Tips for Finding Real Estate

(Source: Billings Farnsworth)

Are you in the market for Aurora real estate? Maybe you're on the buying end, or maybe you're on the selling end. Either way, there are right ways to go about the process that will end up in immense cost and time savings. One of the better ways to go about delving into the real estate market is to use the Internet to expand your reach and possibilities.

If you're a buyer, beginning the process can be as simple as going your preferred Internet search engine and typing "real estate Aurora". This should bring up many listings, as well as Realtors and agents in the Aurora area that can assist you in your real estate search. An Internet search is a good way to kick things off, as it'll give you a better sense of the available market, and you'll be able to identify areas that fit your needs and budget. Then, you can enlist the help of a trusted Aurora agent that can handle the nitty-gritty of the search process.

A good tip when looking for a real estate agent is to look at the reviews of local Aurora realtors online as well. Often times if someone is really satisfied with the service they received from an agent, they will go onto Google or Yahoo and rate their services. Same goes with an unsatisfied customer. IF the service is bad, they often times want to tell others about it!

If you're a seller of real estate in Denver, you'll similarly want to look at your options online. If you're selling through an agent, your listing will most likely be posted online as a service. If you're selling without the help of an agent, it will pay dividends to post your property online, as this will open the market to a much larger market of potential buyers.

There are any number of good listing services that can do this for a nominal fee-- some may even do it for free. It doesn't take much computer knowledge to do this, and it doesn't take long to post, so this should be one of the first steps you take in the selling process.

If you are searching for an Aurora real estate agent, Kim Olson is a great agent servicing the entire Denver metro. She specializes in Aurora Real Estate and has a very successful track record for selling homes fast. You can find her information at TheDenverSource.com

10 House Selling Tips

Source: CNN Money.com

It's a tough market for selling a house. Maximize your chances of a sale at a good price with these house-staging tips from an expert.

Who knew that getting rid of family photos and clearing off countertops could help you snag top dollar for your house? These are just two secrets from Debra Gould, founder of Staging Diva. Gould, a professional home stager, has helped scores of homeowners clean up, rearrange, and style their homes to command top price.

That can mean anything from putting extra books in storage to getting rid of moldy caulk in bathrooms to renting furniture to fill up too-bare spaces. "The goal is to make your home clean, organized, and welcoming so potential buyers can picture living there," says Gould. Thus the no-family-photos rule: "They make people feel like they're invading your space," she explains.

Based in Toronto, Gould has trained a network of 800+ home stagers across the U.S. "Most owners aren't seeing bidding wars the way they were a few years ago," she says. "But with the right staging, you can get close to your asking price."

Here are before-and-after photos of rooms in houses Gould has staged in the Toronto area, along with information about fees paid and sales prices.


Problem #1:
A dingy door in a blah color, plus out-of-season holiday lights, made this entry less than welcoming.

Before and After photos


Solution: Nixing the string of lights and adding black trim and a fresh coat of white paint spruces things up. Gould also swapped out the exterior sconces for larger ones that match the new color scheme

Problem #2:
Buyers could see this area of the house from the entryway. A haphazard placement of tall plants, toys, and a huge TV made it feel awkward and cluttered.

Before and After pictures:


Solution: The plants were given to a friend and the electronics and toys stored. Gould replaced them with a comfy reading chair and lamp to give this sunny spot a cozy focal point.

Aurora's Best Real Estate Agent

If you are in the real estate market or need the help or advice of a Denver real estate agent, you should contact Denver's best agent Kim Olson. Kim specializes in Aurora real estate but services home owners and buyers in the entire Denver Metro area. Because the real estate market is so low right now, now is a good time to check out the different Aurora homes for sale.

Kim Olson is known for selling homes in Denver a lot quicker than the average Aurora real estate agent. She typically can find a home buyer in under 3 months, so if selling your Aurora home is a necessity you might want to consider talking with Kim about your Aurora home for sale.

If you are interested in speaking with Kim Olson about Aurora property for sale or selling your home in denver, check ot her helpful Denver real estate website at www.thedenversource.com or you can call her at (303) 917-6402

Its Time to Buy Your Next Home

Calling all Aurora real estate home buyers looking for a "smokin' deal" ! Over the last couple of weeks, our team has been showing homes in the Murphy Creek neighborhood. Do to hard economic times for home owners in this area there are over 49 homes for sale, many below market value. There are several homes in short sale or foreclosure, which makes this the perfect time for buyers to consider making their move. Located just 6 miles from Southlands Mall, 7 minutes from E-470, 17 minutes from DIA, 20 minutes from DTC and 20 minutes from Downtown, the area is perfect for families working all over Denver.

Most of the homes on the market in Murphy Creek, Aurora Colorado were built after 2003 and can be bought for $94.00 to $175.00 a square foot depending on their finishes. We have found that some of the nicest properties have over 3,000 square feet of living space and are priced around $101.00 a s/f. One in particular is loaded with upgrades including stamped patios, cherry cabinets, 3 car heated garage & patios facing the golf course.

The golf course this neighborhood was built around is city owned and open to the public, which gives the residence a sense of living in a Country Club Community without the huge membership fees. In fact, the HOA in this area is around $45.00 per month and includes snow removal of the streets. Also provided by the Home Owners Association are tennis courts, a pool and Country Club Restaurant.

If your not intrigued yet, our sources have revealed to us that a new High School and Community College will be built in conjunction with one another by the year 2010. This will provide the opportunity for students attending the High School to conveniently receive college credits prior to graduation.

Here is a sample of what you will find for sale in Murphy Creek, Aurora Colorado 80018.

1. 2,960 Square Feet
   Two Story Home
   3 Car Heated Garage
   4 Bedrooms
   3 Bathrooms
   1,014 s/f Open Basement
   Short Sale
   Located on Golf Course
   Cherry Cabinets
   Hardwood Floors
   Price $299,900
   
2. 2,505 Square Feet
   Two Story Home
   2 Car Garage
   3 Bedroom
   3 Bathrooms
   1,281 s/f Open Basement
   Lender Owned
   Granite Countertops
   Master Suite w/Fireplace
   Needs Some Work
   Price $236,900
   
3. 2,498 Square Feet
   Two Story Home
   2 Car Garage
   4 Bedrooms
   3 Bathrooms
   1,105 s/f Open Basement
   Possible Short Sale
   Situated on Cul de Sac
   Hardwood Floors
   Washer/Dryer Included
   Price $225,000
   
4. 3,174 Square Feet
   Two Story Home
   3 Car Garage
   4 Bedrooms
   3 Bathrooms
   1,439 s/f Open Basement
   Short Sale
   Gas Log Fireplace
   Built-in Entertainment Area
   Gourmet Kitchen w/Granite
   Price $279,000
   
   
   Are you still not sold on considering these properties? All of these prices could be open for negotiation, if you have patience enough to wait on the Lenders response. Most of these homes have been on the Metro Denver real estate market for over 600 days, which translates to "motivated sellers". Do you want to know more? Call Kim Olson's Team at 303.917.6402, they is doing weekly showings of these homes for Colorado home buyers that know a GREAT DEAL when they see it!

Staging your Denver Home Correctly

So, your house is on the market, and once again the figures have just been released showing that prices are down... down... down - but don't go down with them. Instead, get active and bring yourself up, up, up by doing something practical and truly helpful in the marketing process: home-staging. No, I mean really home staging not a half hearted attempt!

It is bad luck if you have to sell your house now, when figures have dropped another couple of percentage points, but there are others out there who are also on the move and want to buy your house - if their attention is drawn to it. According to the National Association of Realtors, the prices are reported to show a national average of being 15.5% lower than this time last year. However, your area may be above or below this, so take your realtor's advice about a realistic asking price. He or she will also have some tips for home-staging but these will get you going.
How to get your home noticed - that is the first key to selling it so the home staging must start on the exterior; more on that later. The second key is the viewing and this is where the home staging really comes into play. Prospective home buyers want to enter your home and see it looking like a show-home for a new housing development. In other words, it has no clutter and no personal affects showing; this way they can imagine their own effects in the home and begin to picture themselves in it.

The large photograph of Fido above the fireplace will be a hindrance, not an asset. Perhaps they are allergic to dogs and it will invoke a bad memory - get rid of it! And while you are in the living room, take away the CDs, the books, the ornaments, the rattan waste bin, the cat's toys, the magazines under the coffee table, the grand-daughter's photo, the crochet behind the armchair, the ash tray, the spare rug and all those plants catching the sun on the window sill!

If you are still reading at this point..... then here's some more expert advice: hire a storage for $20 a month and pre-pack some boxes prior to moving. Most of us could fill one box with our kids school paintings and fridge magnets! The fridge, the counter tops and the kitchen floor must all be bare! Bare is what house buyers want to see- it makes a kitchen look big and spacious and as if they could concoct a cordon bleu meal in it.

The first thing that anyone will notice when entering a home is ...smell. Be sure it is fresh and clean and pleasant. Use a plug-in air freshener; if you have a pet use two or three plug-ins! Also fling open the windows for real fresh air, and try the corny old trick of buns or cookies baking in the oven. It is sometimes the case that stoves and furnaces give off a smell of smoke when they are first lit, if so - do not use them; instead turn on the central heating. Thoroughly clean the furnace and sparkle it with a special fire black product from the local stove store.

Light is a bonus in a home so clean all your windows, and your lampshades and try putting a higher wattage bulb in all your light fixtures, especially the hallways. For a cozy ambience, put a pink bulb in one or two living room lamps, but ensure that this gives a warm atmosphere and not just a dim room.

Bedrooms must be treated in the same way, at least the master bedroom anyway. Every day put all the shampoo bottles, creams, toothbrushes and used towels out of sight. Strive daily for the clutter-free look, bare bath tub edges and bare counter-top surfaces. If you can possibly manage it, a new coat of paint has been said to increase the value of a home by 700% of the price of the paint job! Obviously that clean untouched look counts for a lot with a prospective buyer.
Finally, the exterior: yes, yes, you know the routine - everything out of sight: bikes, skates, garbage bins, recycle cans and even the car as it hides the nice view of your garage. A good realtor knows to take the photo when the sun is shining on the house, and to take the interior photos when the sun shines into the rooms, many people love sunshine in the home. Buy a few potted plants and place one each side of the front door. Group a few in the front yard.

Trim your lawn so that it is short and keep it green, also 'edge' the paths into nice, defined lines that will photograph well. Ensure that your drapes are tidy in the photographs. Hose down the paths if they are pretty cobblestones to make their color notice more in the photo. Now, sit back and prepare for the rush.

The Denver Source is a prominent name in Denver real estate, with agents specializing in working with both buyers and sellers of Aurora real estate throughout the Denver area. Visit www.thedenversource.com for details about their services, property listings, and information about finding beautiful Aurora real estate.