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BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: Bartlett & Herrington

Stefanie Herrington

Stefanie Herrington

I was extremely excited to interview Stefanie Herrington, Estate Planning Attorney for Bartlett & Herrington, because not only does she do amazing work for our mutual clients but has a heart of gold and really makes a huge impact in our community. 

How long have you been practicing law?
I graduated from law school seven years ago and I spent my first year clerking for a judge in Denver at the Colorado Court of Appeal. Then I spent a year practicing complex business litigation in Portland, Oregon - and I have been here (Carpinteria) for five years now - We just celebrated the 5 year anniversary of our law firm, Bartlett & Herrington.

Rotary Club of Carpinteria Sunset 

Rotary Club of Carpinteria Sunset 

Can you tell me a little more about your role as an Estate Planning Attorney? 
I do everything from trusts and probates, trust administration after clients pass away, I do a lot of veteran planning for veterans who have low income and high medical needs, I do special needs planning for our clients, I do a lot of agricultural planning because of where we live in the Carpinteria Valley, so a lot of sub specialties but it all falls under estate planning.

Girls Inc of Carpinteria 

Girls Inc of Carpinteria 

 

Why did you get into law and what do you enjoy most about it?
I was a newspaper editor and I loved it. I loved reading articles and getting breaking news and finding errors. But after awhile I had done it for ten years and I wanted more of a challenge so I decided law school would be a great education - and I didn’t think I wanted to be a lawyer until I started doing it. What I love about my job is I get to do a lot of hands on work with my clients, and often times I get to work with multiple generations so I enjoy the whole family aspect and connecting people with other resources, like Realtors!

What is the toughest part of your job?
The toughest part is also the most rewarding part which is really just delving into family dynamics and learning individual goals and their challenges and the things that worry them at night, so sometimes you get to see the worst of people and more often than not you get to see the best of people.

 

Do you only handle cases locally?
The vast majority of our clients are in the local area so Carpinteria, Ventura, Goleta, Santa Barbara but certainly I have clients in the Bay Area and elsewhere that are referrals for other clients. But most of our work is here.

We know you are heavily involved in the community, tell us more about your amazing community service in Carpinteria.
Mainly right now the things that I am enjoying the most and spending most of my time with are: I am serving on the board of Girls Inc in Carpinteria, so that’s an amazing organization that really impacts the lives of young girls in our community. And I have been a member of Rotary for 5 years since I moved to Carpinteria and last summer I started a new Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Carpinteria’s Sunset, and I invited all of my friends to join it - so even though I am not the president of that club I am just the secretary - I play a big role. So those are my two big projects that I spend nights, weekends and sometimes part of the day on.

Rotary Club of Carpinteria Sunset 

Rotary Club of Carpinteria Sunset 

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New Listing! 🙌🏻 4975 Sawyer Avenue

Location, Location, Location! Opportunity to develop and utilize this Downtown Carpinteria ''PRD-20'' zoned property which offers potential for multiple units. Property consists of 2 bedroom, 1 bath home on a 6,790 sq ft corner lot. Ideal Carpinteria location near downtown bustling business district, beaches + estuary.

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BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: AllScape Design + Installation

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

 

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

Nate Zacarias 

Nate Zacarias 

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

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

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

Kat: What is the ROI analysis on irrigation projects?

Ben Hatcher 

Ben Hatcher 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nate:  Also I think its our communication.

Ben: Communication is key. 

AllScape Design + Installation Completed Project

AllScape Design + Installation Completed Project

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

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

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

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

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

AllScape Design + Installation Completed Project

AllScape Design + Installation Completed Project

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

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

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

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

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

AllScape Design + Installation Completed Project 

AllScape Design + Installation Completed Project 

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

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

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

Nate: Love it. Need it.

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

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

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

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

3_AllScapeDesign_LookUp_chairview.jpg

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Just Listed 🌊🏖 Carpinteria Vacation Beach Condo w/view

4700 Sandyland Road #28 | Carpinteria 

Located across the street from the beautiful Carpinteria Beach and Nature Preserve, yet still super close to downtown dining and shopping. This 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhouse style unit enjoys an ocean view from the upstairs bedroom and mountain views from the patio deck. Brand new carpet and paint. Resort-style amenities include 2 pools, hot tub, club house, gated parking & on-site rental-management staff. The perfect beach lifestyle to enjoy as a year round residence, vacation home or rental investment property! Only 5 minutes to famed Rincon surfing, 10 minutes to Santa Barbara, 40 minutes to wine country and 90 minutes to downtown Los Angeles.

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Sold 🌊 Stunning Carpinteria Renovated Beach Home + Designer Furnishings

Sold 🌊 Stunning Carpinteria Renovated Beach Home + Designer Furnishings

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

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

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

 

Sold for $1,825,000

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Just Sold! Investment Property Sold w/Multiple Offers Over Asking!

4621 7th Street | Carpinteria, CA 93013 Just sold with multiple offers over asking price! Located in beautiful Carpinteria with close proximity to downtown, beaches and estuary. PRD-15 zoning and a 5,663 sq ft lot offers excellent potential for development. A rare find! Sold for $547,000 which is 109% over asking!

If you have ever considering selling, call us today to see how we can help your property stand out from the rest and generate the highest possible sale price.

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Weekly Perspective • October 14

Weekly Perspective • October 14

Last week we touched on Montecito's slow down of the upper end this week we want to introduce you to it's neighboring city, Carpinteria. I have lived there for the past 10 years and the locals call this town the last great beach town on the west coast. It has perfect year round weather, spectacular beaches, and home to one of the hottest surf destinations "Rincon Point." It's popular with retirees, families, and vacation home owners.

The real estate in Carpinteria is a mixed bag. You have beach front homes starting at $4,000,000, condos just right off the sand starting at $500,000, and smaller homes around $1,000,000. If you go a little further from the beach you do have a wider selection of homes starting at $700,000-$1,200,000. From there Carpinteria's spectacular foothills begin, you'll see the hills are dotted with avocado ranches and mega ranch estate. I would say on average a decent home in the foothills will sell from $1.5-$3 Million dollars.

Now more than ever is an opportunity to work with an agent (agents) who know your local area.

Thank you and see you next week!

Carpinteria Beach Estate 🌊 Moments from Carpinteria State Beach

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Carpinteria Beach Estate 🌊 Moments from Carpinteria State Beach

"Located at the end of Linden Ave, known as the “World’s Safest Beach,” Carpinteria City Beach is very special and has been rated the #1 swimming beach in California, due mostly to its Southern exposure and its protection by the Channel Islands. Swimmers will usually enjoy small surf and the absence of riptides at our unique beach. This beach stretches for miles, north toward Padaro Lane and south toward the State Park Beach and seal rookery. This popular beach even has a small beach shack where you can rent innertubes or boogie boards during the summer. This long stretch of white sand, is also known as one of the top ten beaches in the US. The gradual incline produces little or no rip currents, hence the reputation for being the worlds safest beach. Picturesque sand dunes, gentle waves, picnic tables, restrooms, volleyball nets, beach shack, and barbecues make this a perfect all day destination for the whole family."-Source: http://www.carpinteriacoast.com/

Moments from Carpinteria Beach is a stunning ground-up renovation a few hundred feet from the sand in Carpinteria’s most sought after beach neighborhood, ''Concha Loma''. Designer furnishings are included in the sale of this elegant 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom single level home which could ably serve as a primary residence, vacation home or high-end luxury beach rental. Enter into a breathtaking, light and airy great room featuring skylights, fireplace and massive 24-foot sliding glass doors which maximize the indoor-outdoor living area. Discerning eyes will find tasteful finishes throughout the home, including wide plank wood floors, Caesarstone, Limestone and Marble counters, Pottery Barn vanities and modern amenities such as central heating & A/C, surround sound, CAT-6 wiring, security cameras, chef's kitchen featuring Kitchen-Aid range, outdoor shower and more! The private grounds are studded with mature fruit trees and various sitting areas, which include a gas fire pit for outdoor entertaining. A detached 550SF 2-car garage with separate driveway offers additional possibilities. Truly spectacular! See full details about this listing

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Sold 🔑 Modern Living Downtown Carpinteria

Sold 🔑 Modern Living Downtown Carpinteria

Another home sold to a satisfied buyer!  We are happy to have represented the sellers in the sale of this modern 2 bedroom, 2 bath Berkus designed townhome only a short distance to the beach.  Remodeled throughout featuring cathedral ceilings, large master suites on each level, spacious living/entertaining areas, pool and large 2-car garage.

Modern living in downtown Carpinteria only a short distance to the beach! Stunning Barry Berkus designed 2-story town home features soaring cathedral ceilings and a flexible floor plan with large master suites on each level. Spacious living/entertaining areas offer potential to create a third bedroom. Features fresh paint and new carpets throughout, crown molding, smooth ceilings, new stainless steel refrigerator, washer/dryer included, granite counters, claw foot tub, wainscoting, gas fireplace and a large finished attic. Enjoy private patios off both the master bedroom and the dining room. Heated pool. Oversized 2-car garage + excellent guest parking.

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Just Sold 🏡 5343 Ogan Road, Carpinteria

Just Sold 🏡 5343 Ogan Road, Carpinteria

We are so grateful to have represented both of the wonderful buyer's and seller's of this inviting, remodeled 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home in a convenient Carpinteria location close to downtown. 

• Light filled interior • New wood flooring throughout • Viking & Kitchen Aid Appliances • Milgard Windows • Granite counters • Remodeled Baths • 2 car garage • Fantastic entertaining patio

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5 Great Places for Families to Call Home

5 Great Places for Families to Call Home

If you have a growing family and are thinking about moving, you have a lot of other things to think about. What about the schools? The neighborhood culture? Proximity to shopping and entertainment? You probably have a good idea about what to expect in the areas you’re considering. Family and friends can help you decide, but it’s also a good idea to talk to a real estate pro because knowing everything about a community is essential to what they do for a living.

With more than 60 offices in five Southern California counties spanning the Central Coast to San Diego, there are plenty of great places for families to choose from. We are featuring one family-friendly community in each county.

San Diego County

Carlsbad

Carlsbad (La Costa Valley) is made for young families. One resident who lives there received 160 trick-or-treaters last Halloween. Homes are decorated for the holidays, and you can drive through the neighborhoods most days and see children playing dodgeball or tossing a ball in front of their homes. Carlsbad Unified School District gets consistently high reviews from parents. It has 10,993 students attending 16 schools in grades K-12. According to state standards, 76 percent of students in the district are considered proficient in math and/or reading. The district has an annual budget of $151,529,000, spending an average of $13,697 per student.

Search for homes in Carlsbad now.

Orange County

Cypress

Cypress is a diverse city of 49,000. Cypress High School had commendable three-year median API scores of 900. Cypress’s Oxford Academy, which admits top students from Cypress and several other cities, scored an outstanding 992 and is considered one of the top 10 public high schools in the country. Cypress is just five miles to Knott’s Berry Farm, Knott’s Soak City, and the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, and about 20 minutes from Disneyland. Nearby Cerritos has a large skate park, tennis club, and Los Alamitos Race Course.

Check out the Cypress homes that are for sale right now.

Los Angeles County

Tarzana

Tarzana is a neighborhood of 35,500 in the San Fernando Valley. And yes, it was named after the popular jungle character created by author Edgar Rice Burroughs that was adapted into a Disney animated film in 1999. What makes Tarzana a great neighborhood for young families is its strong economy, educated residents, and low crime rate. It is within the Los Angeles Unified School District, but is also home to Columbia College Hollywood, which teaches a variety of subjects related to film and TV. For young animal lovers, Red Barn Feed & Saddlery features all the tools you’ll need for raising pets, plus some animal adoptions.

Find your new home in Tarzana today.

Ventura County

Moorpark

Moorpark has a friendly, small-town feel, yet is close enough to Los Angeles to enjoy all the opportunities there for work and play. It is a 30-minute ride to Malibu and the coast. Moorpark has low crime, good schools, a Metrolink commuter rail station, plus numerous parks and hiking trails. The city of about 35,000 is completely surrounded by open space, parklands, and agriculture. Moorpark Unified School District is the largest employer in town. It has 6,812 students attending 12 schools in grades K-12. The district has an annual budget of $67,488,000, spending an average of $9,517 per student.

Make moves to move your family to Moorpark now.

Santa Barbara County

Carpinteria

Carpinteria fits the very definition of a of beachy surf town. Oozing with small-town charm, Carpinteria is known for its laid-back vibe and super-relaxed ambiance. The coastal city of 13,000 is just south of Santa Barbara. People move to Carpinteria because they commute to Santa Barbara for the lower cost of living, or they fall in love with the crisp and persistent waves that rock the beaches. Downtown Carpinteria has just a few stoplights and loads of fun restaurants and boutiques. The homes are more affordable than nearby Santa Barbara and Montecito. There is one high school, one middle school, four elementary schools, and a private preparatory school.

See what homes are for sale in Carpinteria today.

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