http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/categoryname_home-purchase-checklist/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ VICTORIA KEICHINGERCongratulations! You’re a new homeowner. While you may not be able to wait to move in, there are a few things you should consider tackling before hanging those family photos on the walls.1. Change the locks – For peace of mind, it’s a good idea to change out the locks on your exterior doors to ensure that anyone the previous owners may have given a key to can no longer access the property. According to Home Advisor, the average homeowner spends between $100-$300 hiring a locksmith.2. Paint – Don’t love the lemon yellow the previous homeowners chose for the master bedroom? Painting your new home will be infinitely easier if you can do so before moving furniture into the space. Head to your local paint store to pick up a few samples to test before committing. Take your time and be sure to view the color swatches in different lights before committing. There are also handy online visualization tools like the Benjamin Moore Personal Color Viewer.3. Take care of your floors – Like with painting, treating and refinishing floors is much easier without furniture in the way. Costs for this project will vary depending on the size of the job, but you can estimate roughly $200 for supplies and equipment. Check out this useful guide to refinishing wood floors from This Old House before heading to the hardware store.4. Make any necessary repairs – Does the bathtub need to be re-caulked or the tile re-grouted? Do the floorboards creak? Make a list of priority repairs and tackle them one by one. You’ll be happy you did a few months from now when other projects crop up on the honey-do list.5. Clean from top to bottom – The only thing better than a new home is a clean new home. Now is the best time to give every nook and cranny of your home a deep clean. Scrub the inside of appliances like the refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, and microwave. Wipe down walls and baseboards with a damp cloth. Looking for clever ways to banish grease and grime? Check out our Home Tip of the Day video series.6. Set up your utilities – Call your electric, gas, cable and water utility providers to make sure service is transferred to you after closing. You’ll also want to research when trash and recycling pick-up are scheduled for your zone.7. Change your Address – While you may want those mortgage bills to be sent elsewhere, it’s important to file a change of address with the US Postal Service to ensure that all mail is forwarded to your new address following your move. Also, be sure to alert friends and family of your new address. They’ll need to know where to send that housewarming gift!Now, the only thing left to do is celebrate! Looking for great housewarming party ideas? Try one of these backyard flings! http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/6954/7-things-to-do-before-moving-into-your-new-home/ Thu, 16 May 2019 05:16:10 -0700 LINDSAY LISTANSKIAs I approach my four year “homeaversary” I decided to take a moment to reflect on all that I had on my mind as my husband and I prepared to make the biggest purchase of our lives. Here are some of the things I wish I had known sooner that I hope will help you, or someone you, know on their journey toward homeownership.You Don’t Pay The Agent’s Commission as the BuyerSo many first time buyers wonder, “do you have to pay a real estate agent if you are buying a home?” For some, the thought of having to shell out extra cash when they are already doing all they can to save for their down payment is enough to make them walk away from the entire process before they even get going. Many are surprised to find out that the answer is actually no. A home buyer does not pay their agent, rather the agent earns their commission from the seller side of the transaction.*Focus on Your Monthly Mortgage Payment, Not the Entire ThingGetting pre-approved for a mortgage is generally the first step you should take as a first-time buyer. A common mistake that people often make is focusing on the total price of the home they can afford instead of the monthly payment they will be making. You may get approved for a $350,000 home, but this may not necessarily be what you can truly afford. Think of the amount your advisor suggests you can afford as a range. There is a high end and a low end and it is your job, not the mortgage advisor’s, to figure out what you are comfortable paying each month. It is crucial that you work with your advisor to understand how your down payment amount, credit, and the current mortgage rate affect your monthly payment.Make the Jump!To steal a line from Nike®…Just Do It™! From agonizing over the down payment to finding the “perfect” home there are a ton of moments in the first time buying process that are going to make you feel nervous. Know that it is natural and that similar to having a baby, there is never really a 100% perfect time. You are always going to wish you had more money in the bank, hope that the home had a backyard that was just a little bigger, or that you were just a little more sure what direction your life will be taking in the next 5-10 years. My advice: if you feel comfortable with the payment, love the location and “bones” of the house and will feel proud to make this house a home, then take the leap and don’t look back. That’s what we did almost four years ago and it was one of the best decisions we ever made.*As with anything exceptions may apply. One example where this may change is a For Sale By Owner (FSBO). To be certain of what the payment structure will be, speak with your agent as soon you begin working to discuss payment/commission. http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/6842/3-things-i-wish-someone-told-me-as-a-first-time-home-buyer/ Tue, 12 Mar 2019 10:47:51 -0700 Guest post by Jon SnyderSmart homes are all the rage these days and are quickly becoming a hot commodity. A recent survey found that 65 percent of buyers would pay extra for houses with smart features – that is, anything in the home that connects to the internet. Smart features include connected security systems, HVAC systems, lighting, thermostats, door locks, and eco-friendly appliances—all of which can be controlled remotely from your smartphone or tablet.While smart homes offer convenience and energy savings, they do come with unique challenges—especially when transferring the home from one family to the next. If you think you’ve found the perfect smart home for you, consider these important questions.1. What Devices are Actually in the Home?Talk with the realtor or current homeowners to get a list of devices installed in the home. Don’t rely on a quick walkthrough tour alone, as some IoT-enabled devices are more obvious than others. For example, you’ll be able to spot a smart refrigerator’s touchscreen, but you may not notice the smart lighting solutions. These could encompass not only light bulbs but also adjustable window shades and natural-light detection that dims bulbs as natural light floods the room.It’s also a good idea to pinpoint what you want out of a smart home, so you can find the one that meets all (or at least most) of your criteria. Additionally, check with the sellers to make sure the manuals for each device are available. They’ll highlight the various features and can quickly clue you in on where each device is and what it has to offer.2. Are There Warranties for the Connected Devices?Review the warranties and policies of the home’s IoT gadgets just like you would for any other appliance in the home. You can do this online if you have the serial numbers. (Ask the seller for a list of serial numbers for each device.) That way, you can make sure the devices are actually transferable to new owners so you don’t miss out on important features or security updates.If everything checks out, remember to update the manufacturer’s pre-set passwords and see if there are any new versions of the device software once you’re all moved in. You can do this on the manufacturer’s website or by accessing the settings menu in the gadget itself.  3. Have the Devices Been Reset to Factory Settings?Ask if the owner will (or already has) reset the devices back to their default factory settings. Doing so will make it easier for you to create your own account, set up new access protocols and adjust the settings to your liking.It’s also wise to review the privacy settings for each device, as well as the settings for your own smartphone or tablet, which is what you’ll use to “talk” to your smart home. Keep in mind that all connected devices store and communicate data, so educate yourself as much as possible on how your smart hub works.It’s up to you to beef up security and limit personal information stored in IoT devices as much as possible. By knowing what you want and asking questions (as many questions as you need to!), you’ll be able to smoothly transition into your new smart home.Are you thinking of upgrading your own home to a Smart Home?  Click here to enter our Smart Home Giveaway! Jon Snyder is a Product Manager at Esurance, overseeing countrywide design of property insurance products. Jon uses his 25 years of industry experience to write about smart technology and how it will impact homeowners insurance. You can view Esurance’s homeowner's policy options on their website. http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/6738/3-tech-questions-to-ask-before-buying-a-smart-home/ Mon, 21 Jan 2019 10:28:30 -0700 Buying your first home can be an exciting and sometimes overwhelming experience.  You may not know where to start, what steps to take, or who to reach out to for help.  Read on to learn our top tips when beginning the journey of purchasing your first home in the Bozeman area.1.  Determine Home Much Home You Can AffordIn order to have an accurate idea of what type of home you can afford, you will need to take into account your income, any outstanding debts or payments, your credit score, and how much you will need at closing or for a down payment.  Try this online Affordability Calculator to get an idea of where you stand, but remember, this is only an estimate.  You will need to have real numbers and reports before getting approved for your home loan.2.  Attend a First Time Homebuyer ClassBozeman offers an eight-hour, comprehensive, and extremely informative course for first-time homebuyers through the HRDC.  From their website: "Completion of homeownership education makes you a smarter, better borrower, and may help you become eligible for down-payment assistance, low-interest mortgages, and matches savings programs.  The course is open to everyone and free of charge."  Click here for more info on this course, and the current class schedule.3.  Talk with a Lender and Get Pre-ApprovedA lender will be able to give you a better idea of where your finances place you in the housing market.  In order for you to get pre-approved, the lender will need to verify all of your financial information (including income, debt, and credit score).  A pre-approval means that a lender has looked into all of this information and has conditionally agreed to loan you a set amount of money for a home.  With a pre-approval in hand, you will have an idea of what types of houses are within your price range.  A pre-approval letter may also set you ahead of the pack when placing an offer.4.  Find a RealtorTrying to navigate the complexities of the housing market on your home can be extremely overwhelming.  We believe working with a Realtor is always the way to go when searching for your first home.  But how do you find one?  Ask family and friends for recommendations.  According to realtor.com, a referral is the most common way new buyers find their agent.  You can also look online.  Read agent bios and check out their websites and social media pages to see if they might be a good match for you.  Your real estate agent will be guiding you through every step of the process, so it is important that you find someone you trust and can understand your specific needs.5.  Determine Your Priorities and Look at PropertiesLet your real estate agent know what is most crucial to you in a new home (for instance, do you need to have a certain amount of bedrooms, or want to be in a specific neighborhood or area).  Your agent will have the most up-to-date information on properties that suit your needs, and can help set up showings at times that work for you.  According to the National Association of Realtors, buyers spent an average of 10 weeks looking at homes and saw approximately 10 different properties in that time frame before purchasing, so keep this in mind when working with your Realtor.When you've found the home of your dreams, your real estate agent will help walk you through the steps of submitting an offer, completing paperwork, and closing on your home when the time is right.  Purchasing your first home should be an exciting, rewarding experience.  Follow these steps and stay in contact with your Realtor to ensure the process is seamless and all of your needs are being met.Do you have more questions about buying your first home?  Reach out to us here or leave us a comment! http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/6723/first-time-homebuyers'-checklist/ Mon, 14 Jan 2019 11:10:58 -0700