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Just Keep Swimming…Your May Newsletter is Here!

May 1, 2020 by bgray Leave a Comment

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As we continue to self-quarantine at home, many of us might be feeling disconnected, lonely, and stir-crazy—all of which are perfectly normal feelings to have at this time. However, it’s important to remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Coronavirus numbers are beginning to stabilize as a result of social distancing, and California is just weeks away from modifying its stay-at-home orders.

So while it may be difficult, just know that we are all in this together. In the words of Dory from Finding Nemo, when life gets us down we must, “Just Keep Swimming…” until we cross the finish line together.

I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our real “lifebuoys” out there. Thank you to our healthcare workers, first responders, police officers, firefighters, grocery store workers, and all of the brave heroes on the frontline for serving and loving your communities during this critical time.

This month’s newsletter is dedicated to answering some common questions and concerns that sellers and buyers might have during this time. I am also sharing a fun DIY home project to keep you and your loved ones busy and entertained!

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The coronavirus pandemic has brought much of the country to a screeching halt. But just because people are stuck at home, it doesn’t mean your home sale has to come to a screeching halt too. You can sell your home in the midst of this challenging time—as long as you’re safe.

Here are some precautions homeowners should take in order to sell their home safely during the COVID-19 crisis:

Embrace virtual showings: You don’t need a swarm of potential buyers walking in and out of your house; it’s not safe for you or them. Instead, have your real estate agent vet buyers and give them virtual tours of your home.

A recent survey from realtor.com found that, if given access to the right information and technology features, nearly ¼ of respondents (24 percent) would be willing to buy a home without seeing it in person. The number is even higher for younger homebuyers, at 29 percent.

But what information and tech features do buyers need to make a purchase? According to the survey, the features most important to would-be buyers when making a decision about buying a property remotely include:

  • A virtual tour of the home (61 percent)
  • Accurate, detailed listing information (58 percent)
  • Accurate, detailed neighborhood information (53 percent)
  • High-quality listing photos (51 percent)
  • A video walk-through with their real estate agent (39 percent)

Give me a call today to learn more about our virtual tours, professional photography, and 3D Matterport technology. 

Practice safety measures for in-person showings: If you have a buyer who has already been vetted and is extremely interested in the property, they may want to see your home in person before writing an offer. Prior to allowing anyone into your home, make sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces to protect potential buyers—and then make sure to do the same after the in-person tour to protect yourself and your family.

The coronavirus pandemic is changing the way people buy and sell homes. But with the right safety measures, there’s no reason it has to derail your home sale.

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With social distancing in full swing, searching for a home in the traditional sense—including going to tour homes in person—is getting put on the back burner. But just because you can’t see as many homes in person, it doesn’t mean your home search has to suffer!

A recent article from realtor.com outlined tips for conducting a virtual house hunt that’s just as good as the real thing:

Learn how to read an online listing and what’s hiding: You don’t want to waste your time virtually touring homes that aren’t going to be the right fit. When going through a listing, look for red flags that might indicate that a listing isn’t what it seems—and isn’t worth your time (for example, a complete lack of photos of the home’s interior or photos that appear to be stretched out to make a room appear bigger). It’s also important to stick to your original home search criteria whether that applies to living in a particular neighborhood and location or requiring a certain bed/bath count—it can be easy to venture off course to other neighborhoods and homes with just a click of a button, but sticking to your criteria is key.

Ask your real estate agent to go into detail during virtual tours: Thanks to technology like Zoom or FaceTime, your agent can take you on a virtual tour of potential properties. But video doesn’t catch all the small details you would catch if you were physically in the space (like the finishes on cabinets, or crown molding on the ceiling)—so make sure to ask your agent to talk you through those details.

Check out the neighborhood: There are a ton of interactive map tools and neighborhood guides on the internet that will give you insight into a potential home’s neighborhood. Ask your agent to send detailed neighborhood reports and information.

Bottom line? With a little creativity, technology, and patience, there’s no reason your virtual home search can’t be just as effective as a traditional search!

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The kitchen has (not surprisingly) become one of the most popular areas in our homes these days…So much so that our fridge may see us more times a day than the outside world…All jokes aside, you might consider using this extra time at home as an opportunity to add that extra “wow” factor to your kitchen. The best part? These DIY home renovation ideas don’t require a lot of time or money:

Build a custom copper rack for your pots and pans: Easy and inexpensive, a custom copper rack for your pots and pans is a great way to add a stylish edge to your kitchen. Just hang a copper pipe from your wall or ceiling, hang your pots and pans with inexpensive hooks, and you have a unique focal feature that instantly elevates your kitchen design. Click here for DIY inspiration. If you’d rather leave it to the pros, there are lots of affordable, ready to assemble options like this elegant Copper Rack from Home Depot.

Add a new light fixture above your kitchen table: If you have a kitchen table, switching out the light fixture above the table can instantly breathe new life into the space, making your kitchen feel more modern and on-trend. Pinterest has light fixture ideas for just about any style of kitchen. Click here to find one that matches the design and look of your kitchen.

Add crown molding to cabinets: Adding crown molding to the tops of your cabinets accomplishes a few different goals. It adds visual interest, makes the cabinets look more expensive, and also draws the eye upward, making cabinets look taller. Check out this DIY tutorial here.

Small changes to your kitchen can make a big impact on your home—and with a little time and effort, you can easily make those changes in a single weekend.

Filed Under: Home Improvement, Real Estate News

Six Taco Places in Sacramento to Check Out for Taco Tuesday!

February 18, 2020 by bgray Leave a Comment

Happy Taco Tuesday! In honor of this delicious weekly tradition, I scoured the Sacramento area to find a few of my favorite taco spots. So, bring your appetite and get your taco fix on by visiting one of the below places today.

Zocalos: With two nearby locations in midtown and University Village, Zocalos is the perfect place to celebrate Taco Tuesday in style. This upscale restaurant and bar serves up some delicious handcrafted margaritas, mouth-watering tacos, and a lovely dining atmosphere. Kick-off your meal with their freshly prepared guacamole starter. Because why not? For entrees, try their Baja Fish Tacos or their popular Carnitas Tacos. Their robust drink menu features everything from classic margaritas to mojitos and Palomas. They also have a great happy hour menu for drinks and tacos.

Mesa Mercado: If you’re a fan of the finer things in life, like freshly muddled margaritas and authentic Mexican cuisine, then you may want to make Mesa Mercado in the Carmichael Milagro Centre your new go-to Taco Tuesday spot. For a margarita with a little kick to it, try their Pepino Picante, with muddled cucumber, chili powder, fresh lime juice, and 100% blue agave tequila, and mescal. For a sweeter margarita without a headache, try their Mango Margarita, with pureed mango and chile, their secret margarita mix and freshly sliced mango, and chile spice topped at the rim. If you want some food to go with that margarita, you can’t go wrong with their roasted pork tacos.

Chandos Tacos: If you’re looking for the authentic taco experience for a great price then look no further than Chando’s Tacos. Enjoy your choice of Chando’s Signature Meats topped with cilantro, onions, guacamole, and salsa. They also have a large menu with burritos, tortas, quesadillas, you name it! Check out one of their five locations here.

Midtown’s Cantina Alley: Voted the KCRA List A Winner for “Best Mexican Restaurant” and “Most Trendiest Bar”, Midtown’s Cantina Alley continues to raise the bar for Mexican cuisine and drinks. Try their Chorizo Street Taco or their Crispy Papa Taco loaded with potatoes, green salsa, cotija cheese and a raddish garnish…you won’t be disappointed!  They also have a great selection of margaritas and oversized tropical drinks like their Pina Con Chile, which is served in a large pineapple. Check out their menu here.

Mas Taco Bar: As their name suggests, Mas Taco Bar is the place to visit if you’re craving tacos. This popular restaurant features unique, untraditional tacos ranging from pork belly and duck confit, to Korean fried chicken and fried oysters, to name a few. The tacos run the gamut of flavors, and the menu also features appetizers, a handful of “not tacos,” bowls and desserts. The cocktail menu offers specialty margaritas and craft cocktails handmade with fresh ingredients, easily paired with any taco. Enjoy a drink menu with 25 beers and more than 50 tequilas to explore and taste. Click here to find a location near you.

Taco Bell Cantina: Ok so this isn’t your typical sit-down restaurant with upscale food and tacos… but it is one of just a few Taco Bell Cantinas open across the United States and it just opened its doors so it’s worth checking out. Wondering what makes this location so special compared to other Taco Bell locations? Well for starters, it’s the only Taco Bell restaurant in the area where you can buy beer—including two local beers from Knee Deep in Auburn and Heretic in Fairfield—and freezes spiked with Tahoe Blue Vodka. They also serve up special Cantina Nachos that are not offered at any other location.

Do you have a favorite Taco Tuesday spot that you don’t see on the list? Let me know in the comments section below!

Filed Under: Food & Lifestyle, Sacramento Lifestyle

Our Spring Cleanup was a Success!

June 12, 2019 by bgray Leave a Comment

We had a great time this past weekend cleaning up the parkway at the Sunrise Recreation Area with the help of over 100 volunteers! It was the perfect opportunity to spend the day outside in the sunshine for a great cause.

Wondering how you can help keep our parkways clean? The American Parkway Foundation will have more volunteer opportunities throughout the remainder of the year. Stay tuned for our next cleanup opportunity!

 

Filed Under: Charity

Your June Newsletter is Here!

June 1, 2013 by bgray Leave a Comment

Say goodbye to the rain and hello to some much-needed sunshine! Summer is just around the corner and Sacramento is gearing up with an impressive line-up of outdoor activities, family-friendly events, and celebrations. We also have some recommendations for where to catch a dad-approved meal this Father’s Day. Read on for the full scoop!

Click on the below links for a round-up of exciting ways to spend time in and around the Sacramento region!

Sacramento Events:
River Cats Schedule: Click Here For June Games
Sac Republic FC Schedule: Click Here For June Matches
Concerts in the Park: Click Here For This Year’s Schedule
Now through September 30: Waterfront Yoga in Old Sacramento
June 6-9: Roseville Rosefest
June 6 (and select Thursday’s): Thursday Night Twilight Concert Series in Folsom
June 8: The Festival of Dreams @ The Grounds in Roseville
June 8: 2nd Annual Rock the Line in Folsom
June 8: Celebrate OaxaCA Festival
June 8, 15 & 22nd: 2019 Pops in the Park
June 9: SacPride 2019 Parade & Festival
June 9: Sacramento Antique Faire
June 9: Miranda Sings @ Crest Theatre
June 10 (and Select Days): Outdoor Movie Nights @ Folsom Historic District Amphitheater 
June 11: WWE Smackdown @ Golden 1
June 12: Jennifer Lopez @ Golden 1
June 13 – Sept. 19: Out on the Boulevard @ El Dorado Hills Town Center
June 15-16: Family Campout @ Fairytale Town
June 15: Andrea Bocelli @ Golden 1
June 16: Father’s Day BBQ @ Sacramento Zoo
June 16: Father’s Day River Cruise aboard Hornblower
June 21-30: 2019 Sacramento French Film Festival 
June 22: Glamp Out @ Camp Pollock
June 22: A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy
June 29: Historic Folsom’s Hometown Parade

“Father’s Day Approved” Lunch Spots: Father’s Day is just around the corner on June 16th! And what better way to celebrate dad than with a delicious lunch in his honor? Below are our three favorite “Father’s Day Approved” lunch spots.

  1. Sauced BBQ and Spirits: Father’s Day and barbequing seem to go hand in hand. But don’t let dad do all the work on his special day! Instead, head on over to Sauced BBQ & Spirits for some good old-fashioned, authentic BBQ with classics including sliced brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and chicken. Oh, and don’t forget the sweet honey cornbread, mac n’ cheese, and crispy fries. With plenty of flat screens and a fun and social environment just across the street from the Golden 1 Center, dad won’t be disappointed.
  2. Bacon & Butter: Does dad have brunch on his mind? Pay a visit to Bacon & Butter. This popular farm to fork brunch spot now has two locations – one in East Sacramento and the other in Tahoe Park. And it’s no wonder! Their brunch dishes are out of this world. Not sure what to try? For starters, get a side of their crispy bacon. Their grilled cheese benedict is another dish that you can’t go wrong with. Just make sure to arrive around opening time as their locations pack up quickly!
  3. Crawdads on the River: With beautiful weather and plenty of sunshine ahead, take dad to a lunch spot that not only impresses with its food but also with its killer views. We’ve recommended Crawdads on the River before, but it makes for such a fabulous Father’s Day lunch spot that we had to give this place another shout out. Guests can come by car or boat to enjoy a casual, laid-back atmosphere with fresh seafood, a cool beverage, and mesmerizing views. For starters, try their famous “Crawdad Chowder Fries”, a creative dish that is made up of French fries, clam chowder, cheddar cheese, bacon, green onions, and parsley. It may sound like an odd pairing but trust us when we say it’s delish! If you prefer something lighter, you can’t go wrong with their fresh “Shrimp Cocktail”. For a main, dive into their “Blackened Fish Tacos” or their simple yet mouth-watering “Fish & Chips”.

Wondering how the housing market is shaping up? Click here to learn why U.S. buyers are trading up.

Filed Under: Real Estate News, Sacramento Lifestyle

Bridget Gray

Bridget Gray

California REALTOR®
916-205-3628
Contact Bridget
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Testimonial

“Bridget accepted the challenge of selling our home on relatively busy street and we had six offers by the end of the first weekend! The escrow and closing process was smooth and efficient, and Bridget’s communication was exceptional. We have been through many real estate transactions and this was by far the best one. Our family really appreciated her attention to detail and professionalism and we would definitely recommend her to anyone looking to list a property. She will exceed your expectations.

~ D. Sowle“

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Bridget Gray

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