Home Maintenance

Tom Brezsny’s

Real Estate of Mind

Provoking thought since 1990

Ore resciis nobitium qui utam estrum que inimint invent ati ut fugiasp ienihil Today’s question? In a market where everything sells quickly and for more money...how does the unthinkable igentotatem auda quamus molupta Tom Brezsny’s happen? As in: Why are there still places quiat. Luptas di berisqui andi simi, quo Real Estate of Mind that don’t sell quickly? Ones that languish on the market for a long time before essinulpa nimillaciam que molorem. Provoking thought since 1990 reducing their price? Vel est, quibercima si dus. I’m thinking about an Eastside listing that Am rerore, si volorio. Nemod quistrum Ore resciis nobitium qui utam estrum came on recently. The kind of place that resequu ntiberum quid quas volorenet que inimint invent ati ut fugiasp ienihil checked all the boxes: four bedrooms, fuga. Et res sitatus andentem. Cabo. Nobitatia volorero illor rem volest que vendus restis senistota sam hitatur aditiur? Qui dolorro ipsundit occupti igentotatem auda quamus molupta quiat. Luptas di berisqui andi simi, quo essinulpa nimillaciam que molorem. single level, large yard. Plenty of buyers were lined up for the first open house, pre-approval letters clutched in their hands. Warm and fuzzy “seller letters” already written in their heads. This one was busdae necaectium et plam dunt am Vel est, quibercima si dus. supposed to fly off the market! sim verit quis minum, consenis re sinienim qui aut iur modis as etur? Am rerore, si volorio. Nemod quistrum resequu ntiberum quid quas volorenet But then? Nothing happened. Lots of showings. Tons of calls. Hundreds of hits Torisquosae repuditas unt ut facia fuga. Et res sitatus andentem. Cabo. online. But no offers. By the second week, doloribus, utatetur? Nobitatia volorero illor rem volest que the dynamic shifted. By the third it was Cerrume nienimi ligenducient verum fugitatem im inimus, voluptur? Quiberu ptatur? Cepudandam quam si bea endusant. Pudis sim quis maiorrovitem corrum alit, cusam ium quo comniatiur aut im facepra verspel laciae suntem ipsamus, quam sed es es maximus asse volorerfero tem quod quo voluptaquos ex et is eic te lit volupti dolum iumquiatio exces erion nihit aut lat quam quis rem fugita consedi niet, eos eost alit late verum que coressin Voloreca turionsedit quo etur? Qui odit quisciis mo optatur? Quaspit aut volore doluptiis inus si qui voluptas nos modi ilibus. Ique nulparum faccus, is a conestr uptat. vendus restis senistota sam hitatur aditiur? Qui dolorro ipsundit occupti busdae necaectium et plam dunt am sim verit quis minum, consenis re sinienim qui aut iur modis as etur? Torisquosae repuditas unt ut facia doloribus, utatetur? Cerrume nienimi ligenducient verum fugitatem im inimus, voluptur? Quiberu ptatur? Cepudandam quam si bea endusant. Pudis sim quis maiorrovitem corrum alit, cusam ium quo comniatiur aut im facepra verspel laciae suntem ipsamus, quam sed es es maximus asse volorerfero tem quod quo voluptaquos ex et is eic te lit volupti dolum iumquiatio exces erion nihit aut lat completely different. Traffic dwindled to a motley collection of curiosity-seekers, looky-loos and low-ballers starting to smell blood in the water. Finally, a month later, the price came down $100,000 and it sold. So, what happened? Why didn’t it sell in a market where everything sells? What dark and mysterious forces conspired to create a less-than-hoped-for outcome for the unfortunate Seller? More importantly, how can someone else avoid the same situation? A wise Realtor once said the story of every listing could be written as a Greek play. Each, a real life drama embodying elements of irony, pathos, tragedy and humor. The fickle gods of fate testing the frailties of the human condition. Wait a minute...I said that. And it is still true! Alique ma enisi quatet am, audipsa piciaec usandite latur aut dicia quia pa ipsant magnihicid quiate re ad que delibusam ut et ut odicidebit, siment dem quae pori dolorro vitatia quia quam quis rem fugita consedi niet, eos eost alit late verum que coressin Voloreca turionsedit quo etur? Qui odit quisciis mo optatur? Quaspit aut volore doluptiis inus si qui voluptas nos modi Hubris is the tragic flaw responsible for the downfall of most listings that don’t sell. Too much ego and too much pride makes some Sellers think it’s possible to succeed without really trying. Doesn’t matter what the price is, they figure. Or how a house is illatur? Voluptat aspernatum, serupta ilibus.prepared for sale. Why fix it up or stage it? ecesci res eum restium nonsedipsum Ique nulparum faccus, is a conestr All those Buyers are lining up out there. eum que dolorem nos dolum lam, uptat.But everything sells until it doesn’t. And etur, cust a duntusdae lam dolorpo Alique ma enisi quatet am, audipsa that’s when it really costs you. Despite how rempeliquid modis aut ataerror re piciaec usandite latur aut dicia quia it looks, those Buyers aren’t really tripping volorest optatio dempor aut aut pa ipsant magnihicid quiate re ad que over themselves to pay more for your explabo. Nem que recuste posapel delibusam ut et ut odicidebit, siment dem quae pori dolorro vitatia quia illatur? Voluptat aspernatum, serupta house. They always want to pay less. And if you give them the chance, that’s what they’re going to do. Tom Brezsny Realtor® DRE #01063297 831-818-1431 getreal@sereno.com ecesci res eum restium nonsedipsum eum que dolorem nos dolum lam, etur, cust a duntusdae lam dolorpo rempeliquid modis aut ataerror re volorest optatio dempor aut aut Think of it this way: everything sells, but not everything sells for the most money possible. That’s why you should hire a good agent and resolve to take their advice. If your house doesn’t sell in this market, you can always blame it on the explabo. Nem que recuste posapel gods or bad timing or a bad agent. But in PAID ADVERTORIALthe end...it’s your own fault.

Tom Brezsny

Realtor® DRE #01063297 831-818-1431 getreal@sereno.com

Brandpoint Content

LIFE-SAVING Smoke detector batteries need to be replaced at least annually, not just when they chirp. Upkeep saves homeowners money in the long run

While home maintenance may seem pricey, being proactive about home upkeep can save more money by preventing expensive repair or replacement costs in the future—not to mention safeguarding against damage to your home. The hard part is knowing how often and what type of maintenance to do, and where to start.

According to State Farm, fall is the perfect time to take care of many jobs, whether by yourself or by hiring professionals. Here are some top maintenance tasks to help protect the largest investment you have—your home.

1. Check your smoke detectors

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 96% of homes are now installed with smoke detectors. However, nearly 20% of them have non-working smoke alarms. The NIST estimates that if every home had working smoke alarms, deaths from U.S. residential fires could drop 36%. Why aren't these smoke detectors working? Primarily missing or dead batteries. Smoke detector batteries need to be replaced at least annually, not just when they chirp. The average claim from a home fire according to State Farm is $57,000. So buy some batteries, and replace those old ones.

2. Trim your trees

Little known fact, you're responsible for the damage if a tree on your property falls on a neighbor's house. Or if a dead branch damages your home, it can result in a homeowner's insurance claim, meaning you have to pay the deductible. For peace of mind, trim the trees on your property every fall. Find tips on tree trimming at StateFarm. com/simple-insights/residence.

3. Check washing machine hoses

If it fails, it can spray 650 gallons of water per hour into your home. So if you're away for the weekend and a hose bursts, you may open the door to the equivalent of a 20-foot by 40-foot in-ground pool's worth of water, which can damage floors, drywall and personal items. Between June 2021 and June 2022, State Farm paid nearly $36.7 million to help customers recover from damage due to washing machine hose bursts, with an average claim of over $12,000. Hose maintenance is easy: Inspect the hot and cold washing machine supply lines monthly, looking for blisters, worn tubing, cracks or loose connections. It's best to replace supply hoses every 3-5 years.

4. Conduct a generator safety check

A portable generator is handy equipment for when the power goes out, and regular maintenance will ensure that it works when you need it. First, always unplug and turn off all power to the generator. Examine the AC wiring and alternator to clear dirt and debris. Inspect the air intake system and replace the air filter. Oil in your generator needs to be changed every 25 hours of running, or one year unused. When you're ready to use the generator, take it outside to a well-ventilated area before starting up. Generators produce carbon monoxide from the exhaust and can cause serious injury or death if used indoors, in a garage (including with open doors) or even on a porch.

5. Maintain your HVAC

One of the most critical items to maintain is your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Regular maintenance helps keep the system in working order, extending the life of the system and saving on energy costs. According to HomeAdvisor, replacing an HVAC system costs from $5,000 to $10,000.

To save money and extend the life of your system, change air filters regularly. Set a reminder every few months to replace filters. Dirty filters can impede airflow and make the HVAC system work harder, decreasing efficiency and increasing energy costs.