Blog - Spechler & Beck Real Estate Group

June 1, 2020
Blog

Give Your Home a Morale Makeover

7 easy ways to revitalize your space and boost your mood. With many Americans spending a lot...

May 26, 2020
Blog

7 Ways to Enjoy the Outdoors at Home

Even if you can't go to the beach, bar or cafe, you can experience going out while...

May 18, 2020
Blog

How to Disinfect Your Home in the Time of Coronavirus

A bleach solution or rubbing alcohol is your best bet for keeping your home sanitized. There’s...

May 11, 2020
Blog

Tips for buying and selling a home amid COVID-19 pandemic

Real estate is adapting fast to new perils and opportunities Finding or selling a home has never...

May 4, 2020
Blog

Selling? Increase Your Home’s “Screen Appeal”

With home showings going online during COVID-19, learn how to make your listing stand out on...

April 27, 2020
Blog

Looking for a New Place? Use This Time to Create Your Wishlist

If your move is delayed, evaluate the features of your current home so you know just what you want...

April 20, 2020
Blog

5 Ways to Make Your Home Office Work (Even if It’s Your Kitchen)

WFH is the new normal for many Americans. Here’s how to get your workspace functioning well —...

April 14, 2020
Blog

5 Tips for Moving During COVID-19

By taking extra safety precautions and minimizing social contact, you can still move...

April 8, 2020
Blog

Real estate will boom once coronavirus threat is gone – Go ahead, put your house on the market

The stigma that has been historically associated with a home's "days on market," as it relates to...

March 31, 2020
Blog

4 Home Expenses You Can Save On During the COVID-19 Crisis

With countless small businesses shutting their doors in the wake of COVID-19 and larger companies...

March 24, 2020
Blog

How to Clean Your Home for Coronavirus

It takes only a few minutes, but cleaning high-traffic surfaces once a day can make a difference in...

March 17, 2020
Blog

Here are the paint colors that can help sell your house, according to realtors

Applying a fresh coat of paint is an easy, cost-effective way to give your home an instant upgrade...

March 9, 2020
Blog

House Selling Tips: Why You Won’t Get Your Asking Price

A few small updates, which can be done on a budget, can increase your home’s value — and...

March 3, 2020
Blog

4 Decisions Homeowners Rarely Regret And 3 Common Regrets

Homeowners rarely regret these choices These are some of the top things homeowners rarely regret...

February 24, 2020
Blog

The 16 Incredibly Useful Rules Every Organized House Follows

Homes don’t clean themselves. But these easy-peasy rules (wake and make!) will make you feel like...

February 17, 2020
Blog

10 projects to do if you plan to sell your home this year

If you’re putting your home on the market soon and you are considering improvements to encourage...

February 10, 2020
Blog

first-time homebuyer mistakes to avoid – and what to do instead

Buying your first home comes with many big decisions, and it can be as scary as it is exciting....

February 3, 2020
Blog

3 Things to Look for in a Starter Home

Some first-time homebuyers seek out their dream home from the start -- the house they'll raise kids...

January 27, 2020
Blog

5 home-staging tips for a quick sale

There are three key steps you can take to help sell a home quickly: Hire the right real...

January 20, 2020
Blog

10 money mistakes to avoid when you move

Moving to a new home can be exciting, but it can also be nerve-racking. You may have just a few...

January 14, 2020
Blog

Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Before You Retire?

Paying off your home mortgage before you retire is a major financial achievement, but you don't...

January 6, 2020
Blog

3 things you need to do before applying for a mortgage

Of all the things you have to do when shopping for a home, applying for a mortgage isn't one of...

December 30, 2019
Blog

These 10 Renovation Trends Will Be Popular in 2020

2020 Home Renovation Trends Planning a home renovation? As you make your plans, take note of these...

December 23, 2019
Blog

5 New Year’s Resolutions That Can Help You Buy a Home

Thinking of buying a home this year? We compiled five New Year’s resolutions that can help you...

December 16, 2019
Blog

10 money strategies for buying your first home

A house is the biggest purchase most people ever make. With so much money on the line and no...

December 9, 2019
Blog

10 interior design trends for 2020

You may not be moving into a new house in 2020, but you can make your home feel new again by taking...

December 2, 2019
Blog

Cleaning Your House for Guests

It feels great to have a clean, organized, well-functioning home when you've got guests...

November 25, 2019
Blog

Home Renovations That Give Owners the Most Joy

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2019 Remodeling Impact Report suggests that after...

November 17, 2019
Blog

Karen Spechler to Play with the Santa Barbara City College Symphony

Karen Spechler will play her cello with the Santa Barbara City College Symphony Orchestra on...

November 11, 2019
Blog

Karen Spechler to Perform with the Upcoming Santa Barbara Folk Orchestra Scottish Concert

Treat yourself and come listen as Karen Spechler again plays her cello with the Santa Barbara Folk...

November 6, 2019
Blog

The Ins and Outs of Setting a Price for Your Home

It’s a big decision with a lot of factors, but don’t worry — you have backup. Everything...

October 29, 2019
Blog

7 times when you’re smart not to pay off a mortgage early

There are plenty of reasons to pay off your mortgage early — chief among them being the thousands...

October 21, 2019
Blog

13 Tips for Home Wildfire Protection

How do most homes ignite during a wildfire? A floating ember or piece of burning wood touches down...

October 8, 2019
Blog

5 Home Repairs You Should Not Attempt Yourself

The freedom of homeownership also entails some expensive surprises. You may not have counted on...

September 30, 2019
Blog

The ultimate guide to understanding the mortgage process

Getting prequalified Before you begin the process of finding and buying a home, you should go to a...

September 24, 2019
Blog

Home Improvements That Are Good Investments, Too

When you take out a home equity line of credit or dip into your high-interest savings account to...

September 15, 2019
Blog

7 Important Repairs to Make Before Selling A House

The most critical things to do to increase your home’s value before putting it on the...

September 9, 2019
Blog

Some of the biggest regrets first-time home buyers have

It’s easy to overlook some of these small yet very important things when you’re excited about...

September 3, 2019
Blog

Stressed out? Here are 10 science-backed design tips for bringing serenity to your home

The word “anxiety” gets thrown around a lot these days, and I admit, I’ve been a little...

August 26, 2019
Blog

Energy-saving solutions let homeowners cut costs while helping the environment

You probably have a rough idea of how much energy and water your home uses, based on your utility...