When you are selling your home, it is just as important to stage the outside as it is the inside. No matter the time of year, you can do some staging on the outdoors. During the winter months, keep the outdoors as neat as possible and add a wreath to the front door. Also during winter months, place a photo album on the kitchen table with pictures of the outdoors in other seasons, especially summer. Even if your outdoor space is just a patio or terrace, dress it up with a small table and chairs. It extends the indoor living space and gives potential buyers an idea how to use the space.

Basilic Restaurant is celebrating their 20th Anniversary this February. All month long, there will be special menu items as nightly specials. Chef/Owner Bernard Althaus will be recreating some of the original menu items throughout the month for guests to enjoy. Althaus was born and raised in the Alps in Switzerland; his cuisine has a French Swiss flair. Favorite dishes include Swiss Onion Soup, John Dory Filet and Crème Brulee. Basilic opened in 1997. The restaurant is open Tuesdays through Saturdays for dinner. Basilic Restaurant is located at 217 Marine Avenue on Balboa Island. For more information about this month long celebration or to make reservations, see their website at: http://www.basilicrestaurant.com/.

Crystal Cove is made up residential developments, shopping areas and mostly by the Crystal Cove State Park. The park is has hundreds of acres of canyons, 18 miles of trails and 3.2 miles of coastline and beaches. Located 9 Del Mar, this 15,000 square foot home is part of the Crystal Cove Custom home community. This six bedroom, nine bathroom home was built in 2010. Attention to detail can be seen in the salt water aquarium, custom mahogany work and automotive turn table in the garage. The home features a 10 person home theater, game room and elevator to all the levels of the home. The home and property have views of the Pacific Ocean, Newport Beach Harbor, Pelican Hill Golf Course, Palos Verdes, Catalina Island and gorgeous sunsets. The home sits on a very large 30,000 square foot piece of peninsula front row property. Outdoors, homeowner’s will enjoy entertaining around the swimming pool, in the pool pavilion and around the fire feature. The gardens have mature canary palms and water features, surrounding a putting green. Crystal Cove is a 24 hour guard gated community. Residents are encouraged to take part in all the resort style activities offered at the Canyon Club Recreational Center.