Kathy Wall

Realtor’s are People, Too!
October 7, 2010 · · 2 Comments

Recently, my colleague, Rommel, wrote an excellent blog on ethics in our business.     There is another side to the story, however, and that is the ethics of the clients.

While answering phones  in the office this weekend, I received a call from a man who wanted to see one of our listings in San Francisco.   I agreed to meet him at the listing at 11:00 a.m. the next day.

That night, I was involved in a relatively minor car crash and when I awoke the next morning I felt exhausted and unwell….still a little in shock from the accident, I guess.    Even though I didn’t feel well, I planned to do my job and attend our scheduled showing, as well as doing my open house later that day. Read more

Karin Cunningham

Signs of a Real Estate Rebound
March 17, 2009 · · 7 Comments

 I am not one of profound wisdom, but I am hearing some positive signs of real estate making a turn around, a turn around for the better! Basically, the thinking goes like this, “Hmmm, real estate values are down, not only do I still have my job but I have some cash sitting around, and rates are very low – and may not go lower. So maybe I will stop renting and buy a place (or pick up that non-owner occupied property, or that vacation home), or at least see what is out there.” The market will tell you that at some price, there is a buyer for everything.

San Francisco, the San Mateo Peninsula, East Bay and South Bay are experiencing a surge in homebuyers who are jumping off the fence to try and get their hands on property that they could have only wished they could afford a few years ago. Check out the link below to see what I’m talking about!

http://cbs5.com/business/real.estate.sales.2.956968.html

easton-344900

Here’s another example:

San Bruno 2 bedroom/ 1 bath

Listed at $344,900 just went pending with approximately 20 offers!!

 
 
 

 

PruCalVoices

What is Staging?
November 24, 2008 · · 7 Comments

Staging is when a home is furnished and decorated before it is put on the market for sale. A staged home that is well done will highlight each room, but not crowd it. The following are several questions that I will attempt to address, like: How much does it cost? How long will it be furnished for? Who pays for it? Will it yield the seller more money at the end of the sale?

Staging a home can cost any where from several hundred dollars to thousands depending on size of home, services provided and the specifics of each contract.  The details of the services you expect from your stager must be outlined in the contract before you sign the dotted line. Staging companies will normally have a minimum time period (days/weeks) that a potential client should fully understand. The cost really depends on exactly how many rooms they (stager) are furnishing and for how long. The contract should stipulate several important items like exactly what time and date the furniture will be installed and removed, what would it cost if you wanted to extend or adjust the time period of your contract?, and who is responsible for the furniture while it sits in your home? It is also important to ask, when does the staging company expect to get paid?  Read more