The Argonaut Newspaper - October 6, 2022

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EDITORIAL

Executive Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski christina@timespublications.com

Editor: Kamala Kirk (310) 574-7654 kkirk@timespublications.com

Contributing Writers: Bridgette Redman, Morgan Owen, Paul Wozniak Intern: Oliver Grynberg

ART Graphic Designer: Arman Olivares

Staff Photographer: Chris Mortenson

ADVERTISING

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Classified Advertising: Ann Turrieta (626) 584-8747 aturrietta@timespublications.com

BUSINESS

Associate Publisher: Rebecca Bermudez (310) 574-7655 rbermudez@timespublications.com

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The Argonaut is distributed every Thursday in Del Rey, Marina del Rey, Mar Vista, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Santa Monica, Venice, and Westchester. The Argonaut is available free of charge, limited to one per reader. The Argonaut may be distributed only by authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written per mission of The Argonaut, take more than one copy of any issue. The Argonaut is copyrighted 2022 by Times Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form or by any means without prior express written permission by the publisher. An adjudicated Newspaper of General Circulation with a distribution of 30,000.

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Copenhague Club Chair

Come see the Copenhague reclaimed teak range with a timeless deep seating collection that combines comfort, style and build quality, along with Neptune™ cushions.

VICE PRESIDENT: Michael Hiatt PRESIDENT: Steve Strickbine

ON THE COVER: AANUKO is a new creative barber boutique in Culver City’s Arts District that was founded by grooming experts David Alfonso and Joe Andrews. Photo credit: Chris Mortenson. Design by Arman Olivares.

Response to Glenn Kane’s letter

Editor:

Thanks to Glenn Kane for his eloquent let ter regarding the pitiful condition of the freshwater marsh it took so many years to create. It is heartbreaking. But the unfortu nate truth is that we are in lame duck limbo until January when we have a new mayor and councilperson. The current councilper son has instructed the Gas Co. not to do anything about the situation (latest incident a burning car). That's in addition to previous fires. I am in sympathy with the homeless, but the RVs along Jefferson have been terribly destructive and I see no hope for a solution until a new administration.

Ruth Lansford Playa del Rey

Re: Amazon’s Robot Workforce

Editor:

Regarding "Amazon’s Robot Workforce Could Doom the American Worker" by Jason Boyce, I found it completely offensive having made a living by selling my Waves DVDs for 20+ years from VHS, DVD to Blu-rays with over 15+ titles around the world thanks to Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and Youtube.com/wavesdvdcom channel with over 100k subscribers /61 mil lion views.)

So, I know a bit more than selling one self-promoting book on how to make money on Amazon with a small YouTube channel trying to find and sell other

people's products like GoPros or George Forman grills.

I will say, why is Jason biting the hand that feeds him and millions of us and more happy customers especially during Covid when stores were closed? Amazon has been the best thing for small entrepreneurs, writers, filmmakers, etc. to get their products out to a huge audience, all automated, done cheaply and efficiently. Unlike eBay where I had to ship my DVDs, Amazon takes the order, ships it and handles returns for me—globally!

I find it extremely upsetting that you want to unionize Amazon, make them less competitive, and unable to adapt to markets by a government law? How many tech companies are unionized? Few. Robots have made cars better and cheaper than unions hand made.

Government doesn't know better and should stay out of business; look up $500 million dollar loss Solyndra and Fisker Automotive. Compare Space X versus NASA's failed, over-budget nonreusable rocket. No thank you.

Greg Voevodsky Playa del Rey

We Want to Hear from You!

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The

By Jamal Jivanjee

or

Beverly

Although I put myself in a literal prison for a paycheck, I’m convinced this is an appropriate metaphor for what we are all conditioned to do without giving it much thought.

Prison is anywhere we feel forced to go in exchange for time. When we trade time for money, what we are actually trading away is our life. An hour of our time spent in this way actually is an hour closer to the grave.

We were born to work. However, our work needs to be connected to more than survival. While businesses need employees to produce their products and services, and we all need to earn a living wage to meet life’s needs and expenses, the workforce of the future is rapidly evolving.

Business leaders who simply focus on the bottom line and see their employees as cogs in a corporate wheel will struggle to maintain a competent and sufficiently-staffed workforce. This is exactly what we are currently seeing in industries across the spectrum. Many of these businesses and corpora tions will not be able to survive

this current revolution.

Business leaders who under stand that "The Great Resigna tion" is really "The Great Liberation" will be able to facilitate an evolving work force in a way that will mutually benefit their own companies as well as their employees. A new paradigm is emerging in which employees need to feel they are investing their time and talent into a more worthwhile vision than simply profits and bottom lines.

Employees also need to feel their current jobs are preparing them to move forward on their own personal journeys. Such companies will not only survive "The Great Liberation," they will serve as the backbone to a more conscientious approach to business that benefits everyone.

Jamal Jivanjee is an Amazon best-selling author, a podcast er, and a full-time life coach with over 20 years of experi ence. Learn more about Jivanjee, and his latest book “Living for a Living,” by visiting jamaljivanjee.com.

READY

SOMETHING

Reimagine is a new church in Marina Del Rey offering a unique approach to life and faith. We are a positive community committed to growth and depth utilizing compelling digital content, regular contemplative practices, and both individual and group opportunities for spiritual direction (we call it “executive coaching for the soul”). We meet in-person monthly in the Marina and weekly online.

SPECIAL FALL “PUBLIC LAUNCH” KICK-OFF

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON REIMAGINE

Fight Like a Girl

By Kamala Kirk

Through the end of October, Marina del Rey Hotel, Jamaica Bay Inn and The Wayfarer DTLA will be serving a special cocktail called Fight Like a Girl to raise breast cancer prevention awareness. With each purchase of the cocktail, a portion of the proceeds will support breast cancer prevention awareness through Sipsong’s Donation.

Local hotels serve specialty cocktail to raise breast cancer prevention awareness video on Sipsong’s website. “The point of this cocktail is to raise awareness of preventable cancer. Breast cancer is preventable if you carry the genetic marker. You can get tested by Invitae through the mail, you don’t even have to go see a doctor. It’s reliably accurate. Please tell your local bartender to carry the Fight Like a Girl cocktail or go to our website and learn more.”

The three properties are the only hotels/restaurants in Southern California that sell Sipsong, an award-winning gin that won Double Gold at San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020, the world’s largest spirit competition.

Tara Jasper, founder of Sipsong Spirits, is a breast cancer survivor who uses her brand to raise awareness of genetic testing that can prevent future cancer diagnoses.

“It’s delicious, it’s a seasonal gin and tonic,” Jasper said in a

Fight Like a Girl Cocktail Recipe

• 2 oz Sipsong Indira Gin

• ½ oz Pomegranate Grenadine

• ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice

• 1-2 oz Fever-Tree Light Tonic Directions: Shake Indira gin, lemon juice, and grenadine with ice for 10 seconds. Add tonic, w-15 fresh pomegranate seeds, pour into a Collins glass, and serve.

Beginning Oct. 1, several local hotels will be serving a special cocktail called Fight Like a Girl to raise breast cancer prevention awareness.

Notre Dame Academy Redefines the High School Experience for Young Women

As the world grows increasingly complex and connected, Notre Dame Academy continues to adapt its curriculum and offerings to prepare young women to be tomorrow’s leaders. This flagship Catholic institution has reimagined the high school experience by supporting and expanding NDA’s excellent curriculum with unique learning opportunities in and outside of the classroom.

Through a combination of inquiry, experiential learning, and communitywide symposia, expert faculty and staff challenge students to grow as they gain deeper knowledge of the world around them, develop passions, and work towards solving real-world problems. Innovative learning spaces, customized schedules, and individualized support enable students to collaborate and explore cross-curricular connections.

NDA teachers create educational experiences and spaces that reward curiosity, celebrate innovation, and encourage collaboration; they infuse these skills and concepts into every course over four years. As a complement to curriculum and symposia offerings, experiential learning offers students a chance to apply their growing skills beyond the classroom in a variety of industries. Nearly one-third of NDA seniors are currently taking advantage of research trips, guest lectures, job shadows, externships, internships, and more all over Los Angeles.

E N C E N D A

N M O R

Illegal Charters

Unlicensed boats pose risks to passengers and businesses

By Morgan Owen

Unlicensed charters sailing out of Marina del Rey have become a problem. Labor Day weekend it resurfaced after the U.S. Coast Guard and Marina del Rey Sheriff’s Depart ment terminated the voyage of the Beirut, an illegally operating 58-foot pleasure craft.

The Beirut, which had 15 passengers aboard, was operating without a licensed captain or a valid certificate of inspection, among other violations. The U.S. Coast Guard issued a port order for the Beirut to cease operations until the owners of the vessel remedy the violations. That did not stop the Beirut from being chartered again by 14 passengers that Sunday. Now, the owners and operators of the Beirut face additional civil penalties and a class D felony for violating the port order, punish able by up to six years in prison and a criminal fine of up to $250,000 per individual and $500,000 per organization.

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What is required to operate a legal charter vessel?

The federal government requires all charter vessels to register their boat with either the U.S. Coast Guard or the DMV. The registra tion process is expensive, costing upward of $10,000 and may take years to complete. Boats with more than six passengers must also be operated by a Coast Guard licensed captain, undergo yearly safety inspections and belong to a random drug testing consortium.

Beyond that, charter vessels must also comply with state regulations. In California, that means obtaining a water taxi license and a water taxi operator’s business license. This process is equally lengthy and requires the charter to operate out of a commercial dock.

The difficulty with enforcement of illegal charters is the U.S. Coast Guard can only regulate federal violations and vice versa. An anonymous source familiar with these regulations said that, in

Coast Guard members terminate the voyage of an illegal charter vessel, the Beirut. “The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.”

PHOTO BY HUNTER SCHNABEL

some ways, it was lucky the Coast Guard could issue a port order for The Beirut. “This boat just happened to be violating everything, but there are some boats out there that only violate (the state) half.”

Passenger safety

Lt. Brett Losey, an investiga tions officer with the Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach, said illegally chartered vessels “pose a significant safety concern to the public.” Charter regulations are in place for a reason: to protect the life and safety of the boat’s passengers.

In 2018, Mauricio Alvarez pled guilty before a Florida U.S. District Court to misconduct or neglect that resulted in the death of a passenger. According to the Department of Justice, Alvarez, who did not have a valid mer chant mariner license, neglected to confirm everyone was aboard the vessel before engaging the engine that ultimately struck and killed a swimming passenger.

Licensing and inspections are in place to prevent negligent mistakes, such as the one Alvarez committed, from happening in

Marina del Rey. As part of the training to become a licensed captain, students learn lifesaving skills, such as firefighting, naviga tion and CPR. Likewise, annual vessel inspections ensure vessels comply with vital safety regula tions, such as having the correct number and type of life vests aboard.

To make matters worse, passengers often book illegal charters, like the Beirut, unwit tingly online through third-party sites, such as Boatsetter, GetMy Boat and Sailo. The U.S. Coast Guard could not confirm if the passengers aboard during Labor Day booked the Beirut through a third-party service because of an ongoing investigation. But an anonymous source indicated a current listing on the website GetMyBoat believed to be the Beirut.

Illegal charters take clients away from local businesses. In Marina del Rey alone, there are approxi mately 160 charters available through third-party booking sites, but only 36 legal charter compa nies listed with the Marina del Rey Tourism Board. By that standard, if someone intended to book a vessel for the day, they are

more likely to contact an illegal charter company than a legal one.

Folks are attracted to illegal charter companies because they operate out of recreational docks and can book clients on short notice, whereas Dock 55 requires bookings to be filed 24 hours in advance. One legal charter company said the third-party service they use to advertise notifies them five to 10 bookings a month get canceled because of this issue.

In addition to a permeated marketplace, illegal charters do not have to pay Dock 55 a 6% service fee for each booking. And without annual inspections, illegal charters decrease overhead by eliminating costs for licensing, maintenance, and inspection fees. This lack of overhead cost makes operating an unlicensed charter boat lucrative.

Legal charter companies out of Marina del Rey have repeatedly asked the U.S. Coast Guard and state officials to crack down on illegally operating vessels with little success. “The Coast Guard is willing to help out here and there to bust some of these boats,

Merchant mariner credential, otherwise known as a captain’s license, and uninspected passenger vessel examination card.

PHOTO BY MORGAN OWEN

Illegal Charters

but the state offers no help,” said an anonymous source.

How does one tell if a charter company is legal? In Marina del Rey, the answer is simple. Marina del Rey Tourism works with the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors to publish a list of charter compa nies operating with a valid business license.

It is also possible to book a “bareboat charter,” where a boat owner leases their vessel to you for a certain period, during which they cannot be aboard. Bareboat charters are still required to obtain California business licenses and should still appear with the Marina del Rey Tourism Board.

Regardless if a charter is booked through a third-party service or directly from the charter com pany, Lt. Brett Losey said, the “Coast Guard urges passengers to ask to see their captain’s mer chant mariner credential (cap tain’s license) before leaving the dock.” The best policy is to check a charter boat's federal and state documentation before departure to ensure you are boarding a legal charter boat.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARINA DEL REY TOURISM BOARD

Fire in Venice Canals

Blaze destroys 2 homes, damages 3 more

By Morgan Owen

Afire at 421 Carroll Canal in Venice destroyed two homes and damaged three others late Sunday night. The fire began in a vacant three-story single family home under renovation and burned into the adjacent homes before firefighters extinguished the blaze at approximately 12:06 a.m. on Oct. 3.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was notified of the fire through a 911 call at 10:44 p.m. on Oct. 2. By the time the fire department arrived at the scene, the three story home was “fully involved” in flames on all sides.

The incident was given Major Emergency status as over 100 firefighters worked for an hour and 20 minutes to extinguish the flames. Damage was severe.

“A total of five homes were damaged. The three-story home is a total loss, as is one of the exposed homes,” reported Margaret Stewart with the LAFD shortly after the fire was put out.

The other three homes sustained damage to their roofs by embers from the fire. Firefighters remained at the scene until 6 a.m. to ensure hot-spots were extinguished and to conduct overhaul operations. No injuries were reported, and LAFD does not have an estimate of how many people were displaced at this time.

Stewart could not comment on the initial cause of the fire due to an arson investigation automatically triggered by the size of the event.

Fisherman’s Village/Dock 55.

Union: Cedars-Sinai Negotiations ‘Alarming’

Hospital employees hold picket to bring awareness

By Morgan Owen

Cars honk at the request of picketing workers at the Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital. The workers, who belong to the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers Union (SEIU-UHW), have taken to the streets in protest of proposals put forward by the hospital as part of their contract renegotiation process.

The proposal, according to SEIU-UHW representatives, is an attempt by the hospital to roll back worker benefits, including health care, free parking, and workers’ ability to conduct pickets like the one that took place Sept. 27.

Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey denies allegations that they are working to roll back benefits, but a section of the proposal provided to The Argonaut lists striking and picketing as prohibited activities under the

18+ audiences only

18+ audiences only

18+ audiences only

GENRE: Magical Realism Fictional Memoir

GENRE: Magical Realism

Fictional Memoir

GENRE: Magical Realism

Excerpts from this novel--The Pollinator In His Own Words--read by the author, exemplify the intimate relationship between two art forms: painting and writing. The protagonist of this tale, through the mystic art surfing, slowly develops the ability to fly. the story evolves, he discovers that he can,

Excerpts from this novel--The Pollinator In His Own Wordsread by the author, exemplify the intimate relationship between two art forms: painting and writing. The protagonist of this tale, through the mystic art of surfing, slowly develops the ability to fly. As the story evolves, he discovers that he can, during flight, by way of olfactory engendered clairvoyance, accumulate and store inter nally essential love; eventually he is able to bestow this love. The following excerpts, inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper, occur in the story when the protagonist is beginning to collect such essences of primal bliss.

Fictional Memoir

Excerpts from this novel--The Pollinator In His Own Words--read by the author, exemplify the intimate relationship between two art forms: painting and writing. The protagonist of this tale, through the mystic art of surfing, slowly develops the ability to fly. As the story evolves, he discovers that he can, during flight, by way of olfactory engendered clairvoyance, accumulate and store internally essential love; eventually he is able to bestow this love. The following excerpts, inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper, occur in the story when the protagonist is beginning to collect such essences of primal bliss.

Excerpts from this novel--The Pollinator In His Own Words--read by the author, exemplify the intimate relationship between two art forms: painting and writing. The protagonist of this tale, through the mystic art of surfing, slowly develops the ability to fly. As the story evolves, he discovers that he can, during flight, by way of olfactory engendered clairvoyance, accumulate and store internally essential love; eventually he is able to bestow this love.

FIND EXCERPTS on YouTube

following excerpts, inspired by

Endorsed by the LA Times, The Sierra Club and The LA County Democratic Party

Darling for City Council

is available at ethics.lacity.org

CHRIS

Dinah Jacquez leads a chant during a picket outside of the Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital to bring awareness to SEIUUHW’s fight for better working conditions.

Union: Cedars-Sinai Negotiations ‘Alarming’

(Continued

proposal, punishable up to termination. Hospital opera tions declined to discuss individual negotiation points.

Joanne Laguna-Kennedy, MSM, RN, vice president, and chief operations officer of Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey, said she wants to be “mindful of the process” as the hospital works to reach an equitable agreement for both parties.

“We are trying to make sure that [our employees] under stand we’re not taking things away,” Laguna-Kennedy said.

“I never want anybody to be afraid or upset thinking that we’re doing something we’re not.” She further explained that Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey’s goal is to change the wording in SEIU-UHW’s contract so the hospital can add benefits without waiting for contract renegotiations, not cut them.

Union negotiations in the health care sector are notori ously contentious. This is the third contract renegotiation between SEIU-UHW and Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey since Cedars-Sinai acquired the hospital in 2015 but the first

since the pandemic. Allegations of misinformation flow from both parties.

Working conditions

Kaylee Martinez, an ultra sound technician in the radiol ogy department, paints a picture of what it is like to work at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey. She said she takes on more duties for less pay compared to other hospitals she is employed at. Martinez stays because she said she believes in the strength of the community and values the bond she has with her coworkers.

Conversations about possible wage increases and better opportunities in the new contract are tinged with concerns about inflation and reeling costs after the pandem ic. Many of those picketing on Sept. 27 want Cedars-Sinai to treat their workers like the “health care heroes” they praised them as during the height of COVID-19.

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“Cedars-Sinai challenged us during the pandemic to be leaders in all aspects of patient care—even as we were short staffed and facing incredible

risks to ourselves and our families,” said Vincent Creigh ton, a surgical technician at the Marina del Rey facility. “We stepped up. Now we are challenging them to be here for us… We want to come to work without worrying if we will be able to pay our bills, adequately care for our patients, or be truly recognized for all the sacrifices we have made.”

Laguna-Kennedy said CedarsSinai Marina del Rey has implemented several additional programs for their employees since the pandemic, including tuition assistance and free LinkedIn learning opportuni ties. “We want the ability to enhance these benefits and not have our representatives sitting and waiting (for renegotia tion).”

Minimum wage increase

The Sept. 27 picket comes amid broad controversy in the Los Angeles health care sector regarding a city measure passed in July that would have raised the minimum wage for private health care workers to $25 an hour. The ordinance, blocked by a referendum before it could

take effect on Aug. 13, covered a variety of employees, from janitorial staff to registered

nurses.

Cedars-Sinai, a private institution, would be required to comply with the wage increase at all their locations, including Marina del Rey. Opponents to the measure provided several rationales for halting the measure, including unfair targeting of private employers and undue financial burden to hospital operations. It is not clear if Cedars-Sinai was in support or opposition to the referendum.

Further controversy emerged after SEIU-UHW alleged that petitioners obtained signatures for the referendum under false pretenses. Incident reports provided by the union show that the referendum was advertised as a chance at equal pay for all healthcare workers, based on the fact that the minimum wage increase applied only to private facili ties.

The LA city clerk has certified that the number of signatures submitted meets the referendum requirements, but is still in the process of verifying their

authenticity. If the verification is successful, the city will have 20 days to either repeal the ordinance, schedule a special election, or place the measure for a vote during a regularly scheduled city election, likely in 2024.

This situation lends uncertain ty to SEIU-UHW’s renegotia tions with Cedars-Sinai Marina Del Rey. Workers at the picket said they are hoping to ask the hospital for a $1 per hour wage increase moving forward.

Economic negotiations moving forward

The union is discussing economic proposals with the hospital, which means this is the period of the negotiations wage increases will officially be put forward. Valdez, chief negotiator for the union, said, “to be quite frank, we are just trying to protect the current agreement and address some of the economic challenges that have come with inflation.”

Before COVID-19, the standard figure set forward for a wage increase was 3%, how ever, the economic squeeze felt by many workers is pushing

SEIU-UHW to likely ask for more, according to Tom Parker, senior communications special ist.

Last May, SEIU-UHW’s renegotiation with Cedars-Sinai Los Angeles led to a historic five-day strike that produced the largest pay raises in the history of SEIU-UHW’s relationship with Cedars-Sinai, at 17.46% over three years. That increase puts the minimum wage for workers at CedarsSinai Los Angeles at $21 per hour.

Hospital operations are unaware of any intention by SEIU-UHW to strike, but it is still early in the renegotiation process. Union members' right to strike is protected under California law but they must give advance notice to the hospital before proceeding.

SEIU-UHW represents more than 100,000 health care workers in California, many of whom still make less than $20 per hour. Cedars-Sinai is known for excellent patient care. That, at the very least, is a priority that both the hospital adminis tration and union workers share throughout this contentious renegotiation process.

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Employees from Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey gathered outside of the hospital to bring awareness to their fight for better opportunities in the workplace.

A Cut Above

AANUKO cultivates creativity and experiences

By Bridgette M. Redman

W hen you bring together two masters of social media and top-notch designers of men’s hair products, anything can happen.

In the case of David Alfonso from Hanz de Fuko and Joe Andrews of BluMaan, their collaboration has given birth to AANUKO, a creative barber boutique and experiential men’s hair salon in Culver City.

These are two industry professionals who know much more than just hair care—and know that people need more than a haircut. They need connection, interaction and, in today’s online world, pictures to prove that it happened.

Alfonso and Andrews have each founded their own haircare companies, but while they are competitors, they are also longtime collaborators.

Andrews got his start as a social media influencer and Alfonso said he was one of their first brand ambassadors.

“He started to grow his influence on YouTube,” Alfonso said. “He was the go-to hair guy. He started his own product line.”

Together, they both realized that they could create some thing beyond product and that together they were stronger and more creative than apart.

“We had the opportunity to fill each other’s void,” Alfonso said. “Hanz de Fuko had always wanted to have a space that was not only a barbershop, but we could use it to drive a lot of fresh, new content. On

Joe’s side, he had a pretty good following and he could gener ate traffic through those doors. As far as both of our brands, they kind of live in two different worlds.”

The Hanz de Fuko line branded itself as the products for the smart professional. It sells in Nordstrom and Sephora throughout the world. Andrews’ BluMaan brand is what Alfonso described as a casual brand that is more customer facing and a great niche product for his followers.

AANUKO is a place where they want men and women to become their best selves physically, mentally and emotionally while connecting with others in the community.

“I wanted to reimagine the barbershop concept by immers ing it into completely unfamil iar aesthetics,” Alfonso said. “It’s like walking into a Gucci-inspired boutique in Paris or New York in the 1980s. But then it has the warmth and feel of a quirky hotel lobby that you find somewhere in Barce lona.”

It’s an environment where they want to create excitement in the eyes of the clients. Each person is greeted like family from the moment they walk through the doors, setting the stage for what they hope will be a unique, feel-good experi ence.

“The house of AANUKO is a place to play, to connect and to thrive,” Alfonso said. “It’s where the barber and client unite in creative inspiration.”

So how are they different from a regular barbershop? Alfonso

AANUKO is a new creative barber boutique in Culver City’s Arts District that was founded by mens grooming experts Joe Andrews and David Alfonso.

draws a contrast between the typical barbershop that might have some community feel but tends to be transaction-based and can feel like a “one size fits all” exchange. They wanted to create a more immersive experience where they treat the

customer like family and create new friendships.

They want their environment to be transformative for the industry. They go about that, Alfonso said, by the team that they have brought on board.

“It’s about hiring good people

with raw talent,” Alfonso said. “They all have this creative fire that clients will truly feel. Clients will never be made to feel like a transaction. It is about cultivating genuine relationships and really driving home that confidence that

builds results for the client.

There’s a talent in creating that rapport and making the client feel at home and really listening to them. It is just having it be in an environment that is unique and different.”

Clients will be able to consult with experts on what style works best for them, learn a lot about their hair and go home with a lot of product knowl edge. But it doesn’t end there. Clients can enjoy a free cocktail at a Barcelona-style café. They can also visit the photo studio and take photos home with them.

“In today’s day and age, people like to have photos that they can spread on their respective social media channels and that’s what we do for the client,” Alfonso said.

“Not only are you going to get this amazing haircut, you’re going to get professionally done photos. The photos are amazing. People are going to love to share their photos.”

They’re designing it as a place where people can hang out. Ultimately, their goal is to make sure their clients have the knowledge to feel more confident about how they style their hair and take care of their hair. They’ll even be giving out some free products.

They’re dedicated to making sure the boutique experience is a memorable one.

“It’s all about the little nuances, whether it’s the eucalyptus oil and a warm towel that we put over your face, or the consultation and the photo booth,” Alfonso said.

“Being able to put all of these things together in this space will really delight clients. They’ll feel immersed in this really cool thing.”

The name is a combination of both founders’ company names. AAN are the last three letters of BluMaan and UKO are the last three letters of Hanz de Fuko. It is just one of the many ways that they are combining their creativity to create a new experience for people passionate about hair.

AANUKO

5790 Washington Boulevard, Culver City 310-359-6602

10 a.m. to 7 p.m., (Tues - Sat) aanuko.com

The founders want the barbershop to be a place where men and women can become their best selves physically, mentally and emotionally, while connecting with others in the community.

Clients can also enjoy free cocktails at AANUKO’s Barcelona-style café and visit the photo studio and take photos home with them.

Together With Music

Chamber group celebrates a season of camaraderie with eight curated experiences

By Bridgette M. Redman

The Santa Monica chamber group, Jaca randa Music, has launched a season of premieres, a season of tributes and a season returning their full return to live music. Titled “Camaraderie,” the concert series includes eight programs from September through May that combines world, U.S. and West Coast premieres, an opera, a Pulitzer Prize winner and two anniver sary tributes.

Patrick Scott, co-founder of Jacaranda Music, said there are many layers to the season theme—from the simple act of a chamber orchestra performing together to the solidarity in response to the invasion of Ukraine to issues of inclusion.

“Our website banner is this animation of hands clapping and clasping,” Scott said. “They’re all kinds of colors. It’s a feeling of unity and human rights. Classical music gets misunder stood as sort of elitist—Western culture, German, French and Italian. It’s so much more than that. Our entire existence as a concert series has been to embrace African American, Latino American and Asian American cultures. It’s kind of like old-fashioned ‘70s hippie idealism underneath it all. We really want within this so-called post-COVID times to reinforce the social value of listening to music together in a room, live.”

They launched their season last month with a concert called “Vineyards of Myth” that dealt with wine and history. While dealing with myth and facts about wine, they turned to living composers who created music in ancient Greek, Latin, English and French.

“We put it all together as a journey to ancient history through the lives of living composers,” said Patrick Scott. “There’s a term now that (historians) use instead of research—it’s called new knowledge. I love that term. Composers need to be respected as pioneering new knowledge. They’re using their technology in the world of new and contemporary music to explore these ancient themes.”

Their next concert on Oct. 21 and 22 is in partnership with the

Wende Museum and explores more recent history. It will be the world premiere of a chamber opera by Peter Knell with a libretto by Stephanie Fleis chmann. “Arkhipov” comes on the 60th anniversary of a nuclear crisis aboard a B-59 Soviet submarine.

The subject, Vasily Aleksan drovich Arkhipov, was a Soviet naval officer who saved the world. He was second-in-com mand of a B-59 submarine during the Cuban Missile Crisis and refused to authorize the use of nuclear torpedoes against the U.S. Navy, a decision which required agreement of three officers and he was the only one who refused. The premiere will take place at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

“It’s such a gripping story,” Scott said.

He and his partner, conductor, organist and Jacaranda cofounder Mark Alan Hilt went to Seattle to see it being worked on and he said the score was incredible.

“I’m kind of a sucker for submarine movies,” he said.

“This is around 105 minutes and we’re not planning to have an intermission. It’s kind of like going to the movies without the movie.”

Their next concert on Feb. 12 is Scott’s way of providing an alternative to the Super Bowl. The first half starts at 4 p.m. “Similar/Contrary 1” features Raven Chacon’s “Voiceless Mass,” Ferrucio Busoni’s “American Indian Diary (Indianisches Tagebuch), and Chris Castro’s world premiere string quartet. They’ll be performed by the Lyris Quartet with Sharon Harms, soprano and the Jacaranda Chamber Ensemble conducted by David Bloom.

“The beginning part especially is offering an alternative to aggression and commercial ism,” Scott said of the “Voice less Mass.” “It just got the 2022 Pulitzer Prize. It’s by Raven Chacon, he’s Navajo and it’s the first time a Native American has gotten a Pulitzer Prize… people expect it to sound Native American, and of course, he’s a living composer like anybody and it’s drawing from the language of contempo

Acclaimed concert series, Jacaranda Music, has announced its most ambitious season yet with “Camaraderie,” featuring eight distinct programs that run through May 2023.

PHOTOS

rary music, so it doesn’t have a particular connection to that past. But the connection to me is it’s a sort of invocation of nature and humanity in a space that’s intended to elevate you and put you in contact. To me, it’s the essence of camaraderie to experience the voiceless mass.”

Then after a dinner break, concert-goers can return at 7 p.m. for an 85th birthday tribute to Philip Glass, including “Piece in the Shape of a Square,” “Contrary Motion,” “Music in Similar Motion” and “Music in Contrary Motion.” Remaining concerts in the series include:

• “New Albion” March 4, 8 p.m.

• “Fantastical” April 15, 8 p.m.

• “Za’atar” May 19, 8 p.m.

• “Veranda by the Sea” May 21, 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. (concert and after-party)

“New Albion” is the slightly delayed 50th birthday party for composer Thomas Ades. He’ll turn 52 a few days before the

concert, but the pandemic kept the previous birthday celebra tions from happening. The pieces being performed include two West Coast premieres and three U.S. premieres, including pieces from the 2016 opera “The Exterminating Angel.” In the opera and the Mexican film it is based on, politically prestigious guests are attending a dinner party. The servants realize something is wrong and leave. After one of the guests performs a piano sonata, the guests come to an alarming realization.

“There’s some invisible force that is preventing them from leaving and the servants are gone,” Scott said. “Things start to unravel. It’s wonderfully strange. It’s nuanced. It’s about religion, class and all kinds of things with surrealistic touches. It’s a brilliant opera.”

“Fantastical” includes two of the works they co-commis sioned with the LA Philharmon ic as part of their music mara

thon, Noon to Midnight. It celebrates three generations of California composers.

“Za’atar” is a spice common in the food of Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs, Turks, Egyptians and Persians. The concert is a program by pianist Inna Faliks who “sprinkles the spice liberally across contrasting textures and moods,” according to the press release.

“Veranda by the Sea” is a benefit concert featuring classical Persian music and the world premiere of a major piano suite by Danielpour.

It’s a season where Jacaranda does what it does best—pro duces classical music adven tures, experiences and curated concerts based in Santa Monica that bring people together to experience camaraderie through music performance.

By GARY LARSON &

ENSZ

Highlighted by a combination of world, U.S. and West Coast premieres, a multitude of musical styles will be on display including a long-awaited opera, a Pulitzer Prize winner, two anniversary tributes, as well as recent music from 10 leading California composers.

On the Road Again

Santa Monica’s California Heritage Museum showcases two new exhibits

By Paul Wozniak

According to Tobi Smith, executive director of California Heritage Museum in Santa Monica, the museum’s biggest problem is that they’re a well-kept secret.

And with two new exhibits running through the end of October, low to no entry fees, and “the only free parking in Santa Monica,” there’s no reason not to go.

The exhibits on display in the 1894 Historic Landmark Roy Jones House in Santa Monica are “Road Trip: LA - NYC, 2021,” and “California Water Color Society: The Firsty Fifty Years (1921-1971)." Both are distinctly different in time and medium.

“The First Fifty Years” is located upstairs and is on loan from the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University.

“It's the first show the museum has ever taken from another

museum,” Smith said. “In the decades that I've been here, we've always produced our own exhibitions.”.

The society’s stated goal at the time was to " to elevate the watercolor medium to the dignity it enjoyed under such great cultures as those of China and Persia.”

Elevate because at the time, watercolor was not valued.

“There was a time and I actually almost remember it where you could buy watercol ors [cheaply] because people sort of looked their nose down on them,” Smith said.

Dubbed “illustrators”, many artists featured in the exhibition such as Phil Dike, Emil Kosa, Jr. and Ralph Hulett made a living in movies, animating in watercolor groundbreaking motion pictures like Disney’s “Snow White,” “Bambi,” “Dumbo” and “Fantasia.”

Others were self-employed like Marion Kavanaugh

Wachtel, who earned a reputa tion as one of the greatest watercolor artists of her time.

“We have four Wachtels in the show and they’re extraordi nary,” Smith said. “The first thing I see when I walk up the stairs to the office is this wall of her work, and seeing that there may be been a number of female watercolor artists from the '20s and '30s but not as well-known as her, I think there's a very good reason that her watercolors are stunning.”

Smith is also excited the exhibit ties into the history of the Automobile Club of Southern California, one of the first automobile clubs in the country. Many of the watercolor landscapes from this period are the same size and feature similar locales.

“During Prohibition, [the Automobile Club] built roads from San Francisco going down south to Tijuana, because in Mexico you could drink,” Smith

said.

It was difficult to stop off along the road and complete a painting with traditional oils because the paint takes too long to dry. Watercolor on the other hand dried fast and the pages were consistent sizes (half or full sheets).

“They would say that the piece was a full or a half sheet because traditionally those were the sizes that these artists painted, and they could stop somewhere on the route, do a beautiful painting and stick it in their car without worrying about it getting ruined because there was enough room,” Smith said. “These weren't giganti cally large paintings, but they weren't teeny either. And you could paint these and keep traveling south.”

Speaking of creating art on the road, downstairs is Marco Pallotti’s “Road Trip: LANYC, 2021” which documents his 40-day journey from Los

Angeles to New York City with many detours along the way. The exhibit includes 125 prints out of 7,000 photos that Pallotti took on his trip which included detours to Death Valley, California; Memphis, Tennes see; and the Mississippi Delta.

“During that time, a number of us were lucky enough to receive day by day photographs of his progress, real time across the country and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Smith said.

Pallotti’s pictures include sprawling landscapes, detailed cityscapes, quirky signage along with a curious lens on the peculiarities of “normal” things like a road sign in the Mojave National Preserve that says “Rough Roads May Exist” or a picture of a roadside billboard surrounded by fields and an ominous sky that reads “Never Worry Again!”

“I think you'll see some things that other people maybe didn't see when they visited those

California Heritage Museum presents a new exhibition, “Road Trip LA—NYC, 2021” by visual artist Marco Pallotti, who documented his 40-day journey from the Los Angeles Area to New York City, passing through large bustling cities and small sleepy towns along the way.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CALIFORNIA HERITAGE MUSEUM

same cities and small communities,” Smith said.

The hardest part was narrowing down the exhibit to 125 photos.

“There were a lot of these quirky photographs and he has a very interest ing look at things,” Smith said.

Pallotti also printed the photographs himself, which allowed him final creative control.

“Because of the fact that he created all of this in house, it's not like it had to be sent out, he did all of it,” Smith said. “He had all the equipment to produce it. We could make subtle little changes, he could tweak the exposures, he could do all of this.”

These various manipulations on an individual photograph made the exhibi tion less expensive to produce, and it allowed Pallotti the ability to show the original photographs as he meant for people to see them.

As Smith stated that's not always the case.

“Marco said, ‘I have this paper that's 24 inches wide,’ and I said, ‘What I'd

like to do is take that and wrap it around all the galleries as you walk around,’”

Smith shared. “Ultimately, everything fell into place in a very short period of time.”

Would they have done it any differ ently?

“I think not,” Smith said. “People that come to the museum will get to take this journey. A journey that doesn't take 30 days, maybe 30 minutes, and they get to go across the continent from Santa Monica to New York. It's quite wonder ful.

Smith added, “Museums provide a very inexpensive means of adding this history, this colorful part of iconic art, giving you something you didn't have before you walked in the door. That's what I like to pick up on is the visual information that you see every day. When you come to a museum, you're fortunate it's presented to you. You get to take what you want and leave the rest behind, but I can't imagine you not taking something. People come to enjoy the shows here.”

“California Water Society: The First Fifty Years (1921-1971)” features select watercolors by outstanding artists who were members during that 50-year period of time.

gian painter Edvard Munch who knew Ibsen. After Ibsen’s death, he was asked to design a set for “Ghosts” even though he’d never done a set at the time. He did a series of drawings and paintings both of the set and the actors in their roles. He mixed realistic furniture that would belong to a drawing room with an expres sionistic setting, one done in pale and sickly colors. The designer for the Odyssey production was inspired by these paintings.

DeLorenzo has had the opportunity to observe audi ences and their reactions to this show. He says it really packs a wallop.

“When the audience comes out, a lot of them tell me that they need a stiff drink,” DeLorenzo said. “The play builds to a riveting and shatter ing climax. It’s very disturbing where it goes and the audience wants to talk about it. People are very, very moved by the story. When you see the struggle of the last five minutes of the play, it is pretty devastat ing.”

the greats of theater history, “Ghosts” is rarely done. DeLorenzo said he’s surprised even at the number of serious theater-goers and academics who have never seen the show. This makes it a rare opportu nity for local residents to encounter one of the great masterpieces of the theater, he said.

And, he added, it has every thing that is entertaining about theater.

“Our production is a very visceral production,” DeLo renzo said. “The romance in the play is sexy and the ending packs a wallop. It’s a wonder ful, theatrical extravaganza.”

WHAT: “Ghosts” by Henrik Ibsen, adapted by Richard Eyre WHO: Odyssey Theatre Ensemble

WHEN: Through Oct. 23, 8 p.m. Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, 8 p.m. Mondays, 8 p.m. Fridays in October only WHERE: Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Boulevard, Los AngelesEyre illuminates Ibsen’s masterpiece, seen as a scandalous work when it was first performed in 1882, with fresh poetry and dark humor.

Even though Ibsen is one of

As widow Helene Alving tries to start her life anew after the death of her philandering husband, she must confront the ghosts of the past and the weight of her

secrets.

WESTSIDE HAPPENINGS

Compiled by Kamala Kirk

Have an event for the calendar?

Send it to kamala@timespublica tions.com

Marina Drum Circle

Sundays, through Oct. 16

Discover the joy of interactive group drumming in Burton Chace Park! Join Marina Drum Circle on a journey of creating beats and sounds collectively, led by Christopher Ramirez of Freedom Drum Circles. Drums provided by Remo Drums. While in the Marina, enjoy lunch from local waterside restaurants. Offered in 60-min ute sessions at two different times. For more information, visit the website, call 424-5267777 or email: events@bh. lacounty.gov.

13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., marinadelrey.lacounty.gov

Style Hacks to Dress It Down

10 Pounds

Thursday, Oct. 6

The Westchester Mental Health Guild’s October fashion fundraiser will take place in the Westchester backyard of stylist Bobbie Caslino-Lewis. Tickets will cost $35 and will include refreshments. Sign up at the website. Spaces at the outdoor event are limited, and the address will be provided only to ticket purchasers. CasalinoLewis is a motivational speaker who focuses on style, confidence and spirituality. A prolific columnist, she is the author of a soon-to-be released book, “So That’s What 70 Looks Like the Essence of Aging Gracefully.” Location to be announced upon purchase, 5 p.m., stylehacks.eventbrite.com

On Oct. 7, there will be a film premiere of a skateboard and fashion documentary at the Pico Youth & Family Center that will also raise funds for an art and music workshop in Santa Monica.

Special Event with Nancy Rodriguez Friday, Oct. 7

The Mar Vista Seniors Club meets every Friday in Mar Vista Park. All the children of seniors over 50 years old are invited to bring their mothers and grand mothers to a “friendly club for friendly people.” This Friday, Nancy Rodriguez from the Dale Macintosh Center will be the club’s special guest, with her special guest, a blind person who works in her organization, to show, tell and explain how their outreach program in several counties can help you, your neighbor or your relative to live a better life if you gave low vision or no vision. RSVP by calling Carmen at 310-5595251.

11430 Woodbine Street, Mar Vista, 10 a.m.

Open Art Studios

Friday, Oct. 7

Grand View Fine Arts Studios presents Open Art Studios, a superb art and live music experience.

3871 Grand View Boulevard, Mar Vista, 6 to 10 p.m.

Film Premiere: Skateboard & Fashion Documentary Friday, Oct. 7

There will be a film premiere of a skateboard and fashion documentary at the Pico Youth & Family Center. Open to all ages; $25 for unlimited food and drinks. The event will also raise funds for an art and music workshop in Santa Monica. $5 pre-order online, $10 at the door day of the event. If you can’t attend, you can still purchase a ticket as a form of a donation. For more information, visit the

website.

715 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, 7 to 10 p.m., cosmicdemise.com

Culver City Woman’s Club Book & Jewelry Sale Oct. 7 & 8

The Culver City Woman’s Club is having a book and jewelry sale with great deals. Free admission. All proceeds go to local charities. The Culver City Woman’s Club is a nonprofit philanthropic and social organization that supports a number of local charitable causes such as Meals on Wheels, S.A.V.E.S. Food Bank, High School Student Scholar ships, Shoes for the Homeless, West LA Veterans, Children’s Foster Care Services, Lange Foundation (no-kill shelter), and several more.

9516 Cattaraugus Avenue, Los Angeles; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., (Oct. 7), 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Oct. 8); For additional information, contact Sharon Calhoun (sharoncalhoun@earthlink. net)or Judy Lohs (jalohs@ gmail.com).

Natives and Edibles in Your Garden

Saturday, Oct. 8

Join Santa Monica Community Gardeners for their Second Saturday open house and workshop at the Main Street Garden. Learn how best to combine natives and edibles in the home or community garden. Get the details of the Santa Monica Lawn to Native Rebate Program and convert your lawn into a place that supports

biodiversity by providing native plants for pollinators.

2318 Main Street, Santa Monica, 9 to 11 a.m.

Venice Artisan Craft Fair Saturday, Oct. 8

Come check out this commu nity holiday extravaganza of art, crafts, food and more for the entire family. This unique event is just in time to do all your holi day shopping in one location. The Artisan Craft Fair is hosted by the Venice High School Alumni Association. Free admission.

2435 Walgrove Avenue, Los Angeles, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

626 Night Market Mini Oct. 8 & 9 Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. and 626 Night Market are bringing the iconic Southern California open-air food festival to the city on a smaller scale through October 2022. The market brings together food lovers with some of the most unique eats Southern California has to offer, featuring approxi mately three dozen food, merch and craft vendors. An alcohol garden will also be available for attendees 21 years and older. The market is open to all ages and free to attend with advanced ticket reservations. The market is free to attend, but advance tickets are required for entry. To reserve, visit the website. 1324 5th Street, Santa Monica 1 to 10 p.m., 626nightmarket. com/mini

Culver City Woman’s Club Monthly Meeting

Monday, Oct. 10

The Culver City Woman’s Club is holding its monthly meeting at Culver Palms United Method ist Church. If you are a theater lover, you will be delighted. They will also be serving lunch from a caterer at a very reason able price. For more informa tion, contact Pat Harmon at: patricia.harmon@med.usc.edu. 4464 Sepulveda Boulevard, 10:30 a.m., 310-569-6595

Abused by Clergy in California?

Fr. Theodore Llanos

Larry Lovell

Denis Lyons

Titian Jim Miani Fr. Donald J. McGuire

Fr. George Neville Rucker

John Anthony Salazar

Fidencio Flores Silva (Silva-Flores)

Carl M. Sutphin

Michael M. Sprouffske

sexual

Fr. Joseph D. Pina

Fr. Eleuterio V. Ramos

Fr. Carlos Rene Rodriguez

Fr. Donald Patrick Roemer

Fr. Robert Van Handel

Fr. John W. Wishard

CLASSIC PDR BEAUTY

Villa San Michelle renovated town home in one of the best interior

With 360 views from the crow's nest to a spa-like swimming pool in a lush and private backyard, enjoy this 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom entertainer's oasis. On floor 1, you'll find a large living room with sweeping views and wet bar flowing to a guest bed or office, and an owner's suite with a large patio connecting to the pool. Upstairs, discover more incredible views + a kitchen with a new Bosch oven, a full bath, and 3 spacious bedrooms, 2 with private patios. Gorgeous pool and you'll enjoy extra storage space and off-street parking in an attached garage. Newly painted with meticulous landscaping, the exterior of the home is in pristine condition. First time on the market in 40 years, this truly special home has been lovingly maintained and is ready for new memories.

Offered at $2,599,000

Jesse Weinberg

Jesse Weinberg and Associates

800-804-9132

STUNNING VENICE GEM

Stunning 4-bedroom tri-level architectural gem in the heart of Venice. This unique home features high ceilings and the main level offers a voluminous open living and dining space swathed in natural light and an enclosed balcony. The kitchen includes ample cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and is graced in natural light with a large center skylight. Above the living space, a generous roof deck, with over 500 sq.ft. of private outdoor space features open sky and sunset.

Inside, 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms await. Descending to the first floor, you find 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms including the primary en suite and a convenient laundry room. The inviting primary offers a separate shower and soaking tub, dual sinks, and large walk-in closet. Enjoy the arts scene, contemporary restaurants, eclectic shops near this private gem.

Offered at $1,749,000

Stephanie Younger COMPASS 310-499-2020

RELEASES

LARGE LOT KENTWOOD STARTER

This 3-bed, 1-bath starter home in quiet, family-friendly Kentwood sits on a massive 7,198 sq ft lot ready for new owners to expand into their dream house or for flippers to exit with a lucrative upside. The large living room features recessed lighting and a traditional brick fireplace. The updated kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances and roll-out pantry shelves, plus an entrance to an uncovered brick patio and expansive yard. The two-car garage at the north end of the lot can be converted to a large ADU (call for plan info) where new owners could live while reconfiguring the main house to their own vision.

Offered at $1,200,000

Joe Piasecki, The Cunningham Group

DRE# 02158933

KW Advisors 310-733-0931

Buying or selling beach-front real estate?

THE ARGONAUT REAL ESTATE BUSINESS

What Happens When Companies Buy Houses?

If you’ve ever seen signs for companies that say they buy houses, or maybe you’ve been approached by one, you might find yourself wondering exactly what it is that they do.

There are a couple of different types of companies that buy houses cash. There are those ones that you see advertising in your community, but there are also tech-driven companies that do it.

How Do Home Buying Companies Work?

If you want to sell your house, you typically will hire a real estate agent, and then they’ll place it on the MLS. If you want to sell it fast without doing work or paying a commission, then you might instead try to sell it as-is.

There are companies that buy houses as they currently are for cash. This can mean local cash buyers, investor networks, or iBuyers.

• A local cash buyer is typically just someone who will buy your house and either flip it or turn it into a rental.

• An investor network is one of those companies that you see advertising most often, and they’re local franchises. They

don’t pay much for houses because they usually focus on ones that are in pretty bad shape, and then then they flip them.

• Then, there’s the term iBuyer. The term stands for instant buyer. These are companies that use algorithms and data in the form of what are called automated valuation models to determine what your home’s worth. Then, based on their data, they’ll make an offer.

What Are the Benefits for You?

If you want to sell your home quickly, one of the three above cash buyer options can be good.

The vast majority will buy your house just like it currently is, so you don’t have to make repairs or updates, nor do you have to worry about staging it.

They’ll usually be flexible in helping you find financing solutions, and you’re probably going to get a relatively fast closing. These companies don’t have to go through the traditional financing process from a bank, so they might be able to close in seven to 14 days.

You’re also avoiding real estate commissions and closing costs.

Are There Downsides?

While selling your home quickly and easily to a company can seem great, there are certainly some downsides you have to be aware of.

First, there’s a pretty high likelihood you’re not going to get full market value. You’re trading that for simplicity and lower costs.

There’s also always a risk of predatory tactics or even scams.

If a company is trying to pressure you into selling your home for far less than it’s worth, that’s a problem.

There are a lot of legitimate companies that do buy houses for cash, but not all of them are completely legit. You have to do some research if you’re thinking about having a company buy your house to make sure it’s not a scam.

How Does the Process Work?

If you’re interested in the direct-buying model, which is ultimately what all the examples above are considered, then you might wonder what the process looks like.

Companies might vary slightly in how they do things, but typically, the home buying company

might come to you, or you could approach them. The buyer or company will get some general information, and then they’ll schedule a walk-through.

The buyer will determine the market value of the home once any updates or repairs are made. At that point, they’ll present the seller with an offer, which will include the price they’re willing to pay, a closing date, and terms of the sale.

There are negotiations, and then once everyone accepts the offer, a closing date is set.

When it comes to direct buyers you just have to think about what your priorities are and how those weigh against the potential downsides. If your biggest goal is to move quickly and avoid having two mortgages, a home buying company can be a good option if they’re reputable.

If you’re in no rush and you want the highest price for your home, then you might go the traditional route in selling it.

WEEK’S

ASHLEY SUTPHIN

REALTY TIMES

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