Westside Story

Start now. No really. Even with the expediter ($79.99) and using Livescan to deliver the fingerprints ($39.99) turnaround time to get the FBI letter into my hands was 9 business days. Then Federal Express to Washington DC expediter to get the Apostille (otherwise 6-8 weeks). Arrives at expediter on Monday. Enters system on Tuesday AM, returned to expediter on Friday PM. Federal Express to Cyprus because the documents will not be in my hands before we fly there.  Even with the expeditors on both ends of the transaction, an FBI Background check can take 4 weeks. You cannot "save time" by having your background check sent directly to the expediter in Washington DC to be carried to the counter for the Apostille. They can't accept it. You need it sent to your attorney, who will forward it to you (or directly to the expediter), then to Washington, DC to the Department of State counter, then 3 -5 days later, back to the expediter and on to courier service. So TL;DR Start pro...

It's been a lifetime since purchasing the dream house in Pacific Palisades and our family actually moved to the Bay Area fairly recently. We are on the road again- this time to sunny Cyprus (no not Orange County, CA) and two parents, three kids and two dogs are making the big overseas move. Our belongings are being compressed into a 20 ft container and we are going through our paperwork and checking it twice.  Here is what we were told: ·   All types of valid Visas: employment visa, visitor Visa, Schengen Visa, etc.   · University Diploma (It should be Apostilled in home country)   · CV in English – electronic format · Criminal Record (It should be Apostilled in home country)  · International Passport   · For married: Marriage Certificate (1 per couple – Apostille)   · For divorced: Divorce Certificate (Apostille).   Needed documents for Spouses   ...

It's been a while. The kids were all enrolled in the local 900 API schools. They are responsible for getting themselves there and back by foot. We shop at the local Sunday Farmers Market, eat in the village restaurants and generally don't leave the area in a vehicle more than once a week. In all, we are happy here. About our purchase, we were able to refinance our 2008 mortgage to a 30 year fixed 5.75% in 2011. The process was long, painful and fraught with missing or lost documents, multiple employees, 3 mergers and finally a brilliant loan officer at Surety Financial who managed to close in 45 days.

the move happened smoothly, only one vase and my camera are toast and there are a few weeks left before school. All is well.

Friday the construction fence comes down!. A new record-breaking almost whole house remodel. We took possession in January and we are moving in in less than a week. Our thanks to a stellar architect- Oscar McGraw who navigated the Palisades Architectural review and the city permitting process with aplomb and alacrity and to John Byrne Construction- a general contractor with our budget and timeline firmly in mind it has been a pleasure to work with these talented gentlemen. Pictures coming soon. Now I need a landscape planner to turn our new front and back yards into water-wise and properly draining beds and we will be in business!

The new soaking tub roughed-in, with a view of the rooftops and telephone wires. I'm seriously NOT complaining. This spot used to be counted as a bedroom.

Doors and Landscaping next!

is scheduled for FRIDAY! Electrical walkthrough was this Saturday and the new subpanel is in. The low voltage stuff and cable runs are happening today and tomorrow. It won't be the fanciest house on the block, but I'm going to have a real network!

1139 Summit Drive, bel Air is undergoing a little demolition and has donated tens of thousands of dollars of custom cabinetry and stuff to HFH. 23 pieces of the custom kitchen- $4,400, a marble countertop $40, a gorgeous vessel sink on an antique table conversion $200. If only I was ready for these things now!

Mission accomplished- class orientation is June 3. Construction is moving apace. Foundation and framing are mostly done. Our new windows arrived and are currently stacked in the dining room. I'm having fun picking tile and fixtures now

We owe the neighbors liquor, lots and lots of it. The construction fence went up and demolition commenced at 7am Monday. IT WILL CONTINUE 6 DAYS A WEEK. To meet the timeline, we need to do work six days a week, maximum hours. So sorry neighbors about the jackhammers on Saturday morning. We will try to get this part over with as quickly as possible.

The construction fence is supposed to go up today!

The soon to be demolished architectural amenities. See that fascia board? Leaf debris built up behind it and caused the gutters to back up and seep under the eaves. The wood wicked the moisture to the plaster. Oh and that stop sign of a window way up high leaks air like you wouldn't believe. It may actually be sealed with playdoh.

Ok , I'm exaggerating . But this process grinds so slowly and the go-go days of construction are OVER. A monthfor the architect and engineer, a month for the civic league, a month for the permits. Sheesh! Just rip out those bushes, cut a hole in the roof and build me my bedrooms already!

Note to self: check rain gutters periodically. Conifer debris and other random stuff fills the gutters pretty quickly and this has a poor effect on actual drainage. I now have a lovely pink plaster line where the water seeped back under the eaves at the roofline and soaked into the fabulous coved ceiling plasterwork. Sigh.

PPCL requires copies of your remodeling or construction plans along with landscaping plans to be distributed to your surrounding neighbors for comment before a brief hearing for approval. The approval in necessary before the LA building permit is issued- in fact, it is prudent to get PPCL approval before getting engineering and building permits. We passed first time through. Hallelujah! We won't be cutting down any trees, but we will be losing green lawn in the front and gaining some landscape along the side and back. We are estimating at least a month for permits, then demolition and concrete.

Moving is happening just swimmingly- although there are some plumbing issues to correct before we move in for good. Anon- we are very thankful that we can move in- we weighed the costs and it makes sense for us now, not two years from now. As for Westside Story- I'll update everyone when we start the process of negotiating with the PPCL regarding remodeling. I wonder how they feel about gargoyles and a moat?

OK, really, it's 1/3 ours and 2/3 the bank- but hey! we are moving into the new neighborhood like the Beverly Hillbillies. To comment on http://westside-bubble.blogspot.com/ both of the homes noted (Not selling in the Palisades) are severely flawed and just not attractive values.

This holiday season, we are thankful to just be employed.

A new home for the swingset of doom. My kids will be in LAUSD, but the catchment area is all top notch schools- and that was top priority. I'm still going through the motions of applying for magnet programs and such, but it will such a relief to simply toss them out of bed and out the front door (or back door for the high school)