May 2014

Once you have selected a realtor to assist you in the sale of your Eichler home, you can expect “soup to nuts” representation.  A good agent will be able to help you with every aspect of the sale – from determining a realistic price to your signing on the dotted line.  Once you have chosen a realtor, he/she will:

• Meet with you to plan initial strategy.  This will include pricing and giving your home the once-over to determine anything that needs sprucing up or fixing.  You will also need to sign a listing agreement, if you haven’t already done so.
• Help you prep your Eichler for sale.  Your realtor can help set up appointments with stagers and any vendors that might be needed for repairs or giving your property a bit of a face-lift.
• List your

Once you decide to sell your Eichler home, one of the most important steps in the process comes in the beginning, and that is finding a good listing agent.  Not all Realtors are created equal and, as in any business, different realtors have different areas of expertise.  The Eichler market is a specialized niche and your best bet as an Eichler homeowner is to find an agent who knows and understands the Eichler world.  A good Eichler specialist will guide you through the process, from setting a realistic price for your home to closing the deal once you accept an offer.

In choosing someone to represent you in the sale of your home, you’ll need to do some homework and identify several prospective agents.  Referrals can come from friends, relatives, or

You gotta love it.  Today is MCM Day in Nevada.  As part of its 150th Anniversary of Statehood celebration, the Nevada Assembly passed a resolution that declared May 20, 2014 as Mid-Century Modern Day.  You can’t help but appreciate an entire state that honors the MCM aesthetic.

Somehow, when I think of Nevada, I don’t conjure up thoughts of a Mid-Century Modern lifestyle.  I think of silver mining, gambling, cowboys, and desert.  This celebration is a good reminder to us all that Nevada is so much more than the stereotype that comes to mind.

As part of the MCM celebration, the Historic Reno Preservation Society is hosting a Mid-Century Modern Walking Tour today.  Beginning at 3 p.m. highlights of tour will include interior visits to the downtown

It never ceases to amaze me at how far Eichler style has migrated.  While we associate Eichler’s open floor plans and indoor/outdoor living with our temperate climates here in California, where Joseph Eichler built 11,000+ homes in the San Francisco Bay Area, SoCal, and Sacramento – as well as three in New York; every once in a while an Eichler style home in a pretty far-flung place pops into my peripheral vision.  I have found homes described as Eichler-like in several US communities, including Austin TX, and as far away as the UK.

This morning I stumbled across an Eichler-design home for sale in Canada and thought that, for curiosity’s sake, you might like to take a look.  Located in Peachland, British Columbia, this home is reminiscent of an Eichler

Those big, floor-to-ceiling windows that we all love in our Eichlers can be a bit of a pain during the dog days of summer when the hot summer sun adds a bit of unwelcomed warmth to our homes.  Although Joseph Eichler built most of his homes in temperate zones, there are always a few hot days when we Eichler dwellers can hardly wait for those evening breezes to flow through the house and cool us down.  Realizing that summertime is just around the corner got me to thinking about window treatment ideas that can minimize solar heat gain while still keeping the open, indoor/outdoor feel and streamlined look that is the Eichler hallmark.

Shades are one of the simplest window treatments – and one of the most effective ways to keep the heat out (or in,

The 37th annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase is in full swing, and by all accounts it is quite a show.  Featuring designs created by some of the Bay Area’s preeminent decorators, the show is open to the public.  What an incredible opportunity to take a peek at some of the latest and greatest in the world of interior design.

The venue this year is the very luxurious, red brick Sutro Mansion located at 3660 Jackson Street in San Francisco’s Presidio Heights.  Glamorous, hip and modern, the show does a fabulous job of pairing traditional design with contemporary aesthetics – both inside and out.  From the dream kitchen (which is, by the way, House Beautiful’s Kitchen of the Year) designed by Steven Miller to Geoffrey DeSousa’s modern take on a

The fun season has begun in Napa/Sonoma wine country.  A little over a week ago we enjoyed an incredible weekend of wine tasting and food-pairing at the annual Healdsburg/Dry Creek wine extravaganza.  Last weekend the AAUW Healdsburg presented its 24th annual home tour, which hosted 600+ visitors and, by all accounts, was a huge success.  Next weekend, we have the Sonoma Living Home Tour to look forward to.

Sponsored by AIA San Francisco and AIA Redwood Empire, Sonoma Living: Home Tours promises to be a totally fabulous event, showcasing four ultra-modern contemporary homes in the heart of the Sonoma wine country.  Participants will have the opportunity to meet the design teams and get a little inspiration for incorporating a little Sonoma style into

Well, it’s all over but the shouting – at least for this year.  This weekend’s San Mateo Eichler Home Tour was a rousing success and so much fun.  It was wonderful to participate in this great event and to meet so many fellow Eichler and MCM enthusiasts.  I’m already looking forward to next year…

The San Mateo Highlands Eichler Home Tour took place last weekend, May 3-4, 2014, and featured all sorts of fun activities that weren’t limited to merely touring the fabulous Eichler homes.  Vintage cars set the scene for the showcase homes; and homeowners, artists, contractors, and architects were there to meet and greet.  A mini-museum showed vintage Eichler brochures and photographs, and a vintage Airstream offered a glimpse into state-of-the-art camping –

The greatly anticipated San Mateo Highlands Eichler Home Tour is just 2 days away; and we here at Eichler For Sale are excited to be Gold Level sponsors of the big event.  Our sponsorship, as well as your ticket fees will all go to a great cause – the support of the Highlands Elementary School.

The annual Eichler Home Tour promises to be great fun.  In addition to having the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and experiences with Eichler homeowners, you’ll be able to meet architects and contractors who are experienced in remodeling the sometimes-quirky Eichler homes.  You’ll also be able to view (and purchase) the work of 9 highly regarded Mid-Century inspired artists and take a peek inside a vintage Airstream.

The Highlands Eichler Home Tour