Email ElizabethHow to Get Rid of Hard Water Stains in the Shower
Finding a way to get rid of hard water stains in the shower has for me been one of the great mysteries in life. Many of my home sellers say they prefer to replace the shower glass than to try to clean it. Since you can’t really just replace the glass and you generally need to replace the entire door and frame, it’s expensive. Time consuming, too. Not to mention a PITA.
Oh, they say green cleaning materials such as vinegar and water is a great solution, but you may as well drink it for all the good it does. Vinegar doesn’t easily dispose of stubborn hard water stains. However, I stumbled across a product that really works. My clients told me about it. I had referred Masters Window Cleaning service to the sellers and one of the guys on the crew said he could charge the sellers an extra $100 to get rid of hard water stains in the shower. Or, they could buy the product the professionals use.
Ha, they never told me that secret fix when they cleaned my windows in Land Park Sacramento. They made it sound like I was stuck with a few windows that had hard water stains. Little did I realize they had the secret fix all along. Yup, the pros say the best way to get rid of hard water stains in the shower is by using a product sold on Amazon: Driven Extreme Duty Glass Cleaner. It’s an acid gel, $19.95.
I had my doubts, but first tried it on the glass block in our master bath. There is no door in the shower. Just a staggered glass block wall that continually is hit with hard water on the inside. A good 10 years of build up in that shower. We use Lime-A-Way and CLR for the pebble floor to remove hard water stains, but the glass block and our windows has been a puzzle until now.
Wearing rubber gloves, of course, I applied a small amount of the gel on the glass block. Rubbed it with the rough side of a scrubby sponge. Rinsed and voila. Like they say in Panama: ¡Chuleta! I could see through the glass to the other side. Before using the secret fix to get rid of hard water stains in the shower, the glass blocks were cloudy and streaked. Worked like a charm! Some entrepreneur should hawk this stuff at an exhibit at the California State Fair or as seen on TV.
You can bet my Sacramento clients will now benefit from this tidbit I discovered. On to more happy home selling!
When You Have to Break Bad News in Sacramento Real Estate
Nobody likes to break bad news in Sacramento real estate. Nobody. Especially not the agents to their fiduciaries. However, real estate is a two-way street. One side can do everything right and the other side can still make a mistake. The side with the mistake might feel like it’s not their fault because it’s some other party to the transaction that screwed up. Doesn’t really matter anyway who is at fault. What matters is the resolution. How we handle the solution.
When we have to break bad news in Sacramento real estate, the best way to do it is in person, but that is not always possible. Short of a hologram — why can’t we send holograms already — that means talking on the phone. Even when you know the other side is likely to lose their cool. Explode, maybe, even.
Like yesterday, for example. Things were fairly quiet Friday morning. I had my annual eye exam scheduled in Midtown for late morning. No phone calls. Very few emails and text messages. Started out to be a good day. No sooner did I step foot into my optometrist’s office than my phone blew up. Email after email. 17 emails at once. I know how this looks.
Oh yes, another eye patient glued to her cellphone. This one won’t even look up or address us. She keeps staring at her emails. So rude.
Well, they don’t come right out and say it, but you can feel the vibe going on. I am not another rude patient. Heck no, I put my phone in my lap when it came time to look at the letters on the wall and read them off. After I figured out the cup they handed me was not for my ear and actually placed it over my left eye, I was doing pretty well. Because, you know, it takes time for them to type the data into the computer, time to get the drops to dilate my eyes and make them look like I just dropped acid.
Time I could use reading and answering emails. Because a file that was supposed to fund and record by noon wasn’t happening. Which meant the concurrent closing wasn’t happening, either. How can I finish an eye exam when this is going on?
I left without my contacts’ prescription, too. Darn.
Got into my car and found it halfway blocked by an enormous moving van. I’m wearing dark sunglasses behind my own polarized sunglasses, and everything is so dark I cannot see to maneuver. But somehow I made it out of my parking spot. Tried to drive to the entrance to the street on Alhambra, but more emails dinged. Plus, my music was playing (because you cannot turn it off in a newer Mercedes). The dealer said I can only turn down the sound. Or pause it, which it what I would have done if I could see my phone.
I should look into this further because that is a stupid design flaw, if it is true.
Well, it was time to break the bad news in Sacramento real estate. Could not put it off. The seller absolutely needed to know what had happened and what we could do about the situation. Do you email? Text? What? Nope, that’s the chicken, loser way out. Not a loser. A phone call is best. Except, because I could not see my phone due to the dark sunglasses and eye dilation, I poked at the screen. Missed the “call” button and ended up in FaceTime. Uh, oh.
I got to watch my seller’s eyes divert to the ceiling. Look down at the floor. Scrunch up the face. Eyes a blaze. That was painful. But it was the right thing to do. Comes with the territory. Fortunately, I don’t have to break bad news in Sacramento real estate very often. Hardly ever. Most of the time I am able to anticipate problems and stop them from happening. But not much you can do when the other side makes a mistake. It reflects on the listing agent even if the agent can’t anticipate or cause it. It’s why we make the big bucks. Because the buck stops here.
Stunning and Secluded Fair Oaks Pool Home on Acreage
Everybody likes to call their home stunning, but this Fair Oaks pool home really fits that description. It’s a house of angles and very spacious, all single-level. Beautifully laid out to capture views of wildlife from every room.
Two master suites at opposite ends of the house provides privacy for multi-generational families. Plus, no need to worry about climbing any stairs.
Look at the mix of design elements in the huge family room. Vaulted ceilings attach to a beam, offset by sets of skylights. The walls are either wood or glass. Brings the outdoors inside. Only things missing are deer scampering through the living room. There are baby Western Screech Owls in the trees, though.
Engineered wood floors throughout the dining room and kitchen. More angles with vaulted wood ceilings too. Plenty of storage space, including a sound system closet. What a space for a family gathering over the holidays!
Sparkling white kitchen is sure to delight even the fussiest cooks. Gas cook top, stainless appliances, and a tri-level reglazed sink features an in-sinkerator, probably from 1967 when this Fair Oaks pool home was built, and a newer pre-rinse pull-out faucet. Copper range hood over the cooktop wraps around the corner.
This is the first master suite at the far left-side of the home. It features high curved ceiling, recessed lighting and a ceiling fan. Allows a fabulous view of the pool and a deck. There are many deck areas as well.
One of the master suite baths, upgraded with Travertine tile and large dressing area. A skylight also brings in light, along with recessed lighting.
Our new listing, the Fair Oaks pool home features 5 bedrooms, 4 baths and, according to the Sacramento County Recorder, boasts more than 3,400 square feet. The sellers have prepared every inch of this home for sale. It is simply immaculate.
Western screech owl at Lakeside, by M. Marin.
Maybe you will be lucky enough to spot baby owls in the trees. This is a Western Screech Owl photographed on the property when the baby owls were born. You also will see deer and baby turkeys this time of year. The home is situated on 1.37 acres at the end of a cul-de-sac. Very private location.
Why not come to our open house on Sunday, August 5th, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM? The open house is hosted by the incredible Barbara Dow from the Elizabeth Weintraub Team. You can call Barbara for a private showing at 916.761.7398.
4700 Lakeside Way, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 is offered exclusively by Elizabeth Weintraub and Lyon Real Estate at $925K. If you can’t wait for the open house, why not check out the virtual tour here. Twice as many photos as in MLS.
The information in this advertisement, including, but not limited to, square footage and/or acreage, has been provided by various sources which may include the Seller, the Multiple Listing Service or other sources. Lyon Real Estate has not and will not investigate or verify the accuracy of this information. Prospective buyers are advised to conduct their own investigation of the Property and this advertised information utilizing appropriate professionals before purchasing this Property.
For Sale: Grand Colonial in Curtis Park Sacramento Features Pool
How many reasons do you need to buy a Grand Colonial in Curtis Park Sacramento? Besides the excellent location. This Grand Colonial in Curtis Park is located on Curtis Way, one house off the park from East Curtis Drive. What this means is you get a beautiful view of Curtis Park without all of the traffic that travels up and down East Curtis Drive and around the park. Your home is nestled on Curtis Way where it is much quieter.
Then, there is all of the space. This home is over 2,800 square feet, according to the Sacramento County Assessor. It features 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, with one of the bedrooms and baths on the main level. Having a full bed and bath on the main floor is a big preference of many home buyers today. The room sizes are spacious. Look at the dining room (21 x 14) and the separate formal living room (23 x 13).
You will love the hardwood floors. The kitchen features granite counters, marble floor and shaker cabinets with stainless appliances. Of course, there is a separate family room off the kitchen, which also allows access to the back yard pool and spa. A large room behind the laundry room at one time might have been a space for a horse, says the seller.
Upstairs, you will find a sauna in the front bedroom. Our photographer says he has not seen a sauna this extensive in many of the multi-million homes he shoots. Definitely a quality sauna. In addition to the sauna, the front bedroom also enjoys exclusive access to the private second floor balcony, which offers views of the park. The master bedroom is enormous, nearly 21 feet long by 18 feet wide, and a lot of windows. It is situated toward the back of the home for more privacy.
But don’t take our word for the amenities and upgrades in this beautiful Grand Colonial in Curtis Park. Instead come to our open house on Sunday, August 5, 2018, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, hosted by the amazing Amy McMullan from the Elizabeth Weintraub Team.
2641 Curtis Way, Sacramento, CA 95818, is offered exclusively by Elizabeth Weintraub at Lyon Real Estate at $895K. If you don’t have time to visit our open house, then please enjoy the virtual tour.
The information in this advertisement, including, but not limited to, square footage and/or acreage, has been provided by various sources which may include the Seller, the Multiple Listing Service or other sources. Lyon Real Estate has not and will not investigate or verify the accuracy of this information. Prospective buyers are advised to conduct their own investigation of the Property and this advertised information utilizing appropriate professionals before purchasing this Property.
(No measurements have been verified by agent and agent will not verify.)
The Difference Between Target Real Estate Marketing and Spamming
The basic difference between target real estate marketing and spamming is the relationship of the spammer to the recipient. In other words, generally there is no difference. Because typically the individual orchestrating the marketing efforts does not know her recipients. In real estate, it means usually the targeted individual holds a real estate license; therefore, in the spammer’s mind, a licensed agent is free game to spam. It’s enough already with the junk email, but over the past couple of years, the spamming has extended to text messages.
Now, it’s one thing if I send an email blast to a pre-selected database of my own contacts of say, agents in the Bay Area who work with buyers. Especially when I can offer a tangible benefit, such as assurance we will work with them, as some agents in Sacramento refuse to help Bay Area agents. But I know these agents. So if one of them objected to my email, I could delete them from my database, but they never do.
It’s quite another thing if an individual seeking to increase her business buys a mailing list sold by our MetroList or Sacramento Board of Realtors. Not sure who sells these databases, probably MetroList, but you can buy their membership list. And, then these people start blasting text messages. It’s annoying. It’s like listing agents who send out a cellphone spam blast about a new listing. Do they think we don’t have eyes in our heads and we are incapable of looking at MLS to find this information?
Testing the difference between target real estate marketing and spamming, yesterday a home stager (I’ll call Janey) texted. Complete stranger to me. Asked if I would be interested in having her stage a listing and offered to send me a proposal. This is not a service that listing agents pay for, btw. I responded like I always do to those who spam: PLEASE STOP. Short. Sweet. Gets the point across; yet polite, because I added that word: please.
This home stager felt the need to text again: I am a human.
Well, Janey, then you should know better than to send unsolicited text messages to strangers. Because we don’t like it. I mean, I am not sitting here wondering, oh my goodness, whom could I get to stage my listings? I don’t know anybody . . . waah.
Janey did not like this. She texted a quote. You can tell it’s a quote because she encased her words between quote marks. Something unrelated to the discussion (like a Trump Tweet). Janey claimed that rejecting her meant I am not a feminist. The crime committed was not her spamming. No, no, it was the victim’s fault for not allowing the spammer to realize her growth potential. She will pray for me, too.
For real. Not making this up.
I hate to tell Janey the hopeful Sacramento home stager that spammers are men, too. Not gender specific behavior. This Sacramento Realtor does not support any of you. None of us like spam. We detest it. Some of us abhor it more than others.
Whether you agree, Janey, your text message is spam. In this situation, there is no difference between target real estate marketing and spamming. It is unwanted and will do far more damage than you may realize; the opposite of what you hope to achieve.
Pray on that.
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