Fall Home Selling Tips

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!

 

Off to the Sand Dunes

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Sometimes staying in the same place for too long can be tiring, especially in the midst of a pandemic. Luckily, Southern Colorado is full of places to explore! If you are having trouble deciding where to go or just looking for somewhere to escape for the day, Great Sand Dunes National Park is a great place to start!

Topping out at around 755 feet high, these impressive sand dunes are the tallest in North America. The dunes are surrounded by the 14,000 ft. peaks of the Sangre De Cristo mountain range, the Southernmost range of the Rocky Mountains. The contrast between the light sand of the dunes and the dark greens and blues of the mountains makes for a truly stunning view. If you like taking photos, you are sure to enjoy this area!

Sand Dunes
Photo By: Gavin Kiker

In addition to taking in the views, visitors to the Great Sand Dunes can enjoy hiking and camping all throughout the park, splashing in Medano Creek when it’s flowing, and even sand-boarding and sledding. (Think snowboarding but with sand.) Sand toys are available to rent right before entering the park.

If driving slow offroad is more your speed, the Medano Pass Primitive Road may be for you! This 22 mile 4wd-only trail connects the Great Sand Dunes with Wet Mountain Valley and Colorado State Highway 69. The trail crosses Medano Creek nine times, and also takes you through some deep sand and even Bighorn Sheep habitat at the higher elevations.

Whether you want to backpack in and spend the night, or just pack a picnic and take some photos, Great Sand Dunes National Park makes for a wonderful Southern Colorado day trip! If you would like to see our featured homes in the area, click here. Don’t forget to like NextHome Rocky Mountain Realty & Rentals on Facebook for weekly virtual open houses and more!

Neighborhood Highlight #2

San Juan River Village

San Juan River Village is located just 6 miles from Pagosa Springs down Hwy 160. This neighborhood is divided by the highway into two sections, the River Side and the Mountain Side. The river side of this neighborhood has private access points to the San Juan River, stocked annually with trout. There is also an annually stocked fishing pond available to residents! This is just one of the many common areas in this neighborhood.

River
Photo: San Juan River Village

There is a second stocked fishing pond on the mountain side of this neighborhood, so there’s no need to cross the highway to satisfy that fishing itch!  Residents also have access to the San Juan National Forest; 1.8 million acres to camp, hunt, fish, hike and more, all just a short walk or drive away. This neighborhood is closer to Wolf Creek Ski Area than most, making it the perfect spot for the avid skier or snowboarder!

San Juan River Village is a beautiful, serene neighborhood in a great location. With many wonderful amenities, you are sure to find something you love about this community! You can click here for more information on the neighborhood. If you would like to see our featured homes in the area, click here!

 

Auction For The Animals

First Ever Virtual Auction For The Animals

For the past 25 years, the Humane Society of Pagosa Springs has hosted an annual live “Auction For The Animals” to help fund our local animal shelter. With current restrictions involving in-person gatherings, however, things are going to be different for 2020…

Auction
Photo: Humane Society of Pagosa Springs

In lieu of a live auction, the Humane Society has decided to move the bidding online! Items in this auction range from smaller items such as gift-cards and art pieces, all the way up to a Kilimanjaro climbing trip, and even a four wheel drive F150 pickup! You can also choose to donate money for food, microchips, vaccines, spay/neuter costs, or even emergency medical expenses.

This auction is a wonderful way to support your local Humane Society and animals during these uncertain times.

If you would like to register to bid, or just make a donation, you can visit the Humane Society auction page here. You can also see the dogs and cats available for adoption at the links provided.

Thank you for supporting these animals in need!

Home Staging Tips

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!

New Long Term Rental

99 Carefree Rental

We have a new long-term rental available! Located in central Pagosa Springs, this ranch style home is perfect for you to keep warm this winter.

99 Carefree Long Term Rental

You will have access to all Pagosa Lakes amenities. This includes access to the Rec. Center (with indoor saltwater pool, weight room, and exercise classes,) as well as the stocked fishing lakes!  This home is available now, with the lease ending on June 30th, 2021. Please feel free to contact us for more information on this great rental.