The benefits a real estate agent can bring to the table are copious – especially for a buyer. For one, buyers don’t pay anything to use an agent’s services. In fact, their commission is usually completely covered by the person selling the home! That means you will get help finding the perfect home for your budget, and you don’t even have to pay a dime.

For the past few years, it’s been widely reported that millennials have been opting for living in more suburban areas. This certainly hasn’t changed in 2021, but the market has gotten much tighter and more expensive. Let’s discuss this intense market and what it means for millennials looking to buy!

Price Increases

Even in light of the global pandemic and economic downturns, the U.S. witnessed a dramatic increase in home prices the past year. We’ve seen 105 months straight of gains! This can be chalked up to competition for a limited number of homes alongside all-time low mortgage rates. 

What 2021 is Telling Us

Redfin, Zillow and Realtor.com have all shown that modest home price increases will maintain throughout the year. Predictions show that there will be growth of around 5%; only 1% lower than 2020. More home sellers are expected, especially as we approach the second half of the year and pandemic concerns are alleviated. 

There is currently an influx of millennial first-time homebuyers coming into the market as well, making competition even stiffer. Despite home price gains, low mortgage rates should help keep homes affordable for entry-level buyers this year

Tips for Suburban Home Buyers 

• Stick to the budget you’re comfortable with. Don’t go over just so you can win a bidding war. 
• Don’t expect to get a deal with the current market. Sellers are in control here, and you will probably have to go above asking price to get the home you want. 
• Get preapproved for a mortgage prior to making an offer; you’re just wasting time otherwise. 
• Qualify for the lowest mortgage rate you can. Be sure your credit score is looking good (ideally at least 700) and shop around for the best rates. 
• Put up the highest down payment you can. 20% or higher on a conventional loan will get you better rates and you won’t have any mortgage insurance to pay. 
• Win a bidding war by submitting an offer with fewer contingencies (such as no home inspection or appraisal), write a personal letter to the owner, or offer a rent-back agreement that allows the owner to stay in the home for a certain period of time following the sale. 

 

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking to buy in the suburbs or city, get in touch with me today. We’ll find you the perfect fit, even in this crazy market! 

Summer is finally on the brink of arriving, bringing with it indoor and outdoor gatherings. After a long, chilly winter and spring, it’s time to prepare our homes for the sunny weather! Read along for a checklist of ways to get ready for this stellar season!

 

1. Clean windows and screens, inside and out

 

     2. Wash windows – if you want to avoid streaks from the solution, opt to clean them on

          a cloudy day

 

     3. Clean the deck – power washer works best

 

     4. Clear the gutters

 

     5. Clean outdoor furniture

 

    6. Inspect:

          – Your roof

          – The front door

          – Exterior paint and siding 

          – For any possible damage or issues caused by winter weather

 

The Bottom Line

 

If you’re prepping your home to sell, get in touch with me today for a thorough checklist! Tis the season to buy and sell here in Northern Colorado!

If you’re thinking about implementing these in your home, you may want to rethink it. Withering design trends can date a home and make it less appealing to buyers. Let’s take a look at some surprising trends that are fading out!

1. Open floor plans – we can thank the pandemic for this one; those who WFH with the home

family learned that open floor plans aren’t as functional as we thought

2. Barn doors
3. Minimalism – say goodbye to the “cold & clinical grays”, 2021 is going electric with layers and a range of textures
4. Terrazzo – opt for herringbone instead
5. Shaker cabinets
6. Granite – this surprised me but designers say a shiny quartz is the way to go because it

requires less care and looks sleeker and more unique

7. Subway tile – try patterns & colors
8. Mediterranean
9. Fast furniture – more people want longer lasting & meaningful furniture but on a budget,

this means more secondhand shopping & upscaling

If you’re considering buying a home, you’ve probably wondered if you need a real estate agent or not. Spoiler alert: You do. I’m not just saying this because I am one, either. There are real, expensive risks involved when you do not use a realtor. Follow along to find out the cons of not going with a professional. 

Purchasing “For Sale By Owner” Without An Agent

In this instance, it’s just you and the seller. Two average folks with zero skills or professional experience in real estate, making a legally binding deal. What could possibly go wrong? A few things:

Overpaying 

The owner sets the price, and who knows how much homework they did prior to doing so. Did they just ask Billy Bob down the road what he paid for his home that’s 1K Sq Ft larger? Maybe. Homeowners traditionally overvalue their homes, and the buyers are expected to pay that. Overpaying is a very real possibility when you act without a real estate agent. 

Disclosure Problems

Some states do not require problems be disclosed when selling a home. However, Real Estate agents are required to regardless. They cannot turn a blind eye to potential issues that are discovered. Sometimes, homes are literally listed “as-is” which should raise about a thousand red flags for you. 

Inspection Issues

Home inspection reports can be difficult for laymen to read. Every potential issue is listed, so it could be anywhere from 20 to 50 points long, and some will seem major (but really aren’t) and others will seem minor (but really aren’t). Understanding an inspection report is imperative to getting everything you need and nothing that you don’t. Additionally, every area has different types of inspections that are recommended, and an agent is able to guide you on what you need looked at. 

Neighborhood Knowledge

Realtors know neighborhoods better than anyone else. They know school districts, property taxes, HOA rules and so much more that may factor into your decision to buy a home there. You’re choosing an area, not just a home, to live in.

Appraisal Problems

Overpaying for a property can cause you to have appraisal issues too. The difficulties increase when you deal with buyers and sellers without agents. It’s kind of like the blind leading the blind, and it’s up to you guys to figure it all out and settle any problems you have. 

Paperwork and Laws

Real estate law isn’t something that you learn overnight, and it varies greatly by area. You must be able to read a contract properly before committing to it, or you could have some serious problems down the road. Mistakes here can lead to legal battles that simply aren’t worth it when they could have easily been avoided with a Real Estate agent or attorney, if nothing else. 

The Bottom Line

Put aside any bias you may think I have and hire a professional to handle all your Real Estate dealings. You’ll be protecting yourself and your investment, and you’ll never regret knowing that everything was done fairly and above-board. Get in touch with me today to discuss your buying and selling goals!

We’ve had a lot of time at home this past year, which has led to a lot of decorating, redecorating and fun trends. Art Deco, peel-and-stick wallpaper, interesting statement pieces and more have become the norm in many modern homes these days. Let’s talk about some ways to boost your home and stay on trend this spring!

 

Statement Arches

These are perfect for just a little pop of interest. It’s a simple way to draw the eye to doorways, dressers and more while adding dimension to the room. These can easily be achieved with a little painters tape and creativity! 

 

Monochromatic Moments

Splashes of color can bring a whole new feel to a room, but to make it even more fun, you want to go with a monochromatic color family in varying shades to add interest and depth to the area.

 

Brass and Rattan 

Escape the norm of your home with whimsical rattan wall hangings and light fixtures or brass trimmings on your furniture and fixtures. 

 

Sculptural Furniture

Furniture is becoming a bit more interesting, so take advantage of that with curved chairs and couches to offset more traditional sitting and living spaces. 

 

Curves and Geometrics

In this same vein, curvy silhouettes are becoming popular for artwork, as are geometric vases and accents.  

 

Interesting Candles 

Twisted taper candles and bubble candles are a fun addition to any room, and they’re easy to DIY with a quick YouTube search. 

 

Wallpaper

This is a retro trend that’s making a huge comeback. Available in a variety of colors, patterns, landscapes and everything in between, wallpaper is being reimagined. For a simpler, less permanent option, we suggest peel-and-stick wallpaper!

 

Lucite

Lucite is incredibly versatile and is now back on trend. It’s ideal for busy spaces while also giving something unique back to the room.

 

Shells and Ocean Motifs

The 80’s are coming back in a real big way (obviously) and with it has come ocean-inspired motifs. Smaller accessories such as shell-shaped bowls and patterned sheets are a great way to dip your feet in. 

 

Mosaics

Tiles and mosaics are really hot right now on social media. It’s easy to add these accents to any space, in any size! There are peel-and-stick options for those with commitment issues (or renters!) or you can go the extra mile and do a full installation. 

 

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for ways to keep your home on trend, especially to make it more appealing to sell, contact me today! 

 

Before you begin remodeling, take a look at some of the most common DIY mistakes and how to avoid making them yourself. 

Not Budgeting Correctly

This is the most important consideration to make. Setting unrealistic expectations can set you up for higher costs in the end. This includes splurging where it’s not necessary, while neglecting important things, such as infrastructure. Sitting down with a professional and discussing this can help you determine a realistic budget for your project, while also letting you know where to pad it just a bit if you run into anything unexpected. 

You don’t want to find yourself in a position where you have to cut corners on the important things. Opting for low-quality materials just to save money can end up costing you big time in the end. 

 

Not Expecting the Unexpected

Even simple DIY projects will have hiccups. It’s just the nature of the beast. It could be that materials don’t arrive when they should or there’s mold growth you didn’t know about. These things can add time to your project timeline and/or mean spending more money than you thought you would. Plan for these things by allowing wiggle-room within your budget and timeframes. This will lessen your stress and create a smoother DIY process. 

 

Too On Trend

Trends are terrific and fun, but when you go too literal with them in a remodel it can be a big mistake. Not only can they fizzle fast for you, but they also make your home harder to sell in the future. Sprinkling a few trendy pieces throughout ensures a space you can continue to love or modify easily over time, while not breaking the bank. 

 

Spending Too Much

This is less about going over budget and more about making huge changes that can have lasting consequences. If you’re creating something that makes your home stick out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood, it can make it very difficult to sell.  Take your neighborhood and its overall vibe into consideration when designing your remodel. If what you want is completely outside of that scope, perhaps purchasing a new home that’s more fitting is a better choice. 

 

Neglecting the Important Stuff

Yes, new countertops and floors are great, but they’re pretty useless if you fail to fix the faulty plumbing behind them. You have to go to the bones of the home first and work your way out from there. A new bathroom doesn’t mean much if you don’t address the water and mold damage first. We know this isn’t the fun part of remodeling, but you’ll feel much better knowing that your home is safe and dry first. 

 

Not Securing Permits 

This is not only an issue for you, it can also impact everyone who lives in the house after you. It could even impact the sale of your home alongside future remodels. This can be tricky, but it’s very important that it’s done correctly. 

 

The Bottom Line

If you’re just itching to do a DIY remodel, make sure you do your homework first. Take the necessary steps to keep you and your family safe, and hire a professional when and where necessary. If you need quality recommendations or have any questions on selling your home, give me a call today!

 

Deciding to sell your home is an exciting commitment that you want to go smoothly. Making simple mistakes can result in lost money and wasted, which is the last thing you want here. Let’s discuss 12 mistakes to avoid when selling your home. 

1. Not Anticipating the Costs

There are many “extra” costs associated with selling your home, and failure to prepare for that can be financially catastrophic. 

• Agent commissions: Typically, you’ll be paying around 6% of your home’s final selling price to agent commissions.

• Closing costs: The seller’s portion of closing costs usually ranges from 1–3% of the total home price. 

• Staging costs: This will be based on a few different factors, such as home location, home size, the number of rooms to stage, if you’re renting decor or using your own, and how much each company charges. On average, you can expect to pay from $500 to $2000 for these services.

• Home inspection repairs: The cost of repairs can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands. Now, you don’t have to pay for these, but your buyers will expect a discount if you don’t. 

• Seller concessions: Buyers may attempt to negotiate a lower asking price, or may offer full price if you throw in items like the refrigerator or washer and dryer.  

• Moving costs: Obviously, you’re moving as well. If you opt to hire movers, this can cost up to $2000. Additionally, if you’re not moving in right away, you will have storage and rental fees.  

2. Selling When You Owe More Than Your Home is Worth

If you are upside down on your mortgage, you won’t make more than you owe when you sell. You might be able to break even, but that isn’t great either. If these are your circumstances, only sell if it’s to avoid foreclosure or bankruptcy. Otherwise, the best choice is to stay in that home and work at it until you have more equity. 

3. Trying to Sell it Yourself

Not using a real estate agent is a huge mistake. You may think you’re saving money on commission costs, but you’re also missing out on a lot more money overall. A good real estate agent like me knows how to get you the best bang for your buck. I’m committed to getting you every penny you deserve and then some.

4. Pricing Problems

This is a tricky one. Pricing too low can cost you thousands in profit. Pricing too high…can also cost you thousands in profit and waste time. You want a professional real estate agent to do a comparative analysis to determine the absolute best price for your home. When you list at the right price, the home will sell quickly and you’ll pull a solid profit. 

5. Hiding Necessary Repairs

If you think the buyer isn’t going to notice a leaky roof or bug infestation, think again. Most buyers will get an inspection done, and if a major problem pops up, it can delay things big time. It’s a good idea to get a home inspection done prior to listing to ensure everything is in order. 

6. To Stage or Not to Stage

You may think staging is not a huge deal, but it actually does help sell homes faster and at a higher price. Just don’t show an empty house; at least rent some furniture and decor from a staging company so people can envision it being their home. 

7. Keeping the Clutter

You can’t demonstrate the beauty of a home if it’s full of random clutter. You want things to look personally impersonal, so remove that mail piling up, get the pets out of the home, and clean everything up. Treat the home as if it’s no longer yours; it’s the buyers now! 

8. Skimping on Lighting

Keep your rooms bright. This makes everything look bigger, so fill rooms with lamps, throw back the curtains and light some candles. 

9. Ugly Listing Photos

It’s easy for buyers to tour homes from their couch nowadays, so you want great, detailed photos of all your listing has to offer. Hire a professional to do your photos and show your home in its best light. 

10. Not Letting the Agent Handle Showings

Hanging out while your home is being shown makes everyone uncomfortable. Again, act as though the home is now the buyer’s, not yours. Give your agent room to answer questions and let the buyer see their dream home without you in it.

11. Personally Accepting a Low Offer 

When you sell your home, be ready to negotiate. If someone comes in low, try to work with them through a counteroffer. If they’re truly invested, they’ll meet you in the middle. 

12. Hiring a Bad Real Estate Agent

Unfortunately, there are bad real estate agents out there. If you happen to have one, give me a call today. You don’t want to pay someone thousands to not get the job done. I’m here with the experience, knowledge and skills necessary to get your home sold quickly and at the best price!

Northern Colorado tends to feel like a permanent seller’s market, full of competition for every house you look at. Inventory is low with higher prices, and it can become frustrating. Let’s discuss 8 ways to make this process much better when you’re a buyer!

Pre-Approval 

When you come in pre-approved by a lender for a specific amount, the seller knows you’re both qualified and motivated to buy the home. It shows financial stability as well, allowing the seller to see that the process will be smooth and simple if they go with you as their buyer. 

Hire a Professional with Experience

When you hire a real estate agent with experience and knowledge (such as me!), it can give you major advantages in a competitive market. We have the ability to find out about listings immediately and can keep you apprised of all updates in real time.

Be Ready to Act

In a seller’s market, homes literally come and go overnight. It’s that competitive and quick. Because of this, you need to be ready to make a decision almost immediately on if you’d like to put an offer in. Be flexible and available for a showing as soon as one is available. 

Put in a Fair Bid

Obviously, you don’t want to pay more than required for a new house, but you also don’t want to lose out on the one you want with a low-ball offer either. You need to work with your agent on determining an offer strategy that is fair to everyone. 

Attractive Offers Work Too

There are a few things that can help you stand out from the crowd to sellers. This includes putting down a larger deposit to show you’re serious, agree to terms that simplify their end of things (such as keeping a swing set in the backyard instead of having them move it), and being flexible with your closing date to better accommodate them. 

Write It Out

Oftentimes, homeowners have formed attachments to their house and moving can be hard from an emotional standpoint. Show them that you’re serious and emotionally invested in their home as well with a letter. Tell them what you love about it and what your plans for it are. This can help the seller decide on a buyer when a connection is established. 

Is There Room For Compromise?

Yes, you probably have the idea of the perfect, move-in ready home, but it might not be so simple to find. Search your soul to determine what you absolutely must have vs. what you could let go of and take it from there. This will help you be less picky and more open to what is available. 

Have Patience

Yes, there will be a lot of competition in your search, that’s just a fact of a seller’s market. Be patient because the perfect home and circumstances will come along for you! It is out there!

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking to buy, get in touch with me today to get started on financing approval and to begin your search! I’m here to help you navigate the strange world of a seller’s market!

 

Millennials are presenting a new set of challenges to realtors. They’re buying homes later in life and want to do away with many traditional elements that previous generations sought. These trends include seeking multifunctional and community spaces, complete with modern, sustainable facets. Let’s look at the most important factors for millennials when purchasing a home. 

Location, Location, Location

This has been unchanged since the beginning of time. People inherently want to live close to their work and close to things to do. This is a major factor in choosing a home for most people. This sounds conducive to living in more urban areas, but millennials tend to live in more suburban areas. 

The Great Outdoors

Roughly 75% of millennials are looking for outdoor areas such as vegetable gardens, fences and decks with their homes. Curb appeal has a big payoff when it comes to millennial buyers, so focus on having an outdoor space for gathering. Your yard doesn’t have to be large, just comfortable and appealing. An added perk like a nice grill can be enough to seal the deal for a potential buyer. 

Kitchen Space

Millennial home buyers love large kitchens, and consider them a top priority when buying a home. Gen X and baby-boomer generations loved formal dining rooms, millennials prefer an open floor plan with kitchen, dining and living areas connected to one another. There’s an emphasis on cooking, entertaining and community, so an open floor plan with an island and informal seating is perfect. 

Modern Matters

Space is less of a concern for many millennials. They prefer modern amenities that function well. An area to exercise, a washer and dryer and dishwasher are quite important. his includes items like dishwashers, washers and dryers, and space to exercise. Most millennials want things such as laundry rooms, patios, hardwood floors, and garage storage space. Home automation is another perk that millennials value, so that can serve as a big selling point if you have it installed already. 

Environmentally Sound

Millennials are conscientious of their home’s environmental impact. When targeting millennial buyers, consider how your home fits into that. You can easily improve your home’s energy efficiency quickly to appeal to millennial buyers. 

Low Maintenance

Millennials want things to be as quick, efficient and long-lasting as possible. Convenience matters, so when you’re renovating prior to a sale, think about swapping carpet for hardwood and using composite instead of real wood for a deck. These simple, low-maintenance options are easily extended into the yard with xeriscaping, that is both energy efficient and simple to maintain.

Multifunctional Areas

You cannot lump millennials all into one group, but they do enjoy multifunctional areas within the home. From a social standpoint, this allows for interactions with guests throughout the home, while not being confined to one space. Multifunction even applies to smaller spaces, such as having workout equipment in a bedroom. 

The Bottom Line

When prepping for millennial buyers, show off your home’s overall versatility. You don’t have to knock down a wall for a more open floor plan. There a ton of small, simple ways to add to your appeal. If you’re looking to sell your home and want to make it more millennial friendly, reach out to me today to begin!