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CONTENTS
Message From GAR
Departments 4
Message from the President
Market Snapshot January 1, 2013 December 27, 2013
8
10
Feature Is Your Home a Burglar’s Dream?
12
Guam Association of REALTORS®
Real Estate Spotlight Property Tax Alert!
14
Louisa M. Wessling 2014 President
Profile
February 2014 • Vol. 7 • No. 02 P.O. Box 24881 Barrigada, GU 96921 Tel: (671) 472-3495 | Fax: (671) 472-3498 email: office@yellowpagesink.com
Duane C. Pahl Learning Everyday
17
|Publisher| |Business Sales Manager|
Home Finance
Jay-R S. Dominguez
Real Estate Professionals
|Display Advertising| Evelyn Trinidad
18
From the Experts Learning Fire Safety in Your Home
20
22
How to D.I.Y.
|Traffic/Circulation Manager| Carol Aperocho
|Production Manager| Mark S. Burke
Stack It Up!
|Graphics & Layout|
Do it Yourself Shoe Rack
Mark S. Burke Edwin E. Valencia
Curb Appeal Turn Your Powder Room Into a Power Room!
25
Who Ya Gonna Call?
27
Classifieds
28
Closing Guam Association of REALTORS® Key Facts You Need to Know About REALTOR® Trademarks
|Editorial Contributors| Faye Varias Creative Services J.C. Cruz Clare Delgado Anthony Godwin Jon Nunan Marie Fe Regis-Malaca Arlene Taitague Taitingfong Kim Anderson Young GUAM ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Cover Photo: Mark S. Burke CasaGuam is Published by:
The Voice for Real Estate on Guam Suite 236A Julale Center 424 West O'Brien Drive, Hagatna, Guam 96910 Office: (671) 477-4271 • Fax: (671) 477-4275
CasaGuam Advertising Disclaimer All Advertisers agree to hold the publisher harmless and indemnify it against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees) made against or incurred by the publisher, officers or employees with respect to, or arising out of, the content, text, graphics or representations of any ad published herein, including but not limited to the sole negligence and/or fault of the publisher. The publisher is not liable for any claims, losses or damages of any kind, arising from the wording, text, graphics or representations of any ad published herein, or the condition of the articles sold through the publication, or performance of services advertised in this publication. All advertising and/or performance of services advertising and/or submissions become wholly the property of CasaGuam Magazine. CasaGuam Magazine is a registered trademark of PTI Pacifica Inc. Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form without the express written consent of the publisher is prohibited. We reserve the right to edit or refuse any ad and to reprint any photo for promotional use.
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Market Repor t
Market Snapshot: January 1, 2013 - December 27, 2013 I sat down with Sandy Yow, Associate Broker with Today’s Realty, and asked her the famous question, “How’s the market?” “Great!”, she says and continued, “So many people are able to purchase property now who were unable to consider buying ten years ago. Interest rates are at record lows and prices have become very affordable. Many homes are now selling in the mid 200’s which translates into a payment of roughly $700 a month…about what someone would pay in rent. This is real…I just had a buyer that closed on a brand new Dededo home purchase in this price range, and he was able to obtain his down payment assistance as a GRANT (Free Money) from the Guam Housing Corporation.” Sandy, another question… when you look into your crystal ball… what do you see. “Well, if the President had not signed the military spending bill a few days ago we would be looking at more of the same next year. With this NEW infusion of cash to Guam I can see an increase in demand, construction activity, employment, transactions…and prices!”.
Market Snapshot January 1, 2013 to December 27, 2013 Total Listings in MLS* 1,963 (as of September 23, 2013) Average Home Price: $250,760 Single Family Home Days on Market: 177
Bottom line, what are you saying? “With this news, over time, prices could likely increase. So, it’s time to get off the fence and make your MOVE. “
Average Condo Price: $188,434
Sandy, anything else you would like to share?. “I think there are many people who don’t realize they can qualify to own their own home. We meet people daily who have never considered owning real estate. They are often surprised that a monthly payment may be less than what they are paying in rent. The question is always the down payment The answer is, there are assistance programs for this. Additionally, there are loan programs, such as for veterans, that provide for up 100% financing.”
Condo/Townhome Days on Market: 150
Thanks Sandy. You may contact Sandy Yow at Today’s Realty at 687-6006 or email her at sandy@guamhome.com All data in this article is from the *Guam Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for the period stated. 4 CasaGuam Februar y 2014
Market Type Buyer’s (& Renter’s) Market # of REALTORS on GUAM: 400+
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Feature
Though it might seem pessimistic, creating an environment that will protect your family and you possessions not from fire or flood, but from other people, is a must. There are many things the average homeowner can do to prevent burglary; some of these precautions can get a little pricey while others can be done for free. If burglary prevention is on your mind, here are some tips for keeping the possessions, and more importantly the people, in your home safe.
8 CasaGuam Februar y 2014
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Feature
Is Your Home a Burglar’s Dream? By Jon Nunanr
Burglary Prevention for Homeowners on Vacation
and doesn't provide places for unwanted guests to sneak around is ideal.
Burglary prevention is particularly important when you are on vacation! As your home will be vacant for days or weeks, you want to make sure that it is not more of a target than it needs to be. Hiring a monitoring service to improve home security is, of course, a great idea, but there are a few things you can do yourself that will reduce the likelihood of a break-in while you are away, even if a home monitoring system isn't in place.
· Install exterior lights that automatically come on when it gets dark and go off when it's light. Installing lights with motion sensors near entryways is also a good idea.
· Discontinue newspaper delivery or have a neighbor bring in the paper each day. A neighbor can bring in the mail and any other deliveries at the same time.
Burglary Prevention for Valuable Items
· Arrange for someone to keep the lawn trim.
· Don't leave spare keys under the doormat or beneath a flower pot next to the front entrance. Pick a unique and out-of-the-way spot to hide a spare key (if you hide one at all).
Criminals rarely want to hang out and relax in the place they are trying to rob; they'd rather get in and get out! If a break-in does occur, one of the ways to make it less successful for the intruder is to store particularly valuable items properly.
· Leave a car parked in the driveway. · Leave lights and a radio on timers. · Don't record a message on your answering machine or voice mail that says you are gone. If you use an answering machine, have someone remove messages periodically to prevent overloading its message capacity. An overloaded answering machine won't take messages properly and can tip-off thieves that you are away. Vacations aren't the only time when burglary prevention is an issue. While your home is certainly more susceptible to break-in while you're away, a home invasion that occurs when your family is in the house is a far scarier scenario. Bad home security habits are hard to break, but the consequences of such habits can be terrible. If the following steps are already a part of your daily routine, congratulations; if they are not, it is in your best interest to take these precautions to heart. · Always make sure all easily accessible windows and doors are locked whether you are in the house or not! Second story windows, basement windows, and garage doors are often left unlocked for the homeowner's convenience or comfort, but when you leave the space, make sure these get locked, too. · If you have an alarm, use it! Many break-ins are made much more convenient for intruders because the alarm system that is in place is simply not activated. · Control your landscaping. A house that is easily visible from the street
· Don't advertise your valuables! One easy and effective part of burglary prevention is simply keeping valuable items away from windows that can be seen by passers-by. If a lot of high-end items are highly visible to anyone walking down the street, guess which house on the block will look most desirable to rob? · Hide small valuable items like jewelry. If you're going away, don't place these items in the freezer, as it is an overused hiding place. If you don't have a safe, a banged-up box high up in a closet or in a remote corner of the basement should suffice; if you do have a safe, do yourself a favor and anchor it with heavy bolts to your floor or your wall studs so it cannot simply be removed from your house and opened later. · Engrave your driver's license number into a metal surface of large valuables like video equipment, computers, and bicycles. While this isn't exactly burglary prevention, it does increase the odds that the thief is caught and that your possessions are returned. In most jurisdictions, the police will loan you an engraving tool. · Photograph valuables as record for insurance purposes. Even better, take a video inventory of each room, zooming in on brand names, model numbers, and serial numbers. Sad but true, theft can happen to anyone. By taking these steps, however, you'll reduce how attractive your home is to a would-be thief. If a burglary does occur, following these tips will also increase the odds that he or she will leave your home with less than they had hoped; a disappointed burglar is a good thing!
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On The Cover
Dededo Dream House
A
re you looking for a quality, green, well designed, tasteful, high end house at an affortable price? Here it comes. This super green house offers everything you could ask for. The spacious 4 bedroom 4 bathroom home offers you 3 master bedrooms with huge walk-in closets. Have we mentioned the jacuzzi? All the lightings are LEDS. All windows are Certified Typhoon Approved Double Panel windows. Also check out the cool inverter A/Cs! Never seen it before?! You’re right! This house is packed full of unique things that you never seen before.
MLS#13-4471 - $438,000 988-1883 E.Cotton/P.B. 10 CasaGuam Februar y 2014
karen1282001@yahoo.com
Karen Pan REALTORÂŽ
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Real Estate Spotlight
Property Tax Alert! By Kim Anderson Young EADS UP for new real estate owners, your 2013 real property taxes will become due and payable in February! If you have not received a tax bill, this information is very important for you!
H
Under Guam Law, the Department of Revenue and Taxation is required to assess the 2013 real property taxes to the owners that were vested in title as of the first Monday in March of the applicable tax year (in this case – March 4, 2013). They have or will send the 2013 tax bills out to the names and addresses of property owners on record at that time. If you purchased property in 2013 and have not received your tax bill, chances are the bill has been sent to the previous owner. Alternatively, if you sold property in 2013 and received a tax bill in the mail, kindly forward it to your buyer or allow the title company who handled your sale to help you get the bill into the buyers hands. Currently the Real Property Division of the Department of Revenue and Taxation is working on closely with Land Management on an integrated system which will allow deed transfer recordings to more quickly show as a transfer of ownership, but for this year property owners still need to be proactive in getting those property taxes paid! A taxpayer may choose to pay the entire amount due on February 20, 2014, or divide the payment into two equal payments, with half paid on February 20, 2014 and the other half paid on April 21, 2014. If you purchased property in 2013 and have not received your tax bill, your first step is to make sure that Land Management has entered your recorded deed into their computer system. Rev & Tax can now access that information and use it to confirm that you have acquired the property and can print a tax bill for you. If you purchased your property using a lender that collects and pays property taxes on your behalf, the lender will make this payment for you. Heaven knows the Government of Guam needs our tax dollars to keep our public safety and services, our schools and our infrastructure functioning. Let’s pay our fair share and take pride in contributing to our lovely island home! 12 CasaGuam Februar y 2014
About the Author Kim Anderson Young, president of Security Title, has over 30 years of experience in the real estate industry. Contact her at kim@securitytitle.net or 647.8100.
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Profile
Learning Everyday By J.C. Cruz
E
Even with years of experience under his belt, Duane C. Pahl is still striving to be the best Realtor that he can be. It's the biggest challenge that he's faced in his real estate career. It takes time to really understand real estate, he says. "It's not just buying, renting and selling. It's making people smart homeowners. It takes time and patience, and the never ending goal of always getting better and learning everyday!" Duane has always been driven to provide the best service possible, even before he entered the real estate industry. "Dealing in Sale and Marketing in various leadership positions, I was very comfortable dealing with people and the pressures of deadlines. When I decided to stop renting and become a home owner, I hired a real estate pro, and the service I received and the great experience I received, I wanted to pass along to my clients, and thought Real Estate might be right for me. I got my license and within 1 year, I decided to go full time and still love what I do!"
“
So if you're in the market for a Realtor, would like to leave you with one final thought. "Who you gonna call? Duan Pahl!"
Duane C. Pahl MRP, TODAY’S REALTY
Education:
Degree in International Business/Japanese Language, Hawaii Pacific University
Family:
Miyoko Pahl, wife Phoenix Pahl, son Kai Pahl, son
One of the best print resources on Guam! I heavily rely on Casa Guam to get my listing information out to the market. Casa is the way to go!
14 CasaGuam Februar y 2014
“
Through his work, Duane has been able to help many people. It's one of the things he loves about his job. One of Duane's fondest memories is helping a particular family who had fallen on hard times. " There are so many, but, one that always is at the top of my mind is a family in Talofofo. The husband lost his job, and they needed to sell their home since the mortgage payments were getting challenging. They called me, we priced the home right, and it sold in time to keep their credit score strong. I love helping Guam," he says. "[I] continue giving 110% to my family, clients and coworkers."
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Home Finance
Real Estate Professionals By Marie Fe Regis-Malaca In Guam, most houses are constructed as one of a kind. This requires banks to look at each loan application distinctively. Even if the home was built by the same developer, has the exact architectural design specs, or is even built in same village, each mortgage is it is based on a borrower’s financial strength and ability to repay a mortgage loan. And it is because of this uniqueness, the Bank of Hawaii has developed a free “Pathways to Home ownership” seminar to help educate first time home buyers about the overall process in purchasing a home. In this seminar, one important tip we provide to potential buyers is to work with a licensed real estate professional. There are several reasons: Real estate professionals typically work directly with the buyer in finding the right house. They are experienced in helping clients find the appropriate home and are familiar with mortgage lending basics. Realtors can assist buyers in finding a bank that will help them understand the financing options available and pre-qualify for the loan. Pre-qualification will provide a general price range of the home they can afford. Once a general price range is identified, the Realtor will have access to market data and help narrow the search criteria for available homes for sale. This saves buyers time and energy from driving all around Guam, looking for “For Sale” signs and knocking on doors. Real estate professionals can also coordinate a home walkthrough with the sellers. The walk-through allows the buyers a chance to get the general feel of the home, identify if location meets their needs, and have a chance to see the neighborhood. Guam Realtors typically draft the purchase contract which is one of the required documents when applying for a mortgage loan. The contract is the formal agreement between buyer and seller. This contract stipulates the details of the transaction between parties. In the event you may be thinking of representing yourself in a real estate transaction, make sure you understand all that is required to perform the task. For most people, a home purchase is the biggest expenditure they make. You want to be secure in your decision to go it alone. It is a complex process and one worthy of your full attention. When deciding on a Realtor, be aware that, like any service provider, the range of expertise and service levels can vary widely among professionals. Take the time to call on a few agents and get to know them. Select someone you are comfortable with and shares your perspective in home buying. If everything works out fine, your Realtor would have performed the services as expected and may end up being one of your closest friends. Here is a link that may help you find the right realtor for you. http://www.guamrealtors.com. For information about our “Pathways to Homeownership” seminars please feel free to call me at 479-3566. CasaGuam.com 17
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From the Experts
Learning Fire Safety in Your Home I went to Kmart the other day and like most trips there, I ended up buying something else I didn’t intend on getting – but nonetheless will find useful. I find that I usually tend to do this when I have a bit of extra time on my hands. So the trick is to go there when I’m in a rush. The other day, I was totally in chill mode, hence my additional purchases. So in spite of having two items on my list, like freshly-cut grass picked up by the wind, I wandered this way and that way through the aisles I don’t normally visit. And yet, it was the open aisle with high traffic where the bright colors in jars caught my eye. It was a sale on candles! Now who can say no to a nice, scented candle, right? Women are such suckers for candles.
By Marissa Borja
some kind of fun or interesting project with my readers, this time, the message is very simple. If you can’t fireproof your home, then be prepared. Be sure your smoke alarms are functioning properly and have a fire extinguisher accessible at all times. Like my husband always says, it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
After sampling tropical scents and warm scents, I settled on cinnamon. I figure it would be a good complement to our dining area. My daughters noticed the candle on the table and immediately inquired about where we would leave it once it’s lit. I emphasized the candle is to remain on the table and in that moment, I was reminded of when we woke up several years ago to panic and screams because my neighbor’s house was on fire. Thankfully, everyone was safe, but the cause was a candle lit in the bedroom. And someone was asleep in there too. I recounted the story to my daughters and explained to them that candles are never to be lit in the bedroom. Recognizing however that accidents do happen, the next step was to find out what they knew about handling a fire in the house. Being the safety person that he is, my husband always made sure we have a functioning fire extinguisher in our house. Our girls are aware of where it’s located, but have no idea how to use it. Instead, they have practiced our fire escape plan. This all made me wonder how many other homes in Guam are equipped with fire extinguishers and fire escape plans. I know it may seem a little trivial, but it’s something that could prevent the unnecessary loss of innocent little lives. I couldn’t imagine not being prepared when faced with a fire in my home. And while I usually make it a point to use my column to share 18 CasaGuam Februar y 2014
About the Author Since 2007, seasoned television personality Marissa Borja (Pacific Home & Garden and My Home with Marissa Borja) has been working to fill Guam's home and garden niche with stories, products and services that locals will find beneficial and relative to their lifestyle. She enjoys the creative outlet that writing and television offer in order to balance out her busy personal life as a wife and full-time mother of five.
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H o w To D . I . Y.
Stack it Up! Do it Yourself Shoe Rack ne of the biggest problems we have in our house is storage: too much stuff and never enough space. Admittedly, much of the problem boils down to taking the time to sift through things and simply deciding what needs to be tossed out, but things like shoes are definitely necessary. And with a family of seven, you can imagine how many pairs that makes.
O
By Marissa Borja you can do this in a variety of shares so feel free to get creative. If it’s a tight space, then you can simply make stacks of two and conversely, an odd space can be accommodated with your own design. And why stop there? If you need to store something other than shoes and this sounds like a good fit, don’t rack your brain or your wallet on overpriced bins – stack up instead!
I find it difficult to invest in some overpriced shoe rack or cabinet in order to solve our dilemma, so as with most of these types of situations I’m faced with, I take the “do-it-yourself ” route. The best idea I came across is this one: sawing PVC pipe into small stackable shoe cubbies. One look at the final product and I was sold on this low cost shoe rack solution. All you need is PVC pipe and Gorilla glue or PVC cement. First, decide on the diameter of pipe that will best serve your show size needs. A six- to eight-inch pipe should be adequate. Since I plan on using this primarily for my kids’ shoes, I’m worried about having to go too large. Keep in mind you can also decorate and personalize your PVC pipe if you want to get creative. Cutting the PVC pipe is something you can do yourself if you have a table saw at home or inquire at your local hardware store whether they can do it for you. Be sure to have an estimate of how many shoes you want to store because that will determine the number of cubbies you are going to have to create from the PVC pipe. Once you’ve got all your pieces, it’s time to start gluing. Begin by gluing together your base. It can be three to five pieces wide, depending on how much room you have to store your shoe rack. Add a thick line of Gorilla Glue to the inner side of the PVC pipes and connect them together. You can place a heavy item on the ends of both sides to hold the sides in place until the glue dries. After the base is done, you can start stacking the pipes. You can simply repeat the process as above and glue each set on top of the other until you are satisfied with the height. Don’t forget 20 CasaGuam Februar y 2014
About the Author Since 2007, seasoned television personality Marissa Borja (Pacific Home & Garden and My Home with Marissa Borja) has been working to fill Guam's home and garden niche with stories, products and services that locals will find beneficial and relative to their lifestyle. She enjoys the creative outlet that writing and television offer in order to balance out her busy personal life as a wife and full-time mother of five.
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Curb Appeal
Turn Your Powder Room Into a Power Room!
By Arlene Taitague Taitingfong
I LOVE watching the Home & Garden channel. My favorites shows are House Hunters, Love It or List It and the renovating twins of Property Brothers. It gives one an opportunity to see what is being offered in other places. And what I realized is that we are all looking for the same thing a nice home at an affordable price. I especially like the scenes where they show the bathrooms of the homes. I’m touching on this subject because of a conversation I had with a few friends last week. The topic started with affordable real estate and somehow ended up on the topic of outdated bathrooms on Guam. It was almost a game trying to identify the color of the bathroom with the decade it was built. A discussion ensued about what changes one had to do to a restroom to really impact the value and desire of the home. Remember, the bathroom is a personal space. A refuge to go to when you need time alone and give yourself some YOU-time. I hope this issue encourages you to change your powder room into THE POWER ROOM! Below are the 15 things you need to consider when planning a bathroom renovation. I pulled this off of the HG website. 1.Budget There are a few things you need to consider. If you don’t know already you should work up an idea of how much you want to spend on your bathroom renovation. Setting a budget will help guide you as you make decisions about what to include in the remodel. Once you’ve figured out what you can spend and subtracted the amount allocated to labor, you’ll have a clearer sense of what you can spend on tile, fixtures, and extras. 2. Time Many people assume that if they are remodeling a small bathroom it will only take a few days, or anyway it will take much less time than a larger one. This is not necessarily the case. Depending on how many items you are changing in the bathroom your contractor will have to go through all the same steps as a larger bathroom. However, planning refers not only to defining the duration of the renovation works but also certain intermediate steps such as ordering and purchasing tiles, fixtures, custom-built vanity or cabinets to make sure they can be delivered when your contractor needs them. Planning time is also crucial for those with only one bathroom in their house as they will have to make arrangements where to take a shower and use the toilet while the bathroom is taken apart. 3. Works sequence When it comes to bathroom renovation by completing the job in a specific sequence you can save yourself from a lot of clean up time and mistakes. Whether you are demolishing sheetrock or simply repainting, you always want to start at the top of the room. Remodel your ceiling first, walls second, and floors third so you can prevent damage to your new components. 22 CasaGuam Februar y 2014
4. Hidden problems If you are doing a major upgrade to your bathroom consider doing a “full gut”. When done by a professional with expertise you end up with a zero problems bathroom that will function flawlessly and add tremendous value to your home for many years to come. Depending on the age of your home and how well it was built the biggest hidden problem you may encounter is water damage, so look for structural deficiencies in the floor framing, not properly vented plumbing, old corroded plumbing, non-waterproof tile shower/tub surrounds, etc. 5. Design style and functionality When first starting out start by thinking about the look you want for your bathroom. There are many factors to consider like paint color, tile choices, vanities, showers, tubs, faucets, etc. It can get overwhelming very quickly so start with some research. You can start to piece together elements that you like into what will become the final design of the bathroom or you may choose a design item you want to feature in the bathroom and then work the rest of the bathroom design around it. Design should work hand in hand with functionality so consider who will use the bathroom and how, consider an eventual resale of the house and also take a moment to think how the bathroom design will fit in with the rest of the house. 6. Measurements There are 3 major limitations which really make size matter in bathroom renovation: the overall size of the bathroom (usually the smallest room in the house), the location of existing plumbing pipes and electrical wiring and the typical standard dimensions of bathroom fixtures. Therefore make sure you have the correct measurements and specifications when you go to the store. More frustrating than trying to shop without measurements is to end up purchasing stuff that doesn’t fit. 7. Contractor Hiring a contract for a conceivably DIY job? Well, yes, that is a smart thing to do given the complexity of the job and difficult operations involved (electrical, tiling, plumbing, etc.). Therefore do not overlook the advantages of hiring a contractor and save yourself a load of misery and time. 8. Plumbing fixtures and features No renovation is complete without remodeling or repairing fixtures and features, which could very well make a separate checklist themselves: shower, bathtub, toilet, bidet, sink, faucets and shower heads. You should also update or repair your mirrors and shower doors. You can also change the look of your bathroom very easily by changing out door handles, drawer pulls and the hardware for your shower doors. If you have the budget a new set of shower doors can completely change the look of your room.
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Curb Appeal 9. Cabinets, storage and shelving Planning cabinets, shelving and storing solutions is a tricky problem in most cases. In small, irregular shaped rooms like the bathroom, it is even more so. They need to be functional and accommodate all your stuff while keeping everything easily reachable, they must fit into the available space and make the most of it and on top of it all, they need to look stylish.
If the 15 steps are a bit overwhelming, I’d start out with the basic question. What style would you like to transform you bathroom to? Are you steadfast in the traditional look? Perhaps you would like to change your current bathroom into a modern or contemporary style. I looked on-line and found a variety of styles that were affordable, easy and varied in size of bathrooms. Most of Guam’s bathrooms are small or average in size, especially the older homes. One might think you really can’t do anything to improve what you have – but it can be done.
10. Walls and flooring Virtually any material can be used to surface walls and floors in the bathroom as long as it’s waterproof, either naturally or by means of an impervious finish. Depending on your budget and style, ceramic, marble, and granite tiles make handsome and highly durable flooring and wall surfaces for baths. For flooring additional options may include cement (painted or stained), sheet vinyl or vinyl tiles which are inexpensive and look better than used to. Whatever your choice, always mind another key criteria for choosing your bathroom flooring: durability and slip-resistance. 11. Lighting A bathroom can be rendered impractical or downright dangerous without adequate lighting so plan for design lighting that is functional and also creates atmosphere. Plan for maximizing natural light first, whereas for artificial light it is advisable you should have least 4 watts of incandescent lighting per square foot. 12. Accessories Although apparently insignificant in the bigger picture of the overall project, no remodel is complete without new accessories. And surprisingly enough, the small stuff like new towels, wash clothes, soap dishes, mirrors, towel racks, bath mats do add up to the final bill. If you are on a budget, new hand towels will be better than nothing. 13. Ventilation Ventilation is crucial in a wet room like the bathroom. It is also a tricky task which needs good planning: choosing the right fan, the right position for its installation and dealing with the electrical wiring. Poor ventilation can leave your bathroom damp, moldy and can even harm your health. A well-ventilated bathroom, however, isn’t just a healthy bathroom. Continual airflow can also prevent both the decay of any wooden trim or fixtures and the saturation of building insulation. 14. Going green Even if you personally don’t care about going green one way or the other, the market is trending toward this so it’s something to consider. And there are many budget friendly options for adding a green touch to your bathroom: a low flow toilet that uses less water and saves you money in water bills; low-VOC or no-VOC paints; vanities made from sustainably harvested wood; recycled glass tile surface countertops, etc. 15. Final clean The final clean should include a thorough cleaning of all cabinetry, inside and out, ductwork, walls, floor, windows, and light fixtures. Although often overlook in the planning phase, in the case of a major renovation you may want to consider contracting a cleaning service which means additional costs that impact your budget. If you feel up to doing it yourself, you may need to add a day or two to your initial timing.
Left: This is an example of a traditional style small bathroom. The updated basin adds storage space in a French-style farmhouse vanity with simple clean lines. Right: The modern bathroom shown here, although simple, still gives way to basic colors, clean lines and storage space.
Look at color and tiles. Older houses built back in the 70’s (or earlier) and 80’s may have that crazy pink colored bathroom or it may have been that mustard yellow or power blue. I’m sure it was the “in” thing at the time, but it is time for a change. There are so many colors available now. Again - check our local hardware and home improvement outlets and see what moves you!
This traditional bathroom is a great example of how color and tiles can make a difference. Notice the tiles are textured and give personality to the room. The colors are nice neutrals and the vanity is home to storage for items you want to keep out of sight.
As for fixtures, in the spirit of simple is best, I find that the most noticeable bathrooms have nice fixtures that do not overpower their space, but enhance the beauty of area. You need not break the bank to have fixtures that give off an artistic flair. If you plan to embark on the journey of upgrading your bathroom, it is always nice to get a second opinion. I would advise taking someone along when you do your shopping for fixtures, tiles, paint and the like, even if you don’t plan on purchasing right away. Start collecting pictures and ideas from magazines. You can’t plan something you can’t envision!
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W h o Ya G o n n a C a l l ?
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Classifieds Commercial Rentals
renovated. All ceramic tiles, new cabinets, new split A/C, typhoon shutters & double paned windows. Call Deanna @ 688-2855.
Dededo
Residential Sales Barrigada
Sinajana 106 East Sta. Barbara, Dededo 4bed/1 ba corner house, fenced, and gated. Centrally located close to church, school and malls. Asking $1,200/month. Call MYRNA @ 488-0144
Nice 4bd/2ba home w/ fenced yard. Fully Fenced and pet friendly. All split a/c units and all tile. Fully typhoon shuttered and is equipt with a security system. Call Deanna @ 688-2855.
Ordot-Chalan Pago Tamuning Commercial space for rent. Approx 850 sq ft., video store or retail business. Asking $850/mo. Please call ANGIE @ 727-2228
Residential Rentals Asan Nimitz Hill, 2BD apartment including ocean view. $950/mo. Modern upgraded, all ceramic tiled, typhoon shutters. Call 687-6900
Barrigada 2b/1b, near Subway with water $830/mo. Please call 637-7165 / 688-0887 / 689-3333
Dededo Paradise Estates. 4BD/3BA, Exc. Condition, Fenced. $2,450. Call 637-7165 689-3333/688-0887.
Harmon 3BD/2.5BA Townhouse. Pool. Security. Tennis Court. $1,900/month. Call 637-7165/688-0887/689-7700 Large 4BD/2.5BA. Single home. Pool. Security. Tennis Court. $2,450/month. Call 637-7165/688-0887/689.7700. Harmon Ct. Townhouse. 3BD/2BA. Sec. 8 OK. $1,200/month. Call 637-7165 689-3333/688-0887
MongMong-Toto-Maite Economical studio unit. Completely
26 CasaGuam Februar y 2014
Dai Ichi Condo. 3BD/1BA, Pool, Sec 8 OK, by O/A. $1,250. Call 637-7165/688-0887 Sunrise D Condo. Large 2BD/2BA. Pool. Very nice. 1,000 SqFt. $1,000/month. Call 637-7165/688-0887/689-7700. Tumon 2bd / 2 ba + Den. excellent condition. Asking $1200. Please call 637-7165 / 688-0887 / 689-3333 / 477-7042 4bd/3ba condo. Nice sized Kitchen with laundry room adjacent. Partial backup generator, stove/oven, refrigerator, washer/dryer(full size) and dishwasher. Call Deanna @ 688-2855. San Vitores Terrace Condo-2bd/1ba, 3bd/2ba - walking distance to beach, rest/bars, church. Asking $950 $1800/mo. CSR- PB 649-6088
Tumon San Vitores Garden Condo. 3bd/2ba. Extra Power Saver Unit installed, reverse osmosis drinking water, front loading washer/dryer set. Call Deanna @ 688-2855.
Large 4BR/2Ba 1800sqft. House Only 248,000 637-7165 / 688-0887 / 689-3333
Talofofo
Dededo
Two 2BD hse. 1 Full Concrete & 1 semi concrete in one lot. $96K. Negotiable. Call 727-4985.
Multi-Family House/Good Investment located front of Dededo Mayor’s Office/Park & Library Greath Neighborhood / Gated/ Corner Lot/Serious Buyers Only! FOR SALE BY OWNER. Call/LvMsg 727-6456 Villa Rosario Condo: 3bd 2ba Excellent Condition, Pool, Tennis Court, Play Ground. Good Location $160,000.00 Call 637-7165/688-0887 Las Palmas Ph3. 3rd Floor. Large 3BD/2.5BA/2Den. Pool. Excellent Condition. $255,000. Call 637-7165 689-3333/688-0887 Pacific Gardens. 1st Floor. Pool. Security. 1BD/1BA. $47,000. Call 637-7165 689-7700/688-0887/689-3333.
Ordot-Chalan Pago
Executive 2-story house with a great view, fully fenced and a quiet area. 5bd/3ba w/ 2 huge balconies. SS appliances, wash/dry, 2-car garage. Huge storage shed, a must see, Military OK! $3500/mo. Call Joe @ 483-3333!
Tamuning Exec. 2 Story/Very Spacious For Sale by Owner. Growing in a great location beside Cost-U-Less Tamuning and Guam Premium Outlet. Great lifestyle and community environment with 5bd/3ba corner lot; nice sized bd on 1st and 2nd flr; master suite w/ jacuzzi spa tub; quality granite staircases; red hardwood railings; crown molding all over the house with open spacious kitchen. Dream home and a good investment! Call/LvMsg 727-6456 Jonestown. 3bd/2ba, Large Yard. Fenced. $320,000 or $1,350 for rent. Call 637-7165/689-7700/689-3333
Tumon For Sale By Owner Summer Palace Estates Located close to Cost-U-Less in Harmon 4Bd/2.5Ba 2100 Sq. Ft. Home located in a secured gated community with swimming pool, tennis court, and playground. New granite countertop and tile floor throughout with typhoon shutters. $440,000.00 Please call 777-0951
Tumon View Condo. 2bd 1ba. Near beach. $110,000. Call 637-7165/688-0887/689-333 Lily Village Tumon Condo. Nice. 3BDM 2BA Fully Renovated. $2,000/mo.
Yigo
Chalan Pago 2bed 1bath SFD for sale. 1169sq.m lot Asking $119K. Call Karen 988-1883
Executive 2-story house with a great view fully fenced and a quiet area. 5bd/3ba w/ 2 huge balconies. SS appliances, wash/dry, 2-car garage. Huge storage shed, a must see! $425KSale. Call Joe @ 483-3333!
Sinajana
Land for Sale
Large, villa style home. 5bd/3ba. Completely remodeled. Private and beautifully landscaped. Asking: $579K. (Priced below appraised value.) Call 489-3285
Chalan Pago
Yigo Single Home. Excellent Condition. 3BD/2BA. Large yard. Good location. $1,400/month or for sale $200K. Call 637-7165/688-0887/689-7700.
Large 4BR/3Ba 2755sqft w/1600sqft covered deck/porch. Detached util & gen. room. Walled/Gated & beautifully landscaped. $529K. Call Michael @ 477-4111
Back of Island Fresh Market. $45,000. Bank Owned. 1,387 +/- sm. Call 637-7165/688-0887/689-3333
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Closing
Message from the Executive Officer
By Peggy Araullo Llagas
Honesty. Intergrity. Commitment. As a homebuyer or seller, that’s what the REALTOR® Code of Ethics means to you. uying or selling a home is never an easy process. Although it’s an exciting experience, it can also be a very stressful one. You need someone you can trust. Someone who you can put your mind at ease because you know they’re going to do the right thing and act in your best interest. Someone who will protect your rights. When you enlist the services of a REALTOR®, you can be confident that you’re being dealt with honestly. Every member of the National and Guam Association of REALTORS® makes a commitment to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. The actual Code of Ethics itself contains 17 Articles and quite comprehensive. Here is a summary of the key principles, which is referred to as the REALTORS® Pledge of Performance and Service to Clients and Customers.
B
Duties to Clients and Customers Article 1 REALTORS® protect and promote their clients’ interests while treating all parties honestly. Article 2 REALTORS® refrain from exaggeration, mis-representation, or concealment of pertinent facts related to property or transactions. Article 3 REALTORS® cooperate with other real estate professionals to advance their clients’ best interests. Article 4 When buying or selling on their own account or for their families or firms, REALTORS® make their true position or interest known. Article 5 REALTORS® do not provide professional services where they have any present or contemplated interest in property without disclosing that interest to all affected parties. Article 6 REALTORS® disclose any fee or financial benefit they may receive from recommending related real estate products or services. Article 7 REALTORS® receive compensation from only one party, except where they make full disclosure and receive informed consent from their client. Article 8 REALTORS® keep entrusted funds of clients and customers in a separate escrow account. Article 9 REALTORS® make sure that contract details are spelled out in writing and that parties receive copies. 28 CasaGuam Februar y 2014
What Does it Mean for Consumers? How does the Code of Ethics affect everyday real estate practices? If a REALTOR® represents you, whether you are buying or selling a home, you can count on that REALTOR® to: 1. Be honest with all parties in the transaction – not just with you, as his or her client, but also with the other real estate practitioner and his or her clients. For example, if REALTORS® represent a buyer with a spotty credit history, they can’t be dishonest with sellers about this fact. At the same time, REALTORS® can help their buyer clients collect and assemble information, such as credit reports and audited tax returns, to demonstrate that the buyer has addressed the problem and improved their situation. 2. Put your interests ahead of his or her own, at all times. A REALTOR® makes every effort to understand the housing needs of his or her client, thoroughly researches available inventory, and shares all relevant information with the buyer so that he or she can make an informed decision. This service is provided regardless of the compensation available. 3. Disclose all pertinent facts regarding the property and the transaction to both buyer and seller. If a REALTOR® believes information provided by a seller is questionable, the REALTOR® is obligated to investigate. REALTORS® should recommend that buyers consult their own experts, such as home inspectors, to address concerns. For example, if a home seller asks his or her REALTOR® to conceal the fact that the roof leaks, the REALTOR® cannot comply; if the seller insists, the REALTOR® should end the business relationship with that seller. 4. Be truthful in all communications with the public. When REALTORS® distribute newsletters, create Web sites, or place advertisements, they must be careful not to represent other real estate professionals’ work product as their own. If recently sold or listed properties in the community are publicized, it must be clear whether the REALTOR® was actually involved in the transaction, or whether that data came from the local multiple listing service or other source. This ensures that the public understands the REALTOR®’s experience and can make an informed decision when choosing real estate representation. -National Association of REALTORS®For More Information Contact: Peggy Araullo Llagas, Executive Officer Guam Association of REALTORS® Suite 236A Julale Center 424 West O'Brien Drive, Hagatna, Guam 96910 Tel: (671) 477-4271 • Fax: (671) 477-4275 Mobile: (671) 689-4271 • www.guamrealtors.com
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