Mountain Views News Saturday, May 31, 2014
B3BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS Mountain Views News Saturday, May 31, 2014
B3BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS
PREVENTATIVE
MEDICINE
FAMILY MATTERS
By Marc Garlett
YOUR LEGACY SHOULD BE MORE THAN JUST MONEY
It’s an understandable conundrum: sellers believe their home is worth more than it is, and buyers
think that it’s worth less. So where is the proverbial “sweet spot” when it comes to the single most
important aspect of marketing your home - setting its price?
Consider how many homes are for sale in your neighborhood. Is that number high? Then your
listing price should be lower than the competition if you want to generate the most interest.
Obvious, right?
But how many of those rival listings are foreclosed properties or short sale listings? The most critical
factor in evaluating this type of competition is the condition in which they are offered. Neglected
homes aren’t likely to affect you, but if they are in good shape and presented at prices 20% below
market, you’ve got some hard thinking to do.
If buyers aren’t making appointments or showing up at an open house event, you probably priced
too high at the start. Don’t hesitate to make an adjustment, however, because properties generate
the most interest in the earliest stage of the listing.
Finally, give any offer strong consideration. You may counter, but these days, buyers won’t engage
in extended negotiations - they’ll just move on to the next property. You can avoid these bitter pills
by practicing a little preventative medicine through competitive pricing right from the beginning.
One of the most striking aspects of the recent
opening of the National September 11 Memorial &
Museum is the voice recordings left on the phones
of the victims’ families of their last messages to
loved ones. We hear so many stories of family
members who keep voicemails and answering
machine messages for years after a loved one dies.
There is something so comforting about hearing
the voice again of someone you love and miss.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you were able to leave
something like this behind – not a voicemail
or message that could easily be lost, but a full
recording of the hopes and dreams you have
for your children and grandchildren, your own
history and life lessons you feel are too important
to die with you.
You may have even been intending to do this for
some time, but have just never gotten around to
it. You may have even written a letter and stuck it
away hoping it would be found by the right person
at the right time. Unfortunately, this does not
always happen – and your words are simply too
precious to leave that to chance.
Part of my firm’s mission is to make this possible as
part of your legacy planning process, helping you
capture and pass on more than just your assets,
but also your own story and your aspirations for
your loved ones through a special video recording
we produce for each of our clients. It’s a gift your
family will cherish forever!
Think about how much you would love to have a
recording from your grandparents or parents who
are no longer here, and what that would mean to
your children as well. Your lasting legacy should
be much more than just money; it should also be
those valuable intangibles that reveal who you are
through your insights, values, wisdom and life
experiences. It’s a gift your family will cherish
forever as an heirloom to be passed down from
generation to generation, and we are honored to
be able to provide it for our clients.
Call our office to schedule a time for us to
sit down and talk about the best ways for you
to ensure you leave a lasting legacy of love
and financial security for your family. Call
626.355.4000 today and mention this article to
receive a complimentary Family Estate Planning
Session or visit www.GarlettLaw.com for more
information.
Marc, a local attorney, father, and CASA volunteer
(Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children) is
on a mission to help parents protect what they love
most. His office is located at 49 S. Baldwin Ave., Ste.
G, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.comWe’d like to hear from you!
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Made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Los Angeles County Department
of Public Health.
Drifting Secondhand
Smoke Affects
Everyone!
The poisonous chemicals in secondhand tobacco smoke
affect any and everything it comes in contact with,
including your children and pets. You and your loved
ones deserve a clean air environment, with protection
from unwanted secondhand tobacco smoke in your home
and community.
Join the Coalition for Clean Air Residential
Environments (C.A.R.E.) of Sierra Madre. For a
cleaner, safer, and healthier community.
For more information, contact:
caresierramadre@gmail.com
(626) 229-9750
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