Choosing the Right Agent to Sell Your Property

The good vs the great

One of the most important decisions you'll make when you put your Pleasanton home up for sale is choosing the right agent to help you in the selling process. There are so many listing agents, it can be confusing to know which one to choose.

I understand.

It can be challenging especially for first time sellers to know who to hire. Your home is your biggest investment and you would want to work with someone who is not just good but great.

Some common mistakes to avoid

A common mistake I see among sellers is hiring the first and only listing agent they meet. This is unwise because there are  many good agents but you are looking for the best one. During the process of home buying, you want to have options so that you have a basis of comparison.

Another mistake I see is hiring the agent with the highest listing price. Most likely, that agent increased your home’s value so you will hire him, but it does not mean that he/she can sell your home quickly and at the right market value, which is more important.

The right agent can make all the difference in how quickly and efficiently you can sell your home. He/She can help you decide on the right top dollar price for your home to sell fast in the market.

It takes some legwork but when you found the right agent or REALTOR®, but  finding the right agent is worth it.

How do you choose the right agent to sell your property?

Here’s how you can select the best agent for your Pleasanton home for sale.

1. Ask for recommendations from coworkers, friends, neighbors, and anyone who has previously sold homes or properties in the Pleasanton area.

This way, you get a first hand accounting of their experience working with various agents.  From the recommendations, you can create a shortlist of at best three names.

2. Fact-check on the internet. Search for the names on your short list and see what the internet has to say about them.

Great agents are visible online, and they often have websites where possible clients can view their work and listings. You can also find feedback and reviews on the internet about the listing agents.

3. Set up an interview with the names on your short list.

A casual interview with a great agent should answer your questions, pacify your concerns, assure you that you are working with a licensed professional, and let you have a general idea of how your home for sale in Pleasanton will be marketed.

Among the questions you should be asking are the following:

• Do you work full-time or part-time?
• How long has he/she been in real estate?
• How long has he/she been selling homes in your area?
• Has he/she successfully sold homes similar to yours?
• What is his/her success rate?
• How will he/she market your home?
• How much does his/her service cost?

4. Ask for references. This time, you are asking for names of former clients, people he/she has helped sell a home for, or people he/she has worked with. Doing this will help you get a better idea of his/her work ethics.

5. Decide based on  the agent’s performance and your level of comfort to work with him/her. You will work best with an agent you are most comfortable with.

Choosing the right Pleasanton REALTOR® to work with is not a walk in the park, but when you get the right one, like me,  your real estate journey will be great and stress-free. Get to know more about me at  www.680Homes.com/About/Meet-Doug-Buenz/.

Are you selling your home? Call me, Doug Buenz, at (925) 621-0680. Let me help make your home selling journey a pleasant one.

In case you can not view this video here, please click the link below to view Choosing the Right Agent to Sell Your Property on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eJmlOLD8bs&feature=youtu.be

What to Know About the Property Types in Pleasanton CA

00:29: Hello, and welcome to 680 Home Video Channel, a web series where we answer all of your real estate questions. I’m your host Theodora and I’m talking to local East Bay real estate broker Doug Buenz.

**In case you can not view this video here, please click the link below to view What to Know About the Property Types in Pleasanton CA on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/76eLy8GJ0go**

00:41: Hi Doug, it’s great to see you! Today we’re going to discuss property types. Doug, please tell us a little bit about all the different property types.

00:51: Sure. There’s three main types of zoning designation. There’s a single family home, a PUD or planned unit development, and a condominium.

01:05: Single family homes are pre-standing properties, are not attached. The owner maintains the property and the structure. And it may or may not have a homeowners association with it.

01:20: A PUD is another zoning classification that stands for planned unit development. This is typically a little higher density project. They can be attached or detached. There normally is a homeowners association along with common areas associated with a PUD. And often there is private streets within the development.

01:43: And the last property type is condominium and this is distinguished because the owner – you as an owner – actually only own the interior airspace of the unit. You don’t own the walls or the structure or the common area. You own an undivided interest in the common area along with all the other owners in the complex. Normally there always– there’s  a homeowners association associated with a condominium project.

02:11: I often get asked the question, What’s the difference between a condominium and a townhouse?” A townhouse is really a lay person’s term, and really what it means is the style of the unit. A townhouse brings to mind a property where there is an upstairs and a downstairs. And there’s usually not  someone below you or above you. So if someone says to me,  “I want to buy a townhouse,” normally that’s what they’re referring to. Or as a condominium typically means someone is going to be above you or below you and usually one level. That would be the common definition of a condominium. In fact, most of the townhouse style units you see today are in fact condominiums or they’re owned as condominiums even though they’re townhouse style units.

02:59: In terms of homeowners association dues, condominiums have typically the highest homeowners association dues. This is because that the homeowners association and the owners there  own an undivided interest in all the structures, in all the common areas. Therefore they are responsible to maintain them. In fact many of the condominiums have homeowners associations that maintain the inside of the unit. So if there’s a plumbing leak, or a problem inside the property, the homeowners association will maintain that. Obviously that adds the expense of the homeowners dues because you’re paying to maintain other people’s units.

03:35: PUD’s or planned unit developments, the homeowners dues there are usually less because the owner’s normally responsible for maintaining there own their structure. So the homeowners association in a PUD  is responsible for maintaining the common areas. Sometimes they’ll maintain the front yard landscaping as well, just to maintain continuity throughout the project .

03:59: And obviously single family homes have the lowest homeowners dues, if there are homeowners dues with the single family home development, it’s strictly to maintain common facilities such as pools, tennis courts or monument entrances to the development and normally they’re very reasonable.

04:24: If you have real estate questions or need assistance I do hope you’ll give me a call. I’m worthy of your trust.  

3 Reasons Why You Should Live in Pleasanton CA | Real Estate Properties for Sale

Buying a home for sale in Pleasanton CA is the wisest decision you will make!

Stunningly beautiful and culturally rich, Pleasanton CA is not only a unique place to visit but also to live. With its exceptional arts and cultural activities, plenty of history and sense of place, a strong commercial and financial core; and all the education and services anyone could want, it is definitely a world-class city in every respect.

But aside from being ranked as one of the wealthiest middle-sized cities in the U.S nation and being included on Money Magazine’s list of the ’50 Best Cities to Live 2014’ , what makes Pleasanton so special?

Why should you buy a home for sale in Pleasanton CA?

Pleasanton CA has world-famous attractions for you to enjoy!

Pleasanton CA has 1,200 acres of surrounding parks, open space and trails which offer spectacular vistas and abundant recreational opportunities. Looking for some golf courses? Pleasanton CA has the Calippe Preserve Golf Course which features newbie-friendly holes for the novice golfer and challenging ones for the veterans.

For a more fun experience, visit the Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area which is a waterpark with slides, a picnic area, hiking, fishing, swimming and fun for the family.

Another great place to check out is the Museum on Main. Learn something about the local founding characters and how the town got started along with a themed display which changes regularly. This is one of the amenities that you shouldn’t miss when you decide to buy a home for sale in Pleasanton CA and live there!

There’s never a dull moment when you buy a home for sale in Pleasanton CA!

Pleasanton is enlivened by events like a free summer concert series, festivals and parades along Main Street, and an intimate performing and visual arts center. During these events, residents come together and enjoy the show that the people themselves have prepared. These events are what makes the people of Pleasanton Ca warm and friendly to each other!

The best part about this city for me would be the weekly Farmer’s Market which opens every Saturday from 9AM-1PM near the intersection of W Angela St. and Main St. It is a year-round event and rain or shine, it is open!

During this event there is a wide variety of produce and prepared items available. Sellers will let you have a taste of their wares and there is usually more than one seller per product so you can shop for a better price. Vendors are so friendly here that there are even some booths that let you pay for the products as to how much you think is appropriate for it!

What are you waiting for? Buy a home now in Pleasanton CA!

Pleasanton CA is many things, but all in all it is the best place to live for you and your family. A rich, diverse community which is tightly-knit at the same time makes Pleasanton a neighborhood where you will feel like at home.

To help you with your home search, you can contact me, Doug Benz. I have been in the real estate field since 1989 and am always available for you. You can learn more about me at www.680Homes.com/about/.

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions that you will make. I want to help you make sure that your experience is one that you won’t regret. Put your trust in my expertise and i’ll put my expertise to work for you.

I am Doug Buenz, your top real estate agent from Pleasanton Ca, and with my help, all of your real estate dreams will come true! Call me at (925) 621-0680 to get started.

If you cannot view this video, click here to get to my YouTube channel: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqlNbD5x_FY>

Pleasanton CA Homes for Sale | Pleasanton Market Update November 2016

• Inventory down
• Spotty demand
• Prices flat-ish
• Typical late fall market

While not exactly sleepy, the Pleasanton real estate market was definitely not hyper-active in November.  Constrained inventory and lessened demand continued to keep a lid on sales and prices.  Prime properties, priced appropriately and in good locations continue to attract attention but even in multiple offer situations, buyers are less likely to bid aggressively.  November’s average sale was for 97% of the list price.  Pending sales were off 28% from October but were 29% higher than a year ago, a clear indication that demand is healthy.

Only 44 homes were actively listed at the end of November, down 35 units from October’s 79 and five from November 2015’s 49.  Those 44 homes represented only a one month supply, compared to 1.3 months at the end of October and 1.4 months a year ago.  Pending sales fell from 61 in October to 44 in November, 28% drop.  That was still more sales than went to contract a year ago (34).  Closed sales, riding the increase in pending sales the previous three months increased by ten units to 65 in October.

November’s median sales price increased slightly, from $1,015,000 in October to $1,049,000 in November.  November’s price was 13% higher than a year earlier.  The price per square foot fell 3%, from $486 in October to $470 in November.   One year ago, homes sold for 100% of the list price, compared to 97% for both October and November of this year.  Homes were on the market longer than as they were a year ago as well.  November’s average sales took 31 days, compared to 33 in October and 19 days in November 2015.

The tables below provide further details on the current market compared to prior periods, as well as a look at different market segments.

Sellers:  It is a great time to be selling a home in Pleasanton.  Inventory is low and demand remains strong, especially for prime properties in excellent condition that are priced right.  Proper marketing and staging will be important to getting the most for your home.  While multiple offers are still occurring for a few select properties, most other homes have to be priced strategically to get top dollar.  More than ever, having a highly competent agent who knows the Pleasanton market will be critical to your success

Buyers:  The current market is fairly balanced, especially compared to the previous few years.  Prime properties are still getting a great deal of attention and even multiple offers on occasion.  Being prepared to act quickly will be the key to getting the home you are looking for.  Having a professional Realtor who understands the Pleasanton market and your own strengths as a buyer will put you in a strong position to secure the home you really want.

Search for Pleasanton CA homes for sale 

 

 

For professional assistance on your Pleasanton CA real estate, Call Doug Buenz at 925-621-0680 now!