Dryer vent cleaning is the fix for most things that can go wrong with your clothes dryer.  Airflow is the most important thing your dryer needs in order to operate properly.  Think about it; the heat and moisture from your dryer drum has to go somewhere as your clothes dry.  If there is a blockage in the dryer vent system the heat and moisture are trapped in the drum or somewhere in the exhaust duct.   Professional dryer vent cleaning is the number one way to properly maintain your clothes dryer.  In addition, the lint screen should be cleaned after every load of laundry.  Fabric softeners and dryer sheets can cause a residue to build up over time; the lint screen should be cleaned with hot, soapy water every few months to prevent air-flow blockage.   Dryer Vent Cleaning   The most comm... 06/29/2009

It was 3pm on a Tuesday 6/16/09 when Mark Cooper got the call. A local bank was evaluating their portfolio and needed a rush BPO on a property in Larkspur. (Rush in this bussiness means done that very same day, or first thing in the morning!). Luckily the BPO team of KW commercial in San Francisco was ready for the job. The bank had recently used two other companies for a valuation of the exact same property and the asset managers where unhappy with the results, One figure came in at 1.1m, the other at 600k! Something was defiantly fishy. Back at the office Jeremy Shoenig pulled comps of recent solds and active listings to determine the price per square foot as a starting point for value. Within minutes Mark arrived at the scene, took notes on the unique features of the property and beg... 06/17/2009

As of June 3, 2009 29% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow. For the month os May 2009 five homes sold in Larkspur for an average final selling price of $1,054,800. The average original asking price of these homes was $1,182,700. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $680,000 to a high of $1,575,000. Of the 5 homes that sold 1 sold at the original asking price and all others sold for less. To see everything that is currently available for sale through out MLS click here. To learn more about this area visit my website or contact me directly. To see some of the fun things to do around here click here. 06/03/2009

As of April 6, 2009 only 15% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow. For the month of March 2009 only 2 homes sold in Larkspur for an average final selling price of $615,000. The average original asking price of these homes was $669,750. The two final selling prices were $575,000 and $655,000. It took these homes an average of 179 days to sell. To see all homes that are currently for sale through our local MLS, click here. To learn more about this area visit my website or contact me directly.   Below is a picture of downtown Larkspur from yesterday afternoon, with the sun and the rain both trying to be dominant.  You can see the clouds coming in from the West and the sun warming from the North. 04/09/2009

As of March 6, 2009 only 12% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow. For the month of February 2009 only 3 homes sold in Larkspur for an average final selling price of $594,000. The average original asking price was less than the selling price at $585,667. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $542,000 to a high of $640,000 - further illustrating how difficult it is to get financing for this area, and the higher end homes. Of the 3 homes that sold, 2 sold for more than their original asking price. It took these homes an average of 107 days to sell. To see more recent sales history for Larkspur and the surrounding areas, click here. To see everything that is currently available for sale in the area, click here. To learn more about the area visit my website, contact... 03/07/2009

As of February 7, 2009 only 10% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow. For the month of January 2009 only 2 homes sold in Larkspur for an average final selling price of $817,750. The average original asking price was $1,224,500. The two final selling prices were $592,500 and $1,043,000. Both of these homes sold for less than their original asking price. It took these homes an average of 200 days to sell. To see all homes that are currently available for sale, click here. For more information about this area visit my website or contact me directly. 02/07/2009

To follow up on my most recent blog, "How Are Your Favorite Home Retailers Doing? Must-Read Articles," this New York Times' article, "The Meltdown in Home Furnishings" lists troubled home furnishings retailers who are struggling in this economy, as well as many much loved "shelter" magazines:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/garden/29industry.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Due to the faltering economy and shrinking advertising dollars, the past several months have seen several home design magazines close up shop, to include: The 106 year-old House and Garden, Home, Blueprint, O at Home, Cottage Living, Country Home, and most recently Domino. At a personal level shelter magazines have been so important to me through the years as sources of inspiration, aspiration and upcoming design trends.... 02/01/2009

Freddie Mac announced today it will allow some homeowners to rent out their homes after losing them to foreclosure.  (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/mortgage_giants_renters)  Marin rentals and the effects of foreclosure is a hot topics with some of our tenants.  Today's well-qualified tenants have valid concerns: -- What happens to me and my family if I rent a home that suffers foreclosure? -- What happens to my security deposit? -- Will I be evicted even if I keep paying rent? These are all valid concerns, however, due to ever changing legislation, tough to answer. My understanding (and, of course, I am not a lawyer and my advice is not to be considered legal advice) is that once a home is foreclosed on, the bank is now the tenant's landlord.  Rent should always be paid every month, otherw... 01/30/2009

As of January 13, 2009 only 17% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow.  Hello Buyers!!!  We want YOU in Larkspur! For the month of December 2008 only 1 home sold in Larkspur for a final selling price of $755,000. The original asking price was $895,000. It took this home 199 days to sell. To see everything that is currently available for sale, click here. To learn more about this area visit my website or contact me directly. 01/14/2009

As of December 6, 2008 only 11% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow. For the month of November 2008 only one home sold in Larkspur, for a final selling price of $730,000. The original asking price was $739,000. It took 33 days to sell. For more information about this area visit my website or contact me directly. 12/06/2008

As of November 6, 2008 only 8% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow. For the month of October 2008 only 5 homes sold in Larkspur for an average final selling price of $876,050. The average original asking price of these homes was $854,780. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $445,250 to a high of $1,975,000. Of the 5 homes that sold, 1 sold at the original asking price, 1 sold over the original asking price and the other 3 sold for less. It took these 5 homes an average of 70 days to sell. For more information about this area visit my website or contact me directly. To see everything that is currently available for sale click here. 11/06/2008

As of October 6, 2008 28% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow. For the month of September 2006 only 8 homes sold in Larkspur for an average final selling price of $1,096,875. The average original asking price of these homes was $1,122,000. The range of final selling prices of these homes was from a low of $360,000 to a high of $1,675,000. It took these homes an average of 42 days to sell. Here's where it gets interesting:  Of the 8 homes that sold, 6 sold over their original asking price and the other 2 sold for less.  This might make you think that the average final selling price of the homes would be higher than the average original asking price, but it is not.  So people are willing to pay a bit more to clinch the deal, but apparently not a whole lot more. For more inform... 10/08/2008

As of September 5, 2008 23% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow. For the month of August 2008 8 homes sold in Larkspur for an average final selling price of $1,350,063. The average original asking price of these homes was $1,403,625. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $1,145,000 to a high of $1,745,500. It took these homes an average of 81 days to sell. Of the 8 homes that sold 1 sold at the original asking price and an impressive 3 sold for more than their original asking price.  (Larkspur is a very nice place to live and the school district and weather are excellent -- good commute location too!) For more information about this area visit my website or contact me directly. 09/05/2008

WOW! What a fabulous display of beauty, steel, engineering and architectural design we saw on those unbelievable buildings on Beijing - China - for the 2008 Olympics!... "The Bird's Nest" - The architects are the Swiss Pritzker Prize winners: Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, and has the whimsy of a super-colossal Claes Oldenburg sculptures placed all around the stadium. Starting from now , this will be the most recognizable stadium on earth and one of the most celebrated piece of architecture.     The stadium exterior shell is a helter steel web - a mega proportion of architectural indulgence and engineering stoke of genius... The breathtaking design of the steel rib-bones wrapper erecting into a dramatically parabolic shape of a bird nest. What is astounding about the glamorous ne... 08/19/2008

As of August 5, 2008 25% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow. For the month of July 2008 only 9 homes sold in Larkspur for an average final selling price of $1,514,889. The average original asking price of these homes was $1,642,544. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $265,000 to a high of $2,570,000. It took these homes an average of 89 days to sell. Of the 9 homes that sold 2 sold at their original asking price and all others sold for less. To see everything in the area that is for sale search our MLS. For more information about this area visit my website or contact me directly. 08/07/2008

Larkspur is a city located in Marin County, California, United States. Larkspur, is 2 miles S of San Rafael, California (center to center) and 12 miles NW of San Francisco, California, near Mount Tamalpais. Nearby, Madrone Canyon is populated by redwoods grove. The city is part of the San Francisco metro area. Twenty minutes from downtown San Francisco by car-slightly longer via the Larkspur Ferry, the city of Larkspur provides beautiful bay views, long hiking trails, bike routes, abundance of vegetation, colorful wild flowers, incredible blue sky, quiet resting places and fantastic restaurants. It is a place of calm and beauty a place where time stays still. Picturesque Sausalito, Tiburon, Point Reyes and the ancient redwoods of Muir Woods to name a few. Scenic Sonoma County and the N... 08/03/2008

Pelli Clark Pelli Architects & Sustainable design Cesar Pelli In 1991, the AIA selected Mr. Pelli as one of the 10 most influential living American architects. Cesar Pelli has received over 100 awards for design excellence and is the only architect to receive a Connecticut State Arts Award. Fred Clarke One of the founding members of Pelli Clarke Pelli, Fred Clarke is Collaborating Design Principal in the studio. In 1977, he joined Mr. Pelli in establishing the firm in New Haven, Connecticut. Rafael Pelli first joined Pelli Clarke Pelli from 1979 to 1981; in 1989, he rejoined the firm. Mr. Pelli is the Principal of the firm’s New York office which was established in the summer of 2000. One of the best architects of our century Cesar Pelli and his partners architects Fred Clarke and Rafa... 08/01/2008

As of July 12, 2008 25% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow. For the month of June 2008 7 homes sold in Larkspur for an average final selling price of $1,651,541. The average original asking price of these homes was $1,768,429. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $825,000 to a high of $2,525,000. It took these homes an average of 80 days to sell. Of the 7 homes that sold 1 sold over the original asking price and all others sold for less. For more information about this area visit my website or contact me directly. If you would like to see available homes for sale search our MLS. 07/12/2008

As of June 7, 2008 13% of available listings in Larkspur are in escrow. For the month of May 2008 six homes sold in Larkspur for an average final selling price of $1,541,667. The average original asking price of these homes was $1,631,483. The range in these final selling prices was a low of $730,000 to a high of $2,190,000. It took these homes an average of 62 days to sell. Of the six homes that sold all sold for less than their original asking price. For more information about this area visit my website or feel free to contact me directly. 06/07/2008

As of May 10, 2008 15% of available listings are in escrow. For the month of April 2008 only 5 homes sold in Larkspur for an average final selling price of $1,501,916. The average original asking price of these homes was $1,592,780. It took these homes an average of 51 days to sell. Of the 5 homes that sold, 2 sold over their original asking price and the others sold for less. If you would like to know more about this area visit my website, or feel free to contact me directly. 05/10/2008