Archive for the ‘Real Estate’ Category

How To Make A Big Home Feel Cozy

Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Debbi DiMaggio

 

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If living in a spacious luxury home with your loved ones has always been your dream and you can afford it – go for it. But don’t forget that there is more to making a big space comfortable than just being in good company. It all starts with quick and smooth home relocation, but it is just the first step. What comes next is settling in, systematically unpacking, and personalizing your new residence. If you’ve wondered if you can easily make a big house feel cozy, yes, you can, with just a few simple, affordable, and practical tips.

Cover the big empty surfaces

How can you tell that a furnished house is still empty? It echoes. It lacks the most important inner coating you can get, the one that makes it warm and intimate. The moment you stop hearing the tap of your heels and the metallic ring to your voice, you know that your home has become cozier.

The walls and windows

Admit it; as soon as you enter a room, you look for a tale. Every piece of furniture tells something about the owner. And what better shows off a person’s personality and style than wall art? If you intend to make your home welcoming and enjoyable for family and visitors alike, your walls should tell the story of their residents. The paintings, mirrors, and souvenirs from far and exotic places make your home as much as your life. A gallery layout is ideal for vast surfaces. It allows you to combine different elements and textures into a unique mosaic.

A bedroom with bed, curtains, and pillows in soft beige, gray and metallic tones.

A bedroom with bed, curtains, and pillows in soft beige, tan and metallic tones.

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And what about the windows? Even soft and delicate curtains add to the feeling of warmth because they create a sense of privacy. And the feelings of privacy and security are essential if you wish to make a big house feel cozy, intimate, and relaxed.

The floors and stairs

Regardless of the material of your floors, there is always a way to cover them without obscuring their beauty. Even the most luxurious floors can benefit from clever emphasis, and particularly elegant floors need a bit of homey warmth. You can take the chill out of your marble or stone tiles with the strategic placement of carpets and rugs. Depending on your local climate, choose their thickness. The goal is not to induce heat fatigue but feel secure and snug as a bug (in a rug).

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And can you resist the sheer elegance of the fabric stair runner over your marble stairs? Walking on the red carpet (or any other color or design of your preference) has never been closer to you.

A big home should brim with life.

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Nothing brings a sense of connection with nature into your home and a touch of luxury like indoor plants. Choosing the right indoor plants and placing them in good (s)pots can make all the difference. The results can be stunning.

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A spacious living room with a large window and plenty of indoor plants.

Instead of a cold and sterile-looking environment, plants have the power to produce a vibrant atmosphere that roots you in the present moment. That is all we sometimes need to feel content and make a big house feel cozy, welcoming, and as luxurious as your choice of plants.

Create a warm atmosphere with ambient lighting.

The right fixture with the right amount of light does wonders. The shadows created as the result of cleverly placed ambient lighting soften the edges of your room. Appropriate lighting makes the space as big as you want it to be, simply by focusing
your attention. And the best part? Purchasing and installing light fixtures doesn’t have to be an expensive investment. The offer of various designs of ambient lights is so extensive, it will certainly fit both your style and budget, regardless of how large
your home is.

Don’t let a big home become a burden: Consult the experts.

Not everybody has the time or passion for making continuous upgrades and small renovations. At some point, people either realize that the home is just too big for their needs and move house or resort to remodeling. Whichever option resonates with
you, think twice and think well, because both investments demand careful consideration. Also, if you aren’t satisfied with your home size but lack creative skills, hire a home designer. An expert with the ability for abstract thinking and a good sense of
aesthetics will transfer the feel-like-home dream into reality for you.

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A philosophy of home design that brings harmony and coziness to your home

Although most people tie Feng shui with minimalism, in its essence, it represents the absence of excess. Its principles make a good guide for people looking to furnish their home without overstuffing it. You can use Feng shui to improve your home without the risk of going overboard, both aesthetically and financially. As a result, you will create a tidy, comfortable home that has everything you need in the right place. That’s the prerequisite to feeling healthy, relaxed, and cozy.

A couple of important last notes

If you’re aiming to make a large house feel more intimate, you have options. Either you invest your time, energy, and aesthetic skills into a DIY home improvement, or you ask the pros for a piece of advice and assistance. Should you embark on a slower (although more rewarding to some people) journey of self-made home improvements, make a plan.

List all the features of your home that require attention and search for ideas that will make your home feel warmer. A list will help you outline a budget, too, and estimate the duration and amount of work to be done. With the organized approach, you can do everything you imagine, and even more, if you allow specialists to assist you along the way. Even make a big house feel cozy, just as a home does.

Need a recommendation or design ideas, reach out and allow us to assist or direct you to design professional.

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Saturday, October 9, 2021
Debbi DiMaggio

Copy of Market (2)

A Word About the DiMaggio + Betta Group and a few recent sales.

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WE SELECTED THIS DYNAMIC DUO AFTER INTERVIEWING SEVERAL FIRMS, AND THEY PROVED TO BE WELL BEYOND BEING JUST THE RIGHT CHOICE.

I have participated in numerous real estate transactions, and three months ago, I would have had trouble imagining enjoying one, let alone a couple. But that was before I worked with Debbi and Adam of Highland Partners. We selected this dynamic duo after interviewing several firms, and they proved to be well beyond being just the right choice. The professionalism and rigor that Adam brings to the business side of the equation is perfectly complemented by Debbi’s simply superb sense of design and flair for style. I was especially impressed with the way she took the raw material of our beloved (and old-fashioned) Piedmont home, and breathed new life into it, giving it a totally contemporary feel and a consistent aesthetic, while respecting, and in fact actually enhancing, its vintage elegance and charm.

In fact, we enjoyed working with this couple so much that we invited them to work with us on our next transaction, as we sought, and quickly bought, our replacement home. I never thought I’d say this, but I almost wish that there was another real estate deal in the offing now that we’ve found such excellent and absolutely first-rate partners with whom to work! -Tony

DEBBI AND ADAM ARE TOP NOTCH!

Debbi and Adam are top notch! They helped me stage and sell my Oakland home quickly and with a great offer. I live far away and travel a lot, and I didn’t even have to lift a finger–they did everything for me! This team is worth their weight in gold and I look forward to working with them again on my next real estate transaction.  -Jennifer

DEBBI & ADAM HAVE VAST EXPERIENCE and WILL WORK WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

Debbi and Adam helped me considerably with the sale of my Piedmont home. It was a major project from renovation to final sale that took many months with construction delays and challenges. As a team they worked diligently and with care throughout that time, long before the “For Sale” sign hit the curb. From assistance with finding good vendors, to working to help me with the inspection process and finding a good fit with a home stager, it made my life in selling the property something less to worry about. They simply made my life easier and they gave great ideas along the way, while even daring the construction dust!

Anyone that is looking to put their home on the market would do themselves well to meet with Debbi and Adam. They have a vast collective experience of the market, and will work with you every step of the way in a straight forward, down to earth, smartly applied, but also light-hearted way that makes the experience for everyone involved work smoothly.-Carl

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DiMaggio + Betta Group, For Over 30 Years

Experience, integrity and connections are key to making sure their clients succeed in this fast paced, competitive market.

Real Estate has been something Debbi and her partner and husband, Adam Betta, have been immersed in since they first met in 1990. They began working together in San Francisco, where Adam was raised and educated, and where they started their family prior to moving to Piedmont where Debbi was raised and where they grew their family and purchased their first home.

Adam is the Broker of both CORCORAN GLOBAL LIVING Piedmont and Montclair offices; he is perceptive, discerning and an excellent problem solver with extensive experience as a business owner, Broker and top producing Realtor.

Debbi is a master marketer, social media guru and very tech-savvy, all crucial skills in today’s ever-changing, fast-paced real estate market. One of her favorite aspects of selling a home is in the preparation phase prior to market where she uses her design and style acumen to bring a home from lived in to staged to sell coordinating every detail from contractors and stagers, to home inspectors and photographers.

Together they have the skills, experience and knowledge along with their magnificent team they have created and cultivated over the years that has helped many of their clients prevail whether as a Buyer or a Seller.

Debbi, Adam and their son Chase Betta, focus on a variety of East Bay neighborhoods including but not limited to Piedmont, Upper Rockridge, Rockridge, Crocker Highlands, Montclair, Redwood Heights, Oakmore, Berkeley, Albany, Alameda, El Cerrito, Orinda, Lafayette and San Francisco.

What makes this team so successful is their enthusiasm to help not only their clients but their Realtor partners as well. The DiMaggio & Betta Group networks with a number of agents within California and throughout the country and believes in collaborating with top professionals in order to better serve the needs of their clients.

Experience, integrity and connections are key to making sure their clients succeed in this fast paced, competitive market.
Contact this top producing team so they can keep you updated on the latest real estate activities in their community, provide referrals and answer any questions you may have. They look forward to making your next transition seamless.

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Meet Chase DiMaggio Betta, The Next Generation

Chase Betta is the next generation of a family of real estate professionals dating back to the early 70’s when his grandfather Vince DiMaggio syndicated his first building in the Grand Lake neighborhood of Oakland. Chase has worked for Vince for as long as he can remember, and grew up learning valuable business acumen from his parents Adam and Debbi at HIGHLAND PARTNERS now Corcoran Global Living. A Piedmont native and longtime Bay Area resident, Chase has a special understanding of the markets in and around the flagship brokerage of HIGHLAND PARTNERS. He graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor’s degree in Ethnic Studies and Communications, which he aims to use to further support his clients as they navigate the nuances of their own journey. Chase’s additional experience working for a commercial brokerage in Los Angeles adds to his already strong base of real estate fundamentals.

Chase is back in the Bay after travelling throughout Asia before the pandemic. While in the Philippines, he worked at a freediving facility where he met and made new friends daily. In his pastime, Chase likes to travel and stay active. As his passion for lacrosse shows, Chase is a strong team player — he has always skillfully combined interpersonal communication, physical activity, and a drive towards a common goal. He is excited to bring this tenacity to CORCORAN GLOBAL LIVING and the DiMaggio & Betta Group and looks forward to meeting you!

Buying, Selling, Investing, Leasing, Exchanging? How may we assist you with your real estate goals?

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As A Mom I Could Not Be More Thrilled

Monday, October 4, 2021
Debbi DiMaggio

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12 years ago, during the recession we created HIGHLAND PARTNERS with the desire to build a luxury boutique real estate brokerage with like minded agents dedicated to serving their clients while giving back to the communities in which we serve through education and involvement. We wanted to create a culture of collaboration and a professional environment that never lost sight of what it means to support our clients and peers. Through the years we have had great success, some learning moments and even a new understanding of family. Through the last several years we sought expansion opportunities and studied countless marketing platforms. … Just as the day we started HIGHLAND PARTNERS, sometimes the best opportunities arise when you are not looking. –Heidi Marchesotti

Adam and I, along with our partners Heidi Marchesotti and Mindy Sun are proud and honored to announce our recent merger and partnership with Corcoran Global Living.

After 12 years of countless hours, learning, growing, expanding, with endless passion and dedication into creating our Highland Partners brand we now say good-bye, but welcome the change as we adopt the CGL brand. However, we are still the same 2 offices, same great staff, same passionate agents, same unique culture, and still just one family, only larger.

From Inman News:

Corcoran Group affiliate Corcoran Global Living announced a new merger with luxury brokerage Highland Partners, bringing its Bay Area office count to 22

Las Vegas-based Corcoran Group affiliate Corcoran Global Living has hit the jackpot with its latest expansion efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area. CGL announced on Thursday a new partnership with Highland Partners, a 12-year-old luxury boutique brokerage that serves buyers and sellers in the East Bay. “By uniting the top brokerages, top independent teams, and top professionals in the industry, we’re setting a new bar for service and excellence,” CGL Founder and CEO Michael Mahon said in a prepared statement, adding that CGL shares “a truly aligned vision to create and support a culture of growth and collaboration” with the brokerage leaders.

We could not be more excited to have merged with this fantastic brand to expand our footprint throughout California to better serve our agents and our clients. We welcome our new partners, CORCORAN GLOBAL LIVING to the family!

We are Locally Owned. We are Community Driven. We are Client Focused. And today with our new Partners, We are Corcoran Global Living!

And as a mom,

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I could not be more thrilled to have our son Chase DiMaggio Betta on our team, the DiMaggio & Betta Group as well as being a part of this new merger and exciting next chapter.

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Real Estate Q & A

Friday, August 20, 2021
Debbi DiMaggio

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Over the past few months I have answered real estate questions posed by the San Francisco Chronicle and SF Gate. Here are a few of those editorial Q & A’s.

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What Role Does a Buyer’s Pet or Pets Play in the HomeBuying Process?

Of Millennials who purchase homes, 33 percent say the decision to buy was prompted by the presence of or desire to adopt a pet. That outstrips those who bought homes because of a marriage (25 percent) and those who bought to accommodate children (19 percent).*

Homebuyers really do take into consideration their canine, feline or other pets when deciding to purchase a home. Oftentimes condominiums have a pet limit and size restriction, thus a Home Buyer would not opt to purchase a condo should that be the case and be more likely to purchase a home which is not governed by an HOA.

Home-buyers consider their pets part of the family, so when it comes to making a big life decision such as purchasing a home they will give their Realtor certain criteria that fits both their needs and those of their pets. Here are a few examples of the sorts of amenities dog owners may seek: a fenced in yard is number one; they want to be sure Fido is safe from escape. Sidewalks might be a consideration so when it is time to walk the dog, there is a safe place to walk for both the canine and his/her owner. Other pluses might include being within close proximity to a park, pet stores, a pet hospital and/or groomer. All of these amenities are not so different than when a Home Buyer is purchasing a home with their family — the amenities are similar to those who have children.

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*A survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of SunTrust Mortgage 

 

Best Housewarming Ideas for Your Friends and Clients

Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Debbi DiMaggio

Quentin Bacon

Your beloved friends have recently moved into their dream home. Now that they have finally settled, they’ve decided to host a housewarming party. And guess what? You’re invited! It’s customary for attendees of such an event to bring with them a present. The only problem being, you’ve got absolutely no idea what that should be! But don’t worry! I’ve made it my business to hunt down the best housewarming gift ideas for your friends. Stay here for a wee bit longer to find out what they are!

Best Housewarming Gift Ideas for Your Friends Hosting One

Before we dive deeper into housewarming party gift suggestions, let’s make it clear that no present is essentially good nor bad. They don’t say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure for nothing. What you consider useless, others may very well consider extremely useful. The following are just ideas of what you could bestow on your friends. Of course, as you know them best, I’ll leave it up to you to decide which one of these they may like or need.

A Bottle of Quality Wine and a Corkscrew

There’s hardly an adult who doesn’t enjoy sipping on a glass of quality wine every now and then. Chances are your friends enjoy drinking it too, so how about gifting them a bottle of their favorite one? Pair it up with a corkscrew because they may want to give that bad boy a try straight away! Choosing the right wine can be a bit tricky, though. Especially if you aren’t sure of what kind they prefer. Try learning of their preference by asking their family members or mutual friends. If you fail to get an answer, skip the wine altogether and opt for a set of glasses instead. Better that than buying something they won’t enjoy even remotely.

Framed Artwork

Are your friends into art? If so, the housewarming party may be the perfect time to gift them a beautiful piece of wall art. If you are close, you probably know what kind of style they lean towards. Try matching that style, if possible, or wing it. Maybe you’ve also got a picture of all of you lying somewhere. Get it framed, pack it nicely, and bring that instead!

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Tool Kit

In an ideal world, homes require no upgrades and no repairs. And while your friends’ house is probably new or at least patched up, that doesn’t mean it won’t ever require work. Should that happen, they’ll definitely need a set of tools as first aid. Be a good pal and give them one! And if they haven’t dealt with fixing up the home yet, offer your assistance as well. Perhaps you’ve got more experience dealing with touch-ups than your friends do. Once you finish that project, help them make everything spotless. The importance of cleaning and disinfecting in today’s age is not to be neglected.

Potted Plants

Flowers are surely lovely, but potted plants are a much better choice when deciding on the best housewarming gift ideas for your friends. Why? Well, for starters, they don’t die as easily. Flowers have a short life span, while regular plants can last for years depending on the species! Not only that, but they’ll drastically improve the air within your friends’ home and liven the whole area up. As a bonus, a bit of greenery can serve as great decor, too, and also brings one’s feng-shui game to the next level.

Pet Toys & Treats

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For many of us, furry friends are considered family, and that’s the way it should be. If your friends have got one or a few pets, they are probably having a hard time adjusting. Remember, even people need time to get used to a new environment. But for pets, that adjustment period is drastically more complex. Most animals are dependent on routine, and when that routine gets disrupted, anxiety kicks in. Show that you care not only about your friends’ well-being but about the well-being of their pet(s) by purchasing some yummy treats and toys. This is sure to bring their mood up and thus, help them forget about the new living arrangement. The one they didn’t sign up for!

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Gifts Intended for Couples

Having recently moved in, your friends have undoubtedly lost plenty of nerves and energy during the process. Now that all of that is over, they deserve a break. So, how about you treat them to one? A visit to the cinema, for example, could relax them enough to get their mind off things, even for just the time being. Of course, you would be the one responsible for arranging the tickets. If they don’t like movies, there’s also an option to get them theater tickets or organize a spa day to relax them further. Truth to be told, a couple’s massage does sound like one of the best housewarming gift ideas for your friends!

Smart Home Features

Thanks to technological advances, our lives are constantly becoming easier. Let’s simplify your friends’ lives by gifting them a smart home device. There’s a vast pool of these to choose from, ranging from smart locks, thermostats, lights, surveillance systems all the way to home hubs. Whatever the choice, I bet they’ll appreciate the added convenience these remotely controlled features bring.

A Gift Basket

Perhaps a bit cliche, but a gift basket is always a good housewarming present. You can put one together by including some or all of the following items:

  • Scented candles
  • A diffuser
  • Essential oils
  • Bath salts
  • Body scrubs and lotions
  • Soap
  • Towels
  • Candy

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The sky is your limit, so feel free to incorporate anything you deem necessary into the gift basket. You can also take to the Internet for inspiration. It is precisely on it that some of the additional best housewarming gift ideas for your friends might pop up.

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