If you are looking to move TO or FROM Colorado Springs, you are not alone. Every year about 24% of the Colorado Springs population moves either in or out of the area.

Below is a neat map of the flow of people both TO and From EL Paso County – where Colorado Springs is located. It looks like we get a lot of people moving here FROM the eastern states and a lot of people moving TO the western states.

[Click on the map - It will direct you to the Forbes.com site where you can compare the moving patterns from ALL counties in the US.]

If you are looking to move to Colorado Springs and need to buy a home, please contact one of our home buying experts who will help guide you through the process of buying a Colorado Springs home for sale: 719.434.8346

If you are moving away from Colorado Springs, please contact our head listing agent for details on how we can help you with your goals in selling your home in Colorado Springs: 719.434.7525

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525

In the Colorado Springs real estate market, we get a lot of sellers requesting Open Houses. Although they may work sometimes, more times than not open houses are not effective. Here is an article that I wrote a few years ago. I thought it would be a good time to re-visit this topic …

COLORADO SPRINGS OPEN HOUSES

Here I sit at an Open House for 3 hours, listening to Jack Johnson, organizing some of my files, and write this. Why? Well, I am not going to get any more than one or two people stopping by, at the most. So, I have PLENTY of time.

We all see the TV shows where the home for sale gets multiple offers because of the Open House that was held. Dozens of people (both with and without their agents) pile into the home exploring each room and inevitably one falls in love with the home and writes an offer.

Read More: Colorado Springs Real Estate Answers: Why Didn’t My House Sell? Part Three: Marketing

1. Buyer Agency is HUGE in Colorado Springs. Most home buyers are represented by a Buyers Agent and therefore, are not wandering around looking at random houses. If there is a home that may fit their needs, chances are their Buyers Agent has already shown it to them. This eliminates the need for a Buyer to “pop by” an Open House, as they probably have already seen it or already know that it will not fit their needs.
   
   (Mmm … Cookies…)
   
2. Listing agents do not need to be present for showings for most homes in Colorado Springs. Why does THIS matter? Well, lets think about this… In many areas of the nation, a listing agent MUST be present for anyone showing their listings. (The pros and cons to this practice can be debated a different time.) If a listing agent needs to be present for any showing then there are 4 schedules that need to coincide: The interested Buyer, the Buyers Agent, the Seller and the Listing Agent.
   In this scenario, an Open House would be a great opportunity for a home Buyer and their agent to see a house, as there is no need to align the Listing Agent and Sellers schedule it is already set. Visiting Open Houses become an efficient way to check out homes for sale.In Colorado Springs, Listing Agents RARELY need to be present for a home to be shown. Homes are set up on high security lock boxes, and the general rule of thumb to show is to call the listing agent or company showing desk and offer just a 1-2 hour notice before showing up to the home. For the vast majority of the time, listing agents and Sellers are never there for showings. We have grown accustomed to this way of business and having a “listing agent present” is seen as an annoyance. So, where an Open House is seen as a convenience for agents in some areas, it is actually seen as an annoyance, here in Colorado Springs.

   (Dang! I wish I brought some milk to wash down all these cookies …)

3. People have already SEEN the house. What? Well, what are YOU doing right now? You are online, arent you? (If you arent I am perplexed…) Over 80% of all homebuyers start their home search online (NAR Profile of Home Buyers in 2006). So, chances are that they have already SEEN the home that will someday be an Open House. The “curiosity factor” that Open Houses once offered have been squelched by the internet.

• Top 5 Ways to Choose the BEST Real Estate Agent When Buying a Home in Colorado Springs
• 3 Easy Ways to Find a Buyers Agent to Represent You
• Top 7 Questions to Ask Your Buyer’s Agent

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525

If you are thinking about selling your Colorado Springs home, then there are a lot of things to consider. One of the things you need to understand is HOW your property will be shown.

Here are the top 3 things to expect when showing your Colorado Springs home.

1. How much notice will I be given before each showing?

This should be determined before your home goes into the MLS – between you and your real estate agent. “Notice” is the time between the moment an agent wants to show the home and the moment they are allowed to come over.

If you are living in the property, 1-2 hours notice is the “norm”. This should give you time to straighten up your home. If you have an in-home business, or have a large family or many pets, you may want a couple extra hours to get the home ready to show. Also, if your property is tenant-occupied, a 24-hour notice is polite. Now, if your property is vacant, then, generally, no notice needs to be given.

Need help getting your house clean?  Check out The House Fairy – Cleaning, Organizing and Simplifying Your Colorado Springs Home

Ultimately, you want your property to be EASY to show, because the easier it is to show, the more showings you will get and the quicker you will get an offer.

2. How will the showing agent access my property?

In most cases, your Colorado Springs real estate agent will hang a lockbox on your property, and more times than not, it will be a GE Infrared Lockbox. This allows real estate agents to securely access the key to your property. The showing agent will get the key from the lock box, show your property and lock the key back up once they are done.

Read More:  Colorado Springs Home Sellers Beware! Your Lockbox Could Endanger You.

3. What do I do when my house is being shown?

Generally, you will be given a one-hour hour window (between 1-2pm or 10-11am, etc…)  that the showing agent will arrive at your property. During that hour is is advised that you are NOT there and that your pets are not roaming around the home. Home buyers want to imagine the homes as THEIRS, and having the owner there just makes potential buyers feel uncomfortable and less likely to write an offer. However, if you absolutely HAVE to be there for some reason, PLEASE stay out of the way and let the showing agent do their job.

Things to do while your property is being shown:

• Take your dog for a walk
• Visit your neighbors
• Take the kids to the park
• Go shopping
• Take a short drive
• Finally drop off those bags of clothes to Goodwill…

The more you understand the process of showing your home, the less of an inconvenience it will be when the showings occur, and the easier it will be to attract a home buyer for your Colorado Springs home.

Read Also:

• End of “Tax Credit” Implications and Ideas for Colorado Springs Home Sellers
• Three Key Ingredients to Selling Your Colorado Springs Home

Thinking of selling your Colorado Springs home? Contact the Wagner iTeam to schedule a no-obligation meeting where we will discuss how we can help you with your real estate goals. 719.434.7525 or Team@WagneriTeam.com

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525

The mad rush for buying a home for sale in Colorado Springs and taking advantage of the $8,000 tax credit ended yesterday at midnight.

This tax credit deadline has bulked up a lot of home buyers – making them buy a house NOW, instead of waiting for the historically popular Springs and Summer months to find and buy a home in Colorado Springs.

If you are trying to sell your home and did NOT go under contract by yesterday’s deadline, be prepared for a lull in the market. At least for a couple months, before more buyers start filtering back into the marketplace.

Read More:  Three Key Ingredients to Selling Your Colorado Springs Home

Here are some suggestions for dealing with the potential slowing in buyer activity:

1. Consider taking your home off the market for a couple months and re-list it when the market picks back up. This will also re-set your clock for how long your home has been on the market and your home will look like a NEW listing when you decide to re-list it.

2. Take this time to freshen up your house - do a little Spring Cleaning. Do the things that will make your home MOST appealing to the home buyers that start wandering into the market. You definitely want to stand out among the GLUT of homes for sale. Here are some cheap/free ideas:

• Add a fresh coat of paint to the living areas.
• Clean out your gutters and service your furnace.
• Clean your carpets – or replace them if they are too bad.
• De-clutter. Remove a lot of the stuff that makes it YOUR home. Appeal to the Buyers’ desire to make it THEIR home.
• Wash your baseboards.
• Dust your blinds.

3. Adjust your asking price to be the best home for the best price. If your goal is to actually SELL, then pricing it aggressively is VERY important – especially when there are less home buyers out there.
Read More:  Selling Your Colorado Springs Home: The Importance of Proper Pricing from Day One

4. Offer home buyer incentives. These can include:

• Pay their closing costs. This is usually about 2% of the purchase price.
• Buy down their interest rate. This could be VERY helpful if rates jump up.
• Consider doing an owner-carry 2nd, to appeal to home buyers that may not have enough money for an adequate down payment.
• Offer more to the co-op agent. In a slowing real estate economy, real estate agents may be inclined to show your home more often with the promise of a higher paycheck.

Read Also: How to Take Advantage of Struggling Colorado Springs Real Estate Agents

Now may not be the best time to sell, but if you NEED to sell, a little effort on your part could go a long way.

For more information on selling your home in Colorado Springs, please contact the Wagner iTeam: 719.434.7525

Related Articles:

• Colorado Springs Real Estate Answers: Why Didn’t My House Sell? Part One: Price
• Colorado Springs Real Estate Answers: Why Didn’t My House Sell? Part Two: Condition
• Colorado Springs Real Estate Answers: Why Didn’t My House Sell? Part Three: Marketing

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525

If you are looking to SELL your Colorado Springs home, (as opposed to just listing it for endless months as you watch your property value keep going down …), then you must understand the 3 key ingredients that MAKE a successful home sale.

1. PRICE

How you choose to PRICE your home for sale will be the NUMBER ONE factor for determining if and when it sells. ANY home will sell  … when priced correctly.

Correct price will always overcome shoddy marketing and poor condition.

When a home is overpriced (priced over the comparable competition) then that means that all the comparable homes, that are priced lower, will HAVE to sell before the “overpriced” home will even get an offer. An educated Buyer will NEVER pay over market value for a home.

Read Also:

• Expose Your Home to More Buyers in the Colorado Springs Real Estate Market Through Exact Pricing
• Colorado Springs Real Estate Answers: Why Didn’t My House Sell? Part One: Price
• Selling Your Colorado Springs Home: The Importance of Proper Pricing from Day One

2. CONDITION

In the current Colorado Springs real estate market, the best priced homes in the BEST condition are selling fast and getting multiple offers (which drives up the price). Condition matters.

When home buyers have their pick of MANY homes for sale, they do not need to “settle” for a home that is sub-par … or even PAR. Buyers can get a lot more for their money right now.

Remember Location! Location! Location! ? Well, location is now a part of condition – the condition of your location matters. A home in a run-down area, however nice of home, will not get the same $$ as the same home in a better kept, or covenant-controlled area.

Make sure your home is clean and tidy. Consider hiring a stager to make your home appeal to more buyers. Want the best bang for your buck? Put up a fresh coat of neutral (not white) paint and replace your nasty old carpet.

• Read More: Colorado Springs Real Estate Answers: Why Didn’t My House Sell? Part Two: Condition

3. MARKETING

Today, someone looking to buy a home for sale in Colorado Springs is probably doing a lot of the initial footwork themselves – looking online (and even in home magazines) to begin the elimination process of homes and neighborhoods that they will or will not want to live in.

Your Colorado Springs real estate agent MUST know how to market your home to reach the MOST amount of home buyers possible.And since 24% of the Colorado Springs population moves in and out EVERY YEAR, online marketing for a Colorado Springs home is CRUCIAL.

Because think about it … How will a home buyer want to look at their home if they don’t even know it’s for sale??

• Read More: Colorado Springs Real Estate Answers: Why Didn’t My House Sell? Part Three: Marketing

If you can align all three of these key ingredients, you should have a happy and healthy home sale … regardless of the real estate market conditions.

For more information on how the Wagner iTeam helps our sellers implement these 3 key elements, please contact us today: 719.434.7525

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525