Non Emergency Fire Dept…………………………………………………………………… 303-651-8501

Non Emergency Police Dept……………………………………………… 303-651-8555

Animal Control……………………………………………………………………………………. 303651-8500

Qwest……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 800-244-1111

Crisis Center………………………………………………………………………………………. 303-772-4422

Drivers License Information………………………………………………………………… 303-776-4073

Highway Patrol………………………………………………………………………………….. 303-651-8542

Gas/Trash /Wastewater………………………………………………………………………… 303-651-8664

Electric Xcel………………………………………………………………………………………. 800-895-4999

Main Library………………………………………………………………………………………. 303-651-6470

Direct TV………………………………………………………………………………………….. 800-280-4388

Poison Information Center…………………………………………………………………… 800-722-1222

Longmont Chamber of Commerce………………………………………………………… 303-776-5295

St Vrain School Information…………………………………………………………………. 303-7766200

Post Office………………………………………………………………………………………… 303-651-9618

EcoCycle…………………………………………………………………………………………… 303-772-7300

Veterans Services……………………………………………………………………………….. 303-776-8502

Zoning………………………………………………………………………………………………. 303-653-8330

Denver International Airport………………………………………………………………… 303-342-2000

RTD Bus……………………………………………………………………..303-299-6000

Taxi service………………………………………………………………… 303-224-2222

Road Conditions…………………………………………………………… 877-315-7623

(Local Pizza Delivery)…………………………………………………………………………. 303-776-3316

Hospitals

Longmont Hosptial…………………………………………………………303-485-3576

Avista Hospital………………………………………………………………303-673-0448

Boulder Community Hospital……………………………………………….303-441-0444

If we haven’t provided you with the number of someone you need, just give us a call and we will locate the number for you. You continue with the unpacking and we will keep you informed monthly with home-related tips and information.

Sincerely,

Anne Michelle Wand

Boulder County Expert

303-669-2304

P.S. Now that we’ve given you all the numbers you will ever need, let me give you one more number to call if you know of anyone who may be in need of my Real Estate Services. Thank you for adding 303-669-2304. Now you really have my number!

Inspections…

With a contract to buy a house, the purchaser has up to 10 days to have a professional home inspection conducted at their expense. The inspector will go through the house with a fine-toothed comb, checking items such as; dishwasher, garbage disposal, water pressure, electrical outlets, air-conditioner, attic, roof, etc. The inspector will then prepare a written report for the buyer and their realtor to review. Within 5 days, the realtor will return a list of repair items to the seller, (not to include anything cosmetic). You may choose to do some or all of the repairs when you sell a house depending on what they are and your motivation to sell a house. Note: the cost of repairs cannot exceed the negotiated amount previously agreed to in the home purchase contract. I have several repairmen highly recommended in Boulder County if you need any references.

Appraisal…

This is the moment of truth. When they buy a house, the Buyer’s lender will select a local appraiser to conduct a formal appraisal. They will check the condition of the house and the neighborhood house for sale and recent sales to determine a value. If it’s an FHA loan, there are certain criteria that the house must meet (we will explain the details of an FHA sale). The appraiser will schedule an appointment as soon as they are ready to inspect the property. Be careful not to discuss any comments regarding your home. The appraiser needs to form an un-biased opinion. On rare occasions, if the house does not appraise for at least the sales price, we will need to discuss adjustments and possibly re-negotiate with the Buyer. Don’t worry…this does not happen often.

Survey…

Before final settlement of the home purchase, the closing agent (which in Boulder County Real Estate dealings is usually a title company), may want to order a survey or an ILC (Improvement Location Certification) of your home for sale. Many times, these documents already exist and only need to be updated so this part of a home purchase is generally painless. If a new survey is required or necessary, you won’t even need to be there and the survey company will give the documents to the closing agent who will in turn forward them to the buyer at closing.

The Closing or Settlement Agent…

When you sell a house, at some point the closing agent will be contacting you regarding your existing mortgage (if you have one) and the payoff balance. They will need the name of any first or second mortgage company, your loan number and the contact information for the lender. They will call the lender and request payoff information for settlement. The closing agent may also need some other information for the home purchase to move forward. Some things to keep handy are: the status of your homestead; your social security number; Homeowner’s Association Contact and phone numbers, etc. To efficiently sell a house, these things are necessary for the home purchase closing to take place.

The HUD Statement

You will hear this term more than once by the time you hand over the keys to the new buyer. This is the standard settlement statement used by HUD (Housing and Urban Development) to calculate the closing costs for the home purchase. Everything is tabulated on this form. Property taxes are prorated, exact payoffs are recorded, repair bills are itemized, all other fees are calculated, etc. Your main concern is the bottom line and your NET. The closing agent will prepare this document and send it to the mortgage company for final approval. This is one of the last steps that gets processed when you sell a house. I assist in every way possible to have the HUD statement a day or two in advance so we can review it with you to double-check for anything that was missed or entered incorrectly.

Pack it up!

When you buy a house, it is usually a good idea for the homebuyer to do a final walk-through a couple of days before closing. A professional Realtor will always suggest this to ensure that the seller has completed any repairs as agreed and to check the property to verify it is essentially the same condition as when they initiated the home purchase. Unless we have made some special arrangement for the new owners to delay occupancy you will need to have everything packed and vacated from the property on the day of closing. Leave the house cleaned and empty. Leave any important paper work like appliance manuals etc, garage door openers or security codes for the house in the kitchen drawers. Don’t forget to bring the keys for the new buyers.

Closing

We will be in constant contact regarding scheduling and I will give you directions to the closing office. In Boulder County Real Estate closings, the process usually takes about an hour. After you are finished, you no longer own the house but you will have a certified check in hand. Of course, if you are looking to buy a house or investment property, I will have been reviewing the MLS listings we will be ready to keep you moving forward in whatever direction you desire.

If you have any other questions regarding selling a house, buying a house or the closing process, please feel free to contact me anytime. If you have not done this before, the process to sell a house or a home purchase may seem a bit overwhelming, but it can actually be a lot of fun and is pretty exciting a every step. Just remember, I am here to make your Boulder County Real Estate transactions as easy and stress-free as possible.

Sincerely,

Anne Michelle Wand

BoulderCountyExpert.com

303-669-2304

P.S. Attention to detail is what distinguishes me in the Real Estate field and in Boulder County. Please mention my name to your family and friends when they are in need of Real Estate assistance and would like to talk to a professional realtor about making buying a house or selling a house fun and exciting.

Someday I think I’m going to take a survey to see what people think is the worst thing about having a home for sale. Maybe its making the bed everyday; washing the dishes everyday; leaving the house for a showing; painting the house before moving; un-cluttering all the countertops…keeping the refrigerator clean….Ouch! Seriously…listing your home or real estate has its challenges but there are a few things you can do to help your realtor prepare your house for showings to encourage a quick house sale.

De-clutter…Un-clutter and Pack…

Are there any clutter bugs or pack rats living in your house? I think every house has one or two. Its amazing how much we gather through the years…. The best advice when you have a home for sale is “Less is More!” That means, pack up all the extra “goodies”, (you know, the clutter). I know it’s sad packing those bowling trophies away or all those magazines you may read someday or the refrigerator magnets but the reality is a buyer has a harder time visualizing how their “stuff” would fit in your house when yours is in the way. All the positives of your beautiful home will show much better when it is open and uncluttered.

Lights, Lights and more Lights

Have you ever seen ads for homes that say “Light and Bright”? Everyone likes a bright and cheery house. So, before you go out for the day turn on all the lights so it shows well in the event you have a realtor showing while you’re gone. Be sure to turn on the lights if you know you have a showing appointment scheduled, Your home will show much larger and brighter, especially if you have dark hallways. Remember! You only have one opportunity to make a good first impression.

Did you ever want to be sneaky?

Now is your chance! If a realtor schedules a showing when you are going to be home, just sneak out the back door when you hear them arrive. When a buyer is looking at a home for sale, they are more comfortable when they can talk and ask questions without the current owner being involved.

Put “Spot” in the Backyard

If you have pets, you may want to put them in the backyard for “show-time”. You may even take the dog or cat for a walk around the block while the realtor and buyer tour your home for sale. Being especially aware of eliminating dog hairs or pet odors will certainly help with your house sale. Lighting a scented candle can help relieve any musty or pet odors.

Sincerely,

Anne Michelle Wand

BoulderCountyExpert.com

303-669-2304

P.S. Don’t forget … call me if you have questions about these few instructions or need help in preparing your home for sale. You can find me anytime at number above!

Those were the winning lottery numbers last night. Did you pick any of them? Did you win enough to pay cash to buy a home? If not, and you are thinking about a new home purchase, you may want to keep reading.

Since you didn’t win the lottery, you’re probably like the rest of us and need a mortgage to buy a home. Relax, things have changed a lot in the last few months and there are still many ways to finance new homes. There are new government incentives and competitive programs available to the consumer even in these times of lending limitations. Banks, mortgage brokers and credit unions still offer good real estate financing solutions. Some of the programs are designed specifically to help anyone buy a house and are very creative. We recently helped a young couple with a small savings account buy a Boulder home. The loan officer was able to find them a program on the home for sale with 97.5% financing. That means they had to put very low money down for a new home purchase.

If you have any questions or concerns about which programs are available, how you might benefit, and if you can qualify, please feel free to call me. I will refer you to our preferred loan officer who is absolutely wonderful and very personable. They will be glad to consult with you regarding everything you ever wanted to know and understand about loans for your real estate purchase.

It’s always a good idea to play with “real” numbers when you are looking at property for sale. When you work with a loan officer, he or she will “pre-qualify” you so that you know exactly what price range to specify when you or your realtor examine the listings of houses for sale.

Sincerely,

Anne Michelle Wand

www.BoulderCountyExpert.net

303-669-2304

P.S. Don’t forget…we can represent you with homes For Sale By Owner or with “New Construction Transactions” in Boulder County or anywhere along the front range of Colorado… and it’s FREE to you.

P.S.S. We don’t have next weeks winning lottery numbers…sorry.

Someone who does this is commonly called a concierge.

You ask… what is a concierge? Webster says: A member of a hotel or apartment complex who assists guests or residents by handling the storage of luggage, taking and delivering messages, and making reservations for tours or any other details.

At in addition to providing traditional realtor services associated with buying a house, at Boulder County Expert, “we” have a Concierge. There are so many details when you purchase a new home… electric service, installing cable TV, ordering phone service, having the carpets cleaned, turning the water on, and on and on and on…

Sometimes, just finding the contact information for these services is a challenge.

The good news is that when you buy a home with a member of “Boulder County Expert”, you have a built in Concierge Service… FREE. If you want me to handle some or all of the details of preparing your new home, I can take care of all the arrangements for you. Since I am familiar with all of the Boulder County utilities and service companies, I can handle all the paper work and details to help you settle into your new home as effortlessly as possible.

In addition, being a “Boulder County Expert” buyer entitles you to the Concierge beyond the purchase of your home. If you ever need a handy man, a plumber or a lawn service, we have a list of preferred Boulder County vendors and can help you with any of your needs regarding your new home.

When you find a property for sale, don’t forget about our Concierge program. I can help you find a property, buy a house and then complete the home purchase details with ease. It’s just one of the many services I can offer when you purchase a home with “Boulder County Expert”.

I am looking forward to helping you in your home search and beyond.

Here’s the real kicker…….

We represent you FREE of charge

That’s right! FREE…If new homes for sale is what you want to pursue, I can represent you on New Construction. If I don’t happen to be with you with you when you find a house you really like, just register with the new homes builder and tell him you are working with Anne-Michelle at “Boulder County Expert”. The new home builder will have a listing agent that represents their properties for sale. It is equally important that you have someone working on your behalf for any real estate or property sale. In the event that the property is one of the homes for sale by owner (FSBO) in the area, just ask them if they “cooperate” with Realtors. Again, since the property for sale is not an MLS listing, the FSBO homeowner is working strictly for himself and you will have no representation if you proceed to buy a home without an agent. If he is “cooperating”, you have automatic representation with “Boulder County Expert”.

The truth is, during the first 5 weeks of a home being listed, 80% of the potential buyers will look at the home. It is extremely important that you receive a fair and accurate market analysis on your home when you place it for sale so that it is competitive with similar listings.

Where do you go from here?

Talk to me about what I might be able to offer to help your sale. It isn’t too late to sell your home in a short period with proper marketing. I may not have an exact answer for why your home didn’t sell, but, I feel certain I can answer some of your questions and even prepare a current market analysis. This will determine if price was the problem. Whatever the outcome of my visit, I will leave you with additional information to help you make a good business decision.

Don’t lose any more valuable marketing time. Give me a call and in just a few minutes, I can help answer the most important question, “Why didn’t your home sell”!

Anne-Michelle would love to help you by using her varied knowledge and experience in a way that will further your own career, enhance your investment portfolio or meet your personal needs in the exciting world of real estate.

Having been a thriving business owner and manager and a prosperous entrepreneur in a variety of ventures, Anne-Michelle Wand brings a unique vision to the real estate industry. Her history of personal real estate investing began 1986, part time, when she was a single Mom and pre-dates her professional experience as a licensed realtor and mortgage broker. She has experience with investing in and managing Single Family Residences nationally and internationally with values ranging from under $100K to several million. Her international expertise has been focused on the rapidly expanding markets in Panama and Mexico. She has been involved in land acquisition and development, reconstruction of distressed properties for profit, and the sales, purchases and management of multifamily housing units and various commercial cash-flow properties. Ms Wand has gained extensive knowledge regarding rental markets, property management, mortgages, and creative financing. To facilitate real estate investment opportunities and expand on her mulifaceted experience and knowledge, she has formed and managed formal and informal investment groups, joint venture alliances and mastermind organizations.

Overall, Anne Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge to the real estate industry that provides great benefit to you as a buyer, seller or potential investor. Because of her success in creating personal wealth for herself and others, she is recognized and sought after throughout the Industry as a Specialist in consulting, investment opportunity analysis, buyer/broker, and international real estate transaction facilitator.

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