Monday, January 31, 2011

Super Bowl Sunday: To Attend/Host an Open House or Not...


Here we are only six days from what many football fans would consider the biggest sporting event of the year - the SUPER BOWL! For those of you out there currently searching for a home - it may have been pretty tough venturing out during the regular NFL season and it got even tougher once the playoffs began. Now comes the Super Bowl - what is one to do? It really depends on your circumstances.

Some of you may have spouses like mine where stopping a home search in order to watch football would not even be a consideration. In that case, I suggest sucking it up and just plan on heading out as early as possible so as to get back home in time for kickoff. Of course this plan might blow up if you find the home of your dreams so better bring a phone with Internet access or a radio to check scores while writing your offer just in case.

Jill and I always preach trying to get a leg up on the competition any way possible. That means taking advantage of reduced competition on holidays and unofficial holidays. For some buyers - this may be your best opportunity to get your offer in and accepted fast. And some sellers may finally be able to get notice by being one of the only open houses scheduled in your area on that day.

So make your plans and good luck to all on your home search/listings, and also to your favorite team playing Sunday. We've decided to host an open house this week but are still figuring out which will work best. Check back with our website later in the week to find out where. Have a great week folks!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Cavalia in Downtown Burbank, CA

For those of you who have missed the signs posted around Burbank and have been wondering about those big white circus tents around Burbank Blvd.  - I offer Cavalia! Cavalia is the new show in Burbank that just opened on January 19th. It bills itself as a celebration of the relationship between man and horse. The production is located at 777 North Front Street at Burbank Boulevard and the I-5 Freeway. For tickets and info,call 1.866.999.8111 or visit http://www.cavalia.net/

Gotta love living in Burbank!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

I Want Clients Like These...


Jill and I hosted a very successful Open House this past Sunday at 747 Catalina Street in Burbank, CA and would like to thank everyone who attended. It was great meeting you all! One thing did bother me though - the recurring statement I kept hearing from visitors stating how their REALTOR had sent them to the Open House to preview the place out on their own. It simply amazes me whenever people decide to work with REALTORS who won't even show them properties - especially in this day and age where many are discovering homes themselves with the help of the Internet! That's the best deal any REALTOR can imagine - a client who not only finds his own home, but previews it before deciding to write! Sign me up... I'll take as many as I can get! Unfortunately this is becoming more and more common. It is something Jill and I do not understand. We pride ourselves in not only helping our clients find homes but also preview and taking them ourselves. It is a hands on approach to real estate.

Oh I hear the arguments from REALTORS all the time about how they are focusing on getting more leads - as if that will excuse their laziness. Finding leads is indeed important, but what type of service are you giving to those leads in return if you can't even be bothered to show the home and point out the positive and negative features? Also, I just don't think these potential home owners are thinking far enough ahead to see how this can negatively affect their chance of getting a home. Many deals are timing based - that is, first come is first served. One can realistically lose out on a dream home by simply being a few minutes late to the party! Those who have REALTORS present may choose to quickly write offers after seeing their dream home and even get into escrow that night. Conversely, some people lose out being slowed down trying to track down their REALTOR just to write their offer.

Ultimately it comes down to one's personal comfort level. For my money - I would want to be represented by someone who focuses on me and not the next deal. Jill and I are here if you need... and we show homes when YOU are ready to look. Give us a call and see the difference.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Sunday 01/09/2011 Open Houses in Burbank, CA 1-4 P.M.

We are happy to host two open houses this coming Sunday 01/09/2011 - both in Burbank, CA 1-4pm. These are two homes with different price points. One is a starter 623 Pass Ave. Burbank, CA 91505 and the other is higher end: 3037 Keystone Street Burbank, CA 91504. Click on each picture or address for more information. Hope to see you there!
Best,
Team Keppel

Monday, January 3, 2011

Happy New Year... now what?

So we made it through the holidays and now it is back to work for most of us. For those of you who shut down the home search -  it's time to start back up. But where to begin? Like most things in life - it is best to have a game plan for success. The best way to start is to take a little time to determine what is most important to you and make a list of all your wants and needs - ranking least to most important. Then go over your list with your Realtor to find a home with as many qualities from that list as possible.

 The New Year may also be a good time to evaluate your Realtor and how they are responding to your needs. Are they available for your phone calls, and do they return emails in a timely manner? How available are they to take you out or show your home? Do they plan outings or just direct you to open houses? Remember, the most important aspect of any Realtor is how they respond to you. Many deals are timing based and one does not want to miss out on a sale or miss getting an offer accepted due to the slow actions of her realtor.

Jill and I are always amazed how difficult it can be to get return phone calls from listing Realtors. We recommend people periodically check from time to time how fast their realtor is responding to calls by having a friend test the system. If your realtor is slow or does not return calls - it may be time to find somebody else or refuse to renew your listing. When searching for a new Realtor - don't always believe the hype.