Posted by Tod on August 10, 2010 | 
Pets are more than just animals, they are part of the family. Our furry, feathered and finned friends require time, attention and a safe and comfortable home. Over half of all households have pets living with them, but animals are still an afterthought when it comes to buying a new home in Southern California. Here are some tips for designing and finding a pet friendly home:
- Pets need space of their own.
It’s important to have a designated spot just for them, for comfort, function and to feel safe. A great example of this is the mudroom included in the Vistas plan 3335 at Rancho Santalina. This provides space for a cozy bed, storage for food & treats and a place to wipe dirty paws before entering the main living area. You could also add a sink to the mudroom for quick clean-ups and to rinse out your pets’ food and water dishes separately from your own.
- Choose hard surface floors in your new home.
Hardwood floors are simple to mop or vacuum and add warmth to a room, but keep in mind that large dogs can scratch wood. The best floor for pets is ceramic tile because it’s easy to clean and resistant to stains, plus it gives furry animals a cool place to nap during the summer months. If you are a carpet person, that’s OK , just make sure it is stain resistant and vacuum regularly.
- Put washable fabrics on your bed.
If your dog or cat sleeps with you there will be hair and an occasional accident. Use cotton bed sheets, preferably in a matching color of your pet or a pattern that can hide the pet hair between washings. For bedspreads, duvet covers work well because you can take them off and wash them regularly.
- Bathe and groom your pet often.
Keeping your dog or cat clean will help your new home stay cleaner, longer. Regularly trimming their nails will help keep upholstery from snags and cut down on scratches on your floors. Brushing and bathing removes loose hair before it ends up on your floor, beds and pillows. Furniture and rugs will last longer if they don’t need to be washed as often. It’s easier and more fun to wash your best friend than your upholstery.
- Create a pet –friendly back yard.
Create a “potty” area for your pet and use gentle hardscapes (like pea gravel) for paths. If you’ll be planting beds, you might want to elevate them or add a border to dissuade dogs from running through your flowers. Also, be sure to check out www.aspca.com/toxicplants for a list of foliage to stay away from.
- Exercise your pet regularly.
Your pets love to be home with you but they also need exercise and to socialize with others like them. Cats enjoy playing indoors with you and fun toys they can chase and hunt for exercise, dogs on the other hand enjoy being outdoors, running and socializing with other dogs. San Marcos is a family-friendly city, and may be the dog-friendliest in the county. There are three dog parks within San Marcos, all providing safe places for our best friends to run and play off-leash. A fourth is under construction.
- Montiel Park – is on the east side of town
- San Elijo Park – in San Elijo Hills
- Hollandia Park – the newest
- There is a fourth park, scheduled to open in winter of 2010, called Sunset Park, on the west side at La Mirada Drive and Poinsettia Avenue
For more information about viewing these model homes or about other Southern California New Homes, please contact FieldStone Homes.
Tags: bed, cats, ceramic tile, dishes, dogs, exercise, fabrics, floors, hair, hardscape, mop, mudroom, New Homes, paws, pets, potty, Rancho Santalina Homes, San Marcos, sink, southern california, storage, wash
Posted by Tod on July 21, 2010 |
Housing in San Marcos, California – Buy New!
In today’s highly competitive market there is a vast array of choices to be made when deciding between purchasing a new home or used home, which is called re-sale. One of the primary advantages of buying a new home is the ability to personalize and decorate your home from the beginning exactly the way you want. In a new home, you can pick your own exterior elevation, color scheme, kitchen cabinets, appliances, flooring, custom wiring for TV’s and computers as well as have more upgrade options. Modern features like media rooms, lofts, extra-large closets, large bathrooms and tubs are also more attainable in new construction.
Often, new homes in Southern California will have more modern conveniences, better insulation and can be more energy efficient. Insulation in ceilings, walls and floors is often substandard or nonexistent in an old home and old-style widows waste heat almost as badly as if they were open. New home builders use modern materials such as dual-glazed (Low E2) windows, energy-star appliances, radiant barrier roof sheathing, thicker insulation and other technology that will lower future energy costs for the owner.
New homes bring safety and piece of mind to your family. Builders have to follow very strict guidelines in new homes, especially in California, where earthquake safety standards must be observed. New construction also comes with a builders’ warranty.
Affordability and appreciation are also concerns for buyers today. There can be investment advantages in purchasing a new home. It is simply a function of supply and demand, and the economic realities of the real estate market. The short-term savings you may see in a used home are lost over time when repairs, renovations, pest control and lower appreciation are taken into account. These issues are much less likely to concern new home buyers.
For more information about viewing these model homes or about other North San Diego New Homes, please contact FieldStone Homes.
Posted by Tod on June 18, 2010 |
Green is the popular color today, its everywhere. Everyone is talking about going green, in the news, on the internet, home builders, businesses, food, fashion
…your head will spin! What is green and how can I help, you ask?
The fact is, every single thing we do every day has an impact on the planet. The good news is that as an individual you have the power to control most of your choices. Ease into being green, start small and change just a few things in your life and you will have a global impact.
Here are a few tips to get you started.
- EAT FRESHER
Eat seasonal, local, organic foods. Shop at your local farmer’s markets. Buying local means supporting the local economy and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions required to get food from its origin to your plate.
Sprouts Farmers Market-San Marcos, 149 S. Las Posas Rd., San Marcos, Ca 92078 (760) 208-6041
- ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION
Anytime you choose to walk, ride a bike or take public transportation, you reduce the carbon dioxide and particulate emissions created by driving a car. Not to mention the health benefits to you with the exercise.
Sprinter – www.GoNCTD.com
- RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE
Make proper use of your recycle bin, reduce the amount of stuff you consume and find constructive uses for waste materials. Nothing is ever just thrown away; it all has to go somewhere. By recycling and reusing, we reduce the amount of waste that sits in landfills. Recycling materials also saves energy compared to using virgin materials to create new products.
EDCO – Waste Collection & Recycling
- PLANT BASED SKIN PRODUCTS
Your skin is the bodys largest organ and absorbs up to 60 percent of the products you put on it every day, from soaps to shampoos to sunscreens. Choosing green personal care products often means using plant-based ingredients in place of petrochemicals.
- WATER IS NOT A RENEWABLE RESOURCE
Clean water is perhaps the planet’s most precious resource. Being water conscious helps reduce strain on municipal treatment systems and ensures there’s enough H2O to go around. By shifting away from bottled water, we can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions (from shipping), the energy required to produce (petroleum-derived) plastic, and the volume of waste trucked to our landfills (from empty bottles).
- BUY A NEW HOME
Part of going green is being energy efficient. Southern California New Homes today are built much more energy efficient than older homes. For instance, the new community of Rancho Santalina in San Marcos includes many energy efficient features such as energy-star appliances, dual-glazed (low E2) windows, radiant barrier roof sheathing, energy-efficient water heaters with insulated lining, water-saving toilets and shower heads, just to name a few.
So let’s make an effort and start today to save our beautiful planet together. Going Green is cool!
Pets are more than just animals, they are part of the family. Our furry, feathered and finned friends require time, attention and a safe and comfortable home. Over half of all households have pets living with them, but animals are still an afterthought when it comes to buying a new home in Southern California. Here are some tips for designing and finding a pet friendly home:
