I have talked about timing issues with regard to relocation in the past, as well as the importance of being aware of critical dates in your contract.

Here is another article touching on these issues - it was featured on Realtown.com in the Relocation section. I hope you find it informative. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions or if you need further information.

Jeff

Selling your home? Need to get an offer quickly? Feng Shui may be your answer.

Read this article on using Feng Shui to get your home in shape for those buyers. Kathryn Holt is a Feng Shui expert with 14 years experience - she contributes to my Fans of Coastal San Diego Blog but since this is so relevant to home buying and selling I wanted to make sure you saw it. And if you are not in the San Diego area, she may be able to help you find a Feng Shui expert to help...or you can do a google search.

You might also show this to your REALTOR (unless you are one)! Just a hint...

Bring out the best . . .  in your listings!

Capturing an offer is all about making the right first impression.  Our services blend beauty with comfortable living, simply by creating a healthier, more desirable home.  We offer:   Organizing services:  Physical clutter is one of the top two Buyer turnoffs, no wonder houses with clutter take longer to sell.  Let us show you that a little clearing and un-cluttering can make a big difference.   Classic Feng Shui:  If you're interested, allow us to take "standard staging" to the next level through Feng Shui.  With fourteen years of experience under our belts (and a proficiency in all of the advanced disciplines), you will receive all of the benefits Feng Shui has to offer.    Additional clearing work:  Every so often you encounter a property that feels a bit off . . .  It may look (superficially) attractive, but something just doesn't feel right and, unfortunately, potential Buyers pick up on it.  Subtle energies (like high levels of electromagnetic fields, geopathic stress, stagnant energy, or a persistent looming feeling) can all sabotage your efforts.  Before you reduce the asking price, ask us about our space clearing services.   Your listing may just need to be cleared and refreshed energetically. (And, don't worry, we've seen it all.)

Don't forget, our consultations make great closing and house warming gifts for your clients.   For more information, please contact:   Kathryn Holt, Feng Shui Resource 858.492.8506

I just posted an article on my What's Up Doc blog about the announcement of 3 Carlsbad schools winning top honors in California. The honors in 2007 were awarded to secondary schools - elementary schools get their chance next year.

I thought you might be interested if you are exploring Carlsbad homes for sale or are considering a move to this great community in San Diego's North County. As you know many folks chose their community based on the reputation of the schools, which can also have an impact on home values.

I am going to veer off the path just a bit and talk about feelings as they relate to house hunting. Why? Well, I think it's important to be in tune in to your feelings whether you are buying or selling, or both.

Your feelings play an important role in your decision making, for example. I do not recommend buying solely on the basis of your emotions, but let's face it, for most folks it IS an emotional process, and you have reactions to different houses based on your feelings (it feels good, it doesn't), as well as logic and intellect (the room sizes are smaller than we need, there is only 1 bath). And don't you sometimes experience certain feelings when you approach a particular house, or upon entering it? Maybe it just makes you feel good, or it reminds you of the home you grew up in. Some people are more in tune with their feelings with regard to buying a home, and others are more intellectual, or analytical. Whatever the case for you, I believe it is important to recognize the role that our emotions play in our purchasing. Be careful to not let them interfere with the rational side of the purchase and make the wrong decision because your emotions get in the way.

Emotions tend to become even more apparent once the decision is made and you enter the actual transaction phase. Problems arise, tempers flare, things go wrong, anxiety sets in about getting the loan approved, and so on. You need to expect this, unless you are one of the rare folks who really does not get flustered by anything at anytime. It's normal and to be expected. Just don't let your emotions get out of control.

If you are selling your home you can expect a range of feelings, as a result of leaving a place you have loved for many years, or being excited about a new home. Relocation tends to be particularly emotional. Or there may be family circumstances that are necessitating your move which are not pleasant - a death or divorce, for example. The emotions can erupt when you don't get any offers and frustration sets in, or when you get an offer that is low ball and you start feeling angry and insulted. I kindly suggest, again, that being aware of these feelings is important and that you should recognize they are normal. Being aware will help you keep from making decisions based only on the feelings you are experiencing at that moment. Taking some time to calm down or to think about the situation a bit more can also help prevent a rash decision or reaction. It is too important a process.

Robert Melton, of Pittsburgh Homes Daily blog fame, has compiled a great list of blogs, from every state union. What a great resource, and interesting reading!

Are you moving somewhere around the country (other than San Diego, then you are hopefully reading MY Fans of Coastal San Diego blog - sorry, couldn't help but do some shameless advertising)? You will find his list a great source of information. And if Pittsburgh is your destination, check him out (please tell him I sent you).

Jeff

PS - Oh, and BTW, I am very pleased that he has included me on his list. It's am impressive group of blogs.

Have you had your home listed, only to find that after months of showings, open houses, or pehaps little activity, that your real estate contact has expired (you know that right?). Ouch. Now what do you do?

Perhaps you have decided to forget about selling for the time being. Great, if you can do that. But most folks who are selling need or want to for some reason, so some decision needs to be made.

How are you feeling about this? Angry? Disappointed? Irritated? Ticked off at your agent? Feeling like you have wasted months of time and gotten nowhere? Perhaps annoyed at yourself for expecting to get more money than was reasonable in your market?

It doesn't feel good to be rejected by the market, but that is exactly what has happened. So you need to decide how to proceed and get your home sold.

Staying angry won't get you anywhere (and the barage of calls you are likely getting from every agent in town, who DIDN'T have a buyer but is now calling to help you sell your home, doesn't help). So take stock of the problem, consider the possible reasons the home did NOT sell, and get ready to move ahead. What's done is done.

Here are some good possiblities:

• Price - yep, I know you don't want to hear that...most sellers don't...but it is the primary reason (and some say the ONLY reason) a home doesn't sell. Did you get any offers at all? Were you being a bit greedy because your neighbor said you could get more than the agent said?
• Condition - another issue that sellers don't like to hear, and perhaps your home is immaculate, but if not, the interior and/or exterior condition may have been an issue. Buyers are pretty fussy, especially in a buyer's market, and anything they can find to give them a reason to offer a lower price or NOT buy a home gives them ammunition. Be brutally honest - is your home REALLY in great condition or not? And if it is a fixer, does the price reflect that? I would also add the concept of STAGING here - was your home decluttered, and marketed to prospective buyers by being staged so they could envision living there?
• Exposure to the market - did your home get the exposure it needed? Today's market, in most areas, is loaded with competition, and maximum exposure is essential. Perhaps your agent did not do a good job of marketing, especially on the Internet (did you know that over 70% of buyers start looking for homes on the Internet?). Were the features and benefits of the home headlined in the advertising? Were the photos in the MLS appealing?
• Location - a critical issue in our business. And of course you cannot change where your house is. But you CAN make allowances by capitalizing on the conditon and making sure the price reflects the location. If you have a view of an industrial park, the RR tracks, noise from the freeway, etc. these are issues that may discourage a buyer. Pricing your home the same as a comparable property with a more desirable location WILL NOT invite offers. Why would it? How would YOU view this situation if you were the buyer?

So you now need to find a new agent who can (1) be honest with you about pricing (and you must listen), and (2) develop and implement a top-notch marketing plan to maximize your exposure. Oh, and perhaps your agent did not communicate with you much, or at all. Make sure that doesn't happen again.

Interview several real estate professionals and ask some tough questions. Share your thoughts on why the house did not sell and find out what the agents propose to do about those problems.

1. The agent who quotes the highest price is NOT the right one
2. An agent who does not have a written marketing plan is NOT the right one
3. And the agent who lists the most homes (but may only sell half of them) or who has the glitziest ads may NOT be the right one.

Good luck...and if I can answer any questions or share some more ideas, please let me know.

If you are getting ready to sell your home, or perhaps are already in the process and not having any success, I urge you to take a look at this article on the things sellers should not do it they want to sell their homes. I read it not too long ago and was really impressed. It echoes much of my own thinking, and I have touched on some of these issues on my own blog here, and on ActiveRain.

Maureen Francis is a colleague in the Michigan market (Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and surrounding areas) , a knowledgable REALTOR and blogger, and I have great respect for her wisdom and knowledge. While I don't know her personally, I have gotten to know her through her blogging...and that's enough for me.

Maureen's article has lots of sage advice, so rather than summarizing it here, I recommend you take a look.  You won't regret it, and her thoughts might just be what you need to know to be successful in selling your home quickly and for top dollar.

The Union Tribune reported some negative AND postive news on the housing market yesterday. The "bad" news is that the number of sales declined again, the 34th month in a row. No real surprise there.

However, the good news (well, more so if you are a seller) is that housing prices rose across all three categories of housing - resale homes, resale condos, new condos and homes.

Here's a link to the full article. I suspect we will continue to see more buyers coming into the market as has been happening for the last couple of months. Stay tuned for more updates.

I'm curious - are you a demanding seller? It's not a big deal, I was just wondering if you consider yourself so.

I'm not asking if you are rude, overly fussy or particular, or unreasonable in your requests. Not at all. I assume you aren't because demanding people can be tough to work with in any business. And being overly demanding tends to not have the intended effect. And it tends to alienate others.

What I AM referring to is whether you are a seller who wants certain things done as part of selling your home. In this case these are things I feel ARE reasonable to demand. You should expect, and demand, them if you don't get these things.

• Honesty and the truth from your agent...about the price, likelihood of selling, condition, need for repairs, need for decluttering, etc.  What you DON'T want is someone who only tells you what you want to hear. You NEED to know the truth, as hard as it is to hear it. Admit it - don't you want honesty?
• Competency and knowedge - if the agent doesn't know what he or she is doing, doesn't understand marketing or advertising, doesn't know how to complete the paperwork, doesn't understand the disclosures, you are NOT getting what you are paying for. Demand it!
• Fiduciary duty to YOU - yes, your agent owes you a fiduciary duty of utmost care, integrity, honesty and loyalty in ALL dealings with you. Your interests are to be protected and watched over; confidentiality is to be preserved unless you give permission for information to be shared (of course YOU have a legal obligation to disclose material facts about the condition of your home - you can't hide them and you can't ask your agent to keep these a secret, as it's a violation)
• Accurate MLS listing - the information should be factually correct, without typos (those drive ME nuts and they do not convey a good impression of the listing nor the competency of the agent) , and remarks should favorably describe the home in a way that will encourage buyers to want to see it, not scare them away. But honesty is important too...no puffery, no deception. If your agent does NOT provide you with a copy of the MLS listing when it is first done, DEMAND IT. I recommend you provide your feedback, and make sure it represents your home is a positive, but honest manner.
• Great photos - I know I harp on this all the time, but the quality of MLS photos is deplorable. Really, it is. I imagine you have seen enough listings yourself, especially if you are also looking at homes for sale. The majority  of them are NOT flattering, are too dark or of poor quality, and limited in number (I find it intolerable that some agents do not take pictures at all - there is just no excuse). Buyers DEMAND to see photos of homes and they will pass by listings without them. So you you should DEMAND good quality photos too.
• Regular communication from your agent - this is one of the biggest complaints about agents, and the communication oftentimes is terrible. Certainly you don't need 5 calls a day, or even 1 call every day, but you deserve to have updates, feedback, and answers to questions in a timely manner. Be clear up front how often you would like to hear from your agent (if he or she does not bring the issue up) and how you would prefer that communication to occur (some folks prefer email, others want a call, some want some face to face contact).

If you are not getting these things, then you are NOT getting what you are paying for. There are great agents out there, and many not-so-great ones. Don't get undersold. Consumers deserve to be treated as valued clients, and you should feel that the money you are spending equates to the service you are getting.

So be a demanding seller, if you need to.

You have heard me mention the word TITLE, but perhaps are wondering what that means.

TITLE refers to ownership. All property has some sort of owner. It may be an individual (such as a house), the government, or a private institution. TITLE is the proof of ownership. And when you purchase a home and the property if transferred to you at closing, you receive TITLE to the property (you may not actually have the deed itself, which is the document showing proof - it may be held by a third party if there is a mortgage, sort of like the bank holding the title to your car).

Different states may refer to a title in various ways. Abstract of Title (typically a list of the relevant documents for a title search) or a Title Abstract are some other terms.

TITLE may be separate (ownership by 1 person or 1 entity) or concurrent (e.g., community property [husband and wife],tenancy in common).

Are you finding yourself working with a mediocre Buyer Agent who just does not seem to get it? Are you feeling that he or she is doing a substandard, or poor, job?  Does this agent not seem to be representing YOUR interests, as you expected and hoped?

Or, if you have not yet made that decision to hire an agent, are you concerned about  having to face these issues by hiring the wrong person?

Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon occurrence in the world of real estate. And as an agent, I am embarassed to admit that. Yes, it's a tough job - there is a lot of work to do, problems to solve, and things do not always go the way you and your client would like.

• Some agents just don't act as if they care about their job or how well they do it
• Some are only focussed on making the commission, rather than their main focus being YOU, the client.
• There are agents who do not follow-up in a timely manner (say, making appointments, answering questions, or responding to your calls and emails)
• Others do not seem to know all that they should be doing to represent you in the transaction., or they don't understand the paperwork or disclosures well enough to explain them to you

So, what can you do?

Read more about the problems you might encounter when working with a Buyer agent and what you can do about it.

Have a great weekend!

YOU GET A C-!!

Sellers, are you faced with mediocrity in your current listing situation? What a drag it is, huh?

Or are you afraid you will face it when you hire an unknown agent?

Unfortunately, mediocrity in the real estate biz is alive and well (or not well, I suppose). And it grinds me, as a agent, to have to admit that. But the truth hurts.

But as a seller you DO NOT have to put up with it. Read more on selling your home and mediocrity here.

As a luxury home buyer, you are likely looking for some things that the typical buyer may not be considering. Amenities in luxury homes, plus the privacy and location, are a large part of what  makes a home a high-end property, and different from the typical home.

Here are some things that many luxury home buyers are looking for, although buyers often have different priorities.

• Fabulous location/views - mountain top, waterfront, private island, penthouse in a high rise; unobstructed views; famous/celebrity neighbors
• Privacy - extra large lot (multiple acres), gated community and/or gated property, possibly with security staff at gate; top-notch electronic security systems with cameras, private security company
• Uniqueness - custom-built, probably by a well-know architect; designed with and by the buyer; use of a custom designer for all furnishings
• Finishes - the best quality stones (marble, granite), woods (unique and rare) and tiles (possibly reclaimed from historic homes around the world and unique), gold, bronze, etc.; custom-built doors, windows, fireplaces; custom cabinetry; hand-forged metalwork; custom/artisan wall and ceiling finishes, murals; custom lighting
• Size - minimum 5,000-6,000 square feet and more, 5+ bedrooms (each with private full bath), 7+ total baths, perhaps 2 kitchens, formal and informal living rooms, formal and informal dining rooms, rooms for live-in staff, a fully-equipped guest house, large garage (4+ car, possibly heated or climate-controlled, with car-washing facilities)
• Amenities - wine cellar, library, top-quality custom-built media room, game room, his and hers baths, separate dressing rooms, separate offices, 1 or more pools, spa, fully-equipped outdoor kitchen and other living space, storage for furs, safe(s) for jewelry, tennis courts, boat/yacht dockage, Smart Home Technology, sauna, steam room, private spa facilities (in house or as separate facility, private heliport or airfield
• Landscaping - landscape-architect designed; rare and specimen plantings; computer-controlled lighting and irrigation systems; water features including waterfalls and  fountains; custom-built walls and gates, possibly reclaimed from historic homes and estates

Here's a link to a community profile and tour I posted recently on San Elijo Hills, in San Marcos, CA

San Elijo Hills is an award winning master planned community offering a broad range of housing with fabulous panoramic iews. If you are looking for homes for sale in San Marcos, this may be it.

Let me know if I can answer any questions or provide more information about San Elijo or other nearby communities.

I wrote a blues song yesterday at a open house I was sitting (so, naturally, I was thinking about homes for sale).

Before you get too impressed, it really is only some lyrics about an overpriced house, that is to be sung to the tune "Lil' Red Rooster" as performed by Etta James.

Here's the link to the song, "I've Got the Overpriced Blues," posted on my ActiveRain "What's Up Doc?" blog. Hope you get a kick out if it.

There's a serious message here, though, for sellers, about NOT overpricing if you truly want to sell your home.

If I can help in any way with particular questions or information about the housing market, especially here in the San Diego area, please let me know.

Jeff