Evelyn Panning

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 !

Our local Title Company, Modoc County Title, sent out this information to us today.

I thought this was very interesting information. I suspected that there wasn't much foreclosure activity in Modoc County and haven't personally focused any energy or time in that area. I was pleased to see that Modoc County is in comparatively good shape. The numbers in other parts of California though are staggering.

http://FileLibrary.MYAASite.Com/Content/39/39601/28849402.pdf

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.)