Stacey K. Szenda

Experience the difference – personal ties and relationships turn a property into a home. Warm, professional relationships are a hallmark of the APR experience, and my clients often remark on the quality of my carefully chosen network of financial, legal, logistical and other specialists. The high-quality network that I have fostered extends beyond the Bay Area to an international audience of potential home buyers and sellers through the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and the firm’s luxury home division known as Luxury Portfolio. My personal network combined with APR market tenure and brand identity gives my clients a distinct advantage when buying or selling a home.

My relationships open the door for my clients to be at home anywhere. Where people, homes, opportunity and a bit of imagination intersect, you’ll find me at Alain Pinel Realtors.

 

Market Statistics Santa Clara Monday, May 21, 2012 12:08 AM

Santa Clara County # of Listings AVG Price AVG $/SQFT AVG DOM Active 1,387 $1,185,867 $449 76 Sold (90 days) 2,018 $672,381 $360 118 Almaden Valley # of Listings AVG Price AVG $/SQFT AVG DOM Active 54 $1,249,435 $450 95 Sold (90 days) 57 $963,797 $405 114 Campbell # of Listings AVG Price AVG $/SQFT AVG DOM Active 49 $750,020 $426 55 Sold (90 days) 94 $648,725 $389 117 Cupertino # of Listings AVG Price AVG $/SQFT AVG DOM Active 40 $1,236,737 $584 20 Sold (90 days) 61 $1,040,113 $557 69 Los Gatos Mountains # of Listings AVG Price AVG $/SQFT AVG DOM Active 43 $1,306,838 $526 98 Sold (90 days) 18 $651,472 $306 172 Los Gatos/Monte Sereno # of Listings AVG Price AVG $/SQFT AVG DOM Active 93 $2,664,403 $757 78 Sold (90 days) 69 $1,605,257 $572 104 Morgan Hill/Gilroy/San Martin # of Listings AVG Price AVG $/SQFT AVG DOM Active 221 $858,942 $308 93 Sold (90 days) 219 $471,543 $220 148 Saratoga # of Listings AVG Price AVG $/SQFT AVG DOM Active 59 $2,880,299 $788 105 Sold (90 days) 58 $1,658,931 $595 117

Preparing to sell a home is almost as big a job as moving itself. There is so much to do and a relatively short time frame for accomplishing everything. To get the largest offer in the shortest period, take advantage of a little planning and a lot of elbow grease.

The reasons are obvious when you think about it. People want to look at a clean house in good repair. If something is off or just a little dirty, it opens the door to doubts about the home's overall integrity and its past maintenance. When a prospective buyer sees a home where everything is shipshape and move in ready, they are more likely to meet or even exceed the asking price. Regardless of what the rest of the housing market is doing, you stand a better chance of selling your home quickly if you work your plan.

Begin building a home inventory of work done, warranty information, and vendor contacts. Document everything you do (and what you have done). This book is a critical sales tool and guide for the next owner so don't be tempted to underestimate its value. It will help you set your selling price as well as reduce your capital gains, if any. You know how the IRS loves good records.

De-clutter your home. Remove EVERYTHING that you don't need or use regularly.

Conduct a garage sale to unload as many of your unused and unwanted possessions as possible. If a garage sale sounds like too much of a nuisance, list items with an image and price on Craigslist or get someone to just take it away through a Freecycle posting.

Donate usable items to a charity or thrift store. (Don't forget your receipt for taxes.)

Organize outdoor projects to enhance curb appeal. Hire a landscape maintenance service to do regular trims and mowing to keep everything looking neat from now until the house sells.

Making your home feel inviting

As they approach the front door, little things will mean a lot. A clean, freshly painted front door, polished door knob and knocker, clean surrounding windows, screens and window sills will all be noticed. Once inside, the senses take over. The prospective buyer will notice odors and light. Open your curtains, drapes and blinds it will brighten your home. Fresh cut flowers add color and appeal. If the interior of your home needs painting consider a light, neutral color making the house appear larger.

·         Pets, especially their odors (cat box and dog bed) need to be neutralized. Keep their stuff clean. Change cat boxes daily. They have a way of knowing that something is up and faithfully barf to let you know that they know.

·         Monitor smells. Any "off" smell is a huge turn off to buyers.

·         Perform your cleaning routine faithfully every day. The kitchen and bathroom are particularly important to keep immaculate.

·         When the agent calls, arrange to disappear.

·         Touch up windows and mirrors

·         Sweep/vacuum entire house

·         Mop floors

·         Clean smudges around doorknobs, light switches and on walls

·         Dust ceilings, walls, blinds, etc.

·         Clean and polish bathroom fixtures (Rubbing alcohol on a cloth quickly removes water spots on bathroom fixtures)

·         Make beds and Fluff pillows

·         Add strategic bouquets of seasonal flowers.

·         Empty cat box

·         Run wash (don't leave dirty clothing laying about)

·         Clean stove, refrigerator front, and sink

Outside of Home (Front)

1. Power wash brick face/vinyl siding: □

2. Power wash concrete driveway: □

3. Wash windows: □

4. Reseal blacktop driveway: □

5. Trim bushes and trees: □

6. Plant flowers in front: □

7. Place flower pots on front steps: □

8. New or clean door mat: □

9. New hardware for front door: □

10. New mailbox: □

11. Remove weeds from cracks in driveway & walkways: □

12. Replace outside light fixtures: □

Outside of Home (Back)

1. Power wash deck and re-stain: □

2. Power wash patio: □

3. Power wash brick/stucco siding: □

4. Plant flowers or use flower pots around deck and patio: □

5. Trim bushes and trees: □

6. Remove weeds from cracks in patio/walkways: □

7. Wash ALL windows – on 2^nd floor as well: □

Inside of Home

1. Make sure all smoke detectors work and/or replace batteries □

2. Closets: Clean them out. Keep what you need. Anything else should be stored in the basement, attic or garage neatly: □

3. Clean ALL windows: □

4. Medicine cabinets – remove medications and put them in a dresser drawer (this is actually the biggest theft item in open houses): □

5. Basement/shed/garage – Organize boxes neatly. Place them against the walls and not in the middle of the floor: □

Living Room

1. De-clutter desk, shelves, and mantle: □

2. Keep photographs on walls to a minimum: □

3. Clean rugs/hardwood floors: □

4. Wash curtains/clean window treatments: □

Kitchen

1. Replace cabinet & drawer hardware: □

2. Clean inside of refrigerator: □

3. Re-grout tile flooring: □

4. Clean hardwood floors: □

5. Clean inside of oven: □

6. Clean inside of microwave: □

7. Dust/clean ceiling fans: □

8. Organize and de-clutter pantry, cabinets and drawers: □

9. De-clutter countertops: □

10. Wash curtains/clean window treatments: □

Dining Room

1. Dust/clean ceiling fans: □

2. Clean rugs/hardwood floors: □

3. De-clutter china cabinet: □

4. De-clutter shelving: □

5. Wash curtains/clean window treatments: □

Bathrooms

1. De-clutter drawers and closets: □

2. Replace old light fixtures: □

3. Re-grout or clean tile flooring: □

4. Replace cabinet and drawer hardware: □

5. De-clutter countertops: □

Bedrooms

1. Keep beds made at all times.

2. De-clutter closets: □

3. Clean rugs/hardwood floors: □

4. Dust/clean ceiling fans: □

5. De-clutter shelving: □

6. Wash curtains/clean window treatments: □

Heating/Cooling Systems

1. Furnace cleaned and serviced?  □

2. Hot water heater in good working condition?  □

3. Air conditioner is clean and working? □

4. Heating and air system filters replaced? □

 

 

 

 

 

Featured Listing

280 N 5TH ST San Jose, CA