Single? Dating? Married? Here are some fabulous ways to enjoy Valentine's Day in the land I love..
1) Estancia, La Jolla Valentine's Dinner
Friday, February 14, 2014
Adobe El Restaurante
Crush on a delectable Three Course Prix Fixe Valentine’s Dinner designed by Executive Chef Kimberley Kramer. Adobe sets the stage for exceptional San Diego dining on this very special day. Available on Friday, February 14th only.
Please call Angela Sclafani at 858.964.6521 to make your reservations today.
*Reservations are required. $75 per guest, includes two glasses of sparkling wine. Tax and gratuity not included. A credit card is required to hold the reservation, 48-hour cancellation policy.
Romance & Rendezvous Package includes your choice of Guest Room or Suite accommodations, complimentary valet parking, Sparkling Wine & fresh berries upon arrival, a Couples Massage (50 minutes), and breakfast for two at Adobe El Restaurante or in-room dining, discounts for AAA and Costco members
2)Addison at the Grand Del Mar
This Valentine's Day, fall in love again and again with seven irresistible courses! 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm. $205 per person or $325 with wine pairings
3)Athens Market Taverna, SD Gaslamp District
Come celebrate a day of love with a special three course menu from $28 to $45 per person! Entree choices include lamb, chicken, salmon, Greek combo, prime NY steak and more.
4) For a particularly wild Valentine's Day, Singles Soiree at Envy at 10pm
5)Unlock the Night at the Tilted Kilt 310 10th St. San Diego, CA , singles 25-44
We start your night out right, getting unlocked. Men get keys, women get locks. Come out to meet new people, make new friends and just have an incredible evening.
Mingle, network, meet someone special, win prizes, stay after and dance
Register at www.vipsocialevents.com
6) Double Tree Mission Valley, Grand Ballroom, 8pm, $12 admission, full bar, 40+ singles
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck
When getting ready to sell your lovely home, the six key area's to focus on home improvement upgrades are the kitchen, bathroom, flooring, paint, and exterior touches to enhance curb appeal, and major systems (a/c, roof, plumbing, electrical, etc.). Start by having your home inspected to ensure that nothing out of the ordinary needs to be fixed like a leaky roof, electrical, or plumbing issues. If your home is still under warranty, a/c, plumbing and electrical issues are likely covered. Some major investments like installing an over-the -top wood fired oven, may not increase the value of your home but would provide a major selling point so carefully consider vanity upgrades. Here are some tips to get the most out of your home improvements.
1) The kitchen is considered the heart of the home, so splurge on staining, painting or replacing old cabinets, updating fixtures, replace vinyl flooring and upgrade the countertops. If other home's on the market of similar value have marble or quartz countertops, then yours should, too. There are less expensive options that look great and will add value. Replace old vinyl flooring with tile, stone or laminate. Update all fixtures and if you can swing it, replace old and dated appliances with stainless steel appliances. Most older homes are suffering from hideous kitchen wallpaper and you can easily perk up your kitchen by replacing this with a complimentary paint color. If the kitchen is small, go for a lighter shade of yellow, lilac, or cream while bigger spaces allow for brighter or darker shades like a deep red, orange, lime, or gray. Personally, I like my kitchens light and opt for neutral since everyone has a style all their own. You want your kitchen to have a wow factor but always be careful when choosing paint color... You will see the most return on your investment on your kitchen upgrades.
2) Update your bathroom fixtures, paint, and flooring. If your home has three bedrooms and one bathroom or if it could desperately use a half bathroom, consider adding an additional one if you have the extra space. The extra square footage and better marketability will increase the value of your home. While adding a whole new bathroom can have a heavy price tag, a half bathroom can add up to 10.5% to the value of your home while a full bathroom can add up to 20% of the value.
3) Remove old carpet and replace with upgraded carpet or wood. Tile entryways and perhaps hallways but never stairs. Do not make a huge investment in this area. You want it to look and feel clean and updated, but investing in Italian tile will not increase the value of your home. It might increase interest but not value. Paint your home throughout. In adjoining area's, it's a good idea to use the same color palette and stay within three shades even if you're going super neutral. For example, light beige, medium tan, and brown or just off white throughout is perfectly fine. The key rooms that you can get away with color and it usually won't be a major turn off are the dining room (darker shades of red or blue work well), the bathrooms, and the kitchen. Keep bedrooms neutral.
4) Curb appeal is super important. After all, you want to entice people to walk in and see that awesome kitchen you just remodeled, right? According to Houston appraiser, Frank Lucco, a poorly maintained front yard can result in a 10% drop in value. Clean your yard of any debris, trim shrubs, trees, add fresh mulch and flowers to brighten it up. Paint the front door, trim, and garage door. Line the walkway with solar powered lights which is functional and adds ornamentation.
5) Adding an additional bedroom adds 4% to the value of your home and each additional 1,000 square feet of living space will add 3.3%, so if you have an attic or basement that can be converted to usable space, go for it. Besides an additional bedroom, you can turn that extra space into a sport's den with a bar, a children's play room, or an office. If your lot allows for room for growth, also consider expanding the existing bedrooms for additional living and closet space. Make sure you get any permits needed for exterior or building projects by contacting your HOA and city project development organization. You can find a schedule for La Jolla city planning and project development meeting times posted right here every week.
1) The kitchen is considered the heart of the home, so splurge on staining, painting or replacing old cabinets, updating fixtures, replace vinyl flooring and upgrade the countertops. If other home's on the market of similar value have marble or quartz countertops, then yours should, too. There are less expensive options that look great and will add value. Replace old vinyl flooring with tile, stone or laminate. Update all fixtures and if you can swing it, replace old and dated appliances with stainless steel appliances. Most older homes are suffering from hideous kitchen wallpaper and you can easily perk up your kitchen by replacing this with a complimentary paint color. If the kitchen is small, go for a lighter shade of yellow, lilac, or cream while bigger spaces allow for brighter or darker shades like a deep red, orange, lime, or gray. Personally, I like my kitchens light and opt for neutral since everyone has a style all their own. You want your kitchen to have a wow factor but always be careful when choosing paint color... You will see the most return on your investment on your kitchen upgrades.
2) Update your bathroom fixtures, paint, and flooring. If your home has three bedrooms and one bathroom or if it could desperately use a half bathroom, consider adding an additional one if you have the extra space. The extra square footage and better marketability will increase the value of your home. While adding a whole new bathroom can have a heavy price tag, a half bathroom can add up to 10.5% to the value of your home while a full bathroom can add up to 20% of the value.
3) Remove old carpet and replace with upgraded carpet or wood. Tile entryways and perhaps hallways but never stairs. Do not make a huge investment in this area. You want it to look and feel clean and updated, but investing in Italian tile will not increase the value of your home. It might increase interest but not value. Paint your home throughout. In adjoining area's, it's a good idea to use the same color palette and stay within three shades even if you're going super neutral. For example, light beige, medium tan, and brown or just off white throughout is perfectly fine. The key rooms that you can get away with color and it usually won't be a major turn off are the dining room (darker shades of red or blue work well), the bathrooms, and the kitchen. Keep bedrooms neutral.
4) Curb appeal is super important. After all, you want to entice people to walk in and see that awesome kitchen you just remodeled, right? According to Houston appraiser, Frank Lucco, a poorly maintained front yard can result in a 10% drop in value. Clean your yard of any debris, trim shrubs, trees, add fresh mulch and flowers to brighten it up. Paint the front door, trim, and garage door. Line the walkway with solar powered lights which is functional and adds ornamentation.
5) Adding an additional bedroom adds 4% to the value of your home and each additional 1,000 square feet of living space will add 3.3%, so if you have an attic or basement that can be converted to usable space, go for it. Besides an additional bedroom, you can turn that extra space into a sport's den with a bar, a children's play room, or an office. If your lot allows for room for growth, also consider expanding the existing bedrooms for additional living and closet space. Make sure you get any permits needed for exterior or building projects by contacting your HOA and city project development organization. You can find a schedule for La Jolla city planning and project development meeting times posted right here every week.
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