Crooked River Realty

Selling Now & Winterizing!

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 18:24:00 GMT

Happy Fall Y’all!

We hope this finds you and yours doing well. As we head into winter two things come to mind; Selling your home in the fall and winterizing your home.

Stuck in the House? Let Us Help!
Why this fall is a great time to sell your home? Inventory is low at Crooked River Ranch and we have buyers. List now and take advantage of the Sellers Market. When it comes to Buying or Selling a home, it’s important to trust in a Real Estate Agent who cares about your NEIGHBORHOOD as much as you do. At Crooked River Realty, we are here to help you get TOP DOLLAR for your property!

Winterize, Winterize, Winterize!
While the temperatures are still mild its time to think about preparing for winter weather. Now is the time to purchase your winterizing materials such as vent covers, new furnace filters, heat tape, ice melt and insulation. Don’t wait until these items are in short supply.

Here is a handy check list of 10 helpful tips to keep the cold out!

Call your Neighborhood Realtor Today, (541) 923-2000

How to Remove or Replace Favorite Fixtures in a Home Sale

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 18:31:00 GMT

What Stays and What Goes in a Home Sale

A potentially frustrating occurrence can arise when discussing “fixtures” in a home – items that are considered part of the house and therefore part of the sale. When a seller removes something that the buyer expected to get with the house, it can create significant tension and lead to resentment, and maybe even legal proceedings.

If You Want It

If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or other fixtures with you, remove them now, BEFORE photos are taken of the home and showings are scheduled. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If you love your range, remove it now and replace it with something that is not special to you. How about those curtains that match your table cloth and dishes? Remove them now, before a buyer ever sees them.

If A Buyer Never Sees it, they Won’t Want It

Once you tell a buyer they can’t have an item, they will covet it, and it could ruin a deal. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.

Not Sure What is a Fixture & What is Not? Ask Your Realtor

A fixture is legally considered something like decorations, equipment or appliances that have been attached to the house. Fixtures are regarded as part of the property, and it is a given that they will go to the buyer. This can be confusing; say for example you have a basketball hoop in the backyard. Ask yourself, is it portable or is it installed with concrete? If it’s portable it’s yours, if it’s fixed to the ground it stays. The same goes for swing sets. A bookcase that looks like a built-in but is actually not, this is something to note as excluded. Remember, ask your realtor.

At Crooked River Realty we are here to help you every step of the way.

Are You Ready to Sell for Top Dollar?

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 17:41:00 GMT

You’ll hear us say over and over that spring comes early to Crooked River Ranch, buyers are plentiful and the time to sell is NOW.

Spring 2019 is no exception. The low inventory and the desire for many to move to this four-season playground has buyers clamoring at the few homes currently for sale. Buyers are becoming more prepared, most are pre-approved, they know what they want and are just waiting for the right home to come along. This is the perfect “Sellers Market,” for you to get the best possible value for your home. It also means being prepared for a quick sale.

Here are some handy tips and trends that will help you sell for top dollar.

Ask for Outside Opinions

We have a tendency to overlook imperfections in our own home, mostly because we are used to seeing them. But prospective buyers will see EVERYTHING. Ask your friends, family, and realtor to honestly tell you how your house looks. If that front door has been sticking, if you’re just used to that cupboard squeaking, the bathroom faucet is dripping…now is the time to make those simple repairs.

Treat it Like a Business

Your home is special, it has special memories and meaning to you, the photos you have on your walls, the paint colors… we know it is hard to hear but that is not what prospective buyers will be looking at. Your home is now an asset for sale and it’s an asset you want top dollar for. This also means, in this low inventory market that you have to be very accommodating for showings. It is always inconvenient to show your home but unfortunately, you need to work with the schedule of prospective buyers.

Remember, the goal is to have as few showings as possible and you will want one of those first showings to result in an offer and the sale of your home!

You Are Trying to Sell Your Home, Not Your Stuff

Showcase your home by removing extra furniture, collections and wall decor. You will want to make each space look as large as possible. Think of how inviting furniture advertisements are in the uncluttered ads and how big the rooms look. There is a couch, a chair, end tables, a few decorations on the wall, a window treatment and maybe a throw pillow of two with a common color. They look fantastic, don’t they? Clear off surfaces and pack away anything you don’t need. Think of it as pre-moving. Everything in your home is coming out anyway, you’re just getting a head start.

Price it Right

Pricing is really tricky. You want to sell fast…but you also want to make the most on your asset. On the other hand, if you price it too high then it might sit longer than you want and that buzz and excitement will wane. Prospective buyers will see that it’s been on the market a while and will be inclined to come in with lower offers. This is one area that you will need to rely on us for advice. No one has the experience that Crooked River Realty has, as we have served this community since 1972. That is over 45 years. By discussing your needs, we can develop a marketing plan to get you the desired result.

Keep an Extra Laundry Basket by the Door

Yep, this one tip just might save you a panicked run around the house. Sometimes you’ll need to get out of the house quickly for a showing. So grab that laundry basket and load up that project or paperwork that was sitting out and put it in the trunk of your car as you leave for the showing.

Hassle Free with Crooked River Realty!

Why Choose Crooked River Realty?

We live and work here. No one knows this country better than we do. We care about this community and we pride ourselves in being more than just your realtor. We are your neighbor, your friend, and using our resources helps us give and support the many community events we contribute to! So when given a choice pick us, because we care and because we will work hard for you. It’s what we do!

How You Help Us Make a Difference

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 17:14:00 GMT

We are your community realtor, but here’s how you help us make a difference.

The Definition of Community by Webster Dictionary:

plural communities

a unified body of individuals: such as
the people with common interests living in a particular area

At Crooked River Realty we pride ourselves in being your Community Realtor and we want to THANK YOU for choosing us FIRST. When you choose Crooked River Realty to help you purchase or sell your property you are helping us help our great community.

Not only are you getting top-notch service by people who live and work here, but you are getting years of knowledge and passion for this community we have served since 1972! That is over 45 years of service.

Your commitment to us for all your real estate needs allows us to give back to this great community and to support community events and charities we feel strongly benefit Crooked River Ranch and Central Oregon. Thanks to your continued support we look forward to another year of helping others.

Here are just some to the groups we support thanks to you!

CRR Fire Auxiliary Toy & Food Drive
CRR Welcome Baskets
Trunk or Treat and Carnival
Olde Fashion Christmas
Terrebonne Community School
Redmond Realtor Fund
Terrebonne Cruz-In
Cars in the Canyon
American Cancer Society
Multiple Sclerosis
Tri-County High School Rodeo
Oregon Association Chiefs of Police
VFW Parade Post 2666
Rock Solid Youth Group
Ingenious Art Auction
Steel Stampede
FAN-Family Access Network
Alano Club of Redmond

Curb Appeal: It’s a Timeless Trend!

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 16:40:00 GMT

What is Curb Appeal?

Improving curb appeal can be as straight forward as fixing a broken window. Some improvements take planning, time and effort, but will be well worth it at sale or appraisal. At Crooked River Realty we know you never get a second chance to make a first impression. That’s why curb appeal is so very important.

Today’s real estate market has motivated homeowners looking to receive the most out of their homes to closely look at their curb appeal in an effort to receive as much equity out of their homes as they possibly can. Starting from the outside, or “curb,” here are tips for improving your home’s curb appeal.

Start with the Yard

Prune trees and shrubs, making sure there are no branches near the roof line or outer walls of your home. Mow the lawn. Plant flowers for color. Fill in any bare spots in your garden with high foliage plants. In areas like ours, it’s hard to plant for early spring blooms but a fresh coat of bark dust and a potted plant on the deck can be very inviting.

Fix Everything

Take a walk around the house and note everything that’s broken, out of alignment, or looks bad. Nail in loose shutters; fix or replace screen doors, fence boards, etc. If you can’t fix it, get rid of it. A window with no screen is better than a window with a ripped screen. It’s better to have everything fixed before a prospective buyer sees the home, offers a lower price and still demands repairs be done before the sale closes.

Paint Outside & Repair or Replace Siding

Fresh paint has the lowest cost and most dramatic improvement in the value of a home. Often a fresh coat of paint is easier than cleaning the outside of a home. It is also important to note that most appraisers will document exposed surfaces on home inspections and many lenders will require these be painted prior to completion of the sale. This goes for the deck and deck railing too.

Un-clutter Your Surroundings

Inside and outside of the home, garage, and outbuildings. Especially true of the home on the inside, less clutter makes a home seem larger. Have a garage sale, donate to charities, or rent a storage unit. Remember, you’re going to be packing everything to move soon, so you might as well get a jump on it!

Keep Pets & Children Out-of-Sight

Pets should not be in a yard when prospective buyers arrive. Children, too. While family and pets are part of the fabric of our lives, they can be a distraction. If possible arrange for children and pets to be somewhere else while someone is looking at your home.

Set the Mood

Create a peaceful ambiance using solitude or soft music. If your neighborhood is noisy, choose soothing instrumental background music. It will help neutralize the noise. Always keep television sets and radios turned off.

Clean, Clean, Clean

Start with the carpeting and floors, walls, windows and furniture. A well-kept home gives a sign that everything has been kept up equally as well. That equates to a higher value. A messy home says “what else has been neglected?”

Think…Aroma

The aromas or odors in your home are important– do whatever is necessary to create a pleasant scent. First, regularly air your house out, take out the trash, and clean your kitchen thoroughly of food residue. Have your carpets professionally cleaned. Then, help nature along with some aromatic additions.

For a “home-is-where-the-heart-is” aroma, try baking a loaf of bread (frozen dough is available at any grocery store). Other great kitchen smells are cinnamon or vanilla. In bathrooms and bedrooms, try potpourri or fresh-cut flowers; how about the scent of leather (new car fragrance?) in a den or home office.

Let the Sunshine In

Set a cheery mood by opening curtains enough to let light flow, but not so much as to create a glare. If rooms are dark, install higher watt bulbs and use overhead lighting to brighten gloomy areas. Well-lit rooms are cheery and appear larger. Prior to showing, turn every light in your home on.

Hassle Free with Crooked River Realty!

Why Choose Crooked River Realty?

Tips for Showing a Home to Potential Buyers

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 18:22:00 GMT

Your first showing happens long before buyers arrive at your door!

The internet has drastically changed the way buyers shop for real estate. It used to be that the first time a potential buyer saw a home was when they made an appointment with a realtor to show them the home. Nowadays, once a home is entered into MLS it becomes immediately available to prospective buyers.

Buyers use the internet to “narrow down their search” and often only personally view the properties that interested them online. That is why having your home well staged for photos is so important. Buyer will look at the photos of your home online, in MLS , realtor.com , Zillow , and hundreds of other websites.

Here are some tips to make sure your home is camera ready!

Stage your home!

Remove the clutter and make your home feel open. If you collect something special, put your collection away for now. Open the curtains and let the sunshine it!

Help potential buyers feel at home!

Remove personal photographs, use neutral colors, freshly clean the windows and turn all the lights on. When taking outdoor photos, remove cars from the driveway & keeps pets out of the photos. This helps buyers see their belonging in the space, not yours.

Paint, Patch & Prosper!

A fresh coat of paint, all maintenance items complete, plants in every room, toilet seats down, removing dated fixtures and cleaning from top to bottom will make your home shine in photos!

Comfortable, Clean, Tranquil, Relaxing…picture yourself in any one of these rooms.

They are warm and inviting. The exterior of the home makes you want to see inside. The lighting is excellent and the rooms are clutter free. Simple touches like a bowl of fruit, flowers and lighting make these photos pleasing to the eye and senses.

A quick way to see how your home photographs is to take some interior & exterior photos on a bright day. Then look at the photos and see if they are clutter free, if they make the rooms look bright and roomy and if the pictures reflect what you want a buyer to see.

Making your home shine in photos is the first step in having a buyer schedule a personal showing of your home.

Let us show you the Crooked River Realty Difference and why we sell more property at Crooked River Ranch than anyone in the world!