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Lori Guilander's Cheatsheet for Buying & Selling Your Home with Less Stress


The Roaring Fork Valley boasts a thriving community in a pristine natural landscape in the heart of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Aside from the Roaring Fork Valley’s obviously wonderful outdoor activities, this idyllic area also offers a unique blend of year-round outdoor activities, cultural events, and culinary delights. Explore the area by skiing and snowboarding on world-renowned slopes, hiking, and biking through lush mountain forests. With its carefully planned neighborhoods, excellent schools, and welcoming residents, the Roaring Fork Valley is the perfect place to call home for families, retirees, and anyone seeking an active, fulfilling lifestyle in a stunning mountain setting.

The Roaring Fork Valley offers a tranquil and picturesque environment for those seeking to buy or sell their homes. If you're planning on accomplishing both simultaneously, starting the planning process early is essential to avoid timing issues. Remember your property's unique features and research market trends to understand its value fully. And when bringing in professionals, consider hiring a cleaning service, professional inspector, appraisal specialist, contractors for home repairs and upgrades, and a staging service to prepare your home for sale.

Start the planning process early

Buying and selling a home at the same time can be a breeze if you start early. As you start thinking about what you want in your new property, list what you love about your current home and what you feel is lacking to help identify your priorities. Another step in planning is to jot down all known issues with your current home (like that outlet that doesn't work or the bedroom door that doesn't latch correctly) so you can make necessary repairs and upgrades before putting it up for sale. By staying organized and proactive during the home buying and selling, you can reduce stress and enjoy a smoother transition to your new home.

Pack and store as many things as possible

To reduce stress, start by packing and storing as many items as possible to declutter your space and make it more appealing to potential buyers. Removing personal mementos and large pieces of furniture and packing away items not needed for the current season will help create a neutral and spacious atmosphere. Following these steps, you'll set up your home to sell while preparing to purchase your new one.

Be prepared for timing issues

Budgeting before listing and house hunting will help you prepare for potential timing issues. For example, if you sell your current home before you've found your new one, you may need to consider adding a rent-back contingency or finding a short-term rental property while you continue your search. Alternatively, if you find your new home among other Roaring Fork Valley homes for sale before your current one sells, pay double the mortgage, utilities, maintenance fees, and taxes until your old home is sold.

Take note of your property's unique features

It is vital to take note of your property's unique features since this will allow you to craft an informed listing description and contribute to a more effective staging process. Once you have this information, you must work with an experienced realtor like Lori Guilander, who can guide you through buying and selling.

Research market trends

To buy and sell simultaneously in the Roaring Fork Valley, it's essential to understand the current housing market trends. Consult a reputable realtor who knows the area well and can provide a comparative market analysis. Market trend research will help you understand the amount you'll need to be willing to pay for a new home. It will also help you narrow in on an appropriate price range for listing your current home.

Bring in the professionals

When buying and selling a home simultaneously in the Roaring Fork Valley, hiring professionals to help is essential. By relying on the expertise of others, you can profoundly reduce the stress of what could be a complex process. From realtors to home inspectors, having trusted professionals as part of your team can provide peace of mind to make the buying and selling process more manageable.

Cleaning service

Before you list your home for sale, bring in a cleaning service to spruce up the place. A professional cleaning will help make your home more inviting and leave a lasting impression on potential buyers. They'll be able to thoroughly clean your property from top to bottom, catching all the places you might forget, like behind appliances and in upper corners. If you are pleased with their work, you can hire them to perform a move-in cleaning of your new property to ensure the home is spic-and-span before you start unpacking.

Professional inspection

Hire a professional inspector for your existing home to catch any code violations or areas needing repair before you list. If potential buyers discover any issues during their inspection, they may try to negotiate a lower price or even back out of the sale altogether. By performing an inspection beforehand, you can take care of any necessary repairs before listing your home on the market.

As a buyer, you'll also want to hire a professional inspector for the home you've submitted an offer. An inspection contingency will help you decide before committing to the purchase. Not only that, but a professional inspection can also provide you with valuable negotiation leverage during the closing process.

Appraisal specialist

To sell your home at a fair but competitive price, hiring an appraisal specialist before listing it is essential. A professional appraisal will help you evaluate offers from potential buyers and ensure that they align with your home's market value.

Likewise, if you're buying a new home and need a mortgage loan, your lender may require an appraisal before approving your application. It's advisable to include an appraisal contingency in the purchase agreement to avoid any unexpected financial issues.

Contractors for home repairs and upgrades

To ensure your Roaring Fork Valley real estate is in top shape before selling or moving in, enlist the help of contractors for any necessary repairs or upgrades. When choosing a contractor, it's crucial to prioritize finding reliable and experienced professionals who can deliver quality work within your budget and timeline. Your real estate agent can provide a list of recommended contractors based on the upgrades and repairs you plan to undertake.

Staging service

A staging service will only benefit you before you list your current home, but hiring one is well worth the investment. A professional staging company can help you make your home more attractive to buyers by transforming it into a showroom-style living space. They will bring furniture, artwork, and other items to visually enhance the property's appeal and showcase its best features.

Real estate agent

When buying and selling homes simultaneously, you need an expert. A real estate agent like Lori Guilander, with experience in Roaring Fork Valley real estate, can help you navigate the process and ensure everything goes off without a hitch. From finding homes for sale to drafting purchase and listing agreements, a reputable local real estate agent can help ensure you get the best possible deal — no matter which side of the transaction you're on.

Navigating the process of buying and selling a home at the same time can be daunting. With deadlines and budget considerations to manage, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. However, with the assistance of expert real estate agent Lori Guilander from Snowmass Village, your experience can be stress-free and profitable. Contact experienced agent Lori Guilander to schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience. With Lori's knowledge and guidance, you can confidently take on this exciting endeavor.

*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock



Work With Lori

Lori Guilander ensures the best possible scenario for their clients whether it be sales transactions of real estate in the exclusive market of the Aspen area, securing a luxury rental, or maximizing the return on a rental investment.

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