What is Curb Appeal?


In a word: curb appeal is all about facade. Curb appeal refers to how attractive your house looks to those who drive by.


Why is Curb Appeal Important?


An attractive exterior may make the difference between whether people become potential buyers or whether they drive right by without looking at your home’s appealing interior features. Curb appeal is like eye catching wrapping paper on a gift. First impressions are crucial to the real estate market. Nearly 65% of shoppers will come and check out a home they’ve driven by or looked at online if they liked what they saw.


Ways to Add Curb Appeal that won’t Break the Bank


Here are some sure fire ways to attract home buyers.

1. Paint your front door. Use a vibrant, cheerful, eye-catching color. Favorites are red, burgundy, cobalt blue and green.
2. Scrub and paint your door’s hardware.
3. Add baskets of flowers at several levels at the front door. Consider adding hanging baskets.
4. Buy an attractive welcome mat.
5. Update those tired, faded house numbers.
6. Paint the trim around your front door. Add matching molding.
7. Add a stylish door knocker.
8. Upgrade those porch light fixtures.
9. Add tile or stone to the entry or use faux tile with a concrete staining or stamping kit.
10. Edge your house with flower beds. A little color goes a long way.
11. Give your garage door an easy inexpensive upgrade by painting the aluminum with wood stain. Or paint it to match the front door. Add some carriage lights or a pergola to enhance the garage’s appearance. Plant fast-growing ivy on the pergola.
12. Power wash siding to give it a clean look. Don’t forget to do the decks, front steps and the entrance way exterior.
13. Add a stair runner or paint your front steps.
14. Cover an exposed foundation with prefab panels or imitation brick panels.
15. Paint those unsightly electrical boxes to blend into the house exterior.
16. Enclose your HVAC system so it looks attractive.
17. Put a rocker or two on the front porch to give the place an inviting look.
18. Repair torn screens and broken windows.
19. Clean those windows until they sparkle.
20. Add faux shutters to the windows.
21. Clean out the eaves troughs and paint them.
22. Add some window boxes and fill them with bright, hardy annuals.
23. Clean up debris, storing bicycles, kids’ toys, gardening equipment, and other personal items in the garage or storage shed.
24. Hang up hoses.
25. If you have a mailbox out front, give it a makeover.

​With a few inexpensive touches and some elbow grease, you can increase your home’s curb appeal.       

You are a new resident to South Bay. You will soon find there is plenty to see and do. Here are some suggestions.


Restaurants abound in the area. Specialty items and prices vary widely. The fact that South Bay has a heavy concentration of Japanese-Americans makes it a great place to enjoy Japanese cuisine but don’t forget the many Korean, Indian, and Latino South Bay restaurants. Be sure to try out:


Abigale located in a former church, its diverse menu includes memorable smoked pork confit pop tarts. Pair these with house-brewed ales.


Addi’s Tandoor located at Redondo Beach is known for its Indian dishes like eggplant baiganbharta and seafood.


If you are looking for good Korean foods check out Cho Dang Tofu in the Torrance strip mall. Be sure to try the tofu soup or banchan featuring cucumber kimchi and bean sprouts.


Dia de Campo is a great Hermosa Beach Mexican restaurant whose feature dishes include: crab-topped guacamole, short rib empanadas, Mexican street corn, and carnitas tacos.


If you crave seafood with a creative flair, look no farther than Fishing with Dynamite at Manhattan Beach. Be sure to try the Peruvian scallops and the Koshihikari rice. Get there early as this restaurant holds only thirty-five.


If you are looking for good music, the area has plenty to offer. Whether you’re there to listen or you want to jam, check out the Southbay Acoustic Musicians of Redondo Beach. They welcome singers as well as those who play brass, woodwinds, bongos, or drums.


Consider taking an art class. Good ones are offered for budding artists of all ages at Hermosa Beach Community Center. If you are not an artist check out the facility to see what others are creating.


If you want to get out and meet people and get some exercise, South Bay offers miles of ocean-view trails and paths. Bike, roller blade, or just stroll along the beach collecting sea shells.


You might also take a surfing lesson from one of the area pros.


If you are a camera buff, beach walks offer great views of South Bay marine life. Catch a glimpse of the dolphins or even great sunsets.


Go for a stroll along the strand and admire the architecture of such renowned designers as Richard Neutra, Ray Kappe, Dean Nota, Patrick Killen, Grant Fitzpatrick, Louie Tomaro, Larry Peha, and Michael Lee.


Beach volleyball is king in the South Bay area. Go and watch tournaments or join in a pickup game.

There are several seasonal and year-round activities in the South Bay area. Many of them can be enjoyed for under $20. Here are just a few:


The strand from South Hermosa to North Manhattan offers wonderful waterfront and beach activities for all ages. Try your hand at kite flying. Walk the beaches and collect shells. Rent a windsurfer or a try paddle boarding. You might like to rent a bike and get some exercise on the well-defined ocean-side paths. You can also bring your camera and look for water life like the playful dolphins. If you are a fishing enthusiast opportunities abound in this area.


If you’ve always wanted to try surfing then South Bay offers great twenty-foot waves in the winter and comfortable temperatures between sixty-five and seventy. Not quite so adventurous? Then you might want to rent a boat or take surfing lessons. The local surf shops will be happy to help.


Whether you have money to spend or just enjoy window-shopping, spend some retail therapy time in Hermosa Beach. It’s a 1.3-mile area full of surf shops, jewelry stores, clothing store full of the latest California fashions for all ages.


If you’ve never tried lawn bowling then South Bay is a good place to try it. Experienced visitors and first timers are always welcome at the Hermosa Beach Lawn Bowling Club at Clark Stadium.


If biking and surfing are not your “cup of tea”, how about beach volleyball? Even if you want to watch rather than play then head on out to Manhattan Beach for the Six-Man competition at the end of July or the Manhattan Beach Open at the end of August. After you watch a few games, you will be tempted to try playing the sport that got its start here!
​

If you’re excited to learn more about the area’s sea life, then head out to the end of the Manhattan Beach pier to the Round House Aquarium. You’ll find sharks, halibut, sea bass, eels, and other local sea life. They are encased in the floor-to-ceiling aquarium. The kids will get a thrill out of being able to actually touch sea creatures like: sea stars, sea anemones, and crabs. The aquarium is free and you can easily spend a half day there!

Like everything else, your patio requires maintenance and renovation. Here are some tips for sprucing up that patio.


For a new look, try etching on the surface of your patio. The first step is to give the patio floor a thorough scouring. Patch any cracks or holes. Next, mark the pattern on the concrete with a marker or chalk. Follow the markings with a circular saw. Paint etched design with latex or oil-based paint to make it stand out.


Give your deck a new personality by applying paint, dye, or stain to the existing wood, stone, or concrete surface.


Get a facelift for your deck by using it as a substrate to support tiles, bricks, slate, or other masonry. Seal edges. Apply a sealing coat and presto, a new floor.


Turn your patio into an intimate, cozy alcove by adding curtains. These made of sturdy denim or canvas will offer shade and a windbreak.


Build a structure over your patio and plant climbing vines to fill out this structure. This provides an aesthetically pleasing and sheltered space.


Consider adding a daybed or wicker chairs or a hammock to your patio.


Add interest to your patio furniture by making cushions or hand painting plain purchased cushions.


Shop for unusual chairs at garage sales or flea markets and paint them vibrant colors.


Create planters from found objects and plant easy-to-maintain plants on your patio.


Create interesting throw rugs or buy them at a store.


Find patio furniture at summer close out sales for next year. Look for sets with sufficient seating and table space to host a crowd.


Enjoy the patio at night by string decorative lights around it.


Plant perennials around the patio for decoration and to deter pests.


Repurpose white boards and/or chalkboards so kids can display their art work and you can use it as a message board.


Add a fence for interest, privacy and/or a windbreak. There are lots of options.


Add a shed or repurpose existing garden structures as part of your patio. These might be used for storage, an office space, a games center, or a haven from the noise of the rest of the house.
​

Your patio can be a relaxing haven where you chill out after a long hard day at work. It can be a sheltered alcove where you enjoy a good book in solitude. Or it can be a place where you entertain in nice weather.

Spring is a time of new beginnings. It just naturally brings out a desire to clean away the grunge of winter and tidy up around the house.
Here are some spring maintenance tips:
​

• Clean out the eaves, troughs, or gutters of fall/winter debris. Make sure none of them are loose or leaking. Be sure downspouts are draining away from your house. You do not want water in your basement or crawl space. It can damage the foundation.
• Fill in low areas around your foundation. Indentations can cause water to pool. When this occurs it can back up into your foundation. These pools are also a breeding ground for pests like mosquitoes.
• Check the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks with a probe or screwdriver. Repair before exposed wood suffers more damage.
• Check the roof shingles for loose shingles, lost shingles, or damaged shingles. If shingles are cracked, buckled, loose, or the grit granules are getting thin, your roof may need to be replaced.
• Check the flashing around vents, skylights and chimneys for needed repair. Hire a qualified roofer to do this.
• Have your chimneys cleaned. Inspect chimneys for any outer or inner damage and get it repaired.
• Check out sidewalk, walkway slabs, and poolside curbing. Replace pieces that are cracked or tipped.
• Check outside faucets for winter damage. Replace cracked or malfunctioning faucets.
• Check and clean your HVAC system. Have a qualified HVAC service representative clean the system and replace filters.
• Check and clean lawn equipment so it is ready to run.
• Replace batteries in smoke and CO detectors.
• Clean the dryer vent.The lint trap does not catch all the lint. Some get into the dryer vent. If the vent is plugged vent it wastes money, and could cause a house fire.
• Check the hoses on your washer to make sure none got cracked or loose during the winter.
• Clean screens with soapy water. Repair any damaged screens.
• Power wash decks, driveways, fences and your house’s exterior to remove winter grunge.
• Vacuum refrigerator coils. They work more efficiently if they are dust free.
• Drain the water heater. Sediment builds up making it less efficient. When it is working well it cuts your energy costs.
• Spring is an excellent time to clear your house, garden, and garage of clutter that has built up during the winter. Sort in three boxes: Keep; Donate or Recycle; Trash.

These spring-cleaning jobs will get your home ready for the warm weather.

What is Curb Appeal?
In a word: curb appeal is all about facade. Curb appeal refers to how attractive your house looks to those who drive by.
Why is Curb Appeal Important?
An attractive exterior may make the difference between whether people become potential buyers or whether they drive right by without looking at your home’s appealing interior features. Curb appeal is like eye catching wrapping paper on a gift. First impressions are crucial to the real estate market. Nearly 65% of shoppers will come and check out a home they’ve driven by or looked at online if they liked what they saw.
Ways to Add Curb Appeal that won’t Break the Bank
Here are some sure fire ways to attract home buyers.

1. Paint your front door. Use a vibrant, cheerful, eye-catching color. Favorites are red, burgundy, cobalt blue and green.
2. Scrub and paint your door’s hardware.
3. Add baskets of flowers at several levels at the front door. Consider adding hanging baskets.
4. Buy an attractive welcome mat.
5. Update those tired, faded house numbers.
6. Paint the trim around your front door. Add matching molding.
7. Add a stylish door knocker.
8. Upgrade those porch light fixtures.
9. Add tile or stone to the entry or use faux tile with a concrete staining or stamping kit.
10. Edge your house with flower beds. A little color goes a long way.
11. Give your garage door an easy inexpensive upgrade by painting the aluminum with wood stain. Or paint it to match the front door. Add some carriage lights or a pergola to enhance the garage’s appearance. Plant fast-growing ivy on the pergola.
12. Power wash siding to give it a clean look. Don’t forget to do the decks, front steps and the entrance way exterior.
13. Add a stair runner or paint your front steps.
14. Cover an exposed foundation with prefab panels or imitation brick panels.
15. Paint those unsightly electrical boxes to blend into the house exterior.
16. Enclose your HVAC system so it looks attractive.
17. Put a rocker or two on the front porch to give the place an inviting look.
18. Repair torn screens and broken windows.
19. Clean those windows until they sparkle.
20. Add faux shutters to the windows.
21. Clean out the eaves troughs and paint them.
22. Add some window boxes and fill them with bright, hardy annuals.
23. Clean up debris, storing bicycles, kids’ toys, gardening equipment, and other personal items in the garage or storage shed.
24. Hang up hoses.
25. If you have a mailbox out front, give it a makeover.

With a few inexpensive touches and some elbow grease, you can increase your home’s curb appeal.        

Spring is one of the prettiest times to explore the South Bay area. There are so many things to do and see. The weather is just perfect for being outdoors.
Choose from such day activities as:

1. Spend the Day at the Beach

Redondo, and Hermosa beaches are the perfect places for a relaxing time on the beach or brunch at any one of the trendy restaurants located there.

1. Take a Morning Hike/Bike Ride or Horseback Trip at Palos Verdes

Just thirty minutes from LA, Del Cerro Park is a great spot for hiking. Several trails accommodate hikers of all abilities and fitness levels. In addition you can bike some of them and go horseback riding on others. Many present breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island.

1. Get a Massage at and Lunch at Terranea Resort

This Rancho Palos Verdes sight seems far from the hustle and bustle of LA although it’s only a forty-five-minute drive away. Watch the schools of dolphins at sunrise and sunset. Lunch at one of several restaurants at the resort, or visit the deli/bakery for a treat to take home with you. Get a massage or walk the magnificent coastline. Don’t forget your camera.

1. A Shopping Day on Rodeo Drive

If you don’t have a fortune to spend, don’t let that stop you from window shopping and people watching at LA’s famous Rodeo Drive.
 

1. Exploring Manhattan Beach

While you are taking a walking tour of Manhattan Beach, why not get together with a group of friends at MB Post? You can each order one of the small plates from their seasonal menu and pass them around so each of you can sample what the others had. This restaurant’s neat sampler plates make eating out a social experience as well as a dining one.

1. Take a Bike Ride on the Boardwalk

View the coast as you bike ten miles through Marina Del Rey, Venice, and the Santa Monica Pier or three to six miles south along Manhattan, Hermosa, and Redondo Beaches.

1. Go Wind or Water Surfing

Whether you prefer wind or water surfing, South Bay beaches offer plenty of opportunities. Never tried either? Check out the equipment shops. Many offer group and individual lessons.

1. Take Hang Gliding Lessons

Beginner hang gliders can get seven lessons for $140 or seven half- lesson of four flights for only $85 with Windsports. This group has A-class instructors. They’ve been in business since 1974. There’s nothing like it for excitement!
 
 

The South Bay area is a treasure trove for hikers. Getting to know the numerous hiking trails is an ideal way to discover the area. Most hiking trails are easy to moderate in difficulty. You don’t have to be an experienced hiker to hike at these locations.
Be sure to wear sturdy hiking boots. Carry lots of drinking water. Put on sunscreen and don’t forget your sunglasses. These trails have some spectacular views so take your camera. Don’t wander off the existing trails.
Here are a few you will want to try:

1. The Runyun Canyon Loop

 
Closed from April 1 to July 2016, this three-mile round-trip trail is not a nature walk. However, it is ideal for people watching. Check out the Hollywood Hills. Get an amazing view at Cloud’s Rest. See all the million-dollar mansions and get a Kodak moment to view such iconic tourist attractions as the Hollywood Sign, the Sunset Strip, and the L.A. Basin.
 

1. Bronson Canyon

 
This one-mile hiking trail in the southwest corner of Griffith Park is tricky to get to if you are not a South Bay native. From Franklin Ave. in Hollywood, go north on Canyon Drive. The road ends at the "Camp Hollywood" parking lot. Cross the small, red cement bridge on the right. Walk around the vehicle barrier. Stay left and follow the unpaved road a short distance into Bronson Canyon. 
Bronson Canyon has been a popular location for filmmakers who want a remote or alien setting. The tunnel entrance was used as the Bat cave in the sixties Batman TV series.
 

1. Griffith Observatory West Loop Trail

 
If you wish to extend your hike while you are in Bronson Canyon, why not try the Griffith Observatory West Loop Trail.
The two-and-a-half-mile trail starts at the Los Feliz Blvd Fern Dell picnic area. From the restrooms at the picnic area, stay to the right. Go up the hill toward the Griffith Observatory. Be sure to stop and enjoy city views. At the top of the hill, take the trail to the right towards the observatory. At the bottom of the hill, the trail curves on its way back to the Fern Dell picnic area. 
 

1. Franklin Canyon Park

 
This one-mile hiking trail is located near Benedict Canyon. The 605-acre land has over five miles of hiking trails. Used by the oil baron Edward Doheny family as a summer retreat in the 1930’s, the trail has an easy walk around the reservoir. Watch for birds and wildlife while you walk the trail.
 

Spring is the time for events that signal a return to warmer weather.  Several area activities and venues are sure to get you out to enjoy the weather and the culture of the south bay area.
 
Music lovers also won’t want to miss The Corelli Ensemble’s spring concert. Features in “Fruhlingskonzert” are Baroque music by: Fasch, Telemann, J.G. Graun, and J.S. Bach. This benefit concert for the homeless will be held at Ascension Lutheran Church, 17910 S. Prairie Ave., Torrance, CA 90504. For details call 310-544-7745, email: thecorelliensemble@gmail.com, or visit: facebook.com/thecorelliensemble. Mark April 9 on your calendar for this free concert.
 
If you are an ABBA fan, set aside April 26 for the 8 p.m. concert at The Norris Theatre is located at 27570 Norris Center Drive in Rolling Hills Estates. Abba Fab. tribute band harkens back to the early fame of this Swedish group with hits like: "Dancing Queen," "SOS," "Take a Chance on Me," "Waterloo," and "Mamma Mia". Concert tickets are $48 to $58available at the box office at (310) 544-0403, ext. 221, or online at: www.palosverdesperformingarts.com.
 
Art enthusiasts should also check out two South Bay locales.  Dane Capo’s vibrant colors are very striking. Diagnosed with a form of epilepsy at 10 months old and autism at the age of 5, Capo’s artistic expression takes many forms.
Art Life Gallery at 1217 South Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach has art exhibits, art workshops, demonstrations and seminars seven days a week. For more information call (310) 938-2511 or email: ARTLIFESOUTHBAY@YMAIL.COM.
If you are enthusiastic about vintage films then check out the South Bay Film Society, Randy Berler, a retired Redondo Beach planning director, is fanatical about cinema. His enthusiasm is so great that he has singlehandedly created the rotating roster of movies shown at the Rolling Hills AMC theatre in Torrance. See what is offered in foreign, independent, and art house films, as well as classic Hollywood blockbusters. 
 
One of the great benefits living in the South Bay area is that there are always a large number of events, concerts, or art festivals happening at any given time. Some are major events sponsored by communities, while others are simple showings at an “out of the way” location. You may want to try a link such as this to keep on top of all the advertised art happenings in the area: http://festivalnet.com/art_fairs.html/California-art-fairs
 
Also, you could make your own art festival and use a weekend as an excuse to visit some of the local art galleries to see what local artists have in store for the general public. To make your own art festival, simply go for a drive and stop at any gallery that you pass on the road. You may find this to be one of the most convenient ways to find new art.
 

 
Spring housecleaning may be an annual event at your house. However, some homeowners also plan renovation projects for spring as well. I am talking about those jobs you might complete over a weekend. These small projects probably cost no more than $1000.

Let’s look at some small home improvement projects:

One of the most common small projects and one, which the family will enjoy for years, is erecting a deck. You might make this a family project or ask a few DIY friends to help you build a deck or repair an existing deck.
Clearing out those clogged eaves troughs or rain gutters is a worthy project. Make sure you have the right tools and a good sturdy ladder for this job.

Another project that lets you use more storage space is cleaning out the attic, basement, garage, or storage shed. Consider adding some shelves and the space can be used even more efficiently.

Another neat project that will be popular with your family is installation of a hot tub. These come in all shapes and sizes. Some are so easy to install, it is a simple matter of hooking up water and a power source. There’s a hot tub for every taste and need, so make sure to do the research before you make a selection.

Consider improving the curb appeal of your house by replacing the existing siding. There are some great new vinyl and aluminum sidings available to homeowners. You may choose to have the siding professionally replaced or you could make this a DIY project.

Another way to improve your home’s curb appeal is to reseed your lawn or add some landscaping.
You might add a new room and value to your house by adding a sunroom or enclosing an existing open porch area. This three or four-season room can be made energy efficient by installing high efficiency windows.

With summer on the way, it is a great time to inspect, clean, and update your HVAC system. Change filters and have the system inspected by a qualified central air conditioning technician. An efficient HVAC system works better and costs you less money to operate.

Spring is also a good time to have wood burning stoves and fireplaces cleaned and checked.
With the season change, it is a good reminder to check and replace batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
​
Spring has the feel of new beginnings. That is why it is an opportune time for those small home improvement and maintenance projects.