General Real Estate Tips and Advice

While it is my job as your agent to sell your Piedmont home, there are many things that you, as a seller, can do that will move the process and the negotiations along sucessfully.  Here are some ideas:

1. Know What Your Property Is Worth--You are considering selling your home.  One of the most important first steps that you should take is to go my website, or to the various real estate web sites like Trulia or Zillow, and get a sense of what homes like yours are selling for today.  You will be amazed at the wealth of information available.  It may be a shock to you.  If you bought your home at the peak of the home selling cycle a few years ago, you will become aware that your home may not be worth what you want it to be.  If you have a true sense of…

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It would be ideal if you had plenty of time and money to upgrade your Oakland home before you put it up for sale.  Realistically, the odds are that you might not have either one.  If it is important to get your house on the market in a short time period, and still be able to make it attractive to potential buyers, there are some ways that are flexible in terms of both time and money. 

Four Quick and Reasonably Priced Ways to Upgrade Your Home:

a. Paint Your House--One of the quickest, and most effective ways to give a facelift to a tired home is by using paint.  You can choose to paint all the rooms, or some of the rooms, or just concentrate on the exterior trim.  That is the appeal of paint. Take a complete tour of your home, and look at it as if…

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One of the jobs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is to guarantee home loans to lenders who make them.  When loans are made through either of these entities, the lender can feel safe that through these agencies their funds will be insured and guaranteed against default by their borrowers.

These agencies do not insure these loans for free, however.  They, like any other insurer, charge the lenders a fee for this insurance.  The fees vary from year to year, and are called "guarantee fees" (g-fees). As announced last week by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (who regulates both agencies), a new increase is due to go into effect between November 1st and December 1st of this year.  It is estimated to be a 0.5 percent increase in the mortgage rates no matter…

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If it is important to you to sell your Oakland home quickly in this slower economy, there are many things that you can do to engage a buyer into considering your home first over the competition.  Most of the suggestions revolve around some form of financial reward. If you are in a financial position to do one or more of these things, you may be pleased at the response. While this is by no means a complete list, it provides some ideas.

A Few Ideas to Consider In Motivating an Interested Buyer:

a. Offer to Pay the Closing Costs: Closing costs are all the fees associated with the purchase of the home.  Fees are assessed by the escrow company, the lender, the county, etc..  While it is traditional for you, as the seller, to purchase title insurance on…

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Recently, we discussed a number of issues to consider when touring a Berkeley home Open House.  They were centered around the condition of the home.  This time we will consider additional questions that will help you decide if this home will be a comfortable fit for you and your family.

a. Ask About Storage and Growth Space: Everyone needs storage space. Having lots of space is a real asset when considering a home--especially if you have a family.  Often, storage space is not immediately visible on the tour.  Some rooms or closets may be located in places other than the main floors.  Ask about the attic space, extra basement rooms, and all about the garage units.  Can you grow up or down?  How practical will that be financially?

b. Ask About What Is…

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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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When planning to buy a home, most potential buyers begin to search for homes on the Internet.  They will locate the area-perhaps considering Berkeley homes-and then isolate the specific neighborhood to investigate.  The traditional Open House format is an ideal way to have some idea about what is available in their price range.  While a nice flyer about the home is always helpful, touring a home that interests you is an even better way to evaluate your possibilities.

This is one of a few articles that will be written as to what to look for when touring an Open House.  This one stresses asking about the condition of the home. This is the time to ask questions and get answers.

Items to Ask About the Condition of the Home:

1. What is the condition of…

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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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One of the most important steps in preparing to sell your Oakland home is to price it correctly from the outset.  Putting too high a price on your home is the fastest way to have it sit for months on end, and have potential broker and buyer interest dwindle as the weeks wear on.  Many sellers already have an unrealistic price in mind before they even begin to contact a broker to sell their home. Below are some ideas to assist in that consideration.

Here Are A Few Steps To Take When First Deciding How to Price Your Home:

1. Do Your Homework First:  With a wealth of web sites devoted to real estate properties for sale, it is impossible not to locate information about home prices in your market area. The Sunday newspaper, every real estate brokerage…

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It is true, when presenting your Berkeley home to future buyers, that first impressions are the most lasting.  That is why it is so important to have all of your potential issues dealt with before you invite them to tour your home. I, as you agent, will suggest many simple and easy tips to make your home extra appealing, but there are some basic things that will always need attention. 

Below are suggestions to deal with the most common mistakes in failing to prepare your home for showing to potential buyers:

a. Deal With Your Plants and Gardens.- Make sure that the dead plants are removed, trees are trimmed and old branches removed. Consult with your nurseryman to see what plants are in season, and will be for a few months, and plant them.  It is one…

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