Around the Bay Area, many homes have been pulled off the market due to the COVID-19 crisis. But the sellers who are still out there desperately need to find buyers, which means you could get a great deal if you’re ready to act now!
– The Geek
It’s not always easy to tell a green home from a not-so-green one, and that’s because most green upgrades are “invisible”. There are five basic areas to consider when evaluating a green home: planning and design, energy efficiency, material conservation, water conservation, and environment. But there are tons of ways to make your home more sustainable.
One easy way to save energy is to install a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans can be used in place of air conditioners, which require a large amount of energy. You can take it a step further with a programmable thermostat to make sure you’re only using your heating and air conditioning appliances when you really need them. Programmable thermostats contain no toxic mercury like thermometer-based models, and, in some climates, they can save up to $150 a year in energy costs!
Did you know the average household spends 11% of its energy budget on lighting? Traditional incandescent lamps only convert about 10% of the energy they consume into light, while the rest becomes heat. Investing in new lighting technologies, like light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can reduce your energy use for lighting alone by 50% to 75%. Have a look at these additional tips, and let us know if you have any questions about making your home a little greener!
As the shelter in place order spreads to the entire state of California, what’s your state of mind?
Many brokerages have canceled open houses for all of their listings, and they’re limiting private in-person tours to two customers at a time. When I show a home to a client, I always think ahead and bring a respirator and disinfectant.
Healthy clients = Healthy realtors!
To be honest, there’s not a whole lot of difference. Everything is the same except we’re doing it all from home. Sure, it makes me a little grumpy, but I have one simple rule:
When life gives you lemons... grab some tequila and make it a party!
Or something like that. Anyway, here's a gif of a goat. Stay safe out there.
Hours ago, the reality we've been experiencing in Silicon Valley for the past few days became real for the entire state, as Governor Gavin Newsom put all of California on lockdown. KQED has the full story and what we should expect.
Many cities have placed moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 crisis, and now the Federal Housing Finance Agency is ordering Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to follow suit. Get the scoop from HousingWire.
Mayor Sam Liccardo joined public, private, and nonprofit leaders on Wednesday to announce the formation of a multi-pronged initiative to respond to the coronavirus and its impacts on our community. Get more from NBC Bay Area.
If you’re headed out on a supply run and you’re under 65, have an extra cup of coffee and give our seniors a chance to enjoy some added safety during special shopping hours at many Bay Area supermarkets, including Safeway and Whole Foods. Read all about it in SFGate.
It sounds like a contradiction in terms, but some of our neighbors are making the most out of their time at home during the coronavirus crisis. The Palo Alto Weekly has the scoop on a variety of coping mechanisms.
Having trouble keeping active at home and burning off those extra calories from eating takeout and frozen pizza during the coronavirus shelter-in-place? USA Today has seven FREE ways to get your workout on while you’re stuck in the house.
That's it. That's the headline. What an amazing story from CNN, and any one of us could replicate it in our community. All it takes is some ingenuity and a little tech savvy. Sounds like a job for the Chic 'n' the Geek!
How is the coronavirus outbreak impacting the real estate market?
According to the National Association of Realtors, only 3% of their 1.4 million members have reported listings removed from the market due to the coronavirus pandemic. The crisis is putting a strain on everyone and adding short-term uncertainty to the market, and there’s still a lot that we don’t know about what the next few months will bring. But uncertainty is the name of the game in real estate, and savvy investors know how to stick to a game plan. Now is a great time to take advantage of low interest rates and timid bidders who may not be ready to commit to a property.
I have an important message for sellers: Do not panic. Keep calm, stay informed, and use your best judgment. If you have property on the market and a deadline to sell that doesn’t pause for viral pandemics, you can still get the word out through alternative methods like virtual open houses, interactive floor plans, and video tours. If you decide to host an open house, make sure you follow best practices, bring a lot of hand sanitizer, and keep some masks at the ready. And instead of paper handouts, share them in the mobile cloud. Drop us a line for more tips on marketing in a time of social distancing.
