Do you know what DOESN’T work when staging your Home in the Desert?

While we’re still on the subject of staging your home, I’d like to touch base on what doesn’t work ….

[social]Spending money on renovations that don’t work.

As tempting as it is to make all those updates you were meaning to do … don’t do them now just because you’re listing your home. (Unless it is for a repair.) Instead of a complete cabinet replacement, perhaps a few handles and knobs will freshen up your home. New linens or paint also go a long way to making a home look updated.

Leaving old furniture behind.

When you’ve already purchased your new place before you other has sold, it’s so tempting to take your best stuff to the new home; leaving the older stuff to either convey with the home or store there until the home sells. Your home on the market should be well furnished (staged) or completely empty. Any furniture just left behind will look as if the home was abandoned and not in a good light at all.

Using smells to cover up smells.

Nothing turns off a buyer than a strong whiff of air freshener or cleaner. I know your home is supposed to be clean, but sometimes it can smell “too” clean … like you’re masking something. Keep your home clean, but don’t spray disinfectant around right before a showing. Let the home smell clean because it is clean. Also, don’t put vanilla on the light bulbs or burn candles. Again – buyers could presume you’re hiding something.

Playing Music during a showing or Open House.

Don’t. Not only could your taste not be the same as the potential buyer/s viewing your home, but it just may be copyright infringement. Best to keep the tunes and tv off.

A Bland Room

As I have mentioned before, when listing your home, you will need to declutter. This generally means removing anything and everything personal – photos, trophies, grandkid’s artwork … just until you move into your new home. However, sometimes this makes a room look too bland. A professional stager will highlight your home’s best attributes and make things pop. Simple things like colorful pillows or a flower arrangement makes a room inviting instead of humdrum.

So, if you want to know more about staging your home or have questions about what remodel or renovation could help the sale of your home, call me today. I have tips and suggestions showing you exactly how you’ll benefit from staging your home to sell!

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Riverside County September 2014 Sales

Mary's September 2014 Newsletter

September 2014 Newsletter
For more information click HERE

Staging Tips to sell your home in the Desert

Ever wonder what kind of home in the Desert brings the most interest, get top dollar, and sells the quickest?

It just may be a home that is “Staged”.

Our busiest season coming up, the real estate market soon to be gaining momentum in the Desert, making this a great time to get your home ready to sell.

Here are some tips in staging your home to sell in the Desert:

• Neutralize:  Most people think that staging is about decorating, this is not the case.  Youare trying to appeal to the average buyer and if they make an emotional attachment to your home they will see themselves living there.  This is often missed and is a BIG part of staging.

• Declutter:  By rearranging or storing furniture, thinning out your closets, and reducing the things on your bookshelf can change a room.  Too much clutter in a room will prevent a buyer from seeing the beauty of the room or its size.

•  Remove Distractions:  You want to buyer to see your home and not your things so by storing your collections and family pictures a buyers won’t feel like they are invading your space.  Also, don’t forget to store anything that may seem offensive for example something religious, political, guns, or animal trophies hanging on the wall.

•  Rejuvenate:  By putting a fresh coat of neutral paint on the walls, washing windows, or replacing worn out fixtures can go a long way.  A buyer sees these as something they have to replace and may start to subtract from your asking price or if it think it is to much they could walk away.  Buyers want a move-in ready homes.

If staging sounds like too big of a task, consider hiring a professional stager. Hiring a stager just may be cheaper than a price reduction or stuck with paying for two mortgages later.  Additionally if the home is vacant, it won’t show well, you may want to consider renting furniture.

Staged homes sell for a larger profit and sell in nearly half the time on in La Quinta and Desert area.  A notable difference, indeed.

So, if you want to know if you stage your home or have questions about how your home may measure up with the other homes, call me today. I have the tips and suggestions showing you exactly how you can listyour home with me to sell now!

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Do you use the internet when searching for your Home on the Desert?

According to the 2014 Survey of California Home Buyers:

• More than 77% of home buyers used social media in their home search

Buyers said they primarily used social media to obtain buying tips and suggestions from:

• Friends (44%)
• Neighborhood information (44%)
• View their agents’ Facebook pages (42%).
• 91% of California home buyers said they used a mobile device to access the Internet during the course of their home purchase.
• Buyers also used their mobile devices to look for comparable home prices (78%)
• Search for homes (45%)
• Take photos of neighborhoods, homes, and amenities (43%).

Conversely, with the increased use of social media, fewer buyers “Googled” their agent (50% in 2014, down from 68% in 2013), turning to agents’ Facebook pages instead.

Whether you’re here in the Desert of across the United States, finding the right home in La Quinta and the surrounding areas has gotten that much easier using the internet and email. Not sure which sites to use? Call me today and I will set up a search for you! OR click here – it’s as easy as that!

Let’s start today so you can enjoy winters in the Desert!!

**All information is from CAR.org

Happy Labor Day from Mary!!

What is Labor Day and how did it start?

Have a safe Holiday weekend!!

August 2014 Newsletter

For a copy to print, click HERE.

Do you still have a High Water Bill in the Desert?

Since we are so water conscious in the Desert and have been working very hard to conserve water, what if your water bill is still high?

It may be your toilet.

A silent leaky toilet is generally the culprit. Toilets along can waste up to 200 GALLONS of water A DAY!! However, it may not be as bad as it sounds … and may not even require a repairperson.

Test your toilet to make sure it is not leaking.

• Clean the toilet bowl.

• Grab food coloring – use a bright color.

• Add a few drops into your toilet tank – not the bowl. This is where all the “guts” to the toilet are.

• Wait about 15 minutes and make sure the toilet isn’t used or flushed.

• If there is color in your bowl from the dye, your flapper is probably leaking. If not, your toilet should be good!

• If your flapper is allowing water to pass, reach in and run your fingers along the bottom and rim of the flapper. Sometimes a piece of something will leave just enough of an opening to allow water to leak into the stool. Sometimes the flapper just wears out.

To replace the flapper:

We’re all in this together! One way to help save water is to install water conserving appliances and plumbing. That’s where I can help!   Give me a call to help you make your home more water conserving and energy efficient.

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Desert Area Homes for Sale

Your dream home awaits … Call 760-567-7282 today! Below are the latest properties featured in this week’s ad. Call me to see any of these great homes!

 

La Quinta Resort

We're a nice place to visit, but you'll really WANT to live here!!

Will that Remodel “Pay” you Back?

From Moneycrashers.com.

“Remodeling” has released its 2014 “Cost vs Value Report”

The surprising, but not surprising, remodel recouped cost is for a backup generator. This could possibly give you approximately 72% of the original cost of installation back into your pocket when it comes to selling your home.

Other top Costs vs Values in the Pacific area?

More Bang for your Buck

Steel Entry Door Replacement     113%

Garage Door Replacement            98%

Minor Kitchen Remodel               104%

Major Kitchen Remodel               89%

Window Replacement100 to    102%

Not so much

Garage Addition                           71%

Roofing Replacement                 76%

(Note: you STILL have to replace when needed, but don’t expect $$ for $$ return on what you paid to have your roof done)

Bathroom Addition                      75%

Bathroom remodel                      81%

Not sure if you should remodel, refresh or stage your home? Give me a call and together we can go over your options. A little or a lot, I will be able to walk you through the process.

If you’re coming back to the desert soon, why not start refreshing your Desert home now, so it’s all ready for your arrival!!

Call me today and let’s get started!!

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Mandatory Water Measures are now in effect in the Desert!

According to an article on the Desert Sun the DWA’s mandatory measures are:

• Washing hard surfaces like driveways, parking lots and building exteriors is prohibited at all times.

• Golf courses, parks and schools can water only between sunset and sunrise.

• Lawn watering and landscape irrigation is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• Running water for car washes is prohibited. Buckets are allowed and nozzles allowed only for rinsing.

• Restaurants can only provide water upon request.

• Commercial nurseries can only water between midnight and 6 a.m.

DWA would fine violators following a written notice for a 1st offense. A 2nd violation would lead to a fine equal to 25 percent of the customer's previous water bill. A 3rd offense would lead to a fine equal to 50 percent of the previous bill. We’re all in this together! One way to help save water is to install water conserving appliances and plumbing. That’s where I can help!   Give me a call to help you make your home more water conserving and energy efficient.

Market Outlook for the Second Half of 2014

The California housing market had a very slow start in sales activity in 2014, as many investors left the market because of the lack of bargain properties. The double-digit increase in home prices and the surge in mortgage rates since mid-2013, meanwhile, curbed sales growth in the market as affordability for primary home buyers declined. Despite being down more than 10 percent for the first half of the year, sales started picking up at the end of the second quarter. While the decline continued on a year-over-year basis in June 2014, sales inched up 1.5 percent on a month-to-month basis from May 2014. The decrease in sales in June was the smallest since September 2013, and the statewide sales number was the highest in the last eight months.

Meanwhile, the statewide median price dipped slightly from the previous month after increasing for three consecutive months. The statewide median price was at $457,160 in June 2014, as compared to $466,320 in May 2014 and $428,700 in June 2013. The statewide median price finally slowed down to only a single-digit increase from the same month of last year, after increasing by double digits for 23 straight months. It appears to be stabilizing and will likely hover around $450,000 in the second half of 2014.

Supply conditions in the housing market also showed signs of improvement when compared to the previous year. The unsold inventory index inched up slightly in June to 3.7 months from 3.6 months in May. Inventory at the state level increased 2.3 percent from May 2014 and jumped 21.9 percent from a year ago. Housing supply improved in all price segments, except the below $200k range, which declined 6.1 percent when compared to the same month of last year. Price segments above $200k experienced double-digit increases in supply on a year-over-year basis.

With inventory improving and home sales slowly moving back up, the market is more balanced, and we could see further market normalization in the upcoming months as interest rates remain at the lowest levels we have seen so far this year.  Sales should improve in the second half of the year as many primary home buyers realize that interest rates are likely going to increase towards the end of the year, and home prices are not going to decline in the short term. As such, sales for the rest of the year are expected to be at about the same level as that of last year. For the year as a whole, California existing home sales are projected to decline 4.4 percent when compared to 2013, but a stronger economy should propel the housing market to bounce back in 2015.

As for home prices, the gain in the statewide median price is predicted to be smaller than that observed in 2013. Home price appreciation will continue to slow down through the latter half of the year and the gradual increase in interest rates in the second half of 2014 will cap the upward movement in home prices. The statewide median price is expected to increase 10 percent from 2013, but will have a more moderate growth rate in 2015.

**All information is from the California Association of REALTORS Market Snapshot.

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

C.A.R. 2014 Survey of California Home Buyers findings

Released by the California Association of REALTORS® June 26, 2014

More home buyers turning to social media in home-buying process, REALTOR® survey finds

LOS ANGELES (June 26) – Reflecting the proliferating use of social media in today’s society, more home buyers are turning to social media in the home-buying process than ever, according to the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ (C.A.R.) “2014 Survey of California Home Buyers.”

More than three-fourths of home buyers used social media in their home search, up from 52 percent who used it in 2011. Buyers said they primarily used social media to obtain buying tips and suggestions from friends (44 percent), neighborhood information (44 percent), and to view their agents’ Facebook pages (42 percent). 

Mobile technology and the Internet continued to be important tools in the home-buying process, with 91 percent saying they used a mobile device to access the Internet during the course of their home purchase.  Buyers used their mobile devices to look for comparable home prices (78 percent), search for homes (45 percent), and take photos of neighborhoods, homes, and amenities (43 percent).   Conversely, with the increased use of social media, fewer buyers “Googled” their agent (50 percent in 2014, down from 68 percent in 2013), turning to agents’ Facebook pages instead.

In another sign of recent market competitiveness, more than nine in 10 buyers (91 percent) made one or more other offer, with an average of 3.6 offers in 2014, up from three offers in 2013.  Additionally, buyers viewed a median of 20 homes in 2014, up from 10 last year.  Given the limited supply of homes available for sale, fewer buyers were satisfied with their home purchase than last year.  Only about half of the buyers were satisfied with their purchase in 2014, down from two-thirds (66 percent) in 2013.  Nearly half (46 percent) of buyers felt they “settled” on their home purchase in 2014, up from 34 percent.

Additional findings from C.A.R.’s “2014 Survey of California Home Buyers” include:

•  Buyers cited price decreases (54 percent), receiving a promotion or raise (34 percent), low interest rates (29 percent), and favorable prices/financing (17 percent) as the top reasons for purchasing a home.

•  Echoing a recovering housing market over recent years, buyer optimism of home prices also continued to improve, with the vast majority of buyers (81 percent) believing that home prices will rise in five years and 60 percent believing that prices will rise in one year.  This is an improvement since 2009, when only 35 percent of buyers believed that prices would rise in five years, and only 8 percent who believed prices would rise in one year.

•  Higher down payments are still the norm in this market, with buyers putting an average of 28 percent down on their purchases.  The average down payment has been higher than the traditional 20 percent since 2009.

•  More than nine in 10 buyers (92 percent) obtained a fixed-rate loan, a 23 percent increase from 2009, when only 69 percent obtained a fixed-rate loan, reflecting low rates and the desire for certainty as the market gets back to basics.

•  Nearly all surveyed buyers (88 percent) used a real estate agent in 2014, down slightly from 91 percent in 2013. Reflecting a growing use of the Internet, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of those who used an agent found their agent online, compared to only 38 percent who found their agent online in 2003.

The 2014 Survey of California Home Buyers was conducted by telephone to 1,400 people statewide to measure their perceptions of the home-buying process.  All eligible respondents closed escrow on their homes within the six months prior to February 2014.  Access the full report on the survey findings here: http://www.car.org/marketdata/surveys/buyer/ and view the webinar presentation here: http://www.car.org/marketdata/videos.

Leading the way...® in California real estate for more than 100 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States with 165,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.

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