Downsizing on the Nipomo Mesa, one step at a time

Downsizing on the Nipomo Mesa usually means letting go of land. Custom homes, acreage, and horse facilities are what brought people here, and they're also what takes up the week: fence lines, irrigation, barns, and whatever else needs fixing by Saturday.

These properties take more care to price, because no two are alike. A custom home on acreage rarely has a true match down the street. I like to walk all of it as a contractor, the house and the land and the outbuildings, and I check what was permitted. A barn or an added room with no permit is something to know about before you list.

You don't have to give up the Mesa to make this move. Blacklake and Trilogy at Monarch Dunes are close by, on much less land.

Before I talk price, I like to walk your home the way a contractor does: roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical, and the attic. Then, if you're open to it, you get a Fix/Skip list. It covers what will actually change your price or stall the sale, and what you can leave alone.

That list saves downsizers real money. The most common mistake I see is someone spending thousands on new counters or flooring because a friend said the house needs "updating," then getting none of it back. Believe it or not, most people moving to less house don't need a remodel. They need a plan.

When it's time to price, your EPIC Report gives you three prices, each with its tradeoff spelled out. I'll tell you which one I'd pick. You choose. See how the EPIC Report works.