What To Repair Before You List

When you’re getting ready to list your home, it’s of the utmost importance to ensure you are showing it in the best light. Taking time to highlight its strengths and fix up some of its possible weaknesses can make a big difference in how fast it sells. Here are our top four recommended repairs to make before selling your home.

Repaint walls.

Giving your home a fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce it up, and generally, it can be a do-it-yourself project. Make sure cover any walls with scratches and chips and consider updating any accent walls with a more neutral coat.

Repair floors.

Hardwood floors are a very desirable feature in a home, so you want to ensure they look their best by fixing scratches or dull areas. If your carpet is worn or stained, consider replacing them. And don’t forget the tile in your kitchen or bathrooms. Re-grouting can go a long way in making dingy tile work look brand new!

Refresh the landscaping.

Show buyers your home is the full package by dressing up the outside as well as the in. Clean walkways and driveways, plant seasonal flowers and plants, trim hedges and trees, install outdoor décor pieces and fill in mulch and gravel.

Fix your fixtures.

Leaky faucet? Rusted drains? Loose drawer handle? Making these small fixes can make a big difference to potential buyers with detailed-orientated minds. Improve your kitchen. An outdated kitchen can be a real eyesore in a home. Updating cabinetry, repairing or replacing countertops, and installing new faucets and sinks may be worth the investment

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What To Repair Before You List

The Difference Between A Short Sale & A Foreclosure

As unfortunate as it can be when homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments and must face the possibility of losing their homes, short sales and foreclosures provide them options for moving on financially. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually quite different, with varying timelines and financial impact on the homeowner. Here’s a brief overview.

A short sale comes into play when a homeowner needs to sell their home but the home is worth less than the remaining balance that they owe. The lender can allow the homeowner to sell the home for less than the amount owed, freeing the homeowner from the financial predicament.

On the buyer side, short sales typically take three to four months to complete and many of the closing and repair costs are shifted from the seller to the lender.

On the other hand, a foreclosure occurs when a homeowner can no longer make payments on their home so the bank begins the process of repossessing it. A foreclosure usually moves much faster than a short sale and is more financially damaging to the homeowner.

After foreclosure, the bank can sell the home in a foreclosure auction. For buyers, foreclosures are riskier than short sales, because homes are often bought sight unseen, with no inspection or warranty.

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The Difference Between A Short Sale & A Foreclosure

SETTLED IN? HERE ARE THE MUST-HAVES FOR YOUR NEW HOME

Moving into a new home is an exciting time in your life. You’re making plans for renovations and choosing furniture, but before you get too far ahead of yourself, there are some more important matters to attend to.

Staying safe: Make plans for home security and emergencies. What’s your escape route in case of a fire, or shelter in case of a severe storm? Do you have a home security system, a protective dog, or weapon available in your bedroom? Choose your “Stay Safe” tactics and make a plan for the worst-case scenarios that put your safety at risk.

A disaster kit: Even if it’s as simple an inconvenience as a power outage, you want to be ready. Stock a flashlight, non-perishable food, water, a first-aid kit, and warm clothes/blankets that you can access in case of an emergency.

A spare (secret) key: It’s no fun getting locked out of your house—especially in cold or wet weather—and no one wants to pay a locksmith to access their own home. Hide a key somewhere outside (just be more creative than hiding it under the welcome mat). There are plenty of devices you can purchase, such as magnetic key hiders, that can help you hide your key in places that a trespasser wouldn’t consider

When buying or selling a home in the Denver metro area, contact Delilah,

 and let me put my knowledge, experience, expertise, and professionalism to work for you.

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SETTLED IN? HERE ARE THE MUST-HAVES FOR YOUR NEW HOME

2017 Denver Parade of Homes

Last month I had the pleasure of attending the Denver Parade of Home Tour presented by the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver. The tour showcased 66 state of the art, energy efficient homes with unique floor plans, and the latest interior and exterior design finishes. Whether you are a home buyer seeking a no maintenance town home, a custom build, a luxury home, a smart home, or searching for a 55+ community, there was a home for you.  

Some of the design trends I noticed:

Glass & More Glass|Window towers brought more lights into interior units/townhomes & added a more spacious feel.

Spa Feel to Bathrooms| Free standing tubs, larger showers and glass enclosed water closests.

Outdoor Living Spaces| Transitioning seamlessly from the interior, rooftop decks, adjacent to master bedrooms

Next Generation Homes| full living spaces for in-laws or grandparents with separate entrances.

Weather Sensing Irrigation| Automatic timers and weather sensing irrigation, your landscaped yards will be healthier and you save money as well as reduce the amount of water used. 

Spray Foam Insulation| Greatly reduces costs for heating and cooling and well as decreases noise, dust, pollen, and other outdoor pollutant that can adversely affect indoor air quality. 

Don't rule out new build homes.  Price wise they are comparable to resales, customize-able, and in some cases move in ready.  If I can be of help in making a new build a reality, please give me a call.

When buying or selling a home in the Denver metro area, contact Delilah,

 and let me put my knowledge, experience, expertise, and professionalism to work for you. 

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2017 Denver Parade of Homes

Anti Burglar Tips for Sellers

A House with the For Sale sign can be targets for criminals and squatters. Use the tips below to protect your property while its on the market.

Realtor.com suggests that you mark your valuables and record details. Use invisible-ink pens or engravers to mark identifying information (driver’s license or state ID numbers) on items. Log serial numbers and take photos of your belongings. Check to see if your police department participates in the Operation Identification program. They will have stickers for you to place on doors or windows warning would-be thieves that your items are marked. These steps may prevent them from pawning or selling stolen items and can help you reclaim recovered belongings.

If the home is empty, inform your neighbor the house is going on the market and to report anyone other than your real estate agent showing up to view the home after hours.

Make it look like you are home regularly, especially if the property is empty. Invest in lightening apps that can be controlled by your phone, or lamps that pop on at sunset.

A well manicured lawn usually means that the home is occupied but overflowing newspapers, and packages that accumulate by the front door is usually a tell tell sign that the home is empty.

When buying or selling a home in the Denver metro area, contact Delilah,

 and let me put my knowledge, experience, expertise, and professionalism to work for you. 

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Anti Burglar Tips for Sellers

Avoid These Two Big Mortgage Mistakes

We all know that searching for and viewing potential homes is the fun part of the home-buying process. The not-so-fun part? The mortgage.

But if you don’t pay attention to the details, your mortgage can end up dragging down the enjoyment of your new home and cause some major regrets. Here are a few mistakes to avoid to ensure that you love your mortgage terms as much as your hew home.

Don’t find your home first: Shopping around for the best mortgage rate should be the first step in the home buying process. You may even want to talk to a mortgage broker a full year before you plan to buy. It’ll give you time to get your affairs in order to qualify for the best rate, could save you thousands of dollars in the long run, and you won’t feel rushed to accept an unattractive loan because you’re worried you’ll miss out on your dream home.

Don’t forget your real budget: There’s often a big difference between what a lender says you can afford and what you can actually afford. Your debt-to-income ratio doesn’t include the money you spend on hobbies, or the cost of commuting to work, or maintenance and utility costs.

Really sit down and examine your spending before committing to the loan amount the lender is offering. You won’t enjoy your home nearly as much if it’s eating into your favorite hobbies.

I have a host of great lenders who can help you qualify and get your on the road to becoming a home owner. Call/text me today at 720-316-4436. 

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Avoid These Two Big Mortgage Mistakes