OLD ROOF
If you find that the home you love has an old roof, don't panic. We can work together to negotiate with the sellers. Would they be willing to split the cost or put in a claim on their insurance if they have hail damage? An old roof is a concern, but it doesn't have to be a deal breaker with creative negotiation and budgeting.

OUTDATED ELECTRICAL
Older homes don’t always have updated electrical systems. Knob and tube or aluminum wiring can be a fire hazard and expensive to replace. However, we can use these findings as a negotiating tool to get the price reduced or closing costs covered. We'll determine the best way to move forward without breaking the deal. Consult with a certified electrician to determine the most pressing repairs and those that can wait. 

PLUMBING PROBLEMS
During your inspection, your inspector will look at the indoor plumbing and functionality, but won’t usually look at sewer pipes. Just like many of the deal breakers on our list, plumbing issues can be a great tool for negotiation to get the price reduced, closing costs covered, etc. If plumbing issues are found, work with a plumber to assess the cost and time of repairs. Sewer line repairs can be the most costly, but they can sometimes be corrected with regular cleanouts. 

SHODDY REMODELS
Sometimes sellers do some quick upgrades without a professional or permits to help their home sell. When walking through homes with your agent, looks past the gloss and shine to the real details of recent remodels. If the workmanship looks shoddy but correctable and you love the home, talk to your agent about your options before you walk. We can pull permit records to see if there are any remodels on file. Additionally, a trusted contractor can help give you a sense of the quality of the work with a simple walkthrough. If there are too many repairs needed, it may be time to go back to the hunt.

FLOOD ZONE
Homes near a river or stream aren’t always in a flood zone and homes a ways from a river or stream aren’t always out of a flood zone. It’s a good idea to check a home’s address is the FEMA Map Database to see if it lies in a flood zone. If it does lie in a flood zone, it doesn’t mean it’s a deal breaker.  Check with your insurance company about the cost of flood insurance for the home you are interested. Talk to locals to see how often the area truly floods and if your home is one usually affected. 

Some buyers see deal breakers as a reason to walk while others look for creative ways to keep the deal together and get the home of their dreams. Working with a trusted team makes the home buying process much easier as you know they are giving you sound advice. Before you start your home search, schedule an appointment with me to see how I can be on your side. 

Get Insured
Mortgage lenders require you to purchase homeowners insurance, generally enough to fully replace the property, but you may need more. If you share your home with dependents you’ll want life insurance to help cover expenses in the event of your death. If you are located in a flood-zone you will want additional flood coverage to protect you. Reach out to a trusted insurance agent to talk about what insurance is best for you.

Don’t Overspend
It’s easy to get excited about furnishing a new house, but take it slow. Being a homeowner comes with a decent price tag and you need to be prepared for potential repairs down the road. Not to mention, you now are the proud owner of trash, water and insurance bills. It’s okay to replace your old furniture, but you need to be smart about it.

Address Maintenance Concerns
If there were maintenance concerns brought up during your inspection that were not fixed by the seller, address them as soon as possible. Ignoring maintenance concerns often leads to a bigger problem down the road, costing you more money. Make a list of concerns around the house, such as a roof leak, slow drains or sticky windows, prioritize your list and get working! (Unless you are a plumber or electrician please hire a professional when working on these types of repairs.)

Meet Your Neighbors
Take a few minutes to meet your closest neighbors. If you are in a single family home try to meet the 8 people in a circle around you. If you are in condo or townhome, introduce yourself to everyone who shares a wall or ceiling/floor with you. Learn their names, become familiar with their cars and faces. This is not only a safety measure, but can come in handy in case of emergency down the road or when you need just one more egg. 

Label Your Breaker Box
Older homes often come with unorganized breakers, leaving you flipping switches at random when you blow a breaker. Take some time when you first move in to test all the breakers and label them clearly.

Welcome to the wonderful world of homeownership! Remember to ask your real estate agent for references to trusted professionals!

Analyze Your Finances 
Before you buy your first home, get up close and personal with all of your finances. Pull together statements from any credit cards, car loans, checking and savings accounts. Not only will your lender need all of the above, it will also help you get a realistic picture of where you sit financially. Are you prepared for the cost of being a homeowner?

Get Pre-Approved
Before you go too far down the homebuying path, talk to a mortgage broker to get pre-approved. Having a firm number of what you can afford will help frame your home buying choices and keep you from falling in love with a house outside of your budget. Reach out today for a recommendation for a mortgage broker.

Be Practical
It can be easy to create a mountain of a wishlist, but remember, this is your first home. Be practical with what you add to your wishlist and the budget you have. You may not have granite countertops, but you could still have an open layout. Prioritize your wishlist so you can make quick decisions.

Trust Your Team
You selected your real estate agent and lender for a reason, so trust the advice they give you. Turn to your team with questions you have during the process. This is likely the biggest purchase of your life and there are no stupid questions.

Have Fun
You will only ever be a first time home buyer once, so enjoy the journey! It may feel stressful while you’re in it, but on the other side you’ll have a place to call home for years to come.

With the right team and attitude, buying your first home can be exhilarating and fun. Get in touch today to start the process! 

​Be Realistic
What neighborhood do you want to live in, how many bedrooms do you need and do you want a yard? These are just some of the questions to consider as part of your criteria. It’s important to be specific about what you want with your real estate agent so they can show you houses that best match what you want. Remember that you will likely have to make sacrifices, especially in a seller’s market. Make a short list of non-negotiables and a longer list of preferences.

Be Pre-Approved
Before you begin the house hunting journey talk to your real estate agent and ask for their preferred lender. Go through the process of getting pre-approved by a reputable lender so you can include a lender letter with your offer. This helps to shorten the timeline after going under contract and strengthen your offer.

Be Flexible 
In a hot market homes can be under contract in less than 24 hours. As a buyer you need to be flexible with your time and willing to go see a home ASAP, if you wait for the weekend it could be gone! You may let your employer know you you are looking for a home and ask for some flexibility should you need to jet out to a showing. Bring the kids along if you need to, they’ll have fun picking out their rooms! 

​Be Accommodating 
Do what you can to be an easy customer for the sellers. This may speak more loudly than being the highest or all cash offer. Don’t request knit-picky items or large concessions unless there are safety concerns. If you have the ability, offer to cover seller’s closing fees (title fees, HOA transfer fees, etc). Offering an inspection date within a week of the contract also shows the seller you are a serious buyer. These little accomodations could mean a big win in the end by getting you your dream home! 

Be Home
Congrats! You’ve successfully navigated the seller’s market and have moved in to your dream home! Before moving everything in get the walls painted, update flooring and complete other big projects you planned on doing immediately. Now that you’re home, pour yourself a drink, relax and enjoy! 

Hopefully these few tips help you win your dream home! It’s worth the work to get the best possible fit for you and your family. Talk with your real estate agent to get the most current tips and tricks and most important, have fun during the process! 

Maintenance When You're Away
When you buy a home that isn't your primary residence, you need to have a maintenace plan. Think about how often you plan on visiting your retreat to figure out if you need additional maintenance or not. If you're buying in a condo or other covenant community, they may have property management companies they work with. If you are in need of someone to maintain your property, plan to spend about two percent of the value of the home every year to keep it maintained. 

Seasonal Accessibility 
Winter months can limit access to your mountain retreat in Colorado. If you plan to be visiting in the winter months you either need to live somewhere with snow removal or create your own snow removal plan. Understand the costs associated with snow removal and add them into your budget. 

Access to Amenities 
Before buying a mountain cabin in Colorado, consider how close the amenities you will need are, such as grocery stores and dining options. This factor is particularly important if you will be renting your place to other vacationers when you are not using it. Typically, folks on vacation want to have access to the grocery store and other amenities without a long drive. 

Whether you are looking to buy in a ski town or off the beaten path, a Colorado mountain house can be a great retreat and investment. Get in touch today for a referral to a mountain town expert. ​

Don’t Borrow More Than You Can Afford 
It’s easy to get caught up in wanting to get as much house as possible. Before buying a home, take a close look at your expenses. Carefully budget out what you will have to pay for after buying a home. Don’t forget about: 

• Insurance
• Maintenance
• Property Taxes
• Major Repairs
• Continued Savings

If you’re buying a home with your partner or spouse, consider getting qualified with just one income to allow plenty of wiggle room. Really crunch the numbers and talk to your real estate agent about expenses you can expect after purchasing. 

Remember Closing Costs
Before you start home shopping you probably got pre-approved so you can make an offer on your dream home right away. This means your finances are in order and are prepared to pay your earnest money deposit and your down payment. But remember, there can be other closing costs you have to pay. Depending on your contract, closing costs can be 3-5% of the cost of your home.

Set Fix-Up Money Aside
When buying a home buyers forget to set money aside for changes they want to make once they move in. If you want to refinish the floors, repaint the walls or update the kitchen, calculate your costs before you buy to make sure you can afford the changes you want to make. Common projects upon a move are: 

• ​New window treatments
• New Furniture
• New / Refinish Floors
• Fresh Paint
• Landscaping
• Remodel Kitchen & Baths
• Other Decoration 

You’ve done your homework and are now ready to find the perfect dream home, without any surprises! Happy house hunting!

Outdoor Kitchen
Outdoor kitchens don’t need to be anything fancy. While a nice grill is all you need to create an outdoor cooking space, consider adding a built in grill surround with a prep area, here’s how! With the help of a pipefitter, you can run a fixed gas line to fuel your grill without the hassle of propane tanks. While you’re at it, install an outdoor fridge to allow easy access to nice cool drinks in the summer heat. Start building the surround in the next few months so you're ready for warm weather! 

Landscaping
While you don't want to do too much landscaping now, you can install new edging for your flower beds, flagstone paths or a brick tree surround to bring some flair to your yard. If you want to do more, set some meetings with landscapers now to get professional opinions and set a timeline for your project. 

Firepit
You can keep it simple and grab a low cost firepit from your local big box store or you can hire a contractor to install a firepit connected to your gas line. Or go big and build your own firepit, like this one, during a warmer weekend. Firepits can even be enjoy while it's still cold out, so there's no time like the present to make it happen. 

String Lights
Twinkling lights add a lot of magic to an outdoor event. You can get ready to hang those lights come the first sign of summer in just an afternoon. Avoid drilling and hanging hooks directly into the house. Instead we recommend to build support pole where you can hang twinkling lights from without damaging your home. Overall it's a low cost project with a lot of payoff. 

New Seating
Finding the perfect outdoor seating can be time consuming. Instead of rushing into a decision come summer, start browsing now. You can look online to find styles you like so you know what you want when it's time to start "test driving" the merchandise. Online searching now will also help you set a budget so you can be prepared for the larger purchase. 

Enjoy dreaming of warm nights under the stars with these simple projects. If you need any professional recommendations, contact us today! 

Home systems put to the test
The cold winter temperatures, snow and ice can be taxing on a home and its systems. Cold pipes, blasting heat and heavy snow fall can cause faults in the system of structure to show. This is perfect for a home buyer. As you see houses during the winter pay attention to the temperature:
    -What’s the setting on the thermostat?
    -Are the windows drafty?
    -Does the house feel warm or chilly?
Paying close attention to these details can prevent you from buying a home with low quality windows or a poorly functioning furnace, for example.

Motivated sellers
During the often season, most sellers are only selling because they have to. Either their home has been on the market for a few months or they often need to move due to a job transfer, etc. Winter sellers are frequently more motivated and may be more inclined to negotiate with buyers.

Less competition 
Buying during peak season can lead to bidding wars and emotional turmoil over not getting the home you fell in love with. During the winter there are fewer buyers and less chance for competition. While inventory may be lower, you will have a better chance of getting the house you fall for, likely at a lower price.

Knowledge of road conditions
Sellers will receive notice of your upcoming showing, but the snow plow will not. Consider scheduling your showings on snowy days (if the conditions aren’t terrible) so you will be able to see how quickly, if at all, the roads in and out of the neighborhood get plowed. While the snow is falling, expect to see snow covered roads, but several hours later, or the next day, the roads should be passable. 

The benefits for home shopping during the winter can get you more bang for your buck while helping you avoid buying a poorly functioning home. Enjoy home shopping and make the most of the season! Get in touch today to start your home buying process! ​

Check the roof
Large snow falls can be dangerous for your roof, especially if you have an older home. Understand the limits of your roof and keep an eye on it as the snow collects. If you start to notice any sagging or hear any cracking inside, you may need to get out the ladder, find a spotter and do your best to clear off the roof.

Clear the gutters
Large snowfall means a lot of runoff. With our crazy Colorado weather, we can get a dumping of snow that melts away in a matter of hours. If you know snow is coming, check your gutters to check for clogging. You want runoff to be able to flow freely down your gutters and not drip onto your foundation.

Insulate pipes
There are few things worse than blown pipes. When the weather starts to drop, and when the snow starts to fall, you need to have a plan to keep your pipes from freezing. Large snowfall increase the chances of a power outage so it’s important to be prepared with insulation and pipe covers at the ready for when temperatures take a plunge. If you’re leaving town for a while, leave cabinet doors open so the heat can more easily reach your pipes.

Clear branches
It’s easy to ignore overhanging branches on your property during the summer, but come winter they can put your home in danger. If you haven’t had time to clear away branches that hang over your roof line before the snow, you need to keep an eye on them during a storm. Check every few hours for snow buildup on large branches and shake it off using a ladder, and a spotter, or any other tool available. A broken branch can mean major damage for your home.

Snow fall is part of living in Colorado, so it’s important to understand what needs to happen when the snow starts piling up. If you’re getting ready to sell a home, it’s even more crucial. For tips and tricks on how to manage snow, or if you’re looking to buy or sell, contact us today.