected and should be done far more regularly than most people do. Also, make sure your HVAC filters are not blocked or clogged. Test your thermostat ahead of time, making sure when you set it to cool and turn down the temperature that it actually cools down. You don’t want to find out your AC is broken in the middle of a heat wave, when the heating and cooling companies have a month-long wait list.

You may also want to check your ducts for leaks, or have any attic insulation checked (and potentially filled in after natural seasonal compaction).

Finally, you may want to consider adding an attic fan or vent to pull the hot air out of your home.

Be Insulated, Not Isolated. During cold and rain, sometimes doors and windows can have a slight separation from the frame. You can easily repair this by applying an external sealant/silicone caulking. Then, make sure your doors’ weather stripping is in good shape and that your doors have a good seal. Check your windows for cracking, splitting, or even peeling of their seals. Having proper seals and insulation will keep the hot air out and, if you use an air conditioner, the cool air in, making your home more energy efficient and your energy bills a little lower.

The Full Window Treatment. Aside from checking the seals on your windows, assess how much sun (and heat) comes through certain windows, and which part of your house takes the brunt (think of how hot it gets in your car when it’s parked in the sun). Without proper protection, you wind up wasting energy when turning up the air conditioning to compensate for this added sun heat. Adding shutters, blinds, or dark curtains can prevent the sun from heating up that room (and then the whole house). Most home goods stores offer inexpensive blackout or SPF curtains and rods, which are easy to install.

For a bigger investment, consider installing reflective film on the glass, or if you’re ready for a bigger, long-term investment, replace your windows with double- or triple-paned glass and with a low solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC).

Be a Fan of Fans. Fans use much less electricity than air conditioning units and can work well with your home’s natural cross-ventilation (if your home does have good cross-ventilation access points).

Check and Patch-Repair Screens. This is a small, easy prep item on the check list, even if it doesn’t seem as exciting. But if you’re utilizing your home’s cross-ventilation, think of how important screens will be in keeping out the flies brought out during the day and the moths and other creatures attracted to your home in the evening. Unless you prefer a home filled with bugs or are collecting for your Komodo dragon, in which case, more power to you.

Clean Dryer Vents. When the vent to your dryer gets clogged, warm air blows back into the room, raising the temperature of the whole house. This can be easily cleaned out with a snake.

Outside:

Call the Tree Trimmer. El Niño brought more rain over the winter, and more rain means more vegetation. However, in Southern California, we dry out easily. Even without the potential La Niña, that extra growth will dry out and provide extra fuel during a potential fire season. Therefore, one of the best ways to prepare for the dry summer months, with likely high winds continuing this year, will be to cut back all the dead foliage, clean out the weeds, and cut back all plants and trees near your house. Old, dry growth makes the perfect tinder, and it’s best to cut back your plants and trees early on and continue maintenance trimming throughout the season.

Go Native. If you haven’t already, now is an ideal season to put in native, drought-tolerant plants. These will require less water during the ongoing drought (especially as we enter the dry months), and will require less upkeep while still keeping your yard looking nice. Ground cover such as aptenia is a common and appealing replacement for lawns, and it has the added benefit of attracting honey bees. Aptenia, however, is not recommended if your home borders wild areas.

There are many other available varieties, most familiar to people being the Coast Dudleya and Giant Chalk Dudleya. A fun statistic: according to the San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego can boast “the greatest floristic diversity of any county in the continental United States.”

Check the Flow. After rains, yards often undergo erosion. When you do (responsibly) water your yard, make sure that the soil is ready to absorb the water, and that the water doesn’t run off into walkways or patios. Go to a home gardening center for a bag or two of soil, and consider adding wood chips or other cover to alleviate rapid evaporation. Also, if you have them, check your sprinklers to make sure they aren’t spraying someone’s car or the sidewalk. Ideally, set them on a timer to go off after dusk, when evaporation will be at its lowest, and your garden will benefit from maximum saturation. Keep in mind, though, if your area has any watering prohibitions during this drought, and only water on allotted days.

Is Your pH Going Swimmingly? If you have a pool, be sure to check your chlorine and pH levels to avoid bacterial growth, on top of irritated eyes and ruined bathing suits.

At Murfey Construction, we’re happy to go over summer preparation with you, as well as any other needs for your home, so please visit us athttps://starnorthapartments.com.

This article originally appeared in San Diego Home/Garden

A family-friendly makeover encourages laid-back living in a casual, comfortable atmosphere

By Eva Ditler

Photography by Martin Mann

Family photographs that fill walls with happy smiles tell the tale of a La Jolla home’s interior remodel — a makeover energized by the joy of kith and kin, with an emphasis on fun and relaxation.

“Very little needed to be done on the home’s exterior,” architect Trip Bennett says. “We refined the stucco color, refinished exposed overhangs and added chimney caps to bring in a little more Spanish Colonial Revival style.”

The interiors mimicked the exterior’s formality, which was not the easy-living, dressed-for-comfort impression the homeowners desired. Closed-off, dark rooms cast a forbidding gloom. Early ’80s finishes exuded a dated, weary look. And multiple additions weren’t cohesive.

“The first discussion in the initial plan was about the chopped-up interior public spaces,” Trip says. “By reconfiguring the center section of the house, we ended up with a large family room, kitchen and dining room that connect with each other.”

Interior designer Alison Dorvillier specified the new finishes, custom cabinetry and flooring. And, Trip says, she “pulled the palette together.”

The contractor also played an integral part in actualizing a remodel that contained numerous grading difficulties. “One of the most interesting things was the challenge of working in a tight space,” Jesse Lyons of Murfey Construction says. “The house is on a corner lot on a hillside. Being able to do all this work, with the way the house sits, was one of the greatest accomplishments and achievements of this project.”

Another intriguing agenda challenge was attaining an “I’m-on-vacation” feel — which makes itself evident as soon as the rustic front doors open to reveal a sun-filled living space that looks out expansive glass doors to the backyard pool’s emerald waters. Adding fountain features and classically patterned tiles enlivened what had been a typical pool. These inclusions, along with the switch from a series of French doors to 20-foot-wide, lift-and-slide glass doors vastly improved the view.

To the living room’s east, a removed wall opens the area to a transformed kitchen/dining space. Raised ceilings add a sense of volume to what was a cramped, separate room that hadn’t inspired cooking. By stealing space from an office (now situated on the other side, between the kitchen and garage), a casual dining area sits prettily partnered with the kitchen. Both face pool views, while the window over the kitchen sink looks out toward the Pacific.

A curved staircase just beyond the dining area leads up to the master bedroom, where an ocean panorama beckons from the moment one wakes. Taking out an unneeded fireplace enlarged the master suite and added space for a his-and-her closet. A small deck just outside the bedroom was expanded, resulting in enough room to include a day bed. A retractable awning provides shade when needed.

More bedrooms, including two guestrooms and a children’s suite with twin bunk beds and a sky-blue-hued bathroom, can be found downstairs. Overnight visitors have easy access to the pool, living room and kitchen without fuss or bother should the homeowners still be upstairs enjoying their own cozy, sea-view retreat.

Also downstairs, on the other side of the hallway from the living area, two indoor play spaces stand side by side in the spot where a den and the original living room had been located.

“The homeowners repurposed what had been the living room into a formal dining room because it was the only big room they had where they could all sit together,” Trip says.

Family fun time includes lots of games and sports. In one playroom, billiards take precedence; in the other, board games win the day (but at night, when the room might be closed off, a Murphy bed can come out of hiding to accommodate an extra guest or two). Outside, a pingpong table awaits challengers.

“In the rear corner of the back yard was a two-level patio with an ocean view,” Trip says. “We raised it to the higher level to make one larger, single space, and then added a trellis with a retractable canvas system and a pingpong table for legendary family tournaments.”

Dubbed “The Eagle’s Nest,” the area, which includes a wet bar, small fridge, custom awnings and made-to-order lighting, became one of the homeowners’ favorite spots.

On the front side, a second split-level patio, also converted to a single level and also with a vista to the sea, link the game rooms to the front guest bedroom.

Visual connections between rooms and views are among the makeover’s primary assets but they travel hand-in-hand with a new, easy-going style that reminds one of the familiar and cherished.

 

This article originally appeared on The San Diego Business Journal

Developers have begun construction on Noah Homes, a new $6.7 million project in Spring Valley that will include memory care homes for adults with developmental disabilities.

A statement from developers said the project, announced last year and slated for a site at 12526 Campo Road, will include two homes each spanning about 5,000 square feet, each housing 10 residents. Developers said the residences are among the first memory care homes in the nation designed specifically for adults with developmental disabilities.

Officials said the project stems from a partnership that includes the non-profit Noah Homes, HomeAid San Diego and locally based homebuilders Brookfield Residential and Murfey Construction. Development is being aided by more than $1 million in donated professional services, labor and materials, with community donations and grants totaling $4.7 million.

The homes are scheduled to open in early 2017.

This article originally appeared in the La Jolla Light.

Many residents of San Diego are now aware of Downtown’s new Pacific Gate project at Broadway and Pacific Highway, Bosa Development’s 41-story, 215-condo structure. This is a marquee project designed to crown the Pacific Gateway waterfront project, which will also include a Ritz Carlton hotel. Downtown’s planning agency, Civic San Diego, has reported there are another 63 projects in various stages of review, approval, or construction currently underway and valued at over $6.4 billion.

Residents

It is an exciting time in San Diego, but also one that asks many questions about the future identity of the city. Development has been booming along the California coast, starting with the tech boom in San Francisco, and now in Downtown Los Angeles. But that has also led to some residents being priced out of their community, or other businesses being forced to other locations, as the new million-dollar starting price for the Bosa condos will likely do.

But if you can’t afford one of the new million-dollar condos, it’s not all bad news. Now may be a good time to invest in Downtown-adjacent neighborhoods, where urban sprawl will likely attract the young, hip and diverse crowd who want to be in the proximity of a vibrant and revitalized city.

Keep in mind that the redevelopment is slated for incremental growth over the next decade, so don’t feel that you have to pack your bags just yet.

Businesses

If you’re interested in starting or moving your business, now is the best time to get into a Downtown space, before the major boom hits. As San Diego becomes more densely urbanized, the population growth will create a demand for jobs—and workspace. Most of the younger generation who either can’t afford to live in the suburbs (or don’t wish to) want to be able to walk or ride their bikes (and eventually take public transportation) to work. Tech companies are already moving into the area, as they did with San Francisco and Los Angeles. This will bring in more residents who want to live near work, and it will increase demand for restaurants and shopping that are also equally walkable. There are even planned developments slated for mixed-use spaces, similar to the in-progress renovation of the old May Company Building as the new Broadway Trade Center in Downtown Los Angeles.

Urban Infill

One of the best ways to maximize city space is to rely on urban infill projects. These projects take vacant lots or decrepit buildings and build new structures in the available space, or are projects like the Broadway Trade Center that update existing structures and maximize the space available. Urban infill projects help the city to evolve organically, showcasing the new buildings alongside the old, making the city feel more alive. We at Murfey Construction specialize in these urban infill projects and are in the process of constructing several, such as the Crest Urban Apartments.

Cities and regions are constantly shifting, and change always brings with it shares of positive and negative effects. Cities have been on the rise since the economic recession decimated suburban living across the nation, bringing more people into urban environments, and revitalizing downtown areas that had been neglected provides benefits to the entire community. The upside is that a burgeoning tax base brings in more money for public works and infrastructure, including public transportation.

If you’re thinking of building or remodeling a business, or you want to plan a multi-unit dwelling, contact us at 858.459.6865 or visit our website https://starnorthapartments.com to see samples of our urban construction.

This article originally appeared in the La Jolla Light.

Though it seems as though the hype around El Niño has been overblown, advisories are still predicting periods of heavy precipitation and “storminess” for February through March, and likely even into April or May—even for Southern California. Therefore, there are still possibilities that homes in Southern California can receive damage, especially if there are undetected problems in the structure. And while you may not see drastic damage such as flooding, small bits of moisture penetration can be disasters waiting to happen and should be treated right away.

Here are some tips for minor repairs that you can do yourself. However, if you aren’t as experienced or discover you have more damage to your home than you realized, it is always helpful to at least consult with an experienced (and licensed) professional.

For minor water damage repairs to your wall:

If you have leaking from a window, repairs may be minimal.

Shut off the power at your breaker box and then remove the outlet.

Remove the baseboards first by cutting the molding from the wall with a utility knife. Then pull away using a hammer and chisel.

Remove any damaged drywall and moldy or damaged insulation. Your window may likely be rotted; find the location of the gap that allowed for the water to seep.

Prepare a plywood board to replace the existing wood, measuring and cutting it to size. Paint the board with waterproofing sealant, and then cover with a layer of cheesecloth (cut the cheesecloth at 45-degree angles at the corners to allow overlap). Make sure the board dries completely.

Also, when you find the weakness in your window, use your sealant to paint that area underneath the window. You want to make sure you have a waterproof seal, so apply it liberally.

Moving to the outside, clean the windowsill and ensure the weep holes are free of debris. Then apply a bead of caulk to the crack or hole, and using your finger, spread the caulk along the seam to ensure cohesion.

Afterward, once the plywood board has completely dried, put it in place to close up the gap, then use two small blocks to brace the board in place. You can then anchor the board to the existing studs in the window frame.

Replace any damaged outlets, and then install your new insulation. Using a strip of tape on the floor, mark off where the window studs are—this will help you find the studs when putting up the drywall.

Then you’re ready for drywall—make sure the paper side faces into the living area. Nail the drywall to the studs, and then apply your drywall mud along the seams. Add a strip of drywall tape to the seam and then cover with more mud. Let it dry, and then sand flat. Repeat the mud application if necessary.

Then you can replace your baseboard, nailing it in place with tacks and a tack hammer. Fill the holes with putty, let dry, sand. Then you’re ready for primer and paint.

A mold invasion can do more damage than the initial storm. It’s important to detect any mold, which can start to bloom 24-48 hours after exposure, and don’t put off cleaning it up. Again, if the flooding is serious, you will have to open up the walls and replace drywall and insulation.

So whether or not El Niño ever does upgrade to Godzilla status, it is important to be prepared, even for sudden brief flashes of rain, which can cause flooding and damage. While there is no foolproof method of protecting your home, having a plan in place in case of an emergency can save you time and money in the long run.

At Murfey Construction, we’re happy to go over El Niño preparation with you, as well as any other needs for your home, and if repairs are more than you can handle on your own, please visit us athttps://starnorthapartments.com.

This article recently appeared in the Noah Navigator

Without the generosity and commitment of our Building Partners, we would not be at the place we are today on this journey. With the help of so many dedicated individuals, we are fast approaching the day we have all been waiting for; the day we open the doors to our new Memory Care Homes.

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This article originally appeared in the La Jolla Light

We know that when it comes to house emergencies, the best remedy is preparation. But sometimes even the most prepared homes still experience damage, especially in the case of unpredictable storms such as El Niño.

One of the things we have to watch out for in Southern California is a potential storm surge; this could affect many low-lying homes along beachfronts and canals.

While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is keeping track of our sea-surface temperature anomalies, we still can’t be certain of exactly when or how strong the storms of El Niño: 2016! will be. We saw extensive flooding in the 1997-98 El Niño. We may make light of the hype, but in February of 1998, there was a series of storms that bombarded California, killing 17 people and causing close to $550 million in damage. Mudslides were a big culprit in these cases and the hilly coasts of Southern California are susceptible to both slides as well as ocean surges.

Some of the worst damage can come not from months of ran but from short deluges, so even though we haven’t seen the big storms yet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare. The Weather Channel reports that this year could see a storm system as strong as the 1997-98 event.

But some of the damage may not even come from flooding or mudslides; sideways rain and torrential downpours can get under the flashing or weaken roof tiles or shingles, or sliding glass door seals may fail. Rain can take advantage of vulnerable spots in your home and cause damage you couldn’t prepare for. So here is a list of things to do to recover.

If you have serious flooding:

First, turn off the power to your home before you begin any assessment or cleanup.

Be safe: be insulated. Put on rubber gloves and boots if you will be standing in water inside your home.

Assess the damage; take stock (and photos of everything for future insurance claims: make a list and keep all receipts!).

Rescue any valuables you haven’t already stashed. If you have valuable artwork on the walls, remove to a safe location.

In Southern California, usually floodwaters don’t stand for a long time. As soon as possible (and it’s safe), remove any standing water with a pump if you can. Companies can come do this for you, or you can get your own. Again, make sure you wear protective gear, and keep children and pets away from the flooding, since water can be contaminated. Place the pump on the lowest spot of your floor.

Clean up debris right away. Be careful of what may have come into your home, including sharp pieces of metal, glass, or wood. Ocean or riverbed runoff can be particularly hazardous. If you have mud, shovel out as much as you can, then spray your walls with clean water. Afterward, check your air ducts and insulation for water, mud, or mold, all of which could be hazardous.

Have outlets checked by an electrician.

Remove all wet carpets and rugs and furniture from your home, and rent industrial fans to dry out the area.

Go to work on mold and mildew immediately. Disturbance to the roof or siding of your home might appear minor, but if left unresolved, major issues can result. If moisture gets in under roofing or behind siding, you may encounter decay, leaks and even widespread mold issues in your home.

What you do NOT want to do if you’ve had flooding:

Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if your ceiling is wet, and make sure you stay out of the room if you see the ceiling is sagging.

Do not use your household appliances such as your TV or blender or fan.

Don’t leave any of your wet fabrics, rugs or towels, in place for too long.

Don’t leave any media such as magazines, newspapers, or books (things with print) on wet carpet or floors. These will stain or adhere.

Do NOT use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water!

For the next time:

If you experience damage, use this as an opportunity to fix the problems in your home before it can happen again, even if you think these storms are too rare to make a big financial investment. First, with any replacements you make, now is the time to replace with waterproof materials.

Note the locations of any leaks or any cracks and get those repaired. Some you can do yourself; major repairs will require the assistance of a contractor and building team.

It’s hard to know if this year will give us something as powerful and damaging as the El Niño of the 90s, so it’s best to be prepared for anything. If you live in a low-lying area near the beach or a riverbed, go to a fire station or your local hardware store to pick up your sandbags. The best selection is a polypropylene plastic mesh bag over burlap. Fill this halfway with sand, then fold over the top of the bag without tying it—this creates a better seal. Keep any other emergency repair materials, such as extra sandbags and heavy plastic sheeting or tarps, stored in a dry place. Also check your balcony and decks for slopes, making sure water flows away from your walls and into your drainage system. If you know your home is at risk, move your valuables to higher, safer ground, or store in waterproof bags or bins. And finally, keep in mind that storms often send pests such as ants (or even rats and snakes!) to higher, drier ground. If you know your home is prone to ant or other pest invasions, preemptively bring in an exterminator or set up traps or powders, but only in places where children or pets can’t get to them.

For additional tips, visit the site for the California Department of Water Resources for Flood Prepare California. At Murfey Construction, we’re happy to go over El Niño preparation with you, as well as any other needs for your home. Or if your home does suffer from damage after a storm and the repairs are more than you can handle on your own, please visit us at https://starnorthapartments.com.

This article originally appeared in the La Jolla Light

December is a big month for travel as many of us visit family or take advantage of the winter vacation to head out for a special trip. Whether you go for a short weekend getaway, a week, or a long vacation adventure, it is important to make sure that your home is secure. Here is our quick guide to prepping your home against anything from burglary to more common malfunctions.

Look lived-in.

The first precaution most of us know about is to keep our homes from appearing empty. Burglars are getting craftier in these more desperate economic times. If you can, invest in a house-sitter to have a guaranteed pair of eyes on your house throughout your absence. However, we understand this isn’t always practical. For long trips, try to have a neighbor or someone you trust check in on your house once in a while to look out for any signs of trouble.

Before you leave, make sure all windows are closed and locked. While this seems automatic, some people have upper level windows that they leave open year-round. This might be okay if someone is always in the house, but it can be an invitation to savvy burglars who know they have an empty house to plunder. And it’s easy to forget about those always-open windows. Make sure you put it on your final checklist before you leave.

It’s always a good idea if you have sliding doors to put a wedge (like an old broomstick, for example) in the track to prevent the door from being forced open.

It’s handy to have motion-sensor lights around the outside of your house, but if you don’t have time to install those, stop by your local hardware or home goods store and pick up a timer for interior lamps. For extra security, set lamps in different rooms to go off at slightly different times to make it seem more organic, NOT automatic. When you return, invest in an outdoor sensor—those are an extra layer of security to have even when you are home.

Put a hold on your mail and any newspapers, or make sure you have a reliable neighbor or friend who can pick those up daily.

If you have a lawn, make sure it stays trimmed—or give your yard a good, close landscaping before you leave.

Park your car or cars in your garage if you have one.

If you’re driving and won’t have a car in your driveway, ask a neighbor to park a car in yours while you’re gone.

Take precautions to avoid electric malfunctions.

In case of power outages, unplug computers, televisions, and small appliances. With the added threat of a possible El Nino, you don’t know what might happen with electrical shorts or transformer box explosions.

If you can’t completely turn off your thermostat because of plants or pets, set it for the lowest possible heat setting and the highest possible cool setting. You will also be grateful when your water and power bill comes.

Do a test of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are functioning properly. If you think your battery is close to needing a replacement, do it early just to be safe.

Watch the waterworks.

If your water heater has a vacation mode, use that—especially for a longer trip.

Also for long trips, turn off water valves to the dishwasher, washing machine, and all sinks.

Take a look around your house to check for any leaks you may not have noticed. If you find anything serious, you’ll need an emergency repair before you leave; for a small leak, know about it in advance so you can be prepared to get it fixed as soon as you get home.

Run your garbage disposal to make sure your drain is completely empty.

If you live in a condo, make sure you throw in a cup of water into your sink or shower to keep the drain trap filled and prevent the odor from the mixed-use drain from filling your home with the delicate aroma of raw sewage.

And finally…

As simple as it seems, don’t forget to take out the trash. If you end up in a rush to leave, it’s an easy miss. Run through all the trash bins in your home to do a final check. Old trash left in a closed-up house is a recipe for an unhappy homecoming.

Throw away any items in your fridge set to expire while you’re gone. And if you can, use up freezer items before you go in case of the remote instance of your refrigerator calling it quits while you’re away.

If you have a security company, let them know you will be out of town.

And always leave your emergency contact information not just with a friend or family member but with a neighbor who can have eyes on your home the whole time you’re gone.

At Murfey Construction, we understand that your home is probably your most important asset. Taking precautions will help alleviate the worry so you can enjoy your time away. As always, it’s important to monitor your home’s condition to be aware of any red flags that may come up with your plumbing, electrical work, heating and cooling, and appliances. We wish you a happy holiday season and new year, and if your resolution is to update your house in 2016, give us a call at 858-459-6865 or visit us at https://starnorthapartments.com.

This article originally appeared in the La Jolla Light

Your home is your castle—until it feels like your dungeon and you need to get the heck out of there and fast. Here’s what you need to get out and move on.

Decide what type of repairs you need.

Have you lived in your house for so long that you have no mortgage—but also no modern amenities? Did you originally pay $80,000 for your ranch-style house back in 1987? You may want to make some upgrades to improve your home’s resale value. The good news? You likely have the budget for greater improvements and will make that money back when your house sells for a 21st century price.

For any big project, consult with a contractor and a realtor to see what buyers are looking for. Determine what you want to invest and how best to showcase your home to its future owners and not to your own tastes (unless, of course, you make such great improvements that you fall back in love with your house and never want to leave).

If large-scale improvements are not for you, there are still some cosmetic touchups you’ll want to cover before you list.

Deferred maintenance? Deferral time is over.

The wobbling window that won’t open? The linoleum that’s bubbling up in the corner? The door that’s off the hinges and leaning against the wall because it swelled? These are things that will turn potential buyers away, fleeing in terror, the way that you’re attempting to flee now. If the issue is big, or if there is damage, then you will want to repair it or sell as-is for a lower asking price.

These are projects you can do within a month:

  • Minor Repairs, such as replacing broken screens, tiles, gutters.
  • If you have bubbling or peeling linoleum, rip it out in a day and install peel-and-stick flooring from a local home improvement store. The whole project can be done in under a week (three days with help and fortitude and peppy relatives who may want to work off the money you loaned them six months ago), or you can hire a company to be in and out in a couple of days.
  • Was your kitchen modeled after an episode of The Golden Girls? Consider a quick refacing project, including cabinets, counters and hardware.
  • Fix any plumbing issues.
  • Consider updating plumbing and light fixtures.
  • If your built-in microwave hasn’t worked since the Sopranos finale, replace it.
  • Do you have an avocado refrigerator, a goldenrod dishwasher, a black oven, and a stainless steel wine fridge? Replace them with appliances that have similar facing.

For the minor repairs, investing in a good handyman for all the touch-ups and small fixes makes a world of difference.

Don’t ignore your curb appeal.

  • Paint trim and railings.
  • Clean up the yard.
  • Buy a neutral entry mat.

Clean! No, really.

The obvious shortcuts are to vacuum and clean windows, making even smaller spaces seem fresh and airy (if you have carpet, invest in a shampoo treatment).

Clean water stains around the outside of your home, maybe from mud, or from roof run-off. Clean or paint over water stains on your ceiling (make sure these are not symptoms of a leak that will need to be repaired). Remove water, calcium, and rust stains in your sinks, showers, and bathtubs (notice a pattern here?).

If you have a fireplace? Clean out the soot and embers you skipped when you ran out of steam during your last spring cleaning session.

You don’t want potential buyers to know how much you hate your house; a clean house is a sign of a loved house.

A Quick Final Checklist:

  • Declutter. This means family photos off the walls, report cards and takeout menus off the refrigerator, piles of newspapers and magazines off the counters and end tables (any stack of magazines higher than one magazine is clutter). If you have kids, tell them they have to pre-pack, and box away their trophies, stuffed animals, video game collection, and any outward manifestation of their personality, and store it at a relative’s house.
  • Hide any personal items that would embarrass potential buyers. Or embarrass you if strangers came to look through your stuff.
  • Remove excess furniture that fills too much of a room. You want to give the illusion of space.
  • Don’t just hide everything in your garage. Buyers will want to look there as well.

Finally, if you are concerned about the state of your home during an inspection, you may want to have a contractor take a look at your home before it goes up on the market to avoid any surprises. Many sales fall through if buyers feel they have to invest too much work in major repairs, especially if they need to move quickly and don’t have time to wait.

Whether you are prepping to sell, revamping a new home, sizing up or down, or looking to fix up your fixer-upper, give us a call at 858-459-6865 or visit us at https://starnorthapartments.com.