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eautiful, spacious family home with approximately 3285 square feet of living space. Custom built in 1999 and located in the BEST part of Menlo Park only blocks to Peet’s Coffee on Santa Cruz Avenue, this contemporary home boasts soaring ceilings, an open floor plan, and a very private master suite sprawling the entire second floor.Best location in Menlo Park on a quiet, neighborly cul-de-sac right off Santa Cruz Ave, mere minutes to restaurants, shopping, and top Menlo Park schools!

An additional room adjacent to the master makes for a perfect home office or nursery. Downstairs you will find a formal living room/library/media room at the entrance, a perfect indoor/outdoor living space, and an oversized “endless” pool in the back. Charm, character, and newer construction all make this an ideal home for nearly every buyer. Appointment only, contact listing agent.

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JUST SOLD, Dec 13, 2011, $800,000, CLOSED IN 22 DAYS!

A whole lot of house & yard for the price. Updated 3 bed/2bath with family room & living room in the desirable Woodside Plaza neighborhood. New kitchen with stainless appliances, new baths with dual vanities, hardwood, recessed lighting, two gas fireplaces, new dual pane windows, new landscaping front & back, new stamped concrete hardscape, new paint, fixtures & white picket fence. Extra parking and storage in backyard.[/pullright]

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JUST SOLD, Dec 21, 2011
$1,835,000, ALL CASH!

Stunning, brand new, eco-efficient home offering three levels of contemporary living. The spacious, open plan is perfect for entertaining with tons of natural light and breathtaking views of the San Francisco skyline and surrounding Bay. Let your worries melt away as you watch the sailboats glide across the water, or take a leisurely stroll into town. This is truly a commuter’s paradise, only a half mile to the Ferry yet worlds away from stress!New construction, great location with unparalleled views. Best location in the Banana Belt, minutes to town – welcome home!

Selling a home is like going on a first date:  You always check out your competition in advance, clean your house in case you bring somebody home, and hide all of your baggage because who needs to see that?  Listing your home for sale isn’t much different, though many owners tend to forget the basics, which is why we will review them here.

One Chance at a First Impression

Every time a potential buyer walks into your house you want to show its best, though many common mistakes are enough to keep buyers from returning.  The basics of staging are: keep it clean, keep it simple, and keep it neutral.
Clean, Clean, Clean

The first thing you notice when you walk into a home is its cleanliness, which not only includes clutter and dust/dirt, but also smells.  Hiring a house cleaner to come in and do a thorough cleaning is a terrific idea as they will generally see (and clean) many of the areas you might overlook because you have lived with it for the past number of months/years.  A reputable cleaner will also be sure they do an outstanding job so that you will refer them to your friends.

Be careful, however, to not go too far in the other direction!  Many people will have their home cleaned and then install air fresheners in every room, which can have the opposite effect.  Buyers may stop to comment on the fresheners or may think that you are trying to cover up another odor – either way, you want their attention on your home, not on the smells!

De-Clutter

This is the favorite buzz word for many realtors, and for good reason.  The more “stuff” you have on display, the less the buyers will be looking at the home.  Many agents will advise sellers to start packing for the move – that will get you excited for your next home which also gets your home in great condition for selling!  Again, you never want to distract buyers from the actual purchase – if they are looking at your ski trip photos on the mantle, they won’t be seeing the beautiful mantle and fireplace… guaranteed.

Paint – the Biggest Impact for the Least Money

Neutral colors are what any stager will recommend, and that does NOT mean white!  White is a terrific color to make things look clean and simple, but very often also makes a home look cold and sterile – the last thing you want buyers thinking.  Neutral, warm colors are the best way to go, and you should be consistent with that color palette throughout the home.  Think beige, slate, or sage (or a combination of those).  You’ll notice that any new or professionally staged homes will stick with beiges and any related colors because that appeals best to most buyers, is least distracting, and is the warmest without being overpowering.

Work with What You Already Have

It is not necessary to buy new furniture to help with your staging. Very often you may need to purchase a few small items to complete the room, but usually your own furniture will suffice. One thing you may need to do is rearrange the way it is set up to make the space more appealing to potential buyers. For example, “framing” a seating area by creating an intimate conversation area will demonstrate how the room can be used for entertaining guests.

Lighting

Opening blinds, cleaning windows, and turning on lights will all have a huge impact on a buyer’s impression of your home. If you have dark, heavy curtains and very few lights, buyers will see a cave-like environment that is not very inviting. Dirty windows will have the same effect, keeping out light, and then the buyer may also start wondering what other simple maintenance you have neglected. Keep lighting fixtures clean and simple, and replace old, burned-out bulbs to give the impression of a light, bright, well-maintained space.

Case Study

The pictures below show two nearly identical living rooms of two neighboring condominiums in a building. The picture on the left shows what the condo looks like without staging – dark, dreary, cave-like.  The picture on the right shows what the home looks like with new paint, proper lighting, open blinds, and with a few pieces of staging furniture.  All things equal, which condo would you buy?  Which condo sold for a higher price?

Your Effort = Your Return

Staging a home for sale can range from simple fixes to more expensive alterations.  Regardless of how much money you spend on preparation, the simplicity of your staging and cleanliness of your home will have the biggest impact on getting a buyer to write an offer.  Remember, you usually only get one shot at making a first impression, so give it your best!

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nlimited potential with a VERY RARE almost one acre (0.89a) lot in Emerald Hills! Build your dream home overlooking the tranquil rolling hills and valleys, or use the already design-approved plans for a spectacular 3900sqft 6 bed/5.5 bath home and 608sqft guest house at the end of this peaceful cul-de-sac. You are going to love returning to your beautiful new home at 656 Park Road! Build your dream home nestled in the woods with views and privacy. You don’t find lots like this every day!

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tunning, brand new, eco-efficient home offering three levels of contemporary living. The spacious, open plan is perfect for entertaining with tons of natural light and breathtaking views of the San Francisco skyline and surrounding Bay. Let your worries melt away as you watch the sailboats glide across the water, or take a leisurely stroll into town. This is truly a commuter’s paradise, only a half mile to the Ferry yet worlds away from stress!New construction, great location with unparalleled views. Best location in the Banana Belt, minutes to town – welcome home!

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rchitect designed renovation of an original Eichler, many original details in tact while
updating for a contemporary lifestyle.  Situated on the best street in the neighborhood, this home provides an ideal opportunity for indoor/outdoor entertaining with its open floor plan, walls of glass, and contemporary finishes, while custom Eichler colors draw the
trained Eichler enthusiast into the space from the street. Best street in 19th Ave Park on a quiet, neighborly street, mere minutes to shopping, freeways and downtown San Mateo.  Top Aragon High School District!

1540 square feet of living space and a full two car garage provide ample living area for a growing family, with an additional artist studio in the back to foster creativity!  This secluded development seals the deal with great access to Peninsula freeways without any through traffic,  within the top rated Aragon High School boundaries while only minutes to transportation, shopping, and downtown San Mateo!

Appointment only, contact listing agent.

“Brian was attentive and listened to my requirements; he then efficiently presented the best options to me and demonstrated that he had really heard me.” - Matthew W., San Mateo, CA
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Brian is very aggressive and worked very hard on finding the perfect property for
our first home. He’s like a blood hound and a pit bull all rolled into one. - Jeffery A., Menlo Park, CA

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