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Published byThe Daily Independent

with theRidgecrest Area

Association of Realtors, Inc.

Indian Wells Valley2020 Home Buyers & Sellers Guide

— 2020 Home Buyers & Sellers Guide The Daily Independent

R i d g e c r e s t R e g i o n a l H o s p i t a l

MAIN PHONE: (760) 446-3551 - TDD: (760) 446-7505

All Emergency Services ......................9-1-1Bella Sera .............................................(760) 446-3591Cancer Center ......................................(760) 499-3360Cancer Center Infusions .....................(760) 499-3427Cardiac Testing & Rehab ....................(760) 499-3772Cardiovascular Services .....................(760) 499-3277Center Pharmacy .................................(760) 446-4141Community Wellness Program ..........(760) 499-3825*Most community outreach programs are now virtualDental Services ....................................(760) 499-3296Dermatology .........................................(760) 446-6404Foundation ...........................................(760) 499-3955Education and Classes .......................(760) 499-3831*Breastfeeding and CPR suspended until further noticeEmergency Care Services ..................(760) 446-3551Family Practice ....................................(760) 446-6404Food & Nutrition Services .........(760) 499-3781/3783Gastroenterology .................................(760) 446-0121Hospice .................................................(760) 499-3617Intensive Care Unit ............................. (760) 499-3501Internal Medicine ..... (760) 446-2984 / (760) 499-3855Laboratory .......................... (760) 499-3576/3590/3422Maternal Child Services ...................... (760) 499-3131Mental Health Care .............................. (760) 499-3863

Mobile Health Unit ....................................... (760) 499-3853Mountain View ............................................. (760) 499-3332Neurosurgery ............................................... (760) 499-3296Occupational Medicine Clinic ..................... (760) 499-3580Orthopedics & Sports Medicine ................. (760) 446-8692Outpatient Rehabilitation Services ............ (760) 499-3631

Pediatric Rehab and Speech Therapy ..... (760) 499-3632Pain Management ........................................ (760) 499-3855Pediatrics ..................................................... (760) 499-3846Perinatal Education & Lactation Support .. (760) 499-3032Personal Care Services ............................... (760) 499-3617Podiatry ........................................................ (760) 446-0121Radiology Diagnostic .................................. (760) 499-3702Radiology Womens Imaging ...................... (760) 499-3820Respiratory Therapy .................................... (760) 499-3766Seniors Services .......................................... (760) 371-1445Sleep Lab ...................................................... (760) 499-3766Surgery & Outpatient Services ................... (760) 499-3431 General Surgery, Dr. Tonsekar .................. (760) 446 0121Transitional Care & Rehab Unit .................. (760) 499-3380Urgent Care .................................................. (760) 499-3800Urology ......................................................... (760) 463-8930Visiting Nurse Services ............................... (760) 499-3617Women’s Health Services ........................... (760) 499-3640

SERVICES

Rural Health Clinic (760) 499-3855 • Southern Sierra Medical Clinic (760) 446-6404 • Trona Clinic (760) 372-4728

CLINICS

CLINICS AND SERVICES

The Daily Independent 2020 Home Buyers & Sellers Guide —


City of Ridgecrest street and neighborhood map


Indian Wells Valley2020 Home Buyers & Sellers Guide

In this issueCity of Ridgecrest street and

neighborhood map

4

How and why to choosea REALTOR®

6

Tips for first-time homebuyers

9

Some things to know about solar and saving energy

14

Save water on your landscaping

19

Realtors sponsor ‘Santa To A Senior’

27

Tips for staging your home

28

Ridgecrest Area Association of Realtors Board Members

30

Phone numbers to startutility service

31

Advertising DirectorPaula McKay

Assistant Advertising DirectorRodney Preul

PublisherJohn Watkins

Contributing writerJessica Weston

ProductionStephanie Reinke

Published byThe Daily Independentin association with the

Ridgecrest Area Association of Realtors, Inc.


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For most people, buying a home is the largest financialinvestment they will ever make. It is the one time youcan say you went shopping and spent a quarter of amillion dollars (or more).

So shouldn’t you work with a REALTOR® to get the bestadvice possible for that investment?

REALTORS® Facilitate the ProcessA REALTOR® is a client advocate, the market expert and

the negotiating tiger all wrapped up into one independentcontractor. Because REALTORS® are usually solopractitioners, they wear many hats. They are sales people, butthey are also marketing directors, social media managers anddata analysts all in one.

A rising number of home buyers are using REALTORS®.About 88% of home buyers purchase their home through areal estate agent or broker—a share that has steadily increasedfrom 69% in 2001, according to the National Association ofREALTOR®’s 2013 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.

Homeowners rely on REALTORS® to help them find themost qualified buyer and to navigate thehome selling processes. Rules regarding home sales are alwayschanging, and it is the REALTOR®’s job to stay on top of thosemarket dynamics and pass along their expertise to their clients.

REALTORS® direct their home-buying clients to the bestfinancing options for their situation, and they steer all theirclients to make better decisions in preparation for the homebuying or selling process.

For instance, a homeowner who wants to list their home

How andwhy to

choose aREALTOR


might be advised to take a homeequity line of credit (HELOC)

before listingto makenecessaryrepairs—because oncethe propertyis listed, abank will notlend on thatproperty. Abuyer mightbe advisednot to buy acar beforestarting orclosing on ahomepurchase,because such

a big ticket purchase would changetheir debt-to-income ratios and mightdisqualify them for a home loan.

REALTORS® Offer Great Resources

REALTORS® know the bestcontractors and can refer them easily

to new homeowners and potentialsellers. They are the link between allthings real estate and the novice.

One of the REALTOR®’s mostimportant roles is as the unbiasedvoice of reason. The REALTOR® isthe objective set of eyes in thetransaction. They help sellers seeoutside their personal connection toa property, and they help buyers staylevel when faced with a multiple-bidsituation.

A REALTOR® can help a buyersave money and help a seller to makethe most money. Because they gothrough the home buying and sellingprocess daily, they can warn clientsof potential dangers and loomingchanges.

For instance, when Congressthreatens to eliminate the mortgage-interest deduction,REALTORS® are at the forefront ofthe fight rallying to voice theirsupport and save the measure. Theyare the link between housing policyand the consumer.

A REALTOR® maintains acustomer-focused approach.

Showing properties and writingoffers is just a percentage of whathappens in the course of the typicalREALTOR®’s day: no two days arealike, and no two transactions arealike.

The REALTOR® is the onlyconstant in the real estatetransaction. Can you afford not tohave that experience on your side?

What to Consider When Choosing aREALTOR®

When you’re choosing aREALTOR® to represent yourinterests as a buyer, your choiceshould be based on strongrecommendations from a reliablesource about your prospectiveagent’s attention to detail andcommunication skills.

You will likely rely a lot on yourown instinct, too, to decide whetheryou are compatible with a particularagent and will feel that he issomeone you can trust.

One more step you can take is tounderstand your REALTOR®’straining. In fact, the first step is to

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A REALTOR®is a client advocate, themarket expertand the negotiatingtiger allwrapped upinto one.


check that your sales agent is indeed a REALTOR®, whichmeans she is a member of the National Association ofREALTORS® and therefore adheres to NAR’s code of ethics.

Designations REALTORS® HoldWhile all licensed real estate agents must meet the

minimum requirements of their state laws, you may also havenoticed a string of letters attached to the REALTOR®’s nameon a business card. These abbreviations mean that the agenthas taken additional courses, has documented experienceand has passed a test to earn a particular designation. Thefollowing list of designations shows the most commondesignations and what they mean to you as a buyer.

ABR—Accredited Buyer Representative: As a buyer, youmay want to look for someone with this designation since itmeans the agent has taken a course in buyer representation,passed the test and has extensive experience with buyers.

ABRM—Accredited Buyer Representative Manager: Thisdesignation is for brokers, owners and managers who havedocumented experience and education managing agentswho represent buyers.

ALC—Accredited Land Consultant: If you’re looking forland to build a custom home, you may want to consider thistype of specialist.

CIPS—Certified International Property Specialist: If youwant to buy overseas or you’re from another country and wantto buy in the United States, a CIPS designation means theREALTOR® has specialized in the international marketplace.

CRB—Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager: Thisdesignation means that the broker or owner of a real estatecompany has completed advanced classes and has extensiveexperience.

CRE—Counselor of Real Estate: Membership in this elitegroup of REALTORS® is by invitation only to professionalswith extensive experience.

CRS—Certified Residential Specialist: If you want aREALTOR® with more experience and access to a networkof other highly successful agents, you may want to look forone with a CRS who therefore has advanced training as alisting agent and buyers’ agent.

Green Designation: Buyers interested in finding anenvironmentally friendly home can work with an agentwith a green designation who has more knowledge aboutthis type of dwelling.

GRI—Graduate REALTOR® Institute: Graduates of theREALTOR® Institute have received extensive additionaleducation related to residential real estate.

MRP—Military Relocation Professional: Thiscertification emphasizes experience and education withcurrent and former military personnel and their families.

RSPS—Resort & Second-Home Markets Certification: Ifyou’re in the market for a vacation home, look for an agentwith this certification.

SRES—Seniors Real Estate Specialist: REALTORS®with this designation have expertise meeting the needs ofbuyers and sellers over age 50.

Your choice of a REALTOR® should be based oninterviews and research, but you can also check on theirdesignations to see whether their experience and educationmeets your needs as a buyer. ❖

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Tips for first-time homebuyers

How Much Home CanYou Afford?

Looking at sprawling villas in the suburbs and 2,000-square-foot condos in the middle of downtown is one thing.How much home you can afford may be entirely different.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with looking. But whenit comes down to finding a place that fits perfectly in looks,size and price, you need to know your affordability factor.

What Is Your Family Plan?It’s not just how much you make; it’s also what you plan

to do with it.Do your best to anticipate what the next five years or so

will be like for you and your family. Are you planning tohave kids in the next few years? Is your teen graduatingfrom high school? Will they need you to co-sign for a collegeloan? Are you planning for a wedding?

All these can raise your debt-to-income ratio. Even if youcan afford a mortgage with a 40% debt-to-income rationow, life events like having children can bring that ratio upto and over 50%.

Do your best to map out what the next five years or so willlook like and keep an emergency fund for the unexpected.

Plan for the house you can afford today—not what youcan afford a few years from now when the raise kicks in.

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What Is Your Payment Approach?Do you want to plan

conservatively, moderately oraggressively? The difference candetermine the type of home withinyour ballpark range.

For example, if you make$73,000 a year, have a $40,000down payment, $350 in monthlydebts and want to buy a house inRidgefield, CT, these are thescenarios to consider:

• The conservative approach: nomore than 28% of your incomegoes to housing expenses and 36%goes to debts. House affordabilityrange: $303,000

• The moderate approach: nomore than 33% of your incomegoes to housing expenses and 38%goes to debts. House affordabilityrange: $349,000

• The aggressive approach: nomore than 36% of your incomegoes to housing expenses and 41%goes to debts. House affordabilityrange: $362,000

The more aggressive theapproach, the more budgeting

discipline you need.You also will need better credit,

as you will be taking on more debtfor a more expensive home. Figureout which works best for you—remember, it’s better to err on thesafe side rather than be strappedfor cash each month.

Check out the realtor.com®affordability calculator to see whatspending approach looks like foryou in the area of your choice.

What Is Your Preferred Location?You might not have the means to

afford a house in a centrallocation. If that’s the case, considera ZIP code in a neighboring area.

To get a feel for houses in yourprice range, use our affordabilitycalculator for a nearby area andthen check the listings at thebottom of the page.

If you can’t find something youlike, you can always go down inprice or continue to rent until youhave the means to afford thatdream home.

What Are Other HomeownershipCosts?

Home ownership isn’t as simpleas paying the mortgage. You canbe sure other expenses will pop up.

For example, if you can’t make atleast a 20%downpayment, youwill needprivatemortgageinsurance. Ifyou have anFHA loan,you will haveto budget forpremiums.

There’s alsoproperty taxand homeinsurance ontop of closingcosts.Repairs, general maintenance,condo fees, utilities and buyingnew furniture for your new homealso need to be anticipated.

The more aggressivethe approach,the morebudgetingdisciplineyou will need.

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The more thorough your budgeting, the morecomfortable you’ll be when shopping for a home.

How to Prepare Yourselffor Making a DownPayment

Down payments frustrate a lot of would-be homeowners.Coming up with a large sum of cash can seem impossible,but it doesn’t have to be.

Fortunately, today most lenders offer a wide range ofdown payment choices that include options for 5%, 10%,15%, or 20% down. And for many first-time buyers, agovernment-backed FHA loan can be obtained for as littleas 3.5% down. If you are a military member or veteran,there are even more options available to you. Check withyour Realtor® for more details.

Regardless of what kind of loan you choose, setting up asavings plan now will help you get the down payment youneed and show lenders you’re a responsible borrower.

For down payments, bigger is betterSound financial planning can help you amass a large

down payment, which has several benefits:• Homeowners with small down payments will find

themselves with larger monthly mortgage payments.• While low down-payment loans are available, lenders

prefer to write loans with larger down payments. Thelarger the down payment, the less risk for the lender.

• You’ll increase your chances of getting a loan with alower interest rate.

• When you put 20% or more down, your loan won’trequire mortgage insurance, or a second mortgage to avoidmortgage insurance.(If you choose a loan with less than a20% down payment, your lender may require you to payprivate mortgage insurance. The PMI is usually tacked onto your monthly payment until you’ve built 20% equity.)

Your options for making that down paymentMany buyers tap their savings to procure the funds for a

down payment, and often they postpone large outlays inorder to save money. But there are other ways.

• Some types of loans allow “gift” funds to be used for adown payment—money that is given by a family member.In order for the gift funds to be used, the family membermust have no financial interest in the property and thefunds must be a true gift. Banks won’t allow “gift” funds ifit’s actually a loan that has to be repaid.

• Many local and state government programs offer downpayment assistance for borrowers in need, so check withyour lender or state housing commission for moreinformation.

• There are a few loan options that allow you to putdown less than 20% without the added PMI cost. Check

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with your lender to see if it offersa low down-payment, no-PMIproduct if a 20% down payment

seems toochallenging.

Make savinga habit

Thesurefire wayto makeyour downpayment,however, isto startsaving now.Saving for adownpayment istough, butthere aresomestrategiesyou can use

to make saving money a habit—not a chore:

• Budgeting is important,because if you don’t know where

your money goes, you won’t knowwhere you can cut back.

• Set up a payroll deposit intoyour savings account or anautomatic checking-to-savingstransfer on payday to make thingseasier.

• Consider certificates ofdeposit, money market funds, andother low- to no-risk savings orinvestment vehicles to help yoursavings accumulate faster.

Give yourself a boostSaving for a down payment one

paycheck at a time can befrustrating. To help you get therefaster, use some of these tricks:

• Cut back on nonessentialspending. Do you really need topay for Starbucks, name-branditems, or subscriptions tomagazines and cable TV? Therecould be many items you caneliminate from your budget, andthe savings would be substantial.

• Reduce your credit card debtby using credit cards only for

emergencies.• Adjust your tax withholding to

make sure you’re not overpaying.It may feel good to get a taxrefund in the spring, but thatreally is a free loan to thegovernment. The money you getback is cash on which you couldhave been earning interest. TheIRS website has a calculator tolearn how much in taxes youshould have withheld from yourincome.

• Liquidate expendable assets.Saving for a home may be just thereason you’ve been looking for tounload stamp, coin, baseball card,and comic book collections orother items that are collectingdust in your closets, safe-depositbox, or storage space.

• Organize. That’s right: Sell allthat stuff you never use that won’tbe a good fit for your new home.Clear the clutter—an organizedhome is a time-saving home, andtime is money. ❖

Budgeting isimportant,because ifyou don’t

know whereyour money

goes, youwon’t knowwhere you

can cut back.

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Some things to know about


solar and saving energyGoing solar can be a

great option whetheryou lease or buy. Butfor many, the up-front

cost of buying the panels is out ofthe question. That’s where lease

programscome intoplay.

Althoughleasing thesolar panelsstill gets youmany of thebenefits,such aslowerelectricitybills, thereare also

some things to look out for.First of all, the leasing company

owns the solar panels, and that

means the leasing company getsthe tax breaks, not you. You alsolose out on any sales of energy tothe utility company.

But another pitfall to look outfor is that leased solar panels onthe roof can complicate, or evenkill, the sale of a home.

Would-be buyers would need toqualify on credit to take over asolar lease, if they’re willing to dothat. They might not be — theymay feel the monthly leasepayments are too high, or worrythat the solar equipment willbecome obsolete or won’t save asmuch on electric bills aspromised.

Homeowners with leased solarsystems have sometimes foundthemselves paying upwards of$20,000 to get out of a lease tocomplete the sale.

But this isn’t to say that leasedsolar will necessarily kill a deal. Itjust means a homeowner needs tobe aware of the potential pitfalls.

Understand long-termobligations, find out from yourlocal utility about the savingsclaimed, and if you have a leasedsystem and plan to sell, get intouch with the leasing companyfar in advance to find out thelease transfer and buyout options.A little planning can go a longway should a buyer balk at theleased panels on the roof.

Simple steps to save energy thatdon’t require solar

Renovations that takeinventory of energy use and strivetoward efficiency have grownincreasingly popular over the

The first step... is to find

out whereyour home is

losingmoney.

INDIAN WELLS VALLEY WATER DISTRICT WATERING RESTRICTIONS

Per Ordinance 103 (adopted September 11, 2017), customers may water per the schedule listed

below. If you have any questions regarding these restrictions, or wish to applyfor a New Landscape Irrigation Exemption, please do not hesitate to

call 760-375-5086 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Continuted on Page 18

Clint FreemanBROKER ASSOCIATE®

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years. Homeowners fed up withhigh utility bills want to conservecosts, and there are a number ofways to revamp a home to be moreenergy efficient.

The first step in a home energymakeover is to find out where yourhome is losing money. Certainmunicipal and environmentalagencies offer home assessments,during which they will do acomplete walk-through of yourhome and highlight areas that canbe improved. Private companiesalso perform energy audits on ahome. They may be able to pointout appliances, windows orlandscaping issues that could becompromising the efficiency of ahome. These people may have amore intimate knowledge ofinsulation ratings and windowefficiency ratings than the averagehomeowner.

In addition to having an energyaudit on your home to save moneyon utility bills, a professional audit

may make you eligible for taxincentives and rebates. That canmean even more savings and mayeven increase the value of yourhome.

Until a thorough energyassessment can be made, there aresome easy and relativelyinexpensive fixes any homeownercan undertake to help improveenergy efficiency.

• Clean air filters. Trapped dustand debris in a filter makesfurnaces and air conditioners workharder. Once filters are free fromdust, air can blow more smoothlythrough the system.

• Plug leaks. Air leaks could besucking energy out of your homeand money out of your wallet.Once you find any leaks, you canuse weather stripping andcaulking to seal up breaches andsave energy and money.

• Invest in insulation. Installhigh-efficiency insulation in atticsand between walls to preventenergy loss and keep more warm

or cool air in the home. A well-insulated house requires lessheating and cooling to keep thetemperature indoors stable, andthat translates to less money spenton utilities.

• Swap outlight bulbs.Switchingbulbs fromincandescentto moreefficient LEDor CFL bulbscan savemoney in thelong run.

By makinga few simplechanges,homeownerscan increasetheir energysavingsaround thehouse. Investing in an energy auditand makeover can pinpoint keyareas that need improvement. ❖

By making afew simplechanges,homeownerscan increasetheir energysavingsaround thehouse.

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Yes you can still have alawn ... Really!

BY PETER BROWNThe Earthman

The world of watering our beloved lawns has cer-tainly changed since we were kids. Back in theOzzie and Harriet days, it was mom or dad stand-ing in the lawn blissfully watering each and every

blade of grass and endless flower gardens by hand, takinggreat pride in the American dream of having their ownpatch of heaven.

We would proudly display and celebrate with ourneighbors and friends. Back then, the water might havecost as much a $5 a month, but you didn’t mind becauseyou could use as much as you wanted. Why heck, let’s putthe hose in the front planters and let it run until we getback from church and the family picnic. Those shrubs aregoing to grow up big and strong some day.

Later mom and dad would take the garden hose andscrew on one of those new-fangled sprinklers and begin thedaily routine of systematically moving the contraptionaround the lawn until they were certain the lawn receivedthe soaking it deserved. They even watered the neighbor’slawn just for fun.

Save water on your landscaping

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Then they would screw on the hose-end soaker and deluge the shrubs andflowers at full blast. The new bubblerscould now diffuse the raging torrentwhere there was no way Mr. Hosecould wiggle its way back into thelawn.

This was indeed a time saver as youcould water the entire garden in just afew hours, watch Gilligan’s Island, IDream of Jeannie, Batman and stillhave time to hear “And that's the wayit is. This is Walter Cronkite, CBSNews; good night!” Back then ourwater bill might have been $15 amonth … a drop in the bucketcompared to the new credit card debtswe had now accumulated.

Now here were are. Until yesterdaywe may not even be aware that we hadto water. Once the new, totallyautomated, unseen and unheard state-of-the-art irrigation system wasinstalled and deployed, there wasn’tmuch need to do anything except fixthat pesky leak your neighbor said hadbeen shooting 30 feet into the skyevery morning before sun-up or you

noticed the ground giving way underfoot sounding like a peat bog inScotland.

But today the world of freeunlimited water is gone, and now it’sup to us to give our most preciousresource the respect and reverence ithas always deserved.

YOU CAN STILL HAVE A LAWN!YES YOU CAN!

Here in the Indian Wells Valley, wewere first mandated by the State ofCalifornia to reduce our waterconsumption by 20 percent. Hip HipHooray! We did it, and five yearsahead of schedule mind you. That’sdefinitely something to be proud of asit took the combined effort of all of usto get it done. Now Mr. Governor ismandating that we cut our usage backanother 36 percent making this awhopping 56 percent reduction.What?

In order to achieve Jerry Brown’snew mandate, the Indian Wells ValleyWater District has asked that we alladopt even more austere watering

habits — way beyond anything we’veever seen in our entire state history.And, yes, it’s true we really are not partof the state’s problems as we have ourvery own 100 percent guaranteedwater supply right under our feet. Weaffect no one but ourselves as we waterour lawns, fill our tubs, swamp ourcoolers and occasionally wash ourcars.

Here's how to water ...Before you can begin, it is

imperative that you have alreadyphysically turned on and inspectedyour existing irrigation systems tomake sure you have no leaks, pluggedor turned heads, etc. If you are lookingat a lawn mottled with green andbrown spots, you already know thatyou need to do a little fixing. Thatwould be called increasing youruniformity, and that’s another article.For now, just fix what’s broken.

Since we are limited to wateringthree days per week between the hoursof midnight to 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. to11:59 p.m., the first thing we need to



do is think of days in a differentcontext. Our timers don’t reallywant to do that, but we do havethe power to convince themotherwise. We need to think of

one day asbeing two.In essence,we arestacking ourwater timefor theentire weekinto threedays. And,yes, you willuse lesswaterbecausemuch less

will be lost to evaporation andrun-off.

Because of the odd/evenmandate and three-days-a-weeklimit, you now need to think ofyour water day as being two daysin one: a.m. and p.m. This willallow you to pre-water enough to

compensate for the 100-plus-degree weather and endlesssummer winds.

Your first water day starts at 12a.m. (midnight) and ends 8 a.m.Your second water day starts againat 8 p.m. and ends at 11:59 p.m.Depending on your timer (andyou might need to get a new one),you can usually have four starttimes in a day per program.

Most timers have two programs:A and B, while others have fourprograms: A, B, C, D. Programsare like a super set that allow youto water one or more stations at agiven start time. This was donebecause lawns need water moreoften than flowers, flowers needwater more often than shrubs, andshrubs need water more oftenthan trees. Ergo the “MagicNumber Four.”

Morning ... Lawns onlyLet’s say you have four lawn

stations, so your total run-timewill be 60 minutes. Set your timer

to begin your first start time,watering your lawn at 12 a.m. onyour odd or even days. Set the runtimes as long as possible (tryabout 15 minutes) withoutcreating runoff. Puddles are not aproblem unless you can sail inthem.

Set your second start time at 6a.m. This will allow plenty of timefor the first wave of water to soakin and make room for the second.Remember, we are storing waterfor future use. Because you onlyneed 60 minutes to water all ofyour lawns, the water will be offwell before the dreaded 8 a.m.cut-off, and that pesky neighborwon’t be glaring at you forbreaking the rules.

Evening ... Lawns onlyThis is pretty much the same as

the morning. Set your third starttime to begin watering at 8 p.m.Total run time for the lawns willbe the same. Set your fourth starttime at 10 p.m. All will be finished

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In essence,we are

stacking ourwater time

for the entireweek into

three days.


before the dreaded next day.It is important to change the

duration, up or down, dependingwhether you are again walking ona peat bog or straw ready to burstinto flames. Also remember it’sOK and cheaper to run out with ahose (Ozzie and Harriet) andhand water that three-square-footdry spot of lawn on the southeastedge of your sidewalk. We will callit nostalgic watering.

It's all in the roots ...Visualize this: Your current

grass roots are shallow, say one tofour inches, and grass loves todrink, even more so when youhack off its head every week in themowing ritual. So living in thedesert makes keeping a lawn achallenge.

To have a lawn you need to keepthe ground wet enough for Mr.Lawn to be happy. By followingthis watering formula you will stayin compliance with all the rulesand allow more time for the water

to move its way deeper into thesoil thus training grass roots to godeeper.

Deeper roots, along with waterin storage, allow your lawn totolerate much greater spans oftime between water cycles andweather our infamous blow-dryerwinds. This is and always has beenthe Holy Grail of what we reallyneeded for our lawns. We justdidn’t need to pay much attentionsince water was free and wastingwas a right. Nature does this thebest; naturally occurring grassroots can easily go over 18 inchesdeep. Flowers and shrubs and trees ...Oh my!

Nope, I didn’t forget those guys,but the lawn programs and runtimes are the starting place anddictate how much time we haveleft to work in the a.m. and p.m.water windows.

The three days a week mandatepretty much forces us to move ourflower and shrub beds into the

lawn programming (Program A).In this case, you have to add thetotal run time for these stations tothe total runtimes of thelawns andthatbecomesyour newdividingline.

So if yourtotal runtimes forlawns was60 minutesand yourtotal runtime foryour shrubsis 45minutes,then youwould havea total runtime of 1 hour 45 minutes. Yes,there is waste in this equationbecause your deeply rooted shrubs

Deeper roots,along withwater in storage,allow yourlawn to toleratemuch greaterspans of timebetweenwater cycles.


don’t really need to be watered asoften; however, the three-days-a-weekrequirement takes this flexibility away.You can compensate by keeping theshrub station durations low andsubsidizing them with a deep soak asneeded by hand much like we will dofor trees.

Morning lawns, flowers and shrubs ...Set your timer to begin watering

your lawn at 12 a.m. on your odd oreven days. Set your second start timeat 5 a.m. This will allow plenty of timefor the first wave of water to soak inand make room for the second.

Evening lawns flowers and shrubs ...This is pretty much the same as the

morning. Set your third start time tobegin watering at 8 p.m. Total runtime for the lawns will be the same, 1hour and 45 minutes Set your fourthstart time to begin at 9 p.m. Yourirrigation will be done beforemidnight and you will be in fullcompliance with “The Rules.”

Trees ... The most valuable asset in ourgardens ...

Trees, by all measure, give us thegreatest plant benefit with theirpresence. Besides the precious coolingshade they bless us with, they alsooffer protection from the sand, windand dust while cleaning the air. Theyalso generate oxygen for us to breathe.Now that’s a heck of a deal.

It is a good thing if you follow thesewatering guidelines, chances are thatyour trees will actually be muchhappier as they will be getting thedeepest soaking they’ve ever had.Trees have the deepest root systems sothey prefer, by far, deeper watering,and that’s the best way to keep themhealthy and happy.

It is important to know if you havealready killed your grass or convertedto crushed rock, you will definitelyneed to supplement your mature treeswith a totally separate process ofwatering. Since your trees wereestablished with surface rootsthroughout the lawn and the lawn nolonger exists, they will quickly go into

decline and begin to die back. Sometrees can withstand this water loss andsome cannot. It doesn’t take very longto kill a 30-year-old best friend whenit’s 110 outside and he’s not getting adrink anymore.

Watering Mr. Tree ...The easiest way to keep Mr. Tree

alive would be to place a hose aboutthree feet away from the trunk and letit slowly soak in until you can verifythat you have saturated the entire rootzone all the way around the tree. Thiscould be water dribbling from a hosefor one to three days or more. It alldepends on your soil and soilcompaction.

Capillary action through the soil willevenly distribute the water in alldirections so relocating the hose acouple times would speed up theprocess of getting a 360-degreesoaking. If you have the ability tocreate a watering basin around thetree then you can slowly fill that toachieve the same results.

Always remember that the slower

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you water, the deeper the water will go before you have apuddle and runoff. Ergo dribbling is the key word here.

The bigger the tree, the bigger the root zone, and thebigger the watering ring will have to extend. A 30-foottree would love to see a nice moist ring eight feet out inall directions at least two feet deep.

Depending on the type and size of tree, soil conditions,wind and heat your mature tree should require thisbonus water every two weeks in the summer monthstapering off to monthly in the fall. I often shut off ourtree watering systems for three months in the middle ofwinter with no degradation of tree health. After all, theywere actually made to live on their own without anywell-intentioned help from us.

As a related subject, trees only need to be pruned ifthey are having a problem, have broken dead or dyinglimbs, crossing branches, or the infamous encroachmentinto your eaves or your neighbors’ invisible property line.Please stop topping Mr. Tree; it’s killing him and does nogood whatsoever.

In fact, I dare you to find this horrible butcheringpractice in any recognized pruning guide. Did you know,years ago someone started topping mulberry trees tocreate a yearly supply of hand-size fire wood for theirwood-burning cook stove. Last time I checked we nowuse gas.

Besides letting a hose dribble and moving it aroundthe tree base several times to get even saturation, it is


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quite easy to rig up a poly pipedrip ring with a female hoseadapter.

Here you can cheat a bit byinstalling aneight footdiameter circleof poly pipearound the treetrunk withgallon-per-hour emittersevenly spacedevery 12 inchesto uniformlysoak Mr. Tree.

If you havemany trees youcan link themall togetherwith onecontinuouslength of polytubing windingrings aroundeach tree and

going to the next. I stronglysuggest staking down the poly

tubing with turf staples to keepthe large rings from movingaround.

Keep in mind the poly pipeshould be no closer than 24inches from the trunk and nofurther than 48 inches. This is byfar the best way to deep water atree and be confident that thewater is being used as efficientlyas possible.

Don’t freak about watering foreight or more hours. Dripsystems use gallons per hour, notgallons per minute, so eighthours would only be eight gallonsof water per emitter, about asmuch as a toilet flush. If you gothis route you can install a hose-end battery timer that will dothis for you. Please note thesetimers have limitedprogramming so you might haveto get a bit creative to get therequired super soak.

Warning: please rememberthat all of these suggestions arethe beginning guidelines of

where to start and not theconclusion. If your trees lookunsatisfactory then increase thewatering duration and frequency.

Smaller, less-established treeswill need water more often. As arule I like to establish a baseline.This means to fill soil with asmuch water as possible in theroot zone until you hit fullsaturation (when water puddleson the surface). This helpsovercome the chronic droughtthat’s already killing your plants.

From there your job is mucheasier, now you only have tomaintain the soil moisture to theextent needed to keep Mr. Grass,Mr. Shrub and Mr. Tree happyand healthy.

Think of it this way: the soil isa fuel tank. Grass and flowerscannot run on empty, but shrubsand trees are good to a quartertank. Your job is to keep thetank topped off every time youwater and not fill from emptyeach time. ❖

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... the soilis a fueltank. Grassand flowerscannot runon empty,but shrubsand treesare good toa quartertank.


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Realtorssponsor‘Santa To ASenior’

BY JESSICA WESTONThe Daily Independent

Each year the Ridgecrest Area Association of Realtorssponsors an event called “Santa to a Senior.” Itworks like this: local realtors and sometimes mem-bers of the public step up to ensure that each senior

receives a gift from his or her gift list. Realtors said they saw aneed and were able to fill it. ❖

Pictured gifts are gathered for the 2019 “Santa to a Senior” event.

SJ

eAfSdtlta


Buying a new home is so personal. Yet, to sell yours,you’ll want to remove so many of your homey, per-sonal touches. This is part of staging your home:buyers should be able to picture themselves living

in your house—not picture you living in your house.Successful staging will boost your home’s appeal—and

your chances of selling. And there are two rooms that oftenneed the most staging: bedrooms and bathrooms.

You might decide your house looks good enough as-is.But even in a strong market, a little staging could boost theoffers you receive.

Think like a buyerStaging lets you see your house with fresh perspective

and helps you correct any eyesores you may have becomeused to over the years. It helps you to view some of yourbeloved items as clutter and gives you the initiative to clearaway unneeded items.

Staging will also help you in the packing process, whichinevitably involves streamlining and downsizing.

Bedrooms equal comfortA bedroom should be a place of serenity. Stage your

bedroom to convey a tone of comfort and relaxation. Youwant it to appear spacious. Here are some tips forpresenting your bedroom:

• Paint it in soft, neutral tones• Remove all furniture other than a bed, a dresser and a

few knickknacks

Tips for stagingyour home

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• Remove at least half of yourwardrobe from your closet to

make the closetseem larger

• Clear awayclutter, shoes,readingmaterial andfamily photos

• Invest innew linens andthrow pillows

• Steam cleanthe carpets,clean thewindows anddust the shades

Bathrooms canbe beautiful

Purchasersdon’t spend alot of time inbathrooms, soyour bathroomshave to make agreat first

impression. Bathrooms should beimpeccably clean and somewhat

modern. Here are some bathroomstaging tips:

• Replace old bathroom fixtures,such as towel rods and faucets,with sleek new ones

• Hang luxurious-looking towelsto match the bathroom’s colorscheme

• Layer towels on the rack,smaller towels over larger towels

• Before an open house, put abouquet of fresh flowers in thebathroom

• Ruthlessly clean mold and dirtfrom tiles and shower doors

• Add spa-like accessories, suchas candles, scented soaps inbaskets and glass containersholding cotton balls

Cleanliness is a virtueCleanliness trumps all. Buyers

have to imagine themselves livingin your home, and they will have ahard time picturing themselvesliving in a dirty house. In fact, thetop of your to-do list when you listhome to sell should be a deep,thorough clean, like your house

probably hasn’t seen since youmoved in.

• Remove mold and mildew• Scour away lime stains left by

hard water• Clean windows inside and out• Steam carpets• Wash all linens and curtainsIf you smoke or have a pet, be

especially vigilant abouteradicating those odors—because a clean, well-stagedhome should bring you a quickand profitable sale.

Information from Realtor.com. ❖

Buyers haveto imaginethemselvesliving inyour home,and theywill have ahard timepicturingthemselvesliving in adirty house.


President:Carole VaughnVaughn Realty

Treasurer:Fong Tidwell

Coldwell BankerBest Realty

President Elect:Norman Alexander

RoadRunner Realty

Director:James Mower

Keller Williams

Secretary:Christine DosenColdwell Banker

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Director:Michele McMahanColdwell Banker

Best Realty

Director:Kim Reed

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Ridgecrest Area Associationof Realtors Board Members


Useful numbers to get yourself settled into town

Southern California Edison (electricity)800-684-8123www.sce.com

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (gas)800-743-5000www.pge.com

Indian Wells Valley Water District (water)760-375-5086

www.iwvwd.com

Verizon (landline telephone, DSL)800-837-4966

www.verizon.com

Mediacom (Cable TV, Internet)855-633-4226

www.mediacomcable.com

Waste Management (trash service)800-266-7551

www.wmridgecrest.com

City of Ridgecrest760-499-5000

www.ridgecrest-ca.gov

Ridgecrest Animal Licensing760-499-5190

Ridgecrest Parks and Recreation760-499-5151

NAWS China Lake Pass & ID office760-9393160

Emergency ServicesEmergency: 911

Police: 760-499-5100Fire (north station): 760-375-8466Fire (south station): 760-371-2181

The Daily Independent (daily newspaper)760-375-4481

Circulation: 760-375-7778www.ridgecrestca.com

JW Griffin Construction Inc760-608-2039 Licence #862336

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