Maybe you’ve just bought an East Santa Cruz home, or maybe you’ve lived there for years. Chances are, at some point, you’re going to want to hire a contractor to work on something, and when you do, these tips should help you get more bang for your buck:

• Shop around. Get quotes from a variety of contractors, and look for the best value offer.
• Have the contractors who quote you split their material and labor costs – that way, if necessary, you can find your own materials at discount stores or from clearance sales, and save on the material cost.
• Make the job as easy as possible for your contractor. If you can, let them use your water or power, and let them know at the start of the quote process that you aim to do that – if you don’t, they’ll just add the cost of providing their own, and a markup, to your quote.
• Consider doing some of the prep work for them – for instance, if you’re retiling, remove the old tiles yourself, or if you’re fitting new kitchen units, do the demolition and removal of the old units yourself.
• Never pay upfront, always get a detailed breakdown of quotes, and pay based on work completed. It may be rare, but it’s not unheard of for contractors to disappear with deposits or even full payments if the going gets tough!
• Don’t assume that the cheapest quote is going to cost you the least – shoddy workmanship that needs to be repaired or replaced later can land up costing you more than a decent job by a reputable company. Ask for references, and check up on them, to make sure you’re getting a good deal, both in terms of money, and on quality.
• Make sure that whether you buy them yourself, or your contractor does, good quality materials are used. Even the greatest contractor or artisan can’t be expected to deliver top notch results when working with substandard materials.
• Never skimp on the cost of hiring a licensed, qualified plumbers or electricians. Some general building is suitable for DIY, or even cutting corners as far as cost goes, but if something goes wrong with plumbing or electrical work, it could mean disaster.
• Last but certainly not least, keep track of the work. Horror stories abound of home owners leaving a contractor unsupervised, only to return home to utter disaster.

East Santa Cruz homes, like any other, need a little sprucing up once in a while, and if you follow these tips, you should save some money hiring a contractor, but still get high quality work. Remember, you’re going to have to live with it for a couple of years to come – or pay to have it fixed.

Make sure you get hiring a contractor, and managing the work right first time, and you’ll save a bundle in the long term. As an agent in the business, I can refer you to local professionals, so call if I can help at 831-818-7524. If you feel that you don’t want to do this project and want to go search ing for East Santa Cruz homes, follow this link.

Geothermal Heat Pumps: A Viable Option for Your Scotts Valley Home

In today’s housing market, there are a number of options for how you heat and cool your Scotts Valley home. Geothermal heat pumps, although relatively unknown to the common market, could be a great option for you. Heat pumps are great for places with wide variations of temperature and generally not for more temperate zones.

Heat pumps work by moving a refrigerant material from the outdoor unit, a condenser, and an inside unit, an evaporator coil and back again, collecting and releasing heat as needed. Most heat pumps pull and circulate heat from the outside air to the inside air, which is subject to seasonal changes. Scotts Valley homes with their hot summers and cool winters are a place to consider their use. Not so with geothermal heat pumps.

Instead of using heat found in the outside air, geothermal heat pumps rely on the stable, even heat of the earth to provide the heating, air conditioning, and even hot water. While the air temperature around your home can fluctuate with the season, a few feet below the surface of the ground is another story. The ground remains a relatively constant temperature, varying slightly by latitude. By six feet underground, the temperature is usually constant, somewhere between 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Geothermal heat pumps move heat from the earth into your house during the winter, and in the summer they pull heat from the inside and discharge it into the ground. This method not only helps keep your home at a comfortable temperature, it also makes wonderful use of the earth’s renewable energy. In fact, studies show that approximately 70% of the energy used in a geothermal heat pump system is renewable. The constant temperature of the earth help to make these heat pumps one of the most efficient, and quiet heating and cooling technologies on the market today.

The installation of a geothermal heat pump for an average home is approximately $19,000 to $32,000 dollars when you factor in drilling costs, and other installation expenses. While this is a high initial price, these specific heat pumps can produce significantly lower utility bills, usually between 30% and 40%, according to estimates from the U.S. EPA.

In addition to the overall energy savings that a geothermal heat pump provides, there are a number of other encouraging factors to consider. They are extremely durable and require very little maintenance. There are fewer mechanical components, most of which are underground, so they are sheltered from inclement weather. The underground piping is usually guaranteed to last between 25 and 50 years, and is virtually worry free. The components inside the house are small, and easily accessible for maintenance. In addition, since there is no outside condensing unit like an air conditioner; geothermal heat pumps are much quieter to operate.

Geothermal heat pump systems also allow for a lot of flexibility, and can be installed in both new and retrofit situations. The hardware requires less space than conventional HVAC system, and the equipment rooms can thusly be smaller in size. These heat pumps can also provide wonderful zone space conditioning, allowing you to determine which sections of your home need to be at a specific temperature range.
Since the shallow ground temperatures are relatively constant throughout much of the United States, a geothermal heat pump can be used effectively in just about any home. However, knowing the specific geological, hydrological and spatial characteristics of your property will help you and your contractor design a system that is perfect for you.

Things such as the composition and properties of the soil and bedrock will often dictate the rate of heat transfer, and therefore will be an important consideration when designing a geothermal heat pump system. Soil and rocks with good heat transfer, such as clays will mean that you can use less piping. The amount of soil also contributes to the system design. If the soil is too shallow to trench, a vertical system may be more efficient then a horizontal loop system.

Just like the soil and bedrock, the hydrology of the property also is an important factor in the design of a geothermal heat pump system. The water depth, volume, and water quality, can all play a part. Groundwater or surface water can be used as a source for both open and closed loop systems. If you make use of an open loop geothermal heat pump, you want to make sure you investigate your area’s hydrogeology extensively. Doing so will help you avoid potential problems such as aquifer depletion and groundwater contamination. For additional information on what is considered good conditions for a geothermal heat pump, check out Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration website (www.eia.doe.gov). (http://www.geo4va.vt.edu/A1/A1.htm#A1Sec2)

Of course, the amount of land, landscaping and the location of underground utilities will also contribute to your design. Horizontal ground loops, often seen as the most economical, are usually used for new construction with a great deal of available land. Vertical loop system designs are great for situations where there is an existing building, or where the landscaping shouldn’t be disturbed.

If you’re considering installing a geothermal heat pump in your Scotts Valley home, remember that this can’t be a do it yourself project. The technical knowledge, equipment and safety issues associated with the installation of such a system require a great deal of training, and it’s best to let a professional handle the job. Once you have it installed though, I know that you will see the savings in not only the bank, but also the environment. Scotts Valley homes with these systems will be sought after as having the most energy efficient around and are cutting edge.

Capitola Oceanviews…..ah the beach

Scotts Valley Luxury Country Home

A couple of fine Bonny Doon Mountain homes

Click on the photos to see more about these great properties or call Gregg at 831-818-7524 or go to www.propertyincapitola.com

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation( www.nof.org) :
“Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more
likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis
can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also
known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist.”

While any bone can be affected, of special concern are fractures of the
hip and spine. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization
and major surgery. It can impair a person’s ability to walk unassisted
and may cause prolonged or permanent disability or even death. Spinal
or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss
of height, severe back pain, and deformity.

If you look at healthy bones you will see that there are small holes
between the bone cells. In osteoporosis those pores are larger making
the bones brittle and easy to break. The best way to prevent
osteoporosis is to prevent bone loss in the first place. In Rio Del
Mar, California, there are many people who have homes there so they can
easily get exercise walking on the beach. Rio Del Mar beach homes are
favored by many, but one of the advantages they have over other Santa
Cruz beach homes is a very nice long beach and easy access to the sand.
This invites exercise which helps strengthen bones.

Children and teenagers form new bone faster than they lose the old
bone. This means their bones get denser and denser until they reach
what experts call peak bone mass, which happens around 20 years old.
After you reach peak bone mass, the balance between bone loss and bone
formation might start to change. In other words, you may slowly start
to lose more bone than you form. In midlife, bone loss usually speeds
up in both men and women. For most women, bone loss increases after
menopause, when estrogen levels drop sharply. In fact, in the five to
seven years after menopause, women can lose up to 20 percent or more of
their bone density.

The best ways to prevent that massive loss of bone is to make sure you
keep your calcium levels up.  Taking a multivitamin can be
helpful, but for menopausal/post menopausal women a higher dose of
calcium may be needed.  Calcium is nice on its own, but it is
only part of the story. Vitamin D helps your body to absorb calcium.
The NOF recommends 1,200 mcg of calcium and 1,000 mcg of vitamin D each
day.  If you have a severe deficiency of vitamin D you may
need to take as much as 100,000 mcg per week.

The third aspect of preventing and treating osteoporosis is
exercise.  Bones are like muscles– they strengthen as they
are used. Here are some exercises that can be done: some are high
impact and others are low impact for those who cannot do the high
impact exercises.


High Impact Exercises

•    High-impact aerobics
•    Hiking
•    Jogging/running
•    Jumping Rope
•    Stair climbing
•    Tennis
•    Dancing

Low Impact Exercises

•
Elliptical training machines
•    Low impact aerobics
•    Stair-step machines
•    Walking (treadmill/outside)

The best approach to preventing osteoporosis is really three-pronged:
keeping up levels of calcium, vitamin D, and exercise. Some of the
calcium can be taken from your diet, so can the vitamin D. Leafy green
vegetables are often good sources, such as spinach, kale and others.
Exercise is a necessary evil for every age group, but is especially
important for those of us who are over 50. Getting out and walking is
an easy way to start your exercise. While you don’t need a Rio Del Mar
beach house, to start, a walk around the block is a great way to start.
You will find with more walking a greater connection to your neighbors
and community. Start slowly, with your physicians’ guidance and
exercise yourself to health and strength.  Be sure to check
out the National Osteoporosis Foundation’s website at
www.nof.org  for more information on this process.

*Click on the photo for property details

Nice places from the shining sea of Capitola to the country homes of Scotts Valley or Swanton

Capitola Oceanviews…..ah the beach
Reasonably priced condo… walk to New Brighton in Capitola

Elegant and gorgeous
Scotts Valley executive home with privacy in the country

Captivating Bonny Doon View
One of those rare homes that has a great location and breathtaking views. Hard to beat!

Ah Swanton views and usable land
Great Swanton setting…. a rare offering

Want to search for other Property in Santa Cruz,or Santa Cruz homes. follow the link.

*Click on the photo for property details

See the sea at Castle Beach in Seabright

Unblocked Castle Beach ocean view home
This charming Searbright Beach house is one of those that evoke memories over the generations. Oozing with charm and a location that can’t be beat. Follow the link for more information or call Gregg at 831-818-7524 for a private showing.

Country Tranquility and modern comfort
Rather enjoy the mountains and their solitude over the beach.This is the place to do it in a gated enclave. To see this home or learn more call Gregg at 831-818-7524 or click the picture for details.

Tuscany meets the ocean in Rio Del Mar

Capitola Village Life at your feet

Want to search for other homes or Property in Santa Cruz, follow the link.

Capitola ocean view home near the Jewel Box

Pretty home that is done and ready for you to enjoy the beach life in Capitola. Easy stroll to the village for a cocktail or dinner and no need to drive. How great a retirement life is that. Bring your checkbook and flip flops. Just click on the photos for more information.

Love Depot Hill, Capitola ?

This home is very large for Capitola and nicely done. Get a great home in a highly desired location in Capitola’s famed Depot Hill.

Twin Lakes here we come

Large luxury home in Twin Lakes region of Santa Cruz. Really nice large yard and quiet location. Oh what a life…it could be yours.

At The Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor

Life does not get much better than this. A top notch home with dazzling harbor views. Walk to your yacht to lunch or the beach. Yes with this home, you do have it all.

Call Gregg Camp if this is the sort of thing you are looking for at 831-818-7524. Retiring at the beach doesn’t have to be ugly. There are some great homes, you just need to know where to look. You can find other fine luxury ocean view and Santa Cruz beach home here, in Capitola or Rio Del Mar. Have a great day.

Twin Lakes Beach Cottage….. just what the doctor ordered

At a price that is not too hard to swallow. Nice artist studio for those overflow guests that always seem to show up. Just walk down the street to the beach. Life….. simple like it used to be. Call Gregg to see 831-818-7524

Search for other Santa Cruz homes or Capitola homes

Airborne particulate matter is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic substances that are divided into two groups: coarse and fine particles. The fine particles include formed aerosols (gas that turned to particles), combustion particles, and metal vapors. The large particles are things like dust from the road or a factory. The fine particles are the ones most directly linked to acid rain and those are the ones that we are going to deal with today. They have the most relevance to the new laws in California regulating the emissions from semi-tractor trailers. While Santa Cruz is not a big city, we have a major artery, highway 1 which runs through our lovely ocean side communities as well as mining in the mountains which generate particulates too.

Particulate air pollution is a mixture of solid and liquid particles that are suspended in the air that you breathe. It is best to classify air particles by the aerodynamic properties because these properties determine the removal of them from the air, and where they deposit in your respiratory system.

The fine particles are mainly created from gases. There are four major origins for the gases that are to blame for these particles: heavy metal (vaporized during combustion or casting), carbon from combustion, organic carbon, sulfates and nitrates. Take sulphur dioxide. It is created during engine combustion, but when it gets into the atmosphere and mixes with rain it turns into sulphuric acid. We all probably know what that can do- as it is highly corrosive and dangerous in concentration.

The relationship between air pollution and lung cancer has been well established. The fine particles are the ones mostly to blame. Air pollution makes all lung diseases (COPD, asthma, emphysema) worse as the smog levels go up.

It has also been proven the lung development in children in areas of high smog is slower than in other areas. Some children do not achieve full lung capacity because of the smog they live in. The good news is that lung development begins again if the child moves away from the smog. These results were issued in the American Journal of Respiratory And Critical Care in 2001 and 2002.

The damage being done to the growing lungs of our children and the irritation in the lungs of the elderly, has led to tougher emissions control laws being enacted in California. Not every child or senior can move away from the danger, so the danger should be minimized for them.

I plan to discuss these new emissions control laws in my next post. I hope you come back and read on with me. If you want to read up on COPD follow the link to get more information.

Santa Cruz county is an area with a few streams and river and creeks. When they get contaminated, they create problems down stream in the ocean at the beaches. This can lead to beach closures. To find out where there are Santa Cruz beach closures to be concerned of, follow the link. If you are going to the beach be sure to take spare change for a parking meter or money for a day pass. Also be sure to take water and sun screen. Having a beach house by the water where you walk may be an eventual goal. Follow the links to one of the beach communities and see what is of interest. Give me a call if something is interesting at 831-818-7524.

Currently the Santa Cruz Main Beach by the San Lorenzo river is closed due to high bacteria counts. Most of the county beaches are open in Santa Cruz though. Follow the link for the locations of some beaches. The main beach west of the wharf, by lifeguard tower 2 is also closed.Further south in Capitola where Soquel Creek flows to the ocean and is blocked off, it also has high bacteria counts and is closed. In Rio Del Mar where Aptos Creek flows to the ocean, there are also stagnant pools and these areas are also closed.

Swimming in these locations most often is done by young kids where they can come in contact with disease-causing organisms. Oftentimes this water is settled in by birds, who leave their droppings, which can lead to seriously high levels of bacteria. Another cause of beach closures is due to septic tank and leach field system failures in the San Lorenzo Valley.

This problem is most often times a problem in the winter when there is higher water flow. So more of the problems occur during the warmer times when the creeks and rivers are flowing slowly and the contaminants build up.

Most Santa Cruz County beaches are open, be safe, have fun.

Cut Bait or Fish… this is a home buyer story

Well that’s an old saying, but has some truth to it. For those who don’t know it means, it means do something or don’t talk about it. I’m thinking that is what you the buyers should be doing. But in this case move through the fear and act on these great deals. A year or three from now you will look back an bemoan your lack of action. Go ahead, it is OK to buy.
You know you have been thinking “I should buy a house, the prices are down.” Depending on where you want to buy in Santa Cruz county , they are down 10-30%. Without the benefit of a crystal ball, I’d guess there might be another 5-10%, of downtrend depending on the area, with most of that being in the north and south regions of the county. That does not mean that you can’t go and get that right discount right now. Banks and sellers are willing to sell, so it is time to “go fish.”

Speaking on that topic, one of my favorite fish, salmon is not likely to be fished this year. It is an unfortunate situation that is not well understood as to why there is such a very limited number of salmon in the runs this year. The DFG is likely to cancel the whole salmon fishing season .So from an economic stand point, Santa Cruz fishermen are likely to have the year off. Not something they wanted. Slip rent still is costly as is the rising cost of fuel. It is a very difficult time to be a fisherman no doubt, also because the rock fish have been over fished. Maybe it is global warming that is affecting the sea life as the arctic ice shelf is melting at an unprecedented rate? Recently even Orca killer whales have made it into Monterey Bay because the salmon are scarce in the waters they normally inhabit, in the Washington area.

No doubt fisherman love what they do, but some will fall by the wayside, and take other jobs. Others who enjoy what they do, like me, will find a way to keep on fishing, even though things are tough. I have been helping people “fish” the right house in a sea of choices for 20 years. These are times that I see rare opportunity, when others see peril.

Now back to “fishing” for that great deal in real estate. Here are the things that you need to start thinking about as you decide to move from “cutting bait” to “fishing.” Both things are necessary, so if you don’t have enough “bait- down payment”, lets talk and devise a plan and a timeframe. So here is what you need to do:

1) Make sure you have enough bait- save up for a down payment of at least 10%
2) Check to boat to make sure it is seaworthy- talk with a lender, some one experienced like

Woodward-O’Connor Mortgage so there is smooth sailing in the rough seas of lenders.
3) Check you gear- do you have time to go out and troll for the right home now?
4) Is your skipper and crew ready-,yes, Gregg Camp- to help you fish?
5) Is your navigation and fish finder top notch and in sound order- search easily for the home you want. Yes!
6) Is the weather right for fishing for that great deal on a home or investment vacation rental? Yes!
7) Then it is time to “go fish” for a great deal on a home or condominium or investment vacation house.

Well then call for an appointment and lets get started before the other fisherman catch your fish and the one you wanted gets away. Call Gregg at 831-818-7524. Read my other blogs.