Click And Listen. 19 Hardwick Avenue, Piedmont, CA
Archive for the ‘Properties’ Category
Designed to Stay
For every home we bring to market there is work to be done. It might simply be painting and staging, or it could be a number of things including painting and staging…… from replacing counter tops, refinishing hardwood floors, changing out hardware, updating lighting and landscaping the front, side and back garden. In this case I updated a home for our clients to stay with the intention that one day they would sell and wanted it to be ready for market but in the meantime they could enjoy. At the time our clients were living abroad in the Middle East, and knowing they would soon return to live in their home, I was very nervous they wouldn’t like it. But thankfully it all worked out and they loved it.
Designed to Stay
It was back in 2016 when I first started using gold fixtures. Choosing the counters and back splash was harder than it looks. My intern Max went to a number of stores all around the Bay Area to bring back samples in various sizes and color variations while I was in Mexico. Every day while I was away we had Facetime meetings. A self proclaimed control freak I had to see what was going on. When I am in town I go 3x a day to check on the workers and the progress. Thank you MAX!
Details Make the Difference.
Long check lists and punch lists, a google share doc, costs and expenses, a timeline and options, so many options. This remodel took about 2 months, full time. We updated 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, refinished the hardwood floors, painted every room, cleaned out the basement ( painted the garage and basement ) and changed out every light fixture. In a single bathroom there are so many choices and sizing has to be just right. From choosing a single toilet… there are many to choose from.. I usually opt for TOTO. Light fixtures, mirrors, cabinet pulls, faucets, tile and flooring all have to be chosen. And what size and shape of the tile are you going to use. And is the floor tile in the bathroom going to be the same as the shower tile? Choices choices. My suggestion is to start with a very long list. Keep it in a Google Sheets, then start sourcing and saving on Pinterest. You can see my many ideas at www.pinterest.com/debbidimaggio — Happy Pinning!
Sources: Lighting Sources: West Elm, Lamps Plus, Home Depot. For other recommendations reach out DebbiDiMaggio@gmail.com 510.414.6777
real estate, like cars, are sexy
Real Estate Is Sexy
We’ve heard the saying time and again … Sex Sells.
From the beautiful woman draped on a luxurious sofa between the glossy pages of Architectural Design or Elle Decor to that strong, handsome man showering beneath a luxury faucet shower head.
Sex sells, and people crave beauty.
Take Note: Pinterest is just one popular site both men, woman and young people go to find beauty. Pinterest Statistics (by Omnicore)
93% of active pinners said they use Pinterest to plan for purchases and 87% said they’ve purchased something because of Pinterest.
Total # of Monthly Active Pinterest Users: 250 million (source) (Last updated 17/9/18)
# of Pinterest Users from the US: 125 million (Last updated: 17/9/18)
# of Pinterest Users around the World: 50%+ (Last updated: 17/9/18)
Total # of Pinterest Pins: 175 billion+ (Last updated: 17/9/18)
Total # of Pinterest Boards: 3 billion+ (Last updated: 17/9/18)
Total # of Pinterest Users who save Shopping Pins on Boards Daily: 2 million
Pinterest Market Value: $15 Billion+ (source)
Pinterest Demographics
- 81% of Pinterest users are actually Females.
- 40% of New Signups are Men; 60% New Signups are Women.
- Men account for only 7% of total pins on Pinterest.
- Millennials use Pinterest as much as Instagram.
- The median age of a Pinterest user is 40, however, the majority of active pinners are below 40.
- Half of Pinterest users earn $50K or greater per year, with 10 percent of Pinteresting households making greater than $125K.
- 30% of all US social media users are Pinterest users.
- 50% of Pinterest users are from the US.
Buyers and Sellers want that too. (Even if they’re not totally aware of it, they do. That’s why we stage homes and have professional photographs taken.)
Marketing, like Sex, Sells.
Beautiful photographs displayed in a glossy brochure and online where Buyers scan the Internet in search of their dream home, attracted to, and lured in by the attractive photographs.
Professional photographs are key. As is staging. It is a fact Staging attracts more Buyers. A home is oftentimes the largest asset in a person’s life, thus investing in a home to make it appeal to the masses is crucial for the best return.
3 Things All Real Estate companies do in order to Sell a clients home.
All companies provide similar services.
But it’s the demeanor, passion, attitude and work ethic that sets each company and real estate agent apart.
1. MLS. All companies enter listings into the MLS. Some agencies will hold off. Be sure to ask why, if you are a Seller.
2. Open Houses.
3. Market & Advertise.
Home Buyers, oftentimes, begin their search online. They also seek out local agents rather than use an out of area Realtor. Buyers have busy lifestyles, thus Open House’s are key to selling a home.
•Buyers SEEK out local agents.
•Buyers ATTEND Open Houses.
•Buyers SCAN the Internet.
Top 3 Places Agents Generate Leads for themselves and their Seller Clients = ROI
- Referrals. Past Clients. Other Realtors. Family/Friends, Neighbors, For Sale Signs.*
- Open Houses & Networking. (If you are a Seller selling your home, is your Agent/Company holding Open House’s each weekend? Are they networking and connected to other agents in and outside of their community?)
- Internet & Print Advertising. (Are they advertising your home and showcasing it across social media?)
•R Referrals.
•O Open Houses.
•I Internet.
How do we define Real Estate Agents & Real Estate Companies?
First off, who we are not.
We are not machines. We are not robots or technology. We are not Siri, or Alexa.
We are human. We are human beings.
We create an experience for our clients. We answer questions. We provide answers. We are a sounding board. Oftentimes a therapist, babysitter and psychologist. We offer advice and a place to vent and discuss. We are not one sided. We communicate and offer a human experience, a human connection. We embody skills and knowledge, expertise, and a wide network to assist each one of our clients.
Real Estate Companies like Real Estate agents emote a feeling. People experience different things when they walk into your home, a Real Estate Firm or a doctors office. Successful Agents like Companies should create a friendly, happy and positive environment that leads to a positive experience, and in turn creates more business and referrals.
Just a reminder
Real Estate is personal.
Real Estate is you. Real Estate is us.
* Go to Omnicore to read more Fun Facts on Pinterest
* For Sale signs and Open Houses are crucial marketing tools when selling a home. We have sold a few high high homes because of the For Sale, and from holding Open Houses. People who were not looking to buy ending up buying just because they happened to come upon an Open House, and others saw our For Sale sign and called. Moral of this story: No stone unturned.
La Dolce Vita! Cernobbio, Lago di Como, Italy
Via Vittorio Veneto 40, Cernobbio, Italy 22012 5 B | 4 B | 3692 sq ft | 3 Car Garage
La Dolce Vita!
Stunning turn of the century Italian Villa meticulously renovated in 2004, restoring such flourishes as egg-and-dart molding, built-in bookshelves, and an eye-catching spiral staircase. An air of old-world romance similarly defines the structure’s exterior embellished with green shutters and rustic pediments. This circa 1900 masterpiece is surrounded by lush manicured landscaping and located in the prestigious town of Cernobbio nestled in the hillside just above Lago di Como and near the famed luxury hotel, Villa D’Este. The main house boasts 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a double living room with fireplace, a gourmet kitchen with Carrara marble counters and a lovely enclosed conservatory with windows to the sky which was custom built in London by Marston and Langinger. On the first floor, a study with a lovely terrace, master bedroom with walk-in closet and serene bath. The second floor includes two bedrooms, a study and full bathroom. The basement houses a cloakroom and laundry. The adjacent guest house on two floors consists of an expansive room just off of the gorgeous garden with a bedroom, bathroom on the upper level. The building adjacent to the swimming pool includes its own bar/sitting room, utility room and bathroom with shower. An entertainer’s paradise; an outdoor BBQ corner, several terraces with an array of vantage points looking over the swimming pool, the lake and the Italian gardens with sculptural privet hedges, a rose pergola, various species of shrubs and flowers along with the tropical species are just a few highlights that make this the ideal setting throughout the year. The quality of the restoration, the keen attention to detail, the serene, tranquil and private setting makes this Villa the ideal gathering place for families and friends. The fortunate buyer will enjoy creating memories of a lifetime for generations to come. About Cernobbio Cernobbio is a particularly prestigious address on Lake Como and is best known as a summer playground for the likes of George Clooney, Sir Richard Branson, and Madonna. The Villa D’Este is one of the most beautiful and renowned hotels in the world. Locals with references can become members of their beach and tennis club. Cernobbio is probably the sunniest location on the Lake. It is also extremely easy to reach from the highway that connects to Milan, Switzerland and the Malpensa airport; and the Villa is just 5 minutes to the freeway, whereas many of the other picturesque towns can be 1/2 hour to 45 minutes or longer to access the highway. Italians know this about Cernobbio, as do well-healed vacationers, but not all Americans are as aware of how much more valuable this location is than others. In addition to being in Cernobbio, this property sits high on the hill in a hamlet which has a particularly mild micro-climate. Many Italians actually prefer this location as there is much less humidity being off the lake. One can see a difference even in the olive and pomegranates trees that thrive around this inspiring Villa.
Co-Listed with Justin Fierro, Engel & Volkers
