Tuesday, November 29, 2016

What's an Agent's Value to a Seller or a Buyer?

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As we enter the last month of 2016, my thoughts are turning to how I can better serve my clients in 2017. Over the years it has become apparent there are a plethora of ways an agent can enhance their clients' well-being in financial matters as well as from an emotional point of view.

Let's face it selling a house is stressful even under the best of circumstances. Preparing a property to go on the market can take weeks of planning and work if not months. There are so many decisions to make--should you paint, replace the carpet, refinished the wood floors or even delve into remodeling the kitchen and a bath or two.  The exterior landscaping must be assessed.  The local real estate market must be studied and marketing a property is an ongoing 24/7 job in this Age of Social Media. Selling a house can tax both the wallet and nerves of prospective sellers.

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Preparing a property for sale is one of the most valuable services a real estate professional can provide. Deciding what improvements will enhance the sale price and attract buyers is critical. Pricing the property "right" is the key to finding qualified buyers and not languishing on the market for many months. Many sellers know what online sites say their property is worth, but those "experts" have never stepped inside your house. They know nothing about the interior condition or even the view, or if there is a view. They are using a formula, and there are lots of unknowns in their equation. The value they give is at best an educated guess. Sometimes they are fairly accurate; sometimes they miss by a million. It's not a quote you can trust enough to offer your valuable asset for sale at their suggested price. You need a local real estate professional to help you pinpoint the price.

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Your agent's negotiating skills can either add to your side of the balance sheet or subtract dollars from your pocket. The more familiar your agent is with recent sales (and the condition of those properties) the more beneficial her knowledge will be to you. By the time closing day arrives most agents have earned their commission several times over by putting their market knowledge and experience to work for you.

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Here are two recent case histories to prove my point. A client was torn between selling her house "As Is" or painting it top to bottom, replacing carpeting and having it professionally staged. The neighborhood justified making the improvements.  Although it took two months, the difference to the seller was a net gain of more than 10%.
Keeping tabs on the local real estate market is crucial for top representation and overall market knowledge. I've tracked the market for many years with my Little Yellow Dot Market Snapshots.
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In the second case, I represented the buyer. We negotiated hard on the price but offered excellent terms.  After an extended period of negotiating the buyer purchased the property for $200,000 below the asking price. An experienced agent knows when to push and when to pull back and give the other party a reason to accept an offer, and that's a very valuable ability to have on your side of the negotiating table.

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Call me at 310.493.8333 or email Norma@CharlemagneProperties.com for more information on maximizing your property and your profits.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Where Are the Most Expensive Luxury Homes in Rancho Palos Verdes?

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Rancho Palos Verdes has some of the most exquisite coastal views on the entire Palos Verdes Peninsula.  The weather on the south side of Palos Verdes is reputed to be the most favorable on the entire peninsula. There's a reason the Palos Verdes Drive South neighborhood has become the resort side of the hill--views and weather are two critical factors.

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Many of the most expensive luxury homes in Rancho Palos Verdes are located in the Palos Verdes Drive South and Palos Verdes Drive West areas.  PVDS has The Estates at Trump National, Terranea Resort with its vacation homes, and a plethora of large estates that hover in the hills or hug the coastline.  PVDW's coast is dominated by the Oceanfront Estates development at the intersection of Hawthorne Blvd. and PVDW. Marguerite Drive is tucked below the Drive near the border with Palos Verdes Estates and possesses some of the most desirable up close and personal oceanfront properties on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

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Most Expensive Luxury Homes in Rancho Palos Verdes:
15 Luxury Estates priced at or above $3,000,000 are currently for sale in Rancho Palos Verdes.  Eleven of these properties are located in either the PVDS or PVDW neighborhoods.  The other four high-end properties are scattered throughout Rancho Palos Verdes with two in the PVDE area.  The remaining two are on Yellow Brick Road and  Cartier Drive.

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For more information regarding selling or purchasing a Rancho Palos Verdes luxury home contact Norma Toering at 310.493.8333 or Norma@CharlemagneProperties.com


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Monday, November 7, 2016

Palos Verdes Coastal Homes Market Report--November 2016

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Oops, it happened again.  The number of available Palos Verdes single-family homes for sale dropped below 200. The shrinking supply pushed the market toward an even stronger sellers' market. Similar market trends apply to the Beach Cities real estate market as well.  Low inventory has become our new normal. At the current rate of absorption, Palos Verdes has less than two months of available inventory and the Beach Cities has just over six weeks, yes weeks, unless new listings are added.

Palos Verdes Real Estate Market Report for Single-Family Homes:
187 Palos Verdes single family homes are for sale.
102 Single-family properties are under contract with accepted offers.
584 Palos Verdes single-family residences closed escrow YTD.

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Beach Cities Single-Family Homes Real Estate Market Report for November 2016:
140 Single-family homes are for sale in the Beach Cities of Manhattan, Hermosa, and Redondo.
87 Beach Cities single-family residences are under contract with accepted offers.
674 Single-family sold
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Find out the value of your house - Charlemagne Intl Properties 310-493-8333

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Thursday, November 3, 2016

When Is the Best Time of Year to Sell My Palos Verdes House?

 
 
Leave the winter mindset behind, after all, this is Southern California.  The freezing temperatures and snowy slopes are tucked away in the mountain resorts, and our coastal area is enjoying some very balmy Los Angeles days of 70+ degrees.  January or June, it does not really matter when you elect to place your property on the market in Southern California.


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The timing of your sale is all about you, your schedule, your plans, and needs.  One of the advantages of living in Southern California is your decision to list and sell does not have to be based on the weather or the calendar.  Photos rarely reveal the season, buyers search for homes all year and the worst weather we have to contend with is a rainy day now and then. Although we would love to have a few more days and weeks of wet weather to end the prolonged drought.

One condition you may want to check before you list your property for sale is the local real estate climate.  Market conditions will have a far greater impact on the sale of your property than local weather conditions.

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For more information on the local real estate market in your neighborhood contact me at 310.493.8333 and I will provide a free market update tailored to your specific property.


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