You might remember the Using Walkscore in Your Home Search post (but if you don’t that’s OK.) And now there’s some new conversations about how “walkability” is more apt to make an impact on home buying and home selling decision. From the gist of this Money/CNN article, it looks like people are putting their money where there feet are. Read Putting a Price on Walkability and feel free to enter your comments here about whether walkability really is worth more.
We’ve discussed in the op-ed post “Homebuyer, Know Thy Self,” which was an exercise in self-discovery falling well short of Freudian analysis, but enough to help you understand how knowing what you want and what’s important to you can lead to a successful home hunt.
If one of these explorations has lead you to concluding that nearby conveniences float your boat, you’ll be happy to know about Walkscore, a method for determining any addresse’s “walkability” index. So, if you’re wondering weather that two-bedroom bungalow in Corey-Merrill spells out an existence of living in your car, or being able to walk to Joe’s Pizzeria for a dinner slice, give it a try. It’s on of the new built-in features at COhomefinder, and other fine sites.
See also the follow-up post: Walkscore May Raise Home Price
In our first op-ed piece, “Taking the Oath,” we explored the concept of claiming responsibility for one’s own home search and taking an active role in the process, coupled with collaborating with Colorado REALTORs to produce the best result. Today, we’ll discuss what seems like a no-brainer, but I think it bears repeating: You have to know what you want in a home and what’s important to you in order for you to find the one that’s right for you.
It seems simple, yes? But I’ve met scores of grown people who either don’t bother to take inventory of their own personalities, or lie to themselves about who they are and what makes them happy. Who lives with that mistake? The home buyer, of course.
Below are some questions to explore that will ultimately help you in your home search. Share the answers with the trusted agent assisting you in your quest.
Weigh in with what you think are other important questions to consider. Comments are open!
RELATED ARTICLES:
Homebuyer, Know Thy REALTOR
Taking the Oath: An Op-Ed Miniseries
In this followup installment to Taking the Oath, we’ll explore good real estate consumerism, and how to–and how not to–use a REALTOR to help you buy or sell a home.
When I married a lawyer, that was my family’s cue to open the floodgates at dinner to every bad lawyer joke ever conceived. The truth is that if I had married a REALTOR, the outcome would have been the same, but without an invitation to dinner.
Despite having had a REALTOR of many years in the family, an agent for Century 21 back in the gold sport jacket days, they’ve become a maligned and misunderstood entity back home. This is what happens when misinformation meets preconceived notions. But if there are as many REALTORs as there are lawyers, logic commands that there are good ones and bad ones, but without having the convenient signifier of a white or black hat.
Categorically, the smart money is usually on using a qualified REALTOR (with a white hat). Most buyers and sellers find it too hard to go it alone, and the decision to forgo the second opinion of someone ensconced in the business can turn out to be costly. The caveat: Choose your REALTOR with the same care you would choose a babysitter, a doctor, an accountant. There are thousands of real estate agents out there, and while that may make your job of finding a great one a little more complicated, there are guiding principles that have served me and many others well over the years. Here are a few, and remember to play along at home by commenting on some of your own.
Do you know what you want?
At the end of the day, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, and what’s important to you, no one can help you, even the best agent in the business. Make the rules. Determine what your currency is, and stick with it. I decided during our last transaction, that we would go slowly, at a pace that was comfortable to us. Any agent who became frustrated at our pace, anyone who tried to hurry us into a contract, was not for us. Once you know what part of the experience important to you, your agent has a much better chance at providing it.
Are you willing to stand up for yourself?
You want an agent who’s working for you, and your best interests. If you find your agent pulling stunts that rub you the wrong way, you have to get comfortable with the art of mature confrontation.
Trust your gut
Anything that smacks of desperation, amateurism, or underhandedness is probably real, not imagined. Be up front, take those hunches, and act on them. The good news is, there is no shortage of good agents in your city or state.
Just the facts, ma’am
If weather is an important consideration, check the weather data, don’t just ask for someone’s subjective data. If traffic is a deal-breaker, look at Google traffic reports. Look up a neighborhood’s Walkscore if you crave a car-free experience. Check property values and comparisons, and ask your REALTOR for clarification or translation if you need it. Look into local schools using the Department of Educations scoring methods. In other words, don’t take someone else’s word for it, look at the facts, and then go about interpreting them.
The customer service team
Does your REALTOR have more backup than the NYPD? That’s going to be important, come go-time.
Consider the REALTOR himself
No, you’re not going to ask him to move in with you, but you are going to spend some time together. If you don’t jibe with him or her, you’re not going to have the best possible experience. The first REALTOR I ever hired spoke only to my boyfriend whenever we were all together, which was comical to me, considering I was the sole buyer and title holder.
Self-reliance and communication
If there’s one thing Suze Orman has taught us, it’s that we, at some point, have to look to ourselves for guidance. No one can care as much about your home search as you, and no one will have to live with your choices but you. And at some point, your REALTOR will have to look to you for direction and guidance too. Decide what things you want your agent to deliver to you, and what kinds of services you think are worth paying for, and then ask for them. Aim high; you don’t just want someone who can open a lock box, you want someone who can provide value. Resist the temptation to act on a friend’s referral, or use a friend who’s new to real estate.
Talk is cheap, information is cheaper (in a good way)
Today is when responsible consumerism marries technology; use the Web to research and find facts, and remember, now that information is freer than ever, you can’t use a price tag to conclude its worth. Use trusted sources, and check facts. Remember, this used to be a lot harder, way back when real estate agents wore big gold sport jackets with their names embroidered on the lapel.
When looking at a home, it’s hard to look at it in any other context than that day. Maybe it’s sunny out, or cold and damp, and it’s easy (or hard) to imagine yourself living there. That’s all good, but it’s important to consider that that same home was probably around long before you were. That’s why a home’s listing history and property values are good to have.
Traditionally, you had to sign up with a REALTOR before you were enlightened to these data. Today, you can either ask your agent to help you with data points such as listing history, days on the market, comparative pricing, and property values over time, or you can get them by signing up at COhomefinder. There’s no obligation, and the client care team is happy to give you as little or as much hand-holding as you want.
But where a historical perpective counts is with the property’s informal history that’s usually recorded in the memories of the neighbors and other locals. If, for example, a property was the scene of a dramatic or catastrophic incident, that’s good to know. If a history of violence or repair doesn’t bother you, you might feel fine about continuing with a thorough home inspection. If it does, however, discovering the facts well before you start losing money and paying penalties is well worth it.
If I could ask everyone who has ever been or ever will be a buyer of real estate to take an oath, it would be short. And it would go something like: “I pledge to be a good real estate consumer, and I promise to find a good balance between taking an active role in my experience and finding help.”
I have broken this oath a few times in my experience, and those were painful transgressions. Either I failed to consider the value of a good agent in the business, or I chose foolishly. Either I had handed over my home search or sale too much to someone else, or I thought I could do it all myself. A few times I’ve gotten it right, and there’s nothing better than knowing that it’s possible to buy or sell a home in Colorado (or any other state) without putting your life savings into the swear jar.
THE KEYS ARE NOT IN THE LOCK BOX, THEY’RE IN YOU
I’m not a realtor, or a REALTOR® , or a real estate expert, but I am a realist with a brain that works, and that entitles me to the opinion that the road to a good experience in any real estate transaction begins and ends with the basics: Real estate involves a series of collaborative efforts, and you are in charge of the formal and informal partnerships you create and negotiate.
We’ll do more delving into the art of being a good consumer of real estate, which, by the way, has never been easier to accomplish. That’s the good news. The bad news is that making seemingly small errors in judgment can cost you money, time, energy, happiness, and even relationships.
In future installments, I give you my take on the scarlet A: Agents. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the myths and stereotypes that plague them. I’ll opine on the market, using conditions to your advantage. And of course, more on how to use the modern conveniences of today to arm yourself with the information it takes to make good decisions.
Stay tuned, and as always, weigh in with your own opinion in the comments section.
It’s the moment some people have been waiting for. Former Denver Broncos head coach, Mike Shanahan, has put his Cherry Hills Village home on the market. If simple, compact living is your style, however, look elsewhere. Shanahan’s home is 20,000 square feet and sits on a roomy 2.5 acres.
Like it? Home owner’s dues are $4032 quarterly, but you’ll be glad for the security gate once the paparazzi come crawling. You’ll find photos and more information on the estate, priced at $17M, at its 20 Cherry HIlls Park Drive listing page.
I guess when Steven Wright said, “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it all?” he’d never been to dinner at Shanahan’s.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade, you know that building green has been all the rage. Going green is great; I’m all for it; the Stapleton subdivision is one of Denver’s most popular and shining examples of sustainable construction. Environmental stewardship is the thing to do, and following the three Rs in everyday life is getting easier and more accessible every day, especially here in Boulder. So it follows that green home building is a common topic of conversation; I just happened to have no idea what it really meant.
As it turns out, building green can mean different things, and there are even some controversies about what are really environmentally green building practices, and what are simply trendy perceptions. Take, for example, flooring. I was recently speaking to a flooring expert who mentioned the ever-rising requests for bamboo. You may have heard that bamboo flooring is considered “green” because it’s a renewable resource because it matures in five years instead of thirty. (There’s also cork flooring, which can be harvested without harming the plant.) But I learned that there’s a distinction with alternative flooring that I hadn’t considered. Some bamboo is shipped from other countries, which means that fossil fuels play a big part in its transport. Sometimes bamboo is treated with eco-unfriendly chemicals during processing. And because some owners want to keep expensive flooring protected as long as possible, that may mean finishing bamboo with a compound with high VOC levels.
It seems that the moral of the story is: Don’t stop using your good sense just because a product or practice makes green claims. Continue to use the kind of common sense it takes to get along in every other facet of home ownership.
Other practices believed to encourage the greening of our neighborhoods and communities include:
I first heard of telecommuting as a young professional in Denver, and I thought it sounded great. And also like a pipe dream. And then technology did that thing it does, seemingly all by itself: It moved forward until we couldn’t imagine our lives without the new-new things that had come along. Research data from a library in Newfoundland could be delivered like lightening to my Centennial home, or in my Fort Collins home; you can buy a purse, some shoes, and have them delivered, gift wrapped, in just a few keystrokes. Now even the most geographically-dependent experiences have been either replaced or augmented by electronic ones. Home buying in Colorado is one of them.
Will you still need or want to physically visit the homes that sound right for you, taking a tour of it and asking good questions with a qualified Colorado REALTOR? I hope so. Will you need to spend as many hours in a car as the last generation of homebuyers looking at the same number of homes? No way. In buyer’s markets and in seller’s can you get the edge over other shoppers while you sleep? Actually, yes.
In the Old Days…
Home shoppers were at the mercy of the market and its gatekeepers. Information was limited; lookers were forced to surrender themselves to people and paper. There was a limit to one one could do for one’s self. That’s because home buying is a personal business. No one will care about your home in Colorado as much as you do.
Today…
You have the power, the control, the initiative, to make informed decisions. And you can make them from anywhere, at any time. With COhomefinder’s Automated HomeAlert system, there’s a system on your side, thinking about your preferences, and delivering the results to your inbox, even while you sleep. Your wish is its command.
And now that you know all that is possible, wouldn’t a teleporter be nice?
If you’re a first-time homebuyer, or are just curious, you’re in the right place. More than 3/4 of the public now uses the Internet to help them find or sell their home, which means that technology is taking some of the burden out of searching for Colorado real estate.
Introducing COhomefinder
Not only was COhomefinder one of Colorado’s first and favorite companies to marry technology with great real estate know-how and customer service, but it’s a great resource for Colorado homeowners, Colorado home sellers, and Colorado home buyers who need information from the Colorado MLS right away, from anywhere.
According to most sources, the homebuying process is simple, and at its core, consists of a few steps, which we’ve distilled down to the basics below. Of course, buying a house in Colorado is a personal process, and while it may be simple, it’s not always easy. That’s why COhomefinder consists of a team of people including client care representatives and licensed REALTORs who can help connect the dots between you and your next Colorado property or Colorado home.
Decide on your needs
As a part of the planning stage in your home search, it’s wise to establish a criteria and outcomes for your search. What’s your price range, what style and size of home are you looking for? (A ranch-style home in Colorado, a Colorado two story home?) What’s your ideal lot size? Are you interested in the Colorado public high schools nearby? Are you interested in Colorado homes built during a certain year? Built by a certain Colorado home builder? A good REALTOR is instrumental in this area, however, you can learn a lot about Colorado neighborhoods, Colorado zip codes, and top Colorado properties at anytime by looking through Colorado real estate listings by category.
Find a mortgage professional
Call and meet with a Colorado mortgage lender early, since many buyers find an advantage in being pre-qualified or pre-approved before shopping. Use the mortgage calculator any time, no registration or signup required.
Establish a relationship with a real estate professional
Find a Colorado REALTOR who’s an expert in the city and neighborhoods in which you’re interested. Get input about pricing, quality, history, trends, location, associations, and proximity to important amenities. Find out what the Colorado neighborhood demographic is, and tell your REALTOR what’s important to you in a home.
Find Properties that meet your needs
After picking some specific listings, look through each listing’s details carefully, to make sure that the Colorado property meets your specifications. Take a virtutal tour of Colorado homes when possible. Take a look at property values of Colorado houses. Since COhomefinder makes sorting and keeping your properties of interest so easy and convenient, you can share your picks with family members for their input and eventually, a qualified REALTOR. Make appointments for private showings of Colorado homes that are of the most interest to you.
Narrow the list
Spend a little time each day learning about the Colorado homes on the market using the Hot Sheet, and the Colorado listings blog. If you’ve signed up for Automated HomeAlert, you’ll find the day’s fresh listings in your email inbox. If you’re interested in price reduced properties, check the price reductions calendar for that day, week, or month.
There are also more resources available for Colorado home buyers today than ever. Try some of the free materials through Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies, The Colorado Division of Housing, or request a Colorado relocation packet. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying your next Colorado home. Welcome.
Here’s a COhomefinder how-to in three words: Map these listings. Try it out now using these simple steps.
Easy, right? But let’s say that you want to see where a whole cluster of listings are located on a Google map in any given Colorado neighborhood, Colorado city, or metro area within the Colorado Front Range.
Using these and other techniques, you can stay in the know about homes that are available in one of hundreds of areas in Colorado, at any time, from anywhere you have an Internet connection and a browser. Happy hunting. Some of the more active areas in Colorado right now are Loveland, Fort Collins, Denver, Boulder & Nederland, Greeley, and Sedalia.
