Judy Coffey, Debbie Betsinger, Pam Wettstein, Nancy McBride, Carol Cizek and Catherine Wood gear up for their big day at the Balance Women's Expo.Pretty in Pink
The Balance Women's Expo Was a Hit For Women of All Ages!
LONGMONT - The Balance Expo for Women turned out to be a great success. The day began with women of all ages milling around the Expo for the day. With prize giveaways, excellent information from the Longmont, Colorado community sponsors and the eye-brown raising fashion show, the Balance Expo will not go unforgotten.
The six ladies from RE/MAX Traditions: Debbie Betsinger, Carol Cizek, Judy Coffey, Nancy McBride , Pam Wettstein and Catherine Wood came early to set up the unmistakeable pink booth. The pink, white and black balloons soared above the RE/MAX Traditions booth as ladies came by to sign up for the great prize giveaways.
Our real estate ladies ventured to a mini-seminar and question and answer session. The point of the seminar was to help women understand that being knowledgeable about their real estate purchase is a wise idea. Real estate transactions tend be large financial decisions and should not be made without understanding. Relying on a friend or spouse to make all the decisions may not be in your best interest.
The seminar opened up into a question and answer session where many excellent questions were asked regarding real estate. We were pleased to find that women of all ages had asked very intelligent questions regarding real estate! Below is a recap of some of the questions:
Questions and Answers from the Expo
Nancy McBride, Carol Cizek and Pam Wettstein speak at the Mini Seminar.
Why should I use a Realtor, vs. For Sale by Owner?
Carol Cizek:
Being a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) means that you:
• Pay for your own advertising
• Have no multiple listing benefit
• You are the only one working at selling the house
• Do not know if buyers are qualified
• Have to be available to show the house
• Must write your own contract
(which is a legal, binding document)
• Do the paperwork, etc.
Drawbacks to For Sale By Owners is that shoppers of FSBO's are looking for a bargain, so they offer less. They often feel that they should benefit from the lack of commission, but you, as the seller, often get less money in the end.
Nancy McBride:
Selling your home by yourself can put you at risk. As your own seller, you also have to show your own home at all hours of the day (or night). Letting just anyone into your home without information about them can put you and your family at risk.
Realtors get to know their clients before taking them out to your home. They also have the opportunity to take classes on personal safety to prevent any unfortunate or threatening incidents, which many opt to do.
Pam Wettstein: In addition, real estate agents have genereally prequalified their clients and show them homes within their budget. Hence, the buyers looking at your home are already qualified to purchase your home. They are a much more solid home buying prospect than most shoppers viewing your home ad in the newspaper or online.
Is a Home Inspection Necessary?
Nancy McBride:
I would not recommend going into the purchase of a home without having a home inspection. Personally, I would not buy a home that was not inspected. Home inspections can provide you with a much more solid understanding of what you are buying. They provide you with information on structure, radon safety, plumbing, heating and more.
Pam Wettstein:
Also, home inspections can provide you with information on what you may put into a home warranty. A warranty allows you to write into the contract, the items in which you feel you may need extended coverage such as a furnace or water heater.
What Exactly is Radon?
Carol Cizek:
Radon is a gas created by the breakdown process of uranium in the soil. In Colorado, the front range area and foothills areas have been found to contain varying amounts of the gas. The concern with Radon is that of health and the suspicion that radon in concentrated amounts can cause lung cancer. The measurement is in Pico Curies per Liter (Pc/L). 0 - 4.0 Pc/L is considered a "safe" level whereas anything above 4.0 PcL is considered "harmful". Longmont and the front range areas range from 0.0 to 30 Pc/L. Higher levels in the foothills have been reported from 60 PcL to over 300 Pc/L.
How Can You Get Rid of Radon?
Nancy McBride:
"Radon mitigation" is the solution to radon. There are several types of radon mitigation depending upon your type of home. If you have a dirt or concrete crawlspace, generally contractors will seal your crawlspace with a plastic material that prevents leakage of radon gas within your crawlspace and through your home. The plastic is sealed with caulk to the footings and foundation of your home.
For milder radon problems, a lot of times just sealing the cracks in your basement floor will do the trick.
Another way radon is removed is to create a sub-slab system which actually pulls the concentrated radon gas from the ground, through a hole created in your basement or crawlspace floor. The gas is then vented out through a series of pipes to the exterior of your home, where the gas is then diluted to safe levels. A fan within the pipe system creates a suction, which pulls the gas away from your home.
Pam Wettstein:
New construction homes can be built with radon mitigation in mind. A pebble-based subfloor beneath the concrete that makes up your basement floor allows the radon gas to disperse before hitting a the concrete barrier of your basement floor. Depending on radon levels in the area of your new construction home, an ADS and PVC pipe system may be installed prior to the basement floor is poured. This will help prevent any future radon issues within your new construction home.
Learn how to buy and sell Real Estate smart!
RE/MAX Traditions hosts Women's Expo
March 25th, 2006
Radisson Hotel
1900 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont
LONGMONT - Women have the right---and the obligation---to understand any business transaction into which they may enter. The largest investment made by most people is the purchase of their home. They check the labels on clothing they purchase for the care instructions. They read the labels on food packaging for the calories per serving or the carb content. Yet, many women purchase a home with less information than the clothing or food purchase. They rely on a husband, a relative, a neighbor, some information gleaned in a magazine or a talk show, or just cross their fingers and jump in.
Today’s woman has the ability to learn and make informed decisions about almost any topic. Why would they not take the time or make the effort to make a sound decision about such a major purchase as their home?
The women of RE/MAX Traditions, Inc. are an excellent resource for educating the local ladies about the purchase and sale of real property. At the Women’s Expo, their many years’ experience will be offered to attendees. Stop by the RE/MAX Traditions booth to ask questions, pick up valuable information on real estate transactions, and sit in on a panel discussion of the important facets which will make your next real estate transaction an informed one. Debbie Betsinger, Carol Cizek, Judy Coffey, Nancy McBride, and Catherine Wood will be on hand to share their expertise. While you are there, don’t forget to sign up for their drawing for a some great prizes.
Call RE/MAX Traditions, Inc. at 303-772-3800! or Send us a message!