Avoiding Typical Mistakes

Sometimes homebuyers take on the project of finding the home they like without knowing exactly what they need or want. This can make for a random and frustrating search that often unnecessarily wastes time. On occasion, some people think they can even outsmart sellers while negotiating the purchase price, while in reality they might be getting a worse deal altogether.

We’ve compiled a short list of the most common mistakes homebuyers tend to make. They are:

Viewing all of the homes that become available, instead of focusing on the ones that are in their price range
Not knowing about all available financing options
Not completely understanding the subtle art of negotiating price
Over or under-estimating the actual value of specific home amenities
Choosing inspectors who may not be fully qualified
Not requesting all of the appropriate inspections to be made
Failing to consider all aspects pertaining to the new home, including the location (and reputation) of schools and other services
Falling prey to exorbitant fees and outrageous rates
Falling for the belief that bigger is better, thereby putting oneself in a precarious situation and buying the largest or most expensive property

Our job is to guide you through the process and help you identify pitfalls and opportunities. We can take the element of surprise out of the equation and put you in a stronger position so you can make an informed decision.

So don’t take chances and run the risk of making a costly mistake. Call or e-mail us anytime and let me help you find the home of your dreams.

Kelly Clarke
Realtor
The Clarke Team
sold@clarketeam.com
650-489-5399

Review of the Clarke Team: Judy and Kelly Clarke of The Clarke Team are the best of the best.

Review: My experience working with The Clarke Team was a fantastic experience. Judy and Kelly are truly exceptional. These two are the most professional, personable and down-to-earth real estate agents there are. I can't say enough good things about them. They have great customer skills, integrity and are just plain easy to get along with. They were on our side the entire way. This process was never about them closing a deal, it was always about our best interests remaining at the forefront. They totally exceeded my expectations.

Reviewed By: Dawn C.
Review Date: 15 Feb 2011
Reviewer Location: San Carlos, CA

Happy first day of Fall!

I can't believe that summer is over. We had a late one this year and it seems like the weather just started getting warm and now it is officially Fall! The kids had to go back to school in mid-August. The summers are getting shorter and shorter, but Fall is my favorite time of year.
It felt strange buying school supplies in August and seeing Christmas decorations for sale in the stores! That's far too early for me. Instead of being able to relax and enjoy the start of school, then Halloween and Thanksgiving, I feel stress and pressure as Christmas is approaching. Sigh.
When the kids were younger, we used to turn our garage into a haunted house for Halloween. We would start in September and work all month to decorate it. It was a big hit. Word spread and one year we had 600 people come through on Halloween! It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. What great memories! I love how San Carlos has a small town, close knit community feel for the holidays. We no longer have a haunted house, but others do. And what can compare to Eucalyptus at Christmastime? We live in a wonderful city!
Let's all make an effort to relax, enjoy and appreciate it!

Review of the Clarke Team: Very responsive.

Review: The Clarke Team was really good. They were very responsive, and they knew how to tailor everything to my needs. They provided enough information to help me sort out what I needed to make a decision and gave me enough help in different ways, such as websites and posting. I really enjoyed the whole selection making process.

Reviewed By: Chu C.
Review Date: 19 Aug 2011
Reviewer Location: San Jose, CA

San Carlos Spiders

I was showing property to a client who is relocating from Switzerland and she and her daughter were frightened by the spiders and their webs. I remember when we first moved to the area, I felt the same way, but over the years I have learned to accept them. I certainly notice their presence and try my best not to disturb their webs, but I am no longer frightened of them. My decks and balconies are their favorite places to reside at our home and we have learned to share our space with them. Have you?

Review of the Clarke Team: An ideal combination to work with.

Review: The Clarke Team is phenomenal! I give them 5's across the board, and I absolutely recommend them. They are just an ideal combination to work with. Kelly has all the customer service skills, and Judy is extremely detail oriented. They were extremely good at handling all the paperwork involved in real estate transactions, and they constantly listened to what we needed. They were very respectful of our time, and they also took on tasks themselves that we had not expected them to have done, making it very easy to do two pretty complicated transactions.

Reviewed By: Martyn C.
Review Date: 17 Aug 2011
Reviewer Location: San Carlos, CA

San Carlos City Creek Clean Up Day - Saturday September 17, 2011

On Saturday, September 17th, the City of San Carlos will hold its annual Creek Clean-up. The purpose of the event is to invite all residents to play an active role in preserving and maintaining our creek and stream water-ways.

The City of San Carlos has three main creeks which run adjacent to private properties and contribute to the aesthetic beauty of the City: Cordilleras Creek, Pulgas Creek and Brittan Creek. These creeks also play an important role in nature, as they provide a very delicate natural habitat to many animals and plants. Join the effort to keep our natural water-ways clean and free of debris!

On Monday, September 19th, City Staff will pick up all creek clean-up debris bags outside of creek-side residences. All bags must be put at curbside no later than 8:00 a.m. on Monday morning. Please call (650) 802-4140 to be placed on the pick up list. Please be sure to leave your name and address.

( 2011 Clean-up Day Brochure )