Good Morning!

I am posting some great information links for you, so be sure and check them out.

http://www.car.org/media/pdf/Beyondtheheadlines_021909.pdf

Have a great week....

 

Barbara Reaume

 

 

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Recently I have been inundated with links to helpful sites for clients experiencing any difiiculties with their mortgage payments. Check them out.

 http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20090223_options.htm 

Also one of them is an articly that is a little more upbeat re: the swing in real estate pricing.

http://rismedia.com/2009-02-19/commentary-house-prices-will-rise-greatly-over-the-next-few-years-buy-now 

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We recently have been inundated with great information on  links to helpful sites if a homeowner is having trouble with their mortgage payments.  Email me at barbara@barbarareaume.com and I would be glad to forward that information.

Sincerely,

Barbara Reaume GRI, SRES, CN

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Hey Everyone,

One great way to find a home at a great price, is to check the local santa barbara foreclosure listings.   I have setup a free download of foreclosure listings in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Goleta and Carpinteria on my homepage http://www.barbarareaume.com

 Simply look for the form that says 'Send Foreclosure Listings"

 Barbara Reaume

805-453-9674

 

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It has been a terrific year at Coldwell Banker in Montecito. As I get older (and the older I get the faster I get older) I see the patterns in my 26 years of real estate. Remembering the eighties with “creative financing” and the nineties with the need to take notes for our commissions due to the shortage of cash, I now have come upon the 21^st Century and here we are again! As they say, it seems nothing ever changes!

I will miss our Equity Title crew, the Santa Barbara offices have closed and the warmth, hard work and ever ready smiles of Anita, Lynn, Lee and Michael will be missed very much. They always went out of their way to help all of us agents.

I know it’s the end of the year and I wanted to wish you and yours a great New Year. I also want to thank you for all the referrals in the past and want you to know how appreciative I am for the trust you have in me. Next year’s referrals may be a little different because of the economy and the challenges many people are facing and I want you to know that I am fully qualified to help the people you know who are faced with these challenges, as well as the ones who are looking to buy and sell traditionally.   I am never too busy for your referrals.

It’s hard out there for people and I want the really important people in my world, like you, to know that you can count on me as a partner in confidence, knowing I’ll do everything in my power to help the people you know.

Remember that effective January 1^st you have to stop that texting you know you have been doing on the road; we had a lively discussion at our office meeting on “does dialing a number constitute texting?” An answer for that forthcoming (unless you know of course and blog me back).

So go on out there and take a walk on these extraordinary beaches we are blessed with and let go of all those 2008 mistakes, while remembering and building on all your 2008 successes!

Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Barbara Reaume

805-610-5403

 

 

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Our hearts and our thoughts go out to all of those who lost their homes in the tragic Montecito tea fire.  Here is a link for more information on the Tea Fire:

http://www.countyofsb.org/ceo/oes0.aspx?id=2332

Fire Status

 

What to do after the fire 

List of Structures Lost

The following property lists are preliminary and will change as damage assessments continue.  This is the most current list as of 11/20/2008, 9:00 a.m.

Damage Assessment List of All Homes

Damage Assessment List of All Homes Destroyed

The City and County building divisions are in the process of conducting more detailed damage assessment of structures in the affected area.  These lists will be updated as additional information becomes available. 

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It’s a given that there will be discomforts, unanticipated emergencies, and numerous questions to be answered during even the smoothest remodeling project. To help keep your cool and survive until the dust settles, here’s Smart Consumer Service’s best advice:

• Make a phase list of procedures. Have the contractor explain what work will be done so you'll know the time needed for what's involved.
• Plan adequate storage space. Make room for materials, tools, and equipment by clearing work area of unnecessary gear.
• Post the builder's phone number by your telephone in case a question arises during construction. To avoid confusion, delegate only one family spokesman.
• Consider the logistics involved in delivering, shipping, and ordering materials and making the best use of the tradesperson's time and skill. Your contractor is as anxious as you are to finish the job. Allow a margin for human error or for simple forgetfulness.
• Double-check materials as they arrive. Once installed, they're all yours. You can cut down last-minute decisions and delays by selecting the materials in advance.
• Check locks and keys. You'll probably need to share keys with the contractor or his or her workers. Ask who will take responsibility.
• Try to stay out of the construction area. This is important for safety and for maintaining construction schedules. Keep pets, toys, and children out of the workers' way.
• Expect the unexpected. No one can prepare you for all the unforeseen incidents that may transpire. It's hard to imagine all the things that could go wrong: late deliveries, strikes, shipment shortages, wrong parts, oversights, rain, on-the-spot changes, etc. Tearing down a wall may uncover a problem that demands plan revisions.
• Brush up on building methods. A little construction savvy will help see you through those blue days when workers fail to show up. Could that happen? Yes, you'll find that remodeling proceeds in stages. Separate crews install framing, siding, insulation, masonry, finish carpentry, and roofing. Painters, electricians, and plumbers may all have to make several trips to complete their jobs. Slabs must cure, paint must dry, etc. The schedule is complicated, so don't be surprised if disruptions occur.
• Workmanship. Expect the highest of industry standards of quality workmanship. However, don't expect to get too much more than you're paying for.
• Batten down your belongings. Cover furniture and carpeting. Use this time to have your draperies and upholstery cleaned. You won't believe the dire and dust remodeling creates. Your contractor will also help you to cover and protect the work area.
• Be cool. Keep calm and flexible. Time-clocking workers only builds resentment and won't save a penny or speed up work.
• Win cooperation from workers and contractor with good, basic human relations. Nothing makes them work harder than a word of appreciation or an unexpected pot of coffee.
•  Swallow those endless "why's" that slow down production. Most workers are simply following our orders and construction specs. Discuss construction changes only with the contractor.
• Plan ahead to do without water or power when workers shut off lines. That way you'll avoid food spoilage in your refrigerator because of an unexpected power shut-off.

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Success With Contractors

THE SEVEN ESSENTIALS

 

Here are seven essential tips to keep in mind while searching for and working with a home improvement contractor. They’ll help protect your consumer rights and keep your job running smoothly across the course of the project.

Screen Prospective Contractors Carefully

Do you know everything you should about the contractor you’re about to hire? If you haven’t done your homework thoroughly and know that the company is financially stable; what their credit rating is; whether there are outstanding complaints by past customers or subcontractors and much more, you should have a professional screening performed by Smart Consumer Services.

 

Exercise Your 3-Day Right to Rescind
If you sign the contract but then have immediate regrets, you have a legal right to cancel the contract within three days of signing it, providing it wasn't signed at the contractor's place of business.

 

Be as Pictorial as Possible
Explain your project in graphic detail. The more information you give the contractor, the better. Clip pictures. Mark pages in books. Sketch possible floor plans. Make lists.

 

Be Financially Realistic
Sometimes what you want and what you can afford will be in conflict. Good contractors are trained professionals. Be willing to consider your contractor's point of view and ideas. It may save you money and get you a better result.

 

Avoid the Lowest Bids
If you’re searching for a contractor by merely comparing bids, picking the one with lowest bid is not the wisest course of action. Often, the lowest bid has been underestimated, and that means likely cost overruns, BEST case, and in the Worst Case Scenario, a company that may be on very thin ice, financially.

 

Insist on Third Party Mediation Clause
Be sure to insist that an Alternate Dispute Mediation (ADR) clause be added to the dispute resolution portion of your contract, prior to any arbitration language, in the event of major disputes. ADR is less expensive and frequently a more effective first step in dispute resolution. The Smart Consumer Services Sample Contract Package includes the language you should have added to any remodeling contract prior to signing.

 

Don’t Hesitate to Ask Questions
When you notice a problem or spot something that’s not what you wanted, speak up immediately. Don't wait until the end of the project, when it’s time to make final payment to complain about something you noticed weeks earlier.

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Greetings Everyone!

My website has now been fully revamped from my old site, thanks to my website guru's at www.smartchoicewebsolutions.com . I am going to post the articles that I had on my old site here for everyone to view. I hope you find these articles helpful. Call me anytime to chat ! 805.453.9674 - Barbara

Sincerely,

Barbara Reaume
Coldwell Banker
Real Estate Advisor GRI, SRES, CN
1290 Coast Village Rd
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Cell: (805) 610-5403
Fax: (805) 969-0262
http://www.barbarareaume.com
barbara@barbarareaume.com
Do feel called to make an impact in the world? See http://helpendglobalpoverty.org

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