Palmer’s Pick: PC Carpet Care
As a real estate agent along the SF Peninsula, I have worked with dozens of service providers and contractors. When I find a business that delivers as promised, I love to be able to pass along their information - a Palmer’s Pick!
Recently I needed some carpets cleaned and called in PC Carpet Care, who work up and down the Peninsula, to tackle the job. The bid was priced right and they did an outstanding job, taking great pains to get out all the stains. I found out they can even clean upholstered furniture! They were timely and professional, delivering on what they promised.
PC Carpet Care
1.800.293.2903
taelo@hotmail.com
Looking for leads on who can help with your next home project? Give me a call and I’d love to share what (and who!) I know.
Staging to Sell: Using a Stager
Let’s face it, we live in a fast-paced and demanding world and simply don’t always have the time to do everything ourselves. When it comes to marketing your home for a fast sale, a professional stager just might give you the advantage you need.
I have worked with many terrific stagers over the years, and the services they provide range from optimizing a seller’s own furniture for a faster sale to furnishing a vacant house.
When to Call a Pro
My personal top three reasons to bring in the pros:
1. Staging helps camouflage parts of our homes that just don’t look as good as they could, like old countertops.
2. Stagers magically to know how to make rooms look bigger to appeal to buyers.
3. Stagers will use your own furniture and place it differently to optimize the look of your home (something that often escapes me no matter how many times I move the sofa!).
Donna Reynolds, a Certified Redesigner and Certified Staging Specialist, provides terrific services along the SF Peninsula. In one quick day, she is able to magically transform existing furnishings and decorations into their ideal arrangement.
Give me a call for more information, or visit HomeRearrangements.com yourself.
Palmer’s Pick - Tile Resurfacing
I have a great source for freshening up a kitchen or bathroom surface without the expense of new tile or granite counters. Nice Tub & Tile Refinishing offers a terrific coating service that I have personally used to give stained grout and dated linoleum a new life and updated look. In fact, the counters in these pictures are from a client’s house where I am doing some work right now.
With a new surface applied to your old tiles, grout lines are covered and cleaning has never been easier. There are times, such as during a remodel, when you want to explore high-end options like granite and Corian. But if you are doing some quick updates to put your home on the market, or want a fresh look to bridge the gap to a remodel, then a surface coating is an effective and inexpensive option.
I have lots of ideas on great-looking quick fixes that might work for you. I have certainly seen my fair share of kitchen counter tops!
Mike Gundran
Nice Tub & Tile Refinishing
217 26th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403
650.350.1325 office
650.245.7059
Email: info@nicetub.com
Website: www.nicetub.com
Peaceful Cul-De-Sac Living
I am thrilled to share with you my newest listing. This lovely Los Altos home combines peaceful cul-de-sac living with a spacious 3000 sq ft (approx.) floor plan. The quiet street of lovingly-maintained homes is walking distance to outstanding schools and close to downtown shopping.
Four Bedrooms, Three Bathrooms, and So Much More
• Open entry leads to dining room & living room with custom fireplace.
• Sunny kitchen with large eat-in area and attached laundry/pantry.
• Large master suite and additional bedroom & bathroom on first floor.
• Second story retreat with two bedrooms and third bathroom.
• Newly painted inside and out with new floor coverings throughout.
• Large 10,000 sq ft (approx.) property with well-groomed landscaping.
• Large driveway provides off-street parking and leads to 2-car garage.
Last but not Least
I saved one of my favorite parts of this house for last - the fruit trees! Imagine feasting on your own harvest of Gravenstein apples, pears, peaches, apricots, figs, avocados, persimmons, Meyer lemons, Rangpur limes, and Washington navel oranges (best oranges ever!). It is a wonderful gift from a very lovely garden.
45 Maynard Way, Los Altos
Offered at $1,695,000
Appliance Lifespan
Ever wonder just how long you should stick with an old appliance? My friend’s daughter has a 20+ year old Maytag washer and dryer that still turns out clean laundry. In fact, when she has had then serviced for minor repairs, the service person has always given her the speech on how reliable they are and how things “just aren’t made the same anymore”.
I don’t personally think that quality has declined. But the truth is the fancy functions that make modern appliances so appealing, and the computers that run those functions, do tend to have a finite lifespan. Here are some life expectancies from Consumer Reports in case you are wondering about your dear old dishwasher.
* Range (gas/electric) - 15/13 years.
* Refrigerator - 13 years.
* Dishwasher - 9 years.
* Clothes Washer - 10 years.
* Clothes Dryer - 13 years.
* Water Heater (gas) - 10 years.
Of course, this will vary based on make and usage. And if you are in the market to replace an appliance, do a quick Google search to see if there might be a rebate out there waiting for you!
Thanksgiving Round Up
Well, with less than three weeks to Turkey Day, I think it is time for my 1st Annual Thanksgiving Round Up. Whether you love or dread this day, I hope to provide a bit of info or a timely reminder for you. Here is what I rounded up this year to help make sure you are fully prepared to be guest or host on this holiday.
• Eating out with the kids? Here is a great reference for Bay Area Kid-Friendly Restaurants for Thanksgiving.
• Ready for some football? This year you can catch the 7-1 San Francisco 49ers play the Ravens on Thanksgiving Day in Baltimore at 5:20 pm PST.
• Prefer to hit the road? There are few places more beautiful than Yosemite at this time of year, and you can enjoy having a first class meal served to you at the historic Ahwahnee or Wawona lodge.
• Need entertainment for the family while you cook? Don’t forget the 85th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at 9:00 AM PST on NBC.
• Hosting on a budget? Here are a few tips: look outside for items for your centerpiece, make less food (there’s always too much!), get creative with leftovers (turkey tacos anyone?), and honor guests’ family traditions by asking them to bring a favorite side dish they just couldn’t imagine Thanksgiving without.
• Need a new recipe? Take a look below - here is a terrific side dish I just learned to make with Chef Michael Zimmerman at Draeger’s Market Cooking School in San Mateo. Invite a family member to sit in the kitchen and french the beans while you cook.
I am sending you and your family the best wishes for a carefree and memorable holiday season. If that might involve a new home, let’s meet for a Pumpkin Spice Latte and discuss today’s market.
Frenched Green Beans with Dried Cherries and Toasted Hazelnuts
1/2 cup coarsely chopped hazelnuts
1 1/2 lbs green beans frenched
1/2 cup dried cherries (sour)
3T EVOO
2t seasoned rice vinegar
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
coarsely ground black pepper
Italian parsley, minced for garnish (optional)
Place hazelnuts in small plan and stir over medium heat until lightly toasted (about 8 mins). Cool, coarsely chop and reserve.
Force beans, trimmed ends first (keeping strings to the side), up through funnel of frencher.
Cook beans in 2 batches in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling, salted water (uncovered) until just tender (4-5 minutes). Transfer beans with a slotted spoon to a large bowl and add the dried cherries.
Toss the beans and cherries with the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper (to taste). Top with reserved hazelnuts and garnish with chopped parsley. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Recipe by: Michael Zimmerman, 2011
Time to Get Away?
Sunset Magazine recently published a Fall Travel Guide on its website, including 18 Great California Fall Trips. I have always loved traveling in California because of the variety of scenic locations.
Of course, you know my favorite hideaway is Carmel and its surrounds. But I have a few other favorite spots that all sound nice for a pre-holiday getaway.
- How does a weekend drive to Santa Barbara sound? A beach town at heart, Santa Barbara overflows with scenic views, terrific shopping, and some luxury touches.
- Or maybe a quick drive north to Sonoma? A little more relaxed than its neighbor Napa, it has such a lovely square for strolling past stores and enjoying a picnic.
- Perhaps you are in the mood for some woodsy hikes and starry skies? Then you just can’t beat Lake Tahoe any time of the year.
- And when it is a long weekend you are planning, San Diego isn’t just a sleepy beach town. Balboa Park alone, with its zoo, gardens and dozens of museums, can keep you (and your family!) busy for days on end!
Whatever the destination, now might be an ideal time to take a few nights off before the hectic rush of the holidays starts to kick in. So what do you think, time to get away?
Pumpkins on Parade
I think we all have pictures stored away somewhere with our children, nieces, nephews, and even ourselves proudly posing in the pumpkin patch. Of course, Half Moon Bay is the Bay Area hub of all things pumpkin. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful location for this annual event. Many families have a tradition of driving to a favorite pumpkin farm on a weekend in October, so leave early and plan for some traffic. It can feel like pumpkins on parade (a very slow parade) when Highway 92 starts to fill up.
Where To Go
Here are just a few of the many Peninsula locations to check out. Most offer attractions for the kids, like games and bounce houses.
• Pick of the Patch Pumpkins - Redwood City: 1301 Broadway (next to CVS Pharmacy), 94063
• Pick of the Patch Pumpkins - San Carlos: 800 Block of El Camino Real @ Arroyo Street, 94070
• Webb Ranch - Portola Valley: 2720 Alpine Road, Portola Valley 94028
• Lemos Farm - Half Moon Bay: 12320 San Mateo Road (HWY 92), Half Moon Bay, 94019
Carmel is one of my favorite places to go rain or shine. You just can’t beat the relaxing atmosphere, beautiful views, fabulous shopping, and terrific dining. I have spent a lot of time in Carmel and Pacific Grove over the years, and I definitely have a few favorite haunts that I am always pleased to recommend. So, if you find yourself in that neck of the woods, do yourself a favor and stop by these two delightful eateries.
Joe Rombi’s La Mia Cucina Restaurant
208 17 Street, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
(831-373-2416)
On Friday night, there is only one thing to order: lasagna. It is the best I have ever had - and trust me, I have a great recipe for lasagna! They also have a deli next door that sells the lasagna (along with other Italian delights) so you can take it home and heat it up. Perfect for a cozy evening in on a foggy night.
Pavel’s Bakerei
219 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
(831-643-2636)
Simply put, Pavel’s is a bakery that I would put up against any bakery in the country. The owner is from Europe and sometimes you can catch him singing as he massages the bread. Their chocolate croissants are amazing, not to mention the peanut butter cookies, or the cinnamon rolls, or the cheese bread… I could go on and on. You have to get there early or they sell out of everything (note: they are not open on Monday). If you are just driving down for the day, hit the road early and make this your first stop. It is a perfect start to a beautiful day in my favorite neck of the woods!
