Seller’s Resources
Search The Santa Barbara Area MLS…and More!!
Categories: Buyer's Resources, Real Estate News, Santa Barbara, Seller's Resources
Question- What has been the biggest change in Real Estate in the last few years (outside of the sub-prime fallout)?
Answer - The amount of real estate information that buyers and sellers can gather on their own by going online.
A few years ago, the standard features for a Realtor were to simply have a static website with contact info, some pictures of a few properties, offerings of a CMA and some links to various “resources”. Buyers had to start the early process of their search by contacting a Realtor and asking a bunch of questions…Today, buyers and sellers want to be equipped with more tools for themselves so that they can be more informed when they do contact a Realtor.
Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice is an online resource to provide you with the following tools to gather information about real estate in Santa Barbara CA, Montecito CA and the surrounding areas:
1) Search the Santa Barbara Area MLS
2) You can sign up to receive Santa Barbara Area Listings with detailed information, pictures, maps etc. The listings will be sent to your personal email address and will meet only your specific needs and criteria
3) You can sign up for RSS feeds which provide you with updated information and articles that are written about the Santa Barbara area with such topics as market statistics, market updates, neighborhood info, schools, events, things to do etc.
4) You can read about market statistics, market updates, neighborhood information and schools
5) You can read about buyer’s and seller’s resources
6) You can read about dining, shopping, community events, things to do
7) You can read about architecture, green living and more
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to comment below with any thoughts.
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Plan for your Santa Barbara Remodel Now, so that you don’t go Crazy Later
Categories: Buyer's Resources, First-time Home Buyers, Seller's Resources
Many of us have heard our share of drama stories and even read articles about the drama involved with many Santa Barbara home remodels. Whether it is a simple kitchen make-over or a complete addition to your Santa Barbara home, here is a quick planning strategy to hopefully save you wasted time, energy and money.
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Start with a wish list, even if this will have to be dwindled down in the future. This is surely one of the most fun activities in the entire remodelling process, so have a great time and get creative. Keep all of your notes, drawings and cut-outs from magazines in a folder.
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Rather than just guess at a budget, consult with a financial planner or a CPA about your plans. See where you are at financially based on your situation today as well as your future plans and determine your ceiling with regards to costs…stick to this!
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Pull a street file or city file on the property to help in determining what you can or can not do. Also, ask your Realtor how much they know about your neighborhood and if they have their own personal tips and knowledge. Just looking at precedent in the neighborhood (such as a second story) does not always guarantee that you can do the same. The permitting process and building codes here in Santa Barbara can and do change.
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Hire your architect of choice and ask for some preliminary sketches of your plans. From the start, make sure that these plans are aligned with your budget. Check to see that your architect hopefully has some experience with drawings in your neighborhood.
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Interview several contractors that you know of or whom have been referred to you. Most of your money and time will be spent with the contractor so make sure that your vision and personalities align with each other. Hiring your contractor will be the single most important decision in the entire remodelling process. Finally, have your contractor lay out a schedule of drawings, permitting, time-frame for completion of various phases of construction and ultimately costs. It is important to know that the lowest bidder at the beginning is not necessarily the best choice for you. Quality work, adhering to a time-frame and personality will go a long way towards the ultimate satisfaction of your completed Santa Barbara remodel.
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to comment below with any thoughts.
Subscribe to Receive Personal Listings of Santa Barbara Area Properties
Search the Santa Barbara Area MLS
Further Reading: 2 Major First Steps in Buying a Home in Santa Barbara, 5 Crucial Tips to have your Santa Barbara Home Ready for Sale
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Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice, Your Online Real Estate Resource
Categories: Buyer's Resources, Santa Barbara, Seller's Resources
Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice is an online resource for Santa Barbara Real Estate, Montecito Real Estate and the surrounding areas. When you work with a real estate agent to sell or buy a home, it will in all likelihood be the first or second largest financial decision of your life!! That is a very big decision. With that in mind, Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice is here to help you with finding information for all your real estate related questions and needs for Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland, Goleta, Hope Ranch, Carpinteria and the Santa Barbara Wine Country.
- You can search the Santa Barbara area MLS…for free
- You can sign up to receive Santa Barbara area listings with detailed information, pictures, maps etc. The listings will be sent to your personal email address and will meet only your specific needs and criteria…for free
- You can sign up for RSS feeds which provide you with updated information and articles that are written about the Santa Barbara area with such topics as market statistics, market updates, neighborhood info, schools, events, things to do etc…for free
Read Entire Story About Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice
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5 Crucial Tips to have your Santa Barbara Home Ready for Sale in a Slow Market
Categories: Real Estate News, Santa Barbara, Seller's Resources
When times are good, getting top dollar is not a problem for most Santa Barbara sellers. In fact, many buyers prefer the home to look more on the shabby side since they feel this appearance will be represented in a lower asking price.
Now with many sellers having an extremely difficult time getting top dollar, owners can take some critical steps in improving their chances of getting a good offer.
1) Curb Appeal for your Santa Barbara Home:
Just like that special someone you meet for the first time, first impressions are extremely important. If you want to sell your home for as much as you can in a slower market, now is the time to spend a few thousand dollars on landscape, exterior paint (if needed) and general cleaning up. At minimum hire a gardener to come over and clean up the front and back yard, put in a few new plants and flowers, pull weeds, whatever. Continue to have this service once a week until sold. You can easily get away with only $500-$2,000 and have a major impact in having a great first impression. This is an extremely low number when you are talking about the average Santa Barbara home selling for around $1.25 Million. Additionally give your home some touch up paint if needed, clean up paths and walkways and keep any toys in the garage.
2) Clutter:
As an agent one of the most important things we can convey to a seller is that we want buyers to see the house, not your family photos and trinkets from your trip you took last year. Try and remove as many items from your house that are personal only to you…such as photos (keeping a few is obviously OK), trophies and anything random. Also if you have large furniture or just too many items, it might be very advantageous to have some of these stored while you are showing the house to potential buyers. Any heavy and/or dark curtains or drapes should also be changed out to give light to your home. Natural light is almost always on the top of the list for all of us. All of this can have an effect of making a home feel larger and more spacious.
3) Fix Broken Items in your Santa Barbara Home:
I would recommend in a slower market to pay a few hundred dollars and get your own home inspection done. Anything that is not major have fixed such as electrical items, broken fixtures, loose handles, leaking toilets, sticking door nobs or windows etc. With buyers having the upper hand in a slower market, getting rid of all these little to-do items so that they don’t show up on the buyers own home inspection is a great idea. If you do end up painting, choose neutral colors.
4) Stage your Santa Barbara Home:
A light stage job should cost somewhere in the $1,000-$3,000 price point, but can add much more than this onto the selling price. Most buyers feel cold in a vacant home and have a hard time placing furniture. Make it easy for them.
5) Show your Santa Barbara Home at its Best:
Many sellers do not want to “lose out” on rent for the time that it will take to eventually sell their home. Unless you have a wonderful tenant that also has great taste and style in furniture and decorating, do yourself a favor and list your home once your tenant is gone. This will allow your home to be shown in a much better setting and almost always allow it to be shown more often. Wasting the first couple weeks to sell your home in a slow market while dealing with a needy tenant can cost you thousands.
I know pet owners love their pets, but we are talking about a slow market for sellers. Many people do not like indoor animals and can also be allergic to them. If possible try and have your animals sleep at some friends/relatives for several weeks or do whatever it takes to have them gone all day.
Selling your home as soon as you can in a slower market almost always will end up saving you money!!
Learn More About Santa Barbara.
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to comment below with any thoughts.
Subscribe to Receive Personal Listings of Santa Barbara Area Properties
Search the Santa Barbara Area MLS
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