Year: 2017

How to choose a real estate agent?How to choose a real estate agent?

April 7, 2017April 7, 2017| Carrie SummersHow to choose a real estate agent?| 0 Comment| 5:12 pm

What kind of real estate company and agent you want working for you is a very important question.  At first you might say “I need a large company working for me.”  Let’s look~

1.  Size–  You might feel the excitement and buss of a large office, however lets look a little closer.  Will there be confusion on who to speak with throughout the real estate process?  Can your realtor be reached?  Do they return calls in a timely manner? How’s there reputation with other Realtors and clients? All Realtors can list your home on the MLS, and to hundreds of internet sites but what does the prospective office do differently than the others?

2.  Location–  Consider how long it will be to drive to the prospective office. Of course technology gives real estate agents and clients mobility to keep up on emails, and answer calls.  However, a real estate office being in another town does not make it easy for you.  How easy is it for clients to find the real estate office?  What are the first impressions you get when you walk in?

3.  Training–  Does your potential realtor has specialized training?  Sure all Realtors are licensed by the state but what makes them stand out?  Have they gotten any awards?

4.  Experience–  How many sales has the potential realtor had in your area?  Are they familiar with the domestic water systems in your area?  How about the irrigation?  In Montezuma County in Southwest Colorado do they know about “red signed roads?” If they don’t sell much in your area, the answer is no.  Get a list of current clients and past clients to call and get reviews.  Google them.  Do they have a personal website that is user friendly?

5.  Administrative Support– Meet their assistant.  Are they friendly? Google them.

6.  Commissions–  Does the real estate office, offer the same commission structure to everyone?  There are firms that will take a listing for a lower commission, however what kind of service will you get?  Will other Realtors want to show your home if they are only getting paid 2 or 2.5% commission?  Will a Realtor just list your house at any price to get the listing or will they do a market analysis to determine the fair price?

7.  Marketing–  For sellers, ask to see a marketing plan from a prospective realtor?  If buying a home, will they look at everything on the market ie. Craigslist, MLS, and for sale by owners?

8.  Community Involvement- Is your potential Realtor involved in the community?  You want a Realtor who is known in the community and has a wide range of interests.  For buyers, the Realtor will know what’s going on and who is about to list their home.  For sellers, Realtors who are known in the community will have more clients, and that will equal to more showings.

By doing your homework, you can have a successful and stress free real estate transaction.  If you would like more information on buying or selling a home in Mancos, Dolores, or Cortez Colorado, please give me a call 970-759-2540.  MancosHomes.com.  I’m here to help!

Tips to sell your home in the SpringTips to sell your home in the Spring

April 6, 2017April 6, 2017| Carrie SummersTips to sell your home in the Spring| 0 Comment| 5:04 pm

When selling your house in the Spring, you need to know how to stand out above the rest.  Here are some tips that will help you.

1.  Hire a realtor who can be your trusted advisor, knows the market and has sold homes in your area.   Do your homework and get recommendations, and interview potential Realtors.  I’ve lived in Mancos for 26 years, and would love to do a free market analysis for you.

2.  Before the home is listed, get it inspected.  This way, you have a chance to fix things and you        won’t have any surprises once you find a buyer.

3.  Clean the house this includes windows, and outside.  Get the house power washed, clean the fans, do touch up painting and declutter.   You want your house to be spacious, so buyers can imagine their stuff in the home.  Make sure your closets are not stuffed.  First impressions are huge.

4.  On the day of a showing, have curtains opened up, for sunshine and turn on the lights.  Also have bottle water and cookies out for potential buyers.  You want them to linger and fall in love with your home.

5.  Have a detailed sheet for the buyers in the kitchen for them to take home.  List the things that you love about the home, ie. proximity to schools, forest, big yard, heated floors, views.

I’d love to help you get your home sold in Mancos, Cortez and Dolores, Colorado.  I’m a Realtor here to help. Call me anytime.   MancosHomes.com 970-759-2540

Can a garden help me sell my home?Can a garden help me sell my home?

March 13, 2017March 13, 2017| Carrie SummersCan a garden help me sell my home?| 0 Comment| 8:24 pm

Nothing better than seeing a home that has a bountiful garden. If you are thinking of selling your home this summer, plan now to have a garden! There is just something about warmer weather that makes you want to be outside. You can start plants inside now, however do not plant them outside until mid May. Even than your tomatoes will need to be protected from the cool nights.

Everyone knows that first impressions are huge. What can a seller do to make their home stand out from the competition? Sure clean the home from top to bottom: ceiling fans, windows, carpets, etc. But what else? I suggest working on the yard! Have a mixture of perennial flowers and vegetables! You want the buyers to linger and fall in love with your home, so I suggest baking chocolate cookies and having a plate for them with bottled water. There’s just something about the yummy smell!

Have a flyer with pictures on the kitchen table for potential buyers to take with them of things you love about your home. Want to sell your home? I’m here to help! MancosHomes.com

Do I have enough for a down payment?Do I have enough for a down payment?

March 7, 2017March 7, 2017| Carrie SummersDo I have enough for a down payment?| 0 Comment| 4:45 pm

So you want to buy a home, however you don’t think you have enough cash for a down payment? That’s the #1 reason why non owners don’t buy a home. However 8 out of 10 people according to the National Association of Realtors say that owning a home is the “American Dream”.

Most lenders will state you need 20% down. That’s $60,000 on a $300,000 home! Plus you need money for cost of getting your loan. That’s scary! So now what? You can actually buy a home with as little as 3% down or 0 down!

The Federal Housing Administration is a government agency charged with helping home buyers — especially first timers — get approved. The FHA assists mortgage lenders to make loans by guaranteeing a portion of the balance.

And if you’re an active or retired service member, or live in a rural area, you may have access to zero down payment programs through the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program (USDA).

A lower down payment makes you a bigger risk in the eyes of the lender. That’s why it will look for help from one of those government programs to guarantee a portion of the loan. The thing is, you pay for the guarantee. It’s called mortgage insurance. There will be an upfront fee and likely an ongoing charge built into your monthly payment.

Some of the programs don’t require mortgage insurance, but will charge an “upfront guarantee fee” or “funding fee.” Whatever you call it, a fee is a fee. And as a “higher risk,” you’ll likely pay a higher interest rate for the life of the loan in addition to the other fees.

It’s tempting to go with the lowest all-in upfront charges when trying to buy a home. But the key is to do your homework!

~ Check out Homesfund.org. They are a wealth of information.

~ Review your financial situation and meet with several lenders and discuss options.

Buying a home can sometimes be a challenging process, but with a little work and me, at your side, 2017 may be a good time to start looking. I’m here to help. MancosHomes.com

Two Months into 2017Two Months into 2017

February 28, 2017February 28, 2017| Carrie SummersTwo Months into 2017| 0 Comment| 5:50 pm

We got blasted with snow and all schools are closed in county, so it’s a great time to reflect. Two months into 2017! Wow time flies!
Inventory for homes for sale in the $300k- $400k range is still low.  There is also a shortage of rentals in the area.  So this is a perfect time to list, if you are thinking of selling.
Currently there are 56 homes for sale with the Mancos zip code.  Many of these have been on the market for quite some time and might not be selling due to several factors: overpriced, location, and quality of home.
Pricing your home right is so important!  It’s just not picking a figure out of thin air hoping that someone will bite.  Start by picking a realtor who will be your trusted advisor and knows the market. They will do a market analysis and compare the pros and cons of each of your competitors.   Once you have a price down, now comes the time to get your house ready.  Declutter, clean up yard, get it pre-inspected and fix anything on report.  What kind of marketing will your realtor do? Will your realtor return calls in a timely manner?  These are just a few important questions to ask.
Want to know what your home is worth?  Call me for a free market analysis.  I’m here to help. The picture is out my window in downtown Mancos!

Olio Restaurant- MancosOlio Restaurant- Mancos

February 24, 2017February 24, 2017| Carrie SummersOlio Restaurant- Mancos| 0 Comment| 5:37 pm

Mancos is fortunate to have great restaurants and Olio’s is one of them.  A delicious blend of food, wine and art.  Last weekend I went to a gallery opening for Jan Goldman, a pastel artist from Durango.  Wow!  The landscape drawings were incredible.  Jason Blankenship the chef/owner of Olio’s did a phenomenal job on the appetizers.   I had helped out with Adaptive Sports all day, and it was a treat.  The choice of wine is extensive.  I had a glass of Muscato.  Hope you have a chance to check out Jan’s exhibit.  Olio’s is located in downtown Mancos – 114 W. Grand Avenue.  Be sure and call for reservations 970-533-1381.  Here’s a copy of their menu!

Selling your home – Is it underpriced?Selling your home – Is it underpriced?

February 1, 2017February 1, 2017| Carrie SummersSelling your home – Is it underpriced?| 0 Comment| 4:57 pm

Selling your home is a major decision. Several questions need to be asked.

Is the time right for you and your family?
How long is it going to take?
Where am I going?
What things need to be done before I list?
Who should be my realtor?
What price?
It’s important to take the time to set yourself up for success.  The first step is to interview realtors.  Have each of them give you a market analysis of your home, references and a list of homes they have sold in your area. Get to know your competition.  Go see other similar homes for sale.  What makes your home unique? Location? Size? Amenities? Do your homework.  You want a realtor who can become your trusted advisor.
When you are trying to decide what price to list your home, be leery of realtors who want to price it too low or too high.  You should only be pricing your home about $10,000 above what you want to walk away with.  Look at their market analysis.  Are the comparison homes they used viable?
Be leery of any realtor who will take a cut in commission just to get your listing.  You pay for what you get. Besure and ask for their marketing plan.  Any realtor can put your listing on the internet, however you want a realtor who can be reached, is a good fit for your personality, and a great negotiator when the time comes.
Selling your home can be a smooth process.  I’d love to help!