NOOZHAWK: What is your experience and education?
CARA GAMBERDELLA: I have been a Realtor in Santa Barbara and with Village Properties since 2006. Prior to that, I was an English teacher at San Marcos High School from 1997-2006. My earlier career experiences included working in public relations and marketing in professional and Division 1 collegiate athletics. I hold a degree in Journalism from the University of Southern California (BA, 1994) and earned my California Single-Subject Teaching Credential and graduate coursework in Literature from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (1997). I am an alumna of local schools – Vieja Valley Elementary, La Colina Junior High & San Marcos High School.
NOOZHAWK: Is this your full-time job?
CG: I am dedicated full-time to my services as a Realtor and to my clients, my colleagues and my community. This career does not follow most 9-5 job descriptions, and it is essential to my clients that I am available when they have time, outside of their work day, to focus on their home purchase or sale and that I am on top of the market, inventory and opportunities.
NOOZHAWK: What is the price range of most of the homes you have sold?
CG: I work in all price ranges throughout the South Coast with the majority of my business in the $1M to $5M range. Regardless of the price point, all of my clients receive the same concierge-level service and professionalism. Any home or property purchase is a significant endeavor requiring the same attention to detail at all price points.
NOOZHAWK: How many homes did you sell last year?
CG: I generally close 1-2 sales per month, but that can vary with the market. In 2022 I had 14 sales, and that can range from 12-24 or so in any given year.
NOOZHAWK: Which neighborhoods do you primarily work in?
CG: I enjoy representing buyers and sellers in all of the varied neighborhoods and market niches in our lovely community from Carpinteria to Goleta. I like to say that I don’t have a specific “neighborhood” but that “I work with good people”…and those “good people” have a variety of properties all over the South Coast. I am proud to represent clients in buying and selling primary residences, investment homes and multi-unit properties across broad price ranges throughout our area.
NOOZHAWK: How long does it take to sell a house in the neighborhoods you specialize in?
CG: This is very much market-dependent and, in some cases, property-dependent. In the frenzied market of 2020-21, we consistently saw properties selling in one to two weeks and sometimes less. In a more balanced or a buyer’s market, it may take 30-90 days. Discussing these expectations with a seller and strategizing pricing and preparation based on the market is an integral part of advising my clients through the listing process.
NOOZHAWK: On average, how close to the asking price is the final sale price on homes you have sold?
CG: Over the last two years, I am happy to say that my listings have sold on average 8% above the list price. A valuable skill I bring to my clients is strategic pricing for the current market velocity, demand and climate. I share recently closed comparable properties, overall market statistics and insight to current buyer behavior. While list-to-sold price ratio is market-dependent, it is also a function of thoughtful market preparation, property presentation and strategic pricing as an integral part of the overall marketing plan.
In representing buyers, I utilize market knowledge and keen negotiation strategies to get them the best price and terms in the context of the current market. Over the second half of 2022, buyers I represented closed their new homes on average 6% below the list price. By identifying properties that work for a buyer but may not have the attention of others, it is possible to negotiate in this still-brisk market.
NOOZHAWK: How do you market your client’s homes?
CG: Every property is unique, and my marketing strategies and process are always tailored specifically to a client’s home. Sellers enjoy full spectrum marketing in an artful combination of visual, digital and written materials fused with old-fashioned networking, exposure and thorough follow-up. The first step in marketing a client’s home always includes my consultation and recommendations on preparation and presentation for the market – all prioritized for the client’s budget and the most return on the dollar.
Once the home is ready for showtime, I coordinate all of the photography, videography and virtual tours. With those assets we tailor a specific plan for print placement and promotion, digital and internet exposure and the open house and showing schedule. At Village Properties, our listings are exposed nationally and internationally through our affiliations with Forbes Global Properties, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and Luxury Portfolio. They are also placed with our London office at Mayfair International Realty.
NOOZHAWK: Do you work on your own or as part of a team?
CG: I work as an individual Realtor; clients who hire me will always get my expertise and my experience. I also have a support team including an assistant, a transaction coordinator dedicated to my active escrows, Village Properties’ full-service team of marketing professionals and a strong brokerage management group.
NOOZHAWK: How do you keep your clients informed about your progress?
CG: Thorough and transparent communication is a cornerstone of my business. I am sure to keep clients updated throughout the entire process – by phone, in-person meeting, text or email, as appropriate. It starts with asking the client what communication channels they prefer and then keeping them up to speed. I know that buyers and sellers have their own full-time jobs during the transaction. It is my goal to take as much of the daily work off their plate while keeping them intimately informed as to what is happening with their home or their purchase.
NOOZHAWK: Can you recommend service providers who can help your clients obtain a mortgage, make home repairs, etc?
CG: Absolutely! Santa Barbara has been my home for over 45 years, and I draw from decades of relationships with local professionals and local businesses to help my clients during the selling and buying process and as they settle into their home and our community. I keep and consistently update my Vendor List that includes everything from Appraisers to Dog Sitters and Lenders to Home Inspectors. If clients, friends or family need anything – whether it is related to their home or to any part of connecting to our community – I have excellent references for them.
NOOZHAWK: Do you show properties from other companies’ listings?
CG: Of course! As a member of our local Santa Barbara Multiple Listing Service and Board of Realtors, I have access to all of the active properties in our market. Additionally, I have spent my career developing and fostering collaborative and respected professional relationships with Realtors in and outside of Village Properties. These relationships allow me to network on behalf of my clients in showing properties as well as in negotiating for them.
NOOZHAWK: What distinguishes you from other real estate agents?
CG: I fuse a client-centered business philosophy, innovative and dynamic marketing and a life-long knowledge of the Santa Barbara lifestyle with a relentless work ethic and excellence in professional skills. I strive to be an invaluable asset in marketing, negotiating and advocating on behalf of my clients. Combining over 45 years as a Santa Barbara local with intimate knowledge of the South Coast’s unique neighborhood niches, home values and market trends, I provide an unmatched resource for clients to be informed, supported and successful in buying or selling a home or investment property.
NOOZHAWK: What is your negotiating style and how does it differ from others?
CG: Negotiations are ultimately about listening to all parties and understanding needs, goals and motivations. Negotiations can be collaborative, and one side does not have to “lose” for the other to “win.” That being said, I use my experience, market knowledge and any situational understanding to help my client – buyer or seller – get the best deal on the table.
NOOZHAWK: Do you have your own personal Real Estate website for marketing homes?
CG: My website – caragamberdella.com – is a place for buyers or sellers to learn more about me, the properties I market and the resources available to them in working with Village Properties and me.
NOOZHAWK: Do you use social media marketing in your business such as Google Plus, Facebook, and X to reach out to other Realtors and potential clients?
CG: I have a robust social media presence with business pages on both Instagram and Facebook with over 1,200 followers between them. I use these channels to promote listings, recent sales, market updates and general information about the Santa Barbara lifestyle. Additionally, I have an email sphere of over 500 contacts who receive regular updates about my listings, the current market and our local community.
NOOZHAWK: Do you use videos and virtual tours to market your client’s homes?
CG: Yes. I have a wonderful team of photographers, videographers and virtual tour specialists who help tell the property’s story and how it feels and lives as buyers are exploring on-line or after a visit.
NOOZHAWK: Do you provide references to your clients?
CG: Of course. I have a healthy list of past clients who are happy to share their experience in working with me and the services of Village Properties.
NOOZHAWK: What do you suggest sellers do to get their house ready to put on the market?
CG: While each home is unique, my recommendations for market preparation always start with a tour of the property, assessment of the needs and the client’s budget. Most homes may need some level of staging – whether it is decluttering and accessorizing the seller’s furniture and décor, or a full staging of a vacant home. Other preparation activities may include updates like paint and/or flooring, repairs of items that may hinder the sale of the home, landscape tune-up and/or a curb appeal refresh.
I work with the seller and my trusted vendors to procure estimates for any recommended work, and then prioritize with the seller where they may get the best return on their dollar and stay within their budget. It is part of my service to manage and schedule any pre-market work, so the sellers can concentrate on their own work and responsibilities. In working with Village Properties and me, sellers also have access to our VP Assist program where we can have staging, high-impact cosmetic renovations and/or repairs designed to maximize your home’s values with no out-of-pocket or up-front fees. All costs are deferred until closing or a negotiated term.
NOOZHAWK: How do you arrive at the listing price?
CG: I am a firm believer that the listing price is an integral part of the overall marketing strategy. The only person who can definitively tell the seller what their home is worth is the buyer who writes an offer and closes the transaction. However, as the seller’s advisor, I use my knowledge of recently closed comparable sales, active inventory that may be “competition,” current market climate and forces and overall buyer sentiment and activity to give an informed opinion about the best pricing strategy.
Additionally, on properties that are uniquely challenging to price, I will invite agents who are active in the neighborhood, property type and/or price range for a preview and their price opinion; sometimes many heads are better than one. The goal is to pinpoint the list price that will get the best exposure and generate high interest. Ultimately, the list price is the seller’s decision, but it is my role to educate and provide guidance.
Cara Gamberdella
Visit website
805.680.3826
cara@villagesite.com
License #01766267
“Combining over 45 years as a Santa Barbara local with intimate knowledge of the South Coast’s unique neighborhood niches, home values and market trends, I provide an unmatched resource for clients to be informed, supported and successful in buying or selling a home or investment property.”