BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: AllScape Design + Installation

Kat Hitchcock’s Interview With Nate Zacarias and Ben Hatcher owners of AllScape Design + Installation

Kat: First question, what does being water wise mean?

Nate Zacarias 

Nate: It basically means to be efficient with the way you use your water and trying to effectively reduce and save on not only on water but also on cost. Water is expensive it is becoming the new high end gold. 

Kat: Exactly, we have sellers that have acres and acres of land and obviously with the drought it has made their water bill more expensive. From a maintenance standpoint they are all trying to figure out the best plan of action. 

Ben:  There’s a lot of different avenues on ways to save water- whether it's irrigation assistance, drought tolerant plants and adding mulch to absorb moisture when it does rain. There’s a lot of different ways you can reduce the use of water. 

Kat: What is the ROI analysis on irrigation projects?

Ben Hatcher 

Ben: We calculate the return on investment. We calculate what the customer is currently spending and how long it will take for that budget to pay itself back. On small properties it is very rare. You have to do pretty extensive things to your landscape to create an ROI that is noticeable. Typical ROI’s would pay back in 5-15 years depending on what you do. I think it’s just seeing their water bills go down that makes our clients happy.  

Kat: For those who don't know what is the difference between hardscape and landscape? 

Nate: Hardscapes are hard materials like concrete, rock work, pathways- anything outside of softscapes. Softscapes would be considered planting and lawn installations, anything that has to do with plant material and gravels. Pathways can be both hardscape and softscapes. 

Kat:  A lot of our sellers have been putting in fire pits and decking, does AllScape design + installation handle those type of projects? 

Nate: Of course. We handle fire pits, any kind of woodwork like fencing, decking, pergolas, we do it all. If we can’t do something we have amazing contractors that can do it.

Kat:  What are the biggest mistakes you commonly see when people do their own landscaping? DIY Do’s and Do nots?

Ben: I think going with cheap material. So often when we go on a consultation we find cheap Home Depot material that doesn’t last long, or something not being installed properly. Actually the most common thing we find is irrigation breaks. 

Kat: Can AllScape Design + Installation test the irrigation lines for breaks? 

Ben: Yep. More often than not we find breaks in the valves or the piping. 

Nate: We call this an irrigation evaluation, we evaluate the entire system- find out where the flaws are- find out where you are wasting water, and then give a proposal to fix that at first and then give the customer ideas on how to improve and make it more efficient. 

Kat: What makes AllScape Design + Installation different than other landscape companies?

Ben:  I think just being on top of our game. We have connections with great sub contractors, our knowledge, and being in the field for so many years. 

Nate:  Also I think its our communication.

Ben: Communication is key. 

AllScape Design + Installation Completed Project

Nate: The fact that we call people back - and we joke that should be our slogan because it’s true- we hear it all the time so many people just don’t call you back. 

Ben: And we are on site, on time, if we can’t be there we call ahead of time and just keep the client updated with good communication. Which is lacking with a lot of contractors. It’s something they struggle with. So I think thats the one thing we have built our business on and considered a major part of our success is our communication. 

Nate:  I also think we are fairly priced. You know were not high end or low end but we are right where we should be as far as what we charge clients. I think that shows. 

Kat: That is awesome. What do you find most difficult or challenging as a landscaper?

Ben: Figuring out their budget. It’s not like our prices stay the same, but people struggle to tell us their budget.

AllScape Design + Installation Completed Project

Nate: To know someone's ideal budget is key because it helps me just design what I need to design within that range. Otherwise I have fun with it and make it lavish and then they see the proposal and they get taken aback. If I get a set budget then I can design around that. So that is a challenge when clients don't know ahead of time. 

Kat: When someone hires AllScape Design + Installation what should they expect? What sort of planning should you do beforehand?

Nate: If they want to do a project- it is nice to know what type of style. Those are questions I bring to the table. If you want a Mediterranean, drought tolerant, if you want a California garden type, free flowing design, or do you want something more symbiotic and symmetrical. There’s all different styles out there. 

Kat: Besides style of project, what else should they expect?  

Nate: They usually have an idea and style is number one, and what they want to save. What type of plants they want to be incorporated, what colors, it’s key to know. A lot of people hate oranges and yellows. So we have to ask those questions. Not only what you like but also what you dislike. It helps me figure out the plant palette and what type of movement through the property and sitting areas. 

AllScape Design + Installation Completed Project 

Ben: Also taking photos of stuff they like, a lot people take photos around the neighborhood of what they do and do not like. Right now our work is a lot of taking out grass and putting in drought tolerant plants. We typically go and meet with them and then ask them what you want to do and that then forms Nate’s idea of what he’s going to design. Then we do digital imaging as a quick test so they can see what they like and don’t like in different scenarios.  Then we will talk with them about moving forward.

Nate: Then we can go to the next level and do a blueprint design, a to scale design. Or we can go with the design imaging only and make a proposal based on that. Which would be the cheapest way to go. If they want to spend the extra $500-1000 to get it done right with the blueprint it does help. Then they own it, it is theirs and if they ever want to change anything they have the square footages. If they needed a different concrete contractor to come in and get square footage of the driveway it’s already set onto scale. I always try to push to get design blueprints done- but in the landscape world things move so fast.

Kat:  So what do ya’ll think of all this amazing rain?

Nate: Love it. Need it.

Kat: Do you think it is going to change anything in landscape world?

Ben: I hope it changes people’s philosophy about what a yard should typically look like. I hope we go away from the thought of huge lawn areas being ideal. You know typically you don't use your front yard as much so take out the front yard grass and just be more mindful of the water. 

Nate:  The problem is people see rain and think they can instantly go back to their old ways. I hope through all the education from the Santa Barbara and Goleta water districts people will think differently. The water districts did an amazing job getting people educated about being water wise. 

Kat: Okay, one more question. What do you love most about what you do?

Nate: From day one in this industry I have always loved not only the creative part of it but its seeing a crappy yard transition into something special and unique. You know home owners have to live with it every day. I like seeing the transition and happy customers which is why I got into it. To help people out and I love being outdoors. 

Ben: Like Nate said being able to walk away from a project and transition something into such a big difference. Building something, making something and getting to work with the clients. 

Kat:  I feel like I have met a handful of your clients and they are all extremely excited with the finished projects and love working with you guys.

Nate: It’s a good community we live in and its fun to create those relationships with clients. 

Ben: We are kind of friends with a lot of them. We would see them out around town and go have a beer together. I think that is kind of special.

Kat: We love sending you guys business, thank you for being so great to our clients. 

AllScape Design + Installation free digital imaging draft for your next project when you mention Ralston and Hitchcock!

Sold 🌊 Stunning Carpinteria Renovated Beach Home + Designer Furnishings

Sold 🌊 Stunning Carpinteria Renovated Beach Home + Designer Furnishings

With this sale our team has represented the 2 highest sales in the Concha Loma neighborhood in nearly a decade.

Stunning ground-up renovation a few hundred feet from the sand in Carpinteria’s most sought after beach neighborhood, ''Concha Loma''. Designer furnishings are included in the sale of this elegant 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom single level home which could ably serve as a primary residence, vacation home or high-end luxury beach rental. Enter into a breathtaking, light and airy great room featuring skylights, fireplace and massive 24-foot sliding glass doors which maximize the indoor-outdoor living area.

Discerning eyes will find tasteful finishes throughout the home, including wide plank wood floors, Caesarstone, Limestone and Marble counters, Pottery Barn vanities and modern amenities such as central heating & A/C, surround sound, CAT-6 wiring, security cameras, chef's kitchen featuring Kitchen-Aid range, outdoor shower and more! The private grounds are studded with mature fruit trees and various sitting areas, which include a gas fire pit for outdoor entertaining. A detached 550SF 2-car garage with separate driveway offers additional possibilities. 

Sold for $1,825,000

Great Areas to Retire in Southern California

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Each county offers places for spending the “golden years”! Southern California has long been a magnet for people who want to spend their retirement in a mild, pleasant climate. But climate isn’t the only factor that goes into deciding where to live out the “golden years.” Cost of living, taxes, access to healthcare, shopping, entertainment, recreation, and transportation are some other considerations for retirees before settling on their ideal community.

We looked at data for each of the five counties we serve, and came up with a recommended community for each, from south to north. Every retiree’s situation is different, of course, and there are plenty of cities to check out within the region. But you can’t go wrong with these SoCal favorites.

San Diego County

Encinitas

With more than 350 physicians, over 325 amenities for seniors, and an exceptionally low crime rate, this beachside city offers homes ranging from chic modern condos to expansive Mediterranean-style villas. Boating, fishing, and swimming at the beach are daily activities, along with golf at the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course. The San Diego Botanical Garden features rare bamboo groves, desert gardens, a tropical rainforest, California native plants, Mediterranean climate landscapes, and more. Annual events include the outdoor Encinitas Arts Festival, a wonderful venue for meeting new people, enjoying local talent, and sampling scrumptious cuisine.

Orange County

Mission Viejo

One of the largest master-planned developments in the U.S., Mission Viejo has won many “Safest City” awards thanks to its extremely low crime rate. The Irvine Company created a master plan that placed roads in the valleys and houses on the hills, contoured to the geography of the area. Houses and shopping centers in the city are almost all designed in a Spanish mission style, with adobe-like stucco walls and barrel-tile roofs. Many homes and condos are built around private Lake Mission Viejo, which offers boating, beaches, and fishing. An active public library and Saddleback College provide cultural opportunities. The Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center caters to older residents. There are about two parks per square mile and three golf courses: Mission Viejo Country Club, Casta del Sol Golf Course, and Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club.

Los Angeles County

Pasadena

The City of Roses, just northeast of Los Angeles is most famous as the home of the Rose Bowl and the Tournament of Roses Parade. It is the cultural center of the region, with several colleges, including the California Institute of Technology, and many leading museums such as the Norton Simon and the nearby Huntington Library and Gardens. Getting around the downtown area, with its many shops, antique stores, and restaurants, is easy. The city has a high walk score of 67.7 from walkscore.com. The city has many interesting neighborhoods to live in including Bungalow Heaven, a neighborhood of 800 small Craftsman homes built from 1900 to 1930. The Gamble House, an American Craftsman masterpiece, was built in 1908 by architects Charles and Henry Greene, is open to the public as an architectural conservancy and museum.

Ventura County

Ventura

Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture named Ventura County the most desirable place to live in America. The reasons include mild, sunny winters, temperate summers, low humidity, topographic variety, and access to the ocean and lakes. The city of Ventura is the largest in the county, and is famed for its beaches, compact downtown with loads of antique shops, and great scenery, such as the sweeping 360-degrees from Serra Cross Park. The nearby Channel Islands are among the least-visited national parks, despite being one of the most stunning and ecologically diverse. The quiet city is just far enough from the attractions of Los Angeles to the south, and is a great jumping-off point to the scenic wonders to the north, such as Highway 1, Hearst Castle, and Carmel.

Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara

Retirees like living in this coastal city because of its unusually beautiful setting and excellent climate. The downtown area is walkable and prosperous downtown, and the city’s strong economic base offers plenty of opportunities for work–paid or volunteer. Retired folks can live in a house or apartment near downtown, or an apartment or freestanding house farther out in a development. There also are many assisted living and continuing care facilities. Cultural life abounds, including the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, University Art Museum on the UC Santa Barbara Campus, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara Maritime Fiesta; Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Festival, Arlington Theatre, and Lobero Theater. Many musical groups and a symphony orchestra are on hand to entertain.

For more information visit Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties.

5 Great Places to Live for Young Business Professionals

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These Southern California neighborhoods are for those who love to work and play. We know that millennials and young business professionals are looking for more than just a place to lay their head at night when it comes to buying a home. Community, nightlife, and affordability are all top of mind, plus proximity to work and other job opportunities. We selected our top picks for young business professionals when it comes to living in Southern California. You’ll find that these communities boast the perfect blend of work and play. 

San Diego County

Little Italy

Little Italy is known for its diverse selection of restaurants, craft beers, and energetic nightlife. Its close proximity to the airport makes it a hot spot for young professionals both on the go and here to stay, and it’s just a short Uber ride to downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, restaurants, and shopping. Though Little Italy’s residences are fairly new, the careful city planning and marketing that went into them have quickly made it a magnet for professionals and millennials.

Think you’ll love Little Italy? Search for your perfect home right now.

Orange County

Newport Beach

Though it is one of the pricier communities in Orange County, Newport Beach is full of top-earners who love to work hard and play hard. The community is perfect for those who keep an outdoor lifestyle, but is still accessible to thousands of major area employers that are just minutes inland. If you love the sun and sand, funky restaurants, and being near professionals who share the same tastes, then Newport Beach is the place for you. We suggest Balboa Peninsula, where you’ll find a variety of upscale and affordable for-sale and rental housing. If you talk to one of the agents in our Newport Beach office, we guarantee you won’t be able to resist making the move to Newport Beach.

Search for homes in Newport Beach today.

Los Angeles

Los Feliz

This community is full of young, smart, and driven professionals. You will find a mix of townhouses and luxury homes on the safe streets of Los Feliz. You may even find Ryan Gosling, who is a permanent resident of this trendy neighborhood. In addition to having quick access to downtown via the subway, Los Feliz is close to Griffith Park, where you’ll find hiking and horseback riding trails, Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo, and Greek Theatre. When you’re not working or playing, you’ll likely be eating, and Los Feliz is home to many delicious and unique restaurants, with many boasting gluten-free and vegan menu options, and you may find that some are even within walking distance. Talk to an agent in our Los Feliz office today, and start searching for homes now.

Los Feliz homes are waiting for you here.

Santa Barbara County

West Santa Barbara

When you combine proximity to the beach, downtown, and city college, you’re bound to find tons of young professionals and recent graduates living in one area. Plus, rent and house payments have the potential to be relatively low, considering that you are living in Santa Barbara. You’ll find that buses and bikes are the main mode of transportation west of State Street. If you’re looking for more affordable housing, try the upper west side or downtown portion. If you’re a young professional already making the big bucks, though, you’ll find that West Beach and the lower west are much more affluent areas. Talk to one of our Santa Barbara agents today to see if West Santa Barbara is right for you.

Convinced that West Santa Barbara is right for you? Get started on your home search now.

Ventura County

Westside

Also known as “The Avenue,” this eclectic and diverse neighborhood of Ventura attracts millennials and professionals, due to the booming art scene, delicious cuisine, and proximity to shops, galleries, and downtown Ventura. Recreational activities include going to the ocean, downtown, or hiking on one of several trails in the area. Plus, on the first Friday evening of every month, several Westside galleries are showcased along a two-mile walk. Start talking to an agent in our Ventura office today if you’re ready to call the Westside home.

Search every home in Ventura now.

Visit Berkshire Hathaway for more articles regarding Southern California neighborhoods.

A Checklist for First-Time Homebuyers

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Here are four things you'll need (and two things you won't) when you're ready to switch from renting to owning. Sure, owning a home is the American dream. It's also the largest investment most of us will ever make, so go into it knowing what is and isn't required.

Here's what you'll need:

• Enough money to make monthly mortgage payments. Duh! If a mortgage payment will bust your budget, you can't get rid of your landlord yet. Use a mortgage calculator to estimate your monthly payment.
• Enough income to pay property taxes and homeowner's insurance. The mortgage isn't the only cost you'll have each month. You also have to pay taxes and insurance. If you can't make those payments, say bye-bye to the house.
• The ability to maintain the property. You must keep a home in good repair or it will lose value and you'll lose money. You can do the work yourself or hire it out. Either way, you can’t ignore peeling paint and windows that won’t close, like you did when you were a tenant.
• A decent credit record. If you have lots of late payments, have declared bankruptcy or left old debts unpaid, it's harder to get a mortgage. And if you do get one, your bad credit record will make you pay a much higher interest rate.

Here's what you won't need:

• A big down payment. It's best to make a big down payment so you can skip paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) and lower your monthly payments, but it is possible to buy a house for almost nothing down.
• Experience. In most major cities, real estate companies hold home-buyer education classes for first-timers. Go, even if you have no immediate plans to buy. The information you get can lead you to other sources of help.

Photo by ©iStockphoto.com/theboone

For more information regarding first-time homebuyers visit HGTV.

Anti-Checklist: What Not to Do Until You Close Escrow

Take a list of things to avoid before you close on your new house.By Tara-Nicholle Nelson

Don't Close Any Accounts

It makes it look like you have less available credit. Pay accounts down to 30 percent, or pay them off if you insist, but DON'T close them!

Don't Make Any New Bills

New accounts create a FICO-reducing triple whammy of a new account/inquiry, an account with a short length of repayment history plus a high balance-to-credit limit ratio. (When you first open an auto account or installment account, you are already at your credit limit -- so it looks like you are maxed out.) The exception -- if you have no credit accounts at all, you should open one or two secured credit cards at your bank, then use them (up to 30 percent of the limit) and pay the bills on time every time.

Don't Buy a Car

See above. This also makes it harder for you to have a qualifying debt-to-income ratio, by increasing your debt without increasing your income. As a comedian once observed, "If you have a Land Rover and a landlord -- it's time to reverse your priorities."

Don't Pay Bills Late

You would not believe the number of people whose credit scores actually drop while they are house hunting because they make late payments. I've actually seen people who just barely got pre-approved have their FICO scores drop, find the house, make an offer, and then SURPRISE!! They no longer qualify for the mortgage because they have paid their bills late.

Click here to read the article.

Employment, Housing Market Point to Solid Santa Barbara County Economy

Rental market remains very tight, according to report by UCSB Economic Forecast ProjectBy Noozhawk, Tom Bolton

Santa Barbara County’s economy is doing fairly well in 2016. Employment is strong, the housing market has stabilized and wages are up.

That was the assessment offered Thursday during the annual Economic Summit presented by the UCSB Economic Forecast Project.

Several hundred people turned out at the Granada Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara for the morning-long program, which focused primarily on national and macro-economic trends.

But the annual report issued to coincide with the event included a trove of economic information about Santa Barbara County’s economy.

Of note was an increase in overall employment in the county in 2015 of 5,558 jobs, a gain of 2.8 percent and the largest rise since 2012.

The county’s unemployment rate declined to 5.1 percent, and statistical forecasts suggest it will drop further — to 4.9 percent by the end of the year.

The city of Goleta had the county’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.9 percent, while Lompoc had the highest, at 6.6 percent.

Other unemployment rates included Buellton, 3.2 percent; Santa Barbara, 4.0 percent; Carpinteria, 4.4 percent; Guadalupe, 4.8 percent; Santa Maria, 6.1 percent; and Solvang, 6.2 percent.

On the real estate front, the median home price for the county increased 17.5 percent from the previous year, to $676,494.

That growth rate was considerably larger than for the state (5.7 percent).

As prices rose, affordability fell in the county.

Only 23 percent of Santa Barbara County residents were able to afford the median-priced house, compared with 30 percent of residents statewide, and 58 percent nationally.

The surge in the housing market has made an already-tight rental-housing market that much more difficult, what the report’s authors called “not for the faint of heart.”

A vacancy rate of less than 1 percent contributed to an 8.7-percent spike in rents in 2015.

The report’s authors gave this assessment:

“As the prospect of owning a home becomes a fantasy, many local residents will remain renters indefinitely…Additional demand for high-quality rental housing is being generated by empty-nest Baby Boomers seek to simplify their lives by trading in the family home for a luxury apartment in a fun urban setting.”

Peter Rupert, executive director of the Forecast Project, discussed the ramifications of what he called income “unequality,” as opposed to inequality.

The county’s per-capita income gained 1.3 percent to $45,795 in 2014, the latest year for which figures are available.

The gains, he pointed out, were experienced more strongly by higher earners than those at the lower end of the economic scale.

Perhaps not surprisingly, northern Santa Barbara County has more people in the lower-income brackets, while the South Coast has more in the upper brackets.

This is due, in part, to the fact that the North County has vastly more agricultural workers, while the South Coast leads in governmental, professional and business services employees.

Thursday’s keynote speaker was James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, who discussed U.S. monetary policy.

“U.S. labor markets are at or possibly well beyond reasonable conceptions of full employment,” he said.

He also noted that interest rates have remained low for the last several years, and global concerns — including the strong U.S. dollar — seem to be waning.

Inflation rates have remained below the target set by the Fed, he said, adding that “a gradual pace of rate increases over the next several years” is likely.

Read the full article at Noozhawk by Tom Bolton.

Private Beachfront Home in Fernald Cove

Take a look at this new-on-the-market single-family home in idyllic Fernald Cove, perfect as a home-away-from-home or a full-time residence! Formerly owned by John Cleese, this modern beachfront property offers privacy and sophistication. Listed at $8,250,000, the 3BD/3.5BA home also has a separate guest apartment, perfect for hosting weekend guests. Features include recently renovated kitchen and bathrooms, private deck, extensive wine cellar, and stunning 180 degree ocean views. Check out the photos below!

Listed by Sotheby's International Realty.

Just Listed! 125 & 129 W Pedregosa, Santa Barbara CA

New on the market! Fantastic opportunity to own 2 Craftsman homes on 1 lot just a few blocks to State Street! Built in 1915, each home has 1 bedroom & 1 bathroom, but are functional as 2 bedrooms. Featuring remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, 9ft. ceilings, beautiful Fir floors and on-site laundry. Strong rents and solid tenants. A+ location! 

Offered at $1,150,000

Check out the photos below or go to http://www.jakeralston.com/listing/just-listed-125-129-w-pedregosa/ for more details.

Beach Listing of the Week: 1473 Edgecliff Lane, Montecito

Experience coastal California living in this beachfront home with views of the gleaming Pacific Ocean! Listed at $14,444,000, this exquisite oceanfront property is located on Montecito's coveted Edgecliff Lane. Spread along 130 feet of beachfront, the .65 acre property features a charming 1BD/1.5BA cottage and a private guest apartment, perfect for visiting guests or as a home studio. Stroll through the picturesque terraced gardens or sunbathe by the pool underneath towering palms that look out over the water. Offering privacy and seclusion, Edgecliff Lane is close to Montecito's Lower Village, the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel, and beautiful Butterfly Beach. Scroll through the photos below for a look at this charming beachfront property!

Listed by Riskin Partners

Berkshire CEO Named #2 Real Estate Exec

Real estate research firm, The Swanepoel T3 Group, released their Swanepoel Power 200 last week, an annual ranking of the 200 most powerful people in real estate. The report focuses on "CEOs and other C-level executives that hold a senior position with a national franchise, referral network, or other collective group." Ron Peltier, Chairman and CEO of HomeServices of America, Inc., made it to the top of the rankings this year, coming in as number two of Swanepoel's Top Corporate Executives in Real Estate.

Peltier was first appointed Chairman in 2008, after 30 years in the real estate industry. Peltier has long been recognized as an innovator by the real estate industry, ranking consistently on Inman's Top 100 list and REALTOR Magazine's Top 25 Most Influential People in Real Estate. Under Peltier's leadership, HomeServices of America has grown steadily each year. According to The Swanepoel T3 Group, HomeServices has 70,000 Agents and generates a whopping 550,000 transactions per year. In 2015 alone, HomeServices added multiple companies, "the largest of which was First Weber in Wisconsin, with...$2.5 billion in sales in 2014."

Peltier's ranking on The Swanepoel Power 200 confirms Berkshire Hathaway is off to a great start in 2016!

See the full list of 200 executives here.

RealtyTrac Reports Decline in California Foreclosures

Last week RealtyTrac released its 2015 Year-End US Foreclosure Market Report, which shows annual foreclosure filings (default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions). According to the data, foreclosures are down 3 percent from 2014 and at a nine-year-low on a national level, and California's doing even better. In 2015, California saw 92,671 homes get foreclosed upon, or 0.68 percent. That adds up to a 14.66 percent decrease from 2014, and an incredible 83.05 percent decrease from the 2010 peak. RealtyTrac Vice President Daren Blomquist said that 2015 "saw a return to normal, healthy foreclosure activity in many markets."

Nationally, foreclosures were down 3 percent from 2014 and 62 percent from 2010. The report also found that during 2015, homes were in the foreclosure process for a shorter period of time.

Check out the graphic below to see the counties in California that had the highest and lowest percentage of foreclosures in 2015.