I LOVE this product!! One of the great perks that comes with home ownership is the ability to customize one’s home. As a 15+ year property owner/investor, I’ve had the chance to try out a few flooring products.

Marmoleum hands down is my favorite for easy clean up, durability, and scratch resistance. It’s held up extremely well to a busy household which includes 2 dogs and 2 cats. There is one scratch in the surface and that was caused by me being clumsy with a cabinet one hour post-installation (uuughhh!!). Otherwise, it’s been scratch free for 18 months.

Not only is the scratch resistance impressive, but Marmoleum is really comfortable to stand on for long periods of time (for those serious chefs!) since there is a layer of cork under each tile . This product is also an easy install for the do-it-yourselfer (I installed it myself with a few basic tools). Lastly, you can’t beat the reasonable price (~$4.50-5.50sf), the great colors and it’s environmentally friendly to boot!

Give it a try for your next project-you won’t be disappointed!

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Considering a new driveway? There are lots of options available ranging from stamped concrete, to brick, to pavers, to permeable.

We went the route of a pebble driveway to replace the concrete driveway for a few reasons. It was economical, fast to install and permeable thereby reducing runoff & pollutants entering our storm drains.

My understanding is that storm runoff is one of biggest pollutants of our waterways. I’m in full support of making choices which will offset our impact on the environment.

Our initial thought was to install porous concrete pavers which have openings that can be filled with gravel or grass. We then decided on decomposed granite for the ease of installation and maintenance. It is also available in a few colors.

It’s been two plus years and we’ve been really happy with the result. There is no worry about future cracking and settling as there is with a concrete driveway. No worries about staining either since we can move around or rake the gravel.

The drawback is the occasional required sweeping of stray pieces that end up on the path way or sidewalk and the difficulty in walking to the car in heels. Stray pieces can end up in the house on our wood floors if shoes aren’t properly wiped at the door, but our floors have been getting a fair amount of abuse from two active dogs. It’s a house well cared for and well lived in!

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It’s that time of the year again when gutters need to be cleaned. We just had a great product installed in portions of our gutters which prevents gutters from clogging.

There is an incredibly large, messy redwood tree which litters needles and branches several times a year. It’s just a matter of time before the gutters & downspouts end up getting clogged with tree debris, problematic when our rainy season starts.

RainFlow will help to keep our gutters & downspouts clear, since the debris sits on top of the membrane which can then be blown off when we have our semi-annual gutter cleaning. Another plus, is that since the gutters are easier to clean, our twice a year service will now be less expensive!

Let me know if you’d like a recommendation to the installer & gutter cleaner that I work with. He did an excellent job, is reasonably priced & made a great recommendation to use this product in portions of our high debris gutter areas!

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In my constant quest to be eco-friendly both personally and professionally, I’ve been implementing a few environmentally friendly business practices.

Currently, I’m in the process of reducing the number of direct marketing pieces to a quarterly schedule, instead staying in touch monthly with friends and clients via electronic newsletters.

I’ve also successfully been working with electronic systems since 2007, creating a paperless transaction for clients who are buying or selling real estate. The response has been overwhelmingly positive from clients who appreciate being able to review documents online as well as securely sign the dozens of disclosures and reports electronically through Docusign.

Gone are the days of having to kill a forest to buy or sell a home. It is technology which hopefully more of the real estate industry will embrace, especially considering that a typical transaction consumes 250-300 sheets of paper and can top 600 sheets with condo transactions. Additionally, the quality of electronic files is far superior to hard copies which lose print detail with each printing and faxing.

Clients, at their leisure, can go online to review & sign reports and disclosures after we’ve reviewed them together. With their busy schedules of juggling work & family, they appreciate the convenience & efficiency of an electronic system. Clients receive all their transaction paperwork on a CD rather than a hard copy; a format which is more convenient to store rather then a two to three inch paper file as well as it being easier to locate specific documents on disk. Clients also appreciate being able to contribute to being eco-friendly.

Title companies and lenders are also slowly moving towards the paperless transaction.

At the conclusion of a transaction, I also purchase carbon credits to further offset my carbon footprint.

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There is not one particular market within San Bruno. There are several difference neighborhoods that each have their own unique feel and different market conditions. Depending on if you’re looking to buy for your own use, investment, or fix and flip– there’s a neighborhood in San Bruno that will have what you’re looking for.

There are many thriving “move-up” neighborhoods that have a very nice micro-climate and attract many buyers. These listings tend to experiencing multiple offers, and a lot of interest. Acting fast in these neighborhoods is essential if you’re competing for a home and having your paperwork, including loan pre-approval in place will help you look even more attractive to the sellers.

Then, as there is everywhere nowadays, there are the neighborhoods that are saturated with short sales and foreclosures. These neighborhoods have a lot of charm and are excellent opportunities for investors and first time buyers. If you’re looking for a great deal in a great area, these are the neighborhoods to check out.

For more information contact me at stephan@stephanmarshall.com or 650.455.1528. I’m a San Bruno native and can give you the information you need about the area and show you around.

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I love this solution!! We live on a busy street and didn’t want the view of cars and pedestrians nor did we want to feel like fish in a fish bowl when the drapes were open. This window is also huge at 12 feet across and drapes faded quickly due to southern exposure.

Problem solved with the installation of a window film. It is available in a few patterns including our first choice of a rice paper type of pattern. This product is great!! It lets in lots of light while providing privacy. It also allows the window to be unobstructed with curtains and curtain rods making the room seem more expansive.

In the evening there is a really cool kaleidoscope effect with the backdrop of car lights reflecting off the window, making the bamboo cast a moving shadow across the window.

This product is also quite reasonably priced & comparable to buying a nice set of drapes but without the maintenance! Our installer, Steve Clark with Window Innovations was great and also able to accommodate our request of making a small cut out in the lower left portion of the window so that our kitties wouldn’t miss out on watching foot traffic and birds landing on our bamboo.

For a referral please contact Cheryl at Cheryl@CBower.com

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Are you looking for something unique for your next house project? Then think about visiting one of several great, local salvage shops.

If you’re on the Peninsula, pay a visit to Whole House Building Supply. They have salvaged finds at their showroom ranging from windows & doors to vintage sinks & light fixtures.

If you’re feeling adventurous, sign up to receive their emails for upcoming salvage sales where you can visit Peninsula properties that are either being torn down or remodeled down to the studs. You then get to remove from site anything from plants to light fixtures to door knobs to windows depending on one’s experience & skill with power tools. There are guidelines with Whole House as to what can be removed from the property as well as to pricing of items.

In addition to finding that special item, you are also helping to reuse items that are still functional and divert one less item from the landfill.

http://www.driftwoodsalvage.com/

1955 Pulgas Rd. East East Palo Alto CA 94303

Warehouse (650) 328-8731
Message Center (650) 856-0634

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This missing the mark in vision is especially true with homes in district 10, many of which, in my opinion, require taking rooms down to the studs and starting over with reconfiguring the floor plan which has been so badly botched with bad remodeling; not good first time buyer homes unless there is a contractor in the family.

The latest home we saw a few days ago actually has very good bones including a nicely flowing floor plan, original arts and crafts bungalow details including wood paneling in the living/dining room; original light fixtures, and an updated kitchen & bathrooms. Even though vinyl windows have been installed at this bungalow, at least they are at the rear of the property.

I’m not one to be shy about my opinion and strongly recommended that if my clients were to purchase this property that they either refurbish the original wood double hung windows at the front of the house (curb appeal is so important & refurbishing is an eco-friendly & less expensive approach) or replace with new dual paned double hung wood windows or aluminum clad exterior/wood interior windows.

In my opinion, vinyl windows just don’t do most properties justice in enhancing architectural details or creating better curb appeal. Vinyl windows come in just a few colors (most people seem to choose white) & can’t be painted which limits the exterior color palette.

Personally, I love aluminum clad exterior/wood interior windows and have installed a few from Marvin at my home. The aluminum cladding comes in several colors and it’s very durable and requires no painting unlike wood. My understanding is there is better thermal insulation with wood/aluminum clad windows as well.

Even though there is a little more cost with al clad windows vs. vinyl windows, the labor is typically the priciest part of any work on a property, so why not spend a little more money if it’s in one’s budget for a better quality, longer lasting and more esthetically pleasing product?

I recommend before embarking on a pricey project to get input from your Realtor to confirm that you’re not over improving your property for the neighborhood or over personalizing either especially if your plan is to sell at some point in the near future.

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