Colorado Springs Vintage Homes Blog
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134 questions for sellers to disclose
Sellers Should Disclosure all defects
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When listing a home for sale in Colorado Springs, Realtor ask their sellers to complete a Sellers Disclosure sheet. Whether the Seller provides the disclosures or not, the seller is still liable for any undisclosed defects. (Some sellers mistakenly think if they don’t fill out the disclosure form, they aren’t liable for defects. Wrong!)
The Seller’s Property Disclosure is a standard Colorado Real Estate Form. There are 6 pages of questions pertaining to the environment. structure and condition of the property and the mechanicals. A total of 134 questions
Some of the questions sellers are asked to disclose include:
- Structural Condition of the property
- Environmental conditions
- Are there special assessments due by the Home Owners Association?
- Condition of appliances
- Roof problems
The Colorado Seller’s Property Disclosure is filled out by the seller (not the Colorado Springs Realtor), signed by the seller and dated. This indicates that at the time of the signing, all the information is complete and true.
When a buyer is purchasing a property, the buyer is required to sign and date the Seller’s disclosure. The buyer is notified that the disclosure is in no way intended to discourage an inspection or is it in any way a warranty for the property. The specific language on the disclosure says: “Even though the seller has answered the above questions to the best of the Seller’s actual knowledge, buyer should thoroughly inspect the property and obtain expert assistance to fully evaluate the Property ……….”
I always tell Sellers, when in doubt disclose, disclose, disclose
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Kathy (719-287-1049) KTorline@msn.com
Make every showing count
Make every showing count — Tips for Colorado Springs Home Owners
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I think it’s a must for every Colorado Springs Realtor who lists houses for sale to also spend some time as a Buyer’s Agent. I’ve been
showing houses to potential buyers the last couple of days and it has been a great reminder for me of some important things for home sellers to remember:
- Don’t forget the importance of smells. Both pleasant and unpleasant. A musty moldy smell in your basement can make a buyer not want your home. And the flip side is also true, a pleasant inviting smell can make buyers feel more welcome in your home. Be careful using too much air freshener, scented candles, and incense. Smells are very subjective, what one person likes is very different from person to person. But how can you go wrong with the smell of fresh baked cookies that have just came out of the oven? (Smells don’t sell)
- Curb appeal is everything. Buyers can fall in love with a house before they even get out of the car. A manicured lawn, well-kept exterior starts to set the expectations. Buyers will automatically think that a well kept exterior usually means a well-kept interior.
- Set the mood on the inside. Turn the lights on, don’t leave it dark inside. If possible, turn on some nice soft music. Open doors to rooms, make each room feel inviting and welcoming.
- Point out unique features. If the house has unique feature that aren’t obvious, make sure they are pointed out. A small placard on a wall can do the trick to point out a security system, built in ceiling speakers, etc. Also, make sure a feature sheet is included inside the house, in a conspicuous easy to see place. If the house is on acreage, include a layout of the land. If it’s a newer house, you could also leave out a small copy of the house plans. The more visuals the better.
Showings Count
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Kathy (719-287-1049) KTorline@msn.com
Do you want to do some green remodeling?
Thinking about going green in your house?
If so, here’s some of my favorite websites to check out:
(1) GreenandSave.com’s slogan is simple and direct – “Saving your Money and the Planet”. If you have ever wondered whether a certain “green” repair or improvement is worth it, then this is the website to go to.
- The Master ROI page: For a statistic lover like me; this is an amazing page under the green tune-up section. If you are looking at putting in a programmable thermostat, it shows you that the payback time in years is .6, added cost $115 with an annual savings of $180.00. It also compares things like Hot Water Heater Blankets, Dishwashers, Water efficient toilets, and water filters; all in the same chart format.
- This page also has a section on green remodeling which includes major type GREEN improvements and highlights info on furnace replacements, water heater replacement, insulated walls, and windows. According to the site, it shows the cost of a hot water replacement at $150, annual savings of $48, return on investment 32%. You can also click on Read the rest of this entry »
It’s a shame
It’s a shame when the photos are bad
Search for Colorado Springs Homes
Related post: The pictures tell the story
I’ve been looking at lots of homes in Colorado Springs lately, and it’s been a good reminder for me on how important the photos are.
The current statistics say that somewhere between 85% and 95% of buyers start their search on the internet; which means many potential buyers make decisions about a property from the MLS description and the photos. Since I provide real estate services to both buyers and sellers, it really reminded me on how important the photos are. It also was a good reminder that you can find a great property for a client, even though the photo didn’t do it Justice.
Photos help make showing decisions
Some of the recent homes I’ve been looking at are in the $250,000 to $350,000 range in Northwest, North, and Northeast neighborhoods. A couple of these properties had outside photos of the properties that were not very good. In fact, my client and I originally didn’t look at these properties partially because of the photos. (I’m sure the sellers would hate to hear that — but, it’s true.)
Since I’m a photographer as well as Realtor, I understand how hard it is to take good shots of a property. All kinds of things get in the way for the outside shots, and mostly it has to do with the landscape, lighting, and angles. Here’s a couple examples of what I consider bad photos.
Current Picture — makes the home look very modernistic and small. Not very appealing
Previous Pic of property, shows how large it is. Yes it is the same property. even though this pictures was taken in the fall, it is still a better representation of the home
Top 6 Colorado Springs Short Sale Questions Answered
Top 6 Colorado Springs Short Sale Questions Answered
Are you considering selling your home by means of a short sale, but have lots of questions? If so, read on ……
Interested in selling your house as a short-sale? Email Kathy Torline KTorline@msn.com or call 719-287-1049
(1) I want to do a short sale and have a 2nd mortgage, does this make me ineligible? 
(2) Do I have to miss a payment to do a Short Sale?
No, not necessarily. Some lenders will accept short sale offers from sellers who have never missed a payment. But most lenders don’t seem to pay much attention to a seller and a request for a short sale when a payment has not been missed.
(3) How does a listing agent get paid a commission?
The bank will pay the commission along with all the other usual closing costs. Read the rest of this entry »
The pictures tell the story
It’s still a Buyer’s market in Colorado Springs, and it’s really important not to lose sight of the little things that make your listings stand out from the crowd.
Search for Homes in Colorado Springs
Photos can make all the difference
(1) Lighting: When taking photographs, make sure and check the lighting. Sometimes you want all of the window coverings closed; and sometimes you want them all open. Also, check out the light when you are taking the outside shots. Don’t take the pictures facing the camera i
nto the sun; they’ll all looked washed out.
(2) More is better: Be sure to take some extra time to shoot a lot of different angles; and both horizontal and landscape. It’s hard to tell how well a picture will look on the small LCD of your digital camera. On average, I take 8 – 10 shots of each room. I pick the best ones to
showcase in the MLS, and use the others on website as well as for the fl yer.
(3) Try something different: Don’t hesitate the try different shots with different angles and unique views. The beauty of digital cameras Read the rest of this entry »
A tech savvy realtor can help sell your home
Technology and Real Estate
Search for Homes in Colorado Springs
In today’s real estate market, it has become more important than ever for sellers and buyers to hire a real estate agent who understands how to market their home on the Internet.
The day has past for Realtors who only use old-fashioned sales methods in 
real estate; putting a sign in the yard, putting the property in the Multiple-Listing Service (MLS) and sitting back waiting for the phone to ring.
This method might have worked at one time, but no more. Consider these facts:
- In every age group, newspaper readership is down. This trend will only continue. Have you tried to get a teenager to read a book lately? Many are too busy using their text message.
- According to a recent study published on Realtor.org “Nine out of 10 home buyers use Internet in the search process…”
So when you are interviewing a real estate agent to sell your Colorado Springs home: Read the rest of this entry »
Are you a pet owner trying to sell your home
Getting ready to sell your home?
Get a Free Market Analysis on your Home, Email KTorline@msn.com or call 719-287-1049
Must Read Articles
- Colorado Homeowners, don’t remodel until you read this!
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- Do you want your home in Colorado Springs to stand out from the competition?
- A tech savvy realtor can help sell your home
- It’s all about the home warranty
- What are closing costs in real estate?
You cleaned your home, priced it right and still no one wants to purchase. Second showings are rare. Do you have pets in your home?
Even though I understand the joy and delight that you glean from your pets, not all potential buyers will share the same joy. Fear, allergies or the feeling of uncleanliness could be factors when buyers are considering your home. The best thing you can do is to try and alleviate these factors. With so many homes for sale right now, anything that you can do to showcase your home in a better light could mean a faster sale. So here’s some tips that could help.
#1- have your carpets professionally cleaned especially where there’s high Read the rest of this entry »
Should I take my home off the market during the holidays?
Take it off
Get a Free Market Analysis on your Home, Email KTorline@msn.com or call 719-287-1049
When you look at your calendar you may find the months already overloaded with seasonal obligations…shopping, entertaining, pageants, baking, decorating the house and so much more. If you’re also trying to sell your home in Colorado Springs, you are under extra pressure to keep your home in “Showtime” condition. That could be the last thing you need before the holiday spirit is broken.
To sell or not to sell during the holidays
It’s understandable why you would be tempted to take your home off the market during the holidays. And the list of justifications is long. If you are too busy, buyers may be also, and you may find your efforts unrewarded by enough showings. And what if you get an offer? You may be faced with the possibility of packing and moving during the busiest time of the year. Besides, you can give your a house a rest, and it will have better momentum after the holidays. Better to just pack it in and start fresh in January, right?
But wait! Most top Realtors agree that taking your home off the market during the holiday season is a mistake. The house surely isn’t going to sell while it’s off the market .What’s the advantage of that? So you’re busy. Let your Realtor do the work. You can leave in the morning, go to work, go shopping and let your Realtor take care of things!
The holidays are a wonderful selling season. Read the rest of this entry »
