Let’s Ask Katie

Dear Katie,
We have an inspection scheduled for a house we are buying and it’s supposed to be pouring rain. Should we reschedule it? Allison-Corona del Mar

Congratulations on being in escrow! There’s an old song, It Never Rains In California with the lyrics that sure ring true these past few weeks!, “But girl, don't they warn ya? It pours, man, it pours” A rainy day is a GREAT opportunity to check for leaks in the roof, look for drainage issues in the yard, if doors and windows are sealing and closing properly and much more! Your inspector will spend 1-4 hours (depending on the size of the home) inspecting and then will go over his or her findings after the inspection with you. You will receive a full report with photos so you have a clear understanding of the condition and features of the home. So, YES, YES, YES! Keep that rainy day inspection!

Hi Katie, We are relocating to another state for work. The thought of putting our house on the market is scary! Do we have to have Open Houses? We really don’t want a sign in front of our house either. Joe, Newport Coast

Dear Joe,
What an exciting and action-packed time you have ahead of you! To sell for the highest price possible in the least amount of time, you need to use all the “tools in the toolbox.” Keeping your listing a secret will not help you sell quickly. It’s important to trust your agent’s opinion of value and price at or slightly above value to generate as many offers as possible. Multiple offers generally drive up price and ensure you find a buyer who will be able to actually close. A sign with flyers with lots of information, interior photos and even a QR code to scan and lead potential buyers to a website is very effective at getting neighbors to spread the word to their family and friends about your listing. Worried about looky-loo neighbors? I view them as ambassadors to your neighborhood. Arm them with information and they just may help you find your buyer! I even offer neighbors a Sneak Peek invitation to view the property on Broker Preview days. It’s a great way for your agent to network with them! I’ll bet you have a few trips planned to explore neighborhoods and house hunt in your new state. Those are perfect weekends for your agent to hold Open Houses, and maximize the number of people who view your home. Remember to move valuables and documents to a secure location and ensure that your agent will be present with 1-2 additional agents (depending on the size of your home) to answer questions and be “pleasantly present” in the home for security reasons. Lastly, the best thing you can do is to agree to all showing requests and leave during showings. Make the house accessible and easy to view. For a few more tips, check out my blog about 5 Mistakes Sellers Make

Katie Machoskie is a real estate agent and team lead of Machoskie & Associates at COMPASS in Orange County. She has sold over $1 billion and she and her team of neighborhood specialists had over $172 million in transactions in 2022.

Have a question? Email her at [email protected] DRE#01380037