Email ElizabethGetting Ready For An Open House
Getting ready for an open house is very important to how successful it would be. This blog was written by Elizabeth Weintraub for another publication. This is as relevant today as it was when written.
–Enjoy, JaCi Wallace
When I take a new listing, I try to give sellers a week or two to get ready for an open house. This article outlines steps a seller can take at least a week in advance, then 72 hours before and, finally, the night before an open house. I want everything to be picture perfect.
Nobody gets a sneak preview, either. No agents, brokers or anxious buyers. That’s because even professionals such as real estate agents form immediate opinions and often find it difficult to see past negatives.
I don’t want any negatives. I expect the home to be white-glove clean, decluttered and staged, pet-free and odor-free, and ready for a buyer to move into.
Read more about Getting Ready for an Open House .
If you would like your listings prepared from well-orchestrated plans, call Weintraub & Wallace Realtors with RE/MAX Gold. You can call us at 916-233-6759.
Zillow Listing Tool, Love It or Leave It
Zillow listing tool, love it or leave it? Love it or leave it is a TV show on whether to fix up your property and keep it or fix it up to sell and leave it. When looking to “leave it” you might be looking at homes to purchase as well as looking into what is the current value of your home is once fully remodeled?
The question here is when remodeling your home can Zillow’s artificial intelligence give you an accurate value on your fully remodeled home? The answer, probably not yet, but maybe someday. An automated value, the Market Analysis Zillow does is based on averages and mean values per a Sacramento appraiser. Remember the mean formulas from college statistics course? I took that course at Sac City College a long time ago, lol.
I read a blog yesterday about some interesting stats. When Zillow says it is only 5% off of the value they are referencing “the mean” that 5% off stat if correct, is approximately only right half of the time. The error rate could be closer to about 8%. That could be significant. $400,000 at 8% could be about $32,000.
No one is arguing Zillow is very user-friendly and the site has great information about schools and shopping, demographics of an area. Buyers go there, even when we put them on MLS direct searches. If agents want to receive leads, then Zillow may be a good way to go. Buyers often think Zillow is the MLS. They don’t understand that MLS is always the source of the listings for sale, these other sites simply download the MLS data.
For sellers, we recommend you always obtain a Market Analysis for your home. One subdivision to another can vary greatly in values. If you are still concerned about your home value, you can always hire a licensed appraiser. This will cost about $400-$600. You can obtain an independent valuation from a hyper-local appraiser, who knows your area.
If you desire more accurate estimates of value on your home, just call Weintraub & Wallace Realtors with RE/MAX Gold. We can be reached by cell at 916- 233-6759.
— JaCi Wallace
Heatstroke In Sacramento
Heatstroke in Sacramento is not uncommon when temps soar to 107 degrees. A Sacramento Realtor is often out showing property no matter what the temperatures are. Several listings have appointments only and that means I have to be there. On rural showings with horses, especially. Sellers always worry about their horses. Yesterday was a full day out working on the field appointments, so we were walking outdoors on ranches until 8:00 PM.
Two long days this week of working outside in that heat took its toll. Today I’m working indoors, though it has cooled off considerably. Keep hydrated and cool everyone as August 2019 has been a real scorcher so far. I’m definitely feeling a bit of heatstroke in Sacramento. I’m working on the computer marketing our listings over the weekend. There is always plenty to do. Our exclusive buyer’s agents are working all weekend holding open houses and showing properties. We have all the resources needed to offer great service to our clients, from within our team of talented professionals.
If you want to hire a Realtor who works hard for you even in 107 plus heat call Weintraub & Wallace Realtors with RE/MAX GOLD. We can be reached at 916-233-6759.
— JaCi Wallace
Ranches For Sale with Custom Gates, Higher Value?
Ranches for sale with custom gates, higher value? Let’s have a discussion about this topic. We sell a lot of land and ranches as well as homes with small back yards and estate properties. All of these might have custom gated entries. Do first impressions matter with big price tags attached?
This topic had me looking through properties as we are getting ready to list a few country estates with custom gated entries. When you drive into a luxury estate property or a custom ranch the entry, of course, sets the stage.
First impressions always count. An entry should somewhat match the price tag of a property, when possible. Watch for the two country gated entry estates we will be listing over the next few weeks. I will post the photos in the future.
This photo above was taken by my son J.T. Bradley at his ranch in Auburn. The iron pipe gated entry work was completed by one of his vendors. It lasts 100 years and never needs painting. It is a very secure, low maintenance design for rural property. It is also highly functional. If a horse breaks loose it is safely contained within the property and can not get the road with vehicle traffic. JT is a custom home builder and remodeler. His company is Bradley Builders.
Prior to this welded pipe entry to his ranch, the driveway was open and no formal entry; in fact, I would often miss it driving up the rural road in front of his property.
What a difference with this entry. J.T. hosts team roping practice events with friends every week on his property. This picture shows him out in front on the right side of the photo. He is a header of the roping team, meaning he ropes the horns of the cow. He owns several cows and (7) horses are kept on his property. Roping horses are supreme athletes. During an event, the roping team often changes out two to three horses each day so they are fresh.
This gated entry now looks like a professional team roper’s ranch. The next event there will certainly be exciting with the new entry to set the stage for professional experience at the Bradley Ranch.
If you would like a referral to have a custom gated entry built on your property of any type, stucco, wrought iron, wood, brick or welded pipe, I know a great contractor I can refer you to, lol. When you are buying or selling real estate please call Weintraub & Wallace Realtors with RE/MAX Gold. We can be reached at 916-233-6759 seven days per week. We welcome and value your business.
— JaCi Wallace
Tuesday, Time To Celebrate If Buyers Sign Docs?
Tuesday, time to celebrate If buyers sign docs? Whoa, slow down. So buyers signing loan documents to purchase a home and closing are two different things. Of course, many times closing escrow happens more often than not.
Ok, so what can happen to stop the recording and hold up a close of escrow? The buyer does a walkthrough of the property they are buying and guess what? If a property is a mess and the seller has removed items they were supposed to leave such as washer dryer and refrigerator, it may not close. This is just one scenario. A buyer only has to call escrow and say do not record and the entire process comes to a dead stop.
The moral of this story is to save the beers or diet soda toasts for when the escrow has officially closed. It is never over until it is over, is my favorite saying in coaching a Sacramento seller to set realistic expectations.
If you want to close escrow hire agents that ensure a seller will do what they promised to do. Just hire Weintraub & Wallace Realtors with RE/MAX Gold as we close our escrows when a buyer signs. When is it time to celebrate? When your funds are available to you in your account, this is is when we celebrate. Our Sellers understand the process and they want to cooperate and close, so call us today at 916-233-6759.
— JaCi Wallace
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