Have you ever heard of the old expression “first impressions are the most lasting”? It simply means that people tend to make a judgment on something based on their first impression of it. In real estate, this usually means that potential buyers will immediately determine what they think of your home based on your listing photos. Because listing photos of Lakewood homes for sale can make or break the sale, it’s important to make sure you use the perfect pictures. Here’s how you know your agent has nailed your listing photos:

Your home looks clean.
Buyers don’t want to see your personal belongings scattered everywhere in the listing photos, so make sure your kids’ backpacks, dog’s food bowl, and all other items are removed before your agent takes the pictures. Everything in your home should also look clean and orderly. This means your throw blanket should be perfectly folded and placed across the top of couch, your rugs should be vacuumed, and your windows should be spotless. If your home doesn’t look this way in your listing photos, it may be time to ask for a reshoot. Learn about staging for listing photos.

The images are clear.
Buyers want to get a clear shot of your home, so if the pictures you have are blurry, you shouldn’t post them online. Why? Not only does it make it hard for buyers to see what your home looks like, but it also gives off the impression that you and your agent are not serious about selling your home. Even worse, it could make buyers think you are trying to hide something by taking photos that are out of focus.

You’re showing unique amenities.
Do you have a beautiful pool and hot tub in your backyard? This is appealing to many buyers on the market, so it’s imperative that this is included in your listing photos. Go through your home and identify every unique amenity you think your home has to offer. Do you have a Jacuzzi style tub? A spacious pantry? An outdoor kitchen? These are all sought after amenities. Then, make sure each of these amenities is clearly shown in the listing photos so buyers get a true sense of what it’s like to live in your home.

The room is naturally lit.
Natural light is the most flattering when it comes to real estate listing photos, so it’s recommended that your agent take photos of your home on a sunny day when the light is streaming through your windows. Be sure to pull the curtains back and turn on the lights inside as well to really brighten the picture and make your home look more vibrant and full of life.

Now that you know the ins and outs of listing photos, it’s time to contact an agent who can help you sell your home! Our agents can guide you through every step of the sales process. Contact us at 720-220-2059 to talk to the experienced real estate agents at Colorado Home Sales today.

It’s spring time, which as you may or may not know is the busiest season for the Highlands Ranch real estate market. If you plan on selling your home soon, you may face a great deal of competition from other sellers who are going after the same buyers you are. How can you make your home stand out from the others? Follow these tips to impress potential buyers:

Get your carpets cleaned.
You may not notice a small stain on your carpet that has been there for years, but it will probably stick out like a sore thumb to a buyer who is walking through your house for the first time. Before listing your home, have your carpets cleaned so you can present your house in the best light possible.

Replace burnt out bulbs.
Houses look better when they are lit up, so make sure all of your lights are working by replacing the bulbs that have burnt out. Before potential buyers come to see your home, either you or your agent should ensure all of the lights have been turned on so the buyer gets the full effect.

Find a babysitter for your pets.
Do you have a pet? Ask a friend or neighbor to watch your pet if you have buyers coming over to look at your home. Why? Some buyers could have allergies, and you don’t want to send them home with a full blown allergic reaction. Other buyers may love your animal, but then he or she may become too much of a distraction. If a buyer really loves dogs, he may not be able to take his attention off of your pet long enough to focus on the details of your home. Eliminate the possibility of this happening by finding a babysitter for your pets.

Check the front door.
Go outside and take a good hard look at you front door. Are there spider webs growing in the corners? Is the decorative glass dirty? What about the doorknob? Even though you probably pass through your front door everyday, it’s easy to forget to clean it off and make it look nice. But, this is one of the first things that potential buyers will see when they arrive at your home, so make sure it looks presentable.

Get rid of clutter.
Clutter can be distracting, and a buyer may not be able to focus on your home if he is too busy wondering why you didn’t clean up before he arrived. Additionally, clutter gives off the impression that you don’t keep up with your home, which could lead a buyer to wonder whether your home has severe maintenance issues he should know about. Learn more about decluttering.

Now that you know how to make your home more appealing to potential buyers, it’s time to contact an agent who can help you sell your home! Our agents can guide you through every step of the sales process. Contact us at 720-220-2059 to talk to the experienced real estate agents at Colorado Home Sales today.

Highlands Ranch is a beautiful area just south of Denver. It’s home to nearly 20 parks and several other outdoor trails and activities, this is a great place to move to. When looking for Highlands Ranch real estate, there are a variety of architectural styles available. Many know what type of home they want while others are open to new ideas.

• Colonial Revival: The colonial revival architectural style is one of the most common and classic styles of home. Typically, these symmetrical homes have a front door that is in the center of the home, with first floor windows evenly on both sides. Additional floor windows are aligned with the first floor. Many think of this style similar to a cottage. It often has a brick exterior with a walkway that starts at the front door. Colonial revival styles usually have sunrooms or side porches but not in the front. The roof of these homes has a medium pitch and in some cases, have pillars in the front.
• Victorian: Victorian style homes are beautiful with much character. These homes usually have at least two floors and have a wood or stone exterior. These home often are painted unique colors to give them personality and character. In addition, their exterior also has a detailed trim. Many love this style of home with the mystery and beauty it brings. To add to its character, this home style has a steep roof.
• Craftsman: Many love craftsman style home, with its wide features. The roof design of this style has a lower pitch and they are usually one to one and a half stories tall. They often have very large front porches with entrances in the front and on the side. The exterior of these homes is typically wood or stone providing it with much character. Front porches have top to bottom columns providing for a grand entrance.
• Prairie Style: One of the quickest ways to identify a prairie style home is its exterior. These wide homes usually have flat or low roofs that have an overhand. These homes are usually one to three stories. A popular way this style is described is linear. There are many straight lines within these homes. Prairie style homes have many small windows all along the front and sides. The porches of these homes are memorial, often wide and very grand. Overhands are very popular. They also have a chimney near the center of the home that adds a final touch to this home style’s curb appeal.

If you would like to learn more about certain home types, read Antique Home’s “Vintage Home Resources from 1900 to Mid Century.” When ready to buy, trust the experts at Colorado Home Sales. Selling your home? Learn even more ways to inexpensively increase the value of your Highlands Ranch real estate. Our team can walk you through the entire home selling and buying process to make it a seamless transition for you and your family. Learn more about Highlands Ranch, CO homes for sale and reach out to us at 720-220-2059 to get started.

When you're trying to sell your home, you'll face a situation a lot like a game show. Contestants vying for a chance to purchase your Littleton, Colorado home that's for sale will appear one after the other to check out the place. Of course, your realtor should do whatever is possible to ensure that your home is sold in a realistic time frame -- whether it's through an open house, or with the use of other marketing tactics. Unfortunately, you home cannot just sit on the market with the expectation of an immediate sale, even if it does happen in some markets. The experienced realtors at Colorado Home Sales can help you through every step of the way if you follow some of the following suggestions. 

The Listed Home
Once the home is listed on the real estate market, the realtor should consider having an open house since it provides the opportunity to strategize and plan ways of winning over home buyers in a shorter period of time. Even when the real estate market is strong where sale is quick, it is still of utmost importance to hold several open houses as many times as possible until the home is sold. Why? Well, one of the main reasons is that even when the buyer has a real estate agent, the buyer still tries to view homes for sale without having the agent present. A lot of buyers do not have agent representation either, and look to open houses as a route to owning a home.

The Seller
As a seller, you need an agent to plan your open house, which usually includes offering baked goods, preparing the right signage, and employing tactics such as home staging. However, there are things that the seller must do to depersonalize the home. Some of these things include:

• Removing personal photographs
• Removing religious emblems
• Making sure that the house is clean for impromptu viewings
• Eliminating clutter

Eliminating Clutter
As you are depersonalizing the house, the removal of clutter is one of the most important things to do. Buyers will take you more seriously and once inside the home, they will start to visualize themselves in the home. A cluttered house is not going to receive a second thought from buyers. Clutter does not necessarily mean an untidy house. It means removing specific artwork and photos from the walls, removing items from shelves, and counters, which could give the appearance that the house is cluttered. In other words, the place should be organized as much as possible so that the buyer can easily walk through without stumbling or feeling claustrophobic. If you have to hire maid service, by all means do so.

The Exterior
Like the interior, the exterior is just as important. To improve curb appeal, the lawn should be mowed and edges maintained. Weed flower beds and add mulch to get some color to the garden area. Check to make sure that the paint job outside is up to par. If not, you may need to do a little painting.

The Finalizing
After checking to make sure that door handles are in place, there are no missing fascia boards, and that all repairs have been handled, it is time to do a walk-through inspection with the agent. Last, but not least is securing your valuables and personal items. These may include heirlooms, jewelry, checkbooks, and even prescriptions. Lock everything in a safe, away from prying eyes.

There are Lakewood homes for sale that buyers may be interested in. If you are a Lakewood homeowner and you want to put your home up for sale, talk to one of the capable individuals on the real estate sales team at Colorado Home Sales. You will be able to start the planning phase and get prepared for a successful open house.

Are your parents getting ready to retire? Are they living in that same house that you also lived when you were younger? Would it be better that your parents downsize to a smaller home or even relocate to another area conducive to retired individuals? While this may be a lot to consider, it might be far easier to get it done. Yes, for a move like this, there are several emotional, financial, and physical challenges, but when it is done, it could be better for your parents. There is a list of Lakewood homes for sale that your parents may want to consider, but let’ take a look at why these options could be practical or impractical.

The Challenge
You can help your retired parents to deal with some of the emotional, financial, and physical aspects of their relocation. For one, it may be more challenging for retirees to get approval for a home loan due to several stringent lending standards. This is where you might come in. There are a few options to consider. Qualifying for a mortgage can be a challenge for retirees who no longer earn a regular income. Therefore, you could offer to put up the down payment for your parents, after which your parents may qualify for a mortgage.

The Assistance
Secondly, if you are unable to make the down payment to get one of the homes for sale in Littleton, CO, then you could pay for the house yourself and allow your parents to live in the home while paying rent to you. You could also be a cosigner on the loan, acting as a guarantor and providing your income as a means of qualifying.

Purchasing the Home
If you are not sure of the decision to make, you should look at the advantages and disadvantages of the options that you do have. If you are going to buy the house for your parents, of course, your parents will be thrilled about the prospect. You could opt to buy the home as a vacation or second home while maintaining your own private residence.

Tax Benefits
You can earn substantial tax benefits with this arrangement, deducting property taxes and mortgage interests. However, you will be liable for the mortgage whether your parents are paying it or not. If they miss a payment, it affects your credit rating. Additionally, making that big purchase may throw some dent into your own retirement savings. However, the pros outweigh the cons. Make sure that the property title is in your name so you can avoid paying the hefty gift tax.

The Cosigner
If you cosigned on the home loan, your parents may qualify. Most parents might prefer that you choose this option. This would give your parents some form of the financial independence. More importantly, you don’t have to touch your retirement funds or put up any cash. On the downside, you will be liable for missed payments. However, this is a low risk to assume. You could have your parents pay the mortgage through automatic bill payment.

House Rental
If you were to buy the home and rent it to your parents, both families win. You now have trustworthy and honest tenants as you continue to earn equity in your investment property. You also can deduct taxes for insurance premiums, repairs, and other maintenance costs. Be sure to let your parents sign a rental lease to make it official.

There are many homes for sale in Highlands Ranch, CO that you and your parents can look at. If you are trying to relocate to the area, Colorado Home Sales can help you to purchase the right home in the right neighborhood. Contact us today to learn how.