About — David Gray

Hello and thank you for exploring my website. Selling and buying real estate is an intricate, time-sensitive, and often emotional experience, where working with a realtor with years of experience is invaluable.

The information I've included provides a basic overview of what's involved when selling or buying a home, and with 20+ years’ experience working in the Mid-Peninsula cities and communities, and a passion for helping people, my goal is to create a partnership that results in a positive selling or buying experience for you.

Click the links below to learn more about my skills and experience.

Cities where I work
Selling your home
Buying your home
Properties held in a trust or estate
Schools in your area
Memberships & awards
Organizations I support
Contact David

Cities where I work

Palo Alto
Los Altos, Los Altos Hills
Mountain View
Menlo Park
Atherton
Portola Valley
Woodside
Redwood City
Belmont
San Carlos
San Mateo
Hillsborough
Burlingame

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Selling your home

Selling your home is a substantial undertaking, but when the process is broken down into clear chronological steps it can be easier. Maximizing your home’s value by enhancing its market appeal requires experience and a clear understanding of the costs vs. impact of the potential sales price.

What things should you do to bring the highest return?

What are buyers interested in when looking for a home?

Preparing your home for sale

Cosmetic repairs and upgrades are a large part of pre-market preparation, as well as pre-market inspections and reports that outline any items requiring attention.

Property inspections that evaluate the current condition of the major systems of your home, such as plumbing, electrical, foundation, roof, and so forth, as well as the pest inspections that look for evidence of termites and moisture damage, are two important inspection reports.

Having these reports before going on the market is incredibly beneficial to you as a seller, because it will identify any problem areas before going to market. The items contained in the reports, if not repaired, can be problematic to buyers if not addressed before the sale, and may cause them to look elsewhere.

David prioritizes his clients, guiding them through pre-market preparation to maximize returns and negotiates on their behalf for the best possible outcome.

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Buying your home

Online searches and beautiful photos can lead you to a property, but a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of the property, and what you are buying, is where a realtor’s experience is invaluable.

Reading the property disclosures and inspection reports provided by the seller that outline and identify the history and current condition of a property, in conjunction with visiting the property in person allows us to clearly understand what you’re buying— a critical step in the process.

In simple terms, property disclosures are the documents and inspections compiled by the seller(s) that outline and identify the history and current condition of the property.

As an experienced realtor with over 20+ years of experience in the Mid-Peninsula housing market, working together we can evaluate both the positive and negative aspect of the property and discuss the impact these reports may have on the value of your purchase.

Here are several focus areas in the disclosures and inspections:

Structural components: Foundation, walls, floors, roof.

Structural components. Foundation, walls, floors, roof.
Services and utilities. Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning).
Renovations and repairs. Permitted and unpermitted repairs or renovations.
Legal issues. Issues or disputes related to the property, for example, property line disputes or zoning violations.
Environmental. Hazards on or around the property, for example, flood zone, high fire zone, asbestos, mold, or lead-based paint.
Insurance claims. Disclosure of any insurance claims made against the property, including details about the subject and resolution of any claims.

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Properties held in a trust or estate

Dealing with the impact of a loved one's passing can be profoundly challenging. The decisions and uncertainties, coupled with grief, can feel overwhelming.

David’s combined personal and professional experience selling real estate tied to trusts and estates has given him the understanding and candor to guide clients through the sensitive and often emotionally charged aspects of these properties. He has worked with numerous financial institutions in their Wealth and Asset management professionals to be a reliable source and asset in the liquidation of properties held in their real estate trust portfolios.

A recent client captured the essence of their experience with David:

“In the space of six months, my mother, father and husband all died. I was left all alone, with my home and my parents’ home, trying to figure out what to do next. David knows everyone, and he brought all these people into my life to help me with everything from home repairs to financial advice. He sold my parents’ home and advised me which renovations would be cost-effective (and which wouldn’t) to get the best return on my money.

“Following his advice, we sold the house very quickly and for a great price. Throughout the process, David was knowledgeable, responsive and caring. He is also fun-loving and kind and somebody I know I can trust.”

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