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

Reconsider These Choices When Redesigning Your Kitchen

The kitchen is one area of the home that sees the most wear and tear. All the water, heat, and food spills add up quickly so it’s important to focus on quality and lasting appeal when you’re choosing materials for a kitchen remodel. Here are a few things you should avoid:
Cheap Laminate Countertops: The bottom rung of laminate is extremely susceptible to wear and tear. It can melt if you forget to place a hot pad under a pan that’s fresh out of the oven and the edges can chip off from repeated exposure to moisture and heat.
Flat Paint: A flat or matte finish is great in rooms with lower traffic, but it’s a bad idea in the kitchen where the walls are regularly exposed to splatters and spills. You need paint that can withstand an occasional heavy scrubbing, so opt for gloss or semi-gloss finishes.
Trendy Backsplash: If you watch any home remodeling show, you’ll certainly see kitchens with expensive, elaborate backsplash designs and materials. Those trends can be pricey to pursue and can look dated in a hurry. Subway tile is a cheaper, classic option that you’ll never regret, plus you’ll have more room in your budget to purchase quality materials to be used elsewhere.
Cheap Flooring: Just like the countertops, your kitchen floor needs to be strong enough to take some abuse. Cheap flooring easily scuffs and peels (especially from moisture). Quality flooring is worth the investment.

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Reconsider These Choices When Redesigning Your Kitchen

Five Tax Breaks For Homeowners

Owning your own home is a big responsibility and at times it can be a lot of work. Fortunately, there are some great tax advantages for owning, in addition to having a place of your own. 

  1. Mortgage Interest Deduction: This has long been one of the most valuable deductions for homeowners, especially with a new mortgage where the payments consist of mostly interest. 

  2. Home Improvement Loan Interest: The same way your mortgage interest is deductible, so can be the interest on a home improvement loan. Consult your tax advisor because some wear and tear items such as carpet and paint may not qualify. 

  3. Mortgage Points/Origination Charges: These charges are treated similar to interest on the loan, making them deductible. Consult your tax advisor because the deduction is treated differently depending on if the charges were for a refinance or a purchase. 

  4. Energy Efficiency Upgrades: Up to 10 percent of the improvement cost can be applied as a tax credit, which is a direct reduction in the amount of tax you owe. There are a wide variety of items such as energy efficient appliances, furnaces, insulation, and windows. Be aware that this credit does max out at $500. 

  5. Capital Gains Exemption: If you were to sell a home and realize a profit you can claim that profit tax-free. Be aware there are many requirements for the exemption, such as the home must have been your primary residence for 2 out of the last 5 years. 

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Five Tax Breaks For Homeowners

5 Not So Obvious Things That Affects Property Value

Some of the features that increase property values are obvious—like a remodeled bathroom, a modern kitchen, or a sought-after neighborhood. But here are a few features and circumstances you have not have realized can affect property values.

 1. The neighbors: Not every neighborhood or community has an HOA that can keep the neighbors from going overboard with decorations or neglecting to care for their home. Homes adjacent to crazy neighbors can potentially be undervalued.

 2. Trendy groceries and coffee: Recent statistics suggest that if your home is a short walk from popular grocery stores like Whole Foods or coffee chains like Starbucks, it can actually appreciate faster than the national average.

 3. Mature trees: A big beautiful tree in the front yard is enviable, and it’s not something that can be easily added to any home. Homes with mature trees tend to get a little boost in value.

 4. Parking: This isn’t too much of an issue if you live in the suburbs or in a rural area, but residents in dense cities can have real problems with parking, and homeowners might need to rent a spot just to guarantee a place to park each night. That’s why having guaranteed parking in urban areas will raise property values.

 5. The front entrance: First impressions matter to buyers—many will cross a home off their list within 10 seconds of stepping through the front door. An appealing front door, a friendly entryway, and a functioning doorbell are all necessities for getting top dollar.

Want to find out how much your property is worth in the Denver market? Give me a call, today.

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5 Not So Obvious Things That Affects Property Value