We want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving from the NextHomies here at NextHome Rocky Mountain Realty & Rentals!
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!
Happy Halloween!
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!
Winter Is Coming!
How To Prep Your Home For Winter Weather
Prepare For Emergencies – Every year, harsh winter conditions get the best of hundreds of people in the US. It’s important to be prepared in case you are unable to leave your home for supplies. Here’s a list of supplies we recommend keeping in your home this winter:
- Non-Perishable Food and Bottled Water for at least 3 days
- Flashlights/Headlamps & Batteries in case the power goes out.
- Snow Shovels ( To get out of your home!)
- Ice Melt & Sand – Use the ice melt first, and then throw sand over the melted ice to give traction.
- Alternative Heat – If your main heat source fails, it is good to have backups such as kerosene heaters and wool blankets.
- Tool Kit – Most residences already have one, but it’s a good idea to keep a tool kit stocked with common tools and any specialty tool you may need for heaters, lights, etc.
Inspect Roof – The worst time to realize your roof has a leak is after the first snow hits. Luckily, it is easy to inspect your roof for possible issues beforehand. You don’t even need to get on the roof! Grab a pair of binoculars and work your way around the house, looking for the following:
- Broken or Missing Shingles
- Cracked Caulk or Rust Spots on the Flashing
- Shingles that are Buckling or Curling Up
- Moss or Lichen Growing on the Roof (this could indicate the roof is decaying beneath the surface)
If you aren’t comfortable tackling these issues yourself, you can get a professional roof inspection for roughly $119-$300.
Insulate Windows – Windows that don’t seal property can let cold drafts into your home, driving your energy bills up and comfort down. To prevent these drafts, you can re-seal the window with silicone, line the window with draft blockers, or even seal it with shrink wrap! If your window is cracked, clear nail polish can temporarily fix the window until it can be replaced.
Inspect Fireplace/Woodstove – It is a good idea to have your fireplace/woodstove inspected every year before using it. This is to ensure that there are no birds nests or other blockages that could catch fire in your chimney and cause problems. These inspections can cost anywhere between $79 and $500 depending on your area and the type of fireplace you have.
Clear Decks and Pathways – With winter comes snow, and with snow comes snow shoveling! Cleaning everything off your deck will make shoveling snow so much easier than it would be trying to navigate around summer furniture! Clear wide paths to outbuildings and anything else you may want access to after the snow flies.
Following this steps will help you prepare yourself and your home for winter! If you enjoyed this post and would like to talk to one of our Southwest Colorado real estate experts, give us a call at (970) 507-8655. To view the homes we currently have for sale, 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.
Common Real Estate Questions
Real Estate Questions Answered
In this post we cover a few of the common real estate questions that we get asked!
Buyer’s Market or Seller’s Market – You’ve probably heard the terms “buyer’s market” and “sellers market” at least once when discussing real estate. While these may sound confusing, they are actually pretty basic terms! A Buyer’s Market is when the inventory of property exceeds the demand for property. This puts the buyer at an advantage because there are a lot of properties to choose from at competitive prices. A Seller’s Market is when the inventory of properties is low but the demand is up. This puts sellers at an advantage because there is less competition, so they can ask more for their property!
Build vs Buy – This question is a common one, especially in areas with many lots for sale, such as Pagosa Springs. Building a home can be a great option for a few reasons. You can choose where you want to build, how big you want your home, and exactly how you want it to look and function! New builds may have unexpected costs or complications that you must consider in the initial build cost. Buying a home already built may be a better route for many buyers. These homes are usually ready to move in much sooner, the prices are typically negotiable, and you don’t have the same upfront costs that come with a new build. The cons of buying a built home include older appliances and other things that may need maintenance sooner. You are also more likely to compromise on features you may want when purchasing a pre-built home. There are many pros and cons between building and buying a home; it really comes down to what you think will work best for you and your lifestyle!
Buying a Foreclosure – A foreclosure is a home that’s seized and put up for sale by the bank that gave the original owner a loan. When you see a home listed as “foreclosed,” it means that it’s owned by the bank. Foreclosures are usually less expensive, have fewer title concerns, and often have a great renovation potential. Foreclosures are usually sold “as-is” so there are maintenance concerns that you as the buyer would be responsible for fixing. There are many ways to get a loan for a foreclosure, and if you have a licensed agent helping you throughout the process, a foreclosure can be a great investment!
Should I Get Pre-Approved First? – The answer is YES! Pre-Approval should be the first step you take when preparing to buy a home. This is how you know how much you can afford, if you can afford a home. You don’t want to shop until you find the perfect home, only to realize you can’t quite afford it! If you have any questions on how to start this process, give us a call at (970) 507-8655.
Who Pays The Realtor Fees? – This question is pretty easy to answer! Typically in a home sale, the seller pays the realtor fees, as they are the ones making money on the transaction. The amount the seller pays is negotiable and may vary from deal to deal.
Common Closing Expenses – Typically, the home buyer will pay 2-5% of the purchase price of the home in closing fees. These fees will cover the cost of things like insurance, inspections, taxes, attorney fees if applicable, credit checks, etc. The average total closing cost in the United States is $3,700.
How To Prepare For Showings – Showing your home to strangers can be strange, especially when you are only getting little notice beforehand. You should be ready to show at all times; staying flexible is important as everyone has different schedules. That last minute-showing could be the one that sells your home! It is best to leave the property for showings as prospective buyers will be more comfortable talking about the property. If you have pets, be sure they are picked up after and make a plan of where to take them during showings! To see our post on home staging, click here!
If you have any further real estate questions, please feel free to give us a call at (970) 507-8655. You can see the homes we currently have listed for sale on our featured page. Let us help you find your Next Home!
Real Estate Myths
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:
- 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!