I know I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: when it comes to real estate documents, the large print giveth and the small print taketh away. When you decide to purchase a home, your preliminary title report will include many paragraphs full of boring (but important) information, and potentially a few paragraphs with information … Read more
Recently, the State of California passed a law eliminating the ability of local governments to unreasonably restrict homeowners from adding a second unit to their property. One of the first considerations was to change the name of these units. They are no longer mother-in-law units or granny units; they are now Accessory Dwelling Units … Read more
Usually, I write columns to inform the public about matters pertaining to real estate and/or property management. However, this time I thought I’d write to Realtors directly about ways to remain safe. Many of these safety tips can be amended for anyone who meets with clients they do not know. Realtors often work with new … Read more
When you decide to sell your house, it’s important to show off its best features: the updated kitchen, the vaulted ceilings, the hardwood floors, and other amenities. However, if you forget to pay attention to the landscaping and other exterior features, prospective buyers may never set foot inside your house. According to recent studies, … Read more
I attended a meeting on May 4 hosted by property developers Guillon, Inc., where a dozen or so of the 80 neighbors who were invited came to hear Steve Honeycutt present information regarding a proposed development on the north side of Lover’s Lane in Ukiah. Guillon would like to buy 23 acres from the Dolan … Read more
As April showers make way for May flowers, it’s time to start tackling annual upkeep to keep your home in prime condition. You can start by grabbing a pad and pencil, and walking around your house to note all the miscellaneous maintenance needed in the coming months: the board in your deck that’s begun to … Read more
With summer right around the corner, now is a good time to prepare your property for the threat of wildfires. Most fires start small. If you are ready, you may be able to stop a fire from spreading. Be sure you know where the closest fire hydrant is, as well as your garden hoses and … Read more
As I said last week, when you buy a property in California, you’re buying it “as-is” unless you negotiate an agreement pertaining to a specific item. Without that special agreement, you’re accepting the property in its current condition. This is why it’s worth investing in several inspections. Once you’ve had the inspections pertaining to structures, … Read more
When you buy a property in California, you’re buying it “as-is” unless you negotiate a different agreement pertaining to a specific item with the seller. Without that special agreement, you’re accepting the property in its current condition. This is not to suggest that sellers can announce they are selling their property as-is, and then skip … Read more