Kathleen Finnegan

Author Archive

4 ways to get an offer accepted

Buying a house is a little like asking someone to marry you. if you want your house offer to be greeted with a yes – and a quick one – here are four rules to follow. 1. Be nice: While money is important, buyers should also be likable and avoid making negative comments about the house or discussing their renovation plans in front of the seller, keeping in mind that sellers have an emotional connection to the property. Don't tell someone... Continue Reading >

natural ways to make your home critter-free

Items you most likely already have around the house can ward off pesky critters. Block Flies with Basil Flies hate the smell of basil. To discourage them, place pots of basil at doorways and windowsills and on the kitchen counter. Don't have enough sun for potted basil? Put dried basil in a small muslin pouch, rubbing it occasionally to keep the scent strong. Scare Off Spiders with Citrus Spiders are not fond of citrus. In a spray bottle, mix water and unsweetened lemon or... Continue Reading >

Bang! Bang!

Calabasas Fireworks Spectacular Friday, July 4, 2014 Location: NEW FOR 2014! Calabasas High School Football Field (22855 W. Mulholland Hwy.,) Schedule: 5:00 p.m. Gates open to public 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Family Fun Zone hosted by “Who’s That DJ?”! Zone includes games and prizes, inflatables, arts and crafts, temporary tattoos, stilt walkers, balloons and more! (Note: Fun Zone closes at 8:30pm when the sun goes down) 7:15 p.m. -8:45 p.m. Live musical dance party with Platinum Groove plus additional patriotic surprises! 9:00 p.m. Musically choreographed... Continue Reading >

full disclosure : what to tell buyers about your home

Whether you have owned your home for a few years or a few decades, you know its quirks, best features and flaws. When you morph from homeowner to home seller you need to be aware that your experience with your home is something you may have to share with potential buyers. Most buyers opt to have a home inspection before they finalize their purchase, but you as the seller must also follow state and federal regulations regarding disclosure of known facts... Continue Reading >

concerts on the green

 The Concerts will be held Sunday afternoons, June 1st through August 24th. All concerts start at 6 PM and end at 8 PM unless otherwise notified. Note that there will be no concert on July 6th. Concerts on the Green are held at the beautiful Lou Bredlow Pavilion in Warner Park at 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., in Woodland Hills. There is plenty of room for a late afternoon picnic with the family while being entertained by headline performers. Sunday Evenings:... Continue Reading >

Memorial Day parade in Canoga Park

The Memorial Day Parade is a community event for the entire Valley to enjoy. The Parade will be held on Monday, May 26th (starting at 10:00am) and beginning at Sherman Way and Owensmouth. It will proceed with scheduled stops for performers on Sherman Way ending at the First Baptist Church of Canoga Park. Join us as a sponsor, participant, or spectator and be a part of this wonderful event. For more information on being a sponsor for the event, participating in the... Continue Reading >

real estate market pulse

Southern California’s housing market perked up a bit in April, with sales rising more than usual from March and dipping below a year earlier by the smallest degree in six months. Home prices edged higher again but at a slower pace, the result of more inventory, affordability constraints and less pressure from investors, a real estate information service reported. A total of 20,008 new and resale houses and condos sold in Los Angeles, Ventura and San Fernando counties last month. That was... Continue Reading >

design trends : whats next?

A good way to stay sane amid the trend forecasts is to think about how — or if — each forecasted trend somehow resonates with your own life. If it doesn't reflect you, don't follow the masses, people want to live a more relaxed life, so the trend will be to make every single room in the house a space that you can actually live in. Here are professionals' predictions about how the shift toward a more personal and meaningful space... Continue Reading >

staying prepared – emergency kits

I found this list really helpful. You can’t prevent disasters, but you can take charge of how you respond if you’re prepared. The first step is putting together an emergency preparedness kit.           What should go in an emergency kit? Here are the basics: Your Most Important Papers If disaster strikes, you could spend weeks or even months just trying to re-create the essential documents you’ll need to get back on track. That’s why it’s critical to have backups of important papers, such as: ◾The... Continue Reading >

7 Negotiating Tips for Homebuyers

Remember these tips during the deal-making process of your home purchase. #1: BE QUICK ON THE UPTAKE It is critical to respond to counteroffers as soon as possible and to avoid making a counteroffer with any term that is not truly a deal breaker. Delays in responding leave space open for another buyer to step in and create a bidding war, or even more likely, for the seller to perceive that other serious buyers might be out there. A seller's mere perception... Continue Reading >