October 7, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

DON’T WE LIVE in a beautiful place? I was walking Pokey T. Dog at 5:30 this morning (It’s a new habit I’m learning. Pokey has mixed feelings about it.) when it occurred to me that of all the nice places I’ve visited in my life, Lodi ranks high on the A-list. Climate: One of the best in the world. Location: Two hours from San Francisco, two and a half from Half Moon Bay or the beaches across the Golden Gate, and two hours from the magnificent Sierras. Ambiance: Tree-lined streets, a charming downtown area that’s only getting better, Hutchins Street Square, loads of parks and playgrounds, and for cappers, Lodi Lake and the Wilderness Area. The local vino is great and can be found in fine restaurants around the world. Lodi could be a destination city! Don’t let the word get out.

MY SELLERS at 2818 Battleview Place in North Stockton (Recently reduced to $349,950) have instructed me to tell you that they will look at ALL OFFERS! These folks want to SELL…NOW! Three bedrooms, two baths, Living Room AND Family Room. Wet bar in Family Room! TWO shop rooms in oversized garage! Almost 1700 square feet with NEW carpet, NEW vinyl flooring, and NEW dishwasher! Sellers say composition roof is about five years old. Laundry Room! Great neighborhood, too. Call for details or to arrange a private showing. Don’t miss this opportunity!

THREE IN ONE SWOOP: Statesman’s John Manguso just did it again! Last week, John closed three “sides” (two listing sides and one selling side) at the end of a two-week escrow period. The back story: John received an offer on one of his listings. The offer called for a very short escrow period (the aforementioned two weeks). He and his Sellers scrambled to find a replacement property, and as it happens occasionally, things came together magically for all parties. The home his Sellers found was a FSBO (For Sale By Owner). John worked with the FSBO Seller and arranged a “Single Party Listing” (a listing that only applied if John’s clients bought the home). He then drafted an agreement between the FSBO Sellers and his original clients. A win-win-win! Happy clients all around.

FOOTNOTE: John’s former-FSBO client came into the office to drop off his keys. He made a point of letting me know what a great job John had done for him, and how smoothly the transaction had been handled. Made me feel like a proud Papa. (Like so many By Owners, he had THOUGHT he knew what he needed to know about selling his home himself until John came over with the thirty-plus pages of required disclosure forms and other paperwork that’s part of today’s California real estate transaction.).

SPEAKING OF MOTIVATED SELLERS, the Sellers at 515 Sandpiper Circle want to get this 1412-square-foot single-story home SOLD. Recently reduced to $349,950,, this home has much to offer. These motivated Sellers will consider offers!

‘MOST PEOPLE think of success and failure as opposites, but they are actually both products of the same process.” Roger von Oech said that, and I agree! I walk Pokey past a bumper sticker that sez, “FAIL FORWARD”. Good advice. Have a great week! See you next Sat.

Statesman Realty Lodi, CA

(209)333-2380

1-800-407-SOLD(7653)

www.LarrySellsLodi.com

www.larryunderhill.com

Email: Larry@LarryUnderhill.com