Ten Tasks Every Tahoe Condo Seller Should Do

September 25, 2016 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

Ten Tasks Every Tahoe Condo Seller Should Do!

Now this may look familiar from the Ten Questions Every Tahoe Condo Buyer should ask, so here are the ten (10) tasks every North Lake Tahoe and Truckee Condo Seller should do before they put their condo on the market!

Task 1) Find out what the Home Owner Association (HOA) Fees are for your development and how often are they billed? In addition, if you know your group has Special Assessments – how much and how often are they billed? Every condo buyer wants to know this information, and as a seller is it your job (Task) to provide this information to your Tahoe REALTOR (seller agent).

The condo HOA property management company most likely will not provide this information directly to your agent as you, the owner, are the only one authorized to ask and receive this information from the HOA until a contract is signed and agreed to between you and a buyer.

If there is more than one HOA involved, you also need to get those fees and information to your agent too.

Be prepared to disclose, upfront, before an offer comes in, all HOA fees, including any current, past, or proposed special assessments that a new owner would be responsible for and how often are they are expected to being billed.

If your HOA has a public website and this information is on it, make it easy for your agent by providing direct link to those items. Remember, as an owner you may think all of the HOA documents, financials, and fees are public because you can always access all parts of the website, but those areas may be for “owner-eyes” only, so make sure the information you can access is also available for your agent.

Seller Tip: Create a file of all HOA docs that contain HOA rules, regulations, CC&R’s, By-Laws, Budgets, Audits, and Minutes, along with critical HOA contact numbers so you can pass as much information along to potential Tahoe Condo Buyers.

Tahoe Condo buyers will want as much information before they make an offer as possible, so for planning purposes, it is important to know all of the pieces of information.

Task 2) What does the HOA fee(s) Cover? Not all HOA fees cover the same items, so every Tahoe Condo Seller needs to make a list of what items their HOA fee covers: Condo building/common area insurance, exterior maintenance, grounds/common area/parking/road maintenance, snow removal (parking lot, paths, to your doorstep) professional accounting/HOA management, internet, cable, trash, water, sewer/sanitation, electric, gas, just to name a few items).

Some HOA fees are all inclusive, while others are bare bones. As a Tahoe Condo Seller don’t leave it to chance that the Tahoe Buyers’ agent knows what is included in your Condo HOA. Make a summary list! This is when the details count! If your HOA fee covers trash, water, internet, or cable TV, now is the time to toot your horn!

Task 3) Are there Owner Usage restrictions? Will this condo development qualify for a loan? Some of our Lake Tahoe and Truckee condo developments do have occupancy (owner use) restrictions even though the condo is not fractional ownership and is 100% owned by owner.

Your Tahoe Seller task is to make sure you know if your condo does not have an occupancy restriction, make sure your Tahoe agent knows it. If your condo has an on-site vacation rental desk, know the hours of operation. Rental desks that are not open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week may qualify for a loan, while 24 hour desk operations may not.

As a Tahoe Seller it is your job to ask, and let your agent know your HOA circumstance. It’s better to know as a Tahoe Seller if your buyer needs to have all cash to make a purchase in your development.

Task 4) Does the HOA fee cover doors, windows, and decks? As a Tahoe Seller you probably already know the answer to this question, so Seller Task 4 is to make another list and let potential buyers know what the HOA will cover and take care of and what you’ll be responsible for as a new owner.

Task 5) Is there a HOA Transfer and Document Prep Fee? Surprise! Many Tahoe HOA groups now have private transfer fees that are charged when ownership changes hands. You may not know that California Civil Code has changed how fees are disclosed and that you, as a Seller, may be required by law to pay for certain items. While everything may be negotiable, the financial responsibility starts on the Tahoe Seller side for many of the costs and fees involved in the sale.

The HOA transfer fee may be in addition to HOA doc prep fees (Davis-Stirling Act CA Civil Code 400-6150 on HOA’s and their disclosure requirements). Tahoe Seller Task – ask your HOA property manager how much your organization is charging and if there is a HOA Transfer Fee.

As an FYI if the condominium development in located in a master planned community, there may be more than one HOA and there may be multiple HOA transfer fees, along with multiple HOA disclosures. As a Tahoe Seller is your job to disclose and figure things out. Your agent does not have the legal authorization to collect this information before an offer comes in, so it is up to you to get this information and organize it for a buyer.

In the California Association of REALTORS (CAR) real estate contract that we use here in the North Lake Tahoe –Truckee area, we have specific HOA documents that addressed all of the disclosures requirements under the act. Seller Task – Ask your agent for a copy of CAR-HOA-1, CAR-HOA-2, and CAR-HOA-3, so you can see the forms, and the items a buyer is going to ask for, and the CA Civil Code that requires you, as a Tahoe Condo Seller to disclose it.

What is my Tahoe Condo Worth?

Task 6) Is there a Private Transfer Fee? In addition to the HOA Transfer Fees, in some of the newer developments in the Lake Tahoe – Truckee area there can be a Private Transfer Fee that is a percentage (%) fee of the final sales price. Not all developments have this additional fee, so as a Tahoe Seller you need to know what that percentage (%) is, and who is going to pay for it.

Task 7) What type of Insurance does the condominium or townhouse development have? As an owner, you are carrying some type of condo insurance on the property, and you should receive a copy of the HOA insurance certificate. Is it walls-in coverage that a new owner will need, or does the HOA cover everything, so only content and deductible insurance coverage is needed? Seller Task – make copies of the HOA master policy and certificate.

Task 8) Are pets allowed? This question will be asked by potential buyers, so your Seller Task is to get out your CC&R’s, or ByLaws and put that information into a Pet Summary sheet. Knowing the Pet Policy is important to know whether you have pets, or not. The last thing you’ll want is a cancelled purchase contract because the Buyer had animals that were not allowed in the complex.

Task 9) Are short-term vacation rentals allowed? Past vacation rental income and costs. Are there restrictions on long-term renters? In the North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area buyers want to know what they can and can’t do. If your condo has been on a short-term vacation rental program, organize your past rental income history, identify who has been the property management company, management fees you have been paying, and any other information you may have on being a rental.

Buyers that are doing a 1031 Tax Exchange want to know this information, so be prepared and have your documents and information ready to go.

Task 10) Complete a Pest and Home Inspection on your unit! One of the best things a Tahoe Seller can do, when selling their property in addition to organizing their HOA information, is to have a pest and home inspection done on their unit. Nothing sends a more positive impression on your property than by being able to provide to a prospective buyer a recent pest and home inspection reports.

There are a lot of questions a Tahoe condo, or home buyer will need to ask before they make an offer on your property, or before they complete their real estate purchase.

By completing the ten tasks every Tahoe Condo Seller should do, will help Buyers in their decision making process, and make for a stronger price negotiation, along with helping to minimize the chances for a purchase contract cancellation!

Free Market Analysis for your Tahoe Condo

The Ten Tasks every Tahoe Seller should do before they put their condo on the market will help a buyer decide if your property is the one for them!

If you have more questions on buying, or selling a condo here in the North Lake Tahoe, or Truckee area, give me a call 530-414-1260. I can help you too!

Want to check out your competition? See what condos are for sale in Lake Tahoe? Here are the current listings:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260 | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

Ten Tasks Every Tahoe Condo Seller should do!

What is my home worth in Lahontan | 2016

April 27, 2016 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

What is my home worth in Lahontan | 2016

What is my home worth in Lahontan? Real estate conditions have changed over the past few years. Check out the current over-all market conditions as of 04-26-2016 to get a better idea of the Lahontan real estate market conditions.

Real Estate Market Activity for Lahontan, California as of 04-26-2016:

Number of Homes Sold in Lahontan – 2015: 15
Median Average Sold Sales Price in Lahontan for 2015: $1,953,000
Average Sold Sales Price in Lahontan for 2015: $2,013,000
Sold Price Range in Lahontan: $1,100,000 – $2,800,000
Average Sold Median Sales Price to Sold Median List Price Ratio for 2015 in Lahontan: 89%
Average Days on Market (DOM in MLS) in Lahontan – 2015: 140 DOM
Number of Active and Available Homes for Sale in Lahontan as of 04-26-2016: 18
Pending Sales in Lahontan 04-26-2016: 2
Number of Distressed Sales – Court Approval, Short Sales, or REO Bank Foreclosures in Lahontan for Sale as of 04-26-2016: 0 (REO Bank Foreclosure)

The demand for luxury mountain homes in the Lahontan gated golf course community continues to be strong because of the extensive Tahoe lifestyle amenities this area offers.

Home owners have a wide variety of options from being located close to the Lahontan amenities, along with being more removed and remote from everything.

Lahontan is known for its home owner amenities and facilities, which include a championship 18-hole golf course, a fantastic recreational center, and they are just minutes from the Northstar Ski resort and Village area, downtown Historic Truckee, and Kings Beach on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.

Lahontan was started in September 1996 and in 2009 the developer completed their association with the home owners, so Lahontan is an owner-equity association. This well-run planned unit development (PUD) is nearly 100% funded on their obligations.

There are 509 home-sites on 906 acres and about sixty percent (60%) of the development has been built-out with completed homes. Home-sites range in size from 0.5 to 1.92 acres.

Each property owner pays a HOA fee on a quarterly basis for maintenance of common areas, private road maintenance, snow removal on roads in the development, 24-hour Gatehouse, and design review. Lahontan also offers additional services for an additional monthly fee.

Lahontan has two type of memberships – Lahontan Golf Club, which is limited to 350 members and comes with an annual fee and an initial membership fee.

Lahontan also has a Social Equity Memberships, which come with an initiation fee and an annual fee.

Lahontan amenities include a Tom Weiskopf 18 hole golf course (golf members only), a Tom Weiskopf 9 hole golf course (golf members only), Croquet and Lawn Bowling, Camp Lahontan Pavilion, Recreation Pool, Splash Pool, Lap Pool, and Heated Spa, Three (3) Clay Tennis Courts, Lodge and Dining facilities, Say Spa, Fitness Center (open year round), Men and Ladies Locker Rooms, and Golf Shop.

Lahontan is an ultra luxury gated community and is an alternative to next door neighbors Martis Camp, or Schaffer’s Mill. This development was started thirty years ago, and because of the timing on this PUD, there is no exit or transfer fee of 1-1.75% of the sales price. There are Lahontan transfer fees like most of the home owner associations in our area, but they do not have the special private transfer fee that is tied to the sales price of the property.

Lahontan was created to give home owners an amazing Tahoe resort lifestyle experience with amenities and facilities that appeal to all ages and abilities.

Lahontan has all of the Lake Tahoe recreational activities that our full-time and second home owners are looking for such as hiking, biking, tennis, golf, skiing, swimming, restaurants, and so much more. This North Lake Tahoe-Truckee community is one that is in demand and why so many choose to call Lahontan home.

Are you ready to find out what your Lahontan home is worth? Just click on the link below and you will be asked to provide us with some information on your Lahontan property and I will get you a complete home market valuation report.

FREE Market Analysis in Lahontan

This is not an instant home value, or the popular $-estimate that other sites offer. Why? Market estimates for the Tahoe area that are automated can produce a market value that is very inaccurate and let’s face it, accuracy counts when it comes to your money and what your Lahontan luxury Mountain home is really worth, so let’s do a real evaluation on your property.

The right data and information on your Lahontan property is critical to an accurate market value estimate. We know that each Lahontan property is unique and that they were built as a custom home. It’s important that your mountain property gets all of the credit and value it deserves for all of those special features before we place a value on it.

What are second home buyers looking for in a luxury Lahontan home? What are those property features that will cause a property to sell quickly?

Excellent maintenance – Well cared for properties inside and out
Upgraded custom features found in newer construction homes
Homes that are ready to use on day one – turn-key ready
Mountain Charm, Clean, and Uncluttered – professional decorated is a plus
Easy to show at all times – no special appointment needed
On REALTOR® Electronic Lock Box — making a property easy for a buyers’ agent to show and not requiring the listing agents to be present to show the property is a big plus.
Correct Pricing in the Fair Market Value range according to the current market conditions

What “must have” features are Tahoe Second Home Buyers hoping to find?

Kitchen – High-end appliances, solid counter tops, the extras that turn the kitchen into a gourmet chef’s dream kitchen and entertainment center
Open Floor Plan – The open, great room concept is in demand here
Hardwood floors in the main living areas
Bathrooms – High end finishing touches, solid surfaces, stone, custom tile
Bunk Bed Room
Bonus Family Room Areas
Outdoor living space – decks and patios
Energy Efficiency – windows, smart home technology, well maintained mechanics, green features
Recent Pest Report – Clear Section I and Section II (Even new/newer construction homes should have an inspection to provide to potential buyers)
Recent Home Inspection Report (Even though a buyer will get their own inspections, they mentally give positive points to a home owner that has had a home inspection done to show them the current condition of the property from a professional perspective.)
Fireplace – Gas Log, or Wood Burning in the living room
EPA Wood Burning Compliant Wood Burning Stove, or Fireplace Insert
Garage – Two car preferred, but three car garage is a plus
Plug-in for EV’s or Tesla Car Charging Station in the Garage
Mountain – Cabin vibe
Mountain Contemporary
Backs to, or is next to open space
Low traffic locations
Mountain or Valley Views
Backs to a stream, or has a pond view
Golf Course Views
Social and Golf Memberships

If you’re thinking of selling your Lahontan home it will be more valuable, and have more market appeal if your property has any of these upgraded custom features, or offers both Social and Golf Membership as part of the package price.

Get a FREE Home Value Evaluation for your Lahontan House Here

Tahoe Seller Tip – Provide as much information and property details as you can on your property. The more information, the better!

Each on-line viewing is your first showing! Every time your home is viewed on-line, that Tahoe buyer is making that critical first impression decision on whether or not to have your Lahontan home on their short list of properties to see when they come to North Lake Tahoe.

Unlike other markets, this second home market often only has a buyer here for just a few hours to see properties and you’re on the list or you’re not!

Your on-line presence will impact a buyers “must-see” showing list, which means you need a great internet profile and presentation of your property.

To achieve the broadest world-wide Internet marketing exposure and presence, your Lahontan property you’ll need a combination of a fully completed TSMLS property profile, social media campaign, blogging, and video exposure.

Even in this highly sought after gated golf course community, Lahontan sellers still are competing to get the attention of a limited number of buyers, who are considering not only Lahontan, but near-by golf course communities too, so if you want a timely sale, you’ll need to have a full marketing plan and program.

Remember you are not hiring a sales person to sell your Lahontan property. Instead you are selecting a luxury real estate marketing specialist and professional to get you results. Your real estate professional will be there to guide you through the entire real estate property selling process, which includes marketing and presenting your property, along with negotiating your sales contract terms and conditions, and all of the issues that will come up in the escrow process – who you select really does matters!

Experienced real estate agents that understand a strong on-line marketing plan when combined with other key traditional home marketing strategies can really make a difference for their sellers.

What is my Home Worth in Lahontan?

Want to know more about Laura Allen and her success rate?

As one of the top producing individual agents at Coldwell Banker, Laura Allen has an 82%+ sold rate for all listings taken since 2005 – 2016 (date of this post)! That means if you are serious about selling your Lahontan property, as a top producer, we are getting the job done for our sellers!

Laura Allen, your Lahontan, California Real Estate Agent!

Need to expand your Lahontan property search? Check out these other homes for sale in luxury golf course communities in Truckee here:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260 | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

Need more help in trying to figure out your greater Truckee and North Lake Tahoe home buying options?

What is my home worth in Lahontan?

5 Reasons to List your Tahoe Home for Sale this Winter!

November 10, 2014 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

5 Reasons to List your Tahoe Home for Sale this Winter!

One of the hardest decisions that a Tahoe home owner will ever make is the decision to sell their Lake Tahoe – Truckee, California, vacation-resort, second home.

For many Tahoe home owners, their property here in the Lake Tahoe region is so much more than just an investment.

Tahoe home ownership often represents great times, a lifetime of memories, and it symbolizes the pure joy that has come from being here in Lake Tahoe.

If the time has come to sell your Tahoe lakefront property, mountain home, cabin, or condo, here are 5 good reasons to list right now, in the winter, rather than waiting until spring.

Less Competition / Low Inventory – Local Lake Tahoe – Truckee, California home and condominium inventories for sale dramatically drop, by as much as 50%, if not more, during the winter months.

Many sellers take their Tahoe homes off the market thinking that no one is looking to buy a home here in Tahoe during the winter months, which is a myth and selling mistake.

We sell lakefronts, mountain homes, cabins, cottages, and condominiums all year-long. By being listed during the winter months you have far less seller competition, and increase your chances of getting your home sold at your price.

1031 Tax Exchanges – A good reason to have your home listed and on the market during the winter season is so your property can be considered by those buyers who have a 1031 Tax Exchange to complete.

Just because it’s snowing in Tahoe, does not mean that real estate in other parts of the country has slowed down, or stopped.

If a buyer has a property that is being sold and they want to do a 1031 Tax Exchange, they only have 45 days from the closing date of the sale of their other property to find a replacement property.

That means a buyer needs to identify up to 3 properties now, not later in the spring, or summer. If your Tahoe home, or condo is not on the market, that buyer won’t be considering your place. A big selling mistake and missed opportunity by sellers, who hold their property off the market during the winter months.

Open House – If it’s not snowing (snow covers open house direction signs), it’s a great time to have an open house.

Those buyers that are up in Tahoe during our winter months are serious buyers and having your home open is a great way for them to see it.

Again, there is less competition for open house events as most agents only think of open house as a summer marketing tool and stop doing them as soon as the snow begins to fall.

Having an agent that uses open house events as part of their marketing plan during the winter months to market your home is a great way to get vacation-resort second home buyers into your Tahoe property and getting buyers into your home is the first step to getting it sold!

Serious and Qualified Buyers – The buyers that are up in Tahoe looking at lakefronts, mountain homes, and condos during our winter months tend to be more serious, and financially qualified.

It’s a lot more work to come up to Tahoe once we have snow on the ground. Winter sports are not inexpensive, and they tend to draw a more affluent crowd, which means a more qualified buyer that is in our area during the winter months.

Being listed for sale during the colder, winter months exposes your property to a group of high-net worth pool of buyers that may only be here during the winter months and may never see your Tahoe home during the traditional spring/summer selling season.

Easy Seasonal Transition – You may not be ready to list right now before the holidays, but if you list your Tahoe home during our Tahoe winter season, in January, February, or March, your property will still take advantage of the winter selling season, but will also be in a better position to make an easier seasonal transition into the spring selling season, especially if we have a long winter.

As a seller you will already be clearing the driveway and walks of snow, and your marketing programs will already be in place, making the transition into the next spring/summer months easy.

These are just a few of the reasons and advantages of having your Tahoe property listed for sale now, during our winter season, rather than waiting until next spring, or summer to list it for sale.

Want to know what you Tahoe home may be worth in today’s market? Call me 530.414.1260, or email me at Laura@TahoeLaura.com

Ready to sell your Tahoe home? These 5 reasons to list your Tahoe home, or condo for Sale this winter are just a few reasons why now is a good time to sell!

Want to see what is for sale in Lake Tahoe, California?

Want to see what condos are for sale in Lake Tahoe? Here are the current listings:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260 | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

5 Reasons to List your Tahoe Home for Sale this Winter!

Free Paint Can Recycle Drop-Off Event – Truckee, CA Sat. Nov 8, 2014

November 6, 2014 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

Free Paint Can Recycle Drop-Off Event – Truckee, CA Sat. Nov 8, 2014

Do you have cans of paint (latex and/or oil based), stain, or varnish stored in your Lake Tahoe – Truckee home, condo, or business that you’d like to throw away, but you know they need to be properly disposed of, so you just continue to store them?

I do, and I’ll take advantage of the upcoming FREE paint (latex, oil), stain, and/or varnish drop-off event this Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Town of Truckee Corporation Yard at 10969 Stevens Lane in Truckee, CA to properly dispose of old cans of paint that we’ve held onto.

PaintCare – Town of Truckee Corporation Yard

10969 Stevens Lane, Truckee, CA

Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

It’s a great opportunity to clean out the cutter and trash that needs special care and handling. Need more reasons why you should take advantage of this FREE event?

Tahoe Property Sellers: If you’re thinking of selling your Truckee – Lake Tahoe home, condo, or commercial building, you’ll need to get rid of all paint and stain at your expense prior to the close of escrow.

Here is what our standard contract provision calls for in our Tahoe -Truckee Area Addendum, that most local real estate professionals use in our area:

Property Condition: In addition to any requirements specified in the Purchase Contract regarding the condition of the Property that Seller is obligated to deliver at Close of Escrow, the Parties further agree that Seller, at Seller’s expense shall remove all paint, stain, household cleaning products and other hazardous waste prior to the Close of Escrow unless otherwise agreed in writing.

This special paint drop-off event is FREE to Truckee residents and it also includes near-by communities like Olympic Valley, Northstar, Alpine Meadows, Tahoe City, Homewood, Tahoma, Carnelian Bay, Tahoe Vista, and Kings Beach, and the event is open to businesses, along with home owners!

The FREE drop-off event to get rid of unwanted, paint is being sponsored by PaintCare, a non-profit organization funded by a nominal fee on new paint.

For details on what Recycle with PaintCare will accept, or the limits on the amount of oil-based paint accepted from businesses, visit www.PaintCare.org/Truckee, or give them a call at (855) 724-6809

Whether you’re a Tahoe home, or business owner that just wants to get rid of paint the right way, or if you think you may be a Tahoe seller in the near future, take advantage of this event to get rid of old paint and varnish/stain cans and save the extra cost for proper disposal.

We’re not sellers, but we’re going to take advantage of this opportunity to clean out our old cans of paint to create some new, uncluttered storage space while doing it the right, environmentally friendly way, at no cost to us!

This is a great way to be green and so something great for your home, condo, or business.

Take advantage of the FREE Paint Drop-Off event this Saturday, November 8, 2014 in Truckee, California!

Thinking about making Truckee your second home? Here are some popular area options:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260 | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

Free Paint Can Recycle Drop-Off Event – Truckee, CA Sat. Nov 8, 2014

Tahoe Real Estate Seller Mistake – Smelly Home!

February 4, 2014 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

Tahoe Real Estate Seller Mistake – Smelly Home!

There are many things that can unintentionally hurt a Tahoe sellers’ efforts to sell their home. They can do everything right, but if they make this Tahoe seller mistake it can cost them a sale!

What is this unintentional common Tahoe seller mistake that makes my list on how a seller cannot only hurt their marketing efforts, but can cost them a sale? Here it is:

Tahoe Real Estate Seller Mistake:

The home has a bad, odd, unpleasant, chemical, or funky smell – odor to it.

The problem with a smelly home is once an agent knows a home is smelly, they tend to not show it, so it’s very important to make sure your home smells good from the very beginning of the listing, preview, and showing process.

Once a buyer has that nasty smell – odor scent in their nose, that’s all they can think about, and it takes the focus off seeing your Tahoe home and all of the great things about your property.

It’s a simple marketing concept: once a buyers’ attention has been moved and focused on a negative item, you’ve lost that buyer!

Here are the most common reasons a Tahoe Seller has a smelly home:

1) Mold, Mildew, and Rotten Wood: In the Tahoe area a common problem for property owners is the smell of mold, mildew, or the smell of rotten wood – the seller has a current unidentified pest problem.

If you haven’t been to your Tahoe home in a while you may just attribute that musty, funky smell to the home when you first walk in, as the smell of just being closed up.

That smell is really the smell of some type of current pest problem. Most likely the home has a mold, fungus, mildew, rotten wood, dead animal (yes dead animal – squirrel, raccoon, mice, bird, even a bear, or bear poop) etc… under the home, and it can only be identified by a licensed pest control company.

The number one reason to get a pest inspection done by a seller prior to putting the home on the market is to ensure that there isn’t a hidden mold, mildew, rotten wood, or a dead animal problem under the home and that your home doesn’t smell from the unidentified pest problem.

2) Pets: It doesn’t matter how much you clean and care for your pets (I should know, I have dogs!), your home has a pet odor to it. That’s not a judgment on your cleaning abilities, it’s just a reality of the situation and being aware of it is the first step in preparing your home for sale.

3) Cooking: Everyone understands that you’ll be using your kitchen while your home is on the market, but be aware, last night’s fish dinner, your venison stew, or your breakfast bacon may still be hanging in the air when buyers come through your home to see it. Some may like that smell, but others may not. Think twice about what you are cooking.

4) Smoking: You have every right to smoke in your home, again, this is not a lifestyle judgment, but sellers need to know that the smell of cigarettes, cigars, pot, even long-term smoke from a fireplace can be enough to send potential buyers packing.

5) Chemical: An over-the-top chemically clean home, too many room fresheners, new carpet, even the smell of new paint can send potential buyers packing.

Everyone wants a clean home, and buyers can appreciate new carpet, paint, and other improvements, but it’s important that a seller allow for enough time for those installation and cleaning smells to work their way out of the home.

What can you do as a Tahoe Seller to get rid of the smells and to make your property smell-friendly to potential Tahoe buyers?

1.) If you have pets, change out all pet beds, blankets, and get rid of any soft goods that cannot be immediately laundered.

2.) Keep pet food and liter pans to one room that can be closed off, preferably as far away from the front entrance.

3.) On showing days bake a single batch of cookies. Buy the cookies dough at the store, and cook 6-10 cookies in your oven, or better yet toaster oven. Don’t like cookies, try cinnamon buns, biscuits, or anything else that can be baked in less than 20 minutes and is a sweet treat.

That competing sweet bakery smell will help to off-set your pet, cooking smells, and any other day-to-day living smells in the home. Studies have found people have a positive response to the smell of baked goods, so use that to your advantage. Do you want to be remembered as the bad smelly home, or the home that smelled like baked cookies?

4.) Soft Goods – Have carpets and fabric furniture professionally cleaned. If you have old drapes now may be the time to get rid of them, or to have them professional cleaned. Don’t forget to launder all bed coverings (bed spreads, comforters, throw pillows, any item that typically isn’t laudered and cleaned during the month.

If you can clean, launder, replace, or remove those items, your home will smell fresh, and those negative smelly problems will be minimized, or gone.

5.) If you are replacing carpets, painting, or doing a heavy clean, make sure you’ve given yourself at least a week to ten days before showing the home, so that the chemical smell is long gone by the time buyers see the property.

6.) Get a pest inspection and take care of any work that needs to be done.

Life is smelly, but your Tahoe property doesn’t need to leave agents, or buyers will a bad impression.

Take the time to make sure your home smells as appealing as it looks and avoid the Tahoe Real Estate Seller Mistake of a Smelly Home!

Check out your Seller competition here! North Lake Tahoe Homes for Sale:

Want to see what condos are for sale in Lake Tahoe? Here are the current listings:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260 | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

Tahoe Real Estate Seller Mistake – Smelly Home!