Moving to a New Home: 6 Considerations for Families
SCHOOLS, SIDEWALKS, NEIGHBORS, AND MORE Moving to a new home can be a fun and exciting time for a family. Whether you’re moving with children or aging parents, there are some important things to consider before you begin your search. To find th...
The Ultimate Guide to Creating an Eco-Friendly Home: Part 1
20 SIMPLE WAYS TO JOIN THE GREEN REVOLUTION It’s not surprising that more and more homeowners are going green in their everyday lives. The benefits of creating an eco-friendly home are far-reaching, but many Santa Barbara and Montecito homeowner...
The Art of Backyard Stargazing in Santa Barbara
INTERACTIVE, EDUCATIONAL, AND DOWNRIGHT COOL Santa Barbara and Montecito are renowned for having perfect Mediterranean weather and miles of pristine beaches. But what many don’t realize, or at least notice, is that at night the sky is filled w...
Ellen and Portia Burglarized: A Montecito Luxury Realtor’s Home Security Tips
WHAT EVERY SANTA BARBARA AND MONTECITO HOMEOWNER NEEDS TO KNOW In light of the alarming news about the burglary of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s Montecito mansion, I thought this would be the perfect time to take an in-depth look at st...
7 Tips for Creating Your Own Safe Haven
COMBINING ELEMENTS OF PSYCHOLOGY, COMMON SENSE, BASIC DESIGN AND EVEN MATHEMATICS CAN GET YOU STARTED What makes a happy home? A safe haven offering sanctuary from the storm, so to speak. It’s one that brings a smile to your face and a feeling o...
Preparing Your Santa Barbara Home For Sale
ADVANCE PREPARATION CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN THE SELLING PRICE AND SPEED OF SALE OF YOUR HOME A few minor touch-ups can go a long way toward making a favorable impression on potential buyers — and perhaps cinc...
Montecito Realtor Cristal Clarke in the News
BLOGGER SUSAN HARTZLER SHARES WHAT MAKES CRISTAL SO VALUABLE TO THE MEDIA AND CLIENTS ALIKE In a recent blog, I shared Montecito Realtor Cristal Clarke’s expert opinion in my post Santa Barbara Housing Market in the Shadow of COVID-19 and the me...
How to Increase Home Value
8 TIPS FOR MONTECITO HOMEOWNERS FROM HGTV Whether you’re selling a Montecito Luxury Estate, Hope Ranch ocean view estate or a Santa Barbara home there are things you, as a seller, can do to increase home value. We’ve all heard the phrase a ...
Selling a Montecito Home: A Few Things to Consider
WHETHER YOU’RE SELLING A HOME IN MONTECITO, SANTA BARBARA OR SUN VALLEY, THIS ADVICE FROM A PRO APPLIES If selling a Montecito home is at the top of your to-do list, then this blog is for you. Selling your home is hard. And emotional. Like the o...
Are “Pocket Listings” Effective When Selling Homes in Montecito?
PRIVATE LISTINGS ARE NOT FOR EVERY SELLER So-called “pocket listings” have been a longtime staple among New York City and other high-end real estate market sellers looking to quietly sell a high-priced luxury residential property. Today, this ki...