by Jeff Pittman | May 11, 2015 | Buyers
Home Buying and Selling Etiquette As with any other event in life that involves interaction between people, home buying and selling real estate requires you to follow certain etiquette rules that ensure a pleasant experience for all involved. No need to keep your pinkies up, but having manners indicates that you have respect and consideration for others in this very personal business. Here’s your accelerated course at real estate finishing school including what every person must know before their first real estate deal. FOR BUYERS RESPECT TIME Agents and sellers put in a great deal of effort and coordination into preparing a house for showing. So be respectful of the schedule your real estate agent has drawn up and stick to it. If you are going to be late, inform your agent in advance so that others are not inconvenienced by the delay. Remember that they have a life to live too. Your agent may have other clients lined up for a showing. Your seller may have postponed her outside commitments to prepare the house for you. Respect time – yours and others’. While requesting appointments, don’t ask for a showing on Friday night at 9 pm or 8 am on a weekday morning. Also, be realistic about how many houses you can see a day. As much as you would like to see all houses on the same day, you won’t be able to squeeze in more than 9 or 10 on an average day. Showing up at the doorstep unannounced and unescorted by your agent is a strict no-no, though it may be okay if it is an...
by Jeff Pittman | May 6, 2015 | Buyers
Buying a property is a serious investment that calls for a thorough and professional inspection beforehand. Now, even though an expert is supposed to examine the place before the purchase, it never hurts to do your own inspection, just in case. The things you want to check out are those correlated with your everyday life; that is, stuff you are going to do on a day-to-day basis. They may seem obvious but not every homebuyer even thinks to do these small inspections themselves. Here are 6 DIY home inspections you can do before calling in the professionals. PULL BACK CARPETS One of the most expensive jobs done by qualified professionals is mold removal. Unless you want to spend a fortune on a good cleaning company, check every room – and especially the bathroom – for signs of mold. It usually looks as if the walls are dirty, there is no way you don’t notice it. Plus, if there is lots of mold in the property, even if it is not visible, you are going to smell it. Now that we have mentioned mold, here is what else you might be missing out. Mold and mildew don’t always show. Sometimes they are hidden under furniture and carpets. To find out if this is not the case with the property you want to buy, simply pull part of the carpet back so that you can inspect the floors. It will also allow you to check the condition of the carpet itself. TASTE THE WATER If the pipes are old, you may end up getting some extra stuff in your glass every...
by Jeff Pittman | Apr 28, 2015 | Buyers
It’s the dream of many buyers to own a beachfront home or a vacation retreat on a lake. And buying beachfront or waterfront property is a smart move if you want a property that will retain its value even in a slow market. Here are 6 reasons why waterfront homes hold their value well. 1. WATERFRONT HOME DESIGNS 5121 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach Buyers are attracted to waterfront homes because developers design them to have scenic views from nearly every room. Homebuyers are looking for luxury properties on the water and developers include cathedral ceilings and fireplaces in living spaces, oceanfront swimming pools, Jacuzzis, Italian marble floors and gourmet kitchens with state-of-the-art appliances. This beachfront estate in Long Beach, Belmont Shores features 3 balconies with glass rails, floating circular staircase surrounding a state of the art glass round elevator and more impressive bells and whistles like steam showers and stainless steel appliances. When homes are built to enjoy ocean views and the beach lifestyle, it’s a no brainer that buyers will take notice. 2. AVAILABILITY 315 Via Lido Soud, Newport Beach Although there are thousands of beach and lakefront homes, each one is a little different, and it takes some time to find the home with the amenities, location and atmosphere that you want. Beachfront property is always in demand so when you find the perfect home, make an offer. Lido Island is a coveted location and a prime location like this Via Lido Soud property doesn’t come onto the market every day – it’s a hot commodity! 3. GREAT FAMILY HOME 5775 East Corso di Napoli, Long...
by Jeff Pittman | Apr 14, 2015 | Buyers
Buying a home is one of the biggest purchasing decisions you will ever make, so you want to make sure everything is fine with the home before buying. You will not want to deal with pesky plumbing problems – and the accompanying bill – immediately after purchasing your new home. Plumbing problems are extremely easy to hide when selling a home, so it is up to you to find any potential issues. These are the five most common plumbing problems found in the homes for sale so you can be on the look out! No Hot Water No hot water may be the most common plumbing problem in homes for sale, but it is also the easiest to detect. You should always take a few seconds to make sure the sinks work. If no hot water comes out of the faucet, then you know there is a big problem. The homeowner should be able to easily fix the problem before any potential sale. Clogged Drains Clogged drains can easily go undetected during a home inspection. Since the kitchen sink sees the most use, it is the most likely to get clogged. During your home inspection, run the water for about 2-3 minutes just to check. While you’re at it, check the garbage disposal as well. Depending on the problem, this could be a simple fix or a major issue. Leaking Pipes Leaking pipes can cause major problems to the floor and walls, and lead to mold from water damage if not take care of. You could incur a huge repair bill if you purchase a home with leaking pipes. The...
by Jeff Pittman | Apr 13, 2015 | Buyers
Millennial Home Buying Preferences Nearly every U.S. industry wants to get into the mind of Millennials because they represent such an enormous piece of the population, an estimated 70 – 80 million people. That’s why survey data from the National Association of Home Builders on Millennial home buying preferences is so important to the real estate industry. What else are Millennials looking for in a new home? A highly energy efficient home with lower utility bills is more appealing to Millennials than a comparable home without those features even if it costs a bit less. 84% of Millennials said they would be willing to pay 2-3% more for Energy Efficient homes. Other features at the top of their home wish list include a laundry rom, exterior lighting and storage options like linen closets, walk-in-pantry and garage storage. Community amenities also have a big impact an where Millennials want to move. If a community had a park area, walking trails, playground or outdoor swimming pool most Millennials responded that they would be seriously influenced to move there. Via First Team Real Estate. Thank you for reading. I hope you found this information useful. Jeff Pittman, Realtor in Ladera Ranch – Orange County,...
by Jeff Pittman | Apr 6, 2015 | Buyers
Buying a vacation home can make things easier if you visit an area frequently, and it also can turn out to be a good investment. According to the National Association of Realtors distressed properties made up 45% of vacation home sales last year and vacation home sales surged, making up 21% of all home sales last year, a 57% increase from 2013. A vacation home is a great opportunity to spend time away from the busyness of everyday life, or it can be a great source of income if it is rented. However, there are some things to consider before buying a vacation home. Can you afford it? The number one consideration when buying a vacation home is whether you can afford it. You should be able to pay cash for the home or afford the second payment comfortably without having to cut into retirement savings. You also have to take into account the ongoing expenses for things like upkeep, utilities, taxes and any homeowners association fees. Location – How much will you use it? Buying a vacation home may seem like a good idea, but if you won’t use it often, you may want to consider renting it out at certain times of the year to get your money’s worth. Too often, people want to buy a vacation home in an exotic location far from where they are, and it just isn’t worth the investment. For example, a vacation home in Big Bear is a great option for those who love the outdoors and live in Southern California. Think about what you love doing, and find a vacation home that...
