kathleen bonham

Five Benefits of Historic Designation !

This summer I have been taking a class on Historic Designation and Vintage homes at the local junior college in Santa Rosa, California. I have learned about numerous aspects of the process for obtaining designation as a Historic Preservation District. The class project, in fact, is a survey of the junior college district housing stock to establish the basis for historic designation. The process centers on cataloging houses in the neighborhood with special historic and architectural features.

The general purpose of historic designation is straightforward: namely, to preserve the special historic and architectural character of the neighborhood. The rules and regulations that accompany Historic Designation require approval by a local board or commission to assure that new construction and exterior renovations within the district are consistent with its historic, cultural and architectural character. But Historic designation has other benefits to neighbors and home owners as well.

As outlined in one of Mark Perry's (course instructor) handouts these include:

1. Housing Rehabilitation Assistance.

Grants and loans for Housing Rehabilitation may be available from housing agencies depending on funding and whether the project meets program requirements.

2. Enhanced Property Values

Historic designation frequently leads to increases in property values as a result of improvements to the houses encouraged by the review process as well as the assurance that the neighborhood will retain its character and quality.

3. Federal Income Tax Credits

Income Properties, which may need rehabilitation, could receive tax credits from the federal government.

4. State Historic Building Code

Usage of The State Historic Building Code provides more flexibility for renovating and upgrading homes within designated historic districts than The Uniform Building Code, which would otherwise apply.

5. Protection of the Neighborhood

There are more stringent controls on new construction and restricting or prohibiting demolition in a historic district which keeps the character of the neighborhood intact.

I owe a debt of gratitude to the people that have organized the project and have done their best to acquaint us with the vocabulary needed for precise description for architectural styles. The two architect's, Mark Perry and Mark DeBacker share the classroom teaching duties and accompanied us on part of the survey. Susan Scott, authored the Survey Resource Book, which gives a glossary of relevant terms and photo examples of different homes and their distinction. Jay Longfellow, who gathers all the inforrmation and inputs it into the correct form for City Council action.

Thank you all for your patience and time. I have learned so much.

Selling the Family Vintage Home in Sonoma, Calif. and Surviving.

I have just spent three months with my husband, daughter, pet schnauzer (Neddie) preparing to sell the family home and downsize into a more simple home with less upkeep, less maintenance, less taxes ..in other words LESS of everything.

Here is what I did to get the ball rolling after I pullled the covers over my head for about 2 days thinking of all I had to do and not being able to move because I was so overwhelmed. The physcololgy of this life change is a blog just by itself!

1. Get Organized. I am NOT the greatest at organizing and going through years of history.. momentos, sentimental gifts, notes from favorite granmothers or parents, child's photos and grammar school drawings, acievements, etc. SO, I solicited help from my neighbor who lives in a 400 sq.ft. studio next door and let me tell you ...SHE had no trouble at all! Do this for each and every room and remember the garden is another room.

2. GO through maintenace items that you had always planned to do but simply never got around to it. If you can't do it yourself...HIRE someone. Check them out with refernces and make sure they know what they are doing. We went back to a report we had done 5 years ago and looked at all the items.

3.Upgrading the kitchen. This was a really big one because living in a house while renovation is going on is NOT fun. We worked with our contractor so that we could minimize the overall disruption. As a result the kitchen is now one of the most pleasant places in a lovely older home. Just wish we had done it sooner!

4.Hire a painter..a good painter which means someone who prepares the area properly. A cheap paint job is a cheap paint job.

5.Declutter.

6.Declutter..You get where I am going with this..I could wrtie this numerous times and it is still not enough.Hopefully it will become an aquired skill. It is worth the peace of mind

7. Talk with your local antique dealers regarding furniture you can no longer accomodate in a smaller house. There are so many ways to sell things today..ebay..craigs list.

8.Give to goodwill or charites in your area. These times are financially difficult for many people and what yoou may regard as trash others really NEED.

9.Store some of your furniture so that house can really feel roomy, uncluttered (that word again) Let the house speak for itself especially if it has eceptional architectural features.

10. Wash the windows...my daughter said to say, "I just loved washing the windows Mom."

11.Clean, clean, clean....Someone else's dirt is always dirtier than your own!

12.Have CONFIDENCE in your house and what you have accomplished! This is not for the weak of heart. It takes tenacity,understanding, patience, exercise to keep you mentally strong, and lots and lots of love for those who go through this with you.

13. Take each day at a time to keep the overwheming feeling from lifting its ugly head.

If you would like help in making choices about what you need to do with Selling the family vintage home in Sonoma and surviving.. call me on my cell..707-326-0400.

I will write more about the next phase of selling the house so that you realize..the process isn't over yet.

I had to remember that most of us are survivors..there were days when I didn't think so....but I know I am.

If you are thinking about starting this process, give me a call.I can share all the do's and don"t do's, short cuts to mantain your sanity and pointers to save money!

Below are pictures of my home, family and little Neddie(who seemed to take it all in stride) They keep me going and add to the real value of my life..their love.

 

   Why I Sell Vintage Homes in Sonoma County.

    

 

This is the beginning of a series on vintage homes in Sonoma County, California.

 

Let’s begin by defining the term “vintage home”. The word “vintage” implies age; in other words, vintage homes are dwellings built in an earlier time. The accepted cut-off by the experts today is 1980. Houses built before that date may be considered vintage.

 

However the term vintage implies more than date of construction. A genuine vintage home incorporates architectural features and other qualities that speak to its distinctive historical period and origins.

 

Vintage homes possess characteristics that reflect their time and culture in a way that makes them an American Classic. Their architectural and stylistic content will,of course, vary across time.

 

So my plan is to explore vintage homes in Sonoma County by devoting each installment in the series to a particular decade and its vintage properties and characteristics. 

 

In each case, I will discuss specific homes in different neighborhoods as a way of illustrating what the term “ vintage home” has come to mean in Sonoma County. 

 

Why do I sell vintage homes ?  I enjoy the process of bringing new energy into a home that needs to be appreciated for its simplier lifestyle and the stories of those that have lived and cared for them all these years. Every home has its own story.

 

I have found this website informative and a good resource for products that are related to the age homes.

http://www.designcentersourcebook.com

 

 

 

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This 1908 cottage style bungalow was only one story when the current owners bought it in 1978. A second story was necessary when the family was two and then went to three!  

 

This was the first modern decade and an important innovation were the mail-order kit house from Sears,Roebuck & Company and its competitors. One way of determining whether or not you have a kit house would be to exmaine the rafters in the attic. The major components of kit homes were imprinted with a number keyed to the plan for assembly.

An old back porch was enclosed and half bath was eleminated due to the addition of a second story that included three more bedrooms and a fulll bath. The square footage was doubled and the same owners still live in this vintage home today Bay windows were added in the living, dining rooms and kitchen offerring a space charmed by a sunny,southern exposure. Bay windows were added in the living, dining rooms and kitchen offerring a space charmed by a sunny,southern exposure.

It has been lovingly cared for all these years and the porch and garden are enjoyed by all the neighbors especially in the spring.

Built on Spring St. called "the prettiest street in Santa Rosa" by its developer over one hundred years ago, this beautiful,country cottage is a wonderful example of the way Classic Vintage homes make such important contributions to the diversity and richness of our communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage Home Sells in Ridgeway Historic District, Sonoma, California

Last year I was involved in helping a retired couple moving from Michigan to the wine region in Sonoma, California to be closer to their daughter (a single -mom) and three grandsons.

The original plan was to find a home close to their daughter, who was renting a vintage home in the Historic Junior College District in Santa Rosa, California. Their love of vintage properties inspired them to make an offer on a property within walking distance of her and the boys. However, short sales with long closing dates were not working since their desire to relocate 8 to 10 months later or bidding the property up thousands of dollars was not in the game plan. 

This has happened many times in my real estate career and when we discussed their real options, I explained to them something better usually turns up in the long run. So, we decided to expand our search for a vintage home in an adjoining historic neighborhood.

Guess what? A Vintage, Norman Tudor Beauty came on the market in the Historic Ridgeway District and they decided it provided enough room for ALL of them to live under one roof. This Norman Tudor Beauty with two stories, numerous rooms with nooks and crannies, large rooms, kitchen, breakfast room, formal living room with wooden beamed ceiling , gracious dining room, workshop, basement, large separate laundry/mud room and garage was a blessing in more ways than one.  An estate sale, this had been home to one family for over forty years. Five children had been reared in this home and they had many wonderful memories of their mom, dad and each other.

The house had a lot maintenance issues ( many vintage homes do) but the family is used to hard work and has the required skills and patience to restore her.

Since the family has moved into their "new" vintage home they have repaired dry rot around the fireplace from water seepage, rehabilitated the old asbestos roof, rebuilt an outside staircase and painted numerous rooms .

Today, three lively boys, their mother (who designs jewelry in her remodeled atelier in the old workshop), their uncle and both grandparents now live in this Vintage, Tudor Beauty creating wonderful memories of their own.

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Kathleen Bonham - Sonoma  Vintage Home Specialist

Contact a Sonoma Vintage Home Specialist

Phone Numbers that will help you during your move

 

 

I have spent many years selling and refurbishing vintage homes in Historic neighborhoods, such as San Francisco, Healdsburg and Santa Rosa and on the East coast. In Northern Virginia, I was on the committee to establish Historic Designation for Fairlington Villages, built by the government to house all the G.I.'s returning from World War II. These townhouses and condominiums were the largest conversion in the United States and home to many congressman since it is a short commute to Capital Hill.

Presently, I live in Sonoma County, the Northern California wine region and as we all know, preparing homes to sell usually begins with the basics...and my first stop is Healdsburg Plaza Paints.I can praise all the staff but one person that stands out is Mark. Mark understands the depth of color, its impact and provides reliable advice because he takes the time to LISTEN. He has spent many hours with me going over paint chips, paint combinations and historical colors, light exposure and all kinds of subtleties that most people don't think about.

Paint is one of the cheapeast "quick fixes" when inititating the marketing of your home. It not only provides warmth, distinction between walls and moldings but it cleans and refreshes a home for a new buyer.

Well the funny part of this story is that ALL (females that is) who have ever sent our partners to the paint store to pick up a bucket of paint KNOW that we would never do so with out having the paint already mixed and ready to go! Apparently Plaza Paint feels the SAME WAY! I saw this sign, strategically placed behind the counter, and thought I would share it with you if you ever need any support if you are in a similar situation. Plaza Paints in Healdsburg visit their website at www.plazapaints.com

Kathleen Bonham - Sonoma Vintage Home Specialist

SonomaCountryAndVintage.com

SonomaBreakingNews.com