Negotiate your way into your dream home.

Whether you are buying your first home or looking to downsize after retirement, negotiation skills are crucial in getting what you want. Here are some tips for homebuyers trying to negotiate with sellers.

1. It is always advisable for buyers to get preapproved, not just prequalified. Pre-approved buyers have an edge over potential buyers who have only prequalified for a loan. Preapproval means the buyer has attained a conditional commitment in writing for an exact loan amount from a lender. This saves time and a quick closing may be appealing to a seller.
2. Do your homework before you make an offer. Confer with your qualified real estate agent to decide how much a property is worth. After researching comparables, crime statistics, local schools and considering the length of time the property has been on the market-make an educated and realistic offer. If you come to negotiations with facts to back up your offer, the seller may be more willing to meet your price.
3. Find out the seller's motivation. Do your due diligence when it comes to finding out as much as you can about why the home is for sale. If a property is vacant, perhaps the owners are anxious to unload the property. It is important the sellers see a human face on the other end of the sale. This may work in your favor, though be careful not to over share with the sellers, exposing your motivation or finances.

As always, make sure to consult and/or visit our local REALTOR pros at either one of our office to assist you in the home busying process. We are always here to assist.

Why you should plan multiple visits to a home before buying.

For most of us, a home is usually the largest single investment of a lifetime. Such a large purchase warrants multiple visits before making a purchase and it is recommended that you stagger the times of these visits to get a comprehensive experience of the property. Here are some things to pay attention to when viewing a property.

1. Wall-to-wall windows coupled with an open floor plan may seem picturesque midday. Schedule a visit at sunset to get an idea of how light floods through the home and think about how you would ensure privacy at night. It still may be an ideal choice but it is wise to get a realistic view and calculate the cost of window treatments.
2. Visit or drive by a prospective home at different times of the day. That seemingly quiet residential street may be a noisy, highway-feeder street during morning or evening rush hour. The same may be true for the morning commute but if you only visited the property midday, you would have no idea. 
3. The adjacent school may seem like a nice perk, but during school hours, the daily playground noise and extra traffic may be more than you bargained for. If you are viewing the home in the summer, ask your REALTOR® or even neighbors about what you can expect. 
4. It may be nice to be within walking distance to bars and restaurants, but consider the amount of pedestrian traffic. Will late night foot traffic lead to noise or disorderly conduct? Also, remember you can always visit the local police department to get crime statistics of an area.

To learn more about the neighborhoods in the San Gabriel Valley please contact our offices today at 626-358-1858 or 626-963-7621.

Hot Buys of the Week: 4/12/2012

Every week we tour the newly available listings and Open Houses of fellow Brokers & REALTORS. When we find what we consider to be a fantastic opportunity we'd like to share it with you. For this week, our three (that's right three) Hot Buys are:


1008 Via Canada in San Dimas listed at $569,000. A 3 Bedroom, 2 1/2 Bathroom immaculate home siting on a large corner lot with excellent curb appeal. It boasts a Main Level Master Suite. Many upgrades have been done including upstairs bath, guest bath and Master suite Bath. The home also features a very private, resort setting rear yard with Salt water pool and spa and built-in BBQ. There are over 16 palm trees as well as apricot ,plum, almond and lemon trees. Also a large patio with Aluma-wood Pergola. Listed by Bill Brisbin



825 Encino Place in Monrovia listed at $419,000 is a 1950’s traditional home seeks new owner. A brick fireplace, walnut hardwood floors and 100+ square feet addition to the living room provides the extra elbow room that a family needs. The kitchen has been updated with white cabinets, greenhouse window, tile counters and flooring. Just steps away is a separate laundry room loaded with storage. Both bathrooms have also been updated and all windows have been replaced. An attached two car garage completes the picture. Located on a quiet cul-de-sac, this home offers infinite adaptability to any décor or color scheme. Listed by Edda Hutson


834 E Palm AVenue in Monrovia listed at $499,900 is nestled under a grand oak tree is this charming home located in a highly desirable area of north Monrovia. Upgrades abound including updated plumbing with a tankless water heater, newer roof, hard wood floors, designer light fixtures, beautiful paint colors, crown moulding, central air and heat. The custom kitchen was designed by the 2010 Pasadena Showcase design winner Jan Ledgard of Yorkshire Kitchens. No expense was sparred when designing the kitchen including Showplace Custom Cabinets with soft close hinges and drawers, stainless steel hood, built in microwave and pantry with pull-out drawers. Other high end features include a gorgeous wine hutch with glass cabinet and wine refrigerator. This tastefully appointed home includes a seperate den/office (could be a 4th bedroom) and a living room with dining area. Both bathrooms have also been remodeled, one with a hidden laundry enclosure and a tile shower with glass surround. The new insulated windows and doors will help keep the family cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Enjoy your morning coffee with views of the foothills from the front sitting area or entertain in the privacy of your huge backyard (room for a pool) on the new concrete patio. Listed by Jacen Crehan - askjacen.com


So you may have noticed that these three listings come from our brokerage. :) Yes they do but what can we say, we list for sale wonderful homes and we know hot to price them well.


To learn about any of these homes please contact our office at 626-358-1858 (Monrovia) or 626-963-7621 (Glendora)


All Information is deemed reliable though not guaranteed.

Top 5 things that may scare potential buyers off.

 It is vital for sellers to make their home attractive to potential buyers. When listing your property, consult with your REALTOR® to determine an accurate and fair price. If the local competition has a substantially lower listing price, your property will most likely remain on the market.

Curb appeal is crucial, so the facade of your home should be inviting, not alarming. Remove clutter from the yard, spruce up the landscaping and freshen up the entryway with new paint and exterior lighting. Make sure the walkway to the home is not hazardous; any cracks in the steps, pavement or concrete should be repaired. Also, proper exterior lighting is essential, as some showings may be at night or dusk.

Don't let the odor of smoke or pets deter buyers. If necessary, hire professional carpet cleaners before your first open house and employ scented candles or air purifiers. Buyers will be anxious to exit, rather than stay and tour a home that has offensive odors.

As buyers explore your home they shouldn't have to visualize the space without clutter. Excess furniture, trinkets, family pictures, toys and other items tend to detract from the existing space and totally obscure any attributes of the home. Remember, everyone appreciates a clean house. Stains, fingerprints, dust and laundry will likely send buyers to the next house on their list.

Make moving fun for the whole family with these 5 family tips.

Moving can be a stressful experience for adults and children as well, but it doesn’t have to be! See below for five tips on how to make moving a positive experience.

1. Talk the talk - Communicate with your children and encourage them to discuss any apprehension they may have about moving. Brainstorm and find solutions to alleviate any fears. Remember, technology makes it easy to keep in touch with old friends with video chats, emails and social networking sites.
2. Explore your surroundings - Go for a family bike ride and learn what your community has to offer. Check out the local ice cream parlors, bike paths, dog parks, hiking trails or specialty restaurants. Familiarize your children with the neighborhood so they are at ease.
3. Take out and stay in - Plan a family sleepover at the new house, even before the furniture is shipped. This will be an adventure for the whole family and together time in the new home often makes children feel more secure and less overwhelmed in their new surroundings.
4. Designer room - Give your children paint color options so they can decide on the color scheme of their bedroom. It may be helpful to set aside a special box with their favorite things from their old room to incorporate into the new space.
5. Integrate - Involve your children in local teams and activities. Most moves take place at the end of the school year, so by enrolling your children in clinics, camps and sports you are providing them with an opportunity to make friends with future classmates.

Our team is here to help make all your transitions easier. To talk to any of our CENTURY 21 Adams  Barnes REALTORS please call us at 626-358-1858 or 626-963- 7621. Or join us on  Facebook or follow our  Tweets. Our team is always just a click or phone call away

CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes Welcomes Arby Artoonian

Arby Artoonian was invited to join the team at CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes (www.c21ab.net) in the Spring of 2009 and since then has been on a fast track to success.

Drawing from ample experience in handling customer service challenges, Arby is a multi-lingual business professional who consistently seeks new ways to analyze real estate opportunities for his clients.

Using up-to-date technologies, he prides himself as the consummate communicator who will keep you abreast of developments during the transaction and guide you towards taking the steps towards fruitful results.

It was his hard-working and professional attitude that earned him an invitation into the CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes family. Arby proved himself to be an amiable team player who understood the importance of providing real estate services that went far beyond the expectation of clients.

His history as a pro-active negotiator was a glaring positive attribute which the company seeks in its REALTOR ranks. To learn more about Arby Artoonian, we invite you to visit www.c21ab.net today or contact him at 818.216.0054