Email Elizabeth
Elizabeth Weintraub
Ziggy and the Talking Hamster
How could I have forgotten about Ziggy and the talking hamster? This is a plush toy for kids that my sister mailed to me last year, and I’ve been in Hawaii for so long I didn’t realize I had this. But there it was, in my bookcase, buried in all of my Lyon Real Estate awards.
It is the cutest thing. Of course, we don’t have any “real” children but we do have cats. And this is our youngest cat, Ziggy, who is a ragdoll, which is pretty much the perfect type of cat. Beautiful dispositions, so playful, lovable and sweet. My friend, JaCi Wallace, gave us this kitten when he was still a baby. He is still growing. He is almost two years old now, but has not reached his full size yet.
All the cats came over to see the hamster, but it was Ziggy and the talking hamster who bonded. Or, maybe it’s just that Ziggy figures every toy in the house obviously belongs to him and him alone.
When you speak out loud, the talking hamster repeats everything you say. Not only does it repeat what you say, but it shakes its body and trembles when it talks.
If you’re looking for hours of entertainment with your cat, the talking hamster is hilarious. Although, when you look closely of the photo of Ziggy and the talking hamster, it looks like Ziggy is thinking, “Hey, I didn’t see your lips move!” Smart kitty yet very suspicious of this amusement attraction on the floor.
Reduced Price for 2214 Davini Lane in 95818
The seller has authorized a reduced price for 2214 Davini Lane in 95818. Our last two comparable sales were at $489K, but the seller insisted we reduce the price to $475K. This is a $14,000 price reduction off the recent comparable sales. We are motivated to move this baby. What do you get for that price?
Well, you could pay about the same for a tiny 3 bedroom, 1 bath built in 1948 in Upper Land Park, or you could buy 2214 Davini Lane. Davini Lane was built in 2007, and it features 2 bedrooms, plus a loft and 3 baths. It has granite counters, wood-like floors, cherry cabinets and stainless appliances. You can also plug your electric car into the charger in the garage and save on utilities, too, because the solar is owned.
Or, you could buy a 2 bedroom, 1 bath, about 1,000 square feet over on Hullin Way, which is 980 square feet for $25K more at $499K. Or, maybe you want to buy in Curtis Park instead? There, you could buy a home 1,100 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath at $469K.
When you look at what else is available, the reduced price for 2214 Davini Lane in 95818 looks pretty darn good for what you get. A turnkey and spacious home of almost 1,500 square feet. Three levels of living space, comparable to the homes at the Mill at Broadway, but not all crammed together. And no HOA fee.
The reduced price for 2214 Davini Lane also gets you next to the Community Garden on 5th Street. You could apply for a gardening space, if you so desire. Or, you could simply enjoy a carefree living lifestyle, pretty much lock-and-go, in your new Southside Park home on Davini Lane. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759 for a private showing!
Who Texted a Google Verification Code From Craigslist?
All right, are you wondering who texted a Google Verification Code from Craigslist to you? I know, I know, Craigslist is a hot bed of illegal activity, and you have to be doubly careful every time you go there to make sure you don’t get snookered or scammed. Still, there are times you need to use Craigslist. If this is one of those times for you, then listen up to what can happen if somebody texted a Google Verification Code from Craigslist to you.
First, don’t reply to such a person. I received a couple of those text messages all at once, the minute I posted an ad on Craigslist. I receive Google Verification Codes all the time but have never been asked to provide such a code in a text message from a stranger. What they both said was they wanted to verify that I was a real person. I know better, yes, I do. But it was over so fast I didn’t blink.
Then I had to immediately close out my existing account on Craigslist, change my email and password, and also go over to Google to change my information there. After I sent the Google Verification Code and the first supposed buyer told me it was “wrong” and to hurry up and send the correct code, I became suspicious. There is no reason to get a Google Verification Code from Craigslist advertising unless the sender is a scammer.
What they try to do is pair your phone number with your Google account and open other accounts with that information. So word to the wise is don’t ever respond to a Google Verification Code from Craigslist “buyers.” If you do, then immediately change your account information, including all passwords on both Craigslist and Google.
I reported the two phone numbers I received this request from to the FBI. The VoIP phone numbers, just fyi, were 859-287-4725 and 786-588-2845.
Should Part-Time Realtors Represent Family Members?
Should part-time Realtors represent family members? You know what I’m gonna say. Probably not. In fact, even full-time Realtors might want to think twice about representing family members if they want to keep harmony in the family.
However, the real dynamics of such a notion could be devastating to such agents because family often makes up the major portion of their business. Without family members to serve, they wouldn’t be an agent, because nobody else would hire them. And if that’s the case, maybe they shouldn’t be an agent at all.
But there are always those who will say something stupid like “blood is thicker than water.” Which means nothing, really. Is stupidity thicker than water? Who cares? What’s important is that well meaning intentions backed by inexperience is a recipe for disaster. It doesn’t help anybody. You’re better off hiring an experienced and compassionate agent to represent your family than trying to string together bits of delusions based on insecurities. The answer to should part-time realtors represent family members is almost always a nada.
I talked with a part-time Realtor a few days ago about her family members who expressed an interest in one of my listings. In fact, I let her know that one of the family members had called me earlier to ask questions about the home. This set her off. She was not happy about that disclosure, and when I tried to explain it was all right, buyers just get excited when they spot a new listing and don’t always think about calling their own agent, she pooh-poohed that notion.
They’re always going around me, she complained. Sometimes, they are a no-show. I make an appointment to show homes and they don’t show up or call. She ended with, “I’m not even taking a commission.”
What? All the more reason to refer these people to a full-time agent and collect a referral fee. Her comments made me think she now harbors a bit of animosity toward her family members. It’s not worth the ill feelings to try to help them in a professional situation. I don’t know if she’s giving them the commission or deducting it from the sales price or what this is about, but she probably should not be representing them. I mean, what do you want? A close knit family or kids who show no respect?
Should part-time Realtors represent family members if they know what they are doing? All depends on experience. Since agents learn to sell on the job, the more transactions they close, the more knowledge they should acquire. Wouldn’t family members be better served by a professional with loads of experience? Who doesn’t want the best for their family?
The Waterboy is a Great Spot for Steak
One of my favorite restaurants in Sacramento is The Waterboy. I’m not alone in that opinion. Many Sacramentans love The Waterboy. What’s not to love? Creative yet traditional cuisine, local ingredients, great wine selection, excellent service and convenient location in Midtown. I’m also a big fan of plush seats, and not every restaurant offers comfy bench seating like The Waterboy.
The abundance of glass windows provide a superb view of 20th Street and Capitol Avenue. Lights from other buildings and traffic twinkle. People mill about in the streets after dark. Midtown Sacramento comes alive when the sun goes down. I should mention that Chef / Owner Rick Mahan also does an excellent job over at OneSpeed Pizza in East Sac, but The Waterboy was here first.
Whenever we are seated at The Waterboy, the waitress asks if we are celebrating a special occasion. I’m not so sure a waitress should ask that question because it implies that The Waterboy is not a place to have dinner on a regular basis. And it is. It’s a fabulous local hang out. When my husband asked if I felt like a steak and offered up The Waterboy as an excellent choice for dinner, I agreed with him. But then I realized I had a gift certificate to The Waterboy.
I had forgotten that a client had given me a gift certificate. Just like my client had forgotten to mail it, LOL. I think he remembered that he bought it when he received a holiday card from me, which must have jolted his memory. Shortly after I mailed out my holiday cards, I received the gift certificate in the mail from him. The gift certificate was dated last August, right after we closed on his Midtown condo.
I opted for an appetizer of house smoked salmon and ahi tartare, adorned with watercress, thinly sliced avocado, tiny olives and salsa verde. I realize raw fish isn’t everybody’s choice, but for those of us who love it, it melted in my mouth. The salmon was remarkably fresh and delicious.
When the waitress asked how I wanted my steak, I hesitated. My hesitation is because I prefer steak medium rare. But I rarely get it medium rare. In fact, I’m almost afraid to order a medium rare steak when I dine out because it often arrives overcooked and medium. Inedible. Sometimes, I order steak rare, and then it either arrives all bloody and barely seared or it’s perfectly medium rare. I figure I’ve got a 50/50 chance. But, because we were at The Waterboy, I had faith in the chef.
Sure enough, I ordered medium rare and I got medium rare. The steak was unforgettable. You can’t go wrong at The Waterboy.
