Gillette, WY Real Estate Podcast with Summer Robertson

What Can You Do to Winterize Your Home?

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:12:00 -0800

There are many great Gillette area homes for sale. Click here to perform full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (307) 250-4382 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

What Can You Do to Winterize Your Home?

Thanks for joining us today, everyone. Today's topic is all about winterizing your home. When the seasons change and the colder weather comes, a lot of people miss out on doing a few precautionary measures that would really help their home out come spring. Here are our tips to winterizing your home:

Blow out your sprinkler system if you have one. Make sure you either have the right tools, or hire a company that knows what they are doing.
Wrap any pipes to the outside in heat tape to ensure no freezing occurs.
Cover up your A/C unit so no unwanted moisture gets in
Change your smoke alarm batteries
Change out your furnace filter, and have your filter tuned-up.
If you have a fireplace, make sure that is maintained.

If you follow these steps, you will be much more safe and secure this winter, and less money will come out of your pocket come spring!

If you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We would be glad to help out!

What Does the Gillette Market Look Like?

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 10:07:00 -0800

What Does the Gillette Market Look Like?

Thanks for joining our blog once again. Today we are going to look at some of the latest market statistics here in Gillette. We just wanted to give you a short update on the market and its current status as we head into the holidays. Here are some stats:

There are currently 396 homes on the Gillette MLS, which has been pretty consistent over the last 6 months.
In the last year, home prices have risen by about 11%
The average price of a home in Gillette is about $216,000
The average days on market of a home in Gillette has stayed steady at 121 days, nearly the same figure we saw at this point in 2013

Our current market is great for both buyers and sellers. We still have quite a bit of inventory left, but prices are steadily climbing. If you have any questions about the market or about real estate in general, give us a call or send us an email!

Home Inspection Tips for Buyers

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 10:33:00 -0700

There are many great Gillette area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (307) 250-4382 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Home Inspection Tips for Buyers

Today we are going to answer the question: Should you get a home inspection as a buyer, and what can it do for you? As a buyer, we would highly recommend that you have a home inspection done on any property you are considering purchasing so you know its condition before you move. Once an inspection is complete, you can submit a list of requests to the seller. You can ask them to fix certain things and they can go through that list and decide what they should fix.

As far as picking an inspector goes, each community is a little different. You could get a recommendation from an agent, but we think that its better if you as a buyer arrange an inspection independently from your agent. The inspection process consists of the inspector examining the exterior and interior of the home thoroughly. They are looking for safety issues, as well as cosmetic issues. They will also be able to give you information on the functionality of your electricity, plumbing, and heating/AC so you can know if everything is working properly.

If you have any questions about home inspections or about real estate in general, please give us a call or send us an email. We'd be glad to help!

Gillette Real Estate Market Update for Fall 2014

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 08:16:00 -0700

There are many great Gillette area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (307) 250-4382 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Gillette Real Estate Market Update for Fall 2014

Today we are excited to bring you another market update on what's been going on in the Gillette real estate world. Here are some stats we have compiled over the last month, give them a read so you can navigate through the housing market more effectively.

Right now in Gillette, we have 407 houses on the market, so we'd still consider this a buyer's market
House prices have risen over the past year by about 20%, a great sign for sellers
The average days on the market right now is 117 days, a big improvement from the 147 day average we saw at this point last year.

For buyers, inventory is high so there is a lot to choose from. We are also seeing a lot of buyers ask for the sellers to pay for closing costs, which usually happens in a buyer's market. As far as sellers are concerned, even though we have a lot of inventory, we are still seeing homes sell quicker and for more money, on average, than they did last year.

If you have any questions about the market, please let us know. Give us a call or send us an email so we can get in touch with you to answer those questions.

4 Ways to Make Your Home Attractive to Buyers

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 12:14:00 -0700

4 Ways to Make Your Home Attractive to Buyers

Today we are going to talk about how to prepare your home before listing it. If you're thinking of selling your home, we would like to give you some advice. These are 4 things we do before we list homes and following these tips will put your home in great shape when you're ready to put it on the market.

1. Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is how your home looks to buyers from the curb on the outside. When potential buyers come to the curb, this is your first chance to make an impression on them. Make sure you have your yard looking clean, flowers are replanted, and bushes are trimmed.

2. De-clutter

De-cluttering can go as far as removing personal items or just getting rid of anything you are not using at the time, like winter clothes and coats. Store them in totes and get them out of there. The cleaner your home, the better.

3. Paint

Make sure you re-paint in neutral and inviting colors in any room that could use a touch up. It's a cheap way to make your house look even more inviting to buyers

4. Deep Clean

Before you list your home, give it a deep clean. Get into every nook and cranny and leave no stone un-turned. You need your home to look perfect for it to sell quickly.

By following these tips, you can make your home so much more attractive to potential buyers. If you have any questions about what improvements to make on your home or if you have any other questions about real estate, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to help you out.

Answers to Your Questions About Loans

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 07:55:00 -0700

When purchasing a new home, keeping in mind the importance of loans and financing can really help you out. Of course there are always going to be national loan programs available to you, but there are many different types of loans in every area. Make sure if you are moving to an unfamiliar area, you research what specific loan programs that are available to you there.

A lot of times when people are bombarded with terms like conventional, FHA, rule development, and first time home buyer loans, they have a lot of questions about them. We would be happy to sit down with you anytime and go through all these different types of loan programs, as well as some specific programs that we have here in Gillette. It's important that you know about these loans and what you are getting into when you take one out. Knowing what your down payment is going to be and the other fees involved in the loan financing process is important too, and we can recommend you to some great lenders. If you have any questions at all about loans, or need anything relating to buying or selling your home, give us a call or shoot us a text. We would love to help you out!

Gillette Real Estate Market Update

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 11:24:00 -0700

Gillette Real Estate Market Update

Here is an update of how the market is shaping up in Gillette:

The market is not favoring buyers or sellers – the market is very neutral. Homes are moving quickly, but there is still a quite a bit of inventory available. The market has clearly shifted from being a buyer’s market.
In comparison to this time last year, the market is stronger, things are moving faster, and sellers are getting closer to their asking price.
The market is picking up as we enter the spring/summer seasons.
Interest rates are still historically low. This is a great time to both buy and sell as your payments will stay low. We would be happy to refer you to some great bankers!

If you have any questions regarding real estate, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me by phone or email. Thanks and have a great day!

The Latest News for Gillette’s New Construction

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Fri, 30 May 2014 09:26:00 -0700

The Latest News for Gillette’s New Construction

In my previous post, we spoke about one of Gillette’s newest developments, the 10th Hole Estates. Here are a few updates in regards to the 10th Hole Estates:

In July, there will be a new street opening behind the gold course. Expect price points to be different in this area.
New floor plans will be introduced into the subdivision.
There is only one golf course lot left! This happens to be the last golf course lot left in town. If you have always wanted to live on the golf course, this is your chance!
We will be hosting a barbeque in June so you can tour all of our model homes!

If you are considering new construction, here are a few tips for you:

Decide a floor plan. This is the best place to start – this allows you to figure out your priorities for the layout of the home.
Tweak the floor plan to meet your needs.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email or give me a call. Thanks and have a great day!

Introducing Gillette’s Newest Development: The 10th Hole Estates

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Fri, 2 May 2014 07:43:00 -0700

Introducing Gillette’s Newest Development: The 10th Hole Estates

I have some amazing news about a project that we have been working on over the past year. A new development, named the 10th Hole Estates, is currently undergoing construction behind the Country Club Golf Course. If you are unfamiliar with the location, it is in between Garner Lake and Butler-Spaeth Road.

There are currently 154 lots available in our first phase alone – these are filling up quickly! In addition, there are four, fully-customizable floor plans that allow you to accommodate most of your wants and needs.

With the purchase of your new 10th Hole Estates home, you will also receive a one-year golf membership absolutely free! The home builders are also offering a full one-year warranty on any home.

I would love to share any information in regards to this fantastic new development – so don’t hesitate to reach out to me! Thanks and have a great day.

Gillette Real Estate: Act Now and Take Advantage of Low Prices and Low Rates!

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 08:39:00 -0700

I have been frequently about what the right time would be to invest in Gillette real estate. Well, now is the time to invest in real estate; home prices are lower than they were two years ago and interest rates are remaining low. If you’re looking for the perfect investment property, now would be a great time to do so.

If you’re a first time investor, there are a few things you need to know:

1.    Know your options. Do you want a single family home, multiplex, etc.? You need to know what’s out there and what you feel comfortable with.

2.    Partner with someone who has investment experience. Find a real estate agent has previously dealt with investment properties or has investment properties of their own. This also helps in knowing what you can expect beforehand.

3.    Look for the right location. This means finding a highly populated area that will attract renters. Don’t go for a rural property; it will be harder to rent out!

4.    Have capital lined up. Talk to your bank and make sure that you are ready to invest in this property and if you plan on having partners, be sure they are informed.

5.    Build a great supporting cast. If you plan on managing the property yourself or hire a property manager, make sure you have plumbers, electricians etc. so that you are prepared to protect your investment when something goes wrong.

As always, if you have any questions regarding real estate, please give me a call or send me an email. Thanks and have a great day!

New Homebuyers: Take Care of These Five Things After Moving Into Your New Home!

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Thu, 6 Mar 2014 09:55:00 -0800

If you’re moving into a new home, I have five tips that you can take care of right away:

1. Change out your locks. You never know if you were given every copy of your key when you moved in! To be safe, change out every lock within your home.

2. Change your garage code. To piggy back off my first tip, this is important if you have children that may have given out that code.

3. Change your furnace filter. This helps make sure your furnace is clean and ready for a fresh start!

4. Replace batteries in your smoke alarms.

5. Check out your sprinkler system. Be sure to check all of the sprinkler lines and that you are familiar with the system!

If you have any questions and buying or selling a home, give me a call at (307) 250-4382 or email me at robertsonsummer@gmail.com. Thanks and have a great day!

Find the BEST Real Estate Agent for You: Ask These Three Questions!

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 08:10:00 -0800

Today I wanted to address a question that I have been getting a lot lately and that is about the questions you should ask while interviewing a real estate agent. Before I go into that, I wanted to remind to check out our blog for your free home valuation report and the full home search.

What questions should you be asking a real estate agent

Some key questions that you ask when interviewing any real estate agent are:

1.    What services are you providing? You need to find out what this agent can do for you. Do they work with buyers, sellers or both? You need to find an agent that fits your needs.

2.    How do they operate their business? Do they run everything as a “one-man show” by showing buyers, doing their own listings and marketing or do they have those tasks broken into a team?

3.    What is their track record? Don’t be afraid to ask any agent show many transactions they had last year or how many buyers and sellers they are working with now. Also, be sure to ask for references or their past ten clients. Getting first-hand experience from these clients instills confidence in this agent.

If you any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Thanks and have a great day!

What Should You Be Aware of in the Current Gillette Real Estate Market?

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 13:06:00 -0800

There are many great Gillette area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (307) 250-4382 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Today I wanted to give you an update of the Gillette real estate market. Due to the steady inventory, the market is swinging in the buyer’s favor. There is a steady flow of homes entering the market as well as new construction combining to about 480 homes for sale. The average list price is about $217,000 with an average of 150 days on market. If you’re looking to sell, those are some numbers to keep track of! Interest rates are still at historic lows. Depending on the loan and credit, you can get a 30 year mortgage at around 4% and 3% for a 15 year mortgage. I don’t think interest rates will rise much in the coming months and will remain steady.

Also, don’t forget to check out our blog where you can utilize the free home valuation report and our free home search. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me; I look forward to helping you with your real estate needs!

Why Should You Be a Pre-qualified Buyer?

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 09:32:00 -0800

Welcome back! Today I wanted to talk about the importance of becoming pre-qualified as a buyer. I would highly recommend any buyer to become pre-qualified through a lending institution. Doing so gives you the power to know where you are financially and also gives you the idea of where to start and what price range you need to be in. The lender will show you examples of payments and interest rates to make you are comfortable and are looking in the right price range.

It also gives the opportunity to know that we’re looking for the right houses for you and when you do find the house you love, you make an offer on it. From a seller’s standpoint, they want to see pre-qualified buyers. This gives them the peace of mind knowing the transaction will go smoothly.

If you know of anyone who is looking to list their home or purchase, give me a call at (307) 250-4382 or email me at robertsonsummer@gmail.com. Thanks and have a great day!

Why is it Important That You Accurately Price Your Home?

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 15:21:00 -0800

Today I wanted to speak with you about the importance of pricing your home accurately in the listing process. Doing so will generate more offers and more activity on your house like showings and is a way you can tell if your house is priced accurately. If your home isn’t receiving any attention at all, talk to your agent and reevaluate your strategy and see if pricing is the issue.

When a house does sit on the market for an extended period of time, agents and buyers question the house by wondering if there is an issue with the house. You want to price your home so it sells quickly, which is our goal and your goal as well. To make sure the pricing is accurate, have a market analysis done. We are here to help you do this! Remember, listing and selling is an emotional process; it can be stressful and plays on your emotions. These are your homes and they mean a lot to you. We are here to walk you through the process!

If you know of anyone who is looking to list their home or purchase, give me a call at (307) 250-4382 or email me at robertsonsummer@gmail.com. Thanks and have a great day!

Should You Continue to List Your Home Through the Holidays?

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 09:49:00 -0800

Today I wanted to talk to you about whether or not you should continue to list your home through the holidays and what types of buyers are in the market this time of year. As a seller, I would advise you to keep your home listed through the fall. Although we have weather and holidays to deal with, we typically see less competition and also more serious buyers due to job relocations, etc.

Also, don’t hesitate to decorate your home while you’re selling it. You still live in your home; enjoy it and the holiday festivities. Make the home warm and inviting, but remember people will be coming through your home and to remove any clutter.

If you know of anyone who is looking to list their home or purchase, give me a call at (307) 250-4382 or email me at robertsonsummer@gmail.com. Thanks and have a great day!

What You Can Expect in the Gillette Market

SummerRobertsonRealtor@Gmail.Com (Summer Robertson) — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 10:05:00 -0800

The Gillette market has been steady and stable and we’re right where we were last year. Our sales and listings have remained stable and this can be attributed to Gillette’s stable economy. We’ve gotten a huge bump from interest rates as people are looking to sell their homes and move up. The market is still leaning towards buyers due to the fair amount of inventory and new construction coming up. Even with quick sales, the inventory has been keeping up.

If you have any questions, please call me at (307) 250-4382 or email me robertsonsummer@gmail.com. We are also offering free home evaluations. Thanks and have a great day!