Hunting for a new home online is a great place to start your search, but it should not be your end all be all. Good listing agents are excellent at highlighting the best features of the home, but keep in mind there may be more than meets the eye. To make the most of your time and efforts and gather a well-rounded picture of home listings online, keep the following three things in mind.

Stay up to date. 

When you start your search, make sure you find a site that pulls up-to-date listings directly from the multiple listing service (MLS) where real estate agents actively post their most current homes for sale. Many online resources update less often or fail to remove listings that are off the market, making it more difficult to sort through the clutter.

Pictures can be deceiving.

Real estate photographers are experts at showing a home in the best possible light. Many use tools and strategies to boost appeal, such as a fisheye lens to make areas look larger and creative editing to make colors and textures really pop. But, often listings will not contain photos of unappealing parts of the home, like small closets or outdated bathrooms.

See it to believe it. 

Once you find what appears to be your dream home online, call up your real estate agent and schedule a showing. You want to take the opportunity to vet the home in person and explore every part of it before beginning the offer process. Your real estate agent will help you cover all your bases and will ask questions you may not have thought of.

Create The Home Office Of Your Dreams

Whether you work full-time at home or occasionally, need to conduct business in the evenings or on the weekends, a home office a great way to utilize an extra room. A dedicated workspace in your home can be designed to increase productivity and comfort. Here are 5 ideas to get you started.

1.  A Good Chair

Invest in a good office chair. Investing in an ergonomic office chair is essential. You may be spending anywhere from 30 to 50 hours a week sitting in it, so your back will thank you. Purchasing one with multiple adjustments is ideal so it fits you just right.

2. Good Lighting

Switch up your lighting. Fluorescent lighting has been proven to be hard on the eyes. Make the switch to LED or halogen light bulbs in your home office and try to let in as much natural light as possible. Also, consider finding a desk lamp to reduce headaches and eye strain.

3.  A Neat Workspace

Keep essentials in reach and organized. Nothing says productivity like a clean, neat workspace. Select a desk with a lot of storage or install creative shelving to keep items like pens, pencils, extra batteries, calculators, notepads, and more stored within arm’s reach.

4.  Choose The Right Color

Decorate bright. Pick a color you love and use it to spice up the room. Use cheery yellow or red or relaxing tones like green and blue, instead of beiges and browns.

5.  A Great View

Aim for the view. If possible, place your desk so you are facing a window instead of a blank wall. Natural light can do wonders for staying alert and you can give yourself a short mental break when necessary by looking to the outdoors.

Home Warranty Vs Home Insurance

When purchasing a new home, it’s important to do in-depth research on all facets of the homebuying process. One thing you’ll need to understand is how to best protect yourself and your investment if anything were to go wrong. Check out the information on home insurance versus home warranty below to educate yourself on your options.

Home Insurance

Homeowners insurance pays for any accidental damages and loss that are caused by fire, lightning strikes, windstorms, and hail, however, damage from earthquakes and floods is typically not covered. It also covers the replacement of personal property in case of theft or damage and liability if a person were to get injured in your home or on your property. According to American Home Shield, the average annual cost of a homeowner's insurance policy ranges between $300 and $1,000, and the bank usually asks you to obtain a policy before the mortgage is issued. Make sure to keep in mind that each type of coverage in the policy is subject to a limit and, in most cases, you will have to pay a deductible.

Home Warranty

A home warranty is designed to cover the cost of repairs and replacements of larger appliances and crucial systems in your home that may fail or break due to age and wear and tear. This includes but isn’t limited to HVAC, electrical, or plumbing components, kitchen appliances, and your washer and dryer. With a home warranty, you are required to pay premiums year-round, even if you do not use it, and it won’t cover damages if appliances were not maintained properly or if the damage is from a fire or other disaster.

The bottom-line difference with regards to warranty vs. insurance is that insurance covers unexpected events that lead to damage, while warranties cover events that are somewhat expected, such as the aging and ultimate breakdown of appliances and systems.

Visit my Youtube channel for videos on Living In Loveland CO and real estate tidbits

Remodeling A Home

Have you been dreaming of a remodeled home?  Is your kitchen outdated, your landscaping overgrown, or unusable basement space?  The first thing to consider is how you are going to finance it.  Here are the most common options to make your dreams become a reality.

CASH

Paying cash is the most straightforward option, just save enough money until you have enough for the expense.  This will limit spending outside your budget; however, it can also extend your timeline.

MORTGAGE REFINANCE

If you've been making payments on your home for a few years and your interest rate is higher than current market rates, you may be eligible for a mortgage refinance, reducing your payments and freeing up some of your money.

CASH OUT-REFINANCE

You can tap into your home equity and borrow up to 80% of your home's value to pay off your current mortgage plus take out more cash to cover the renovations.  This option is encouraged only when you are making improvements that will increase the value of your home, as it can add a lot of interest and fees.  

HOME EQUITY

Getting a home equity line of credit allows you to borrow money against the value of your home.  You receive up to 80% of the value of your home, minus the amount of your loan.

RETIREMENT FUNDS

Homeowners can consider pulling money from a 401k or IRA account, even though they aren't specifically meant to cover a home renovation.  This option might incur additional penalties or tax payments, but maybe worth it when making improvements that will benefit them financially in the long run.  

If remodeling is not what you want to do and buying a new home or a resale home is better for you then give me a call.  I'm happy to help you find the home that fits your lifestyle and dreams.

When To DIY and When To Get Help

Homeowners can see expenses add up quickly. From home improvement projects to ticky-tack repairs, people are looking to avoid additional costs for their home. But what projects make sense to take care of on your own, and which ones need professional assistance? Here are some examples that will help guide your plans and know which projects to DIY and when to get help!

DIY Projects 

Clogged pipes

You can often fix these with plungers or commercial drain cleaning products.

Broken toilet handle

If your toilet doesn’t flush, remove the tank lid and see if the chain is detached from the lever.

HVAC maintenance

You can easily change your system’s filter yourself. 

Blown fuse

Simply throwing the switch in your circuit breaker could get your power back on.

New light switches

It’s fairly easy to replace a switch. Just make sure you turn off the circuit breaker before touching any electrical outlet. home improvement 101 When to DIY and when to hire help Trained Professional Required

Trained Professional Required

Major electrical work

Anything involving wiring can be extremely dangerous and should be left to a licensed electrician. ÄExtensive plumbing replacement— Replacing any fixtures can cause extensive flooding if not done properly.

VAC installation

Since these are some of the more expensive pieces of equipment in your home, don’t try installing units yourself, as it may void the warranty.

Remodeling Projects

Don't start knocking down or building new walls without discussing the idea with a maintenance or remodeling professional.

Do it yourself or Hire a Professional?  You have to make that call depending on your confidence.  I have many resources if you are in need of a plumber, electrician, or remodel contractor.  Feel free to reach out to me for a professional.  Or a move-in ready homes or new construction homes.  Please reach out to me for any help.  970-672-6069  Margaret Herdt at Turn Key Realtyhttps://www.turnkeyrealtyco.com/.

Your Real Estate Resource Market Review for March 2019

Northern Colorado Market Report March 2019

As a service to you, I am providing March's real estate market statistics for Northern Colorado. This information has been compiled by IRES which is the multiple listing service (MLS) that serves Northern Colorado, counties Larimer and Weld. As 2019 progresses, I will provide you with monthly updates of these market statistics.

This linked Monthly Market Report will illustrate March's..

• Home Sale Activity
• Average Sold Prices
• Listing Inventory
• Average Days on Market
•  Housing Activity by Price Range

________________________________________________________________________________

Walkable Neighborhoods

Loveland CO Public Transporation route

More American's prefer living in a walkable, mixed use neighborhoods with easy access to amenities according to a Community Preference Study done by the  NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. More than half (56%) of respondents said they preferred living in a walkable neighborhood over one that requires more driving between work, home, and recreation.  When considering a home purchase, 77% of respondents say they would look for locations with abundant sidewalks, while 50% say they would rather see improvements to public transit systems than initiatives to build new roads. 

While space is important to many home buyers, some say theyare willing to sacrifice more square footage if it means less driving. Nearly three out of five home buyers say they would choose a smaller home if it's location promised commute time of less than 20 minutes.

Walking can play a significant role in your health, your quality of life, and your enjoyment of the outdoors in Loveland, Colorado. 

Old Home vs New Construction

Why do some buyers prefer older homes while others prefer new construction?  Here are a list of ideas for determining whether to buy an older homes vs newer homes.

Older Homes

1. Established neighborhood
2. Established landscaping
3. Window treatment is already in place
4. More character
5. The cooling system is usually in place
6. School systems are already ranked
7. You could see settling or cracks due to poor quality construction - time shows the flaws
8. Usually no HOA or metro district is in place - less monthly cost
9. You may run into older wiring or plumbing
10. Maintenance is an ongoing thing from day one.
11. Most homes are unique
12. Lot sizes are usually bigger

Newer Homes

1. You are starting out with everything new
2. While everything is new there may be some additional expenses such as: window coverings, A/C units, landscaping (back or possibly both), fencing
3. More than likely there will be an HOA - added cost monthly and when you go to sell (transfer fees)
4. Everyone is new in the neighborhood so your chances of connecting with the neighbors are better than in an established one.  
5. Everything is to code or should be
6. Everyone in the neighborhood has the 3 - 5 floor plans (cookie cutter development)
7. Schools may not be established yet or ranked
8. Prices are usually lower at the start of the development.  Each construction phase will have an increase in price, so get in early.
9. You may purchase early in the subdivision development but then the builder stops building.  It could be years before the rest is finished
10. You will experience noise and construction mess during the building up of the neighborhood - dust and extra contractor vehicles.

While there is a home for everyone, not everyone's tastes and buying power are the same.  There is a house for everyone.  You just need to determine what you like.  Whether it is a new build or an existing home from 1920, HAVE AN INSPECTION done on the property.  I've seen cracked sewer lines in new construction.  Just because it's new doesn't mean it's better.  

Utilizing a REALTOR®   can help you make the right decision for you.

Your Real Estate Resource

Spend More Time in a Beautiful Kitchen - Kitchen Trends 2019

What better way to spend a snowy day, than in a beautiful kitchen and a home that you own and enjoy.  Oh sure, you can go out to eat and all of that, but when you have an amazing kitchen to cook in and family to share it with, why go out.  

According to Forbes the U.S. falls very close to the middle of the pack at 3 hours 27 minutes per day in the kitchen.  The majority of this work involves cooking and cleaning; overall, an average of 2 hours and 8 minutes per day are spent on meal preparation and clean up.  That doesn't leave us much time to eat and enjoy our food, family and friends.  Maybe you need an update?  Here are a few trends that are new for 2019.

Patterned Flooring

Patterned flooring is becoming a look for 2019.  Whether it is in the kitchen or bath, patterned floors can add so much character to a room.  You can add color, design, and an different feel to a room if your focal point is the flooring.  I would like to spend my time in this kitchen.  How about you? 

Another idea that is changing in the kitchen is:

Retro designs

Colored appliances and the retro look appliances are a hit right now.   Granted they are not like the real "ice boxes" of yesteryear but they have the look. 

Black and Gold 

Black and gold appliances with a matt finish are replacing the white kitchens of the last few years.  Stainless steel is also trending out.  A warmer feel to the kitchen is being designed to add a calmer "mood".

Remodel Costs

If you are thinking your kitchen needs an update then maybe a remodel might be in order. 

The cost to update your kitchen in Northern Colorado can be a little as $6,000 or as much or more than $27,000.  The benefits will out weigh the costs.  Your beautiful kitchen will be more enjoyable to be in and your return on investment can be as much as 80% depending on what you do. 

Your Northern Colorado Real Estate Resource