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How Realtors Market Homes – Part II

Last week, I shared information about how Realtors help clients market their properties. This week, I’ll share a few more nuggets of wisdom on that topic. As a reminder, two things sell real estate: price and exposure. Sellers set home prices and Realtors expose properties to potential buyers. No matter how...

How Realtors Market Homes – Part 1

When it comes right down to it, two things sell real estate: price and exposure. The seller sets the price and the Realtor exposes the property to potential buyers. All the exposure in the world won’t sell a dumpy little house for twice its value and no matter how perfectly...

Why is Your House Getting Ignored?

Imagine putting a ton of time and effort into preparing your house for sale, only to have it ignored by prospective buyers. How frustrating! To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, follow these fail-safe recommendations to assure your property gets the attention it deserves. 1. USE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS (OR AT...

Preparing Your House for Sale: 3 Tips for Low-cost Staging

To sell your house, it’s important to highlight its best features for prospective buyers. One way to do this is to “stage” your house, to put just the right furniture and décor in each room so visitors immediately focus on what you want them to see. If you’re wondering how...

Why is Housing So Expensive Here?

Recently, a client moved to North Carolina where they paid $95 per square foot for a brand new home with upgrades. This didn’t include the cost of the lot, but it did include a mighty nice house. In Ukiah, it would cost $200-250 per square foot to build a comparable...

The Tax Benefits of Home Ownership – Part II

Last week, I shared the tax benefits associated with having a home office. This week, I’ll share another way to reduce your tax burden: if you have a medical condition that requires upgrades to your home, you may be able to write off part of the cost of those upgrades. Before...

The Tax Benefits of Home Ownership – Part I

There are lots of great reasons to own a home. One of my favorites is the tax benefits. Many homeowners can write off the interest on their mortgage and on the amount they pay in property taxes. But if you have a home office, you may be able to take...

Landlord-Tenant Issues – Who’s Right? Part IV

Landlords and tenants often see things from very different perspectives. Our property management service has dealt with all sorts of disagreements. Sometimes the landlords are right. Sometimes the tenants are right. Here are a few interesting cases. What Happens to the Lease Once the Property Sells? Imagine you own an investment property,...

Landlord-Tenant Issues – Who’s Right? Part III

After 45 years as a property manager, I’ve collected quite a few stories about what can happen when you rent your property to others—and some wisdom about what to expect. If you own a rental property, or are thinking about it, here are some things to consider. Raising the Rent Let’s say...

Landlord-Tenant Issues – Who’s Right? Part II

Having been in the property management business for more than 45 years, I’ve seen all sorts of strange things and I’ve learned some interesting tidbits along the way. If you own a rental property, or are thinking about it, here are some things to consider. Normal Wear and Tear As a landlord,...