Congratulations on your new Chico home!
November 10th, 2013 Categories: Chico Buyers, Uncategorized
A quick shout out to Katie and Doug.
Congratulations on your new Chico home!!
Buyer specialist Tara snapped this pic of your smiling faces… we’re so happy she did. We LOVE to share that moment of celebration!
Thank you for allowing The Sandi Bauman Team! at Chico Homes to assist you in your purchase!
| Discussion: Comments Off on Congratulations on your new Chico home!
How Many Homes Did Most Buyers View Before Purchase?
August 25th, 2012 Categories: Chico Buyers
Ready to begin searching for that perfect Chico Home, but haven’t yet partnered with a Realtor? The Sandi Bauman Team! at Chico Homes would consider it a pleasure and a privilege to assist you with the process. Our dynamic team of buyer specialists will offer you highly personalized and professional service every step of the way. Call Sandi 530-864-5407 or email [email protected] to get started!
| Discussion: Comments Off on How Many Homes Did Most Buyers View Before Purchase?
Which Chico Realtor Should You Hire to Sell Your Home?
March 30th, 2008 Categories: Chico CA Real Estate News, Chico Sellers
by Mike Wiegert
So life takes another turn and now it’s time to get down to the business of selling your Chico home. You’ve been told that you should interview three or more Chico Realtors to determine who is most suitable to accompany you on your journey. Your agent needs to be honest, knowledgeable, experienced, successful and above all, your advocate when dealing with a buyer.
Your deductive reasoning tells you that you want to interview one agent who has worked with someone you trust. Another inner voice tells you to call the largest company in town and get their top producer. Maybe a third option is that nice Mr. X down the street who waves every morning.
Now here come the Chico Realtors with their smiling faces, newly pressed business suits and freshly washed luxury cars. Oh gosh, they all seem so nice!
Realtor number one is impressive. He has really done his homework and presents you with all the competitive sales and listings in your neighborhood.. Although complimentary of your home, he spends the time to make you aware of some of your home’s weak points and areas that you could improve to get a maximum price for your home.
Realtor number two crosses the threshold in a blaze of glory. You are instantly made aware that she has been salesperson of the month for an infinite period of time and that no one knows real estate like she does. Your home will fit nicely into her stable of homes and it really reminds her of the house she just closed down the street. She rushes off to ninety more appointments that day and presses her glossy real estate card with all the discount offers on the back into your now trembling hand.
Softly a knock on the door is heard and upon opening you find Chico Realtor number three (and neighbor) enveloped in a warm and almost ethereal glow. Number three is not holding any competitive sales or listings, no fancy folders with glossy pictures of happy buyers and sellers, nothing at all. Just all smiles and warmth. Number three strongly disagrees with the market analysis of the first two. He knows this neighborhood. He lives here. Your home is better than everybody else’s. He can get you a lot more than the others. So now you are really excited! Realtor number three is soooooo nice, and he’s going to get you a lot more for your home, right?
Wrong!
Unfortunately, many sellers often choose the Chico Realtor or listing agent who suggests the highest list price, which is the worst mistake a seller can make.
In a market such as ours, the only opinion of value that matters is the buyer who makes an offer. Todays buyers know the market. They’ve researched the neighborhood and know what has sold and what hasn’t. Money is tight and they’re not about to part with theirs capriciously. They also know that if you don’t take their offer, some other motivated Seller will. Pricing a home is not an exact science but with proper knowledge of recent sales and competitive inventory these educated findings will put you close to the actual market value.
But now you’re caught in the trap. Number three has convinced you that he is the best Realtor for the job. What has just happened is called “he bought your listing”. Your agent makes a practice of preying on a common weakness, you love your home. You really believe that it IS superior to most homes in the neighborhood. I wish it was, but it isn’t. Your friendly Realtor will be calling you in the next 15-30 days complaining about poor market conditions and rising interest rates. He will beg you to lower the price.
Unfortunately, you will find yourself spending a lot more than the average market time to sell your “shopworn” home. More often than not you’ll get significantly less than the price you would have if you had priced it right the first time. Do you drive all over town looking for the highest priced meats and vegetables of the same quality? Real estate is not a whole lot different and the prudent Seller accepts this fact.
Next week, we’ll spend a few more “moments” looking at common mistakes Sellers can make.
| Discussion: 5 Comments »
Would You Buy A House With A Sex Offender Living Next Door?
February 29th, 2008 Categories: Chico CA Real Estate News
Imagine yourself in this scenario.
You have been searching high and low for what seems like FOREVER, for the “perfect” new home.
You have scoured the glossy magazines available in your local supermarket. You’ve been scrambling to read the classifieds first thing every morning. As a sophisticated house hunter, you have spent hours upon hours pouring over every website in your local area. You even check Craigslist, Localism, and Zillow. Come to think of it, you know the listings in your price range better than your favorite Realtor!
After a LOT of effort, the day finally comes when you find IT.
The perfect house.
Your new house is in the right Chico neighborhood. It faces just the right direction for optimal sunlight. It has the right yard for the kids and dogs and stuff. The carpet is perfect. The laundry room is in the most convenient location. There are plenty of cupboards! All of your furniture will go perfectly.
You excitedly write the offer.
You jump up and down when your Realtor congratulates you on your pending sale.
You cancel your lease, start packing, line up friends to help you move, and spend extra time picking out just the right new paint colors for the living room.
Just when you are all geared up, your Realtor tells you that the sellers just disclosed that they live next to a sex offender.
What are you going to do?
Panic?
Live in denial, because you REALLY want the house?
Track the guy down online and memorize his tattoos, alias’ and address?
Decide he looks too old to be dangerous?
All of the above?
For many buyers, the story above hits pretty close to home. They only find out the bad news AFTER they have fallen in love with the house. Depending on personal factors, the decision about whether or not to move forward with the purchase can be an agonizing one.
One buyer I know stopped to consider what the sex offender was actually charged with. In his mind, some offenses were more worrisome than others, and he carefully weighed his decision on the information we were able to obtain. By utilizing any one of the websites below, you can find pictures of the offender, address, descriptions of identifying tattoos, and a history of offenses such as:
m647.6(a) ANNOY/MOLEST CHILDREN
288(b) LEWD OR LASCIVIOUS ACTS WITH CHILD UNDER 14 YEARS W/FORCE
f243.4(a) SEXUAL BATTERY
288.5 CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILD
261(a)(2) RAPE BY FORCE/FEAR/ETC
261.2/261.3 PRIOR CODE-RAPE WITH FORCE AND THREAT
286(c) SODOMY WITH PERSON UNDER 14 YEARS OR WITH FORCE
288a(c) ORAL COPULATION WITH PERSON UNDER 14/ETC OR BY FORCE/ETC
220 ASSAULT W/INTENT TO COMMIT RAPE, SODOMY, OR ORAL COPULATION
Some buyers don’t express any concern whatsoever, regardless of the offense. Other buyers (probably childless) are less concerned with a convicted child molester than they might be with a 250 pound rapist.
No seller in his right mind will actually advertise up front that his house sits next door to a convicted sex offender.
Take responsibility for learning as much as you can about the neighborhood and history of your potential new Chico home! If this is an issue that is particularly sensitive for you and your family, why not do the research before you ever view the house? It will only take a minute, and you will be glad you did.
National Sex Offender Public Website
I have found all three of these websites to be particularly useful- I especially like the Family WatchDog site because it shows the locations of local Chico residents in relation to a particular address, whether it’s a school, residence, park or other location. However, I am not representing that the information provided is all-inclusive, accurate, or up-to-date. The sites are provided as additional resources only.
Although an ethical seller will disclose all known material facts to you at some point, the seller might not actually be aware of issues that could be a deal breaker for you. Some sellers just don’t know anything about their neighbors or the things that go on right next door.
Don’t forget, as a buyer, it is YOUR responsibility to be diligent in your investigation of the house, neighborhood, and any other extraneous factors that are important to you.
| Discussion: 6 Comments »
