Los Angeles Real Estate
Clients, Friends & Neighbors, we would like to personally invite you to our 11th Annual Paper Shredding Event. We want to give back to our community by helping you get rid of unwanted documents. We are sponsoring File Keepers Shredding Company and Raffle prizes for our neighborhood. So Bring all of your documents to have the Disappear (shred) before your very eyes!
I look forward to seeing you there.
Now is the time of year when lawns come out of dormancy – a time many gardeners eagerly await. This is also the time of year that we trade large heating bills for sometimes equally large water bills. As you consider your gardening plan this spring, why not resolve to use less water?
We use a lot of water
The US Environmental Protection Agency claims that, across the country, watering our landscaping accounts for nearly one-third of all residential water use, totaling nearly 9 billion gallons per day. In addition, some experts estimate that as much as 50 percent of water used for irrigation is wasted due to evaporation, wind, or runoff caused by inefficient irrigation methods and systems.
Start with the lawn
Sure, a lush, green lawn can increase a home’s curb appeal, but if you plan to stay put for a while, you can consider reducing your lawn’s size by replacing some areas with mulch or hardscaping. To maintain size, but reduce water usage, you can replant with a less thirsty variety of turfgrass and/or not cut your grass so short. Longer grass promotes deeper root growth, resulting in a more drought-resistant lawn, reduced evaporation, and fewer weeds.
Water more efficiently
Water your lawn before 10 a.m. for max efficiency. ThisOldHouse.comrecommends watering between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. “At this cool time of day, it’s less likely the moisture will evaporate before your grassroots can absorb it from the soil,” they explain.
Plant early
Planting new plants in spring (vs. summer) gives them numerous advantages. Milder conditions are less harsh on the young leaves and buds, and lower temperatures require less water for the plants to get established.
Go native
Choosing plants native to your area is another way to save effort and water. Native, drought-resistant plants require less maintenance and less water once established and have the added benefit of providing habitats to beneficial pollinators and soil organisms.
Conserving water doesn’t mean you have to convert your yard into a rock quarry. Making some minor changes can reduce landscape water use but still leave your property looking beautiful and alive.
Amazon is significantly expanding its white-collar presence in Southern California, announcing office leases to accommodate 2,500 new corporate and technology jobs in Santa Monica, Irvine and San Diego.
The e-commerce giant said it has signed three leases, for a combined 439,000 square feet, for what it described as “tech hubs” in the three cities. The leases bring Amazon’s office footprint in Southern California to more than 1.5 million square feet, representing an increase of more than 40%, according to real estate brokerage data.
The Seattle company said it plans to recruit locally for jobs in various areas, including retail, operations, gaming and web services. Specific roles include software development engineers, game designers and user experience designers.
The three offices are the latest in a flurry of sites Amazon has opened over the last two years to handle the surge in demand from homebound consumers during the pandemic. Last week, the company acknowledged that the hiring spree has left it with too many workers and too much warehouse space as it reported a $3.8-billion quarterly loss.
For Original Article – https://www.vogue.com/article/why-1970s-interior-design-is-trending-again
For a recent project in Montauk, Robert McKinley painted the kitchen floor an unusual color: avocado green. In an age of all-white eateries and greige living rooms, this may sound like an aesthetic crime against humanity. Avocado green? Like my grandmother’s house? But McKinley’s kitchen evokes an earthy, Laurel Canyon meets Wes Anderson ambiance, a delicate balance of earth tones with playful color that doesn’t tread into the kitsch. It’s cool, it’s calming, and it’s, well, a little bit ’70s.
Oh, yes. Among the avant-garde, 1970s interior design trends are making a definitive comeback. “Earth tones and fun multi-color concepts are current trends now, as well as low slung soft furniture,” McKinley says. A similar sentiment was echoed back in February by a host of interior designers embracing that much-maligned color, brown. “The 1970s are definitively on trend in design,” Giampiero Tagliaferri, principal of Studio Tagliaferri and former creative director of Oliver Peoples, says. “The design of the time was fun and sexy but still sophisticated—I think that heavily resonates with modern audiences.”
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An avocado-green kitchen—a staple of the 1970s—gets a modern twist thanks to Robert McKinley of Studio Robert McKinley.Photo: Read McKendree
Don’t take their word for it? Here are some statistics for you. In a 2022 survey of 600 decorators by 1stDibs, 26 percent of respondents said they’ve witnessed a resurgence of the distinctive decade’s decor hallmarks. The luxury antique site has also seen a massive spike in sales of iconic designs from the period, including Mario Bellini’s “Camaleonda” sofa from 1970 (yes, that bulbous couch you’ve seen all over Instagram), Michel Ducaroy’s “Togo” and Vico Magistretti’s “Maralunga” sofa from 1973, and Tobia & Afra Scarpa “Artona” dining series. Meanwhile, demand for pieces by Giancarlo Piretti are up 125 percent. And here’s the smoking gun: On the cover of his new album cover, Harry Styles—an aesthetic arbiter if there ever was one—stands in a very ’70s room with a low-slung lounge chair that resembles the work of Italian maker Giandomenico Belott.
At first, it may seem like an unwelcome blast from the past. The 1970s have long been lampooned for their more questionable choices, like plastic-covered furniture, traffic-cone orange palettes, and musty-dusty shag carpets. But the 2020s take is more restrained, more curated, cherry-picking ’70s-inspired highlights while ditching the dated aspects.
Mischa Couvrette, lead designer at Hollis and Morris, assures us that “the orange hue as well as the overuse of plastic decor” are staying in the past, while Daniel Rauchwerger, of BoND, argues that the decade, design-wise at least, is oft misunderstood in the first place. “I think that today, we easily confuse 1970s design with general nostalgia,” he says. “The ’70s were, in a way, quite restrained in palette and material usage, in comparison with the decades before and after them. Lots of browns and warm tones, natural and raw materials like wood and exposed concrete, paired with bold geometry and patterns.” (Think less Austin Powers bachelor pad, and more Yves Saint Laurent’s Paris library, Calvin Klein’s Fire Island Pines home, or any room by famed interior designer David Hicks or Tony Duquette.) Clive Lonstein is also a champion of the period: “There is a stripped-back, brutalist sense about it presented through the simplicity of materials and more geometric shapes,” he explains. “Texture is prioritized over form, so we see a lot of simpler shapes covered in softer, colored materials.”
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The design elements and motifs that top interior designers today are borrowing from the ’70s tend to fall within a specific set of parameters. “We are seeing more textured fabrics, geometric shapes and patterns, and multi-use/free-flowing spaces like sunken living rooms, room dividers, and upholstered seating,” says Corvette. “Hallmarks of 1970s design include bringing nature indoors, materials like velvet and rattan, and patterned wallpaper. I’ve seen all of them make a comeback, adds Enis Karavil of SANAYI313. (Fittingly, Danish furniture brand Gubi recently announced they were re-launching “Bohemian 72,” a rare rattan furniture collection by cult Milanese designer Gabriella Crespi originally produced in 1972.)
Perhaps most predominant is the return of the earthy color schemes, biophilic accents such as leafy plants and mushroom-shaped lamps, and low-slung furniture. For a recent project in Aspen, Lonstein adorned the living room with forest-green curtains, wood coffee tables, and brown furry accent chairs. McKinley currently is designing two residential projects with rich earth tone color schemes, deep low-slung furniture, open floor plans and sunken living room. Meanwhile Tagliaferri is busy sourcing seventies homages in a restaurant he’s working on in Milan, where Lonstein is incorporating many of these elements into the renovation of his Manhattan apartment.
But why the seventies surge now?
The editorial director of 1stDibs, Anthony Barzilay Freund, believes COVID has something to do with it. Overnight, many made a literal move to working and living in one place. “People felt a need for a relaxed environment—so, nothing hard on the eyes, and a place that has an immediate comfortable feel,” he says. The ’70s, with their warm color schemes (brown, in particular, is known for its mentally grounding effect), wide-open rooms, and sit-and-sink-into furniture, was the perfect period to take cues from.
lAnother factor? Fashion. Society, as a whole, has adapted a more casual way of dress in the past decade or so—jeans can be worn to an office, sneakers are considered fashionable, and tie sales continue to drop. It appears this stylistic aversion to stuffiness has seeped into our homes too. “The revival of 1970s design fits well with the more relaxed modes of dress: baggy, oversized, unstructured, soft and sloughy,” says Freund. “Not far off from the prevailing and evolving variants of normcore fashion.”
Perhaps McKinley sums it up best: “The open floor plans make so much sense for entertaining and human connection. Earth tones are calming, sophisticated and help people feel grounded,” he says. “I think in many ways it is how people want to live.”
For a decade, rock bottom mortgage rates helped home buyers steadily bid up the cost of housing. That includes the last few years, during the pandemic, when rates fell to unheard-of levels and home prices exploded across Southern California and the nation.
Now, things are changing.
Mortgage interest rates are rising fast, hitting 5% last week for the first time since 2011, according to a widely watched gauge from Freddie Mac. Just six weeks ago, average rates for a 30-year fixed mortgage were under 4%. In November, they were below 3%.
The swift rise, on top of soaring prices, has made homeownership suddenly more expensive. So, if people can afford less, are home prices about to fall?
Several top real estate experts said they don’t foresee price declines — at least meaningful ones — absent a recession. Prices are most likely going to continue to climb, but in smaller increments than Southern California’s current 17% annual rate.
Economists and other experts pointed to several factors that should largely uphold home values: a severe shortage of homes for sale, rising incomes, falling unemployment and — in plain language — a tendency for homeowners to be greedy.
“A lot of times people go, ‘Well, if I can’t get the price my neighbor got, I am not going to sell,’” said Bill McBride, author of the financial blog Calculated Risk who famously called the housing crash two decades ago.
In the past, sharp rises in mortgage rates have slowed home price growth,and experts said higher rates should have the same effect this time around as well.
The simple reason is people can afford less, and this is starting to show. Industry professionals report fewer people at open houses, fewer multiple offers per home and fewer mortgage applications.
“It’s cooled quite significantly,” said John Underwood, who manages a team of Redfin agents in the San Fernando, San Gabriel and Conejo valleys.
While it’s still solidly a sellers’ market, Underwood said houses that just a few months ago might have gotten 15 or 20 offers now get five or six. It’s become harder for sellers to make special demands, including that prospective buyers waive loan and appraisal contingencies that let buyers back out if a problem arises.
Agent Randy Conrad, who works throughout L.A. County, said he’s seen a few deals fall out of escrow because buyers didn’t lock their rates and could no longer afford the home when borrowing costs jumped.
Cooling demand hasn’t yet translated into a slowdown in what homes are selling for, according to the latest available data.
The median home price across the six-county Southern California region rose 16.7% in March from a year earlier, to $735,000, according to data published Wednesday by the research firm DQNews.
That’s slightly faster than the 15.4% year-over-year gain posted in February. In Orange County, the March median price soared 22% and topped $1 million, the first time the median price in any Southern California county has crossed the million-dollar mark.
The March data reflect closed sales; many of those buyers opened escrow in February, when rates were rising but were still more than a percentage point below rates today. A more up-to-date view on the direction of the market can come from looking at price cuts.
Michael Simonsen, founder of Altos Research, said that the number of sellers trimming their asking prices is still way less than normal. But price cuts are becoming more common at a time of the year when they usually decline or don’t rise much at all.
In the city of Los Angeles, 17.5% of listings had a price cut as of April 8, up from 14% on March 11, according to Altos figures.
“Last year, when the market was hot, [price cuts] were declining notably week over week,” Simonsen said.
Price cuts could translate into a decline in actual home values, eventually, if wide swaths of people stop being able to afford today’s prices and sellers adjust their expectations — a possibility that becomes more likely as rates head higher.
Take the current Southern California median-priced home, at $735,000.
Assuming a buyer puts down 20% to buy a $735,000 house, the monthly mortgage payment — including property tax and insurance — would be $3,450 if the interest rate was 3.22%, the average at the beginning of the year.
At last week’s average mortgage rate of 5%, that monthly payment would be $4,045 — an increase of $595 a month, according to a Redfin mortgage calculator.
For a $1-million house — a price point that became much more common around the L.A. region during the pandemic — the higher rate adds $827 a month. Compared with the below-3% rates in November, that represents an increase of nearly $1,000.
Given the long run-up in home values, many homeowners have lots of equity, and they could sell for less than what their neighbor sold for last year and still make gobs of money.
But homeowners often have a number in their head — their sales threshold — based off of recent area sales. And if they don’t need to move, they are reluctant to sell for less, agents and experts said.
Some might even have a below-3% mortgage and are reluctant to ditch it to buy another house at a higher rate.
The reason home prices declined as much as they did when the early 2000s housing bubble popped was because a wave of forced selling — through foreclosures and short sales — brought down the entire market.
This time around, loan underwriting has been far stricter, with less-exotic debt structures, leaving owners less vulnerable to changes in personal or macroeconomic conditions such as job loss or rising rates.
That means even in the case of a recession, there would be fewer forced sales and smaller price declines, said Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist with real estate data firm Kukun.
In today’s environment, price declines would probably need to follow at least two years of rising inventory and falling sales, according to Logan Mohtashami, lead analyst for the trade publication HousingWire.
That’s a long ways off.
As the spring home buying season kicks off, more homes are coming on the market, but in March there were still 31% fewer homes for sale across Los Angeles and Orange counties than a year earlier, according to Zillow data.
The people who want those homes didn’t disappear once rates hit 5%. Millennials are currently the biggest generation and a large cohort are in their late 20s and early 30s, which is when many people buy their first home.
Mohtashami said there has never been more Americans ages 28 to 34, creating a “once in a lifetime event” underpinning home buying demand through 2024.
Many Americans — millennials or not — have also seen their wealth grow during the pandemic, a result of a booming stock market, rising home equity, government relief and less money being spent on restaurants and travel.
“There is just piles and piles of cash,” said Christopher Thornberg, founding partner with Beacon Economics, who said people can use that stockpile to offset higher borrowing costs through larger down payments.
McLaughlin said that if rates stay around 5%, he would expect the rate of price growth to be cut in half in three months.
Southern California home prices might fall 1% or 2% on an annual basis if rates rose to 7% or 8%, McLaughlin said. But for prices to fall meaningfully — 4% or more — he said it may take not only 7% rates at a minimum but also an economic downturn and a restrained government response in which Washington doesn’t step in quickly to help homeowners avoid foreclosures, as it did throughout the pandemic.
For those looking to buy a home later this year or next, will higher rates automatically mean the monthly mortgage payment will be higher than if rates stayed low?
That’s a question without an easy answer.
But for those looking now, it’s more expensive. McLaughlin said higher rates will probably be “very, very bad news” for people who barely qualified for a loan, since higher borrowing costs may very well knock them out of the market.
For others who have more wiggle room, it could open up more opportunities if inventory rises.
“They may be more content in the home that they find even if they have to pay a higher mortgage rate and a higher monthly payment,” McLaughlin said.
Keller Williams agent Amber Dolle got a real-time taste of the changing market two weekends ago when she held an open house for a Valencia three-bedroom townhome priced at $680,000.
She said attendance was about half what it would’ve been last year, with 35 prospective buyers coming in.
The number of offers was also less than Dolle would have expected last year, but there were still six of them and all were over the asking price, showing how even a reduced number of buyers can easily send prices up when there are so few homes for sale.
That’s why Mohtashami said he’s rooting for mortgage rates to stay high for a prolonged period to bring more balance to the market.
In 2018, mortgage rates neared 5% and home price growth proceeded to slow dramatically. In March 2019, the Southern California median price even dipped 0.4% from a year earlier, the first decline since 2012, according to DQNews.
But after that dip, home prices started their upward march once again, helped by mortgage rates that then fell below 4%.
“The fear that I have is mortgage rates peak out around here … and mortgage rates go back down,” Mohtashami said of the current market. “Higher rates are the only thing that can put home sellers, home builders and home investors on their ass.”
That’s why Mohtashami said he’s rooting for mortgage rates to stay high for a prolonged period to bring more balance to the market.
In 2018, mortgage rates neared 5% and home price growth proceeded to slow dramatically. In March 2019, the Southern California median price even dipped 0.4% from a year earlier, the first decline since 2012, according to DQNews.
But after that dip, home prices started their upward march once again, helped by mortgage rates that then fell below 4%.
“The fear that I have is mortgage rates peak out around here … and mortgage rates go back down,” Mohtashami said of the current market. “Higher rates are the only thing that can put home sellers, home builders and home investors on their a**.”
“They have way too much pricing power as a collective whole and look what they are doing: They are all pushing it to the limit.”
Original Article – https://bestlifeonline.com/house-plant-hacks-gardeners-news/
In HomeAdvisor’s most recent survey of 1,000 home gardeners, this sad truth came to light: On average, those surveyed failed to keep 35 percent of their plants alive. The death rate was twice as high for beginners as it was for those with a green thumb—so at least there’s hope for us newbies. In the meantime, we’ve put together some easy household plant hacks to keep your container plants living longer and your potted soil from drying out, according to gardening enthusiasts and professionals.
“My family and I love pistachios so we have a lot of pistachio shells at home. We use these shells to help keep our potting soil from drying out,” says Craig Miller, an academician with Academia Labs and home gardener in Austin, Texas. “What I do is crush the shells and then soak them in water overnight. This process allows the shell to absorb water as much as it can.”
According to Rural Sprout, what you do next is as simple as this: Line the bottom of your potted plants to prevent them from becoming waterlogged. Nuts, right?
Making eggs for breakfast? Hang on to the water that’s leftover in your pot; it’s now super rich in calcium. “Allow the water to reach room temperature before using it as a nutrient-rich beverage for your houseplants,” shares Robin Antill, director at Leisure Buildings. No eggs? No problem. The water from boiling vegetables also includes nutrients that can be used as a homemade fertilizer for your houseplants, he adds.
If you’ve got a humidifier stored away in the basement, here’s a good use for it. “A humidifier is a great tool that provides much needed moisture to humid-loving plants, such as this Baby Rubber Plant,” advises Alfred Palomares, Vice President of Merchandising and Resident Plant Dad at 1-800-Flowers.com. “If you invest in a self-timed humidifier, this will also help hydrate your plants on a set schedule, especially once you know how often they need to be watered.” (For example, in the case of the Baby Rubber Plant, he says, that’s about once a week.)
“A humidifier is also good to use during the colder seasons where heating systems are pulling moisture out of the air,” Palomares adds.
The size of your pot could be to blame for a plant that’s on its way out. It’s common for plants to outgrow their pot, causing their roots to become cramped and tangled together—which makes it difficult for them to absorb the nutrients and the water that they need, explains Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love. “Repotting the plant into a larger pot will give the roots more room, and it will also help you see if there is any root rot, which could also be contributing to the problem,” he says.
Perhaps the simplest way to save your houseplants comes from Karen Musgrave of Hicks Nurseries in Westbury, New York. Ready for this one? “We suggest sticking your finger about an inch down into the soil,” she says. “If the soil feels moist, don’t water. If it feels dry, water. If you’re not sure, check again in a few days.”
Musgrave, who says overwatering is the number one killer of houseplants, also shares this tip for hanging baskets: “When they are dry and in need of water, I bring them into the bathroom where I water them and let them drying in the shower stall before hanging them up again.”
There are many reasons to buy a smaller home—or to downsize from your present home—but sometimes, the idea that “less is more” is what propels homeowners to buy a smaller home.
When asked why they might want to purchase a smaller home, 69% of homeowners who have downsized in the past said saving money was their primary reason for doing so.1 But, of course, these reasons can vary.
While it’s true that we live in a society that often holds that “bigger is better,” it can be worthwhile to shift your thinking and consider whether a smaller home would actually serve you and suit your lifestyle.
The financial edge to downsizing, whether it’s a hot, cold, or neutral market, makes little difference overall. But one could argue that downsizing in a seller’s market would give the homeowner more cash on hand after closing. However, the trade-off could be a higher sales price for the smaller home.
For example, say in a neutral market that an existing home is worth $500,000, encumbered by a $200,000 mortgage. Not counting closing costs, which may include commission and title fees, the net proceeds would be $300,000. Let’s also assume that a seller could buy a smaller home for cash at $250,000, putting $50,000 in the pocket.
If it’s a seller’s market, however, and prices have jumped 10%, the existing $500K home might be worth $550,000. Meaning the smaller $250K home could be purchased at $275,000 in cash, resulting in $75,000 cash remaining.
If it’s a buyer’s market, say, and prices have fallen 10%, then the existing home could be worth $450,000. The smaller $250K home would be priced at $225,000, resulting in $25,000 cash to put in the bank.
The best of both worlds would be to sell in a seller’s market and buy elsewhere in a buyer’s market. Either way, a seller could end up owning a free-and-clear smaller home, so take your pick of markets. Realize, though, that you can’t really time the market.
Sellers often ask whether they need two agents to buy and sell. First, consider similar comparable sales and your home pricing. Second, is it located in a neighborhood where out-of-area agents are shunned by local agents? It’s not supposed to happen, yet it does. But if your home is easy to price, and the agent has contacts in that area, it doesn’t really matter where the agent is located. Sometimes agents will negotiate the commission if they are handling two transactions.
Should you sell first and then buy, or buy first and then sell? Generally, it’s better to sell your existing home before buying a new home. The reason is it keeps your emotions in check. But some markets will dictate that it’s better to buy before you sell. Discuss this strategy with your real estate agent.
Article by ELIZABETH WEINTRAUB
Elizabeth Weintraub is a nationally recognized expert in real estate, titles, and escrow. She is a licensed Realtor and broker with more than 40 years of experience in titles and escrow. Her expertise has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, CBS Evening News, and HGTV’s House Hunters.Learn about our editorial policies
As a homeowner, it’s your job to care for and protect your property, but home insurance companies offer policies that can help you with the protection part. Tree damage may not be the first thing that comes to mind when choosing coverage levels for your homeowner’s insurance, but if a tree falls on your home, it can damage your house and your possessions and cause financial devastation. The endless ‘what if’ scenarios can feel overwhelming, but as far as tree damage is concerned, it’s best to pick coverage rooted in caution and practicality.
Much like the Lorax speaks for the trees, we’ve outlined preventative measures you can take to care for or remove trees and protect your property from tree damage. We’ve also outlined scenarios where your home insurance might or might not cover damage caused by trees. Understanding the nuances of a standard homeowners insurance policy could help ensure you know what is covered if a tree wreaks havoc on your property and what damage you might be responsible for out of pocket.
Key statistics
Whether or not a homeowners insurance policy covers tree damage depends on the situation. In order for the damage to be covered, the cause of the tree falling must be due to a covered peril. Many homeowners know they can usually file a claim if a tree damages a covered structure, but you may not know that many home insurance policies also cover at least some portion of damage to the actual trees, shrubs or plants, as long as the damage was caused by a covered peril.
So if a tree falls in your yard but does not damage your home or any other structure on your property, some portion of it may be covered by your home insurance policy. According to the Triple-I, this type of coverage will generally be capped at a certain percentage of your dwelling coverage limits. It’s important to note that most home insurance companies will not pay for tree or shrub removal, except in some cases where it is blocking a driveway or handicap access.
Every policy is different, however, so you should consider speaking with your insurance agent about what is and is not covered in your policy — before tree damage occurs.
Homeowners insurance typically covers the removal of trees if they have fallen due to a covered peril and onto a covered structure, like your house, or if the tree is blocking an access point. Some situations where tree removal may be covered are:
Situations where tree removal is not covered under your insurance policy should be carefully considered. If your home hasn’t been damaged by a fallen tree, but you want to preemptively remove trees on your property, it is unlikely to be covered — and could even have negative consequences.
For example, if the person responsible for removing the tree is injured during the process, you may risk legal repercussions as the property owner. Bodily injury liability is one of the more infrequent causes for insurance claims, but can be one of the most costly. From 2015-2019, according to the Triple-I, bodily injury and property damage was the second severest homeowner’s insurance claim, costing an average of $29,752.
Insurance companies consider your justification for tree removal to determine if it will be covered. They will likely not cover the removal if you’re worried about your yard aesthetic and find the tree unsightly. If an insured structure was hit, insurance providers may reimburse you for tree removal up to a specified dollar amount, usually ranging from $500-$1,000. If a covered structure was not hit, your insurance company is unlikely to pay for its removal, except, possibly, in the circumstances mentioned above. It’s important to check your policy and ask your agent to determine your exact coverage.
A standard homeowners insurance policy should cover a tree that falls on your house, regardless of who owns the tree.
In some cases, the insurance company may try to collect the money needed to cover the damage from the neighbor’s insurance company in a process called subrogation, which may also cover the deductible for the homeowner whose property was damaged.
However, if your neighbor’s tree has not fallen on your house, but it’s encroaching on your property, do you have the right to cut it?
Usually, it depends on whose yard has the tree trunk. If your neighbor’s tree branches and leaves cover portions of your yard, but the tree trunk is in his yard, it belongs to your neighbor. In that case, your local laws or HOA governance will likely determine whether overgrown trees that encroach on your property must be maintained by their owner.
Tree removal in these cases can lead to disputes between you and your neighbors who have differing opinions on the matter. Your HOA may get involved, or worse — your neighborhood Facebook page could become the battleground for the tree removal debate.
Another risky ‘what if’ is if your tree is damaging your neighbor’s property. It could cost you and your insurance provider to compensate for the damages, not to mention your reputation in the neighborhood. That’s why regular care and maintenance of your trees is typically a good idea.
The payout from your insurance company after tree damage depends on several factors, including what type of property was damaged. If a covered peril causes damage to your house, you may be eligible to receive up to the limit of your policy’s dwelling coverage, depending on how much damage was done.
You can usually also file a claim for your personal belongings, if they were damaged, up to certain limits. Different categories of possessions have individual limits and high-value items may not be covered at all, unless you have added them with scheduled personal property insurance. You can choose to increase these limits, but it will likely cause your homeowners insurance premium to go up.
How much you are reimbursed for your belongings and dwelling coverage also depends on whether you have actual cash value (ACV) or replacement cost value (RCV) on your policy.
If the tree itself that caused damage to your home was valuable, you might also be able to file a claim to replace it. As mentioned earlier, not all policies will cover the actual tree, and the ones that do will likely have certain coverage caps in place, so you will need to look at your policy or speak with an agent to see how much is covered.
Once a claims adjuster creates an estimate for each claim category, the insurance company subtracts your policy deductible from the amount you receive. Many homeowners insurance policies also cover some living expenses, such as hotels, up to certain limits if your home is uninhabitable while the damage is repaired.
It is your responsibility as a homeowner to maintain your trees properly. Damage caused by dead or rotting trees is not likely to be covered by homeowners insurance, and if a tree owned by you causes damage to someone else’s property or person, you might get sued. Here are a few things you can do to prevent trees from causing damage to structures and property:
Finding the best home insurance company depends on a lot of factors. It is a good idea to compare quotes from some of the top home insurers in the country using criteria like customer service scores from J.D. Power, financial strength ratings from AM Best and average premiums. Not every homeowner has the same needs, so it is smart to look at several options and speak with a licensed insurance professional.
Diseased tree removal is generally considered routine maintenance and is not typically covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy. It is your responsibility to track the health of your trees and treat them when needed.
A roof can be expensive to replace, but most standard policies will cover tree damage to a roof if the following perils caused it:
In most cases, roof damage from a tree felled by floods or earthquakes is not covered. It is a good idea to purchase a separate policy to cover these perils if you live in an area prone to either. Note that insurance companies will typically only cover your roof if it is in good repair. If you are unsure of the specific coverages included in your policy, turn to your agent or insurance company for clarification.
Arbor Day Foundation finds that planting trees in residential areas can increase property values anywhere from three to 15 percent. Trees can really spruce up a neighborhood and appeal to potential buyers.
Removing dying or rotting trees can also increase the value of your home by eliminating that risk for future residents, according to Realtor.com. Remember that the cost of removing trees, even if diseased or rotting, is considered routine care and maintenance and is usually not covered by insurance.
It’s typically a good best practice to select trees that don’t forget their roots — literally. If you’re considering planting a tree or evaluating the type of tree on a property you’re looking to buy, look for healthy, strong roots. Bonus points if the tree is relatively low-maintenance.
Some of the best trees for this can include oaks, maples, hickories and elm trees, according to Realtor.com. You might want to consult with a landscape expert to determine what trees are the best for your climate and property type.
Simply put, trees that ain’t from ‘round these parts are better avoided. Experts advise picking trees best-suited for your environment and considering their native location. For example, non-native tree types like black locusts and box elders, native to the Southeast and Central/East regions, generally wouldn’t thrive in the desert climate of the Western U.S., according to Realtor.com.
It’s also usually a good idea to avoid trees that attract invasive species of insects or trees with invasive roots. These types of trees can bring unwelcome visitors to your home or shift the foundation of your house entirely.
Trees with these types of roots include willows, hybrid poplars and silver maples, all of which have the potential to invade your sewer lines and drain pipes.
Again, speaking with an ISA Certified Arborist or landscape professional might be the best idea to determine what trees are right for your home.
Read more From Lauren Lauren Ward has nearly 10 years of experience in writing for insurance domains such as Bankrate, The Simple Dollar, and Reviews.com. She covers auto, homeowners, and life insurance, as well other topics in the personal finance industry.
Original Article Posting: https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/homeowners-insurance/does-homeowners-insurance-cover-fallen-trees/
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Original Article – https://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2022/02/24/los-angeles-pet-boom-hounds-already-struggling-pet-care-industry/
Veterinarian technicians, masked and covered in personal protective equipment, rush in and out of the pet hospitals across LA County, carrying pets from their owner’s cars to the hospital on both arms. They work as fast as they can, and yet long lines still form outside with humans and their restless pets’ colorful leashes dotting the sidewalk. The hospital’s phone seems to never stop ringing and veterinarians’ case loads stack higher and higher.
Despite nearly two years having passed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, if your dog starts drastically limping or your cat is suddenly experiencing shallow breathing, you may have to call more than a dozen pet hospitals to find one who is willing to see you.
When the pandemic shut down the world in 2020, many pet rescues celebrated empty cages because all their animals had found homes with the lonely Los Angelenos who desired companionship while locked up in their homes. The “pet boom” saw 12.6 million U.S. households adopt a new pet last year after March 2020, according to a study by the American Pet Products Association.
So, when pet hospitals wait lists’ filled up and some veterinarians refused to take new patients in 2021, many people assumed it’s because vets were treating more pets. Pet hospitals across LA County cited wait times of more than eight hours, multiple days or even weeks, without the option for a walk-in appointment. Unless a pet is in critical condition, many hospitals are still refusing to take new patients because of their backlog of waiting clients.
However, the pet care industry believes the “boom” may not have been as explosive as initial news reports suggested. Veterinary publication DVM360 found that the total number of pets adopted from shelters in 2020 was the lowest in the last five years. Largely because of the pandemic, less animals were brought into shelters by animal control, less people relinquished their pets and shelters received less pets from other countries, resulting in less adopted animals.
Yet despite these low adoption statistics, at pet hospitals, there seems to be a never-ending stream of furry patients in and out and the line outside never gets shorter.
Peter Weinstein, former executive director of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA), said SCVMA saw the revenue for pet care practices increase but the actual number of transactions did not go up at the same rate. To Weinstein, this indicated many hospitals were seeing the same number of pets, but people were bringing in their pets more often. COVID-related restrictions also forced vet staff to tend to their patients in inefficient manners to accommodate social distancing rules.
County social distancing regulations forced veterinarians to perform “curbside pick-up” and meet clients outside in their cars or only allow one customer indoors at a time. Many hospitals also split their staff between work areas or separated their work schedules to keep workers healthy, but slowed down regular processes.
With fewer employees manning the offices, the few on shift would have to pick up the slack. Strict lockdown directives also forced many vets to throw out their normal, in-person communication with staff and clients, forcing them to completely rethink the best way to get information to people through online chats, emails, phone calls and automated texts.
Fewer vet techs spent more time making multiple phone calls with one client, running back and forth between cars and the hospital all while ensuring they stayed six feet away from each other.
“So many different rules and regulation changes made it harder for us to be as efficient as we used to be,” said Melissa Tompkins, veterinary practice consultant at South Coast Veterinary Management Solutions. “Anytime it changed, we slowed down.”
People also had to cancel preventative and regular check-up appointments during the beginning of the pandemic because vets were declared essential businesses and only saw urgent cases. Weinstein said this often meant pets were sicker or in need of more intensive care when they were finally treated, “which slows the process down even further.”
All of this resulted in a less efficient industry. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reported that veterinarians saw fewer patients per hour and average productivity declined by almost a quarter in 2020. If a practice treated 100 patients per week in 2019, they’d only be able to see 75 per week in 2020 — causing the practice to be behind by at least 25 pets.
Tompkins also said more people were being hyper-vigilant about their pet’s health since they were working from home.
“People saw their dog scratching all the time or noticed a lump they otherwise may not have noticed,” said Tompkins. “You’re more likely to notice there’s something wrong with your dog [when you’re home more].”
As all of these factors compounded for more than a year and the cases quickly backed up, causing long waits and refusals to see new patients.
“Even once things started opening up, it’s been hard to catch up,” said executive director of SCVMA Jennifer Hawkins.
But, according to Weinstein, the pet care industry was already riddled with inefficiencies and the pandemic unearthed them in an “imperfect storm.”
Even before the pandemic, Tompkins said the pet care industry was struggling to hire and retain employees. With an already understaffed industry, the pandemic exacerbated the unfilled gaps.
“Our current staff is having to work a lot of overtime or extra hours in order to compensate for the needed service,” said Hawkins.
Between January 2019 and May 2021, the AVMA reported there were 18 open positions for every one veterinarian seeking a job. On top of that, there were six open positions for every technician and vet assistant as well as 12 open for other pet care-related positions.
“We just weren’t prepared, on a global level, for the case management that we’ve had to deal with,” said Weinstein.
While veterinary school applications are up a whopping 19% for the 2021-22 school year, it’s a four year program and it will take time for students to start working at full capacity with animals.
“When somebody says to me, ‘Well why don’t we just make more veterinarians?’” said Weinstein. “I have to say, ‘What am I supposed to do? Crack some eggs, put them in a pan and make more vets?’”
Additionally, the staff the pet health care industry does have is increasingly female. For the 2021-2022 school year, 10 of the top vet schools in the country admitted more than 1,500 women into their programs but only 313 men. Even in 2021, women are more likely to have shorter career life spans because they play a greater role in raising children or supporting their families, according to the Center for American Progress. Some women, on average, take more part-time jobs, jobs with less time commitment or quit their careers once they have children.
“It’s not that women doctors aren’t good — they’re fantastic — but when universities do follow up studies, there’s shorter career lifespans for female vets,” said Alan Schulman, a veterinary surgeon at the Animal Medical Center of Southern California.
Schulman also believes the younger generations of vets are not as likely to prioritize their careers over other aspects of their lives and are therefore less willing to work extra hours, take on greater responsibilities and even take over practices from retiring vets.
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Unfortunately, veterinary medicine is notorious for its staff burning out and leaving. The field has always experienced high turnover rates, especially compared with other health care professions. Veterinarians leave the field around twice as often as physicians in the medical world and vet techs have one of the highest turnover rates of all health care positions.
Compassion fatigue, or the physical, emotional and psychological impact of caring for others, has always existed in the pet health care world. One big difference between human and pet health care is that veterinarians have the ability to euthanize animals when necessary — a responsibility that can take a toll on pet care professionals.
“Our field has suffered from compassion fatigue for a long time,” said Tompkins. “We see abuse and neglect cases just like someone who works in social services. And that burnout from not only watching the animals suffer but also dealing with the human emotion side of that can really wear on you.”
Many people get into pet health because of their love for animals, according to Tompkins, but they may not realize that most interactions with the animals may be under negative circumstances like cases with terminal illnesses.
A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study found that female veterinarians were 3.5 times more likely than the general U.S. population to commit suicide and male vets are 2.1 times more likely. Additionally, vet techs are five times more likely to commit suicide.
While the reasons for this issue may vary, pet care industry professionals acknowledge how difficult it can be to remain positive in their jobs, sometimes heightened by the necessary interactions with the animal’s owner.
“A lot of people in our field love animals a ton but they don’t necessarily love people in the same way,” said Tompkins. “And I don’t think that everybody realizes when they get into this field that this is a very people-centered field.”
As pandemic-related restrictions were loosened in LA County and available appointments at pet hospitals were still hard to find, Tompkins observed that pet owners did not always handle it well.
Tompkins said she has seen a client pull a gun on a hospital’s staff because he was waiting for 45 minutes. A colleague witnessed a client threaten to kill every staff member in that hospital because he was upset with the wait times.
“These are extreme cases, but these are the types of situations that are happening every day in animal hospitals,” said Tompkins. “People are threatening staff either physically or screaming at them, cussing at them and treating them horribly.”
Elizabeth Vleck, a vet tech at a Banfield Hospital in Seal Beach, noted the significant attentiveness of many pet owners can also contribute to staff’s worsening mental health.
“Hyper-vigilance can lead to jumping to conclusions that we’re not taking care of their pet properly,” Vleck said. “They’re a little bit more aggressive and that’s one of the major points of burnout.”
Though many pet owners are frustrated with the long waits and inconsistent communication from their vets, this problem may not last. The pet care industry is slowly catching up on the routine appointments and client check-ups that were postponed during the pandemic.
While there are still many open positions in the pet industry, some large hospitals are hiring in record numbers. Joseph Campbell, external affairs director at VCA Hospitals — a national network of pet hospitals with more than 2,000 locations — noted in an email that VCA hired more than 5,400 associates to work in its hospitals in 2021, 400 more than they hired in 2020.
However, long-time vet Schulman is not sure if simply hiring more people will solve the problem.
“I truly believe that the answer to this is way more complicated and way deeper,” said Schulman. “If [the younger generation] doesn’t want to have any upward mobility, you’re going to see they’re not as dedicated and won’t work as hard. I don’t see them changing their outlook anytime soon and we’re going to see that.”
Another point of inefficiency is that vet techs are often under-utilized. Vet techs are qualified to handle routine blood draws, weighing, bandaging or other less intensive tasks but don’t always put this into practice, forcing the majority of the labor onto busy veterinarians.
“In human health care, we’ve become very dependent upon staff to deliver for the doctors but in veterinary medicine, we still have a very doctor-dependent business,” said Weinstein. “But I think the practice is starting to perfect its delivery model and better utilize their nursing staff.”
Many larger hospitals are investing in text messaging services or online live chats to help decrease in-person appointments. VCA noted their hospitals saw an 144% increase in live chat users in 2020, indicating more patients took advantage of online help in the face of lockdowns. Banfield also reported their live chat service volume more than doubled last year.
“I know how people are in our field and they’re likely to run in front of a car to stop an animal from getting hit,” said Tompkins. “I know a lot of people feel they’re kind of diehard to help animals. So it would not be a conscious decision to not treat a pet or to not take care of them just because they’re overwhelmed.”
Though the pet care industry has problems to address internally, many pet care professionals believe their ability to properly care for their pets has not weakened in the face of these challenges.
Pet care professionals simply request that pet owners try to be understanding during this stressful time for the industry.
“Veterinarians are doing the best that they can,” said Weinstein. “Just be patient because they really do care and they really do want to make a difference.”
Original Article – https://www.loveproperty.com/gallerylist/129237/modern-scandi-decorating-ideas-for-2022
Beaumonde
Encompassing a healthy lifestyle, the cosiness of hygge and the serenity of a clutter-free home, the Scandinavian approach to interior design is about so much more than just decorating. Still going strong after two decades at the top – our love affair with Scandi decorating is far from over but the look has certainly moved on from the early IKEA days of pale wood and colourless interiors. For 2022, expect more texture, richer colours and striking black accents, let’s take a look at the trends that are shaking up Northern European style this year…
Habitat
While we believe we will never truly say goodbye to a pared-back Scandinavian palette, colours are moving slightly away from neutrals for the time being, with warm new hues and darker shades working their way in. Teamed with darker wood grains and black accents, these colours have a grounding and cocooning effect that is irresistible. We’re totally on board with this look.
Scandinavian design is always offering us new positive ways of living with buzzwords like hygge, lagom and lykke. The latest is ‘friluftsliv’ pronounced ‘free-loofts-liv’. It translates to ‘open-air living’ but has more connotations such as spending time with loved ones amongst nature. Make your terrace an extension of your home with an outdoor room vibe. An interesting egg chair and string seating set this alfresco scene without cluttering up the look. A wood-burner adds to the homely ambience and will keep the terrace warm and toasty after dark.
H&M Home
Fika is often translated as ‘a coffee and cake break’, but to Swedes, it is much more than that. It’s a time to slow down and share a cup of coffee and a small snack with friends or colleagues. At home, the kitchen is a wonderful place to interpret this; set up casual feasting spots surrounded by utensils made from nature for guests to help themselves and invite friends and family to enjoy.
Norsu Interiors
2022’s Scandi Luxe trend continues the minimalist clutter-free style that Scandinavian design is known for but brings opulence to the look. Team plush tactile fabrics such as velvet and boucle with snatches of shiny metallic finishes and you are all set. Here, pastel and chalk pots and vessels displayed on a circular gold tray with a touch of greenery looks simple yet refined.
Crown Paint
We’ve mentioned how warmer palettes are causing a stir in Scandi design so let’s hone in. Soothing to the eye natural, organic shades are changing the way we perceive a traditional Scandi scheme. “Earthy tones such as terracotta are everywhere at the moment,” explains Justyna Korczynstka, Crown’s Colour Consultant. “Crown’s Powdered Clay takes inspiration from earth minerals and shell clay, and it’s a colour that evokes warmth and reassurance, creating a calming environment. For (Scandi) refinement, introduce metallics in either paint accents or small homewares.”
Habitat
Brands are working harder than ever to bring us décor made from sustainable materials, and according to Scandinavia Standard, sustainability is now integral to most Scandinavian design. Furthermore, “Nordic design principles of craftsmanship, quality, and enabling a better day-to-day are a natural bedfellow for sustainability, which naturally seeks to return to slow, local manufacturing of high-quality products designed to last”. So, rather than ‘fast fashion’ fixes choose authentic pieces, which are made to last.
@simplyscandikatie / Instagram
A large dresser with glass panels will create a timeless focal point to display artisan kitchen accessories and ceramics that are too beautifully crafted to be hidden away. @simplyscandikatie has carefully chosen a range of white china, galvanised metal and warm wooden pieces that layer up a typically muted rustic palette.
IKEA
Like the Danish, feel comfortable doing nothing: create a cosy corner that helps you reconnect with yourself and find moments of peace at home. You are never far from nature in Scandinavia so surround yourself with similar natural materials such as rustic panelled walls and large indoor plants. Position a chair by a large window to watch the world go by.
Next
Swap out grey upholstery with green alternatives for an invigorating living room that uses fresh spring hues. Cool leafy tones will help keep the space light and airy. Look for Scandi-style linear shapes with a Danish Bauhaus retro feel that are kept off the floor, with wooden or metal legs, creating a feeling of spaciousness.
IKEA
As the name implies Japandi is Japanese meets Scandinavian design. Rooted in minimalist design principles, both have a respectful approach to nature and an appreciation of craftsmanship. So, they work so well as a team. Think warm palettes, natural materials such as wood, bamboo or wicker and rattan and functionality.
Habitat
Contrast is big business in Swedish design, with the hallmark of furniture design mixing both straight lines and curves, according to Heals. Here, curvaceous furniture made from natural materials is given definition with black painted frames. We love how the look works with the signature neutrals, too. The warm tones suitably soften the monochrome vibe, combined with pretty blush walls.
“The Natural Scandi trend story combines harmonious design, simple materials and a crisp palette to create a sanctuary that’s as mindful as it is elegant”, says a spokesperson at Johnlewis.com. Scandi design schemes tend to steer towards a cool colour palette but with interior trends opting for warmer tones right now, muted pastels make a happy compromise in the bedroom, where stark whites may not feel restful.
@aliceinscandiland / Instagram
Gallery walls are going nowhere but to give yours a Scandinavian twist for 2022, choose interesting pieces in similarly toned frames in matching natural wood. Lifestyle blogger @aliceinscandiland has charmed her living room wall with a mix of geometric art and inspiring portraits.
Industville
When teamed with raw materials such as concrete and metal the minimalism of Scandi design can take on an industrial vibe. These minimalistic vibes are big in 2022 and lighting is key in creating such an atmosphere, especially in countries that spend an extended amount of time in darkness. Marketa Rypacek, Managing Director of Industville suggests: “Matt black designs are ultra-versatile and can complement any interior style – classic, contemporary, Scandi, mid-century, industrial and everything in between; it’s like a piece of jewellery that enriches and blends seamlessly within any décor.”
DFS
Scandinavian furniture is practical and functional, and multifunctional pieces that continue the minimalist vibe are hallmarks of the design ethos. This large clean-lined chaise sofa has smart sidearm storage for storing bits and pieces and has narrow raised legs, which creates an open and clutter-free feel, that perfectly embodies the aesthetics of Scandi design.
Oyoy Living Design
Beautifully designed wooden desks combined with functional lighting solutions continue to grow as remote working becomes the norm. Look for adaptable furniture pieces that blend perfectly into main rooms in the home and can then be transformed with just a few changes. We love this utilitarian yet stylish work desk which features Danish quality and craftmanship.
johnlewis.co.uk
Kaare Klint, Arne Jacobsen and Greta Grossman were all widely regarded as great Scandinavian furniture designers with a love of curves in common. This design principle is showing no signs of straightening up in 2022 as we see furniture with curved edges and circular trunks taking over. In the dining room, round tables have the added benefit of being more social, too.
Dunelm
Scandi style is about clean and clutter-free looks and this includes the kitchen. Choose seamless upper cabinetry that melts into the walls or opt for open shelves instead. Then, embrace ‘lagom’ and keep surface accessories to an absolute minimum. A few textured chopping boards and clear glass storage jars are all that’s required.
@annako0 / Instagram
Geometric shapes are one of the main aesthetics of a Scandinavian interior theme. Geometric wallpaper can bring a room softly to life with subtle tones. But to get a real zing, choose contrasting accent colours. @annako0 uses small appliances and fun retro accessories to create a sunny and characterful kitchen.
H&M Home
Learn the art of Danish display and bring beautiful glassware and ceramics to your surfaces. Mix up both coloured and clear vessels in various sizes and display greenery or shapely candles in amongst trays and small piles of books.
johnlewis.co.uk
Wall-to-wall carpets have to go if you want to embrace Scandinavian décor. If you’re lucky enough to have wooden floorboards, sand them back and stain for longevity, or whitewash for a fresh new look. Bring in texture underfoot with rugs. Layering two or three or circular versions in seagrass and jute are the go-to choices right now.
Dunelm
Scandi style works well in bathrooms and is a crossover that fully embraces the same minimalist style, neutral backdrops and luxurious bathtubs as showcased in this year’s ‘Spathroom’ trend. For added rusticity, choose warm wooden bathroom furniture such as simple ladders, stools and caddies that display muted towels, apothecary toiletries and greenery.
@bare_byg / Instagram
Being outdoors is ingrained into the Scandinavian culture. Therefore, they’ll find fun and functional ways to enjoy the space that we may not have thought of yet. We love this sunken garden terrace bathtub built by @bare_byg that can be enjoyed all year round during both warm summers and cold winters.
Beaumonde
Global Scandi style adopts a ‘more is more’ eclectic attitude. Stick with an organic backdrop and add impact with Aztec designs in earthy palettes. Cover floors with woven Berber-style rugs and layer soft textures, such as faux furs and cushions and wall hanging with plenty of tassels for a hygge vibe, which creates an atmosphere of warmth and comfort.
