August 8th, 2014 at 9:00 am
As temperatures start to rise during the summer, so does water consumption. Across the U.S. people water their lawns and run sprinklers in an effort to keep their lawns alive and green. In Southern California this fact is no different; however the continued drought has urged many residents to seek out ways to more effectively conserve water. New regulations prohibit excessive lawn watering – considered excessive if there is runoff onto nearby sidewalks and streets. Understanding your lawn and how much water it needs can go a long way in helping you to conserve water.
A recent article by Brightnest encourages homeowners to first find out what kind of soil is in your area. The type of soil will determine how much water you need, typically between 0.5-1.5 inches. The next thing you’ll want to do is figure out how long it takes to distribute the amount of water your lawn needs. Brightness recommends setting out jars marked with your needed water level throughout your yard. Once the jars reach their mark, stop watering. You can remove the jars as soon as you become accustomed to how much time you should spend watering your lawn. If you use an irrigation system, set out jars and run your system for 15 minutes and adjust your time based on the jar measurements.
Other efficient lawn watering tips include watering your lawn in the morning or later in the evening, never between 10 am and 6 pm. If you use sprinklers, set them on a timer during ideal watering times. Be sure to look at your irrigation system and ensure that you are not watering non-grassy surfaces such as driveways or walkways. Keep your grass mowed to a height of 2.5-3 inches to shade the roots and soil and prevent water loss from evaporation.
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 7th, 2014 at 10:00 am
The real estate industry has been buzzing about the Zillow – Trulia merger. Separately, these are the two largest online real estate listing companies in the United States. The plan to merge swirled throughout the industry last week and have since been confirmed; causing a substantial gain in Zillow’s stock price. However, the merger will do more than boost the bank accounts of those invested in these companies, it will also affect the real estate industry as a whole.
What Likely Will Not Change
If you’ve ever used either of these sites before you’ve probably also noticed that there isn’t as much information available for a property when compared to a local real estate agency. This fact is not likely to change as neither site is an MLS. Plans to take over MLSs have not currently been discussed in terms of this merger. Consumers should not expect to get access to more listings or depend on better information, but the ease and functionality of these sites should continue to improve. Most buyers begin the process online and these two sites are the most popular places to start. Consumers expect to receive hyper-local content from local real estate companies. Although they may begin their search online, those in the market to buy a home will be looking for local information from an agent.
Likely Changes (more…)
August 5th, 2014 at 12:30 pm
No one said the home buying process was quick and easy. In fact, for most people it takes months from the time a buyer starts looking for a house until they actually close on the house. As you near closing there is no shortage of items on your to-do list – inspections, finalizing loans and setting an escrow closing date to name a few. However, you’re not done quite yet! You still need to complete your final walkthrough.
What is the final walkthrough?
The purpose of the final walkthrough is to make sure everything is as it should be for closing. This is the step where you make sure the seller has fixed anything that needs fixing, if you negotiated keeping the refrigerator, now is the time you ensure the refrigerator is there and no additional damage happened as a result of the seller moving out. Your real estate agent will coordinate your walkthrough about a week before closing and you can expect that it will take about 30-60 minutes to complete a full walkthrough.
Why does it matter?
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.
