Tag: Colorado Realtor

Mountain Getaway above Mancos, Colorado: Jersey Jim Lookout TowerMountain Getaway above Mancos, Colorado: Jersey Jim Lookout Tower

June 20, 2022June 20, 2022| Carrie SummersMountain Getaway above Mancos, Colorado: Jersey Jim Lookout Tower| 0 Comment| 7:49 pm

Looking for a unique stay in the mountains? Jersey Jim Lookout Tower is located in the San Juan National Forest 14 miles above Mancos, Colorado. Formerly used to detect fires, the tower rises 60 feet above an aspen lined meadow. The Tower was renovated and saved from demolition in 1991 by the Jersey Jim Foundation, a non-profit volunteer organization, which operates and maintains the Tower under permit with the San Juan National Forest.

 

Guests can stay in the tower for 1-2 nights from mid- May to mid- October. The tower has original furniture and propane heating and lighting as well as a small stove, and fridge. There is a bathroom on the ground level. Guests must bring all of their own supplies including bedding for the double bed. Supplies can be carried up the stairs or hoisted up on a pulley. Up to 4 guests may stay for $50 a night. The tower has incredible 360 degree views of the surrounding area, which makes for great photos! There are also a multitude of nearby hiking trails.

 

Regular bookings are currently full for the 2022 season, however Mancos Friends of the Library is currently auctioning a night in the tower on Friday, July 8. The online auction starts today (June 20) and ends Sunday, June 26 at 8pm. Bids can be placed at mancosfriends.org

 

Normal bookings open on March 1 and can be made at the link below. Make sure to add it to your calendar because the entire season is booked very quickly.

 https://jerseyjimfoundation.lodgify.com/

Homeowners Insurance – The BasicsHomeowners Insurance – The Basics

June 13, 2022June 13, 2022| Carrie SummersHomeowners Insurance – The Basics| 0 Comment| 5:23 pm

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

May 5, 2022May 5, 2022| Carrie SummersWhy Zillow Home Values Should Not Be Trusted| 0 Comment| 9:12 pm

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!

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