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Archive for the ‘Properties’ Category
designed to sell
When you have been doing something for over 30 years that thing you do becomes second nature. For me designing homes is one of those things. Each time we take a new listing there is work to be done. Of course it varies from home to home. And once in awhile a client chooses to sell cleaned and vacant. Usually that only occurs when a home is too far gone and the investment out ways the return.
Let’s break in down.
Obtaining inspections is the first step. It’s not unlike what happens when we get a check up at the doctors office with the addition of further testing and bloodwork. We do the same for a house. Adam and I will book appointments for the following inspections: Termite, Comprehensive Home (checking all systems), Sewer Lateral, Foundation (if recommenced by the home inspector), Roof including Furnace and Electrical if those systems are outdated and require a bid to fix, update or replace. In the Piedmont East Bay these reports will be passed on to the Buyer and paid for up front by the Seller. Area standards vary from area to area, city to city. In Los Angeles where we also work, Buyers pay for any and all inspections the deem necessary, but do not preform such inspections until after they are in contract.
The second step is the design aspect. This is my favorite part. I enjoy the creativity and the process from bringing a home from lived in to staged to sell. I manage each aspect. First we obtain bids: Staging, Painting and note any repairs, as well as Garden Clean Up, Window Washing, Floor Refinishing or Carpet Replacement and Lighting Updates. Sometimes we update kitchen and bath countertops. Once we have produced all the bids we pass them on to the seller to decide how much or how little they would like to invest. Most of the times our Sellers see the benefit and agree to making the investment. After all they will reap the rewards of a higher sale.
Having just returned from a listing consultation in the very neighborhood I grew up, and the same neighborhood we raised our children, I realized that we had sold quite a few within a few blocks of one another. As we chatted with the Sellers we reminisced about all the old neighbors. In Piedmont homes are referred to by name, the name of the original homeowner. Even though a home could have had 3 different homeowners since the original homeowner or the one that just stuck in our minds during our childhood.
Here are just a few homes we sold in the neighborhood and brought from Lived In to Staged To Sell.
80 Cambrian ( Remodeled the home and Leased it. ) Sue Tornlof, PHS
If you are interested in a complimentary analysis and design consultation please do not hesitate to call. Adam and I are happy to stop by.
Piedmont, a wonderful place to call home
Click And Listen. 19 Hardwick Avenue, Piedmont, CA
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.