How To Prepare for an Open House

Hosting an open house takes some prep work, but it can be a great way to showcase your home to potential buyers. Here are some steps to get you ready:

Declutter and Depersonalize:

• Pack it away: Potential buyers want to imagine themselves in the space, so pack away excess belongings, furniture and knick-knacks. Consider renting a storage unit or borrowing space from a friend. This will make your home look bigger and brighter.
• Tame the walls: Take down personal photos and artwork. Let the potential buyers envision their own art on the walls.

Spruce Up and Shine:

• Deep clean: Give your home a top-to-bottom cleaning. This includes floors, windows, appliances, and fixtures. Don’t forget often overlooked areas like ceiling fans and baseboards.
• Boost curb appeal: Make a great first impression with your home’s exterior. Add a fresh coat of paint to your front door, or replace outdated hardware. Ensure your lawn is mowed, walkways are clear, and landscaping is neat.

Stage the Space:

• Neutralize odors: Eliminate lingering pet odors or cooking smells. Bake cookies or light scented candles with pleasant aromas.
• Lighten and brighten: Open curtains and blinds to let in natural light. Replace burnt-out lightbulbs with bright, warm options.
• Set the mood: Stage a welcoming atmosphere. You can place fresh flowers on the table or play light background music.

The Big Day:

• Make yourself scarce: While it’s important to be available to answer questions, it’s also a good idea to let the potential buyers explore the house at their own pace. Consider leaving the open house in the hands of your realtor.

What happens during an open house

An open house hums with the quiet energy of possibility. It’s a stage set for potential buyers to envision their future lives within the walls. Here’s a glimpse into what unfolds during this crucial house-hunting event:

The Pre-Show Buzz:

The morning of the open house is a whirlwind of activity. The seller (ideally) has vacated the premises, leaving behind a meticulously staged space. Freshly baked cookies waft through the air, masking any lingering scents. Light classical music creates a calming ambiance, while strategically placed throw pillows and floral arrangements add pops of color and warmth. A welcoming sign greets visitors at the door, and a friendly real estate agent stands poised to answer questions.

Welcoming Visitors:

As potential buyers arrive, the agent greets them with a warm smile and invites them to sign in. This not only provides contact information for follow-up but also allows the agent to gauge interest. Throughout the open house, the agent acts as a knowledgeable guide, pointing out key features, highlighting recent upgrades, and answering questions about the neighborhood, schools, and amenities. WEBSITE

What Happens When a Real Estate Agent Shows Your Home

Ralene Nelson, REALTOR
302 Spyglass Dr. Rio Vista, 2bd/2bth/
1439sqft/4805sqft lot

$430,000 – Welcome to Trilogy at Rio Vista, the active adult community, located near the Sacramento River. Do you enjoy water sports, fishing and/or tennis, golf, or bocce, This is your retirement, resort-style living. This Pebble Beach model home provides you with a 2 bedroom 2 bath home with 2 full baths. Very private backyard to enjoy your morning coffee or beverage in the afternoon, and have a BBQ. The home features a kitchen with a pantry closet, white tile counters & black splash with oak cabinets & a white electric stove & a microwave, and a dishwasher. Carpet throughout with tile entry. Trilogy offers so many amenities such as an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, 2 pools (indoor and outdoor) billiards, a computer room, a library, a full gym, & cafe in the Vista Club. The restaurant is being renovated & will be beautiful. Come join the fun!  READ MORE

PENDING – 517 Wallace St. Rio Vista
3 bed/2 bath/1,346sqft/5,680sqft lot

PENDING SALE $485,000 – If you like the small town feel, then this home will fit your needs, Rio Vista, located on the Sacramento River, also known as the Delta area, this is a great starter home, 3 bedrooms & 2 baths. Larger great room & roomy kitchen with white appliances. The Homecoming development has a park close by that is great for play time & picnics. Back yard provides room for your pets. READ MORE

FOR SALE – 212 S 7th St Apt A, Rio Vista
3 units: A-3/1, B-2/2, C-2/2 or 1/2

$805,000 – Great opportunity to own investment property, 3 homes on 1 lot; Unit A is 3/1, Unit B is 2/2, & Unit C 2/2. Lot is very private, with lots of room for BBQ & fun. Located in Core Rio Vista, walk to town, restaurants, & groceries. Large grassy area for play. Stable renters with a good payment history. Do not disturb renters in Units A & B. Unit A built in 1930 & Unit B in 1948. Unit C was a barn/garage converted with permits. With a little TLC, these units are great for tenants just starting out on their own. All 3 have single-car garages. WEBSITE

FOR SALE – 50 River Rd. Rio Vista
2bed/1 bath/772sqft

$150,000 – This new Skyline manufactured home, located in West Wind Mobile Park, is perfect for a starter home or your retirement home. The home has two bedrooms & one bath with a lovely kitchen with gas stove & room for small dining table, as well as, counter for bar stools. Carpet in bedrooms & laminate in remaining home, & comes with 70 TV. Carport for 2 cars tandem, awning & shed on entry door side. Home has patio area for those BBQ days. Walk to the river front & town, don’t forget to bring your fishing poles. Appliances convey with sale. Roof is cellulose, fiberglass cement siding, cashew color shaker cabinets & mini blinds. READ MORE

PENDING SALE 15967 Isleton Rd, Isleton
4bed/2bath/2,836sqft2,836 sf/1.37acre lot

$475,000 – This is an opportunity to own a home next to the river. Original home built in 1940, 1260 sq ft, then 3 stories added to home. The lot is 1.37 acres, with room to add a pool. This home has 4 bedrooms & 2 baths with lots of space for entertaining. The home is heated with 4 pellet stoves, 1 on each floor, & the natural breezes cool off the home in the summer. The boat dock is a lease with the State of California, acting through the State Lands Commission. The lease is dated 6/21/18 for 10 years. The gangplank is damaged. This home features 2 wrap-around decks. The laundry room & 2nd kitchen are located in the original house with a bedroom/sitting room. The primary bedroom is located on the 3rd floor with an elevated space for sitting & watching the boat traffic on the Sacramento River. The newer section has dual-pane windows, and the original section is single-pane. The lot provides so much space for entertaining your family & guests as well as 3 storage units. Only 1 storage unit has electricity. Home is a project waiting for your building & decorating skills and is priced to reflect that. All appliances convey with sale. WEBSITE

1.935ac Poppy House Rd. & Norman Richards Dr. Rio Vista

$410,000 – Zoned Commercial, No Cannabis. Contact Ralene Nelson at Re/Max Grupe Gold | BRE# 01503588 | 707.334.0699 | 107 Main St. Rio Vista. WEBSITE
4873 Lone Tree Wy, Antioch, CA

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Events in Northern California this Weekend
First Concert of the Season By Journey Revisited at Wimpy’s Marina!
Saturday, May 18 · 5 – 8:30 pm
14001 West Walnut Grove Road Walnut Grove

Journey Revisited dedicates itself to replicating the sound of classic Journey through their spectacular live performances. These exceptional musicians cover all of the fan favorites from Don’t Stop Believin’ and Wheel in the Sky to Any Way You Want It, Lights, and many more — and they do it without pre-recorded backing tracks or digital vocal enhancements! This talented group delivers the organic live sound of the album-oriented rock era, just the way you remember it. We’re excited to host them as they help us kick off our phenomenal Summer 2024 Concert Series on the sandy beaches of Wimpy’s Marina Restaurant & Bar! Pull up to the dock in your boat, join us by car, or ride in on your motorcycle and dance with us on the California Delta.

Our Riverfront Resort is only about 20 minutes away from both Sacramento and Stockton. Plus, we’re only 5 minutes away from I-5! Though the event officially starts at 5:00 PM, we encourage you to get here early. WEBSITE

Stockton Flavor Fest

$5 Friday: 11am to 8pm, Saturday:11am to 8pm, Sunday 12pm to 7pm
Weber Point Event Center, 221 N Center Street StocktonStockton’s award-winning downtown waterfront festival returns for year three. Join them for a three-day celebration of Stockton’s diverse cultures with a new festival featuring delicious food, crafts and makers, and a wide variety of music, dance, arts and more! Look for the latest info in early 2024 at StocktonFlavorFest.com

It’s OK to Feel the Blues Music Event
Sat May 18 2024 at 04:00 pm to 08:00 pm
Lucid Winery, 1021 R St, Sacramento

Enjoy live music from local musicians and bands, sip on your favorite wine, order a VIP charcuterie board, bid on basket raffles, pick up mental health and suicide prevention resources, and more! This is a family-friendly event. Funds raised will benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. A huge thank you to Lucid Winery for hosting our event! Free to attend or you can purchase VIP Tickets at https://supporting.afsp.org/event/OKtofeeltheblues
VIP tickets include a glass of wine of your choice and a charcuterie board!

Fairfield: Fiddler on the Roof Jr. Presented
Sat. May 18, 2024 @ 2:00 pm, and 7:30 pm,
Sun. May 19, 2024 @ 2:00 pm, and 6:00 pm
Fairfield Downtown Theatre, 1035 Texas St. Fairfield

Witness a timeless story of love, family and resilience with this enchanting production of the beloved musical! Set in the little village of Anatevka, a poor dairyman named Tevye strives to keep Jewish traditions alive by marrying off his five daughters. With the help of his colorful and tight-knit community, Tevye and his family navigate the growing threat of anti-Semitism in Czarist Russia in this heartwarming tale told by a local young artist. WEBSITE