The Real Story with Adam and Sherry

The Real Story with Adam & Sherry – Episode 22 – Insidethe Mind of our Broker: Dudum’s Dynamic Leader, Julie Del Santo If you could ask your boss anything, what would it be? Inthis episode, we had such a great time interviewing our very own Broker Owner Julie Del Santo of Dudum Real Estate Group.  Dudum is a thriving independent localbrokerage in the Bay Area which we are happily a part of. Ju...

In today’s episode, we explore under homes and onto roofs as our special guest details the parts and process of a Wood Destroying Organism Report or colloquially called a Termite Report/Pest Inspection.  James Joachim, is our special guest today who works for Wallace Termite & Construction, a family owned and operated company serving Contra Costa County.  He answers our most common questions l...

Join us as we celebrate our 20th episode!  In this episode we unpack what buyers need to know, what makes a good agent, and how the real estate industry is experiencing one of the largest shifts, possibly since the internet, and how that effects buyers.  Listen as we explain what the new process is and the steps buyers need to take when they start their home search. What should buyers look for or...

Design comes first for our special guest in this episode, Ana Gonzalez with A&A Studio a top-notch stager and designer from the Contra Costa Bay Area.  Discover how she approaches staging, her transitional style, and how she uses texture rather than bright colors to speak to potential buyers.  We’ve found that staging is crucial for selling a home quicker and at a higher price.  Ana’s comprehe...

Are you familiar with Sherry’s Rule? “You can get used toanything.” This sentiment is both good and bad depending on what you get used to. In this episode we explore delayed home maintenance. As a homeowner you have a big financial investment in your home and keeping the home’s value is tied to how well the homeowner maintains it. Don’t wait to sell your home before you address routine maintenance...

How do the new guidelines on commission affect both the buyer and the seller? We think the guidelines are good for sellers and perhaps a bit mixed for buyers.  The new guidelines offer clear instructions about who’s hiring who and who is paying who.  The initial lawsuit stemmed from sellers who wondered why they had to pay for the buyer’s agent’s commission.  During today’s podcast we look at how...

Listing a home requires the right team.  It’s important to us that we showcase our listings in the best light possible and an integral part of that is photography.  Nowadays, buyers first look at a property is online and by working with an incredible photographer we are able to help a home make the best first impression.  Listen as we interview Summer Anderson, a professional real estate photograp...

Rossmoor, an Active Adult Community within Walnut Creek, is an incredible senior adult community that we explore this week.  There are 6,700 homes, about 8,000 residents, 7 club houses, 2 golf courses, tennis courts, swimming facilities, movies nights, and is a gated 55+ older community. The average age at move-in is 62 years old and many people are still working. One major misconception is that i...

Has the summer slowdown come early? As always, we begin this podcast with a local market update for Contra Costa County. This week we interview Leslie Shafton with Dudum Real Estate group, a seasoned professional and our colleague in the Bay Area real estate market.  She shares her unique experiences, how she approaches her work, her hobbies, and valuable lessons.  Join us for engaging conversatio...

What is a disclosure? How can a seller determine what they need to report to potential buyers?  We have very strong consumer protection laws in California and disclosures are protected. Both sellers and agents have disclosure duties in California. We always warn our sellers, “Disclose, disclose, disclose or your neighbor will do it for you.” Most homes in California have 2 important disclosure for...

What’s going on with the real estate market in Contra Costa County? Are we approaching a slowdown? Listen as Sherry & Adam discuss our local bay area market.  Then join us with Sam Salem who is a long-time title and escrow professional who shares with us what the role of title and escrow is for both buyers and sellers. Title and Escrow is integral to every real estate transaction. Find out how...

We’re moving towards the end of the Spring Market, as school wraps up and summer begins. We begin today’s podcast by exploring our local Contra Costa County Real Estate Market and providing an update. Next, we talk about Adam! Listen as Adam explains his real estate origin story. How did he end up as a Realtor and then Broker? Why is it better that he became an agent later in life? Adam Hamalian a...

From signing, to equity, to title laws, and even holidays, real estate is local. In today’s podcast we invite Adam’s college friend and Louisiana agent and brokerage owner, Melissa Lovett of Pivot Realty to explore the differences between real estate practices in Louisiana vs California. Listen aswe discuss how we each approach our second careers, the meaning we find in the work, and the all-impor...

Everything is local!  When you are a brand-new agent you want every client you can get.  But with experience you know the pitfalls of working outside your area.  Why is it important to know your market? Listen as we explain how a local agent can make all the difference in listing homes and making offers. Adam Hamalian and Sherry Hutchens are real estate brokers (REALTORS®) working inContra Costa a...

Is that the property line? Adam and Sherry discuss property lines and why fences aren’t always a good indicator.  Adam shares why he needed to replace his fence, how he got his neighbors buy-in, and the hilarity that caused it. Listen as we discuss a number of stories relating to fences, property lines, neighbors, and dogs. Adam Hamalian and Sherry Hutchens are real estate brokers (REALTORS®) work...

We welcome our very first guest to the podcast in this episode and dive deep into mortgages. Don’t miss out on expert advice and insider tips on the mortgage process, current rates, gifts, definitions, and the benefits of working with a Mortgage Company rather than a bank. Listen as Arlo Zoerner from CrossCountry Mortgage explains for first time home buyers what the process is and the 3 main steps...

What are we doing this year to make us better agents and individuals? We believe if you aren’t growing, you’re shrinking. Every year we ask ourselves what we can do to become better agents and people and then set goals accordingly. Adam and Sherry discuss the ways they are working on themselves this year and Sherry reveals that she is revisiting Geometry and why. Listen as we discuss our three pro...

Wondering about the resurgence of short sales in today's market? In this video, we dive into what exactly a short sale entails and why we're seeing them reappear. A short sale occurs when a homeowner, facing financial hardship, sells their property for less than what they owe on the mortgage—a common scenario during declining home values. For homeowners struggling to meet mortgage obligati...

Prop 19- what is it and how does it relate to your property tax basis? In today’s podcast we discuss Prop 19, a tax base relief program in California, designed to help property owners who qualify. So, who qualifies and how does it help? Primarily, if you are 55+ and you buy a home equal to or less than the home you are selling you can take advantage of Prop 19 and transfer your tax base from your...

How do we overcome challenges in the context of Real Estate? In today’s podcast we discuss how we approach hard times, how we nurture our clients, and what we think our role in the real estate process is. Creativity, experience, a positive attitude, and a consistent relationship with our clients helped us to navigate the pandemic, the following years, and a downturn in the market. When you are rea...

Adam and Sherry discuss the National Association of Realtors' (NAR) proposed settlement to commission lawsuit. They debunk half truths from the national media and give buyers and sellers some idea about how it will effect them and commissions in the future if the court and the DOJ approve the agreement. NAR proposed settlement creates a lot of misinformation and shocking headlines. Listen as w...

Hutchens Hamalian Properties Group Dudum Real Estate Group DRE #01320608 | DRE #01917597 | DRE #01882902 Do you know our origin story? Check out our first podcast to find out how we met, what capes we wear, why we work so well together, and what’s specifically in our partnership agreement? #HutchensHamalian #EastBayRealEstate #BayAreaRealEstate #OriginStory #AccountabilityPartners #RealEstate #Lis...