National Workaholic Day
Snow Removal
How To Shovel Your Deck, The Right Way!
Snow shoveling is something most Coloradoans are very familiar with, especially in Pagosa Springs! While it seems fairly straightforward, shoveling 3 feet of snow off of your deck can be difficult if you don’t know how to do it! Below are some guidelines that will make your Winter Chores a breeze!
Before It Snows:
- Inspect your deck for lifted nails or screws. These can catch on your shovel or shoes while you are shoveling. Not fun!
- Move anything below the edges of your deck. Snow will pile up over time; you don’t want your snow blower buried in snow under the deck!
- Put your snow shovels where you can easily access them after it snows.
After It Snows:
- For Light Snow, the best way to clear your deck is actually to sweep it with a broom! A regular corn broom works great for this, and wont snag on the wood. This method is great because it won’t scratch your decks finish like a snow shovel could. If you want to kick it up a notch, a good leaf blower can also take care of light snow on your deck!
- Shovel Parallel To the decking. Shoveling snow into the edges of your deck boards will tear the decking up. It will also make it much harder to clear snow, as you will get caught on the edges more often than not.
- If your deck has an ice problem, do not chop the ice with a shovel! The best way to cure an icy deck is with ice melt. There are many types to choose from, some are even pet safe! So shop around and find an ice melt that best suits your application. This is good to have on hand anyways! Sprinkling ice melt on your deck after shoveling will ensure no ice forms on the newly cleared surface.
- Make Hot Chocolate and admire your work! It is really that easy to properly clear your deck!
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t buy or sell a house! Give us a call today at (970) 507-8655 to talk to a real estate professional. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook to keep up to date with NextHome events and Virtual Open House videos!
Cut Your Own Christmas Tree
Christmas Trees in The National Forest
For many people, going out to cut down a Christmas Tree is a valued family tradition passed down from generation to generation. It is a great way to bond as a family in our beautiful National Forests. Pagosa Springs has an abundance of tree-cutting areas and opportunity, so you are sure to find the perfect tree for you and your family! The Forest Service provides some excellent guides for identifying trees and cutting them:
The San Juan National Forest offers permits (priced at $8) to go out and find the perfect tree for your family! Not only will you get a Christmas Tree for the year, but you are also contributing to the conservation of our forests, and fire mitigation as well! If you are unsure where to find a tree, you can contact the Forest Service here and they will answer any questions you may have! *Permits will go on sale November 12, 2020.
Southwest Colorado is a great place to enjoy a snowy Christmas. Give us a call today at (970) 507-8655! We would love to help you find your Next Home!
Beat The Cold!
Pagosa Escape Zone
If you’re looking for things to do out of the cold, Pagosa Escape Zone should be on your list! The escape zone features rooms with 3 scenarios to choose from and each room is sanitized between bookings for covid safety. The goal for each room is simple… Escape!
While they do change regularly, the current escape scenarios are:
- Treasure of the Rocky Mountains – “In 2010 an 86 year old multi-millionaire named Forrest Fenn buried over $2,000,000 worth of treasure in the Rocky Mountains of North America – the only clue to the location of his treasure is a riddle in the form of a poem…you have 60 minutes…DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES to find the treasure and “ESCAPE” before time runs out???”
- Jimmy Buffet Themed Beach Party – “Come join our beach party where you and your team of 2 to 8 people have 60 minutes to find Jimmy Buffett’s lost shaker of salt and ESCAPE before time runs out. You may not want to leave this tropical paradise once we lock you in…DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES???”
- Krampus – “You and your group of 4 to 8 people have 60 minutes to decipher clues, find codes and solve puzzles in order to ESCAPE before Krampus returns and makes you his next victims…DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES???”
The Pagosa Escape Zone is the perfect spot to have fun with friends, spend time with family, or even host a team building event for your business! Located next to Mountain Pizza downtown for easy access, this is an awesome place to warm up after a day of skiing! Check the Pagosa Escape Zone website for more information! Don’t forget to like NextHome RMR on Facebook! If you would like to talk to a NextHome real estate expert, give us a call at (970) 507-8655. We would love to help you find your Next Home!
Beat The Cold!
Smoken Moe’s Unreal BBQ
Smoken Moe’s Unreal BBQ was established in 2006 in Ignacio, CO and moved to Pagosa Springs in 2012. Known for some of the best BBQ this side of Texas, Smoken Moe’s is a great place to beat the cold and sit down for a warm meal! Moe’s offers pit-smoked barbeque smothered in signature sauces, perfect to warm you up! They also offer catering and you can even order food by the pound to bring the barbeque home! The menu has plenty of options, so you are sure to find something great to eat!
With everything going on in the world, it is more important than ever to support your local businesses! Whether you’re going out to a local restaurant for lunch or buying gifts for Christmas, shopping local helps your community thrive and grow. If you would like to talk to one of our real estate experts, give us a call at (970) 507-8655! You can also like us on Facebook for NextHome RMR updates!
Wolf Creek Pass
Covered In Snow!
It snowed in Colorado this past weekend… A lot! Wolf Creek Pass received 14 inches of powder overnight, and Pagosa Springs woke up to steady snowfall! With snow starting to fall, now is the time to prepare your home for winter. Check our Winter Prep Guide out to see what you should do to prepare for winter!
It isn’t too cold to sell your home or buy a dream home! Give us a call at (970) 507-8655 to talk to a Southwest Colorado real estate expert! If you would like to look at our current listings in Pagosa Springs and surrounding areas, click here!
Wildfire Defensible Space
Wildfire Defensible Buffer Zones
Wildfire Buffer Zones can be used to reduce fire damage to buildings and sensitive areas in landscapes prone to wildfire. This guide from the USDA National Agroforestry Center shows what you can do to to increase the defensible space around your home and property. If you have any additional questions regarding wildfire safety, see the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control’s website here.
Zone 1. A minimum of 30 feet is needed for firefighters to protect a structure from wildfire. On a slope, increase the distance to 100 feet downhill of the structure. Use low growing and low flammability plants, spaced apart from each other. Remove dead material.
Zone 2. Deciduous trees and shrubs and widely-spaced conifers may be used in Zone 2. Remove branches within 8 feet of the ground (but no more than 30 percent of the height of the tree) and space trees so that crowns remain at least 10 feet apart at maturity. Remove ladder fuels which are tree limbs and other materials that allow fire to burn into the tree crown.
Zone 3. Manage this zone to maintain forest stand health and other landowner objectives. Limit number of dead trees or snags but save some for wildlife (1 to 2 snags/acre). Check with your local forester for additional guidelines.
Characteristics of Low Flammability Plants
• Supple moist leaves and water-like, thin sap
• Little or no accumulation of dead vegetation on the plant
• Open and loose branching structure
Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/buffers/guidelines/5_protection/11.html
If you liked this post be sure to check our others out here! We would love to help you find your Next Home. Give us a call at (970) 507-8655 to talk to a Southwest Colorado expert! You can view our current featured listings here.
Do Something Nice Day
Today is National Do Something Nice Day!
October 5th is National Do Something Nice Day! It’s a day to remind everyone how easy it is to be nice and to do kind things for one another.
There are so many ways to do something nice, the possibilities are endless and most of them are easy! What are you going to do to celebrate this holiday? If you would like to talk with someone from our office, give us a call at (970) 507-8655. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook to view our weekly Virtual Open House Series!
Renovations – Return On Investment
Renovations With The Highest Return On Investment
Whether you are trying to sell your home or not, paying attention to the renovations you do and how they affect your home’s value can be important. Some home improvement projects can yield a much higher return on investment than others. We’ve compiled a list below of the best renovations you can do for your money. Enjoy!
- Minor Bathroom Remodel – There are two rooms that sell homes more than any others; the kitchen, and the bathrooms. Bathroom remodels actually provide the highest return on investment, averaging 102%. You don’t need to fully gut the room however, adding a good coat of paint and new fixtures is a great way to elevate the value of your home.
- Landscaping – Curb appeal is a very important aspect when listing a home. Fresh landscaping and a picked up exterior can make your home appear fresh and clean, which buyers want. Basic landscaping averages a 100% return on interest, even adding a few potted plants to your front porch can make a huge difference!
- Minor Kitchen Remodel – A minor kitchen remodel can really bump your home’s value up without much work. Start by upgrading outdated appliances with newer ones; prospective buyers will notice these additions. Painting or staining your existing cabinets can substantially increase your kitchens appeal. Modern hardware on all of your drawers and doors will help a lot too!
- Attic Bedroom Conversion – One of the best ways to increase the value of a home is by adding to the number of rooms it has. If you have an attic that can be converted to a bedroom, and you have the budget to do so, this addition can add a lot of value to your home while also adding to it’s usability! While not necessary, this is an option everyone should consider. The average return on investment for an addition like this is about 93.5%.
- Entry Door Replacement – While it may seem simple, replacing your front entry door is one of the most impactful renovations you can do to your home. If your home’s style can support it, a door painted a bright, primary color can really draw prospective buyers into a home. It makes the home more approachable and inviting! Even a fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference.
- Deck Addition – If you have the room to do so, adding a deck or porch is a great way to add perceived value to your property. If you already have a deck, make sure it has been painted or stained and is structurally sound. A deck increases usable living space and can be a deciding factor for some buyers! Outdoor living spaces have become especially desirable since the covid-19 pandemic.
- Basement Remodel – Although not all homes have a basement, the ones that do can sell for significantly more than homes that don’t! Converting your dark and dingy basement into a usable living space can bring your home value up quite a bit. Return on investment for this renovation sits around 90% on average and can draw in prospective buyers!
- Window Upgrade – Fresh, new windows can have a huge impact on the exterior image of your home! They will make the outside look newer and the interior brighter! In addition to the added curb appeal, new windows are typically more efficient and you may be eligible for a tax break when purchasing energy efficient windows. Although many may not notice, new windows will slide more easily too!
These are some of the best renovations you can do to add value to your home before selling! If you have any questions, or would like to talk with one of our brokers, give us a call at (970) 507-8655. To see the homes we currently have listed, click here!