Earth Day 2015 is here and with it comes a reminder of ways in which we can conserve energy to help make the world a better place. Workers install solar panels at Lahaina site (2011) We at 5A have been doing our part to help give back to the local communities. We have done this in part by providing renewable energy sources such as solar to the area at our site in Lahaina, Hawaii and both of our sites in California. For more information about our solar panels in Lahaina you can visit tinyurl.com/npkgqbl  to read about the construction. Electric Vehicle Charging We are fully committed to using alternative fuel vehicles which is why we were one of the first businesses in Maui to provide an electric car charging station, which we have at our site in Lahaina. 5A Rent-A-Space Foster City, CA All of us here at 5A will help preserve the beautiful communities we are fortunate enough to call home.

Drought Tolerant Backyards According to a Huffington Post San Francisco article, California is in the worst drought in 1,200 years. Due to the statewide mandates of reducing our water usage by 25%, many home owners are transitioning their yards to more drought-tolerant landscapes. Landscape companies such as Modesto Landscapes in the Bay Area, and Turf Terminators in Los Angeles, are offering discounts for customers who choose to conserve water by changing the plants in their yards, including free lawn removal. They also suggest using drought resistant plants such as succulents, and herbs such as rosemary, sage, and lavender. If you’re looking for a local landscaping company, check out the following local companies online:  Douglas Butler Landscaping Walnut Creek, Serves East Bay (Alameda & Contra Costa Counties) http://www.douglasmbutlerlandscaping.com/ Pacific Landscaping Walnut Creek, CA, Serves East Bay http://www.pacificscapes.com/ To view the full article, click

Spring Break Travel Tips Spring Break is rapidly approaching and people are planning to take a break from the hustle and bustle of their daily schedules. Whether you’re a college student, single, senior or a young family, making travel plans can be stressful. Here are a few tips from the Huffington Post to make Spring Break Travel a little easier. Book Early. If you’re heading to more popular tourist destinations such as Disneyland, Cabo or the Bahamas, travel packages can book quickly. Schedule to book hotel, airfare, transit, meals and activities as early as possible to avoid losing out on desired locales and activities, as well as look for packaged deals..  Do Your Research. If you’re going to be traveling as family with small children, it’s probably not best to vacation in a place like Miami Beach which will be full of college students. Try Santibel Island for a more low-key and relaxing trip.  Pack Wisely. Know that certain items (e.g. swimsuits, sunglasses, sunscre

Spring Gardening Basics Spring is fast approaching displaying new growth in gardens everywhere. Whether we have green thumbs, or are new to the gardening game, we can all use these helpful tips and tricks from Better Homes and Gardens to begin transitioning our yards from winter to spring. (For the Full article go to: http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/spring-gardening-checklist/ .) Early Spring Prep the beds.  Remove winter mulch or, if well composted, work into the top layer of the soil. Work in some leaf mold or well-rotted manure, too. Prune.  Now is the time to trim fruit trees if you didn't prune in winter. Prune before buds begin to break into bloom or you'll stress the tree and get a tiny crop (or possibly none). Perform basic maintenance.  Check stonework for frost heaves. Check and clean the deck now so you don't have to do it later; make any repairs. Mid-Spring Build new flower beds.  This year, install complementary shrubs offering

Preparing to Sell Your Home This Summer? Tips from Your Local Storage Company near Orinda Selling your home is an “event” with all the elements of excitement, drama, surprises, action and stress. Whether you are in the process of purchasing another home in Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, Contra Costa County, or you are moving out of California, selling your current home is the first big challenge. Putting a home up for sale requires careful planning and a sensible workflow. While you are cleaning up and getting ready for all the showings and open houses, you may be wondering if you should clear out the place entirely or just de-clutter. To help answer that question and get you better prepared for the selling process, here are a few tips from your local storage company in Orinda . Clean out the garage. Items that take up space and that you don’t need right now can make the garage seem smaller - such as your Christmas and Halloween decorations. Pack up these items and move them to a

Spring Cleaning?  Consider Renting a Storage Unit in West Maui It’s that time of year when the days are finally long enough to get something useful done around the house and yard. Now you can tackle those carpet stains, the cluttered closets, the hardwood floors that need refinishing and some walls that could use a fresh coat of paint. Spring cleaning is never a task one looks forward to, but it can dramatically improve the quality of your home. Whether you are doing a full-house cleaning or you are just planning to remove some of the clutter, renting a storage unit in West Maui can help you get things out of your way and stowed away! A self-storage facility is also a great place to store those items you don’t need around all the time, but will need occasionally or seasonally. These are the items you don’t want to give away, donate or sell; however, keeping them in the house or garage does add to your clutter. A Few Storage Tips for Spring Cleaning You can make spring cl

How to Prepare your House for Sale In this economy and with our unstable real estate market, many homeowners are looking for answers on what brings the most impact in selling their home for top dollar.  According to Diane Britto, Broker Associate with J. Rockliff Realtors, “We’re in one of the most expensive markets in the U.S. We need to have it almost perfect to sell (think model Home).”  Although it may seem like a large sum of money spent up front, the value you are adding to your home will enable you to reach a broader & higher end clientele. This will lead to a stronger offer from potential buyers allowing you to more than recoup the cost of your initial investment. The following are several steps she suggests you can take to ensure greater selling potential for your home. 1.       Keep up on Deferred Maintenance/Repairs .  Sellers aren’t always willing to walk into a house that is in need of many repairs. It can allude to further problems in the home that w