Pet-Friendly Realtors

10012 Clyde Circle

 Beautiful home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado located on cul-de-sac and backing to huge open space with this incredible view!

For the full tour and information click here!
 

Should I use my friend to sell my house in Denver?

 “My friend has their license”

Are you being pressured to sell through a friend because they “have a real estate license”? Some points to consider:

In this challenging market remember that, over the course of the complicated and detailed process of selling your house, you will want to be represented by a professional who can be objective and can promote your property appropriately to prospective buyers.

Your real estate representative is not your friend or social competitor, but your business representative.

It can be detrimental to a personal relationship to “mix business with pleasure”

When you are ready to sell your home in Colorado, contact us for more information.

Ed & Lynda 303-902-6600

Tis the Season!

Pet safety around the holidays takes a little extra care.

Here are the links to a couple of great articles, one courtesy of PAW (Partnership for Animal Wealfare)
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_HolidaySafety.php

the other courtesy of Colorado State University Veterinarians:
http://www.news.colostate.edu/Release/1758

For tips on moving with pets, or buying and selling real estate (with or without pets!) visit my website at PetFriendlyRealEstate.com.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Ed, Ruffian and Hidalgo Vanderpool

Inspection process can be second round of negotiation

Home sellers who are negotiating to their rock-bottom price with home buyers, the Home Inspection process can become a second round of negotiations. This is true of modest price homes right on up to luxury homes.

Naturally, Buyers want to feel they are getting a good deal, and condition of the property weighs heavily in their consideration.

Sellers need to review the inspection reports carefully and consider the Buyers' requests for repairs, including price concessions and cost of repairs. Buyers and Sellers should also keep in mind that Home Inspectors opinions are subjective, and Sellers have a can get a second expert opinion for estimates for repairs.

For more information, feel free to contact the original "Pet-Friendly" Realtor, Ed Vanderpool at 303-902-6600, or visit his website: www.Pet-Friendly.com.

Protesting Property Taxes

Okay, you've just received your property assessment for your Colorado property, and you think it just might be a tad high, given the current Denver Real Estate Market.

What to do? Can you protest your tax assessment?

Yes, but....

First of all, be aware that the current tax assesment is based on sales over an 18 month period that ended June 30, 2008.

You can contact your friendly, local neighborhood Realtor who is knowledgable in your neighborhood for starters!

Denver in the Top 10 Relcoation Spots!

From the Denver Business Journal, April 1, 2009:

Denver is one of 10 U.S. cities on a new Forbes magazine list of cities where Americans are relocating.

Denver ranked No. 10 on the list.

 

“Unemployment is on the rise, credit is tight, and consumers aren’t spending — which means they aren’t picking up and moving much either. Very few places in America saw significant population growth in 2008,” Forbes said in its report.

“But the buzzing metropolitan area of Denver bucked that trend,” Forbes added. “Its population increased by 2.17 percent in 2008. In 2007, it increased by 2.09 percent. In 2008, Denver was the 10th-fastest growing metro area in the U.S.”

The Forbes report notes that Denver was listed as the most popular city in America in an October 2008 survey by the Pew Research Center, “so it’s no surprise that this metro area still attracts newcomers.”

It also cites lower unemployment rates in Denver than the national average.

The magazine based its list on U.S. Census Bureau data for population growth among metropolitan areas.

New Orleans, at No. 8, is a surprising entry on the list, but Forbes said the hurricane-ravaged Crescent City has been regaining population the last two years and rebuilding efforts are boosting employment.

The 10 cities on Forbes’ list:

• 1. Raleigh, N.C.
• 2. Austin, Texas
• 3. Charlotte, N.C.
• 4. Phoenix
• 5. Dallas
• 6. San Antonio, Texas
• 7. Houston
• 8. New Orleans
• 9. Atlanta
• 10. Denver

Denver also recently ranked No. 14 on Forbes’ list of the best U.S. places to do business.

Denver Real Estate is Looking Up!

 The Denver Real Estate market is showing signs of heating up!

My phone has been "ringing off the hook" since the President signed the Stimulus Bill in Denver!

Perhaps it has something to do with how nicely Denver was presented, but we've been very busy with both buyers and sellers!

What's your take on the real estate market?

Because I am the original "Pet-Friendly" Realtor, I am also anxiously awaiting word on who will be the "First Dog"!

For more information on moving to the Denver area, visit our website: Pet-Friendly.com!

Xcel Energy Rebates

If you (and your pets) own a home in the metro Denver real estate market, the following information from Xcel energy (from a Denver Business Journal article by Cathy Proctor) may be of interest to you!

Programs announced Tuesday for the residential market are:

• Heating Rebates: Effective Jan. 1, consumers installing high-efficiency natural gas furnaces or boilers can receive rebates ranging from $80 to $120, depending on the rating of the appliance. Applications are due by July 31, 2009. Certain restrictions may apply. Customers are encouraged to speak with their equipment contractors to verify if they will qualify for the program or call Xcel Energy with questions.

• Water Heater Rebate: Customers can also receive rebates on the installation of three tiers of standard natural gas water heaters, ranging from $40 to $80 and depending on efficiency ratings. Rebates of $100 also are being offered on tankless water heaters.

• Insulation Rebates: Natural gas customers in Colorado who install additional attic or wall insulation, or apply air sealing or weather stripping to their homes can receive rebates of up to 20 percent of the cost of the upgrade, with a maximum rebate of $300.

Xcel said it is continuing its evaporative cooling program from previous years. Consumers can receive rebates of either $200 or $500 for the installation of qualifying units for the program.

And in addition, the company will continue its residential Saver’s Switch program this year. Bill credits have increased to $40 for all residential customers in Colorado. The company provides these rebates to customers who allow the company to cycle air-conditioning units during periods of high electricity demand.

Additional residential programs to be launched later this spring will include home energy audits; multiple energy efficiency upgrades, including replacement of appliances, heating/cooling equipment and insulation for new and existing homes; a program for energy efficient showerheads; and several educational programs.

The company said it also has launched or has continued a dozen energy efficiency offerings for business customers in Colorado, and will later this year launch multiple, additional programs for business customers.

And, if you are in the market for a pet-friendly home in Colorado, give me a call! 303-902-6600, or visit our website: www.Pet-Friendly.com.

Happy Holidays

     For those who's lives have been turned upside-down in this changing economy, our thoughts go out to you and yours.

May 2009 bring light and joy to all.

Ed, Hidalgo and Ruffian Vanderpool

"Pet-Friendly" Realtors

Why you should rely on a professional Broker vs. a "friend"

Everyone knows someone who is "in real estate" and they are often conflicted when the time comes to sell their home and/or buy another.

I understand the dilemma, and have seen clients in tears, both before making the decision to use a "friend" and after the fact, when they sometimes have had to fire the (now probably no longer) "friend" and come back to using a professional Realtor.

I usually do not quote directly from other people, but this recent column by Amy Dickinson in the Denver Post says it much better that I ever could!

I hope it is helpful for you, or someone you know struggling with the decision.

AskAmy by Amy Dickinson

Dear Amy: My husband and I are trying to sell our house. We have selected an agent with much experience, as well as proven ability to bring interested homebuyers to the table.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            .                                     ~. ,;.

Recently, an acquaintance became a newly mint­ed real estate agent. She works as an agent in the same firm as our agent.                ,

In several social situations with mutual friends present, this woman has made faces at us. I'd de­scribe them as "if looks could kill ....” She has made me uncomfortable and, of course, embarrassed.

I have, so far, said nothing and have remained poised and polite.

Was I wrong to not select this person-to be our real estate agent? She is not a close friend, and in this difficult market, my husband and I wanted someone with proven experience and ability, as well as a professional rather than personal interest in us. - Nancy

Dear Nancy: Let's review. You are reconsidering your choice to hire a real estate agent who behaves professionally over one who shoots darts at you at dinner parties? You are way too sensitive. In this challenging market, you're going to have to develop a much tougher skin.

It's important to remember that, over the course of what could be a very long process of selling your house, you will want to be represented by someone who reflects your values and can promote your property appropriately to prospective buyer!!.

Your real estate agent isn't your friend or social competitor, but your business representative. Until this new agent can exert some control over her fa­cial muscles, she's going to have a hard time gain­ing traction in this very competitive market.

                           ,                                                                                     ,

Send questions via e-mail to askamy@tribune.com or by mail to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611

Reprinted from the Denver Post November 4, 2008

For any Colorado real estate questions, and to find out about Pet-Friendly Real Estate experiences, visit my website Pet-Friendly.com!