Answers by Colleen Cotter

I always suggest asking the agent who helped you to buy the home. If it is for a home you are looking at, ask your Buyers agent. Agents are a great source for vendor contacts!

I always suggest to reduce the amount of clutter on your counters by about 50%. Try to only keep the pretty things out, and tuck away the other appliances that you may use, like the toaster! This will help your home to show best!

Home warranties can be great & can save some heartache after closing! I would confirm what the warranty covers (IE does it include your AC unit ) etc, and confirm the cost for a service call. And of course the cost of the actual home warranty!

This is usually addressed in the contract & every contract is different. Generally, I would say that it is a good practice to leave everything broom swept & debris removed. It is also good to confirm & clarify in advance or during the walk through, any items that might not be clear!

Absolutely! Replacing light fixtures is one of the most cost effective ways to increase value! There are some great, low cost options, check out Amazon & Lamps plus and of course always ask your agent for suggestions on style! Of better yet, ask them to assist!

Yes! Landscaping adds value, fresh plants & greenery adds life and warmth to your home & helps to create a great first impression! Keep the updates simple & cost effective and your agent will likely have a great suggestion for a great cost effective gardener!

San Francisco is expensive because the city is small, SF is only 7 miles by 7 miles so there is a very limited amount of homes, which then keeps values high. San Francisco also has a political climate that does not make it easy to build more homes, further limiting supply. The tradeoff to this is a market with very high appreciation!

Contingencies in an offer are your ability to cancel the contract. The common contingencies are inspection, financing, and appraisal...there are of course more but these are the most common. Writing without contingencies, means that the contract is non contingent, and if you cancel & walk away, your initial deposit is at risk. Make sure you fully understand the property, the disclosures & the process before writing non contingent!

My general advice is to work with a Top Producing agent, work with the best of the best. This should also be someone you like & trust. Someone who knows your market & someone who is a strong negotiator & who will work well on your behalf.

This is often a strategy to get the most exposure in the shortest amount of time, and it allows Buyers to plan their weekend open house visits!

Staging is always a good strategy. The home will show better, and will therefore attract more Buyers, and more Buyers = higher price. It is an investment in your sale & will increase your ROI!