Whether it has been a long time since you bought a home or it’s your first time - here’s a good refresher about the process. It is a huge undertaking to buy a home & your chosen team of professionals should make it as stress-free as possible.
prepping your house to sell - staging
staging your home to sell on a small budget
consider these steps when you look to sell your home:
remove clutter & personal items - you want buyers to imagine their lives in the space, so make that easier for them to do.
do a deep clean of your home. it is truly surprising what a good cleaning can accomplish. throw on a playlist and some gloves and get to work cleaning. your home will show so much better without a layer of dust.
sell some of your items filling up your home that overcrowd and you no longer use. places like facebook marketplace and craigslist for household items and furniture. clothing can be sold on places like thredup and poshmark.
rather than spending money on a storage unit, items and boxes can be neatly moved and organized into your garage while your home is marketed and sold. buyers do not tend to be detracted from the home when the garage is used as a moving and staging area.
orient the furniture you have to make your home look spacious and walkable. if furniture is too big for the space, consider letting go of those items. the more open the pathway, the better.
consider spending money on a fresh coat of paint in a color that has mass appeal. some ideas for colors are sherwin williams colors: agreeable gray, repose gray, useful gray and gracious greige. that way the buyers can imagine their personal spin on the place without too many distracting decorating choices and funky colors.
6 Steps When You Discover a Roof Leak
So, it has finally happened: You spotted a leak in your roof. Maybe you have spotted some water damage in your house, or maybe you picked this up during a regular roof inspection. This can be a stressful situation, but don’t panic. The following steps will help you mitigate the damage, assess the scale of the problem, and decide how you are going to solve this.
Locate the Leak
Some leaks are pretty obvious to spot, but others can be a little tricky to find. If this is the case, you may need to do some investigative work.
To locate a hidden roof leak, go up to your attic and examine the roof decking and rafters above the wet patch in the ceiling, then follow any stains to their highest point. You can then measure the distance between the leak and both the roof peak and gables. Go on the roof, transfer these measurements, and you should be able to find the leak.
Going on the roof to inspect for repairs is dangerous, so brush up on your roofing safety. A few specific points to remember include:
● Don’t go on the roof while it is still wet.
● Work with soft-soled boots with good traction.
● Set up your ladder properly, resting on even ground, secured at the top, and with a heavy object to weigh it down at the bottom.
Minimize Further Damage
Next, you will want to mitigate any further damage to your property. Contain the water by placing buckets or towels where it is falling, and remove belongings that could be damaged by water. If there is water building up in the ceiling, drill a hole to let it out (patching a hole is easier than repairing an entire collapsed ceiling).
Clean the Area
Once you have the water under control, it’s time to clean the area to prevent damp and mold from settling in. Open windows, fans, and dehumidifiers can all help remove moisture from the air and from specific materials, such as wood and drywall. You can try to rescue fabrics with a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. If you didn’t discover the leak right away and some of your property is beyond saving, you’ll want to get rid of it as soon as possible to prevent mold from settling in.
If you have a lot of bigger items that you need to get rid of, then consider calling in junk removal specialists (the cost usually ranges from $100 to $800). These pros can help with a lot of larger belongings, including appliances, mattresses, and furniture. Additionally, they will determine what needs to be recycled and what needs to be trashed, and then take those things to the appropriate facilities.
Call Your Insurer
According to Value Penguin, most home insurance covers roof leaks, but this will depend on the cause. If the leak happened due to a lack of maintenance, you will probably not be covered. You should also check what the deductible is for roof repair, as it could be much higher than the cost of just hiring a local contractor to fix a small leak. The easiest way to know exactly where you stand is to call your insurer and discuss the matter with them.
Do a Temporary Fix
Next, it’s time for a quick temporary fix that will hold the water while you find and hire a roofing expert. There are two methods you can use to achieve this: either patch the leak from the inside using roofing tar or cover it from the outside using a plastic tarp. Again, if you do decide to go on the roof, make sure it is dry and be safe.
Call a Roofing Expert
Roofing is a delicate and dangerous job, so you should take care to hire someone reliable. It’s recommended that you ask for proof of worker’s compensation and liability insurance, look for reputed local contractors, get the details in writing, and hire contractors who communicate well. Don’t base your decision on price alone, but do go in knowing how much you expect to pay: for reference, most people spend between $351 and $1,366 on roof repairs.
Every homeowner dreads a roof leak, but the truth is they are relatively common. As long as you react quickly and stay calm, everything will work out just fine. Remember to keep an emergency fund for big repairs like this, and to check your roof regularly to pick up on any potential issues before they get bigger.
This article is courtesy of Julian Lane
See more of his work here: http://thefixitchamp.com/blog/
Anxiety Buying Your First Home
Help! I have concerns!
Don’t worry, we’re here to address your home buying fears
1) I don’t think I have enough money to buy a home right now
Is this thought because of the fear of putting together a down-payment? Maybe you have heard that you need to have 20% down to purchase a house, but that isn’t true. You can put as much down on a house that you feel comfortable with, but you can purchase a house with very little money down. There are FHA loans with 3% down requirements. There are also grant programs which are available for down payment assistance which can allow you to put even less than 3% down. And if you are a veteran, you can buy a home with 0% down (thank you for your service).
If you’re talking about the monthly payments for a house - if you are paying rent, you can certainly afford to buy a house. All you’re doing paying rent is paying someone else’s mortgage.
2) Should I wait until the market changes?
there’s a quote about planting a tree. that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago and the second best time is today. you can’t perfectly time the real estate market. and real estate appreciates over long periods of time, like it takes for a tree to get old. so, you have to jump in the market. don’t be thoughtless about your purchase in the right part of town or home for you, but don’t be afraid to get started.
3) I can’t afford my dream home
Most everyone has a dream home. And then we have the home that we can afford right now. And we build wealth through real estate. You need to buy the home you can afford right now to be able to eventually get closer and closer to your dream home.
4) I’m confused and the process for buying a home seems so stressful
Buying a home is a big purchase - maybe the biggest one you will make in your lifetime. That’s why real estate agents exist. We help you with this big purchase so you don’t feel as stressful. We are experts that do this everyday, and we are here to help you.
So don’t be worried, find the right real estate agent to help you overcome your fears and help you start building your future!
How to Make a Successful Home-to-Rental Conversion
When planning to turn a personal residence into a rental, how you go about it can make all the difference in your results. Good planning and preparation can mean a money-making dream come true, but handled poorly, homeowners could be in for more of a nightmare. Additionally, certain preparations can boost property value. Here’s how to ensure a successful conversion that provides comfort and safety for your guests and brings you added income.
Proper Maintenance Is a Must
While your immediate goal is to appeal to guests, much of what you do to make them comfortable will also set your home up for a successful sale later. One of the best ways to appeal to potential buyers and renters both is a well-maintained, move-in ready property.
When you live in a house, keeping things up can be pretty natural. As issues arise, you manage them, and you get into a routine that ensures your basics are covered. However, when a place isn’t your primary residence, it can be easy to let things slip by; out of sight, out of mind can mean forgotten key elements. For instance, keeping your property clean is a must. Guests will expect a spotless, well-maintained house and yard. Many homeowners hire a cleaning service (if you live in Westminster, you can expect to pay $114 and $250 on average), or you can develop your own routine. If you are close enough to spruce things up between guests, then you have an opportunity to look for any damage or maintenance issues that may arise. Tidy.com offers a handy house-cleaning checklist to help you cover all the details.
Safe and Secure
In addition to a clean, tidy house, guests need to feel safe in your home. With that in mind, consider installing a home security system. It’s an option chock full of perks, and it makes good sense for owners of rental properties. In addition to helping guests feel at ease, you can rest assured your property is safe, even if you’re far away. There are ample bells and whistles to consider, from alerts when a window is opened to temporary key codes that expire when guests check out. On top of all that, some experts believe that a home security system can increase your property value, so it’s a win in all respects.
Upgrading the Atmosphere
Vacation rentals walk a fine line in certain ways. People might choose them over hotels because they provide a homey, private atmosphere, but at the same time, they don’t want to be reminded they are in someone else’s home. To help your guests feel comfortable, do some depersonalizing and aim for a neutral decor. Stick with simple, classic, gender-neutral choices, and make sure the house is uncluttered and organized. Also, if anything is dated-looking or worn, consider investing in some updates.
If you need to prioritize your projects, the room to focus on first is the kitchen. As HGTV points out, kitchen upgrades can make or break sales for house hunters, especially since they can run around $21,571 on average. Consider a fresh coat of paint, stainless steel appliances, and a tile backsplash to get things up to speed. You’ll find those same improvements will impress guests. To put you ahead of competing rentals, boost your home’s appeal to guests even more with a bit of luxury. One idea is to install wine cooler, and add a personal touch with a complimentary bottle of local wine, some gourmet cheese, and some nicely packaged crackers.
When managed properly, turning a personal property into a vacation rental can be a terrific money-maker for homeowners. Many of the same things which appeal to guests will also catch the eyes of house hunters if you decide to sell at a later date. Think in terms of providing comfort and security and you’ll ensure success.
Article courtesy of Erin Reynolds - see more of her helpful info on her website
Grab Your Pumpkin Spice Latte then head home for some Home Maintenance…
Schedule your sprinkler system blowout & winterization
When your sprinklers are blown out, remove all hoses from their connection to your house
Clean gutters and downspouts - so that water can easily flow through and get removed from you house
Seal any gaps in your home or garage where outside animals could come in to enjoy your heat
Remove any window A/C units if you have them
Winterize your swamp cooler
Schedule chimney cleaning if you have one
As real estate agents, we see how not doing the above can lead to safety issues or costly repairs down the road. Doing these annually to keep your nest egg safe!
As always, reach out to us if you would like to know more about Buying, Selling or Investing in the Colorado Real Estate Market. We would love to earn your business!