Western Property Group

Renting an apartment? Here are a few rookie mistakes you should avoid:

If you’re looking for a suitable town close to the San Jose area, consider giving Gilroy a closer look!

Are you thinking about making the move into a new apartment rental in the San Jose area?

Happy Holidays from everyone here at Western Property Group - Property Management Bay Area!

Everyone here at Western Property Group wishes you and your family a safe and fun filled weekend! You deserve it!

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: Properly organizing your home office is all about creating plenty of surface workspace. Control clutter by installing a wire management system. Use upper cabinets that are at least 12 inches deep to store large binders. Don't skimp on slides for file drawersyou don't want heavy drawers falling out of the desk when you try to open them. Make sure the edges of your work surface aren't sharp.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: The next time you have to move, invest in high-quality boxes and packing materials. You may be tempted to get boxes for free from supermarkets and liquor stores, but the mismatched shapes and sizes can impede your ability to effectively organize. Boxes should be sturdy enough to hold up for years under the weight of the stack.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: It may seem counterintuitive, but it isn't always a good idea to clean the padding that's underneath your carpet. If stained padding gets wet, for example, the stain will bleed through the carpet when you walk on it. Instead, you should clean the top of the carpet at a low temperature. If the stain comes back, have a professional carpet cleaner use fans to speed up the drying process.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: If you're concerned about responsibly burning wood in your fireplace, consider using seasoned firewoodit's easier to light and burns more efficiently. The type of seasoned firewood also impacts the fire, as hardwoods such as oak, hickory and elm tend to produce a longer-lasting burn. You can also use sawdust-manufactured fire logs to reduce wood smoke in both fireplaces and wood stoves.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: To get the best results from your garbage disposal, always turn on the cold water before adding food waste. Also, before you turn off the disposal, make sure the blades have stopped chopping and there's no food left. Never put food in the disposal and wait until later to turn it onthe blades work best with crisp, fresh food.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: If you need to install grab bars in your bathroom, you don't have to settle for plain, institutional-looking ones. Grab bars come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, and they can be customized to match your existing bathroom fixtures. Placement, height and anchoring are important for maximizing safety, so it's a good idea to have your grab bars installed by a professional.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: If you're planning to sell your house, remember to repair small items and add some curb appealit's a minimal expense compared to the benefit of attracting potential buyers who might drive by homes that look like they haven't been maintained. Repaint peeling and faded areas, replace broken fixtures or lights, fix or replace cracked concrete, and plant bright flowers near the walkway.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: When shopping for a locksmith company, consider how many vehicles and technicians it has at its disposal. When you're locked out of your home, office or car, you don't want to wait several hours to get back in, so make sure your locksmith has plenty of on-call resources and can offer fast response times.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: To avoid body strains while driving, adjust your car seat so you're as close to the steering wheel as comfortably possible. Your knees should be slightly higher than your hips. Place four fingers behind the back of your thigh closest to your knee. If you can't easily slide your fingers in and out of that space, you need to readjust your seat.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: Roof flashings are one of the biggest reasons for a leaky roofthey cover areas where the roof pitch changes (chimneys, vents, skylights) and are often made of metal, so they're weaker than the roof surface surrounding them and can be compromised by bad weather. Check your flashings annually and look for tearing, rusting, leaking and general signs of wear.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: If your car is constantly losing oil, the first step is to establish if it's actually burning oil (you'll see blue or black smoke) or just leaking (try replacing drain plugs or gaskets). If your car's oil loss is relatively small, consider adding an oil additive or "stop leak" productthey're usually less than $10 at an auto parts store. Also, using a heavier grade engine oil might help.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: When it comes to choosing gutters for your house, the two most popular types of material are aluminum and galvanized steel, but you should also be aware of other options like vinyl, wood and copper. The best option for your particular situation depends on your living conditions and a variety of other factors, so talk to your local gutter installer or hardware supplier before making a decision.