Gravel is a must in Lamorinda, and boy, was I grateful for it today! A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Todd and I received notice about a random insurance inspection for our Lafayette home. That inspection happened today, and I want to share our experience because it might help you prepare if you face something similar.
As many of you know, I'm passionate about gardens—the Daphne blooming near my front door, our 60-year-old olive trees, and those perfectly shaped boxwood balls all bring me joy. I didn't want to sacrifice any of it. Back in 2020, when we were impacted by the Napa fires, we were inspired by the gravel and greenery combinations throughout Napa Valley. Jason Scott of Eclyptic Landscape was helping with our major landscape overhaul, and he suggested switching from black bark to gravel. We took that leap of faith, and it turned out to be an excellent decision—especially for today's inspection!
Our Insurance Inspection Checklist
Before the inspector arrived, we scrambled to have all trees and vegetation pruned to ensure nothing was touching the house. Here's how we fared with our insurance company's requirements:
✓ Roof in excellent condition
✓ Newer electrical panels (installed in 2007 when we rebuilt)
✓ Vegetation around exterior vents removed
✓ No flammable material next to house (this is where gravel instead of bark saved us!)
✓ Trees not touching or overhanging the roof
We only have two items to address for full compliance
❌ Replace plastic nuts connecting toilet water supply lines to the tank with metal ones
❌ Install an automatic water shut-off device
Overall, the inspection was much less stressful than anticipated!
Market Insights
On the insurance front, our clients continue to find policies, though at higher prices than in previous years. This does impact overall home affordability when combined with today's interest rates. While it's too early to determine if these factors will affect sales prices in our market, one thing is crystal clear: buyers are cautious about overpaying in the current environment.
Would you like to know more about fire-resistant landscaping options or how insurance requirements are affecting our local real estate market? Feel free to reach out—we're always happy to chat about how to protect your investment while maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces.