August 14th, 2014 at 3:29 pm
By now it’s no longer news to anyone living in Southern California that residents are in the middle of an extreme drought. New restrictions have been enforced and government and community leaders are urging residents to conserve whenever possible. Although the need to comply with new restrictions is paramount, don’t miss out on the potential savings opportunities available to you for your conservation efforts!
Our current drought is one of the worst in California’s history and we are currently depleting our reserves. Conservation is the key to getting through the drought and recovering quickly. In an effort to encourage conservation participation local and state authorities are offering rebates and incentives for residents that meet certain criteria.
To see if you qualify for rebates or incentives, start first with your appliances. High-efficiency washers, toilets, rotating nozzles, weather-based irrigation controllers and soil sensors may all qualify. If your home uses turf grass, now is the time to replace it! Turf removal rebates start at $2.00 per square foot from SoCal Water$mart, but other local authorities, such as The San Diego Water Authority offer additional rebates. If you’re going to replace your turf be sure to apply for all qualifying rebate programs. (more…)
August 14th, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Although the details of the first garden may forever remain unknown, it’s safe to assume that gardening has been around for hundreds of years. For many, gardening is seen as an art form and an expression of self and home. Gardens can be made to be beautiful, filled with flowers and trees to provide shade on a sunny afternoon, but a garden can also be a source of food and in the past, maybe even survival. Traditionally, gardens were fenced off in some way to provide a barrier of protection against animals. The practice of fencing off a garden led to the art of espalier.
Espalier is the training and pruning of a plant (typically a tree) to grow flat against a barrier such as a wall or fence. This art form can be used in your home garden as an architectural accent. Use it to dress up stone walls or a fence. Try using fruit bearing trees such as apples or pears to add a pop of color to your perimeter.
Some garden centers sell plants that have already been trained, but if you’re looking to train a plant start by planning out your pattern. Common themes include traditional designs that have the plants growing horizontally, vertically or crisscrossed. Once you’ve planned your pattern determine a suitable location and what type of plant you’d like to use. Depending on your pattern, additional equipment may be required such as posts or wires. Consider talking to a local professional at your garden center for additional information and advice on your specific property. Remember, training can take months to years, so be patient and continue to prune as needed!
August 13th, 2014 at 12:00 pm
The Wolff Residence is back on the market in November 2019 and listed with Santa Monica agents George Salazar and Tilsia Acosta of the Wilshire Team. Read more here. (more…)
August 7th, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Each year we look to the future wondering what will come next – flying cars, the ability to teleport – but what we often forget is that the future is right in front of us, in our architecture. As we think about the environment of the future, our buildings shape more than we think. Architectural Digest recently put together their list of “The 14 Most Anticipated Buildings of 2014” and the future is clear in each intricate design.
Certain themes are substantiated throughout. Each building has an underlying humanitarian tone coupled with unique edifices and visual illusions. For example, the Jockey Club Innovation Tower in Hong Kong maximizes an irregularly shaped piece of land with a stunning building devoted to none other than design students. Many of these buildings are designed to maximize space; like the Shanghai tower which stretches through the sky over 121 floors. Our favorite might just be the dissevering foundation illusion created at the Broad Art Museum in Los Angeles.
These stunning buildings will not only shape architectural trends as they open, but continue to shape the future. To see the full list of anticipated buildings, visit http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architecture/2014-02/tallest-best-new-buildings-towers-in-2014-slideshow.print.
August 5th, 2014 at 9:45 am
Our offices are growing and we are proud to welcome three new team members to the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties family! Michelle Sargent, Del Mar; Max Hechtman, Beverly Hills; and Stacy Alvarado, Encino each joined us during the month of July.
“Michelle brings an extensive knowledge of sales and marketing to her new career,” says Delorine Jackson, manager. “With her passion for real estate and determination to succeed, she will quickly rise to the forefront of our industry.” As a pharmaceutical sales manager and territory manager in the biotechnology industry for 12 years, Sargent learned that building relationships is the key to establishing a successful business. “To understand your customers’ needs you have to be a great listener,” explains Sargent. “This is also critical to figuring out the type of service a person prefers, and which method of getting and receiving information is their favorite.”
Nick Cacarnakis, manager of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties’ Beverly Hills office, welcomes broker associate and international marketing guru Max Hechtman. “It’s professionals like Max that elevate this company as a leader in the real estate industry,” comments Cacarnakis.Having received personal training and mentorship from world-renowned marketers, Hechtman is skilled at implementing comprehensive marketing campaigns for a wide variety of high net-worth clients. Previously receiving his bachelor’s degree in Media Management, and raised in the high-expectation world of the entertainment industry, Hechtman is proficient with delivering outstanding results and maintaining the strictest standards of confidentiality.
Kathy King, manager of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties’ Encino office and regional vice president, is pleased to welcome Stacy Alvarado. “Stacy is a determined and passionate Realtor,” says King. “Her communication skills, personal experience managing real estate and in-depth knowledge of the area will benefit our office and her clientele.” Prior to real estate, Alvarado spent 25 years as an account executive and operations manager in commercial collections. Leveraging her astute understanding of negotiating strategy, she has personally bought, managed and sold a dozen properties. A result-driven Realtor, Alvarado combines her passion for real estate and her talent for negotiating to benefit her clientele.
