Year: 2022

Thinking of Selling? Staging your home is crucial!Thinking of Selling? Staging your home is crucial!

February 17, 2022February 17, 2022| Carrie SummersThinking of Selling? Staging your home is crucial!| 0 Comment| 9:04 pm

Thinking of selling?  Staging your home to look it’s best, can get you top dollar!

Home staging is decorating with purpose to highlight your home’s best assets and help buyers imagine themselves moving in and living there.

De-personalize the space

The biggest objective of home staging is to help the prospective buyers visualize the space as their own. Start by removing any personal photos, making sure to take down things hanging on your fridge as well as framed photos on walls and surfaces. Most of the closets need to be ½ empty.

Get rid of clutter

Clutter takes up space, and space is what sells. Make your home look bigger and more desirable by getting down to just the basics. You don’t have to permanently remove things, but you should pack them up and get them out of the house. This includes un-seasonal clothes, most of your decor, papers, games, and anything else that you don’t use on a daily basis. Buyers will be opening your closest to look at their storage potential, so take your time there, removing as many miscellaneous items as you can.

Clean!

A clean home suggests to buyers that the current owners took good care of the property. Clean everything from the baseboards, to the corners of your ceilings, and everything in between. Clean the inside of your refrigerator, and make sure you dust your blinds.

Patch and repair

Take a magic eraser to any scuffs on the walls. Keep an eye out for areas that could use a little TLC, then spackle and caulk as necessary. You might need to do paint touch ups too.

Let in that light!

Brighten up by letting as much light shine in the house as possible. Open the blinks on all of the windows, which will also make the rooms seem bigger.

Freshen Up

A few potted plants can do wonders on making your home feel inviting. Space plants out strategically so they don’t overwhelm any one area. Another way to freshen up your home is to get rid of odors. Pets, kids, last night’s dinner, a damp bathroom, and many other conditions can make your home smell. An easy way to remove a home of odors is to bake cinnamon-coated apples, or cookies in the oven, or burning vanilla-scented candles. It’s best to avoid air fresheners as they can trigger allergic reactions and asthma in sensitive people. Lastly, don’t forget to take out the trash!  In the summer, crack a window for fresh air!

 

We are here to help make the selling process effortless!  MancosHomes.com

Things to do in the Winter!Things to do in the Winter!

February 7, 2022February 7, 2022| Carrie SummersThings to do in the Winter!| 0 Comment| 8:12 pm

Beautiful February weather!  Low 40’s!  Let’s get outside and play!

Hesperus Ski Area

  • Hesperus Ski area has skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. It is a great space to teach your kids how to ski. Night Skiing-Thursday through Saturday until 9pm. Located in between Mancos and Durango.  .ski-hesperus.com/

Chapman Hill Ice Rink & Ski Hill

 Mancos Chicken Creek Cross Country Ski Area

Phil’s World

  • -Over 27 single track bike trails wind through Pinon and Juniper trees.  Perfect for beginners and advanced.   Located between Mancos and Cortez.

Durango Hot Springs

  • – Newly renovated and located 8 miles north of downtown Durango and 15 miles south of Purgatory Ski Resort, Durango Hot Springs helps you unwind. Surrounded by mountain views, these natural mineral hot springs are the only natural hot springs in the world to infuse nano-meter and micro-meter oxygen bubbles, increasing the health benefits and purity of the natural waters. www.durangohotspringsresortandspa.com

Tax Tips for Homeowners!Tax Tips for Homeowners!

February 6, 2022February 6, 2022| Carrie SummersTax Tips for Homeowners!| 0 Comment| 12:50 am

Hi!  Working on your taxes?  Here’s some great tips for homeowners.

You can get some federal tax breaks for owning a home IF itemizing deductions on your 2021 tax return.
But that’s a bigger “if” than it used to be.
Although tax deductions for homeowners can add up to thousands of dollars, claiming them is worth the trouble only if all your itemized deductions exceed the IRS standard deduction.
The standard deduction for the 2021 tax year is:
  • $25,100 for married couples filing jointly
  • $12,550 for single filers 
  • $18,800 for heads of households
So what’s deductible?
1. Mortgage Interest
2. Home Office Expenses
3. Mortgage Insurance
4. Property Taxes
5. Home Improvements that are medically necessary: ramps, larger doorways, and handrails.
If you have questions, I am here to help and have several great CPA’s to assist you!

Common Problems in Home InspectonsCommon Problems in Home Inspectons

January 15, 2022January 15, 2022| Carrie SummersCommon Problems in Home Inspectons| 0 Comment| 9:09 pm

  1. Water Intrusion

Water damage can be very tricky to deal with. Roofs are often the first spot for water to leak and travel downwards. Inspectors usually start in the attic when looking for water damage. Some of the signs of water damage include:

  • Cracks and holes. – Cracks or holes on the exterior walls are areas water can enter your home
  • Warped floors and damp carpets
  • Stained walls and ceilings – Even if the stain results from an old leak that has been repaired, inspectors will still check for mold buildup.
  • Peeling paint and wallpaper – This issue may be an indicator of a leak behind the walls
  • Musty odors – This can be an indication of mold buildup, often caused by leaks.
  1. Faulty Wiring
  • If you see open junction boxes, mismatched amperage, or extension cords running everywhere when you view a home, these are bad signs.
  • Homes built between 1900 and 1950 often have outdated and inadequate fuse boxes. Unfortunately, that means the entire wiring needs to be replaced as it is not enough to keep up with today’s needs.
  1. Foundation Flaws
  • Foundation problems arise in the form of sloping floors, doors and windows that stick, or even doors that swing in one direction when left ajar. Foundation cracks can be caused by a variety of serious issues.
  1. General Problems
  • Poor home maintenance? How’s the heater, roof, and siding?
  • Is repainting, or new flooring needed, or grout in bathroom is decaying?
  1. Faulty Plumbing
  • Turn on every faucet, and check if drains are working properly.
  • Flush every toilet. Are they loose?
  • At each area look for inadequate water pressure, slow drains and signs of leaks. Open the cabinet under the sinks and check for leaks. If there is a kitchen or bathroom on the second floor, check the ceiling below them for signs of water damage.

All of these problems can be costly to fix.  It is really important to do a thorough inspection!  For a list of trusted inspectors, give Carrie Summers with Colorado Ranch & Home Realty a call, 970-759-2540.