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

Vol. 291 - Pretty is as Pretty Does!

9/20/2013

0 Comments

 
Piedmont's first home game started off with a resounding win, with a 44-16 victory over Albany. Our younger son Tristan is a receiver for the Varsity team which means that Cliff and I attend every game, loudly cheering him, and his teammates on. (Okay, I'm the one screaming wildly; Cliff quietly keeps stats on the sidelines.)  

On our way to the stands last week, I bumped into my friend, Terri, who was wearing her son's jersey and looking rather proud.  "Isn't it sweet?" she exclaimed, "My younger son asked me to wear his number and even though it smells like 'boy,' (meaning it hadn't been washed in a week) I'm going to wear it anyway." (Yes, it was sweet) and she wasn't the only mom I noticed in purple and white that evening.    

I have to admit that the social politics of the jersey is a new aspect of the evening for us mothers of Varsity sons. In my day, it was the letterman's jacket; I suppose it's the same idea now.

No, my son hadn't asked me. Instead, at the end of the game I spied a bevy of young ladies lined up in Piedmont jerseys, including an absolutely stunning girl wearing the number 23 - I hadn't a clue who she was, but I was determined to find out.  The next morning, I put on my investigative hat and casually approached Tristan after breakfast.
  
"Hey Tris, I couldn't help noticing that several mothers were wearing their sons' jerseys last night," I said. "You know, I would happily wear yours if you would like." (Hmmm?)  

"No offense, Mom," Tristan casually responded as he unloaded the dishwasher, "but did you SEE the girl wearing my jersey? I went for the gold." (Gee, now why would that offend?)    

For my own piece of mind, I'm going to assume that she's as lovely on the inside ("pretty is as pretty does"). 

Understanding what's on the
inside of a house is crucial to any home purchase
as well.  I recently helped a well-intentioned young couple get into contract on a very pretty "flipped" home in Montclair  (that's a home that was purchase under market value and quickly renovated to turn a profit) only to discover that when we began the investigations on the property, the house wasn't nearly as "pretty" as it had seemed at first glance.

The supposedly zero-pest certificate wasn't in fact zero!,  Our inspector quickly uncovered an active beetle infestation requiring tenting, rotted joists under the driveway, and a broken sewer pipe that was emptying into the crawl space below (yuck) - and that wasn't the worst of it . . .    

"This was a grow house," the engineer bluntly said. "There's all kind of discarded paraphernalia and trash under the house, but that's not your biggest concern. With respect to the structure, there are yards of dirt piled against the rear wall which is completely rotted as a result.  I can't begin to tell you how much damage there is until we remove the soil  . . .  and FYI, you can no longer take dirt to the dump without having it tested first for contamination," he warned. "At the risk of killing the deal, I wouldn't walk, I'd run." ('Nuf said.)   

Although this house had seemed like a good deal at first glance, the costs to remedy the defects were quickly adding up to well beyond what this young couple could afford. There were so many red flags, it wasn't even worth negotiating; it was simply time to cancel the escrow, refund the Buyer's good-faith money, and find another house. (Better luck next time.)   

In my practice, "due diligence" isn't optional, it's mandatory on every home purchase, and this story is the perfect example of why.  Although the prospective Buyers had spent close to a $1,000 on home, pest, and engineering inspections, in the end, their due diligence had saved them TENS of THOUSANDS in hidden costs and uncovered a home that was nothing like it appeared to be on the surface. Given that homes are incredibly expensive to own and maintain, it's money well spent - don't you agree?   

Finally, understand that even if you are willing to overlook a home's significant defects (you may, and people often do), the next Buyer is unlikely to be as forgiving. Remember that with every home purchase, you are not just a prospective Buyer; you are a prospective Seller down the road. 

If you are getting a very good deal AND you have the money in reserves to address the issues either now, or in the near future, it may make very good
cents to take on these added expenses. 
On the other hand, if you are buying what you believe to be a fully "renovated" home, you'll want to make sure that it is, in fact, fairly worry free. OR, as we were all taught: "Beauty is only skin deep; it's what's inside that counts."     

Word on the street is that last week's young model displaying my son's jersey, isn't just "pretty," she's also a very sweet and bright girl. What can I say?  Tristan has very good taste in women.     

Here's where I salvage my pride and take credit for that.
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 775 humorous but always informative, essays on life and real estate. 

    Picture

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    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
[email protected]
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