Did You Receive A Super High DWP Bill Too?

If so, you're not alone.  I'm hearing it from everyone lately that they have gotten bills in the thousands from DWP here in Los Angeles.  I also got one of these bills in March after moving in December and was SHOCKED at how much my bill was.  After calling LADWP (and of course sitting on hold forever before speaking with someone) it was explained to me by an employee that DWP changed the way in which they read the meters and bill their customers.  With this new change came a "back up" in their system and some customers, like myself, received bills that were for 4 or 5 months worth of bills all in one. So, here is my warning to everyone out there who uses LADWP, keep track of when you are receiving your bills and if you don't receive one for quite some time, then save up the money you would be using to pay it normally because you may get hit with a large bill where they have added a number of months together all on one bill.  For further information and reviews from customers, you can visit the Consumer Affairs website below or go directly to LADWP website.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/utilities/ladwp.html

LADWP 

And as always, if you have any real estate needs please call me.  I am always here to help!

Amber Dolle

Ohio In The House!

Just an odd coincidence or not but I leased a home to a great girl and her kids just a while ago and they were from Ohio.  Then I sold a condo to a really cool girl a couple months ago, who also, is from Ohio.  And now, I have this great couple who is looking to buy their first home together and low-and-behold, she is from Ohio.  So...I guess if you are from Ohio and looking for a home, I'm your go-to girl in LA.  Call me

                                                                         

My Own Home Buying Experince: Part 3

Well, if you read My Home Buying Experience: part 2 you know that I put an offer in on a home where they were asking $60,000 more than the home across the street that had a huge view and sold just a few months ago (pretty much the same house in all regards). They decided not to respond to my offer which they felt was low but I felt was more in line with the comps and what it was really worth.  Well, this realtor came back to me and asked me to resubmit my offer a few weeks later.  He said they had already had an offer that was near the asking price a few weeks back and that is why they would not consider my first offer.  So, I resubmitted the same offer as before. And as I wrote in my last blog, the home across the street sold for $60k less than what this home we were interested in was asking.  And according to the photos of that house that sold, it looked very nice and was completely remodeled. While this home we put an offer on and remodeled their downstairs but nothing upstairs. After speaking with the listing agent, he asked me if I had personally walked through the house that sold and I told him I had not.  He told me that the house had renters in it before it sold and that the photos were extremely deceiving, that the renters had really left the house in poor shape and that is why it sold at the price it did.  So I did my homework and called the agents that sold that home across the street and asked them about the house and the condition that it was in when it sold.  I was told that there were renters in the home but that they moved out and that is when the owner spent a lot of money to remodel the home then sell it.  I was extremely disappointed in this listing agent...I feel it is people like him that give good realtors a bad name.  And I know that there are many many more great realtors out there than the slimy ones but unfortunately, there are still some.  My husband and I were firm with our original offer which was more reflective of what the home's value would be at but again, they decided not to take the offer.  So, that just tells me that this is not the right home for us and that the right one will come up soon.  Moving on.....

Price vs Value: An Understanding of The Real Estate Market Everyone Should Know About

Anyone who is looking to buy a home or sell theirs should know about Price vs Value. There is what a home is priced at, and what a house is valued at, and those are two very different things. Anyone can list their home for any price they want, but they may not get it. Or they may get more that what they were asking.  I'm currently working with a client who had to come face to face with this last week, as many of my past clients have when they have been in multiple offers.  The agent working for the seller sent us back a counter offer that was $35,000 over the asking price.  My client couldn't wrap his head around going that far above the asking price, which I understand 100% what he was feeling.  And while I won't argue a with a client, because ultimately, every client has to do what they are comfortable with, I can at least write about to try to put perspective on it. 
For one reason or another, some homes can get multiple offers on it.  Maybe they priced it low, maybe there aren't a lot of homes out there to choose from, or perhaps everyone just really likes the front porch swing and wants to call this home.  Whatever the reason, going up against another offer can feel stressful.  Some people have felt that once their offer was accepted, that maybe they were paying too much...because their offer was the highest.  Other people have looked back and regretted not going higher on their offer when they didn't get them the home. But there is something that everyone should try to understand...there is an appraiser that will come by the house you have an offer on and tell you whether or not you are paying too much.  The appraiser's job is to tell you the Value of the home.  And just because the seller of the home is asking a certain amount for his place, that does not necessarily represent the Value. So if you find yourself up against multiple offers, and you choose to go forward and your offer is accepted, there is a portion of your contract that allows you to get an appraiser in the home to verify that you are indeed paying the value of the home at that time.  So yes, some of my client's have had to go over the asking price to get a home.  But then they got a home and they were happy to know that they paid for the value of the home, and not more. 
                                                                          

Joan's On Third in Studio City

I'm sure I'm not the only one living in the valley that originated from "The other side of the hill".  This is where we came for less expensive rents, more parking and less traffic (if that is possible).  But what we left behind on the other side of the hill was Joan's On Third.  Well, now they have taken the plunge and moved here with us.  Well, not really moved here but they've made a second home right here in Studio City.  And we couldn't be happier to have them. So stop by and welcome them to the neighborhood and see what all the fuss is about. You can find them at 12059 Ventura Place, Studio City along that little triangle street that starts at Trader Joes and ends at the entrance to the Vons parking lot. 
                                                          http://www.joansonthird.com/

The Top 8 Tips For Showing Your Home To Potential Buyers

Here are my best tips for showing your home to potential buyers

1. Put the lights on in every room including the closets and bathrooms

  Even if your home has a lot of natural light, it's better for a buyer to want to turn a light off than turn a light on to see the room better.

2. Add some plants or flowers to some rooms in your home

 There is something about a tree, potted plant and flowers that just bring life to a room and give it a warm feeling. 

3. Before buyers arrive, have a light scented candle lit for a while in the main area

 (I don't suggest leaving the candle lit when you aren't home for safety reasons) 

4. Take down or box up the extra personal items you have on tables, mantels and shelves

 Although these things may bring good memories to you, to others, they may just feel like clutter and the less cluttered your home seems to others, the better it shows. 

5. Have some very light music playing. Something like Bossa Nova or jazz and play it at a level that you can barely hear

 There is a reason restaurants and stores play music...it gives a lovely ambiance to a room and make people feel welcomed.

6. Make sure the temperature in your home feels nice

Some people are naturally hotter or colder than others and keep their home at a temperature that suits them best.  And then some days are just very hot or very cold so go ahead a spend a little extra energy making your home feel comfortable to others. 

  

7. Put your personal toiletries away

It can make a guest in your home feel uncomfortable when they see toothpaste, deodorant, or perfumes laying about so tuck them away in your cabinets for the time being. 

8. Take the pets with you

If at all possible, take the four-legged family members with you.  Not everyone is as in love with our pets as we are and pets can cause smells and allergies that turn potential buyers away.  If it's not possible to take the pets, put them somewhere out of the way and leave a very visible sign that the pets are there.

And maybe think of showing your home to buyers as if the most important person you can think of is coming for dinner and do the things you would do for them to make them feel welcomed.

New Law For Off Leash Dogs In Los Angeles

Even though we have always suppose to have kept our dogs on a leash while in public, LA will now be handing our stiff fines for those who don't.  Police will now be on the lookout for people who don't have their pooch leashed under an umbrella of a crime considered to be disruptive to the "quality of life".  You can read more about this in the LA Times with their article entitled "Walking The Dog Off Leash? You Could Be Fined $100 Or More"

                                                                           

The Top 9 Sites Everyone in LA Should Be Following

Anyone who lives in LA knows there isn't enough time to do and see everything that LA has to offer.  Not only is this city larger than some states, but it's filled with museums, farmer's markets, outdoor movie nights, live music, art walks, restaurant special events and much much more. But like myself, most Angelenos are always looking for something new and fun to do.  And along with wanting to know what we can do around town, we also like to know what's happening in the news and hot topics here in LA.  Below, you will find a list of the Top 9 sites to follow to get all the information you need while discovering LA.

#1 Experience LA
Experience LA brings you a calendar of events happening all around LA and surrounding areas. If you are looking to head out with some friends or perhaps you need an idea for something different to check out on your date this weekend, this is the site to go to.  From theater shows to happy hours and Greek Festivals, Experience LA is a wealth of things-to-do.  Check out their website and follow them on twitter to get updates on everything fun!
Experience LA
Experience LA onTwitter

#2 Curbed LA
Curbed LA is one of the most fun sites to follow.  If you want to know that one of the apartments Marilyn Monroe once lived in is up for rent, or see some of the homes that Wyatt Earp lived in here in LA, you must follow these guys! They also bring us great information about upcoming commercial sites that developers are planning all around town and fun residential real estate homes that are for sale.
Curbed LA on Facebook
Curbed LA on Twitter

#3 Our Ventura Blvd
If you have lived in LA for a long time like I have, you know there are certain areas that are up and coming, or changing in a big way. One of the areas that is undergoing some changes is the San Fernando Valley.  Just a little over 10 years ago, the valley was mostly known for being the suburbs of LA.  A place where you went off to raise a family or maybe lived in to be close to your job at the studios.  But now-a-days people are coming to the valley for restaurants, bars and other fun attractions. And because of that, Our Ventura Blvd is a great site to follow to find out what is going on the valley. 
 Our Ventura Blvd on Facebook

#4 All About Conjeo
Conjeo Valley is an area of LA that includes Calabasas, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills and a few other neighboring towns.  And if you've never been to these areas or think they are too far from where you are, you should visit them at least once. It's one of those parts of LA that when you are driving through it, you think to yourself  "This can't be part of LA. It's so nice and full of nature." But don't be fooled by the scenery because just by spending part of a day out here, you will see that many of the rich and famous have flocked to this area to call it home to get away from that "LA feeling"  And All About Conjeo will keep you up to speed on all the trending restaurants and new businesses popping up around town as more people call Conjeo Valley their home.
All About Conjeo on Facebook

#5 LA Times
I don't know about you but I'm one of those people who has very little extra time on my hands so watching the news is not something I can do often.  But I don't really think about it much because I follow the LA Times on twitter along with some other twitter sites they have for real estate, business and so forth.  So I get to keep up with the good, the bad and the ugly by reading articles they post to twitter.  This is one site everyone should be on.
LA Times on Twitter

#6 DowntownLA.com
...or DTLA as we call it here.  This is one of those areas that is very up and coming.  DTLA has brought in many high-end businesses as well as local hotspots, massive commercial renovations and real estate galore.  So get on subway (because you do know we have a subway, right?) and head downtown to see what all the fuss is about. And find out where to go when you are follwoing Downtown LA on facebook and twitter.
DowntownLA.com on Facebook
DowntownLA.com on twitter

#7 Dine LA
I have a hard time leaving LA and going to smaller cities sometimes and the number one reason for that is that smaller cities don't have the vast amount of restaurants that LA does.  There is nothing we don't have here and no time of day or night you can't have it.  But one of the best ways to find your new favorite spot or share your old favorite spot with friends is to find out about restaurant week and join in on what so many of us look forward to each time it comes around.  Restaurants all around LA participate in restaurant week by offering a pre-set menu at a fixed price so that you can come and try some of their prized dishes.  If you haven't joined the bandwagon, then jump on and you'll see why it is a very popular thing happening around town.
Dine LA
Dine LA on Facebook

#8 Discover LA
I know what you folks from NYC say about us...we have no culture here in LA, right?  Well New York, think again. Discover LA is here to prove you wrong.  With a list of the top things to do while in LA, and a guide to help learn about areas all over this huge city, along with so many resources of what we have to offer here in this SoCal city, Discover LA has it all!  So when your family comes to visit you here and you want to show them some of the hot spots around town, use this site to navigate your tour bus for the fam.
 Discover LA
Discover LA on twitter

#9 Amber Dolle
Am I self promoting? Yup! But just as I bring you the best sites to follow in LA, I also give you information about all your local farmer's markets times and locations, as well as hot properties for sale, events to check out during the holidays, and massive amount of information for you when you are looking to sell or buy a home. So follow me as I continue to be a great source of information about Los Angeles.
Amber Dolle on Twitter
Amber Dolle on facebook

                                                                         

Use A Well Known Lender When Making An Offer

I'm doing it again...putting in an offer on a place that already has 5 offers. So if you have found yourself up against multiple offers, there are a lot of different strategies you and your agent can try to work with in being the offer that is chosen but there is one very important key element... your lender.  The agent reviewing offers wants to know the home will sell and close and if you are using one of these lending companies you see on TV at 3am, chances are they will go with another offer.  So please get a local, well-known, trustworthy lender to help you with your loan.  And if you don't know of one, ask me for a few references when you call me to help you buy your home. Cheers!

My Home Buying Experience: Part 2

If you've read my previous blog My Own Home Buying Experience: Part 1 then you know we've been pre approved and I have a list of things I would like in a home.  So now we've started touring some houses a couple weeks ago and found that we weren't able to get the things we need in a home in our price range in the areas we began to look in.  So just like trying a new food, I kept my mind open and went to look at some homes in a different area and found that not only did I like the feel of the neighborhoods, but that we would be able to get a lot on our check lists in this area.  And while I thought I would be a hard customer to please since I'm in the business, come to find out, it's my husband who embodies a number of traits of a buyers that keep me on my toes as a realtor. There have been too many times I've come home and the table talk at dinner revolves me sounding like a broken record booo-ing about the fact that my clients try to find the value of a home based on a certain popular real estate website that may rhyme with pillow. That is the last place you should look to try and find the value of a home or base any offer or listing price from. But yet the other night, my husband says..."but I looked on this site and found the home should be worth blah blah blah".  This must be karma for something I've done, I'm sure of it..haha.  But we found a home we really liked this last weekend.  The downside to the home was that the kitchen was super small and so was one of the bedrooms.  The kitchen was updated and I could tell the home owners spent a lot of money since the cabinetry and finishes were top notch...but again, the kitchen was very very small.   The house across the street, which had been updated in the past 5 years and had a terrific view just sold 4 months ago for $60k less than what this home was listed for which had no view.  So we put in an offer that I felt was more appropriate to what the home was really worth without trying to offend the sellers at the same time (but even so, an appraiser would very likely take the sale of the home across the street and use it to value this home). But the according to the realtor of the home for sale, the sellers put a lot of money into the kitchen and downstairs floors and would not budge on the price regardless of the home across the street with the terrific view.  And my husband and I were not willing to budge on the offer we put in so moving on.....more to come soon.

Are We In A Buyer's Market Again?

Here in LA the real estate market has been as crazy as drivers on the 405.  It has definitely kept me on my toes the past couple years.  And here we go again...according the LA Times, we are headed back to being a "buyer's market".  So not only are the interest rates incredibly low but now buyer's may have some cards to play with when looking for a home and negotiating a better price and terms. Here is the article that LA Times wrote about it Housing Price Cuts Point To A Shift In Southland Market
                                                                              

LA May Be Handing Out Stiff Fines Soon If You Are Too Noisy

Wow...I don't know about you but I lived in LA for about 14 years and I've just gotten use to how noisy it can be around town. Not that I like it, mind you, but it just seems to be something I've put up with living here. Back when I lived in an apartment, it was common for someone to throw a party till all hours of the night, screaming and smoking and what-not.  Once, I called the police to come quite them down but the police couldn't even show up for hours after I called them cause...you know...they are busy with all the other problems LA has to offer on a Friday night.  So I just stopped calling.  But now there may be fines attached to a police visit if you happen to be a social host, or have a noisy dog or even if you are using one of those leaf blowers (don't start me on that topic...see previous rant of a blog from early this year).  Curbed LA wrote an article on these new fines that may be in the works if your neighbor is a noisy one.  What do you think?  To fine or not to fine? LA Going To Start Fining People For Fun Parties and Cute Dogs

                                                                           

My Own Home Buying Experience: Part 1

I've been working in real estate for years helping people buy and sell their homes.  And I really try to stand in their shoes when they have questions or have to make hard decisions and let them know I truly care for them and their outcome and work hard to be a great realtor.  I'm now about to start looking to buy a home again and I hope my experience can help me to continue to give great expertise advise to my clients.  So it is now August and I hope to buy something sometime from October to December.  But I'm already starting to prepare and here are 4 things I've done before I've started to go out and look at homes:

1. I reached out to my loan officer to get an idea of what we can afford. It is never a good idea to start looking at homes until you have your loan officer go over your financials to know what your price range is.  You will be shooting yourself in the foot if you look at homes in the $800k range only to find out you can afford $650k.  Then everything you look at will disappoint you from there on.  And no matter how much money you make, there are many factors that qualify you for a loan so don't assume that just because you are bringing in "x" amount of money per month, that you can spend it on a mortgage.   

2. I've already narrowed down the areas we will be looking. And don't think that just because I work in real estate that I should know the exact area I want to buy.  Like everyone else, I have a budget and I have a list of things I would like in a home and they don't necessarily work together in unison.  I will have to make sacrifices on somethings so I'm keeping an open mind regarding certain parts of town.

3. I've written down 2 lists of things that are important to me in a home.  One list includes "deal breakers" which are things that I can not compromise on.  The other is a list of things we would like, starting from most important to least. Below is what I've come up with:

Deal Breakers
1.  Must be in a good school district
2. Can not have a pool that takes up entire yard or is so close to the back of the house, there is little room to walk out the back door before falling in
3. Can not need major repair work if the home is close to our budget (i.e new roof or chimney is falling away from house.....)
4.  Can not be located on a major street with traffic
5.  Must be at least 1,600 sqft with 3-4 bedrooms and at least 2 full baths
6. Can not have crazy add on space or rooms that are nonfunctional or give the layout of the house a bad flow.  (being a realtor, not only are add-ons hard to work with if not done well, but they can make the resale of a home very bad)
 
Things we would like in our home (starting with most important)  
1.  Great location.  We are looking at a few neighborhoods in Encino that we really love, or Burbank would be nice and Woodland Hills as well.
2. Attached 2 car garage or at least a detached garage
3. Good yard space that is fenced in for the kiddos and dog
4. Open living/kitchen concept or the option to open it up (if budget allows)
5. Closets!!! I've lived in a home with little itty bitty closets...I don't need walk-ins but I need good space.
6. Good neighbors. I bet your asking "How would you know if they are good or not?" Well, you can ask questions like: Do you know if they smoke? Do you know them and can you tell me about them? You can also call the police station to find out if their have been any reports taken recently. And you can just look around and see how their home and yard are taken care of.  Listen for a loud dog in the yard.
6.  Don't want master bedroom to be adjacent to other bedrooms
7. Good laundry area not next to bedrooms
8. Some updating would be nice but if not, then the counters and floors need to look as if they've been well taken care of
9.  Would prefer no pool 
10. Would love trees in the back yard or shade coverage of a sort
11. Walkable to a park or some shops or restaurants

4.  And I've already got a automated reminder set up on my MLS that sends me new homes that come on the market so I can get an idea of what we will be looking at starting in October.

So I am still a few months away, and these are the things I've already done and if you are looking to buy a home, start doing these things as well! Keep reading my blog to find out how my home buying process is going and learn about things you should be doing when looking for a home yourself.  And call me....I can help you find a great home and we can swap home-buying stories while we are working together. 

                                                                                  

3 Things You Should Be Doing To Sell Your Home In Today's Market

It's May 2014 and the market is lighting up again.  Not only is this a big time for home owners to start listing homes with the summer approaching but interest rates are going down and this makes for a great time to position yourself to sell your home. So here are a few tips to get the best price and buyer for your home. 

First, if you haven't listed yet, you should talk with your realtor about stirring some buzz among other brokers before your house hits the market.  They should be talking about and pitching your home before it hits the MLS.  They should be talking about your home on all social media as well.  There is something about being able to get something that isn't available to the public that creates a great excitement with buyers which can lend some people to go ahead and put their best foot forward in terms of an offer right off the bat which can benefit you, the seller.

Second (and I've preached this one before but I find it so important, I have to say it again) Don't over price your home when selling it. In fact, pricing it just under the value will do you a world of good in the market.  And here is why...you are likely to get multiple offers when people see your home and it's priced lower than the competition.  This will not only drive up the price when buyers compete for your home, but you will also have a selection of buyers to choose from which is good for you in terms of finding the most qualified one for your home. So price is strategically and not emotionally!

And lastly,  go ahead and get it ready to be shown today.  Don't wait. Go ahead and get the landscapping done, clean the inside and get the photos taken.  The rates have dropped again and buyers are eager to make a move so you should be ready to make yours today too.

While your are thinking about buying or selling, think about this...The LA Times has turned to me time and time again for my expert option on our Real Estate market.  They know I work hard and I am the go-to person when it comes to buying and selling homes, and so should you.  Read the latest article from today's paper where I am quoted again New Home Single-Family Homes Jump 6.4% In April  And when you have any real estate needs, whether you are buying, selling or leasing, call me.  I am always here for you.  

Social Media And Your Real Estate Agent

How relevant do you think social media is when it comes to buying and selling your home? Do you think your agent should be an active participant on certain sites? The age group which is currently buying the most homes is somewhere between 30 and 50.  While 16-24 year old age group is still the largest social media users according to Smartinsights.com, 25-34 and 35-44 are a huge force as well.  And even more interesting, if you are 45-54 years of age, you are the largest growing users of social media.  And social media covers a wide range of uses...you can connect with people within your own industry, you can advertise your services or products, it allows you to reach out to people you would otherwise not have contact with, you can search for services and products, view people's opinions on them and put out your own opinion on anything you want.  Social media is faster and more accessible that a newspaper, is used by everyone from your neighbor to Target stores, your local police station and even the president of the United States. So, I'll ask again...do you think your Realtor should be on social media?  I sure do.  Because even if it's something you don't personally use, it is all around you.  I write blogs so that people can hopefully find answers to questions they may have regarding real estate.  But I also want to have a good "online footprint".  I'm on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Blogger, LinkedIn, Youtube, Google + and a few more.  I also use QR codes, mobile apps, Yelp, my own personal website and many other tools.  Doing all these things allows me to network with other Realtors, meet new clients, attract attention from people that can help my business grow, advertise your home and search for homes that may not be advertised for sale on the MLS.  You want your Realtor to have as many reaches as they can in their local community as well as online.  And social media is one of the strongest ways to do this.  So, next time you meet with a Realtor regarding buying or selling your home, try searching them online first and see what they are already doing for their business in terms of social media...it can really make a difference.