Volume 152 – The Webs We Weave

What’s New?

It’s spider season. (Have you noticed?) All of a sudden these small furry arachnids are everywhere and taking advantage of any opportunity to nest. I mistakenly left my car’s passenger side window down the other day and came back one hour later to find a perfectly formed web in its place.  Sweeping the spider aside, I watched it crawl over to the flower bed where it would undoubtedly, begin again, to spin a new home. Many of us, are a lot like these industrious spiders, creating and recreating “webs” time and time again, as the seasons allow.

I’ll be recreating my own home this fall,with the creative talents of my good friend and architect, Piedmont resident, Ahmad Mohazab, and my favorite contractor, Ben Rogne (who has capably overseen our last five home renovations). We will put out collective brains, skills, and experience together, to weave an attractive web in which Cliff and I will nest for several years to come. In preparation, I have been purging closets, cupboards and whole rooms, as  I ready the lower floor for demolition, which is scheduled to take place in the next few weeks. It’s a process I clearly enjoy as Cliff and I have remodeled every home we have purchased during the last twenty years – hopefully for the better (this will be our fifth!).

Happily, for a REALTOR, I’m not the only spider out there.  Lots of you enjoy it too, purposely choosing homes in need of major renovations from the foundations to the roofs and moving more than once.  For others, kitchen and bathroom remodels are the extent of  your desire to upgrade your home, while still others prefer to move into what we in the business describe as “turn-key” and stay happily ensconced forever.  Even those of you who insist on obtaining the “perfect” home, will more than likely change the color of the paint and open up a room or two as your needs and lifestyles dictate. (The nursery becomes a home office and the basement a media room and wine cellar . . . ).

I think we are all a little hardwired to leave a unique imprint within our own four walls and to reflect our own creative styles. I’m not a spider expert (an arachnologist) by any means. In fact, I am a bit creeped out when I find these hairy arthropods in the bathroom shower (in the bushes outside – no, in the shower inside – yes). But I wonder if spider webs aren’t slightly unique to each spider, much like the human fingerprint?   Certainly, the structure has to be fairly dependent and attuned to the surrounding foliage (or window frame for that matter). With respect to our homes, the environment often plays a key role in dictating the type of house that works best. Thus homes in the southwest are low to the ground to offset the heat while homes in the mountains have steep pitched roofs to counteract the weight of the snow.  Here in the Bay Area, where the weather is fairly temperate, we’re not limited by the whims of Mother Nature, so you’ll see every kind of architectural style in our marketplace. (Lucky us!)

Still, it’s fair to say that some homes are inherently more unique than others. The “track” home in Modesto doesn’t quite lend itself as easily to a reinvention as the turn-of-the-century Traditional in San Francisco, Piedmont or Berkeley.  However, desires come in all shapes and sizes (as do webs). There is, and always will be, a solid audience for the well-appointed home, whether it is a stately Traditional, a sophisticated Contemporary, a worldly Mediterranean, a storybook Tudor, a historic Victorian, or the much-coveted Brown Shingle.  As long as your home is thoughtfully designed, your choices are fairly mainstream (avoid purple tiles please) and the decisions make sense, from a utilitarian perspective, you are sure to capture interested buyers in whatever “web” you weave.

Spider Trivia: All Spiders produce silk, but not all spiders spin webs  (That’s a bit like people as well. Everyone needs a home to live in, but not everyone will buy one.)   Ahmad can be reached at Ahmad@tecta.com .

What’s Coming?

There are wonderful opportunities in every neighborhood.  Grab a cup pf Joe and read on . . .

Despite the holiday, I had a very good showing and a steady stream of buyers at my newest listing at 852 Mountain Boulevard in Montclair. Near Broadway Terrace, this tidy neighborhood offers contemporary custom homes in a pretty lower hillside setting near Montclair Village, Lake Temescal and Hwy 13 (for easy commuting). Combining form, function and VALUE, this stunning 4++bdrm/3+bath, truly transformed Modern, features spacious updated kitchen, family/dining Great Room combination, sunny solarium, cozy loggia, private decks, upstairs family room, grand master suite,  pretty terraced gardens, 3-car garage, ample storage space and elevator!  Open Sunday 2-4:30pm. List price: $1,285,000. www.852MountainBlvd.com

Nancy Lehrkind has a great new listing at 141 Hazel Lane in Piedmont.  This Japanese-inspired property on a very large parcel features 3bdrms/3bths, open floor plan, soaring ceiling, large level patio and garden. Look for it to hit the market later this month. List price: $1,695,000.

Stay tuned for Ann Lovi’s new listing, available the weekend of September 17. This 2bdrm/1bth home at 89 Fairview Avenue in Piedmont will be available for the first time in 38 years!  This charming Traditional features a formal living room with fireplace, bonus office, single-car garage with interior access, ample storage,  hardwood floors, plantation shutters and large, level back garden. SWEET!  List price: $829,000.   Anian Tunney has just listed 1901 Wrenn Street in the Upper Oakmore District of Oakland.  This fabulous Scammel designed home oozes charm and offers views galore! Featuring 4bdrms/3+ bths and in perfect condition!  Open Sunday, 2-4:30pm. List price: $1,295,000. www.grubbco.com

Hope Broderick has just listed a charming Mediterranean cottage at 108 Moraga Avenue in Piedmont. This all-level  home features many modern updates, a unique circular driveway, tranquil courtyard and private garden.  Close to Piedmont Avenue restaurants, theater and shops and offering top-rated Piedmont schools! Open Sunday 2-4:30pm. List price: $659,000. www.108moraga.com

Scott hill has listed a fabulous Mid-Century home at 260 Pershing Drive on the Piedmont side of Montclair in Oakland, featuring 4bdrms/3+bths on approximately 1/3 acres. A kitchen with adjoining family room, large playroom down, attached 2-car garage, and level out garden complete this spectacular package.  Open Sunday 2-4:30pm.  List price: $1,795,000.www.260pershing.com

Linda McClain is bringing on 5360 Estates Drive in Oakland this Thursday for Broker’s Tour.  This stylish 2bdrm/2bth, Upper Rockridge Contemporary with European style hill views, features an open floor plan with high ceilings, warm hardwood floors, updated kitchen and spacious office or family room down, leading to the back garden. It’s a gem! Open Thursday, 10:30am-1:30pm and Sunday 2-4:30pm. List price: $799,000. www.grubbco.com

Last but certainly not least, Bebe McRae has a darling new listing at 55 Ross Circle in Rockridge.  This lovely Traditional features 3bdrms/2bths, formal living and dining rooms, coveted floorplan and  garden below.  Close to College Avenue, BART and Chabot Tennis Club, it’s the complete package!  List price: $1,075,000. Open Sunday 2-4:30pm.  www.grubbco.com

(I haven’t mentioned every special home – just a few of my favorites!  For a more complete guide, please feel free to email me at jgardner@grubbco.com or better yet, give me a call 510 326-0840!)

What’s Pending?

Irrespective of my opening story, serial renovators like myself are rare and “turn-key” homes will always enjoy greater demand as Dana’s Cohen’s recent sale on Palm Drive in Piedmont aptly demonstrates.  This darling “just right” Traditional received six offers and is now in contract well above its asking price of : $1,139,000.

So when undertaking a renovation ask yourself these key questions:

1) Is the floorplan and utility of the home improved by the renovation?
2) Is it in keeping with the surrounding homes - or are you over-improving?

3) Are your expectations in line with your budget? Do they add value and are they realistic? (A bocci ball court will not increase the value of your home, new kitchen countertops and appliances, on the other hand, should.)
4) Will your finishing choices stand the test of time (white subway tiles are timeless, while metallic mosaics tend to get dated very quickly).

5) Are you improving for a resale in the future or are the improvements specific to your family’s needs alone?

What’s Happening?

You have all been asking for more inventory and its on its way as the list above clearly demonstrates. Now that Labor Day is behind us, we’re back to business!  This is your opportunity to buy (or sell) before the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays dampen market enthusiasm and market demand for the remainder of the year.

With historically low, low interest rates, you will want to take advantage of the increased opportunities arriving in September!

The Piedmont Plug

Picnic in the Park this Sunday!  Everyone Welcome! The Piedmont Community Church is sponsoring its annual Picnic in the Park on Sunday September 12 from 11:30am – 1:30pm.  All members of the community are invited so please feel free to include your friends and family – the more, the merrier! Hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, salads and desserts will be available for a suggested donation of $7 adults and $5 children.  There will be games, a jumpy, Boy Scout activities,  the Piedmont Fire Department, and music by Piedmont’s own Mitch Polzak and the Royal Deuces!

For more information contact Jean Leahy at 547-5700.  Sponsored by Piedmont Community Church piedmontchurch.org Hope to see you there!

What’s Fun!

I have often shared that I fell head over heels in love with Piedmont after visiting a friend of mine during the annual  Harvest Festival.

The 12th Annual Piedmont Harvest Festival takes place on Sunday, September 26, in the center of town and you won’t want to miss it.  Kids of all ages love this small town affair which includes live music, a fully stocked Farmer’s Market, a local growing and cooking contest, the Tri-School Carnival, plenty of good food and drink and “Scarecrow Alley,” which benefits the three elementary schools in town.

The Piedmont Harvest Festival runs from 11:30am -3:30pm, September 26.  Mark your calendars now and come join the fun!

See you next week! (And for my tribe) Shana Tovah!