Time flies when you're blogging every day! I'm celebrating an AR anniversary this month. Here's my first Active Rain post from seven years ago. I've taken the liberty of adding a photo since as a newbie I had no idea how to include a picture with my posts. I remember being a bit nervous when I finally pressed the "post" button. Since then I've done it over 3,000 times.
My writing style and goals have not changed dramatically--I'm still telling real estate stories with valuable content for prospective buyers and sellers. I think this one still holds value for consumers even though years have passed and the market has been through some serious mood swings!
The news was all bad. The media filled time and space with tales of woe. They proclaimed the good times were over and told homeowners to prepare for the fall. Naturally, that's when I received a call from a client who recently purchased a home--he needed to move.
I took a deep breath, but not too deep, this is California and the air was filled with smoke from the recent wildfires. I immediately saw my job as one of preserving his equity, covering the cost of the sale, and retaining him as a client. This is a golden client and if his life goes according to plan, he, and his family, will return to Rolling Hills in three years, and purchase another home with yours truly acting as agent.
I patted myself on the back for insisting, prior to the close of escrow, the previous owner (and agents) share the cost of removing several pine trees that blocked a gorgeous coastline view. Putting a price on a view is subjective, but it took three months to get all parties, including the neighbor, to agree to the removal, and another month for the tree trimmer to complete the job. I'm thankful it is already done. Cost to my buyer, now my seller: Less than $5000. Value added: $75,000 to $100,000 (estimated).
I walked the property with my client and noted he completed several repairs called out in the home inspection report. Whee, this looked better than I expected. He purchased the property in its "as is" condition--so there was work to be done. We made a quick hit list of improvements still needed. We're only doing the basics here, but I plan to sell house for $200K more than he paid for it eight months ago. We need to work some magic here!
The house needs paint, the fence is falling down and the garage door is still broken. Those are quick and easy fixes and on the to do list. I provided contact information for painters, fence and garage door companies. Fortunately, the seller is an avid gardener and the grounds have gone from shabby and neglected to trimmed and manicured. The pool no longer leaks and the fruit trees are now included on the sprinkler system instead of the watering hose snaked down the hillside. Little things can add big value. General cleanup of the grounds: Cost to the owner: Back-breaking labor nearly every weekend since he purchased it, and the cost of renting several dumpsters. Value added: $40,000 to $50,000 (estimated).
The fifty year old brick patio is uneven and dangerous. The seller will level it and replace it with the same bricks. It offers a dazzling view and it's where I want potential buyers to linger--not trip and fall. Cost to the owner: More labor! Value added: $8,000 to $10,000 (estimated).
The interior of the house is original, but in good condition. It's blessed with beautiful lead glass windows in several rooms, exquisite antique light fixtures, oversize fireplace and beamed ceilings. The hardwood floor in the kitchen is damaged and will be replaced. We're going to freshen it up with new paint in the kitchen, living and dining rooms as the most recent application of paint took place decades ago. Again, I had the home professionally cleaned before my clients moved in. The windows still glisten in the sunlight and show off the new view at night. Every closet shelf and kitchen drawer was cleaned, so we can skip the deep cleaning and go for the show! New kitchen floor and fresh paint in common living areas: $5500 cost to owner. Value added: $25,000 (estimated).
Just before it goes on the market flowers and potted plants will be added to the backyard and front entrance. The pool house will be staged as a teen hangout, the workroom in the garage will be staged as a hobby room. Cost to seller: more work and a few hundred dollars. Value Added: Can you put a price on curb appeal and a welcoming interior?
We're selling a lifestyle here--A 3 bedroom plus office with view, pool, and horse property in a gated community. Any bets on how we'll do in our effort to go from fixer to fabulous?
Norma Toering & Team ToeringandTeam@gmail.com
(310) 493-8333
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