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“Estate” is a Word with Many Meanings

The word

“estate”

is one of those words that can carry a boatload of different meanings. As part of the “Costa Mesa real estate” caption, it’s one of the positive ones.

“Real estate”

means physical property that’s anything but imaginary. In fact, the U.S. Constitution initially restricted voting rights to owners of real estate!

As a stand-alone,

“estate”

can summon up images of large houses surrounded by extensive areas of land. Visions of the nineteenth-century land barons come to mind. Aristocrats riding to the hounds across lush countryside might be evoked. In this sense, the word triggers associations with success, riches, power, and abundance.

But another association is with the end of life—it denotes all the money and property owned by a person when they pass away. This is the less cheerful meaning, although it, too, evokes valuable things—possessions that have value (sometimes great value).

The reason this deep dive into the word is relevant to Costa Mesa readers is because of the way it is sometimes used in Costa Mesa listings: “estate condition.” This does not mean that the Rockefellers have decided to put one of their spare mansions on the market.

“It means fixer-upper.”

You might think that this is an example of bait-and-switch deception, but that’s really not the case. Realistically, no house hunter who expected to tour a palatial estate would be fooled for long by the description; the listing photos alone would instantly correct any such impression. “Estate condition” is simply real estate-ese for a residence which is in need of extensive renovation, as is sometimes the case when elderly homeowners have been content to reside in familiar (but now out of fashion) surroundings. To the next owners will fall the effort and expense of updating.

Whether your own property is in turnkey or estate condition—or anything in between—do give us a call when it’s time to sell. We’ll make sure its full value is what the house-hunting public gets to see!

We are built on a philosophy of Heritage & Hustle. The L3 is a full service real estate agency with a regional office located in the heart of #CostaMesa, offering a wide-array of custom services to meet their clients’ needs with roots in the community since 1976. It’s L3 mission is to provide trusted, convenient, responsive service to ensure clients enjoy their real estate experience. The L3 was originally formed to offer personal, concierge-level service as an alternative to the large, nationally based real estate companies. From its small beginnings of only two employees, The L3 has grown to a full staff of 25 serving over 300 clients a year. The L3 is not limited to serving just its clients; it is also committed to serving the community. Not only has The L3 donated hundreds of hours to many area charities, they have also received the prestige of being named one of the #toprealestatecompaniesinCostaMesa If you’re interested in #buyingorsellinginOrangeCounty, turn to the experts. Turn to The L3 and let them help you make your real estate buying or selling dreams come true. For more information or to get started on finding or selling your home contact The L3 today at 714-444-4663 or email us at info@thel3.com

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E-commerce Restaurant Ripple Effects on Costa Mesa Real Estate

The rise of e-commerce has created cultural shifts that are ongoing and profound—Costa Mesa real estate is certainly one of them. One ripple effect may be expected from an industry that touches us all: the restaurants. According to the Wall Street Journal, “as e-commerce expands into food delivery, new bets are being made on real estate.”
How so?

Traditionally, except in the most heavily-populated urban areas, regular restaurateurs have put little to no emphasis on food delivery. Although more common in Manhattan, Chicago or San Francisco, in most places, offering a delivery option was at best a financially break-even proposition. But e-commerce has begun to change that and could affect the selling of your home.
As mobile apps and one-click delivery options have skyrocketed in popularity, the revenue potential has become ever clearer. But more than that, now a growing number of restaurants are seeing a new possibility. Why pay for an expensive street-facing retail space in a trendy neighborhood if you could avoid it? Couldn’t you operate your kitchen from a less expensive warehouse district? In other words, if the demand is great enough, why not go all-delivery? The economies are undeniable—especially since it involves dispensing with the payrolls of greeters, servers, and a good deal of associated support staff. So consider these when you plan to buy a house.

The phenomenon has yet to displace restaurants in a major way—and it certainly will never compete with the entertainment value that an evening out at a fine restaurant will always provide. But just as e-commerce has turned the taxicab business upside down, it might not be surprising if the e-commercial revolution winds up allowing a significant number of restaurants to focus their efforts toward delivery. The Journal even reports the advent of startup companies opening shared kitchen in industrial buildings devoted to “liberating” restaurants from their storefronts.
For local homeowners, the effect on their own Costa Mesa real estate might not be affected by this particular cultural shift—except for the possibility of having a variety of delicious local restaurant meals available at our doorstep. Look for a slow decline in restaurant development in the coming decades. One can never fully predict the effect of a small shift like this so keep it on your radar!

Costa Mesa real estate is changing fast, too. I hope you’ll give us a call with any and all of your real estate queries!

We are built on a philosophy of Heritage & Hustle. The L3 is a full service real estate agency with a regional office located in the heart of #CostaMesa, offering a wide-array of custom services to meet their clients’ needs with roots in the community since 1976. It’s the L3 Mission to provide trusted, convenient, responsive service to ensure clients enjoy their real estate experience. The L3 was originally formed to offer personal, concierge-level service as an alternative to the large, nationally based real estate companies. From its small beginnings of only two employees, The L3 has grown to a full staff of 25 serving over 300 clients a year. The L3 is not limited to serving just its clients; it is also committed to serving the community. Not only has The L3 donated hundreds of hours to many area charities, they have also received the prestige of being named one of the #toprealestatecompaniesinCostaMesa If you’re interested in #buyingorsellinginOrangeCounty, turn to the experts. Turn to The L3 and let them help you make your real estate buying or selling dreams come true. For more information or to get started on finding or selling your home contact The L3 today at 714-444-4663 or email us at info@thel3.com

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What’s a Good Home-Selling Activity for a Rainy Day?

Rainy Days

When you are getting ready to sell your house, there’s nothing like a sunny day to spur you into last-minute readying. The final curb appeal-enhancing projects, springtime yard and landscaping spiffing-up activities, window cleaning and the like are readily dispatched when the weather is balmy.

But when it’s dreary outside (it does happen in Costa Mesa, unfortunately), there is at least one home selling activity that doesn’t call for fair weather. In fact, it doesn’t call for anything else either, save for a pen and paper (or the computer equivalent) and access to the household records. It’s a necessary part of any Costa Mesa home-selling, too—something that’s best dispensed with before moving day.

The rainy-day activity in question is Contact Sheet Preparation. When finished, it will comprise an invaluable resource to be presented to your home’s new owners—one that will be greatly appreciated by them. Depending on how much detail is included, its creation can occupy most of a rain-soaked afternoon.

At minimum, the contact sheet should include:
• Costa Mesa Community Emergency Phone numbers
• Utility Companies
• Household resource providers (plumbers, electricians, septic service, chimney sweeps, etc.)

The most detailed contact sheets also can include “Once in a Blue Moon” details, which identify long-ago resources like the guy who fixed the garden shed lock or the company that web address for the company that supplies the extra garage door opener when they get lost. It can also list warranty information—for instance, some roofing company warranties require notification by a new owner.

Costa Mesa home-selling success requires attending to many details. Some are best provided by the homeowner—but most benefit from the experience of a real estate pro. Call us!

We are built on a philosophy of Heritage & Hustle L3 is a full service real estate agency with a regional office located in the heart of #CostaMesa, offering a wide-array of custom services to meet their clients’ needs with roots in the community since 1976. It’s L3 mission to provide trusted, convenient, responsive service to ensure clients enjoy their real estate experience. L3 was originally formed to offer personal, concierge-level service as an alternative to the large, nationally based real estate companies. From its small beginnings of only two employees, L3 has grown to a full staff of 20 serving over 300 clients a year. L3 is not limited to serving just its clients; it is also committed to serving the community. Not only has L3 donated hundreds of hours to many area charities, they have also received the prestige of being named one of the #toprealestatecompaniesinCostaMesa If you’re interested in #buyingorsellinginOrangeCounty, turn to the experts. Turn to L3 and let them help you make your real estate buying or selling dreams come true. For more information or to get started on finding or selling your home contact L3 today at 714-444-4663 or email us at info@thel3.com