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Elizabeth Weintraub
Stunning Home in Carmichael Closed Escrow at $1.2 million
My team members and I fell in love with this home in Carmichael on Del Dayo Drive. It is an absolutely beautiful and stunning home. Not only that, but the sellers invested quite a bit of money in new luxury vinyl plank flooring in the master suite and entire lower level. We tried to repair the granite island counter that had been stained. At the last minute, the handyman was afraid to touch it and opted out of that repair. Since it was time to go on the market, we could not wait any longer.
My solution for that was to send the buyer to Kitchen Design Center inside Filco and let them choose a new counter top, which the seller would pay for. We obtained a bid from Kitchen Design and uploaded that bid to MLS, in full disclosure. At this point, the sellers were excited and happy to turn over the home to a new buyer. But 4 weeks passed without an offer. Also, many buyers complained about the house.
What is not to love in a gorgeous setting of .40 acres, lush vegetation, terraced landscaping, with a beautiful pool? The home in Carmichael featured 6 bedrooms, 5 baths, with more than 5,000 square feet. It is one of the rare 1958-built homes in the Del Dayo neighborhood. We all expected that the home would promptly sell.
Although clearly noted in MLS and shown in the high-definition photos, buyers complained about the multiple levels in the home. Almost every single buyer either did not want multiple levels. Another good number of buyers felt the second master suite in the lower level was too small. Not on par with the master on the main level.
A few buyers said the home in Carmichael was too big for them, period. Way too much space.
As a result, we reset the days on market by signing a new listing at a new price. Within 7 days, bingo! We were in pending status.
There were a few glitches toward the end but nothing we could not resolve. Due to a snafu with the buyer’s lender, we could not close on our anticipated closing date of Friday. To facilitate a concurrent closing on Monday, the buyer dumped her lender, paid cash, and helped the sellers pay an unexpected hotel bill. We closed yesterday.
1661 Del Dayo Drive, Carmichael, CA 95608, sold for $1,200,000 on August 6, 2018. For more information, call the listing agent Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759.
Second Chance to Buy Vintage 1927 Bungalow by Southside Park
Within the first 6 days on the market, this vintage 1927 bungalow by Southside Park in Sacramento attracted a ton of attention. We were close to offers with 2 other agents when another buyer’s agent quickly submitted a purchase offer. That action resulted in a pending sale for a few weeks. It didn’t last more than a couple of weeks in escrow because the buyer was unhappy that the home wasn’t bolted to the foundation. However, no homes of this vintage are bolted to the foundation. She should have known that going into the transaction.
You never really know what will trigger fears in a first-time home buyer, which is why the buyer’s agent’s job is so incredibly important in a transaction. Can’t really speak to what transpired in this situation except that the buyer lost a beautiful home in a wonderful location that fit everything the buyer supposedly wanted. Or, so they say. Not privy to what actually goes on. A Sacramento listing agent never gets to talk to buyers under fiduciary with a buyer’s agent.
The home inspector also noted in the home inspection that a breaker switch was inoperable. It wasn’t. Turned out the inspector did not flip that breaker switch into the Off or On position. It had been shoved into an intermittent position. But you know, they don’t license home inspectors in California. Anybody can become a home inspector. No idea about that particular inspector’s experience level, either. The guy could have just made a mistake. Dunno. Regardless, the seller replaced the breaker switch anyway, just to alleviate any future problems.
We have a clear pest report on this vintage 1927 bungalow by Southside Park. This home has been babied by the seller ever since he purchased it. I’ve never seen a seller pay such meticulous attention to a home. Even the smallest of details seem to attract massive focus from the seller.
If you’d like an affordable and darling vintage 1927 bungalow by Southside Park, why not check out this 2 bedroom, 1 bath home at 411 U Street, Sacramento, CA 95818? Offered exclusively by Elizabeth Weintraub and Lyon Real Estate at $349K. This is your second chance — the second chance that doesn’t come around very often, you know!
The information in this advertisement, including, but not limited to, square footage and/or acreage, has been provided by various sources which may include the Seller, the Multiple Listing Service or other sources. Lyon Real Estate has not and will not investigate or verify the accuracy of this information. Prospective buyers are advised to conduct their own investigation of the Property and this advertised information utilizing appropriate professionals before purchasing this Property.
How to Get Rid of Hard Water Stains in the Shower
Finding a way to get rid of hard water stains in the shower has for me been one of the great mysteries in life. Many of my home sellers say they prefer to replace the shower glass than to try to clean it. Since you can’t really just replace the glass and you generally need to replace the entire door and frame, it’s expensive. Time consuming, too. Not to mention a PITA.
Oh, they say green cleaning materials such as vinegar and water is a great solution, but you may as well drink it for all the good it does. Vinegar doesn’t easily dispose of stubborn hard water stains. However, I stumbled across a product that really works. My clients told me about it. I had referred Masters Window Cleaning service to the sellers and one of the guys on the crew said he could charge the sellers an extra $100 to get rid of hard water stains in the shower. Or, they could buy the product the professionals use.
Ha, they never told me that secret fix when they cleaned my windows in Land Park Sacramento. They made it sound like I was stuck with a few windows that had hard water stains. Little did I realize they had the secret fix all along. Yup, the pros say the best way to get rid of hard water stains in the shower is by using a product sold on Amazon: Driven Extreme Duty Glass Cleaner. It’s an acid gel, $19.95.
I had my doubts, but first tried it on the glass block in our master bath. There is no door in the shower. Just a staggered glass block wall that continually is hit with hard water on the inside. A good 10 years of build up in that shower. We use Lime-A-Way and CLR for the pebble floor to remove hard water stains, but the glass block and our windows has been a puzzle until now.
Wearing rubber gloves, of course, I applied a small amount of the gel on the glass block. Rubbed it with the rough side of a scrubby sponge. Rinsed and voila. Like they say in Panama: ¡Chuleta! I could see through the glass to the other side. Before using the secret fix to get rid of hard water stains in the shower, the glass blocks were cloudy and streaked. Worked like a charm! Some entrepreneur should hawk this stuff at an exhibit at the California State Fair or as seen on TV.
You can bet my Sacramento clients will now benefit from this tidbit I discovered. On to more happy home selling!
When You Have to Break Bad News in Sacramento Real Estate
Nobody likes to break bad news in Sacramento real estate. Nobody. Especially not the agents to their fiduciaries. However, real estate is a two-way street. One side can do everything right and the other side can still make a mistake. The side with the mistake might feel like it’s not their fault because it’s some other party to the transaction that screwed up. Doesn’t really matter anyway who is at fault. What matters is the resolution. How we handle the solution.
When we have to break bad news in Sacramento real estate, the best way to do it is in person, but that is not always possible. Short of a hologram — why can’t we send holograms already — that means talking on the phone. Even when you know the other side is likely to lose their cool. Explode, maybe, even.
Like yesterday, for example. Things were fairly quiet Friday morning. I had my annual eye exam scheduled in Midtown for late morning. No phone calls. Very few emails and text messages. Started out to be a good day. No sooner did I step foot into my optometrist’s office than my phone blew up. Email after email. 17 emails at once. I know how this looks.
Oh yes, another eye patient glued to her cellphone. This one won’t even look up or address us. She keeps staring at her emails. So rude.
Well, they don’t come right out and say it, but you can feel the vibe going on. I am not another rude patient. Heck no, I put my phone in my lap when it came time to look at the letters on the wall and read them off. After I figured out the cup they handed me was not for my ear and actually placed it over my left eye, I was doing pretty well. Because, you know, it takes time for them to type the data into the computer, time to get the drops to dilate my eyes and make them look like I just dropped acid.
Time I could use reading and answering emails. Because a file that was supposed to fund and record by noon wasn’t happening. Which meant the concurrent closing wasn’t happening, either. How can I finish an eye exam when this is going on?
I left without my contacts’ prescription, too. Darn.
Got into my car and found it halfway blocked by an enormous moving van. I’m wearing dark sunglasses behind my own polarized sunglasses, and everything is so dark I cannot see to maneuver. But somehow I made it out of my parking spot. Tried to drive to the entrance to the street on Alhambra, but more emails dinged. Plus, my music was playing (because you cannot turn it off in a newer Mercedes). The dealer said I can only turn down the sound. Or pause it, which it what I would have done if I could see my phone.
I should look into this further because that is a stupid design flaw, if it is true.
Well, it was time to break the bad news in Sacramento real estate. Could not put it off. The seller absolutely needed to know what had happened and what we could do about the situation. Do you email? Text? What? Nope, that’s the chicken, loser way out. Not a loser. A phone call is best. Except, because I could not see my phone due to the dark sunglasses and eye dilation, I poked at the screen. Missed the “call” button and ended up in FaceTime. Uh, oh.
I got to watch my seller’s eyes divert to the ceiling. Look down at the floor. Scrunch up the face. Eyes a blaze. That was painful. But it was the right thing to do. Comes with the territory. Fortunately, I don’t have to break bad news in Sacramento real estate very often. Hardly ever. Most of the time I am able to anticipate problems and stop them from happening. But not much you can do when the other side makes a mistake. It reflects on the listing agent even if the agent can’t anticipate or cause it. It’s why we make the big bucks. Because the buck stops here.
Stunning and Secluded Fair Oaks Pool Home on Acreage
Everybody likes to call their home stunning, but this Fair Oaks pool home really fits that description. It’s a house of angles and very spacious, all single-level. Beautifully laid out to capture views of wildlife from every room.
Two master suites at opposite ends of the house provides privacy for multi-generational families. Plus, no need to worry about climbing any stairs.
Look at the mix of design elements in the huge family room. Vaulted ceilings attach to a beam, offset by sets of skylights. The walls are either wood or glass. Brings the outdoors inside. Only things missing are deer scampering through the living room. There are baby Western Screech Owls in the trees, though.
Engineered wood floors throughout the dining room and kitchen. More angles with vaulted wood ceilings too. Plenty of storage space, including a sound system closet. What a space for a family gathering over the holidays!
Sparkling white kitchen is sure to delight even the fussiest cooks. Gas cook top, stainless appliances, and a tri-level reglazed sink features an in-sinkerator, probably from 1967 when this Fair Oaks pool home was built, and a newer pre-rinse pull-out faucet. Copper range hood over the cooktop wraps around the corner.
This is the first master suite at the far left-side of the home. It features high curved ceiling, recessed lighting and a ceiling fan. Allows a fabulous view of the pool and a deck. There are many deck areas as well.
One of the master suite baths, upgraded with Travertine tile and large dressing area. A skylight also brings in light, along with recessed lighting.
Our new listing, the Fair Oaks pool home features 5 bedrooms, 4 baths and, according to the Sacramento County Recorder, boasts more than 3,400 square feet. The sellers have prepared every inch of this home for sale. It is simply immaculate.
Western screech owl at Lakeside, by M. Marin.
Maybe you will be lucky enough to spot baby owls in the trees. This is a Western Screech Owl photographed on the property when the baby owls were born. You also will see deer and baby turkeys this time of year. The home is situated on 1.37 acres at the end of a cul-de-sac. Very private location.
Why not come to our open house on Sunday, August 5th, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM? The open house is hosted by the incredible Barbara Dow from the Elizabeth Weintraub Team. You can call Barbara for a private showing at 916.761.7398.
4700 Lakeside Way, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 is offered exclusively by Elizabeth Weintraub and Lyon Real Estate at $925K. If you can’t wait for the open house, why not check out the virtual tour here. Twice as many photos as in MLS.
The information in this advertisement, including, but not limited to, square footage and/or acreage, has been provided by various sources which may include the Seller, the Multiple Listing Service or other sources. Lyon Real Estate has not and will not investigate or verify the accuracy of this information. Prospective buyers are advised to conduct their own investigation of the Property and this advertised information utilizing appropriate professionals before purchasing this Property.
