Quick Fixes Before You List Your Home

When you’re getting ready to sell your home, your real estate agent will let you know what you should fix before you list it for sale. This list will get you started.

Quick Fixes Before You List Your Home

Check out this list of quick fixes you can make before you list your home for sale:

Cosmetic damage
Minor upgrades
Fixing curb appeal

Cosmetic Damage

Run through your house and look for cosmetic damage. Chipped countertops, peeling paint and scuffs on the floor are easy fixes you can make in an afternoon, and they’re usually worth tackling. That’s because while they don’t affect your home’s function, they do make it look run-down and tired. The more you can do to freshen things up, the better.

Minor Upgrades

If your faucets and light fixtures are really outdated, you might want to consider updating them. You can find great – and modern – fixtures at home improvement stores, and they’re often pretty affordable. Making little upgrades like these can make a huge difference when buyers come to see your house.

Fixing Curb Appeal

The first impression buyers get of your home is when they check it out online – and usually, the first photo they see is of the front of the house. That first impression really counts – and it keeps counting until the moment buyers pull up in front of the house for a tour. Making sure that what buyers see is appealing is incredibly important, because it sets the tone for how they feel once they step through the front door.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

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4 Ways to Make Your Offer Stand Out

If you’re searching for a home for sale in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Snowmass or Woody Creek, it probably won’t be long until you find the perfect place.

And when you do, you really want your offer to stand out. If it doesn’t, you run the risk of losing your dream home to another buyer.

4 Ways to Make Your Offer Stand Out

Come up with a large earnest money deposit
Offer to rent the house to the seller for a while
Be flexible on your closing date
Pay your own closing costs

Come Up With a Large Earnest Money Deposit

The larger your earnest money deposit is, the more likely your offer is to stand out to the seller. Typically, you can expect to pay between 2 and 5 percent of a home’s sales price – and to stand out, you want to be on the higher end of that spectrum.

Offer to Rent the House to the Seller for a While

If the seller is working on his or her own timeline, it might be beneficial for you to offer to let them rent it for a limited time. Their timeline might hinge on a new house being completed, a work relocation or a number of other factors.

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Be Flexible on Your Closing Date

If it’s not going to throw you off, be flexible on your closing date. Sometimes sellers need just a few extra days (or a month) before they can comfortably close – and if you offer them that flexibility, your offer will stand out.

Pay Your Own Closing Costs

Rather than asking the seller to pay your closing costs, offer to take care of them yourself. That puts more money in the seller’s pocket – and if you’re the only buyer who’s offered to pay them, you might just win the home.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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What Happens After You Accept an Offer On Your Home?

After you accept an offer on your home, there’s a whole process that begins.

So what happens next?

What Happens After You Accept an Offer On Your Home?

Once you accept an offer, it’s time to celebrate – but don’t get too excited, because there’s still an entire process to go through that includes:

The buyer’s inspector
Deciding whether to make concessions
Waiting for closing day

The Buyer’s Inspector

The buyer will most likely hire a home inspector to come out and check up on the house. The inspector will look at everything, including the home’s major systems, its structure, and everything that’s supposed to be working.

Related: What do home inspectors look for?

Deciding Whether to Make Concessions

Sometimes the home inspector uncovers issues that the buyer will use to negotiate with you. It’s up to you to decide whether they’re worth it. If there are plenty of offers waiting in the wings, your real estate agent may advise you to move on to the next – but if there aren’t, you might want to make the concessions just to sell your home. Don’t make any big decisions without talking to your agent, though – you don’t want to make a mistake that costs you in the long run.

Related: Making an offer? Avoid these 3 big buyers’ mistakes.

Waiting for Closing Day

Closing day is typically 30 to 60 days after you accept an offer. While it’s a pain to wait, it’s worth it – and besides, you can use that time to pack.

Related: Top packing tips from professional movers

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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3 Tips for Buying a Home From a Motivated Seller

If you’re buying a home for sale in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Snowmass or Woody Creek, you’ll probably see at least a handful of listings that say “motivated seller.” (Read What Does “Motivated Seller” Mean? for more information.)

Like any real estate transaction, there’s a good chance that if you love the house, other people love the house, too. But when you’re working with a motivated seller, here’s how you can give yourself an edge over the other bidders.

3 Tips for Buying a Home From a Motivated Seller

Be flexible on the closing date
Offer a big earnest money deposit
Pay your own closing costs

Be Flexible on the Closing Date

If you can be flexible on the closing date, by all means, give that to the seller. Sometimes the seller has a very specific timeline, and it could work in your favor if yours is the only offer that includes that flexibility.

Offer a Big Earnest Money Deposit

It’s pretty standard to come up with between 2 and 5 percent of a home’s sales price for an earnest money deposit. The higher yours is, the more likely the buyer is to realize you’re completely serious about your offer. Try to be on the high end of that standard spectrum – or higher.

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Pay Your Own Closing Costs

A lot of buyers ask sellers to pay their closing costs, but if you pay your own, you’re leaving the seller with more money in his or her pocket. That’s a tough deal to pass up.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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What Does “Motivated Seller” Mean?

When you’re buying a home for sale in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Snowmass or Woody Creek, you’ll encounter real estate listings that say “motivated seller.”

But what does motivated seller mean, and how can it benefit you as a buyer?

What Does “Motivated Seller” Mean?

A motivated seller is a seller who needs to sell the home quickly. (Not all sellers are in a rush to sell, but if you see that they’re motivated in the listing description, it’s a good indicator.)

In many cases, sellers are so motivated because:

The original owner died, and the sellers are heirs who just want to get rid of the home
The sellers are divorcing
The sellers are relocating for work or another reason
The home has been on the market for a while

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The listing description might not say that the seller is motivated, though – sometimes you can tell without that language. When a house is staged and move-in ready, and the listing photos were taken professionally, you can tell that the seller is interested in selling; he or she isn’t just putting the home on the market and seeing what type of offers come in.

When sellers are willing to negotiate, you know for sure that they’re motivated to sell.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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Tips to Save Money on Repainting Your Home to Sell

When you’re selling your home in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Snowmass or Woody Creek, your Realtor(R) might suggest that you repaint it. Maybe you only need a few rooms done, or perhaps the whole house.

The good news: There are ways you can save money on repainting.

Tips to Save Money on Repainting Your Home to Sell

Shop around
Get everything in writing
Do some of the work yourself

Shop Around

Don’t automatically work with the first painter you call – or the one all your family and friends recommend. You might be missing some great deals. In fact, painters often run specials to stay competitive, so get plenty of quotes.

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Get Everything in Writing

Make sure everything you and your painter agree to is in writing. You need time estimates for the job as well as costs – that way, you know what you’re getting into.

Do Some of the Work Yourself

Sometimes you can do a little bit of the work yourself to save on labor costs. If you’re having the outside of your home painted, for example, you can trim the shrubs. Inside, you can move furniture, remove and reinstall outlet covers and doorknobs, and do prep work like sanding and patching yourself.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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Don’t Keep Your Pets Home for Showings

When you’re selling your home, your pet doesn’t really know what’s going on – but you’ll have plenty of strangers coming in and going out.

That can be dangerous to pets (and it creates conditions that make it easy to escape).

Don’t Keep Your Pets Home for Showings

Dogs, cats, snakes, birds and other pets need to go with you when you leave the house for showings.

It’s not just about making it easier to sell your home, although it will (even pet-lovers don’t want to see other people’s animals when they’re trying to explore a home for sale).

If you can, relocate your pets to grandma’s or a trusted friend’s house – that way, you won’t have to whisk away their belongings every time someone wants to come see the house. It’s easier on you.

But it’s also easier on your pets, because packing up and leaving the house over and over can be incredibly stressful.

Besides, pets are distracting. When the dog barks, the lizard moves or the cat rubs up against a buyer’s legs, he or she can’t focus on the good aspects of your home.

Do yourself – and your pets – a favor by taking them out of the house for showings.

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Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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Pet Safety During Your Move

When you’re a pet parent who’s buying a home for sale in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Snowmass or Woody Creek, your primary concern is your four-legged family members’ safety.

Check out these pet safety tips for moving.

Pet Safety During Your Move

Make sure your pets are chipped and registered
Prep them for the car ride
Board your pets if you can
Acclimate your pet to your new home

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Make Sure Your Pets Are Chipped and Registered

Anything can happen during a move – even your beloved pet slipping out the door while you’re carrying boxes out to the truck. Make sure your pets are chipped and registered before you move, and make sure everyone’s wearing a collar.

Prep Your Pets for the Car Ride

If your pets aren’t too used to the car, take them for a few rides before the big day. Make sure they’re properly restrained, and take them to places they love (like the dog park). That way, they’ll associate car rides with something paws-itive. (We couldn’t resist.)

Board Your Pets if You Can

If it’s possible, board your pets for moving day. You’ll minimize the chances of an accidental escape, and your pet will be less stressed watching the comings and goings.

Acclimate Your Pets to Your New Home

Moves shock pets. Although you’ve been planning it for some time, there’s no way your pet can understand what’s going on. When you get there, allow your pet to explore. Place favorite toys in different rooms, bring plenty of treats, and give your four-legged family member extra attention to make things easier.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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What is a Fixer-Upper Mortgage?

If you’re like many people searching for a home for sale in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Snowmass or Woody Creek, you know that you’ll need a mortgage – and if you’re a first-time buyer, you probably also know that there’s a shortage of move-in-ready homes you can find that fit within your budget.

Here’s the deal: You might want to try a fixer-upper mortgage.

What is a Fixer-Upper Mortgage?

Really called a “renovation loan,” a fixer-upper mortgage can be used to buy a home and, at the same time, make structural and cosmetic improvements.

There are two types of these loans widely available: FHA 203(k) and HomeStyle.

FHA 203(k) Loans

Designed for primary residences only, FHA 203(k) loans require a minimum credit score of 500 and a down payment of at least 10 percent. If you have a credit score of 580 or above, you could put down as little as 3.5 percent.

You can’t use these loans for things the FHA considers luxuries (like swimming pools), but you can use them to renovate a home and make it more livable.

HomeStyle Loans

A Fannie Mae HomeStyle loan can be used on a primary residence, a second home or an investment property. You must have a credit score of at least 620 to borrow this type of loan, and you have to have a down payment of either 3 or 5 percent (it depends on whether you’ll live in the home, you’re a first-time buyer, or you have low or moderate income).

There aren’t a lot of restrictions on the improvements you can make with a HomeStyle loan, other than the fact that the improvements you do make are “permanently affixed to the real property (either dwelling or land).”

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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3 Harmful Credit Myths That Are Hurting Your Chances to Buy a House

When you’re buying a home for sale, you need a decent credit score – but what if you were doing things that could actually harm your credit score without even knowing it?

Check out these three harmful credit myths that could be hurting your chances to buy a home.

3 Harmful Credit Myths That Are Hurting Your Chances to Buy a House

Credit Myth #1: No credit is better than poor credit.

Some people say you shouldn’t take on debt – and in a way, they’re right. But that’s not the whole story. You should never take on debt that you can’t handle is far better advice.

The point is that everything revolves around credit, from the stores you shop at every day to buying a home.

You need some kind of credit. But if you avoid using it at all, you’ll never develop a strong credit history – and that’s what lenders look at when they’re deciding whether to let you borrow the money to buy a home.

Credit Myth #2: Closing credit cards can boost your credit score.

Closing your credit card won’t boost your credit score. It’ll actually affect you negatively. That’s because the age of your credit plays a role in the way lenders look at your overall creditworthiness. Additionally, your available credit immediately drops – and that makes it look like lenders are willing to let you borrow less.

Credit Myth #3: Delinquent accounts disappear after you pay them off.

It’s definitely true that paying off past-due accounts will stop bill collectors from coming after you, but those accounts stay on your credit report for quite some time. Typically, it’s about 7 years before a late payment falls off your report – and it’s 10 for a repossession or bankruptcy.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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