Should Your Agent Be There For All Showings?

Question: “I’m interested in selling my condo in La Jolla. I’ve already spoken with an agent who promised she’d accompany other agents for all the showings. Are you willing to do that?” Answer: I’d never do you such a disservice! Why is that a disservice? Because it usually dramatically reduces interest and showings. Let me
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How to Know if Your San Diego Home is Your Principal Residence

Question: “Hi Gary, My wife and I want to sell our home in La Jolla. We live part of the year in Phoenix and part in San Diego. We want to get the $500,000 principal residence exclusion. How do we know which one is my principal residence?” Answer: According to industry journal California Real Estate
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Why People Sell Their San Diego Homes Without Signs

Question: “The house next door to me is for sale, but I didn’t even know because there’s no sign. Why would someone sell without a For Sale sign?” Answer: Unless you live in La Jolla, where no signs are allowed, there’s no good reason to sell without a sign. The main reason I’ve heard is
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What Happens to the Lease When Selling Your San Diego Home

“Hey Gary. We want to sell our parents’ old La Jolla home in the Muirlands area. The thing is it’s leased through the end of July. If we sell, what happens with the lease? Do you think a buyer will just take it over?” Answer: Leases “run with the property,” not the owner. That means
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Having Defects Fixed vs. Dollar Credit

“My wife and are planning to buy a La Jolla home. We know to hire a home inspector to find any major defects in the home. If such defects are found, do you suggest asking for the item to be fixed or for a dollar credit?” Answer: I usually recommend to all my clients, be
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Selling Your San Diego Home Vacant vs. w/ Tenant

“Hi Gary. We love your Q&A. Question: We want you to sell our rented La Jolla home in January. So my question is whether we should sell the house vacant or with the tenant in? What do you think?” Answer: Great question. The best answer is usually to sell it vacant, but the right answer
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The “Price Per Square Foot” Myth

“Hi Gary. We’ve found a beautiful La Jolla home on a canyon, but it’s way overpriced. The sellers won’t go below $397 per square foot, but homes in the area are selling for around $350 per square foot…” Answer: Stop. You’re falling for a fallacy that traps many homebuyers, homesellers, and a whole lot of
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