Many years ago, we purchased a home in Carlsbad, using a realtor that was recommended to us - Jim Klinge. Fast forward to 2025, we recently had the privilege of selling 2 homes in Carlsbad, CA and didn't hesitate to reach out to Jim and Donna Klinge of Klinge Realty Group to guide us through the sales. The transactions were very different, each with its own unique situation, opportunities and challenges. From start to finish, Donna and Jim helped navigate the pre-sale preparation, the listing, showing of the house, buyer negotiations, the final close and all of the paperwork and decisions in between. What stands out with both transactions is the professionalism of Jim and Donna (and their team), wonderful communication (timely, relevant, concise), their deep understanding of market dynamics (setting realistic expectations), their access to top-notch contractors, and last, their ability to guide us across the finish line successfully. We wouldn't hesitate to use Jim and Donna in the future and highly recommend them for anyone looking to buy or sell a property in North San Diego County.
I cannot help but offer some advice here;
Might be a better idea to stop the work. There is zero outdoor connection, that should be illegal in Southern California.
Move the living space to the back and replace oversized bath with a new kitchen. If a granny flat is a must move it upstairs and give its own entry from the stairs at the front. Add a new staircase to the back for the main residence.
Mozart!! Good to hear from you again.
The likely buyer will be a flipper who just put it back together and sell it for 850-900.
In Carlsbad there are probably more granny flats upstairs (done by the original builder). But granny doesn’t like those stairs.
As a guy who doesn’t look at many ‘fixers’ can you explain what happened here Jim? How did this house come to be in this condition? To my eyes it doesn’t look like a new construction or a trash out either.
Also curious about the big piles of rubble in the center of the floor.
The homeowner lost confidence in the contractor hired to complete the whole project.
I first met the seller in April, and he had inherited the home. It was complete then, but dated and the granny flat needed some re-design.
We agreed that an update would take 2-3 months, and then we could sell it in the mid-$900,000s, mostly due to the benefit of having an new, attached granny flat.
Six months later, and all we have is demo.
My contractors were booked out, so he went with his people.
JtR,
Been avidly following the blog, great info as always.
Maybe Granny doesn’t like those stairs but still good for a home office where people don’t have to walk through the house to meet you, or, a soft landing for that newly minted college grad just returning home.