How to Be a Good Neighbor and Set a Positive Example for Others

Bad neighbors don’t have to be a nightmare. Setting a good example yourself and working with your neighbors in a respectful way can solve problems before they happen. 

Here are some ways to be a good neighbor. 

Start by making sure you’re not the person that’s driving everyone nuts. Before you can ask someone else to turn their loud music down or keep their dogs from barking all night, you can be a model homeowner and make sure you’re not doing the things you don’t want your neighbors doing. 

These include keeping your home well maintained so it isn’t an eyesore, respecting property lines and not having your fences or trees encroach on a neighbor’s property, and not seeking minor revenge for problems. 

It can also help to develop a friendly relationship with your neighbors. Introduce yourself and establish a friendly rapport so that if a problem arises, you can resolve it easily. You can also be a good neighbor by volunteering to collect a neighbor’s mail when they’re on vacation. It’s also a good idea to be proactive and tell neighbors ahead of time if you’re doing a renovation or anything else that will create a lot of noise. 

When approaching someone with a complaint, go into the conversation with the idea that they have good intentions and may not realize that what they’re doing is a problem. 

Your initial complaint may elicit a complaint by your neighbor about you, so take it as constructive criticism and be thankful for the help in resolving an issue that you may not have realized is causing a problem for someone else. 

Problems can escalate, making this  a good time to involve a third party. A homeowners association, neighborhood group, city building department, animal control, code enforcement, police or an attorney could help. To help other people deal with the issue, document the problem with photos, emails, texts and other facts. 

Your HOA, police and other groups may require a formal complaint. Do your research and know what the neighborhood and city rules are before going this far, and do everything else you can to resolve it yourself. The police should be your last resort. 

If none of this works, you should still avoid the temptation to do things that will upset the neighbors. Continuing a feud will not help matters. Don’t leave your barking dogs outside all day, for example, or crank up your music as a way to get revenge. Doing these things could lead to you being the neighbor everyone despises.

How to Keep Your Water Heater Working Efficiently

Many homeowners don’t think about water heater maintenance as much as they should.

Check the temperature-pressure relief valve. If it doesn’t release water or releases too much, replace it.

Sediment can clog water lines, making the water heater less efficient and shortening its lifespan. Flush the water heater twice a year.

Set the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Set it as low as possible or turn off the water heater if you will be away for several days.

Insulate the pipes, TPR valve and temperature control.

Check the pilot flame and relight it if necessary.

Focus on routine maintenance to avoid a hefty bill for a new water heater.

March 2020 - Luxury Market Report for Placer County

March 2020 - Luxury Market Report for the Sacramento area

5 Ideas for Keeping Your Kids Busy at Home

As we continue to adjust to the current disruption of our daily lives, one challenge that you may find yourself facing is keeping the kids busy at home. With schools being cancelled across the country, it’s important to have a plan for keeping your children active and instilling a new routine while at home for an extended period of time. Here are a few ways to ensure your kids stay busy around the house.

Prepare the Playroom
Make sure that your children’s play area is stocked up and ready to keep them entertained. Puzzles and board games can be a great way for them to stay mentally active while not at school. Additionally, you can set up an arts and crafts station where the kids can create different projects each day.  

Utilize the Library
If you have a library or reading area in your home, it’s the perfect space for the kids to spend an hour of daily reading time. Enforcing this will help to ensure they’re not staring at screens all day long and will maintain a sense of routine that they’re accustomed to having at school.

Cook Together
It’s time to get the whole family cooking together in that beautiful gourmet kitchen. With everyone doing their part to prepare a delicious, home-cooked meal, the little ones will be sure to feel a sense of productivity. Whether you’re making their favorite dinners or trying out a new dessert recipe, the kids will be eager to take part and be your little helper in the kitchen.

Designate Outdoor Time
Recess is most likely an integral part of their daily routine at school, so don’t overlook the importance of outdoor time. Whether they’re playing on the swing set, shooting hoops or just running around in the backyard, the physical activity will go a long way, especially when it’s time to wind down at the end of the day.

Enjoy the Media Room
Of course, that state-of-the-art media room can certainly come in handy right about now. After a long day of keeping them busy around the house, there’s no reason to feel bad about letting the kids do a little binge-watching of their own.

8866 Venikov Place, Orangevale, CA

View the 360° Tour: 8866Venikov.com

Luxurious custom single-story residence located in the gated community of Tuscan Village Estates. The open and bright floor plan offers 4 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, and 3,044 square feet. Enter through the covered porch into the foyer that boasts 12ft ceilings and a spacious walk-in closet. The expansive great room presents LED lighting, a tray ceiling, designer light fixtures and a centrally located wet bar with a beverage refrigerator. 

The immaculate kitchen features white cabinetry, a raised dining bar, pendant lighting, stainless Kitchen-Aid appliances, a Sharp in-island microwave, two stainless farmhouse sinks, and a walk-in pantry. 

Relax in the formal living room that offers a gas fireplace, built-in shelving and picturesque windows that overlook the private backyard. A bonus room was recently added and is located off of the great room.

The grand entrance to the master suite showcases custom cabinetry that leads to the oversized bedroom with a sitting area. The spa-like bathroom amenities include dual vanities, a jetted tub, a shower with a bench seat and a grand walk-in closet with chandelier. Three additional bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a storage closet are located on the South-wing of the residence. 

Situated on over a half-acre, the backyard features a spacious concrete patio with gazebo, mature landscaping, a play structure, trampoline, playhouse, built-in sandbox, and storage shed. 

There is abundant parking with the attached 3-car garage, a drive-through detached 2-car garage with 10ft doors and recreational parking along the side of the home. 

Listed at $899,000