Tuesday, October 18, 2011

346 51st Street, Oakland

PRICE REDUCED & SQUARE FOOTAGE ADDED to this ultra-cool and hip new condo in Lower Rockridge at 346 51st Street in Oakland. The builders went above and beyond when they rebuilt this structure. They truly thought of everything including wiring the house with Smart Phone Technology, building a separate storage space for each unit, and an extra 270 sq.ft. studio space equipped with a dry sauna, cold plunge shower and had it hard wired to play music from your unit or you can bring in your IPOD and plug in for great surround sound.  A great space to use as a yoga studio or exercise room, you could also use it entertain by turning it into a FAB bar space serving delicious cocktails while your guests enjoy the incredible landscaping by Berkeley Gardens. And of course, the landscaping has an irrigation system in place so no need to pull out the old hose to water. Optional private yard available for unit.

BEST PRICE IN ROCKRIDGE!

Included in this smartly designed unit with a spacious, open and inviting floor plan, Eco-friendly features including engineered Brazilian hardwood floors were installed throughout. What is that you ask? Put simply they are engineered on the bottom and on the top they are Brazilian hardwood. Basically trees were saved in the production of these floors so you can rest easy knowing that you helped the environment.

The CeaserStone counter tops in the kitchen are more durable, stronger and consistent than granite. They work well with the chic design and new stainless steel appliances.  The kitchen opens up to your very own deck where you can BBQ or just enjoy the serenity of your backyard.

The top floor of this unit rocks this Dwell Magazine like dwelling, because the top floor has a bedroom with partial views from each window. After being up there, I thought it would be best used as a office space. Being that I work from home many days during the week I am always seeking out that place that has an ultra great room for an office and this is it. The dual pane windows keep it quiet and you can literally see the city on a clear day. It's just perfect.

You would think that being on 51st Street might be too noisy? Not in this unit. The builders (of course) went above and beyond the city requirement for sound proofing. Once you shut that front door it's like you are in your own little oasis. The location is prime, walking distance to BART, steps away from college Ave and/or Temescal. Hey and have you heard of the new plans for Safeway! It's going to be super cool...just wait!




written by Gina Odom, Realtor



Thursday, October 13, 2011

Berkeley Hills Realty

I just recently made the move to Berkeley Hills Realty and couldn't be more thrilled. There is not an agent out there who wants to move brokerages as it can cost time and money and both of those things I value! But, I also value integrity, compassion, and honesty and I found all of those at Berkeley Hills Realty. In the rough world of real estate, it is nice to be an a hub where Realtors practice what they preach and personal integrity is expected. Berkeley Hills Realty provides an honest, caring environment that they offer to their agents and also their clients. It's a breath of fresh air in a time of big business without morals.

Recently, Berkeley Hills Realty (BHR) brought on a listing at 5899 Lawton Ave in Oakland. Living and working in Rockridge, they made me the go-to gal for this listing. I was ecstatic to put together a marketing plan that would yield multiple offers. BHR encouraged my marketing plan and with their amazing office staff provided me with the tools necessary to implement my plan effectively. It was important to me when making my move to a new brokerage that I found an office that would provide me with the best tools so in turn I can provide my clients with the best. BHR is this place.

We door-knocked the neighborhood the morning of the first open house to let the neighbors know of the new listed home, we mailed out just listed postcards in Rockridge, created a a four page colored brochure highlighting the features of the property and created a pamphlet about the neighborhood of Rockridge which allowed potential buyers a take home tool to see where the house was located and the amenities nearby. In addition to traditional advertisement, we used social media to advertise the house to the fullest and created fun and tech-savvy ways like "checking-in" on Facebook while at the open house. If the person "checked-in" then they were entered into a drawing for a local's favorite restaurant - Oilveto. In addition to the savvy marketing plan, a thorough disclosure package was created to alleviate any unknowns to the buyer.

The turnout was great with about 60 groups through on the first open house and we were ecstatic about results. It pays to have good representation - both by your Realtor and by the brokerage they work for!

By: Gina Odom, Realtor

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Calculate your commuter cost with this great tool!


I met with some first time home buyers the other day and their biggest concern was how much would it cost if I had to commute from this area. In my serach to find them an answer other than “google it for distance,” I found a great tool that could help estimate their costs as well as distance.  It’s a commute calculator at Cost2Drive.com.

The site asks users where they are going and what car they drive, and calculates how much it will cost to get there, how long it will take, and how big the carbon footprint of their trip will be. For longer trips, the site also allows users to compare the costs of flying vs. driving.



written by Gina Odom, Realtor