Dawna Davies and her assistant Jodi Blanchard did an exceptional job in helping us sell our home in San Luis Obispo. Dawna’s intelligence and knowledge of the business made the whole complex process easy for us to understand and navigate. What seemed like counter-intuitive advice at the start—that we should be extremely thorough in discovering any possible problems with the forty year old house and present them in advance—turned out to streamline the final transaction by building trust in potential buyers and removing the possibility of unpleasant surprises and uncertainty for us. Her contacts with a wide range of local business people who carried out many preparatory operations quickly and economically offered another unique benefit. Her tact and amiability made our numerous interactions pleasant rather than wary. And Jodi’s work in converting the box full of documents from our files into a coherent house-maintenance-history binder meticulous and creative. From start to finish our involvement with Davies Company was personally as well as financially rewarding.
- Determine now if you want to fix up a house or not. Many buyers are willing to make light cosmetic changes like painting, but if repairs are left to the buyer in a transaction and they are not prepared or skilled, the joy of a good deal can dissolve quickly.
- Decide what is most important: a great deal or a great house. Remember that the right house will always be there when you are ready. And if faced with the opportunity, you might even be willing to pay more than the asking price to get a great home.
- Work with your agent, in advance, to create a plan for your purchase, including financing, saving for downpayment, and timing. Start looking seriously at online real estate sites, only after you have a plan.
- Learn about the local real estate market. The real estate market is local, not national. There are some areas of our county that have maintained value better than others. The market also cycles, even locally.
- Expect competition and do your research. Even if you find a property you like, you may be competing with many other buyers, some with all cash. Property histories, as in past distress, non-arms-length transactions, etc., are not always revealed in public marketing materials, and may require more in-depth investigation by your agent.