In Denver’s hot real estate market houses have been known to go under contract within hours. With low inventory still a problem in the area, sellers will often receive several offers over asking price. But in such competitive bidding wars how do you stand out outside of being prequalified for a mortgage?

Here are 5 ways to stand out in a bidding war:

Personal Letter
Write a letter that stands out by referencing a specific personal item in the home, if possible. You can also include a photo of yourself or your family to really show off who you are. Know who your seller is. If you’re putting in an offer on a foreclosure home, for instance, a personal letter won’t be of much help. However, individual sellers and even estates can often be swayed by this personal touch.

Flexible Closing Dates
Sellers may have a specific needs in regards to closing. If your agent is able to find out their specific timeline, do your best to follow it. If you are unsure of the timeline, include a clause stating that you are flexible with closing based on the seller's needs.

Don’t Include Contingencies
It’s not generally recommended to waive an inspection contingency as you want to ensure you are making a good investment, but there are a few other contingencies you can waive to make your offer stand out. For instance, an offer without a contingency to sell a current home will be more appealing. Talk with your agent for ideas of other items you feel comfortable waiving.

Pad the Earnest Money
Earnest money is in place to prove you are a qualified buyer. If you are looking to really stand out, offer to pay more than the sellers are requesting in earnest money. This shows you are a strong buyer and able to secure financing.

Include an Inspection Waiver
Getting an inspection on your new home is highly recommended. However, there is some wiggle room you can write into a contract. Consider including a clause stating you will not ask for inspection items to be addressed if they are under a certain dollar amount and pose no immediate health or safety risk. This type of clause can give sellers a sense of security and help sway them toward you offer.

The Rockies are in our backyards and during the beautiful summer months it's impossible to resist the call of a weekend trip. And since the kids are out of school it's easy to galavant around the country and enjoy some downtime. But what happens to your house when it's left alone for an extended period of time? 

Here are 5 potential catastrophes you need to prepare before you leave: 

You hear the term energy efficiency tossed around often, but you may not give it a lot of thought. While energy-efficient appliances and the like may benefit the environment, they can benefit you as well. When you’re buying a home,  there are a few key things to look for so you don’t end up with a hefty energy bill.

Windows and Siding
Conditions outside the home always have an impact on the temperature inside the home and your energy costs. Check homes for updated windows and siding to save energy. Double-paned windows and new siding can make a huge difference in your heating and cooling bill.

The sun is shining and it's time to head outside. In Colorado almost every day is a good ice cream day, but nothing beats enjoying a delicious cone in the warm sunshine. If you need an afternoon treat, check out these local shops for some fun flavors and delicious ice cream.

Here are 5 of the best ice cream shops south of Denver:

It’s no secret that the Denver real estate market has been booming for the past couple of years. As one of the first to recover from the housing crash in 2008, Denver saw tremendous growth in a very small amount of time.

With the rise in housing prices, millennial buyers (defined as 18-35 year olds) are feeling pushed out. The American-dream of homeownership feels more out of reach than ever before. However, based on a recent study from Trulia, while the initial purchase may feel like a stretch, statistics show that millennials can expect their mortgage payment to be comfortable within three years.

The best real estate usually specialize in an area of town, but maintain working knowledge of most neighborhoods. QuinnCorp focuses primarily on suburbs south of Denver, stretching into Denver proper. Here are some common cities our buyers want to live in. buyers.

Centennial
Average Sale Price in 2017 - $438,225 | Population - 109,932 | Crime Index - 57*

Centennial, formerly unincorporated Arapahoe County, was founded in 2001 and is one of Colorado’s newest cities. With established shopping areas, such as the Streets of Southglenn, the city has seen growth and improvement. Being a larger city, there are homes in Centennial for everyone and buyers will likely end up in one of these three school districts depending on where they buy: Cherry Creek Public Schools, Littleton Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools.

Condos often a good option for singles, young couples and empty nesters. Low maintenance condos allow for peace of mind and more time to do what you love. While most of the process of buying condo is the same as buying a regular home, there are a few unique items you need to be aware of.

Here are 5 important things unique to buying a condo:

Each time I (Ed) go to Juarez I am reminded of how blessed I am to have you all in my life. Your generosity gave one family a home they can be proud of, a home where they can raise their children in safety. I am forever thankful for your kindness in making this possible. Thank you again for your support.

This year was a special trip as two of our daughters and our two grandchildren came with me. We made some great memories serving together and are looking forward to when we can do it again, next time with Ginny and all of our children there as well.

It's amazing to see this type of trip through the eyes of a child. Our grandson immediately noticed the need in Juarez and commented on how if he could stay for longer he could help many more people. Our granddaughter became instant friends with the little girl from the family we were serving. Children always keep things so simple, it's a nice reminder. 

Here's an overview of the trip. Thanks again for your support, we couldn't do this without you.

Buyers want to be able to envision themselves living in a home. While you may love your orange wall, some buyers won’t be able to see past the paint color. Take some time to stage your home and get it sold fast!

Here are our 5 tips for making buyers buy your home:

Tidy Up
Start packing before your home is on the market. Pack away knickknacks, books and last season’s clothes. Make sure your surfaces such as countertops, dining room tables and vanities are completely clear and your closets are well organized. Buyers are going to be opening closets and cabinets and you want them to like what they see.

Real estate contracts are full of unique terms you may not be familiar with. When you’re in the process of buying or selling a home this can be confusing. You’ll have QuinnCorp by your side every step of the way, but before you get started on your real estate journey here are a few definitions to help you along the way.

Here are explanations of 5 common parts of a real estate contract: