Vic Steele - Broker/Consultant

Please take advantage of this great Living Social offer and join me at the gym!

I've dropped fat and added muscle working out here the last three months. My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades! Don't look for before/after photographs here - there was no way I was taking a before photo!

For ony $49, you get an hour-long massage (from an extraordinary massage therapist) plus ten classes of your choice -- yoga, Pilates, boot camp, and Zumba (that's a $175 value!).

Join me for the hour-long classes with their professional instructors at their new 6,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art Wellness Center at 1427-B N. Harbor Blvd in Fullerton.

What are you waiting for? The quality massage alone is worth $49! Let's take some classes together! Buy it now!

This may be one of the most popular urban legends in CA real estate: Does California Require a Termite Inspection?

The short answer is "No."

I just got a text from a client who is in escrow to buy a home in Orange. We had their property inspection earlier today. He wanted a referral for a termite company. I was surprised for two reasons:

1. The purchase contract specifically said the Seller (Foreclosing Bank) would NOT pay for a termite inspection.

2. The propery inspector did not mention he noticed termite damage today.

I asked my client about that and he said the property inspector did not see termite damage, but he told him that a termite inspection is required in all Calfornia real estate transactions.

I explained this is a very popular urban legend, but it is not entirely accurate. Some lending institutions require a termite inspection AND a clearance. A termite inspection is highly recommended in every transaction. If the Residential Purchase Agreement calls for a termite inspection, almost every lender will require it is completed and any Section 1 work is completed before the loan can fund.

So there is not a California law requiring a termite inspection. It is standard practice, it is highly recommended, it is NOT required.

If you're looking for a straight answer on anything, like Does California Require a Termite Inspection, ask me!

Out of Hibernation / Time to Feast

“You’re back Vic!” – That’s a phrase I have heard many times in the last few months. “It’s good to have you back!”, “I missed you!”. It made me realize that I have apparently been in hibernation. Growing up in Alaska; I am very familiar with the hungry eating habits of waking hibernators. We are ravenously hungry, but still willing to share. What a great time to launch our 3^rd Annual Relationship-Based Food Drive!

Remember that I don’t go door-to-door looking for new business, I don’t call people without their permission and I don’t have my picture on shopping carts. I don’t send out calendars with my picture on them. I don’t even plant plastic American flags in your front yard at midnight on July 3^rd. That’s because I work By Referral Only. I work for my friends, my family and the people that they care about. That’s it.

Imagine your disappointment if you saw me settle to that course of business practice. You’re at your favorite grocery store and you realize you just laid the bread against the face of Vic Steele, Broker, Valet Real Estate Services. I know you would be disappointed to see that. I would be even more disappointed to stoop to that.

My business model has not changed. I work for my friends and the people they care about – no one else. I depend on you to insist that your friends rely on me to help them with their home. I don’t want them to “use” me. Please ask them to rely on me. Perhaps the food drive is the best way to introduce us? I could send this letter to you as an email that you could forward to someone you care about with a note that says, “This is the real estate professional I want you to rely on!”

On December 8^th, 9^th and 10^th I am collecting food for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Just as we have always done our food drives, I’m volunteering to come to your home or workplace and pick up your donation. I am asking permission to come to your house. I hope to have a crew with me, helping me. If not, I will manage to get every pound of food delivered. If you would leave a bag or two of food on your front porch, I will give you a tax receipt for it and deliver it to The Orange County Food Bank on your behalf! My goal is to deliver at least four trucks of food to them. I know we can do it together! Yes, you can leave boxes of food or a case of one kind of food. They really need peanut butter, canned hams, cranberry sauce and dried mashed potatoes. I won’t turn any food down!

The 2011 Relationship-based Food Drive is celebrating it's 3rd year!

On December 8th, 9th and 10th I am asking permission to come to your house. I plan to have a small crew with me that will be there to pick up food.

If you would leave a box of food or a bag of food on your front porch, we will give you a receipt for it and deliver it to The Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County on your behalf!

My goal is to deliver at least 3 truckfuls of food to them. I know you and I can do it together! (Yes, you can leave several boxes of food or a case of one kind of food. Ideas: They really need peanut butter, canned hams, cranberry sauce and dried mashed potatoes. They'll even accept frozen meats! I won't turn any food down.)

I'm going to call you to schedule my pickup. You are welcome to call me anytime at 714-240-3693. I hope that you will help me show the importance of a relationship - not a mailing list!

I need help. In years past, I have had family volunteers and high school volunteers. I don’t have any of that this year, so I appreciate any help you can offer. Any at all. If you know of a high-schooler that needs to earn community service hours, this is a great opportunity.

2009– 2,097 pounds of food delivered to the Second Harvest Food Bank

2010 – 748 pounds of food and $600 delivered to the Second Harvest Food Bank

Our goal for 2011 is a thousand pounds of food and $300 in cash/gift cards. I’m confident we will exceed that with your help.

Who are you thinking of right now that would be interested in participating in our annual food drive?

The Fullerton Wellness Center is having their Grand Opening this Friday and Saturday, November 4^th and 5^th.

Helping you with your home is my number 1 priority. You may not know that my Silver Platter Service has been exposed to the commercial real estate market in recent years. This year, I helped CORE Physical Therapy move into their new facility at 1027 N. Harbor Blvd, Suite B in Fullerton. It’s on the back side of the Ralph’s shopping center at Harbor/Berkeley.

Join us this Friday and Saturday for your own private tour, a personal physical therapy screening, snacks, nutrition classes, yoga classes, Boot Camp fitness classes, Student Athlete Performance Training, mini massages and, of course, the incredibleraffle drawing! It’s all free to you; tell them you were invited by your Personal Real Estate Consultant; Vic Steele. They will smile and say, “We know Vic!”

The full schedule of events is here.

Who are you thinking of right now that would be interested in a free massage?

Please take a moment to Like them on Facebook!

Will I see you on Friday or Saturday at the Fullerton Wellness Center?