by Blake Mashburn | Mar 14, 2019 | News
Get your Ventura home ready to sell by making some renovations. Updating your home will help attract your buyers to your property and will increase the value of your home. While we understand that it might seem counter intuitive to put more money into your home when you are leaving, there are some renovations that have a great return on investment (ROI) and make awesome financial sense for you to complete. The Remodeling 2019 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com) analyzes the average costs of home remodeling projects with the value that those projects have when the homes are sold. Check out the top 5 renovations that will help you sell your Ventura home and make you money!
Install a 4 section steel Garage Door for a fresh, updated look to the exterior of your home. This upscale renovation costs $3,785 and makes you a profit with an ROI of 123.8%!
Add a Manufactured Stone Veneer to the bottom section of your home’s exterior as well as around the front door entryway. This mid-range renovation costs $9,507 and will make you another profit with an ROI of 110.4%!
Create an outdoor living space in your backyard with a Wood Deck Addition. This mid-range renovation costs $16,511 and has a ROI of 87.8%.
Make some updates in a Minor Kitchen Remodel with floors, countertops, and appliances. This mid-range renovation costs $24,950 and has an ROI of 87.1%.
Replace your front door with a Fiberglass Door with Duel Sidelights for a grand entrance to your home. This upscale renovation costs $9,568 and has an ROI of 85.1%.
If you are ready to sell your home, give the Blake Mashburn Group a call today at (805) 856-9350 or visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/.
by Blake Mashburn | Mar 11, 2019 | News
With incredible weather year round, a stunning natural environment, and charming communities with endless amenities, Ventura County is a great place to call home! But with all Ventura County has to offer, how could you ever narrow down which community is the best fit for you and your family? Have no fear! Neighborhood ranking and review website Niche.com recently released their list of Best Places To Live In Ventura County for 2019!
If you are looking to move to a city in Ventura County, be sure to check out these highly rated communities!
Ojai
Population: 7,594
Median Home Value: $657,000 | Search Ojai Homes For Sale
Niche Overall Grade: B+
This small community is filled with charm. It offers residents beautiful parks, unique restaurants and stores, and fantastic community events throughout the year. It is equally great for families and retirees. Enjoy minimal commute times and low crime rates in this city.
Ventura
Population: 110,153
Median Home Value: $493,800 | Search Ventura Homes for Sale
Niche Overall Grade: B
Located along the stunning Pacific Ocean, Ventura offers beautiful views and endless recreational opportunities for its residents. There is always something fun to do in this thriving mid sized city and it is filled with great dining and retail options. It is a popular community for young professionals and families. The public school system within Ventura is consistently highly rated throughout the state.
Camarillo
Population: 67,116
Median Home Value: $541,600 | Search Camarillo Homes for Sale
Niche Overall Grade: B
Residents in Camarillo enjoy quiet living in this beautiful city. There are many excellent amenities located within the city limits and access to the larger cities in the area is a breeze. There are good public schools as well as many parks to spend time outdoors.
BUY your dream home in one of these fantastic communities! Give us a call today or visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/!
by Blake Mashburn | Mar 7, 2019 | News
Buying a home is a major financial commitment! You want to make sure that you have all the necessary savings to do so. Get yourself in great financial health to buy a new home in the beautiful Ventura area.
Get financially ready to BUY your dream home in Ventura County! Give The Blake Mashburn Group a call today or visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/ so we can help make your dreams a reality!
by Blake Mashburn | Mar 4, 2019 | News
Houseplants can instantly add a fresh new touch to the decor of your Ventura home. Through color, texture, and shape, houseplants are a quick and beautiful addition to any room. They also provide many benefits for you and your family by improving the home’s air quality, helping reduce many illnesses, increasing focus and reducing fatigue, and so much more. Not sure where to start with your indoor green thumb? Here are some helpful tips to find the best houseplants for your Ventura home!
- Decide where you want to put the plant(s) within your home. What is the interior design of the space? How much lighting does that area get? There are plants to fit every single one of your needs but you need to make sure you find a plant that will thrive and tastefully match the particular location.
- Make sure you only buy your plants from reputable stores. The quality of care received by the plants while at the store will determine the longevity of the plant once you bring it home. The plants should look healthy and properly cared for when you see them.
- Don’t limit your buying to the stores. Check out garden magazines and catalogs for more unique options. However, make sure any companies you order through offer a money back guarantee in case damage occurs in transit. You can also find unique offerings of plants through plant societies.
- Decide whether you want to care for a plant that has already begun to grow or want to start it from a seedling. Both have different needs for care so it is important to evaluate what your time availability is.
- Do a good visual examination of the plant before your purchase. Look at the color, firmness, and fullness. Make sure there are signs of new growth. If you are picking out a flowering plant, choose when the is not in full bloom as it will not last as long. An important part of the visual examination is checking for diseases and insects. Look at the spots where branches and stems meet. Avoid buying plants with any evidence of disease or insects as these can quickly spread to other plants in your home.
- Along with looking at the the plant, you should feel the soil. Check if it is too compacted or too loose. Poor soil will stunt the plants growth. If you determine that the soil is poor, this does not need to deter you from purchasing the plant. It simply means that you should repot the plant when you get home.
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by Blake Mashburn | Feb 21, 2019 | News
Almost all home searches today begin online. That means sellers need to make sure that their listing grabs the attention of these viewers. The best way to do that is through the photographs of your home. Make them look as professional as possible in order to get buyers excited to view your home. Here are some easy photography tips to help make your Ventura home pop out from the computer screen.
Equipment: Using the best equipment will set you up for success. Although smartphones have better cameras than ever, they still cannot compare with the real deal. Use a DSLR camera for your photographs. Also, make sure you use a tripod to eliminate the chance for blurry photos due to camera shake as well as to help keep your photos straight.
Lighting: Lighting is the most important element in photography. Exterior shots of your home should always have the sun shining directly on the front of it to eliminate shadows. Indoor shots should be well lit by keeping all interior lights on and window shades open.
Framing: Capture the size and layout of your home through framing. Use angles to your advantage to make rooms appear larger. Do not shoot from behind large furniture that can cause the space to look cramped. A good rule of thumb is to include three walls within the photo. This creates depth and provides balance to the photo.
Content: Make sure to capture everything that a buyer needs to see in order to want to view your home. Highlight the best architectural and design features inside the home. Make sure that interior shots also show what is outside of the home through the open windows. For exterior shots, make sure that the yard and landscaping is easily seen in the images of the home.
If you are ready to sell your home, give the Blake Mashburn Group a call today at (805) 856-9350 or visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/.
