Spring has sprung!

Spring is a great time to refocus and retool if you are planning, hoping or trying to sell real estate. As the weather changes and the rain stops, everything starts to bloom and house shoppers start to come out and look at new real estate options. As you have heard 1,000 times, you only get ONE chance to make a first impression. Real Estate is no different.

• Buyers shop first from the curb appeal, make sure that you tidy up your yard after all that rain!
• After buyers have decided that they like you curb appeal enough to make an appointment- they then shop with all of their senses, address them ALL: sights of your home, sounds, smells, and feel- we will skip taste!
• Sights- Make sure that your home looks GREAT- clean, tidy and clutter free!
• Smells- Make sure that is smells fresh, the best way to do that is to let in the smells of spring! Baking cookies is good too!
• Sounds- Make sure that it is peaceful, not over stimulated in the sounds- remove pets during showings- chatty birds and barking dogs can be a huge seller turn-off.
• Feel- Make sure that it is not too warm or too cold, either one can be a distraction from a great home.

Good luck and happy seeling!

Is this the Serengeti, or a California Beach town?

This is so cool, I had to share! I was working in a condo yesterday, staging it for the market, when I looked out the kitchen window and saw this view... Those are Zebra grazing on the hills of San Simeon, California at the Hearst Family ranch. This is truly the view from the kitchen window, and the view from the living room is of the pacific coast line, it is awesome! If you are looking for a 2 bedroom / 2 and a half bath get-away, look no further! I will attach a link to the full listing as soon as it goes on the market in the next few days! If you are interested sooner, please contact Sand Shell Realty in Cambria and ask for Terry Farrell, realtor- for more information - 805.927.1511

Where else can you see grazing Zebra and the ocean from the same home? This listing is one in a million!

Great new listing!

This is a great new listing just listed by Michelle Brown of Peabody and Plum. It is a large 4 Bedroom 2 1/2 Bath home in Atascadero's premier gated community! It has almost an acre of beautifully landscaped grounds and is a must see house if you are shopping for an elegant house with an open floorplan and a great setting!

Follow this link to view: Michelle Brown's Listing

The value in a good Realtor

I cannot emphasize enough, the importance of putting your real estate transaction in the hands of a savvy Realtor! This picture was sent to me by one such Realtor/Broker, Hayley Townley of Comet Realty in San Luis Obispo. The seller was asked to make sure that the water heater was strapped before the close of escrow. The seller assured all parties that this had been completed. On Hayley Townley's Final inspections -she was shocked to find, what the seller called a 'strapped water heater' - please look for yourself!

Yes that is a car seat belt, nailed to the wall and tied in the middle! This is NOT within the conforming state guidelines on proper hot water heater strapping! So please use a smart realtor, who can catch these issues like Hayley did, when you are buying or selling real estate!!

Check it out!

Sleepy little SLO made the top 10 places to live in 2009!

http://http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Best-Places-to-Live-usnews-15476164.html?.v=1

Another great new listing!

This is a great horse property! 5 Acres, close to town, yet totally country! It is in the coveted Templeton School District and offers 4 Bedrooms, 2 Full Bathrooms, a great 3 stall barn with an arena, plus guest quarters. All this on 5 fully fenced and gated acres! Bring all of your animals or just enjoy the peaceful countryside!

Follow this link to the full listing:

Lauri Strain of Peabody and Plum's Listing

Staging is not decorating!

I have said it before and I will say it again: Staging is NOT decorating! Staging is a strategic marketing plan to highlight the very best features in your home, so that buyers can see the house, not your stuff! Remember that you are moving.... you don't need to keep everything out, some items are best stored away early, so that people can better see your house! So get a POD or a storage unit and get your clutter out!

Staging doesn't need to cost a fortune, but it is part of marketing your home effectively. I like to think of staging as getting ready for the day- you wouldn't go to work in the morning in your pajamas and slippers - no... you get cleaned up and ready for a professional day. Your house needs to do the same thing - it needs to put on its best 'selling' outfit!

Your house should feel homey, neutral and move-in ready!

Good luck and happy selling!
to contact me direct please go to my website: http://www.lightbrightandairy.com/ or send email to: shannon@LightBrightandAiry.com