Early Birds and Worms

"Early Birds and Worms"

Don DeFranco Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty

Where are we now?

Well, the real estate market got off to a late start this year. Remember the rains and floods? Mudslides and roads crumbling? It was challenging. Lots of damage to clean up. I yearned for my luxury doorman building again and Uber. But living just four miles from the beach and having my career, horses and house all in the same town- I couldn’t give that up. “Come Hell or High Water”…and guess what?- it came!

Travel is more popular than ever this summer… so many people are away and enjoying themselves “Post-Covid”. I hope you’re having a wonderful time and getting some rest and relaxation.

As I look at the extremely hot weather, in much of our country, I am reminded of how fortunate we are to live in the Bay Area. San Francisco and coastal towns are averaging mid 60’s and 70’s. Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Woodside/Portola Valley are warmer but pleasant and perfect for the pool. Not the 100 plus temperatures we see all over Ca and the US.

“The Early Birds will inherit the Earth”- Don DeFranco.

I was joking with a friend, the other day, who is also a very early riser like myself. She just sold her horse property outside of Reno, which can be a scorcher in the summer…and moved to Maryland, where it is lush, full of green pastures, but oh, so humid. She’s having a hard time adapting. Luckily, her trainer will meet her at 6:30 in the morning for her riding lessons…

I think the key to living on the East Coast or in brutally hot summers is to get everything done before 10 o’clock in the morning. And then resume activities after 8 o’clock at night. There’s a reason the Mexican people take siestas. Great idea.

I’ve been an early riser all of my life. I was born this way and I love it. Less crowds always. More of everything.

In the real estate market, the Early Birds always do better than most. So, if you are thinking about moving by the end of the year, get ready now. For sellers, start selling or donating everything you don’t need to make it easier to do the prep work necessary to list your home. And talk to an excellent agent.

For buyers, get out there now to see what’s on the market and languishing. Make sure your agent is available and working, or has an associate covering them. When cruising listings online, look for “days on market”. Homes that have been on the market for more than a month or two will most likely reduce their prices or make a deal before the fall market begins. Every agent knows this, and will start talking to their sellers now… You may even see some homes withdrawn, only to be re-launched in September at a lower price. Why not offer them a lower price right now and get moving?

And remember my number one rule in real estate! Never, Ever, Ever allow Dual Agency. This is the cancer that destroys trust in the real estate transaction. Never allow it. Ever. Dual agency is when one agent represents both parties in a transaction. They outlawed it in 11 states, and should be the law of the land.

The simplest way to explain it is this: Stanford is playing Cal. One coach is going to coach both sides. And the coach will be paid double to do so. Ridiculous, right?

Real estate transactions are almost always friendly, but let’s be clear: each side wants to win a fair deal for themselves. Not a killer deal–just a fair deal. In the best deals, both sides aim to achieve a fair deal that satisfies them rather than a killer deal that only benefits one side. This means that there has been a little give-and-take along the way and everyone can move forward. However, there will come a point in every negotiation where a client will look at their agent and say to themselves, whose side are they on? I will never understand why some folks think that paying an agent to work against their best interests is a good idea. The problem is, most agents don't like to talk about it, because they want to "double end" deals. This serves no one but the agent. When I explain this to most people they get it. In fact, it's the first thing that we are required to do when presenting an offer or writing an offer. That's the law- and it's there for good reason.

When you work with me, you will always know. I put it in writing, and you should not settle for less than 100% loyalty.

If you are looking for expert representation, I would love to talk to you.