Author: jeabegg@yahoo.com

Happy March! With spring hopefully on its way, you may be looking to check-off some to-dos around your house. Here are a few quick maintenance tips for your home this month!

• Change the air-conditioner filter.
• Clean window and door screens.
• Inspect roofing for missing, loose, or damaged shingles and leaks. 
• Power-wash windows and siding.
• Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.
• Inspect chimney for damage.
• Have a professional inspect and pump the septic tank.

As a homeowner, when you decide it’s time to sell your home, there are many decisions you have to make to ensure you sell at the right price. One of those decisions is whether to advertise the home empty or with its furnishings. If you have already moved into a new home, you may be tempted to leave the house empty.  

But if you still live in it, the easier option would be to advertise the home with all of your personal belongings. But will either of these options help you get the highest price for your home?

How you present your home is a big factor in how much you get for it. It is a known fact that empty houses do not perform well in the market. They don’t resonate well with buyers. And they often sell below value, warns McGuire Management in Denver, after spending a long time on the shelf. Selling your home empty is not an option you should be considering. 

But does that mean you should market the home with your furniture intact? The answer is no. How you design your home reflects your taste and lifestyle. That works as long as you live in the property, but not when you are trying to sell it.

Presenting a home according to the owner’s style limits it because not everyone is going to love that style. Only people who share the same preferences will be attracted to it. You do not want this for your home. Instead, you want to be able to reach even people who have contrasting ideas to your own. 

And the best way to do this is by using furniture, lighting, and décor that many people can relate to. It also means arranging these items in such a way that the home evokes a strong emotional response from buyers. How do you achieve this? By having the home staged professionally.

What is home staging? 

Home staging is a real estate marketing strategy that uses makeovers as its primary tool. Its goal is to take an ordinary home and transform it into a space that resonates with potential buyer’s dreams.  Staging a home makes it feel warm, welcoming, and move-in ready. It helps buyers connect to it emotionally and see it as a place where they could live. 

By using colors, lighting, furniture, and décor creatively, professional stagers highlight the best things about a property. They also arrange the space to fit the current design trends that homebuyers are looking for.

But is home staging not just an additional cost and pressure to the existing costs and pressures of selling your home? On both counts, the answer is no:

• Staging your home is not an additional expense because while it costs hundreds of dollars to stage your home, it can earn you thousands of dollars.
• Staging your home relives the stress of selling your home because it reduces the time the property stays on the market.
• Furthermore, home staging is the best way to take full advantage of how homes are marketed and sold today.

The benefits of staging your home for sale

Staging creates an emotional appeal 

Selling anything successfully begins with creating the right perceptions in people’s minds. When people buy something, 80% of that buying decision is emotional. Only 20% is logical and people usually use logic to try and justify an emotional decision they already made. Home staging helps to create the best impression about your home; buyers see the property not just as a house but as their dream home.

Visualize the end product

When it is empty most people cannot visualize what the house would look like when furnished. They also have trouble imagining how to put a home’s configuration to the best use. But when the right furniture and furnishing are used in it, people start to see the advantages of a home’s unique features. Staging a home professionally helps buyers see the potential of a home and how they can employ its spaces.

Staging a home hides its flaws

Every home has at least one aspect of it that could be better. It may be too small, awkwardly shaped, have corners that are not clear to define and may not be airy or bright enough. Before staging a home, professional stagers take note of its flaws. And they design the home in a way that hides those flaws or turns them into advantages. When potential buyers view that home, they are more likely to focus on its strengths rather than its weaknesses.

Staged homes sell faster and for more

A staged home looks better in pictures and is more sharable on the internet. The more people view the home, the more offers the owner gets, and the greater the chances of it being sold. This is why staged homes sell faster. But in addition to selling faster, they also sell at a higher price than comparative homes which have not been staged. This happens because the staged home fits the dreams and expectations of the buyer; so there is a perception of greater value. This feeling leads the buyer to make a higher offer for the property.

One of the best CO seasons is upon us- Fall! Forget for a moment the pumpkin spice lattes, and focus in on what has always been the true harbinger of fall- the gorgeous transformation of leaves throughout the state.

Fall officially began on Tuesday the 22nd of September, which means we’re going into prime season for leaf peeping drives. And what more fun way to both socially distance with the family and/or friends while enjoying the best of Colorado with a drive through the Rocky Mountain to catch the spectacular show put on by the fall foliage?

It’s All in the Timing- there isn’t one particular date on the calendar when the CO leaves start to change colors, and it can be a challenge to hit the apex. Due to the extreme draught we’ve had in CO, experts are predicting that the pinnacle of leaf magic could happen 4-8 days earlier than usual. In fact, many of the areas just outside of Denver and the central region are already seeing changes and should be peaking through the end of September. Head a little farther south to catch the brilliant red, orange, and brown hues in the southern part of CO through mid-October.

Hit the Road

It’s not too hard to find beautiful drives outside of Denver, but locals claim that these are some of the best. If you’re aiming for later in September, Crested Butte has some of the most iconic fall foliage in the state. Check out Kebler Pass, Ohio Pass, Brush Creek, or the West Elk Loop.

Dallas Divide and Lizard Head Pass: Begin your journey in the town of Ridgway. Head west on Colorado 62 over Dallas Divide. Lining the route are unimpeded views of the Sneffels Range, an apron of aspens at its feet. At Placerville, head southeast toward Telluride on Colorado 145. All the way to Lizard Head Pass you’ll drive through dense groves of white-barked aspens with panoramas of Wilson Peak.

If you’ve got the time, take a weekend away to Steamboat and choose a couple of these scenic drives while you’re there: Buffalo Pass, Rabbit Ears Pass, Highway 131, or a trip through North Routt County. (And don’t forget to stop at my all-time favorite hotsprings, Strawberry Park Hot Springs).

Colorful trails

If you’re feeling you’d like to social distance on foot, you can experience Colorado’s brilliant fall colors a little slower on a hike. Backpacking the Maroon Bells is something many Coloradans have on their bucket list and timing it for peak leaf viewing only enhances the incredible experience. If you prefer to explore on two wheels, Marshall Pass along the continental divide or The 401 near Crested Butte offer unbeatable views.

taken from ReColorado Homeblog

Whether you are shopping for a home in another city, practicing physical distancing to prevent the spread of a pandemic, or looking at homes in your neighborhood, you have access to many tools to help you remotely.  

You can still view and shop for a home while maintaining physical distance and protecting yourself and others. This could be a great time to use the tools available to you online to view homes for sale across Colorado. Nearly 1,400 new listings were added to REcolorado.com by real estate brokers last week.  

Remember, your REALTOR® is available to help. Plus, with a selection of online tools, you can thoroughly vet many homes without leaving your own. Here are a few tips to help you with your virtual house hunt.  

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words 

Scrolling through listing photos is one of the first instincts home shoppers have when looking at homes online. Take a moment to slow down and really look at the photos. Pay attention to how the rooms relate to each other. Some platforms, like the REcolorado Matrix Client Portal, even include photo captions when provided by the listing broker.  

Tip: If you don’t find one online, ask your real estate agent about a floor plan. They can reach out to the listing broker to get additional information.  

Virtual Tours and Videos 

If you can’t visit a home in person, look for ways to see it digitally! Virtual tours, recorded videos, and virtual open houses are a great way to see inside a home.  

Look for this icon on listings on REcolorado.com to see available virtual tours. You can see even more through the REcolorado Matrix Client Portal.  

View Virtual Tours on REcolorado.com >>  

Get set up on the REColorado Matrix Client Portal

What is the REcolorado Matrix Client Portal? When you work with a real estate agent, they can give you access to a wealth of information available through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), REcolorado. You can see more details about homes, plus your real estate agent can easily connect with the listing agent to answer your questions about a home for sale.  

Learn about the REcolorado Client Portal >> 

Selective Showings  

Even after thorough online vetting, you’ll probably want to see a home in person. When you have a short-list of homes you’d like to see, ask your REALTOR® to schedule private showings. Using a showing service, they can ensure that you will be the only people visiting the property at that time.  

Tip: Follow CDC guidelines – wash your hands, avoid touching your face, and keep an appropriate distance between other people.  

If 2020 is the year for you to buy a home, consider making these 5 New Year’s resolutions to help you be as prepared as possible to become a homeowner.

1. Cut down on monthly subscriptions.

With each month, there is a new subscription service out there. What starts as convenience turns into an endless list of subscriptions that we often don’t use enough to justify the costs. Sit down and go through your monthly/yearly subscriptions and cancel whatever you don’t use. Set aside that extra money with the rest of your savings so your down payment can continue to grow.

2. Build a better credit history.

Paying bills on time and paying off debts will help create a solid credit history. Make sure you have some utilities or rent in your name so that you can pay them on time and continue to build a solid credit history. 

3. Avoid changing careers.

Alongside income, your employment history will be a major factor during your mortgage application evaluation. While a new job could be a good career move, most evaluators are looking for a steady job history with little to no gaps in your employment over the last few years. 

4. Check your credit.

If you don’t know where your credit is at currently, now is the best time to check. Most credit sites will tell you what is impacting your credit, and you can use those tips to change your choices heading into the new year. If large debts are negatively impacting your credit, get started on a pay off plan so your score can improve in the new year.

5. Avoid large purchases.

Your debt-to-credit ratio makes a major impact on your mortgage approval. If you buy a brand new car or fund a large vacation, that ratio could sway in the wrong direction. If you want your lender to be willing to give you the maximum amount possible, make sure you aren’t making any large purchases heading into the new year.

If you’re hoping to sell your home in the next 6-12 months, or know someone who is, here are some quick and easy tips for selling quickly and for top dollar. These basic steps will provide great return on investment in your sale!

I LOVE the 4th of July, especially in Colorado! There’s no shortage of fun things to do this great holiday, so if you don’t already have plans, check out the fun fireworks, parades, and fun events in and around Denver!

Independence Eve Fireworks

Civic Center Park, Denver
July 3rd at 4pm-930pm
The quintessential Denver 4th of July. Pack your favorite picnic dinner and arrive early (around 6:00p) for prime lawn seating. Don’t forget some board games or card decks to fuel the fun as you await the 8:00 patriotic concert! An impressive fireworks display follows.

Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Cherry Creek North between 2nd and 3rd, Denver
July 5-7th
The best of the best when it comes to festival food and artistic variety. Take advantage of Cherry Creek’s beautifully appointed streets to browse local art. Plus, they dedicate an entire block to fun activities for kids!

Fireworks at Elitch Gardens

WHEN: July 4, dusk
WHERE: Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park 
Spend the day riding the roller coasters and the water slides at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, Denver’s downtown amusement park, then watch a brilliant fireworks display light up the night sky, starting at dusk.

Highlands Park 4th of July Celebration

WHEN: July 4, 4-10pm
WHERE: Highland Heritage Regional Park

4th of July Evergreen Music

WHEN: July 4 10am-730pm
WHERE: Buchanan Park

Summer Concert & Fireworks

WHEN: July 4, 6pm-10pm
WHERE: Green Valley Ranch Center Park

Colorado Rockies & Fireworks

WHEN: July 3 610pm Game with postgame fireworks
WHERE: Coors Field

4th of July in Brighton

WHEN: July 4, 4-10pm
WHERE: Carmichael Park, behind Brighton City Hall

4th of July in Thornton

WHEN: July 4, 4-10pm
WHERE: Carpenter Park Fields, 108th Ave & Colo Blvd

The Rapids & Fireworks

WHEN: July 4, 9-930 pm fireworks show
WHERE: Dicks Sporting Goods Park

The Outlaws & Fireworks

WHEN: July 4, 7pm
WHERE: Sports Authority Field at Mile High

So whatever you do this 4th of July, have fun, be safe, and celebrate with the ones you love most!