An article caught my attention today by Andrew Vandamme “owning own home doesn’t make you rich: owning someone else’s does”. I’m talking about real estate investments. Owning your own home and living in it might not bring you the wealth you desire, but business owners and landlords tend to be about four times as wealthy as the average American. Renters in the United States tend to have about an eighth as much wealth as the average American. [Read more…]
When looking for a house to buy you’re probably not in the market for something that looks like it’s ready to fall down, but, are you passing up a virtual goldmine? Think of it this way, instead of shopping for a dream home, maybe you should be out looking for a dream a discount. [Read more…]
If you’re planning on buying or selling within the next couple of months throughout the San Ramon California area it’s important to know what the market is doing. As a professional real estate agent in this area, I keep close tabs on the market so I know when my buyers are overpaying and so I know exactly how to price a property to sell. I want my buyers to get the absolute most fair market value and save money on their purchases all the while offering my sellers the very most the market can bear. [Read more…]
Nobody likes to pack up the entire house and move but most of us do it at least once or twice in our life. If you’re looking at moving or relocating to the Tri-Valley area or maybe you’re moving out of the area, you may be researching some of the best tips and tricks to make your move so much easier. Here are 10 easy tips that you may never have thought of before they can make your relocation that much easier.
Many people pack the wrong way. You want to make sure that the items you want to get to quickly are at the back of the truck or the easiest to obtain. This could mean your coffee maker, important documents or records. But you also want a box of essentials to go along with you, especially if you are relocating a long distance. These essentials could be blankets and pillows, toiletries, a first aid kit, any medications, phone and tablet chargers, toilet paper and paper towels, paper plates and utensils, pet food and bowls, credit cards, passports, Social Security card and credit cards.
Many utilities only require a phone call to get things switched over to your new location so you want to make sure that your Internet and TV are some of the first things to be hooked up so that you can start getting your email, have access to the Internet and some entertainment if necessary.
Kids can find moving to be extremely boring so you want to make sure you have items for kids such as coloring books, crayons, games, tablets or other items that can keep them entertained, especially if you have a long way to go.
The online company Nextdoor is a great way to network with your new neighborhood. You can ask questions about the neighborhood, find babysitters and handymen and a little bit about your particular neighborhood before moving in.
This could be all the keys that you have, your garage door opener that you may have stuck in your visor and forget that you have it, any other items that the new homeowner will need to operate their new home.
You never know who may have a house key to your new house out there so it’s always a good idea to change the locks before you move in.
If you’re moving a long distance, call a cleaning company and have your real estate agent let that cleaning person in for a thorough cleaning before you even arrive.
Just like we had an essential box for the trip, make sure that your coffee maker, any documents, taxes, phone numbers and close are easily accessible as soon as you get to your new house.
If you are hiring a moving company to move your items, ask about their insurance policy and get at least three quotes from different moving companies and if they do in-home assessments so your estimate is as accurate as possible. You also want to make note that moving expenses can be tax-deductible.
Before moving you want to see what school your children will be in so you are prepared to get them in school right away if you’re moving during the school year. You may also want to make note of doggie daycare is in the area, kennels, doctors, dentists and other places that you may frequent.
These are just some simple items that a lot of people forget to do. If you’re relocating to the Tri-Valley area of California contact my office today for more tips and tricks to moving and finding the right house for your needs and budget.