My Point of View

Enjoy the last weekend of Summer!

Yes … Your House Can Still Sell In This Buyer’s Market!

I can officially say that summer is over. I just dropped our oldest daughter at the airport; she is on her way back to New York City for her second year of law school. My younger daughter has already started her sophomore year in college in Arizona. Once again my husband and I are ‘empty nesters’ and our house is quiet. I don’t know about you, but generally it takes us about a week to get used to being by ourselves. I can tell you however, that we don’t miss the mad dash to the stores over Labor Day weekend to buy the latest back-to-school fashions or school supplies for the kids. Good Luck to those of you who are dashing around this weekend.

 The summer’s end generally means that the home selling season is over! But in today’s crazy real estate market with interest rates at their lowest level in 30 years I don’t believe that statement is true.  The fact that we are now in a buyer’s market has been in the news a great deal lately; but if you are a seller, your home can still sell!  As a La Jolla Realtor, I just listed a home last week and put it into escrow (under contract) in three days because my sellers followed my advice on preparing their home for sale. Some of my seller’s hard work included removing 40 boxes of personal items to un-clutter her home.  The end result was well worth it as she sold her home and quickly!

Here are three tips on selling your home fast.

1. Have your home Professionally Staged: Let an expert with an impersonal eye help you make the tough decisions on what to keep or stow away to make your home ready to show .  And keep it “show ready” at all times. I find when I first introduce a stager to my clients, usually the number one suggestion is to de-cluttered.  This helps the rooms feel more spacious.  Personal pictures are removed from the walls allowing a buyer to see themselves in the house.  This translates to a faster sell.
2. Hire a professional Landscaper to spruce up the front and back yards. It’s time to remove the dead or over-grown plants and replace them with colorful seasonal flowers. Curb appeal is very important.  The first impression that a buyer will have upon viewing your home is a lasting impression. Just like meeting a person for the first time you only have 8 seconds to make that first impression. That same philosophy holds when a buyer first sees your home.
3. Most importantly, Price your home right! The first three weeks on the market is a critical time. If your home isn’t priced correctly, there will be no showings. But if your home is priced right you will have showings immediately and offers will follow. A seller that has priced their home too high will end up chasing the market down. The final sales price of their home will generally be less than if theyhad priced it correctly at the beginning.

If you are thinking of selling your home and need additional help in making your home ready to sell give me a call  at 619-980-2738 as  I would be very happy to help.  Visit my website for additional real estate information.

4th Stop on my “Blog Tour of La Jolla” – MCASD, La Jolla

I have always loved art! If you remember you have read here about all kinds of art, everything from painted cows and trash cans to flower arrangements depicting masterpieces.  I can’t draw or paint but I do appreciate looking at all different kinds of art.  One of my passions is going to art galleries and museums. The works of art  that creative and talented people can create are always so impressive to me.  I’m not artistic but my youngest daughter has that artistic talent which manifests itself for her in fashion design; she can create unbelievable outfits with ease.

How lucky we are to be living in La Jolla where there are so many fabulous art galleries and museums to visit.  This brings us to the 4th stop on my“Blog Tour of La Jolla”, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego or MCASD, La Jolla. Located in the heart of La Jolla, at 700 Prospect Street, MCASD  is focused on the collection, preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of works of art from 1950 to the present.

 The museum was originally the home of Ellen Browning Scripps and was designed by the famous architect Irving Gill.  It was founded in 1941 as The Art Center in La Jolla, a community art center.  Then throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s the organization operated as the La Jolla Art Museum.  In the early 1970s, the name changed to the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art.  In 1990, the Museum changed its name to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego to acknowledge the larger geographic area and population base of San Diego County.  MCASD has a permanent endowment fund of over $40 million, and an annual operating budget of approximately $6 million.

After spending time in the Museum don’t miss a visit to the MCASD X Store which offers a full range of books, contemporary art, gifts and much more. If you are hungry stop by the Museum Café, right next to the store and enjoy a fabulous entree or salad.  Order anything on the menu and you won’t be disappointed.

 To find out the latest exhibits or the hours of operation visit the museum website. This is a great place to spend an afternoon in La Jolla.

Timing is Everything in Real Estate

As a La Jolla Realtor when I talk to prospective clients the first question that a seller will ask me is, how long will it take for my house to sell? A buyer might ask, do you think the prices of homes are going to go lower?  The answers to these questions are never easy because there are many factors that can contribute.  Today I’m writing about timing based on the current market and consumer requirements.

 I just sold a home in La Jolla that took my seller four years to decide to sell.  I sold the house in two weeks with multiple offers!! Why? I suggest it was all in the timing. I was able to price the house right for the time or market, and my seller did everything I suggested to get the house sold. He repainted the exterior and interior, replaced the old carpet with new and added new landscaping in the yard. Even in this challenging market I was able to sell his house quickly. True, if he had sold his home four years ago his sale price would have been higher but my seller wasn’t ready, the timing for him was not right.

 Another example of the right timing …  A man and his wife would go out every Sunday and check out the open houses never finding anything or committing to working with an agent.  I met them at an open house and we talked about timing, market conditions in La Jolla, and the fact that NOW is a great time to capitalize on both lower home prices and lower interest rates. I emphasized to them that now is a great time to be a buyer. I sold them a house three weeks later. 

 As I have mentioned before, this isn’t the market in which to “test” your home. You are either a motivated seller, or you are not. What do you want to be? Here are your choices: you are going to “make” the market, “meet” the market or “chase” the market. Which one will it be? The bottom line in selling a house is all about the timing!

 So your timing on selling or buying a home could be now or later but when timing is right please feel free to give me a call or visit my website and I will be glad to help you with your real estate transactions!

3rd Stop on my “Blog Tour of La Jolla”

Meanley & Son ACE Hardware …. 7756 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037.

I don’t know about you but I grew up in a household that when my father changed a light bulb we all gave him a standing ovation. Obviously, my father wasn’t very mechanically inclined so going down to the hardware store was fairly unusual and a big deal. God love my father, but I’m happy to report that my husband Scott can fix anything & everything.  When we were first married, the drain under the kitchen sink was clogged and I exclaimed  “we have to call the plumber!”  Scott looked at me like I was crazy then went under the sink and unclogged it with ease. I was totally surprised and impressed and can tell you that this “honey do tradition” has continued for over 28 years.  So through my years of marriage having a wonderful local hardware store like Meanley & Son so close at hand has been a valuable asset.

In 1948 Nackey Scripps Meanley (niece of Ellen B. Scripps) together with husband Tom and son William established Meanley and Son Hardware dedicated to the principle of service. Now, over 6o years later that tradition continues.  Meanley’s, as the locals call it, is so much more than your typical hardware store.  There you will find most anything for your home …  like gourmet cookware, portable appliances, giftware, light bulbs, tools, cleaning  & gardening supplies, paint, electrical & plumbing fittings etc., etc., etc.  You can walk in for a can of paint and come out with a new set of keys or the latest cooking gadget. Find out more about Meanley’s by visiting their website and don’t forget to grab a bag of freshly pop popcorn too! It’s a hardware store for everyone, visiting travelers, new residents and old timers alike.  Just walk in and have fun!

Happy 4th of July!

Warwick’s Book Store – 2nd stop on my “Blog Tour of La Jolla”

Most everybody loves to read!  I find reading a book becomes my passport to the world. Stories fire my imagination allowing it to run free and enabling me to feel and taste the cultures of other countries for a little while.  Stories let me live in that world where anything can happen, instead of this—sometimes boring—one. Stories give us history, emotions, and memories.  They stretch the  mind by opening us up and introducing us to new ideas and thoughts.   I have been very lucky to be a member of a book club for over 10 years and I love it! I love the discussions, the camaraderie and all the books we read.

I am also very fortunate to live in La Jolla, because La Jolla is not only a beautiful seaside community filled with vibrant restaurants, fabulous shops, art galleries and gorgeous beaches, it is also the home to one of the most famous bookstore on the west coast, Warwick’s. So the second stop on my “BLOG TOUR OF LA JOLLA” is my favorite bookstore, Warwick’s, which is located in the Village of La Jolla at 7812 Girard Avenue.

Warwick’s is a not your typical bookstore.  Inside its walls you will find many diverse items from books to international artisan jewelry. This family owned and operated business is now run by the fourth generation great-granddaughters Nancy and Cathy Warwick of founder W.T. Warwick. After over 100 years in business, the family tradition of classic customer service and modern merchandising continue to make Warwick’s an integral and historic part of the community. You can just run in to purchase a greeting card, gift or the latest bestseller; but be careful because once inside this fabulous bookstore you might also get lost walking down the aisles into a timeless period of history.

Warwick’s is also known to have renown authors stop by for a book signing which can cause a line of fans to be seen waiting around the block on that night. Find out more about Warwick’s by visiting their website or if you are walking down Girard be sure to stop in Warwick’s and you just might walk out with a new book that takes your imagination to a fabulous and exotic location!

Everything that California is famous for can be found in La Jolla!

La Jolla California is an enchanting seaside community with dazzling ocean scenery, sand beaches, tide pools, and sandy coves tucked between rocky cliffs.  Its sunshine and year round comfortable temperatures lure thousands of visitors each year. In downtown La Jolla you will still find many family owned businesses; art galleries, boutiques, antique shops, unique clothing and jewelry stores.  It is my intent over the next few weeks to introduce you to some of these local treasures.  If you are a regular reader of my blog, then you know about my passion for flowers. I have always said that if I were not a La Jolla Realtor, I would have been a florist! So the first stop on my “BLOG TOUR OF LA JOLLA” is my favorite flower shop; Adelaide’s, located in the Village of La Jolla.

Adelaide’s is a full-service, European-style floral boutique located at 7766 Girard Avenue. This is a family business owned and operated since 1936.  Their knowledgeable and helpful staff will help you find the perfect floral arrangement, plant, or gift. When you walk into Adelaide’s you feel like you are walking through your own private garden, with the sweet aroma of flowers and gorgeous floral arrangements.  Adelaide’s has been voted Best Florist of La Jolla for the past 8 years by the readers of La Jolla Light, voted Reader’s Choice for Best Florist by La Jolla Village News, voted best florist in San Diego by the readers of the San Diego Union, and voted best florist by Ranch & Coast magazine.  Find out more about Adelaide’s by visiting their website and  if you are walking down Girard Avenue be sure to stop in Adelaide’s and you might just walk out with a beautiful floral arrangement which is sure to brighten up your day!

Happy Memorial Day!

Has your Realtor CHANGED with the times? Modern technology has changed the face of Real Estate marketing.

CHANGE!  Nothing stays the same does it?  I find this to be especially true in the field of selling Real Estate.  I have been selling Real Estate for over 19 years and have found that to be a good Realtor you have to change with the times. How I sold a home 10 or 15 years ago is very different from how I sell a home today.  As a La Jolla Realtor I have had to change with the times.  The internet and new technology in digital photography and video have completely changed the real estate marketing game.  It is imperative for your agent to know what these new marketing tools are and how to best use them. 

Here are some helpful tips that will sell your home faster.  First of all, if your agent just listed your home they can no longer put it on the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) with one picture and hope it sells. Today a realtor should hire a professional photographer to take pictures, and have a virtual tour done of the house.  Prospective buyers like to look at pictures and videos of a home before they decide to pick up the phone and call a Realtor. If the photos of your home don’t get you excited how will they excite the buyer?   I can’t tell you how many times I see pictures of homes on the MLS that are dark with messy rooms and even dishes in the sink.  Remember to check out the quality of the marketing done by your Realtor before signing a contract.

The bottom line is your home must have a “presence” on the internet.  It is a fact that 87% of buyers start their home search on the internet by visiting sites like Zillow, Trulia & Realtor.com.  It is equally important for your Realtor to have that “presence” on the internet as well by using social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and by having their own Blog and website.  Whether you are thinking about selling or buying a home, make sure you work with a Realtor that is using all the latest technology available.  Don’t settle for yesterday’s agent!

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