Mountain Views News     Logo: MVNews     Saturday, May 31, 2014

MVNews this week:  Page B:3

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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affect any and everything it comes in contact with, 
including your children and pets. You and your loved 
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from unwanted secondhand tobacco smoke in your home 
and community. 
Join the Coalition for Clean Air Residential 
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