Name

Judith Clausen, REALTOR®, Denver Colorado Homes, Condos, Townhomes

Company

Denver Colorado Exclusive Buyer's Agent

E-mail

Contact Denver Colorado Exclusive Buyer's Agent

Website

http://www.buyers-advantage.net

Cell Phone

(303) 587-3509

Fax

(877) 570-3471

Address

8680 E. Alameda Ave., #1606, Denver, CO 80247, Denver's a lifestyle, not a destination!

Description

Exclusive buyer representation for buyers relocating to Denver or moving locally. Advocating ONLY for you, not the seller, providing expert guidance through the complexities of buying a home in Denver

Denver Real Estate, Exclusive Representation for BUYERS

I want you to be THRILLED with your buying experience AND with your new home!  That's why I created Buyers Advantage Real Estate.

Years of experience taught me that buyers and sellers need special representation and a REALTOR® of their own they can trust, so in 2004 I decided to develop my own business as an Exclusive Buyer Agent brokerage.

I work hard for my clients to save them money.  If I can negotiate $5.000 off the price of a home, that doesn't include the additional build-up of equity amortization for paying less for the original loan amount, and that's much more than the original $5,000.

Why would I do this when I'm paid by commission and a higher price would mean a higher commission for me?  First, as an Exclusive Buyer's Agent I'm legally obligated to represent the best interests of my clients above any other interests, including my own! And --  the difference in commission for negotiating $5,000 off the price of the house is only $140! I want my clients to be satisfied. Their good will and word of mouth are good advertising, worth much more than whatever I save them.  My goal is to save my clients as much money as possible when making what may be the biggest purchase of a lifetime.

I save clients liability and pitfalls they may not be able to avoid simply because they don't have the knowledge and experience to know what those issues might be.

Real estate is a second career for me – I’m an ordained minister. In my years as chaplain and pastor I learned about listening to and understanding people’s needs. Serving people wanting or needing to buy their home is a very special ministry for me. I want to work with people I like and who need my professional help, people who will trust me to be their REALTOR®. I have two grown sons and a granddaughter. My spouse is a retired university professor. We love to spend time in the mountains – we go there as often as possible. And we both like to garden. And to travel. I continue in ministry as a consultant to the Department of Pastoral Care at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood. 

My job and my passion is to provide you with the best buying experience you can have, it’s what gives me satisfaction.

What Makes Buyers Advantage Real Estate of Metro Denver Unique?

Only an Exclusive Buyer Agent (often called an Exclusive Buyer's Agent, or EBA) can GUARANTEE to represent you in your home purchase. Only an EBA can GUARANTEE to negotiate on your behalf.

An EBA provides the true facts as to value, market/neighborhood conditions, and obvious physical defects. The high level of negotiation training and expertise of an EBA truly levels the playing when it is time to make an offer on a property.

Because an EBA only represents buyers and does not have in-house or company listings, a seller is always unaware of the price buyers are willing to spend during the negotiation process, bringing the advantage back to the buyer and the buyer's wallet. For this reason alone, it is very common to save thousands of dollars during the critical negotiation process.

An EBA will insist that the buyer utilize a qualified home inspector who will treat the buyer as their client, and not as a customer.

Listing agents (the ones with the sign in the front yard) and the company that they work for represent the SELLER, not the buyer. Their job is to get the SELLER the highest price on the best terms.

An EBA`s job is to get the BUYER the lowest price on the best terms.

EBAs will do a better job for people who are relocating than anyone else. They will give you the facts, good and bad. A listing agent cannot tell you about many things that would be detrimental for the BUYER because they work for the SELLER.

An EBA will help you with your financing alternatives. They may advise you to be pre-approved by a lender. Why? Because a fully approved loan makes you a cash buyer. EBA's have a legal and ethical obligation to put your interests first!

It just makes sense!

What Happy Denver Homeowners are Saying About Me

I love helping clients find their new home and facilitating their move. See what some of my clients say about working with me. Of course, I have more clients than show up here, but you have to put a limit on it somewhere! --Judith Clausen  

This young physician and his family (T. K.'s a public health nurse) were first-time homebuyers who found their ideal home after much looking. It's a 4-bedroom, 2 bath, 3,520 square foot home in Greenwood Village, Colorado. It has what they were looking for -- a walk-out finished basement, a spacious kitchen with a breakfast room overlooking the family room, a striking brick fireplace, and even a central vacuum system. Their lovely home on a tree-lined street will provide plenty of room for this new family of three.

"Judith was very helpful in teaching us first time home buyers what to look for in a home. She was patient and very responsive to our questions."

T. K. and Sonam, Greenwood Village, Colorado

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bridget D. looked for just the right place for her, a spacious one bedroom condo in a vintage building with a garage, outdoor space, and laundry facilities on site. This Capitol Hill condo in Denver just fit the bill. She got everything she wanted at a very good price.

"Judith was an ideal agent for a first-time homebuyer like me. She was very reassuring and created a comfortable atmosphere for a very intimidating process. She was patient with my many questions and safeguarded my interests from start to finish.  Thank you!"

Bridget D., Capitol Hill, Denver, CO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike and Heather tried three times before they found the perfect house for them. The first house they bid on had hidden liabilities unearthed at the inspection. Our inspector stopped in the middle, wanting them to know that a $10,000+ fix awaited them if they went ahead on the purchase. The seller refused to pay for repairs and went on to sell the house to another unsuspecting buyer. The second house had fix-up issues that would have cost too much to fix, so they kept looking till they found this charming vintage home in a neighborhood they liked in the City Park neighborhood of Denver, Colorado.

"Thank you so much for your help! We could never, ever have done it without your guidance and excellent advice.  (Heather at closing:  'You were perfect!')"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris and Lynn were looking for a townhouse with architectural interest, preferably in a vintage building in a neighborhood close to coffee shops with the vitality of urban living. After searching all over central Denver, they found the perfect place, a rowhouse in the up and coming San Rafael neighborhood that had just been renovated with a modern kitchen and baths, plus a backyard, with all the character of the original.

"We were first-time homebuyers and didn't know much about the process.  It was very valuable to have someone on our team who knew the system so well and negotiated so effectively. Hiring a Buyer's Agent was a good decision and Judith did a great job!"

Chris and Lynn, Denver, CO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barby had been transferred to Denver while her husband, Adam, was still in Minneapolis finising a renovation on their home there in time to put it on the market and move to Denver to be with Barby. They were in a hurry, but both had very different ideas about the kind of house they wanted. Barby and I searched the whole Denver metro area looking for a house they could compromise on. Adam came out to help look, and found something they both loved in Ken Caryl Ranch in Lakewood, Colorado. It was a beautiful home with a huge lot, beautifully landscaped, a three car garage with a shop for Adam, and just enough renovation possibilities for his carpentry expertise.

"Judith is a great listener and has become a very good friend! She is one cool "gen-xer! Enthusastically recommend."
Barby and Adam T., Ken Caryl Ranch, Lakewood, CO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian and Heather found their new home in Engelwood, Colorado. Brian's parents (Active Rain members) were realtors in Ohio and referred their son and his new wife to me to help them find their first home. We searched Engelwood, where they both taught school, and finally found a completely renovated mid-century home, beautifully landscaped, and just right for them, close to where they worked.

"As first-time bomebuyers Judith made us feel comfortable. She provided info and support while allowing us to make our own decisions. She is very easy to work with. We are very happy!!"
Brian and Heather P., Englewood, Colorado

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina and Pat were relocated from Kansas, and needed a house that would accommodate their quadruplets, Christina's mother and the two of them that was still within their budget. Pat had found a job with the Denver Bronco's organization, and Christina, a construction project engineer, had also found a job. Pat was in Denver, but Christina was still in Kansas with the boys, finishing up her job there. The whole family came out to look, but the job mostly fell to Pat because he was in Denver. He would find a house he thought might work, we took many photos and sent them off the Christina, and then we looked -- and looked, and looked. Finally we found one, perfect for them with enough bedrooms for the boys, and a finished basement with a bedroom for Christina's mother. The new house was in Thornton, in a family friendly neighborhood. After a few false starts the family finally moved in, and they were all able to begin their new life in Denver. This was the most complicated transaction I'd handled, with the exception of the two houses I scouted out for buyers who only saw their new homes the day they moved in! Real estate is never dull.

"Buying our house from out of state, our real estate selling agent back home knew exactly the type of service that we would be requiring from our buying agent in Denver so she hand chose Judith for us. I know this was a researched and unbiased choice, Judith was not even a member of the same agency. Living in another state, we were very attracted to technical services that Judith was willing to offer, including her promise to preview and photograph houses and having the photos online for me to view within hours, which she did. One of the first points of her significant help was very early on when I had obtained a prequalification with one loan agency, Judith convinced me to at least try one other to have a comparison. This action not only gave us a better rate, but it brought to light some incorrect information on our credit report that we were able to correct in time for the loan.

The hard work, great service and personal attention that Judith showed us in the looking process gave me enough confidence to sign a contract on a house without seeing it for myself. She knew our budget and pushed hard to find something within that range. As the hunting process turned long and looked dim, she was still very honest with every house that she viewed for us, even when I was excited about something that I had viewed on the internet and she new from our lengthy conversations and one brief meeting what to warn me about so that I would have a clear understanding of the complete package.

When Judith finally found the perfect house for our family, in the price range that we were looking for, she wasted no time helping us through the contracting procedures. This was the second house that my husband and I had purchased during our marriage. The first purchase was made when we were younger and it was very uncomplicated. That is why the obstacles that we encountered on this purchase came as a shock and stress factor at almost every turn. Judith was there to help us through all of it. We appreciated Judith's experienced advice and support through the entire month of our roller coaster contract. She helped us deal with problems that included our seller threatening to back out at every turn, handling completely unforeseen issues that came up at our inspection and getting us through many paperwork delays on our closing. We literally did not know if we would still be able to purchase the house 10 minutes past the start time of our closing appointment.

I would recommend Judith for any buyer in any special situation."

--Christina T., Northglenn

Randy called me from Kazakhstan where he was working hoping I could help him find a new home for his bride in Denver. He wanted a large enough home so that his aging mother might have a place to stay. Randy worked a month in Kazakhstan and then would be home in Colorado for a time. His schedule limited looking, so I looked for him, took photos and posted them on the web so he could get an idea of what was available. We looked for about a month, and then we found a wonderful home in Bonnie Brae. We looked at the house. I could see immediately why it hadn't sold. The kitchen counter was an old turquoise laminate, popular in the early 80s. It was hard for Randy to believe that someone would pass up this grand home just because of the kitchen countertops, but I knew that most buyers paying the kind of price the seller was asking would not want to have to replace the countertops. We looked at other houses, but none met Randy's needs. He wanted to take another look at the Bonnie Brae house, but it had been taken off the market. I called the listing agent who told me they were taking out the old laminate countertop and replacing it with Silestone, a big improvement. I asked if we could see it anyway, and by the time we finished looking a second time, Randy had decided this was the perfect home for his new bride. It was a spacious tudor with a large master bedroom and a large en suite bath, a formal living room, dining room, and study, plus a spacious eat in kitchen, and a finished basement.

"You are a "real person" who helped us buy a house. You honestly looked out for us and patiently helped us find the right house. No pressure. You made our experience of buying a house from an outside state a pleasure.--Glenn and Sarita B., Aurora I was very impressed (and sometimes surprised) at how quickly you responded to my e-mails and how quickly you answered my questions. In fact, it was your quick response to my initial inquiry that led me to select you in the first place. I had sent out several requests for information while I was in Kazakhstan, but yours was the first (and more thorough) response. I was impressed with your knowledge of the areas and your objectivity as we were looking. I was very grateful for the connection to the lender and the creative financing that she was able to come up with. I also liked all the information that you emailed to me while I was out of country. You always seemed to be available. And, I don’t know how accurate, but I got the impression that we working more off mutual trust rather than the formal buyer’s agreement. I liked that. I would definitely recommend you to someone.  One criticism was that initially when I had listed our requirements, I received a lot of stuff that didn’t seem to meet what we were looking for. Having said that, however, our requirements were often pretty specific, and they varied quite a bit as time progressed and we learned more." 

--Randy H., Bonnie Brae, Denver Colorado

A. B. and Lorraine wanted to move from their old neighborhood to one with a better school district for their 5-year old son, and they needed a house big enough to accommodate their son's friends as he started school. They wanted to live in a family oriented neighborhood close enough to A. B.'s work so that she could be home in the afternoon after school.  These were personal friends who trusted me to do the best for them. We found the perfect house in a great neighborhood with a large family room, a rec room in the basement, and another basement below that for storage. At inspection the furnace proved to be on its last legs, so the sellers installed a new one. They were all set.

"We appreciated your services and enthusiasm, your overall knowledge of real estate in the Denver area and walking with us through the home buying process -- financing, inspections, builder meetings, etc. We love our home! --Linda and Merritt W., Denver  Buyer's Advantage Realty lives up to its name. The buyer has a strong advantage with Judith as the realtor. She treated us as important members of a team. She stands behind what she says. She talks with us frequently and keeps us informed. She combines the best qualities of a realtor - knowledge, experience, integrity and a good sense of humor. With Judith on your side, the entire realty experience becomes the team effort it should be." 

--A.B. C., Denver

 

 

 

 

Tim and Katrina relocated to Denver when Tim was offered a job as a "rocket scientist" in Arvada, referred by another of my clients, Judy, who had already taken a "rocket scientist" job at the same company. They wanted a home on one level with a basement, and enough room for their two boys to each have a bedroom and room to play outside. They wanted to be close to Tim's work and close to the mountains. We found a wonderful builder home in Golden's foothills that had everything they were looking for. The inspector I referred them to was able to get the builder to fix a couple of problems that could have been serious had they not been attended to before closing. At the builder's walk-through, I put the builder on the phone with the inspector, and after a lot of arguing back and forth the builder agreed to do what our inspector wanted. Our inspector had been a general contractor building custom homes in Denver for 30 years, so he knew what he was talking about!

"Thank you for helping us with all the details of buying a newly built home. Luckily, we took your advice in hiring our own inspector. He saved us thousands! We are so thankful that we had you to represent us, not the builder. We LOVE our new home."  --Tim and Katrina M., Golden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was Judy's second home in Golden, Colorado, after relocating from Connecticut a few years before. I helped her find her first house, and now she was ready to find another house in the mountains, but still close enough to get to work in 30 minutes or less. Judy is the "rocket scientist" who referred Tim and Katrina to me, pictured above. We looked all over the suburban Front Range in Denver looking for just the right place. Judy preferred a place that needed some work so she didn't have to a higher price. She saw a house she liked, but it turned out that by the time she called me about it the house had been taken off the market. I did a little scouting and found the owners who were very interested in making a deal. The house hadn't sold because it was in such need of repairs. It was a house with acreage, a well and a septic tank. We had to have it all inspected in order for Judy to have horses on the property and to know whether what she could put into the house would be worth it. Finally, everything worked out and Judy had a new home!

"Judith went out of her way to protect my interests as a buyer, and settled many differences with the sellers for me. She took a lot of stress out of the buying process." 

--Judy B., Golden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I can't thank you enough for finding my home for me while I was in Minnesota. Your follow-through with having the sellers do repairs and include the appliances, as well as giving me phone contacts to get insurance, were all things that were in addition to finding the right home. Your ability to take care of the closing without my presence saved me from having to fly from Minnesota to Colorado many times. You are a miracle worker!" 

--Connie C., Littleton Colorado

"We enjoyed the personal touch you brought to the whole experience, from historical facts about Denver to your insights about its neighborhoods. Thanks again for helping us find a new home! The best thing about your service was the interest you showed in us personally. During our trips to Denver we both felt like we were traveling not just with a realtor but a friend. We also appreciated the additional services you provided (website links, loan companies, service professionals, etc.)

-- Brian S. & Scot O.

"Thanks for strongly recommending the buyers warranty! Because of the warranty we were able to get a brand new refrigerator for only $100! We’re going to put your name on it!!!" 

--Sue E. & Nancy K., Thornton

"It's kind of funny when you think how mad I was with Shaun for setting up the first appointment with you since we were technically working with someone else. Boy am I ever glad we went with you instead!" 

-- Lynn M. and Shaun B., Aurora Colorado

"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all your help with the house!"

--Jan and Rob F., Aurora Colorado

"Thank you for the good job you did for us. We like our new home very much."

--Dahlia and Art F., Highlands Ranch Colorado

"We appreciate all the hard work you did to find us a handicap-accessible home. Not every Realtor can find just the right home for clients living in another part of the world without their ever having seen it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! We love it!"

--Don & Sharon R., Denver

"Your service made the tough process of moving from the east coast to Colorado much easier. You made sure that every detail was seen to and the entire process went as smoothly as possible." 

--Tracy and Renee B., Aurora Colorado

"I was a first-time buyer. My experience with Judith was a blessing. I was in a difficult situation after an accident -- sore, angry, with a broken foot, and to boot needed a place to live within a month. I needed a Judith, and a Judith I got. Judith not only picked me up, but also chauffeured me wherever we needed to go. She educated me not only on the reality of buying, good and bad, but also on my potential in what I could achieve in owning my own home. She made sure I understood each situation, and the potential pitfalls of any place we looked at. When you are a first-time buyer (newbie) there are so many things one does not think of. We set a time frame. We closed just 20 days after my accident. She even picked me up for that!  I got the very best deal one could get -- she made sure of it. Yes, she stood by her word! I now own a 2 bedroom, very nice condo. When my payments are made they are working toward my security and peace of mind -- a place of my own. Thank you, Judith!" 

--Trude F. Denver 


"You were a great guide as I pursued buying my first home. You made it rather painless. You were easy to reach and you gave clear opinions. You found out what you didn't know. And you were sensitive about my perception of value for money." 

--Joe W., Denver, Colorado condo (Joe bought his condo using the "Teacher Next Door" program where he paid half price)


"There’s no way we can thank you enough for all you’ve done. Your kindness, patience, and thoughtfulness will always be remembered as the best part of our new venture. Thank you so much!" 

--Kathy A. & Sheri P., Denver investors

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