Real Estate Information Archive

If your Coastside home suffered property damage as a result of the storms we experienced a few weeks ago, the California state board is encouraging you to use licensed contractors in the repair work process. Many Half Moon Bay residents are facing the reality of needing home repairs as a result of those storms, and unfortunately there are a few not so legit contractors that would try to take advantage of this situation.

The Contractors State License Board recommends that any construction job that is estimated to cost more than $500 with combined labor and material costs should only be performed by a state-licensed contractor.

Contractors licensed with the California Business and Professions Code are required to be bonded and to carry workers’ compensation coverage for all their employees.  If you experienced damaged trees to your home and now require tree-trimming work done on any tree 15 feet or taller the tree-trimmer must be licensed through the state of California. Always double check that anyone doing work on your home property is properly licensed.

Contractors working on your home that are bonded and insured are more likely to complete the job properly and at a reasonable price.

If you need help finding a licensed contractor in our area visit www.cslb.ca.gov or visit checkthelicensefirst.com.

If you are looking to buy a new home or sell your existing home, we’d love to hear how we can help you with your real estate goals. We can also offer you a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of your home to advise you what it is worth. Contact us today via email or give us a call at (650) 888-6903.

The Rain Team offers unparalleled service to ALL clients in the San Mateo County, including areas such as Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Moss Beach, Montara, and Pacifica. Your complete satisfaction with our service and representation is our number one priority.

Earlier this month the coast experienced historic rainfall amounts. In Half Moon Bay alone there was 2.11 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. That number marks the second highest ever recorded rainfall for December, 11^th.  The Western Regional Climate Center in Reno, Nevada started tracking rainfall amounts in 1939. Half Moon Bay’s highest ever recorded rainfall in a 24-hour period was 5.33 inches. 

Was your coastside home ready to handle this heavy rainfall? For the future, here are some tips to ensure your home is ready to stand up against substantial rain storms.

• Check your gutters and make sure they are clear of all leaves and debris. If your gutters are clogged rainwater will pool. If you have an older roof you may experience leaking from this pooling as the rainwater finds its way into your coastside home.
• Keep any large trees that are around your home trimmed. Look for any dead or damaged branches that may break off and fall on your home during a storm.
• It is not a bad idea to have your roof inspected. If debris from your roof is found in your gutters, the integrity of your roof needs to be addressed.
• If your home has a pond/water feature, clean any filters or lower the water level so it does not overflow when heavy rain is expected
• Loose items outside your home such as patio furniture, trash cans, and flower pots should be secured. This will prevent them from being tossed around during storms resulting in damage to your home.

If you are looking to buy a new home or sell your existing home, we’d love to hear how we can help you with your real estate goals. We can also offer you a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of your home to advise you what it is worth. Contact us today via email or give us a call at (650) 888-6903.

The Rain Team offers unparalleled service to ALL clients in the San Mateo County, including areas such as Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Moss Beach, Montara, and Pacifica. Your complete satisfaction with our service and representation is our number one priority. 

If you are looking to buy a green home in San Mateo County you may be overwhelmed with the entire lingo that comes with buying an environmentally-friendly home. Do not be discourage. Here are a few tips to help you through the process.

LEED

Leed is a common term you may have come across in your hunt for that perfect Green San Mateo home, but what does it really mean? LEED, which was created by the US Green Building Council, stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This term is one of the most popular and widely known green standard across the nation.  The LEED system is point based and each home is assigned a level of LEED Certified from Silver, Gold, or Platinum.  

The points are based on the use of sustainable material, the construction process, waste management, energy-saving strategies used, and building maintenance.

Below is a list of a few items that points are based on in a single-family home.

Energy-efficient boilers

Photovoltaic arrays

Graywater treatment systems

Low-flush toilets

Cork and bamboo flooring

Low-VOC (volatile organic compound) or no-VOC paints and carpets

Water-efficient landscaping

LED lights

The more items in your home that are high-performance, and contain energy-saving materials the more points overall your home will earn.

Passivhaus

Passivhaus (which is also written as Passive House) is a house design that focuses on energy efficiency. Using this home design you can drop your energy consumption by up to 90 percent. A well-insulated home with no air leaks along with the highest R-values possible throughout the home are just some of the features this type of design contains. Passivhaus design has been very popular in Europe for decades, but is now becoming more popular throughout the United States.

Net Zero Energy

Net Zero Energy is quickly becoming a sought after certification among builders. It is more focused on green building standards than LEED.  It focuses to reduce energy consumption, which as a result drops carbon emissions. It is a brilliant idea considering that here in America 37 percent of our electricity production comes from our homes.  A Net Zero home produces only the energy it needs to use, if there is a surplus you can always sell it back to the grid.

When it comes to finding a green home in the San Mateo region we would be more than delighted to help. The Rain Team offers unparalleled service to ALL clients in the San Mateo County, including areas such as Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Moss Beach, Montara, and Pacifica. Your complete satisfaction with our service and representation is our number one priority.

Head over to Pillar Point Harbor this weekend December 13^th, to watch boat owners light up the docks with the Lighted Boat Festival. Enjoy the holiday decorations, visit with Santa, and listen to live music.

As the winter season quickly approaches multiple rodents and bugs will begin looking for a way to stay warm.  There are steps you can take to keep those unwanted critters out of your San Mateo home.

1. You want to keep your trees trimmed so that there is no overhang above your roof. When the wind blows the last thing you want are those branches landing on your roof.   Trees that overhang your home are also the prefect way for a squirrel to get on to your roof. They are notorious for finding their way in through chimney vents.

2. From inside your home, look to see if there is light visible coming through the cracks in your doors and windows. If you feel air movement along door frames or your window sills you may need to add some fresh caulk or weather stripping. This will stop those unwanted critters from entering and it will also lower your energy costs at the same time. Do not seal your home so securely that it is not allowed to breathe. It is necessary to have vents in your home, especially in the kitchen.

3. Look for any holes that may be in your walls as a result of the insulation of your dishwasher or washing machine. Mice and other pests can fit through these small holes.

4. Walk around the perimeter of your home and inspect it.  Keep in mind that a mouse is able to fit through a hole no bigger than a dime.

Do your best not to attract critters into your home by leaving food sit out, or by letting your trash pile up inside your home. Keep your outside garbage cans away from the house and with a lid firmly on top.

If you are aiming to buy a coastside home in the New Year, contact us today via email or give us a call at (650) 888-6903.

The Rain Team offers unparalleled service to ALL clients in the San Mateo County, including areas such as Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Moss Beach, Montara, and Pacifica. Your complete satisfaction with our service and representation is our number one priority.

The holiday season is now in full swing in San Mateo.  If you and your family are looking for something festive to do this upcoming weekend do not miss the Night of Lights Friday December 5^th in Half Moon Bay. Also, the  4^th Annual Rockaway Tree Lighting in Pacifica. The event will run Sunday, December 7^th, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.  The full event schedule can be found here.

If your plans are to decorate your San Mateo home for the holidays. I have a few tips for green Christmas decorations.

1. Christmas Tree - For many, the main decoration of the holidays is a Christmas tree.  Avoid artificial trees as they are petroleum-based and full of chemicals.  In fact, they may even include lead.  Instead, choose a potted evergreen to bring indoors to decorate. After the holidays you can place it outside or plant it in your yard.  If you enjoy cutting down your own tree, then look for an organically grown farm. You will spare you family the harmful pesticides that are sprayed on conventional trees.  Once the season is over use your tree to mulch into compost.

2. Wrapping Paper - The amount of waste a typical American home creates increases each year.  Nationwide garbage increases by one million tons from Thanksgiving thru New Year’s.  When choosing gift wrap look for wrapping paper and ribbons that are made of 100 percent recycled waste.  If you want something more personal consider making your own wrapping paper out of old posters, maps, sheet music, newspapers or even towels.

3. Christmas Cards - The amount of greeting cards, stamps, and envelope trash could fill the ocean. In today’s digital age consider sending an email greeting.  If you want to send traditional cards try making your own. This is a great holiday project to do with your kids.  If there is no time to create your own , then look for those cards that are made with soy-based inks, recycled material, and are recyclable.

4. Candles  - Candles are very popular during the holidays.  If you choose to use candles this season look for those make out of soy and beeswax.  Candles created this way are not made with petroleum-based paraffin which you find in conventional candles.  Check to make sure that the candle wicks do not contain lead. You will be able to tell if lead is in the wick if you see a thin lead wire inside.

5. Christmas Lights - Incandescent light bulbs, which are popular Christmas lights, use a lot of energy and tend to be hot enough to cause a fire.  LED lights are the way to go this season as they use just 10 percent of the energy of the older lights. LED lights also run cooler and are less likely to cause a fire. 

Head over to Pillar Point Harbor this weekend December 13^th, to watch boat owners light up the docks with the Lighted Boat Festival. Enjoy the holiday decorations, visit with Santa, and listen to live music.

If you have decided it’s your time to buy a coastside home, our goal is to guide you through the process from the beginning to the purchase of your new home and beyond. Contact us today via email or give us a call at (650) 888-6903.

The Rain Team offers unparalleled service to ALL clients in the San Mateo County, including areas such as Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Moss Beach, Montara, and Pacifica. Your complete satisfaction with our service and representation is our number one priority.