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Grateful in San Diego

Your San Diego House: Love It or List It for Sale?

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I’m sure you’ve seen that TV show- where a family has totally outgrown their space but one of the partners just doesn’t want to leave, so they decide to renovate.  If the renovation is not fixing the issue, then, and only then, do they move…

While reality TV is fun to watch, the reality of living in a construction zone while shopping for a new house, isn’t. That’s why I recommend doing one or the other. Let’s break it down.

Often times, people get frustrated with their space. They’ve had another baby, fallen out of love with their condo, or started dreaming of retiring in a smaller space near the beach. Whatever the reason, it’s very important to first identify WHY you are considering a move in San Diego, and then go from there. 

5 Considerations to Help You Decide if You Should to Sell:

#1 Can it be fixed easily? 

If you want an updated kitchen, swapping out fixtures, painting cabinets, and buying new appliances is a pretty easy fix, but if you want a bigger kitchen, you are most likely going to have to move.

#2 Can you deal with contractors?

Hiring an interior designer or general contractor in San Diego to manage your project will help, but renovations require you to work with multiple companies and contractors on a daily basis. Not only that, you’ll be totally dependent on their timeline, expertise, and quality of work. If you don’t want people coming in and out of your home for weeks on end, it may be time to move into a turn-key San Diego home that’s on the market for sale.

#3 Can you live with the mess? 

Renovations can be dusty and dirty and shrink an already hard-to-navigate environment. Tools will be everywhere, equipment will be everywhere, and people will be everywhere. Is a renovation going to get in the way of school, work, or travel? If so, something turn-key may be more appealing.

#4 Can you tolerate a move? 

You may dread the thought of having to pack up your entire home while paying a moving company thousands of dollars to pick up your heirloom armoire and try and make it through the front door. If this sounds unbearable to you, it may be cause to stay.

#5 Do you love your location? 

If the view, zoning, corner lot, or amazing neighbors are the reason why you moved to your current house to begin with, then moving may not be the answer. In this case, it would be better to renovate the inside of the home to match the amazing benefits of the outside of the home. 

No matter what you decide, it’s important to have a good San Diego Realtor to help you understand how renovations will affect your San Diego home value and help you decide if you’re better off packing up or staying put.

Ashley Peterson, Realtor 
Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty
DRE: 01840629 | hello at grateful in San Diego dot come

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About Ashley Peterson

Hey there! For those of you who do not know me, I’m Ashley Peterson.
I work with home sellers and buyers in San Diego who require assistance in reaching their real estate goals.
I’ve been a Realtor for over 10 years and have served tons of families to date.
The best praise I’ve ever received from a client was, “Ashley was a pleasure to work with! We had a tight time frame to sell our home while pursuing our new home which was already on the market. I'm sitting in my new living room right now while someone is happily living in my previous home..I still can't believe it! I Highly recommend this agent if you have an ambitious goal and want things done right.”
Helping people reach their goals like the time my friend found her forever home before considering a move, where I had to get an offer on her home and get her offer accepted, and guess what, I made it happen. It makes me so proud and drives everything I do!
If you’re looking for a Realtor who listens to your needs and develops a specific plan to curate the most exceptional experience, I’d love to work with you, too!
I’ve successfully located the perfect (off market) home for my clients after determining their needs and contacting property owners that fit the bill. When the market is tight, it’s important to adapt and think outside of the box in order to meet the needs of my clients; essentially, do what it takes. As a past third grade teacher and community college instructor, my philosophy focused on serving my diverse student body, and seamlessly transferred my passion to residential real estate. I truly “hear” what my clients have to say, develop a specific plan tailored to their individual needs and goals, and provide the duty and care to see the transaction through.
I have been applying this “one size does not fit all” approach to real estate for over 10 years, allowing me to acheive one of the most meaningful ways to gain clientelle, referral based and repeat business.
When I’m not helping people buyers get preapproved and assisting clients in pre-listing prep such as decluttering, staging, making minor upgrades, etc., as well as actively marketing properties and vetting my buyers to listing agents, I can be found jogging along Del Mar beach to Torrey Pines soaking up the sea air, or hanging on the beach while my kiddo and husband surf, or volunteering my time in to my community.

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