Steven Nickens Maui Real Estate Blog

         Tuning up your "Maui Home For Sale

Thinking of selling your Maui dream home.  Here are a few tips I would recommend. A little paint can make a major change to a home. It's always a good idea to put on a fresh coat of paint before you place your home on the market. It gives a buyer a feeling of a new home and that the home has been well cared for over the years. Also consider doing a few minor projects that make a Hugh difference.  I remember when mauve was the color.  Well I am tearing it out of my Haiku Maui home.  A natural travertine face lift on the fireplace and maybe tear out the old trim and replace it with a plantation trim look.

Traditionally, homes have always had carpeting in the bedroom areas and maybe tile flooring in other parts of the house. I would recommend creating a better flow between the indoor and outdoor living areas.  Consider some of the new interlocking wood flooring, easy to install.  You just need a chop saw, table saw and a mallet. Having been a flooring contractor on Maui for 18 yrs I speak from experience.  It's not that hard to do and you will save a ton of money.

Now let's take a look at the out doors. These days, out dated lanai's, high-maintenance landscaping or over grown plants that run away in the Hawaiian climate.  I know I have made mistakes planting little potted plants only to have them turn into giant nightmares. Over planting can kill buyer interest in a home almost as quickly as old shag carpet.

 "Landscaping often makes the difference between a prospective buyer getting out of the car for a closer look at the house or simply driving on to the next house with curb appeal.  Good landscaping can provide more bang for your buck than almost any other home improvement -- provided it's done right.

One of the biggest tips I can give you is getting rid of the junk.  Why wait till you move, do it now.  Created space and flow through out the house.  It will bring a calming effect to your home buyers.  In a slower market you need to take every advantage to sell your home.  So what are you waiting for get busy.

 Aloha,

Steve

Italian Eatery request for recipes for Seafood Spaghetti.

 I was fortunate in 2004  to visit Italy for the first time with my wife.  What can you say to be in Italy is to love Italy. One place that I stayed was on the coast for a week called Vernazza in the Cinque Terre coast.  It was a small fishing village located on the foot hills where they grew grapes and olives. There was also lots of fresh produce and seafood. One night we went out to dinner to an out door restaurant over looking the bay. I order seafood spaghetti. Everything was fresh including the white wine grown among the rolling hills. Do you remember the movie with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in the Restaurant and the lady next to them said I will have what they are having.  Well it was a kind of a reaction with my seafood dinner that Meg was faking.

So needless to say I feel in love with Italian cooking. So at the request from Joan Mirantz who wrote the blog recently Italian Eatery here is my recipe.  First you need some Andre Bocelli music to set the mood. Then pour your self a little Pino and your ready. Here is what you will need.

1. Fresh Basil.
2. Sun Dried Tomatoes
3. Garlic
4. onions
5. Fresh Tomatoes
6. Shitake mushrooms
7. zucchini squash
8. small clams
9. shrimp
10. Pinch of red pepper flakes
11. ½ cup dry white wine.
12. pinch of pepper
13. Virgin olive oil

 saute the above in olive oil start with the shrimp and clams then add the rest of the ingredients.

I like to use Artichoke Spaghetti noodles.

 So mix the sauté ingredients with noodles and you are good to go.  I hope you like it is a easy crowd pleaser.

 Bon Appétit,

 Stefano

Maui North Shore Oceanfront Real Estate

 Maui's north shore has just been beautiful this last week.  As we head into spring we have been having windless sunny days that look like summer time.  The surf on the north shore of Maui has been perfect for over a week. It makes you thankful you live on Maui. Maui north shore oceanfront real estate offers a different pace of life other than resort living.  I am waiting for the spring wind and the annual migration of skiers who travel to Maui for spring and summer windsurfing season.

 Paia Maui north shore community is more of a blend of east meets west. The main town is Paia Maui which is an old plantation beach town.  There you will find a variety of surfers, windsurfers, artist and musicians.  North shore living is made up of people that embrace island living.  It's more about the experience of island living.  I enjoy the the blend of rich and poor, people of different philosophies but getting along. I enjoy the blend of people from all over the world.  The local atmosphere adds a blend of Hawaii that is based on family and friends that runs deep through the community.  Paia town offers a blend of coffee shops, Mana Foods natural foods, boutique stores, surf shops and some of Maui's finest restaurants.    Maui North shore is a really cool place. I have always enjoyed the mom and pops stores.

 Nate My Son

 The Paia Maui real estate market is alive and well on Maui. Every one comes to Paia from Lahaina to Kapalua and Wailea, It has something for everyone.  To Maui's northshore residents the coming of winter means its game time.  Winter surf has arrived to the delight of local waterman.  Hookipa Beach Park on Maui's north shore is home to surfers, international windsurfers and kite boarders.  For me Hookipa for the last 35 years has been my backyard for winter surf.   So if you are looking for Maui north shore real estate, Steven Nickens has the back ground to serve you in all your real estate needs.