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CONTENTS
Let ter from the Editor Letter from the Editor
Departments 4
Market Report January-February 2016 Real Estate Market Update
8
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Feature Pillow Talk. What’s Under Your Covers?
March 2016 • Vol. 9 • No. 03
12
Real Estate Spotlight Clouds on Title
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Profile Justin Diego Diego Strives for Customer Satisfaction
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From the Experts Expert Tips for Choosing the Perfect Paint Color
P.O. Box 24881 Barrigada, GU 96921 Tel: (671) 472-3495 | Fax: (671) 472-3498 email: office@yellowpagesink.com
[ Publisher ] [ Business Sales Manager ] Jay-R S. Dominguez
[ Editor ] Arlene Taitague Taitingfong
[ Display Advertising ] Evelyn Trinidad
[ Traffic/Circulation ] Carol Aperocho
[ Production Manager ] 18
How to D.I.Y. 21 Ways to Clean with Lemon All Around the House
Mark S. Burke
[ Graphics & Layout ] Mark S. Burke Edwin E. Valencia
[ Website Development ] 20
A Day in the Life of ...a Window Film Installer
24
Curb Appeal Seeding a Lawn from Scratch
25
Who Ya Gonna Call?
28
Closing
Edwin E. Valencia
[ Editorial Contributors ] Brian Patrick Flynn Siska Hutapea Arlene Taitague Taitingfong Ann Wilson Kim Anderson Young Cover Photo: Mark S. Burke
Arlene Taitague Taitingfong
Bueñas Guam! Spring actually begins on March 20, but it is nice to get a jump start on the season. This month, we touch on how to refresh your home. We have topics on how to create a gorgeous lawn, the many ways you can use lemon to spring clean your home, and knowing when it is time to change your pillows and mattresses. Speaking of mattresses, are you sharing your bed with unwanted guests? Our Feature addresses the need to check our sleep surfaces. Read “Pillow Talk” and find out who (or what) is under your covers. Our Profile this month is Justin Diego, Store & Sales Supervisor for Sherwin-Williams brand products. He has been in the paint industry since he graduated from high school. Read how he brings customer satisfaction in his field. A great way to give your home a new look is to give it a nice, new coat of paint. Our From The Experts writer this month is Brian Patrick Flynn. He shares his tips on choosing the right paint for you. We also have a new segment called, “A Day In the Life of . . .” This segment will come out every quarter and will feature a new occupation related to the real estate industry. I tagged around with Tom Roberto, GM of East Island Tinting & North Island Tinting. I “tried” to be a window film installer. It is not an easy job for a novice, but the professionals make it look so easy. Don’t forget to read up on submissions from Kim Anderson for Real Estate Spotlight, and Siska Hutapea for the Market Report. GAR President, Deanna Palmer, discusses business licenses for rental property and Peggy Illagas, CEO and Government Affairs Director of GAR, continues Part 2 of Fiduciary Duties. If you want to suggest topics or PROFILE candidates, please drop a line to us at editor@yellowpagesink.com. We’d love to hear from you!
CasaGuam is Published by:
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Market Repor t
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016 REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE The real estate transactions that occurred from January through February 17, 2016 probably is a befitting picture of the year's activity. Corenerstone Valuation Guam, Inc., having the database of all recorded transactions in January 2016, reflects sales volume $43.8 million. One of the prominent transactions in January includes the sale of an over 27 acres of land in Pago Bay for $23 million or over $200 per square meter. Two houses in the million dollar range also closed in January, following the recent spike in high end residential sales in Guam. A four bedroom Paseo De Oro house built in 2000 with circular driveway sold for approximately $1.6 million. The Father Duenas Drive cliff line house in Tamuning in need of major renovation also sold for $1.0 million. Also in January, a Talo Verde Estate spec house sold for $760,000 and a cliff line lot sold for $780,000. Seven more Paradise Meadows house in Yigo sold in January to February 17 of 2016. Five $500,000 and above condominium unit sold in January 2016 including units in Villa Kanton Tasi ($1.3 million), 468 San Vitores, Tumon Bel-Air, Blue Lagoon in beachfront Tumon and Tumon Holiday Manor. Guahan Academy Charter School acquired over 15 acres of land south of former Admiral Nimitz golf course in Barrigada for $1.5 million or approximately $24 per square meter. Another
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former federal excess land along Route 3 near NCTAMS vicinity of 1.5 acres also sold for $520,000 ($78 per square meter). A 1,442 square meters beachfront parcel near Adelup sold at $100,000 over asking price for $250,000. On multi-family category, a newly renovated 6-unit apartment sold in Mangilao for $550,000. A four-plex rental property in Maite sold for $390,000. There are currently 125 condominium units listed on Multiple Listing Service (“MLS�), ranging from $44,700 unit in Pacific Garden Condominium to $831,000 Regency Tower Condo (currently pending). Next most expensive unit listed for sale is a $749,000 beachfront Agana Beach Condominium unit. The MLS listing does not include the 80 unit townhomes in Talo Verde Estates available at $630,000 per unit. There are currently 298 single family dwellings for sale listed on MLS, ranging from $70,000 modular homes in Barrigada to a $6.5 million cliff line house in the coveted Talo Verde Estates. Out of the 298 listings, only 78 houses have asking price below the $220,000 median price of houses in 2015. There are five other million dollar homes available for sale in Guam, so call your real estate agent before these properties sold!
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Market Repor t
8%
8%
% Change
Sales Volume (Millions $)
4%
4%
Median PRices ($)
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Feature
Pillow Talk: What’s Under Your Covers?
By Arlene Taitague Taitingfong
Remember when we were children and when it was “nap” time, we would grudgingly go to bed and wonder why playtime was interrupted? In the evening, our bedtime was earlier than we wanted, but we still made our way to our rooms with hidden defiance. I’m sure many of us do not think this way about sleep anymore. We reach for that afternoon cup of java and wish we were in bed already. A nap is like a mini vacation for me! I try to get one in when I can on the weekends. I love to lie in bed, especially with a good book or while enjoying my latest Netflix marathon.
We spend a good portion of our life in bed. An average night's sleep is eight hours. That’s one third of a day! When you do the math, that equates to one third the years of a lifetime span. That means by the time you reach the age of 75 years, you would have spent 25 of those years sleeping. It’s no wonder there is a large market for sleeping materials like pillows, comforters, mattresses, and the like. It’s important that we lay our weary heads (and bodies) on comfy cushions. We spend a good sum of money on making our beds look beautiful and feel luxurious with sateen sheets and ergonomic beds and pillows. Aside from these, there is another side of the bed that we need to consider and is extremely important - hygiene. Our home can be the most cleanest on the block, but still have hygienic issues when it comes to our bedding. When was the last time you washed or replaced your pillows? How old is that mattress you have now? If you can’t recall when, then it’s been too long. Pillows seem to be an afterthought. If you are not sure if your pillow is still usable, there is an article by Jeff Cattel where he cites his source saying, “If you have a polyester pillow, it should be changed out every six months. If you have a memory foam pillow or one with structural integrity, it will last you anywhere from 18 to 36 months.” There is even a pillow test that he shares 8 CasaGuam March 2016
by folding a non-foam pillow in half. If the pillow doesn’t spring back to its usual flat form, it’s time to buy a new one. He revealed that even if the pillows pass the fold test, they are most likely hiding buildup of body oils, dead skin, and dust mites. What?
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Feature It you are worried about the dust mites and are in the market for a new bed, check out the latex beds. There are different types of latex beds so do your research and see what the differences are. You might want to go to http://www.choosemattress.com/latexmattresses/ and read more about it. If a new mattress is not in the budget this month, clean your mattress via home remedies (like baking soda and a vacuum) or hire a professional. You can put a removable mattress cover afterwards. So the next time you climb into bed and cozy up under your covers, keep in mind what else is sharing your space. Maintenance and preventive measures will ensure a better night’s sleep. If you change out your sheets and bedding weekly, wash your pillows monthly, and exercise deep cleaning of your mattresses, you will experience a more restful sleep. There is also a good article on how to get rid of dust mites. Check out www.wikihow.com/GetRid-of-Dust-Mites. Good night and don’t let the bed bugs bite!
Dead skin? Oil buildup? I am not surprised. I took a health certification class years ago and found out that the dirtiest part of our bodies were not our hands, but our head/hair. Think about it. It’s constantly exposed to the environment, giving refuge to anything that flies into our strands. Some of us put hairspray and gel in it. We sweat! Now imagine laying on your pillow with all that stuff ! This brings us to the topic of dust mites. They are very, very, very small insects. They love to munch on the dead skin on our scalp and body. They live, breed, and die in our pillows. A pillow can weigh 3 times as heavy as at the time of purchase because of the mite community and its waste. Go to www.ehso.com/ehshome/dustmites.php to read more about them. The best way to get rid of dust mites, in lieu of replacing your pillow, is to wash your pillows and put them in the hot dryer or air dry them in the sunshine. Our island weather is the ideal climate for dust mites to thrive because of the humidity. Dust mites may also cause allergies to stir up, which is probably why you have been sneezing or itching excessively. They can also be found in upholstered furniture, carpets, and of course, in mattresses. Good mattresses are high ticket items. Seven years is the average life span of a mattress. If you are still not sure if it’s time to change out your bed, look for visible signs of wear and tear. If it looks tired, sagging, lumpy, dented or worn, it is time to replace it. Additionally, your bed should give you support and comfort. Other signs are if you find that you are not sleeping well, or you wake up with stiffness or numbness. And yes, there is the dust mite issue.
Attribution: http://www.europeanbedding.sg/how-to-remove-dust-mites-from-mattress-a-92.html; http://www.choosemattress.com/latex-mattresses/; http://greatist.com/grow/when-buy-new-pillow
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On The Cover
Pago Bay “Curve Appeal� ow do you feel when you wake up with sunrise view in your bed? Yes, This is the one. You can enjoy this large 3 Bedroom, 3 Full Bathroom house with ocean view & mountain view. This New Housing Development offers you modern architectural design, top class interior materials , wood kitchen cabinets with granite counter tops, center island, huge walk-in closet for your love one.As a special offer for you we includ a water softener system, built in microwave with oven, gas stove, dishwasher... You have to to come to see it, words can not express it! Just pick up your phone and call 647-0888!
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Real Estate Spotlight
Clouds on Title (aka Title Defects)
By Kim Anderson Young
A property with a “cloud on the title” refers to an irregularity in the chain of title that raises the question of a potential risk or threat to the buyer. A cloud on the title is generally less threatening than a defect in the title, however both may have the effect of reducing the value and marketability of a property because a prospective buyer knows they are acquiring a possible problem with the property. Examples of clouds and defects in the chain of title include: • Missing Documents, also called a “break in the chain of title”. Not only refers to deeds, but powers of attorney granting authority for someone to sell property. Another example of a missing document would be if an owner dies and there is no probate (and no spouse with community rights interests). Lack of a decree of distribution from the probate court would constitute a title defect. • A variance or misspelling to the names of previous buyers and sellers. A woman who acquires title in one name but sells under a different name. • All parties executing deeds. A brother and sister purchase the property, but only the sister signs the deed to sell it. The brother’s interest would remain in his name. • A mortgage lien that has not been released. • Unpaid property taxes. • Conveyance by a minor, or an incompetent person without the benefit of court approval. • Conveyance into a trust could be a defect, in that in most jurisdictions, title is properly vested in the Trustee of a Trust, not the Trust itself. So, how do you fix a cloud or title defect? Each situation is unique, but many issues can be resolved by relying on a statute, filing of an affidavit or by placing a corrective document into the public record to correct the defect. For example: • Locating the mortgagee under an unreleased mortgage and having them sign a release. • A woman who acquired the property when single can correct her name on the chain of title by recording an Affidavit of Identity. • Missing deeds are often located in home records when parties did not realize that recording was necessary. When other remedies are exhausted, it may be necessary to find a good real estate attorney to file a quiet title action to clear the title. 12 CasaGuam March 2016
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
Diego Strives For Customer Satisfaction
By Arlene Taitague Taitingfong
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Justin Diego STORE AND SALES SUPERVISOR AT SHERWIN–WILLIAMS
He also shared that he reads CasaGuam. “I enjoy the informative articles and also knowing what is out on the market. I never miss the DIY section and reading the PROFILE section can lead to future networking opportunities.” In his leisure time, Diego likes to spend time with his three kids. “My children are number one in my life. I like to take them to Chuck E. Cheese’s or the movies.” He also enjoys going to the beach with friends. “Being with good people is always great therapy,” he said, plus he likes playing billiards and is currently in a league.
I never miss the DIY section and reading the PROFILE section can lead to future networking opportunities.”
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Most young people do not know what they plan to do once they graduate from high school. Should they further their education by way of higher academics? Or should they get a job and see what the world has to offer? It’s a decision that many of us have asked ourselves once upon a time. For Justin Diego, getting into the paint industry was something that he “kind of fell into” right after high school. Diego’s start was influenced by a friend who was working at Kelly-Moore Paint Supply in San Lorenzo, California. Seeing the store had a high volume of customers, he witnessed the different ways clients were being assisted. He naturally likes helping people, and he saw an opportunity to do just that. He challenged himself to stand out in a crowd. His aspirations were to be an asset to his clients and co-workers. After eight years in the paint industry; working at four different stores, and having held five different positions, Diego has truly attained his goal to stand out and make a difference in customer service. He is currently the Store and Sales Supervisor at Sherwin–Williams. “I’ve always been in the paint industry. I worked my way up from being a sales associate to the position I have now.” One might think that working in the paint industry is mundane and not fun. According to Diego, “It’s never a boring job. There are multiple tasks that need to be done.” Everyday is different. You can find him either unloading containers, assessing a client’s property, placing orders, or inspecting roof coating at Anderson Air Force Base. “We have a wide range of coatings & specialty products to choose from. Anybody can sell paint, but determining the right coating from the ground up to the roof takes knowledge and experience.” Diego also trains his staff, not only with product knowledge, but with knowing the right questions to ask clients in order to assess their needs. Why does he enjoy this line of work? “Number one reason is providing customer satisfaction, especially if I can find a solution to a client’s problem.” If you want to succeed in anything, Diego advises, “Be a people person with a drive to succeed by always working hard and being comfortable in your own skin. Confidence is the key.”
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From the Experts
Expert Tips for Choosing the Perfect Paint Color Nothing transforms a room like paint, so we've gathered our top tips to help you select paint colors like a pro.
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Opt for Test Sizes Before committing to a full gallon, first try out a few samples to really nail down which shade of a particular color you want. Available at most paint stores for less than $5 each, these little testers are just enough to cover a large wall area or sample board with paint.
View Swatches in Natural Light It's common to fall in love with a paint swatch in the store then find the color looks drastically different once it's painted on your walls. This is caused, in part, because paint looks different under artificial light versus natural light. For a better idea of the finished color, always look at paint chips near a window.
Compare Paint Chips to White Similar to using a quarter to show the scale of an object in a photograph, comparing any color against white will ensure its tonal values really clearly. When looking over paint chips at home, try laying them out on a white surface.
By Brian Patrick Flynn
Customize Your Colors Designers often create custom colors by having paint stores mix extra black or white into existing colors to darken or lighten them. While this is a great way to achieve a custom finish, custom tints make it difficult to match up the paint color for any future touchups.
Forget Matchy-Matchy While many paint stores offer a computerized service that can precisely match any color, designers often stay away from exact matches and instead choose a shade that's a bit lighter or darker. When using rugs or upholstery fabrics as inspiration, choose a hue that's very close in tone without matching exactly.
Color the Ceiling Rather than leave the ceilings white, designers often choose to paint them. The old rule of thumb that white ceilings make a room feel brighter and larger doesn't always hold true; just have the paint store mix paint for the ceiling which is 50 percent lighter than the wall color. Once applied to the ceiling, the walls and ceiling will feel cohesive rather than dark and cavernous.
Opt for Inexpensive Foam Brushes To save time when painting test swatches, use disposable foam brushes rather than a standard paintbrush you'll have to wash clean between colors.
Live With the Colors With so many options to choose from, nailing down just the right hue can be tough. To make the selection process easier, it's smart to test out several paint colors along one wall and live with them for a few days, noting how they look both day and night. Label the painted swatches with painter's tape so you'll remember which color you liked best.
Consider Spraying Instead of Rolling Something that's often overlooked when painting walls is the difference between spraying versus rolling. While rolling is the most popular method, it's also the most time-consuming and requires the most touchup. Sprayed finishes not only ensure a more professional end result, they also cut the amount of time required to paint a room in half. HVLP (high-volume, low-pressure) sprayers can be rented by the day through most home improvement stores. Spraying paint can be a messy business so always be sure to thoroughly cover all doors and windows with painter's plastic to ensure paint dust doesn't drift into other rooms. 16 CasaGuam March 2016
About the Author: Brian Patrick Flynn is an American television producer turned interior designer with a portfolio of high-profile projects, including HGTV Urban Oasis 2015 and HGTV Dream Home 2016. Citing source: (http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/expert-tips-for-choosingthe-perfect-paint-color-pictures
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H o w To D . I . Y.
21 Ways to Clean with Lemon All Around the House
By Ann Wilson
Tap into a lemon's natural bleaching, degreasing, antibacterial, and fresh-scent properties to successfully tackle all sorts of household jobs in an earth-friendly manner. Green cleaning experts share their best practice tips for harnessing lemons' powerful attributes to remove stains, clean and polish surfaces, refresh appliances, and even control pests.
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Stock Fresh Lemons 1. Cleaning expert Mary Findley advises keeping fresh and frozen lemons on hand for all sorts of chores. "If you only need a small section of the lemon, quarter the rest and freeze it. Lemons freeze for long periods," Findley says. "I buy lemons on sale, quarter, and freeze them so they are always ready to go." Maximize the amount of juice you get out of a lemon by placing the lemon in hot water for 15 minutes or heating it on low in a microwave for a minute (before microwaving the lemon, poke its top to prevent explosions).
Around-the-House Solutions 2. Clean the air. The Old Farmer's Almanac recommends simmering cut-up lemons in a pot of water for an hour or so; the steaming vapors will replace winter's musty smells with slice-ofsummer scents. Or, spread citrusy aromas by sprinkling a few drops of lemon juice in your vacuum bag right before you vacuum. Findley recommends another air-freshener option: Mix lemon juice and water in a small spritz bottle and use the chemical-free spray to get eliminate fried food and bathroom odors. 3. Keep ants out. Lemon juice and lemon peels are pet- and people-safe controls that discourage ants from entering your home, according to the folks at PETA. Figure out where the ants are coming in, spray the area with lemon juice, and tuck lemon peels into holes and cracks to stop incoming ants in their tracks.
5. Wash windows and glass. Place club soda in a spray bottle and add a teaspoon of lemon juice. No club soda? Use distilled water spiked with a splash of lemon juice to create your own glass cleaning spray.
6. Disinfect everywhere. Findley ensures colds and germs don't spread by wiping down door knobs, car door handles, refrigerator 4. Mix up an all-purpose cleaner. Cleaning specialist Leslie handles, telephones, TV controls, and other often-touched Reichert creates her germ-busting "Happy Hour Cleaner" by surfaces with a cloth sprayed with a mix of lemon juice and water. mixing together 8 ounces white vinegar, 4 ounces lemon juice, 4 ounces vodka, eight drops essential lemongrass oil, and two to 7. Make a handy-dandy scrub. Combine two parts salt with one three drops castile soap in a spray bottle. Another Reichert part lemon juice to create an abrasive scrub that you can use to formula: Let lemon peels sit in distilled white vinegar for a few remove rust, eradicate clothing stains, and clean piano keys, weeks; the citric acid from the peels will be extracted by the copper pots, cutting boards, and scummy shower doors. vinegar to create a powerful cleaner.
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H o w To D . I . Y. 8. Gain a painter's helper. Painting projects get easier with these tips from the Old Farmer's Almanac: Renew paint-hardened paintbrushes by setting bristle ends in a pot of boiling lemon juice. Lower the heat, let brushes sit for 15 minutes, then wash them with soapy water. Remove dried paint from window glass by wiping the drips with a soft cloth and hot lemon juice. When the lemon juice is nearly dry, wipe off the juice and the drips.
Improve Kitchen Operations
17. Bleach stained grout. Carefully apply the juice of a lemon to grout lines to remove mold and stains. Lemon juice is an acid that can pit and damage tile, stone, and composite surfaces, so make sure you wipe up juice spills immediately. Reichert recommends the following grout cleaning formula: Mix concentrated lemon juice with borax or baking soda to create a paste. Use a stiff toothbrush to apply the paste to grout lines; let it sit awhile to bleach the grout and wipe off.
Reichert shares tips for using lemons to quickly rejuvenate your kitchen's mechanicals and dishware to make operations run more Clean Dining and Living Rooms 18. Buff furniture: Mix together one part lemon juice with two smoothly. parts olive or vegetable oil to create a chemical-free furniture 9. Refresh garbage disposals. Banish food odors by tossing used polish that hides scratches and leaves a high-shine finish. Rub the lemons into the disposal; or, throw in frozen lemon quarters to polish into furniture surfaces using a soft cloth. create citrusy scents while cleaning disposal blades. 19. Dust smartly: Reichert advises making a dusting spray using 10. Steam-clean microwaves. Put a bowl of lemon juice in the two tea bags, lemon juice, and 3 cups of water. Boil the water, add microwave and let it boil away. The lemon juice will steam to the tea bags, and let the mix cool. Put the mixture into a spray soften stuck-on debris so you can clean the interior with the wipe bottle with a teaspoon of lemon juice. Lightly spray the mixture of a cloth. on a microfiber cloth and dust. 11. Scour dishwashers. Place a bowl of lemon juice in the top rack Ease Laundry Day Chores or basket and run the machine on a normal cycle. The juice will 20. Care for whites. Use lemon juice to remove ink stains from mix in with the cycling water to remove hard water spots and iron white fabrics (place an absorbent clean rag under the stained build up. fabric to absorb the stain and protect your work surface). Brighten white washables by adding a splash of lemon juice to the rinse cycle. 12. Degunk grill grates. Spear a lemon half on a long fork and rub the exposed side across a hot grill to clean the surface. 21. Eliminate laundry stains and washing machine odors: T-shirts 13. Sharpen small appliances. Pop frozen lemon peels into with underarm stains get new life when treated with a 50-50 blenders and coffee grinders to clean the blades. Turn on the solution of water and lemon juice applied to the stain and allowed to set for 30 minutes before the shirt goes in the washing machine. power and let blades whirl. Freshly washed towels smelling musty? Add 1/2 cup of bottled 14. Tend to dishes. Clean water spots off your china and silver- lemon juice to top-loading washing machines and 1/4 cup of ware using a microfiber cloth dampened with a touch of concen- bottled lemon juice to front loaders and rewash your towels -- take trated lemon juice. Remove stains from plasticware by rinsing care not to stuff the washing machine. them with lemon juice. 15. Clean the cheese grater. For an easy way to clean your grater just cut a lemon in half and then grate the fleshy side of the lemon on both sides of your cheese grater, says cleaning expert Melissa Maker. The lemon oil and juice help to cut the dairy fat and break up any of those proteins. After a quick rinse you should find that the lemon does an excellent job -- and it also saves you from ripping apart your sponges!
Practice Good Bathroom Hygiene Findley advises using lemons in the following ways to keep bathroom surfaces gleaming and sterilized. 16. Set fittings shimmering. Rub a cut lemon on metal shower door frames and bathroom faucets to remove water spots and stains.
Citing source: http://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/clean-with-lemons CasaGuam.com 19
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H o w To D . I . Y.
A Day in the Life of… A Window Film Installer Editor’s Note: This is our first “A Day In the Life of” story in a series that will be published quarterly. Our aim is to educate our readers about occupations that play a part associated with homes in one fashion or another. We feel that, the better understanding of the processes that each job entails, the more knowledge one has of the occupation. Happy reading and remember, “You never truly know someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. – American Adage, Source Unknown “
Many of us don’t think twice about the process of installing window film (tint). It looks easy enough. We may perceive it to be a quick task of adhering the tint on the window then going over it with a squeegee and it is done. There is more to this occupation than this - and I speak from experience. I tagged along with Tom Roberto, General Manager of East Island Tinting and North Island Tinting. You may recall the PROFILE piece we did on him in the February 2016 issue. In the article, we mentioned how they expanded their window film business to commercial buildings and residences. I was impressed with the many projects that Roberto was working on and wanted to know more about the process. I admit I was one of those people who thought that the task would be easy enough for me to do. I was proved wrong. The morning of my “field trip”, I donned my jeans and T-shirt and set out to meet with Roberto. Readied with his crew and materials, we traveled to Hagatña. He and his team were scheduled to do a window film project at the Shimizu home, built in 1936, which is a historic landmark. Upon inspection of the home, I noticed that the original windows were still in good condition after all these years, but were in need of new window film, as the existing film was well worn. There are about forty windows in the home and this was a removal and installation job. Roberto explained “High end window film has a life of 10 to 12 years. This all depends on what type of film you are applying. Any Silver or metal based film would last upwards of 10 years. The average dye or low end film would only last about five years. Time to change window film of course depends on the customer.” 20 CasaGuam March 2016
By Arlene Taitague Taitingfong
Safety First Before we started, Roberto went over a few safety rules with me because one of the tools used, the scraper, is a very, very sharp blade attached to a handle. The blade can easily cut deep into someone’s skin or cut a finger, if you do not handle it properly. Roberto explained how to properly hold it and shared how to use it safely. He emphasized the need to use the tool with great respect. “Safety is an important issue,” said Roberto, as he showed me how to hold the tool.
Out With The Old The removal process may seem like a walk in the park at first. It looked easy enough when Tom was instructing me how to proceed and demonstrating the process. Now it was my turn. I peeled off my first old tint off the West facing windows of the home with little effort. “I can do this,” I hastily thought. I didn’t realize that there was still adhesive and tint still on the window, and so my jubilant achievement was short lived. Roberto, which I found out to be a very patient man, once again instructed me as to the way to hold and use the scraper. Again, I scraped the window so it would be free of old tint and glue. What would take a skilled installer less than a few minutes to do, I did it in almost 15 minutes, and that was for one window. Remember, there are 39 more to go. Repetition is the key to any skill that needs to be mastered, and after removing the film from
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H o w To D . I . Y. three windows, my timing still wasn’t in the same ballpark as these professionals. I was very aware that one needs to have the confidence and the speed to do the job properly and in a timely manner; plus having strong arms and upper body strength helps. I had neither of these, thus, after just doing three panels of glass, my arm muscles were tired, my eyes were dry from focusing on my mark, and my feet and back were sore. With heavy heart and sore arms, I quickly asked Roberto if we can go on to the next phase of the process.
Precision cutting Next, Roberto taught me how to cut the film. We measured the windows, then measured out the film. Precision is very important in this step. You don’t want to waste the film by cutting the wrong size. His measurements and clean cuts ensured that there would be no waste of material. He cut the film effortlessly and gave it to one of his team members to install.
would take me long to remove, plus slow down the team. I let the professional handle this round.
Parting thoughts Being a window film installer takes patience, skill and teamwork. It can take someone many years to become a complete and skillful window film installer, and watching them work the film into place is entertaining to watch. Now that I have had a glimpse of this occupation, I realize that there are no short cuts in this field. Everything has to be done right the first time around. Although I stepped into an installer’s profession for a bit of time, I am no where near their caliber of expertise. However, if you ask me simple questions about the process, I think I can answer confidently based on my abridged education. Special thanks to Roberto for allowing me to walk in his shoes along with his team: Thomas San Nicolas, Nobuya Kudo and Corey Chamberlain. Thank you to the Shimizu family for allowing CasaGuam staff into your home. May you enjoy cooler rooms and lower utility bills for years to come.
Installation As I watched the installer apply the film on the window, it was like I was witnessing an artist paint a mural. His strokes were fluid, smooth, and effortless. Every area of the window was covered with the upmost care. The result was a newly tinted window, free of air bubbles or creases. I know it sounds corny, but it was truly “artful” as to the way the installer performed the task. I decided not to participate in this process, mostly because I knew that it would take me a long while to get the strokes right, plus if I made a mistake, taking out the film CasaGuam.com 21
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Curb Appeal
Seeding A Lawn From Scratch
H
By http://www.scotts.com
How to Start a New Lawn from Seed You've probably heard lots of advice from your neighbors. They probably say that starting a new lawn is hard work best left to professionals. Or you should bite the bullet and pay for sod. The fact is, you can save money and be successful starting a new lawn from seed. You just need a little preparation, quality seeds suited to your area, well-prepared soil, and a little patience.
Test Your Soil This step is optional. Sure, you can go through the trouble of getting your soil analyzed by the county. You can even do it yourself with a kit. What you'll learn from a test is what nutrients and amendments to add to your soil to improve it. Fortunately, you can get beautiful results with good preparation and maintenance.
Prepare Your Soil Once you've laid out the area where you want your future lawn, take a walk. It's time to inspect your ground. Remove large rocks and debris before you work it over with a tiller. Your goal is to break your soil down to pea- or marble-sized particles, which serve as welcome mats for grass seeds. To improve your soil quality, mix in several bags of Scotts速 Turf Builder速 Lawn Soil.
Even out the surface You don't want peaks and valleys in your new lawn. Use a rake to even out the surface as well as you can. At this point, you might be tempted to bring in new topsoil. That's not a good idea, since it may contain seeds of weeds that are tough to control. As you rake, keep removing any rocks or debris you come across. About the Author: scotts.com is an excellent website to learn about lawn care. (See http://www.scotts.com/smg/goART2/InfoHowTo/seeding-a-new-lawn%3A-learn-how-to-plantgrass-%26-seed-a-lawn-from-scratch-lawn-care-tips/700024) 24 CasaGuam March 2016
Seed and Feed on the Same Day Which goes on first, the seed or the fertilizer? It's up to you. Either way, use a drop or rotary spreader. Just follow the settings on the packages. You want to fertilize on the same day with Scotts速 Starter速 Fertilizer to give your grass seeds a head start.
Cover Up After the seeds and fertilizer are laid down, cover up the seeds with a quarter inch of dirt. You can do this by gently dragging the back of a leaf rake over your seeded area. On hills, mulch with a thin layer of straw to keep seeds from washing away. Make sure you can plainly see the seedbed beneath the straw. You can also mulch with straw on the rest of your new lawn to cut back on water use.
Keep on Watering After all your efforts, you don't want your grass seed to dry out. Make sure your new lawn stays moist through the top inch of soil. You may need to water two or three times a day. Keep at it until your seedlings are well established. Then you can start watering thoroughly once or twice a week.
Maintenance Great, your new lawn is growing vigorously. Now you have to cut it. Make sure you only mow the top third of the grass blades. Adjust your mower to a higher setting to keep the lawn nice and thick. When you cut it too short, weeds can sneak in.
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W h o Ya G o n n a C a l l ?
Call Trini at
687-8340 Trini Sarmiento
Associate Broker/REALTOR®
triniguam@yahoo.com
BHI Realty
Real Estate Sales•Property Management•Tel:637-7431•D. Bruschi PB
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Closing
Message from the President Deanna Palmer 2016 President Guam Association of REALTORS®
Do you have a Business License for your rental property? Do you need one? What about renting out a room in your house? The answer is Yes! You need a Business license to legally conduct business on Guam. The process of getting a license is easy for any owner to accomplish within 15 days. In cases where the Owner has taken the steps to be informed, the time to get a license can be much shorter. A real estate agent and/or Property Manager will advise you on some things to prepare in order to get the license. The people at Department of Public Works One-Stop office are fantastic and will assist you in this process too. If you are renting out a house or condominium for a timeframe longer than 90 days on a regular basis, you need a Residential Rental Business license. You will be reporting your income monthly and paying the appropriate 4% GRT. Did you know there is a law for Bed and Breakfast (BnB) rentals? This is what has been in the news in January/February 2016. Senator Tina Muna-Barnes held a round-table meeting in February to get the process started to update the BnB licensing law. Designations of BnB and Vacation Rentals are sure to be better defined in the revised document. Under this section of the licensing law, the excise tax is 11% of the Gross income, just like the Hotels and current BnBs pay when the stay is less than 90 days. The short-term rental market and the BnB and Vacation Rentals have been growing over the last three years. With Hotel occupancy at 100% during approximately five months of the year, the requests real estate agents receive is growing rapidly. There are also requests for rentals of 90 to 120 days coming from the companies bring in managers and specialists for different parts of the many constructions projects that have started this fiscal year. Additionally, on-line companies like AirBnB are now available and the licensing law will also address that area. The REALTORS@ of GAR support this growth opportunity in our market. The opportunity is in the need for additional rental units and the growth of investors buying or building vacation rentals. I was impressed with the participants at the round table discussion having an attitude of encouraging the growth, acknowledging the opportunity and supporting the need to update the licensing law so that the community, property rights and our visitors are all protected.
GUAM ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
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 28 CasaGuam March 2016
Message from the Chief Executive Officer and Government Affairs Director Peggy Araullo Llagas Guam Association of REALTORS®
Fiduciary Duties: Part 2 A real estate broker who becomes an agent of a seller or buyer, either intentionally through the execution of a written agreement, or unintentionally by a course of conduct, will be deemed to be a fiduciary. Fiduciary duties are the highest duties known to the law. Classic examples of fiduciaries are trustees, executors, and guardians. As a fiduciary, a real estate broker will be held under the law to owe certain specific duties to his principal, in addition to any duties or obligations set forth in a listing agreement or other contract of employment. These specific fiduciary duties include: Disclosure. An agent is obligated to disclose to his principal all relevant and material information that the agent knows and that pertains to the scope of the agency. The duty of disclosure obligates a real estate broker representing a seller to reveal to the seller: • All offers to purchase the seller’s property. • The identity of all potential purchasers. • Any facts affecting the value of the property. • Information concerning the ability or willingness of the buyer to complete the sale or to offer a higher price. • The broker’s relationship to, or interest in, a prospective buyer. • A buyer’s intention to subdivide or resell the property for a profit. • Any other information that might affect the seller’s ability to obtain the highest price and best terms in the sale of his property. A real estate broker representing a buyer is obligated to reveal to the buyer: • The willingness of the seller to accept a lower price. • Any facts relating to the urgency of the seller’s need to dispose of the property. • The broker’s relationship to, or interest in, the seller of the property for sale. • Any facts affecting the value of the property. • The length of time the property has been on the market and any other offers or counteroffers that have been made relating to the property. • Any other information that would affect the buyer’s ability to obtain the property at the lowest price and on the most favorable terms. CAVEAT: An agent’s duty of disclosure to his principal must not be confused with a real estate broker’s duty to disclose to non-principals any known material facts concerning the value of the property. This duty to disclose known material facts is based upon a real estate broker’s duty to treat all persons honestly and fairly. This duty of honesty and fairness does not depend on the existence of an agency relationship.
Reasonable care and diligence. An agent is obligated to use reasonable care and diligence in pursuing the principal’s affairs. The standard of care expected of a real estate broker representing a seller or buyer is that of a competent real estate professional. By reason of his license, a real estate broker is deemed to have skill and expertise in real estate matters superior to that of the average person. As an agent representing others in their real estate dealings, a broker or salesperson is under a duty to use his superior skill and knowledge while pursuing his principal’s affairs. This duty includes an obligation to affirmatively discover facts relating to his principal’s affairs that a reasonable and prudent real estate broker would be expected to investigate. Simply put, this is the same duty any professional, such as a doctor or lawyer, owes to his patient or client. Accounting. An agent is obligated to account for all money or property belonging to his principal that is entrusted to him. This duty compels a real estate broker to safeguard any money, deeds, or other documents entrusted to him that relate to his client’s transactions or affairs. - National Association of REALTORS® -
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