Okay no more horsin’ around
If you are in the market to buy a home and you haven’t met with a lender you are doing this all wrong.
Agents won’t show you homes and sellers won’t take you seriously.
Remember, you don’t have to do this alone.
Get a lender recommendation from a real estate agent you trust and make your first step towards homeownership.
But Zillow says my house is worth a gazillion dollars!
Okay, I’m exaggerating, kind of.
Zillow uses sales data to come up with your “Zestimate” but what they can’t factor in are things like the view, traffic noise, intimate community knowledge, changes in the local work force like a company leaving town or coming to town.
In other words the “Zestimate” is a 50,000 foot view of your homes value.
Having your local agent help you price your home is like looking under a microscope at the value of your home.
Don’t leave these things to chance. Now is not the time to be inaccurate about pricing. Correct pricing is going to dictate whether your home sits on the market or gets multiple-over asking offers.
Okay I have to brag a little here.
We were playing Trivial Pursuit the other day and I got this questions. Mind you I have not read this book since my sophomore year of high school.
But there it was - the name came to me just like that! And for an old lady like me, that is impressive.
Do you have custom home taste on a Tuff Shed budget?
Well you aren’t alone and here are a couple helpful tips to overcome this pesky situation.
Homeownership is a stepping stone process. With each home purchase you will likely be getting more of what you want. Consider readjusting your expectations and recognize you might not yet own your dream home.
Lots can be done with cosmetic repairs. That run down home down in your neighborhood might not yet look like a gem but with some elbow grease and money you can turn out a diamond in the rough.
Be strategic about buying by watching the market with a trusted real estate agent. Is the market rapidly accelerating? Purchasing a smaller home or condo in a rising market and then quickly selling while the market is still rising can produce quick equity that can allow you to leap frog to your next home sooner than later.
The advice of a trusted and knowledgeable real estate agent is important to maximize these strategies. Reach out with questions.
Do you have one of these bad boys installed in your home?
If you don’t, I BEG you to go to the hardware store TODAY and pick one (or two, or three) up.
As a guideline, Colorado law requires carbon monoxide detectors be installed within 15 feet of all bedrooms upon the transfer of property. But even if you are not selling your home it’s imperative that you are protected.
Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and tasteless. It steals oxygen from your red blood cells and can steal the life right out of you. You essentially drown without getting wet.
The weather is getting colder and folks are turning on their gas powered heating, so please don’t take a chance.
This is serious stuff. If you read just one of my posts all year, this is the one I want you to really take to heart.
With gratitude.
Serenity Now.
Let’s face it, buying a home can be stressful. There’s a lot going on in a short amount of time and big decisions are being made.
But here’s one decision that should be easy - getting a professional home inspection.
Buyers ask me all the time if they should get an inspection and I always answer with a resounding YES!
However, I know that some buyers are capable of doing their own inspections and some want to save a little money and not hire the professional.
I can understand both of these sentiments.
However, if you think of a home inspection like to do insurance, you will see the value. If you could insure a $300,000 house for $600 would you do it? Of course!
A home inspection is your “try before you buy” insurance.
Bring some peace to your home buying experience and go with the professional home inspection.
Whaaaaa!!!
LENDER REQUIRED REPAIRS!
These three words are NOT what you want to hear when you are buying or selling a home.
So what does this mean you might ask?
Lender required repairs are repairs that must be completed in order for the buyer to get approval for their loan.
It doesn’t matter if the buyer (or seller) care about or want these repairs, they are imposed by the lender.
Common lender required repairs are; peeling paint, broken windows, missing hand rails or anything that falls under health and safety.
As a homeowner what can you do to avoid this situation?
Ask your agent for a do-it-yourself checklist for home inspection preparation. While this is for preparing for a home inspection, it will cover most anything that a lender would be concerned about as well.
A very wise man once told me...
You can’t be mad and skip at the same time.
Guess what?
It’s 100% accurate.
Go ahead give it a try. Next time you are really hot under the collar just start skipping.
I guarantee you not only won’t be mad anymore, you probably will not be able to contain your laughter.
There’s something so wonderfully endearing in these words penned by my child.
I love the irony, innocence and determination of this sweet message she wrote to herself.
I love that she has the know-how and desire to encourage herself.
I hope that’s something I might’ve taught her along the way.
What’s your “One Thing”?
Okay, a little background here. By “One Thing” I mean the thing you get up for in the morning and go to work.
The thing that drives you.
The thing that is always front and center.
The thing that you don’t make compromises for.
I dug deep a few years ago to figure out my “One Thing”. Specifically the One Thing that drove my ambition and drive at work.
On the surface it was providing for my family and helping my clients with their real estate goals and dreams.
But I knew there had to be something else, something deeper. So I took an even deeper dive, and finally found what motivated my One Thing.
It’s very personal and raw, but it was so worth the personal journey to discover this about myself. So I would encourage you to take some time with this question. It only took me 14 years in the business to figure out!
With gratitude.
OMMMMMM.
What do you do to relax?
To get to your “Calgon Take Me Away” place?
Your zen moment?
So I am no master but deep breathing always helps up front and then I do some helpful “self talk”.
I have also found that meditation apps such as Headspace and Abide are excellent for those (like me) that have trouble shutting up the noise that floats between my two ears.
How about you?
Real estate is actually quite simple.
A home is worth what a buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to sell for. Of course there are other factors in play but at the end of that day that is the matrix.
And therefore, the market itself dictates the pace and value of property. As we move into a more balance market this is becoming more and more apparent.
And what history tells us over time is that real estate is one of the safest and most profitable investments.
Do you want to know more about buying or selling? Reach out to me with your questions, I am here to help!
Being a “local” has become a somewhat territorial statement.
“I’m a local so I know better, have priority or get to complain about all the non-locals”.
This is kinda BS in my opinion, after all we are all “locals” of planet earth At least I think so
But there is a situation where being a local is super important.
Your real estate agent.
I often have clients ask me to help them buy or sell in other areas such as Denver or Grand Junction. And while my real estate license is good for the entire state of Colorado, I don’t feel I am providing the best service possible by helping buyers and sellers in areas I don’t know.
If you are not a local you might not know about the large employer that’s about to relocate, or the proposed airport expansion or areas notorious for bad water or shifting soils.
It is so flattering that my clients want to “take me with them” to their new area. And while I cannot be their boots on the ground agent, I’m more than happy to interview agents in other areas and find a great fit - a local who knows their community and can look out for your best interests.
My network of excellent agents is literally worldwide! So if you need any agent in another area, please let me know. It would be my pleasure to assist you.
The 5 costliest mistakes to avoid when selling your home (watch out for #3).
Not approving showings. Lets face it - selling your home can be an inconvenience and inconvenient showings come with the territory.
Skipping the cleaning and decluttering. You are used to all your “stuff” but to a buyer a dirty and cluttered home is a major distraction. Clean and cleared surfaces are attractive and give buyers confidence about the quality and value of your home.
Overpricing the market. You hired your agent for their professional guidance. If they tell you your home is worth $400,000 don’t insist on listing if for $500,000. That unicorn buyer (the one that will overpay for your home) is not out there.
Skipping major repairs and offering a “credit” instead. Carpet credits or painting credits don’t really work. As a rule of thumb if a repair or replacement costs you $1000 the buyer will want $1500 as a credit. Put your best foot forward and you will be rewarded with top dollar for your home.
Not listening to the market. If your feedback is consistently the same: price is too high, buyers don’t like the shag carpet or cigarette smell is a turn off. Listen! These are your customers and not adjusting to their feedback is a mistake.
Things that should raise your eyebrows as a home buyer.
Lots of deferred maintenance. Is the paint peelingRickey railingsStrange smells in the basementMake sure to get a thorough home inspection so you know exactly what you are in for.
The home is currently being used as a second home. There is nothing inherently wrong with a second home, however, second homes can have issues that arise only once they become a primary residence. Septic issues in particular tend to crop up once someone spends more than one weekend a month in a home.
Rental properties. If a home has been in a rental pool for years be on the lookout for major issues. Think rental cars - people don’t drive rentals like their own cars. The same can be true for rental homes.
I am done pretending that I can change your mind with the memes I post - not that I ever really tried.
It’s sad - we are so divided.
Whether its abortion, guns, government spending, gas prices, climate change, etc we just don’t see eye to eye.
But here’s the thing - you are entitled to see the world the way you want and no amount of cajoling, whining, pleading, reasoning or screaming on my part is going to change your mind.
AND THAT IS OKAY!
I think we need to let go of the idea that we need others to think the way we do. The experiences that shaped you and your world view are not part of my story.
And we need to stop villainizing each other for our different world views.
Just stop. Please.
I saw a great quote the other day, here goes. “The loudest voices rarely represent the majority. They’re usually speaking for the extremes. You won’t understand the views of a group until you’ve invited the quieter voices into the discussion. Don’t mistake silence for disengagement it’s often a sign of deep reflection..
With gratitude.
The other day I heard a cowboy say “There’s an art to turning your hat into the wind”.
And like any true cowboy his statement includes practical and enlightened advice.
No cowboy wants to loose his hat while horseback and so one learns the right angle to keep said hat upon said head..
But I think there’s something else to it.
As far as we humans have advanced and figured out how to control so many things, we still have no way to stop the wind. It’s truly an unstoppable force of nature.
So when life’s got you headlong into a stiff wind, turn your hat just so and let it pass.
Remember, the wind can’t blow forever. (Wyoming might be the exception)
And as the incomparable Henry Ford said; “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”
With gratitude.
Low to no inventory.
Yep, that is the current state of affairs in the real estate market. We have way more buyers than we do houses.
So what are buyers looking for?
Well anything at this point because they can’t be picky, but here are the most common things I hear:
At least 3 bedroom
Under $500K
Something that doesn’t need a ton of work
Master bedroom
Second living room
If you are curious about selling and what your home might be worth please reach out. I will listen to your needs and goals and give you sound advice.
I was about 12 years old and needed a new pair of boots. My mom was busy so my dad took me shopping.
Now I know some of you dads out there might be good at shopping with your pre-teen daughters. My dad on the other hand embraced the mentality of “what’s the quickest and cheapest” method.
Next thing I know we are pulling up in front of a large discount retailer. We quickly cruised over to the shoe aisle and before I knew it I was walking out the door with a cute but inadequate pair of boots.
Week one went great, lots of compliments and comfort was decent.
By week two the fake leather was peeling off and I had blisters on both heels.
Lesson learned - You get what you pay for!
Somethings in life do not benefit from cutting corners on time or money.
Same thing goes for real estate agents. Are there agents out there that will sell your home for a discount? Sure there are, you’ve probably seen the commercials on TV.
But...you get what you pay for. This is likely your most valuable asset, not a time to cut corners and go with the cheapest option. Time to go with the BEST option whatever that might be.
Remember cheap boots make for miserable feet!
***Side note - these are not said boots. They didn’t last long enough for a photo op!
