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Turning your House into a Smart Home

Educational / General / Investment / Techology
Smart Home
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

Smart Upgrade: The Benefits of Smart Home Technology

When our parents and grandparents talked about upgrading their homes, they meant things like slapping on a fresh coat of paint in the front hallway or refacing the kitchen cabinets. However, things are a lot different these days. Today, when Gen-Xers and millennials talk about upgrades, they mean things that the older generation would swear came right out of Star Trek or maybe even the Twilight Zone. 

Smart home automation improvements add to the value of your home and create a nice level of convenience. They are increasingly popular among millennials because they’re energy-efficient and convenient, not to mention the “cool” factor. As people spend more time at home because of COVID-19 lifestyle changes, smart tech has become an improvement that homebuyers look for, making it a must-add for sellers looking for a healthy ROI. 

If you’re not sure how a smart home upgrade could benefit you, keep reading! This article brought to you by Amy Collett and NextHome Rocky Mountain Realty & Rentals.

Appliances

Smart appliances are one of the most popular high-tech home upgrades you can make. A self-regulating, programmable smart refrigerator can help you save on energy costs, as can smart water heaters and washer/dryers. Security features like automatic locks and home monitoring systems, which allow you to look in on the homefront through a phone app, are even more popular among homeowners than appliances. 

Smart Locks
This is another smart feature with a definite “cool” appeal. There’s no need to fumble with your keys in the dark or risk being locked out when your doors can be upgraded with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled automatic locks. What’s more, they’re programmable, which means you can arrange to give certain people (family, friends) access to your home, so no need to worry about paying to change the locks when someone loses their keys in a bar or restaurant.

Smart Lighting

Smart lighting can make a tremendous difference in your electric bill each month. Smart LED light bulbs can save you up to 75 percent on energy costs. They can be installed with a dimmer switch, light intensity control, and motion sensors that allow for lighting to switch on and off depending on whether or not anyone is in the room. One of the most appealing features to young homeowners is voice control using Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Homekit. 

Smart Sprinklers

This may not be near the top of your “gotta have” list, but for homeowners who have a green thumb, it’s a definite favorite. With built-in wifi, you can program your smart sprinkler system while you’re on the road, at work, or anywhere, for that matter. It’s an environmentally friendly upgrade that could save up to 50 percent on annual water expenditure.  

Hiring Help

Consumers, especially young ones, are into improvements that will benefit them right now. Smart home security systems allow homeowners to see who’s ringing the doorbell, which helps them to stay in control of their environment — who wants to open the front door to a guy selling magazine subscriptions? These smart home security systems can be surprisingly affordable; just do your research so you get one that has all the features you want!


Many smart home improvements can be made easily, without the need for an expert. For example, if you can screw in a lightbulb and use a smartphone you can set your house up with a money-saving smart lighting upgrade. However, if you’re looking at something more extensive or more technologically sophisticated, consider hiring an electrician who has experience with smart home technology. 

Adding value to your home is always a good idea, especially if it involves saving money using popular new applications. Technology is supposed to make our lives easier and help us live more efficiently, so it makes sense to upgrade a home with the latest smart technology.

A big thanks to Amy Collett for guest writing this article! Check out her website here: http://bizwell.org

Real Estate Myths

General / Open House / Real Estate

Debunking Common Real Estate Myths

Real estate is an industry that, while most people will be involved in it at some point, there is a lot of misinformation in the general public. In this post we will be debunking some of the most common real estate myths:

Real Estate Myths

  • Price Higher Than You Expect To Get – Contrary to what many believe, listing your home at too high a price may actually net you less money! Many people are wary of homes that have been on the market more than 3 weeks, so listing your home too high and letting it sit on the market is not the best plan!
  • Renovate Before You Sell – Major renovations are not always the best plan when trying to raise your home value. Prospective buyers may not share your taste, so you’re better off just fixing small things and leaving the big renovations to the next owner! There are many myths about renovating before you sell. To see the renovations that are worth taking on, see our blog post on the topic here!
  • The Market Will Go Up – Home values have been going up recently, and many people have already forgotten the recent recession. They think the market just goes up, without considering how it could plummet again in the future. It happened in the mid-70s, early 80s, early 90s, and again in 2008. This is a good thing to consider when purchasing a home. How will you and your home be affected if this happens again?
  • Get Pre-Approved After Finding Your Home – One of the most common myths in real estate is that buyers don’t need to be pre-approved until the have found their home. This is simply not true and can be a big mistake! Pre-approval should be the first step in your house-hunting adventure. It can be devastating for buyers to find a home, make an offer, and have it accepted, only to find out they aren’t approved for a loan for the home. Get pre-approved first!
  • Open Houses Sell Homes – Many sellers love the idea of having their home open every weekend for people to walk through. A common myth in real estate is that open houses sell a lot of homes. While this can be true in some areas, the National Association Of Realtors tells us that only 2% of all homes are sold are a result of an open house. So while an open house can provide good exposure, it probably won’t sell your home directly!

We hope you were able to learn something new from this blog post! Real estate can be a complicated industry, so we try to break things down wherever we can to inform current and future clients! If you would like to talk to one of the NextHomies in our office, give us a call at (970) 507-8655! To see NextHome Rocky Mountain Rental’s current featured listings, click here! We want to get you into your Next Home!

Fall Home Selling Tips

Colorado / Fall / General

Fall is Upon Us!

It is common knowledge that Spring and Summer are the peak seasons in the real estate industry, but that doesn’t mean that fall can’t be productive! In this post we’ve compiled several tips for anyone wanting to list their home this Fall. Enjoy!

Fall Home Staging
Photo Courtesy Of: Houzz.com
  1. Keep the Yard Clean! – Be sure to keep your front yard clear of dead leaves and other fallen debris. Trimming tree branches and bushes can let more light hit the house; which can help attract buyers! Make a yard clean-up checklist so you don’t forget to do anything before showings.
  2. Autumn Curb Appeal – Solid curb appeal can really help your house stand out in the fall months. Place potted yellow or orange flowers by the front door and pumpkins/squash by walkways to help potential buyers envision how they would decorate the home! Adding a tray for wet shoes is a good way to keep the interior flooring clean during showings.
  3. Fire Up the Woodstove – If your home has a wood-burning stove or fireplace, be sure it has been cleaned and it is functional for showings. A clean stove indicates a well maintained stove! Plus, there is nothing cozier than a fire burning in the woodstove on a fall day.
  4. Clean Your Windows! – Windows can gather a lot of dust and grime throughout the spring and summer months that you may not notice as an owner. Prospective buyers will notice dirty windows, so we recommend going through the house and cleaning them before listing. This is an easy way to clean up the front of your house without adding anything!
  5. Fall Colors Everywhere – Using Fall accent colors such as oranges, yellows, and reds can really dress up the interior of your home and tie the moods from autumn back into your property! You can even use pine cones and candles as decorative pieces throughout the home. Throw pillows are also an easy addition.
  6. Make it Brighter – As days get shorter, homes get darker. Turn all the lights on and open windows, blinds, and curtains everywhere you can. Natural light will really brighten the space up and open windows can make your home appear larger!
  7. Be Creative With Photos – With trees losing their leaves and grass beginning to die, fall real estate photos can start to look pretty drab. You need to be creative with how you photograph and display the home to sell. Twilight photos and staged decorations are two great ways to set your house apart from other listings!
  8. Treats! – Buyer comments are a great way to learn what is working and what isn’t during showings. Leaving treats out next to a comment book is a great way to get people to leave their comments on the showing experience. Plus everyone gets a treat on the way out! Halloween candy works great for this.

Following these tips will make your home stand out from other listings this Fall! Don’t forget to like our Facebook page for weekly Virtual Open House videos and updates.  If you have any questions, or if you would like to speak with one of our licensed brokers, you can contact us here. We would love to help sell your home this Fall!

 

Home Staging Tips

Entertainment / General / Real Estate

Staging Your Home

Staging is an important step in preparing your home to sell. It is a method of decorating that highlights your home’s best features to potential buyers. In this post, we’ve put together some of the best tips for staging your home!

Home Staging in Pagosa Springs

  1. Get Rid Of Clutter: This one is fairly easy. Clutter takes up space, and space is what you are trying to sell! Storing the things you don’t use regularly or that take up a lot of space can make your home appear larger to potential buyers. Remember to clear out closets if possible, as buyers will want to see how much room they have.
  2. Stage Where You Need To: Typically, buyers are most interested in the master bedroom, kitchen, and living room. Staging these areas well is more important than staging additional bedrooms and bathrooms, as they will receive the most attention.
  3. Repairs and Patches: If there are nail holes and scuffed walls in the house, many will assume the home has been neglected. We recommend walking through the house with an eraser pad to get rid of all the marks and scuffs on the walls. You can also fill nail holes and touch up paint as needed. Potential buyers will appreciate the extra effort put in to maintaining the home.
  4. Make a Good Impression: The first thing a buyer sees as they walk up to the house is the front entrance. You want to make the best impression possible here! Remove seasonal decorations, as they can make the listing look dated in photos. If you have a front stoop or porch, consider power-washing it to remove any dirt or stains there may be. You can also add a doormat and some potted plants for curb appeal.
  5. Lighting: People like well-lit rooms, so turn on the lights and open all the blinds! Open windows can make your space seem bigger, but be sure whatever is on the other side of the windows is clean and tidy.
  6. Clean Up: You will want to clean like you’ve never cleaned before! Scrub from floor to ceiling; a clean home suggests you took great care in maintaining your home. Potential buyers will notice this!
  7. De-Personalize Your Space: Potential buyers want to be able to imagine the space as their own. Removing items like family photos, visible personal items (such as toiletries, clothes, etc.,) and refrigerator magnets is recommended. This turns your home into a “blank canvas” for potential buyers!
  8. Rearrange Furniture: Open floor-space and walk-able paths throughout the house can make it seem much larger. They also help potential buyers envision where their furniture can go in the home. If you have furniture that doesn’t match the rest of the room, or doesn’t fit, we recommend storing it.

Home staging is a great way to make your home more appealing to potential buyers. You want to present your home in a way that shows off it’s best features; and allows potential buyers to imagine it as their own.

These tips are just a few ways that you can make your home really stand out from the rest of the crowd! If you need some inspiration, you can view our currently listed homes here!

Buying Homes During Covid-19

General / Pagosa Springs / Real Estate

Buying a Home During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Coronavirus has made many things uncertain in our lives. From high school graduates trying to leave for college, to world travelers dealing with border restrictions due to the pandemic, to 16 year olds buying their first car, we are all being affected in one way or another.

Buying a home can seem like an impossible task right now, but you may be surprised to learn there are actually several advantages to purchasing property during this pandemic! Below, we’ve listed a few advantages to buying a home during the coronavirus pandemic.

  1. Fewer People Shopping – Most people are nervous to buy during this time of uncertainty. This can work to your advantage as there will be less competition to purchase the house you want!
  2. Low Interest Rates – Interest rates are at an all time low right now, you might as well take advantage of it!
  3. Surplus of Listings – Covid-19 has pushed many people to change the way they are living and to make big decisions… such as listing their homes for sale! This can help you as there are many home options currently on the market, and not many buyers to compete with.
  4. Mountain Towns are Safer! – This one is more specific to Pagosa Springs and surrounding areas.. Where would you rather be during a pandemic? A crowded city? Or a serene mountain town with a population less than some larger neighborhoods? I know what my choice is!

These are just some of the pros of buying a home during these strange times. I hope this article has given you the extra push you need to go out and find your dream home! You can view homes currently for sale in Pagosa Springs here, or give us a call to let us know what you’re looking for!

 

Photo by: Gavin Kiker
Photo by: Gavin Kiker

 

 

 

 

Anniversary!

General / Real Estate

4 Year Anniversary Of NextHome RMR!

This week marked the 4 year anniversary of NextHome Rocky Mountain Realty & Rentals. Our background spans 50 years in the Real Estate Industry; from buying and selling homes, to mortgage origination and processing, all the way to lending. We are here to help get you the best deal possible! The past four years have been great here in Pagosa Springs, and we are excited for the next four!

Anniversary! - Photo by: Gavin Kiker

Visit our Reviews page to see what some of our previous clients had to say about working with us over the years.

Thank You!

Time To Go Hiking!

General / Hiking

Hiking In Pagosa Springs

With July ending, and Pagosa getting much needed afternoon rain showers, it’s the perfect time to hit the trails and do some hiking!

Pagosa Springs is full of hiking trails, ranging from easy 1 mile hikes like the Piedra Falls trail, to more difficult 9+ mile hikes up into the High Country; such as the Little Blanco Trail, Fish Lake Trail, or the popular Pagosa Peak hike.

You can check out all the trails in Pagosa here: AllTrails.com

No matter what difficulty trails you are wanting to tackle, it is important to properly prepare for your adventure. Here are some general guidelines to insure you have an enjoyable experience:

  • Pack Plenty of Food and Water – You should drink 1 liter per hour while hiking, ideally. Snacks should provide good energy, no candy!
  • Carry a Flashlight and Waterproof Matches – Just in case you need to stay longer than planned
  • Bring a First Aid Kit – This one is pretty self-explanatory, if you get a cut, you can cover it up!
  • Leave Early – Afternoon showers are very common up in the mountains and you don’t want to be stuck in a lighting storm!
  • Stay On Trail – Preserve the land and views for future generations to enjoy!
  • Let Someone Know Your Trip Itinerary – If you become lost or injured and don’t contact them, they’ll know to send help.
  • Pace Yourself – You don’t want to be worn out halfway up the trail, take your time hiking and enjoy the southern Colorado scenery.
  • Enjoy Nature! – Put your phone down and take in the landscapes of this beautiful area!

With all the trails here in Pagosa, there is no reason not to get out and explore!

Quartz Ridge - Photo By: Gavin Kiker
Quartz Ridge – Photo By: Gavin Kiker
Little Blanco Trail - Photo By: Gavin Kiker
Little Blanco Trail – Photo By: Gavin Kiker