Buyers and sellers can reduce stress by packing strategically

Buying or selling a home is an involved process, and one of the most stressful steps in that process can be packing for the big move. A little thought and planning can go a long way toward ensuring a less stressful move.

Here are some tips for how to pack:

• Start organizing as soon as possible. As soon as you know you’re planning a move, create a list of everything you need to do to get ready.
• Sort and purge. Go through your home one room at a time and enlist your family members to help. Sort everything into keep, toss, donate and sell piles.
• Hold a garage sale. If you have time, hold a garage sale to make a little money on the items in your “sell” pile. Otherwise, list items for sale on local sale websites. Donate or toss anything that doesn’t sell.
• Plan your moving strategy. Will you hire movers, move yourself or do a combination of both?
• Get details. Book your moving company and/or moving truck rentals as soon as possible. Ask your movers if they offer pack-and-move services (for an added fee), what items they will move and how each item should be prepared for the move.
• Start packing. Work one room at a time, and pack less-used items as soon as possible. Keep essentials handy, but pack as much as you can in each room well before your moving date.
• Pack well. Wrap breakables and label each box clearly with the room and contents. Be sure to pack heavy items in smaller boxes so they don’t become too unwieldy. Reinforce the bottoms of boxes to prevent breakage.
• Keep files handy. Keep a file of your real estate and closing information, moving company contact details and other essential contacts.

With a little planning and organizing over time, your move can be relatively stress-free.

If you are buying or selling a home in Steamboat Springs, contact us. We will put our nearly 30 years of experience to work for you. 

What to look for before closing

Congratulations, you are ready to close on your new home and prepare for the big move. Before closing, one important step is the final walk-through. You will want to schedule it several days before the closing date to ensure that there is enough time to resolve any issues that the walk-through might reveal.

A walk-through helps you feel confident that your new home is in the condition you expect before you sign the final paperwork. Use this final walk-through checklist to help you:

• Confirm repairs. Check on the status of any repairs you requested after inspection. If there are any left undone, alert your real estate agent. Ask the seller for copies of repair receipts and any related warranties on the work.
• Appliances. Turn on appliances to make sure they are still in working order.
• Heat and AC. Turn on both the heat and air conditioning to check that they work.
• Water. Turn on faucets to check that the hot water is working. Keep in mind that the seller might have turned down the temperature on the water heater, so check that as well.
• Condition. Make sure the seller has removed all personal items and garbage and that the home is clean and ready for your move-in.
• Extras. Check to be sure that any item listed as included in your purchase contract, such as window treatments and light fixtures, is still present in the home.

Your real estate agent will accompany you on the final walk-through and can help guide you along the way. Be sure to ask questions. You want to feel confident and comfortable about the condition of your property prior to move-in.

Keep in mind that some homes, including bank-owned properties, might be sold with “as is” terms. Your real estate agent can help you navigate the particulars of the walk-through for an as-is home.

If you are buying or selling a home in Steamboat Springs, contact us using the form below. We will put our nearly 30 years of experience to work for you.

Questions to ask to find the right fit for you

It is important to find the right fit when choosing a real estate agent who will help you buy or sell a home. A combination of experience, credentials and personality will make a difference as you trust this person with one of the biggest transactions you will make in your life.

Here are a few questions to ask a potential real estate agent as either a seller or a buyer:

• How long have you worked in real estate? Is real estate your full-time job, or is it a side job for you?
• What was your agency’s sales record last year?
• What is the average length of time your listings stay on the market? How long do you work with a buyer, on average, before finding the right home for him or her?
• What percentage of your listings sell for close to the asking price?
• How will you market my home? How will you find potential homes for me to view?
• How much experience do you have in my target neighborhood?
• Do you have in-house resources or relationships with other professionals that could help me (real estate attorneys, mortgage specialists, appraisers, etc.)?
• How do you prefer to work with clients? What is your approach and philosophy?

That last question might be one of the most important ones to ask. You will likely spend quite a bit of time with your real estate agent, and you want to be sure that your expectations are in alignment with his or her approach. His or her personality can help put you at ease during the often stressful real estate process, so go with your gut on whether you will have a positive working relationship with your agent.

If you are preparing to buy or sell a home in Steamboat Springs, contact us using the form below. We will put our nearly 30 years of experience to work for you. 

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Credit score tips for home buyers

Your credit score is key in helping you secure a mortgage loan at a favorable rate, and how you handle your credit prior to buying a home matters. Securing a lower interest rate now can translate into saving thousands during the life of your mortgage. 

Keep in mind these tips to improve and maintain a strong credit score:

Review your credit report. Obtain a copy of your credit report and check for errors or discrepancies. Work to clear up any issues prior to applying for a loan. For more information on how to order your credit report, visit the Federal Trade Commission website.

Reduce credit card debt. Make an effort to significantly reduce or eliminate your credit card debt. Your goal should be to reach a point where you can pay off the full balance each month.

It is also important not to charge to your maximum credit limit, and don’t sign up for new credit cards before shopping for a mortgage loan.

Put off large purchases that require financing. Between the time you apply for a loan and close on your new home, be sure not to add any additional loans or financing. Buying a new car or financing furniture can negatively impact you.

Be realistic and patient. If you have had problems paying bills on time, make every effort to catch up and maintain on-time payments as soon as possible. If you have any such credit issues on your credit report, it is often a good idea to wait a year before applying for a home loan.

If you would like to learn more about how to improve your credit score to buy a home, contact us using the form below. We have nearly 30 years of real estate experience that we will put to work for you. 

Fun in Steamboat continues when the snow melts

While there is plenty of great spring skiing and boarding to be had in March and April, the first signs of spring have us dreaming of the Colorado mountain wildflowers and warmer days ahead.

Spring and summer bring a whole new set of activities and events to our scenic town, and below are just a few reasons to visit Steamboat in the coming months. After you visit, you're almost guaranteed to want to stay. 

Pentathlon
As one of the last hurrahs of winter, this weekend marks the 25th annual Steamboat Pentathlon. The race event features a mix of alping skiing and boarding, nordic skiing, running, snowshoeing and mountain biking. Saturday, March 5. 

Springalicious Festival
Steamboat resort celebrates spring the first two weeks of April with this festival. Deals on passes, bluebird ski/board days, cardboard and exercise ball races, and live music help visitors and locals alike ring in spring on the mountain. 

Summer gondola mountain biking
The gondola opens for mountain bikers on June 9 with this special event to benefit the Routt County Riders trail fund. 

Art and wildflowers
On June 11, the Steamboat Art Musuem invites artists to paint al fresco in its Plein Air Paint Out event. The event is timed to take advantage of the wildflowers in bloom. 

Hot air balloon rodeo
From a photo-ready launch to unique balloon rodeo contests, this event is sure to be a crowd-pleaser this July. 

Wine and summer nights
The Steamboat Wine Festival treats wine lovers to an elegant tasting event in the fresh summer mountain air, Aug. 10-14, 2016. 

To learn more about living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, contact us using the form below. Whether you are looking for a vacation home or a permanent mountain escape, we will put our nearly 30 years of experience to work for you. 

Know what your home contract means

The process of accepting a buyer’s offer can entail a lot of back-and-forth and many documents that require your signature. It can be overwhelming and exhausting for some sellers, but be sure to look for key items in these documents – and ask your real estate agent as many questions as you need to along the way.

Key items to look for in the buyer’s purchase contract:

• Closing date. Is it the date you expected? Does it allow you a reasonable timeframe for making your move?
• Possession date. When will the buyer expect to take possession of the property, and how does that affect your plans to pack, clean and move?
• Personal property. Home contracts allow for buyers and sellers to include personal property with the sale. These items may include appliances, window treatments, patio furniture and more. Review the contract to ensure that the items selected match your expectations.
• Repairs. Will the buyer expect you to make repairs, and does the contract specify when and how those repairs will occur? Be sure you know your responsibilities and options when it comes to repairs.
• Contingencies. Most home contracts are contingent on one or more factors before they become final, including home inspections. If the buyer must sell another home or secure a mortgage loan before the purchase can be final, ask your real estate agent about including time limits on those contingencies.
• Offer expiration. Most offers require a response within a certain timeframe. Know when you must submit an answer, or a counteroffer, to the potential buyer.

Working with a skilled real estate agent can help take some of the pressure off you during the sale of your home. If you are selling a home in Steamboat Springs, contact us using the form below. We would love to put our more than 30 years of experience to work for you. 

Finding the right loan for your home purchase

Before you purchase a home, or before you even begin the house hunt, one of the biggest decisions you must make is which lender and which mortgage is the best fit for you. Mortgages are not a one-size-fits-all product, so arm yourself with the information you need to make a sound decision.

When considering mortgage lenders, ask these questions:

• What types of mortgages do you offer?
• Which mortgage products are the most common with your clients and why?
• Is there a mortgage that best fits my needs? Why?
• What are your rates, fees and closing costs?
• Are your terms and fees negotiable?
• Will my mortgage require private mortgage insurance (PMI)? If so, how long will I need to carry PMI?
• Will you service the loan, or will it be handed off to another company?
• How long will your quoted interest rate be locked in?
• How long will it take for my loan to be approved and how will that affect closing?
• What are the terms of my loan (interest rate, fixed vs. variable rate, down payment required, etc.)?
• Is there an early payment penalty associated with my loan?

Understanding the timing, terms and fees associated with your loan and your closing will help you plan ahead and budget accordingly. Asking questions early and often will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises, and be sure to ask your real estate agent for any tips based on their years of experience as well.

If you are selling or buying a home in Steamboat Springs, contact us today using the form below. We will put our nearly 30 years of experience to work for you. 

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