Local Realtor® Allison Van Wig Has a Special Thanksgiving Message

Being a Realtor® in Long Beach and Lakewood isn’t always about listing and selling real estate … It’s REALLY about the people I work for and the opportunities I am given to make a difference in their lives during what most would call a “major life event”!

This Thanksgiving I am most especially thankful for all those I have in my life … My Family and friends. I am also thankful for all the wonderful people I have met during my career and want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Last weekend, I took a quick trip up to Big Bear and on my way down the mountain, I came upon the most breathtaking sunset and just had to pull over to take a quick video of the beauty before me. This video does not do it justice but please know that is comes with a bounty of heartfelt wishes for a happy holiday weekend!

Coming Down From Big Bear and The Beautiful Sunset Before Me!

Happy Thanksgiving

Allison Van Wig www.SuperBroker.com

Technorati Tags: Allison Van Wig,Big Bear California,Thanksgiving Wishes

Local Long Beach Realtor® SuperBroker Allison Van Wig Successfully Completes The Long Beach Bike Marathon

Sunday morning October 17th, 2010 began a little different than most of my busy weekends as a Realtor® in Long Beach and Lakewood California.

On this special day I was up at 4:30 a.m. as I began to get dressed for my ride in the Long Beach Bike Marathon. I gathered my water, snacks, helmet, etc. And like any good traveler, I double checked my bike’s tire pressure before I loaded it into the car.

First stop was to rendezvous with my niece Devon at her place … and from there we would both ride down to the start line of the marathon.

This was Devon’s first marathon and she was a little apprehensive but very excited. At 5:15 a.m. I called her on my cell phone … “I’m downstairs are you coming?” She replied back … “But Allison, it’s still dark outside!”

You see, we were riding our bikes through the streets of Long Beach before dawn and … in the dark? We had our bike lights on and needed to travel about four miles from Devon’s house in order to reach the start line of the race.

I explained to Devon ‘I’m not worried as I know there will be others that will be joining us soon.’  Devon was surprised and relieved as we rode along toward the starting line because as we continued traveling along even more riders began to join us. She exclaimed … “Wow, All these people are up and riding in the dark!”

We reached the start line about 5:45 a.m. and stayed in the back…as we needed to take it slow and steady because we don’t want to be knocked down.

The time had arrived … at 6:05 a.m. the race started and we were off to a good start …we were with about 3000 other riders.

I think Devon was a little surprised as she expected a lot more racers … but most of the elite racers were up in the front. Back with us were the beach cruisers, the old bikes, and … some old riders.

One lady who was in her 70’s and dressed all in pink, told us … “two hours and I’m done!”  I thought to myself, not bad for someone on a one speed beach cruiser.

All the pictures you see were taken with my Motorola Droid 2 cell phone WHILE RIDING ON THE BIKE … so some of my pictures may be a bit blurry.

What a great day, there was a slight drizzle and great views! We rode past the Queen Mary, the lighthouse, Shoreline Village and into Alamitos Heights and Los Altos as we rode past the pyramid at Cal State Long Beach.

 

Devon stopped at an aide station and asked for some Advil … when they asked her what she suffered from, she told them … “A sore butt!”

After completing the first part of the 26.2 mile race course, we rode back down Ocean Blvd. toward the finish line where we proudly received our medals.

What a great ride … what great riders. I am looking forward to next year and will see you next March 2011 for the Miller Children’s Hospital ride which is Thirty-One miles.

As I completed this challenge and reflected about going on this ride … it made me realize just how lucky we all are to live in such great area such as Long Beach and of course Lakewood California.

If you want more information about what Long Beach and Lakewood California has to offer just visit www.SuperBroker.com or give me a quick call at my office in Long Beach 562-882-1581 as I would love to visit with you about all that living in Southern California has to offer.

When Buying or Selling Real Estate, Why Are Home Inspections So Important?

Buying a new home is an exciting time in a person’s life. New buyers have prepared themselves with a house feature checklist and they have walked through dozens of houses, inspecting them before putting money in escrow and arranging financing. Before they close, they elected to have the property inspected by a third party – but how do they choose which house inspector or inspection company to use? Finding a certified home inspector is the answer.

Why is the home inspector such an integral part of the transaction and why are they such an expert?

Becoming a home inspector is a relatively straightforward process, dictated by the law of the state in which the inspector intends to operate. Becoming certified by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), however, requires a solid commitment to ethical practices and a keen understanding of construction methods. Choosing a certified home inspector is well worth any added cost for the professional service you as the buyer will receive.

Every state requires that a home inspector either be licensed or registered with the state. State laws require that before offering their services that a home inspector receive minimum levels of education and sometimes actual field experience. Most states require that a home inspector pass the National Home Inspector Exam®, or a similar qualifying exam of the state’s own design.

Both ASHI or NAHI require that a home inspector pass a thorough series of coursework before becoming a certified member of either organization. These courses cover the details of home construction from top to bottom, focusing on roofs, plumbing, electrical systems, and structural components. Obtaining certification from either organization is a commitment of time and money on the part of the home inspector, with no guarantee that they will be able to pass the examination at the end of the coursework. Both organizations offer – and require – continuing education from their members to remain certified.

ASHI and NAHI have set high standards of competence for their members, and take certification very seriously as an emblem of quality for a home inspector.

How do you know which inspector to hire?

Before signing a contract with a home inspector, ask to see a sample of a report and make sure you understand what you will receive. Will the final report include pictures of problem areas? How detailed will the recommendations for corrective action be? Are cost estimates included if problems are found? An ethical, certified home inspector may recommend several contractors who are qualified to make repairs and give you cost estimates, but they will never suggest that they could do the work for you. A certified home inspector must remain objective and free of conflicts of interest.

Is there anything the seller can do to prevent problems?

As the home owner, you should do a bit of preparation in advance of a visit from a home inspector. Thoroughly clean the entire home – first impressions count. Remove any obstructions that might make it difficult for the inspector to observe your furnace or hot water heater.

The inspector may ask you a few questions during the inspection, especially if he observes significant changes that are significantly newer than the house.

Do not try to hide defects. This will only send up warning flags that you have something to hide.

For more information on buying or selling real estate or hiring a home inspector visit www.SuperBroker.com or call 562-882-1581

Technorati Tags: homes for sale in Lakewood CA,home inspectors for California,homes for sale in Long Beach CA,Allison Van Wig

There Is A Lot Happening in Lakewood California

As a full-time Realtor® and to provide the BEST service possible to my Seller and Buyer Clients in Lakewood and neighboring Long Beach, California … I want to make sure that ALL RESIDENTS are aware of the various community related activities that are taking place.

There is something offered for everybody whether it be Volunteer work, finding a book bargain, After-School Activities, Fundraisers or Craft Festivals … in the near future … Lakewood California has it all!

Project Shepherd needs food donations … Donations are accepted at Burns Community Center at Lakewood City Hall 562-925-7512

After-School Activity ZONE is open … This is a FREE drop-in program for school age children, teens and pre-teens. The program is offered at Lakewood City parks Mondays through Fridays from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information call 562-866-9771 ext 2408

Book Sale To Benefit Lakewood City Libraries … Low-priced used books will be available at the Friends of the Libraries sale on Saturday October 2nd from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A discount bag sale follows from 2-3 p.m. All proceeds will support Lakewood’s two libraries. For more information visit www.lakewoodlibraryfriends.org or call 562-866-1777.

Fall Craft Festival to get Jump Start on the Holidays … This coming Saturday October 25th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lakewood Youth Center located at Woodruff and Arbor Road a variety of handmade items will be for sale at reasonable prices. For more information call the Weingart Sr. Center 562-630-6141.

Lakewood Sheriff’s Station to Host Goodwill Fundraiser …  The station is hosting a Goodwill collection event to raise funds for station programs and community events taking place this Sunday 9/26 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Lakewood City Hall parking lot. For more information call 562-623-3699 – Deputies will be on site to tax your tax deductible donations.

Then For You House Hunters, There is Always Real Estate … For more information on how to get access to all the Real Estate listings in Lakewood and Long Beach visit www.superbroker.com or call me direct at 562-882-1581 … Allison Van Wig – Realtor®  … Serving Lakewood & Long Beach Residents for over 22 years.

Beautiful Home In The Heart of The Lakewood Mutuals in Lakewood California

 

Beautiful Hardwood flooring, large open remodeled kitchen with breakfast bar and dining area. Great pantry and inside laundry room.

Large master suite with walk-in closet and private bathroom with a door that leads to the backyard.

Sunny living room with picture window.

 

 

 

Great backyard with shady patio and large grassy area. Long driveway with a two car garage in the back.

This home offers both Central Air and Heating. So many nice amenities.

To view a virtual tour visit www.4730-Obispo.com

For more information about this home or any other home on the MLS visit www.SuperBroker.com

Technorati Tags: homes for sale in Lakewood CA,Lakewood Mutuals home for sale,Allison Van Wig

The Internet – Best Marketing Media for Home Sales

 

Whatever anyone may have told you a few years ago about which media is most effective for marketing a home, it’s all about the Internet today.  There simply is no more effective way to advertise a home for sale, both from a cost and a results perspective.  The advantages of Internet advertising are numerous:

80+% of home buyers use the Web – According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors®, more than 80% of home buyers now begin their search for a home on the Internet.  Reasons include the anonymity of the Web, extensive information on each home, and multiple photos and virtual tours.  Whatever their reasons, it’s very likely that the future buyer of the home you want to sell will be seeing it first on the Internet.

It’s economical media marketing – With many of the real estate specific websites also syndicating to many others, it’s possible to place a home for sale on one site and have it appear on many others within hours to a few days.  Your real estate agent or broker has resources for syndication, as well as a group of sites on which they list your home soon after the listing becomes active.

The Internet is immediate – While placement in most print media is delayed due to production requirements, getting information onto the Web is relatively immediate.  It can take a month to get a listing into one of the Homes Magazines, and generally a week to get one into the newspaper.  It’s easy to get a home listing into one or more web sites in just hours.

Space isn’t an issue, so more information is possible – Unlike an ad in a newspaper that is set up based on a pre-determined space requirement, an internet home listing can just expand to accommodate the amount of information you want to show to prospective buyers.  In a Homes Magazine ad, you might have to limit your information to a paragraph, while the Web allows almost unlimited selling ability.

Visual marketing of your home is best on the Web – Many newspaper ads use black and white photographs, while magazines and other print media will usually only have one or two property photos.  The Internet allows almost unlimited photos, and virtual tours are commonplace.  With advances in video technology, and less expensive storage space, video tours with audio and music are also common.  The Internet buyer can virtually walk through your home.

Changes are also easy and immediate – With print, changes to an ad can be impossible past a certain deadline.  With long lead times, changing your price could still have the old price out there for a month or more in print.  With the Web, changes can usually be made the same day, or within hours.  The most up-to-date information is always presented to potential buyers.

The Web is 24/7/365 – Unlike pre-determined times for radio or TV spots, and issue release dates for newspapers and print, the Internet is out there and open for business every hour of every day of the year.  There has never been a more immediate and lasting impression media in history.

As a home seller, it’s important to you that your home be marketed in multiple media.  So print is still something that real estate agents and brokers will use.  However, the Internet has radically changed the real estate marketing world.  Your home will be visible world-wide to potential buyers via multiple web sites, web logs or blogs, and national property aggregator web sites like Realtor.com®, Google Base, and others.

For more detailed information on how I can market a home … visit my website … For the best move of your life … let me work for you or give me a call … 562-882-1581

Allison Van Wig©

Technorati Tags: Selling real estate in Lakewood,Selling real estate in Long Beach,Allison Van Wig,Internet search for real estate listings

Allison Van Wig, Local Long Beach Realtor® Explores the LA Bike Path

Living in the Long Beach & Lakewood area has so many benefits … which is just one of the reasons why I love selling real estate here. I guess you could say that I really believe in my product …

One day last week, during my morning bike ride, I decided to take a little adventure and explore the LA Bike Path. A friend recently told me that they had repaved the bike path and I thought to myself … let’s check it out.

I hadn’t been on it for about three years so … I headed West on Del Amo Blvd. because it is one of the many streets in Long Beach that has a bike path on the roadside (except of course for the area between Atlantic and Long Beach Blvd). As I approached the Long Beach Freeway, I entered the bike path & continued onto the trailhead while heading South towards the beach.

On my left hand side, there were wetlands that had been restored with drought-resistant plants … I feel the city has done a beautiful job of bringing the area back to its natural habitat … very nice. Plus, all along the bike path, there are signs posted explaining what the wetlands are and … why we need them.

As I continued my bike ride, I passed a horse … the rider was great and moved over and said good morning … this gave me such a good feeling of community.

Further down the river bed it turns from cement to dirt as it gets a little wider … which, is right around where you’re passing the blue line and of course going underneath the blue line is a thrill as the passengers wave to you.

I then began to see more bicyclists and there were more and more people out for their morning walk … a photographer was taking pictures of birds and was using a special lens to capture images of the flocks of birds who would occasionally leave the river and fly overhead.

As I approached Willow Street and headed back towards the Wrigley area, I had the faint smell of horses and Eucalyptus. On the left side of the trail are horse corrals with very large shade trees …on the right side are small walls so you don’t ride into the river … and on those walls, wild grapes are growing. At Pacific Coast Highway I turned around and headed back to my starting point thereby making it easy to get a 10 mile bike ride because … the path is marked every quarter-mile.

As I turned around and headed back … there was a slight breeze on my face, and I thought … not a bad way to start the morning. Anyone who has not ventured out onto the bike path … give it a try and then feel free to come back to this blog and leave a comment about what YOU think.

For more information about Long Beach and Lakewood real estate and why I love living in Long Beach, feel free to visit my website www.SuperBroker.com … there you will also find full access to the Multiple Listing Service or … if you have any questions about buying or selling real estate or … the LA Bike Path … just give me a quick call … 562-882-1581.

Technorati Tags: LA Bike Path,Long Beach Real Estate,Allison Van Wig

Local Long Beach Realtor – Allison Van Wig Has Gone To the Dogs

Long Beach & Lakewood California Realtor® Allison Van Wig has done her homework on how to help displaced homeowners and renters find new homes for their family pets.

Real Estate Rover has teamed up with SuperBroker – Allison Van Wig to help solve a heart breaking problem.

The real estate housing crisis is causing many dog and cat owners to become displaced from their homes and sometimes Fido and Fluffy have to find new owners!

Many people do not realize that they have many more options …

#1 There is a lot more “Pet-Friendly” rental housing available than you might think. Find a computer (try the local library) and … Google Pet Friendly Apartments in your city … for instance Pet Friendly Apartments in Long Beach CA … and just sniff around to see what comes up … one such website is www.peoplewithpets.com.

#2 Find a phone book … again at the library if you don’t have one … and call local property management companies and ask them if they manage properties that are pet friendly. The possibilities could be the answer.

Lastly, if all else fails go to www.petfinder.com … there you will find resources for finding your pet a new home, to include posting a free classified ad.

Also, every animal shelter usually has some partnership agreement with an adoption service … this also might be another solution. You could also ask a friend or a neighbor to post your pet’s picture on FaceBook where someone who is looking for a new pet to find. There are thousands and thousands of people who are looking to become responsible pet owners by adopting a rescue dog …

Allison Van Wig has two dogs right now that need a new home … they will be available when their present owner’s house closes escrow … Allison would love to give you more information about these two great dogs.

For information about them or anything else real estate related … visit www.superbroker.com or call Allison direct at 562-882-1581.

Technorati Tags: Allison Van Wig,Pet Adoptions in Long Beach CA,Buying Real Estate in Long Beach,Selling in Lakewood Ca

Welcome Home to 13716 Arcturus Ave in Gardena

Beyond this hard-scaping and customized driveway and lush porch area, this home has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with 1,291 sq feet of living space.

The beautiful entryway leads into living room with picture window, built-in bookshelves and fireplace. Nice dining area + room for eat-in kitchen & … inside laundry area.

 

Great backyard area with nice size patio just waiting for you and your guests!

 

 

For more information about this property visit www.superbroker.com

From your cell phone you can text allison to 79564 or use your Smartphone and scan this Microsoft Snap Tag

Technorati Tags: Allison Van Wig,Microsoft Snap Tag,Gardena CA Real Estate

Local Lakewood Realtor® Goes the Distance

In the movie … Field of Dreams one voice kept resonating a message … “Go The Distance … “

I have had the pleasure of serving the Long Beach and Lakewood areas as a Realtor® for over 22 years and I try to go the distance in all areas of my life.

Professionally speaking, I just successfully completed a very difficult escrow on a short sale which took over 26 months to negotiate and close.

Several escrows were attempted and unfortunately had to be cancelled for a variety of reasons too bizarre to mention … but it was this Realtor’s extensive knowledge of how to navigate through serious difficulties that resulted in being able to bring my client’s property to a successful closing.

Personally speaking, I am currently going the distance by committing myself to my goal of completing 100 miles of bike riding within 7 days during my “off hours” from my full-time real estate practice.

I am also am very proud that I consistently go the distance by giving back to my community and by participating in several fund raising events throughout the year. The Susan B Coleman event, The Avon Walk, The “Three-Day” Walk and most recently, The Long Beach Miller Children’s Hospital Bike Ride Challenge.

If you would like to support any of these events or would like to know more about how you too could Go The Distance … visit my website … www.superbroker.com

Technorati Tags: Listing Agents in Long Beach CA,Listing Agents in Lakewood CA,Allison Van Wig