Spencer & Jessie are nearly settled into their dreamy new home.
Skylight in the kitchen. CHECK!
Water spigot over the stove for pasta. CHECK!
A Dining Room Bay Box Windows, CHECK!
2 Living Rooms CHECK CHECK!
An Upstairs Balcony off the master bedroom. CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK!
How many checks can one home have?
And while it’s been over a month since they have been in their new place.
It’s only been a day since last we have texted.
I have met their parents.
We are planning camping getaways.
My partner is gifting them a sourdough starter.
Spencer & Jessie may have gotten their dream home.
But I can confidently say that I got lifelong friends out of the deal! CHECK!
Tag: buying during covid
Buying a Home in the Time of COVID
These two fantastic people came to me looking for their next project – a new neighborhood and a new home to make their own. After seeing many misses, and several that came close, this adorable Overlook bungalow fit the bill!
But what’s it like to buy a home during a pandemic? Well, we start with a strict safety protocol for showings. Virtual tours, Google Maps, and lots of online due diligence, all before deciding it’s a contender for an in-person visit. Then masks, gloves, shoe covers, sanitizer, open doors for ventilation, and social distancing, are all part and parcel of my in-person showings right now.
Moving on to inspections – where we are typically in the home with inspectors at all times, we’re now just there for the wrap-up. Either employing social distancing and masks in-person, or with a phone/virtual walkthrough of the inspection report after the fact.
The rest of the process is pretty much unchanged, until we get to signing. I love to be at signings with my clients, it’s second best only to handing over keys! But right now, title companies are asking that only buyers be present, to reduce exposure. Which makes the key hand-off even more special. Yes, it now involves gloves, and social distancing, and no hugs. But it’s still awesome.
Want to find out more about the market and process? Drop me a line, and we’ll have a virtual meet-up to get you started!
Adventures in Real Estating: Selling During Covid
This dreamy South Tabor farmhouse of infinite possibilities just sold in the midst of covid panic at $52k over asking with 7 offers in just 3 days. Many congratulations to my client — all his hard work getting this gem ready for market paid off big time!
Before covid began, we met to discuss how he could best prep his home for the market. I always recommend scheduling a consult and walk through with your REALTOR® before embarking on home projects. This can save you lots of time and money, as we are able to identify which changes will have the greatest impact on your sale in the current market. In this case, most of the work was focused on the exterior, but inside, fresh white paint and top notch staging brought the house to life in a whole new way!
Here is the living, dining area and kitchen before…
And after!!
It was as if the whole house sprang to life! I remember walking through after it was painted and could practically feel the walls beaming and calling out for the next stewards of home.
One of the aspects I love most about this home is the SPACE! All kinds of spaces for all kinds of imaginable fun. Outside there is not only a nice sized grassy backyard + side yard perfect for garden beds, but also a hot-tub cabana, big locking bike shed and a carport with storage and workbench. Inside, the 3 bedroom/2 bath home also includes a den and office upstairs while the basement offers a finished bonus room, laundry area and unfinished space for storage or projects. But I think my FAVORITE space is the upstairs bathroom ~ clawfoot tub and Mt. Tabor views? Yes, please!!
My seller put a lot of love into creating a lush grassy backyard where an old blank deck lived before and added many sweet details and upgrades to the exterior to boost curb appeal and honor the 1910 vintage of the home.
When the time came to list, we had just hit the 1 month mark into this new covid reality and I offered my best advice on competitive pricing as things were still feeling a bit uncertain in the market of pandemic proportions. Covid protocol for all potential buyers meant current preapproval letters, masks, shoe covers and hand washing at the beginning and ending of each showing. No more than 3 people in the house at a time and 30 minute showings with 15 minute buffers. When the listing went live we had immediate interest and within 48 hours over 40 showings were scheduled. Three days later, my seller went pending with a solid offer that beat out 6 others at $52,000 over asking and stellar terms.
Throughout this transaction, both my seller and the agent on the other side were excellent communicators, easy to work with, and at the end of the day everyone wrapped up feeling really happy about the outcome. I am deeply grateful to my client for his ease in trusting my expertise and putting in the time and energy to give his house the best possible outcome in our market.
These are the stories that really light up my spirit: feeling the energy of a home brighten up with a little bit of love and elbow grease ~ the house that calls in its new owner like a match that was meant to be ~ clients’ joys of new beginnings ~ and navigating through unprecedented times with presence, awareness and clear communication.
If you are curious about the market in these times, or are looking at buying or selling now or down the road, I am happy to chat over some socially distanced coffee or tea. Let’s connect!
Stay safe out there, be gentle with yourself, and take care of each other ~ we will get through this ❤️
Many Blessings,
Sarah
Quiet, with a Pool & Hot Tub
As an emergency room nurse, the last few months have catapulted Nee’s daily routine into an entirely new level of chaos. Back in January, we started looking at a variety of options on the market for a house close to her work. She wanted something that felt peaceful, light, airy, perhaps a little like a glamorous mid-century cabin in the woods. Something with privacy and a relaxing backyard. After looking and looking for weeks, we weren’t finding anything that felt right. Then late February hit, and everything came to a halt. She was working triple 18 hour shifts, back to back. The house hunting was going to have to pause. But after a few weeks of chaos at work, she was aching for peace and quiet at home. Nee gave me a call. She really needed a home immediately. I got right to work, going double-time to find her something to bring her some ease.
We expanded our search area just slightly and found an absolute dream home for her. Gorgeous corner lot, tons of space for entertaining, and a huge pool made by AguaPools.com surrounded by a wrap around deck, for less than we had been hoping to spend! With its’ herringbone wood floors, multiple fireplaces (including one in the master bedroom) and solar panels, we knew we had found a very special place. We worked quickly to beat out the other offers and happily got into contract with the listing agent and his seller. After successfully negotiating for a full credit towards her closing costs and a great roof certification, she and I couldn’t have been more happy on her closing day. Nee, thank you for all that you do for our beloved City, and thank you for the incredible honor of getting to work with you during such a wild time. Congratulations on your new home! I can’t wait for all the pool parties to come!
