Do You Need Tenant Permission to Repair Your San Diego Home?

Question: [From a client whose rental house I listed] “Can you get me bids to make some repairs the flooring?  My property manager says I need to get the tenants’ permission to repair it.  Is that correct?” Answer: As the owner, you have the right to make repairs and you only need to give the
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Price Per Square Foot Won’t Determine Your Home Addition Profit

Question: “I can add onto my house for $200 per square foot and houses in my neighborhood are selling for about $400 per square foot.  Why shouldn’t I just keep on adding onto my house until I hit the maximum the city will allow?  If I can pay $200 and receive $400, I’ll do that
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What Are Sellers Required to Fix?

Question: “I know the seller has to fix health and safety items, but don’t they also have to fix code violations?” Answer: No, no, and no. There are very few physical requirements a homeseller in San Diego County is legally required to meet, and those don’t include health, safety, or code items. Here’s the short
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What Repairs You Should Ask a Seller to Make

Question: “I’ve never bought a home before.  I know it’s a good idea to have a home inspected.  But what repairs are normal to ask a seller to take care of?” Answer: Good question. First, be sure to make your repair request during your (typically) 7- to 17-day “investigations” period. Second, there’s no true “normal,”
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Should You Sell Your San Diego Home—or Fix Up First?

Question: “We’re planning to sell our home.  Truth be told, our home is far from perfect.  The kitchen is old, the inside needs a new coat of paint, the yard’s a mess, to name a few.  Do you think we should fix up our home first or just sell it?” Answer: Great question—another one that
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How to Know the Seller Will Make Adequate Repairs

Question: “We’re negotiating to buy a home and the seller is supposed to do a list of repairs before we close. How do I know they’ll do the work or if it will be done well?” Answer: Assuming you have it in writing that the seller will do the work, if they don’t, then they’d
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How Much Value Will My Kitchen Remodel Add?

Question: “How much value will I add if I remodel my kitchen?” Answer: I know of a woman in Pacific Beach who had her kitchen remodeled. When it was done, though it was nice, she didn’t like it and remodeled it again. …Then she did it one more time for good measure. Assuming her kitchen
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Unfinished Features Can Create Problems with the Sale

Question: “We’re buying a home and the owner is in the middle of redoing the kitchen. He started the demo work (sink, counters, some cabinets) but not the actual remodel. We’re getting a good deal because we said we’d take the kitchen as is. Will that create any problem with the sale?” Answer: If you’re
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What San Diego Home Utilities Are Required?

Question: “My wife and I have never bought a home before. I heard that legally the home has to be of a certain condition to sell. Specifically that the plumbing, heating, electrical, and appliances must work, and that the roof is watertight. Is this correct?” Answer: No. There is no such law. The old California
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How Much Does Your San Diego Home Need Remodeling?

Question: “Hi Gary. I recently read that when you sell your home, you only recoup 79.4% of the cost of a kitchen remodel. But my kitchen was really busted up and I’ve got to think I’ll get more than that back. What do you think?” Answer: You’ve hit upon a big beef I have with
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