Ruthie's Corner

  Prepping your home is one of the best things you can do to get the most money and a quicker sale. I mean that is your goal, right? Here are some tips to help you prep your house or property to get ready for listing it with a Realtor ® in the CC-V district. First look at your home through the eyes of potential buyers. I am not talking about the personal effects in your home (yet). I mean what are some projects you have on the honey do list that keep getting put off? Maybe you need to chalk your windows? Or perhaps fix up that back room to a spare room. The little projects you have been putting off might not seem like they would make a world of difference but to a buyer, they do. That is one less thing they must worry about when looking for a home. The house or property with the least amount of work that needs to be done is the winner 9 times out of 10. Unless it is an investor or a house flipper. Second, declutter is a must. Now while you are packing to move yourself you will ...

While some people who are selling their home think a small kitchen is a negative, there are several ways that you can make it stand out and appeal to potential buyers: Light it up. Darkness can often make smaller rooms feel even more cramped. To open the room up to more light, consider removing all curtains from windows and instead install recessed blinds. You still get the privacy factor, while also allowing your kitchen to have a brighter feel. Keep the counters tidy. Many people have things strewn about their kitchen counters and cabinets. Think about keeping your counter tops clear of all items, including photos, papers and even appliances, to make it seem like the room is larger than it truly is. Brighten the walls. Sellers should consider making the tone of the wall color in the kitchen brighter. Lighter colors tend to open up a room. They are also much more inviting, enticing potential buyers. Mounted appliances. Sellers may want to consider mounti...

Home Prices in Cripple Creek & Victor CO for April 2019 Real estate market data for Cripple Creek Victor CO provided by  Ruth Grainger-Starr  of   Grainger Realy LLC, CC-V Home Prices We have seen prices increase for the month of April on  home prices in Cripple Creek & Victor  while inventory decreased.  If you are considering buying or selling a home in Cripple Creek or Victor area having a good real estate agent who understands the market is a must. If you are interested in how much  current inventory is on the market in the CC-V area  you can find that information by clicking on the link. Low inventory will suggest that homes are selling quicker as buyers have little to choose from. Currently in this area, homes have a median time of 61  days on the market before they sell. Sellers should make sure to price their home near the market value if they expect to get an offer from one of those interested buyers...

Trying to sell a home can often be difficult. Everyone likes something different. The question then becomes, how do you present your home so that a wide variety of potential buyers become interested? Enter the practice of staging a home. This is when you furnish your home to show off its most attractive qualities and properties, making it more appealing to buyers.       Taking the art of staging a step further is the practice of virtual staging. With no actual furniture involved, this is a digital rendering of what a potential home would look like when furnished. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks with virtual staging: Pros:       If your home is empty, it’s easier to showcase its best features      Considerably cheaper than traditional staging      Grabs the attention of buyers who primarily view properties online      Allows the variation of styling in regard t...

óóó Featured Listings óóó For Recorded or Text Information - 24 Hours Call or Text 1-719-293-7937 Enter or Text the Four Digit Extension Number for Photos, Full Details & Current Pricing              Ruthie Grainger-Starr Grainger Realty LLC 150 Bennett Ave Cripple Creek, CO 80813 719-648-2288 (Due to changing market conditions our hotline pricing is more accurate than online sources with real time updates available 24 hrs.)

The median list price in December 2018 for single family homes in the CC-V District is $630,000. The list prices increased by 144% from the previous month.  The price per square foot for listings in this area is $216.  The median sales price in December for single family homes in the CC-V District is $215,750. The Sales prices increased by 44% from the previous month. The Average Days on Market in this area is 54. The median list price in December 2018 for land  in the CC-V District is $83,700. The list prices increased by 288% from the previous month.  The price per square foot for listings in this area is $1.  The median sales price in December for land in the CC-V District is $14,900. The Sales prices increased by 14% from the previous month. The Average Days on Market in this area is 149. Happy New Year!!! May you have a blessed 2019!!!

The median list price in November 2018 for single family homes in the CC-V District is $257,350. The list prices increased by 7.2% from the previous month.   The price per square foot for listings in this area is $263.  The median sales price in November for single family homes in the CC-V District is $150,000. The sales prices decreased by 21% from the previous month. The Average Days on Market in this area is 63. The median list price in November 2018 for land in the CC-V District is $21,500 . The list prices increased by 57% from the previous month.   The price per square foot for listings in this area is $1.    The median sales price in November for land in the CC-V District is $13,000. The list prices decreased by 80% from the previous month. The Average Days on Market in this area is 233.

Fun Family Pumpkin Memories Family is very important to me. It’s one of the reasons I became a real estate agent. Thinking of the impact I have on family’s lives either helping them get their dream home OR getting their home sold so they can move on is astounding and a privilege I take very seriously. Nothing says family quite like the fall season, wouldn’t you agree? There’s something about a pumpkin & hayride that brings out the kid in all of us. Perhaps due to the memories we had as children seeing unique candle-lit pumpkins on porches as you drive by, thoughts of halloweens past & the recollection of the fun (& messy times) using our creativity designing the face of our pumpkin. We certainly all know the conventional method for carving a pumpkin with a sharp serated knife, then a scooper to empty the pumpkin of its “insides”, then dropping in a candle. How exciting to see your pumpkin emit light, right?! But did you know there’s another way to ‘carve’ a pumpkin...

 Old-Fashioned Potato Soup I don’t know about you, but I look forward to enjoying delicious homemade soup every fall! And when I think of one of my all-time favorite soups from my childhood, it’s definitely my Mom’s old fashioned potato soup! So I thought I’d share the goodness with you. And if you’re like many these days that try to stay away from carbs/potatoes, you can replace the potatoes with cauliflower… mmmmm, it’s absolutely delicious!! Happy Souping  Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter 1 large chopped onion 8 diced & peeled potatoes 4 carrots, chopped 4 cups of water 2T chicken bouillon powder 3T flour 4 cups milk  Parsley & pepper to taste Preparation: 20 minutes Directions: Place potatoes, carrots, water & chicken bouillon powder in pot and bring to a boil. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 7-9 minutes. Season to taste with pepper & parsley. Melt butter in saucepan in separate pot and stir in the onion and cook for about 4-5 minutes...

Home Prices in Cripple Creek & Victor CO for September 2018 Real estate market data for Cripple Creek Victor CO provided by Ruth Grainger-Starr  of   Grainger Realy LLC, CC-V Home Prices We have seen months of listing price staying pretty level on home prices in Cripple Creek & Victor . However, with the start of the fall season the market slowed down a hair in September. If you are considering buying a home you can still find deals on a house in Cripple Creek or Victor area but having a good real estate agent who understands the market is a must. If you are interested in how much current inventory is on the market in the CC-V area you can find that information by clicking on the link. High inventory will suggest that homes are sitting on the market for longer. Currently in this area, homes have a median time of 22 days on the market before they sell. This would suggest that Sellers are in a great position to receive a close to list price off...

September Homeowner Checklist: 5 To Dos It’s that time again… time to prep your home for the cooler weather that’s on its way.  Get these completed so that you can take a much- needed break by taking a nap on the couch or curling up with a good book.  Change décor & bedding.   It will soon be chilly and that means the lighter sheets currently on your bed, need to be changed out with layers of warm comfort like maybe wool or fake fur.  Also, with the change in season, comes Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas so now is the time to swap out summer pillows and décor for the cozy cooler weather décor and accessories, such as a cozy throw and thicker window curtain panels, etc. Check smoke detectors & carbon monoxide detectors.   & replace batteries.  Also, now is the best time to check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher too.  Lastly, did you know that if your smoke detectors are yellow, it means they need t...

3 Sure Fire Ways to Lose When Buying Your Next Home! Thinking about making a move?  GREAT! What an exciting time for you. Before you begin your homebuying journey, be sure to avoid these 3 sure fire ways homebuyers lose – big time – when buying a new home. You may ask:  “lose”? How can I lose? Great question. Too many buyers rush into the homebuying process before they’re ready.  And doing so not only wastes their time but, in some instances, it costs them thousands of dollars. Keep reading to learn what these top 3 mistakes are . . . so you make sure to avoid them!   Not getting prequalified BEFORE beginning your search Many buyers make this mistake, thinking they know what they can afford. What you may not consider, however, are other costs associated with home ownership – or a host of other issues that bear on the issue of your credit. I’ve worked with some buyers who were pleasantly surprised that they could actually qualify for MORE than...