Mancos Realtor

Selling? Things to do and NOT doSelling? Things to do and NOT do

August 6, 2019| Carrie Summers| 0 Comment| 4:19 pm

Here’s some tips of things to do and NOT do when selling your home.

1. Don’t try to sell it by yourself. For sale by owner homes sell typically for 20% less than with a Realtor. Plus do you know what to disclose? You could be opening up a huge can of worms by trying to do it yourself.

2. Have the Realtor do a market analysis. Look at similar homes that are on the market, and that have sold to set the price.

3. Once listed, make sure you have the home looking it’s best. Clean up the front yard, maybe a fresh coat of paint on the deck, and declutter! Do not plug in air freshners to cover up a smell. Remove the cat litter boxes, make sure all animals are outside of home and won’t bug or bite a potential buyer.

4. Allow the Realtor to put up a sign. I understand you don’t want “looky lous” however you want it to sell so we need to get the word out. Share your listing with all your friends, co workers and share on social media.

5. When you do have a showing, do not be around. Buyers want to feel comfortable looking around and do not want a tour or story from you. Put a snack on the counter for Buyers with a note, saying “Enjoy the view”! You want the Buyers to linger and not feel rushed. Put together a list of things you love about the home and leave on the counter along with a plat map of the home.

In today’s market it is a Seller’s Market since there are few homes for sale. Be sure to put your best foot forward to get top dollar.

For more tips, please give me a call. Carrie Summers 970-759-2540 MancosHomes.com

Looking for a new home? Covenants- Pros and ConsLooking for a new home? Covenants- Pros and Cons

July 30, 2019| Carrie Summers| 0 Comment| 11:02 pm

Are you shopping for a new home? Many people contact asking for homes or land without covenants. Covenants are rules that restrict your use. Sounds bad, however without them you might be buying a home and it turns into your worst nightmare.

When land is subdivided in Montezuma County (Mancos, Cortez and Dolores), the county requires covenants for setbacks, weed control and fire mitigation. It’s very important you understand the pros and cons of covenants.

Recently I showed a home to a potential buyer and once looking at the neighbors we soon found out that their place was in disrepair and had cars coming and going throughout the day. If there were covenants it might have prevented this kind of activity. I have story after story, of unhappy homeowners trying to live in an area that doesn’t fit.

Sure you want to do whatever you want on the place you own, however we all have to live together in harmony unless you are miles away from others.

Most covenants have restrictions to building size, how many animals, type of home you can build, and road maintenance. If you were living in an area with covenants, you have grounds to get the neighbors to abide by the rules. Without covenants, you can call the sheriff however getting them the neighbors to change, might just cause more friction.

It’s best to do your homework, before you buy. Call me, Carrie Summers, I’m here to help. 970-759-2540

Are you ready to sell your home?Are you ready to sell your home?

April 17, 2019| Carrie Summers| 0 Comment| 2:17 pm

Should I sell my house? If you have been asking yourself this questions, I’ve got great news. It’s a great market for sellers. There are a shortage of homes on the market which drives home prices up.

Here’s some things to ask yourself.

1. Are you emotionally ready to sell your home? Are you ready to put in the work to get your home ready for sale? Yes, it’s a big chore and I can help you declutter and make that first impression a good one. Are you ready the reasons potential buyers don’t like your home? Are you ready to leave those memories created in the home?

2. Do you have equity in your home? You need to know what your home is worth. Look at your mortgage statement balance and call me for a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). With these two things I can help you determine your equity. Do you owe more on your home than it’s worth? Probably not since the last several years home values have been rising and that means you are building equity.

3. So how much equity do I need? You want to have enough equity to pay off your current mortgage with enough left over to provide a 20% down payment on your next home. Having this 20% will help you keep your next private mortgage insurance (PMI) down.

4. Are you out of debt and have cash in the bank? This is super important that you have money to pay for emergencies. So how much? You should have at least 3 months of expenses saved up. Need help working on a budget or figuring this out? Call me.

5. Does your current home fit your lifestyle? Is it too small for your family or too far away from the school? Do you really want to spend all your time shuffling kids around? Maybe your home is too big, now the kids are out of the house or there are just too many stairs.

These are really important things to consider. I’m here to be your trusted advisor. Call me, Carrie Summers and lets talk. 970-759-2540

Are you ready to sell?Are you ready to sell?

January 10, 2019| Carrie Summers| 0 Comment| 5:01 pm

Selling your home is an emotional issue. Before you plant the “For Sale” sign in the front yard, take a minute to answer just a few questions:

Are you ready to put in the work to get your house ready for house hunters?
Are you committed to keeping it ready to show for weeks or months?
Are you ready to hear the reasons why potential buyers believe your home is not perfect?
Are you ready for honest—and sometimes hardball—negotiations over what buyers are willing to pay for your home?
Are you really ready to move out and leave the place where your family has made memories?

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not trying to talk you out of selling your home! I just want you to be completely ready when you do decide to move on to the next stage of your family’s life.

Selling your home is a big deal. A real estate agent does more than just schedule showings of your home. They bring experience and confidence to the table when they handle their many job duties, which include:

Giving you advice about updates or repairs that will make your home more attractive
Helping you set a price for your home
Marketing your home so it receives as much exposure to potential buyers as possible
Scheduling showings with potential buyers
Advising you as you negotiate offers
Handling all the required paperwork

Make sure that your real estate agent can be reached via phone and not always texts. Make sure they return your calls in a timely matter. Google your prospective realtor. How are their online reviews? Do they have a good online presence? Get referrals. Do they live in your town and have sold any similar homes? It’s really important that you do your homework.

If you are thinking of selling your home, I’d love to sit down with you and show you how I can help the process go smoothly. Call me, Carrie Summers 970-759-2540 MancosHomes.com

Thinking of Renovating? 10 questions to ask a builderThinking of Renovating? 10 questions to ask a builder

December 11, 2018| Carrie Summers| 0 Comment| 4:46 pm

If you are thinking of building or renovating a home, there are several things you need to think to consider. Sure everyone with a pickup truck and a dog in the back says there a builder in Colorado. But are they skilled? This is a question that has haunted me as well as several people.

So where do you begin? The first thing is to talk to all your friends, neighbors and even at the coffee shop. Get referrals. Once you’ve gotten your referral list together start meeting with the individual builders and ask lots of questions.

1. How long have they been in the business?

2. What homes have they done in the area so you can go see them? Make sure and see at least 3 projects. Ask their previous clients, how much they charged? Were they easy to get ahold of and were there any problems?

3. Do they work alone or have a team? What is your time frame for completion of project?

4. Do they have the tools? If they have a small pickup with no tool bed or trailer, that is a red flag.

5. Will they guarantee their work?

6. Have they ever been in a dispute with an owner?

7. Are they insured?

8. Do they belong to any building associations?

9. Does the local building supply know them and recommend?

10. Do they have a website? Portfolio? Facebook page? Check with Better Business Bureau and Google them.

I’ve been around Mancos for 29 years and have used many builders who are not qualified. Yes, I’ve learned the hard way so call me and I’ll help you not have a stressful situation. 970-759-2540. MancosHomes.com

Fresh FruitFresh Fruit

July 14, 2018| Carrie Summers| 0 Comment| 12:51 am

One of the best things about summer is fresh fruit. Even though we had very little snow over the winter, several apricot trees are loaded throughout Mancos. Yum! Also Oalthe Sweet Corn is now $8 for a $1! Woo Hoo! Don’t miss the Farmer’s Market on Thursdays next to my office from 4 to 7pm for your veggies and live music. Yes, I love living in Mancos. If you are looking for a small town with a big heart come fall in love. Just recently Mancos helped a family that was down on their luck to find a place to live, get it furnished and even do landscaping for them.

I’m here to help! MancosHomes.com

Let Summer Begin!Let Summer Begin!

June 1, 2018| Carrie Summers| 0 Comment| 2:16 am

Schools out and time to plan! Southwest Colorado offers an array of great things to do and see in the Summer. Some of my favorites are of course riding my caballos more! Long days allow me to ride before work and I still get to work by 8:30 am!

I also love hiking and trail running. Some of my favorite trails are Sharkstooth and Chicken Creek. I decided to take up mountain biking. So far just gone on a couple of rides. Man oh man, did my legs ache! Phils World, located between Mancos and Cortez is awesome as well as Boggie Draw outside of Dolores. Both offer single track with some challenging obstacles.

I love eating outside and watching La Plata TV. That’s just staring at the mountains. Never get tired of my view from my deck to just breathe.

Want to find a great place to fish, or a new hiking trail? Just give me a call, I’m here to help you fall in love with the area.

P.S. The picture is my son, several years back and makes Mama happy to see that smile!

Thinking of Selling?Thinking of Selling?

February 28, 2018| Carrie Summers| 0 Comment| 4:22 pm

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.

Do you have a will?Do you have a will?

February 9, 2018| Carrie Summers| 0 Comment| 5:23 pm

A will is the last gift you will give to your family. It’s a legal binding document that gives you control of what happens and what won’t happen to your estate. You spell out exactly who will watch over your children, and your assets. It is a gift since it will make the whole process of dying easier for your loved ones since they know your wishes.

There are software programs that can walk you thru it just as easy as Turbo Tax. You can also go to a lawyer or just google it and you will find many options. Make this a priority.

Mountain Bike TrailsMountain Bike Trails

January 8, 2018| Carrie Summers| 0 Comment| 6:36 pm

This winter is unusual with very little snow, so it’s time to forget about waiting for skiing to be good and get on our bikes. Southwest Colorado offers a plethora of options.

Phil’s World located between Mancos and Cortez off of Hwy 160, offers well defined single tracks over high desert terrain. There are several options of short loops with 8 miles or a full 15 mile loop. Terrain is mostly easy to moderate however there are several great jumps that my boys love. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/621788

Carpenter and Geer Natural Areas offers 170 acres on the North and West side of Cortez. For the beginner rider there is a broad paved 1.5 mile trail. For the intermediate rider there are many dirt paths that veer off. Views are amazing. This is a perfect place to take a ride during your lunch or on the weekend with the kids. It can be assessed from two locations. On the East side, it begins as the sidewalk on the northwest corner of Mildred Road and Empire Street and heads north. On the West end, the trail may be accessed on Lebanon Road north of Highway 491.

Sand Canyon Trail located down McElmo Canyon southeast of Cortez offers intermediate riding thru canyons with ancient Puebloan sites. During the winter this is a nice warm ride over slickrock and on single tract. One way is about 6.5 miles. To reach the McElmo Canyon trailhead, head south of Cortez on Highway 491. Turn right (west) on County Road G at the signs for the airport and/or Hovenweep National Monument. Go 12 miles, and trailhead is on the right.

Time to get outside!

Tag: Mancos Realtor