May 29th, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Allan
Walk (or drive) through any Charming Old Denver neighborhood and you’ll see a variety of architectural styles dating back to the late 1800’s. It’s always struck me as amusing, however, that many blocks showcase the “tract” homes of the time - on one block you’ll see one long row of 1920’s Bungalows; on the next, vintage Tudors one after the other. Sort of like what you’d see driving through the neighborhoods of suburbia - four or five slightly different models and floor plans, with various “elevations” and color schemes, but essentially the same house over and over again. However, we urban snobs proclaim that our “tract” homes have much more style and flair than anything you’ll find in the suburbs.
So, without further adieu, here are some of Charming Old Denver’s favorite architectural styles…
The Classic Bungalow - Built between 1910 and 1930, this style is one of Denver’s most popular. A well-preserved Bungalow commands top dollar, especially if it offers unpainted woodwork, a large front porch and a usable basement. Beautiful vintage fireplaces, wood floors, charming built-ins and beamed ceilings are among the features that Bungalow-lovers appreciate. Drawbacks to the Classic Bungalow include small bedrooms and kitchens, limited closet space, lack of electrical outlets and an awkward floor plan for today’s lifestyle. Nevertheless, purchasing a Bungalow in Charming Old Denver is usually a safe investment.
Stay tuned for more examples of Charming Old Denver architecture!
www.charmingolddenver.com
May 27th, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Allan
Writing the book was the easy part…It’s all the details to manage after you’ve PUT your words on paper until you SEE those words on paper where you really earn your money.
But… it’s DONE and out of my hands. In about a month, Sell with Soul II will be a real live book, available to hold in your very own hands, all 72,110 words of it. It’s the second edition of Sell with Soul I, with about 50% new material and updated for today’s more challenging market.
Can’t wait for July 1st ?(my, am I full of myself today or what?) Well, you’re in luck! The unabridged eBook version is available on my website for immediate delivery - purchase it now and in late June, you’ll automatically receive one of the first 1,000 “real” books printed, complete with an autograph!
In all seriousness, I’m really proud of this book. While Sell with Soul I received outrageously positive reviews, there’s no comparison between that version and the new one. I had a fantastic team in place who pulled it all together and created a wonderful product to be… well….very very proud of.
Thanks to everyone involved in Sell with Soul II… Barbara, Jon & Inna, Peri, Peter, Diana and all my friends and clients who contributed their stories. You guys are wonderful.
Purchase Sell with Soul II in eBook form today and get an autographed copy of the Real Thing upon release! CLICK HERE for details.
May 26th, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Allan
On Sunday morning, I met some friends for a little bike ride from Highlands to Confluence Park, and up & down the Platte River Bike Path. Perfect temperature, just a slight breeze, sky so blue it was almost purple. It was my first venture across the new pedestrian bridgeconnecting Northwest Denver to Downtown - it’s pretty darn cool. So anyway, here’s a little photographic journey of all the sights we enjoyed on our Sunday morning bike ride. There is SO MUCH TO LOVE about this part of town!
Enjoy!
www.charmingolddenver.com
May 23rd, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Allan
I’ve been involved in several online discussions lately about the “necessity” of requiring a new buyer client sign a Buyer Agency Agreement upfront, before the real estate agent will agree to show the buyer homes.
For the uninitiated, a Buyer Agency Agreement obligates the buyer to the real estate agent for a specified period of time. If the buyer purchases a home during the contract period, he is contractually required to pay that agent a commission. Nothing really wrong with that; we don’t get paid until closing and it’s reasonable that we might want some sort of assurance that our efforts will be compensated at some point if we perform.
But it’s also reasonable that a buyer might balk at committing to a real estate agent he barely knows. I whole‑heartedly believe it is my duty and obligation to prove myself to you before even suggesting a formal relationship. And, once I’ve proven myself invaluable, you aren’t going anywhere unless you’re a flake… and then a piece of paper ain’t gonna change that.
You have the right to evaluate me, just as I have the right to evaluate you. We real estate agents carry on and on about how we shouldn’t waste our time with unqualified, unmotivated, unfaithful buyers, but we expect those very buyers to commit to us before they know a darn thing about OUR qualifications, OUR motivation or even OUR faithfulness. Do I know my markets, my contracts, my systems? Do I return my phone calls promptly? Do I have 25 other buyers taking up my time?
These are valid concerns you may have about me. And I can’t TELL you the answers, I have to demonstrate my worthiness. If I don’t convince you that I’m the man (er, woman) for the job, you should have every right to look elsewhere for assistance.
Besides, buying a home is an emotional experience. There is such a thing as a bad personality fit, even if both parties are terrific people. Good rapport is essential to a successful home-buying experience (for both of us!!).
So, Mr. Buyer, call me with confidence. We’ll check each other out and see if we’re a good fit. And, we’ll have some fun looking for your next home!
May 18th, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Allan
Ahhhh… it’s a gorgeous day in Charming Old Denver. I think, I hope, maybe… Summer’s Coming!
I’ve always been a summer girl. I come alive when the thermometer reliably hits 80 degrees and am perfectly happy as it reaches toward 100. Bliss.
Okay, back to business.
Are you thinking of putting your house on the market, but putting it off til the kids are out of school? Well… I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re almost thru Denver’s Home Selling Season. On the 4th of July, the market dies dead thru September and stays slow until the holidays. In other words, the first six months of the year are Good; the last six months are Bad, relatively speaking anyway.
But the good news is that you still have time… May has been a strong month so far and June will likely be as well. Just don’t put it off too much longer…
May 15th, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Allan
At the risk of destroying my reputation as a happy-go-lucky, always smiling, always cheerful, with never a harsh word to say (tee hee), allow me to say (shout) “I HATE SPRINGTIME IN DENVER!!!”
The rest of the world is enjoying mild temperatures, flowers in bloom and soft green grass. Snow? No, that ended long ago. Sure, many midwesterners and others suffer thru a miserable winter, but once springtime arrives, it is HERE to stay.
In Denver? Not so much. It’s not reliably spring/summer until June. It’s not uncommon for it to snow thru May; in fact, I believe that April is our snowiest month (or maybe it’s March). Anyway, I’ve had enough. I’ve lived here 14 years and every year I say it - “I HATE SPRINGTIME IN DENVER!”
And, every year I threaten to abandon ship and go somewhere warm for the season, returning to Denver for Memorial Day. Unfortunately (?), spring is also the busiest time of the year for a Denver real estate agent, so I kinda have to be here. I do about 75% of my annual business before July 4th.
Anyway, here’s my last week… last Saturday, I got on a plane at DIA bound for the Deep South. As the plane was taking off, it started snowing. Apparently, the mountains got dumped on overnight and Denver was just seeing its share. But I escaped. Got to Alabama - 90 degrees, beautiful, sunny, perfect. While I was gone, it snowed again in Denver. Got back on Wednesday… brrrrrrr. Very chilly. Woke up today to 45 degrees, wind and rain. Temps topped out around 55 degrees. Not nearly warm enough to suit me.
My furnace is still blasting and I haven’t yet retired my ice scraper. Such is life in Denver in the springtime… NOT my favorite time of year.
Okay, rant over.
May 8th, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Allan
So… according to this morning’s Rocky Mountain News, my little piece of paradise here in Northwest Denver is the second strongest zip code in the city with an annual appreciate rate of… get this… 18.5%!!!!
Go, us!
What’s interesting is just yesterday I was doing an analysis of the number of Lender Owned listings here in my ‘hood compared to the number in other neighborhoods and came to the conclusion that if you’re looking for great REOs or Foreclosures… look elsewhere. Here in 80212, there are 19 lender owned properties on the market and all but two or three are on very busy commercial streets or right on top of I-70 (or both). In other words, these would be tough properties to sell in any market and not something I’d ever recommend to an investor.
So… we’re doing just fine here in 80212… I’m proud of my ‘hood! Want to see why we like it so much? Check out my virtual tour here…
May 8th, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Allan
In January of this year, I moved into my 1927 Bungalow. I’ve owned the house for 3 years, but it’s always been a rental. I never dreamed I could actually fit into a 950 sqft home – after all, I’m an adult with lots of stuff. My last 5 houses (I move a lot) have been much larger – specifically, 2,500 sqft, 2,700 sqft, 3,300 sqft, 1,700 sqft and 2,300
sqft.
Well, life throws you curve balls sometimes and I found myself moving from my 2,500 sqft home-in-the-country to my Classic Bungalow-in-the-City.
I love it. I absolutely love it.
It’s a traditional Bungalow – living room in the front with fireplace, dining room in the middle, small kitchen in the back. Two bedrooms and a bath on the side. Stairs off the kitchen leading to the full basement. If you work in older neighborhoods, you’ve seen dozens just like it. The tract homes of the 1920’s.
I love it. I absolutely love it.
Why do I love it so much? Ah, let me count the ways. First, it’s bright and sunny and oh, so charming. Wood floors throughout, vintage fireplace, high ceilings, nice woodwork (albeit painted, bummer). It has a built-in linen closet and unbelievable storage in the basement. I redid the kitchen & 
bath and believe it or not, I actually have room to spare!
I compare my little Bungalow to a Toyota MR2 I owned in the early 90’s. It was a tiny car, but built so efficiently that there seemed to be a place for everything. That’s how I feel about my Bungalow – it’s small, but mighty. There’s a spot for everything, although I have to be a little flexible about exactly where the “spot” might be. For example, since the closets in the upstairs bedrooms are ridiculously small, I converted a bedroom basement into a walk-in closet. Works for me.
I’ve also discovered the joys of CLEANING a smaller house. Wow! I’m a bit of a princess and have always, always, always had a weekly (at least) cleaning service. Well, who’da thunk that Princess Jennifer could clean her entire house from top to bottom, herself, in less than an hour?
The downsides of living in a Classic Bungalow? Oh, the obvious suspects. Tiny bedrooms (10’x9’) and closets, abysmal shortage of outlets, random cracks in the plaster walls, drafty old windows, seriously reduced water pressure, low ceilings in the basement. But in Charming Old Denver, homeowners happily put up with these defects to enjoy the lifestyle, charm and ambience of living in one of our most popular architectural styles.
Stay tuned for more on the Classic Denver Bungalow…
www.charmingolddenver.com
May 4th, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Allan
I’ve bought (or tried to buy) real estate in various parts of the country… Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Carolina Beach, North Carolina; Dothan, Alabama to name a few… and y’know what? It’s done differently in different markets. Startlingly differently, in some cases. So, if you’re considering buying a home in Denver, whether it’s your first home or your last, and you’ve never bought here before, the process may not be quite what you’re expecting.
As a writer, I’m better at putting my thoughts down on paper than I am processing them through my vocal cords. So, if you contact me about purchasing your first Denver home, I’ll probably direct you to the First Time Buyer’s Guide I created - hope that’s okay. Want to see it? Just go to the Buyer section of my website and download it for free. Here’s the link.
Would love your feedback!
www.charmingolddenver.com
May 3rd, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Allan
You may or may not know that I’m a published author as well as a Denver real estate agent… I write about real estate with the goal of helping improve the public’s perception of our industry. Blah blah blah. You can read more about my books and training materials at my website - www.sellwithsoul.com.
Anyway, I recently created a little book for home sellers called “What to Expect When on the Market: What to Do, How to Help and When to Stay out of the Way!” I find that when my sellers know what their role in the process should be and what I need them to do to help me get their homes sold, things go much smoother for both of us.
If you’re considering selling your Denver home, just shoot me an email to Jennifer@sellwithsoul.com and ask for the book. I’m happy to send it to you! (And I solemnly swear not to call you during dinner, or any other time, to pester you about hiring me.)
www.charmingolddenver.com
