Antonio & Alexia's Real Estate Blog

Friday Funies... Life could be this easy...! It should!

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:14:31 -0600

An Amish boy and his father were in a shopping mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and then slide back together again!

The boy asked, "What is this Father?"

The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, "Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life, I don't know what it is."

While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, an overweight old lady in a wheelchair moved up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched in silence the small circular numbers above the walls light sequentially.

They continued to watch until it reached the last number and then the numbers began to light up in the reverse order.

Finally the walls opened up again and a gorgeous 24- year-old blonde stepped out!

The father said quietly to his son... "Go get your mother."

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

CRS, GRI, E-Pro Certified. Serving the east shores of the San Francisco Bay, Alameda and Contra Costa counties: specially the following cities: Castro Valley, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Hayward, Oakland, Pleasanton & Dublin.

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Houston, TX. Inbound home buyer... looking to place a referral, Why don't I use the AR referral list?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:25:13 -0600

Because I am a CRS, and I only want to work with someone that has gone through the extensive training and education required to be eligible to have the highest designation a Realtor can have. I have posted in the past several outbound home buyers and some sellers too, but I always ask for a CRS here on AR.

I am always surprised to see how many people who do not have any professional designation argue that having one is not important! Some tell me that their experience is far better than going to class and pay to learn more. Others claim that having a designation like CRS, or GRI is a waste of time and money.

But I always wonder why there are only about 4% of all Realtors holding this prestigious designation. I become a CRS about 20 years ago! and have continually taken the courses when they come by my area. I know I have learned a lot about different subjects that make me a better Realtor. I believe I owe it to my clients to be up to par with what is happening in my industry and to be on top of the technology applied to a real estate business among others.

I am looking for another ME... a dedicated, professional, knowledgeable and easy person to hand over my client. He is moving from California to Houston and will be there visiting family for Thanksgiving. Looking for a 3+2+2 around $200-$250,000 Near his son's house. He is ready to go, are you?

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Friday Funnies...

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:24:16 -0500

The Magician and the Parrot
A magician worked on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. The audience would be different each week, so the magician did the same tricks each week. However, there was a problem - the captain's parrot saw the shows each week and began to understand how the magician did every trick. Once he understood, he started shouting out the secrets in the middle of the show:

"Look, it's not the same hat."

"Look, he is hiding the flowers under the table."

"Hey, why are all the cards the Ace of Spades?"

The magician was furious but couldn't do anything; it was, after all, the captain's parrot.

One day the ship had an accident and sank. The magician found himself, with the parrot, adrift on a piece of wood in the middle of the ocean.

They stared at each other with hatred, but did not utter a word. This went on for a day, then another, and another.

Finally, after a week the parrot said, "OK, I give up. Where the heck is the boat?"

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Friday Funies... Walmart Medical...

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:41:15 -0500

One day, in line at the company cafeteria, Joe said to Mike behind him, "My elbow hurts like hell. I guess I'd better see a doctor"
"listen, you don't have to spend that kind of money" Mike replied. "There's a diagnostic computer down at Walmart. Just give it a urine sample and the computer will tell you what's wrong and what do to about it. It takes about ten seconds and costs only 10 bucks - A lot cheaper than a doctor"

So, Joe collected a urine sample in a small jar and took it to Walmart.
After depositing the ten dollars, the computer asked for the urine sample. He poured the sample into the slot and waited.
About 25 seconds later, the computer become quiet and the printer started.

Joe picked up the printout and read:
You have tennis elbow.
Soak your arm in warm water and avoid heavy activity.
It will improve in two weeks.

Thank you for shopping at Walmart.

That evening, while thinking about how amazing this new technology was
Joe began wondering if the computer could be fooled.

He mixed some tap water, a stool sample from his dog, urine samples from his wife and daughter, and a personal sperm sample for good measure.
He hurried back to Walmart, eager to test the new technology. He deposited ten dollars, poured in his concoction, and awaited the results.

within 30 seconds, the computer produced the following results:

Your tap water is too hard. Get a water softener. (Aisle9)
Your dog has ringworm. Bathe him with anti-fungal shampoo. (Aisle7)
Your daughter has a cocaine habit. get her into rehab.
Your wife is gregnant. Twins... they aren't yours. get a lauyer.
If you don't stop playing with yourself, your elbow will never get better.

Thank you for shopping at Walmart

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

What size is YOUR Carbon Footprint Emissions? How to reduce or eliminate your global warming impact now

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:39:15 -0500

From the moment we get out of bed to the time we come back to sleep, we make decisions that affect our climate and increase the carbon emissions that contribute to the greenhouse gas effects that are causing our climate to change. What is the amount of land and ocean area required to sustain YOUR consumption patterns and absorb YOUR wastes on an annual basis?

Almost every activity in our lives has an effect in our planet’s climate. The choices we make in our homes, when we travel, the food that we eat, what we buy and throw away, they all leave behind our very personal carbon footprint that could affect the world climate for future generations. The USA National Average for a 2 person household is 53 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year. The world average is only 11 tons per year, what is yours? What is YOUR impact in this earth? Use this Carbon Footprint Calculator and find out where you stand.

Making environmentally friendly home improvements not only beautifies the house but also adds to its value. It is a win-win for everybody, your house will have a better return on your investment and you will be helping to save the planet. Here is a list of simple items that can be accomplished very easily:

Begin by replacing all your light bulbs in the house with compact fluorescence ones, they can use up to 75% less energy
How many times have you left the outdoor lights on? An inexpensive motion detector will turn them off for you
Make an inspection of all bathrooms, kitchen, outdoor faucets and fix all leaks, the amount of water saved is tremendous
Take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing your teeth and shaving. Install low flow shower heads
Create a compost pile in your backyard, your garden will appreciate that, your garbage costs will be lower, your city dumps will be smaller and will not have to spend gas transporting your leftovers to their place. Are you with me so far? This is easy stuff! doable in a day!
Replace your air conditioner and heating system filters, or clean them up more regularly
Install more ceiling fans in your house, use them instead of the air conditioner and heater
Insulate your home and use weather stripping around doors and windows
Remember the 3 R's: Refuse, Reuse and Recycle, keep them in mind at all times, specially when shopping
Stop all junk mail! Here is how to do it. Use online banking where you can receive your bills by e-mail instead of snail mail.

As you see, you can reduce your personal environmental impact by making a few simple changes in your everyday behavior. Your efforts plus mine multiplied by many others will make a big difference in the fight to slow climate change.

YOU have the power to change the world! Even to the end when you can choose to be buried in an Ecoffin, a unique casket made from naturally hardened 100% recycled paper to make a graceful exit… and a final contribution to the planet, way to go...! Bravo!

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

What size is YOUR Carbon Footprint Emissions? How to reduce or eliminate your global warming impact now

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:37:44 -0500

Begin by replacing all your light bulbs in the house with compact fluorescence ones, they can use up to 75% less energy
How many times have you left the outdoor lights on? An inexpensive motion detector will turn them off for you
Make an inspection of all bathrooms, kitchen, outdoor faucets and fix all leaks, the amount of water saved is tremendous
Take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing your teeth and shaving. Install low flow shower heads
Create a compost pile in your backyard, your garden will appreciate that, your garbage costs will be lower, your city dumps will be smaller and will not have to spend gas transporting your leftovers to their place. Are you with me so far? This is easy stuff! doable in a day!
Replace your air conditioner and heating system filters, or clean them up more regularly
Install more ceiling fans in your house, use them instead of the air conditioner and heater
Insulate your home and use weather stripping around doors and windows
Remember the 3 R's: Refuse, Reuse and Recycle, keep them in mind at all times, specially when shopping
Stop all junk mail! Here is how to do it. Use online banking where you can receive your bills by e-mail instead of snail mail.

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

What size is YOUR Carbon Footprint Emissions? How to reduce or eliminate your global warming impact now

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:37:06 -0500

Begin by replacing all your light bulbs in the house with compact fluorescence ones, they can use up to 75% less energy
How many times have you left the outdoor lights on? An inexpensive motion detector will turn them off for you
Make an inspection of all bathrooms, kitchen, outdoor faucets and fix all leaks, the amount of water saved is tremendous
Take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing your teeth and shaving. Install low flow shower heads
Create a compost pile in your backyard, your garden will appreciate that, your garbage costs will be lower, your city dumps will be smaller and will not have to spend gas transporting your leftovers to their place. Are you with me so far? This is easy stuff! doable in a day!
Replace your air conditioner and heating system filters, or clean them up more regularly
Install more ceiling fans in your house, use them instead of the air conditioner and heater
Insulate your home and use weather stripping around doors and windows
Remember the 3 R's: Refuse, Reuse and Recycle, keep them in mind at all times, specially when shopping
Stop all junk mail! Here is how to do it. Use online banking where you can receive your bills by e-mail instead of snail mail.

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

What size is YOUR Carbon Footprint Emissions? How to reduce or eliminate your global warming impact now

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:36:03 -0500

Begin by replacing all your light bulbs in the house with compact fluorescence ones, they can use up to 75% less energy
How many times have you left the outdoor lights on? An inexpensive motion detector will turn them off for you
Make an inspection of all bathrooms, kitchen, outdoor faucets and fix all leaks, the amount of water saved is tremendous
Take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing your teeth and shaving. Install low flow shower heads
Create a compost pile in your backyard, your garden will appreciate that, your garbage costs will be lower, your city dumps will be smaller and will not have to spend gas transporting your leftovers to their place. Are you with me so far? This is easy stuff! doable in a day!
Replace your air conditioner and heating system filters, or clean them up more regularly
Install more ceiling fans in your house, use them instead of the air conditioner and heater
Insulate your home and use weather stripping around doors and windows
Remember the 3 R's: Refuse, Reuse and Recycle, keep them in mind at all times, specially when shopping
Stop all junk mail! Here is how to do it. Use online banking where you can receive your bills by e-mail instead of snail mail.

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

What size is YOUR Carbon Footprint Emissions? How to reduce or eliminate your global warming impact now

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:35:29 -0500

Begin by replacing all your light bulbs in the house with compact fluorescence ones, they can use up to 75% less energy
How many times have you left the outdoor lights on? An inexpensive motion detector will turn them off for you
Make an inspection of all bathrooms, kitchen, outdoor faucets and fix all leaks, the amount of water saved is tremendous
Take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing your teeth and shaving. Install low flow shower heads
Create a compost pile in your backyard, your garden will appreciate that, your garbage costs will be lower, your city dumps will be smaller and will not have to spend gas transporting your leftovers to their place. Are you with me so far? This is easy stuff! doable in a day!
Replace your air conditioner and heating system filters, or clean them up more regularly
Install more ceiling fans in your house, use them instead of the air conditioner and heater
Insulate your home and use weather stripping around doors and windows
Remember the 3 R's: Refuse, Reuse and Recycle, keep them in mind at all times, specially when shopping
Stop all junk mail! Here is how to do it. Use online banking where you can receive your bills by e-mail instead of snail mail.

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

What size is YOUR Carbon Footprint Emissions? How to reduce or eliminate your global warming impact now

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:35:02 -0500

Begin by replacing all your light bulbs in the house with compact fluorescence ones, they can use up to 75% less energy
How many times have you left the outdoor lights on? An inexpensive motion detector will turn them off for you
Make an inspection of all bathrooms, kitchen, outdoor faucets and fix all leaks, the amount of water saved is tremendous
Take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing your teeth and shaving. Install low flow shower heads
Create a compost pile in your backyard, your garden will appreciate that, your garbage costs will be lower, your city dumps will be smaller and will not have to spend gas transporting your leftovers to their place. Are you with me so far? This is easy stuff! doable in a day!
Replace your air conditioner and heating system filters, or clean them up more regularly
Install more ceiling fans in your house, use them instead of the air conditioner and heater
Insulate your home and use weather stripping around doors and windows
Remember the 3 R's: Refuse, Reuse and Recycle, keep them in mind at all times, specially when shopping
Stop all junk mail! Here is how to do it. Use online banking where you can receive your bills by e-mail instead of snail mail.

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

What size is YOUR Carbon Footprint Emissions? How to reduce or eliminate your global warming impact now

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:33:23 -0500

Begin by replacing all your light bulbs in the house with compact fluorescence ones, they can use up to 75% less energy
How many times have you left the outdoor lights on? An inexpensive motion detector will turn them off for you
Make an inspection of all bathrooms, kitchen, outdoor faucets and fix all leaks, the amount of water saved is tremendous
Take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing your teeth and shaving. Install low flow shower heads
Create a compost pile in your backyard, your garden will appreciate that, your garbage costs will be lower, your city dumps will be smaller and will not have to spend gas transporting your leftovers to their place. Are you with me so far? This is easy stuff! doable in a day!
Replace your air conditioner and heating system filters, or clean them up more regularly
Install more ceiling fans in your house, use them instead of the air conditioner and heater
Insulate your home and use weather stripping around doors and windows
Remember the 3 R's: Refuse, Reuse and Recycle, keep them in mind at all times, specially when shopping
Stop all junk mail! Here is how to do it. Use online banking where you can receive your bills by e-mail instead of snail mail.

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

What size is YOUR Carbon Footprint Emissions? How to reduce or eliminate your global warming impact now

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:32:42 -0500

Begin by replacing all your light bulbs in the house with compact fluorescence ones, they can use up to 75% less energy
How many times have you left the outdoor lights on? An inexpensive motion detector will turn them off for you
Make an inspection of all bathrooms, kitchen, outdoor faucets and fix all leaks, the amount of water saved is tremendous
Take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing your teeth and shaving. Install low flow shower heads
Create a compost pile in your backyard, your garden will appreciate that, your garbage costs will be lower, your city dumps will be smaller and will not have to spend gas transporting your leftovers to their place. Are you with me so far? This is easy stuff! doable in a day!
Replace your air conditioner and heating system filters, or clean them up more regularly
Install more ceiling fans in your house, use them instead of the air conditioner and heater
Insulate your home and use weather stripping around doors and windows
Remember the 3 R's: Refuse, Reuse and Recycle, keep them in mind at all times, specially when shopping
Stop all junk mail! Here is how to do it. Use online banking where you can receive your bills by e-mail instead of snail mail.

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

What size is YOUR Carbon Footprint Emissions? How to reduce or eliminate your global warming impact now

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:26:07 -0500

Begin by replacing all your light bulbs in the house with compact fluorescence ones, they can use up to 75% less energy
How many times have you left the outdoor lights on? An inexpensive motion detector will turn them off for you
Make an inspection of all bathrooms, kitchen, outdoor faucets and fix all leaks, the amount of water saved is tremendous
Take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing your teeth and shaving. Install low flow shower heads
Create a compost pile in your backyard, your garden will appreciate that, your garbage costs will be lower, your city dumps will be smaller and will not have to spend gas transporting your leftovers to their place. Are you with me so far? This is easy stuff! doable in a day!
Replace your air conditioner and heating system filters, or clean them up more regularly
Install more ceiling fans in your house, use them instead of the air conditioner and heater
Insulate your home and use weather stripping around doors and windows
Remember the 3 R's: Refuse, Reuse and Recycle, keep them in mind at all times, specially when shopping
Stop all junk mail! Here is how to do it. Use online banking where you can receive your bills by e-mail instead of snail mail.

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Meet my new Landlord from Africa. The one that hijacked my listing.

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:07:59 -0500

With the number of people displaced by foreclosures and short sales, the real estate rental market is very active. Scamers have taken notice and are out there trying to extort money from renters. This is not a new trend, as a matter of fact this is not the first time I have had one of my listings taken over, pictures and all, posted on Craig's List as a bargain rental. When I start getting phone calls from renters on my listings I know someone is trying to extort money from them using my listing ads.

In a recent episode, I went to Craig's List and looked for the ad. Sure enough, there it was, my pictures and my description of the house, address and all. The rent was very low which explains the number of calls. I decided to send an e-mail and ask to be considered as a tenant. I filled out a simple questionnaire and gave my real e-mail address, I promised to pay up to 3 months in advance if I was chosen as the tenant. The landlord explained in an e-mail that he and his family were in Lagos, Nigeria on an assignment from their church and won't be coming back for about a year.

The response was quick and I was offered the house for rent, the landlord asked that I send the $850.00 first month rent only, and that I could send the second months rent the following week and then the third month on the third week. The reason, I learned later, is that there is a process where if you send more than a $1,000 via Western Union you will need to fill out a few tax forms and this transaction could be flagged. These people know the rules about international wires and their limits and conditions, you can tell they have done this many times over.
I responded that my wife wanted to see the house before signing the rental agreement which the landlord said will be sent with the keys as soon as he gets the money. We even suggested that we could call the Realtor and ask him to show us the house. An immediate explanation come back saying that they wanted to sell the house but they had changed their mind and had not told the Realtor yet. We were warned NOT to talk to the Realtor at all.

Playing along with the conman I ask if we could see pictures of the inside of the house and since he had said he will come and visit us, we wanted to see pictures of him and his family too. A set of very nice pictures of a newer home arrive, and also a family shot of a Caucasian family, including 2 small children. Very detailed steps were sent to us about how and where to send the money. We insisted on seen the rental agreement first, within minutes a California Rental Agreement was sent, I was surprised to see how accurate the legal the document was. We agree to send the money as instructed.

Within the next two days the conman send us e-mails asking if we had sent the money. We told him we did, but also told him that we had gone to the house and saw the Realtor and had an opportunity to see the house, we confided that we had left a back door opened and that we planned to take possession of the house within the next day or so.

Our conman insisted that we give him the 10 digit number for the wire, we did, he become frustrated because no such number existed and demanded to see a copy of the wire transfer, we told him we were already in the house and planned to have a BBQ the next day. But with the moving we could not remember where the receipt was... but that we were enjoying his house.

His frustration grew and he become rather hostile, while he wanted to know if we had followed his wire instructions step by step, we kept telling him about the colors we were thinking of painting different rooms in the house! I think that at one point he knew he had been duped and asked if we were playing with him and taking him for a fool, we quickly confirmed his suspicions and told him that his e-mail has been blocked and he will never be able to communicate with us anymore.

All I wanted to know is how far these people go to steal money from potential renters, obviously they know how international wires work, how much money is allowed to be sent without arousing suspicions from the financial entities, and what the process entail.

This process created by others on the other side of the world bring unnecessary attention to a house for sale by people that will not be buying, once their money is taken, they might even come to the seller to find answers as to why they lost their money. Renters be aware: DO NOT SEND MONEY OVERSEAS, YOU'LL NEVER GET IT BACK. If there is a for sale sign, call the Realtor and get some answers!

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Meet my new Landlord from Africa. The one that hijacked my listing.

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:03:49 -0500

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Meet my new Landlord from Africa. The one that hijacked my listing.

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:01:25 -0500

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Meet my new Landlord from Africa. The one that hijacked my listing.

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:00:23 -0500

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Meet my new Landlord from Africa. The one that hijacked my listing.

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:59:39 -0500

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Meet my new Landlord from Africa. The one that hijacked my listing.

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:59:05 -0500

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Meet my new Landlord from Africa. The one that hijacked my listing.

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:58:23 -0500

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Meet my new Landlord from Africa. The one that hijacked my listing.

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:54:51 -0500

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Meet my new Landlord from Africa. The one that hijacked my listing.

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:54:09 -0500

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Meet my new Landlord from Africa. The one that hijacked my listing.

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:53:29 -0500

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Meet my new Landlord from Africa. The one that hijacked my listing.

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:52:08 -0500

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!

Speed Up The Sale of the House! Get a complete Home Inspection BEFORE it goes on the market!

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:01:19 -0500

One of the most difficult parts for a Professional Realtor to do is to have the buyer write an offer to buy a house on an "as-is" condition without asking the seller to do any repairs at all. The obvious fear of having to spend money fixing items that they did not expect is a reason why home buyers are reluctant to pay full price on a house they have not inspected, but inspecting a house prior to buying it is not a feasible possibility either.

But when the buyer is competing with others for the same house, an "as-is" clause on his contract will make a huge difference for the seller when choosing which offer to accept. The seller will always take that offer instead of one that has an inspection contingency.

Most properties on the market have some deferred maintenance, especially listings that are in foreclosure or bank-owned, home buyers would like to know what the true condition of the property is before they buy it, hence the inspection period of about 10-15 days from the moment the offer is accepted. Here is where the seller can speed up the sale of the house by getting a complete home inspection before putting the house on the market.

If the buyer reads the home report before writing the offer, then he can waive the inspection period and speed up the closing. These reports should be offered at the property so the buyer can examine them while looking at the house. I suggest EVERY HOME SELLER take the following steps BEFORE the house goes on the market:

Order a complete inspection from a local reputable, Professional Home Inspection Company.
Call a company that DOES NOT DO ANY WORK. Just inspections
Choose a company that offers the reports via e-mail. This way it can be disseminated faster
The report should include multiple color photographs within the body of the report. These photos help the average home buyer "see" the problem areas and understand them better.
The home report should also include an evaluation of the roof.
A pest control inspection should be done at the same time and a separate report should be issued.
The Pest control report should include an approximate cost of all repairs called for.
One final but important step: Make sure the inspector has access to ALL AREAS OF THE HOUSE.

Buyers will pay better prices for properties that are in good condition and only a recent full inspection report from a Professional Home Inspection Company can tell them that. The cost in the San Francisco bay area for a home and a pest control reports is around $550. If the property is in good condition and those reports confirm that fact, the buyers will probably pay good prices and haggle less.

The buyer of course reserves the right the call his own inspections. This is when the professionalism of the home inspection company the seller chooses comes into place. It must be reliable, stable and professional enough to stand scrutiny. I use a company called National Building Inspectors out of Walnut Creek, CA. 1 (800) 466-2466 The photos in this post are from an actual report from NBI.

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas, "The Realtors In Motion" CRS, GRI, E-Pro Certified. Serving the East Shores of the San Francisco Bay. Alameda and Contra Costa counties; San Leandro, Castro Valley, Oakland, Hayward, Pleasanton, Dublin. Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com Call us, we'll come and TANGO with you! (510) 326-4263

Antonio & Alexia Cardenas "The Realtors In Motion"

Visit us on line at: www.listedbyantonio.com or call (510) 326-4263 Call us, We'll come and TANGO with you!