Blue Pear Blog

One of my pet peaves is the lack of personal responsibility so often seen in real estate transactions. I realize “buyer beware” is a term from the past and “consumer protection” is the term of the day…but…

Some of the stories you hear in this business! The one about the buyer who wanted a house with a pool or a place to put one. He buys a house and then sues his agent because he couldn’t get the backhoe down beside the house to the back yard to dig the hole for the pool!

 Another buyer tells his agent he wants room for his pool table in the family room. He buys a house and sues the agent because he doesn’t have regulation space around the pool table.

I never have heard the real story about what led to the “Errant Golf Ball” disclosure in the TEN PAGE Statewide Buyer & Seller Advisory. Obviously, some idiot bought a house on a golf course and sued the agent when a ball came flying through his window knocking his aunt Mildred out cold.

I’m afraid this pattern will get worse before it gets better.

John Bogner

So much focus it placed on price in the real estate business…sometimes we forget there are other things that effect the saleability of a home.

It didn’t sell…so let’s lower the price….again. Of course price is one of the most important factors in the collection of reasons a house sells or doesn’t. And, yes, you can make up for any weakness a property has by adjusting the price… however, there may be better ways to get to the goal we are looking for…SOLD!

I’ve seen many homes that needed a face-lift with exterior paint, landscaping…a new front door. Sure you could reduce the price by $20,000 or $50,000 but maybe spending $5,000 or $10,000 would bring a quicker result and put more money in your pocket in the end.

 Consider helping your buyer with closing costs instead of a price reduction. That may make yours the most attractive house from a financial view compared to the others in your price range to the buyer with limited cash.

 House next looking bad? I once suggested my seller contact his neighbor and offer to hire a gardener and painter to fix up their house. Sounds crazy to spend money on someone else’s property? My seller spent about $6,000 and removed the biggest obstacle to selling his home! We sold the house for full price within 2 weeks after the work was done next door! (Not everyone’s neighbor would be receptive to this idea, of course)

 Price may be the easiest way to find a buyer quicker but there may be better ways.

 John Bogner

After almost 30 years in this business, nothing should surprise me…but…

When they added a disclosure about Errant Golf Balls, I didn’t believe it at first. Another agent in our office mentioned it at a staff meeting and I thought they were kidding. No…it’s true. Among the dozens of disclosures in the 10 page Statewide Buyer and Seller Advisory, …yes…you will find a paragraph advising the buyer they may be hit by flying golf balls if they buy a house near a golf course!

 Really? No kidding. You may get wet if you buy a home with sky above. You may may receive junk mail if you buy a home with a mailbox. Give me a break! This is ridiculous. When did we leave the world of reasonable personal responsibility and common sense? Do we really need to be told about the hazard of being hit by a golf ball?  Maybe I’m missing something here.

Next time you go to the supermarket, you may receive a disclosure telling you about the hazards of being exposed to fattening foods that may be difficult to resist purchasing!

John Bogner

Advice is available everywhere on how to get your house sold. I thought I might give you some advice on how NOT to sell!

1. Paint your house black with orange trim.
2. Ask your neighbor to sit on their front porch in the nude.
3. Get a pit bull for the back yard.
4. Cook fish just before each showing.
5. Get your kids to play video games in the livingroom during showings.
6. Only allow showings on Wednesdays by appt.
7. Don’t return your Realtor’s calls.
8. Add 20% to what the market analysis says your home is worth.
9. Tell buyers you are not really sure if someone is buried in the back yard.
10. Start a cat rescue center in your home.

The Westside of Ukiah is my favorite part of the valley. Drive up Perkins or Clay to Dora and you quickly decompress from the feeling of traffic and activity on State St. The mature trees and that mix of Victorian,  craftsman, 20’s and 30’s cottages as well every other style and age of home create a visual feast.

Some of the homes have been there since the 1880’s. They stand proudly with their adjoining towering oaks while traffic on the streets around them have gone from horse drawn carriages to hybrid autos.

The eclectic mix of homes is no greater than the people inside. The front yards reflect the wide range of occupants. From “Question the War” signs and front yard vegetable gardens to manicured lawns and perfectly trimmed shrubs.

Going for walks in the Westside is a treat. You notice so much more than from the window of a car. The unique trees and shrubs. The architecture…the unique trees and shrubs.  Many parts of the Westside are within walking distance of Downtown. I enjoy walking down to Patrona for dinner or to the movie theater. Many Westsiders make a habit of walking to Schat’s for coffee or a latte in the morning.

 Ukiah’s Westside is a great place to live.  Ask anyone who lives there!

John Bogner