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Are You Prepared to Sell Your Home in Sacramento?
Knowing that you are prepared to sell your home in Sacramento involves letting go emotionally.
Are you wondering if you’re prepared to sell your home in Sacramento? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We prepare for everything in life, don’t we? For example, right now, the state of Hawaii is preparing to be bombed by North Korea. I’m not kidding. Even in Kailua-Kona the authorities are sounding the sirens and testing them, just in case. The advice they give residents is: stay inside. Like, how is that gonna help?
People are complaining to the newspaper that they can’t hear the testing of the sirens. Seriously? If North Korea bombs us, it doesn’t much matter where you are or what you are doing, you’re a goner. We can prepare for other things like vog, which is volcanic air pollution drifting through the air or, worse, an erupting volcano. It’s not like Vesuvius and we’ll be covered in lava like statues as we’re pulling bread out of the oven. There is time, usually, to get out of the way of molten lava flows.
By comparison, getting prepared to sell your home in Sacramento is far easier. To cut to the chase, you can follow these basic steps:
- Call your Sacramento Realtor to inspect your home.
- Review the comparative market analysis and discuss the market with your Realtor.
- Clean the house and remove furniture or call in a home stager.
- Your Realtor, if she’s on top of her game, will hire a professional photographer and schedule a photo shoot.
- You will sign paperwork, hand over a key for the Supra lockbox.
But are you prepared to sell your home in Sacramento? That’s the key. You can go through the motions, but you also need to be mentally prepared to sell. You need a place to move to because, believe it or not, the buyer will want to move in, and the buyer doesn’t want a roommate.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to find out if you are prepared to sell your home in Sacramento:
- Have you said goodbye, in person, to each of your rooms?
- Are you looking at your home as a commodity and not with sadness or fondness?
- Are you ready to move within 30 days of an offer, which could mean over the next 5 to 6 weeks? It can take a week or two to sell your home.
- Have you come to terms with leaving fixtures behind or removing fixtures prior to sale? Some people are very attached to their light fixtures or dishwashers, both of which are fixtures.
- What kind of plans do you have for removing pets during showings?
- Are you able to leave the house on Sundays for an open house?
- How many people have you shared the news with that you are moving, or is it a secret still?
Many people who want to sell a home in Sacramento struggle with some of these questions, which is why I bring them up. If you’re not ready to sell, there is no rush. We work within your schedule. It’s not a crime to tell your Realtor you are not ready. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759 and put 43 years of experience to work for you.
Sacramento Home Seller Says No DNA Buyer’s Agents
DNA buyer’s agent need not submit a purchase offer, says seller.
This is the first time in my decades of selling real estate that I’ve had a Sacramento seller refuse to accept an offer from DNA buyer’s agents. First, I tried reason. Look, about 90% of the agents who belong to our Board of Realtors sell maybe 3 or 4 homes a year. Many of their sales are to family members. So, the odds of us getting an offer from one of those agents are pretty high. If you refuse to work with DNA buyer’s agents, you’re eliminating a lot of potential buyers from the opportunity to buy your home.
Doesn’t care. The seller flat out stated he thinks it is slimy business. DNA buyer’s agents particularly bother him because he thinks these agents will take advantage of him. Ha, I pointed out: they even don’t know enough to take advantage. Further, most agents are not under-handed, low-life belly crawlers. These guys are stumbling though the business as best they can. Nobody is dreaming up nefarious plots to do a seller in.
Makes no difference. His mind is made up. Just does not care for DNA buyer’s agents. I’m wondering how will I phrase this in the confidential agent remarks? No offers from buyers related to the agent? That in itself will generate calls, I can hear them now. What do you MEAN? It won’t make sense. Well, it will but they won’t see it. Agents will think it’s goofy or doesn’t apply to them or whatever goes through their heads when something different challenges a thought process.
Some DNA buyer’s agents don’t even realize they need to put this personal disclosure into the purchase offer. That’s how little experience and knowledge they possess. Which means I will need to ask each agent whether they are related in any way shape or manner to the buyer.
This proposal also generates a lot of unanswered questions. Will the buyers figure out they can hire a different agent who can pay their family member a referral fee? Will the buyers know why they can’t buy the house? Will their agent tell them? Maybe not.
If the seller doesn’t want to sell to a buyer who is represented by a DNA buyer’s agent, who I am to talk him out of it? After all, it’s not like Facebook, which supposedly has stopped letting advertisers select targets based on discrimination laws. ProPublica reports that Facebook approved advertising in direct violation of Fair Housing Laws. Facebook let advertisers opt out of showing ads to African Americans, mothers of high school kids, Spanish speakers, you-name-it protected class. Shame on you, Facebook.
Of course, I will still need to present all offers to the seller, even if one of them is from an agent the seller will refuse to let us pay. I cannot pick and choose. Maybe I’ll just say agents related to buyer will not receive a commission and that will put an end to it. It will be interesting to see how our MLS reacts.
Happy Thanksgiving!
What Types of Hardwood Do High End Sacramento Buyers Prefer?
Today, I have a guest blogger who’s an expert when it comes to flooring, especially when we’re talking about what types of hardwood do high end Sacramento buyers prefer. Debbie Gartner aka The Flooring Girl is from the NYC metro area, and she is up on all the latest trends for hardwood flooring. Here, on the West Coast and in Sacramento, we are showing the same trends and preferences.
For those of you preparing your home for sale, you already know that hardwood flooring is all the rage these days. It’s the preferred flooring type among Sacramento home buyers, especially those looking for higher end homes. Hardwood looks great and feels great as it simultaneously gives you warmth, luxury and authenticity. And, of course, we all know that hardwood flooring improves the value of your home.
Hardwood floors are timeless, and they usually last more than a century. They are a natural product and part of their inherent beauty is their natural graining and color variation. They are much cleaner and easier to maintain vs other flooring surfaces, and as a result, they also improve the indoor air quality of your home. Hardwood floors are here to stay.
What types of hardwood do high end Sacramento buyers prefer in luxury homes?
1. Dark hardwood floors
Yes, dark hardwood flooring is the most popular these days, especially among higher end home owners. The preference keeps growing. Dark is chic and elegant and goes so well with gray painted walls (gray is the most popular paint color now…even more popular than white).
Right now, cool shades are more stylish, so this combo of dark floors and gray walls work great together. Be sure to avoid red undertones in the stain color you choose (as red is dated and polarizing). So for those looking for dark hardwood floors, I usually recommend a 50/50 ebony/dark walnut or ebony/jacobean blend. They are dark and stunning (and they drown out the red undertones). If you want to go even darker, try ebony or even true black. (Duraseal would be the stain brand I’d recommend).
If you want dark floors, but want to go a bit lighter, then try dark walnut (by itself), antique brown or coffee brown. These are still dark, but they are a bit lighter, so they don’t show the dirt quite as much.
The darker you go, the less you will see the wood’s graining; when you are in the mid range, the more you will notice the wood’s graining. It just depends on your preference, but now I’m seeing more people prefer to camouflage the graining as it looks more contemporary and less busy in the room.
Dark isn’t for everyone, nor does it work in all home styles. It’s a great option if you have a lot of light, but it’s not always the best for very small homes or apartments that aren’t well lit. (Note: if the color of the wall usually has more impact on the room’s lighting than the floor does. After all, there are 4 walls and only 1 floor). Also, note that most people add area rugs and this will help lighten up the space, too.
2. Light hardwood floors
Light is the second most popular type of flooring. So, yes, both extremes are in. You can read more about the pros and cons of dark vs light hardwood flooring in this article. It’s one of the most common questions I get.
When people are going light, they are going very light … usually natural (i.e. no stain). Now, here’s the tricky part with light hardwood floors. The yellows and oranges are very dated. If you use an oil based polyurethane, your floors will be yellow, and they will continue to amberize over time due to the natural light and oxidation. So, they will be yellow and get more yellow over time.
But, there’s an easy way to solve this, and that is to use a water borne polyurethane. I highly recommend Bona Traffic HD above all the other choices (it’s the best….you can read more here: What are the best brands of polyurethane)? This will make your floors look lighter and they won’t look yellow. It will give you a more contemporary as well as neutral feel to your home. And, this polyurethane smells less and dries faster (and it’s better for the environment).
3. Gray hardwood floors
Gray is so hot and trendy now (yes, I know it’s a cool tone). This cooler color has been on the rise for 5 or 6 years, and it’s especially popular among higher end home buyers. Gray is more challenging is and expensive to achieve, and if you’re going to go gray with existing flooring, definitely hire a professional who knows how to refinish with gray.
Further, read this article on how to refinish hardwood floors gray..the right way). Many of the calls from across the country I get are from homeowners with a contractor who can’t seem to get the color right. Be sure that your contractor uses Bona Traffic HD for the polyurethane. This is super important both for looks and longevity. Most other polyurethanes will turn the floors yellow (including some of the other water borne polyurethanes).
If you are buying a home and love gray, I say go for it. But, if you are selling a home, please recognize that while gray is trendy, it’s still niche and polarizing to many. Going very dark (or very light) is probably a better option if you’re planning to sell in the next couple of years.
4. Wide plank flooring
Wide plank flooring is more stylish and it makes the room look larger. At a minimum, go with a plank that is at least 3 1/4″ wide. (The standard 2 1/4″ narrow strips just don’t look as impressive). This of course assumes you are adding new hardwood. If you have existing hardwood, I’d generally recommend that you keep what you have.
Of course, if you can go wider with a 4″ or 5″ plank, that’s even better as it’s more contemporary and will make your space look even larger. Please note that if you are installing 5″ or wider solid hardwood, you need to both nail and glue it, so this will cost a bit more for labor. That’s because planks expand and contract more. This is a common mistake made by general contractors (as they are not flooring specialists). Unfortunately, I see it too often and it’s impossible to fix (unless you completely rip up the floors).
5. Solid hardwood
I always recommend solid hardwood over engineered hardwood flooring, when you have the option. Solid will last MUCH longer. There is no question about it. Here in New York, virtually all mid and higher end homes have solid hardwood flooring, and I would guess it’s very similar in Sacramento.
Solid hardwood will last well over a century (in fact, we’ve refinished solid hardwood from the 1800s and even several homes from the 1700s). Solid hardwood also gives the option to refinish in the future (i.e. if they get scratched/worn down, if you have a flood or even if you just want to change the color and decor of your home).
6. Hardwood in the kitchen
Today, most homeowners prefer to have hardwood in all of the main living areas, including the kitchen. It’s easier on your feet (vs. tile) and easier to clean. And, importantly, having hardwood in the kitchen makes your home look larger and more cohesive. The fewer flooring changes you make from room to room, the larger your space looks.
If you check out the pictures of kitchens on Pinterest and Houzz, you’ll see how popular hardwood in the kitchen (especially dark hardwood with white cabinets). Now, we are even seeing hardwood flooring in powder rooms and entryways.
7. Satin and matte finishes
Shiny finishes are out! Shiny finishes are dated, look cheap and are impractical as they show scratches, dents and dirt more. Remember, avoid glossy and semi-gloss finishes. Go for satin or even matte finishes as they are more up to date and will last longer.
8. White oak over red oak (if you are adding new hardwood)
Many customers don’t realize that there are multiple species of oak. In fact, there are many. The two most common oak species are red oak and white oak.
While red oak is more abundant in the US (and therefore more common on floors), white oak is growing in popularity. I recently wrote an article on the 7 advantages of white oak hardwood floors.
The main advantages of white oak (over red oak) is that white oak is a bit more contemporary looking, it gives you more staining options (better for dark stains and gray), it’s a bit harder and it’s more resilient to water.
So, if you’re looking to install new hardwood floors, I would consider white oak flooring. If you are matching existing floors, then match to the existing species you already have.
Conclusion on Types of Hardwood Do High End Sacramento Buyers Prefer?
Hardwood floors are an important element of Sacramento homes, and they play an important role in your home’s decor. If you are buying a new home, the world is your oyster and you can choose whichever type of flooring your prefer; if you’re planning to sell your Sacramento house soon, I’d encourage to follow the trends and preferences among the higher end home owners and make sure they shades work with the style of your house. It’s also helpful to consult your real estate agent (or a stager) to get their perspective on what is most popular for your area and house style.
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Campus Commons Condo Just Closed Escrow at Full List Price
1102 Dunbarton Circle closed escrow at $425,000.
My first blog about this Campus Commons condo published 5 weeks ago and now this beautiful Powell condo has closed escrow. When I shared the good news yesterday with the seller, she seemed very pleased. She said, “Well, you got us list price,” and she seemed a bit astonished that it happened. Maybe because at first she had suggested a price that was $25,000 less than my suggested list price. I take into consideration how much sellers want, but it’s not generally a factor for me when determining a listing price.
Now, I suppose it’s possible that she got a price of $400,000 from Zillow, which is always inaccurate. I use actual statistics and compare apples to apples, studying all of the interior photographs of comparable sales. My CMA preparations are intense and generally right on the nose. That’s because I promise my sellers we’ll leave no money on the table, and I mean it. I came up with an asking price of $425K.
When I met with the seller in September, we discussed the types of improvements she would make, such as painting a super bold wall, putting a frame around the mirrors to hide fading edges, replacing flooring on the second level, painting a chandelier (and yes, that gold tone is history!). Small improvements. We staged the home as well.
While other Campus Commons condos sit, this Campus Condo received a lot of traffic. Due to the beautiful photographs filled with emotion and passion. Sure enough, shortly after going on the market, we received our offer of $425,000! Everything was hunky dory and we were happily moving along to closing when BAM, the buyer fell out of the boat.
I was in Los Angeles that weekend to see Hamilton when the Request for Repair arrived in my email. It was 2 or 3 pages long, filled with just about every item on the home inspection. Did the buyer send this? Wondering, I called the buyer’s agent and sure enough, the buyer had indeed provided this list to her. The buyer also demanded that the seller replace all of the single pane windows with dual pane. What? So NOT gonna happen.
We prepared ourselves for the possibility the buyer would walk, and I’d have to sell the home twice and get paid once. Which occasionally happens. We offered the buyer a small token, agreeing to replace the bath and kitchen receptacles with GFI. Fortunately, the buyer’s agent kicked into high gear and persuaded her buyer to accept the token and to forget about her Request for Repair demand.
Crisis averted! Good thing the buyer’s agent pulled it off because it allowed us to close escrow yesterday! Everybody is happy now. This lucky buyer got possession of this Campus Commons condo just before Thanksgiving.
What to Expect from the Sacramento Winter Home Selling Season
Downtown Sacramento is often a busy market in the winter home selling season.
Coming soon to Trulia is an article about what to expect from the Sacramento winter home selling season. Part of it will probably include comments from Yours Truly. To round out opposing or supporting views, other agents will undoubtedly chime in as well. I have very specific views, developed from decades in the real estate business. Most people, I’d venture to guess, never think outside of themselves, in particular, many agents share this guilt. If you ask a Sacramento Realtor whether a seller should sell in winter, just about every single agent will tell you YES. Why? Because when the home sells, they get paid.
I say for some sellers the Sacramento winter home selling season is not the best time to sell, and for others it most certainly is. Consider the two extremes: the remodeled house and the non-updated home. These are typically at opposite ends of the spectrum. One is a buyer’s dream home, featuring every bell and whistle imaginable, over which buyers drool. The other is your typical non-exciting home with oak cabinets, white tiled counters, carpeting, white appliances, gold-toned fixtures and faucets: the stuff buyers want to rip out and redo except they have no energy, no vision and no money.
Usually, during the Sacramento winter home selling season, inventory increases and demand decreases, and days on market go up. But homes still sell.
Depending on the situation, it might make more sense for the seller of the remodeled home to wait until spring to sell. That’s because there will be more buyers in the marketplace in the spring. More buyers increase odds of multiple offers and buyers fighting over the house, which results in higher prices. However, if that seller also needs to buy, prices are likely to be higher in the spring. But there will also be more options, so that trade-off might make it worth it regardless to wait. Who really cares if it costs a few dollars more to buy a home you really want versus having to settle for what’s available?
On the other hand, a seller of a somewhat unappealing property, a home without any upgrades, that seller might consider putting her home on the market during the Sacramento winter home selling season. That’s because there will be reduced competition, fewer homes for sale during the winter than in spring. Because in the spring, this type of home will be one of 50 or more. But in the winter, the numbers reduce, so it could rank in the top 5 homes. One in 50 means your home will fall off the radar as buyers tend to gravitate toward the updated homes. But one in 5 increases your odds of selling.
Interest rates? Still relatively low, under 4.375%. Economists expect a rise in interest rates at some point over the next few years, along with more stable prices. Whether this is a good time for selling a Sacramento home during the winter depends on your personal objectives and goals. Some sellers absolutely need to sell in the winter and some buyers absolutely need to buy in the winter. Unlike states where it snows, causing dormant markets, Sacramento is a year-round real estate business. To discuss further, call top Sacramento Realtor Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759.
