by Ann Meadows | Jun 9, 2014 | Events & Happenings, Featured, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Living
You know the saying: “If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a house flip.”
Isn’t that how it goes?
Okay, maybe that’s not the original phrase, but the house flip frenzy is still happening for the same reason diet pills and spray tans are popular – we like things to be fast and easy.
Flipping houses is a gamble; and as in gambling, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. If the stars align and you find an underpriced house in a great neighborhood that needs a little TLC before hitting the market, you’re probably going to make some money.
But. . .
If you find that same house and then uncover the creeping mold, the cracked foundation and the sketchy electricity, you can say goodbye to your profit and your sanity.
Don’t get me wrong here – I am not against house flips. On a big, big scale it can be good for the seller, the buyer, and the neighborhood. After all, updating an eyesore and finding owners to love and cherish a property is a good thing.
Still, with television shows such as Property Brothers and Flip or Flop, with all of their fancy lighting, hunky contractors and 30-minute timeframe, it’s easy to get swept up in something that appears to be fast and easy when, in real life, it can be slow and really, really (really!) tough.
Planning on buying a ‘fix and flip?’ Here are a few tips to keep you in the money, instead of landing you in a money pit:
Rely on a Realtor and Other Professionals:
Realtors, real estate attorneys and accountants can help you navigate the dollars and sense of an investment. Could buying this house put your financial future in jeopardy? Or your other properties? Or your bank account? Before taking this step, recognize what’s at risk with you and your investments.
When it comes to the nuts and bolts of things, surround yourself with reputable, experienced professionals. Make sure all of your contractors and suppliers are licensed, insured, recommended, honest, trustworthy and competent. Also, work with people you like. You’re going to be working side-by-side on a huge project, and you want to get along with the people who are literally putting your house together.
Don’t Be a Hero:
If you have questions, ask. If you don’t agree with a suggestion from a friend, investment partner, supplier, speak up. If you don’t know how to rewire the water heater, don’t! Just don’t!
Do Your Due Diligence:
There are insurance policies for building repairs that all licensed contractors must hold in order to be in the business. There are specialty policies for buildings that are vacant or under construction. There are home warranties that can protect the appliances already in the home. Looking into insurance is just a way of looking out for yourself.
Look Under the Hood:
Hire the best inspector you can find and don’t balk on the cost. I promise that in the end this expense will actually save you money. An inspector knows what to look for, what is an easy fix and what is a nightmare. Stay away from the nightmare. Nightmares are…scary.
And Back to the Realtor:
No matter how great the house looks, if you don’t have a savvy Realtor on your side, it’s not going to sell. Look for a Realtor who has pulled comps for your neighborhood. Look for someone with experience, a solid marketing plan, a list of recommendations and a network of buyers and sellers.
This blog is a first in a series on the frenzy over fix and flips. Look for part two in the weeks ahead. In meantime, do you have a fantastic or frightening fix and flip story to share? Let’s hear it!
by Ann Meadows | Apr 29, 2014 | Events & Happenings, Featured, Featured Listings, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Living, Market Watch, Real Estate News, Relocate to Denver
We are a proud of our state, aren’t we? Maybe even, dare I say, arrogant, when it comes to Colorado? After all, we boast over 300 days of sunshine, are home to the esteemed Air Force Academy, and live in a place so stunningly gorgeous that Katherine Lee Bates wrote “America The Beautiful” while drinking in the views from Pikes Peak. (We will get to ‘drinking’ later.)
Colfax Avenue is the longest continuous road in North America, we host the largest rodeo, the Great Sand Dunes are a national monument considering the 46,000 acre park was created over a million years ago from wind and ocean waters, and we are the only city to turn down an offer to host the Olympics – we did not want the cost or the pollution to damage our beloved Colorado.
But that’s just the beginning. Recent news has only added to our egos because:
We Have Brains:
“America’s Brain Health Index”, a study conducted by the National Center for Creative Aging — ranks Colorado third in the nation for brain health. Researchers examined 21 criteria, including everything from physical and mental health, diet and social well-being.
Coloradans earned their high ranking, the report says, by “taking care of their physical and mental health and maintaining a diet rich in DHA-fortified foods and supplements.”
We Have Jobs:
Denver ranks No. 1 for professional and technical job growth.
Denver is No. 3 — and Colorado is No. 4 — among the top 10 cities and states for job growth, according to an Arizona State University report.
Colorado also ranks No. 1 for the rate of growth of government jobs.
We Have Beer!:
Denver was recently voted as the 2nd best city for beer drinkers. Why? Because we have 154 breweries and lots of hip craft brews, including Denver Beer Co. and Great Divide Brewing. And we host the Great American Beer Festival, one of the largest beer events in the country.
We Have Equity In Our Homes:
A National Association of Realtors report proves that not only is Colorado a great place to live, it’s a great place to buy. The following 10 real estate markets have realized the greatest equity appreciation since the fourth quarter of 2010, due to relatively low prices, low mortgage rates, and investor demand
1. San Jose
2. San Francisco
3. Anaheim,
4. Los Angeles
5. San Diego
6. Boulder
7. Honolulu
8. Riverside
9. Cape Coral-Fort Myers
10. Sacramento
So what does this mean for you? Well – you are smart, happy, employed, beer-loving people who should consider buying your next home! See how I did that?
All jokes aside, the real estate market is healthy and the trend seems to moving in the right direction. When it comes to purchasing or refinancing or even remodeling, investing in Colorado is a sure bet. And we didn’t even need a fancy report to tell us that.
by Ann Meadows | Mar 25, 2014 | Featured, Home Living
Spring-cleaning is upon us and many of you are chomping at the mop to hunker down so you can scrub up and throw out. It’s a “No baseboard left behind!” kind of feeling, and I, too, get into the spirit.
But that same spring-clean-y spirit was recently – um – tarnished – when I came upon the most recent issue of Real Simple Magazine. Apparently this shiny, high tech device I am typing on is one of the dirtiest things in my midst. And here I was innocently creeping myself out over bathroom grout. Leave it to the media to one-up the gross factor every single time.
Yes. In fact, our sleek, gleaming tech tools are some of the grimiest things around. So before you tackle the traditional baseboards, you might want to tromp on the technology.
Before you read further, may I suggest considering some or all of the following items:
All Purpose Cleaner:
Honest Company makes an all-natural version (and offers a nice deal on a trial bundle) or you can always use what you’ve got in the cabinet. An all-purpose cleaner is useful for general cleaning of door handles and home phone systems.
Sanitizing Wand:
I have never heard of these before and now I do not know how I have lived this long without one. I am considering some sort of holster to carry around my latest gadget to clean my gadgets. You can find all kinds of options at Amazon – Real Simple recommends the Verilux Clean-Wave UV-C Sanitizing Wand.
Screen Cleaner:
My personal favorite is Restoration Hardware’s WHOOSH cleaner, mostly because it is all-natural and comes with a microfiber cloth and a little travel size bottle for disinfecting on-the-go (more on that later). But the manufacturer AM offers a great product that looks the part, too.
Compressed Air Spray / Duster:
You can find these at an office supply store – but you may be surprised to learn that they are often kept behind the counter, due to a recent trend of teens using this product to for other purposes.
Bravery and Courage:
This next part is going to make you feel ill – so … you’ve been warned.
Okay, now that you are armed and maybe a little bit dangerous, here’s the dirt (literally):
The Remote Control:
And you thought watching reality TV could make you sick? Well, flipping through the channels is what could get you in the end. According to a study at the Virginia School of Medicine, the remote control has more germs than even the toilet handle. YUK!
*Clean this dirty little monster by spraying it with compressed air, bathing it in disinfecting wipes and then – for good measure – wand it to death. Actually, let’s just plan on wanding everything from here forward.
Tablets/Touch Screens:
Fingers are dirty and then screens are dirty and then you wash your hands and then you touch the dirty screen again. It’s a vicious, vicious cycle – like getting on Pinterest or eating french fries. Once you start, you can’t stop.
*First, do wash your hands. Then wipe the entire screen with special screen cleaner (not Windex) and wash your hands again. Touch screens, like children, attract dirt. Speaking of children, if you’ve got little people playing or studying on your tablet, bump up the cleaning schedule. Or tell them to move (I know a good Realtor).
Earbuds:
Why oh why Real Simple? Why did you put “Sweat and wax build up with each use” in this article? I am sure to have nightmares.
*Experts on all things disgusting suggest you wipe earbuds with a solution of mild dish soap and water.
Keyboards:
Um –apparently dirtier than a toilet seat!
* Remove the batteries or unplug your keyboard and throw it out the window. No – kidding. Turn it upside down and shake gently. Then spray the keyboard with compressed air and sanitize with a safe screen cleaner. Wand it.
Cell Phone:
Remember when I said we’d come back to “on-the-go?” Here’s why: a 2011 study from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that one in six cell phones is tainted with fecal matter. Why? Because talking on the phone while in the bathroom is becoming common and flushing a toilet sends – and I quote here – “a spray of hundreds of thousands of contaminated droplets into the air, some of which land on the phone.” And then you touch the phone. And you put the phone up to your face. And then you die a slow and painful death.
*Use the sanitizer wipes created for electronic devices often, consider investing in a Cell-Blaster Universal UV Cell-Phone Sanitizer, do not use your cell phone in the lavatory and close the seat.
Let me know about your spring-cleaning – in the meantime, I am off to disinfect.
by Ann Meadows | Feb 18, 2014 | Events & Happenings, Featured, Home Living, Relocate to Denver
Not that I need an excuse to go out for dinner, but GOSH do I love it when I have a reason! And that reason is the Visit Denver’s 2014 Denver Restaurant Week. Such a happy time. Such a happy, happy time.
Denver Restaurant Week, taking place February 22-28, was created nine years ago as a way to introduce our fair city’s fabulous eateries to those folks out there who may need a little nudge to leave the comforts of home or the familiarity of the chain restaurant down the street, boasts over 200 fantastic places to wine and dine. For $30 per person or $60 per couple (thank you, Visit Denver, for doing the math for us), restaurants provide a multi-course menu and all you have to do is show up and chew! How great is that?
Want chic in Cherry Creek? Elway’s is on the list. Mouth watering for a meatball? Try Carmine’s on Penn. Feeling French? Ja Ja Bistro off main street in Littleton is tres magnifique.
The list is impressive – everything from the kitschy (Devil’s Food on South Gaylord) to the trendy (True Food in Cherry Creek North) to the classic (Venice in Greenwood Village) is there. Some menus even include wine – and most include dessert – what a country!
Remember that tips and tax are not part of the deal, so while you’re saving a little dough on a pizza from The Saucy Noodle Ristorante on South University, your server is working just as hard (or harder) as ever. For more information, visit (link here) or log on to Open Table to make a reservation. Mangia!
by Ann Meadows | Jan 16, 2014 | Featured
Last year, the real estate market was, well, crazy. I mean crazy in a good way. Crazy can be good, unless it involves people behind the wheel of a car or B-list celebrities.
In 2013, homes were flying off the proverbial shelf, sometimes going under contract within three hours of being listed. The median price of homes rose and foreclosures dropped and mortgage rates were actually affordable – good, good, and more good.
So what does that mean for 2014? While 2013 was a fantastic year for real estate, it doesn’t mean 2014 won’t be great. Granted, 2013 is a tough act to follow; but predictions for this year are positive, with experts believing that home sales will remain at or near the current level and prices will hold steady or even rise a bit. There will likely be a better balance between buyers and sellers, alleviating the panic buyers, concerned with the reality of losing the house of their dreams, felt this past year.
What can you do if you are hoping to buy in 2014? Reach out to me or you personal Realtor now rather than later and provide me with your wish list. Be specific, but flexible. As Realtors, we are constantly touring homes, talking with sellers, and learning of properties that are not yet on the market but may be coming soon. By sharing your wants and needs with us now, you are one step ahead of other buyers in the marketplace.
Thinking of selling this year? Be cognizant of that fact and keep it in the forefront of your mind when making big and small decisions, including renovations, welcoming new pets into your world, and even buying non-essentials for your home. Remember that you are planning on showing your property at some point, and when that happens, you will have to de-clutter and clean to position your property in the best light.
Got a leaky faucet or a non-working fireplace? Tackle those projects now to avoid the mad dash later. And now is not the ideal time to housetrain a puppy (is there ever a good time for this job…I’ve done this more times than I can count and let me just say, wow?!) or paint your bathroom Bronco’s orange or start collecting bottle caps from around the globe. You can do all of those things in your next house – for now, keep it simple and save yourself some crazy.
