Homes for sale in Chico Archives - The Jacobi Team, Century 21 Select Real Estate, Inc.

How to buy a house in 2022

So you want to buy a house in 2022? Let’s look at some of the challenges you may face and then a strategy to overcome those challenges!

Challenges home buyers will face in 2022

1. Not enough choices

Most people have a list of things they want their next home to have. Maybe you want a home that has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and you want a split floor plan with lots of light and upgraded finishes. And you want the kitchen to be in the back of the house with a window that looks out into the backyard. And you want there to be a wood burning fireplace in the living room. Oh, and a pool in the backyard. So you pull up JacobiTeam.com and search for this house in Chico, CA and you see that there are currently zero for sale with those specifications. If this were 2014 you might see three or four like that in your price range at any given time, and more just like it as the price range goes up. There just aren’t very many homes for sale and it’s been like this now for three years. In fact, active listings have been declining since 2012/2013. And new home builds are way below what they should be to keep up with demand. Click here to see how many homes are for sale right now in Chico, CA.

2. Lots of competition

Let’s say, by some miracle, the exact house you are looking for actually does come on the market for sale! Yay! So you schedule a showing with your Realtor and decide you want to write an offer. You know the market is hot right now, so you offer a little over asking. You are getting a conventional loan and not asking a lot from the sellers. Then your Realtor calls you the next day and says there ended up being 7 offers on the house and your offer did not get chosen because someone came in paying all cash, short escrow, no contingencies. This has been the reality for many buyers trying to buy a home ever since COVID began.

3. High prices and rising interest rates

CA is at an all time high with median home price, and that includes Butte County where my husband and I practice real estate. Buyers have been able, for the most part, to still buy homes because interest rates have been insanely low over the last few years. But they are rising. All indications are that they will go up several times through this year. That means that not only will you be paying the highest ever price for a home, but it will cost you more to buy that home in the long run that it would have last year, when the rates were lower.

So why should I buy a house at all?

1. Renting is throwing your money away

When you rent, you are paying someone else’s mortgage, and furthering their wealth. You CAN still buy and I will tell you how in a minute.

2. Interest rates are still at historic lows

Even though interest rates are set to rise, they are still at historic lows. Over the next few years they may go up even more, so this year’s rates could be considered a good deal.

3. Real estate is still one of the best ways to grow wealth

Some people say real estate cycles every 10 years. That is true unless there is a recession or bubble burst. There was the recession in 1990. Home prices had peaked in 1989 and then bottomed out in 1997. Then there was the bubble burst of 2008. Housing prices had peaked in 2006 and bottomed out in 2009. That is seventeen years between peaks (peaked in ’89 and then down and back up to peak in ’06). But that doesn’t mean that if you paid $500,000 for a house in 2006 it took you until 2021 to be able to sell it without being underwater. Accounting for the amount you put as a down payment, and then the years you put in making payments on the loan, your equity probably caught up to you in about 2016. So for you, buying at peak pricing, means in about ten years you could sell it and be in the positive or break even. The more cash you put down, the safer you may feel buying in a peak. Just know that overall, the property will gain in equity in the long run because housing values continue to go above the previous peak and hold over the long term.

How to buy a house in 2022

As promised, here is what we are suggesting for you to get the best experience and meet your goals of buying a home this year:

1. Contact a LOCAL mortgage lender and get pre-qualified

Concerns that a seller has when accepting an offer from a buyer who has to get a loan inlcude, can their lender close the loan? Is this buyer actually able to borrow? Realtors who have been in the business long enough to do a dozen or more escrows begin to see which lenders do a good pre-approving their buyers, communicate quickly, and follow through with what they say their company will do. So the seller’s agent is going to advising their sellers to be looking for buyers with lenders that the agent knows can accomplish these things. That’s why working with a local lender with a proven track record can cause your offer to win over a buyer who submitted an offer but is using an out-of-town lender.

2. Have that lender pre-approve you

To get pre-approved your credit will be pulled, you will provide bank statements, W2, etc. Whatever the lender asks. The lender will be able to ascertain whether or not you will actually qualify for this loan. It’s more than just a conversation- it’s saying that you, the borrower, are 99.999% going to be approved for this loan. This will put you above other buyers making offers who are merely at the pre-qualification stage. All you have to do to get pre-qualified is to talk to the lender on the phone. No paperwork. No credit pulled. Just a conversation.

3. Determine your MUST HAVES and negotiables

Do you NEED a home that has brand new beautiful luxury vinyl plank flooring? Or, can you buy a home that has some other kind of flooring and then have the flooring you want put in before you move in? Being flexible on your needs and wants list will open up more choices of homes for you.

4. Find a Realtor

Find someone who works real estate full-time and gets back to you quickly. In this market you will need to act quickly when a home comes on the market and you want a realtor who is paying attention to you.

5. Focus on your price range or lower

Look at homes that are new on the market that are at or below the top amount you want to pay. If the house has been on the market three weeks or longer then you can look at homes that are a little higher (1%-3%) than you want to pay and may be able to get your price accepted if you make an offer. They are probably about to do a price adjustment anyway.

6. Highest and best

When you write an offer, make it the highest you are willing to pay right out the gate. Don’t mess around or you will most likely get beat out. This market is like a silent auction. Make your bid and hope it’s the best.

7. Other terms can also help you get your offer accepted:

*See how quickly your lender can close an escrow- if they can do it in 21 days then write your escrow for 21 days.
*Explore the private money, or bridge loan, option rather than getting a standard loan. This makes your offer as close to an all cash offer as possible. You need to have equity in your
current home as collateral to be able to have this as an option usually. You would buy your house with the private money loan then after closing refinance into a standard mortgage. Your
realtor will most likely have some private money lenders they can recommend.
*Offer to pay all the closing costs. Closing costs are typically 1% of the purchase price.
*Don’t ask for the seller to pay for any inspections. If you want inspections, pay for them yourself. In the Northern CA area you can get a whole house inspection for about $400, a pest
inspection for about $150, an HVAC inspection for about $100, a roof inspection for about $100, a chimney inspection for about $250 (including a cleaning), a pool inspection for about
$200, and a sewer line camera scope inspection for about $350. Other inspections include septic inspections (which if pumping or digging is needed can run $500-$1000), well inspections
($300-$700 depending on what you get inspected), solar panel inspections (price varies).
*Consider shortening your contingencies or releasing them altogether. There are ramifications to this, so make sure to discuss this in depth with your Realtor.

This article was written by Kim Jacobi, of the Jacobi Team of Century 21 Select Real Estate, Inc in Chico, CA. If you want to search for homes for sale in Chico, click here.

Stuck in a Lease and Wish You Could Buy?

Are you renting and stuck in a lease agreement and wish you could buy a house now? Don’t abandon your dream and wait! Interest rates are going to rise in 2022 and you will pay more for the same house if you wait! So here are three things you can do to buy NOW!

Check the fine print

Find your lease or rental contract and look for a section that talks about early termination. See if there are any fees or requirements for terminating the lease early. If the contract doesn’t say, or you don’t have a copy of the contract, then call your property manager or landlord and ask them directly! Some leases call for a fee or require you to pay two or three months rent in order to get out of your contract early. Find out! There may not be a financial penalty.

See if there is a waiting list

Right now, housing is in demand, and not just homes to buy. If you have a property management company managing the rental you live in, they may have a waiting list of people who would jump at the chance to take over your lease! Call and ask. If you deal directly with the landlord ask your landlord if he knows anyone who would want to take over your lease. If he or she does not, then ask for permission to advertise and look for people interested in taking over your lease. Depending on your area, you could advertise for free on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, or other online sites.

You won’t have two house payments at the same time

When you buy a house, there is a slight delay on paying your first mortgage payment! Let’s say you get an offer accepted on a home in February. It will take 30 days to close escrow. So then if you close escrow in March you won’t have a mortgage payment on your new house until April, or sometimes even May depending on several factors! We always advise our clients to give their 30 day notice to their landlord once we have passed about the halfway mark in our escrow and we see that everything is looking good to close. Because you won’t have a house payment for another month that gives you plenty of time to stay living in your rental, close escrow on the house you’re buying, and then take your time moving.

If you are currently renting and would love to buy a house before your lease term is up, reach out to us! We can help you!

Written by Kim Jacobi of the Jacobi Team of Century 21 in Chico

Taking on a fixer upper?

The real deal on TV home-remodeling shows

By Stephanie Brick, posted on the Washington Post website Click here to see original post
Oct. 22, 2018 at 5:00 a.m. PDT

It is no surprise that reality television is rarely a representation of reality. How genuinely can anyone act (no pun intended) with a crew of cameras and microphones within arm’s reach? From scripted dialogue to behind-the-scenes staging, reality TV has seeped into nearly every corner of the market, and home remodeling is no exception.

Through the evolution of television, facts and fiction have generally known their respective places and, even if commingled, remained distinct from each other. Historically, there has been a differentiating line between programming intended for entertainment and programming intended for information.

Blurred lines

The difficulty is that the television industry has increasingly blurred the line between shows designed for entertainment and shows designed for education. Channels such as TLC (which once stood for “The Learning Channel”), HGTV, and even the Weather Channel and various news syndicates used to be defined by either their informative or educational programs. Now, however, they are more entertainment than information channels: You are more likely to tune in to facts or reality — when it is even presented — encased by opinions, drama, heavy editing or outright inaccurate data.

How we process information changes when that entertainment/education line is blurred — specifically, when programs designed for entertainment start introducing elements of their show as factual (or vice versa). It is a sneaky way to tip the scales: The entire show is easy to register as entertainment. So when little “facts” or context-specific truths work their way in, we have our guard down and accept them, often without even thinking about it. At times, almost insidiously, these programs start to rebalance themselves in our minds as mildly educational. This is the danger zone of misinformation.

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As a design professional, I believe one of my responsibilities is to help educate my clients. Despite living in the information age, we are surrounded by misinformation — and it can be nearly impossible to differentiate between the two without proper guidance. I see the source of this problem regularly when I tune in to shows about remodeling. So how can you tell what is true to the screen and what may be — directly or indirectly — propagating misinformation?

When it comes to home-remodeling reality TV, context is everything.

First consider the context of the home: Where is it located?

In some renovation shows, the city, state or even country (a surprising number that air in the United States are produced in Canada) are omitted. This becomes a honey pot for misinformation when numbers are then, inevitably, discussed.

Pricing for materials, labor and overall project budgets are not consistent across the United States, and any dollar amount needs context to have value. A $50,000 budget will yield wildly different results for a project in the heart of an East Coast city than it will in a Midwestern suburb. Always think to question where a project is located if numbers are discussed on a remodeling show.

It should also be noted that budget and total project costs may be influenced by the channel paying its regular and/or guest cast members each episode. (Do you think the designers, contractors and homeowners are only receiving 15 minutes of fame as compensation?)

Next, consider the episode in the context of its series.

Does it follow a formula? Confident designer makes lofty promises on seemingly low budget; problems are discovered during demolition; lofty scope must be dramatically reduced “to resolve discovered problem” or an egregious budget increase is required . . . every time.

To their credit, many of these shows do an excellent job communicating this true reality: Once construction has started, sometimes hidden or unknown existing conditions are revealed that warrant (or require) an unexpected increase in scope — which results in an increase in cost.

For instance, disintegrating pipelines or tangled DIY electrical work behind drywall usually cannot be detected — or accounted for — ahead of time. (As I tell my clients, we are still working on X-ray vision technology.)

However, this does not happen with every single household or project. So if you notice it happening — on a dramatic scale — during every episode of a reality TV show, recognize this consistently injected drama for what it is: a real representation of renovation risks? Perhaps. An excuse to get out of building that third-story addition that was never even close to realistic for the proposed, yet accepted, budget? Definitely.

Third, what is the context of the final results you are seeing?

Extravagant scopes on extremely short timelines are simply unrealistic. In theory, you could hire a huge workforce — but have you ever tried to find more than one really good craftsman or contractor to work on your home? How about a hundred? Even with the best of laborers, tight timelines rarely set anyone up for quality success.

In recent years, the grand unveiling of these finished houses have been quietly revealed as — sometimes — just grand shams, showcasing a meticulously composed staging. What you see is a beautiful, furnished, finished space, but just beyond the camera’s precisely calculated pan is an unfinished room and incomplete home.

Not knowing a project’s geographic context can lead to a misperception of budget and costs. Having only the pinhole sightline of a camera’s view can lead to unrealistic timeline expectations — even if just as an indirect, trickle-down effect.

We all know building a custom home from scratch in a week is unrealistic under normal circumstances. But does it not still, despite this acknowledgment, make three weeks for a bathroom remodel seem a little longer than it should be?

Whether or not your project is filmed by a crew and broadcast to the world, all architecture projects are governed by three factors: time, money and quality. If you are lucky, pick any two — speedy schedule, low cost, genuine craftsmanship — at the sacrifice of the third.

Many home-remodeling TV shows seem to deliver all three. These may be excellent sources for entertainment but should be recognized as poor sources of information.

Stephanie Brick is the owner of Stephanie Brick Design in Baltimore.

A Note from the Jacobi Team’s Kim Jacobi: Hey! We hope you stick around on our website and check it out! You can search for homes, sign up for our newsletter, and more!

You Must Master This When House Hunting

Excerpt from: Take Note! This Is the One Thing You Must Master When House Hunting

By Jamie Wiebe | Sep 27, 2018 From the Realtor.com website

Average home buyers look at 10 houses before they find The One. And unless you’ve lucked out with a photographic memory, remembering the details of all those homes can prove challenging. Wait, which one had that weird bathroom? What was the address of that awesome house near the lakeshore?

If only you’d written it down.

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It might not be the most exciting skill to learn, but good note-taking can keep you organized and dramatically simplify your home search. Yes, you already know how to write things down. But are you writing down the right things?

Jot down your impressions of size

You might be wowed by the size of the place when you walk inside, but you’re omitting crucial information if you’re not comparing that impression with the actual dimensions. Most homes come with a spec sheet, and if you’re surprised to discover the cavernous living room is just 9 feet by 9 feet—smaller than your bedroom at home—then make a note. Clever staging might be tricking your eyes, and getting the space to feel that enormous with your own furniture might be a challenge.

“Looks can be deceiving, and many agents have the means to perfectly stage a property,” says Vincent Averaimo, who works in real estate law. “Sometimes that means it looks bigger than it really is.”

Record your gut feeling

When you step into the home, what do you feel? After a long day spent driving to a dozen different homes, you’re likely to forget that feeling.

So make sure to write it down. Did you feel relaxed and comfortable? Slightly ill at ease? Did an intangible thrill race along your spine?

“When you have found the home for you, there’s a special feeling that you get,” Roberson says.

While you’re at it, dig into the specifics of why you got that special “yes!” feeling. Was it the bay window in the master bedroom? The 500-bottle wine cellar you’re already dreaming of filling up?

“Note something you really love about the home or something that really bugs you,” says Maria Daou, a real estate broker in New York City. “If you don’t make these notes in the moment, when you are in the space, you forget what it is and all the houses start blending together.”

Give the home a numerical rating

Real estate agent Dale Schaechterle recommends establishing three “have to haves,” which must be included in your final home. Then, each time you visit a house, rate each of these must-haves from 1 to 10, with 10 being “exceptional” or even “better than desired.”

For instance, if you’re insistent on a three-bedroom home, then a home with more than three beds might get a 10, and a three-bedroom home gets an 8.

At the end, tally it all up to see which home has the highest score on the things that matter most to you.

“A perfect score is not the goal,” Schaechterle says. You’re looking for something with the best balance of everything you want that gives you “permission” to stop looking and write an offer.

Take pictures—of everything

Any good seller’s agent will stuff the listing chock-full of pictures—but that doesn’t mean you should put your camera away during the showing.

In fact, you should take photos of anything that jumps out at you—good or bad, recommends real estate broker Brenda Di Bari.

Did you absolutely adore the dual-faucet sink in the kitchen? Or were you uncertain about the strange laundry room setup? Flipping through your camera roll can help you recall the details that might not be pictured in the listing photos.

And there’s another darn good reason to take lots of pictures: Sometimes listing photos lie. A deck might look pristine on camera, but up close the boards are splitting and—oh, heavens—are those carpenter ants? Or perhaps a room that looked enormous feels more like a coffin in real life.

“Maybe there are areas of damage or concern that you want to consider before making an offer,” Di Bari says. A photo will help you remember.

Write down the renovations you’ll want (and look up their cost later)

Few houses are perfect. Jot down any obvious changes you’ll want to make—and anything that might impede a home improvement project. (Is that wall clearly structural?)

“Noting if [renovation] is even an option is really important,” Daou says.

Once you’ve figured out which renovations your potential home might need, suss out how much they’ll cost. Add that to any other must-change items, like a coat of paint, replacement gutters, or even furniture needed to outfit a bigger home.

“It almost always costs more than you think,” Di Bari says.

And what good is a dream home if you can’t afford to make it shine?

Note from the Jacobi Team

We hope you stick around and explore our website! On our site you can search for homes for sale in Chico and the surrounding area. You can also download our free Home Buyer’s Guide which is chock FULL of great info! Reach out to us if you have any questions! Thanks -Kim and Emmett

Pros and Cons of renting out a secondary unit

By Jeanne Sager | May 7, 2018 on Realtor.com

An in-law unit can be a major selling point when you’re buying a house. It’s the perfect guesthouse for short-term visits (your adult children coming for Christmas) or long-term stays (Grandma moving in with you). But what can you do with your in-law unit while it’s sitting empty? Some homeowners opt to rent it out.

Nothing sounds sweeter than extra monthly cash flow, but is it really that simple? Let’s dive into the pros and cons of renting out your in-law unit and what you can expect to deal with as a property manager.

What is an in-law unit?

To qualify as an in-law unit, this part of the house should have its own entrance, bathroom, and kitchen or kitchenette, says Stephanie Trevizo, a real estate agent and landlord in Los Angeles. If your home listing says it comes with an in-law unit, you should make sure it legally qualifies as one in your municipality. “This can usually be done by calling your local housing authority or city,” Trevizo says.

Benefits of renting out an in-law unit

As Trevizo points out, homeowners stand to make extra income with a space they’re not already using, and they can do so with relatively little intrusion on their everyday lives. Because of their separate entrance, in-law units offer homeowners privacy and a sense of distance from their renters, something that wouldn’t happen if you were renting out a room in your home.

In-law units are also attractive to renters, which can make it easier for you to find a tenant. Because an in-law unit is part of a home, it’s likely located in a community largely made up of single-family homes. “Some [renters] choose these types of units to get into certain school districts,” Trevizo notes. “The landlords tend to be more flexible than a management company at an apartment complex.” What’s more, if you’ve already furnished your in-law unit for visits from your guests, you have the advantage of being able to list it as a furnished unit for short-term rental on sites such as Airbnb or HomeAway.

Then again, the separate entrance and all-in-one amenities (e.g., private bathroom and kitchen) make most in-law units great for extended-stay rentals as well, says Rob Stephens, co-founder and general manager of Avalara MyLodgeTax, a company that provides lodging tax compliance solutions for property managers. If you know the unit will sit vacant for a while, an in-law unit can be turned into a more traditional rental, with long-term monthly or even yearly leases.

Click Here to see if there are any homes for sale in Chico with a mother-in-law unit!

Disadvantages of in-law unit rentals

Before renting out your in-law unit, you must ask yourself if you’re ready to deal with a tenant in your personal space. Separate entrance and bathroom aside, the tenant will still be living on your property, so you’re both certainly going to have some personal interaction at some point.

There are also a few other questions to consider, says Kimberly Smith, a broker with AvenueWest Global Franchise, in Denver. For example, will the tenants’ noise bother you or your noise bother them? Will you feel safe? Are you comfortable renting to someone with a pet? Do you have enough room for them to park their car, or will that require daily communication?

Because renting out an in-law unit is legally equivalent to renting out any other piece of property, you do need to follow the laws of your local municipality, Stephens says. In the case of a short-term rental such as an Airbnb, you may be required to collect occupancy taxes, register guests, and sometimes obtain a license from your local authorities.

“Requirements to register and the occupancy tax rate that needs to be collected vary by city, county, and state across the U.S.,” Stephens says. “In some areas, you may only need to complete one registration form and remit taxes to one tax agency. In other markets, there are usually three to four different registrations that need to be completed, which include some form of licensing with the separate city, county, and state agencies. In about half the markets across the U.S., you will need some form of business or rental license. In other markets, you simply need to register and pay the occupancy taxes, not obtain a license.”

In other words, you’ll need to check with the city, county, and state where your home is located before you decide to become a landlord, even if it’s for the short term.

Renting out your in-law unit could also have an effect on your homeowner insurance policy, so it’s important to call your insurance agent before you put up that rental ad. Because renting is defined as a business activity, your typical homeowner policy will not cover losses related to your rental, Stephens warns.

One final consideration, and this is a big one: the responsibility that comes with maintaining a property.

“This could mean late-night phone calls about problems the tenants are having with the home,” Trevizo warns.

As the property manager, you’ll be on the hook for a number of things, including collecting rent, setting lease terms, handling repairs and emergencies, dealing with security deposits, and filing taxes on the property.

“There is always the risk that you may have to evict a tenant, which could be costly and time-consuming,” Trevizo says.

From Emmett and Kim Jacobi of the Jacobi Team of Century 21 in Chico, CA:
If you are interested in purchasing a property you can rent out and have questions or want guidance in finding just the right property, then please reach out to us! We are full time real estate agents here in Butte County and serve not only the Chico area, but also Orland, Oroville, Durham, Paradise, Magalia, and Butte Valley. Also, we hope you stick around on our website and check out all that we have to offer here!

What to know about Luxury Real Estate

Housing was one of the few economic bright spots in 2020, and the luxury market was even brighter than real estate as a whole. Even better: This trend doesn’t look like it’s going away soon.

There are plenty of reasons for the success in the luxury sector. Let’s take a look at a few factors that led to a surge in demand last year — and some that may continue it into this year.

Health and wellness amenities are in high demand. Amenities like home gyms, chef’s kitchens, swimming pools, tennis courts and other luxe recreational features are in demand, especially as a hygienic alternative to public entertainment opportunities.

Families are in need of more space. Many households saw additional family members move in during 2020, and remote work and school-at-home arrangements exploded. These conditions call for more space than many lower-priced homes have to offer.

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Mortgage rates are at record lows. Lower interest rates allow homebuyers to consider larger, more luxurious and higher-priced properties than they otherwise could afford. Rates are expected to remain near record lows for the near future.

The suburbs and rural areas are booming. The pandemic caused an exodus from large, cramped cities. Many households gravitated toward the open spaces of more spread-out communities and suburbs.

Millennials are buying into luxury. In a reversal of the exodus mentioned above, millennials have caused a boom in the luxury condo market. They often prefer more compact housing with access to communal amenities and social opportunities.

The luxury housing market weathered 2020’s storms for these reasons and more — and it looks like it will remain strong in 2021.

Get in touch if you have questions or need help finding a luxe property that meets your needs.

What you need to know about buying a home during COVID

All across the United States people are still buying and selling houses despite the presence of COVID 19. At record numbers in fact. The Chico, CA area is no exception. Inventory in Chico today (as of publishing date it is Jan 2021) is almost as low as it was right after the Camp Fire in 2018, when houses were flying off the market, being purchased by fire victims who received their insurance money and wanted to put down roots again in the area. Here is how we are handling the process of buying a home or selling a home in our Chico area during this pandemic.

Virtual meetings, In-person showings

It is hard to imagine making the single most biggest purchase of your life without seeing the house in person first. We are still showing houses in person, but all other interactions, when possible, we are doing via ZOOM or by phone. For example, filling out paperwork can be done virtually. Texts, emails and phone calls handle any and all questions and updates with clients. But when it comes to considering a house to buy, you can still see the house in person. Here are the safety guidelines that the California Association of Realtors have put into place for showings:

Rules for Realtors about showings during the Pandemic

On July 2, 2020, the Departments of Public Health and Cal/Osha revised their posted “Industry Guidance: Real Estate Transactions,” which contains a host of rules detailing how properties must be shown during COVID-19. Here are the 8 steps they published for realtors and brokers to comply with:

Step 1: Adopt a “Prevention Plan.”

Step 2: Do not hold “traditional” open houses or showings that are open to the general public on a walk-in basis.

Use an appointment or digital sign-in process to control the number of people at the house. If you are going to hold a non-traditional “Open House,” then any “Open House” signs or ads must include a rider or express condition that appointments or digital sign-in are required before entry. Showings should be done virtually, whenever possible. Only one listing agent and one “buying party” (including the buyer’s agent) may be in the dwelling at the same time.

Step 3: All visitors must sign a PEAD-V form and deliver it electronically to the listing agent in advance of entering the property.

The form should be signed on the day of entry, or if not possible or pragmatic, then no earlier than 24 hours before entry. Doing this accomplishes several things:
a) It is an agreement that the visitor will comply with the Posted “Rules for Entry Showings” (Form PRE)
b) The visitor acknowledges receiving and agrees to the Prevention Plan
c) The visitor attests they are not, to the best of their knowledge, afflicted with COVID-19, among other things.

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Step 4: The Posted Rules for Entry must be posted at the entrance to the property and be clearly visible.

Also link to or publish these rules in MLS listings and publicly online.

Step 5: The property must be equipped with hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes. Face coverings are to be available in case any person did not bring their own.

Step 6: The property must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Commonly used surfaces such as counters, door and cabinet handles, key lock boxes, keypads, toilets, sinks, light switches, etc., must be cleaned and disinfected before and after each showing. The agent who shows the property shall follow cleaning and disinfecting protocols and provide sanitation products unless otherwise agreed. Keep in mind that the brokerage whose plan is being
implemented (almost always the listing brokerage) must regularly evaluate the plan for compliance and correct deficiencies identified. May a seller do the cleaning? If current occupants are present and/or participate during showings, they should adhere to the same cleaning and disinfecting protocols.

Step 7: Open doors and windows, weather permitting, to introduce fresh air. Also, doors and other areas of ingress and egress must be opened to minimize clients touching surfaces.

Step 8: Prior to or immediately upon entry, all visitors must use hand sanitizer or wash their hands with soap and water before touring or inspecting the property.

Real Estate is an essential business

Since we are considered essential then we are still able to conduct business and be there for our clients. It has been amazing to watch the industry and our clients adjust to this new norm. More than ever, technology is playing a huge role in searching for houses, writing contracts and signing documents, negotiating, and passing along information.

Inspectors, lenders and title companies are all a part of the essential business of real estate. Inspectors are all still available and working here locally in Chico. We aren’t sure how the rest of the country is doing in that category but here in Butte county, it’s business as usual for the inspectors. They also have to follow the guidelines posted previously in this blog. Title companies locally are locking their doors but still working like busy bees behind closed doors to close escrows. When it comes time to sign the closing documents, mobile notaries are being mobilized and meeting clients (face masks on!) to have clients sign documents that need to be notarized. If you are buying a home with all cash you won’t need a notary so the title company can Fed Ex or email the documents for you to sign and send back.

The moral of the story is, now is still a great time to sell or buy. Inventory here in Chico and the surrounding areas is less than a month of inventory. In other words, if we stopped taking new listings from today, then Chico would sell out of homes in less than a month. Prices are the highest they’ve been in Chico since 2005. But buyers still have incredible buying power because interest rates have been holding at record lows. So even though a house costs more on its price tag today than it did two years ago, for example, your monthly payment will be lower than it was two years ago because your interest rate today is low enough today to make up that difference.

We hope you stick around and check out our website. There is a lot of information here to check out and you can also search for local homes and get local market reports. If you want to chat with us give us a call today!

Written by Kim Jacobi, Jacobi Team Century 21 Chico

7 Small Tasks for January Decluttering and Organizing

If decluttering and organizing is on your New Year’s resolutions list, you might start visualizing your goal by saving photos of your favorite organized spaces to a Houzz ideabook. But at some point, you’ve got to go from dreaming to taking action. As a professional organizer, I recommend that you begin with tasks that take only an hour or two to complete.

Tackling smaller areas of your home can give you a sense of accomplishment that motivates you to continue organizing. Here are seven often-neglected areas that can be great places to start. Depending on the time you have, you may be able to get through several of these tasks this month.

1. Organize the Linen Closet

Linen closets can easily become disorganized, cluttered and overstuffed. Sometimes it may even become hard to close the door. The new year is a great time for a fresh start in this area.

Towels

Towels should be washed once or twice a week to maintain freshness and eliminate bacteria. I suggest keeping two to three bath towels per household member so you have a backup on wash day. If you have more towels than you truly need, consider getting rid of any that are faded, stained or frayed. A local animal shelter will probably be happy to receive them.

Sheets

Two sets of sheets per bed should generally be sufficient. If you use a duvet cover without a top sheet, there’s no reason to hang on to unused top sheets. Donate those that are in good shape.

Blankets

I recommend not letting the linen closet become a catchall for blankets you never use. Small fleece blankets commonly given as promotional items might be stashed and never looked at again. Consider parting with these and any other unused quilts, throws or comforters.

Once you’ve pared down your supply, I suggest labeling shelves to identify which linens belong where. You might use categories such as “master bedroom sheets,” “twin bed sheets” and “guest room sheets.” Alternatively, if your budget allows, you might consider purchasing containers to store bed and bath linens. Label your containers and store sets together: A queen-size top sheet, fitted sheet and matching pillowcases should go in the same bin to make it easy to find the whole set.

2. Clean Out the Coat Closet

A coat closet is valuable real estate that not everyone has the good fortune to possess. However, it can become a disorganized mess if not attended to periodically. Now might be a good time for a quick purging and organizing session.

When working with clients, I recommend they pull everything out of the closet and place coats, jackets and accessories on a clean table or other work surface. My clients are often surprised by how much a small space can hold!

Outerwear

Since this category of clothing tends not to be sentimental, it’s often easy to donate items you no longer use. If you happen to be saving outgrown jackets for a younger sibling, consider storing them away from this prime spot. Likewise, consider storing seasonal items like ski jackets with ski equipment.
You might find jackets and coats that were mistakenly left at your home after a party. In the future, return them in a timely fashion so they won’t continue to crowd your coat closet.

Accessories

Gloves, hats and scarves can usually be sorted quickly. Donate those you no longer use. Toss old gloves or mittens that are missing their mate. It might make sense to store rarely worn sentimental clothing such as logo hats and scarves — perhaps from your college, vacation or favorite sports team — in another part of the house.

Shoes

These have a way of piling up. Toss overly worn shoes and those without a mate. Consider donating outgrown children’s shoes that are still in good shape. It might be best to store athletic shoes and cleats in the garage or other storage area so they don’t give your closet an unpleasant odor. I recommend storing special-occasion shoes on the top shelf of your bedroom closet.

Random items

Now is the time to return random items stashed in the coat closet to their proper homes. Before entertaining, some of my clients throw clutter from counters and tabletops into boxes that they stash in the back of the coat closet. If you have such boxes, commit to sorting through them. You may discover a lost treasure buried there.

When returning coats and jackets to the closet, you might organize them by category (all raincoats together, for instance). Another option is to group coats and jackets according to their owner. You might want to invest in an over-the-door organizer to hold accessories. These can be great for storing gloves, hats and scarves.

Also consider giving yourself a deadline to get any donations out of the house so they don’t end up back in the closet.

3. Declutter Under the Kitchen Sink

Since the area under the kitchen sink is small, it can usually be transformed in less than an hour. Start by pulling out all the contents and placing it on a counter or table. Then wipe the interior of the cabinet clean with warm, soapy water.

Next address your undersink products. Consider consolidating duplicates. For example, two half-used containers of dishwasher pods might be consolidated into one. (Take care not to mix products, as cleaning agents containing ammonia and bleach create toxic fumes if combined.)

Toss any products that have dried out or are no longer needed. People sometimes collect free samples of dishwasher soap or other cleaning products and then never use them. Consider getting rid of such samples or at least using them in the coming weeks so you don’t end up storing them indefinitely.

Wipe off remaining products with warm, soapy water. I suggest corralling supplies in plastic storage caddies to help the space under the sink stay neat. If you don’t want to purchase new caddies, you may be able to repurpose containers you already own.

Group similar products: dishwashing products in a single container, cleaning supplies in another. If you need more storage, you might consider purchasing an organizer that attaches to the cabinet door.

4. Purge the Freezer

Many people clean out their refrigerator on a regular basis yet don’t address the freezer.

Begin by removing all of the contents. Wipe down the freezer with warm, soapy water.

Consider tossing foods that have been in the freezer for many months. It’s safe to freeze food indefinitely at 0° F but, according to the FDA, the food’s quality decreases the longer it’s frozen. Tenderness, flavor, aroma, juiciness and color can all be affected. The quality of ground beef declines in three to four months, for example, while chicken pieces will last for nine months, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The quality of soups and stews starts to degrade in two to three months.

If you don’t want to throw food away, you might instead eat it now before the quality deteriorates further. Also pitch foods that haven’t been properly wrapped and have freezer burn or are covered in ice crystals.

5. Clean Out the Kitchen Junk Drawer

Often my clients have one or more junk drawers in the kitchen. These might contain pens, receipts, hair ties, screwdrivers, flashlights, power cords, earbuds, lip balm, old sunglasses, packing tape, old cell phones and a multitude of other random items. It’s often difficult to find anything in them because they’re so messy.

I suggest limiting your kitchen junk to just one drawer, and try to limit its contents to things you use every day.

To organize this area, I recommend first removing everything from the drawer. Toss anything broken or unusable, such as dried-out pens. Toss or file old receipts. Consider donating unused items that still have life in them, such as old sunglasses. Remove the SIM cards from old cellphones and recycle the phones at a local electronic-waste-disposal site.

Then return the items you want to keep — but not in the junk drawer — to their proper homes: tools to the toolbox, hair ties to the bathroom drawer.

For the items that will remain in the junk drawer, consider purchasing organizers or repurposing small containers to keep the drawer from becoming chaotic. Use these containers to store everyday items such as earbuds, phone chargers, pens, tape and scissors.

Since a junk drawer has the tendency to become a dumping ground, spend a few minutes each month removing things that don’t belong there and returning them to their proper homes.

6. Refold the Contents of your Sock and Underwear Drawer

Underwear and sock drawers can easily become a tangled web. The trick to corralling socks and lingerie is to break a large drawer into smaller sections and group similar items within each.

I recommend purchasing inexpensive drawer organizers. Collapsable cloth boxes or plastic containers are a good choice, or you can repurpose shoe or photo boxes. Spring-loaded plastic drawer dividers are another option.

To begin the organizing process, I recommend removing the contents of the drawer. Toss socks without a mate as well as anything else that has reached the end of its functional life.

I have a large drawer, so I divided it into five sections: bras, underwear, athletic socks, dress socks and tights. The boxes I purchased happen to fit perfectly in my drawer. If you can’t find a good fit for yours, consider spring-loaded dividers, which can be adjusted to fit most drawers.

You can fold bras and arrange them vertically within one box so that you can easily find the one you want. I recommend folding underwear neatly in another box and tights in a third. For socks, organizer Marie Kondo recommends folding them and storing vertically. If this doesn’t work for you, opt for the old-fashioned method of rolling each pair in a ball. Consider storing athletic socks in a separate container from dress socks.

I’ve found that my underwear and sock drawer has stayed neat and organized since I purchased drawer organizers. It’s easy to maintain and I don’t have to spend time each month tidying it.

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7. Organize Your Bathroom Drawer

Like any drawer that holds small items, the bathroom drawer can quickly become a jumbled mess without the use of drawer organizers. Fortunately, these are available in many shapes and sizes. Some people like individual clear plastic containers that fit products such as toothpaste, dental floss and razors.

I recommend that you measure your bathroom drawer before you purchase to ensure the correct fit. If you buy different sizes, they fit like a puzzle in the drawer, so be careful when measuring. It may be more economical to purchase one large organizer that’s divided into sections.

For this room, I do recommend purchasing organizers rather than repurposing existing containers. Bathroom drawers are shallow, and organizers also need to be able to stand up to moisture, so if you intend to repurpose containers, keep this in mind.

As with the previous tasks, begin by emptying and wiping out the drawer. Toss anything that’s dried out or unusable. Make room in your organizers for daily items like toothpaste, floss, razors, moisturizer and sunscreen. Create a space for cosmetics you use often. If you own a lot of makeup, you may want to store the less frequently used items in a container under the sink.

Once you’ve completed these seven tasks, give yourself a small reward. If you’re motivated to continue decluttering your home, you might even consider seven slightly larger tasks to focus on next month.

Written by Jeanne Taylor, found on the Houzz.com website

Hi from Emmett and Kim! We are a husband and wife real estate team here in Chico, CA with Century 21 Select Real Estate. We hope you stick around and check out our website! You can search for homes for sale in Chico or towns around it. You can get answers to your questions about buying a home or selling a home. You can even sign up to have an online consultation with Kim or Emmett about buying a house! Call us if you just want to talk real estate.

Electric Floor Heating

Radiant floor heating systems heat a room by means of a system of pipes or wires that run beneath the surface flooring to gently radiate heat upward into the room. Such systems offer a good way to heat a room addition where it is difficult to extend existing HVAC ductwork, and they are especially effective on flooring surfaces that are naturally cool to the touch, such as stone, concrete, or ceramic tile. Radiant floors can also be a good choice in large, tall rooms since the heat source emanates at floor level, where the heating is most needed. And particularly in rooms where you walk with bare feet (the prime example is a bathroom), a radiant floor makes for unparalleled comfort.

Radiant floor systems come in several styles, but one of the most popular is the electric system, in which a wire mesh or loops of individual wires run across the floor beneath the surface, creating warmth by means of the natural resistance occurring as electricity flows through the metal wires.

Anatomy of an Electric Radiant Floor Heating System

The principle of radiant floor heating has been around for centuries. In ancient Rome, for example, many public buildings had a system of tunnels beneath stone floors that circulated air warmed by wood-burning fires. In the modern electric adaptation, thin heating cables installed under surface flooring—most commonly ceramic tile—heat the floor much the way an electric blanket works. Typically they are operated by their own 15- or 20-amp electrical circuit controlled by a wall thermostat. Often such systems are used to provide supplemental heat and are installed during remodeling projects.

Most electric radiant floors involve laying strips of electrical matting across the subfloor, linked together and connected to an electrical circuit and line-voltage thermostat, and secured in place by a covering of thin-set mortar. The surface floor covering is installed over the electrical matts. In these matt systems, you can cut pieces to size to fit irregular areas, although it is generally better to use full-sized mats. Ideally, the mats cover most of the floor, but it is also possible to confine the heating to areas where you usually walk. In other systems, individual wires are looped across the bathroom floor about 3 inches apart and secured by thin-set adhesive. For ceramic or stone tile floors, the electrical mats or wires are installed over the cement board underlayment, over which the ceramic tile is then laid.

Pros

Electric radiant heating systems buried within thermal masses (such as between cement board and ceramic tile) can retain heat for a long time, even after the power is turned off.

Electric radiant floor systems offer a discreet way of heating a floor. With the right temperature setting, it is difficult to even detect that the radiant heat is operating.

The systems can help reduce overall heating costs—your HVAC or space heaters do not have to operate as hard to heat up the room.

These systems are ideal for use under naturally cool surfaces, such as ceramic and stone tile or on concrete slabs.

Electric systems are easy to install during remodeling projects.

Radiant system, in general, are more cost-effective than other means of electric supplemental heating, such as space heaters.

Electrical systems are the most DIY-friendly of the radiant floor options.

Cons

These systems are difficult to install retroactively, as the floor covering must be removed. They are most practical during new construction or during major remodeling projects.

They are more effective at warming the floor surface “to the touch,” rather than heating the entire room (though it is possible to use radiant floor heating as your primary heat source).

For whole-home use, electrical systems are more expensive to operate than warm-water radiant heating.

Broken wires are trapped between flooring surfaces and are difficult to repair.

Radiant floor heating is less effective under carpeting, hardwood, or vinyl since heat can be trapped between the insulating surface layer and the subfloor.

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Costs

You can expect to pay at least $8 per square foot at a minimum for the materials for an electric radiant floor. For estimating purposes, $10 to $12 per square foot is a safe number to use for materials alone. On average, for professional installation plus materials, plan on spending about $16 per square foot.

While it depends on where you are located and the cost of electricity there, you can figure on operating costs of about $0.50 to $1.00 per day for an 8 x 10-foot bathroom, if the system runs 24 hours a day (regulated by thermostat). When operated 8 hours a day, costs run about $0.25 to $0.35 per day for the same 8 x 10-foot bathroom.

Alternate Forms of Radiant Floor Heating

Less common but also available is the hydronic (hot water) radiant floor system. In hydronic systems, tubes of water warmed by a central boiler or hot water heater circulate beneath the floor. Hydronic radiant floor systems are more typically used in new construction for creation of whole-house heating systems. Installation costs are considerably higher than for other central heating systems, but hydronic radiant systems are extremely efficient and offer much lower ongoing operating costs—about one-third that of forced air systems.

Written by Lee Wallender; found on thespruce.com website

Hi from Emmett and Kim! We are a husband and wife real estate team here in Chico, CA with Century 21 Select Real Estate. If you have any questions about buying or selling a home, or any other home related questions, please reach out to us! We hope you stick around and check out our website. You can search homes for sale, get local market reports, and more!

12 Hidden Renovation Costs That Can Sink Your Budget

Surprises happen. Shelling out cash on unexpected renovation costs isn’t completely avoidable — but there are plenty of hidden renovation costs you can prepare for.

Here are some of the surprising things that can set your wallet on fire during your next big project.

#1 Extra Muscle: $500

Even if you’re just clearing out the renovation space by moving boxes downstairs, you still might find yourself in need of a few strong hands.

“For the longest time, we thought we could clear out the space ourselves,” says Summer Sterling, who renovated her home’s entire top floor, including gutting the kitchen, updating two bathrooms, and vaulting a ceiling. She and her husband lived in the basement during the remodel. “Then we realized we have this gigantic furniture.” The Sterlings moved as much as they could beforehand, but the movers still cost about $500.

#2 Anxious Pups: $125 Per Week

Some pets have nerves of steel. Others cower at any unexpected noise or strangers. And construction zones are full of noisy strangers: dropping wrenches, hammering, or stomping through your home in metal-toed boots.

Monitor your dog to see how he handles the stress. If the answer is “not well,” prepare for a brief boarding — although you might find a mid-day dog walker or a short stay with Nana is soothing enough (and far less expensive).

Sterling and her husband adopted a new dog shortly before the remodel. “It was tough on our little guy,” she says. “He likes to sleep all the time.”

Their two pups doubled their time in doggie daycare — stressful for the dogs and the budget. But planning your work during your sitter’s down season can save you some cash.

#3 Dinners Out: $80 Per Week

Cooking without a kitchen challenges the best chefs — there’s a reason it’s a stalwart Top Chef challenge. Even if your kitchen remains intact during the reno, putting together a meal in a home filled with dust is no fun at all.

Sterling and her husband ate out or ordered take-out “at least three or four times a week,” she says.

Instead of single-handedly funding your favorite restaurant’s expansion, she recommends storing pre-prepped, microwaveable meals in a chest freezer. Or setting up a makeshift kitchen.

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#4 Dumpster Fees: $400

Construction junk has to go somewhere. If you’re DIYing the remodel, dumpster fees might come as a surprise.

Expect to spend about $400 on your trash-mobile, but contractors can provide localized, ballpark dumpster estimates.

Once it’s in your driveway, save some extra cash by using the dumpster to ditch unwanted stuff accumulating around your house. Tired of those nasty old blinds? Say adieu, without paying extra disposal fees. Just leave room for the construction junk.

#5 Hotel Stays: $500

You’re determined to live at home during the reno, but if a contractor accidentally smashes through your bedroom wall or the noise gets too unbearable, you might find yourself packing up for a short stay in a nearby hotel.

You don’t need to book your staycation beforehand, but budgeting enough cash for a few days’ away will make the decision to abandon ship a bit less stressful. Or hole up with some friends — just make sure to bring wine and cover dinner as payment.

#6 Childcare: $175 Per Week

Checking your calendar, you realize demo day coincides with school inservice. You can’t have the adorable little rascals stomping through the dust — so off to the sitters they go. Great. Another $100 down the drain.

Keep a close eye on the calendar and pre-arrange playdates for their days off to keep your wallet in check. Or bring over Aunt Margie to keep the kids corralled (and entertained) in a spare bedroom.

#7 Labor Costs: $50 Per Hour

Delays, schedule changes, and unexpected surprises don’t just add time to the renovation — they mean paying more to the workers.

“Our labor costs wound up being much higher,” says Janet Heller, whose sink broke during a bathroom renovation — requiring multiple trips and two times the work from contractors and laborers.

Know each contractor’s hourly cost so when disaster strikes, you can budget appropriately.

#8 Professional Cleaning: $150

Your new kitchen features sparkling, brand-new marble and stunning oak cabinetry — but you can’t ignore the fine layer of sawdust covering everything.

“Construction dust is everywhere,” Sterling says. Allocate a few days for a top-to-bottom clean. Scrubbing everything yourself can save you some much-needed cash.

But if the mess is too daunting, consider hiring a service as a post-renovation treat. Even if they’re just handling the hard-to-reach spots, a little help will be more than welcome. Now all you have to do is go home, kick back, and heat up your very last frozen dinner.

#9 Office Space: $195 Per Month

Telecommuters have their own renovation challenges. How can you take a phone call with clients when a drill is whirring overhead?

“I work from home, but am unable to function with so much construction noise above me,” Sterling says. “There’s no privacy whatsoever.” But privacy doesn’t come cheap: A “flexible desk” at a co-working space can cost $195 per month — and more if you need a closed door.

Sterling leased a temporary office twice per week during the renovation and lowered costs by working out of coffee shops or a library as often as possible.

#10 Higher Utility Bills: 15%-20% Extra

Doors opening. Fans whirring. So many power tools. Is there anything in construction that doesn’t suck up energy?

“We’re living in a much smaller space, but the efficiency is terrible,” says Sterling, who spent about 15% to 20% more on electricity during the renovation. “The bloody contractors leave the windows open all the time.”

Don’t feel bad if you’re a bit of a nag. Unless the breeze is necessary (drying paint and new hardwood floors require ventilation), pop upstairs every evening to close the windows.

#11 Lawn Landscaping: $1,500

Did they really need to put their equipment on your beautiful Kentucky bluegrass? For some reason, renovating the interior can mean your lawn takes a beating that only a professional landscaper can repair.

Ask contractors beforehand if they plan on using your yard for staging, and place down tarps to protect the foliage. Or find alternative spots, like the attached garage or gravel driveway.

#12 Permits: $1,000

Before the first sledgehammer swings, sit down with your contractor (or city building department) for a detailed discussion of exactly what permits you need.

“Usually a contractor will include plans and permits,” says Charles Rinek, owner of custom home building company Rinek, Inc.

But make sure you know early on if they don’t, otherwise you’re in for a surprise. Sterling says she paid more than $1,800 in permit fees — causing major sticker shock, if you’re not expecting the bill.

Written by Jamie Wiebe, found on houselogic.com website

Hi from Emmett and Kim! We are a husband and wife real estate team here in Chico, CA with Century 21 Select Real Estate, Inc. If you have any questions about buying or selling a home please do not hesitate to reach out to us! We hope you stick around and explore our website. There is a lot of great info and you can search for homes for sale as well!