Village Country Club · Downsizing
Downsizing in Village Country Club, one step at a time
A plan for moving to less house: what to fix, what to skip, what to do with everything, and where to go next.
Downsizing in Village Country Club
The Village Country Club neighborhood sits around The Mission Club golf course in Vandenberg Village, with fairways, mature oaks, and established homes. If you've been here a long time, the oaks are probably part of why you stayed. They may also be part of why the yard has become too much.
Mature trees are one of the first things I look at. Roots can reach sewer lines and foundations, and limbs over a roof shorten its life. Most of it isn't a crisis. It's a line on your Fix/Skip list, and it's better for you to know the number than for a buyer's inspector to name it.
Vandenberg Village is unincorporated, so permit records sit with Santa Barbara County. If you're moving, you may not need to go far: the rest of Vandenberg Village and Lompoc are both right there.
You're not behind. You're deciding.
Most people who call me about downsizing have been thinking about it for a year or more. You own the house outright, or close to it. Nothing is forcing the move. That's exactly why it's hard to start: there's no deadline, a lifetime of things in the closets, and a hundred opinions online about what you "should" do first.
Here's what I tell everyone. You don't need to have it figured out before we talk. One conversation, one walkthrough, and you'll know where you stand. Building the plan is my job, and you're always in control of the final decision.
What I do differently as a licensed contractor
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.
Your belongings, your timing, your next home
Your things. Deciding what stays is the hardest part for most people. You get my Seller Moving and Decluttering Guide, with a 30-day timeline and a room-by-room checklist, plus my directory of local estate liquidation companies for what you're not keeping.
Your timing. Sell first or buy first? We'll walk through both before you list, along with options like a rent-back that lets you stay after closing so you aren't rushed out.
Your taxes. Prop 19 can let homeowners 55 and older carry their property tax base to a replacement home in some situations. The details matter, so talk to your CPA or tax attorney before you decide.
Your buyer. I check every buyer and their lender before you review an offer, so the one you accept can actually close. Read the full downsizing plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the big oaks affect selling my Village Country Club home?
They add a lot of appeal, and they're worth inspecting. Roots and overhanging limbs can affect sewer lines, foundations, and roofs, so I check them before you list.
Do I need to fix up my Village Country Club home before I downsize?
Usually not much. If you're open to it, my contractor's walkthrough gives you a Fix/Skip list, so you only spend on what changes your price or could stall the sale.
How long does downsizing take?
As long as you need. Most people start with one conversation and a walkthrough, then decide on timing once they see the plan.
Village Country Club
What downsizing looks like in Village Country Club
Established homes around The Mission Club golf course in Vandenberg Village, with fairways, mature oaks, and rolling hills.
Nestled around The Mission Club golf course in Vandenberg Village, the Village Country Club neighborhood offers a picturesque setting with beautiful fairways, mature oak trees, and scenic rolling hills.
Known for its established homes, peaceful streets, and golf-course lifestyle, it offers a blend of natural beauty, privacy, and Central Coast charm.
- The homes
- Established homes on peaceful streets around the golf course.
- Nearby
- The Mission Club golf course, fairways and mature oaks, and the rest of Vandenberg Village.
The method
How we do it in Village Country Club
Downsizing: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Lisa Bognuda?