Chic vs. Geek: How to Sell a Home in the Summertime

The weather is heating up, and the local housing market is already hot. But you can’t count on momentum to get you the sale price you want. What can you do to improve your chances?

CHIC (PEARL)

Like the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Spend some time upgrading your curb appeal by keeping your lawn freshly mowed, decorating with new plants and ground coverings, and touching up the paint job. Speaking of paint, color is an extremely important factor in home sales. During the summer, add some lighter tones to brighten up your look. Security also adds value. Try framing your walkways and driveways with lights for a stylish touch.

GEEK (KEVIN)

Buyers are busy shuffling between open houses and all their usual errands, especially if they have kids home from school. Make sure your schedule is flexible enough to meet a buyer when and where they are available. Don’t make them wait for you. And definitely do not skimp on the air conditioning! House hunters will want to escape the heat, and stepping into a nice cool home will instantly put them at ease. You don’t want an ice box either, so set the thermostat at a comfortable level.

Chic vs. Geek: Making a Winning Offer

Homebuyers in today’s market are facing steep competition. Low interest rates, pandemic-prompted home shopping, and extra lean inventories are colliding to fuel high demand. And according to the California Association of Realtors, one of the fiercest markets is the Bay Area. So what does it take to make a winning offer?

CHIC (PEARL)

Lately, we’ve seen a lot of buyers' fatigue and clients who wanted to give up. We’ve also been in multiple bid situations that went more than 40% above the listing price. Here’s how to stay competitive:

Position your financing like a cash offer – Offers with non-contingent financing are proving just as strong as all-cash, and down payments over 30% are very competitive.

Bring your best offer, not your best price – Stand out with a flexible or quick closing date, depending on the seller's preference.

Find a good communicator – Your agent's relationship with the listing agent could make all the difference in negotiating a mutually beneficial offer.

GEEK (KEVIN)

That’s all good, but what is it’s still not enough to get the job done?

Consider waving and/or minimizing contingencies – This can be a gamble, but it's growing more prevalent. That’s why it’s important to have an agent to guide you.

Put more skin in the game – Pay the initial 3% deposit within one day of your offer being accepted, buy a one-year home warranty, and more.

Know when to walk away – In the end, you may get out-bid, no matter how strong your offer or how well positioed. Sometimes the smartest move is moving on.

Want to learn more?

Just Listed: 55+ is the new 30!

Located at The Villages Golf and Country Club, a gated 55+ community tucked in San José’s lush Evergreen Valley, this home features a wrap-around balcony overlooking a lake, the perfect spot for watching Northern California sunsets! Inside the house, high ceilings, large windows, and abundant natural light lend warmth to every room. A huge kitchen and flexible dining space offer options for entertaining. There’s also an extra room that would be ideal for a home office!

Residents at The Villages can take advantage of an 18-hole golf course, pro shop, and practice facilities, as well as a clubhouse restaurant and bistro, newly constructed pickleball courts, tennis, and bocce ball. The club also features a fitness center, library, community garden plots, hiking and walking trails, an equestrian center, a post office, and no less than four swimming pools and community centers.

Want to learn more about this opportunity for you and your family? Please contact us today!

Food for Thought: Road Trip Podcasts

Heading out of town to beat the heat this weekend? The good folks at Mashable put together this list of podcasts to pass the time while you’re getting to where you’re going.

Chic vs. Geek: What do buyers want?

We’re still getting used to the “new normal”, and it’s shifting the way buyers are looking at homes, too. So what are the most popular features in a post-COVID world?

CHIC (PEARL)

It shouldn’t be surprising that home offices and big backyards are in high demand. With more employers shifting to hybrid or work-from-home models, a quiet space to Zoom or crush that deadline is becoming more valuable. And being stuck at home is a lot more tolerable when you have a spacious backyard to spread out.

GEEK (KEVIN)

The biggest selling point for a lot of buyers is family space — and not just for socializing. We all know that personal space is just as important, especially when you’ve heard the same family stories a couple hundred times. And with crimes of opportunity on the rise, a secure front porch is becoming another hot item on the COVID market.