Keeping It Real Estate with Colleen Benson

Ep 80: How to Increase Your Home’s Value

Before you sell your home, does it make financial sense to make a few upgrades? Let’s explore some of easier projects that you can take on and find out if they will provide a return on your investment or increase they likelihood that your home will sell.
 
Read more: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/selling/ep-80-how-to-increase-your-homes-value/605/ 
 
See our listings: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/ 
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
1:14 – Lighting 
2:31 – New Faucets
5:01 – Landscaping
6:40 – Paint the front door 
8:04 – Make it pet friendly
8:43 – Do you have to make these changes?
1:14 – Lighting 
2:31 – New Faucets
5:01 – Landscaping
6:40 – Paint the front door 
8:04 – Make it pet friendly
8:43 – Do you have to make these changes?

Ep 79: The Value of a Realtor

When it comes time to buy or sell a home, you’ll probably ask yourself whether it’s worth working with a real estate agent or try to do the work on your own. Let’s talk about much value a great realtor can provide you during the process and what specifically we do to help our clients.
 
Read more and get additional resources here: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/buying/ep-79-the-value-of-a-realtor/589/ 
 
See our listings: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/ 
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
1:15 – How the job has changed through the years
2:20 – Education  
5:17 – Simplifying the process
7:16 – Authenticity
9:18 – Negotiating
11:06 – Communication
13:44 – Perspective
15:46 – Other ways we bring value  

Ep 78: Real Estate Realities of 2021

Real estate enjoyed a strong year in 2020 and many are asking us if these trends will continue this year. Today we’ll look at the one national opinion on the realities of 2021 and tell you whether we think they’ll apply to Oregon and the Northwest.
 
Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/headlines/ep-78-real-estate-realities-of-2021/561/ 
 
See our listings: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/ 
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
1:43 – Low inventory and high demand  
2:32 – The market won’t pay top dollar over-priced and dated homes.
3:21 – Investors will focus on over-priced/dated homes.
6:34 – Transactions will become even more accelerated
8:31 – Leasebacks will be more popular
11:04 – Appraisal challenges continue  
13:24 – Markets will undergo major changes

Ep 77: Smart Home Technology Upgrades + Other Mailbag Questions

Technology continues to move fast in the home improvement sector and many people are considering upgrades to their home. Is it worth the time and money to add smart home technology? We’ll answer that question and discuss long market listings, marketing during COVID, and downsizing.
 
Read more and get additional resources here: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/mailbag/ep-77-smart-home-technology-upgrades-other-mailbag-questions/553/ 
 
See our listings here: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/ 
 
What we discuss on this episode:
0:35 – Mailbag question on smart home technology
2:43 – Mailbag question on listings that stay on the market a long time
5:52 – Mailbag question on marketing homes during COVID
8:07 – Mailbag question on downsizing

Ep 76: Should I Wait Until Spring to Sell? + Other Mailbag Questions

Are you ready to sell your home but you think waiting until spring might allow you to present your house in its full beauty? Colleen will explain why the winter might not make as much of a difference as you think. Plus, we tackle acreage, property management, basement renovations, and listing prices on today’s show.
 
Read more and get additional resources here: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/mailbag/ep-76-should-i-wait-until-spring-to-sell-other-mailbag-questions/542/ 
 
See our listings: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/  
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
0:33 – Mailbag Question about selling by season
4:50 – Mailbag Question about finding acreage
5:52 – Mailbag Question about investing in real estate and property management
9:49 – Mailbag Question about basement renovations
12:14 – Mailbag Question about first time home-buying
15:36 – Mailbag Question about listing price

Ep 75: Renovations, Open Houses, Budgets & Other Mailbag Questions

It’s time to open up the mailbag to answer a variety of your real estate questions. Among the topics we’ll get to on this episode are home layouts, open houses, discount real estate companies, budgets, and more.  
 
Read more and get additional resources here: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/mailbag/ep-75-renovations-open-houses-budgets-other-mailbag-questions/530/ 
 
See our listings: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/ 
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
0:47 – Mailbag Question about house layout and renovation
3:13 – Mailbag Question about open houses
5:56 – Mailbag Question about housing market vs condo market  
7:10 – Mailbag Question about discount real estate companies
9:14 – Mailbag Question about determining house budg

Ep 74: Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent, Part 2

We pick up on our conversation from last episode and continuing sharing the questions you should be asking a real estate before you start that relationship. This part will focus on specialization, communication styles, and honesty.
 
Read more and get additional resources here: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/buying/ep-74-questions-to-ask-a-real-estate-agent-part-2/515/ 
 
See our listings: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/ 
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
0:53 – How long does the process usually take?
2:25 – Do you specialize in buying/selling at certain price points?
7:41 – What’s the primary form of communication?
9:43 – Do you have recommendations on professionals?
11:14 – Will you be honest about red flags you see at homes?
13:16 – How do you determine the price of a home?

Ep 73: Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent, Part 1

You’ve made the decision to buy or sell a home and now it’s time to look for a real estate agent. How do you make that choice? Colleen will provide you with the important questions to ask and what answers you want to listen for in this first of a two-part series
 
Read more and get additional resources here: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/buying/ep-73-questions-to-ask-a-real-estate-agent-part-1/497/ 
 
See our listings: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/ 
 
What we discuss on this show:
0:55 – How much experience do you have?
3:07 – Is lack of local experience a red flag?
3:37 – How many homes do you sell or buy each year?  
6:06 – Who’s your primary point of contact?
7:58 – We have multiple people involved in the process