About Modoc County, CA

Well, it has been a long, hot and smokey summer. Today we have our first little storm system passing through - and boy does it feel good to have cooler weather and fresher air after all the fires in California this year.

We should only have a couple days of rain and it won't be cold enough for snow. We should be back to warm and sunny on Sunday. If you're planning to be in Modoc County, Sunday would be a good day to visit.

So, you've decided to sell your property. How do you begin deciding which real estate office or agent will represent you as a seller?

You've got postcards, the yellow pages, the internet, real estate magazines, there is the office in town with the big sign, there is the ad on TV, someone showed up on your doorstep and introduced themselves, etc. Do you choose a big company with lots of agents, a smaller company, a BIG name company, a local market company? It can be overwhelming.

When you need an agent to help you sell your property, you are becoming an employer. You need to research the agent and the company just like an employer will evaluate a prospective employee.

Get information on what that agent is doing, what the company is doing, the results that the agent and company have had. Are they full time or part time agents - part timers work hard too, but sometimes they'll be harder to work with when marketing your home or engaged in an escrow. Are they a full service or limited service agent? How long have they been in the business? If they are fairly new, does the agent have good back up in the office to assist in the event of a problem? You don't have to avoid a new agent, just make sure that the resources are there to back that agent up. Do they specialize in what you are trying to sell?They should provide references. If they can't, won't or are hesitant about providing references run, don't walk, to the nearest exit.

This process could lead you to find several "suitable" candidates to do the job. Now, how do you choose? It is very simple - what does your gut tell you. You are about to embark on a journey that will probably have bumps in the road - real estate transactions are rarely smooth. It is important to select someone that you trust, with whom you can communicate and yes, if you like your agent, it will make the process easier. If you don't like your agent - you will probably have an unpleasant experience.

No matter how many of your friends say that a particular agent is great - if you don't trust that agent, can't communicate with that agent and don't like that agent - then it's a bad fit for you.

There are many good agents in the real estate profession. We come from many walks of life, have differing personalities, hobbies, etc. The thing that we have in common is our passion for real estate.

Well, temperatures are getting below freezing at night now. If you have a home that you don't live in regularly or if you are a listing agent on a home in an area where freezing occurs, it could be time to winterize.

Winterizing a home involves blowing water out of pipes, draining the pressure tank, draining the hot water heater, getting rid of any water that could freeze, remove hoses from hose bibs. Water that stays in pipes and freezes breaks pipes and creates a potential disaster in an unoccupied home when the water thaws again.

If you're buying a home that's vacant, it's a good idea to know how long it's been vacant and whether the home was winterized if unoccupied during the winter months. Plumbing repairs and water damage can be very expensive to repair.

If you own or are trying to sell, protect your most valuable asset - it costs very little to do. If you're buying, be sure you're not buying a headache.

It's just common sense. Cause Baby, this morning it was Cold Outside !

If you're in Alturas and want a breakfast burrito, soup and sandwich, a latte, some freshly baked bread or cookies, be sure to stop in at Main Street Coffee and Baker Buddies.

Terri runs Main Street Coffee - Terri is camera shy and wouldn't let me take her picture. Her coffee shop is quaint and comfortable. You'll also find neat items to browse through and buy while you're waiting for your order.

Glenda is the head baker lady in charge of Baker Buddies. If you're craving freshly baked breads and cookies that make your mouth water you need to stop in. Glenda wasn't feeling photogenic today either - so the only way you'll see what she looks like is to stop in. But, be sure to get there early, you can see by early afternoon she's low on goodies.

I've always found friendly, happy and smiling faces at Main Street Coffee and Baker Buddies - but if you point a camera at either Terri or Glenda, they'll probably head for the hills (it's ok, I don't like my photo taken either.)

Many buyers are accustomed to finding, reaching and viewing real estate on weekends - including Sundays. If you are looking for property in Modoc County, your experience may be difficult unless you've made arrangements before coming into our area.

Modoc County is a very rural area, and businesses operate a bit differently here. Open Houses are rare and if you want to see a property, many homeowners and tenants will require 24 hour notice. So, if you appear magically on a real estate office's doorstep on a Saturday morning, you may not be able to see a property that day and possibly not on Sunday either.

Typically real estate offices in Modoc County do not use lockboxes. Keys are kept at the real estate listing office, often only one set. So, unless that office is aware that you want to view a property when you arrive, that one set of keys may be out. Also, offices here run short days on Saturday (usually 10am - 3pm) and it is unusual for an office to be open on Sundays.

Best tips for shopping Modoc County Real Estate:

1) Call around to various offices and talk to them. Find an office that seems to fit your needs. Make sure that they listen to what you are looking for and understand that you want to see properties that fit your requirement even if that office is not the listing office.

2) Make an appointment for the day that you plan to arrive in the area to view property. If you are like most buyers, you'll have a 3-8 hour drive to get here. If you feel tired, arrange to stay overnight. You'll be less stressed and hurried and be better able to enjoy the process of finding a property.

3) Call the agent the day before you will be here to make sure that agent remembers you are coming in. Nothing is more irritating than arriving after a long drive to find out your agent booked someone else for the same day and time and is not there to help you.

4) Make sure your agent sends you information by email of all the properties set up for viewing during your visit. By reviewing the information ahead of time, you'll be better able to ask questions and get answers.

5) If you've never been to Modoc County, it is probably best to make your first visit an informational one. Get maps, names of subdivisions, lists of available properties and just take the time to drive around. Make a note of what you like or don't like so that when you are ready to buy a property, you can describe to your real estate agent exactly what you want. It will make it easier for you in the long run.

6) If you decide to make a surprise visit to Modoc County on a Sunday -- Give me a Call ! Having relocated from another part of California, I understand that you have a limited amount of time and can't necessarily make it up during the week. Sundays are working days for me !

I sincerely hope that if you're interested in Country Living, a calm and quiet pace of life, clean air, unhurried lifestyle, and a less populated area, that you'll consider Modoc County. This is a beautiful area.