January 27, 2012

Custom Signage to sell your Simi Valley Home

ted mackel real estate listing marketing yard sign(Video Below) Whether your home is in Simi Valley, the west San Fernando Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park or in-between, I have been working with custom signage for 3 years now.  I have been looking at ways to improve on the custom sign and the picture to the right is the new design I rolled out last week. The same printing technology used in vehicle wraps is what makes this possible for the real estate industry.

The purpose behind the custom sign follows three main ideas:

  1. When potential buyers are driving neighborhoods, the pictures of the backyard and an interior shot give the buyers a teaser preview of the property to generate more interest in the property.
  2. The website and QR code are directly linked to a mobile compliant website with tons of information (including community video) on the home that the potential buyers can view right in their car on a smart phone or iPad.  My use of the mobile website and QR code gives me direct feedback on how many people are accessing the site for more information.
  3. The typical real estate signs here in Southern California, are hung on large 4×4 wood posts.  My sign is the same size (30×24), orientated vertically, but with a different installation method and custom design. This sign gets buyers to stop the car.

One thing I need to stress, is that much of the internet content out today can be viewed on smartphones, the difference in the mobile technology I am using is that it is specifically designed and formatted for display on mobile phones.  If you have a mobile phone type in the following address and you will see:

http://iflymobiapp.com/callevista

If you are trying to view this on your laptop or home computer you can see the formatting is designed for mobile devices.

I have been working on this for a long time and continually monitor feedback from buyers and will continue to do so.  You can see my video below from 2008, this listing was one of the reasons I started working on these signs.

One other interesting thing I came across in my discussion with potential home buyers who called off my signs is, I always ask, “how many properties did you print out at home before coming to drive Simi Valley neighborhoods?”  The response has always been “No list, just driving neighborhoods”.  I thought that this was odd with gas pricing over the last 3 years, but this even more shows how important the sign in my client’s front yard is.  If the drive-bys have not previewed the house on the internet, then the custom sign and it’s teaser ability to get drive-bys to stop their car is very important.

Keller Williams Realty gives me that ability, to create this custom marketing where many real estate firms are more interested in promoting their firm and not your house.  While some of my branding is on this sign, the focus is your house with the customization.  The point is, when I put the sign in your front yard am I selling your house or my firm?  Think about that as you drive through any neighborhood and see For Sale signs.

In July I wrote Why QR codes won’t sell your Simi Valley Home and was very critical of QR codes for real estate use.  My 4 points of 1. Mobile Friendly, 2. Tracking, 3. Regurgitation, 4. Understanding have all been addressed in my design and implementation,  will the QR code sell your house? No, #1 the Price, Condition and Location are the biggest factor in the ability to get your home sold.  No amount of advertising can sell an overpriced home.  Ultimately, the goal is to get as many eyes on the property as possible and be competitive with the surrounding homes. The custom yard sign is just another piece of that plan to reach the goal.

I would love to hear your comments below, thanks for reading.

#26 Simi Valley Dream Cuisine at St Rose of Lima Church – 365 Things to to in Simi Valley

Simi Valley Dream Cusine(Video Below) What happens when you have a dynamic leader, a seemingly impossible goal and a group of dedicated people? You get over 2500 people to show up on a Sunday evening for Simi Valley’s very first Dream Cuisine.

Father Joseph Shea came to St. Rose Lima just two years ago. From the first day, the parishioners knew things would be different.  Father Shea is known for big goals and the ability to motivate people to do things they might normally shy away from.

Saint Rose of Lima Christian services working together with Serving Those In Need, Inc.  have been serving the poor, the needy and the homeless in Simi Valley for the past 45 years. All proceeds from the Simi Valley Dream Cuisine will help support this invaluable service. Additionally this will also help needy students of the St. Rose of Lima School.

The Simi Valley Dream cuisine provided an opportunity to dine on gourmet foods from Simi Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks and from the San Fernando Valley’s finest restaurants. Those that attended enjoyed food from over 50 restaurants, sipped on fine wines from some the most prestigious wineries, drank beer from well-known breweries and taste desserts from outstanding bakeries and establishments.  In all there were 78 different vendors at the event covering just about any kind of food you could imagine.

Tickets were $60.00 per person, $100 per couple, which was a complete bargain. Enjoy the video below and plan to attend next year.

11945 Calle Vista Court Porter Ranch CA 91326 Cul-de-sac Pool Home

11945 Calle Vista Court Porter Ranch CA 91326 home for sale(Video Below) 11945 Calle Vista located in Porter Ranch California is a terrific home for entertaining located in a clu-de-sac just north of Wilbur. A large open flowing floor plan with 4 bedrooms upstairs has many features to boast.
Are You New to the Porter Ranch Area? Take a quick tour of the Community in this short video:

  • The living room has faux painting.
  • New stucco in 1995.
  • Plywood sheeting and new insulation upgraded installed prior to application of new stucco.
  • Custom mirror & window treatment in guest bathroom
  • High window in living room was installed to provide additional natural light & to see the sky…sometimes the moon.
  • Shower fixtures raised to current standards
  • Maple hardwood flooring in living room
  • Separate “Sub-water meter installed to lower DWP bills 2007 *B&S permit available
  • Replaced water shut-off valve to house & sprinklers 2002
  • Replaced garage door opener and springs
  • Replaced exterior door in guest bathroom, as well as bolt & lock
  • Solid mahogany front doors replaced with custom size $3,200 with new 4×4 heavy duty hinges, flush bolt, etc. Door glass fabricated in brass and triple glazed with tempered glass.
  • All windows have been replaced over the last 16 years
  • New medicine cabinets in master bathroom and guest bathroom 2011
  • New kitchen floor 7/2011
  • Dishwasher replaced 2010
  • Brick chimney replaced with masonry and pre-fab unit by MARCO; replaced damper pull(brass) *Permit available from Building & Safety; gas line for log lighter installed
  • Replaced side gate and installed fence/gate at small side yard
  • Replaced exhaust hood over kitchen stove with Broan range hood
  • Replaced cooktop 2001
  • Upstairs master bedroom balcony completely renovated
  • Replaced master bathroom tub/shower unit with new plumbing, framing & electrical; Americh jacuzzi tub with grab bars, satin nickel fixtures, heater, and color-changing tub light 2006 – $3,957; replaced accessories with matching towel bars, hook, and toilet paper holder
  • Replaced every window and sliding glass door in the house with vinyl, double-paned windows (except guest bathroom door window).
  • Replaced Pullmans in master bathroom, as well as new hot & cold angle stops.
  • Replaced all toilets
  • Refinished guest bathroom cabinet and replaced sink top with marble
  • Guest and master bathroom shower doors replaced with frameless safety glass
  • All master bathroom tile replaced with Travertine Chocolate and Tuscany Gold tile imported from
  • Italy (Pacific Tile & Stone in Woodland Hills) 2006.
  • Installed tile floor and shower walls in upstairs bathroom
  • Installed tile floor and shower in guest bathroom.
  • Replaced thermostat with Honeywell Programmable thermostat
  • Outdoors and Beyond redesigned and planted palm trees and all other plants/shrubs in front and rear yards
  • Installed lighting and electrical outlet
  • Built fence around pool equipment
  • Installed tile flooring in entryway/foyer – Athena Tile – “Antiqua Noce” and “Amalfi Verde” imported
  • Installed additional phone outlets
  • Replaced downstairs molding
  • All door locks have been replaced
  • Window framed and installed in garage to provide additional natural light
  • 1998 upgraded electric outlet to garage
  • Smoke detectors
  • Fruit trees: persimmon (2), orange, and lemon
  • New pool heater 2007
  • New Hayward Pro-Grid pool filter 2008
  • New pool skimmer and plumbing 10/2008
  • Natural gas emergency shut-off 7/2007
  • New pool/spa valves

Pool Contractor: Island Paradise Pools $20,000 installed:

  • Removed all plaster and completely replaced rebar structure beneath plaster. Hand-troweled pool surface with PebbleCoat, a refined cement and stone mixture using naturally tumbled smooth pebbles; durable, stain-resistant, and colorfast.
  • Built and plumbed waterfall
  • GFI

Additional lighting installed by licensed electrician:

  • Wall sconces in living room
  • Harbor Breeze ceiling light and fan over kitchen island counter
  • Ceiling light/electrical installed in bedroom to right of upstairs bathroom
  • Wall sconces and recessed “can” lights in master bathroom
  • Track lighting in living room and bedroom over garage
  • Exhaust fans in guest bathroom and master bathroom added & installed by licensed electrician.

The house was inspected in 1995 (at time of purchase) and determined that repairs needed to be made (re post in dining area and roof rafters in attic). These items were corrected with sheathing and bracing as per Ara Simonian, registered civil engineer.

Who pays for What? Simi Valley Home Buyers & Home Sellers want to know

Estimated Costs to Sell Your Simi Valley HomeWhat is customary for a buyer and seller varies from state to state and in some states like California what is customary for buyers and sellers in Southern California may be different than in Northern California. The following list is what is generally customary for  Home Buyers and Sellers in the Simi Valley and Southern California area on purchases, not involving distressed properties (i.e. Short Sales and Foreclosures/Bank Owned):

The SELLER can GENERALLY be expected to pay:

  • Real Estate Commissions
  • Document preparation fee for deed
  • Documentary transfer Tax (deed tax stamps), if any
  • Pay off all loans in Seller’s name
  • Interest accrued to lender being paid off
  • Statement fees, re-conveyance fees and any prepayment penalties
  • Termite inspection (or according to contract)
  • Termite work (or according to contract)
  • Home warranty (or according to contract)
  • Any judgments, tax liens, etc., against the seller
  • Tax proration (for any taxes unpaid at the time of transfer title)
  • Unpaid homeowner’s dues
  • Recording charges to clear all document of record against the seller
  • Any bonds or assessments (or according to contract)
  • Any and all delinquent taxes
  • Natural Hazards Disclosure
  • Seller notary fees
  • Escrow fee (one half)
  • Repairs on deferred maintenance (if agreed to or according to contract)
  • Title insurance premium for owners policy
  • Homeowners Association transfer fee and documents fee
  • City transfer/conveyance tax (or recording contract)
  • Mandatory Government Compliance issues (i.e. Smoke detectors, Carbon-monoxide detector, water heater bracing, etc.)

The BUYER can GENERALLY be expected to pay:

  • Title insurance premium for lenders policy
  • Escrow fee (one half)
  • Document preparation (if applicable)
  • Buyer notary fees
  • Recording charges for all documents in buyers name
  • Tax proration (from date of acquisition)
  • Appraisal
  • Cost to run Credit Scores
  • All new loan charges (except those required by lender for seller to pay)
  • Interest Buy-down points (or according to contract)
  • Interest on new loan from date of funding to 30 days prior to first payment date
  • Assumptions/change of records fees for takeover of existing loan beneficiary statement fee for assumption of existing loan inspection fees (roofing, property inspection, sewer, pool, geological, etc.)
  • Buyer insurance premium for first year

Related Articles:

Simi Valley July 2011 Home Sales Surge on Volume Average Sale Price drops $57k

simi valley homes sold market updates for simi valley home sellers and buyersSee Simi Valley Homes For Sale under $300,000

The Simi Valley Real Estate Market is in the middle of a very interesting transition and while the traditional media and my industry tend to create reports that either cheer-lead or sell subscriptions; it would be prudent to really look at what has happened in July and a trend that started back in December of last year.

Sales of Simi Valley Single Family detached housing under $300,000 has been growing in volume.  Now, more than any other time since the bottom fell out of the real estate market in 2007, we are seeing prices drop and affordability rise with continued low interest rates.   In the Spring of 2009 we saw similar pricing, but investors rushed in and pushed pricing in this segment back up to the low $300,000 range.

What becomes even more interesting this time around is that of the 19 Simi Valley homes that sold under $300,000 in July 2011, 60% were purchased with conventional financing or cash with an average price of $278,000. Cash and conventional purchasers can be attributed to increased activity by investors looking for rental properties and properties in poor condition that could be restored and flipped.

What is causing Volumes to Surge? 

1. Prices/affordability 2. Low interest rates.

What is not happening on surging volumes?

Prices are not being run up.  Looking at Simi Valley Home Sales for July 2011 we can see that 84% of all sales were under $500,000 and that the top end over $900,000 had no sales for the month.  Sluggish sales over $500,000 contributes to the lower average sale price.

Tracking the average sale price does not necessarily mean that Simi Valley Home Owners have lost $57,000 in value, what it does indicate, is when you compare the average sale price each month over the course of time you can spot trends over the whole spectrum of price ranges, any major shifts between months as we are seeing between June (Simi Valley June Market Report) and July, helps us to look close at what is selling, who is buying and what are the conditions that are driving these sales.

Real Estate Markets are local,  traditional media tends to report regional and statewide Real Estate trends, which you can see don’t amount to much when we look at the activity for Simi Valley.

The local, State and Federal economic issues, $4.00 a gallon gasoline, employment opportunities have a huge influence on home buyers.  Additionally, the Foreclosure market, Short Sale Market and Loan Modification Market are still in the middle of their mountain of problems.

What is becoming clear from my experience with buyers in my car and looking at the trending data; buyers are very interested when pricing and condition are right, but they are unwilling to jack up the pricing (above market value) in bidding wars.

While this all may sound horrific to home sellers, this is all part or a greater stability that is forming.  Increasing volumes on lower prices is positive, what we don’t want to see is decreasing volumes and lower prices.

Simi Valley homes Sales for July 2011

Simi Valley homes Sales for July 2011 Graph

Night Golf In Simi Valley Anyone? Lights Out” No Frills 9 Hole Scramble Golf Tournament

Simi Valley Night Golf TournamentSave the date
Saturday, August 13, 2011

Yes, that’s right night time golf in Simi.  What a great way to get out and have some fun on the golf course, at night.  Using glow in the dark golf balls can 9 hole finish up before midnight?  Super low entry fee of $80.00 to play.  Come out and join the fun.

Loving Heart Hospice Foundation is pleased to host the 1st Annual “Lights Out” No Frills 9 Hole Scramble Golf Tournament. The proceeds support terminally ill low-income Ventura County hospice residents. Registration and sponsorships are accepted on a first-come, first served basis. Submit full payment along with your completed application or register online at lovinghhfoundation.com.