Berkeley buyers & sellers
The character is already there. Let’s bring it forward.
An older Berkeley home does not need to look like every other listing. I notice the tile, the woodwork, the light and the details worth keeping—and help you decide where the work will make a difference.
What Berkeley sellers are really deciding
At 1443 Scenic Avenue in the Berkeley Hills, I represented Peter Jaffe and took charge of the restoration and presentation. We refinished hardwoods, refreshed tile surfaces and chose fixtures and paint with the house’s character in mind. For the first open house, I hired a live pianist. I wanted people to feel the home, not just walk through it.
The negotiation mattered, too. After a $1.4 million offer, I negotiated a $1.5 million counter. The sale closed at $1.5 million on August 31, 2021.
At 1528 Julia Street, Unit A, where I also represented the seller, the preparation was more focused: paint, hardware, fixtures, vanity reglazing, grout and cleaning. A house and a condo can call for very different amounts of work. I will help you decide what makes sense for yours.
Selected representation in Berkeley
Seller represented
1528 Julia Street Unit A, Berkeley
At 1528 Julia Street, Unit A, a focused refresh was only the beginning. The next job was answering the questions behind the offers.
Read the property story
Seller represented
1443 Scenic Avenue, Berkeley
A Berkeley Hills home, a restoration I organized from the start, and a piano playing when the first buyers walked in.
Read the property storyOn the ground
A closer view of Berkeley
Buying a home
Looking at homes in Berkeley?
It is easy to fall for a Berkeley home’s character. I want you to understand the practical side of living there, too: the condition of the systems, how later changes fit the house, the layout and the maintenance you are taking on.
In a hillside home, the inspection conversation may extend to drainage, retaining, decks and access. In a condo, association information and shared responsibilities matter alongside the unit. We can organize those questions without losing sight of why you liked the home in the first place.
Before listing
Three questions before listing
- What would be a shame to remove?
- Which worn surfaces could be restored instead of replaced?
- What needs attention before a buyer starts making plans?
Preparing to sell
Help with the work ahead
Home Valuation and Pricing Strategy
Wondering what your home is worth? I review relevant East Bay sales, your home's condition and the difference between selling as-is and preparing for market. We discuss a pricing and launch strategy grounded in the property. This is a market review, not an appraisal.
Service detailsPre-Listing Property Walkthrough
Before listing your home, I walk the property with you to identify condition, access, occupancy, records and timing questions. We decide what needs inspection, what work might be worth considering and what can wait before setting a listing plan.
Service detailsHome Preparation Planning
Selling a home that needs work? I help sort necessary repairs from optional projects, preserve defining details and sequence seller-approved work. We weigh cost, timing, buyer expectations and likely presentation before you commit money to preparation.
Service detailsInspection and Disclosure Readiness
I help East Bay sellers organize available property records, appropriate inspections and disclosure information before listing. We identify open questions early and coordinate with qualified inspectors or other specialists when the property's condition calls for them.
Service detailsWorking with your Berkeley real estate agent
Keep the character. Be deliberate about the work.
How do I choose between restoration and replacement in an older Berkeley home?
We start with what is there. At Scenic Avenue, refinished hardwoods, refreshed tile surfaces and carefully chosen fixtures were part of a coordinated restoration. At Julia Street, Unit A, the scope was smaller. I will help you compare condition, cost and presentation before deciding that a room needs to be taken apart.
Preparing a Berkeley home without erasing its characterDoes a strong opening offer mean I should accept immediately?
I want to understand the price, terms, timing and choices still available to you. At Scenic, I negotiated from an initial $1.4 million offer to a $1.5 million counter. For your home, we will weigh the offer in front of you against your other choices and the move you need to make.
Sell as-is or prepare first?Colin Davies, Realtor
Meet Colin and see how I workLet’s talk about your Berkeley home.
Whether you are planning a sale or looking for your next home, tell me what you have in mind.
Talk with Colin