It has felt like summer in January this past week. Crystal clear skies and great beach weather all around. We have been showing three different out-of-town clients this week, and San Diego really sells itself. This is when we are happy to pay that “sunshine tax” to live here.

We had a productive week closing one escrow, opening another, and moving several others forward. Inventory is tight across the board right now, but there have been some great listings hitting the market and they are getting a lot of action. We selected eight new ones this week that are featured below.

Case Study | The Difference Maker - Our Listing in Cardiff​
​www.2265Manchester.com

We took this listing over after another agent had it on the market from July through December 1st. Five months. No offers, no feedback, and no pricing or marketing strategy. Just low-quality photos, an MLS entry, and a wait-and-see approach. Selling a home can cost, or save, a seller tens of thousands of dollars. This is a perfect example.

When we first visited the home, it was vacant, empty, cold, dirty, with mail piled up and cobwebs everywhere. It had the sad feeling of an abandoned property, which is the last thing you want for a great beach home priced over $2 million.

Buyers want to feel a home and connect with it. The previous agent did not want to rock the boat or spend the seller’s money. We came in with a clear plan and our full team. We moved quickly to clean, pressure wash, paint, stage the home, and bring it to life. We invested in professional photography, video, drone footage, a 3D tour, mailers, flyers, brochures, and open houses. We hit the ground running, and the property showed like an entirely new home.

We listed on December 19, right in the middle of the holidays. We knew the market was strong and that we were well positioned. The home received strong interest and steady showings, including calls over Christmas to show on Christmas Day. Throughout the process, we communicated every step, update, showing, and piece of feedback so our clients were no longer in the dark.

We received a great offer and went into escrow on January 2. Thirteen days after listing, following five months of no activity.

For under $12,000, we prepared a $2.2M property for a strong sale, fast. We handled everything for the sellers and had it market-ready in under two weeks.

The real cost was not commissions or staging. The real cost was five months of carrying expenses, including taxes, insurance, and missed rental income, while nothing happened. They also lost the opportunity to put their equity to work elsewhere and lost valuable time. That added up to roughly $60,000 in carrying costs and missed rent alone, not including opportunity cost.

We are now working with them on a 1031 exchange to move into a more productive asset aligned with their long-term goals.

It is critical to keep the big picture in mind. This is not about saving on commission or helping a nice agent. It is about getting the job done the right way for the client. Sometimes that means explaining that spending $12,000 upfront is an investment that can save $60,000 or more in the long run.

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California operating under multiple entities. License Numbers 01991628, 1527235, 1527365, 1356742, 1443761, 1997075, 1935359, 1961027, 1842987, 1869607, 1866771, 1527205, 1079009, 1272467. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.
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