In Part 1, we stressed the need for having your paperwork in hand for all of the changes that you had made to your home while you were there. A special focus was to be those changes that would make it a unique and special place, when compared to your competition.  In Part 2, we will deal with issues in your Oakland home that will need to be disclosed to buyers. The goal--speed your sale by having all decisions and issues addressed, thus putting you in a position to act promptly to offers received, and again, often putting you ahead of other sellers in the marketplace.

1. Deal With Issues That Must Be Disclosed to Potential Buyers-

Most homes have things that need to be addressed-whether a leak in the bathroom, or a chimney that might need…

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STEP ONE--Deciding On The Price of Your Home-

Once you have made the decision to put your home on the market, it will be my job as your Oakland real estate agent to help you begin to take the important steps in determing its ultimate sales price.   I will certainly do a CMA-a Comparative Market Analysis-when we first meet.  That will give a sense of what your home might sell for compared to other homes in the area.  It is important to know that the CMA is the not the only basis that should be used for pricing your home. Your home is unique from all these others.  You can make it stand out from the competition.

STEP TWO--Prove Your Home Is Special To Buyers--

There can be some very productive homework that you can do that might just make your…

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When it comes time to put your Oakland or Alameda home on the market, plans need to be made to make the best impression possible on future buyers.  Often a lot of preparation time and money is spent on yards, kitchens and bedrooms, but there can be one feature that could deter potential buyers. That can be the presence of uncorrected damage, or the presence of odors, from pets in the home.  Whether unrepaired scratches on back doors or screens, or the accumulation of debris, or fence damage in the back yard, these issues should be addressed.  Often, because sellers haved lived with their pets for so long, they may not be aware of the extent of their pet problems. Take time to see things from the eyes of an outsider.

The next step is to make…

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 If you have not set a time aside to visit Oakland's "home town" museum, tomorrow would be an excellent time to do so.  In a regular effort to attract and new families and friends, the museum is holding a "Free First Sunday" event, tomorrow, February 2nd, from 11:00 am-5 pm..There is so much to see beyond the normal museum presentations.  Featured are special exhibitions.  Here is the current list focused around the Year of the Bay:

a. Above and Below: Stories from our Changing Bay

b. Bay Motion: Capturing San Francisco Bay on Film

c. A Cinematic Study of of Fog in San Francisco

If you want to join a docent tour to learn even more about the museum, save 1:00 p.m. for the Architecture Tour,  2:00 p.m. for the Gallery of California Art Tour,…

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The 91 loft -style condominiums at 288 3rd Street are ideal for the buyer who wants to be anywhere in downtown Oakland in a matter of minutes.  Located within a few blocks of busy Jack London Square and its many and varied restaurants and weekly activities, and just a short distance from  Chinatown  and downtown Oakland's shopping and amenities, the site offers a panoramic view of all of these features from the top of its 6th floor rooftop deck and garden. In fact, the building is so well located that it was given a Walker's Paradise Rating of 92 out of 100 possible points. 

Every condominium in the building features large glass windows giving views of the Oakland hills or Oakland downtown.  The atmosphere is light and airy throughout its open living…

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We in the Bay area are very lucky to have so many homes on, or near, the water.  Whether it be a quiet lagoon on Alameda Bay Farm Island, alongside a stream in the Oakland hills, or next to San Francisco Bay in Alameda, the choices are numerous and varied.  Because of their appeal, they can often be a bit more expensive than a similar home elsewhere, so it is important to consider the issues concerning their purchase so you can be assured that you have the best value for your money.

The Pluses of Purchasing A Home On The Water:

1. The presence of water often creates a soothing, gentle atmosphere within and around the home.  Often, one can observe the plants, wildlife, and small animals that are usually adjacent to these streams and bays. 

2.…

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When it comes time to sell your Oakland or Alameda home, you want the very best first impression possible.  We have talked in the past about creating a clean, clutter free appearance for potential buyers, but often there are three things that are not attended to, often due to finances, that can make a huge difference in the appeal of your home.  The question becomes-is it worth it to spend the money making these changes before putting the house on the market?  It may be. Here are some problems that make your home look older, and might be worth addressing:

1. Having Outdated Kitchen Appliances, Ranges and Dishwashers and Countertops-Most sellers by now should realize that having an updated kitchen in a home is one of the strongest appeals to buyers…

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February is a great time for fresh crab, and the Wildwood Dads Club is taking advantage of this wonderful fact and holding their annual 2014 Wildwood Dads Club Crab Feed.  Set aside Saturday, February 1st, and call your friends and neighbors to join you at 6:00 p.m. at Piedmont's Veterans Hall, 401 Highland Avenue. You will be enjoying some wonderful food.  Besides fresh all-you-can-eat Dungeness crab, the meal will feature lasagna and fresh salad.  There will be a No Host bar, and cocktails and music will start at 6:00 p.m..

There will be lots of music, and the highlight will be skits performed by the Dads Cub, which is always a favorite.  Additionally, there will be an outstanding raffle with many choice raffle prizes.  Funds raised…

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When it comes time to purchase your Piedmont or Oakland home, you need to be aware of some of the considerations that lenders will be making when they set your mortgage rate.  Obviously, interest rates are still quite low compared to years ago when they were 10% and more, but even with today's lower rates, the elements involved in rate setting are still important to your home's purchase.

Here are some considerations that come into play:

1. Your Credit Score--While this may seem obvious, this score is their key indicator as to how responsible you are about acquiring debt, and paying it back in a responsible and efficient manner.  A good credit score will go a long way to attracting an appealing mortgage rate.

2. How Much You Plan to Borrow--If…

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Montclair Community Park and the walkways along Moraga Avenue are going to be well attended to this Sunday, January 19th, when Montclair residents and their friends will be joining together to make the park as attractive as possible in a special one day event.  The plan will be to clean and clear overgrowth of plants and trees, remove debris and trash from the area, and generally promote the pleasant parklike atmosphere of the area. 

Beginning at 9:00 a.m at 6300 Moraga Avenue, this is promoted as a community wide event, and refreshments will be provided by local merchants like Crogan's Montclair, Crown Wines and Spirits, Starbucks, Colonial Donuts, and many more.

Participants are asked to bring gloves and pruning tools or shears, and an…

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