Before you take the plunge and start your home search, it’s in your best interest to really ask yourself if you are ready for the financial and emotional responsibility of owning a home. If you ask yourself the questions below and find yourself struggling, then it may be time to re-think the choice to purchase a property. If you can answer them with ease or make something work, then you can enter your Whittier, CA home search knowing that you are completely ready to make such a large investment.

Is this the right time for me to buy a home? If you’re facing some of the following issues, then now may not be the best time to purchase a home:
•    You don’t have any savings.
•    Your job or home life is unstable.
•    Interest rates are too high for you to make mortgage payments.
As of right now, interest rates are relatively low in the Whittier real estate market, so you don’t have to worry about the third issue. The largest problem for many right now is having no money saved or an unstable employment situation. The key to successfully buying a home you are able to afford is stability. If you don’t have a stable lifestyle, then chances are you will struggle with making payments on a home. Your personal and financial situation is something that you need to evaluate thoroughly before you decide to buy.

What are the current market conditions? In a seller’s market, home prices tend to be higher, meaning that for buyers, getting a home is less affordable. Fortunately, right now, we are in a buyer’s market, meaning that overall, home prices are lower and more people can afford to buy.

How much home can I afford? This is a very important question to ask yourself before you start making offers. Several people can afford to buy a home, however they look at properties that are out of their price range and end up buying a house that is too expensive for them. What ends up happening in this situation is that they get so far behind on their mortgage payments that foreclosure proceedings begin, and that ruins both your credit rating and a chance to move forward and buy a new home. Consulting with your Whittier real estate agent will allow you to take a look at your current financial situation and iron out exactly what your price range should be, and you can start your search from there.

What does my credit score look like? Right now, lending restrictions are a bit on the tight side, making it more difficult for buyers to obtain financing for their mortgage. If your credit score isn’t where it needs to be, then you need to actively work to improve it before you can consider buying a home. You don’t want to find this out after you’ve already applied for a loan. Keep track of your credit score early-on, and you’ll find that you can avoid aggravation down the line.

These questions might seem overwhelming, and they can be, however they are also incredibly important. Buying a home is a large financial responsibility, and it’s not one that should be taken lightly. Facing these issues head-on before beginning your home search will reassure you that you’re ready and help your transaction go much more smoothly. As Whittier real estate agents, we always encourage our clients to ask themselves these questions before committing to a property.

If you have any questions about buying a home in Whittier, CA, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help you throughout this process. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us

Redondo Beach, which is about 40 minutes away from the city of Whittier, CA, is one of the most fun and exciting places to be in Southern California. If you combine the entertaining atmosphere of this area with the excitement surrounding the Super Bowl this Sunday, the product is an unbeatable event that will not only help you celebrate the day the right way, it will also work off any potential eating binges that may occur at game time. As your Whittier community resource, when we heard about this event, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tell you about it. What we’re referring to is the 34th Annual Super Bowl Sunday 5K/10K.

Taking place this Sunday, February 5th at the Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach, Southern Californians everywhere are invited to run, walk or stroll their way through town during the Super Bowl Sunday 5K/10K. There will be live music, awards and a costume contest, so if you’re interested in the prize, be sure to come dressed in your most creative getup. It’s just a way to start Super Bowl Sunday on a healthy, festive note before you kick back on the couch, fill up on snacks and enjoy the big game!

One of the biggest benefits to living in Whittier, CA is that there is events like this that happen year-round, all in areas that are within a very close proximity to our community. Our many years of living and working as Whittier real estate agents has allowed us to become knowledgeable about areas beyond our community, and we use that information to help guide our clients in the right direction during their home search or sale. We feel that becoming as knowledgeable as we possibly can about areas and events’ around Whittier is another way for us to be an invaluable real estate and community resource.

If you have any questions about the upcoming events in Whittier and its surrounding communities, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We aim to be your number one expert on both real estate and the areas we serve, so if you ask us a question that we don’t know the answer to, we’ll do anything that we can to find and give you the right answer. As your Whittier real estate agents, we aim to serve you in any way that we can. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us

Contrary to popular belief, not all remodeling projects are going to have a positive impact on your home’s value. Some projects that might be practical for some areas may not be as effective for others, and as your Whittier real estate experts, it’s important for us to guide sellers in our area when they start to discuss remodeling. We make it a priority to let each of our clients know which remodeling projects will help their home’s value go higher and which will find them wishing they hadn’t invested the money. Here are a few that are practically guaranteed to help.

•    Replace your home’s siding. This sounds expensive, but cost-effective, durable material like vinyl will provide the home with great insulation. It’s also easy to install, so you don’t have to worry about this process being labor-intensive.
•    Build a deck in the backyard. There’s nothing that Americans love more than having barbecues and block parties in the backyard, and for that reason, decks have remained one of the most popular and valuable home improvement projects that you can do. It’s a way to increase living space at a small cost, and it will raise entertainment value!
•    Switch up the garage door. Did you know that garage doors can make up 20% of your home’s façade? This can have a large impact on your house’s curb appeal. Spending a little bit of money on a new face for your home can prove to be valuable when you choose to put in on the market.
•    Give your kitchen some energy. Not all kitchen remodels need to be invasive and expensive. If your space’s layout and size is alright but looks dated, then you can easily make it look brand new by updating cabinets, countertops and flooring. The return on investment will be well-worth it and your kitchen will take on a fresh energy that it’s been lacking.
•    Convert that attic into a bedroom. We know that attics can provide great storage options, however one way to really boost your home’s value is to convert that space into an extra bedroom, as well. Attic rooms can be quaint, and it will give your house that special something that stands out from the competition.

When it comes to remodeling, the most important thing to remember is that you want to invest in projects that will be valuable and give you the highest return on investment. That in-home theater and deluxe tennis court might sound like a positive investment, but in this market, high-end amenities aren’t what is going to get the home sold. A solid, quaint-looking, modern and fully-functioning home will. As your Whittier real estate agents, we feel that it is of the utmost importance to remind our clients which projects will truly benefit them.

If you have any questions about what it takes to get your Whittier, CA home sold, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’ll use our many years of experience in Whittier real estate to help you at any time. We hope to hear from you soon.

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us

Many people tend to shy away from going green at home because they think it’s too much of a hassle. They think it’s going to be expensive and inconvenient. We have a secret for you: it doesn’t have to be! You can easily cut the costs of your power and energy bills by integrating small habits into your daily routine. In the interest of being a more energy-efficient homeowner, we thought we’d share a few quick tips with you. With these easy ideas to use as a starting point, your Whittier, CA home will start seeing lower energy bills in no time.

Focus your efforts on the biggest energy hogs in the house. Items such as your washer, dryer, refrigerator and freezer are essentials; however, they do tend to use up the most energy. If you’re going to start cutting back on your energy costs, these household items are where you should start. For your fridge, you can start saving energy by adjusting the thermostat to 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit. This keeps your fridge cold, but not so cold that it starts using exorbitant amounts of energy. For your washing machine, use cold water only. It uses significantly less energy than hot water, and once again, it’s an easy transition to make. Starting with small changes like these will allow you to start cutting energy costs right away!

Try to cut down on your power consumption. This doesn’t mean that you have to start going without power or putting your lights on timers. If you start by turning off the lights every time you leave a room or your house, you’ll quickly see how much that could make a difference. For all of your electronics, using a power strip will allow you to turn all of your devices off at once when you leave the house or go on vacation, so you don’t have to remind yourself to turn off each individual device. These smart strategies are just a few ways that you can start cutting your energy costs without uprooting your entire home.

Become savvy with your lighting. It’s no surprise that lighting is what gobbles up most of your home’s energy, and as a result, those bills can get incredibly expensive. This can easily change by switching from incandescent to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Not only will you lower operating costs by as much as 75%, but you’ll also be fixing a major energy issue in your home for a relatively small cost. Compact fluorescents are great for rooms that see a lot of activity during the day and for your standard light fixtures, so they’re also incredibly functional for your day-to-day lighting needs. Just like some of the other solutions we’ve outlined, this is a fix that requires little inconvenience, and it can help you save money on your energy costs!

Our many years of experience living and working as Whittier real estate agents has shown us that it’s becoming increasingly more important for many homeowners in the area to go green, but that doesn’t mean that you have to spend money on costly upgrades! The simple solutions outlined above are manageable, and they will allow you to live your life without inconvenience or sacrifice. We used some of the tips we’ve seen in Whittier real estate along the way to help create these simple, easy-to-follow suggestions for going green in your Whittier home.

If you have any questions about how you can start saving energy, or you want to see some of the beautiful homes on the Whittier real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact us! We are here for you at any time. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us

Don’t get us wrong: you still want to use your Whittier real estate agent to help you through the process of making an offer. While precision is not the most important thing during this process, doing your research is. You need to find and consider as much information about the home you want and the area surrounding it as possible in order to make an offer that the seller will accept without overpaying for the property. As your eyes and ears in the Whittier, CA real estate market, we feel that it’s important to give our clients three important steps that they should take when making an offer in order to present the most realistic and optimal price point to the seller. Remember: the more you know, the more prepared you’ll be during the negotiation process!

Step 1: Get a Comparative Market Analysis.
A Comparative Market Analysis, or CMA, is an incredibly important document to use when you go to make an offer on a home in Whittier, CA. A CMA is essentially a report that takes the features of the home you want to buy-from square footage to the number of bedrooms and bathrooms-and compares it with other homes similar in price point in the area. From there, they give the most mathematically accurate price value of the property in question. This is a great tool to use when making an offer, because you can see what other homes with similar qualities in the area have sold for. You can also look for more similarities amongst these averages and look at homes that are more specifically like the one you want and see what those homes sold for. You can use this number as a starting point for your offer and use the CMA to back up your price during negotiations.

Step 2: Use market trends to tweak your offer.
After you look at the CMA, you need to take market trends into account. Right now, we’re in a buyer’s market, so you could probably get away with offering a lower price for a property than you normally would. You need to stay in the same ballpark as the CMA price, but you could go a little bit lower, if need be. You also need to look at the competition. How many homes are currently on the market? If the number is not high, then you will need to make a higher bid for a property, as there are fewer homes for buyers to choose from and you could have other buyers competing with you for the home. You also need to ask yourself how long the home has been on the market. If it’s newly listed, you’ll want to keep the price higher than if it has been on the market for over 60 days. Seasonal factors, interest rates and list price to sales price ratios are other factors you need to take into consideration when making an offer on a Whittier, CA home. Once again, this may sound like a lot of information to process, but the more you know now, the more you’ll be able to use these numbers during the negotiation process.

Step 3: Know the facts specific to the Whittier, CA property you’re making an offer on.
In order to use the statistics that come from CMA’s and market trends, you need to know the specifics on the home you want to buy! Find out how many days the home has been on the market and the competition in the area. You should also take this time to figure out what the priorities and motivation of the sellers are. If they’re looking to sell the home quickly, you will need to take that into account when making your offer. Keeping the offer low on the first attempt may cause the sellers to pass you over in favor of a buyer with a higher offer. That’s why it’s important to make your first offer your best one! Knowing the specifics before making the first offer will allow you to offer the best price based on market data AND the property in question, which many other buyers may forget to do.

As your Whittier real estate agents, we feel that the best way to prepare our clients for making an offer on a home is to share our industry secrets and tactics with them. If you use these tools when making an offer, then you will likely see success with the seller! Navigating the Whittier real estate market isn’t easy, but with the right professionals by your side and access to the right information, you can get a leg up on the competition.

If you ever have questions about buying a Whittier, CA home, don’t hesitate to contact us! As your Whittier real estate team, we strive to make ourselves available to you at any time. We hope to hear from you soon. Have a great day!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us

The Whittier, CA area offers small-city feel while having access to big city culture and entertainment. As your Whittier real estate agents, we thought we'd offer a few ideas for this New Year's Eve while keeping things close to home!

The number of restaurants in Whittier is too long to list here, but if you’re looking for stylish dining that won’t break the bank, try Dattilo Ristorante in uptown Whittier. Known for its’ Garden Room wine bar with artisan cheeses and incredible wine selection, the dinner menu includes a wide selection of appetizers, pastas, seafood entrees and more. They are open New Year’s Eve on a first-come, first –served basis. Large parties should call ahead.

For more casual dining, The Bottle Room features craft beers, wines, and a simple menu with gourmet appetizers, burgers, and sandwiches. Try one of the delicious flatbreads or the savory Turkey BLT. They are open noon to 9:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve on a first-come, first-served basis. Parties of 8 or more should call ahead.

Looking for a New Year’s Eve bash? The Cellar in Fullerton is hosting a Speakeasy New Year’s Party. Enjoy the prohibition era in true roaring-20’s style with ragtime tunes and fun surprises! The dinner menu is also period-inspired.  Call ahead for reservations.

Family-friendly fun can be had at the 21^st annual First Night in downtown Fullerton.  The event runs Dec 31 from 7:00 p.m. to midnight. Attractions include live entertainment, hybrid ice skating, rides, food, and fireworks at midnight!

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with spending New Year’s Eve in your Whittier, CA home!  Sit back with a couple of movies, popcorn, and the beverages of your choice, and you can begin 2012 relaxed and rested. And if you are thinking of buying or selling a home during 2012, we can help! Always feel welcome to contact us  for information about the Whittier, CA real estate market.

Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year,

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us

Looking forward to the New Year? You could make it even better by finding a new home in North Orange County, CA ! As your Whittier, CA real estate experts, we know there are many wonderful homes in all price ranges of the Whittier real estate market!

The news media likes telling you how hard it is to buy a house, so you may be thinking you can't qualify for a mortgage. Banks have tightened their purse strings, but thanks to the Federal Housing Administration, reasonable mortgage terms are within reach! Here’s how this type of mortgage can help you:

FHA loans require as little as 3.5% down. You can even use money gifted to you by your family.

FHA loans allow more breathing room in your credit score. You still need to have good credit, but the score requirements are a little lower than other types of mortgages.

FHA loans have no income limit. If you earn high wages, that’s ok! If not, that’s ok too, as long as you make enough income to afford the home you’re buying.

FHA loans allow you to take a mortgage on several types of properties: Condos, single-family homes, And 1 to 4 unit properties with owner occupancy. Manufactured homes are also allowed, as long as they are on a permanent foundation.

FHA loan limits are as high as $729,750 in Orange County. That buys a lot of house!

FHA loans have competitive mortgage interest rates.

Whether you are a first-time homebuyer, or you’re thinking of trading up into a larger home, an FHA loan may be able to help you. You will need to speak with an FHA approved lender to find out more about the qualifications and requirements, such the mortgage insurance premiums. You can find approved lenders by visiting the official HUD.gov website.

Why not make your move to Whittier in 2012? If you’re thinking of buying a home in Whittier, always feel welcome to contact us! Our friendly and professional service will be with you every step of the way.

Wishing you all the best during the holidays and into the New Year,

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us

As your Whittier real estate agents, we are familiar with homes. We’re not necessarily talking about the buying and selling transactions that we take part in every day, (although we are experts on that), but rather we mean that we know what makes a home look great. We have the ability to look at a room in any house and see its potential. That’s part of our job! In order to sell a home, we need to be able to highlight its assets to a buyer. That’s why, when we came across some of these ideas on how to make your home look much more festive this holiday season, we thought we’d share them. As your Whittier real estate team, we want your home to look beautiful on Christmas Day. Here are some of our favorite ideas that will transform your home from a typical Whittier property to a winter wonderland:

Fun, festive entry lights. There’s no better way to get your guests into the holiday spirit than by illuminating your entryway with gorgeous Christmas lights. Drape them in a casual way around your mailbox or portico posts for a welcoming effect. It will make your home look that much more beautiful each evening.

Transform odd seats into a set. If you’re throwing a holiday party and need to throw together an extra table with some mismatched chairs, then make them look like they belong together. A coat of paint and some decorative decals that you can stencil on will transform your “odds and ends” table setting into a matching masterpiece. It’s a great way to set a nice tone for your holiday party.

Use siding display panels to pretty up your place. Thermostats, switch plates and electrical panels are necessities, but they’re also eyesores if you’re trying to get your home ready for a holiday party. Create some fun side panels made out of sliding doors and add some festive décor. You can even paint some of these with chalkboard paint, take out the chalk, and let the kids at your party color or use it to play some holiday games. It’s all about getting creative!

No wine cellar? No problem. We love a great wine rack as much as the next person, but there’s no doubt that oftentimes, they can get in the way or can be easily knocked over by party guests. Here’s a quick party tip: a great place to store a wine rack is under the stairs. You get easy access to the wine for your party guests, and it’s tucked away somewhere a little safer.

These are only a few of the many simple, easy DIY ways you can get your Whittier, CA home prepared for holiday entertainment.  As your Whittier real estate agents, we wanted to share a few ideas that can help make your home look that much more beautiful for the holidays. We can’t wait to see how festive the homes in the Whittier, CA area look over the next few weeks!

As always, if you have any questions about the Whittier, CA real estate market or community, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help you at any time and answer any questions you may have. Thank you for continuing to read our blog. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us

As fun as it is to have your kids home from school for a couple of weeks, those two words are never a good sign. Boredom causes listlessness, grouchiness and recklessness, which means that your holiday vacation could turn in to a nightmare quite quickly. One of the best parts about living in Whittier, CA is that our community offers fun programs and entertainment to keep the kids occupied when they’re not in school, so they can let off some steam and have fun without the impending boredom. As your Whittier real estate agents and community experts, we feel that it is important to keep our community updated about what is happening in the area.

The city of Whittier, CA’s parks and recreation department has come up with some fun-filled holiday activity programs that will keep the kids entertained and your sanity intact. Here are a few suggestions for what you can sign them up for:

Junior Winter Theater Camp
December 19th-30th, 10:00am-4:00pm
This program, meant for ages 8-18 on Monday-Friday, is designed to unleash your child’s inner thespian. They will learn musical theater techniques and styles while playing singing, dancing and theater games. They’ll also prepare a special New Year’s Eve performance of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” for you. If that isn’t enough to get your kids excited, tell them that one of the days includes a field trip to Knott’s Berry Farm. If you’re a resident of Whitter, CA, it will only cost you $122 for this program. Non-residents will have to pay $137. For more information, call 562-567-9430.

Winter Day Camp at Parnell Park
December 26th-30th, January 2nd-6th
If you have a younger kid between the ages of 5-12, this Winter Day Camp at Parnell Park may be the perfect program to keep them active and occupied during winter break! For only $90 per child, per week, your kid can take part in field trips, sports, arts and crafts, games and cooking activities. Each day will bring something new and exciting, so your child will likely want to come for more than one week. We also have a feeling that come back-to-school time, they will be sad to leave this jam-packed day camp. Register today by calling 562-567-9450.

Whether your child wants to embrace their inner actor or has a variety of interests, the city of Whittier, CA provides excellent programs during winter break that will keep your family occupied and boredom-free. As your Whittier real estate agents, we stay in-tune with what is happening in the area so that we can give you advice on the best events in town for you and your family.

If you’re interested in knowing more about the Whittier, CA community, are new to the area or interested in seeing some homes available on the local real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact us! As your Whittier, CA real estate resource, we are happy to help in any way we can. We make it a priority to make ourselves available to you. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us

Value Range Pricing $600,000 - $650,000. Beautiful North Hills Tri-level home.Remodeled kitchen and baths, custom entertainment center in Family room, newer windows and French doors,crown molding,recessed lighting, hardwood flooring in many rooms. This wonderful home has well over $150,000 in upgrades. Large deck in rear overlooks large backyard. Great landscaping and hardscaping  front and rear. Truly a special home, and a standard sale!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us

Many homebuyers wait until the spring to put their homes up for sale on the Whittier real estate market. The reason for this is that after the holiday season, many people want to spend the winter making needed upgrades on their homes or redecorating. As experienced Whittier real estate agents, we make it a priority to stay on top of the latest trends in home improvement, design and staging. Knowing what will sell is key to our industry, and as a home seller, the surest way to woo Whittier’s home buyers is to make the latest upgrades just before putting your home on the market. The more up-to-date and on-trend your home looks, the faster your home will sell.

Here are some of the decorating trends that will get your home sold next year:

•    Matching exteriors: Contrary to the stark contrasts between the paint on your shutters and that of your home, home buyers now are looking for a more monochromatic color scheme. Repaint your shutters so they match your Whittier home a bit more. This will likely boost your home’s curb appeal and lure the buyers in even faster.

•    Painted patterns that draw the eye: While you want to try and keep each room as neutral and clean as possible during the selling process, adding a bit of “pop” here and there won’t hurt. Adding a flashy, painted pattern as an accent to a room will give the area a bit more interest and intrigue the buyers a bit. Remember, while you don’t want to overload homebuyers in Whittier, CA with too much decoration, having a few eye-catching pieces placed subtly throughout the home will only add to your property’s appeal.

•    Black and White: There’s something timeless and sophisticated about pairing black and white together, and so experiment with that color scheme when you’re staging your rooms. Remember, you want every area in your home to look neutral and clean, but you also want them to look trendy and up-to-date. Throwing in some black and white furniture may give an otherwise dated room a fresh appearance. This color scheme will add pop to even the most historic of homes. Don’t be afraid to be a little daring.

Using the upcoming winter to do a little bit of remodeling and redecorating will serve you well when it comes time to put your Whittier, CA home for sale on the local real estate market. Our many years of living and working as Whittier real estate agents have taught us that homebuyers look for appealing and up-to-date homes during their search, so as a seller, the best thing that you can do is make sure that your updates are on-trend.

If you’re thinking about selling your home or want to know more about the Whittier, CA real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact us! As your premier real estate resource for the Whittier, CA area, we’d be happy to help! We hope to hear from you soon.

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us

As your North Orange County real estate agents, we think it’s important to inform people in our community about what is happening around town during the holiday season. Whether you’re new to Whittier, CA or are visiting the area for the holidays, we want to help you figure out some fun, family-friendly activities that you can do during the vacation time from school and work. We feel that part of what makes North Orange County, CA such a great place to live is the abundance of things to do, and there is no exception to this during the holidays.

Here is a list of some of the most fun-filled holiday festivities happening this month in North Orange County and some surrounding communities. We hope that these ideas will put you in the holiday spirit!

Go ice skating. Head to the Irvine Spectrum Center, lace up your skates, and enjoy yourself in Orange County’s only outdoor skating rink. While it might be hot outside, it’s a great way to feel as though you’re in a winter wonderland during the holiday season. Besides, when else are you going to get a chance to ice skate outside in California? The rink will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but it’s a great day trip idea for the whole family during the holiday weekend.

Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells. If you have younger children, you might have heard of the Junie B. Jones book series. Now, the popular literary figure has hit the stage! See this rambunctious first grader figure out the meaning of the holidays at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through this weekend. It’s a sly way to spend a fun day out with the family while convincing the youngsters to stay nice over Christmas.

See the Blue Man Group. This renowned and popular show would be the perfect family outing over the holidays. The combination of theater, comedy and music will allow you a temporary escape from holiday shopping and food preparation. The production is running through this weekend, so see if you can get tickets before the run is through! The show will be at Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa.

Whether you’re looking for family-friendly theater, a more universally renowned production or want to try a different activity, the holiday season in Orange County, CA is full of fun-filled things to do with the entire family. Although Thanksgiving doesn’t officially come until next week, these attractions will help put you in the holiday spirit a bit early.

As your Whittier real estate agents, we think it’s incredibly important to keep our community in the know about local events and attractions for the holiday season. If you have any questions about the communities in North Orange County, or want to see some of the beautiful homes on the Whittier real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help in any way we can.

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us

As Whittier real estate agents, we have a strong idea of what the local real estate market is like. We also know exactly what many homebuyers in the North Orange County area are looking for. With all of our years of experience working in Whittier real estate, we believe that utilizing the open house can present a great opportunity: you can put your best foot forward and be a little creative. Using some of the ideas below, you can make sure that your Whittier, CA home stands out from the competition and sell your home even faster:

Keep the décor simple. Yes, this is still your home, but you want potential buyers to be able to envision themselves living in it. Put away as many personal touches as possible, including shopping lists and family photos. This might sound a bit extreme, but you’d be surprised at the difference de-personalizing your home can make. The less of “you” that there is in the home, the more Whittier homebuyers can see themselves living there. Ask your real estate agent to walk through the home and help you de-clutter before open house time.

Keep the counters clean. Put away as many countertop appliances and items as possible, particularly in bathrooms. Clean countertops give potential homebuyers ideas on how they can utilize the space for storage or their own appliances. Remember, you want the home to look as clean and neutral as possible.

Set the dining room table with your nicest table set. Appearance is everything in these situations. Even if your plan for after the open house is a box of pizza and paper plates in front of the TV, set the dining room as though you’re planning on hosting an event after everyone leaves. You want people to be able to see this space in your Whittier home as a place for entertaining, so set the mood a little bit. Unlike countertops, people prefer to see a set table. It creates possibilities and shows more of the home’s true potential.

Invest in a nice doormat. It will be one of the first things people see when they enter your home. Having a nice doormat shows that you care about how your home looks.

Bribery works. By this, we mean food and beverage. Bake cookies, serve cocktails or have a buffet of hors d’oeuvres sitting out.  It will get people who are interested in living in Whittier walking through your door, even if it’s only for the free food. From there, they can take a look around your home and hopefully, it will pique their interest. Overall, offering perks to attending the open house is a great way to get the foot traffic you need to get your Whittier home sold.

Don’t stick around. Potential homebuyers can oftentimes feel threatened by the presence of the home’s owner at an open house. They won’t feel comfortable giving your Whittier real estate agent honest feedback if they sense you’re in the next room. Make sure you’re out of the house during the open house time. Leave early and stay out a little on the later side, just to be safe. You want people to feel comfortable when they enter your home, not pressured.

These quick tips should help you make the most out of your open house in Whittier, CA. The open house presents the perfect opportunity to make your home stand out from the competition, so make sure you put a lot of time, thought and effort into how you want to present your property. As your Whittier real estate resource, we want to make sure that we prepare you properly for the open house process.

If you have any questions about selling your Whittier home or want to know more about some of the other communities in North Orange County, don’t hesitate to contact us! We would love to help you in any way we can. We hope to hear from you soon.

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
Visit Our Website
See Our Listings
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Contact Us