Hi Friends,

Finally! I am thrilled to have January behind us. We usually celebrate the end of the holiday season by taking the 20-minute jaunt to Stinson Beach, frollicing in the sand, beachcombing for treasures, and kvelling over Frankie as he digs endlessly in the sand. As much as I love being enveloped by towering Redwoods inland, it's the Monterey Pines dotted throughout our beach towns, framed against the big, open sky, standing majestic and serene, that flutter my heart. So, cheers to Valentine's Day - though in our house - we aim to practice love and respect for one another each and every day. I suggest you try the same!

Moving on to a VERY IMPORTANT oft-overlooked scenario that has recently surfaced due to the L.A. wildfires: Homeowner's Insurance Policies + Trusts. If your home's title is held in a Trust (like us), it is very likely you have forgotten to alert your homeowner's insurance policy to said Trust and are insured under your name, not your trust (like us). It is imperative you contact your insurance broker and make the change. Here are a few issues that could come into play if you delay in doing so:

Coverage Denial: In the event of a claim, your insurer might deny coverage if the policy doesn’t list the trust as an insured party.
Liability Exposure: Without proper policy updates, the trust may not be protected against liability claims arising from incidents on the property.
Personal Property Gaps: The trust’s personal property within the home might not be covered if the policy isn’t correctly adjusted.

As promised in last month's issue, below is some information on Passive Home Building. You have probably seen the photos of random homes that withstood the recent L.A. fires; many of these were built under the passive home concept. This gives me hope for the future of California real estate and our ability to continue living in one of the most special places on Earth.

Cheers, Suzanne

Passive Home Building is a highly insulated, airtight structure that leverages natural elements to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures year-round.
Key aspects of passive home design that contribute to fire resistance include: airtight, high-performance windows and doors; minimal exterior complexity; non-combustible materials; and controlled ventilation.

Buzzworthy Home Sales
(January 20 - January 27)

Listing Courtesy of: Kara Warrin | MLS: 325003039

GOOD EATS | FOOD SCENE

My younger son, Tyler, and I were overjoyed when we heard about a new Jewish deli in Marin! We waited a few weeks for them to get their sealegs before diving in. Then, on a sunny afternoon in mid-January, we happened to be famished and in San Anselmo to check out Bubbala's.

We were pressed for time and placed an order that would make my nana and papa proud: OG Pastrami on lightly toasted Rye with Thousand Island dressing; cole slaw, potato salad, and a black cherry soda. And to share with Michael, we scored a Challah (as it was Friday) and half a pound of assorted Rugelach (chocolate, apricot, cinnamon).

Highest points go to the OG Pastrami - though this particular slab was a bit over-salted - it was consumed in a manner of three or four bites; due to both its utter deliciousness and smallish size. The Challah and Rugelach need some attention though; the bread was stale and the Rugelach sorely undercooked. All in all, we are excited to return again and again to enjoy all their offerings and support what is most important: preserving our cultural Jewish experience.

Pro Tip: we sampled the Apple Cake: Delish!

DETAILS

Community Corner
Mt. Carmel Thrift Shop | Mill Valley

The ONLY true thrift store in Mill Valley, Mt. Carmel is the gem that keeps on giving. I have spent more money than I care to tally on both diamonds and duds over the years at the Shop, but one thing is for sure: the hunt is what it's all about, and I'm never disappointed.

The origin story goes like this: around 1950 the structure that had been operating as a mortuary was put up for sale. Several church ladies convinced Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church to purchase the property and open a store that would fund scholarships at their new parochial school. I've been told only "good ghosts are in the house" today, where once stood, in the current 'Children's Room' the intake of coffins and the Embalming room, based on mysterious, old drains that still exist there today.

These days, the two-story shop brims with treasures: upstairs are heavy laden shelves (some teetering on the brink of collapse!) stuffed with kitchen/housewares, baubles and candles, a mini-library crammed with obscure paperbacks and hardcover bestsellers, all manner of clothing and many high-end, designer items hiding in between rows of hangers and overflowing shoe shelves.
Downstairs includes larger household items, linens and suitcases; cooking items; a fun children's section; sports and medical equipment; arts, crafts and knitting supplies.

Many of the Shop's customers are known on a first-named basis by the fabulous, friendly all-volunteer staff. In addition to funding scholarships, funds also benefit St. Vincent de Paul Society and many unsold donations go to the unhoused and the humane society.

Pro Tip: A little birdie told me the next 50% sale is slated for March. It's a must!

DETAILS

MARIN REAL ESTATE REPORT
Weekly Stats Ending January 27

GOOD TIMES | SUBLIME EVENTS

V-DAY FOCUS
Dizzy Jones Presents: LOVESICK!

An evening of Big Band Music, Magic and Dance.

When: Feb 14 | 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Where: The historic Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa Street, San Francisco
Who: The Klipptones

General and VIP tickets available.

VIP includes reserved VIP seating; heavy Hors d'oeuvres; welcome glass sparkling wine; chocolate covered strawberry.

Dress to impress, XO

DETAILS

By Michael Twing
(Contractor's License #891692)

THE TOOL SHED | IS ADU 4 U?

Wow! Now that we've got the walls finished and painted, onto the finishes. If everything went as planned we’ll have materials, cabinets, plumbing and electrical fixtures waiting to be installed - mise en place - similar to a cooking show where all the ingredients are staged and waiting.

I like to start the messy work first, which means tiling! That’s assuming it was in the budget. Many ADU’s on tighter budgets use sheet goods for bath floors, acrylic for tub surround, laminate on the counter and a non porous or simple small back splash at the kitchen. Let’s assume we’ve chosen a tile or tub shower. While that’s going on in the bathroom, we can start another critical path project: the cabinets. Regardless of what product was chosen for the countertops - stone, composite or laminate - the measurements will have to be confirmed after the cabinets are set. I like to start with the lower cabinets first; this allows for staying on schedule. Once the counters are in the plumbing can be completed. Scheduling is critical at this stage to avoid any down time; therefore, I ensure something is going on every day. No one likes a no-show during a project so staying on schedule, or the lack thereof, is the most popular compliment or complaint I hear from colleagues.

I also insist on a nice, clean organized work site. This can be a little tricky when tiling is underway and cabinets are being set. I also like to get the electrical trim underway while the finished carpentry is happening. A good job site easily has 3 to 4 trades on the job working simultaneously. You’ll notice this is the time when we’re producing a bit of landfill and recycling items; therefore, some projects will need a debris box out front, other times, I’ll make a spot to stage the waste, cardboard, and metal. At the end of the project, I’ll take a truckload or two to the recycler. This brings me to Waste Management; a line item that is less talked about in the contract and includes the porta-potty that becomes critical with all the finish workers on the job site. Remember: a seasoned contractor puts in the time and effort to keep the site looking good as part of the job.

With so much going on in a relatively short time, a builder must keep track of all the details and costs from all the trades. It is the opportunity to see everything come together as planned, if the ‘devil in the details’ mantra actually succeeded.

When it comes to completion, the first sense of this is with the flooring. I like to wait until the tile is complete before installing the flooring, regardless if using real wood, engineered wood, vinyl, tile, polished concrete, or even sanded and sealed OSB. Protecting the floor and other finishes, such as plumbing fixtures, appliances, cabinet/door/window hardware, bath accessories, shelving/closet systems, etc. with a sturdy covering helps keep the pace moving and, to state the obvious, will save time and money correcting anything that could be otherwise damaged.

It’s often said when a detail needs a little finesse, “The painter will fix it!” Which is kinda true. I can’t stress enough how important a good paint job is, especially when paint is the final touch everyone notices. A good paint job including staining, top coating and polish of the final finishes, really completes the job.

We may be done…but not quite done, done. There are still a few details to wrap up prior to the final inspection and certificate of occupancy.

Next up: The Punch List

You got this!

Issue #11 | Feb 5, 2025

Community Corner Mt. Carmel Thrift Shop | Mill Valley

Issue #12 | March 5, 2025

Issue #10 | Jan 15, 2025

Community Corner
Mt. Carmel Thrift Shop | Mill Valley