KEN-TAL NEWS
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Vol.1 No. 7 - January 2016
HOLIDAY LIGHTS WERE TWINKLING AT THE 2ND ANNUAL KENSINGTON HOLIDAY BIKE RIDE
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n December 9th, Kensington residents decorated their bikes with lights and took to the streets to cruise Kensington at night and view homes decked out in holiday lights and finery. The ride ended at our Kensington Ascent Real Estate office with wassail and apple cider! We had such a nice time, we are already looking forward to next year’s ride!
Megan’s Message
ANGELS WERE HEARD ON HIGH AT THE 10TH ANNUAL CAROLING AT THE CIRCLE IN TALMADGE!
Megan Beauvais, Realtor® CalBRE #01426805 Ascent Real Estate
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un was had by all at the 10th annual Caroling at the Circle in Talmadge. Friends and neighbors young and young at heart came out to take part in this special holiday community event. We even had an early visit from Santa himself! Thank you Talmadge residents for a great night of caroling fun!
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ow that the holidays are behind us, many are readying their homes to put on the market in the early spring. I thought it apt to discuss some do’s and don’ts with regard to home projects and what will impact your sale the most. If you plan on living in your home for a while yet, but ultimately want to sell, be sure to keep your own enjoyment in mind. I can’t tell you how many people I meet who complete renovations on their home just prior to selling it that have been on a “to do” list for years. Enjoy the fruits of your labor if you can, before you share it with the next homeowner. That said, unless you never plan on selling, remember to take into consideration design choices and how they will impact the future sale. If you don’t mind repainting neutrally over a floor-ceiling mural you created in your daughter’s room, then have at it. Be mindful of tile design, or anything that is more permanent and difficult to re-do later. There are always specific upgrades that impact the value and desirability of any given home. In Kensington and Talmadge in particular, there are a few items not mentioned below to key in to that definitely impact your value and ease of the sale. These items include foundation repairs, drainage upgrades, sewer line upgrades/repairs, and electrical upgrades. These items almost always come up throughout the course of most sales I work with as many of the homes still operate with original components, so if you have it within your financial reach to address these issues while you are enjoying your home, the more prepared you will be to maximize your return when you ultimately go to sell – and you won’t be hit with a huge bill when prepping the home, nor will you experience a significant hit in price. If you would like referrals for contractors to address any structural or cosmetic component to your home, or to have a professional opinion of what would be a good design upgrade for a future resale, please feel free to contact me any time. I would be happy to come by your home to give you my thoughts and referrals – pressure free. Here’s to a prosperous 2016 for all!
THANK YOU RESIDENTS FOR MAKING THE TALMADGE FOOD DRIVE A HUGE SUCCESS!
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en-Tal residents were able to drop off an abundance of food drive donations from the ANNUAL TALMADGE FOOD DRIVE to the Kroc Center Salvation Army! They were once again so grateful for all your generosity. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers who spent their Saturday mornings at the traffic circle collecting donations from residents. It’s because of you that this program is such a huge success year after year!
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or the start of the new year it is my pleasure to introduce Donna & Tim Gonser of Kensington! The Gonsers were introduced to Kensington by former resident and co-worker, Susan Penman. Knowing that they would love the area, Susan was determined to get Donna and Tim to move to Kensington. When they first came to San Diego, the Gonsers lived in Coronado and wanted a similar lifestyle in a central locale where they could, “… walk to a coffee shop, walk to a breakfast place…” and wanted, “…to live in an area where neighbors got to know their neighbors…” They found that to be true in Kensington. It is in fact one of their favorite aspects of living in the community, they know their neighbors and everyone looks out for one another. The Gonsers share their home with two Irish Setters and three cats and are big advocates of animals. In their professional lives both work in
the hospitality industry. Donna is the General Manager for Fairbanks Ranch Country Club and works for the Bay Club out of San Francisco. The Bay Club Company builds sports resorts. Donna describes what they do as building resorts without the guestrooms. All the fun stuff you do on a vacation-spa, kids camp, swimming, golf, tennis, Food & Beverage [restaurants & bars] as well as execute meetings and special events (think weddings in a beautiful environment). In Donna’s words, “…the best part of being a member is that at the end of the day, you get to sleep in your own bed-every day is a vacation day when you are a member.” Tim has been in the Hospitality industry for 30+ years and is President of Gonser Hospitality Groupe. The Gonser Hospitality Groupe provides consulting services to trend setting and traditional restaurant and hospitality organizations that need professional support services. Their clients include restaurants, hotels & resorts, entertainment venues, real estate developers and civic development organizations. In their free time, Tim has gotten into woodworking and according to Donna has become a “DIY expert.” Recently he remodeled their kitchen (which I can personally attest is gorgeous) and took on the job of rebuilding their backyard deck that overlooks the canyon. Donna enjoys spending time gardening in their gorgeous backyard as well as crocheting, quilting and sewing. The next time you see the Gonsers enjoying their morning coffee in the heart of Kensington or out walking with their dogs be sure and stop and say Hello!