There’s something about spring in Ojai that makes people think about change.

Maybe it’s the green hills after winter rain. Maybe it’s the way the light lingers a little longer in the evenings. Or maybe it’s just that feeling of fresh possibility that comes when it’s time to start harvesting this year’s Pixies.

Whatever the reason, spring is traditionally one of the busiest times in our local real estate market. Buyers come out in full force this time of year, and if you’re considering selling, a little thoughtful preparation can make a big difference

In Ojai, curb appeal isn’t just about tidiness; it’s about lifestyle. People who live here — or want to live here — are not just buying a house; they’re buying a piece of the coveted Ojai Valley way of life.

Take a stroll across the street and look back at your home with fresh eyes. Trim hedges, clear pathways, sweep porches, and pull all of those weeds the recent rain so generously nourished. If the driveway, porch, or exterior looks dingy, a good power wash can work wonders. And if your home’s façade feels a bit lackluster, a few simple pots with seasonal flowers near the entry can instantly make it more welcoming.

Most importantly, make sure the landscaping feels well cared for and manageable. Buyers are moving here to enjoy Ojai — not to spend every weekend catching up on yardwork.

When your real estate agent suggests decluttering and depersonalizing your house, they aren’t trying to strip away your personality. They’re encouraging you to make space for potential buyers to see themselves living there.

Buyers need to imagine making their morning coffee in the kitchen, envision where they will unwind at the end of the day, and dream about creating their own personal retreat in the primary bedroom.

Clear countertops, lighten overcrowded bookshelves, and remove excess furniture to make rooms feel more spacious and comfortable. Folks will want to look inside closets and garages as well, so try not to use those spaces as temporary hiding spots if you can help it.

As you pack away personal photos, remember this: it’s a practical step toward moving forward anyway. It helps buyers see the space, and it helps you begin the transition. And because we do live in Ojai, it’s worth mentioning that beginning the packing process aligns well with both manifesting and creating the right energy in your home.

A dripping faucet, loose cabinet handle, burned-out light bulb, scuffs on baseboards — you may not notice them anymore, but buyers will. These small details can make buyers wonder what other deferred maintenance they might uncover.

Before listing, take a weekend to walk through your home as if you were the inspector. Patch, tighten, touch up. These inexpensive fixes can help your home feel well cared for — and that feeling matters.

Many buyers come here specifically to enjoy our year-round indoor-outdoor living. If you have a patio, deck, or garden space, make sure it feels usable. Set out a small café table, refresh cushions, hang string lights, clear pathways. Help buyers see themselves enjoying a quiet morning coffee or an evening gathering under the oaks.

Inside, let the natural light in. Clean windows, open curtains, and allow Ojai’s sunshine to do what it does best.

Not every home needs a remodel before going on the market. Smaller updates like fresh paint and new light fixtures can go a long way. If you’re unsure where to invest your time and resources, that’s when local guidance can be especially helpful. Your real estate agent can offer insight into current trends, what buyers are looking for, and where best to focus your efforts.

If spring is calling you toward a new chapter, this is a natural time to begin preparing. A little intention now can make the entire process smoother — and better position your home when the right buyer walks through the door.

March is a busy month for gardeners in Southern and Central California – especially if you grow food plants. This is when many of us are pruning avocado trees, fertilizing citrus trees, amending the soil in our raised garden beds, refreshing mulch around our plants, pulling the tomato cages out of the shed, and replanting our gardens for the spring growing season. 

I am particularly fond of growing herbs and root vegetables and am a big fan of succession planting. March is the perfect month for all of this – plus, it is still cool enough outside to enjoy working in the garden – so this is one of my favorite growing seasons. 

In case you might be in need of a bit of spring gardening inspiration, here are six of my favorite things to plant in March. 

1. Potatoes – I have been known to line an entire fence with fabric pots planted with potatoes and sweet potatoes. I love to eat them, I love to grow them, and I love how easy they are to add to the garden. In fact, they are so easy to grow that I have volunteers that start coming up every year around February or March. Check out my column from October 2023 for a guide on how to grow organic potatoes even in the smallest of garden spaces. 

2. Carrots – Carrots are easy to grow from seed, require little care, and are perfect for succession planting. If you plant all of your carrots at the same time, they will all be ready for harvest at about the same time. If, instead, you plant about one-quarter or your carrot seeds every three weeks for the next 12 weeks, you will be able to harvest fresh carrots from your garden for months to come.

3. Beets – This is another root vegetable that is good for succession planting. Plant one-quarter of your crop every two weeks to extend the months that you will be enjoying fresh beets this year. 

4. Radishes – Radishes are easy to grow and ready to harvest in as few as 30 days, which makes this a great backyard crop for beginner gardeners or kids learning how to grow their own food. Plant a row each week to keep the fresh radishes coming into early summer.

5. Greens – Arugula, spinach, and many lettuces are ideal for succession planting. Plant rows or pots of spinach and most leafy lettuces about one week apart and arugula seeds about two weeks apart to make sure you will be enjoying fresh salads from your garden into summer. 

6. Herbs – I love growing culinary and medicinal herbs in my garden. Right now, my chamomile is in bloom, the sages I cut back a few months ago are filling in again, and my parsley and rosemary are thriving. This month, I am planning on planting more mint, cilantro, and oregano. If you are planning on adding mint to your garden, remember that it will take over if you let it. Plant it in a border or pot where there is a physical barrier keeping it from running amok. 

Aside from these March favorites, I will soon be planting tomatoes, basil, peppers, cucumbers, and squash.

Local nurseries are the best place to purchase seeds and seedlings. This is the best way to ensure you are buying food plants that will thrive here, while also supporting local farmers, the environment, and, of course, your local nursery. 

Living in an older home in Ojai is often the very thing that draws many people to our valley. They love the history, craftsmanship, and sense of place that you often don’t find in homes build after the 1970s (with the exception of some custom builds).  

And for many buyers coming from Los Angeles and Orange County, that authenticity is exactly the appeal. These buyers are most often looking for a slower pace, a simpler life, and a place that can really feel like home. 

If you are preparing to sell (or simply want to refresh your space), focus on highlighting your home’s character and charm, making it feel clean and functional, and adding or emphasizing modern comforts and conveniences – without erasing its age. 

Older Ojai homes often have elements that create coziness, warmth, and charm that are difficult to replicate:

• Hand-finished wood floors
  
• Exposed beams or unique ceiling lines
• Original windows or doors
  
• Plaster walls with subtle texture
• Built-ins or architectural niches
• Features that are custom and maybe a bit quirky
• Original hardware

These are not flaws – they are assets that tell your home’s story and can increase its appeal to buyers. 

Whenever possible, retain these features that make your home unique. Sometimes, these features just need a good cleaning, refinishing, repairs, or good lighting. Touches like original hardware (or era-appropriate replacements if originals are not available) are seen as soulful, not outdated. 

One of the easiest ways to make an older home feel fresh is to focus on light and simplicity rather than following fast-moving design trends that may feel out of place in Ojai.

Simple updates that work beautifully here:

Warm, neutral interior paint colors
Updated lighting that feels clean and understated
Removing heavy drapery to let natural light in
Streamlining furnishings so the architecture can stand out

In Ojai, buyers tend to respond more to warmth, space, and a peaceful feel than bold design statements.

Unless your home has significant structural concerns or floor plan issues, you probably do not need a full remodel. If your home feels dated, has deferred maintenance, or is lacking in expected, modern features – like air conditioning, updated appliances, or energy- and water-efficient elements – then this is where you will want to focus. 

Projects that often help older Ojai homes with these concerns: 

• Updating kitchen appliances
  
• Updating bathroom fixtures to water-efficient options
• Installing one or more new HVAC systems
• Updating countertops with natural materials that lean into your home’s character
• Updating faucets and lighting fixtures
• Improving natural light (and views, if you have them)
• Refreshing doors, drawers, and windows with new hardware for smooth operation
• Improving flow both with the interior floor plan and between indoor and outdoor spaces

Ojai homes are deeply connected to their surroundings, and that connection is part of the value.

Many buyers coming from other areas are drawn here for the mountain views, community feel, quiet mornings, slower rhythm, natural surroundings, and year-round outdoor living. It’s also why many of us who grew up here – or chose to move here years ago – continue to call this valley home.

To emphasize these at your home, make sure to:

• Clear pathways to patios or gardens
  
• Keep landscaping natural and low maintenance
• Clean outdoor living areas and update with new textiles
• Trim trees and bushes to accentuate views

If you are doing your own staging, remember that you are staging for a lifestyle – not a showroom.  Create moments that invite pause – a chair under a tree, a small table outside for morning coffee, a bench on the front porch to enhance the community feel. 

This is where it can get challenging, right? Knowing how best to update your home and where to draw the line can be difficult. This is partly going to depend on your budget, your needs, and what you are hoping to achieve. 

Avoid overly modern finishes that clash with the architecture, removing charm in favor of uniformity, and renovations that aren’t going to return their cost or make your home significantly more comfortable and functional. 

So, when you are considering home improvement projects, think: If it improves livability, it is probably worth doing; if it removes personality, it probably is not. 

Every older home is different, so what makes sense for one property may not make sense for another. If you are wondering which updates will truly add value to your Ojai home without taking away its character, Nora is happy to offer perspective rooted in this market and the buyers drawn to it. 

If you have questions about your home’s worth, how to increase its value with thoughtful updates, or how to sell an older home in Ojai, reach out – Nora would love to talk through it with you.  

Built in 2022, Stepping Stone Rest was thoughtfully designed to let you spend less time maintaining your home and more time enjoying it.

Low-maintenance landscaping, durable LVT flooring, generous storage, and quartz countertops make everyday upkeep simple, while high ceilings, crown molding, and stamped concrete porches add a refined touch to indoor and outdoor living.

A patinaed privacy wall creates a serene courtyard atmosphere, inviting you to close the gated entrance, exhale, and leave the world behind. Inside, unwind on the spacious front porch, gather with friends around the island breakfast bar, or retreat to the backyard studio—an ideal space for reading, writing, yoga, meditation, art, or working from home.

If you’re seeking a home that feels like a true sanctuary—set in a walkable neighborhood with everything at your fingertips, from a hardware store, gym, and walking trails to boutiques, restaurants, and a local coffee shop—Stepping Stone Rest may be your next dream home.

Visit the property information page to learn more about this Ojai home for sale in Meiners Oaks. 

My partner and I just got back from visiting her parents in Atlanta where I was reminded that folks in other parts of the country commonly have a usable attic, basement, or both. Her parents have both. Their basement is the same size as the other floors of their home, and their attic is a whole additional floor with real stairs. Can you imagine having so much extra usable space? If more Californians had basements or full attics, we might actually park our cars in our garages. 

Since this is not the case, storage space continues to be a challenge for most of us. I am always looking for ways to increase storage in my home, so I thought I would share some of the ideas that have worked for me or that I have seen work in clients’ homes. 

Create an attic storage area with pull-down stairs. 
Check your attic space to see if it is possible to create a storage area. We discovered that there was enough space in the attic over our garage to install shelves with a walkway. We are now working on finishing a portion of the attic over our house and garage with plywood flooring, shelves, and a pull-down ladder. The finished project will create about 400 square feet of storage for holiday décor, camping gear, and other items we would like to get out of the garage. 

Install overhead storage racks. 
If you have a garage, consider installing overhead storage racks. I easily added 32 square feet of storage by adding one storage rack over a spot where I have a refrigerator and shelves in the garage. Next, I plan on installing one over the washer and dryer to get another 32 square feet of storage. 

Consider other ways to better use vertical space. 
Bookshelves over doorways, floor-to-ceiling cabinets, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are great for maximizing vertical space in almost any room. 

Add a storage shed to your backyard. 
If you have space for a storage shed, this is an easy way to add more storage for yard care tools, patio cushions, pool toys, or storage bins. This one is not very creative, but it works.

Maximize the storage space you already have. 
Maximize the space in your closets by installing closet systems with adjustable shelves, double hanging rods, or built-in drawers or baskets. To maximize the space in smaller linen closets or coat closets, consider adding a set of shelves at the back of the closet and a rolling shelving unit that can be stored in front of the installed shelves and rolled out when you need to access the back shelves. I use this system in one of my hall closets, which allows me to have gifts and gift-wrapping supplies on the back shelves and games and puzzles on the wheeled shelving unit. 

You can maximize cabinet space by installing pull-out shelves that allow you to easily access items stored in the back of the cabinets. When I did this for my lower cabinets in my kitchen, it was life changing.  

Look for furniture with integrated storage. 
For patio storage, look for a storage bench that serves as both a deck box and seating option.  For storing throw blankets in the living room, consider a coffee table with a removable lid. I know storage furniture is not always the most attractive option, but I have a round, hammered metal coffee table that is perfect for storing blankets and throw pillows, and I love the look of it.

Install toe-kick drawers. 
I don’t have these in my kitchen – yet – but I have seen this ingenious way to reclaim wasted space used in clients’ homes, and it is amazing. 

Finding more storage without sacrificing living space can be challenging, but if we get a bit creative, we can come up with workable solutions that can maximize the space we have.

According to Statista (statista.com), the most popular resolutions this year will be exercising more, saving more money, eating healthier, spending more time with family and friends, and losing weight. Though saving more money approached the top of the list for 2025 and 2026, these other top-ranking resolutions are essentially the same every year. 

A recent Forbes Health survey (forbes.com/health) found that most resolutions are abandoned sometime in March or April. According to research published in PLOS One (journals.plos.org), we are more likely to abandon our resolutions when they focus on subtracting things from our lives and more likely to be successful when our resolutions focus on adding things to our lives. 

With this in mind, here are six resolutions to consider that focus on abundance and bring positives into your life. 

1. Get to know Ojai and Oak View better. 
No matter how long you have lived here or how long ago you were born here, there are always new things to learn about and try around the valley. Maybe this is the year when you try a new hiking trail, go camping in Rose Valley, decide to try every restaurant in town, check out a different park, take the historic walking tour offered on Saturday mornings, or explore the Ojai Valley Museum to get to know your hometown better. For example, did you know that Cluff Vista Park has six different gardens? I didn’t, and I was born in the Ojai hospital 51 years ago this month. There is always more to learn and explore!

2. Increase your community involvement. 
This might include volunteering with a community organization, joining community groups, becoming more active in groups you are already part of, or supporting the local economy by shopping local and hiring local contractors.

3. Set up a monthly donation for a local organization. 
Monthly donors help sustain non-profit organizations so they can continue their important work of providing services, resources, and assistance locally. Even with a regular donation of just $5.00 each month, you can help make a difference in the lives of people and animals with whom we share the valley. So, if your budget allows, look for a local organization with a mission that is in line with your values. Some local examples include HELP of Ojai, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, Turtle Conservancy, Secure Beginnings, and FoodShare.

4. Donate clothing and household items to a local organization. 
If decluttering your garage or closets to give yourself more space is on your list of resolutions for 2026, you can clear your clutter and help your neighbors by donating clothing, tools, and household goods locally. For example, if you donate items to 2nd Helpings Thrift Store, you are helping increase access to lower-cost necessities while supporting the work of HELP of Ojai. 

5. Expand your idea of self-care. 
Making more time for self-care is standard fare for new year’s resolutions, but if you are already pretty good about scheduling massages and remembering to meditate, it might be time to expand on the concept. Think outside of the spa and consider other self-care activities that could significantly improve your life. Examples include protecting your peace and your time by spending more time doing things you want to do and less time doing things you just feel obligated to do, lowering your inbox stress by unsubscribing from all of those email lists, or starting a new tradition that brings you joy. 

6. Improve natural disaster preparedness. 
Depending on where you live in the valley, you may be affected by fires, earthquakes, floods, or the occasional hurriquake. Improve the defensible space around your home to reduce the risk of wildfire damage, take steps to prepare your home for an earthquake, and get your go bags ready for you, your family members, and your pets. Thinking about the potential for a natural disaster is never fun, but, as the adage goes, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Happy New Year, everyone! May 2026 be filled with love, good health, joy, and adventure for you and your loved ones

It may not be possible to completely earthquake proof your home, but those of us who have lived in California for any length of time know the importance of doing all we can to be prepared for this type of natural disaster. 

The sudden nature of earthquakes is what makes them so dangerous and, while earthquake predictions have saved thousands of lives around the world, this imperfect science has not yet yielded a warning system on which we can rely.

According to the Earthquake Country Alliance, Californians are facing a 99.7% chance of experiencing an earthquake with a 6.7 magnitude (or larger) at some point in the next 30 years. That statistic, alone, is probably enough to turn some folks into hardcore preppers, but it should concern all of us at least enough to spend a couple of weekends making sure our homes are as prepared as possible. 

Taking these steps is particularly important when you consider that most injuries are not caused by the shaking; it is falling objects, crumbling chimneys and other debris falling from buildings that cause the most harm.

Here are 15 things you can do to limit property damage and help ensure your family's safety:

1. Learn how to shut off your utilities, including electricity, water and gas.

2. Move heavy items to low shelves to avoid damage or injuries from falling objects.

3. Secure televisions and tall or heavy furniture to the wall. 

4. If you have an older home with a crawl space, make sure the walls in the crawl space are shear plywood and not older cripple walls. 

5. Store flammable liquids in low, latched cabinets in your shed or garage.

6. Install latches on all cabinets to keep contents safely inside during an earthquake.

7. Make sure your home is properly bolted to the foundation, particularly if it was built before 1935. 

8. Hire a professional to make sure your chimney is stable and in good repair, particularly if your home was constructed prior to 1960.

9. Secure your water heater with an earthquake strap.

10. Make sure you have flexible connections attaching your appliances to your gas lines.

11. Secure knickknacks and picture frames with adhesive tabs or museum putty.

12. Hang mirrors, art and picture frames using adhesive tabs or closed hooks.

13. If your yard slopes, consider installing a retaining wall or landscaping to manage erosion and stabilize the slope.

14. Move beds away from glass doors or windows and place them near interior walls.

15. Hanging plants inside or outside of your home should be on closed hooks to prevent them swinging off and causing damage or injuries.

Since most homeowners' insurance policies do not cover damage from earthquakes, you might also want to consider purchasing earthquake insurance to protect your investment

Twin Palms Cottage is a private oasis offering pleasant surprises around every corner.

Mature, well-manicured landscaping greets you as you pull into the stamped concrete driveway with a two-car garage and guest parking.

As you step inside, you find easy-care, wood-look tiles, crown molding, plantation shutters, an electric fireplace with a stacked stone surround, and an open floor plan that leads into the spacious dining room and remodeled kitchen.

The three bedrooms in the main house have carpet, ceiling fans, large closets, and plantation shutters.

When you step from the mud room to the backyard, this is where the private oasis feeling really begins with low-maintenance landscaping, a covered porch with two ceiling fans and gas fire pit, an outdoor television, a separately fenced pool and spa surrounded by a patio for entertaining, and a separately fenced yard with a workshop or studio, potting area, patio with awning, and the entrance to the one-bedroom ADU. 

Features include: 

Three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Stacked stone, electric fireplace
Remodeled kitchen
Mud room & laundry room
Plantation shutters
Ceiling fans
One-bedroom ADU with separate entrance & yard
Two-car garage
Swimming pool & spa
Mature trees and landscaping
Gas fire pit
Raised garden beds
Covered patio with two ceiling fans
Short drive to downtown Ojai and Meiners Oaks

Visit the property information page for more photos and information, or call your Ojai Realtor, Nora Davis, today to schedule a showing!

Natural stone products -- like travertine, limestone and marble -- are incredibly popular but often get a bit of a bad rap when it comes to caring for them. It is true that they require some special love to ensure long-lasting beauty, but it really is not all that bad once you know what not to do. The most important thing to remember is that you are dealing with natural stone, which means most conventional cleaning products may etch the surface, oils will be absorbed and leave stains, and acidic substances can cause damage quickly.  

First, for the sake of all that is good and holy -- or at least for the sake of your sanity -- seal your travertine. Some folks might tell you this is optional, but if you have ever lived long term with travertine counters or floors, you know this is a must. While polished travertine is pretty stain resistant on its own, most of us are using honed or tumbled travertine in our homes, which can benefit greatly from regular sealing. I had my installer seal my travertine floors twice with an impregnating sealer (to retain the natural appearance of the stone), and after living on them the first year with a Marine, a dog, four cats and regular house guests, I was very happy that I did. Now, 10 years later, I still have it sealed regularly and don’t regret this choice. 

The next step is taking that whole ounce-of-prevention thing to heart and investing in rugs to put near doorways, trays to hold all those oily beauty products on your vanity, and trivets, coasters, and placemats to protect your travertine from food and drink spills.  

Sealing and protecting your travertine makes spills and such less concerning, but cleaning still must happen, so the next step is stocking your cleaning basket with the right supplies for the job. We already know we are not going to use conventional cleaning products on natural stone, but even popular, natural products can be a problem. Abrasive and acidic products of any kind can etch travertine, so that means forgoing all those lovely, natural cleaning products we use in other areas of our homes, such as vinegar, lemon, orange and even mild abrasives. 

Your best bet for daily cleaning is to simply wipe down your travertine surfaces with a soft cloth or a dry mop. You can use a little water, if needed, and when deeper cleaning is necessary, use an eco-friendly, non-toxic, pH balanced cleaner designed specifically for natural stone. 

Blot spills immediately, and try not to use a wiping motion, which can push the substance deeper into the porous surface. If you have an acidic spill, such as coffee, wine, tomato sauce, fruit juice or soda, it is even more important to clean it up quickly. Once you have successfully blotted most of the liquid, bring out your natural stone cleaner to finish the job. 

If it is an oil stain you are dealing with, you will need to apply a poultice-like product to pull the oil out of your travertine. Local hardware and home improvement stores carry this product, or you can order it online. 

Seal your travertine annually and use these everyday cleaning tips to protect your investment and keep your travertine surfaces looking their best for many years to come. 

182 Mountain View Street is in escrow! If you had your eye on this Oak View lot and are interested in finding your own piece of land where you can build your dream home, contact Nora Davis today!