Just today I was driving around the neighborhood in Piedmont, CA delivering packages to families whose homes were on the market, and have not yet sold.  I stopped by a home that smelled like mothballs and knocked on the door.  The front light was on, but no one was home.  I was driving away and looked across the street at a man coming out of his car.  I asked him, “Does anyone live in the house next door?’  He confessed he was a contractor working on the home, and did not know the owners, but said there were people coming in and out over the past few weeks.

We continued to talk and he gave me his business card.  He invited me in to see the work he was doing on the neighbor’s home.  This was a rare treat, because I work with a lot of investors, and I love to see the home transformation.  He indicated that the owners had inherited the home from their mother who was sent to a senior home, and needed more care.  He told me some of the challenges they had faced with the city.  We exchanged war stories as I commented on some of the trials and tribulations some of my client’s encountered while working with the city planning departments.  The thousands of dollars lost because of a careless contractor who did not include the inspectors through the building process, or confirm the need for permits.  One of my clients from www.Foreclosures.com has a great attitude, and is very tenacious.  If anyone is interested in tackling the city, and try to make a buck by buying and flipping a fixer you should give her a call.  She is a wealth of information. 

This family was building to remodel this home, rather than rehabbing it for sale.  I was doing some research for all of you home owners who are gun shy to sell and moving up.  Money Magazine in the April 2011 edition has a great article about how to “Avoid Four common Remodeling Mistakes.” I have the article attached to the Blog.

Don’t pull your hair out.

Sincerely,

Sarah

925 330-4257