JULIE GARDNER
  • HOME
  • COMPASS
    • WHY COMPASS?
    • COMPASS CONCIERGE
    • COMPASS BRIDGE LOANS
  • LISTINGS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT JULIE
    • A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP
    • CONTACT
    • PROCESS
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PRESS
  • PROJECTS
    • BEFORE & AFTER
    • GARDENS
    • OUR TEAM
    • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • UTILITIES
    • SCHOOLS

Love at First Sight! 

2/17/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I'll admit I was wrong. After the death of our beloved Labrador, Buck, a few months back (he was 14), I swore I'd never get another BIG dog. I just couldn't see replacing him.
Not that I don't love Goldens and Labradors, I do, and they're all we've ever known throughout our 27-year marriage, but I am long past the age of needing a running companion (at least my knees are) and let's face it, the bigger the dog, the bigger the mess. So I set down the rules:
  • "No shedding."
  • "Nothing larger than 30 pounds."
  • "No puppies!"
That's IF Cliff and I were going to have another dog at all. As much as I love dogs, they are a bit of a furry ball and chain; say goodbye to impromptu weekends or dinners out once you know they are impatiently waiting at the door ready to be walked.

And I meant it . . . until Cliff and Tristan talked me into a field trip during the winter break to see a new-born littler of flat-coated retrievers (and their gorgeous parents) and I was romanced into reserving a tiny little liver colored puppy on the spot. I didn't know which one we'd receive four weeks out, but it didn't matter; they were all precious.

​On Sunday, Cliff and Jill drove to Clear Lake and retrieved "Riley," and the puppy has stolen my heart. (There's a new baby in the house.) He comes, he sits, he plays - it was love at first sight. It's also sleepless nights, separation anxiety, muddy paw prints, potty training and all of the stuff you know is coming, but you've conveniently forgotten (like childbirth). In any event, the learning curve is bound to be temporary while the upside is unconditional love. I'll admit it, there's something truly magical about a wagging tale that forms an emotional connection that's undeniable. 

In Real Estate, staging is akin to the "wagging tale" - it's where the magic begins to happen;
 it's the show; it's the production,and it's love at first sight all rolled into one pretty package. Staging creates the "emotional connection" that Buyers must have to not only bid, but to purchase in stiff competition, and what's more, to pay a premium for the home. According to industry sources, staged homes may receive as much as 23% more than their unstaged counterparts down the street. And with the vast majority of Buyers beginning their search online, good, compelling photos have never been more important!

Ironically, staging is the topic Realtors often receive the most push back from anxious Sellers
. Putting aside the inconvenience (and I make no bones about how difficult that can be), or the expense (it's not chump change but it's peanuts compared to what you may ultimately realize in the sales price), it seems to be the change in environment that often throws homeowners the most; as if we're somehow stripping their memories along with the outdated wallpaper. (I promise you, those you get to keep.) Remember, this is about getting you top-dollar for your home; staging recommendations are not meant to be a personal attack on your taste or style. As we all know, taste and style are largely a matter of the times and popular advertising; nothing more.

On the flip side, I want to caution Buyers not to get romanced into a bad relationship, just because the packaging is pretty. Yes, it's part of our job as Realtors to create strong demand by curating an inviting and welcoming home, but don't get fooled into thinking that the inherent defects of a property have gone away just because the interior has been painted, OR because there's new carpeting on the floor, OR because the furniture is hip and cool. A "fixer" is still a "fixer" when the underlying conditions haven't been addressed and there's a lot that goes on behind the walls and floors of a home; namely plumbing, electrical, drainage, and framing . . . just to name a couple. Remember, the very best staging will NEVER change the fact that the home has 50 steps to the front door, sits near a freeway, or needs a new foundation! 

​Unfortunately, Buyers are going to have very little opportunity to conduct their due diligence in this highly-charged marketplace due to heavy competition. In short, writing a contingent offer will almost guarantee you a spot on the reject pile, thus the Seller Disclosures are more important than they have ever been. Read them carefully AND with a critical eye. And while your Realtor should certainly analyze them as well, what may seem run of the mill to us, may in fact, be breaking points for you.

At the end of the day, this is your house, your money, your risk, and your reward. So it requires you to remove the rose-colored glasses the Selling agent has provided, to look beyond the pretty pictures, to proceed well-informed, and to have a very clear understanding of the pros and cons of any property you propose to buy, especially when in competition.

While a home won't provide unconditional love (like a puppy will) it's certain to bring its own share of happiness, frustration, surprises and delight. Now, I've got a dog to walk before he has an accident. Oops, too late. 

(Good thing he's really, REALLY cute!) 
 
How can I help you?
 
Check out my Instagram at: piedmontrealtorgirl
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe

    Author

    Julie Gardner, has been writing The Perspective for 18 years and has published more than 670 essays on life and real estate. 

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008

    Categories

    All
    Business
    Design
    Drought
    Holiday
    Home Maintenance
    Homes For Sale
    Life
    Market
    Politics
    Renovation

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Piedmont · Oakland · Berkeley
 510.326.0840
julie@juliegardner.com
DRE# 01431765
​COMPASS

  • HOME
  • COMPASS
    • WHY COMPASS?
    • COMPASS CONCIERGE
    • COMPASS BRIDGE LOANS
  • LISTINGS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT JULIE
    • A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP
    • CONTACT
    • PROCESS
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PRESS
  • PROJECTS
    • BEFORE & AFTER
    • GARDENS
    • OUR TEAM
    • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • UTILITIES
    • SCHOOLS