Category: Tips on selling a home
4 signs that now is the right time to sell your home4 signs that now is the right time to sell your home
Have you been thinking of selling? Here are 4 signs that now is the right time.
- You can afford to move. Sure, when you sell your home, you will have money but do you have the money now to help you get top dollar for your home? Tips to making your home look it’s best:
- Paint is the #1 investment. Buyers love the clean look.
- Curb appeal- Need to do some minor repairs?
- Kitchen and Bathrooms- upgrade faucets and fixtures.
- Declutter
- Your current home doesn’t fit your lifestyle. Do you need more space or is it time to downsize? Do you like your neighborhood? Have you been daydreaming of building or been looking at other homes?
- How’s the market? Do you know if there are buyers looking for your type of home? How long will your home be on the market till it sells? Did your neighbor’s home sell quickly?
- How much is your house worth? Do you have enough equity in your home that once you sell, you can buy another?
Selling your home is a big decision. Want to know what your home is worth? Call me for a free market analysis. I also have a seller’s guide to help make the transition smoother. One thing I offer my clients is that I will help you get your place ready to sell by orchestrating handymen, cleaners and even provide the trailer. I look forward to helping you.
Homeowners Insurance – The BasicsHomeowners Insurance – The Basics
Homeowners insurance policies pay to repair or replace your home and belongings should they be damaged in an unexpected event, such as an accident, fire, storm or other disaster.
How Much Coverage Do You Need?
Start with the coverage limit. Consider the cost of completely rebuilding your home and replacing all the belongings inside it.
Your lender may require you to carry a certain amount of homeowners insurance — often equal to or greater than the amount of your mortgage. At this stage, you should also consider whether you’d like to insure your belongings according to their actual cash value or replacement value.
Understand What is Covered
It typically covers damage from fire, windstorm, hail, water damage (excluding flooding), riots, explosion, as well as other sudden and unexpected losses., i.e. theft, and the extra cost of living elsewhere while your home is repaired or rebuilt. Make sure you understand the policy so that you are able to cover the cost of repairs/ belongings replacement.
Shop Around
Not all insurance policies or companies are the same so it’s important to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. With home prices soaring, be sure your insurance covers what your home is worth now, not when you bought the home.
For more tips give Carrie Summers with Colorado Ranch & Home Realty a call 970-759-2540.
Why Zillow Home Values Should Not Be TrustedWhy Zillow Home Values Should Not Be Trusted
One of the most common questions I get is, “how accurate are Zillow home value estimates?”
The majority of the time, these Zillow home values a.k.a. “Zestimates” are NOT accurate. Zestimates are created by an automated system that cannot think for itself, or account for variations or unique characteristics that can alter the price.
One of the factors impacting the Zillow Zestimate is the property’s assessed value from tax records. Rarely does assessed home value have a correlation to market value. Assessed values are used by the county to collect taxes.
Another data point that Zillow uses is the most recent selling price of a property. The market is changing so quickly and a sale price that is years old is no way to estimate the current value of a home.
Zillow estimates the values of over 100 million homes across the country. It would be impossible for them to predict the value of each home accurately. Zillow does not enter properties but relies on their system instead. They have no idea that you spent $50,000 renovating your kitchen and bathrooms. Zillow also doesn’t know if you have a $20,000 structural crack in your foundation, or if your roof needs replacement. They also have not idea if your home is in a desirable area.
Zillow can be a useful tool, but it does not provide adequate accuracy on home prices to be used exclusively. Want to know the accurate market value of your home? Call Carrie Summers with Colorado Ranch & Home Realty 970-759-2540.
Thinking of Selling? Staging your home is crucial!Thinking of Selling? Staging your home is crucial!
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
Happy Solstice!Happy Solstice!
What a glorious morning sunrise! Yesterday and today it’s a bluebird day with it being around 43 degrees. On Thursday we will be getting about 8 inches of snow for Christmas! Homes are still flying off the market! If you are looking to sell, now is the time! Interest rates are low for buyers, and I’ve got plenty who are looking for new homes!
Protect Your HomeProtect Your Home
“For people living in wildfire-prone areas here in Colorado, mitigation is a proven method to reduce the risk to your home and property,” said Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway. “Now is the time to take what steps you can, before we get any further into this summer’s wildfire season.”
The Storm Prediction Center issued the first extreme fire danger warning for Western Colorado and Eastern Utah in 15 years. Unfortunately, this serves as a reminder that we are now in the height of wildfire season in Colorado and the West.
Tips for wildfire mitigation
- Clear a safety zone around your home and remove trees, leaves, brush and pine needles. Create a zone of at least 100 feet, but know that 200 – 500 feet is often recommended. Also remove overhanging tree branches near your home.
- Be sure propane or fuel tanks are at least 30 feet away from all structures.
- Keep the smoke detectors and fire extinguishers inside your home working properly.
- If you do not have access to a community water system or water hydrant, get a water storage tank. Make sure your garden hoses reach all areas of the property, and keep them visible and in accessible areas.
- Be sure your entrance road is accessible. Inaccessible roads can prevent fire-fighting equipment from reaching your home quickly. The street address should be easily visible from the entrance to the property so emergency responders are not delayed.
- Use fire-resistant materials in the structure of your home, especially the roof, which is most vulnerable
- Do not store firewood on your deck or porch.
We have a couple of great companies that can help you be proactive. Give Carrie Summers a call 970-759-2540. We are here to help!
Should I Renovate Before I Sell?Should I Renovate Before I Sell?
Thinking about selling and unsure if you should renovate? Will it make your home more appealing to buyers? Will you recoup the cost? Renovations might not be for important in the current market.
Homes are currently flying off the market if priced right. Multiple offers and above asking price is the norm. Due to the high demand, spending time and money on renovations might not be smart.
Cleaning up the property is still key, and decluttering. However some repairs might not be necessary.
In today’s market, many buyers are willing to take on home improvement projects, thus they can transform the home to their needs and tastes.
Contact me for how to get top dollar for your home, without doing major repairs.
Multiple Offers Oh My!!Multiple Offers Oh My!!
Homes are flying off the market! Multiple offers and above asking price are the norms on the majority of homes being sold. If you are a buyer, be pre approved with letter in hand. If buying with cash, have a proof of funds letter.
If you are a seller, your place is probably worth more than you think! Give me a call I’m here to help!