TEAM T.P.G. Blog

While we often associate home cleaning and organization with the spring, winter is the perfect season for decluttering. Between the early sunsets and cold temperatures, we spend more time indoors, but keeping winter-related necessities accessible but clutter-free can be difficult. Now that the holidays are behind us, get a start on home organization, and give yourself more space to enjoy your home and the people around you. Here are our agents' winter decluttering tips.

• Winter Accessories
  No winter decluttering spree would be complete without sorting your cold-weather gear. To get started, put your accessories into categories. Think scarves, coats, jackets, hats, and gloves. Take note of the items you wear consistently and those you don't anticipate using. Practice discernment and get rid of any extra items that haven't been used. The same goes for summer clothes and linens. To ensure your winter accessories aren't disorganized, get large woven baskets, storage ottomans, and bins for scarves, hats, and gloves. For coats and jackets, add a line of coat hooks in your entryway or get a coat rack.

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National Tempura Day is January 7, so be sure to celebrate the holiday by treating yourself to your favorite lightly fried, crispy dish. Not only is tempura delicious, but it also uses less grease than other frying methods. While we typically associate tempura with Japanese cooking, did you know the frying style actually originated in Portugal? Tempura batter is actually just a mix of egg, flour, and cold water. 

Our agents have so many favorite Japanese restaurants in the area, that it's hard to pick just one recommendation. They decided to put together a list of their top five favorite locations to celebrate Tempura Day around Central California.

• JIN Sushi - 1600 19th St., Bakersfield, CA 93301
  Located in the heart of downtown Bakersfield, JIN Sushi offers delicious vegetable and shrimp tempura as well as sushi, salads, and a variety of Japanese dinner entrees. The dining atmosphere is simple and casual, and imported beers and spirits are available when dining in. Takeout can also be ordered online. After dinner, you have to be sure to drive by some of these newly listed Bakersfield homes for sale.

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Homebuyers have a keen eye for details. You would be surprised at the things they mention to our agents as they walk through your home. From the color of the walls to the choice of the flooring materials, the following are some of the six most common things prospective buyers will notice as they inspect your home:

1. Illumination. Homebuyers want sunny spaces to enjoy. They shun dark and dreary rooms and prefer bright and cheery bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and more. For this reason, we strongly recommend hanging and pulling back light curtains and installing bright light bulbs before taking any photos or scheduling a walkthrough.
   
   
2. Space. Prospective buyers want to know if your home has enough space to store their belongings, raise their children, engage in hobbies, and entertain guests. If your home feels stuffed and cramped, most buyers will take a pass and drive on down the road. This is why we strongly recommend holding garage sales, donating to Goodwill, and hauling any excess furniture, clothing, and clutter away via mobile storage solutions before a client ever walks through the home.
   
   

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Although closing on a house may seem pretty straightforward, many things can happen that hold up this process. If you're looking at Bakersfield homes for sale, you want to be sure you understand the ins and outs of house closings. Our agents are ready to answer your questions and can ensure this process goes smoothly during the purchase of your home in the Bakersfield area.

Here are five things that can hold up your house closing.

1. Approval of a loan
   Most buyers depend on getting a loan to buy a house. Failure to secure this loan by the closing date can delay the closing. The reasons why a loan can be delayed are varied, including spikes in interest rates, which affect qualification for the loan if it is not locked in, or suddenly the buyer's credit score or income changes, so the underwriter rejects the loan. Often, the seller must agree to an extension to keep the contract from expiring or being canceled. To avoid these situations, get a preapproved mortgage loan before submitting an offer; you can also try to be pre-underwritten for a loan.
   
   

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If you've got some last-minute holiday shopping to do in Bakersfield, you'll have your choice of interesting shops to visit and find just the right gift.
  
Our agents are not only experts at Bakersfield homes for sale, they also know the area well and suggest the following five shops for last-minute gifts.

1. Sweet Surrender – 6439 Ming Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93309
   Sweet Surrender is a unique shop that combines a bakery with a sophisticated boutique and gift store, so you'll find many gifts to choose from. Friends, family, and business associates would all enjoy a gift basket that includes tasty yet distinctive products that go together. Or choose a single item that makes a delicious statement, such as the lemon white chocolate cake that was featured in Oprah magazine or the Matterhorn cake that was highlighted on the "Best Thing I've Ever Ate" on the Food Network. If you don't want to buy sweets, check out items from the boutique's popular lines including Lula n' Lee, Voluspa, and Tokyo Milk. The shop and bakery are open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from noon-4 p.m. on Sunday.

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