Laura Anderson

Los Angeles Real Estate

Create Your Dream Green Kitchen

Making your home eco friendly can be overwhelming to say the least, which is why I recommend completing one room at a time, starting with the kitchen. Kitchens are always big selling points and when done correctly usually yield a good return on your investment.

Whether you are remodeling an existing kitchen or creating a new kitchen from scratch, the tips below will help guide you when choosing your eco friendly materials.

faircrest heights real estate

Flooring

There are several great options these days for flooring that will fit the design you have in mind including reclaimed or recycled hard wood, sustainable materials such as a bamboo, and cork. Cork flooring is sound proof and hypoallergenic. It works well in kitchens because it is not only sound proof, but also mold and mildew resistant.

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Cabinets

When remodeling your kitchen, check and see if you can refurbish your existing cabinets. Sometimes a new stain, paint color, or even new hardware can make a substantial change. It will not only be green, but also cost effective too! If you do need new cabinets, consider formaldehyde free units made of solid wood or a composite such as wheat board. You can even get nontoxic finishes!

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Countertops & Backsplashes

Eco friendly materials are not only trendy and responsible, they are also gorgeous! With a growing demand for recycled and eco friendly materials comes more and more options that provide a variety of colors, textures, and styles. Recycled materials include glass, aluminum, and ceramic pieces. All of which will make for a show stopping backsplash.

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Be sure to pull together your overall design with an equally stunning countertop. Chose from a composite, which looks like granite and is just as durable, to quartz, or a sustainable product such as IceStone. IceStone is a mix of glass and concrete.

Appliances

This may be one of the easier choices you have to make. Look for the Energy Star rated appliances and check the energy ratings. These ratings will provide you with an estimated annual cost of usage and can be compared across models. Be sure to get a model that fits your family’s needs. For example, the larger the refrigerator the more energy will be required to run.

Lighting

When planning your kitchen layout, consider window placement and where you can capture natural light throughout the day. Skylights and window backsplashes will also help bring in natural light will also help bring down energy costs. Also, consider replacing 100-watt incandescent bulbs with 32-watt CFL or LED bulbs. LED bulbs don’t get as hot, last longer, and are more energy efficient than incandescent and CFL’s.

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As you can see there are lots of options today that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also good for our planet. Enjoy your new Dream Green Kitchen!

 

Tips to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Whether your home is on the market now or if you are thinking of putting your home on the market in the near future, the way your home looks on the outside is critical. After all most buyers typically do a drive-by prior to the initial showing or open house and first impressions are everything.

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There are several things you can do to boost your home’s curb appeal with the biggest items being the roof, siding, landscaping, and the driveway. These four elements of your home are the most visible upon driving up and can be easily spruced up with the following tips.

Roof

You want potential buyers to focus on picturing themselves living in the home, not wondering what’s wrong with the roof and what other problems may be lying inside if the roof looks troubling. Take the time to get a good look at your roof and check for missing shingles or broken tiles. Be sure to hire a licensed professional to complete the repairs.

Siding

Depending on the type of exterior you may need to replace some siding, add a fresh coat of paint, or just give it a really good power wash. Overtime the outside of your home takes a beating while building up layers of dirt and debris. The goal here is to make the exterior of the home look well cared for and clean.

Landscaping

Clean and neat landscaping will instantly boost your curb appeal. That means keeping your lawn freshly mowed, trimming trees, bushes, and shrubs especially if they block the view of your home, and removing dead limbs from trees which could pose as a potential safety concern. If you have flowerbeds, be sure to clean them out and add fresh mulch. Hanging plants and potted plants can help add a pop of color and make the entrance more inviting.

Driveway

Whether you have a concrete or asphalt drive way, both wear over time and may need to be repaired.  Whatever the repair, be sure to clean the surface well by power washing the entire driveway. This will remove any loose debris and leave a clean surface to repair.

The Final Touch

Once you have the four major elements of your home’s curb appeal addressed, you can turn your attention to the details that can really make all the difference. Those details include, your front door, exterior lighting, your mailbox, and even your address numbers.

The entrance of your home sets the expectation for the interior. Draw in potential buyers by giving your front door and trim a facelift with a fresh coat of paint and new hardware. Next consider updating the outdoor lighting. Add new wall sconces or pendent to light up the front entrance. You can even take it one step further by adding ground lights to illuminate the path that leads up to the front door and spotlights to highlight architectural details or even large trees. If you do light up the home or trees, be sure to have your agent capture your home’s evening glow when taking photos.

Next take a look at your mailbox and address numbers. If they look old or beaten up consider replacing, but be sure to stay true to the style of your home. You can keep the look cohesive by using the same style and metal as your door hardware.

Lastly, get rid of that old doormat. Sure the “Go Away” doormat your mom gave you is funny, but it literally tells potential buyers to go away. Invite them in with a new and friendly welcome mat. Remember you get one chance to make a first impression.

Still not sure what you should do for your home? Consult with your local Realtor®, Laura Anderson, who will gladly provide you with tips that will boost your home’s curb appeal.

 

Two New Developments Coming to Faircrest Heights!

With the Los Angeles housing inventory still low, it is great to see yet another wonderful development project in the works and another close to being finished!

I recently shared my excitement for the new development over on Fairfax and Sawyer, which will be 6o two-story single-family homes, and I am pleased to announce two new projects over on Hi Point St.

The first development is well underway and is near the corner of Pico Blvd. and Hi Point St.  This project by Canfield Development, is on track for completion by the end of December and expect to start selling units January 2015.  There are two buildings, each with five 3-story units including one 4 or 5 bed/3 ½ bath unit with a 3-car garage and four 4 bed/3 ½ bath units with a 2-car garage.

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The second new development on Hi Point is still in the very early stages. Galaxy Commercial Holding recently opened escrow to purchase the last two lots on Hi Point and Pickford St. Galaxy Holding is planning on building 8 small lots on each property.

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If you would like more information about the either of these new Faircrest Heights developments, contact me at laura@lauraandersonrealtor.com or reach me directly at 323.762.2543.

Stay tuned, as I will continue to keep you updated on the progress for each of these new developments!

 

My Top 5 Places Around Los Angeles to Get Your Coffee Fix

Whether you are going for your morning espresso, to catch up with friends over lattes, or to gain inspiration for your latest project with latest seasonal blend, everyone has a favorite brew and coffee shop. Below are some of my favorite places around Los Angeles to get my coffee fix.

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 1. Go Get Em Tiger

No traditional lines here. Step up to the bar and order directly from the barista! Are you passionate about all things coffee and want to learn more? If so, you will love Go Get Em’s Coffee classes, including Home Brewing and the Latte Art class.

 2. Paper or Plastik Café 

This family run business is more than just a coffee shop. The open and airy space invites you in to dine with friends, take in the views, and of course all with ample room to work away on your laptop.  You can expect top quality coffee as they proudly serve and brew to order coffees roasted by Paper or Plastik and feature roasts from Intelligentsia, Handsome Coffee Roasters, Nossa Familia, and Coava.

 3. Bar Nine Collective

Come to Bar Nine for the ultimate coffee experience. The unique layout lets you see the entire process from storing to roasting to packaging. Bar Nine brings a fun social experience to coffee by hosting parties featuring local artists and musicians as well as your private events. Check out their public cupping event every Sunday at Noon and taste what is brewing at Bar Nine.

 4. Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea 

This is place to see and be seen, with 3 amazing locations in Silver Lake, Venice and Pasadena. This iconic coffee bar is often filled with celebs and showbiz writers, possibly gaining inspiration for the next hit movie or television show! My favorite location is in Venice, which was designed by Ana Henton of MASS Architecture & Design. Check Intelligentsia’s website for more information on their upcoming public tours of the roasting process!

 5. Single Origin 

For my fans of The Grove & Farmer’s Market, you must check out Single Origin located next to Short Cake in the Farmer’s Market.  Coffee lovers will be pleased to hear that S.O. has joined forces with the Santa Cruz based craft coffee company, Verve Coffee Roasters. Be sure to end your next shopping trip at The Grove with a trip to Single Origins and get a well-crafted latte and a tasty treat from Short Cake as well!

 

What My Clients Are Saying on Zillow:

Laura was very professional and attended to every detail of the listing and sale. Laura kept us up to date on every aspect of the sale and was always very responsive to every inquiry. Laura handled the negotiations expertly and I highly recommend Laura work for you on any real estate dealings you may have.

– Seller of Single Family Residence in Los Angeles

 We could not be more pleased with our decision to choose Laura Anderson as our agent. Knowing her strong history and ties to Manitoba West made her an obvious decision. We had rented out our condo for a year after moving out of state and had a horrible experience with our property managers/tenants. Laura stepped in and helped us navigate our nightmare situation with professionalism and enthusiasm. We looked to her for guidance on how to best sell our condo, as quickly as possible. Laura recommended the perfect price point and we are so happy we went with her suggestion to stage. We received offers immediately following the Open House and appreciated her attentiveness during the escrow service. We strongly endorse Laura to anyone interested in selling. She gets the job done right!

– Seller of Condo in Playa Del Rey

Drought Resistant Landscaping

When you think of a home’s curb appeal, you may imagine lush green landscaping with brightly colored flowerbeds inviting you into the home.  While this is undeniably beautiful, it is difficult to maintain and to justify such landscaping during one of Los Angeles worst drought in California history.

Good news for homeowners, there are plenty of drought resistant landscaping options available to give you that curb appeal, while using less water to maintain it.

Some of the most popular drought tolerant plants include aloe, fortnight lily, geranium, kangaroo paw, fountain grass, various succulents, and one of my personal favorites, lavender.

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The Department of LA Water and Power has been offer cash for grass through its SoCal Water Smart program. This programs offers rebates for $2.00 or more per square foot of turf. To find out if you are eligible for this rebate click here.

For more inspirational photos of drought tolerant landscaping and some incredible before and after shots, check out the links below.

21 Inspiring Lawn-Free Yards

Drought Tolerant Landscaping

Wi-Fi Now In Local Los Angeles Parks

The City of Los Angeles now offers FREE Wi-Fi in 6 public city parks.  The Wi-Fi service appropriately dubbed Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi™ is available at Cabrillo Beach, Echo Park Lake, Griffith Observatory, Pershing Square, Reseda Park and Venice Beach.

A press conference was held yesterday at Griffith Observatory where L.A. City Council members, Tom LaBonge, Bob Blumenfield, and Mitch O’Farrell announced the official launch of a Wi-Fi program that will allow visitors to access the Internet in designated hotspot areas.  For example, hotspots for Venice Beach will include, Muscle Beach, the skate park and basketball courts.

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This program, which is being sponsored by Toyota, will allow users to surf the web on their mobile device, tablet, laptops, and e-readers, as well as to report service requests to the maintenance and construction divisions of the parks department. Visitors can log on to m.laparks.org via their web browser to report service requests. Speeds may vary from park to park, but users should expect to be able to browse the web, check emails, and post to social media.

This pilot program is the first step in a much bigger project that hopes to bring a fiber Internet network to all of Los Angeles.

A hidden Gem within Los Angeles: Reynier Village

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As I prep to close yet another successful listing in Reynier Village, it struck me that many of you may not know about this hidden gem of a neighborhood.

This adorable community sits just outside Beverlywood and surrounds Reynier Park, bordered on the West by Robertson Blvd, on the North by Cadillac Ave, on the East by Holt St, on the South/East by the 10 Fwy

Reynier Village maintains that special old neighborhood charm. You will often see residents out and about walking their dogs and enjoying Reynier Park.  This neighbor friendly community consists of mostly Spanish homes on tree-lined streets.

One of my favorite things about Reynier Village is the Annual Summer Park Nights held by the Reyneir Village Neighborhood Association. Park Night is held in Reyneir Park, where residents can mix and mingle while enjoying a catered meal sponsored by one of the many delicious local restaurants. I have had the privilege to attend a Park Night event and I truly enjoyed meeting the neighbors and their families.

Events like these really foster a strong community that works together to maintain a clean, safe, and wonderful place to call home.  If you live in Reyneir Village and would like more information about the neighborhood association, click here. http://rvna.wordpress.com/

If you have always wanted to live in a community as unique as Reynier Village, please don’t hesitate to contact me at laura@lauraandersonrealtor.com or reach me directly at 323.762.2543.

New Development Coming Soon to Faircrest Heights

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Say goodbye to that eyesore of a vacant lot on the corner of Fairfax and Sawyer. After nearly 20 years, the Faircrest Heights neighborhood will be expanding and I am so excited to see this happening right down the street from my own home!

I couldn’t wait to share the good news with my neighbors at my most recent homeowners association meeting (Neighbors United), where I introduced the architect, Everitt Kang, and site manager, John Scull, from D.R. Horton American Builders.

After seeing the proposed site plan for this project, I am thrilled to see this vacant land be put to good use! With housing inventory still low in the Los Angeles area, new construction is welcomed and this project sits in a prime location.

Construction has already begun with the land being prepped and leveled. This new development will consist of 60 two-story single-family homes with two community entrances on Sawyer. There are three different home plans with each starting around 2,500 SqFt of living space. The developers plan to complete the project in three phases over the course of the next two years. Completion of the first phase and viewing of the model homes is expected to be ready as early as February of 2015.

If you would like more information about the new Faircrest Heights development contact me at laura@lauraandersonrealtor.com or reach me directly at 323.762.2543.

Stay tuned, as I will continue to keep you updated on the progress for this great new development!