Social Posts - Kernahan & Associates | Calabasas • Malibu • Thousand Oaks Realtor

Oct

03 Open houses… to do or not to do?

The professional real estate community is often split on whether an open a house is beneficial to the seller. Our team believes a properly planned open house is not only beneficial, it may very well sell the home. Our team has sold several homes at an open house and we will share our success stories with you. Why would an agent want to restrict market exposure for a listing? Common sense says it’s smart to expose your home to the largest number of buyers, and getting buyers inside to preview a home is exactly what we believe is needed. Perhaps some agents don’t want to spend their weekend attending to an open house? We feel it is a disservice not to hold open houses for our sell...

Oct

01 Home Staging Tips

Exterior: Curb Appeal

Take down any past seasonal items, including holiday decorations.
Take a look at your property from across the street and identify things you can do to make your home more presentable.
Clear away children’s items and store them.
Put away gardening tools, home improvement equipment and materials.
Mow the lawn and clear it of clippings. Be sure to remove any dead or decaying plants.
Dispose of any litter.
Remove any animal droppings.
Put down fresh mulch or pine needles in flower beds.
Sweep driveways, decks, porches, sidewalks, walkways, etc.
Ensure your lawn, walkways, flowerbeds, and driveways have a clean line with edging.
Clear out any moss/algae or even pollen from the r...

Sep

30 Top 10 Home Showing Tips

1) The Gracious Welcome

Although the buyer is a guest in your home, you want the buyer to imagine owning the home. You don’t want to make the buyer feel like an intruder.
Don’t expect the buyer to remove his/her shoes, unless you are selling to a buyer for whom religious or cultural reasons mandate it. Otherwise, the presumption may be insulting.
Leave the house. The buyer won’t talk about the house in front of you or open doors with you standing there.
Don’t pressure or hurry the buyer. Tell the buyer to take all the time that is needed.
Leave a bowl of wrapped candy or other treats near the front door with a small note thanking the buyer for coming to see your home.

2) ...

Sep

29 How to make a move… without increasing your property taxes!

Many homeowners who have lived in their home for years and years have a low property tax bill. However when they move and buy a new home, their property tax bill will mostly likely go up based on the value of their new home, right? Not always! If you are thinking about making a move, but are concerned about paying more in property taxes, there may be an option for you.

If you are 55 or over, you can put California Propositions 60 or 90 to work for you! You may be eligible for a one-time tax benefit that allows you to move within your current county or to another participating county and pay new property taxes based on your old home’s value!

Here are some commonly asked questions:

Question...

Sep

28 What you need to know about the Million Dollar Guild®

Million and multi-million dollar residences represent the lifestyle choices and the portfolio plays of the very successful.

The right real estate professional can help you maximize your desired lifestyle and protect your investment as you buy or sell residential real estate.

Members of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing who have earned their CERTIFIED LUXURY HOME MARKETING SPECIALIST® designations and Million Dollar Guild® recognition, have met specific criteria designed to give you confidence in their capabilities:

They’ve attended training specific to the high end luxury market.
They’ve documented performance in the million dollar and above housing market.
They are part...