Nora just sold another Oak View horse property! 

Specializing in ranches, horse properties, and luxury estates in the Ojai Valley and surrounding areas, it is no surprise that Nora just sold another one! 

Congratulations to the seller and the buyers. We hope they enjoy their new home! 

If you have an Ojai or Oak View horse property you would like to sell or are looking for your dream home in the Ojai Valley, call Nora Davis today! 

 Fall is here, which means sweater weather, evenings around the fire pit, switching from iced to hot lattes, and maybe finally getting some rain. It also means it is time for some seasonal home maintenance tasks to keep your home safe, functioning properly, and well maintained. To help you make your to-do list for this season, here are 10 fall home maintenance tasks to consider adding.

1. Service your HVAC system. 
It is just about time to start using our heaters, which means it is time to at least change the air filters in your HVAC system. If your air filters are accessible, this is an easy task you can do yourself. If not, you may need to call in a professional. You might also want to schedule a local HVAC professional to clean your ducts or service your furnace if you have not checked these off your home maintenance list recently.

2. Have your chimney cleaned and inspected. 
Annual chimney inspections are important to keep indoor fireplaces functioning properly and safely. The easiest way to accomplish this task is to schedule a local chimney cleaning company, but some handy homeowners might want to take this task on themselves. If so, be sure to look for damage or wear on the chimney, flashing, crown, cap, adjacent walls, and firebox. You also need to check for creosote buildup and make sure the flue is free from obstructions. 

3. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. 
Testing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors is usually as easy as the push of a button, so this is an easy home maintenance task that you can do yourself. If you do not have five- or 10-year batteries in your detectors, you should also change the batteries. 

4. Replace weatherstripping and door sweeps. 
Improve energy efficiency and save money by adding or replacing weatherstripping and door sweeps around drafty doors and windows. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this can save between 5% and 30% on annual energy costs. The U.S. Department of Energy also has a handy page with everything you need to know about different types of weatherstripping and how to apply it. 

5. Inspect and upgrade your irrigation system. 
Critters love to chew through irrigation lines to get to the water inside, so regularly inspecting your irrigation system is an important part of reducing leaks and conserving water. This is also a good time to make sure sprinkler heads are aligned with your watering needs and that your drip system is free of clogs. If you do not already have a rain sensor, consider upgrading your system with one to make conserving water even easier. 

6. Inspect fire features. 
You will likely start using outdoor fire features more often now that the weather is cooling off, so this is a good time to make sure your fire pit or patio fireplace is clean and functioning properly. 

7. Inspect your roof. 
Check your roof for missing shingles, nails that are sticking up and no longer flush with the surface, and any other type of damage. If you find damage that is beyond your skill level, hire a local roofing company to complete the repairs or do a tune-up on your roof. As part of your roof inspection, you should also look for tree limbs that could become an issue if there are heavy winds, rain, or fire. 

8. Exclude rodents. 
Rodent populations are often at their highest in late summer and early fall, which is when many people will notice an increase in activity. This can become even more evident when they start looking for cozy places to live as the weather gets colder, since those cozy places might be in your attic, walls, or kitchen. To keep rats and mice at bay, inspect the exterior of your home for any holes, gaps, uncovered vents, or missing door sweeps where they can squeeze in. 

9. Test your home for radon.
We are more likely to keep our windows and doors closed in fall and winter, which makes this a good time to test radon levels in our homes. Radon is a clear, odorless gas, so there is no way to know if the levels in your home are unsafe except by testing for it. If your budget allows, you can hire a professional to test for radon and other air quality issues. California residents can also purchase a low-cost, DIY radon test kit. Information is available on the California Department of Public Health website.

10. Clean your gutters. 
You didn’t really think I was going to forget to mention cleaning your gutters, did you? I think this might be the single-most recommended home maintenance task in this column, but it is for good reason. It is one of the simplest ways we can reduce fire risk – which is why I mention is so much – but it is also important for fall home maintenance, since we might finally start getting some rain. One of my clients just had to repair the eaves at three corners of their house because of leaking gutters, which was a good reminder that it was about time I mention this to you again. So, clear any leaves and debris, make sure your downspouts are clog free, and make sure your rain barrels are ready for action.  

Rive Rock Rest is open for tours this Sunday! Stop by any time between 1:00 and 4:00 to see this four-bedroom Oak View home featuring flexible spaces, a covered outdoor entertaining area, RV parking, and so much more! 

Location: 40 Almond Avenue in Oak View 

When: Sunday, October 19 -- from 1:00 to 4:00

Features include: 

Four bedrooms, two bathrooms
Approximately 1,958 square feet
Gas fireplace
Wood-burning stove
Walk-in pantry
Large closets
O'Keefe & Merritt gas stove
Ceiling fans
Wainscoting
Two bay windows with window seats    Two-car garage
RV parking
Drought-resistant landscaping
River rock walkway and borders
Covered outdoor living area
Additional patio
Raised garden bed
Walk to shops, dining, post office, markets
Short drive to downtown Ojai
Short drive to Lake Casitas

Stop by this Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 to see this four-bedroom Oak View home for sale, or call Nora today for more information or to schedule a private showing. 

Plastic products can change – and even save – lives, so they certainly have their place, but much of the plastic we use in our everyday lives is just for convenience. It is so ubiquitous in consumer products and packaging at this point that most of us don’t even realize how much plastic we use. 

Because of this, there are hundreds of big and small ways we can reduce plastic in our lives that include such simple changes as buying reusable sandwich bags and making our own salsa. 

Here are 10 of the easiest ways you can start reducing your plastic consumption today.

1. Reusable shopping bags – I think almost everyone is already doing this one, but it is worth mentioning, since it is such an easy way to quickly reduce your plastic consumption. 

2. Reusable produce bags – These have not caught on quite as well as reusable shopping bags, but I am starting to see them a bit more when shopping in produce and bulk sections. These inexpensive, mesh bags can be used for fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, and nuts. 

3. Reusable water bottle – There are still a lot of people regularly using single-use, plastic water bottles. Switching to a glass or stainless-steel water bottle that you can refill on the go encourages you to stay hydrated and saves you money while also reducing the demand for plastic bottles. 

4. Reusable coffee cup – The hardest part about this one is remembering to bring it with you when you head to the coffee shop. Most coffee shops use paper cups with plastic lids, and most folks who go to coffee shops go regularly, so more of these folks bringing their own travel mugs would significantly reduce waste. 

5. Glass food storage containers – Plastic food storage containers are common, but glass options are so much more durable that your children and grandchildren can inherit them and continue reducing the demand for plastic long into the future. 

6. BYO to-go containers – Once you stock up on glass food storage containers, bring a couple with you to pack up the leftovers when you go out to eat instead of using the to-go containers at the restaurant. 

Between running all over the county when I’m working and road trips with my partner, I end up eating on the go quite a bit. Rather than use the plastic cutlery that comes with to-go orders, I carry reusable cutlery sets in my purse. I prefer metal, and that is what I carry daily, but I also have a bamboo set for when I fly or know that I am going to the courthouse that day. 

8. Bar soap – Bar soap gets your hands just as clean without the plastic packaging that comes with liquid hand soap and body wash. If you want to go a step further, there are also shampoo bars, conditioner bars, and lotions bars. 

9. DIY body powder – Body powder and baby powder are so easy to make that there is really no reason to be purchasing powders that come in plastic containers. I mix one-half cup cornstarch, one-quarter cup arrowroot powder, and one-quarter cup baking soda to make my daily body powder. For home use, I use a glass sugar shaker from the dollar store. For travel, I use a glass spice jar. 

10. Trash can inserts – Invest in a few affordable trash cans with removable inserts for your bathrooms and stop using trash bags. You can easily remove and dump the inserts, which makes trash bags a waste of plastic and money. 

Stop by this Saturday (10/11) between 1:00 and 4:00 to see this four-bedroom Oak View home for sale!

Oak View Open House Details: 

Location: 40 Almond Avenue, Oak View, CA 93022
Date: Saturday, October 11
Time: 1:00 - 4:00

Located in the Rolling Hills Estates neighborhood, this four-bedroom home is just a walk or bike ride away from dining, shopping, the post office, grocery stores, and more.

It is also just a short drive to the shops, cafes, spas, and galleries in Ojai’s downtown village and the camping, fishing, and water park at Lake Casitas.

This approximately 1,958-square-foot home has an open floor plan with flexible spaces, large closets, ceiling fans, a walk-in pantry, a gas fireplace with a brick hearth, and an extra-large family room with a garden window.

There are also unique touches throughout that make this home stand out, such as the molding around the interior doors, wainscoting, clawfoot bathtub, two bay windows with window seats, a built-in desk and bookshelves, and a vintage O’Keefe & Merritt gas range.

Outside, there is a covered patio, an additional patio, garden area, RV parking, two-car garage, drought-resistant landscaping, and a river rock walkway and borders in the front yard.  

Your guests get their first impression of your home before they ever set foot on the property. As soon as they pull up, they will notice details that you may have grown so accustomed to you don’t even see them anymore. Things like the broken flowerpot at the corner of the porch or the fading paint on your mailbox or the overgrown bougainvillea you have to step around on your way to the front door. 

With a few afternoon projects that won’t take much time or money, you can significantly improve the curb appeal of your home by this weekend. So, whether you are expecting guests or preparing for an open house, consider these small projects that can have a big impact on the first impression folks will have of your home. 

Clear the clutter.
Every time I write about curb appeal, this one is always first on the list. In most cases, this is the easiest, quickest, and most affordable way to quickly increase curb appeal. Decluttering your front yard, driveway, and porch will instantly make your property look bigger, more inviting, and more attractive. 

Take care of basic landscape maintenance tasks. 
Along with clearing clutter, catching up on basic yard care tasks should be at the top of your list to quickly improve the look of your front yard. Pull weeds, mow and edge your lawn, prune bushes, deadhead flowering plants, and remove leaves from landscaping and hardscapes. 

Clear your walkways. 
Trim low-hanging branches and overgrown plants to clear your walkways and make them easier for guests to traverse. 

Refresh ground covers. 
It takes only a couple of hours to head to a local garden center to purchase wood chips, mulch, bark, or gravel, and then take it home to cover areas of bare dirt and spread it between plants. This will instantly make your yard look cleaner, add color and texture, and enhance its overall visual appeal. 

Wash your windows. 
While we usually think of cleaning windows as a way to improve how our home looks from the inside, this is also a quick and easy way to improve curb appeal. 

Paint or replace your mailbox. 
If your mailbox is looking a bit worse for the wear, paint it or replace it to freshen the look of your home. 

Change the color of your front door. 
If you have a bit more time for projects, or your budget allows you to hire a contractor, you can give your home a whole new look by changing the color of the front door. If you are preparing your house to sell, look up which colors are trending for front doors. You can also just go with your favorite color, or you can do a bit of research to choose a color based on feng shui or historic trends. 

Pressure wash your house and hardscapes. 
Pressure washing is a quick way to achieve a deeper cleaning for solid surfaces. You can rent a pressure washer and make this a DIY project, but if you are not experienced with using power washers, it is best to hire a professional. Using the wrong pressure or the wrong nozzle can cause significant damage to your home’s exterior, windows, walkways, or driveway. 

Add color and texture with plants.
Plants are the best way to quickly add color and texture to your porch or yard. You can freshen a border with annuals, plant succulents along your driveway, or place a few well-positioned pots on your porch. Just make sure you do not overdo it and make it look cluttered. 

Go for a walk. 
Take a walk around the block, and as you approach your home, see what draws your attention. Is it your welcoming front door color and your well-manicured landscaping? Or is it the faded paint on your mailbox and the dent in the garage door you haven’t had a chance to repair?

Looking at your property from different angles brings a new perspective on what people see when they approach your home. When you are always walking from your car to the front door or from the front door to the mailbox but never really see your home from across the street, you are missing important information that can help you easily increase your curb appeal.  

Spring and summer are the best seasons for selling a home, but that does not mean you cannot have a successful sale in fall or winter. This is particularly true in areas like Ventura County where we enjoy pleasant weather and outdoor entertaining throughout the year. You may even have an advantage with fewer homes on the market and buyers looking to close before the winter holidays. 

There are some things that remain the same no matter when you are putting your home on the market. Clearing clutter, depersonalizing, deep cleaning, completing repairs and maintenance, and enhancing curb appeal are important parts of preparing your home to sell any time of year. 

There are also some autumn-specific home selling tips that can help position your home for a successful sale, which we will go over here.

If your landscaping includes deciduous trees, regular raking should be at the top of your list when preparing for showings. You do not want potential buyers to see work they will have to do when they look at your house, so stay on top of leaf removal. 

There may also be fall-related clutter to keep under control, including rain boots, umbrellas, and jackets that can overwhelm porches and entries. Set out a boot tray and umbrella rack to keep rain gear corralled if it is too wet to put away in your coat closet. It is also a good idea to put out doormats for guests and potential buyers to use when they come to your home on rainy days. You might also consider placing a basket of disposable shoe covers by the door to keep your floors clean without asking buyers to take their shoes off. 

Enhanced lighting – natural and otherwise – is important when the days are shorter and the dark settles in earlier. You can enhance natural light by cleaning your windows, opening curtains and blinds before showings, and trimming trees near windows. Make sure all the lights in your home are on before showings and open houses and make outdoor spaces more welcoming and festive by adding string lights. 

Adding fall décor can make your home feel warmer and more inviting, but don’t overdo it. Keep it simple and elegant, such as a seasonal wreath on the door or pumpkins on the porch. It is always a good idea to freshen and add a bit of color to living areas and entertaining spaces with new throw pillows or rugs, so, if you are selling your home in fall, consider autumn colors to update these spaces and make them feel cozy. 

You can also bring the feeling of fall into your living spaces with aromas reminiscent of fresh-baked cookies or hot cider. You can achieve this with a simmer pot, wax warmer, or by actually baking cookies before showings. Think cinnamon, cardamom, pumpkin, persimmon, vanilla, and warm spices for your scent profile. Be sure to keep it on the subtle side, since some folks are sensitive to fragrances. 

While we are on the topic of smells, if you have not yet run your heater this year, now is a good time to do that. If your ductwork has been sitting dormant for months, you may need to change the filters and run the system so that it will not smell dusty when you turn it on for a showing or open house. 

If you have fire features inside or outside, make them a focal point. Fall is all about being cozy, so now is the time for your fireplaces and fire pit to shine. While your swimming pool is always going to be a selling point, now is the time to put away the pool toys and replace them with baskets of cozy throw blankets and seating vignettes that make potential buyers want to curl up on your patio sofa with hot chocolate and a good book. 

And, finally, if you have an outdoor living space with a fire feature and outdoor lighting, talk to your real estate agent about hosting a twilight caravan or open house with mulled cider or a hot chocolate bar complete with marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and toffee bits. 

Mostly, focus on making your home feel warm, inviting, and cozy, since coziness and comfort is what most folks associate with home in the fall.