We’re in a strange sort of holding pattern right now, worldwide. This can bring with it a lot of feelings such as confusion, sadness, stress and a lack of motivation. It’s important to take time to practice self care in order to maintain our mental and emotional health, so let’s discuss some effective ways to do that!

Reset Your Goals

Reflect on the goals you set at the beginning of the year. Don’t fret over ways you’ve failed at achieving them–there’s no way you could have planned for the life changes that are occurring. Instead, think of ways you can adjust those goals to fit your current situation. If they need to be pulled completely, that’s okay!

Refocus Your Routine

Maybe you’ve just finished out the school year with remote learning for the kids, or perhaps you’re adjusting to working from home for the first time ever. Whatever it is, there will be some necessary tweaks to your schedule in order to keep things running smoothly. Take time for walks, maintain your health, consume positive media and, most of all, hold yourself accountable for all that you do.

Take Time for Self Care

It’s hard to take time for ourselves without feeling selfish, but it’s necessary for good mental health. Your self care could look like journaling at night, getting proper sleep, taking a bubble bath, or simply curling up with a good book. Remember to check-in with yourself regularly to ensure you’re in a good place, and take a personal day if you need it. Also, get on a good sleep schedule in order to feel your best each day!

I hope you’re doing well in this difficult time, and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions if you’re looking to buy or sell your home!

Spring is here, bringing with it the desire to get things back in order in your home. Here’s a checklist to help guide you in your deep cleaning endeavors!

Supplies Needed

• Duster
• Broom, Vacuum and Mop
• Paper Towels or Old Rags
• Window Cleaner
• Furniture Polish
• Disinfecting Spray
• Rubber Gloves
• Dish Soap

Kitchen 

• Clear dishes from the sink and put in dishwasher
• Dust light fixtures, fans and cabinet tops 
• Clear cabinets and wipe them out 
• Remove everything from countertops and clean them off with disinfectant wipes
• Wipe down windows and window sills and clear debris and dirt from the tracks 
• Wash the microwave plate then spray and wipe down the inside 
• Run the clean cycle in the oven
• Clear expired items from pantry 
• Wipe down all cabinet fronts 
• Clear expired items from the fridge and wipe down all surfaces
• Wash rugs, mats and towels in washing machine
• Sweep, vacuum and mop floors

Bathroom

• Remove all items from countertops and wipe them down
• Launder shower curtains and rugs
• Remove all items from shower and scrub and rinse the area
• Empty cabinets and dispose of expired items
• Dust fixtures and vents 
• Carefully wipe down walls with diluted dish soap
• Dust and wipe down drawers and shelves 
• Disinfect and wipe down sinks 
• Clean mirrors and hardware with window cleaner 
• Clean the inside and outside of the toilet
• Wash baseboards
• Sweep or vacuum floors, followed by mopping 

Living Room

• Clear surfaces of clutter and check under furniture for items
• Dust all hard surfaces then use furniture polish
• Clean windows, sills and tracks
• Launder curtains, blankets and throw pillows where possible
• Disinfect toys and remote controls
• Wash baseboards.
• Sweep, vacuum, mop and/or carpet clean

Bedroom

• Launder bed linens and curtains 
• Dust fixtures and fans
• Dust and wipe down decorations and picture frames
• Clean windows, sills and tracks. 
• Polish hardwood furniture.
• Vacuum, sweep, mop and/or carpet clean
• Vacuum mattress

 Closet

• Dust and wipe down lights 
• Clear shelves and drawers to dust
• Wash baseboards 
• Sweep or vacuum 

This guide should be a great place to start when coming back from winter hybernation, but don’t be afraid to go even deeper. Don’t forget, if you’re spring cleaning in preparation for a move, get in touch with me today to get started! 

Spring is just around the corner, and it’s approaching primetime to buy or sell your home! I know how stressful this process can be, and I’m always here to help guide you along the way. Let’s take a look at some simple tips that buyers and sellers may not know!

If You’re a Buyer

1. The first offer you make on a home sets the tone with the seller. This means putting in an offer that’s too low can aggravate the seller and they may come back with a higher price or simply not respond to you at all. Additionally, if you haggle down too low, it’s unlikely that repairs will be covered.
2. Cover your bases with your own home inspection. While the seller has most likely had a pre-listing inspection done, you should set your own up as well to be sure you’re not missing anything important. 
3. The home’s title could have issues, so it’s important that you use a title company or real estate attorney to run a “title search” on the home. This ensures that problems such as back taxes, liens etc. are not present.  
4. Remember that buyers typically pay three to four percent of the home’s price, so be sure to account for those costs and budget appropriately. 
5. Most Importantly: Trust in your real estate professional and let them do their job by making the process as smooth as possible. Buying a home does not have to be painful!

 

If You’re a Seller

1. Realistic pricing is key to selling your home in a timely fashion. This means relying on your real estate agent to guide you using current market data and not overpricing it.
2. Staging your home in a way that accentuates its layout and design trends makes it much more appealing to potential buyers. It also makes your listing photos so much more attractive and, best of all, I can handle all of this for you! 
3. Replacements and updates truly help increase the value of the home. This includes replacing old appliances and fixtures, as well as decluttering the home prior to listing. Updates are investments!
4. A pre-listing inspection can help you to address issues early without having to spend the additional time on it during closing. 
5. Most importantly: Trust in your real estate professional and let them do their job by making the process as smooth as possible. I am here to help you!

Call me today to get started on buying or selling your home! 

With tax season upon us, you may find yourself full of angst, annoyance, and procrastination. These are all normal tax-related feelings, but it doesn’t have to be that way! While I can’t take all the pain away, I can give you some tips on how to make things go just a bit smoother. 

When Are Taxes Due Again?

First things first. April 15, 2020 is your deadline to file and pay taxes, or to request a filing extension. Be sure to make note of this in your phone calendar with an ample amount of time to get them done, or even better, stay ahead of the game by giving yourself mini deadlines. This frees you from the worry of late fees and the pressure of filing at the last minute!

Stay Organized

If you can keep all of your tax-related documents in one place, it will make filing much easier. Label folders and store them in a container or filing cabinet for easy access. These folders should include all relevant information, such as home and office expenses, child care costs, education costs, mileage costs, medical expenses and other miscellaneous expenses. 

Additionally, you need to upload all digital documents to a secure spot such as Dropbox or Google Drive. Store a backup on a hard drive or thumb drive, just in case something happens!

The Perks of Filing Taxes

You’re probably one of millions of Americans expecting a tax return this year, and that can be quite exciting. It’s like a small windfall of a few thousand dollars each year, and there are so many things you can do with that money! You could pay off debt or buy a new TV or maybe even squirrel it away for part of a down payment on a new home (wink wink). 

If you’re someone who owes taxes, yes, this time of year is far less frivolous and fun. However, I have terrific referrals for tax professionals who are ready to take the stress off of your shoulders! 

Call me today to find out how I can help you spend, save or file your taxes!

(Hint: The answer might surprise you!)

Chances are, you already have an inkling about the best time to sell a home. You’re thinking of when you see the most For Sale signs, and when rentals tend to pop up, so it has to be summer, right? Wrong. It’s actually spring! Now, this doesn’t mean you can only sell in the spring. Your personal circumstances will certainly come into play in a major way.

Why Are You Selling?

There are many factors that come into play when you’re choosing when to sell your home. Perhaps you’re undergoing some big life changes, such as relocation, a growing family or even downsizing after the children have left the nest. Or maybe you’re finally emotionally ready to move on from the memories that reside in the home following a divorce, death or retirement. It’s also possible that you’re doing it for the money. There’s no shame in that; equity can be a beautiful thing! With the varying reasons for selling, there is clearly no “perfect” time that applies to every single person.

Why Spring?

Springtime means school is coming to an end soon, and many families don’t want to move at a disruptive time. With closing dates typically being 30-60 days out, a spring buy makes for a summer move with less stress. Additionally, many people travel in the Summer, so there can be a lack of interested buyers around. Springtime also brings a feeling of “newness” that can inspire people to put in the work of finding a home to start fresh, especially here in Colorado when we’re all coming out of our Winter hibernation!
Overall, selling in May or June typically means a quicker sale at a higher price. However, as mentioned above, that doesn’t mean it’s the best time for you personally. Keep your eye on the calendar, but look inwards at what you and your family need and consult a local Realtor to discuss your best course of action.

Maybe Spring Isn’t Your Time

While there are obvious benefits to selling in the spring, you may not have that luxury. Luckily, real estate is always going strong here in Fort Collins, so there are always pros to selling your home no matter the season!
Get In Touch
Selling your home is a huge step, so it’s important that you have a trustworthy, knowledgeable agent who can help you make the best decision possible. I can help you understand the factors that influence pricing and what the market is looking like in your area. Give me a call today to discuss your options!