When I am paying someone for services, I tend to have HUGE expectations whether is is a party clown or tree trimmer, if I have hired someone for a job, I expect that person to provide good service (well, I actually expect excellent service and I will accept good service).  To me, it is a no brainer, when someone is paying me to help them buy or sell a house, I do all that I can to not only cover the basics of:

1) Answering the phone (duh, right, but how many times do you call a professional and get voice mail EVERYTIME! or some automated system- ugh!)

2) Returning emails and text quickly

3) Doing what I say I am going to do

Again, those are the basics of what I expect from someone I hired. My true expectations run deeper because I see the bigger picture of your network. If you were to hire me, you know a ton of people, it is likely you will know someone looking to sell or buy. I want you to think of me when you talk with them- simple. That is the mindset I have when I hire someone, I expect that they will want to do all they can to win my networks’ business. So, in addition to the basics, I am looking for contractors that go a bit above and beyond. They are tricky to find, but once I find them, you can bet I send them a bunch of referrals!

What contractors have you found to be excellent?

This house at 2573 Malaga Dr. has a lot to offer with a 4th bedroom that was opened up in to an office or living room, A/C 1678 sq. ft. on 7660 sq.ft. lot with hardwood floors and dual pane windows on a great street with Booksin Elem. I was shocked to read that it was a short sale and listed at $799,000. That price just does not have the ’short sale’ ring to it.

It was interesting to see all of us agents adjust our thinking once we realized it was a short sale. Because of the stress a short sale puts on the transaction and the time involved, the value in our minds appeared to drop.

As I was walking through this house I was listening to the agents discuss the details and I noticed the built in entertainment area and how my husband would be removing the wall to get his tv to fit.

Nice house and I recommend taking a look if you are in the market!

holly@hollybarr.net 408 887-3225

I showed a beautiful house in Saratoga today! New house that in my opinion was built to sell not to live in. It has a lot of wonderful features, dark floors, cool lighting and chandeliers even an arched fireplace and spiral staircase.

Lots of curves

While my clients enjoyed the details, we commented on how one would lay out furniture as most of the walls are artistically curved. Guess you would need to buy all new furniture or buy the staging furniture (darn, who wants new furniture???-yes, read sarcasm in my tone

Three things builders and architects should to keep in mind when building a spec house:

1) Buyers want obvious places to put their furniture and ESPECIALLY their TV and family room furniture

2) Buyers like yard! They really do! Do what you can to make the yard look large and usable!

3) Master bedrooms in the back of the house- every time!

Curves are pretty, just keep it minimal and usable!

My friends at lookiloos.com wrote about this gem of a store, moveitelsewhere.com in Willow Glen. I have been there many times and recommend you check it out!

Once you find this place, you can't help but think you might need a secret password to get in. It's only open three days a month and it's easy to drive right past without noticing. Move It Elsewhere is in an unassuming warehouse at 350 Lincoln Avenue in San Jose, just past San Carlos Street. When it's open, a sign dangles out front: "Estate Sale," it says.

It's a consignment store, actually, filled with used furnishings, pots, china, and patio furniture that owner Suzanne Comaroto acquires from her moving business. She moves senior citizens into retirement communities _ and she has an answer for what to do with all their belongings.

"Their kids don't want their stuff so I opened this consignment store," Comaroto said.

She sells it for them _ and gives them a commission. That means for three days every month, the public _ that's you and me _ get to take a look at antique dining room sets, Asian armoires, mid-century buffets, and costume jewelry.  That's 15,000 square feet to wander through, mind you. (Don't miss the second floor filled with odds and ends.)

During last weekend's opening, customers seemed to be leaving by the armload. Prices are set to sell _ "50 percent off everything" the sign says.

The next opening is Sept. 21, 22, 23rd. For more information go to moveitelsewhere.com.

This one has a clean-out. Great idea as they do tend to get clogged

I have heard the term ‘french drain’ many times in my 7+ years of real estate. It seems to be a buzz word in my little world lately. And, I remember well digging them with my dad as we fixed up houses growing up! It is a great concept for a 10-20 year (relatively inexpensive) fix to a water problem under a house or eating at a foundation. The end of the drain is typically filled with gravel and sand and close to the end of the yard. I have seen people put portable fire-pits on top or simple bushes/ferns around the area. It is certainly not good for grass or patios as you may need to access the area every 10 years or so.

What do you think of French Drains? Any advise or suggestions are welcome!

The count is up-that is a great thing for buyers! Willow Glen has 257 properties on market. The agreed upon healthy number is 225.  From what I am hearing from other agents and clients is that there are more houses coming on market. My hypothesis is that sellers are trying to get on market before the holiday and seasonal slowdown. I know of three listings coming to market in the next few weeks and I have heard from other top producers that they all have one or two coming as well!

While on tour this week, I saw 10 houses and my pick of the week is 911 Ellis Ave. CUTE little 2 bedroom 2 bath home with a finished bonus space off the garage perfect for an office! Beautiful remodeled open kitchen with two living spaces within the 1229 sq. ft.  (it feels like 1500 or more). Both bathrooms have been updated and all the details have been attended too. WONDERFUL treelined street and steps to downtown!

All the details are covered in this house!

Beautiful built in cabinets

Open house this Sunday 1:30.

What have you seen out there in real estate world?

Many buyers these days are looking more closely at chimneys. Often there are hairline cracks that can be a fire breach and very dangerous. A qualified mason will need to rebuild, patch or otherwise repair. Of course some buyers opt to just not use the fireplace… Here is a new listing in the area where it sorta goes without saying… when buying a house, get inspections done and read them!

Chimney damage with the classic Willow Glen settling

I went to the Donor Reception for the Willow Glen Library today. What a wonderful community event! It was fun to see our family name in lights and see some neighbors and friends as well as an AMAZING new library that our tax dollars funded!

The library is BEAUTIFUL and is well received (well, people always seem to find something to complain about, but I am not going to get into that here).

New San Jose Library in Willow Glen

The thing that struck me besides the huge media room and beautiful art work and architecture was the fact that not only can you EAT in the library, you can BUY FOOD in the library! I remember sneaking food into the library when I was in high school (granted, that was a while ago…).

Vending machines inside the library!

Please be sure to support and patronize (not sure if that is the right word if it is FREE) your local libraries! Keep your community strong!

When a company agrees to move you or relocate you for a new career, essentially, there are two sets of buyers and two sets of sellers all working in concert to close escrow at the same time.

1) The sellers sell the house to the relocation company (seller and buyer).
2) The relocation company (now is the seller) sells it to the buyers found through the realtors marketing efforts.
3) The buyers have an agent and a transaction perspective as a buyer and often a sale of their house that effects # 1and 2 above (possible 3rd set of buyers and sellers).

It is essential to have an agent with sharp communication skills on the phone, email, fax and even texting. With that many transactions happening at the same time everyone needs to know what is happening and what needs to be done.

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