Gardening Mistakes to Avoid

Whether you are a garden novice or a seasoned green thumb expert, avoid common gardening mistakes with 
these tips.

1. Pay attention to your property. Observe what areas receive the most sunlight and if there are areas that are often shaded throughout the day. Is there an area that collects an excess of water?
2. Read care instructions on trees, shrubs and plants. Learn and adhere to proper spacing instructions. Remember, spacing may seem excessive at first, but as plants grow and flourish they will increase in size and require adequate space.
3. Take pictures of your space and bring them to your local nursery with your notes and observations of sun exposure. The experts may have some advice and ideas for what will thrive and complement your yard.
4. Install an irrigation system in your yard or be vigilant about watering plant roots according to necessary specifications. This is especially important in the early stages to ensure the plants take root.
5. Landscaping and upkeep can be time consuming and expensive. Choose plant life that will not break your budget, this may entail landscaping your space in stages.

Relay for Life in Monrovia Will Be Here Before You know It

June 02 will be here before you know it and once again our team of walking REALTORS at CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes will take to Recreation Park in Monrovia and kick off the 24 hour relay towards a cure for cancer.

All of our team members had been affected, directly or indirectly, by this terrible disease which continues to take human lives. Great strides have been taken towards finding solutions but there is so much research and hard work to be done.

Relay for Life is our opportunity to help raise funds and it is also our chance to pay tribute to the countless men, women and children who have struggled with the disease.

We encourage you to visit our team's website, supportrelay.com and help our efforts. Also, if you'd like to participate in the day's relay please contact our team captain Lary Kubel for more information at 626-203-6384.

We look forward to this year's events.

Monrovia Relay for Life 2011 

Tips for buying and selling homes at the same time

When you are buying a property while selling a property your real estate agent is more important than ever. A qualified and competent agent should be able to give you an accurate estimation of the price your current property may trade for, which is crucial if the sale of the property is contingent on the purchase of another.

Follow the same basic rules when selling your home: get organized by disposing or donating unused items, stage your property, and pack anything you don’t need on a daily basis in preparation for a move. Get a home inspection and make any necessary repairs for your potential buyers and a pre-approval letter to give to sellers of a property you may be interested in. Any proactive and preventative steps you complete will expedite both the home selling and buying process.

When listing your home be realistic with potential offers and ask for a closing date that fits your schedule. Perhaps, if the property you are purchasing is contingent on the sale of your current property, you can ask your buyers for an early closing date. If you have yet to find a property to purchase, you may ask for a later closing date so you won’t have to rent in the interim. No matter what your circumstances are, organization, pre-planning, in-depth knowledge of your finances, coupled with a skilled and experienced real estate professional, are vital aspects to the process.

Team Adams & Barnes Celebrates Cinco De Mayo

Our team is thrilled to have been part (for the second year) of the Monrovia Cinco De Mayo Multicultural Arts & Music Festival. The day's weather was perfect for the event and it was a treat to see the community come out to our Downtown and celebrate the art, food, music, dance and traditions of Latinos in the San Gabriel Valley.

Also, the afternoon gave us the opportunity to meet hundreds of folks and help them enter a raffle to win a new Kenmore Liquid Propane Gas Grill which we'll give to one lucky winner later this week.

Our team, who consisted of Maria Abellanosa, Joanne Cothern, Jacen Crehan, Maricela Dolores, Charmaine Foster, Deanna Jones, Karen Taylor, Isabel Lugo, Jose Martinez, Henry Suarez, Marisela Torres, Patti Tris, Sherry Tweini & Troy Willson.

We are also proud to share some photos of our team at the event and we look forward to being part of this growing festival next year.

Jacen Crehan and Patti Tris meet and greet!

Patti Tris' Tobasco Sauce Gifts

Broker Tom Adams & REALTOR Troy Wilson

Could you be the winner!?

Important Questions To Ask Your Home Inspector

When purchasing a home, home inspections often put the buyer's mind at ease and may allow for renegotiation. An inspection also gives buyers an opportunity to opt out of the sale if major problems are discovered. Here are some important questions that buyers should ask their home inspector.

• Are you a member in good standing of a professional inspectors organization, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or the National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI)? (Some states require a license)
• What is your specialty? If the inspector only has training in one area and has no other expertise, the inspection may not be comprehensive.
• What exactly does the inspection cover? (i.e.-plumbing, heat, electric, structure, alarms, sewer, foundation).
• Do you have references? How long have you been in business and how many inspections have you performed?
• What advanced technology do you use? (i.e.-infrared camera, ultrasound machine)
• Do you carry all necessary insurance, including professional liability, general liability, and errors and omissions insurance?
• Does the report include estimates of repair costs?
• Do you offer a written guarantee on the inspection?
• What type of report will I receive, and when will I receive it?

If there is a specific area of concern, hiring a professional who specializes in that area may beneficial. Also, be aware that there may be a conflict of interest if the home inspector also offers to perform repairs.