Don King's Rancho Bernardo Blog

Selling a home in today's challenging real estate market requires more than just a sign in the yard and an ad in the newspaper. Sure, you may be able to sell a house that way but you won't get the highest possible price and you could waste a lot of time.A technology-based marketing approach is ne...

The latest National Association of Realtor's Survey Of Home Buyers discovered that 77% of all home buyers start their home search on the Internet.They also learned that buyers always prefer listings that have multiple photos or, even better, a virtual tour.So, how can a virtual tour help you to g...

I recently had an out-of-town buyer comment that the information on my web site is invaluable to anyone considering moving to Rancho Bernardo.It dawns on me that it is probably valuable to others too. Even if you already live in Rancho Bernardo, I suspect you will find information that you do not...

Recently, one of my listings was inspected by a home inspector I had not met before. This guy is a highly-qualified licensed contractor and really knows his stuff.We had an interesting conversation. He told me that, in addition to performing home inspections, he also works for insurance companies...

"Staging" is the hot buzz word these days in the real estate world. Staging refers to actions you can take or hire to be done that will make your property more appealing to prospective buyers.A whole new profession has popped up as people with interior design backgrounds become specialists in sta...

Pride of ownership is one of the principal advantages of home ownership. So it is only natural to want to improve your home. However, homeowners need to make improvements wisely. Some changes to a property enhance the value to almost the full extent of the cost of the improvement. Other "improvem...

I frequently receive a question from potential home buyers who also have a home to sell asking if they should buy first or sell first.If you are financially capable of buying your new home without selling, then you have options. You can buy first, move into the new house, and then sell your old o...

California homebuyers should make their purchase offer contingent upon being able to have the property inspected. And a licensed contractor should be hired to conduct the inspection.I have attended hundreds of these inspections. So let me give you the benefit of my experience so that, whether you...

Although not mandatory, over 90% of home resales in California include a home warranty. Unless you are purchasing a property "as-is" at considerably below market value, you should always ask the seller to provide you with a warranty plan.A home warranty or home protection plan is essentially an i...

There are two very good reasons to surround your home with outdoor lighting - it increases the aesthetic beauty of your home and garden, and also significantly improves home safety and security. A comprehensive outdoor lighting system can include attractive light fixtures to enhance the architect...