Business Meetings

AKTION CLUB OF EAST CONTRA COSTA

2nd Tuesday, 5:30-7pm, Mountain Mike’s Pizza, 1185 2nd Street, Station M, Brentwood. Adults with Special Needs sponsored by Kiwanis Int’l. Info 925-890-2563.

BETHEL ISLAND LIONS CLUB

1st and 3rd Wednesday, 7pm, Scout Hall, 3090 Ranch Ln., Bethel Island. Info Dave 925-595-1451.

BRENTWOOD CHAMBER MIXER

3rd Thursday, 5:30-7:30pm. Info 925-634-3344.

BRENTWOOD ROTARY CLUB

Mondays, 12-1:30pm, Wedgewood Banquet Center, 100 Summerset Dr., Brentwood. Info 888-556-0083.

BNI REFERRAL FACTORY

Thursdays, 11:30am-1pm, Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak St., Brentwood. Info Liz 925-206-9314 or liz.litaea@lhfs.com.

BNI - GIVING TO GAIN

Tuesdays, 7am, Via Zoom. Info Maria 925-323-6313.

BUSINESS ON THE BAY

1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 8:30am & 11:30am. Discovery Bay. Info Michelle 408-891-0090.

CREATIVE COMMUNICATORS TOASTMASTERS MEETING

Tuesdays, 7:10-8:15pm, Kaiser Hospital, 4501 Sand Creek Rd., Conference Room IC, Antioch. Info Joe Amaro 510 812-2282 or ccclub.toastmastersclub.org.

DELTA NETWORKING PARTNERS

Tuesdays, 8:30-9:45am, Brentwood Craft Beer and Cider, 234 Oak Street, Brentwood, Gabriela Manciulea, 408 750 7436 or email dnp.brentwood@gmail.com.

DELTA TOASTMASTERS MEETING

Tuesdays, 7:10-8:10am, MiMi’s Café, 5705 Lone Tree Way, Antioch. Info Greg Hullen, President 707-373-6890.

DISCOVERY BAY CHAMBER MIXER

4th Tuesday, 5:30pm. Info 925-235-0987.

DISCOVERY BAY LIONS CLUB

1st Tuesday, 6:30pm. Discovery Bay Yacht Club, 5781 Marina Blvd., Discovery Bay. Info 925-240-3486.

EAST CONTRA COSTA REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATION

Coming May 19th George Papadopolous & June 8th Dr. Doug Frank. For more info republicanwomenECC@gmail.com.

KIWANIS CLUB OF BRENTWOOD

Thursdays, 12:30pm, Jalisco’s, 8335 Brentwood Blvd. #B, Brentwood. Info brentwoodkiwanis.portalbuzz.com.

SONS IN RETIREMENT-DISCOVERY BAY BRANCH

2nd Tuesday, 11:30am, Discovery Bay Country Club, Discovery Bay. Info Luis Figueroa 949-400-4715.

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF THE DELTA

1st Tuesday, 6pm, The Delta Gallery, 2485 Sand Creek Road, Suite 128, Brentwood. Info Jan Schults 925-890-6296.

WEBINAR WEDNESDAYS - 1ST TIME BUYERS

Every Wed, For more information contact Michelle Paxton, Sr. Mortgage Loan Officer, 408-891-0090.

Meet

Cultured Pearls

Museums, Theater & Live Entertainment

Contact Theresa at 925-642-7067 or Kellie at kkcandraw@yahoo.com.

Lit- n- Latte

Meets 1st Thursday of the month at 50 Birch St at 6:30pm. Contact Lydia at 925-548-5982 or Gina at 650-703-2935.

Movie Club

Meets 3rd Thursday of the month. Contact Lori at 925-628-7831 or Theresa at 925-642-7067.

Krafty Krafters

Krafty Krafter#1 FaceBook Group

Meets 2nd Saturday of the month. For more info Contact Lori at 925-628-7831.

Gamin’ Gals

Meets 4th Friday of the month. Contact Becky at 925-628-7923.

Lunch Ladies Meets 1st Friday of the month. Contact Donna at 925-813-1885 or Kathy at 925-759-1845.

This and That

Like to shop, eat out, cook a little, go to garage sales or gardening? Contact Chris at 925-628-3977 or Kathy at 925-759-1845.

Mom Tribe

Motherhood truly does take a village, come encourage and support each other. Contact Beckie at Beckiebarkley@gmail.com or Karley at Karley.hall@gmail.com.

What NOT to Do When Putting Your Home on the Market

Although it is not quite a Buyers’ market, Buyers have slowed down and now more than ever are looking for that just right home. As you ready your home for sale, you should realize that you can maximize your return with a few simple things like light fixtures or faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms will make a big impression and are affordable to implement. Don’t overimprove. Projects like adding solar and increasing insulation are better for the long term and not usually the best investment for a sale. Make any needed fixes to your space, but don’t go above and beyond—you may not recoup the money doing so.

A Realtor calls to let you know they will be bringing buyers by this afternoon. Great! You rally your whole family, Fluffy the dog included, to be waiting at the door with fresh baked cookies and big smiles. Right? Wrong.

Buyers want to imagine themselves in your space, not be confronted by you in your space. Get out of the house, take the kids with you, and if you can’t leave for whatever reason, and don’t go sit in the backyard if that is a selling feature, try standing on the front porch or walk around the block.

Over-decorating is just as bad as over-improving. You may love the look of lace and lavender, but your potential buyer may enter your home and cringe. Home staging is meant to create a neutral canvas that will appeal to the majority of buyers. Staging is all about de-personalizing the space, and creating more of a look that will appeal to most everyone. If painting, you should choose nice neutral and warm beige tones. People are quick to stage living rooms and kitchens and but don’t forget to spruce up the bedrooms, flex space and closets as well.

People love natural light, so don’t block any light with heavy curtains or furniture. Accentuate any attractive views. Anything dated in a home is a turn-off to a potential buyer and window treatments are one of them. Don’t be afraid to take down the curtains and just use the blind or just leave the valance.

Scale down your furniture to be in balance with the scale of the room.

Remember that the purpose of furniture when selling a home is to define the purpose of the room and to show what will fit where. Check that all lights are burning with fresh bulbs, and that all fixtures are working.

People care about the outside space just as much as the inside, so add flowers, add bark or rocks, make sure the lawn is mowed, the yard is tidy and add a few backyard accessories.

Above all don’t take things personal, buying and selling homes is very, very emotional. However, when selling your homes, try your very best not to take things personally. When a buyer lowballs you or says they will need to replace something you love. You may love your home, but that doesn’t mean that everyone coming through the door will feel the same way. Everyone has their own particular tastes and style. When selling a home the goal is to allow the buyer to see themselves in the homes and help give them a vision of what they can do to make it their Home.

Patrick McCarran is a local Realtor and Broker. Call/text 925-899-5536 • pmccarran@yahoo.com • CallPatrick.com Independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. In association with Realty One Group Elite DRE#0193160.