Costa Mesa’s Estancia TeWinkle Foundation Gala

The Estancia TeWinkle Schools Foundation, founded in 2003 from an endowment given by C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, provides additional funding to Estancia High School and TeWinkle Middle School. Both schools are well-known for providing quality education and programs for the youth of Costa Mesa. They are also the schools that many students in the Mesa Verde neighborhood attend. The organization supplies money to support academics, arts, activities, and athletic activities that are deemed positive for the schools.

On May 15, the community will have a chance to support the Estancia TeWinkle Foundation at their annual dinner gala and auction. According to Jennifer Knapp, ETS Foundation President, “Our goal is to encourage the business, parent, neighborhood, and alumni communities to support and contribute to the Foundation, with the goal of growing our endowment.  With greater resources, we can do more to support academic excellence and student achievement.  The gala is a wonderful opportunity to bring those communities together and allow them to show their support.” 

The night is sure to be entertaining with cocktails, dinner, dancing, and more. The foundation will also be presenting awards to 2 distinguished alumni from Estancia High School. Who will be honored?

1. Wing Lam (Class of ’79): Lam runs Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, which has over 50 stores throughout the USA. He makes it a goal of the business to contribute to the community and society. Lam also supports many organizations, including the Surfrider Foundation, Children’s Hunger Fund, World Wildlife Fund, and Doctors Without Borders.

2. Kevin Sloat (Class of ’77): Sloat  is the principal and founder of Sloat Higgins Jensen and Associates, which is a successful full-service lobbying firm based in Sacramento. With nearly 25 years of experience in state government under his belt, he’s had the privilege of serving as deputy chief of staff and legislative secretary for former Governor Pete Wilson and as the top aid for longtime Orange County legislator Marian Bergeson.  Sloat has been a major contributor to important statewide programs in healthcare, children services, education, and transportation, as well as legislation for class size reduction. 

The purpose of the gala fundraiser is to support and further education at Costa Mesa’s Estancia and TeWinkle schools. It’s sure to be a memorable and worthwhile event. For more information about the gala dinner, please contact Kathy Esfahani at (714) 754-5451 or Jennifer Knapp at (714) 292-2662.  Tickets can be purchased at www.ETSFoundation.org 

About Torelli Realty: Torelli Realty is proud to represent Costa Mesa real estate. We’ve been meeting the needs of Costa Mesa home buyers & sellers since 1984. Torelli Realty also deals with Costa Mesa rentals, Costa Mesa property management, and offers home improvement and home staging tips to help your home’s value throughout Costa Mesa and in Mesa Verde. We also have an expert on staff, Holly Schwartz, who came to us as a producer from Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and extensively studied home values and markets locally and nationally. Feel free to contact Torelli Realty for a consultation and for all your real estate needs.

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Adding Curb Appeal To A Condo

Real estate in Costa Mesa, California includes condos, just like so many other towns. We’re often asked how to improve the curb appeal of condos because it can be difficult to make one stand out from another. There can also be restrictions on the changes that can be made. The good news is there are many ways to add curb appeal to a condo and it’s time to share some helpful tips. Realtor magazine offered up some great ideas and we’re adding some of our own. Try these ideas to add curb appeal: 

1. Clean up that front door! It should be clean, welcoming, and functional.

2. Bring in potted plants (like Torelli Portaplants)– especially ones with a pop of color. They are easy to maintain, don’t take up a lot of space, and can be moved based on preference.

3. Highlight the major selling features in photos. With condos you can’t control what the exterior looks like and some buildings are less attractive than others. If there’s a great amenity or the inside is more appealing than the outside, make sure that feature stands out – otherwise people might not even give the condo a chance.

4. If there is a common space for mailboxes, such as an interior lobby, keep that area as clean as possible. Consider adding a decorative basket for overflow mail otherwise the space can look trashed.

5. Make sure the address and unit number are prominent so the condo is easy to find.

6. Dress up the fixtures like the mailbox, lights, doorbell, and doorknobs. It doesn’t take a lot of money to make a big impact.

7. Repair walkways – it could be a liability if someone gest injured on the property. If the walkways are part of the common grounds leading to the condo make sure to contact the HOA.

8. Add a clean welcome mat – never underestimate old-fashioned hospitality!

9. Rake or sweep for a clean slate and don’t forget to trim the bushes. If there are bare patches in the yard, make sure to add some grass seeds and sod to fill it in.

10. Try to get permission to paint or pressure-wash the condo – that can make a BIG impact.

About Torelli Realty: Torelli Realty is proud to offer home improvement and home staging tips to help your home’s value throughout Costa Mesa and in Mesa Verde. The company has been servicing Costa Mesa, CA almost excludively for over 25 years and knows Costa Mesa real estate. We also have an expert on staff, Holly Schwartz, who came to us as a producer from Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and extensively studied home values and markets locally and nationally. Feel free to contact Torelli Realty for a consultation and for all your real estate needs.

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Home Remodeling ROI – Return On Investment

Homeowners everywhere want to know what home improvements will pay off with the best return on investment. Remodeling Magazine recently posted some information about the best remodeling projects to tackle and broke it down by region. Here’s some of the highlights to consider for homeowners in California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Homeowners will get a major bang for their buck on a minor kitchen remodel. The average minor kitchen remodel costs $23,000 and homeowners can expect to recoup about  95%. Why so much? Kitchens sell homes. Buyers want a home that will not require a ton of work and kitchens are expensive to remodel. This means that even a minor remodel can impress buyers who don’t want to take on a major remodel. As long as the kitchen is workable, buyers can always upgrade it down the road. Some homeowners might be wondering why an investment in a kitchen would not return $100+%. Think of a remodel like a car for sale on the lot. The minute you put it in, the cost of the materials and labor depreciates. The up side, in some cases the overall value of the home can increase by more than the amount invested in the remodel. Why? The perceived value home with a nicely redone kitchen may make the home more desirable than others in the neighborhood that do not have a remodeled kitchen.

Remodeled kitchen

How about a full blown kitchen remodel, which averages $64,000? It’s notable that a major kitchen remodel only returns 85%, which is still a good return, though not as high as a minor kitchen remodel. When you are remodeling a kitchen, it’s important to consider a few factors:

-Does the homeowner plan to sell soon or remain in the home for the long term? (For homeowners who plan to sell soon, it makes more sense to save the cost and trouble of a major remodel. If the homeowner plans to live in the house for more than 5 years and a nice kitchen is important to them, a major remodel probably makes more sense.)

-Is the homeowner ready to deal with a huge kitchen remodel? (Remember, any kitchen remodel is going to be inconvenient because people use their kitchen everyday. A major remodel may mean eating out for 3+ months.)

-The cost of labor. (Most homeowners will need to hire help and that will contribute to the bottom line. Get more than one estimate and use referrals from friends or real estate agents you can trust.)

-Materials/design. (Pick a style that suits the home and the neighborhood as well as the price point for the home. Marble counters may not work in a lower price point, just like linoleum floors are not a good choice for a multi-million dollar home. A real estate expert  who knows what features are hot with buyers can help give good advice.

Here are a few other home remodels that can pay off:

Replacing vinyl windows – Cost $13,000. ROI 89%.

Deck addition – Cost $13,000. ROI 82%.

Bathroom remodel – Cost $19,000. ROI 77%.

Bathroom addition – Cost $47,000. ROI 68%. 

Remember, this research is helpful in determining the home remodels that will yield a return on investment. However there is a right way and a wrong way to remodel. Every market is unique and it’s a great idea to check with a real estate expert who knows the specific market before banking on these results.

About Torelli Realty: Torelli Realty is proud to offer home improvement and home staging tips to help your home’s value throughout Costa Mesa and in Mesa Verde. The company has been servicing Costa Mesa, CA almost excludively for over 25 years and knows Costa Mesa real estate. We also have an expert on staff, Holly Schwartz, who came to us as a producer from Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and extensively studied home values and markets locally and nationally. Feel free to contact Torelli Realty for a consultation and for all your real estate needs.

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Costa Mesa’s Mesa Verde Golf Tournament Brings in $85K!

Costa Mesa’s 5th Annual Mesa Verde Golf Tournament was the place to be on Monday, April 19. The event, put on by Costa Mesa United, raised money for youth sports and brought in about $85K for the kids. Torelli Realty’s raffle brought in an additional $200+ for the organization. Congratulations to John Browning who won the Torelli Realty “Keep It In The Fairway” contest – he received a dinner to Antonello’s Restaurant. Lana Johnson of the Newport Mesa Daily Voice did a wonderful job organizing the event and wrote a fantastic piece about the event that is a must read! Check it out!

About Torelli Realty: Torelli Realty is proud to offer home improvement and home staging tips to help your home’s value throughout Costa Mesa and in Mesa Verde. The company has been servicing Costa Mesa, CA almost exclusively for over 25 years and knows Costa Mesa real estate. We also have an expert on staff, Holly Schwartz, who came to us as a producer from Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and extensively studied home values and markets locally and nationally. Feel free to contact Torelli Realty for a consultation and for all your real estate needs.

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Home Makeover – Living Room Redo for Under $500

Living rooms are one of the rooms seen and used most in any house. A basic living room has 3 staples: a couch, a chair, and a coffee table. Are you ready to makeover a living room? Here’s some budget-friendly tips from The Nest. Whether you are a homeowner who’s itching for a budget-friendly change or a seller ready to put their home on the real estate market, these cost-effective tips can suit any style.

1. For a modern living room, stylish lights are a must. Pay attention to window treatments – try modern blinds or window treatments.  A cool vase on a table is a fantastic piece of decor. To soften up the space, incorporate a throw rug with a minimal design that complements your color scheme. (In California, modern living rooms are one of the most popular styles.)

2. For a retro look, retro artwork is key. Consider hanging multicolored curtains in fun colors. Don’t be concerned about traditional style rules. For instance, throw in some fun pillows and crazy candles. Be original – try using an old-fashioned tin for a serving tray for instance. (In California, some hip or eclectic neighborhoods pride themselves on going retro. Make sure retro fits your home and style. It can be a problem if one room is retro and all the others are a completely different style.)

3. For a calming look, try sheer drapery. Choose neutral tones for rugs, pillows, and throws. Dress up the space with some flowers and glass vases. And remember that blue is known to be a calming color, which can set the tone. Reduce clutter to keep the space stress free. (In California, a lot of people who like the beach or who live near the beach pick this style.)

4. For a cozy room neutral, warm colors work best. Texture is a must. Adding comfortable throws, fluffy pillows, and plush rugs can create environment made for curling up in. Make the room inviting with rich, inviting wood accessories, like a coffee table or perhaps a basketweave serving tray. Don’t forget chunky candles, which literally brighten up a room.

About Torelli Realty: Torelli Realty is proud to offer home improvement and home staging tips to help your home’s value throughout Costa Mesa and in Mesa Verde. The company has been servicing Costa Mesa, CA almost excludively for over 25 years and knows Costa Mesa real estate. We also have an expert on staff, Holly Schwartz, who came to us as a producer from Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and extensively studied home values and markets locally and nationally. Feel free to contact Torelli Realty for a consultation and for all your real estate needs.

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