Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Utah is a Great Place to Live

Obviously I enjoy living in Utah. I have called Utah home for about 25 years. I love it here. My favorite part, other than the great people that I am surrounded by, is that Utah definitely experiences all of the four seasons. We experience wonderful winters with lots of heavy white snow. We have super spring with the flowers blooming and the 'just right' temperatures. We have scorching summers with 100 degree temperatures and cool family activities. And we have fabulous fall with the leaves changing colors making red, orange and yellow spots all over the mountains and enjoying the crisp mountain air.
So it is no surprise to me that Forbes.com rated Salt Lake City, Utah as the #1 place to live because of great housing!

Here is part of that article:
"Timing a market is tricky business, and prices alone may not be the best way to determine a bargain opportunity. What you need is a buyers' market, where there is healthy job growth and more houses available than people to buy them. This is not due to foreclosures and economic downturn, but to overbuilding that should balance out in time.
#1. Salt Lake City, Utah
Of the major metros in the U.S., Salt Lake City is adding jobs faster than anywhere. The economic boom in SLC has drawn residents from all over the country, and more than a few home builders trying to make a profit in these otherwise woeful times. Housing supply has gone up quickly, and there hasn't been a high rate of foreclosure."
By Matt Woolsey, 02.07.08 on Forbes.com

So contact me for more information about the current housing market!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Home Enhancement

Some proven practical ideas on how to successfully prepare your home for sale:

1. First Impression of the EXTERIOR
(The buyer develops an opinion of your home within 15 seconds)
Check the street, fire hydrant, sidewalk, fence, mailbox, light fixtures, walkway, driveway, siding, roof, windows, gutters, and doorway. Make sure they are free of debris, clean, freshly painted, working, washed, replaced, or freshened up!
2. Appeal to the senses
(Buyers react favorably to a home in bright light with clean smells)
Check for good lighting, neutral colors, peaceful sounds, and fresh clean smells
3. First Impression of the INTERIOR
(The entry creates the first impression and the kitchen is the most important room)
Make sure the entry is light, neutral, clean and updated. The kitchen should be virtually spotless and smell fresh. Update appliances and cabinets if they are looking dated and old. Organize your kitchen and remove a lot of small gadgets from the countertop. Check the counters and flooring for damage, then replace or repair.
4. Small details
(Focus on the impact of small details)
Refinish, replace, refreshen, renew, reorganize! Don't forget to clean up the garage, basement, crawl space, and attic.

By showing attention to details and understanding the buyers needs, you can really increase the chances to sell your home quickly! I would be happy to assist you with recommendations to help your house sell for the highest price in the shortest amount of time.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Home Warranty

Your home is your most valuable asset. You protect your home with homeowner's insurance, but what about the items not covered by insurance? Your home systems and appliances will not last forever. The average life expectancy is about 13 years. You can help protect yourself against the financial sting of repairs by purchasing a home warranty!

Affordable coverage can save you thousands of dollars. Homeowners spend an average of $900 each year for repair on home systems and appliances. Whether you are selling or buying you can benefit from the financial protection of a home warranty. The cost of the home warranty now can save you from budget-breaking repair expenses later. A seller can have warranty coverage for the listing period up to 180 days or close of escrow. The buyers coverage begins at close of escrow and will continue for one year after close of escrow.

Make sure you know what your home warranty covers and what it doesn't. Your home warranty does not cover ALL systems and appliances. Lack of maintenance of your appliance or home system will result in denial of coverage. Also, improper installation of an item that results in damage will be denied. And finally, code violations of a home system or structure may result in denial of the warranty service.

Some systems that can be covered by a good home warranty are:
Plumbing, water heater, electrical system, dishwasher, garbage disposal, built in microwave, range, oven, trash compactor, garage door openers, ceiling fans, telephone wiring, central vacuum system, doorbell and smoke detectors.
A home warranty will also offer coverage for other home systems for an additional small fee. These include:
Heating system, ductwork, air conditioner, refrigerator, washer, dryer, well pump, pool, spa, and septic.

There are several home warranty companies. Your realtor can give you some recommendations. It is best to spend a little money now on a home warranty to protect yourself from costly repairs later.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Service Guarantee

This is a commitment that Coldwell Banker and your realtor will perform as part of the exclusive agreement on marketing your property.
* CMA (Competitive Markety Analysis)
I will provide you with a current Competitive Market Analysis and assist you in determining the most effective list price for your property.
* Market Action Plan
I will give you a plan to market your porperty.
* Home Enhancement
I will provide you with a copy of the Coldwell Banker Home Enhancement Guide and discuss recommendations to attract the most amount of buyers.
* MLS (Multiple Listing Service)
I will submit your property to appear in the local Multiple Listing Service web site.
* Promotion to other Brokers
I will promote your property to other Brokers and sales associates in the area.
* Direct Marketing
I will distribute promotional materials on your property to key market areas to attract potential buyers.
* Yard Sign
I will provide a Coldwell Banker for sale sign on your property to help generate calls from prospective buyers.
* National and Local Advertising
Coldwell Banker has national and local internet, print and other advertising which will help attract the greatest number of buyers to your property.
*UtahHomes.com
The #1 real estate website in Utah.
* Coldwell Banker.com
The award winning national brand web site which will promote your property online 24 hours a day.
* Realtor.com
Your property will be designated as an enhanced listing on the official web site of the National Association of Realtors. Realtor. com is the internets #1 real estate web site.
* Multiple Images
I will post multiple photos of your property and a detailed property description on all of the aforementioned web sites.
* Servicing Interested Buyers
I have the latest lead notification technology so I can respond immediately to internet buyers who inquire about your property.
* Marketing Activity Report
I will report to you on a weekly basis to keep you informed of the competitive market conditions, buyer activity, and the actions I have taken to market your property.
* Timely Response
I will return your email or phone call within 24 or LESS!
* Offers to Purchase
I will review with you all of the purchase offers as they are presented.
* Closing the Sale
I will monitor and inform you of the progress of the transaction.
* Financing
I will encourage prospective buyers to obtain a written pre-approval letter from their lender.
* Estimated Net Proceeds
I will discuss with you an estimate of your net proceeds with each received offer.
* Representation
I will review with you how I will represent you in this transaction.
*Home Protection Plan
I will provide you with information regarding a warranty on the operating systems of your home to increase marketability.
* Relocation Services
I will offer to assist you, your friends, and your family should you need to relocate anywhere out of my local area.

This is my promise to you so you can be assured you will have the best representation and marketing possible. You will like what I can do for you, because good things are going to happen.

Friday, February 1, 2008

It's All About Your Local Market

It is all about what is going on in our local market. Forget the national news. Look at what is happening right here, right now!

A realtor can help you know about the local market and the information a realtor can provide is essential to deciding when, where, and what to buy.

Whatever is happening nationally to real estate - whether it is 'booming or busting' - doesn't matter...what matters is what the market says in your city or neighborhood.
A lot of cities did not/have not/do not participate in the 'boom'- some even decreased in value. Also, when prices began to fall nationally, there are plenty of areas where prices remain steady or even rise. So the important factor to consider when buying or selling a home isn't what is going on nationally - it is what is going on in your local market. A realtor can show you the current market trends so you can prosper in a buyers or sellers market.

A realtor can help you determine if a city or area is more or less desirable to invest in.
A realtor can help you determine whether property values in a city or area are decreasing or rising.
A realtor can also help you see the future trends, and plans for new businesses in the city or area.

A realtor can help you understand your local market which will help aid you in your decision. So forget what the national news is saying and focus on your local market.