Viewing entries tagged
Ventura real estate

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: MoveGreen Moving Services

Kat Hitchcock interviews Nick Jacobson the General Manager of Movegreen

Kat: Movegreen has been established for 9 years? I’m surprised it has been that long, it feels like such a young company.

Nick: Yes, young, but it grew pretty quick - it’s grown 23% each year.

Kat: That’s amazing! I know Movegreen helps a lot with Junior League of Santa Barbara’s Rummage Event every year. You do so much with keeping our rummage items stored and then all the man power the weekend of the event. Does Movegreen do any other non-profit work?

Nick: Yes- Teacher’s fund is a big one

Kat: Nice! I know that golf tournament is a big event every year. 

Nick: So that's the biggest one…we also do tree’s for humanity - so for every move we partner with a company that will plant ten trees. 

Kat: That’s amazing! Is there a specific place they plant them?

Nick: They are mostly third world locations.

Kat: Very cool!

So my next question will be good for our clients, what’s the best tip you could give someone who is going to be moving?

Nick:  Organization, planning ahead, and to relax! 

Kat: I know we just got done working together on one of my Montecito listings. If I remember correctly your process is first come to the home and go over everything that needs to be moved. Then from there you break it down by time, labor and materials? 

Nick: Yep, that's how we do it.

Kat: So how many guys are on a job for, let’s say… a 1,500 square foot house?

Nick: About 3.

Kat: Is it all day pack and move? Or….

Nick: So a 1,500 square foot house pack and move would take 3 guys and 10-12 hours over 2 days. Pack one day, move the next day.

Kat: So what would be the average cost?

Nick: $68 per man/per hour. So around $2,000. 

Kat: Not that bad for not having to move yourself!

Nick: I would never move myself again-it’s horrible.

Kat: I totally agree! Before I married my husband I moved every year for 6 years straight here in Santa Barbara. Its absolutely exhausting trying to move by yourself. 

Do you have any other moving locations other than Santa Barbara? 

Nick: We are in Ventura too!

Kat: No way, that’s huge! I feel like Ventura is a good market to be in. 

Nick: Absolutely. 

Next question is Kylie’s (assistant) question what do you love most about your job?

Nick:  The location is amazing. I love living in Santa Barbara and our employees are great- the guys we work with make it fun. 

Kat:  Everyone from Movegreen that helped with the Junior League of Santa Barbara Rummage event were such great guys to work with and sweet to give us their time.  

Nick: We are pretty picky about the guys we hire so they make it fun - and then I love dealing with the customers too. 

Kat: That’s awesome. Well thank you for meeting with me!

For any of our clients you will receive 10% off your move with MoveGreen services when you mention Ralston and Hitchcock!!!

Sold!🏡 Charming 3 Bedroom Ventura Home

1319 Egret Avenue | Ventura, CA  93003 

Bedrooms: 3  |  Bathrooms: 1.5  |  Laundry: In Garage  |  Parking: 2 car garage
Sold Price: $488,000

 

Charming single family home in a central Ventura location at the end of a cul-de-sac street. Features custom archways, crown molding, open floor plan and sky lights. Laminate wood flooring throughout, recessed lighting, and newer windows. The Kitchen offers tile counters, gas cook top, built in microwave, trash compactor, dishwasher, refrigerator, and lots of cabinets for storage space. The great room features a gas fireplace and mantel with canned lighting and dimmers.  The sliding glass doors lead to a welcoming back yard area perfect for entertaining, complete with a producing Avocado tree! 






     
  •  
  •  

    Berkshire CEO Named #2 Real Estate Exec

    Swanepoel Top 20 Real estate research firm, The Swanepoel T3 Group, released their Swanepoel Power 200 last week, an annual ranking of the 200 most powerful people in real estate. The report focuses on "CEOs and other C-level executives that hold a senior position with a national franchise, referral network, or other collective group." Ron Peltier, Chairman and CEO of HomeServices of America, Inc., made it to the top of the rankings this year, coming in as number two of Swanepoel's Top Corporate Executives in Real Estate.

    Peltier was first appointed Chairman in 2008, after 30 years in the real estate industry. Peltier has long been recognized as an innovator by the real estate industry, ranking consistently on Inman's Top 100 list and REALTOR Magazine's Top 25 Most Influential People in Real Estate. Under Peltier's leadership, HomeServices of America has grown steadily each year. According to The Swanepoel T3 Group, HomeServices has 70,000 Agents and generates a whopping 550,000 transactions per year. In 2015 alone, HomeServices added multiple companies, "the largest of which was First Weber in Wisconsin, with...$2.5 billion in sales in 2014."

    Peltier's ranking on The Swanepoel Power 200 confirms Berkshire Hathaway is off to a great start in 2016!

    See the full list of 200 executives here.

    RealtyTrac Reports Decline in California Foreclosures

    Last week RealtyTrac released its 2015 Year-End US Foreclosure Market Report, which shows annual foreclosure filings (default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions). According to the data, foreclosures are down 3 percent from 2014 and at a nine-year-low on a national level, and California's doing even better. In 2015, California saw 92,671 homes get foreclosed upon, or 0.68 percent. That adds up to a 14.66 percent decrease from 2014, and an incredible 83.05 percent decrease from the 2010 peak. RealtyTrac Vice President Daren Blomquist said that 2015 "saw a return to normal, healthy foreclosure activity in many markets."

    Nationally, foreclosures were down 3 percent from 2014 and 62 percent from 2010. The report also found that during 2015, homes were in the foreclosure process for a shorter period of time.

    Check out the graphic below to see the counties in California that had the highest and lowest percentage of foreclosures in 2015.

    Ralston & Hitchcock 2016 Property Updates!

    Charming Family Home w/ 1bd Guest House!

    4bd/4ba country home with in-laws apartment on a gated & fenced .46 acre

    236 Toro Canyon

    236 Toro Canyon Road | Carpinteria, CA

    Offered at $2,195,000

    MLS# 15-1375


    Build Your Dream Home in Hope Ranch!

    2.35 acre ocean-view parcel in exclusive Hope Ranch neighborhood

    Via Esperanza Parcel

    Via Esperanza | Hope Ranch, Santa Barbara

    Offered at $2,000,000

    MLS# 15-3777


    Award-Winning Luxury Condo in the Heart of Downtown!

    1bd/2ba + loft 1 mile from the beach & walking distance to local restaurants, shops & nightlife

    121 W De La Guerra #7

    121 W. De La Guerra #7 | Santa Barbara, CA

    Offered at $1,450,000

    MLS# 15-905


    Available - Not in MLS!

    3bd/3ba beachfront condo with panoramic ocean views, 2 blocks to downtown Ventura

    Living Room 1

    Address & Price Available Upon Request

    Ventura, CA


    Available - Not in MLS!

    Beach bungalow with separate 1bd/1ba apartment, 2 blocks to the beach

    Living Room

    Address Available Upon Request

    Carpinteria, CA

    Offered at $3,000,000


    Exclusive - Oceanfront Land on Oregon Coast!

    4.52 acre building site along the Pacific Coast in scenic Oregon

    Aerial 1

    Florence, OR

    Offered at $1,990,000


    Exclusive - Riverfront Oregon Vineyard & Event Center!

    27+ acre property features a 19 acre vineyard, large event center, & tasting room

    Oregon Winery

    Myrtle Creek, OR

    Offered at $1,900,000