The valued customers of Prudential Team Realty once again stepped up to provide a special Christmas to the residents of Prospect Park Living Center. Residents are each adopted by a Prudential customer without knowing their names. The gifts are purchased and wrapped by the adopters and dropped off at Prudential during their annual wine-and- cheese especially for this event. The office quickly fills with wrapped gifts and the feeling of a job well-done.
This has been an amazingly successful event for everyone for the past six years. Residents look forward to the coming of Christmas and the opening of their special gifts. Jean Novak coordinates what the residents want or need with Gerald Mayo and Renee Blancq at Prudential Team Realty each year. Most requests are modest, and typically something to keep them warm, like socks, sweaters, sweatshirts.
“We do get the occasional ‘red lipstick’ and jewelry requests every year, which has to make you smile,” said organizers.
This year, they added some “beauty treatments” and haircuts to the list of items that could be provided as something special and extra for the residents. Nothing makes you feel more beautiful than a new top, some jewelry, perm and new nails.
“With the difficult times that our country has been facing recently, the gratitude of doing something special for residents right here in Estes Park is very special and very rewarding,” said Mayo. “You don’t have to go very far to change the world. Sometimes, just a smile shared with someone else will make their day better. Merry Christmas.”
Monthly Archives: December 2012
Prudential Team Realty hosts sixth annual Christmas at PPLC
Buying and selling a home during the off season
(BPT) – While cold weather causes many people to stay snug and cozy indoors, it provides a great opportunity for home buyers to get out and find their dream home. Fall and winter are typically considered the off season in the housing market, but actually buyers can potentially find better deals and sellers may find the most serious buyer. To take advantage of the benefits of off-season real estate, consider these important areas of advice.
Use strategic elements of the season
The off season is a great time to buy because you’ll have less competition with other buyers and a reduced chance of getting in a bidding war that drives up a home’s price, something that still occurs frequently. When you’re not fighting with other bidders, you can make a sound decision and have a better chance of getting the seller to pitch in on concessions, such as closing costs or funds for improvements like appliance upgrades.
Prepare yourself from the start
Today’s unique real estate market can be confusing for even the most savvy folks. That’s why it’s important to work with a real estate agent who can answer all your questions. Not all real estate agents have the same training and experience, so find one who has the background necessary to navigate complex situations.
Look beyond the first impression. ?During the fall and winter seasons, it might be easy to overlook subtle home issues. Outside leaves pile up, snow drifts form and they may cover up problems with the siding, foundation or landscaping. A home that is currently vacant, whether it’s a foreclosure or the homeowners already moved, may have internal issues due to freezing temperatures. Empty houses are typically heated less, and some, unfortunately, not at all. If a house you’re interested in is vacant, make sure that it has been properly winterized or maintained so that you can be confident there are no issues with frozen pipes or a malfunctioning furnace.
Strategic points for sellers
For sellers, the off season doesn’t have to be a detriment to making a sale. Remember, staging your home so it looks organized, stylish and modern is a smart move. Take cues from the season in your decor choices, creating a clean yet homey feeling that will help potential buyers visualize their future in the space. Also, remember potential buyers may want to drive by your home before they schedule an official showing. With fewer daylight hours, it’s important to keep lights on in the evening, so if they drive by, your home isn’t completely dark.
Navigating the county website
One of the best resources afforded buyers, sellers, and realtors is the Larimer County website. This site is a wealth of information. You can access assessed values, sales prices, owners of record, plats, aerial plats, size of homes, features, etc.
The most used features are the data page that shows sales prices and size of homes. This info comes in handy for buyers when they are searching for a home. Of course, you can always ask for this info from your realtor, but if you wanted to do some home investigation to learn about property values, this is where you would go.
Be careful to not get too caught up in the assessed value. Far too often I work with buyers who are trying to base their offer on what the county says the value is. Keep in mind that the assessed value is in most cases is well below the market value of a home.
Another item to be aware of is the finished square feet. Not all remodels or additions get filed with the county. If the advertised S.F. is more than the county S.F., this may be a case of an addition/remodel that was not permitted through the building department.
To learn more about the neat features of the county site, visit it at: http://www.larimer.org/assessor/query/search.cfm
Estes Park Home Guide Weekly: Dec. 14
Estes Park Home Guide Weekly: Dec. 14
Estes Park Home Guide Weekly Dec. 14, 2012