If you are thinking about buying a home these are some of the expenses you should plan for.
Some of these are fairly fixed and some vary based on purchase price and other factors.
Here’s a quick run down for you:
Home inspection $400 - $1000 (optional) Appraisal $600 - $1200 (mandatory)
Title fees $400 - $600 (mandatory)
Survey $500 - $700 (optional)
Reach out with questions.
A few years ago the founder and leader of Keller Williams Realty, Gary Keller, gave a speech to agents from all over the country.
And he said this profound thing (I’m paraphrasing) - During pandemic and into 2021, we were in a service first, skills second market - a heart up and head down market. Now we are in a skills first, service second market - a head up heart down market.
So what does this mean?
It means that the skill of your agent is paramount.
It means their experience is the difference between you selling quickly for top dollar or languishing away on the market with little to no showings or offers.
It means their marketing tools are helping you stand out in a landscape that is becoming more and more crowded.
It means their relationship with other agents can make or break a deal.
Lets be honest - it didn’t take much skill to help buyers and sellers with their home purchase post pandemic. Now is a different story and the agent you pick to represent you could make all the difference.
LET’S TALK ABOUT POOP!
Did I get your attention?
Many of the homes in our area are on septic systems. This means the waste from the drains and toilets in the home travel to a tank.
The septic system is a crucial element of the home and not one that people like to think about.
Let’s be real, if it's working you kinda forget it's there. When it's not working, you’re faced with a very crappy situation! If you catch my drift.
I could have fun with puns all day with this topic!
In this video I’ll discuss the importance of getting a septic inspection when purchasing a new home.
No use crying over spilled milk.
Easier said than done! Right?
Since the advent of “rewind” on live TV, sometimes I find my brain is tricked into thinking that all things can be rewound.
A word said in anger - rewind.
A moment of distracted driving - rewind.
A missed opportunity to have a hard or meaningful conversation - rewind.
A fleeting goodbye that was a last - rewind.
The mysteries of life are many. And we all have to live with the decisions we make, the ones that make no difference and the ones that do.
But I do know one thing - that living in the past and lamenting the mistakes we’ve made is no way to live.
At some point you have to choose to forgive. And it might be YOU that needs to forgive YOU.
“The greatest adventure is what lies ahead. Today and tomorrow are yet to be said. The chances, the changes are all yours to make. The mold of your life is in your hands to break.” J.R.R. Tolkien
With gratitude.
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.
If you are not doing THIS as a home seller, you are missing out BIG time. And this is not some secret formula or magic bullet.
It’s cleaning and decluttering.
Simple and cheap. But not very much fun. I get it - deep cleaning is not glamorous but it is sooooo important.
When you clean and declutter buyers can literally start to envision themselves in your home.
When your stuff is junking up a space they shut down. I even have buyers that refuse to see homes that seem dirty or cluttered just from the photos!!
In a market like this, with limited inventory, that is a huge statement about the importance of a clean-show ready home.
Just because we have a lack of inventory doesn’t mean you get to skip the key components for readying your home for sale.
Putting your best foot forward still matters and will be a direct result of a quick sale.
Take time to declutter. You are moving anyway so take this time to pack up the items you will not be using or needing in the next couple of months. Clear and clean surfaces matter to buyers.
Deep cleaning. No one likes to clean baseboards but now is the time. An unclean house is distracting to buyers and they notice everything.
Touch up painting or repainting. Getting rid of scuff marks and dirty walls is a quick and easy way to give your home a nice clean look.
Repairs. You know the ones you said you would do when you moved in The loose railing, the missing screen, the broken window pane, now is the time to get those small but important repairs done.
Biting off more than you can chew.
Just because you are approved for a loan for $500,000 doesn’t mean that you should spend that much.
Let’s walk through this together.
You’ve finally got the home of your dreams, but you had to max out your budget to get it. What might you have to give up to have that home?
vacations
savings
college funds
retirement
fun family experiences
These all might be on the chopping block... and before you know it you might find yourself in financial bondage.
This house, the one you are in, or the one you are buying is likely NOT your forever home.
Homeownership is a process of stepping stones, each time you get more of what you desire. So hold off on maxing out your home budget and remember all the other financial goals you have.
I was called a “real estater” the other day.
Not Realtor, not real estate agent, a real estater.
And it reminded me that there are still so many people who don’t fully understand what I do. I mean lots of people think all I do is open doors and go out to lunch with my clients!
Whether I am working with a buyer or seller my hope is that I am brining years of experience and connections to the table.
Recommending pre-listing repairs for the biggest bang for your buck.
Connecting you with experts in their fields for pre-purchase inspections.
Coordinating with the title company to resolve unreleased liens.
Brainstorming with the lender when we have an issue on the appraisal.
Inside knowledge on things like well depth/quality or feisty HOA’s.
Negotiating on your behalf when inspections items come up.
Accurate pricing for the maximum return on investment in the shortest amount of time.
Getting you the winning offer when you are competing against many other buyers.
And sometimes being a shoulder to cry on, real estate can put you through the ringer.
With gratitude.
I really love my job. I know lots of people feel that way but for me there are so many gratifying aspects of real estate.
And testimonials like this are what keep me coming back on the hard days.
If we have worked together in the past just know that I value our relationship and your trust in me. I am forever grateful.
With gratitude.
I don’t get this question very often, but when markets shift, it can catch sellers off guard — especially after several years of an incredibly strong seller’s market.
So when someone asks me, “Carrie, why isn’t my house selling?”
I know it’s coming from a place of confusion, frustration and a whole lot of emotion.
Here’s the truth, said with care:
Sometimes a home doesn’t sell because the price was built around what you need, what you spent or what you’re hoping to walk away with… instead of what today’s market is actually willing to pay.
And that doesn’t mean you misjudged anything.
It just means the ground has shifted under all of us, and part of my job is to help translate what the market is saying without letting it feel personal.
Your home has value — real value — but buyers determine that number, not our attachment or our plans for the next chapter.
So let’s look at the data together. Let’s adjust where needed, refine the strategy and position your home where it can truly be seen and chosen.
You deserve the truth wrapped in kindness, and that’s exactly what I’m here to give.
With gratitude.
Don’t you sometimes wish life was like a book?
That you could page forward to see what happens or skip the really boring (or hard) parts?
Aren’t there times you desperately want to know what’s next?
But life isn’t like that. We live it page by page, moment by moment. There is no speeding it up or slowing it down.
It’s like an audio book set to the speed of life with no rewind or fast forward.
And I believe our story is mostly written, crafted and designed by the great Creator. And in that, He also has gifted us free will so that we can choose to be our best selves. So we can take time to be present. So we can try not to rush or slow the passage of time.
And He gave us these amazing minds full of creativity and love so that you and I can discuss a topic like this with insight and intrigue.
Oh life, you are so amazingly complex, wonderful, beautiful, mundane, joyous and hard all at the same time.
But I wouldn’t trade one page, one word or one letter of this book of life.
With gratitude.
Sellers, I’m sorry to say the days of multiple offers in the first 5 minutes of going on the market are coming to an end, maybe just for now or maybe for good.
We normally experience a market slow down this time of year so some of this is to be expected.
We might have also reached the end of the real estate market frenzy. Here’s three reasons this is a good thing:
If you are a buyer, you have a better chance of getting a house.
If you are seller who needs to buy a new home after you sell your current home there is more inventory for you to choose from.
Things have chilled out a bit leaving buyers and sellers feeling much less stressed.
First offer is your best offer.
This is a phrase we hear in real estate and what I have found over 20 years is that often times it’s correct.
When I help sellers price their homes I use other homes that have sold to narrow in on pricing.
Buyers are very savvy and with the help of technology they can do their own research to see what other homes like yours have sold for.
If you get an offer on your home right away that means you priced it right.
In this market, if your home has had very few showings and/or no offers you are likely priced too high.
It’s better to get ahead of the market than chase it down with price reductions.
In the last two weeks I have recommended an arborist, dog trainer, house painter, water treatment company, massage therapist, housekeeper and HVAC contractor to clients, friends and family.
So before you beat yourself up looking for someone to help you, hit me up. Chances are I will know someone. After 21 years of selling real estate in Grand County you get to know people!
Will you help me continue build my database and tell me about one of your favorite vendors? I love recommending great people!
You bought your first home.
You were feeling like you were on Cloud 9.
You had so many great ideas on your Pinterest board to make this place your own.
But now several years have gone by and nothing has changed. Your space is feeling cramped and tight and you are dreaming of a new home.
But how could you swing it?
Everyone knows this market is nuts. You would have your current home sold in a heartbeat but wouldn’t be able to find a suitable replacement.
Prices have gone up so much, it wouldn’t make sense to buy a new home now.
Does this sound like you?
If so, we need to talk. I’ve got proven strategies to help you with this kind of move. Please reach out for a free copy of my Pathway to Peace guide or with any questions.
Agent reputation. Does it matter?
I think it does and let me tell you why.
If your agent is unprofessional it could hurt YOU in the long run.
Does your agent have a reputation of honest and transparent dealings?
Are their buyers prequalified and ready to buy?
Are their sellers serious and straightforward?
Has your agent set proper expectations with YOU, their client, so everyone is set up to succeed?
Is your agent easy to work with?
Does your agent return phone calls, text messages, and emails?
All of this can effect YOU when the rubber meets the road because in multiple offer situations, who you work with might make or break the deal.
So how do you know if you are working with a professional? Read reviews online (Zillow is a great resource), ask your friends and neighbors but most of all, interview your agent
What did you say? Yes, interview your agent!
Any time someone allows us to help them with buying and selling we have in some way or another “got the job”.
Its okay to talk to multiple agents and then decide who you feel most comfortable working with. True professionals welcome the chance to shine and earn your trust and business.
I really love my job. I know lots of people feel that way but for me there are so many gratifying aspects of real estate.
And testimonials like this are what keep me coming back on the hard days.
If we have worked together in the past just know that I value our relationship and your trust in me. I am forever grateful.
With gratitude.
I wanna buy a house, but.....
“I’m horrible at math” (and other lies I’ve told myself)
I remember it clearly. Handing my mom my 9th grade report card and telling her, “Mom, I just suck at math. I’ll never be good at it.”
That year, I took Algebra 1 and it was torture! Honestly, I didn't understand anything the teacher was writing on the board. I'm not sure how I even passed that class.
Fast forward to my sophomore year and my first day in geometry.
My teacher was kind and thoughtful and she knew how to teach artists and poets (also known as non-mathers like me). Suddenly math didn’t seem like a foreign language.
For once, I was excited about math and my confidence went through the roof. I finally felt like one of the “smart” kids.
I often think about that statement I made back when I was just 15 years old:
“I'm horrible at math”
And how I truly believed that (and sometimes still do) about myself. It’s made me realize that we can be our worst enemies when it comes to the lies we tell ourselves.
What if I would have said instead; “I'm awesome at math!” I might still have struggled in Algebra 1 but maybe I wouldn't have felt so down on myself.
I’ve learned that sometimes it's worth it to try again. Soooo…. you aren’t good at writing or drawing or public speaking. But what if you allowed yourself to try again.
We would never do that to our children. “Oh, you tried that once and you’re just not good at it. Time to give up!” NEVER We would keep encouraging them to try and try again.
So I challenge you to do the same.
What’s something you’ve always told yourself you are “no good at”?
I'm here to cheer you on!
