Category Archives: Buying a Home

To Paint or Not to Paint? To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade?

According to a RE/MAX agent and interior design specialist, Jeannie Do, a home’s color palette can make a significant impact on prospective buyers.  Here’s why.

Using color throughout a home can be expressive, creative, and hold cultural significance.  But what happens to that level of personalization when it’s time to sell?

According to our design specialist, homeowners preparing a property to sell need to look past their own emotional connection to color and focus on what changes – like a fresh coat of paint – can elevate their home’s overall aesthetic, appeal to buyers, and potentially increase ROI.

Reconsidering bright colors –

Colors used to express yourself can oftentimes be a reflection of your personality, mindset, and values.  For instance, in many Asian households, you may see the color red because it represents good fortune and is very auspicious.  Red is a color of high energy and it can relate to the dynamic of Asian families who cherish their extended family and host lively gatherings altogether.

Red is typically a color we would avoid in home staging because it’s seen as a statement color.

Many home stagers agree that while color is a great way to be expressive while living in a space, it’s often best to eliminate brighter shades when preparing a home to sell in order to appeal to more buyers.

When it’s time to sell, you should aim to remove yourself from the house and make it a blank slate – almost like an art gallery.  Galleries usually have white walls because it allows the art to shine without making an impression on it.  Setting up your house as a neutral gallery for the buyer to see as their next piece of art, says our design specialist.

Aligning with trends –

While neutral paint colors are typically timeless, there can be a place for brighter colors to stay up or be added in when preparing a home to sell.  If the seller’s goal is to match their home with current design trends, like around mid-century modern style, for example, then in-theme colors may be embraced by prospective buyers.

Homes vary in size, have unique layouts and receive different quantities of natural light, thus requiring different shades and undertones of paint even within one color family.  All of this needs to be considered when choosing paint colors.

Consumer preferences also have a longstanding history of mirroring societal trends. While cooler grays were preferred for a period of time, warmer neutrals are rising in popularity.

Because of the change in lifestyle due to COVID-19 in the last couple of years, people are actually starting to favor warmer tones for their mood-boosting and comforting effects.  It’s all about psychology.  Because people are so uncertain about what’s happening in the world, they want to come home to a place that makes them feel safe.

Creating a synchronized space –

Wall color surely sets a backdrop.  But the rest of the elements within a home’s interior have to align to create a space that buyers can envision themselves and their families living in.

Your furniture and décor pieces have to be cohesive with the wall color.  If you have really modern furniture but dated wall colors, the interior can feel disconnected.  It’s harder for buyers to picture how they would personalize, furnish, and decorate the home when it doesn’t feel natural.

Sometimes it’s not in the budget to make big changes to a home before listing it on the market.  In addition to decluttering the space, there are a few other tricks for staging with existing items within the home.

Lighting and window treatments are a relatively easy way to elevate a space.  It can even be as simple as moving your curtains all the way up to the ceiling to visually elongate the walls and make the ceiling seem higher.  Bring in as much natural light as you can. In smaller spaces, consider swapping out heavier curtains for ones that are sheer to really optimize sunlight.

A qualified seller’s agent will have insight onto the local housing market, have seen comparable properties, and can provide further suggestions to help prep a home to sell.

When it’s time to sell, just keep in mind that you’re trying to appeal to other’s tastes, not your own.  Getting rid of personalization and loud wall colors can help the process move along much smoother and attract more buyers along the way.

Article information from Jeannie Do, an agent and member of the International Group with RE/MAX Professional in Lakewood, CO.  She holds a BFA degree in Interior Design.

In Appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Excellence

Celebrating 20 Years!!

Today is a day of celebration and reflection for me.  I celebrated 20 years in real estate as I received my real estate license on July 20th 2002.

Many people ask me why I got into real estate.  I got into real estate because a relative of mine told me I should consider real estate and I listened because she was older and wiser, and the bible tells us to listen to our elders and I’m glad I did.  I love real estate because it allows me to use my passion, which is helping people.

A lot has changed over the years, but I navigated the highs and the lows.  The mortgage interest rate in 2002 was 6.54%.  The highs in the last 20 years were the last two years when it was a TRUE Seller’s market.  It was great for my Sellers that could sell and take advantage of the craziness and had a place to go live.  The lows were in the 2007-2008 downturn when I was doing short sales as my clients were losing their homes.  I’m so glad I listened once again and got my CDPE – Certified Distressed Property Expert designation.  It gave me the ability to assist my Sellers by doing a short sale for them vs. them going into foreclosure.

Over the years I have learned how to do what I do better.  I have sought out training and certifications to further help me further my knowledge of the industry so I could help my clients. My certifications are listed in the ‘About‘ section.

What advice would I give someone considering a career in real estate?  The advice I would give to someone thinking about getting into real estate is, that if you are willing to work 24/7, 365 days a year, and you are passionate about helping people with the largest investment they will ever make, then get into real estate and treat your clients and agents like you want to be treated and you’ll be successful.

It’s my passion.  I love it.  Thank you to each and everyone who has given me the opportunity to help you buy or sell.  I am truly grateful.

In appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence

Home Ownership – The American Dream

History of National Home Ownership Month

June is National Home Ownership Month.  Do you know the history of the American Dream of home ownership?

In the 1800s, most Americans had no way of really owning a home.  Mortgages became common only after the U.S. banking system came into being after the 1860s National Bank Acts.

During the time of the Great Depression, the banks did not have any money to lend and the average borrower didn’t have any cash.  As a result, people couldn’t afford to buy homes, while existing homeowners often failed to pay their debt.  To stabilize the housing market, the U.S. government created the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation in 1933, the Federal Housing Administration in 1934, and the Federal National Mortgage Association (now known as Fannie Mae) in 1938.  All these institutions took homeownership to new heights and helped prevent a crash in the housing market.

What changed the face of the housing industry, along with that of the American economy, was the G.I. Bill of 1944.  This bill provided subsidized mortgages for the veterans of World War II.  Another milestone in the history of American housing came when Congress passed the Fair Housing Act of 1968.  The Act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and banned discrimination in housing based on religion, race, gender, and national origin.  It came into being only a few days after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

In its 87 years of existence, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has saved America an almost $4 trillion loss of household wealth.  It has helped more than 44 million citizens to become homeowners.

National Homeownership Week began in 1995, which was a strategy of the administration under President Bill Clinton to increase homeownership across America.  Later, in 2002, President George W. Bush expanded the period of observance from a week to the entire month of June.  National Homeownership Month reinforces the belief that owning a home is one of the steps toward achieving the American dream.

My passion is helping people home ownership and finding their dream home.

Information derived from NationalToday.com

In appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence!

What does Back to School mean to the Real Estate Market?

It’s that time of year when kids fill their backpacks and wave goodbye to Mom and Dad as they board the school bus or are dropped off in the carpool lane. Summer vacation for the most part is over.  The last thing on most family’s minds is packing and moving.

Typically, when school starts, the housing market slows down, but with this tumultuous market, it is hard to predict.  Many are still looking for homes in this seller’s market.  If there is a lull, it will be short-lived.  After Labor Day there is usually an uptick as it is the unofficial start of the fall season. Sellers and buyers will now want to buy and close quickly to get settled before the holiday season.

It is still a good time to sell as there is still a shortage of inventory.  If you have a plan in mind as to where you’re going to live once your home sells.  Many sellers have gotten creative.

Here are some possible solutions:

  • Do you have rental property? Many sellers are moving into one of their rentals until they can find their next home
  • Do you have vacation property? Same scenario.
  • Move in with relatives.
  • Find a short-term rental – Those who do have rental property who are willing to take a month-to-month lease situation are offering this alternative until the sellers can find their next home.
  • I’ve even seen some move into their RV or houseboat until they find their next home. You might have to store your household belongings for a while, but if you do, consider using a pod, that way you don’t have to have a moving company move you twice.
  • Buy before you sell. Some have taken their equity out of their current home and used it as a down payment on the new home.
  • New Construction. When the new home is move-in ready, then you list yours.

In this area, the market is extremely hot, because of the great schools, which is great.  The good news is homes bring a premium price tag.  The bad news is, it makes buying a home in the school district you want a little challenging, but not impossible.  Another reason you need a seasoned agent.

If you’re thinking about selling or buying, give me a call and let’s devise a plan that will work for you and your family.

Marie Dinsmore

The Dinsmore Team

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence!

Prepping Your Pet for Your Big Move

Your moving day is set and it’s time to start preparing. As you’re making your lists and checking them twice, don’t forget to factor in your 4 legged family members.

Moving can be stressful for all of us, but pets often experience stress that they can’t communicate leading up to a big move. Our pets are perceptive, and they notice when big changes are happening, but they don’t understand why we’re packing up. Then, once you’ve arrived at your new home, they have to get comfortable with new sights, sounds, and smells before they can settle in. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to help get your family pet get ready for a big move and reduce their stress.

Here are some tips for making sure the process goes smoothly.

Medical records. When moving to a different city or state, one of the main things you need to take into consideration is finding a new veterinarian that is the right fit for you and your pet. If you have family or friends in the area, ask for recommendations or do your own research by reading reviews and news articles. Once you find one, contact your current vet to initiate a transfer of medical records. Then schedule a “get to know you” appointment shortly after your move.

Have Collars and Paperwork Handy. While you’re preparing, it’s also a good idea to have all paperwork and contact information handy. Make sure cats and dogs are wearing a collar with your phone number on it, as well as their rabies tags and any other relevant information. If there is a mishap during your move and one of your pets escapes through an open door, you want to be able to find them. If they aren’t already microchipped, now is a good time to have this simple procedure done.

Don’t Overfeed. Some animals have a tendency to overeat when they are stressed, especially if they believe you are going to be leaving them alone for a while. Make sure to watch your animals in the days leading up to the move and avoid overfeeding them. Cats especially are likely to get sick from stress and anxiety if they have overeaten and then gone for a car ride. Dogs are somewhat less likely to react negatively in the car, but each pet has its own limits.

Transportation. Whether it’s a short drive or a long plane ride, the safest way to relocate a nervous pet is with a crate.  However, if you’re in a hurry on moving day and you shove your pet into a crate and slam the door, you’re only going to make matters worse. Instead, you need to bring the crate inside your home several weeks in advance so they can smell it and explore it in a low-stress environment.  For most pets, this is a foreign concept, and they require time to get comfortable with it. Start acclimating your pet as early as possible and use comfort items like treats and favorite toys and blankets to make the experience is a positive one for your pet.

Prepare a Place for them. Pad your moving schedule with ample time to get your dog or cat acclimated to their new home. Cats and dogs react to new spaces differently, but when it comes to moving day, you’ll probably want them out of the way while you finish unloading the furniture and heavy boxes. The easiest way to manage this is to have food, water, and their favorite toys already set up in a spare bedroom or bathroom so you can open their crate and let them explore in a quiet corner of the house. Once all your other furniture is moved in, you can open the bedroom door and let them see more, but the first few hours should be quiet and calm. Once all the moving of furniture and boxes is done, make sure to clear anything that could be dangerous and block off areas as necessary then let them free to get a lay of the land on their own.

Walk Through the new House with Your Pet on a Leash. Your pet picks up on many sounds and smells that you can’t. As a result, they may react to certain scents left behind by the previous owner, or new sounds from the HVAC unit or neighborhood traffic. The best way to handle this introduction is with a leash so your pet can explore without getting beyond your reach. Help them explore inside the house, room by room, and set clear boundaries if they are not allowed in certain spaces. Likewise, walk the front and backyard slowly with a leash attached so you can inspect the fence and handle any interactions with wayward animals or children.

All of these tips will help your pet handle move-in day as peacefully as possible. Just remember, your pet will likely need a few days to adjust to the new space, and having plenty of familiar items and toys around can help them make that adjustment.

Hope you found these tips helpful.

Sincerely,

Marie

The Dinsmore Team

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence