| Welcome to Orange Realty, Inc (714)-288-9369 |
| Park Orleans Miscellaneous Information |
Misc Info - If you are a resident of Park Orleans and would like me to post something
here in the Park Orleans section, please send me an email at Tony@OrangeRealty.com and I
will be glad to include it here -- items for sale, unit for rent or sale by owner, lost pets, or
anything else that you think might be relevant, just let me know! While I am a Realtor, I am
also an owner in Park Orleans, and have a genuine interest in the community and its success!
Dishwasher Issues (7/7/2011) - My dishwasher recently started doing a horrible job
of washing the dishes -- lots of white film on the glasses and silverware. After a little internet
searching I discovered that the issue was that dish-washing detergent now contains no
phosphates (apparently an environmental issue). The solution seems to be getting rid of the
old Cascade powdered detergent and replacing it with some of the new (and more
expensive!) individual tabs. My home warranty rep indicated that they have been flooded
with calls regarding this issue. She suggested trying "Quantum Finish" tablets. I couldn't
find them at Stater Brothers, but did find "Finish Powerball" tablets. They seemed to work
just fine. I also picked up a package of "Cascade ActionPacs" so I'll give them a try as well
(update: they work great, too).
Carbon Monoxide Detectors (06/02/2011) - For those of you with rental properties,
either within Park Orleans or elsewhere in California, carbon monoxide detectors are now
required as of July 1, 2011 -- about $30 at Home Depot, Ace, OSH, or other local hardware
store. I've been purchasing the Kidde NiteHawk as it has a small digital readout that gives
you the current carbon monoxide level. They have a 7-year lifespan (sensor) -- batteries
should be replaced annually or thereabouts. Click here for a copy of the owner's manual and
additional information.
Garage Door Openers (11/22/2010) - I recently had a new garage door opener
installed, only to find that the old garage door remotes (the mini keychain type -- perfect for
Park Orleans) would not work with the new opener, so I purchased some new mini keychain
type remotes from Home Depot. The difference? Openers manufactured prior to 2005 utilize
one type of remote and openers manufactured after 2005 require a different type of remote.
They look nearly identical but have a slightly different colored housing -- read the package
carefully to make sure you get the correct remote! The mfr date of your opener can be found
on the housing of the unit. Chamberlain is the brand of the remote that should work with
most popular garage door openers -- cost is approximately $32.50 per remote. Click here for
a spec sheet: Chamberlain mini 3-button remote
Dual Pane Windows (10/03/2009) - From a resident of Park Orleans (emailed to me):
"I had my windows done about 1 month ago to take advantage of the tax credit on energy
efficient windows. I searched for the best deal and found it at:
http://www.anewviewwindows.com
Not only was it the cheapest, they were the nicest windows out there. They did an excellent
job retro-fitting and were very fast. Ask for Eric. They are local and family owned and I
highly recommend them to anyone looking."
Another vinyl window replacement company that you may want to consider is:
Dustin Bianchi
Great White Vinyl
Phone: (714)-442-8513
Dustin's company is local and he would be glad to stop by and give you a free estimate. For
Dustin's website and email address, please click on the "Tradespersons" tab above and scroll
down to "Window Replacement".
Kitchen Cabinets - Resurfacing - A recommendation for kitchen cabinet resurfacing
(versus replacing the kitchen and/or bath cabinets): Edgar - (323)-220-2013. Here is a
photo of a unit in Park Orleans that was re-surfaced by Edgar - Park Orleans Kitchen
A/C Units - Thinking of replacing your air conditioning unit? The Frigidaire FAH146S2 is
an excellent choice as it fits very neatly in the existing sleeve (unit is 14.5"High X 24"Wide X
19"Deep), has a capacity of 14,000 BTUs, and is available in 220 VAC. About $480.00 from
Best Buy or ABT, although it may only be available online, which adds another $79.00 for
shipping. Here is a spec sheet on the unit. A competent handyman can install for about $75
if you do not want to do it yourself. Need a handyman? Click on the "Tradespersons" tab
above and scroll down to "Handyman".
Main Electrical Panel Switches - I've had to replace the main shutoff switch (in the
exterior electrical panel) for two units in the past few months. If you are having any issues
with the electricity in your home, you may want to have a licensed electrician take a look at it.
Mine were 40 amp Pushmatics (about $50.00 at Home Depot) but your electrician can tell you
for sure. Here is a photo of the breaker installed.
10/13/2009 - More electrical info: The increased electrical demands of modern society are
starting to take their toll on my 40 Amp electrical service. I had the electrician run a
dedicated circuit for the microwave oven today, which will help but likely will not solve the
problem entirely. There are currently 2 LCD TVs, a 220VAC A/C unit, a microwave, a small
PC, toaster, iron, 4 lights in the kitchen, and 4 lights in the bath, all competing for electricity.
The electrician suggested that if a new main circuit was run (with larger copper wire, vs the
aluminum wire that is currently being used) that we may be able to increase to a 50 or 60
Amp service. It appears that each conduit running from the main panel each houses 2 main
circuits, one for the downstairs unit and one for the upstairs unit. The junction box to pull
wire appears to be in the downstairs units below the main panel. It doesn't make sense to
try and pull a single copper wire through the conduit, so I will try and arrange with my
downstairs neighbor to give us access and perhaps pay for at least the cost of the additional
wire. The benefit to my neighbor is that they can enjoy increased electrical capacity as well,
should they choose to do so. As soon as I have the quote to run the wire and upgrade the
main breaker panel I will post it here. The electrician that I'm using is Bright Electric (click on
"Tradespersons" tab above for contact information).
Mirrored Closet Door (Free!) - 09/02/2009 - I have 1/2 of a mirrored closet door
(original with the gold frame) that is in good condition if anyone needs one -- it is in my
garage and you can have it for free -- you'll just need to make arrangements to come and
pick it up. Just send me an email at Tony@OrangeRealty.com or give me a call at
714-288-9369
Wall Furnace - When you repaint the interior of your home, the older wall furnace covers
can seem sort of dreary. As an alternative to replacing the whole furnace you might
consider, as one of the neighbors shared with me, having the cover powder-coated in
whatever color you like. They paid about $85.00. There is at least one company that
performs this service up on North Batavia. While you are at it, you should consider replacing
your old mercury thermostat with a digital version - the Honeywell RTH110B works well.
They are very inexpensive and will control the heat much more evenly (they look more
up-to-date, too!).
Bathtub and Surround - If you still have your original bath tub and surround, or if
your bathtub is simply looking worn, consider having it re-glazed (actually a two-part
epoxy). I've had 5 or 6 tubs done in the past few years and they come out looking fantastic!
Click here to see an "after" photo. It costs about $350 and is well worth it. The company
that I generally use is listed under the "Tradespersons" tab at the top of the website, near
the top under heading "Bathtub Refinishing".
Exterior Paint Colors - If you need to touch up your front door, A/C. housing, or any
other area of your exterior, here are the paint colors from The Colonial Group - exterior paint
colors.
Cabinet Knobs - If you are replacing the knobs on the original cabinets in your Park
Orleans home, and you are using the contractor packs of knobs available from Home Depot,
you may want to pick up some extra #8-32 X 1 3/4" machine screws as the cabinet doors
are slightly thicker than the screws in the packs will accommodate.
New Blinds or Window Coverings - If you are purchasing new blinds or other
window coverings from your local home improvement store, I would strongly recommend
substituting coarse thread drywall screws for the screws that come with the blinds - 1" or
1-1/4" should do. Drywall screws have a better grip with your screwdriver and are much
easier to use -- keep the box of screws handy for hanging photos and other minor repairs --
they are extremely useful!
Re-piped Buildings - The following condos have been re-piped with copper plumbing as
of February 2011: 17-24, 25-32, 33-40, 81-92, 101-112, 93-100 or a total of 56 out of 112
homes. Note: If you will be purchasing a home in Park Orleans, be aware that when
buildings are re-piped, there is a special assessment levied on all of the homeowners. The
assessment can be paid in a lump sum or spread over several months. Please consult with
your Realtor for details (or better yet, hire me as your Realtor!). UPDATE: Buildings 41-52,
53-64, and 73-80 are due to be re-piped in 2012. The assessment, per unit, will be $600 and
may be paid in a lump sum or over a period of up to 12 months.
Earthquake Insurance - As is the case with re-piping, annual earthquake premiums are
generally handled via special assessment as well. Each year, the homeowners vote on
whether or not to procure earthquake insurance. Please consult with your Realtor for details
on the annual assessment for this insurance (or better yet, hire me as your Realtor!).
Trivia:
Highest price paid for a 1BR Park Orleans condo: $295K - 07/15/2005
Highest price paid for a 2BR Park Orleans condo: $338K - 06/22/2006
Lowest price paid for a 1BR Park Orleans condo in past 10 years: $102K - 08/14/2001
Lowest price paid for a 2BR Park Orleans condo in past 10 years: $160K - 06/29/2011
Lowest price paid for a 1BR Park Orleans condo in 2011: $139.9K 07/31/2011
Highest price paid for a 1BR Park Orleans condo in 2011: $150K 08/23/2011
Lowest price paid for a 2BR Park Orleans condo in 2011: $160K 06/29/2011
Highest price paid for a 2BR Park Orleans condo in 2011: $176.9K 06/16/2011
2010 Listings and Sales
Click here for 2011 1 BR Park Orleans sales info in spreadsheet format
Click here for 2011 2 BR Park Orleans sales info in spreadsheet format
Source: SoCal MLS
here in the Park Orleans section, please send me an email at Tony@OrangeRealty.com and I
will be glad to include it here -- items for sale, unit for rent or sale by owner, lost pets, or
anything else that you think might be relevant, just let me know! While I am a Realtor, I am
also an owner in Park Orleans, and have a genuine interest in the community and its success!
Dishwasher Issues (7/7/2011) - My dishwasher recently started doing a horrible job
of washing the dishes -- lots of white film on the glasses and silverware. After a little internet
searching I discovered that the issue was that dish-washing detergent now contains no
phosphates (apparently an environmental issue). The solution seems to be getting rid of the
old Cascade powdered detergent and replacing it with some of the new (and more
expensive!) individual tabs. My home warranty rep indicated that they have been flooded
with calls regarding this issue. She suggested trying "Quantum Finish" tablets. I couldn't
find them at Stater Brothers, but did find "Finish Powerball" tablets. They seemed to work
just fine. I also picked up a package of "Cascade ActionPacs" so I'll give them a try as well
(update: they work great, too).
Carbon Monoxide Detectors (06/02/2011) - For those of you with rental properties,
either within Park Orleans or elsewhere in California, carbon monoxide detectors are now
required as of July 1, 2011 -- about $30 at Home Depot, Ace, OSH, or other local hardware
store. I've been purchasing the Kidde NiteHawk as it has a small digital readout that gives
you the current carbon monoxide level. They have a 7-year lifespan (sensor) -- batteries
should be replaced annually or thereabouts. Click here for a copy of the owner's manual and
additional information.
Garage Door Openers (11/22/2010) - I recently had a new garage door opener
installed, only to find that the old garage door remotes (the mini keychain type -- perfect for
Park Orleans) would not work with the new opener, so I purchased some new mini keychain
type remotes from Home Depot. The difference? Openers manufactured prior to 2005 utilize
one type of remote and openers manufactured after 2005 require a different type of remote.
They look nearly identical but have a slightly different colored housing -- read the package
carefully to make sure you get the correct remote! The mfr date of your opener can be found
on the housing of the unit. Chamberlain is the brand of the remote that should work with
most popular garage door openers -- cost is approximately $32.50 per remote. Click here for
a spec sheet: Chamberlain mini 3-button remote
Dual Pane Windows (10/03/2009) - From a resident of Park Orleans (emailed to me):
"I had my windows done about 1 month ago to take advantage of the tax credit on energy
efficient windows. I searched for the best deal and found it at:
http://www.anewviewwindows.com
Not only was it the cheapest, they were the nicest windows out there. They did an excellent
job retro-fitting and were very fast. Ask for Eric. They are local and family owned and I
highly recommend them to anyone looking."
Another vinyl window replacement company that you may want to consider is:
Dustin Bianchi
Great White Vinyl
Phone: (714)-442-8513
Dustin's company is local and he would be glad to stop by and give you a free estimate. For
Dustin's website and email address, please click on the "Tradespersons" tab above and scroll
down to "Window Replacement".
Kitchen Cabinets - Resurfacing - A recommendation for kitchen cabinet resurfacing
(versus replacing the kitchen and/or bath cabinets): Edgar - (323)-220-2013. Here is a
photo of a unit in Park Orleans that was re-surfaced by Edgar - Park Orleans Kitchen
A/C Units - Thinking of replacing your air conditioning unit? The Frigidaire FAH146S2 is
an excellent choice as it fits very neatly in the existing sleeve (unit is 14.5"High X 24"Wide X
19"Deep), has a capacity of 14,000 BTUs, and is available in 220 VAC. About $480.00 from
Best Buy or ABT, although it may only be available online, which adds another $79.00 for
shipping. Here is a spec sheet on the unit. A competent handyman can install for about $75
if you do not want to do it yourself. Need a handyman? Click on the "Tradespersons" tab
above and scroll down to "Handyman".
Main Electrical Panel Switches - I've had to replace the main shutoff switch (in the
exterior electrical panel) for two units in the past few months. If you are having any issues
with the electricity in your home, you may want to have a licensed electrician take a look at it.
Mine were 40 amp Pushmatics (about $50.00 at Home Depot) but your electrician can tell you
for sure. Here is a photo of the breaker installed.
10/13/2009 - More electrical info: The increased electrical demands of modern society are
starting to take their toll on my 40 Amp electrical service. I had the electrician run a
dedicated circuit for the microwave oven today, which will help but likely will not solve the
problem entirely. There are currently 2 LCD TVs, a 220VAC A/C unit, a microwave, a small
PC, toaster, iron, 4 lights in the kitchen, and 4 lights in the bath, all competing for electricity.
The electrician suggested that if a new main circuit was run (with larger copper wire, vs the
aluminum wire that is currently being used) that we may be able to increase to a 50 or 60
Amp service. It appears that each conduit running from the main panel each houses 2 main
circuits, one for the downstairs unit and one for the upstairs unit. The junction box to pull
wire appears to be in the downstairs units below the main panel. It doesn't make sense to
try and pull a single copper wire through the conduit, so I will try and arrange with my
downstairs neighbor to give us access and perhaps pay for at least the cost of the additional
wire. The benefit to my neighbor is that they can enjoy increased electrical capacity as well,
should they choose to do so. As soon as I have the quote to run the wire and upgrade the
main breaker panel I will post it here. The electrician that I'm using is Bright Electric (click on
"Tradespersons" tab above for contact information).
Mirrored Closet Door (Free!) - 09/02/2009 - I have 1/2 of a mirrored closet door
(original with the gold frame) that is in good condition if anyone needs one -- it is in my
garage and you can have it for free -- you'll just need to make arrangements to come and
pick it up. Just send me an email at Tony@OrangeRealty.com or give me a call at
714-288-9369
Wall Furnace - When you repaint the interior of your home, the older wall furnace covers
can seem sort of dreary. As an alternative to replacing the whole furnace you might
consider, as one of the neighbors shared with me, having the cover powder-coated in
whatever color you like. They paid about $85.00. There is at least one company that
performs this service up on North Batavia. While you are at it, you should consider replacing
your old mercury thermostat with a digital version - the Honeywell RTH110B works well.
They are very inexpensive and will control the heat much more evenly (they look more
up-to-date, too!).
Bathtub and Surround - If you still have your original bath tub and surround, or if
your bathtub is simply looking worn, consider having it re-glazed (actually a two-part
epoxy). I've had 5 or 6 tubs done in the past few years and they come out looking fantastic!
Click here to see an "after" photo. It costs about $350 and is well worth it. The company
that I generally use is listed under the "Tradespersons" tab at the top of the website, near
the top under heading "Bathtub Refinishing".
Exterior Paint Colors - If you need to touch up your front door, A/C. housing, or any
other area of your exterior, here are the paint colors from The Colonial Group - exterior paint
colors.
Cabinet Knobs - If you are replacing the knobs on the original cabinets in your Park
Orleans home, and you are using the contractor packs of knobs available from Home Depot,
you may want to pick up some extra #8-32 X 1 3/4" machine screws as the cabinet doors
are slightly thicker than the screws in the packs will accommodate.
New Blinds or Window Coverings - If you are purchasing new blinds or other
window coverings from your local home improvement store, I would strongly recommend
substituting coarse thread drywall screws for the screws that come with the blinds - 1" or
1-1/4" should do. Drywall screws have a better grip with your screwdriver and are much
easier to use -- keep the box of screws handy for hanging photos and other minor repairs --
they are extremely useful!
Re-piped Buildings - The following condos have been re-piped with copper plumbing as
of February 2011: 17-24, 25-32, 33-40, 81-92, 101-112, 93-100 or a total of 56 out of 112
homes. Note: If you will be purchasing a home in Park Orleans, be aware that when
buildings are re-piped, there is a special assessment levied on all of the homeowners. The
assessment can be paid in a lump sum or spread over several months. Please consult with
your Realtor for details (or better yet, hire me as your Realtor!). UPDATE: Buildings 41-52,
53-64, and 73-80 are due to be re-piped in 2012. The assessment, per unit, will be $600 and
may be paid in a lump sum or over a period of up to 12 months.
Earthquake Insurance - As is the case with re-piping, annual earthquake premiums are
generally handled via special assessment as well. Each year, the homeowners vote on
whether or not to procure earthquake insurance. Please consult with your Realtor for details
on the annual assessment for this insurance (or better yet, hire me as your Realtor!).
Trivia:
Highest price paid for a 1BR Park Orleans condo: $295K - 07/15/2005
Highest price paid for a 2BR Park Orleans condo: $338K - 06/22/2006
Lowest price paid for a 1BR Park Orleans condo in past 10 years: $102K - 08/14/2001
Lowest price paid for a 2BR Park Orleans condo in past 10 years: $160K - 06/29/2011
Lowest price paid for a 1BR Park Orleans condo in 2011: $139.9K 07/31/2011
Highest price paid for a 1BR Park Orleans condo in 2011: $150K 08/23/2011
Lowest price paid for a 2BR Park Orleans condo in 2011: $160K 06/29/2011
Highest price paid for a 2BR Park Orleans condo in 2011: $176.9K 06/16/2011
2010 Listings and Sales
Click here for 2011 1 BR Park Orleans sales info in spreadsheet format
Click here for 2011 2 BR Park Orleans sales info in spreadsheet format
Source: SoCal MLS
Park Orleans Property Management:
Team Property Management
Kathy Poremba
Phone: 714-639-8484
Fax: 714-639-8585
Email: TeamProp@AOL.com
Team Property Management
Kathy Poremba
Phone: 714-639-8484
Fax: 714-639-8585
Email: TeamProp@AOL.com
Park Orleans Maintenance:
Colonial Group
Dale Duncan
Phone: 714-231-2716
Fax: 714-599-9934
Email: ColonialGroup@Hotmail.com
Colonial Group
Dale Duncan
Phone: 714-231-2716
Fax: 714-599-9934
Email: ColonialGroup@Hotmail.com
Park Orleans Board:
Email: ParkOrleansBoard@Yahoo.com
Email: ParkOrleansBoard@Yahoo.com
Page last updated 08/16/2011
| All information on this web page is believed to be correct but is subject to verification by the reader. |
|
