Lots going on in Summit County in September... here is the schedule of events to help you make your summer plans.  Come visit us- and if you'd like any further details or suggestionss- we always have the inside scoop!

Sept. 1, 5-10 p.m.
Never Forget Our Soldiers — An Evening of Tribute
A concert by the United States Air Force Academy Band will follow the tribute. The evening will end with an amazing fireworks show over Lake Dillon, choreographed to music. Dillon Amphitheatre. www.townofdillon.com or (970) 468-2403

June 11- Sept. 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dillon Farmers Market
Buffalo Street, Dillon. Various musicians perform from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (970) 468-2403 or www.townofdillon.com

Sept. 3, 6 p.m.
Randall McKinnon
Free concert, followed by a free showing of “Where the Wild Things Are” at Copper Mountain’s outdoor venue

Sept. 3, 7 p.m.
Interstate Cowboy
Free concert at Dillon Amphitheatre

Sept. 3, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Adrenaline Film Series
Free movie featuring some of the world's best skiers and riders. Door prizes, giveaways and drink specials. Attend all four Adrenaline Movie nights and earn a chance to win one of our grand prizes. Warren Station at Keystone, River Run Village. Free. (970) 486-4FUN

Sept. 3-5
Copper Country
A free Labor Day festival tradition, Copper Country celebrates the best of the American spirit. Incredible live music, Copper Country Arts Festival, kids' crafts, the Copper Kids’ Corral, mechanical bull rides, a petting zoo and pony rides. Performers include Dr. John, Pat Green, Radney Foster, The Richie Furay Band and Felix Cavaliere's Rascals. www.coppercountryfest.com

Sept. 3-5
Dillon Craft Fair
Downtown Dillon. Join us over Labor Day weekend, when the Alliance for Historical Preservation hosts the first Dillon Craft Fair. Over 65 crafters from all over Colorado will showcase Colorado’s finest cottage industry crafts in this zero-waste event

Sept. 4, 7 p.m.
Nacho Men
A free concert at Dillon Amphitheatre

Sept. 5
Ricochet the Police Horse and Sergeant Kipple, 1 p.m.
Marina Park. Children will not want to miss the opportunity to meet Ricochet, the Police Horse and his owner, Sergeant Wendy Kipple at Marina Park by the playground on selected Sundays throughout summer. Kids can collect Ricochet’s limited edition trading cards and learn more about the important work of a police horse.

Sept. 5, 1-3 p.m.
John Adams & Friends
These musicians salute John Denver with a free concert at Dillon Amphitheatre

Sept. 5, 2-4 p.m.
Free concert
At Dillon Amphitheatre. www.townofdillon.com

Sept. 6, noon registration, show at 2 p.m.
Marina Mutt Contest
Dillon Marina. Dog lovers unite in an afternoon of fun as dog owners show off their companions and compete for prizes

Sept. 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Life Drawing
Workshop, with a nude model. No previous life drawing experience needed. $15. Fuqua Livery Stable, 110 E. Washington. (970) 453-3364 or www.townofbreckenridge.com

Sept. 10, 2-4 p.m.
Space 2 Studio
An alternative studio for teens. Experiment with fall mobiles. Fuqua Livery Stable, 110 E. Washington. (970) 453-3364 or www.townofbreckenridge.com

Sept. 10, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Adrenaline Film Series
Free movie featuring some of the world's best skiers and riders. Door prizes, giveaways and drink specials. Attend all four Adrenaline Movie nights and earn a chance to win one of our grand prizes. Warren Station at Keystone, River Run Village. Free. (970) 486-4FUN

Sept. 10-12
Copper Criteriums, Cyclecross & Fall Colors Ride
A weekend of criterium racing and festivities that includes a pro criterium under the stars, amateur races and a fall colors ride consisting of a poker run format around the county give cyclists the best of both worlds — a fantastic social ride with aid stations and ride support when the High Country is at its fall color peak and a fast and exciting criterium course that will challenge all comers, especially during Saturday's twilight event. www.coppercrits.com

Sept. 11, 8-10 p.m.
Live music
Located in Copper Pavilion. $15, or free for Copper lodging guests. www.coppercolorado.com

Sept. 11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Beetlefest
Frisco’s zany festival to ward off the Evil Pine Beetle. Frisco Main Street. (970) 668-5547 or www.townoffrisco.com

Sept. 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Valley Brook Cemetery Guided Tour
Meet off Airport Road. (970) 453-9767 or www.breckheritage.com

Sept. 11-12, noon to 5 p.m.
Second Annual Festal Italia
Join Keystone for a day of Italian cuisine and wines, live entertainment and an authentic Keystone Marketplace. Gather the family and visit our famous Kidzone to enjoy FREE fun inflatables and more. River Run Village, Keystone. Free. (970) 496-4FUN

Sept. 12
Blue River Festival
This year's Festival features a fishing derby, fun run/walk, picnic and live music on the Pavilion lawn. BlueRiverFestival.wordpress.com. (970) 262-7390

Sept. 13, 2-4 p.m.
Bountiful Beading
Participants will complete a couple projects of their choice, including zipper pulls, key chains, earrings and bracelets. $39. Fuqua Livery Stable, 110 E. Washington Ave. (970) 453-3364 or www.townofbreckenridge.com

Sept. 14-19, 7 p.m.
Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival
One of the best chamber music festivals in America offering two formal concerts, two fabulous private soirees in local homes and other special events. (970) 468-2857 or www.alpenglowchambermusic.org

Sept. 16, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Vermicomposting at Alpine Earth Center, Silverthorne. www.alpineearthcenter.com

Sept. 17, 5-8 p.m.
Gold Wing
Gold Wing motorcycle descends on Frisco to enjoy the golden color, music and fun. Visit http://rockies-gold.net

Sept. 17, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Adrenaline Film Series
Free movies featuring some of the world's best skiers and riders. Door prizes, giveaways and drink specials are sure to keep you coming back. Attend all four Adrenaline Movie nights and earn a chance to win one of our grand prizes. Warren Station at Keystone in River Run Village. Free. (970) 496-4FUN

Sept. 17-19, all day
The America Cup — The International Fly Fishing Tournament
The Town of Frisco hosts The America Cup — International Fly Fishing Tournament. International Teams come from around the world to compete on the 10 Mile, Blue River and other local rivers. Award ceremony on Sept. 28 at the Frisco Bay Marina. (970) 668-5547 or www.theamericacup.com

Sept. 17-19
16th Annual Breckenridge Oktoberfest
The Oktoberfest celebration brings Bavarian food, German brews, lederhosen and Oompah music to Breckenridge's Main Street. The prestigious Brewmaster's Dinner kicks off the weekend-long party on Friday night. (970) 453-2913 or www.gobreck.com

Sept. 24, 4-7 p.m.
You Can Paint a Masterpiece
Learn to paint like a master. This 2 1/2 day workshop is suitable for beginners who wish to finish a large painting in a weekend. $350. Fuqua Livery Stable, 110 E. Washington Ave. (970) 453-3364 or www.townofbreckenridge.com

Sept. 24, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Adrenaline Film Series
Free movies featuring some of the world's best skiers and riders. Door prizes, giveaways and drink specials are sure to keep you coming back. Attend all four Adrenaline Movie nights and earn a chance to win one of our grand prizes. Warren Station at Keystone in River Run Village. Free. (970) 496-4FUN

Sept. 24-26
Camp Experience
CampExperience is a one-of-a-kind retreat designed exclusively for women that are ready for inspiration and transformation. At Camp, you will refine your vision, reflect on your purpose, enjoy top speakers and activity leaders and relax in an amazing setting. www.campexperience.com

Sept. 30, 6-8:30 p.m.
Textile Club
Experiment with hand-painted silk,. $25. Fuqua Livery Stable, Breckenridge. (970) 453-3364 or www.townofbreckenridge.com

Ongoing Summer Events

Kid’s Discovery Days, 11 a.m. Tuesdays
Watch a magic show, see zoo animals, or sing a-long with a musician. The entertainment changes every Tuesday. Free. River Run, Keystone

Family Fun Night, 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays
Enjoy a free evening of live entertainment, activities and more in Keystone's River Run. www.keystonefestivals.com

Barney Ford House Museum, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
Visit the home of Barney L. Ford, as escaped slave who prospered and became a prominent entrepreneur and black civil rights leader in Colorado. Meet 111 E. Washington Ave. Free, suggested donation, $5. (800) 980-1859. www.breckheritage.com

Summit Ski Museum, 2-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays
Celebrating Breckenridge as the first ski town in Colorado and the first 100 years of skiing in Summit County. Meet at 308-B, S. Main St. Free, suggested donation, $5. (800) 980-1859. www.breckheritage.com

Edwin Carter Museum, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Take an interactive journey into the life of Breckenridge’s famous log cabin naturalist, Professor Edwin Carter. Meet at 111 N. Ridge St. Free, suggested donation, $5. (800) 980-1859. www.breckheritage.com

Red, White & Blue Fire Museum, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Breckenridge formed an all-volunteer fire department in 1880. Today, see an original human-powered ladder cart as well as firefighting equipment and uniforms from the first companies. Meet at 308 N. Main St. Free, suggested donation, $5. (800) 980-1859. www.breckheritage.com

Rotary Snowplow Park, noon to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays
Rotary snowplows cleared narrow gauge railroad tracks, throwing snow 30 feet to either side. See a rotary snowplow on display and learn about Breckenridge’s railroad history in the park museum. Meet at Boreas Pass Road, next to the Ice Rink. Free, suggested donation, $5. (800) 980-1859. www.breckheritage.com

Guided Historic Walking Tour, 11 a.m. Tuesdays through Sundays
Take a guided walk through Breckenridge’s Nationally Recognized Historic District. Allow 90 minutes to complete the tour. Meet at the Breckenridge Welcome Center, 203 S. Main St. $10 adults/$5 children 12 and younger. (800) 980-1859. www.breckheritage.com

Washington Gold & Silver Mine Tour, 1 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays
Take a journey back in time to Breckenridge’s hard rock mining era. Walk underground for a firsthand mining experience and learn to pan for gold. Great for the kids! 465 Illinois Gulch Rd. $10 adults/$5 children 12 and younger. (800) 980-1859. www.breckheritage.com

Lomax Placer Mine Tour, 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays
Experience Breckenridge’s early mining days. Peer inside a miner’s cabin, see and feel the original mining equipment and learn to pan for gold. What you find is yours to keep. 301 Ski Hill Rd. $10 adults/$5 children 12 and younger. (800) 980-1859. www.breckheritage.com

Every Saturday, 10 a.m.
Iowa Hill Guided Hike
Enjoy a guided hike that goes through a historic mine site and up to a restored miners’ boardinghouse. Allow two hours to complete the hike. Meet at the Iowa Hill Trailhead, directly north of the Public Works facilities on Airport Rd. $10. (970) 453-9767. www.breckheritage.com

Every Thursday, 10 a.m.
Guided Hike: French Gulch
Enjoy a guided hike though French Gulch. See a dredge boat, mines, and explore the once heavily mined area while on a beautiful hike. $10. (970) 453-9767. www.breckheritage.com

Dillon School House Museum, 1-4 p.m.
The Summit Historical Society hosts tours of the Dillon School House Museum and “Building of Dillon Dam” video. 403 LaBonte St., Dillon. (970) 468-2207 or www.summithistorical.org

“Smokey Joe's Café: The Music of Leiber and Stoller” (call for dates)
This Tony Award-nominated musical revue features the music of Leiber & Stoller, including such popular hits as "Fools Fall in Love," "Love Potion Number 9," "Jailhouse Rock" and much more. Don't miss this night of music from the incredible song-writing duo of Leiber and Stoller. At the new Warren Station at Keystone in River Run Village. $23.50 adults; $19.50 students. (970) 496-4FUN or http://www.keystoneneighbourhood.com/index.php/event_calendar/

 “8-TRACK: THE SOUNDS OF THE 70's,” Sept. 2-26 (call for specific nights)
The Lake Dillon Theatre Company presents “8-TRACK: THE SOUNDS OF THE 70's.” Re-discover the heart and soul of the “forgotten decade.” Celebrate the greatest hits of the 70s, starring the music of The Emotions, The Carpenters, LaBelle, Barry Manilow, Marvin Gaye, The Doobie Brothers, The Bee Gees, Helen Reddy, K.C. & The Sunshine Band and many more. Admit it. You feel good in polyester. Lake Dillon Theatre, Dillon. $25 for adults, $18 for students. (970) 513-9386 or www.lakedillontheatre.org

“Cinderella,” Sept. 3-6, 7:30 p.m.
The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with one of the most original, charming, and elegant musicals ever created. Backstage Theatre. www.backstagetheatre.org

Disney's “Beauty and the Beast” (call for dates)
Presented by The Backstage Theatre. Set in a French provincial town, beautiful Belle lives with her father — a dotty inventor. When her father fails to return from a trip to the local fair, Belle rushes off to find him. To her dismay, she discovers he is being held captive in an enchanted castle by a horrible beast. She trades her freedom for his, and the "tale as old as time" begins. How Belle tames the unfortunate Beast and his redemption and ultimate transformation into a handsome prince continues to enthrall audiences of all ages. $20-22 for adults, $10-11 for children under 12. (970) 547-3100, ext. 8

Mario the Peddler in a Theatrical Stage Production (call for dates)
Author, speaker, and entertainer “Mario the Peddler” has presented his story of love, peace and justice to religious and political leaders around the world, including the U.S. Congress and the White House. www.mariothepeddler.com. Warren Station at Keystone in River Run Village. $5 adults; free for children 12 and under. (970) 486-4FUN or http://www.keystoneneighbourhood.com.

“Parallel Lives” Sept. 18-27 (call for dates)
Backstage Theatre, Breckenridge. www.backstagetheatre.org

With the slew of home selling/flipping/staging/renting shows on the television today, it's important to know you can go overboard in trying to make your place look great! 

Home staging should show off the great features of your listing and diminish the negative ones, not create a phony atmosphere. It's all about marketing that feeling of the good life and what is possible for the room without going overboard.

A home should never look like it's been staged.  This tips can apply whether or not you are selling your home!

20 Tacky Techniques:

(I apologize that I do not know the source of this article....)

Napkins stuffed in wine glasses (Creates a phony atmosphere.)

Place settings on a table or bar (Nothing says, "This home has been staged", more than dishes, stemware, silverware, and napkins.)

Old bath towels hanging on a bar with ribbon (Old towels will not give a buyer the spa feeling, even with a ribbon.)

Single piece of artwork on a wall with nothing else in the room (Buyers will only see the art and not the room, especially online.)

Furniture store tags on items that are for sale (Staging should be about the house and not what furniture is being sold by a store.)

Old, dirty rugs (Rugs should only be used to define space or add color. Buyers need to see the floors and what they are buying.)

Dusty, plastic trees with only a few branches (I don't mind trees, but they have to look nice.)

Cuttings from bushes and branches brought inside (Will wilt rapidly, and it will take the eyes away from the room.)

Accessories that have nothing to do with the style of the home (Example: You can't take a country look and put it in a contemporary house.)

A card table with a sheet covering it in a dining room (A cheap look and does not represent the room dimensions.)

Plants or greenery over window treatments (Shows off bad decorating, and again takes the buyer away from the overall room.)

Plastic patio furniture inside that is covered or not (Just don't!)

Cheesy old lamps (Get the granny lamps out.)

Cheap plastic flowers (What I like to call "forever flowers" usually found at dollar stores.)

Sofa covered with a sheet as a slipcover (Planning on painting anytime soon?)

Blow-up beds (From personal experience: blow up beds will only stay fully inflated for a short time no matter how expensive they are.)

Plastic fruit (Fruit can be done right, but the majority of the time it looks tacky, creating a phony atmosphere.)

Breakfast tray on a bed with tumbled wine glasses (Creates a phony atmosphere.)

Only two chairs in a living room (This will not give a buyer a sense of the space.)

Wine bottle sitting on the edge of a garden tub (Creates a phony atmosphere.)
Tacky staging can spell disaster for your property. Why? Because we remember tacky! What you put in the home is the perception of what the value of the home is worth. Your poorly staged listing becomes, "That house with the saggy, deflated blow up bed," or "That place with the cheesy lamp like the one in my parents' house."

If the accessories and furniture looks like you got it out of grandma's attic or down the street at a yard sale, the buyer could expect a yard sale price tag on the house. It is better to leave a house empty then to use bad décor! Staging should enhance the architecture of the home, not show off poor decorating ideas. Bad staging draws attention to itself - and distracts your buyer from your listing!

At Summit Real Estate we have a professional staging consultant on our team who is ready to help with any of your staging or decorating needs! 

Quote of the Day:
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
– Lady Dorothy Nevill

Summit Real Estate's Quarterly Sales Report is going GREEN! 

It is our pleasure to keep you informed on Summit County’s Real Estate Market.  

In the past we have mailed you a report of the sales activity for your area only, and now you can view it online along with the other areas around your complex in Summit County. Click the hyperlink below, fill out the information required and you will automatically be directed to the sales reports for Summit County.

Summit Real Estate Quarterly Report

We value your opinions and comments.  Let us know what you think! 

Price negotiations, defect resolution may suffer

Question:  Allison, we are considering buying a property in Keystone, CO and we want to buy directly from the listing broker to save money.  A friend told us that was a bad idea. What do you think?

Answer:  Good question.  Cutting expenses is at the top of most people's priorities today. Many are putting off major purchases like a new car or home until they feel more secure financially. However, not all buyers are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

According to Diane Hymer of Inman News, they're casting worries about the home sale aside and are buying now to take advantage of near-record-low interest rates. In order to get a discount in price, a number of buyers attempt to buy without an agent.

Let's say the sellers signed a contract agreeing to pay 6 percent of the purchase price to their broker when the sale closes. If the property is listed on the multiple listing service, the listing broker offers to pay a portion of the commission to the broker who represents the buyers.

If there isn't a broker representing the buyers, the commission can -- if the listing broker agrees -- be reduced by the amount that would usually be paid to the buyers' broker.

In this case, if the listing broker agreed to pay 3 percent of the purchase price to the buyers' broker and there is no buyers' broker, the sellers would pay the listing broker only 3 percent at closing. On a $700,000 sale price, this would net the seller an extra $21,000, allowing the buyers to pay that much less and still match the price the sellers would receive if they paid the full 6 percent to the sellers.

Whether this is actually a cost-savings strategy will depend on a number of factors. A key issue is knowing how much you should pay in the current market. If you offer a price that's way under market value, the seller might not even respond, particularly if you aren't represented by a knowledgeable local real estate agent who can plead your case, or at least elicit a counteroffer. If you offer more than market value, this might negate any savings you'd realize by a commission reduction.

When no one represents the buyers, the sellers' broker represents the sellers exclusively. This means the sellers' agent cannot prepare your contract for you or give you advice. An exception to this would be if the buyers and sellers agreed to have the listing broker represent both the buyers and sellers, which is not permitted in all states. But the listing broker often requires a larger fee for representing both parties.

Buyers who attempt to represent themselves may have knowledge that's limited to what they've read in consumer-oriented homebuying books. Unless these books were published since 2009, they don't represent the rigors and rules of the current housing market.

The best agents don't rely on books to learn their trade. As with most professions, agents become experts in their field through years of experience working with homebuyers and sellers.

Homebuyers and sellers hire agents to learn the process, understand current market value so they don't sell too low or pay too much, and to facilitate moving the process through the various quagmires plaguing the current market-loan qualification, appraisal issues and renegotiations over property defects -- to a successful closing.

BOTTOM LINE: Unrepresented buyers are at a big disadvantage if they're in a multiple-offer competition. Most sellers and their agents would rather work with a buyer who is represented by an agent, preferably one with a good reputation for closing home-sale transactions.

For answers to your real estate questions, call Allison at 970-468-6800. Email - Info@SummitRealEstate.com.  Want to know the value of your Summit County property? Visit www.SummitHomeValue.com   

Add power to purchase offer

Pay attention to 3 market forces

Question:  Allison, we are wanting to make an offer on a condo in Wildernest, but we’re unsure how much to offer.  What do you recommend?

Answer:  Good question!  Figuring out how much to offer on a home you'd like to make your own is never easy. A complicating factor is that although it appears that the housing market may be stabilizing somewhat in other parts of the country, there is no guarantee that prices won't slip further.

With this in mind, don't buy for the short term. Don't buy betting on future appreciation. Buy a home that will work for you long term, at the best price you can negotiate, using financing you can afford.

To avoid paying too much, hook up with a real estate broker who will educate you about how much you'll have to pay for a home that works for you. The Internet is a great resource to help you learn about neighborhoods, current listings and past sale prices.

However, a diligent, knowledgeable real estate broker who has experience helping people buy and sell homes in the area where you want to live can get you up to speed on what's happening in that niche market now.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP: Ask your agent to give you a summary of all listings that you might have been interested in that sold during the last three months to six months, including list price, sale price and how long they took to sell. It's also useful to have information about the change in average sale price over the past year. Have prices declined? Are they flat? Or are they rising?

Also, ask for a list of properties currently available and pending sale. A pending sale is one where the sellers have accepted an offer, but the sale hasn't yet closed. Significantly more active listings than pending sales in an area suggests a high-inventory market where buyers have an advantage. Few active listings relative to pending sales is characteristic of a low-inventory market.

During your house-hunting education, make sure your agent reports back to you about day-to-day changes in the market. If an overpriced listing has a price reduction and is now in your price range, make a point of looking at it as soon as possible. A new price can attract other buyers' interest.

When listings you've seen sell, your agent should let you know the sale price. This will help you develop a sense for when a listing is priced too high, or priced at or under market value. How well a listing is priced for the market affects your offer strategy.

A well-priced listing in a low-inventory market is likely to sell quickly. There could be more than one buyer making an offer. If so, you may need to make an aggressive offer near, at or over the asking price. However, multiple offers don't always result in a sale price higher than the list price.

Becoming savvy about local market pricing enables you to know when to make a strong offer on a new listing, even though the overall market may be lagging.

It's a different story in segments of the market like ours in Summit County where there are plenty of listings that take months to sell. In this case, you have choices, making it possible to offer less than the asking price and negotiate. If this one doesn't work out, you move on to the next. You should be prepared to walk away rather than pay too much.

Buyers making offers that are contingent on the sale of another property usually have to pay more than all-cash buyers who can close quickly. If you've already sold your home and are waiting for the sale to close, you'll be in a better position to negotiate on price. The best bet is to have your home sold and closed. It removes uncertainty in the sellers' minds and may make them more receptive to a lower price.

For answers to your real estate questions, call Allison at 970-468-6800. Email - Info@SummitRealEstate.com.  Would you like a list of properties that meet your criteria automatically emailed to your inbox without having to speak with a broker? Visit www.SummitHomeBuyer.com   

The National Association of Realtors has just released a survey with some interesting facts about the "average" second home buyer:

Vacation Home Buyers
Median age: 46
Median income: $87,500
Median distance from primary residence: 348 miles
Median sale price in 2009: $276,000

Vacation homebuyers were most likely to purchase property in a rural area, small town or resort.  They plan to keep the property for an average of 16 years.

Investment Property Buyers
Median age: 45
Median income $87,200
Median distance from primary residence: 24 miles
Median sale price in 2009: $105,000

Investment buyers were most likely to purchase proeprty in metropolitan areas. They plan to hold it for 12 years.

Source:  2010 National Association of Realtors Investment and Vacation Home Buyer Survey.

If you would like to know more about buying property in Summit County as a second home, please reply to this email or call us at 800.262.8442 and we can give you the inside scoop! 

Warmly,

Allison Simson, Owner/Broker
Lynn Sustad, Buyer Specialist
Kelie Gray, Buyer Specialist
Anna Willis, Buyer Specialist
Kristi Warner, Client Care Manager
Ranay Beddow, Listing Coordinator
Margaret Bowes, Transaction Coordinator

Summer is in full swing in Summit County and it couldn't be prettier!  A friend just passed this article along to me about perfect lake towns.  Dillon, Colorado is right up there- I couldn't agree more!

8 Perfect Summer Lake Towns
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-34981870

Come up and see for yourself- and while you're here, stop by our office and say hello!  

Hope you are enjoying your summer and getting outside a bit!


"Being in nature, people quiet their souls, get out of themselves and into something serene, dramatic and bigger than they are."   - Gracie Oliphant, Naturalist 

Warmly,

Allison Simson, Owner/Broker
Lynn Sustad, Buyer Specialist
Kelie Gray, Buyer Specialist
Anna Willis, Buyer Specialist
Kristi Warner, Client Care Manager
Ranay Beddow, Listing Coordinator
Margaret Bowes, Transaction Coordinator

With price reduction, timing is everything

Question:  Allison, we currently have our Keystone condo on the market and our Broker is telling us we need to reduce the price.  We priced it where he told us to price it in the beginning.  What’s up with price reductions?  Doesn’t that make our property look bad?

Answer:  That’s a good question…and one that I hear a lot!  Selling property is not always easy, and putting yourself in the right mindset to sell is essential. It's the most difficult aspect of selling for most sellers. Your home is worth what a buyer is willing to pay, which may not be what you think it is worth.

Detaching yourself emotionally from your home- even your second home - is difficult. Clearing out years of clutter, depersonalizing your home by removing personal memorabilia, and staging your home for sale can help you step back and view the home as a commodity that needs to be sold rather than as your personal sanctuary.

Putting your home on the market at a price that reflects what you want and not what the market will bear can cost you time and money as it sits on the market unsold.

The home-sale market is a localized phenomenon. The only way to get a clear picture of what your home is likely to sell for is to find out which listings are selling in your neighborhood and for how much.

The most recent sales -- those that closed within the last three months -- will be the most informative. Be sure to take a hard look at the list prices of homes that are new on the market.  The market is constantly changing, and so the price you listed it at 6 months ago, is probably not the price it will sell for today.

If the list prices are lower than they were two or three months ago, this indicates that prices are declining. This needs to be taken into account when you select a list price.

HOUSE SELLING TIP: Pay close attention to your competition. Don't fall into the trap of pricing your home higher than your neighbor's home because yours is better. If your neighbor's price is too high for the market, neither of your homes will sell.

Ask your listing agent to call the listing agents of properties similar to yours to find out what kind of showing activity they are receiving. Have they had offers? If so, why weren't they accepted? Was the price too low? If so, you should set your sights lower.

Your home is most marketable when it is new on the market. Buyers wait anxiously for the new crop of listings. Listings that don't sell relatively quickly often languish on the market.

Price reductions often follow as the sellers try to find market value. A listing that has been on the market for months is likely to receive a low offer -- if a buyer makes any offer.

A listing that receives a lot of showing activity when it first hits the market but gets no offers is probably overpriced for the market. In this case, it's best to lower the price to market value as soon as possible while the listing is still fresh in agents' and buyers' minds, even if this is within two to four weeks of the listing date.

Pricing right for the market is imperative.

Inman News copyright

For answers to your real estate questions, call Allison at 970-468-6800. Email - Info@SummitRealEstate.com. Would you like a personalized list of all properties that meet your criteria, without having to speak to a broker?  Visit www.SummitHomeBuyer.com      

Hello from Summit Real Estate and Happy Fourth of July to you and your family! 

Please enjoy our summer 2010 edition of Summit Real Estate News & Views for all the latest real estate information in beautiful Summit County, Colorado! Click the front cover picture below....

Give us a call if you'd like more information about any properties currently available in Summit County! 

Our Client Appreciation Party this past weekend was, by all accounts, a smashing success- thanks to YOU! 

Those of you that could make it, thanks for enduring the brief bout of rain and wind to enjoy a lovely summer evening with us.  We had a great time and hope you did, too.  Hope you can make it next year!  If you're in Dillon, stop by- we'd love to catch up! 

 Warmly,

Allison Simson, Owner/Broker
Lynn Sustad, Buyer Specialist
Kelie Gray, Buyer Specialist
Anna Willis, Buyer Specialist
Kristi Warner, Client Care Manager
Margaret Bowes, Transaction Coordinator
Ranay Beddow, Listing Coordinator