Do you really know what goes into Listing your Home?

Listing your home comes with some pretty preconceived ideas … how much it’s worth, how fast it’s going to sell, how valuable it is ….Unfortunately, these ideas may not be quite in line with what is really going on in the real estate market in the Desert. I’d rather have you hear this from me than wrong information on the street ….

The market sets the price.

I know your home can hold quite a bit of value to you, but prospective buyers will not see the same value you do – they and their lenders are comparing numbers.  Homes are lined up against each other and compared setting the market price. Your home’s market price may be higher than you thought, but it may be lower than you thought. I’m here to show you the market price BEFORE the buyers come through. When you work with me, you soon realize how completely straight I am with you. You know exactly how your home should be priced to get your home sold.

However, on the other hand, if you envisioned your home to be lower than the Desert’s market price, won’t that make a difference at closing??

Real estate is LOCAL.

National headlines are all over the place to what is really happening in today’s real estate market. What is happening nationally may not be happening right here in the Desert. Home sales may be booming in Florida, but not in La Quinta. Inventory may be plentiful here in La Quinta, but a real shortage even in San Diego or San Francisco. The only way to really know what is happening in the area is to talk to me. I know what is happening in the Desert’s local real estate market. With this information, you can make decisions based on what is happening right here and not what’s going on nationally.

SMALL renovations may actually BOOST the sale price.

Buyers have calculators in their heads of what the costs are to repair in a home they want to put an offer on. Drippy faucet? $500 Slow drain? $750 Dent in the drywall? $1,000

Now we all know things will not cost that much to repair, but Buyers generally presume repair costs will be a lot more than what they actually are. Better to get small things tidied up before listing than to have the buyer start deducting what they want to put an offer on.

Need help with renovations? I can help! I have a list of contractors and handypersons who can help you get your home ready to list now or when season starts.

Staging makes a difference!!!

“Homes that don’t show well don’t close well.” Staging is not just de-personalizing your home.   A staged home difference is dramatic in the number of showings a staged home has, the interest level, positive comments, and offers. Staged homes SELL!

You really only have one shot to list and sell your home in the Desert – it’s best to get it right the first time. That is where I will help. I have the experience and know-how to list your home with today’s market; I have proven marketing strategies to get your home noticed and I have the negotiating skills and moxie to get the best deal for you AND I have the expertise to make sure your closing isn’t interrupted by drama. If you’re thinking about listing your home in the Desert now or in Season, give me a call today!! Also, look me up on Facebook!!

July 2014 Newsletter

July 2014 Newsletter
For more information click HERE.

It takes a lot of paper to sell your home in the Desert!!

Buying / selling a home includes quite a bit of paperwork. From start of a listing to the closing, there are MOUNDS and MOUNDS of paper. As intimidating as it looks (especially if you saw it all at once!), it is for everyone’s disclosure and protection. AND much of it IS the LAW.

Bottom line? When buying or selling a home in California, the seller must disclose certain conditions in their home.

Lead Base Paint Disclosure – Federal law.

Lead paint poses a threat to children and women, especially during the child-bearing years, if lead is ingested.

Lead-based paint was used in most all homes dating before 1960 and some dating from before 1978.

For this reason when purchasing a home built before 1978 most states require a separate Lead-Based Paint Disclosure wherein the seller details any known lead-based paint hazards within the property and the buyer acknowledges that disclosure and either opts to conduct testing for the existence of lead-based paint or not to.

The seller – whether selling a home by themselves or through an agent – has to hand the potential buyers a booklet and fill out a Lead Base Paint disclosure.

Disclosure of a recent Death on the property – State of California.

Yes, if the death has been within the last 3 years and is a material adverse fact according to Cal. Civ. Code §1710.2.

Disclosure of an Earthquake Fault Zone – State of California.

Yes according to Cal. Pub. Res. Code §§ 2621 et seq.; Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1103 et seq

Seller’s Property Disclosures – Real Estate industry endorsed.

It is standard practice throughout the State of Utah to have sellers fill out a property disclosure. These disclosures provide a wide range of information about the home from structural damage to anything clouding the title. It is always important to for sellers to fill these out as accurately as possible. This allows potential buyers to have a clear picture of the home and may save headaches later.

There is many more, too numerous to list, but be assured, I am aware of them all. To read the latest list of what is and is not disclosed in California – click here - http://www.car.org/6447/67397/138399/sales-disclosure-chart

As intimidating as the home selling paperwork looks, that IS the reason you call me. I make all of the paperwork understandable and the home buying / selling process easier.

Let’s get started! Contact me today!!

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Riverside County June 2014 Sales

I’ve got a Crush on You!

Who had crushes on what? According to move.com:

Women are more likely to cultivate crushes on homes that are out of their league financially:

Of the women included in the survey…

• 41 percent revealed that their home crush is out of their price range

• 59 percent reported that their home crush is in their price range

Of the men included in the survey…

• 30 percent indicated their home crush is out of their price range

• 70 percent shared that their home crush is in their price range

How often men and women establish a new crush on a home:

Of the women included in the survey…

• 29 percent indicated they cultivate a new house crush weekly

• 26 percent believe they develop a new house crush monthly

• 17 percent reported that they develop a new crush on a house quarterly

Of the men included in the survey…

• 36 percent indicated they find a new house crush weekly

• 19 percent shared that they establish a new house crush monthly

• 15 percent revealed that they develop a new crush on a house quarterly

Top attributes that make consumers fall in real estate love:

Of the women included in the survey…

• 54 percent reported that outdoor living spaces make them fall in real estate love

• 42 percent shared open floor plans

• 29 percent swoon for curb appeal

• 29 percent revealed updated appliances and fixtures

Of the men included in the survey…

• 46 percent indicated outdoor living spaces make them fall in real estate love

• 40 percentage swoon for garages

• 35 percent reported curb appeal

• 30 percent revealed open floor plans

ABOUT realtor.com®Operated by Move, Inc., (NASDAQ: MOVE), realtor.com® helps connect people with the content, tools and expertise they need to find their perfect home. As the official website of the National Association of REALTORS®, realtor.com® empowers consumers to make the smartest decisions when it comes to finding a home by leveraging direct connections with more than 800 MLSs to deliver the most accurate and up-to-date listing information in neighborhoods across the country, and by making timely and meaningful connections between consumers and REALTORS®. Whether through desktop, mobile, or tablet versions, realtor.com® is where home happens.

It’s All In The Numbers

Based on Current Statistics

California Lifestyle Realty

Ranks 1st In The La Quinta Market*

Agency (# of Agents)	Listed	Sold	Total Transactions	Volume	Average Sales Price	% Total
California Lifestyle Realty (51)	87	87	174	$112,314,400	$645,485	11.91
HK Lane Real Estate (46)	69	48	117	$83,159,200	$710,762	8.82
Windermere Real Estate (108)	68	58	126	$75,869,000	$602,135	8.05
Keller Williams Luxury Homes (36)	54	53	107	$67,550,063	$631,309	7.16
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (41)	54	31	85	$62,717,774	$737,856	6.65

Why Choose Mary Williams & California Lifestyle Realty To List Your Home?

No other La Quinta real estate office has the walk through traffic
that California Lifestyle Realty does:

• 35,000 PGA WEST™ resort golfers pass our on-site Tournament Clubhouse annually

• 155,000 La Quinta Resort & Club® guests pass our on-site Lifestyle Gallery annually

• 45,000 resort golfers pass our Mountain / Dunes on-site office