Sizzling Summer Selling Tips (Part 2)

Many people are looking for their new dream home in Colorado Springs this summer, so if you're considering selling your home, now is the time to do it! However, there are a few things you should consider doing before putting your home up on the market. Last week, we discussed tips 1 - 4, so this week, we're finishing off our sizzling summer selling tips with tips number 5 - 7.

5. Address Necessary Repairs

Not addressing necessary repairs could scare away potential home buyers. For example, if your home has an old roof with visible damage, not fixing this before listing could make you lose out on a fair amount of money from the sale. Or it could make you lose out on potential buyers who don't want to deal with fixing them at all. Whether your home is listed during the summer or any other season, make sure you address these repairs prior to your home being put on the market. When getting your home ready, look out for broken windows, peeling or damaged siding and damaged roofs. You want the potential buyers focusing on all the positives your home has and not distracted by all the repairs that have been neglected.

6. Depersonalize & Declutter

When getting your home ready to sell, it's a good idea to depersonalize and declutter your home. You don't want your buyers distracted by the personal items in your home. In addition, it is a great way safety to follow. Make sure to put away any bills, calendars, pictures, medication and lock up any valuable items. For decluttering a home, it's highly recommended to take the time to walk through your home and evaluate what you actually need to live comfortably in your home while selling. If you believe you can live without something, consider moving into a storage unit or into the basement or garage.

7. Hire A Professional REALTOR

There are many reasons why choosing the best real estate agent in Colorado Springs is vital to the success of the sale of the home. There are many different real estate agents in the area, and choosing the wrong one could be devastating to the sale of your home. It's best to meet with at least three agents prior to choosing the one you want selling your home. It's important to ask the right questions to make the right choice. Not all agents are the same. Even real estate agents who work for the same company aren't the same. So choose carefully.

If you're thinking of selling your home, contact the best team of real estate agents in Colorado Springs at 719-536-4444. The Platinum Group, REALTORS can help make sure your home makes the best first impression to potential home buyers. Let us get your home sold!

The Platinum Group, Realtors The First Choice in Real Estate

Visit our website: www.PlatinumHomeSales.com

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+ 

6760 Corporate Drive, Ste 300

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

(719) 536-4444

Unique Opportunities Of Selling Your Home In The Winter

Mike MacGuire of The MacGuire Team here at The Platinum Group, REALTORS has recently written an article for the Gazette. Your Colorado Springs real estate team wanted to share his article with you about the unique selling opportunities that the winter season provides. 

About Mike MacGuire

The force behind Mike’s successful career as a real estate professional in Colorado Springs is his passion for excellence. As a broker & co-owner of his company, he is completely committed to helping his clients realize their home selling and buying dreams, and provide the utmost in experience with 25 years in the industry. As a Colorado native, Mike’s knowledge of the area and the local market is unsurpassed; this is clearly a decisive advantage for anyone thinking of relocating to the area.

Mike listens carefully to your needs because raising the bar and surpassing your expectations is his goal. He continuously goes the extra mile to protect your best interests and has a large network of local resources at the ready to help achieve optimum results. Mike understands the emotional aspects of moving and brings the business and personal sides of real estate together to ease what is often a stressful and complex process. He takes pride in his dedication to educate and empower his clients because in his mind the best decisions are informed ones. While Mike is committed to innovative systems, strategies and ideas that will get your home sold quickly and for top dollar, he is equally as concerned about matching you with the right home to suit your needs.

Unique Opportunities Of Selling Your Home In The Winter

Timing is everything. Selling your home is no exception. Every year, as we approach winter, I am asked the question: “Should we wait until spring to list the house?” Often sellers find the winter season to be an advantageous time to sell. Contrary to opinion, the housing market doesn’t hibernate in the winter. Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t wait to put up the “For Sale” sign:

1. LESS INVENTORY EQUALS

MORE ATTENTION

There are fewer homes listed for sale in the winter. Because of this, you have less competition. Colorado Springs continues to have historically low inventory. Because of the low inventory, there are well-qualified buyers waiting for that right home to hit the market.

2. MOTIVATED BUYERS

Not only are there qualified buyers looking in the winter, they are typically extremely motivated. The ‘Lookie Lou’ and ‘Nosey Neighbor’ tend to spend spring and summer time home viewing. People willing to brave the cold weather and snow are serious about finding a home. You will likely have fewer showings, but those that come through are generally more motivated. This is the ideal situation.

3. FIRST QUARTER

JOB RELOCATIONS.

Companies often place and/or relocate their employees during the first quarter of the New Year. This translates to qualified and motivated buyers looking for a great home and looking to move quickly.

4. A JUMP ON YOUR COMPETITION

The supply of listings increases substantially in late winter and spring. New construction will continue to surge with projections of record New Housing Starts in 2017. These factors influence the favorable law of supply and demand.

5. CONTINUED LOW

INTEREST RATES

Mortgage Interest Rates continue to be near historic lows. With upcoming Federal Reserve meetings, the speculation is that interest rates will begin to be increased. Buyers in December and early January will be able to lock their rate and take advantage of lower rates.

Beat the “March Madness” of home selling and list in the winter to sell your home before the birds start chirping this spring. Call Mike MacGuire for a free consultation; answers and opinions are free: 719-660-6793.

The Platinum Group, Realtors The First Choice in Real Estate

Visit our website: www.PlatinumHomeSales.com

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+ 

6760 Corporate Drive, Ste 300

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

(719) 536-4444

8 Steps to Selling Your Colorado Springs Home

Deciding to sell your Colorado Springs home is a big step. There is a lot you have to do before putting your home on the market. Real estate agents can help you through this process, but there are some things that you need to accomplish before you call Colorado Springs’ best real estate company. The Platinum Group, REALTORS has put together a list of things you should consider doing before placing your home on the market.

1. Assess and Prepare

Evaluate where you are financially and what budget you can set aside for any necessary repairs. Collect all documents you will need in order to place your home on the market. These will include title, survey, mortgage and insurance.

2. Get Your Home Inspected

Buyers will typically choose to have the home inspected before closing, but it is always better to be proactive. If you go ahead with the inspection, this will allow you to see repairs that you may need to do before trying to sell your home. If there are major things that need to be fixed, you will be able to decide who comes to fix it as opposed to the new homeowner choosing.

3. Shape Up the Curb Appeal

The outside of your house is often the first thing future buyers see. You only get one chance to make a first impression when it comes to real estate. This means that landscaping is essential if you want to impress. This could be as simple as placing a few potted plants on the porch or as extensive as giving your home a fresh coat of paint.

4. Stop the Procrastinating

Many homeowners have projects they haven’t started or that are only half way done. Your home could benefit from starting – and most importantly finishing – these projects. If possible, also make minor updates to your home along the way. From new lighting to updated faucets, these small changes can help add value to your home.

6. Make Your House Spotless

Clean, declutter and depersonalize. The fewer things that are left in your home, the larger – and better – your home will look. Taking the personal touches out of your home will allow the future homeowners to picture themselves living there, which will hopefully make them want to buy.

7. Price Your Home Correctly

How quickly are you needing to sell your home? This will affect how you price your home. If you are in a hurry to sell your house, be prepared to have your house listed at a lower price point. If you are able to wait for the perfect offer, you can price your home accordingly.

8. Find The Perfect Real Estate Agent for You

Finding the right agent to help you sell your home can be the hardest part of placing your home on the market. If you are interested in a particular agent, set up a time to meet with them face to face to see if they will make the right fit to sell your home. Each agent has their own techniques they use to sell a home, so make sure you find one that will make your house desirable.

Sell Your Home with The Platinum Group, REALTORS

The Platinum Group, REALTORS can help you sell your Colorado Springs home quickly. With the best real estate agents in the Colorado Springs area, your home will be in good hands. Every Platinum Group REALTOR strives to exceed your expectations to get you the results you want. If you are thinking about selling your Colorado Springs home, call us today at 719-536-4444.

The Platinum Group, Realtors The First Choice in Real Estate

Visit our website: www.PlatinumHomeSales.com

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+ 

6760 Corporate Drive, Ste 300

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

(719) 536-4444

5 Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Colorado Springs Home

If you are selling a home in Colorado Springs, it is necessary to attract as many potential buyers as possible. Typically, homes that are staged sell faster and for more money than ones that are not. You do not have to spend a fortune to make your home looks its best before putting it on the market. By consulting with your agent at Platinum Group, Realtors, cleaning, decluttering, and making some obvious repairs, you should be able to put your home for sale in Colorado Springs in no time. Here are some things you can do:

1. Talk to Your Real Estate Agent

Your agent at the Platinum Group, Realtors can go room by room with you and list the pros and cons. They can help you focus on rooms that make the biggest differences, such as the kitchen and bathrooms and point out potential issues, such as poor lighting or stained carpet. By visiting comparable homes in your neighborhood, you can see what stands out and what you might want to replicate. Make a detailed list of each room, taking note of items to fix yourself, update, or hire a professional for.

2. Deep Clean 

Cleaning your home is perhaps the number one thing you can do when staging your home. Seems simple, but nothing turns off a homebuyer more than a dirty, smelly house. This should go beyond your weekly cleaning. Your home needs to be deep cleaned, including scrubbed and sanitized. Prospective buyers open drawers and cabinets so tidy inside as well. Spots and stains stand out, and so do offensive odors. Try putting lemon peels down the garbage disposal, empty and disinfect garbage bins, sanitize the bathroom mildew, and consider putting a fresh baked apple pie or cookies in the oven just before a showing or open house.

3. Declutter and De-Personalize

While your personal knickknacks and family photos are meaningful to you, they make it harder for potential homebuyers to picture themselves living in your home. You will need to drastically declutter your home before strangers can visualize it as their own. Remove all personal items from your walls and store them in a box. If walls appear too empty, consider some neutral staging decor or inexpensive prints. Remove dried flowers, collectibles, and other dust-collectors. You may want to rearrange furniture to help make your rooms look more spacious. 

4. Make Repairs

You don't need to take on any unnecessary home improvement projects, but you should fix obvious cracks, holes, and other concerns. If something is broke, spend the time and money to fix it. Replacing a highly visible item, such as stained carpet could be worth your money to replace, as a potential homebuyer can tend to over-estimate the cost to repair or replace it.

5. Enhance Your Curb Appeal

Using curb appeal is the best way to make a great first impression. An attractive exterior invites potential buyers into your home. Take a look at your landscaping and replace dead plants, trim shrubs, lay down new mulch, and consider buying new flowers. A couple of well-placed containers by the front door and a new welcome mat can make a friendly entrance. Power wash the garage door, driveway, and entrance pavers.

Platinum Group, Realtors Can Help You Sell Your Home

While staging is optional, it is highly recommended when selling a Colorado Springs home. Homebuyers want to imagine themselves creating a life in your home and don't want to see work that has to be done upon moving in. Let Platinum Group, Realtors help you create a space that potential buyers can call their own.

The Platinum Group, Realtors The First Choice in Real Estate

Visit our website: www.PlatinumHomeSales.com

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+ 

6760 Corporate Drive, Ste 300

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

(719) 536-4444

Interesting Things About Popular Easter Treats and Traditions

Easter is this Sunday and people everywhere are getting ready to celebrate. It has become a fun holiday for families to fill baskets with candy and goodies, visit the Easter Bunny, and hunt for eggs at their homes in Colorado Springs. Platinum Group, Realtors want you to have a wonderful Easter and thought you would enjoy learning some interesting things about some popular Easter treats and traditions:

Easter Peeps

You either love or loathe these sugary coated marshmallows. Even if they are not your favorite treat, they are one of the most popular Easter candies. An average of 5.5 million peeps are made every day, adding up to 2 billion peeps per year. That is enough to circle the earth three times! Yellow and white were the original peep color, but white had been on a hiatus for the past decade. White has just recently been reintroduced, due to popular demand.

Easter Eggs

Before we had tiny little colored tablets, eggs were dyed with natural dyes. Vegetables, plants, and herbs produced soft colors from their skins and juice. Carrots created yellow eggs and cherries produced red eggs. In addition to dyeing eggs, if you happen to get a double-yolked hard boiled egg on Easter, that is considered good luck! 

Egg Tossing

Egg tossing or egg throwing is an entertaining game associated with Easter. Children all over the world participate in some variation of this game. There was even an egg throwing feat recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records on November 12, 1978. The record distance of 323 ft., 2 in. was undefeated until 1999. The record has not been listed in the book since 2000 and now the egg tossing records are kept by the World Egg Throwing Federation located in Swaton, England. 

Easter Parade 

During the nineteenth century, women who attended Easter services at St. Patrick Cathedral strolled up Fifth Avenue in New York City showing off their new Easter bonnets. The New York Easter parade was born from this elaborate display and became one of the first cultural expressions of Easter in the United States. It was highly encouraged for people participating in the parade to dress in new and fashionable clothing. Women in particular would strive to impress in their Easter finery. Many other cities have since developed their own versions of the Easter parade, but are much less formal. 

Platinum Group, Realtors Wishes You a Happy Easter

No matter what you have planned for your Easter celebration, Platinum Group, Realtors want you to have an enjoyable weekend with your family. If you plan to buy or sell a home in Colorado Springs this spring, please contact us at (719) 536-4444. We strive to provide you with the best service possible.

The Platinum Group, Realtors The First Choice in Real Estate

Visit our website: www.PlatinumHomeSales.com

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+ 

Welcome to The Platinum Group Realtors Blog

Welcome to the new The Platinum Group Realtors blog. In our blog, we will be writing about a lot of topics revolving around buying and selling real estate in Colorado Springs. We are going to be giving you ideas about selling your home, finding your perfect Colorado Springs home, tips for finding a mortgage, events going on in CSprings, and much more. We would like to introduce ourselves and tell you a little bit about our company. We look forward to bringing you some of our expert real estate knowledge in our upcoming posts!

About Our Colorado Springs Real Estate Company

Platinum Group Realtors was founded in 2005 by seven long-time Colorado Brokers. This provides the community with a wealth of real estate knowledge under one roof. Uncompromising client service is our starting point. From there every Platinum Group REALTOR® strives to exceed your expectations and get you the results you deserve. Over 80% of our clients are personal referrals. This is a strong testimony to our unwavering client service and the success of our company.

The Platinum Group Realtors

We aren't your typical real estate firm. We have been ranked as the #1 independent real estate company in Colorado Springs.  We have some of the most productive real estate professionals in Colorado Springs. Our agents make up 2.5% of the real estate agents in the area. However 24% of our agents are in the top 100 agents, 40% are in the top 200, and 51% are in the top 300. We are confident our agents will provide you with platinum service and platinum results.

Buying a Home in Colorado Springs

If you are new to Colorado Springs and are searching for a home, our team of agents can help you find a fitting neighborhood or school district. We will find out what is most important to you, so that we can match you to a home that suits you and your family's lifestyle. 

Selling Your Colorado Springs Home

If you are moving outside of the city or state, we can get your home listed and properly marketed to potential buyers. We also offer a relocation service that can help you find the right real estate company in your destination city. We have access to thousands of national real estate listings. 

Stay Connected with The Platinum Group Realtors 

We will publish a new blog each week, so make sure to subscribe so you don't miss one. We plan on covering topics on types of mortgages, staging techniques, the closing process, and reasons to own a vacation home in Colorado Springs. Our featured listings and expert agents will be highlighted as well. We hope that you find the posts informative and when you are ready to buy or sell real estate in Colorado Springs, you choose to work with us. Be a part of our social network by clicking on the following links:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Google+

Whether you are buying or selling real estate in Colorado Springs,  we would love to help you with your transaction. In addition, our relocation services are extensive and not specific to a certain franchise. This provides us access to real estate companies worldwide. When you work with the Platinum Group Realtors, not only will we achieve your real estate goals, you will get extraordinary value for what you pay!

The Platinum Group, Realtors The First Choice in Real Estate

Visit our website: www.PlatinumHomeSales.com

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+