3 Things You MUST Ask When You Hire a Realtor

If you’re buying or selling a home in Aspen or any of the surrounding communities, you’re going to need to interview some Realtors®.

But asking, “Have you ever done this before?” isn’t going to be quite enough.

3 Things You MUST Ask When You Hire a Realtor

If you know what to ask, you can find the right Realtor for your needs.

How Long Have You Been a Realtor?

New agents can start with tremendous enthusiasm and skill. In fact, some relatively new Realtors are among the best in their fields.

However, when you’re purchasing a home, it’s about more than that. It’s about hiring a Realtor who can anticipate your needs, make sure she’s looking out for your best interests every step of the way, and who has extensive experience in your market. This can be particularly true in luxury real estate.

Experienced agents understand the city’s highs and lows, how much properties are really worth, and how to find out what’s most important to you as a buyer or seller.

Can You Provide References?

A great agent will have testimonials… and she won’t be afraid to share them.

A background littered with happy clients who’ve turned into friends is the hallmark of a Realtor you want by your side when you purchase or sell a home in Aspen.

What Makes You Different From Your Competitors?

No two Realtors are alike. In fact, there should be a solid number of characteristics that your Realtor is willing to share to differentiate herself from the competition.

This answer can tell you just about everything you need to know about an agent… and it can help you make the right choice.

Are You Buying or Selling a Home in Aspen?

If you’re thinking of moving to Aspen or any of the surrounding communities, we’d love to help you find your dream home. Give us a call at 970-429-8275 or get in touch with us online.

If you’re selling, get your free Aspen real estate market update and find out how we can sell your home quickly and at the best price. Call us at 970-429-8275 today!

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Why You Need to Price Your Home Right the First Time

If you’re like many people who want to sell a home in Aspen, you know it’s important to price your home right the first time – but why, and how can you avoid making major pricing mistakes?

Why You Need to Price Your Home Right the First Time

Pricing your home is part science, part art. Your Aspen Realtor® knows that your home is worth only what someone is willing to pay for it, and to arrive at an accurate price, she’ll carefully evaluate other homes in the area and compare yours to those that are currently on the market, those that have sold recently, and those that were on the market and didn’t sell.

Here’s the bottom line.

If your home is overpriced, buyers are going to look at it and wonder why your home is more special than the other homes they’ve seen in the same price range – particularly because the other homes offer more space, better amenities or a better location. They’ll keep looking and won’t want to be “overcharged” by buying your home. Your home will sit on the market for too long, and eventually, you’ll lower the price – but by then, the listing will have become “stale” and buyers will wonder what’s wrong with it. The final problem is that you’re cutting out buyers who could afford your home if it was priced properly; they won’t even see it if they limit their search parameters to what they can afford.

If your home is underpriced, you’ll be leaving money on the table.

Are You Selling or Buying a Home for Sale in Aspen?

Call us at 970-429-8275 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll begin searching Aspen real estate listings right away. If you’re selling, get your free Aspen real estate market update and find out how we can help you sell your home quickly and at the best price.

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What’s a CMA?

If you’re selling a home in Aspen or one of the surrounding communities, it’s a good idea to talk to a Realtor® who can give you a comparative market analysis, or CMA.

But what is a CMA, and why do you need one?

What is a CMA?

A comparative market analysis, which most people refer to as a CMA, is a document prepared by a professional Realtor. In order to prepare a comparative market analysis, which helps you understand the value of homes near yours, your Realtor will need to conduct quite a bit of research.

In order to prepare a CMA, your Realtor will evaluate homes that have sold and closed within the past year. He or she will also look at properties that are on the market right now, listings that have sold but haven’t closed yet, and properties that were on the market but failed to sell for any number of reasons.

Your Realtor will only look at properties that are similar to yours in size, location and amenities. Enter the information your Realtor gathers will help you determine the correct price for your home so you can sell it quickly.

The Dangers of Listing a Home at the Wrong Price

If you list your home with the wrong price, it won’t sell.

Naturally, if your asking price is too low, you’re leading money on the table. Nobody wants to do that.

If your asking price is too high, it will sit on the market too long, and eventually, you’ll need to lower the price. Unfortunately, a price reduction sends a signal to potential buyers that your home may not be worth quite as much as you think it is – and they may be skittish about coming to see it.

The longer your home sits on the market, the less likely it is to sell.

Are You Buying or Selling a Home in Aspen?

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How to Sell Your Home Quickly

If you’re in a crunch and you need to sell your home quickly, know that it’s completely possible in many cases. In order to get your home to move off the market quickly, it’s essential that you set yourself up for a quick sale. Your Realtor® will help you make the right decisions along the way.

How Can You Sell Your Home Quickly?

Make sure your home is priced right from the beginning. Unfortunately, many sellers think that they should price their homes on the high end and lower it if it doesn’t sell – but that’s a mistake. The longer your house sits on the market, the less perceived value that potential buyers attach to it. It’s important to price your home correctly right from the start.
Boost your home’s curb appeal. Whether you have to put in new sod or you’re simply replacing the mailbox and painting the front door, any steps you take to improve your home’s curb appeal can pay off when your home sells quickly.
Stage your home. Your Realtor will walk you through the basics of home staging, so it’s best if you listen. Remember, your Realtor has plenty of experience selling homes, and his or her advice can make a huge difference in how quickly your home sells.
Be flexible for showings. When you’re ready on short notice, potential buyers will be more likely to come see your home.
Make sure your Realtor has all the information he or she needs to market your home. This includes community information, high-resolution pictures and the “inside scoop” on local amenities.

Are You Buying or Selling a Home in Aspen?

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How to Maximize Your Outdoor Living Space

Whether you’re selling a luxury home in Aspen, a ranch in Basalt, or a condo in Snowmass, you need to know that it’s best to maximize your outdoor living space to appeal to as many buyers as possible.

Creating an outdoor living space can both attract buyers to your home, and help you enjoy the outdoors a little more while staying in the comfort of your home. Below, are a few way you can maximize your outdoor living space while selling it to prospective buyers.

Add a Patio or Deck

Building a deck or patio to your home can help add more outdoor space to your home and peak the interest of potential buyers. Although the cost may be high, even building a small deck can help you get an extra dose of air that can be refreshing if you lack any outdoor seating areas. Plus, if you still feel strongly about adding a patio or deck, recent studies have shown that nearly 98 percent of homebuyers would rather buy a home with them included in the sale.

Put Up a Fence

Having a fenced-in outdoor space can significantly increase your home’s value. Plus, it can make that space feel a little cozier and free from prying eyes. After all, who doesn’t love a little privacy?

Update Your Landscaping

A well-maintained lawn can boost your home’s curb appeal significantly. Doing something as little as mowing your lawn or something as intensive as planting a whole garden can both have a positive effect. Just make sure that you take proper care of every new plant.

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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Why You Should NEVER Overprice Your Home

Selling your home can be a difficult and confusing process. With so much conflicting information out there, it can be hard to separate out the good advice from the bad. One such case is when it comes to pricing your home, as there are those out there who will continue to tell you that overpricing your home is a surefire way to ensure that it sells for maximum value, whether it’s a luxury home in Aspen, a ranch in Basalt, or a condo in Snowmass.

The key: Talk to your Aspen Realtor® about the appropriate price for your home. Your agent is familiar with the market—and he or she can tell you that your home is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it.

Should You Overprice Your Home?

Overpricing your home is almost never a good idea. The majority of homes end up selling pretty near the asking price, but that doesn’t mean that you can simply list your house for a much higher price than it’s worth and expect someone to pay it.

Overpricing your home is much more likely to drive off potential buyers, which will cause your home to sit on the market for much longer than it would’ve if you had priced it competitively.

Eventually, you’ll end up selling the home for a lower price than you could have otherwise. Even if it’s not necessarily true, people tend to assume that homes that have been on the market for a long time must have some major problem or flaw.

Your Agent’s Comparative Market Analysis

Your agent will do a comparative market analysis to determine the right price for your home. Your Realtor will look at its condition and location, as well as its amenities and what other homes similar to yours are selling for. It’s best to rely on your agent’s expertise here—otherwise, you could be stuck with an overpriced home sitting on the market for many months to come.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen?

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.

While you’re here you can also browse our:

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Buying or Selling in Aspen? Here’s How the Process Has Changed Since Your Last Transaction

If you’re like most people, you haven’t bought or sold a great number of homes—but you do know at least a little about both processes.

But is your knowledge up-to-date?

It might not be, particularly if it’s been a while since the last time you participated in a real estate transaction. Today’s buyers and sellers are worlds away from where they were just 10 years ago, and as a result, the process has evolved significantly.

Sellers Are Often Buyers at the Same Time

Many people today are buying homes while selling their old ones—and that can cause a domino effect if something, somewhere in the chain, breaks down.

This puts some additional pressure on everyone involved, too, because as soon as a sale goes through, it’s on to another transaction. Naturally, everyone wants to take advantage of low interest rates and great home values, and that means sellers want the transaction to go over without a hitch… just as buyers do.

Negotiation is “In”

Decades ago, you didn’t really negotiate. The price of a home was the price of a home—and you either paid it or you looked for a different home.

But negotiation is definitely the way to go; many people are willing to make what feel like minor concessions if they’ll mean the world to you. This is true on both ends of the deal, so it’s always a good idea to talk to your Aspen Realtor to see what he or she suggests when you really want a transaction to work in your favor.

Are You Buying or Selling a Home in Aspen?

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“Brenda went above and beyond as our realtor”

My fiance and I moved to the Valley from Minnesota this past January. We were lucky enough to be set up with Brenda from our realtor in MN. The day we arrived for our house hunting trip, Brenda met us for lunch and went over our plan of attack for the week, as she knew Continue Reading

Maria Golbirsch (and Greg Gazillo) February 28, 2017

“Brenda Wild is our exclusive Realtor”

A consummate professional who always looks out for your best interests…and yet takes the time for hand-holding too…this is why Brenda Wild is our exclusive Realtor.

Roger & Kelly Guth February 28, 2017

“You can expect the royal treatment”

Brenda and her staff get to the heart of your desire, needs and dreams. You can expect the royal treatment and awesome results with Brenda and her team.

Jenn Carlson February 28, 2017

“She gets anything you need”

Brenda is great, very efficient and hard working. She gets anything you need from home and land info to anything about Aspen you could need quickly and accurately.

Bruce Lange February 28, 2017

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