“Fixing” Your Home’s Layout
By Dan & Brenda Wyatt | July 9, 2010
One of the first things homebuyers look for when shopping for California real estate is the layout of the house. Like the location of the house and its overall size, layout is one of the things about a home that cannot be changed without a very large time and money investment.
In the current La Jolla real estate market, many of the things that make a house unique – its paint color, flooring, the kitchen counters, and even the size or type of the windows – are being upgraded to entice buyers. But if your home has a restricting layout, which makes the house look smaller, darker, or inaccessible, you might have a difficult time making a “quick fix” to increase your chances of a fast sale.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to make your CA home for sale more appealing. If you do have a layout that might be sending out the wrong signals, you can try the following.
Remove the clutter. Staging your house is an important part of any home selling process, but never more so than when your layout might be confining or restrictive. Extra furniture, shelves, tables, and even the rack where you hang your coats all add to the inaccessibility of the house as a whole. By displaying your space as open and clearly as possible, you are allowing homebuyers to see the house through fresh eyes.
Add room dividers. A very long (or even a tiny) living room or a bathroom that is taken up almost entirely by a washer and dryer can be a difficult sell, because buyers might not see how the space is livable. Room dividers, or screens set up in strategic locations, are one of the tricks that decorators often rely on to maximize space, since they add clean lines and more storage opportunities.
Open up the entryway. Although this task might require a little bit of construction work on your part, opening up the home’s foyer to make it more appealing and inviting is often all you need to do to allow your home to shine. Most homebuyers make a decision about a house within the first 6 seconds, so you have to make those seconds really count.
Adjust your bedrooms. If your Del Mar house has adjoining bedrooms, or if your Rancho Santa Fe condo has a bedroom right off the kitchen, you might want to re-market the space. Few people want to sleep in a room that offers reduced privacy, but if you stage it and/or list it as an office, a library, a playroom, or even an add-on, homebuyers might be more tempted.
The CA real estate market is on its way up, but selling a home can still be a challenge – especially if you own a challenging home. By taking a little extra time to adjust the way you see your house, as well as the way it is presented to others, it is possible sell that house faster and with a higher price point.
Topics: Energy Efficiency and Awareness, La Jolla California Real Estate, San Diego Beach Homes, San Diego Real Estate | No Comments »
Buying vs. Renting in Today’s Real Estate Market
By Dan & Brenda Wyatt | June 3, 2010
Rental properties and homes for sale in La Jolla provide a great opportunity for those who want to live in this wonderful, vibrant city, and many area residents take advantage of both housing options. However, one of the most common questions that arise regarding the La Jolla and California real estate landscape is just how beneficial it is to buy a home rather than rent one.
The question is a good one in today’s real estate market. While buying a house was once lauded as the best choice for people of all backgrounds, the truth is that buying a home is a big investment that takes time, preparation, and careful planning.
Reasons to Buy a House in the Current Market
It doesn’t matter whether you’re considering a La Jolla house or a Del Mar condo – the reasons for buying a house are good ones regardless of what type of real estate you’re after. Why?
- Interest rates are low right now. With so many foreclosed homes on the market and more sellers than there are buyers, banks and mortgage companies are offering added incentives for homebuyers. If you plan on taking out a 15- or 30-year mortgage, this can translate to savings in the tens of thousands of dollars.
- Foreclosed properties offer great deals. Although the CA real estate market is doing fairly well these days, there are still more foreclosed and discounted homes on the market than there were five or even ten years ago. If you are in a financial position to buy, you may be able to get more home for your dollar than in another economy.
- You can make an investment in the future. Given the state of the current economy, most house values are set to rise over the next few years. If you do purchase a Rancho Santa Fe home or a house in any of the outlying areas, you’re likely to see an increase in your home’s resell price within five to ten years.
Reasons to Rent a House in the Current Market
While we always encourage individuals interested in potentially buying a home to contact us to discuss their options, there are some key triggers that might indicate you’re better served as a renter. These reasons include:
- Little to no down payment saved up. Although there are zero-down programs available (particularly for first-time State homebuyers), it’s always a better financial decision to put some money into your home purchase.
- The possibility of moving or relocating soon. La Jolla homes for sale provide a great bargain right now – but they may not increase in value enough to immediately resell it. Buying a home and then needing to sell it right away can be a strain, since it’s likely to remain a buyer’s market for at least a few more years.
Contact Dan & Brenda Wyatt For More Information
If you’re ready to start looking at La Jolla or Del Mar homes for sale, or if you’d like more information on the benefits of buying a home versus renting one, call us today. Sometimes, it’s impossible to know if buying a home is right for you until you sit down with one of our trusted professionals and get all your questions answered.
Topics: La Jolla California Real Estate, San Diego Beach Homes, San Diego Real Estate | No Comments »
Maintaining Distance When Selling Your CA Home
By Dan & Brenda Wyatt | May 10, 2010
Selling a home in La Jolla or Del Mar can be a very personal experience. After all, this is the place you’ve lived for years. Maybe you renovated the interior with your own two hands. Maybe you got married here. Maybe this is even where you raised your kids. No matter what it is that makes your home, well, home, the decision to sell isn’t one that comes lightly to everyone.
The personal attachment we all have to our homes is part of the reason it can be difficult to sell a California home.
- Homeowners who associate positive memories with a house are more likely to value it at higher than the market rate. This can make it difficult to find a balance between what you think your home is worth and what it will reasonably sell for.
- Staging a home you love (and still live in) can be more challenging than staging an empty space. Packing away your personal belongings (e.g., pictures, knick knacks, books) to give your home a more streamlined and sell-able look for up to months at a time can put a strain on your enjoyment of the home selling and buying process.
- It can also be hard to put all your trust in another person’s hands. Selling a home in La Jolla and the outlying areas often requires that you have open houses, walk-throughs, and open doors to everyone from real estate agents to nosy neighbors. Having others view your home – oftentimes while you are not there – requires that you put personal reservations about privacy aside.
Although this paints a rather bleak portrait of what selling a home entails, the truth is that people buy and sell homes every day. They upgrade to new family homes in La Jolla suburbs and move to downtown condos with chic views – and are usually more than happy with the outcome.
One way to get past issues of trust and privacy is to put your home in the hands of a real estate agent you trust. Your agent works as an advocate for you and your house, making sure that everything proceeds safely and with a minimal hassle. And because your agent knows the Del Mar real estate landscape, it’s easier to settle on a price and a staging set up that will get you faster results.
Dan & Brenda Wyatt has been working in the California area for years, and knows exactly what it is that makes local homebuyers interested. To minimize your anxiety and sell a CA home quickly and easily, feel free to call our office today.
Topics: La Jolla California Real Estate, San Diego Beach Homes, San Diego Real Estate | No Comments »
Your Dream Home: Why Neighborhoods and Communities Matter
By Dan & Brenda Wyatt | April 7, 2010
Finding the right home in La Jolla isn’t always as easy as relying on a checklist of square footage, number of bathrooms, and the upkeep of the yard. Although these types of features are important when determining where you want to live and raise a family, another important consideration is the neighborhood where your dream house is situated.
La Jolla and Del Mar homes for sale are noted for their family-friendly communities and idyllic backdrop, but that doesn’t mean that every home is ideally placed. Before you purchase a home in any California city, it’s important to research what the rest of the neighborhood has to offer.
Schools
Schools are the number one consideration when it comes to choosing a good neighborhood in CA. If you have kids, the reasons are easy to spot: you want your children to have access to a good, safe education. However, even homeowners without kids need to keep this issue in mind, especially if you plan on selling the house some day. Top-rated schools will not only keep your property value high, but they’ll also serve as an appeal to potential homebuyers in the future.
Crime and Sex Offenders
Few people want to live where they feel unsafe or fear for their families. That’s why you should always check the crime rate and search for registered sex offenders in the area. Never take a neighborhood at face value; a place that looks charming during the day might have a high rate of break-ins, while a neighborhood that looks less savory might actually have a strict neighborhood watch program in place and several policeman living nearby.
Walkability/Livability
Suburbs in the region of La Jolla are generally good places for a slower pace of life, but the ability to walk to the market, the park, or to run simple errands might not be as high as what you can find in a more urban center. At the same time, La Jolla suburbs might be better for taking a scenic evening stroll. When determining where you want to live in California, keep in mind what is more important for your lifestyle: being near amenities, or being near other families with similar goals as you.
The same is true for things like construction zones, local garbage plants, train tracks, playgrounds, dogs, or industrial zones nearby. Make sure you take a walk through your potential neighborhood during the day and in the evening to see what types of noises, smells, and sights you will have to get used to.
The Neighbors
Nothing tells you more about a neighborhood in Del Mar than the neighbors. Does everyone keep their homes and yards in good order? If a visually-appealing community is important to you, you might want to look around to make sure everyone else feels the same way. You might also want to investigate why. Is upkeep important to the neighbors, or is it held in place by strict homeowners’ association rules? Are you ready to make the same level of commitment?
Also, you’ll want to determine the types of people who live nearby. Is there a large percentage of young families? Teenagers? Professionals who are rarely at home? Although these things can and will change, they will tell you a lot about the overall neighborhood culture.
Neighbors also matter when it comes to the type and sizes of homes they have. Are there a large number of foreclosures? That could indicate a lowering neighborhood value. Are the other houses very different than yours in terms of value? (Note: Being surrounded in houses much higher in value than yours means that you may pay more in property taxes. Houses with a lower value means that you may end up having a difficult time selling in the future.)
Buying Your New La Jolla Home
Buying a home, whether it’s in the center of La Jolla or on the outskirts of Rancho Santa Fe, is a big undertaking. It’s important to look beyond the physical structure of your dream house to notice all that’s going on around you. After all, the place you call home is about more than four bedrooms and three baths; it’s about your way of life.
If you’re ready to learn more about purchasing a home in CA, contact Dan & Brenda Wyatt today. We’ll match you with the perfect home—including neighborhood amenities.
Topics: Energy Efficiency and Awareness, La Jolla California Real Estate, San Diego Beach Homes, San Diego Real Estate | No Comments »
Selling a Home: Why You Have to Engage all Five Senses
By Dan & Brenda Wyatt | March 15, 2010
If you’re getting ready to sell a home in La Jolla, you probably have a checklist of ideas for making your home more marketable. CA homes tend to sell better when they have more immediate appeal; for example, well-tended yards, impeccable siding, and a welcoming kitchen can go a long way in enticing homebuyers in the area. There are a number of ways you and your real estate agent can work together to make these things happen, and one of the best ideas is to ensure that you’re engaging all of the senses.
Sight
When selling a Del Mar home or preparing your La Jolla home for viewing, you should pay attention to both the big picture and the details of your house.
For a bigger picture viewpoint, try to see everything with fresh eyes. When you pull into the driveway, what overall impression does the house give you? Is it clean and well-cared for? Does it look like the sort of place a family would want to live?
Then, as you walk up to the front door, pay closer attention to the little things: the state of the flowerbeds, a cracked panel of siding, or an unsightly satellite dish at one corner of the house. These little things are often the easiest to fix in terms of time and money.
Do the same thing as you walk through each room of your house. Take a quick survey from the doorway, and then walk through to make note of smaller defects. Different homebuyers look at different things, so it’s best to ensure that even the littlest problems are attended to.
Sound
The sounds of an ideal California home are pleasing to the ear, and you should do your best to keep them that way. Avoid running any noisy appliances when you’re expecting potential homebuyers to stop by. Televisions, radios, and even kids playing outside can all contribute negatively to the experience. When possible, you should either opt for silence (to demonstrate the peacefulness of your home) or use light background music that won’t be offensive to anyone. If you live near the water or wilderness, you might also open a few key windows to let in the most natural sounds.
Smell
It’s long been held as a “rule” of real estate that you should bake cookies or light a vanilla-scented candle when you show your home. These traditional smells are ones that most people associate with happy memories, which can trigger better feelings about your CA home for sale.
While you don’t have to stick to traditional baking smells, the idea is a good one. However, if you use scents, choose ones that are inoffensive, are hypo-allergenic, and aren’t too obvious. You can also choose smells suited to particular rooms. Light and airy scents are well-suited to bathrooms, while the baking smells tend to do better in living rooms and kitchens.
Touch
In most cases, you don’t want people walking through your home to touch your personal possessions. However, the sense of touch can be important. Plush carpeting is welcoming in bedrooms and living spaces, while cool hardwood or tile makes a kitchen feel cleaner and more efficient. Crisp, clean appliances promise a treat for the fingertips even if the potential homebuyers don’t make actual physical contact.
For the sense of touch, it’s best to promise a great tactile experience, rather than actually provide one. Place soft furnishings next to clean architectural lines. Throw a cozy blanket over some leather furniture. Choose draperies that are either light and airy or heavy and warm, depending on the mood you want to set.
Taste
When you have an open house in La Jolla, keeping appetizer trays on hand can go a long way in making a good impression. Elegant sandwiches, tasty tarts, and other bite-sized treats cause people to linger and take a better stock of their surroundings. Food at a open house, while potentially messy, is also more likely to draw other real estate agents. At the end of the day, greater exposure – whether it’s potential buyers or real estate professionals other than your own Dan & Brenda Wyatt – means a greater likelihood that your home will sell quickly and easily.
Selling a CA Home
A house is more likely to sell if it seems like a home. When you engage all the senses, you’re doing more than showcasing the physical features of your house – you’re demonstrating how comfortable and welcoming it is. And in today’s market, taking those few extra steps can make a huge difference in how quickly your La Jolla, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe home sells.
Topics: Energy Efficiency and Awareness, La Jolla California Real Estate, San Diego Beach Homes, San Diego Real Estate | No Comments »
Finding and Purchasing an Eco-Friendly Home in California
By Dan & Brenda Wyatt | February 8, 2010
These days, buying a home in La Jolla is about more than finding the right square footage, number of bedrooms, and price range. While these factors almost always make up the primary concerns for any home buyer in CA, the truth is that there is so much more to a home than the numbers and figures you see on an advertisement. In fact, La Jolla and Del Mar are part of a growing trend of buying homes that are not only an investment in your future, but an investment in the future of the planet, as well.
What is an Eco-Friendly Home?
An eco-friendly home is any house that strives to reduce energy usage either during the building process or for average, everyday use. Green Home Building Standards have been established by the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), which strives to ensure that ecologically sound building practices meet structurally sound ones no matter where you live.
Some of the components of a “green” home include:
- Energy-efficient features, including appliances and windows with the Energy Star rating. This can also be accomplished by doing simple things like using more efficient lighting fixtures and light bulbs.
- Water-efficient features, including Energy Star ratings on toilets, showers, faucets, dishwashers, and washing machines. At a more advanced level, this can include water recirculation systems and on-site wastewater treatment systems.
- Resource-efficient features, which generally come from structural changes that have to do with house size and layout, window placement, heat conservation efforts, and even using fast-renewing resources (like bamboo) for the floor or other building materials.
- Quality air features, which provide good ventilation without introducing toxins into the air either inside or outside the home.
- Outdoor features, including landscaping that contributes to the local vegetation, and the use of permeable materials for driveways and walkway. Water waste should also be reduced wherever possible.
Purchasing a Green Home
One of the greatest things about eco-friendly homes in the La Jolla region is that most of the costs are figured in during the building process. This means that if you’re in the market to purchase a green home, you will only have to help maintain the work that’s already been done. While this can increase the initial price tag of your new CA home, chances are that it will save you large amounts of money as the years progress.
In an age where it’s becoming increasingly more important to give back to the environment, more and more homeowners in the La Jolla area are loCAing for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. It doesn’t matter whether you purchase a new home in Rancho Santa Fe or an older building with recent renovations in Del Mar, Dan & Brenda Wyatt can help you find a way to combine your love of the environment with the home of your dreams.
Topics: La Jolla California Real Estate, San Diego Beach Homes, San Diego Real Estate | No Comments »
Do-It-Yourself Real Estate Marketing in La Jolla
By Dan & Brenda Wyatt | January 16, 2010
Marketing a La Jolla home to make it attractive to buyers isn’t just about staging the house or putting a For Sale sign up in the yard. In today’s real estate market, it’s important to reach out to a larger audience through various types of media. After all, buying and selling a home in the Del Mar region means tapping into everything that people use on a daily basis: computers, newspapers, magazines, and more traditional real estate routes.
A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words
The majority of home buyers in the CA region begin their search online. The Internet is becoming an increasingly viable way to present homes from both an interior and an exterior vantage point. Although Dan & Brenda Wyatt will help you to understand the best angles for presenting a photographic display of your house, you can help by pointing out what it is you love best about the home. A great backyard garden, a cozy front porch swing, a spacious kitchen, the tile on your bathroom floor – no matter what it is, use it as a way to entice buyers into contacting your agent for more information.
Virtual tours are becoming a very popular way to showcase your home online, as well. Allowing viewers to “walk through” your home gives them a stronger connection to it.
Signs and Advertisements
The more traditional California home selling options include putting up a sign or placing an ad in the newspaper, in your local real estate magazine, or even on direct mailing advertisements. These steps have long been a part of the buying and selling market, regardless of where you live.
The truth of the matter is, there’s a reason these actions are relied upon so heavily: no one will know you’re selling your La Jolla home unless you post it somewhere! While decisions related to where you place the signs and advertisements will most likely be made with the assistance of Dan & Brenda Wyatt, you can help by finding additional ways to spread the word of your sale. Online home selling postings for Rancho Santa Fe or Del Mar are fairly common, and oftentimes, simply letting your friends and family know that your La Jolla home is on the market can go a long way in spreading the word.
Rely on Dan & Brenda Wyatt
Of course, the most important home marketing step you can take is trusting Dan & Brenda Wyatt to work hard to sell your home as quickly and efficiently as possible. Like any real business partnership, selling a California home is all about finding someone you can trust and working together to get the best possible results.
Topics: Energy Efficiency and Awareness, La Jolla California Real Estate, San Diego Beach Homes, San Diego Real Estate | No Comments »
Benefits of a Home Inspection
By Dan & Brenda Wyatt | December 9, 2009
Although new tax breaks and great housing prices in La Jolla, Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe make buying a home easier and more cost-effective than ever before, it can still be a daunting task to undertake the path to home ownership. In addition to the stress of moving, you’re probably worrying about things like loan processing fees, down payments, mortgage options, and closing costs. Even with a financial advisor and a realtor at your side, these can add up to quite a bit of hard work!
However, almost every homeowner will tell you that these costs are definitely worth buying a CA house. Not only are you purchasing a place to call home, but you’re making a financial investment with potentially huge returns. That’s why you should always consider a home inspection before signing on that dotted line, even if the added expense isn’t one you’re looking forward to.
What is a Home Inspection?
Many people equate a home inspection with a home appraisal, and with good reason. At their core, the two processes are very similar: in both, a trained professional goes through the home and inspects it with the intent of informing all parties involved on making the smartest buying and selling decisions.
However, the similarities stop there. Home appraisals are done to give buyers, sellers, real estate agents, and financers a better idea of what the home is worth (based on “surface” things like square footage, number of rooms, and amenities like a fireplace or granite countertops). A home inspection, on the other hand, is all about informing buyers about the potential problems that lie underneath the surface.
For example, a home inspector will be able to answer the following questions:
- What is the condition of the plumbing and/or electrical system, and how easy is it to access in the event of a problem?
- What will be the realistic costs and challenges of heating or cooling the house?
- What is the state of the foundation, the roof, and other structural components?
- How many years of use will you be able to get out of the electrical/plumbing/heating systems?
- What are the potential safety hazards of the house (lead paint, radon, termites, asbestos, mold, etc.)?
What a Home Inspection Does for You
Although most home inspections cost the potential homebuyer hundreds of dollars up front, they typically end up saving homebuyers thousands of dollars in the end. When you get a home inspection, you can not only step away from a purchase that might not be right for you, but you can also require sellers to either “fix” the problems before you buy the home, or adjust the price in order to allow you to make the repairs.
Of course, there’s also the benefit of knowing that the home for sale in La Jolla that you purchased is safe and comfortable. It can be difficult to know just what a house has in store for you until you’ve lived in it for a few months. A home inspection is the best way to take the house for a “test drive” before you make the investment. And with so many choices currently on the California real estate market, you’re in a perfect position to make a smart, financially-sound choice for your entire family.
Topics: La Jolla California Real Estate, San Diego Beach Homes, San Diego Real Estate | No Comments »
Buying a Historic Home in California
By Dan & Brenda Wyatt | November 23, 2009
For many people living in or moving to CA, the best real estate purchase is one that combines the comfort of home with a piece of history. Buying a historic home in La Jolla, Del Mar or Rancho Santa Fe is fairly common in today’s market, thanks to an incredible real estate climate and one of the most dynamic historic districts in the state.
However, if you’re simply looking at the intricate architecture and are thinking how great it would be to own a piece of the city’s history, you might want to take a step back and consider all the work involved in becoming a historic home owner.
Home Quality
The most important consideration for purchasing a historic home in La Jolla is the quality of the house. Whether you’re looking at a bungalow or a mansion, you have to remember that time is rarely kind to real estate.
In addition to outdated materials (like plaster instead of drywall or lead pipes) and difficult-to-work-with architectural styles, you have to consider the costs of restoring the house with authenticity in mind. Many materials are no longer available or can be costly if you want to maintain the historic integrity of your home. The same is true of the availability and cost of craftsman qualified to work with your particular home.
California Housing Regulations
Many historic homes are overseen by governing bodies that regulate what you can and can’t do to your own home. If you’re in the market to purchase a historic home, make sure you know who you will have to go through to get the right permits for renovation, or if you’ll need to register and pay a fee to get your home listed as an authentic historic site. You might also want to note what kind of tourist interest you will get from having a historically-listed site.
Financial Investments
Fortunately, not everything about owning a La Jolla historic home is hard work! Historic homes, when restored with authenticity, safety, and modern comfort in mind, are an incredible financial investment. Many people are willing to pay top dollar for homes that are in perfect shape or that have a keen attention to detail.
Many local governments also offer tax credits and tax freezes for those who maintain a certain level of quality in their registered historic homes. This means that a historic home can be a great investment, as well as a beautiful piece of architecture.
Finding and Buying Your Historic Home
When refurbished to contain all the modern amenities today’s families need and enjoy, a historic home can become a showpiece – both for your own visitors as well as those interested in the history of La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar. As with all real estate purchases, however, this one should be made after much consideration and under the guidance of your trusted agent.
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Marketing Your California Home: What to Expect during Your Open House
By Dan & Brenda Wyatt | October 22, 2009
If your CA home is for sale – whether in La Jolla, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe or surrounding areas – there’s a good chance your real estate agent will discuss the benefits of an open house with you. Open houses have long been a part of the home sale experience, since it allows prospective buyers to take a “low-key” approach while they browse the merchandise. It also gives your real estate agent the chance to network with a large number of potential buyers all at one time. In some cases, it also means you’ll finally sell that home!
However, an open house can be an unnerving event; after all, you’re opening your home up to complete strangers, and in most cases, you won’t be there to witness the event. By knowing what to expect, you have a better chance of selling your CA home – all while keeping a handle on your peace of mind.
• Remember that an open house is just one part of a larger marketing process. No one wants to sell your home more than your La Jolla real estate agent, and the best approach in any sales climate is to reach as many potential homebuyers as possible. That means diversifying the way you market to include those who prefer the low-key atmosphere of an open house.
• Don’t expect immediate results. Few people enter an open house and make a purchase right then and there. The real outcome is most likely going to be a few appointments for a private viewing or future appointment.
• Remove your valuables, money, keys, pets, medications, and any paperwork that has personal information on it (such as bills). Although a good real estate agent will keep an eye on your property to avoid damages, anything that is of value (for either monetary or personal reasons) should be safely tucked away. This can actually help sell the house in the long run, since personal effects tend to turn buyers off.
• Do a walk-through with your real estate agent immediately before and after the open house. This will allow you both to determine damages or thefts with an objective eye.
• Remember that an open house can tell you a lot about your property. Your real estate agent will be able to draw conclusions based on the turnout and the overheard comments. If few people show up, it could indicate that your asking price is too high, or that your curb appeal simply isn’t up to snuff. A large turnout with few leads could mean that the problem lies with the layout or “dressing” of your home.
Selling a home in CA can be difficult in today’s market – but it isn’t impossible. By approaching your marketing strategies with an open mind – and an open house – you can get your home effectively promoted throughout the La Jolla, Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe housing market with better results than ever before.
Topics: La Jolla California Real Estate, San Diego Beach Homes, San Diego Real Estate | No Comments »