Hard to figure the culprit here, but a vacant house sitting for months doesn’t help:
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Jim Klinge
Klinge Realty Group
Are you looking for an experienced agent to help you buy or sell a home?
Contact Jim the Realtor!
- 682 S. Coast Hwy 101, Suite #110
Encinitas, CA 92024 - (858) 997-3801 call or text
- klingerealty@gmail.com
CA DRE #01527365, CA DRE #00873197
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Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jim & Donna Klinge helped us sell our home of 30 years in Ocean Hills. We were very happy with their service and would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone looking for an Honest, Knowledgeable, Skilled, Informed Efficient realty team. Both Jim & Donna were so helpful in different ways and complemented each others skills. Please refer to a more detailed review that we wrote on YELP. Thank You Both for all your help!!!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A+ thank youTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We sold a home with Jim and Donna and from beginning to end they were consummate professionals. Their initial walk through the property resulted in a list of items to be repaired or updated. They supplied a list of vendors and job quotes to do the repairs and updates. We originally wanted to sell ‘as is’ and just get it over with. They gave us a selling price for ‘as is’ and options for doing a few updates/repairs to doing it all with the selling price for each option. We agreed to do all they suggested and we sold for the exact price they predicted. For every dollar spent we got back more than $2 back in the selling price. And they got that price in a rising interest rate environment! Donna and Jim are extremely detailed and guide you through ever aspect of the sale. There were no surprises thanks to their guidance. We couldn’t be more pleased with their representation. Thank you Donna and Jim, Jerry and MaryTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have known Jim & Donna Klinge for over a dozen years, having met them in Carlsbad where our children went to the same school. As long time North County residents, it was a no- brainer for us to have the Klinges be our eyes and ears for San Diego real estate in general and North County in particular. As my military career caused our family to move all over the country and overseas to Asia, Europe and the Pacific, we trusted Jim and Donna to help keep our house in Carlsbad rented with reliable and respectful tenants for over 10 years. Naturally, when the time came to sell our beloved Carlsbad home to pursue a rural lifestyle in retirement out of California, we could think of no better team to represent us than Jim and Donna. They immediately went to work to update our house built in 2004 to current-day standards and trends — in 2 short months they transformed it into a literal modern-day masterpiece. We trusted their judgement implicitly and followed 100% of their recommended changes. When our house finally came on the market, there was a blizzard of serious interest, we had multiple offers by the third day and it sold in just 5 days after a frenzied bidding war for 20% above our asking price! The investment we made in upgrades recommended by Jim and Donna yielded a 4-fold return, in the process setting a new high water mark for a house sold in our community. In our view, there are no better real estate professionals in all of San Diego than Jim and Donna Klinge. Buying or selling, you must run and beg Jim and Donna Klinge to represent you! Our family will never forget Jim, Donna, and their whole team at Compass — we are forever grateful to them.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. WeI had the pleasure of working with Klinge Realty Group to sell our home in Carmel Valley, and I cannot recommend them highly enough! Jim and Donna demonstrated exceptional professionalism, offering expert guidance on market conditions and pricing strategy, which resulted in a quick and successful sale. Communication was prompt and we were well-informed throughout the entire process. For anyone looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable real estate team, look no further! ---Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Donna and Jim Klinge of Klinge Realty Group have our highest possible recommendation. From Donna and Jim’s first visit to our house through closing their advice and counsel was candid and honest in all dealings. They kept us fully informed throughout the process. The house sold less than three days after listing with a two-week closing. My wife and I have sold several houses during our lives. This was by far the best experience. Klinge Reality is a premium service realtor. You can’t make a better choice for someone to sell your home fast and for top dollar.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Donna and Jim provided exceptional support and professionalism throughout the entire process. We couldn't have been happier with their efforts. They made our house shine, and thanks to their expertise, it sold above the listing price in the very first weekend! Truly a fantastic experience from start to finish.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This year has been difficult on our family, mainly due to having to sell our home. Thankfully we knew God had a plan for us and working with the Klinge team was a key part of it. It was an obvious decision to work with them again after such an amazing experience when purchasing the same home we needed to sell. The challenge was, how will we do this in so little time with so much going on? Jim and Donna held our hand every step of the way. Whenever an unexpected issue arose they found and provided a solution. Never once did we feel pressured to make a decision and the Klinges were always reassuring after providing the information that the decision was ours to make. Despite the curve balls, they never panicked and exemplified the “can do” attitude, making us feel optimistic and taken care of. Their expertise and professionalism was superb. But of all the reasons to work with the Klinges, the most impactful and valuable is their compassion and genuine care for their clients. We pray that we can one day purchase our forever home and you better believe that Jim and Donna will be representing us - as long as they will have us of course. Thank you again Klinge team! Your execution, experience, and care are unmatched.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jim and Donna were fantastic! Jim understanding my needs, recommending potential places, pointing out the pros and cons of each property was invaluable. Then when the offer was accepted Donna’s organized guidance through the inspections, paperwork etc made the whole process seem effortless. So grateful that I had them on my side!Load more
Have you contacted HGTV, Bravo, or any other TV stations and shared with them your blog? Your daily adventures would make such a fascinating TV show about a realtor’s life – like a macho version of Flipping Out.
Housewife on cell, if I’ve not mistaken, HGTV did contact JtR a couple years ago (after he appeared on ABC’s Nightline). They wanted Jim to do some kind of reality show and he wanted to do a show focused only on educating folks about RE. When he mentioned that, they didn’t call back.
Jim can fill in more details…
Yes, the TV guys want entertainment, a la Kardashians.
A sad commentary on our modern-day society that shows like the Kardashians, Bachelor, Real Housewives, etc. are all about exploiting the drama that they can drum up between the participants.
I’d love to see Bruce Jenner put his foot down and use the show (and notoriety) to accomplish something good in this country. Until then, it’ll be a show about how to be a bimbo.
You can get famous on YouTube…only takes one video.
As for the copper thieves, what do you do as a buyer when there’s this kind of damage? Especially with a short-sale where you’re waiting months between each correspondence?
Since you busted out the Chevy, I’m going to link you to a couple of blog posts that made me think of you when I first read them.
The photos were taken in Cuba on a recent cultural exchange trip and these posts are filled with pics of classic cars. Enjoy! 🙂
Ooof, I almost put two links into the same post again (I lost another post on the automatic bid company last week due to my stupidity).
http://earthoceanskyredux.com/2012/02/08/cuba-the-teaser/
Coming up next…
Next:
http://earthoceanskyredux.com/2012/02/09/gentlemen-start-your-engines-if-you-can/
Wipe the drool offa yer chin!
Jim,
I always thought your youtube style reality teevee would be a shoo-in to follow “Real Housewives” – No matter what city they’re shooting the gold diggers in!
😉
Good advice is as follows:
Never trust food that is prepared by a skinny chef…
Make sure your financial advisor drives a Honda and not a Porsche…
And you can always tell the quality of work of a handyman based on the year and condition of their work truck…
Having been “New York-centric” all my life, I’ve heard a version that goes like this:
“Don’t take financial advice from somebody who rides the subway to work every day”.
Love the truck. 64-66 “big back window” stepside…even like the white “wagon wheels”.
My good weather utility beater is a ’63 stepside shortbox, small back window. Can fix everything on it with a crescent wrench, hammer & strong fingers. It’s “undepreciating” every day.
Interesting.. learning something new everyday. Didn’t know you could steal copper pipes that way.
TV can be both educational and entertaining at the same time. A show where Jim just educates would be PBS-worthy. A show that follows Jim around with the mis-adventures AND having him give a spiel about RE could be both. There’s plenty of reality-type shows that are both entertaining and informative. I’ve learned a couple of DIY home improvement tips that way, for example. Ditto cooking. The trick is the balance. I suspect whoever contact Jim didn’t want to think about a balanced show, which might require some writers and thought, rather than some cameras and Jim’s mug, which would be a money-printing press.
As for the copper theft, strange that they would do the theft now, after months and right before sale. Also, I’ve never seen the roof pipes stolen before, but rather destructive drywall attacks. Any real damage inside, Jim?
I agree with doing his own show…however, the issue with JtR’s videos is that he, himself, is rarely in them. He’d need to have another guy recording Jim going through the homes from a 3rd person perspective.
It’s harder to entertain from a first person perspective. You need a little entertainment value to keep a huge fanbase going.