Buy Colorado Springs Home

Homes for Sale in Colorado Springs

  • Find A Home
    • Homes under $300k
    • Newest Listings
    • Areas
      • Briargate
      • Falcon
      • Peyton
      • Monument / Palmer Lake
      • Northgate
      • Rockrimmon
    • Neighborhoods
      • Cordera
      • Pine Creek
      • The Ridge At Fox Run
      • Wagon Trails
      • Wolf Ranch Homes
  • Buying
    • Mortgage Calculator
    • Buyers Blog
    • My Account
  • Selling
    • What’s Your Home Worth
    • Sellers Blog
    • My Account
  • Toolbox
    • Market Reports
    • Home Owner Blog
  • About
    • Testimonials
  • Connect
    • Reach out today

What to repair before you list

June 16, 2020 by Wendy Leave a Comment

When you’re getting ready to list your home, it’s of the upmost importance to ensure you are showing it in the best light. Taking time to highlight its strengths and fix up some of its possible weaknesses can make a big difference in how fast it sells. Here are our top five recommended repairs to make before selling your home. 

Repaint walls. 

Giving your home a fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce it up, and generally, it can be a do-it-yourself project. Make sure cover any walls with scratches and chips and consider updating any accent walls with a more neutral coat. 

Repair floors. 

Hardwood floors are a very desirable feature in a home, so you want to ensure they look their best by fixing scratches or dull areas. If your carpet is worn or stained, consider replacing them. And don’t forget the tile in your kitchen or bathrooms. Re-grouting can go a long way in making dingy tile work look brand new! 

Refresh the landscaping. 

Show buyers your home is the full package by dressing up the outside as well as the in. Clean walkways and driveways, plant seasonal flowers and plants, trim hedges and trees, install outdoor décor pieces and fill in mulch and gravel. 

Fix your fixtures. 

Leaky faucet? Rusted drains? Loose drawer handle? Making these small fixes can make a big difference to potential buyers with detailed-orientated minds. Improve your kitchen. An outdated kitchen can be a real eyesore in a home. Updating cabinetry, repairing or replacing countertops, and installing new faucets and sinks may be worth the investment

Filed Under: Sellers Blog Tagged With: Chris Card, Colorado Springs

Priority tasks for your move in

June 16, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Moving into a new home is an exciting time, and you’re probably daydreaming about decor and paint schemes and new furniture. But before you get into the fun stuff, there are some basics you should cover first. 

Change the locks 

Even if you’re promised that new locks have been installed in your home, you can never be too careful. It’s worth the money to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that no one else has the keys to your home. Changing the locks can be a DIY project, or you can call in a locksmith for a little extra money. 

Steam clean the carpets 

It’s good to get a fresh start with your floors before you start decorating. The previous owners may have had pets, young children, or just some plain old clumsiness. Take the time to steam clean the carpets so that your floors are free of stains and allergens. It’s pretty easy and affordable to rent a steam cleaner—your local grocery store may have them available. 

Call an exterminator 

Prior to move-in, you probably haven’t spent enough time in the house to get a view of any pests that may be lurking. Call an exterminator to take care of any mice, insects, and other critters that may be hiding in your home. 

Clean out the kitchen 

If the previous occupants wanted to skip on some of their cleaning duties when they moved out, the kitchen is where they probably cut corners. Wipe down the inside of cabinets, clean out the refrigerator, clean the oven, and clean in the nooks and crannies underneath the appliances.

Filed Under: Buyers Blog Tagged With: Chris Card, Colorado Springs

Fees to be aware of when purchasing a home

June 16, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Purchasing a home is arguably one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. As you start your hunt, don’t forget there will be other costs associated with your purchase then the price of the home. Here are 5 fees to keep in mind as you begin to budget. 

• Home inspection. This is a crucial step in the home buying process. The findings that come from the inspection can help you negotiate price and repairs. Generally, you can expect to pay between $300 to $500 depending on the home and the location. 

• Title services. Title services encompass the transfer of the title from the seller and a thorough search of the property’s records to ensure no one will pop up with a claim to the property. Additionally, you may need to buy title insurance which will protect the lender or your investment in the home. 

• Appraisal fee. Before getting a loan, you will likely be required to get an appraisal of the home to determine its estimated value. This will be conducted by a third-party company and the cost can land anywhere between $300 and $1,000, depending on the size of the home. 

• HOA fees. Many communities have a homeowners’ association that enforces monthly fees. This money is used for general maintenance and updates to areas like pools, parks, and more. Typical HOA fees are around $200 per month.• Taxes. The taxes each buyer pays at the closing table differ, but it is not uncommon for it to be up to two months’ worth of county and city property taxes. Additionally, there may be taxes for the transfer of the home title.

Filed Under: Buyers Blog Tagged With: Chris Card

5 negotiating tactics that kill a sale

June 16, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Negotiation is a subtle art in real estate, but skilled negotiators can usually find some common ground that satisfies all parties. On the other hand, using the wrong negotiation tactics can sink a deal pretty quickly. Here are some negotiation tactics buyers (and real estate professionals) should avoid: 

• Lowball offers: Going far below market value when you make an offer damages your credibility as a buyer and can be insulting to the seller. The seller has a range in mind that they’ll accept, and if you’re not even approaching the low end of that range, they won’t even consider the offer. 

• Incremental negotiations: Don’t continue to go back to the seller with small increases in your offer ($1,000 or less). The constant back-and-forth can grow tiresome and lead the seller to consider other opportunities. 

• “Take it or leave it”: Try not to draw a line in the sand with your initial offer. The seller can get defensive and consider other offers if you immediately show that you’re unwilling to budge. Even if it’s true, don’t make a show of it. 

• Nitpicking after inspection: Obviously if inspection reveals a major issue, it should be factored into the final sale price. But insisting on a lower price for every minor repair can put negotiations in a stalemate. 

• Asking for more, more, more: Some buyers will request that the sellers throw in add-ons like furniture or appliances that weren’t included in the listing. Try to avoid giving the seller a reason to build up resentment and think that you’re being greedy.

Filed Under: Buyers Blog Tagged With: Chris Card, Colorado Springs, Homes for Sale

Have Questions?

Please fill out the form below.

 

Testimonials

Chris was organized, relatable, professional and had a strong work ethic. We told him our "wish list" and he wasn't timid about helping us stay on course with what we wanted, although always respectful and kind. Out of all the realtors we have worked with in the past, he was by far and away the one we have preferred.

Very professional and a man of his word. Chris helped our family with the sale and purchase of our new home. He was always on top of things to make sure the house sold quickly and at a fair price. Highly recommend Chris.

We've known Chris for several years (thru another industry) and this was our second attempt to purchase a new home. We also appreciate his forthrightness in explaining how the market was working and that we needed to adjust our timetable to that. We were most impressed by his quickness in learning what we were looking for in a new home...

My wife and I had the distinct pleasure of having Chris Card as our buyer’s real estate agent in Colorado Springs. To be sure, our situation was no easy task for him as it is a long-distance relocation. Additionally, I am former military and both my wife and I are attorneys which, let’s be honest, no one wants to deal with...

Chris was recommended to my wife and I by a friend. When we first started, he listened a lot to what our wants and needs were and the areas we liked. He pursued those areas of interest and found us just what we wanted. When it looked like my wife and I were going to have to sacrifice wants on our list Chris found us a house...

Chris was beyond helpful, informative, and friendly. This was my first time selling a home and my husband is deployed so I was super stressed, but he made sure I didn't worry more than I needed to and made it a good experience. We will definitely be using his services when we are ready to buy again! Thank you so much, Chris!

Best home buying experience EVER! There were higher bids , $15k over, however I won the bid because of the way the contract was written. That says so much about his expertise and experience. Chris walked me through every step and made sure I was aware of each process. It worked for me because I am a control freak. I appreciate knowing all that is invoked and Chris fulfilled that for me.

View all Testimonials

Chris Card – Blue Pickett Realty – 4291 Austin Bluffs Pkwy Suite 102, Colorado Springs, Co 80918

Copyright © 2020 Buy Colorado Springs Home. All rights reserved.