HOMEBUYERS GUIDE

February 2017

First-Time Homebuyer Checklist 4

VA Home Loans 8
Mortgage Terms To Know 10
Sell Your House Fast 12
 201 7 Homebuyers Guide
2
Friday, Februay 24, 2017

Apply for Your Mortgage Online!

Save time by applying for your mortgage online.

Meridian Trusts online Mortgage Center puts everything you need at your ngertips.

Calculators
Easy Online Application
Your Own Personal Mortgage Dashboard
Plus more!

All online for your convenience and backed by the full support of the Meridian Trust team.

Visit www.MyMeridianTrust.com/Mortgages and get started today!

Apply Now!

1.800.726.5644 YOUR SAVINGS FEDERALLY INSURED

 2016201 7 Homebuyers
BEST & Drink
Guide
of the BEST Food
3

Contents
First-time homebuyer 4 Sell your house fast 12
checklist
Insurance companies 14
How to save enough for a 7 that take care of you
down payment on a house
What to consider when 16
VA Home Loans 8 you receive multiple
offers for your home

Mortgage 10
These home improvements 18
terms to know may actually lower home value

HOMEBUYERS GUIDE
February 2017
 201 7 Homebuyers Guide
4
Friday, Februay 24, 2017

First-time
homebuyer
CHECKLIST
Shopping for your first home(or planning
to have it built) is one of lifes biggest
and most exciting undertakings.
Having your very own place lets you
experience the freedom of no longer
paying rent, the joys of redecorating as
you see fit and the pleasures of entertaining
in your own backyard all thanks to an in-
vestment that could pay off in the long run.
Ready to become a homeowner? Here are
some tips to guide you through the process.
BUILDING A NEW HOUSE
If youve decided to have the house of
your dreams built, or to build most of
it yourself, you need to:
Establish your budget
Get a mortgage loan
Purchase land in an area you like
Obtain all required building permits
from your local government office
Have your blueprints drawn up by
an architect
Sign an agreement with a building
contractor
Are you ready
to be a homeowner
FOR THE
FIRST TIME?
Hire a lawyer or notary
Purchase a comprehensive
insurance policy
Avoid unpleasant surprises
Unless youre extremely versatile and by doing business with companies
plan on doing everything yourself that are recognized by a
which is quite the stretch youll legitimate building or homebuilders
need to rely on the expertise of various association. Ask for references
tradespeople and specialists throughout from your family, friends, colleagues
the project. Building your first home and neighbors: word of mouth can
will require pros from the following help you find a trustworthy builder
fields, to name a few: that will finish the work on time and
on budget.
Excavation A word of advice: if youre offered a
Plumbing discount on under-the-table (i.e. unde-
Electricity clared) work, never, ever accept it.
Window and door installation Not only are such transactions illegal,
Drywall installation and finishing but work thats done off the books cant
Ventilation be guaranteed. That means that if its
Carpentry not done correctly, your only option is
Insulation to start over with another company
Roofing a hefty price to pay for an attempt to
Masonry save a few dollars.
Landscaping
Painting
Staircase building

SELLING MADE EASY

Not in great condition? No Problem. No repairs or inspections.
Fast and inexpensive...Take what you want and leave the rest
Buying made easy
We have the ability to customize your next home!

LYNN BUYS HOUSES

307.222.9885 Find us on Facebook
 2016201 7 Homebuyers
BEST
PURCHASING AN EXISTING HOME
Before you head out in search of the
house that will sweep you off your feet,
make an appointment with a mortgage
broker to check your loan admissibility.
Then, pinpoint potentially interesting
neighborhoods by considering
what elements are important to you,
such as proximity to parks, access to
major highways, pre sence of young
families and so on. Finally, drive around
those neighborhoods and spot the
for sale signs!
Make your research more efficient by
hiring a real estate broker to find
houses that meet your criteria and to
set up showings at your convenience.
He or she will also be able to answer
any questions you may have about
buying property. The more knowledge
& Drink
Guide
of the BEST Food
5
Dont forget
you have, the less stressful the process to get mortgage insurance
should be! it could save you a lot of headache in
Once you have your heart set on a the event of an emergency or mishap.
house, you can move on to the next
step: making an offer to purchase. Your
offer should be contingent upon an inspec-
tion of the building. The pre-purchase home
inspection will bring to light any major
defects that could be detrimental to the
propertys function, comfort, value or
safety.
If the inspection results are satisfactory,
MOVING
you can get back to your offer Contact a reputable moving
knowing that youve done your due company as soon as you find
diligence. Once you come to an agreement out when youll finally have the
keys to your new home. If you
with the seller, all thats left is to need to temporarily store some
make it official with a lawyer or notary. of your belongings, look for a
Congratulations on your new home! storage facility thats well lit,
adequately ventilated
Welcome home! and securely
monitored.
 201 7 Homebuyers Guide
6
Friday, Februay 24, 2017

How to save enough
for a down payment
on a house
u a l i f y for
Pre q
o r t g a ge.
am
A home is the most costly
thing many people will ever buy.
The process of buying a home
can be both exciting and nerve-
wracking. One way to make the
process of buying a home go
more smoothly is to save enough
money to put down a substantial
down payment.
Saving for a down payment on
a home is similar to saving for
other items, only on a far grand-
er scale. Many financial planners
and real estate professionals
recommend prospective home
buyers put down no less than 20
percent of the total cost of the
home they are buying. Down
payments short of 20 percent
will require private mortgage in-
surance, or PMI. The cost of PMI
depends on a host of variables,
but is generally between 0.3
and 1.5 percent of the original
loan amount. While plenty of
2016 BEST of the
7 BEST Food & Drink
homeowners pay PMI, buyers
who can afford to put down 20
percent can save themselves a
considerable amount of money
by doing so.
Down payments on a home
tend to be substantial, but the
following are a few strategies
prospective home buyers can
employ to grow their savings
with an eye toward making a
down payment on their next
home.
Decide when you want to buy.
The first step to buying a
home begins when buy-
ers save their first dollar for
a down payment. Deciding
when to buy can help buyers
develop a saving strategy. If
buyers decide they want to
buy in five years away, they
will have more time to build
their savings. If buyers want
DOWN PAYMENT 9
 201 7 Homebuyers Guide
8
VA Home Loans
make homeownership possible
Veterans, active service members, and
eligible surviving spouses can benefit
from
VA Home Loans. These loans are available
directly from your regular mortgage
lender, but the U.S. Department of Veter-
ans Affairs backs a portion of their value,
allowing the bank or mortgage company
to offer more favorable terms. In addi-
tion to making it possible to become a
homeowner with zero money down, the
program comes with a number of other
benefits, including:
A maximum loan limit ranging from
$417,000 to $1 million, depending on the
area where you purchase the home.
Financing available for most closing
costs.
Financing available for the required VA
funding fee. (In cases involving disability
or injury, this fee is waived.)
No mortgage insurance required.
A variety of mortgage loan programs to
choose from.
No penalties for paying off a loan early.
In some cases, assistance with monthly
payments can be made available.
Candidates dont have to be first-time
homebuyers to qualify for a VA loan, but
they do need to occupy the residence
Friday, Februay 24, 2017
themselves. Interested individuals must
apply for a certificate of eligibility (COE)
to show lenders, either online, by mail or
directly through a lending institution.
In almost all other regards, the process
of acquiring a mortgage with a VA Home
Loan is the same as it would be without.
One exception involves condo purchases,
which must be pre-approved by VA, either
off an existing database or on a case-by-
case basis.
VA Home Loans are also available to
those who wish to build or restore a home.
More information about these programs
can be found at www.benefits.va.gov/
homeloans.
 2016 BEST of the BEST Food & Drink
from 7 DOWN PAYMENT
to buy within a year, they
will need to save more each
month, and those whose ex-
isting savings fall far short of
the 20 percent threshold may
have to accept paying PMI.
Prequalify for a mortgage.
Before buyers even look for monthly expenses and looking
their new homes, they should
first sit down with a mortgage
lender to determine how much
a mortgage they will qualify
for. Prequalifying for a mort-
gage can make the home buy-
ing process a lot easier, and it
also can give first-time buyers
an idea of how much they can
spend. Once lenders prequalify
prospective buyers, the buy-
ers can then do the simple
math to determine how much
they will need to put down.
For example, preapproval for
a $300,000 loan means buyers
will have to put down $60,000
to meet the 20 percent down
payment threshold. In that
example, buyers can put down
less than $60,000, but they
will then have to pay PMI. Its
important for buyers to under-
stand that a down payment
is not the only costs they will
have to come up with when
buying a home. Closing costs
and other fees will also need to
be paid by the buyers.
9 9
Examine monthly expenses.
Once buyers learn how much
mortgage they will qualify for,
they will then see how close
they are to buying a home.
But prospective buyers of all
means can save more each
month by examining their
for ways to save. Buyers can
begin by looking over their re-
cent spending habits and then
Thinking about buying a new
HOME?
seeing where they can spend
less. Cutting back on luxuries
and other unnecessary spend-
ing can help buyers get closer
to buying their next home.
Avoid risky investments. With interest rates at historic lows,
Some times its great to take now is the perfect time to contact our
risks when investing, but risk
should be avoided when sav-
mortgage department about your options
WE OFFER:
ing for a down payment on
a home. Traditional vehicles
VA LOANS
like certificates of deposit, or
CDs, and savings accounts
can ensure the money buyers
are saving for their homes is Up to 100% loan to value plus VA funding fee
protected and not subject to For qualified Veteran or Military persons
market fluctuations. CONTACT US TODAY!
Saving enough to make a
down payment on a home can Kevin Moffett
be accomplished if buyers stay AVP/Real Estate Loan Officer
disciplined with regard to sav- NMLS# 291962
ing and make sound financial 307-634-2713
decisions.
@Metro
101 W. 19th Street | Cheyenne | Wyoming | 82001
307.634.8844 | cheyennestatebank.com
 201 7 Homebuyers Guide
10
Friday, Februay 24, 2017

Mortgage
terms to know

Buying a home is simultaneously excit-
ing and stressful. Owning a home is still
a dream for many people, but first-time
buyers often find that their unfamiliarity
with the home buying process is a source
of stress. Part of that stress stems from the
terminology associated with home mort-
gages. Many terms may raise an eyebrow
among first-time buyers, so the follow-
ing are a few mortgage terms buyers can
familiarize themselves with to facilitate the
process of buying their own homes.
CLOSING COSTS:
Buying a home is expensive, and part
of that expense is the closing costs. Any
time a real estate transaction occurs, that
transaction is accompanied by certain
expenses, which are known as the closing
costs. Closing costs may include attorney
fees, loan origination fees, title insurance
and escrow payments. Buyers can some-
times negotiate with the seller so the seller
will agree to pay the closing costs, or the
costs can be shared by the buyer and the
seller. But buyers may also pay the closing
costs in their entirety on their own.

Trusted Title Services

At TownSquare Title, our professional title and escrow staff
provides high attention to detail and friendly service on every transaction.
Ensure a successful closing by using TownSquare
Title.

1814 Warren Avenue | Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001

307.632.4414 | www.tsqtitle.com | team@tsqtitle.com
 2016201 7 Homebuyers
BEST
of the BEST Food
ESCROW:
Escrow is a bond, deed, document or
money kept in the custody of a third party
until a real estate transaction has been
completed. In addition, escrow accounts
are used to hold the property tax and
insurance fees that are collected via your
monthly mortgage payment.
FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE:
A fixed-rate mortgage, unlike an adjust-
able rate mortgage, is one in which the
interest rate on the mortgage remains the
same for the life of the loan. Buyers typi-
cally prefer a fixed-rate mortgage because
they know exactly what they will be pay-
ing for their home each month. An adjust-
able rate mortgage, often referred to as
an ARM loan, is one that typically comes
FREE!
SUPERIOR
QUALITY,
MORE CHOICES.
BUILD Odell NEW!
YOUR 1,800 sq ft 3BR, 2 Baths & Office
DREAM
HOME
NOW!
WITH
WARDCRAFT
614 Maple Clay Center, KS 1230 E 9th Minden, NE Greeley, CO sales office
1-888-927-3272 wardcraft.com
& Drink
Guide
with a lower interest rate than a fixed-rate
mortgage, but that lower rate is usually
only locked in for a relatively brief period
of time, such as one year. Once that initial
time period is over, the interest rate will
then increase and may increase several
times thereafter over the life of the loan.
PMI:
PMI, which stands for private mortgage
insurance, must be purchased by home
buyers who are financing more than 80
percent of their homes.
The standard down payment when
purchasing a home is 20 percent, but
some buyers cannot afford such a down
payment. As a result, the lender then
mandates that such buyers purchase PMI,
which protects the lenders if the borrower
116 PAGE
If one of our plans does not suit
your needs, MODIFY it! With so
many to choose from you are sure
CATALOG!www.wardcraft.com
to find your fit!
NEW PLANS NOW ONLINE!
NEW!
Petersburg
1,500 sq ft 1-2BR, 1-2 Baths
With MANY options, must see online!
HOMES
11
defaults on the loan. The cost of PMI will
be added to your mortgage payment, and
once you have 20 percent equity in your
home you can cancel PMI, at which time
your monthly mortgage payment will
decrease.
TITLE INSURANCE:
Title insurance is a tool that protects
both the buyer and the seller against
legal issues that may arise as a result of
the homes title. Title insurance protects
buyers and the lender from the possibility
that the seller was not legally permitted
to transfer ownership of the property to
the buyer. Title insurance may also protect
sellers from any issues that may arise that
threaten his or her ability to sell the home.
@Metro
2x6 construction
R-23 wall and
R-49 attic insulation
32 standard cabinets
Over 100 plans
or custom build
es
Like Wardcraft Hom
On Facebo ok
 201 7 Homebuyers Guide
12
How to successfully sell your property
Selling your home? Make sure it doesnt
sit on the market for months (or years!) by
paying special attention to the following
key aspects.
1. ASKING PRICE
When it comes to setting the price tag,
dont let your emotional attachment to
your home cloud your good judgment.
Compare your property to similar dwell-
ings in the area that have recently sold
and consider current market conditions
to determine an asking price thats both
realistic and competitive.
2. MARKETING
For a quick sale, your home needs
to capture and retain the attention of
potential buyers. Its therefore important
that you promote your property across
multiple platforms, taking care to ac-
company each ad with as many enticing
photos as you can. Include shots of each
room as well as of the exterior, both in
winter and summer if applicable.
Keep in mind that buyers tend to shop
by price bracket if youd like to sell for
$395,000, listing your home at $410,000
because you want to leave room to
negotiate could backfire and dissuade
potential offers.
3. FIRST IMPRESSIONS
To impress your visitors, youll need to
apply some of the basic principles of
home staging to your decor. For instance:
Friday, Februay 24, 2017
Clean your property from top to bottom
and banish all visible clutter a messy
home loses much of its appeal.
From that leaky faucet to the squeaky
closet door, take care of any necessary
repairs around the house. They may seem
minor, but your visitors will take note. If
youre willing to make a larger investment,
focus on the kitchen and bathrooms
renovations in these rooms yield the best
return.
Remove all personal touches from your
interior to help visitors imagine
themselves occupying the space. For ex-
ample, take your little ones drawings off
the fridge, put away family portraits, and
paint over
 2016 BEST of the BESTMODEL
your teens bright orange
bedroom walls with a neutral
shade.
Declutter cupboards and
cabinets to better show off
your homes storage poten-
tial an overflowing closet
gives the impression of lacking
space. Avoid overly busy areas
as well as multi-purpose
rooms. (Is it a home office or a
guest bedroom? Pick one.)
4. CURB APPEAL
Visitors should be charmed
the minute they lay eyes on
your property. The facade
must appear impeccable and
the front yard, minutely main-
tained.
During the winter, make sure
the driveway and steps are
always free of snow and ice.
Cleanse, declutter and remove
personal items from you
home to improve
your chances of selling fast.
Food & Drink
HOME OPEN 12-3 DAILY
13
In the summertime, keep the
lawn mowed and the land-
scaping well groomed, and
never neglect the lighting at
night.
5 stunning floor plans
5. SHOWINGS
to choose from!
The most fabulous of homes
will remain on the market in-
definitely if visiting it proves
an unpleasant experience.
Take care of any nasty linger- Standard Twin Outstanding Opportunity
ing smells (cat litter, fryer
oil, etc.) and keep your pets Crown Variety of Floor Plans
confined or, better yet, Middleton
have them stay at a friends Low-Maintenance Exterior
or family members place. Executive
Finally, be prepared to answer Desirable Saddle Ridge
any and all questions dont Alybar
hide any current or past is-
sues and avoid making Homes available now and
your visitors feel pressured at starting at $224,900
all costs.
 201 7 Homebuyers Guide
14
Insurance Companies
that take care of you...
Lets face it; insurance can be a big
bill and constant pain in the neck. Does it
always feel like youre paying and paying
while the insurance company continues
to take your premium and pad their bank
accounts?
Why does it seem so expensive to
insure property in Wyoming, particularly
Laramie County? Contrary to what you
might think, its not because insurance
companies are price gouging. The combi-
nation of Cheyenne becoming one of the
hail capitals of the United States and dis-
continued asphalt shingles has skyrock-
eted homeowners insurance prices and
their associated wind and hail deductibles.
Rewind to 2011: one year after I be-
came a full-time agent for Farmers In-
surance Group, the company declared
two hail storms in Cheyenne to be cata-
strophic (also known as CATS). July 12th
and 24th, 2011 were foreshadowing for
my M.B.A. in hail. Farmers flew in claims
adjusters from all over the U.S to handle
the volume. That year alone, my agency
paid out nearly $8 million for roofs, gut-
ters, siding, windows, vehicles, lawn furni-
ture, awnings, decks, BBQ grills, and sheds
from the damage caused by the 2011 hail.
The 2011 hailstorms were also the first for
Farmers since the notorious T-Lock shin-
gle was discontinued by shingle manu-
Friday, Februay 24, 2017
facturers. Accordingly, if your home had
even one hail or wind damaged T-Lock
shingle, most insurance companies owed
you an entire roof replacement. What
could have been a few hundred dollars to
repair morphed into an $8,000 to $12,000
replacement job. Multiply that by just 100
or 200 claims and a profitless insurance
agency results.
Wait, dont insurance companies plan
for hail? Of course they do! My company
has insured property in Cheyenne for
more than 60 years; we know it hails. But
we usually plan for a CAT once every 7 to
10 years. In Laramie County, we declared
a CAT loss in 2011, 2013, and 2016; three
 2016 BEST of the BEST
CATS in five years! Wouldnt
storms like this put nearly
all Wyoming insurers in the
red? After all, the Eric Romano
Agency is only one of dozens
of local insurance agencies,
and our book alone shoul-
dered millions in expenses
from just the 2011 storms. can you do to make sure your
Consequently, insurance
companies are raising prices.
It now requires more premi-
ums for them to yield a profit.
Would you believe that some
insurance companies are now
mandating you carry a much
higher deductible on your
home, particularly for wind and
hail losses? Cheyenne has nev-
er seen such drastic changes in
insurance cost, let alone wind
and hail deductibles reaching
the $3000 to $6000 level. We
can hope for a little break from
& Drink
Foodhome
15 Your is your castle.
Let us be your moat.
ERIC ROMANO AGENCY WITH
the golf ball and baseball-sized
curses falling from the sky. As
summers pass with no CATS,
premiums should level out and
insurance companies can re-
main profitable without raising
rates.
In the meantime, what
rates stay competitive? There
is hope. Find a local agent with
local claims adjusters. Make
sure your agent or their team
meets with you at least once
per year to review your poli- Call us anytime for a no obligation comparison
cies. If you dont hear from your against your current homeowners policy.
agency, call them and set an We might very well surprise you with more
appointment for a review. Put
them to work! This way you coverage for less $$$$!
can always be up to date on
newly introduced discounts
or policies that are offered for 307-635-2857
your home, vehicles, boat, ATV, 3221 E Pershing Blvd (Ridge/Pershing)
and other toys. eromano@farmersagent.com
Story provided by Eric Romano farmersagent.com/eromano
Farmers Insurance
 201 7 Homebuyers Guide
16
Friday, Februay 24, 2017

What to consider when you receive

multiple offers for your home.
Getting multiple offers is every sellers ness and a strong likelihood that the offer want to look into the details surrounding
dream come true, and yet, when it happens, is solid. that sale and make an educated guess as
you might be daunted by the task of to how quickly it might occur.
choosing the best possible buyer. Evaluat- WHAT ARE THEIR CONTINGENCIES?
ing each candidates strengths and weak- The highest offer may come with WHEN IS THE PROPOSED CLOSING DATE?
nesses is the only way to determine which numerous contingencies, some of which This wont be much of a concern if tim-
one you should work with to close the could cost you considerable time and ing isnt an issue, but if you have a particu-
deal. This often turns out to be the highest money. You first have to weigh contingen- lar schedule in mind, it may play a large
bidder, but not always. There are a number cies from a financial perspective. You may role in your choice of buyer.
of other factors to consider beyond dollar find that once you tally up the numbers,
amounts. the offer isnt as lucrative as it first seemed. HAVE A BACKUP
Heres what you should ask when Additionally, you may wish to consider the No matter which buyer you go with,
weighing each offer. amount of work involved in agreeing to the its prudent to have a backup plan.
contingencies. Ask your second best buyer if theyre
ARE THEY PRE-APPROVED? Accepting a slightly lower offer with willing to accept a secondary position.
While pre-approval doesnt guaran- fewer contingencies could very well save Even if they dont agree in writing,
tee that a buyer will obtain the necessary you a lot in the way of energy and effort. make sure your real estate agent stays
financing, it does indicate their seriousness. One particular situation to be cautious in touch with them. The last thing you
The preapproval process requires hard evi- of is when the buyers offer is contingent want is having to re-list, as youre unlikely
dence of the candidates financial capacity upon the sale of their current home. If this to get the same response the second
to pay the mortgage. If a buyer has gone is the case and you dont immediately time around.
through these steps, it shows both earnest- run in the opposite direction you may

Start your home search

knowing what you could afford.
Apply for a mortgage preapproval, so youll know what
you could afford before you look at homes.
usbank.com/mortgage
Flexible loan terms BRADY KOERWITZ
Low down payment options Mortgage Loan Originator
No prepayment penalties Laramie, WY
307.778.1669
brady.koerwitz@usbank.com
Apply for preapproval today. NMLS#: 400398

Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rates and program terms are subject to change without notice. Visit usbank.com to learn
more about U.S. Bank products and services. Mortgage and Home Equity Products are offered through U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit Products are offered through U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC. 2017 U.S. Bank 160223 2/17
 2016 BEST of the BEST Food & Drink
17

Cyber crime is a HOMES BY GUARDIAN BUILDS CHEYENNE

Weve got homes in every price range, whether it be your first home or
threat to every business, your dream home. Weve got homes that are ready to go and homes that
are ready to build. And we will work with you every step of the way!
big and small.

Know the threats.

Assess your risks.
Understand the options.

WYOMING

WYOMING
BUSINESS REPORT
Register online at: WYOMINGS ONLY STATEWIDE BUSINESS JOURNAL

www.wyomingbusinessreport.com/events/cybersecurity_symposium/

WYOMING
CY E R SS YEMCP UO RS II TU YM
4.20.17
Radisson Hotel
Cheyenne, WY
HOMESBYGUARDIAN.COM
 201 7 Homebuyers Guide
18
These HOME IMPROVEMENTS
may actually lower home value
Home improvements are typically
made to improve the functionality and
look of a home, but renovations also can
increase the value of a home. Certain
changes to a home can make it more at-
tractive to prospective buyers, while other
renovations may make a home less ap-
pealing. For example, a complete overhaul
of an outdated kitchen is often a smart
financial move, while installing a pool
or hot tub may not be worth the cost to
homeowners. Separating the good from
the bad renovations makes smart financial
sense, and homeowners looking to im-
prove their homes resale values may want
to avoid the following projects.
* BEDROOM AND GARAGE
CONVERSIONS: Changing a rooms
traditional function often turns off buy-
ers. For example, turning a garage into
a home gym might seem like a great
idea for you, but it may not be so ap-
pealing to prospective buyers. Buyers
can certainly reconvert the space, but
they would consider the costs of such a
conversion when making their offers on
the home.
* STYLIZED COLORS ON TRIMS AND
ROOMS: Painting over unappealing
colors is a project many homeowners
can handle. However, some may be dis-
couraged by a home that has too many
bright colors or textures on the walls
and trims. Buyers often want homes that
are move-in ready, meaning they can
get settled in before undertaking large
projects. A living room painted in purple
or zebra print may not fit the design
scheme of many buyers. Dark colors do
not easily disappear, and taping off and
painting trimwork or changing it entirely
can be equally time-consuming. Stick
with neutral colors when selling a home,
even if this means giving rooms a new
Friday, Februay 24, 2017
coat of paint before putting your house
on the market.
* OUTDOOR HOT TUBS AND INDOOR
SPA TUBS: Many people find soaking
in a bubbling brew of hot water quite
inviting. But buyers often do not want to
inherit a used hot tub. Although hot tubs
are cleaned and maintained with sanitiz-
ing chemicals, some people may view
them as unsanitary. Removing a hot tub
can be labor-intensive. And much like a
pool, a hot tub may not be appealing to
buyers with young children.
* REMOVING CLOSETS:
Closet space is often high on buyers
priority lists. Turning closet space into
an office or removing a closet to make a
room bigger may be fine for those who
are staying put. But these modifications
can be a turn-off to prospective buyers.
 2016201 7 Homebuyers
BEST & Drink
Guide
of the BEST Food
19
* TOO MANY FEATURES:
In an effort to keep up with the Joneses,
some homeowners will over-improve
their home to the point that it outshines
all others on the street. There is a case
for having nice things, but homeown-
ers may struggle to sell a home that is
disproportionate to other homes in the
area. Practice moderation when making
improvements to attract more buyers. SOLD
These suggestions are merely guidelines
and should not replace the advice of a
reputable real estate agent when mar-
keting a home. Housing features and what
buyers are interested in vary across the
country. Some items may be desireable in
specific areas but undesireable elsewhere.
Making informed choices before renovat-
ing can help homeowners recoup the
largest share of their investments.
@Metro

Serving Cheyenne
For Over 47 Years
Sales & Service
Free Delivery - Credit Terms

638-6468
714 Central Ave.
 BUILDING
YOUR FUTURE
OR BUILDING
A NEW HOME

WE KNOW
WHATS
IMPORTANT
TO YOU

WE LISTED & SOLD 200 NEW HOMES IN 2016

WE CURRENTLY REPRESENT 25 BUILDERS
WE ARE #1 IN NEW CONSTRUCTION

307.634.2222 6106 YELLOWSTONE RD | 6020 YELLOWSTONE RD | 1660 DELL RANGE BLVD | CHEYENNE, WYOMING WWW.CHEYENNEHOMES.COM
trash rest of pages