How We Handled a Storm Leak Mid-Sale in Burlingame | $3.7M Success Story
How We Handled a Major Storm Leak Mid-Sale in Burlingame (And Still Got $3.7M)
When water started pouring into a freshly renovated Burlingame home during a once-in-a-decade storm, most agents would have panicked. But we embrace challenges. Here’s a story about a remote seller, a 21-year family home, and a once-in-a-decade storm that could have derailed a successful sale, but didn't.
When Doug Benson decided to sell his Burlingame home after 21 years, he knew he wanted to do it right. He had noticed our listings during neighborhood walks over the years. When it came time to sell, he knew exactly who to call.
Strategic Pre-Sale Improvements: The $70,000 Investment
The home was already in good condition, but in Burlingame's competitive luxury real estate market, "good" isn't always enough. Working with our listing liaison, Emily, we coordinated comprehensive improvements designed to maximize sale price and appeal to discerning buyers.
Complete Interior and Exterior Transformation
Interior and Exterior Painting - $32,200
Complete interior paint refresh
Exterior painting and power washing
All trim, walls, and surfaces updated to a modern neutral palette
Hardwood Floor Refinishing - $10,038
Distinctive Floors refinished all hardwood throughout
Dining room floor repairs
Upstairs hallway refinishing
New baseboard installation
New Carpeting and Cleaning - $3,213
Bay Area Floors installed new carpet
Professional stair runner cleaning
Electrical Updates - $4,223
Converted all outlets and plates to white
New office outlet installation
Updated living room can lighting
Professional Home Staging - $8,600
Staging created a move-in ready presentation
Two-day staging process
Final Touches - $5,589
Home and window cleaning
Landscaping updates
Addressed home inspection items
Inspections and Certifications - $2,075
Pest and home inspection
Sewer lateral test (passed)
Additional Improvements - $4,114
New rear fence ($1,950)
Roof rafter repair ($800)
Door knobs, light fixtures, cabinet pulls, and bulbs ($1,364)
The total investment in pre-sale preparation was $70,000. The strategy was to create a move-in-ready home that would command top dollar in Burlingame's luxury market.
Then the Storm Hit
Just as finishing touches were being completed, a massive storm system, described as a once-in-a-decade weather event, hit. And it revealed a serious problem.
Water was getting into the house.
Midnight Crisis Management
Doug was already relocated to Colorado. It was nighttime. The newly refinished hardwood floors—a $10,000+ investment—were at immediate risk of water damage.
I found myself in the home with buckets and towels, working to protect the new renovations we'd just completed.
For most real estate agents, this would have been a deal-breaker. Disclose the leak, drop the price, and move on. But we took a different approach.
Why We Opened Up the Walls
The obvious assumption was roof damage. We quickly obtained four quotes from roofing contractors to replace the roof section above the affected area.
Rather than simply accepting the surface-level diagnosis, we decided to investigate further, even though it meant additional time and expense.
Failed Window Flashing, Not Roof Damage
By opening up the walls near the windows, the real culprit was revealed: failed window flashing. This wasn't a roof problem at all; it was a window waterproofing issue that required a completely different solution.
Window Work:
Complete window reflashing
Exterior stucco repair and replacement
Proper waterproofing to prevent future issues
City of Burlingame permit obtained
Cost: $14,600
Timeline impact: One month listing delay
Final Repairs:
Painters returned for stucco painting
Sheetrock repair from wall investigation
Crown molding work in the dining room
Cost: $1,700
The Difficult Decision: Delay the Sale or Disclose and Sell As-Is?
This presented a critical choice point. We could have:
Disclosed the leak and sold as-is - Likely resulting in lower offers and buyer concerns
Made quick cosmetic repairs - Fixed the visible damage without addressing the root cause
Delayed the listing to fix it properly - The most expensive and time-consuming option
We chose option three. We wanted to do right by the next family who would live in the home.
The listing was delayed one month. The problem was fixed correctly, not just cosmetically. Every repair was completed to the highest standard.
The Results: $3.7 Million Sale in One Week
When the home finally hit the market, it was absolutely move-in ready. Marketing manager Angilee crafted an MLS description that captured the home's essence—impressive enough that Doug, a professional writer himself, gave it high praise.
By the Numbers
40+ showings in the first few days
One weekend of open houses
Multiple offers received
Listed at: $3,495,000
Sold at: $3,700,000 (well above asking)
Time on market: One week from listing to accepted offer
Return on Investment
Doug estimates recouped more than twice what he invested in pre-sale improvements, compared to a neighboring Burlingame home that sold without similar updates.
Total improvements: ~$86,000 Additional value created: $205,000
Lessons for Burlingame and San Francisco Peninsula Home Sellers
This success story illustrates how you can sell your home for top dollar:
1. Strategic Improvements Pay Off
An $86,000 investment in strategic improvements created over $205,000 in additional value. But not all improvements are equal—working with experienced agents who understand the Burlingame market is critical to identifying which updates will generate ROI.
2. Solve Problems, Don't Just Disclose Them
When the storm revealed a water leak, the easy path would have been to disclose and reduce the price. Instead, investing in proper diagnosis and repair maintained the home's value and buyer confidence.
3. Remote Sales Require Exceptional Project Management
Doug was in Colorado while his Burlingame home was being prepared for sale. This required meticulous coordination of:
Multiple contractors across different trades
Timeline management for sequential work
Quality control without the owner present
Emergency response (storm leak)
Final staging, photography and marketing
4. The Right Team Makes the Difference
As Doug noted: "Selling a home is always a significant undertaking, and doing so in Burlingame, where expectations are high, can be especially intense. But Raziel's team handled so much of the heavy lifting."
Why This Matters for Your Home Sale
Could shortcuts have been taken? Absolutely.
Could the leak have been disclosed without repair? Yes.
But selling a family home—especially one with 21 years of memories in a premium Burlingame location—deserves the best.
Show up with buckets and towels during a midnight storm
Investigate until they find the real problem
Make recommendations based on long-term value, not short-term convenience
Delay a listing to do things properly
Treat your home with the same care you've given it
Ready to Sell Your Burlingame or San Francisco Peninsula Home?
If you're considering selling your home and want a team that will handle every challenge with the same dedication shown in Doug's sale, I’d love to talk to you.
What Doug Said: The Complete Testimonial
"Raziel and his excellent team--Emily, Anne, and Angilee--made the sale of my Burlingame home run incredibly smoothly. From start to finish, they exceeded my expectations. Raziel brought in top-notch contractors who delivered beautiful updates on time and on budget. The advice he, Emily, and their designer gave regarding improvements was spot-on. Trusting their expertise helped me achieve the final sale amount I had hoped for. In the end, I sold the home well above asking (thanks, Burlingame!) and landed precisely at the net price I had targeted based on the market conditions. Remarkably, it aligned closely with the projection I'd made back in 2003 when I bought the house and reviewed 50-year market trends.
My late wife and I had first noticed Raziel's name on many beautifully presented homes during neighborhood walks in Burlingame over the years, and we knew we had chosen the right person. Throughout the process, Raziel was kind, trustworthy, professional, and clear in all communications. The level of attention and care he gave to selling our family home of 21 years--where we raised our two sons--was truly exceptional.
I was blown away by the hands-on support throughout the sale. Raziel and Emily were present at the house many times before and after I moved out, including coordinating a major window leak repair after I had already relocated out of state. During a once-in-a-decade storm, Raziel was on the phone with me at night while working with a contractor to protect the newly refinished floors. His commitment was simply incredible.
We made significant updates to a home that was already in good condition, and the final result was absolutely stunning. I was initially nervous about the cost, but based on a neighboring sale that hadn't undergone similar improvements, I'm confident that I recouped well over twice what I invested. The buyers received a move-in-ready home that I was proud to pass on--and the design choices have even inspired the plans for my new home in Colorado.
Selling a home is always a significant undertaking, and doing so in Burlingame, where expectations are high, can be especially intense. But Raziel's team handled so much of the heavy lifting. Anne even digitized decades of documentation to provide a comprehensive history for the new owners. I've never worked so hard on a seller's disclosure--or seen one done so well--and I'm grateful that Raziel encouraged me to be thorough. Between that and the high-quality inspections, the sale went through in record time and without complications.
Angilee's MLS write-up was excellent--I'm a writer myself and was thoroughly impressed with the quality. Her words, combined with the photographer's stunning visuals, captured the home beautifully.
The results were remarkable: over 40 visits in just a few days, one weekend of open houses, multiple offers, and a sale at my net target--all within a week of listing.
I couldn't be more grateful to Raziel and his entire team. Their care, professionalism, and results were beyond what I could have imagined. Highly, highly recommended."
— Doug Benson, Burlingame Home Seller
This article is copyrighted by Raziel Ungar and may not be reproduced or copied without express written permission.
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