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By Roz Rogoff

About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and...  (More)

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Moving

Uploaded: Apr 17, 2016
This blog is about me moving, but in two different ways. The first way is moving out of my house and into a Senior Living apartment. So far this is mostly in the planning stages. I emailed an application to Villa San Ramon at the end of March but I have not heard back yet on its status or if I can bring all four of my cats or only two of them.

I'd like to bring them all even if I have to give two of them away once I get there. I'm hoping other residents might take one or two. They are all friendly and healthy. One is 12 years old and the other three are around 7 or 8, which is middle age for cats. Some cats can live into their 20's, so they all have many years left.

My house is for sale, but since I'm not quite ready to move until I have a place to move to, it isn't in the multiple listings yet. My broker is Arnie Urbick at Realty ONE Group BMC Associates. Arnie brought over several potential buyers Saturday afternoon to look at the house. There's very little listed under $600K right now, and only condos and townhouses.

My house is being sold as-is, and needs cleaning, interior painting, and kitchen remodeling, but it is very solid and in an excellent location in south San Ramon. It is 3 bedrooms, 1121 sq. ft., with a nice yard that backs up to South San Ramon Creek, with no rear neighbors and a fabulous view of the hills at sunset.

Some prospects criticized the small galley kitchen and 1-1/2 baths, but the kitchen could be moved into the 120 sq. ft. "dining room," and the galley could be walled off into a Master Bath. I had this internal remodel estimated a few years ago at $15K using the existing appliances. New appliances might add another $2 to $5K tops.

There's room to expand the house on the north side or back. I also have 7000 gallons of rainwater storage and 1.9Kw solar system. If anyone reading this is interested, contact Arnie at aurbick3@gmail.com.

My other "moving" experience yesterday was my attempt to ride my tricycle up the Iron Horse Trail to Jay Vee Liquors to buy a new lottery ticket. I typically use the same numbers and buy a multiplay ticket. My ticket expired on Wednesday, so I had to buy a replacement before Saturday night. I'm superstitious that if I don't have a ticket my numbers will come up. I also had $9 in winnings on my old ticket.

I rode my trike up to Montevideo two weeks ago to buy milk, but I didn't try to ride all the way to the Extra Mile store at the Chevron Station or the Jay Vee Liquors on Terrazzo Circle. Instead I rode my trike back home and ordered online from Safeway.

This time I did try to ride to Jay Vee, but I couldn't make it all the way. The Iron Horse Trail is mostly uphill from Cal High to Montevideo, but Montevideo is even more uphill. I got about as far as Torreon Avenue and gave up.

My friend Sally walked up the trail with me for moral support. Sally said I was pedaling too hard and needed to slow down, but then I wouldn't keep up the momentum I needed. I was breathing heavy but that wasn't from the pedaling, it was from the pollen and allergens along the trail.

Sally admired the lush grasses and how fresh they smelled, but I couldn't smell anything and could hardly breathe. So Sally left me sitting on the curb on Montevideo and one of the side streets and rode my trike back home to get her car. I sat there for about 45 minutes. Several people drove by and offered to give me a ride. One lady was particularly nice. She was worried I might be injured, but I was just tired out.

As it turned out I was literally "tired out." When Sally got back she said one of the rear tires on the trike was almost flat and it was very hard to pedal. So it wasn't just me. All three tires must be inflated to 40 psi or it isn't easy to ride.
Community.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Sam, a resident of Oak Hill,
on Apr 18, 2016 at 9:56 am

Roz, have you considered calling in some contractors to do the extensive remodeling and repainting yourself? Selling a house "as-is" is catering to quite a different group of buyers than selling a house that has been refreshed and is in move-in ready condition. When we bought our Pleasanton house a few years ago, we were definitely looking for a move-in ready house, and I suspect that most other families with kids are also looking for move-in ready houses since they are too busy to spend a lot of time in fixing up and renovating. I would expect that the seller's cost of freshening up a house, particularly repainting and renovating the kitchen, would more than pay for itself by attracting bids from people (particularly busy people with families) who don't mind paying a little bit of a premium in order to get a house that they can move in and start enjoying immediately.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Apr 18, 2016 at 4:15 pm

I agree. The kitchen and bathroom renovation will increase the price greatly and take it off your hands immediately.

That will help your get rid of the looky loos who can wear you down.





Posted by rosalindr@mytrainingdept.com, a resident of San Ramon,
on Apr 18, 2016 at 7:17 pm

rosalindr@mytrainingdept.com is a registered user.

I was considering remodeling a few years ago for myself, but I don't want the bother of it now. I just want to move and let whoever buys the house do what they want and not have to change my changes.

Either the house will go to someone who wouldn't be able to afford a remodeled house here but wants to live near good schools and parks, or the house will be bought by an investor who will fix it up and resell or rent it out. It's up to a new owner to do what they want with it. I'm leaving it behind.

Roz


Posted by rosalindr@mytrainingdept.com, a resident of San Ramon,
on Apr 18, 2016 at 8:28 pm

rosalindr@mytrainingdept.com is a registered user.

But just to add, I don't have to move either. I can stay here and not move to Villa San Ramon or any other retirement place.

I saw a Neurologist last week and he gave me a bunch of tests and I passed. He said I'm OK to drive, so I should be able to get my Driver's License back soon and stay where I am. I may apply for a place in my mother's retirement home in Maine and move there in a few years instead. I have a lot of options to consider, and selling my house now is just one of them.

I checked the multiple listings and the nearest comparable house is $735K. That one is 185 sq ft bigger than my house and has two full updated bathrooms. I'm not sure 185'and one additional full bath is worth $135K, when someone could add those to my house for $35K, thereby saving $100K.

When I bought my house in 1998, I made a lot of changes. I had the wall furnaces taken out and central heat and air put in. I had new appliances put into the kitchen, but kept the galley floor plan because of the ease of use. I had the house rewired with updated electrical and solar panels.

I also have 7000 gal. of rainwater storage, dual pane windows, solar screens, and two tankless electric water heaters from Germany (one for the house and one for the laundry). This isn't an ordinary house in San Ramon. This house is special.

Roz


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Apr 20, 2016 at 8:31 am

Glad you're well situated. Good Luck whatever you decide.


Posted by Roz Rogoff, a resident of San Ramon,
on Apr 21, 2016 at 12:09 am

Roz Rogoff is a registered user.

Thanks Cholo,

Several prospective buyers looked at the house this week. I'm expecting an offer soon. I'm still waiting to hear from Villa San Ramon about when an apartment is available. Changes are stressful, but I'm ready for them now.

Roz


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Apr 21, 2016 at 11:16 am

Rox...if you wanna be waaaaaaaaaaaaay cool in your new digs, consider taking along a few new buds to live with you:

Web Link


Posted by Roz Rogoff, a resident of San Ramon,
on May 1, 2016 at 4:30 pm

Roz Rogoff is a registered user.

I received two offers for my house this week. One was over the asking price and the other was 10% below the asking price. So I accepted the higher offer. I'm waiting for Villa San Ramon to have an apartment available, but I should be able to move in a week or two.

So everything is going well except for my cats. I have four cats and the Villa only allows two pets. So I'm looking for homes for two of them. If anyone reading this can take one or two cats I'd appreciate it.

Molly is a purebred American Shorthair Silver Tabby Web Link She's 12 years old and overweight. She need to lose a few pounds, but she's very pretty, elegant, with a mellow personality.

Little Blackie, whose original name was Beulah, is about 7 or 8 years old and very active. She's a skinny black cat who loves to run around and play. She likes to sit on my lap and rub her head on me to mark me as her property. She's really cute, but needs to have her claws trimmed regularly and kept away from good furniture. NO DECLAWING ALLOWED!

They are not bonded, but they get along and could go together or separately. If anyone reading this is interested in taking one or both, contact me through my Embaradero Publishing email address. I will include a couple of cases of cat food and some cat furniture with either or both of them.

Roz


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on May 14, 2016 at 10:24 am

Roz...GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR MOVE!

Have you considered donating what you can't take along to your new home to an animal shelter? They are so deserving and provide wonderful services for needy animals. The animals will be forever grateful and you will have performed a major good deed! Think about it.


Posted by Roz Rogoff, a resident of San Ramon,
on May 14, 2016 at 1:01 pm

Roz Rogoff is a registered user.

Cholo,

I was considering the Salvation Army or Good Will for my furniture. I don't know which animal rescue groups take furniture. I know some take cars, but I want to keep my pickup truck even though I can't drive it now. I'm hoping to get my license back in a few weeks.

I have to find homes for two of my cats, the big silver tabby, Molly, and the skinny black medium hair, Beulah (I call her Little Blackie). If you know of anyone who could take one or both of them, email me to my Embarcadero Publishing email address.

Roz


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