This is the time of year that the Denver real estate market always seems to heat up. Sellers begin to put their homes on the market and buyers begin to actively look to purchase.  It seems that nearly every year the trend is mostly the same.  We have had a few tough years lately in the Denver real estate market and the activity has been down but the trend is relatively the same. This year can potentially be a more vibrant real estate market due to several factors, including the current buyer tax credit which is set to end April 30th.

So, what are just a few things sellers can do to improve the odds of selling their home in this prime time of the season? Well there really are no secrets that we all haven’t heard or read before.  The basics remain the key to success.  In working with buyers in the Denver market and listening to their input, I can offer a few suggestions that may be useful.

1.  Curb Appeal – Take a little time to spruce up the yard and outside of the house.  We had some early snow here in Denver, perhaps you never even had a chance to do that last of the year clean up before the snow started. Add mulch, mow, trim, maybe power wash or at least hose down the cobwebs off the siding, especially at the front porch and door.  This is the first impression and if your otherwise beautiful home has no curb appeal, sometimes the buyers won’t even bother to come in.

2.  Clean and Declutter -  Don’t take this lightly!  Also, don’t take it too personally either.  If your home is cluttered and maybe in need of some elbow grease then take care of it.  If your agent or someone else has told you this, then don’t take it personally, just take it as good advice and act on it.  You probably wouldn’t try to sell your car or any other valuable asset without first cleaning it up a bit, would you?

3. Stage it - The feeling a buyer gets when touring your home is so important.  You want to make sure your home is staged to offer a warm, comfortable feel to the buyer.  Sometimes this is just a matter of using what you already have and strategically placing it.  Sometimes it may require the services of a professional stager.  If it is within your budget, then a professional stager can work wonders for your home’s appeal.  In any case, another set of eyes can usually make a difference.

4.  Exposure – Where is your home being marketed?  You aren’t just relying on a sign in the yard and maybe an ad in the paper are you?  Today’s buyers are first looking to the internet by an overwhelming majority.  You need to make sure your home is exposed to the millions of potential buyers out there with a solid internet strategy.  This should include not only traditional websites, but a strong social media exposure as well.  This is vitally important and crucial to your success.

5. Price – Yes, its true.  No matter what you’ve done to prepare and market your home to the buyers out there, if it is too overpriced it still won’t sell.  You’ll need a good pricing strategy.  Pay attention to market reports and absorption rates for the local real estate market.  Be realistic and flexible.  Your price needs to be in line with the fair market values in your area.  You won’t fool the buyers and certainly not the appraisers.  I regularly post market reports and trends for different areas of the Denver real estate market so you can always check back here, or contact me and let me know what area you are looking at & need info for.

I hope these few tips can help you in preparing your home to sell.  Many sellers beat the odds and get top value for their homes in minimal time, even in this market.  Usually, it is because they have taken the time to set themselves apart from the competition.  If you’re considering a move in the Denver area, give me a call or email, I would love to help.

Looking for more info about Selling Your Denver Home? Try these…
What is an Absorption Rate?
Selling Your Vacant Home?
Your House Won’t Sell if Buyers Can’t See It

Steve Scheer, Denver Realty Partners

Search all Denver & Denver Suburb Homes Here

If you would like more information on the Denver area or more information on Denver real estate, contact Steve at 720-849-6101.

If you are planning to sell your Denver home this fall or winter, here is a quick tip for getting a home on the Denver real estate market from October – March, particularly if you have a gorgeous yard.

Take out your camera and snap a few photos.  Your beautiful garden with perennials, flowering bushes and the like.  If your yard is covered in snow during showings, and your landscaping is a true gem, it can be nice to show off what is buried below the frozen ground. 

If you have photos like this at your fingertips come December, your Denver Realtor will thank you.  Your future potential buyers will thank you too.

Highlands Ranch Real Estate – How Is It Possible To Sell A Home Quickly In This Market?

I have been repeating it over & over in my blogs, on my web sites, on the phone and in emails.

Price and Condition. Price and Condition. Price and Condition.

I recently listed a beautiful home in Highlands Ranch. Beautiful. Talk about Condition. Extra time before going on market was taken to get it in tip top shape.

I did my usual diligent research in coming up with the price. Careful consideration, market research, evaluating buyer trends in price ranges.

I suggested the price – what I knew was the right price – the sellers approved.

Did they want to try and get just a little bit more and see what happens? Did they want to over-price just to see what they may be able to get ?

NO! They listened to their Denver REALTOR®.

Word hit the street of this beauty and the showings were made. Quickly. 48 hours and 4 contracts later the house was Under Contract. That’s right, 4 contracts.

Just to be clear. This house was NOT under priced. It was priced right.

If this home had been priced higher the story would not have been the same. In fact, there would have been no story because it would probably still be an active listing waiting for showings to be set.

Price your Highlands Ranch home right, and get it in immaculate shape. It will sell. And this rings true for other parts of the Denver metro area as well.

If you are a seller in Highlands Ranch in the high 200’s to low 300’s listen to your REALTOR®. This really stands true for all home sellers but I see the most interest in that price range currently. Purge your home. De-clutter. Clean up and make your bath tubs sparkle. Start packing and getting rid of your "stuff". And price it right.

There are home buyers in the Denver real estate market. Willing and able and approved buyers. I know. 3 of them didn’t get my listing and they could be waiting for yours.

Denver Home Buyers – Use the Loan Officer Your Denver REALTOR® Recommends – They Do So For A Great Reason!

I write this to my future Denver real estate clients, and all of the clients of the world out there. In the last year or so, I personally have recognized a growing trend in my own real estate business. Many of my clients don’t seem to want to use the loan officer that I may recommend to them. And for the most part I don’t get it. Because of that, I have been involved in so many internet loan fiascos in the past 12 months than I care to remember, as recalling them just brings back the headaches.

So, just to clear a few things up. I recommend specific lenders for a reason. I like them. Why? Its not that I like them personally (Well, I do, but that’s not what I am getting at). I like them because they are good. They are not only good, they are great. I trust them, and I trust that they are treating you with the ultimate respect and honesty that you deserve. I know that they know their stuff – and these days, that is the ultimate. They are experts and highly knowledgeable. If they weren’t, I wouldn’t be using them.

Have you heard about all of the differing issues in the mortgage industry? I feel confident in my loan officers that you are not going to have to worry about that. Because they will make sure you are not getting in over your head, approved for more than you can handle, or in bad loans to begin with. All of that stuff that will keep you awake at night with a headache. And here’s another very important part of it -I have a great rapport with them. We have done business before and my high expectations are clear.

I know they are going to get me what I need, and when. I know I will have your pre-approval letter to submit with your offer. I know everything else will be in order. I know if there are any obstacles that arise, they will communicate them with me in a very timely manner. I know they are going to keep an eye on everything throughout the life of the contract. And I know they are going to call me back when I need something from them. I also know that they will call you too. I absolutely know they are good and I trust them.

I want to make something clear that I think sometimes people assume. I do not get a cut of anything from any lender I recommend. Do I get a referral fee? No way. Do I get trips to the Bahamas, uh, no. What do I get? I get the distinct professional pleasure of working with a very professional lender that I know will do a very good job for my clients and do everything in their power to get my client’s the best loan for them and make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Just to clarify, every experience I have had with lenders new to me has not been a bad experience. In fact, I have met some of the ones that I now recommend in that way. But for the most part, when someone chooses a mortgage program or loan officer because it just seems so good – too good to be true, it usually is. And I can’t tell you how many times I have heard as we walked out of the closing room, Steve, I should have used your loan guy. Yeah, I wish you had too.

So here’s the bottom line. You hired me and trust me to be your professional. If I recommend a loan officer then understand it is because you hired me to look after your best interests. I believe the lenders I recommend have your best interest in mind and you’ll be thrilled in the end. Of course, you can look at a hundred other lenders if you would like, I would just prefer that you at least call my lender and get their plan as well. I believe that you will be thankful for that

Scenario: You are out with your Denver REALTOR® and you have searched high and low to find the perfect house to call home.

And then it happens. You find it! You know you want it! Its got your name all over it. You are excited! Very Excited!

But wait! Its not yours quite yet. May I make a suggestion? Shhh! Keep your lips sealed!

Over the years I have encountered numerous occasions where a buyer’s excitement is their own doing-in. What do I mean?

Here are a few scenarios. They are all real life experiences that I have seen occur, no names or telling details of course – just lessons to learn by.

Scenario #1 – You found the perfect home in the perfect neighborhood. Its a brand new listing, you were one of the first to view the home. You just made a decision to buy and you are meeting your Denver REALTOR in one hour to write the offer. In your joyful exuberance you BLAB to your next door neighbor the news. You happen to include the price you are going to offer.

You are so psyched – you are buying a new home! Fast forward two hours later and you find out that another offer came in that was just a little better than yours. Fast forward to a month later, you find out the person that got the house happens to be your neighbor’s (that you blabbed to) cousin. Of course you didn’t know the cousin was searching for just about exactly what you were wanting as well.

Scenario #2 – You are leaving a home that is high on your short list. As you are leaving you decide to come back later without your agent and walk the neighborhood. Upon doing so, you meet a lovely lady that is taking out her trash and you stop and chat. You find out all sorts of wonderful news about the neighborhood. She asks you if you are going to make an offer. You say yes, probably.

24 hours later you decide for sure to make an offer. Your REALTOR calls with the bad news, I am sorry, but that home is suddenly Under Contract. Fast forward to a month later, you find out sweet old lady knew someone also interested that was waiting to see if the price went lower. She tipped them off that they better make a move.

Bottom Line – Its a Very Small World Out There. Even in the south metro Denver real estate world, the communities that we live in and want to live in are much smaller than some people understand. Chances are not bad that someone you know will have some sort of connection to a home buyer or home seller in your future.

Keep Your Lips Sealed. One the deal is done you can shout from the rooftops your excitement & joy!