Wonderful Alameda stories, tips and info

 

 

It is an exciting time as you begin to look for your new Alameda or Alameda Bay Farm Island Home.  There are so many issues to be considered.  My job, as your real estate agent is to place you in the very best home that meets both your financial and personal priorities. 

If you are like most future home owners, you have created a rather extensive list of ideal things that you would like to see in your new house. The key to getting what you want in the most practical and affordable manner is to isolate your highest priorities, and work with them first.  If you can tell me, as your agent, your most important issues, we can focus on them first, and move you ahead quickly.  With fewer homes on the market right now in many areas, a prompt and…

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When we put your Alameda home on the market, there will be many potential buyers and brokers wanting to view it to see if it will meet their needs.  Together, we will create a plan to present your home in the most attractive way possible, but there is one step that makes a huge difference in the overall look--getting rid of clutter.

While this seems obvious, it is often a very difficult thing to do, because of the emotional attachment that family members have towards the items in their various rooms.  However, it becomes necessary because it is important that buyers can envision themselves in your home.  It needs to be as open and inviting as possible to achieve this goal.

Here are some simple, and inexpensive ways to get the job done:

1. Remove…

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Take it from an experienced Alameda Real Estate Agent, holding a sucessful Open House in your Alameda home is one that requires just a bit of pre-planning to make sure that you get the best response from your potential buyers. Here are some ideas for preparing your home in the competitive Alameda Real Estate area:

1. Clean Your Home Thoroughly:  While this seems obvious, many sellers are not aware of the importance that a clean and shiny home has to buyers.  Things that sellers they are used to, and see everyday around their home, like pet odors or piles of laundry in rooms, are complete turn offs to visitors, and causes them to skip many rooms and areas of the home because of their atmosphere. The most efficient solution is to have the family focus on…

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Whether you are considering selling your home, or just want to dress it up a bit for the Fall, there are some easy things that you can do that will change the front of your home, and, with a bit of planning, will not cost you a great deal of money. Whether you live in Piedmont, Berkeley or Alameda, the principals remain the same.

The key is to step away from your home. Drive or walk away from your house, and then come back with the idea of seeing your home from the eyes of a stranger or potential home buyer. Ask yourself what impression are you giving them? Check and repair the following:

a. Remove all debris from the front of the house. Include the gutters, the sidewalks, the garden beds, and the all the yards, both front and back.

b. Weed and…

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When the time comes to sell a home, both the sellers and the buyers should be prepared to consider ordering a professional home inspection as part of the process.  There are a number of reasons for this.  For the buyers of an Alameda home, a home inspection is a reasonably priced way to assure that they are getting the full picture of the condition of the home that they want to purchase.  The sellers, however, should consider ordering a home inspection before they put their home on the market.  This is worthwhile, because it allows them to have a sense of what issues need dealing with.  With this information, they can decide which repairs really need attention, and which they are willing to negotiate about with the potential buyers. 

Depending on the…

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You have just bought your new Oakland home.  You are going to move locally from your Alameda home, and now you need to begin to make some plans to do so.  One thing that is important to know is that local moving costs are based on time. You are charged for how much time it will take the movers to move your household items from your first to your second house, and you are charged on an hourly rate for a van and the men needed to complete that move.  In essence, in local moving, time is money.  The more time involved in moving you, the more money it costs!   Below are some tips to save you valuable funds:

1. Pare Down Your Items In Every Way Possible--The longer you have been in your home, the more things you have accumulated.  Start considering what…

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 Recently, in Part 1, we addressed how to keep your newly purchased Alameda home in top condition, and how to keep it in such a way that you could easily to resell it with very little time and money involved in reconditioning it.

In Part 1, we discussed what should be done to the exterior on a regular basis to keep things in shape.  In Part 2, we will follow the same pattern, and address the interior. Here are the basic  interior checks to make:

1. Check the ceilings regularly. Look for any new stains or cracks that might be a warning of some recent event that you should know about. Stains could reveal a leak in the roof, and cracks could alert you to foundation or floor problems.

2. Check the windows and doors on a monthly basis. See if they are…

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You have just bought an Alameda home. You are very pleased to be there, and you want to live there for a long time. Below are some tips that will maintain your home for the long run, and, as a bonus, keep your home ready for any future sale that you might want to consider. Many of these suggestions do not cost a great deal of money, and, if followed consistently, will prevent more expensive repairs later.

 You need to have a regular plan of maintenance based on the various elements of the home. Here are some suggestions regarding the exterior:

1. Have a schedule to repaint, reseal, or restain the exterior walls.

2. Clean and inspect all gutters, downspouts, and drainage areas to avoid leaks into the home.

3. Inspect the roof regularly for leaks,…

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When homes are for sale, the listing will state that there are a certain number rooms in the home, and itemizes the number of bedrooms and baths.  One of the most overlooked ways to add appeal to the house, and make it appear larger, it to devote time to developing and expanding the backyard patio.  With a little planning and effort, it can become, in essence, an additional room for use by the family, especially with the moderate weather of Alameda homes and Alameda Bay Farm Island homes.  Most home developers have recognized this concept, and have designed a means of bringing the outdoors in, and by the use of large sliding glass doors to the outside patio or seating area, plus the other clever techniques listed below.

Here Are Some Ideas to Expand…

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There are so many homes in the San Francisco Bay area that are located on, or adjacent to, some form of water.  They could be located on a small estuary with  Alameda homes, or in Alameda Bay Farm Island homes facing the bay. They could be alongside a stream in an Oakland hills home, or right on the ocean in San Francisco. 

With all the many options, it is important to consider the elements that surround a home purchase adjacent to water.  Generally, these homes are in demand because they are often quite appealing, so purchasing one becomes a bit more expensive, hence the need to make sure that you get the best value for your money.

The Pluses of Purchasing a Home On The Water:

1. The presence of water in any form is prized because it is a soothing,…

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