I was referred to Dawna by a mutual friend when I started looking for my dream retirement beach house in Cayucos. Our journey together took three years with lots of looking and discussions to finally find me the perfect house. I can't thank Dawna and her amazing Executive Assistant Jodi for all of their patience, helpfulness and hard work on my quest to find the perfect home. Both Dawna and Jodi made me feel like they had all of the time in the world for me when I called with questions or concerns. Dawna is always cheerful and such a pleasure to work with. She is very responsive and extremely knowledgeable about the central coast. I highly recommend Davies Company Real Estate for all of your real estate needs. I wouldn't hesitate to use Dawna again and I did.... I used Dawna to sell my Paso Robles home after I purchased my new home. I once again found both Dawna and Jodi to be extremely professional and knowledgeable about the market. Dawna did a wonderful job of marketing my house and went above and beyond until it sold.
- Research city preservation rules: Are there historical districts or organizations that govern and impact the improvements, modifications, and maintenance (i.e. paint colors, landscape style, etc.) of the property? These may include a cultural heritage committee and historic preservation districts.
- Research financial incentives: Are there grants and/or municipal programs that may give financial incentives for the upkeep and restoration of historic properties? These may include the California Mills Act and the Historic Preservation Fund in San Luis Obispo.
- Examine the historical significance, architectural style, and specific history of the property, even prior to construction of the property. There may be old insurance maps, such as Sandborn maps, that may show a record of the presence of the building if the date of construction is not known. This will be helpful as you plan for maintenance and/or improvements to keep the style consistent with the era of the building construction. Be aware that historical significance may include association with significant important persons or even significant events.
- Anticipate maintenance costs: Add 50% to repair estimates for custom or hand-made quality period-like craftsmanship.
- Determine safety issues: If a property was built in 1979 or earlier, assume that there is lead in the interior/exterior paint, asbestos, or other toxic materials. Planning for this can either save you money by considering repair alternatives that disturb less surface areas or help you anticipate the increased cost to you of demolition work, repairs or home additions.