Real Estate Journal - April 5, 2021

APRIL 5, 2021 ISSUE | REJGUAM.COM 

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Wallflowers

Outside the wall Upstairs, downstairs Living the dream

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Accents Wallflowers

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Spectrum Grey anatomy

t INDEX UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS .............................................2 CHECKLIST .......................................................................4 ACCENTS ...........................................................................5 SPECTRUM .......................................................................7

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UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS | LIVING ROOM

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

Living the dream There are two words to describe the current trend with living room decor: modern and gray.

The living room can be used for a variety of reasons, but it all goes back to a space where homeowner and guest alike can relax and entertain themselves. As such, the living room is often the “focal point” of a home, because much of the liveliness is drawn there.

Younger homeowners are going for a more modern living room look.

The modern look — sleek and simple — is complimented by the sobriety of gray, and this style has been especially popular with new and young homeowners.

“Not many people are looking for actual decoration. They just want things that are nice and simple,” says Vicky Baldonado, sales manager of Furniture Outlet.

“The main furniture piece that

people are really buying are sofa chaises.”

Sofa chaises are sofas that have an extended cushion on either end that allows someone to rest their legs on. At Furniture Outlet, this piece along with a love seat has been a popular set purchase for customers lately.

“It’s not the leather type. Fabric sofas sell better, and in the gray

color, too, which is becoming the trend now,” Baldonado says.

With gray being a muted color, the tone of modern living rooms is not too loud. Younger people are finding comfort in simplicity, so they do not want too many distractions in their place of relaxation, she adds.

The minimalistic approach to living room decor also seems

UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS | LIVING ROOM

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

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Neutral tones can work for modern or traditional living rooms.

to be affecting the way furniture is looked at. Interior designer Rasheeda Gray says she expects multi-purpose furniture to trend amid the social distancing habits developed from the pandemic.

“Multi-purposed furniture is a growing trend, because as we continue into quarantine, we are all thinking how we use our living spaces. We need spaces that are flexible and can accommodate work when needed,” Gray said in an interview with Apartment Therapy.

This trend has also been noticed in Guam — homeowners using their living room spaces as work-from-home spaces. In a time of pandemic when people are mostly confined to their homes, there is some reflection on the usage of space. Homeowners are now looking to consolidate spaces in order to work and rest more flexibly.

“There’s been customers coming in asking about office desks and chairs that would work well in the living room, too,” Baldonado says. p

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C HEC KLIST | INFRASTRUCTURE

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

Plunging ahead Let’s face it: at one point or another, we have had problems in the bathroom that required us to do some not-so-pleasant fixing.

Bathroom maintenance is important because it is one of the most frequented spaces in a home.

A clogged toilet or low running water can easily spell trouble, so homeowners should ensure that their plumbing infrastructure is in good shape.

Todo Mauleg Plumbing provided the Journal with helpful tips and practices to get residents started on do-it-yourself maintenance.

Do not clog the drain. A backedup toilet can be caused by several

Regular toilet maintenance prevents bigger problems from arising.

factors, such as residual oil or thick liquids and rust buildup. While there are cleaning products that can help clear up some of the blockage, the best practice is to not flush anything other than human waste. This goes for “flushable” wipes, as well.

“Even if a product says it is flushable, do not flush it down the toilet,” says Todo Mauleg, adding that the typical Guam plumbing infrastructure is not suited for such objects.

Check the toilet tank once a month for calcium buildup. The tank is arguably the least looked at part of a bathroom, but it is a good idea to check in on it to make sure

no water is being wasted. Over time, the fill valve can suffer from calcium buildup. If this is the case, shut off the water, drain the tank and remove the calcium. This can be done gently with sandpaper or a flat screwdriver, as the calcium is not too hard.

If the fill valve mechanism does not stop adding water to the tank, or if the toilet handle is not pulling up the plug, it may be time to replace those components. They can be bought at most home improvement or plumbing stores, with fairly easy instructions on installation.

Seek professional help if you don’t know what’s wrong. If a homeowner is not certain why their

toilet is not working, they should call a plumber.

“While it’s good to be able to do things yourselves, customers can sometimes make the problem worse. If they’re not sure what they’re experiencing, it’s best to just call in,” Todo Mauleg says.

And as with all parts of a home, regular cleaning is the right way to go. Consider scrubbing down the toilet at least once a week and take some time to check around the toilet for any cracks or leaks.

These must be dealt with as soon as possible so they will not become a bigger issue later. p

ACCENTS | WALLPAPER

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

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Wallflowers Who says walls should only be confined to one color? With wallpaper, one can add multiple colors, patterns and even texture to a space.

Wallpaper should not be seen as an alternative to paint, but rather, an additional style piece to bring personality into a room.

They can go up on any smooth, dry surface, and the application is fairly straightforward.

Better Homes and Gardens points out several reasons how wallpaper is effective. “It can camouflage flawed or damaged walls, soften rough or irregular architectural features and unite

Use wallpaper on a single wall to make a contrasting accent wall in a room.

awkward angles.” Homeowners may notice that some of their walls have dents or bumps that cannot be covered with paint. When applied properly, wallpaper can mask those imperfects. The patterns on the sheet can also create an illusion of a flat or three-dimensional wall, depending on the individual’s preference.

There is a variety of wallpapers to choose from. The most popular option is vinyl or vinyl-coated. Other choices include reflective foil, cloth and embossed patterns that you can feel. Some wallpapers come with an adhesive backing, while others require a paste to be applied.

From an economic standpoint, wallpapers are best used for accent walls or sections. Based on The Home Depot prices, one gallon of paint can range between $20 and $30 and cover about 400 square feet of surface. For a wallpaper roll of that same price range, surface coverage is much lower at 25 to 40 square feet. This is barely enough to cover one wall or a section of a wall.

For this reason, wallpaper should be used to accentuate certain features of a room. In the kitchen, for example, a sheet of wallpaper can run perpendicular to a countertop. A roll of wallpaper can run down the middle of a foyer

wall to imitate a banner. In some cases, wallpaper can also be applied to doors, windows and surface tops, as long as excessive moisture is not present. It is an excellent way to stylize areas that would otherwise be bare.

The Home Depot recommends priming walls before applying wallpaper to ensure that it stays in place. One or two layers of primer will prepare the wall to be covered.

Unlike paint, which can just be painted over, wallpaper needs to be removed in order to add a new sheet. p

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REAL ESTATE PROFILE | RE/MAX DIAMOND REALTY

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

Real Estate Profile — RE/MAX Diamond Realty

YEAR FOUNDED ON GUAM: Diamond Realty established in June of 1996, which later became RE/MAX Diamond Realty in September 1999.

PRINCIPAL BROKER: John P. Duenas NUMBER OF REALTORS: 24 WEBSITE: remax-diamondrealty-guam.com PHYSICAL LOCATION: 238 E. Marine Corps Drive, Suite 202, Hagåtña, Guam AREAS OF EXPERTISE/SPECIALTIES: residential and commercial sales, residential and commercial rentals, property management, Homeowners Association management, development consulting, real estate investment consulting.

INVESTMENT TIPS: • We are in a seller’s market because of decreased inventory for low to middlepriced residential homes, so pick an experienced and aggressive realtor who can provide you with the information needed to strategize on purchasing a home or investment.

• Interest rates are still historically low, but the Feds have indicated that they will start raising rates. Every rate increase means more on your monthly mortgage payment. Get off the fence and buy now while the rates are low.

• Sellers — ensure that you clean, repair and stage your property well before listing and showing it to buyers.

You only get one chance for first impressions. This can be the difference between getting your asking price or having your property sit for months without selling. An experienced realtor can walk you through the process.

PICK OF THE MONTH: Sagan Kamia: a 24-unit townhome complex in Mangilao. Three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, two car garages priced at $295,000 with easy access to Route 1 and it is a popular rental choice for both Navy and Air Force military clients.

Photos courtesy of MACKS Realty

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SPECTRUM | GREY

THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL

Gray anatomy When thinking about a fresh new look for the house, gray may not be the first color that comes to mind.

To some, gray represents gloominess. Others may see the color as plain or boring. As with all colors, however, there are also positive attributes that come with it. Color Psychology, a blog run by cognitive psychology expert Hailey Van Braam, paints this color as strong, non-suggestive and balanced. And since gray is linked to aging, the color may also represent maturity and wisdom.

It is because of these qualities that gray can be found among many home and office furnishings.

The color does not boast of a loud personality, but instead remains muted and calming. This makes furniture pieces fit in with almost any wall colors, rugs and other aesthetics in a room. Van Braam says that it also adds a sense of professionalism to an environment.

Eric Borja, store manager of

“The color does not boast of a loud personality, but instead remains muted and calming.

This makes furniture pieces fit in with almost any wall colors, rugs and other aesthetics in a room. ”

Rainbow Paint Supply, says that gray is an accommodating color.

There are different varieties of gray that is up to personal preference, but they all maintain a neutral tone.

“Personally, I like gray because it’s not in your face,” Borja says.

“When I come home after a long day, I don’t want to see a color that’s too bright. I want to relax. Gray is not a busy color.”

A darker gray can be more masculine, but light grays are more gender neutral, he says.

The neutral tone makes the color complimentary to every other color in the spectrum. So gray walls, or a gray accent wall, can have an element of conformity with the rest of the room.

Try not to go overboard with gray, though. Without other accent colors, like a bright blue on a decorative pillow or creamcolored curtains, too much gray can discourage a creative environment. “[Gray] looks exquisite and formal, yet never captivating,”

Van Braam says.

Gray is suitable for any part of the home. It can be the color found on cabinets, light covers, rugs and sofas. Most Guam homes are concrete, so gray can naturally show in exposed bricks. Paved driveways are gray strips, and homeowners should regularly clean them to prevent unwanted discoloration.

The only spaces where gray may not fit are in areas meant to be vibrant and lively, such as an outdoor patio or a children’s room.

These areas are better off having small gray accents to serve as breaks between louder colors. p

The color gray can be found in many home and office furniture pieces, such as this sofa bed.

Photo by John I. Borja

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