Buying and Selling Tips

Here’s what I help my clients evaluate beyond price and layout:

•  How snow sheds off the roof — a winter safety and maintenance essential
• Driveway pitch, exposure, and orientation — because sun, shade, and ice matter
• HOA and CAL FIRE defensible space compliance — who pays and what must be done
• Stormwater & BMP regulations (TRPA guidelines) — critical near the lake
• IPS buildability scores + setbacks — if you plan to build or remodel
• Sewer, drainage, utilities, well + septic considerations — uncommon in cities, crucial here
• Short-term rental and local use regulations — varies widely by location

Smart sellers in Truckee and North Lake Tahoe benefit from:

•  Pre-listing home and pest inspections by respected inspectors
  - Helps buyers feel confident enough to remove contingencies
• Thoughtful staging that complements the mountain setting
  - Dramatically improves emotional buyer response
• Repairs that net a high return before listing
  - Not all fixes are equal—some are worth every penny
• Clear defensible space compliance (CAL FIRE guidelines)
  - Required in many areas, and a major buyer concern
•  Awareness of HOA inspections & negotiable point-of-sale items
  - Especially true for Tahoe Donner, Lahontan, Northstar, Glenshire areas
•  Sewer line testing & local point-of-sale requirements
  - Often mandatory based on time since last inspection