Boulder and Denver Front Range Real Estate: How to Buy or Sell This Summer

If you are planning to purchase or sell your home this summer, now is the time to begin preparing for the Boulder/Denver Front Range market. The real estate climate is shifting and sellers and buyers should be dripping their toes in now instead of jumping in unprepared.

It’s all about pricing and presentation for sellers

This is always important when listing your home, but even more important now. With rising inventory creating more competition, seller’s need to dial in their pricing from the start. The days of ‘testing’ the market are far behind us. Homes that are priced at or slightly below market value are moving fast, often times with multiple offers. With the average days on market reaching 36 in Denver and 40 days in Boulder County, if your home is positioned correctly, it should not be sitting for much longer.

Of course, this also depends on your home’s price range. $2 million + homes typically take longer to sell as there are fewer buyers shopping. Pricing continues to be crucial while also knowing that your home may take longer to find its new owner.

Presentation plays a pivotal role in your market debut. Homes should appeal to buyers with minimal personal belongings, furniture arranged to enhance the space, and be clean and well-maintained. Open the blinds, turn on all of the lights, and maybe even have soft music playing in the background to create an inviting atmosphere.

Your curb appeal should also be part of your presentation. A freshly mowed lawn, a front porch cleared of any clutter, and pretty flowers should greet buyers when they arrive to your home. Remove any weeds, cut back overgrown bushes and trees and ensure your sidewalk is free of debris.

Finally, first impressions happen when buyers see your home online so make sure your listing agent chooses a photographer that knows how to highlight features that buyers are looking for. Open spaces, light-filled rooms, kitchens with minimal items on the counters, and spacious backyards and outdoor areas will attract buyers.

Buyers need to be prepared to move quickly and negotiate

Today’s buyer has the advantage of more homes to choose from compared to a few years ago. Homeowners are beginning to release the ‘golden handcuffs ‘ of low interest rates and that is giving buyers more options than years past.

Homes that attract the most buyers are called the ‘cream puffs''‘. These homes tend to have a lot of interest when they hit the market and can often times end up with multiple buyers making offers. Being prepared with a pre-approval letter and an experienced real estate agent with good negotiation skills is the key to being the winning offer. If you aren’t successful, keep an eye on the home that you made the offer on as buyer’s frequently change their minds after contract.

Negotiation is also critical when considering a home that has been sitting on the market for a while. Sellers may provide credits towards interest rate buy-downs, inspection repairs and concessions. Again, an experienced agent that knows how to write a clean offer and negotiate is important. Interview your agent before you choose them. Make sure they are prepared to help you decipher contracts, inspections and advise you throughout the entire purchasing experience.

Ready to make a move this summer?

Whether you are buying, selling, or just starting to think about your options in Boulder County or the greater Denver metro, I am here to help. Reach out anytime at gretchen@milehimodern.com or 805.722.5800 to start the conversation.