All About Newport Beach

Are you considering selling your Newport Beach home? If you are thinking about putting it on the market for the spring, then you may want to take inventory and see what needs to be addressed before listing it for sale.

First impressions are everything when a buyer is looking at a home. Even though in some areas, the inventory is low, you want to make sure your home is priced to sell and prepared to sell.

1. Address deferred maintenance. If there is something you have been putting off repairing (i.e. plumbing issues, HVAC, electrical) then now is the time to address and repair it. And KEEP your receipts. Once your home gets into escrow, a buyer will have a physical inspection of the property, and that is where deferred maintenance can show up.
2. Paint interior a neutral color. If you have a room that is some kind of unusual color, you want to remember that you are appealing to the majority of people. Don't forget baseboards as well.
3. Clean closets, organize drawers, and start thinking like you are moving. Get rid of un-necessary items, have a garage sale.
4. Organize your garage, as that is an important consideration for many home buyers.
5. De-clutter!!! One of the most important considerations when preparing your Newport Beach home to sell. Less is more, and the home will appear organized and clean.
6. Take down personal photographs. Buyers and agents alike get distracted by the personal photographs. They want to find out if they "know" who lives there. Do yourself a favor, and maintain your privacy as much as possible.
7. Plant spring annual flowers out in front. Flowers create wonderful curb appeal.

If I can answer any questions about selling your Newport Beach home, please contact me.

Originally posted at NewportBeachRealEstateCafe.com

You have prepared to sell your Newport Beach home to sell, and you have addressed deferred maintenance, made necessary repairs, you are thinking like a buyer, you have selected your Newport Beach Realtor, and this post will be addressing managing your listing. This is the last post in the series of preparing your Newport Beach home to sell, and the next series will be on the process and steps of selling your home.

Important considerations include the following:

1. Put away valuables and prescription drugs. Don't keep them in a drawer, sometimes prospects open drawers. This is for your own safety.
2. I mentioned in the first post, remove personal photographs. Prospects and even Real Estate agents get distracted and look at personal photos. You want your home to be as generic as possible. I have had showings when the Real Estate agent walked around and looked at every single personal photograph in the property.
3. Keep home organized and clean during listing period - including beds made, dishes done, counters clean, etc. You never know when you are going to have a showing. Also, keep your yard clean as well especially if you have a pet.
4. Regarding showings, are you going to require an appointment to view the property? That is a discussion for you and your Real Estate agent. Keep in mind easy access to the property is preferred, however if you have children, pets that need to be managed, perhaps consider a couple of hours notice.
5. Don't stay in the house when the Agent comes to show your house. Buyers generally do not feel comfortable if the owner's are in the house. If you have a pet - go and take it for a walk during the showing.
6. Are you going to require your Real Estate agent to be there for all showings? Every homeowner is different. I can argue both sides of this - by having the listing agent in the property then they can describe amenities and neighborhood as well if someone is from out of area. However, sometimes a buyer prefers to only have their agent with them as they tour the property.
7. Consider the use of an electronic lock box. First of all they can be programmed to only allow it to operate during certain hours (which is something I do). The benefit of lock boxes is that it is easy access, the agent has to be a member of the board to utilize the lock boxes (as opposed to combo lock boxes), and lastly the lock box records everyone who enters the property and the listing agent can see their name, email, and contact information. I utilize this to contact the agent for feedback so I can pass it along to the seller/owner.
8. Is your Agent going to hold Broker Preview or opens? This is something that I do recommend and think it is beneficial as it allows the agents to come through the property who may have a buyer for your property.
9. Are you going to allow open houses? Again a discussion for you and your real estate agent. Open houses typically do not sell homes, however it does happen.

One last comment, if you do not get a lot of action during the first two weeks that your property is listed for sale, then you need to consider the price. You may be above the market.

If I can answer any questions about preparing your home to sell, please contact me.

Read the entire series here on preparing your home to sell.

Addressing Deferred Maintenance
Getting Top Dollar
Think Like a Buyer
Selecting Your Realtor
Managing Your Listing

Originally posted at NewportBeachRealEstateCafe.com

You are preparing to sell your Newport Beach home to sell, and you have addressed deferred maintenance, made necessary repairs, and you are thinking like a buyer. So the next step is to select a Newport Beach Realtor.

Here are some considerations when you are selecting your Newport Beach Realtor to represent you in the sale of your home. 

1. It is important to be objective when selecting a Realtor, and it is important to hire someone who you feel can appropriately represent you with the sale of your home.

2. You may get lots of recommendations about different Realtors including someone who is your sister's cousin and works part time. Think again!! You want a full time Realtor. Keep in mind you are selling a very large investment and you want an experience real estate agent who can help obtain the greatest return on your investment.

3. Hire a Realtor who is local in your area and knows the community. Is there a neighborhood expert? Then you may want to Google your neighborhood to determine who that is. Keep in mind if you are utilizing Google  or any of the search engines to obtain information about your neighborhood, then so are YOUR BUYERS!! Out of area Real Estate agents may not know city requirements, or when Broker Preview is, or be a member of the local board.

4. Communication is essential when you are interviewing agents. Does the agent answer their phone, do they return calls in a timely manner - this is common sense - but keep in mind when the buyers are calling that agent on YOUR property. The manner of communication is important as well - do you prefer texts, emails or calls? Establish that right up front!!!

5. Consider the marketing plan your the Real Estate agent presents. How are they going to market your home? Is it going in the MLS and that is it - or does the agent work other forms of internet market. Are they primarily utilizing print media - you might want to consider this! With over 90% of buyers starting their home search on line, it is imperative that you have an agent that embraces internet marketing. From property websites all the way to community descriptions, buyers are seeking information - and detailed information. Buyers want to know about schools, community information, local shopping areas, and how living in a certain community will fit their lifestyle.

Now you have narrowed down or selected your Newport Beach Realtor, and it is time to start thinking about managing your home while it is listed.

Read the series about preparing your home to sell:

Addressing Deferred Maintenance
Getting Top Dollar
Think Like a Buyer

Originally posted at NewportBeachRealEstateCafe.com

This is part 2 in a series about Preparing your Newport Beach home to sell. You can read about addressing deferred maintenance in part 1 of this series.

1. One of the most important steps to take when preparing your Newport Beach home to sell is to de-clutter. What that means is to remove knick knacks and anything that creates the look of clutter. Less is more, and it will improve the overall appearance of the home. Even mail laying on the counter top can look cluttered. Is your kitchen organized? Put extra cooking supplies and spices away to create a more open space.  Organize drawers and closets, because buyers do look, and this can be a reflection on how the home has been maintained.

2. I would recommend putting away personal photographs, and have the home look as neutral as possible. I have seen buyers and even other agents stop to look at the photos. They want to know if they "know" that person, or are just being curious. Put them away, don't distract buyers from looking at the house.

3. Does your home need fresh paint? Nothing makes a home look fresh and bright than a fresh coat new paint.  If the interior paint needs to be repainted, then do so. Another good suggestion is to touch up the baseboards and crown molding. Evaluate the exterior paint as well on your Newport Beach home. When you are choosing paint, select a neutral color. Keep in mind, you want to appeal to the masses - so try and avoid that turquoise paint!

4. How is the flooring in your Newport Beach home? Is the carpet clean, and more importantly - is it worn? Then you may need to consider replacing the carpet.

5. If bedrooms are smaller, consider using mirrored wardrobe doors in the bedrooms to enhance space and light.

6. Another tip - add healthy house plants in strategic locations to create a warm feel in the Newport Beach home.

7.  How does the exterior and landscaping look. Add annual color. Annual flowers always look great, and it is an inexpensive way to improve the curb appeal of the home. Along the same lines, how is the landscaping in general? Do trees need trimming? If so, consult with a professional Arborist to have them professionally trimmed to preserve the integrity of the trees.

8. Make sure to clean all windows, and repair and / or replace screens if needed. If you area has hard water - be sure to remove hard water spots from showers and glass enclosures.

10. Keep fireplace clean if wood burning, and add un-burned wood if you are not using it. Another idea is if you have a fireplace that you do not use, then add pillar candles at different heights to create a nice effect.

12. Clean out your raingutters as well, because that is something a potential home buyer will see, and a home inspector will definitely make that recommendation once the house is in escrow.

Keep in mind a professional staging consultation may be in order as well.

Read about Part 1 - Deferred Maintenance of the series.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Originally posted at NewportBeachRealEstateCafe.com

Are you considering selling your Newport Beach home. This is part 1 in a series to provide information to you in the home selling process and preparing your home to sell, and the necessary steps that need to be taken when selling your home.

Does your home have deferred maintenance? You are planning on selling your Newport Beach home, and don't want to invest the extra money to repair items on the home that need attention. You might want to think again! 

Keep in mind that most (if not all) buyers will perform a home inspection and when they do, any deferred maintenance will show up. The inspector will document about all the systems of the home including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, kitchen appliances, etc. If you know that there is are items which need to be addressed such as a plumbing leak - I HIGHLY recommend that this be addressed. A concern would be if a buyer wants to purchase the property and they start to see "things" that need to be addressed, and the buyer will wonder - if that needs to be addressed, then what else needs to be addressed.

My recommendations would be:

1. Have the HVAC inspected and ensure it is working properly.
2. Make sure there are not additional visitors in the property (i.e. rodents) because that will not only be documented by the home inspector, but also by the termite company which is another inspection which is typical and customary in California.
3. Are there plumbing issues? If there are leaks, then repair them right away, water can be very damaging to a property.
4. How is the roof? Does it leak? Are there water stains on the ceiling? These are things that a buyer may see, or if not a home inspector will, and may recommend an additional roof inspection.
5. Do you have a pool or a spa? Is it serviced on a regular basis?
6. Do the windows open and close smoothly?
7. Is there a fireplace? Has the chimney been swept lately?
8. Is there a fountain or water feature outside? Does it operate properly or is it filled with green moss?

If you are selling your home, repair the basics. If there are issues with systems and you trying to save money, then think again. Your potential buyer will see these items if they are savvy, and will ask their agent to negotiate in their behalf because of the deferred maintenance. And, it will come up on the home inspection, and the buyer may ask for it to be repaired, or they might be scared away. Do you want to take that chance?

This is part 1 in a series of Selling Your Home.

Originally posted at NewportBeachRealEstateCafe.com

Are you considering selling your Newport Beach Home? If so, then I have some recommendations for selling your Newport Beach home. We have now passed the summer selling season, so it is now even more important to make your property stand out from the competition. Here are a few recommendations for you: Declutter - everywhere including closets and drawers (buyers look).

1. De-clutter everywhere - including closets and drawers and (buyers do look)
2. Make sure that windows, mirrors, and shower enclosures are cleaned and no hard water spots.
3. Repair and our replace any screens.
4. Make sure windows are operable!!
5. Remove personal photographs - buyers do look and we want them to view the home not your life!!!
6. Organize closets and drawers.
7. Add seasonal color annuals on the property.
8. If you have pets, clean up after them, and you may want to take them out for showings.
9. Add house plants in strategic locations in your Newport Beach home
10. Keep the kitchen/dishes organized and clean.
11. How does the garage look? Is there "stuff" everywhere? Organize it
12. Do you have children - are their rooms organized and present well? Are the closets organized?
13. Make sure all bedrooms are organized, and beds are made daily.
14. Maintain the property in an ideal condition, you never know when your next client may show up!!!

 Originally posted at NewportBeachRealEstateCafe.com