Does Every Bedroom Need a Smoke Detector?

Question: “I’m buying a home and there was only one smoke detector in the hallway.  My contractor says that’s fine, but my agent says they have to be in the bedrooms.  Which is correct?” Answer: Per California law, the smoke detectors must be centrally located outside each “sleeping area” (sounds like a bedroom to me).
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How to Know the Seller Will Make Adequate Repairs

Question: “We’re negotiating to buy a home and the seller is supposed to do a list of repairs before we close. How do I know they’ll do the work or if it will be done well?” Answer: Assuming you have it in writing that the seller will do the work, if they don’t, then they’d
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Should You Rush to Make an Offer on a Home You Love?

Question: My boyfriend and I found a home we love and the agent told us to rush to make offer.  We were not at all comfortable with her pushing us.  Do you tell your clients to rush to make offers?” Answer: In any market, timing can make or break a purchase. I’ve seen people lose
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Can the Acceptance Date Be a Weekend or Holiday?

Question: “My offer was accepted on a weekend.  My lender told me that you always consider the following Monday to be the acceptance date as far as when you start counting how many days you have for inspections and other things.  Is that correct?” Answer: Your lender has an active imagination.  And he’s wrong. Even
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Value Matters, Not List Price

“I’ve been looking at homes and made a few offers. My friend is a bookkeeper, but he has a real estate license, so he’s been showing me homes. He’s told me on several homes to offer over the list price, but I don’t feel comfortable doing that…” Answer: Let me interject two comments… #1: It’s
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Should You Get a Home Warranty on Your San Diego Home?

Question: “When I buy a home, I’ll get homeowner’s insurance. Why would I want a home warranty?” Answer: Homeowner’s insurance is hazard insurance and covers items damaged in fires, by water, by wind or other covered events. Unlike homeowner’s insurance, a home warranty covers parts of a home that can break down. These “parts” include
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Should You Worry About Unpermitted Home Work?

Question: “Hi Gary. My wife and I looked at a house that was perfect for us, but the family room didn’t have a city permit. What’s the risk of not having a permit? Answer: Four factors determine how concerned you should be about un-permitted work: What is it? Workmanship & code compliance Effect on resale
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Finding the Price of a Recently Sold San Diego Home

Question: “I just missed out on a house that I wanted. The sign says the house sold so I’d like to find out the price. Can you find out for me?” Answer: To paraphrase a recent president, it all depends on what the meaning of “sold” is. “Sold” may mean that the buyer and seller
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Do “Love Letters” to Home Sellers Work?

Question: “I read in the San Diego Union about writing a so-called ‘love letter’ to a seller to convince them to sell you their home. Do those work?” Answer: For many homesellers, it’s all about the price. But you’d be surprised at how many prefer to sell to a homebuyer that they like. It might
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Can Prices Go So High That No One Can Buy?

Question: “If prices keep going up like this nobody will be able to afford to buy a home…” Answer: That reminds me of a quote by famed Yankee slugger and English-mangler Yogi Berra. When asked why he no longer went to Ruggeri’s, a popular St. Louis restaurant, he said: “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too
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