You have only one chance to make the best first impression Most buyers see your home for the first time on the Internet. If you make a good first impression through attractive photos, they visit in person. When they enter the house, the first impression starts on the street and continues through the first rooms. To excite buyers, it is important to communicate the “WOW” factor immediately. Continue Reading
Saving the Oak Trees of Marin County
Vintage oak trees are dramatic and beautiful complements to many Marin County homes. Millions of these trees, plus California bay, Douglas fir, and redwoods are under attack and have been killed by Sudden Oak Death (SOD). I found in the the Marin Independent Journal (Saving oak trees from SOD) a hopeful cure and preventative for your trees. The method, proposed by William Binzen Continue Reading
Challenges for Seniors Buying Marin County Homes
Many seniors are looking for Marin homes that are easier for living: usually single level, smaller, and with less upkeep. They may be moving to be closer to family and convenient to shopping and services. It’s important to understand the challenges seniors may have in buying their next home. Selling your current home It’s important that seniors have qualified help in selling their homes, Continue Reading
What Kinds of Homes Can You Buy in Marin County?
Your next house in Marin County will probably be a single-family home. Single family homes (SFH) are larger and more expensive than most of the alternatives, but the most popular and available. This blog explains your options for different home types you can buy. Marin Single Family Homes About 75% of Marin home sales in 2016 were SFHs. The median price was $1,200,000 for an average of 3 Continue Reading
Aerial View of Marin County in 1920’s
Marin County was a different place before the Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937, opening Marin to population growth. Most of Marin was undeveloped and unpopulated. The bridge made Marin easily accessible to residents of San Francisco looking for warm, fog-free recreation and summer homes. The Second World War brought an in influx of residents to work in the Sausalito shipyards. After Continue Reading
Springtime Maintenance for Your Marin Home
Spring is the time to check your house, particularly the exterior, for the effects of winter weather. Check your rain gutters and downspouts. Looking up at the gutters, do you see loose joints, holes, or rust? Clean out the gutters and repair or replace as needed to prevent leaks next year. Check the drainage from downspouts. If you can, run water from the gutters through Continue Reading
How to Choose a Marin County School
The most important factor in choosing a school is what parents want for their child. Choosing a Marin County school, either private or public, for your child is a very personal issue. This decision is weighted by many factors including the parents’ educational experience, the temperament and talents of the child, and the parents’ aspirations for the child’s future. The range of schools Continue Reading
Walking and Biking to School in Marin
Marin has been a national leader in promoting students walking and biking to school Walking, cycling, and commuting on school buses were once an American tradition and an important part of free public education. By year 2000, most parents drove their children to and from school--many one student per car. The most common reasons for driving children to school have been longer distances to schools Continue Reading
Winter Home Maintenance Marin County
We are in the middle of winter, but there is still time for home maintenance that can save you larger repair costs. Inspect windows and doors for leaks. Check the window and door sills and surrounding trim. Don’t forget to check the high windows that you can’t see close-up. Minor water stains could be due to condensation. Peeling paint, damaged sheet rock, or warped wood can indicate Continue Reading
How to Sell Marin Homes in the Winter Months
With over 26 years of selling Marin homes, we have found that the winter months can be active and productive. Due to the low supply and high demand, buyers have recently become more active during the last quarter of the year. Here are the factors that contribute to a successful sale in the winter months: Correctly price the property Most important is price. If the seller Continue Reading