Jim Klinge
Klinge Realty Group
Are you looking for an experienced agent to help you buy or sell a home?
Contact Jim the Realtor!
CA DRE #01527365, CA DRE #00873197
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!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We first found Jim through his blog at bubbleinfo.com, which really showcased his knowledge of SoCal real estate. Since then we've done three transactions with Jim and Donna, and they are an incredible full service agency, with Jim's deep market insight and Donna's deft contract and project management. We trust them implicitly in their analysis and strategy, which is based on years of experience. They're always available and on top of things, and we strongly recommend them to anyone.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The Good The Klinge Realty Group operates like a finely tuned machine, with a very personal touch. We contacted them on a Sunday and they were talking to us about our family and our needs on our living room couch the following day. They carefully listened to us and worked with us to identify the best and quickest path to listing within 2 weeks to take advantage of the low inventory conditions in our South Carlsbad neighborhood. They knew our tract specifically and had many previous sales there over the years - they came prepared with a thorough analysis of comparative sales and recommended a pricing strategy that they felt confident would yield offers the first weekend on the market. The Great Over the next two weeks Donna coordinated a range of vendors who she knew from experience could get the preparation to list work we needed done on time and with high quality. Our light tune-up involved excellent experiences with their stagers, landscapers, contractors, electricians, and plumbers. Throughout this period Donna's daily communication was clear, concise, and responsive. Any time we had questions Donna picked up the phone or texted immediately - but almost always, she answered our questions before we even knew we had them. The Outstanding We had a tricky situation with a shared fence that could have delayed our escrow. Donna used superb mediation skills to negotiate the terms of replacement and was personally on site with the fence contractor to make sure everything went smoothly. The fence looks great and escrow closed on time. The Truly Exceptional Our house came on the market on a Wednesday and between then and Monday morning Jim was personally at all three open houses. He was in constant communication explaining potential buyer reaction and strength. As he predicted offers began to come in on Saturday and each one was incrementally higher than the last. At the end we had 5 offers, 4 of which were over list, and the final accepted offer was $100,000 over list. In addition to being over list it included rent back terms that met our needs. The Recommendation For all of these reasons we would strongly recommend The Klinge Team to anyone wanting to sell in North County Coastal San Diego. I had been reading Jim's bubbleinfo.com blog for 15 years and knew when the time came to sell that he would be our first call. Jim Klinge is not your standard realtor. He is keenly aware of market conditions and sales strategies. And, works his tail off - though not as hard as Donna . At this point he's gone from realtor to friend and I plan to have him over to grill and chill at our new place to talk real estate, but also just about life and raising kids in San Diego. He's more interested in relationships than his sales numbers - and that's why his sales numbers are so high. We have already recommended the Klinge's to some close friends and another successful sale is on deck right around the corner...Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We recently had the pleasure of working with Jim and Donna from Klinge Realty Group to sell our house, and we couldn't be more satisfied with the experience. From the initial meeting, they listened attentively to our needs and provided invaluable guidance on specific improvements to get our home market ready. Their responsiveness throughout the entire process was truly impressive. Anytime we had questions or concerns, they were quick to address them, ensuring we felt comfortable and informed every step of the way. What stood out the most was their team and extensive network of tradespeople, which made addressing any necessary repairs or updates seamless and stress-free. Thanks to their expertise and dedication, our house sold quickly and at a great price. We highly recommend Jim and Donna to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. They are a fantastic team who truly care about their clients and deliver exceptional results.Load more
Very nice! Admittedly, MCM is really not my style, but Tom did an excellent job and the home looks pretty darn cool. With all the work done inside and out; the central location close to everything; an up and coming neighborhood, this one will not last. Nice job, Tom and great listing, Jim.
This Jim guy is crazy. First he had me wet down the driveway with the water hose, then he makes me back my truck in the garage with the headlights on for the picture. Rancho Photos doesn’t have nuthin’ on JtR! Thanks for the comments Petra!
LOL
We should do open house at night?
hah, the ‘night shots’ were classic!
Nice job, Tom
I love this house. I remember the post of the original, I knew it would turn out nice. Beautiful!
Beautiful work, Tom! Place looks so sharp it can’t help but move quickly.
p.s.: Love the night shots, Jim!!!
Just wow…amazing work! Anybody want to guess how much over list this goes for?
Beautiful work, Tom. Here’s to a quick sale over list for you so you can get started on your next project. 🙂
I remember the original walkthrough, you have such a great vision and ability to bring it through to completion. The house is just stunning and the evening views show your choices off even better than the daytime views. You should definitely hold an open house in the early evening hours.
Nice call on the late addition of accent color for the fireplace, it pops now.
Now that is a showpiece.
nice crib and nice work tom.
http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Diego/4841-Sparks-Ave-92110/home/5219402
Thanks you guys, it was nice to break out of the historic and Craftsman style for a second. After doing this, I think my ideal design style will be a mix of modern and Craftsman. Cant wait to build exactly that in South park next!
I know I’m old when a house-vintage from my Wonder Years is now considered a classic!
What a gorgeous job.
Another well-executed renovation by Tom! Good luck with the sale.
Thanks to both of you. This was a wonderful ride to watch this restoration.
I do have a question….I think I will direct it towards Jim. The question is
regarding the price..How did you settle on the list price? I was taking a look
at some what recent sales and stumbled on 4865 Sparks (8-16-2010.)
Sold for $705,000…..Take a look at the pics for that property. Now take
a look at Toms work. In my humble opinion there is no comparison.
Tom’s work is stunning. Is the price difference because of the view or lot
placement?
Ruby
That other Sparks house has a bay view vs. a playground view for this one. Even so, I’ll bet this place might get $100k over list.
NIce house… nice ceiling and kitchen.
It is not one of those Foam-Taco-Stucco mediterranean house.
That 705 sale 2 doors down not only has killer view and big lot with no school but also market timing on its side. Remember summer 2010 there was a mini sellers market. Everyone mis called the bottom and were jumping in.
What’s up with the property lines in the Redfin listing? Do you get part of the basketball court?
Noticed that too… maybe out of date lot lines? Used to be a bigger lot, but some of it was taken for the school? Strange.
Tom,
This is really a beautiful house. I may have to come down to see it in person.
One stupid question… In the bathroom shot (pic 9 on redfin), it looks like the sink’s placement makes it difficult to stand at the sink without having one foot in the toilet. Is that an optical illusion, or is the layout strange?
BTW, I have looked at garage doors like that before, and they seemed priced out of my league (I had several people quote me out and the cheapest was about 5K in Orange County). Can you please pass on info about who did it and approx. price? Sorry, may be tacky to ask, but I have to know.
Chuck
At least 4 offers by Tuesday…
Thanks Boys I get that…..The point I was trying to draw out from Jim (due to
his superior knowledge and expertise) is how much of the list price , in the
current market conditions, is weighted toward the actual renovation…and how much goes toward the lot placement and view. I know you had a post
regarding the premium one pays, or is willing to pay under these present market conditions. But that post dealt with properties on the coast. This property is not on the coast…but Tom did a very good job on the restoration and I feel that should carry value as well. Thanks for your input.
Ruby
Looks great!
By the way, Zillow has the before pictures displayed.
I think this place is priced right for what it is. You can find dated properties in this neck of the woods that are similar size for $450-500K. If it had a second story that produced a view (I don’t know if that option is available from this particular location) and put it near 3000 SF it might go for close to million. Bay park is kind of weird that way. There’s really nice remodeled bomber properties in the midst of 1950’s 800 SF shacks.
This junker showed up today as well. http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Diego/1368-Gertrude-St-92110/home/5236378 Location isn’t quite as nice but if you got the hundred grand to put into it maybe it works. A move in ready property should carry a premium though.
Great work TT, I wish you and Jim the best in the sale. Great photography as well! Next time, though, try to wet down the whole driveway. 🙂
Thanks kwaping. I spent so much on the rehab that’s all the water I could afford. Garage door 3500. Special deal from a friend tho sorry.
Overlist I’m sure it will sell. Great job Tom, we fancy your craftmanship.
Hat’s off to you and your ilk.
Jim you really knocked yourself out on these photos. I’m so stoked, I want to get high res images for my site. My Polaroid is just not even coming close to what you did for me! Thanks for the great marketing help!
re: property lines. There is an easement that was granted to the school when the subdivision was built. The property line is in 3 point range but you wont be shooting any hoops because there’s a lock on the gate!
Cut the lock and put your own lock on the gate.
Tom, I had been following your blog and on linkedin updates all the way. What a SUPERB job!
I am not a MCM fan, but the detail and updates you do are so tastefully done.
We need more guys like you that have an eye for passion on taking homes like this and making them new again.
Good luck!
Very nice Tom! Beautiful home top to bottom. I LOVE how you put so much thought into maintaining the original style.
It reminded me of this remodeled home (with a green twist!):
http://www.puregreenmag.com/pure-green-blog/carmel-leed-home
Big Jim, did you tell everyone we were giving away lottery tickets over here. Neighbor is setting up a lemonade stand.
Awesome work! Wish I was in town last week to come by and see it.