I am often asked by my clients to help them sell their larger home so that they can downsize into a smaller home.  I am sure that you have thought about it as well. The kids have all grown up and started their own lives and this large house is just too much to take care of, especially having to climb up the stairs all the time.

So, when my clients ask, “Should I Downsize?”. I have to say, “Well, it depends.”  First of all, it is not an automatic yes. I know that you thought that as a realtor my job is to help people sell houses and to help people buy houses. That is only half true. My job is to represent my clients in what they want to do, but to always remember my fiduciary responsibility to them. In simple terms, that means that my client’s money is more important than my money. To put it another way, although I only get paid when I help someone buy or sell a house, sometimes it is not in my client’s best interest to sell their larger house and buy a smaller house.

There are many things to take into consideration.

For example:

• What is the tax base on their current house?
• Are they going to buy in the same county as where they currently reside?
• Do they love their neighborhood and their neighbors?
• Do they hate their neighborhood and their neighbors?
• Do they want to downsize just so they don’t have so much housework?
• Do they want to downsize because they cannot climb the stairs any longer?
• Do they really just want to sell to move closer to their grandkids?

So you see, it is not as simple as just saying yes and helping them sell.

One of the most frequent reasons my clients have to sell their current 2 story home and buy a smaller 1 story home, is the stairs.  I understand their thought process, but financially, that is not always the best option.  For example, if my clients own a $400,000 home, they will end up spending about 8-10% of their home value in the cost of the sale for real estate commissions and closing costs. That amounts to $32,000 to $40,000. They also have the cost to move, the cost to buy the new home and to get settled in. Possibly some other costs to get their home ready to sell as well as costs to do some work on their new home.

All together, that amounts to real money for my clients.

I always tell my clients that if they want to move because of the stairs, that they should first look into getting a lift for the stairs or an elevator. If you have straight stairs, without a landing half way up, you can get a lift for $5,000 to $10,000. If you have a landing half way up, it will cost much more. If you a wide sweeping staircase, the cost will go up to about $18,000 to $20,000.

As for elevators, they will cost about $25,000 to $30,000 plus the cost of construction for the elevator shaft.

So, when you are thinking of downsizing, consider your options. If you love your neighborhood and your neighbors and you can install a lift or an elevator for less than the cost of selling and buying then get an estimate from the elevator company as well as one from me, your neighborhood realtor. On the other hand, if you hate your neighborhood and or your neighbors, then give me a call and we will help you downsize and find a new place to call home.

Start building your memories,
as you turn your house into a home. 

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our own efforts as REALTORS, as well as input from other REALTORS in our Coldwell Banker office.  I hope it has been of value to you.  Don’t hesitate to email us with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow homeowners!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ElkGroveRealEstate.  For information about properties available for sale and for more information for buyers and sellers, please visit our website at www.ElkGroveRealEstate.com and don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email with your questions.

Are you thinking about doing some home improvements before putting your house on the market?  
Start building your memories,
as you turn your house into a home. 

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our own efforts as REALTORS, as well as input from other REALTORS in our Coldwell Banker office.  I hope it has been of value to you.  Don’t hesitate to email us with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow homeowners!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ElkGroveRealEstate.  For information about properties available for sale and for more information for buyers and sellers, please visit our website at www.ElkGroveRealEstate.com and don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email with your questions.

	Conventional wisdom may tell us that the holidays are not the best time to try to sell your home. After all, many buyers are busy with family activities and holiday gatherings, so they put off shopping for a home until after New Year’s, right? That may be true, but the fact is that there are still lots of potential buyers out there looking at this time of year and now may be a surprisingly good time to list your home for several reasons.1. Strong Sellers’ Market Many of our local communities have experienced a robust sellers’ market this year with prices often rising and, in some cases, homes are selling with multiple offers. Not all buyers magically disappear when the weather starts to cool down. There continues to be a shortage of good properties this time of year to satisfy the existing demand from well-qualified buyers. 2. Less Competition It’s true that many sellers decide to wait until after the first of the year – or even until springtime – to list their home. For some it is difficult to deal with selling during the holidays given all the various time constraints and pressures that can develop. However, the reluctance of some to sell during the holiday season could also be advantageous for sellers who can remain more flexible. With even fewer homes on the market, there is less competition for buyers’ attention so your home may have an even better opportunity to stand out. 3. Motivated Buyers The buyers who are looking for a property over the holidays tend to be more serious about finding a home. They may be trying to close before the end of this year for tax purposes or they may be relocating to a new job that starts in early 2016. Whatever their personal reason, it is possible that the buyers who are looking at this time of year may be more motivated to find their new home as soon as possible. 4. Homes Look Better Homes naturally look warm and cozy during the holidays with colorful decorations inside and out. The positive psychological effect that this festive image may have on potential buyers may help them in picturing their own holiday gatherings in your home. Just make sure not to go overboard on the decorations, which might hide the beauty and space of your home. Tasteful decorations and a minimum of clutter are always keys to enhancing a home’s appearance. 5. Buyers are Always Looking In the past, home buying meant getting into a car and driving to each home for several hours, usually during the daylight hours – which is not an activity that most people want to do over the busy holiday season. Thanks to the Internet, mobile devices and smart phones, that time consuming process has changed. Most buyers now start their search online, a process that can occur at any time during the day or night. Technology has made the home search process less time-intensive, and as a result has helped lengthen the traditional buying and selling seasons from spring and summer to year-round. 6. Holidays Give Hectic Buyers Time to Shop Our hectic lifestyles may also play a role in the changing dynamics of house hunting. In many cases, buyers are too busy with daily responsibilities to really focus on home shopping during much of the year. For some, it may not be until the holiday season that they can finally find some “down time” to focus on new listings, start visiting properties and put the home-buying process into overdrive. The holidays can be a time of excitement and good cheer. What better time to show off your warm, cozy and festive home to potential buyers? By listing your home at this time of year you may receive the best present this holiday season – a sold sign on the front lawn!

©2015 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. CalBRE License #01908304

Start building your memories,
as you turn your house into a home. 

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our own efforts as REALTORS, as well as input from other REALTORS in our Coldwell Banker office.  I hope it has been of value to you.  Don’t hesitate to email us with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow homeowners!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ElkGroveRealEstate.  For information about properties available for sale and for more information for buyers and sellers, please visit our website at www.ElkGroveRealEstate.com and don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email with your questions.

Start building your memories,
as you turn your house into a home. 

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our own efforts as REALTORS, as well as input from other REALTORS in our Coldwell Banker office.  I hope it has been of value to you.  Don’t hesitate to email us with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow homeowners!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ElkGroveRealEstate.  For information about properties available for sale and for more information for buyers and sellers, please visit our website at www.ElkGroveRealEstate.com and don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email with your questions.

Start building your memories,
as you turn your house into a home. 

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our own efforts as REALTORS, as well as input from other REALTORS in our Coldwell Banker office.  I hope it has been of value to you.  Don’t hesitate to email us with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow homeowners!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ElkGroveRealEstate.  For information about properties available for sale and for more information for buyers and sellers, please visit our website at www.ElkGroveRealEstate.com and don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email with your questions.