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!

Return On Investment
Photo Courtesy: mountainvillageestespark.com
  1. 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.
  2. 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!
  3. 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 Start by upgrading outdated appliances with newer ones; prospective buyers will notice these additions.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!
  4. 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%.
  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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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!
  8. 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!

Pet Friendly Pagosa Springs

Dogs Welcome!

Pagosa Springs is a mountain town full of people who love dogs. Whether you’re hiking up Pagosa Peak or grabbing a burger at Riff Raff, you are sure to see at least one furry friend. In addition to the National Forest and the many outdoor dining areas around town, Pagosa Springs has several dog friendly parks; with clean-up stations! If you’re looking for a place to walk your dog, or dogs in pet friendly Pagosa, this list is for you!

Pet Friendly Pagosa

Humane Society Bark Park – The Pagosa Springs Humane Society has done a great job of making a safe environment for your dogs to play! There are separate fenced areas for large and small breeds with awesome views of the San Juan mountain range. The Bark Park is equipped with kiddie pools, drinking fountains, and some shaded areas for your pup to cool off. Near the fenced areas is the Serenity Garden where you can walk along in peace. The garden features engraved memorial bricks along the path and benches to take in the views. There are restrooms in the Humane Society Lobby and dog toys available to purchase. Proceeds benefit the animals at the Humane Society! See their website here.

Yamaguchi Park – Located at the South end of the San Juan Riverwalk, Yamaguchi Park is a great place to get out and get active! This park borders the San Juan River to the East and features over half a mile of trails with pet stations along the sidewalk! There are several spots where river access is available; so your dog can get his or her paws wet on their walk! There are bathrooms on-site as well as a skate park, playground, and large Terrazzo overlooking the river. Two laps around the perimeter of this park is about 1 mile.

Town Park/Mary Fisher Park – One of Pagosa’s oldest parks, Town Park is located right on the river in downtown. This is one of the most popular parks as it’s in the middle of downtown! For the pups, there are pet waste clean-up stations and water fountains in the park. Dogs should be on a leash or lead, as this park is close to Main Street. If you cross the walking bridge over the river, you enter Mary Fisher Park. Named after Dr Mary Fisher, a Pagosa Springs doctor born in 1868 in Illinois, this park has many places to lay out and watch the river flow or play fetch with fido. There is a changing screen if you want to get in the water with your dog and more parking than Town Park across the river.

Reservoir Hill Park – Reservoir Hill is well known by locals for it’s many trails and the star that lights up at the top of the hill, overlooking downtown Pagosa Springs at night. Your dog is sure to love the rugged terrain and winding trails heading up the hill. At the top you are greeted with great views of downtown Pagosa. There are benches and picnic tables on top as well. This hill is a great place to get some exercise with your dog! The Annual Folk Festival is held on Reservoir Hill as well.

Centennial Park – Centennial Park is located along the San Juan river, behind the courthouse. This park is home to the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership’s geodesic greenhouse setup, a sustainable agricultural project. There is a small outdoor amphitheater in front of these greenhouses. You will find pet clean-up and water stations along the riverwalk, and an electric vehicle charging station if you need to juice up while you’re exploring with your dog! If your pup likes the water, there is a section of beach along a shallow part of the river perfect for pets and kids to swim.

With all the opportunities to explore and discover new things, you are sure to love pet friendly Pagosa. If you would like to learn more about Pagosa Springs, our town website has many resources available. To see the homes we currently have listed, visit our Featured Homes page here!

Fall Colors

The Best Drives For Fall Colors

Fall is here, and fall colors aren’t far behind! You can find beautiful scenery just about everywhere in this state, but the roads listed below are some of the best to see the bright yellows and oranges of autumn!

Fall Colors
Photo By: Gavin Kiker 
  1. San Juan Skyway – The San Juan Skyway is one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the country. This 232 mile loop will take you through two National Forests, four mountain passes, and nine historic Colorado mountain towns. It takes roughly 7 hours to drive the loop all the way through, but we recommend taking your time and exploring along the way! Even if you choose to tackle just one section of the loop, you are sure to find large swathes of fall colors and beautiful scenery. Most of this drive is 2wd-friendly, but some parts may require higher clearance. If you are scared of heights, be warned there are some steep drop-offs as well as sections of road without guardrails in several spots on this drive.
  2. Boreas Pass – Boreas Pass Road stretches the 20 miles between Como and Breckenridge. This easily-accessible mountain road reaches 11,493 feet above sea level and eventually crosses the Continental Divide! This wonderful road has less traffic than others during the fall, making it a great area to see the colors change without crowds. The aspens on this road may form a tunnel in certain spots, making for a truly amazing view. This road is easily accessible by 2wd vehicles with low ground clearance.
  3. Kebler Pass – Kebler Pass is an awesome high-mountain pass connecting Crested Butte with Paonia to the West. This pass reaches 10,007 feet above sea level at it’s summit in the Gunnison National Forest. This drive takes you through one of the largest aspen groves in the United States, in the West Elk Mountains. You will travel West from Crested Butte to Highway 133, just north of the tiny mining village of Somerset. The road is accessible by low-clearance 2wd vehicles and takes roughly 2 hours to drive through. It is open seasonally, May through November.
  4. Trail Ridge Road – Trail Ridge Road is a stretch of US Hwy 34 that takes you from the East side of Estes Park to Grand Lake, CO in the West. It is the highest paved through road in Colorado, peaking at 12,183 feet above sea level. 11 miles of this road are above the tree line, making for great, almost aerial views of the autumn colors below. Driving straight through takes roughly 2 hours, but there are enough pull-outs, scenic overlooks, and side trails to make this drive a full daytrip!
  5. Last Dollar Road – Last Dollar Road is an unpaved, seasonal (Summer & Fall) route that takes you from Ridgeway, CO to Telluride, CO. This trail gives you fully unobstructed views of Wilson Peak and the Sneffels Mountain Range. The fall colors will really start to show around mid-September, making Last Dollar Road a great destination for photographers.
  6. Independence Pass – Independence Pass, the highest paved pass in the United States, passes over the Continental Divide between Leadville and Aspen. This pass is 32 miles long and summits at 12,095 feet above sea level. There are many places to stop and take in the views along this road. Roaring Fork River hugs the road for several miles and there are also several great aspen grove views along the way.
  7. Alpine Loop – Alpine Loop is a circular route that takes you over Cinnamon Pass and Engineer Pass. It connects Lake City with Ouray and Silverton. The loop is 65 miles long and can be completed in as little as 7 hours. There are several abandoned mining and old west features along the trail that you can explore; they make for interesting foregrounds in your fall color photos!
  8. Pikes Peak Highway – Pikes Peak Highway is 19 miles each way and takes about 2 hours round trip to drive. Once to the top, you are greeted with 360 degree views of the mountains, including the front range. Pikes Peak highway is a great place for large panoramas of the changing fall colors!
  9. Bachelor Loop Tour –  The Bachelor Loop Tour is a 17 mile loop that takes you through the historic mining district above Creede, CO. This 4wd-accessible road takes you through several ghost towns from the mining boom, some of which once rivaled Creede in size! There are many photo opportunities along this loop so be sure to bring your camera. High clearance vehicles are recommended for the best experience.

These are just a handful of the hundreds of places to see the Fall colors Colorado is so known for. If you are wanting to plan a trip, but can’t decide when, the Forest Service has a regularly updated Fall Color Report that tells you what stage the leaves are at! If all this talk about Colorado has made you want a home of your own here, you can view our featured listings or give us a call at (970) 507-8655!

Ranch House For Sale

13750 Highway 151

13750 Highway 151 is a beautiful 45 acre property backing up to the National Forest and Reservation land. There are 3 stick-built dwellings as well as several outbuildings sitting on this wonderful property. The main ranch house is a 2 bedroom with in-floor heating, a woodstove, and an awesome wraparound deck. There are several large living spaces, so adding a 3rd bedroom would be easy!

Ranch House
13750 Highway 151

There is also a guest house and a bungalow just steps from the main house, as well as a barn and a large detached carport! Outside of the buildings, there are many mature fruit trees on the property, as well as enough fenced pasture to let your horses run free. This property is just minutes from Lake Navajo, it backs to National Forest and Reservation Land, and has it’s own water well. This property is not going to last long!

If you are interested in this property, you can view the full listing here. Our other available listings can be viewed here. To talk to a NextHome RMR agent, call (970) 507-8655!

 

Crazy Colorado Weather

Snow In September!

Colorado is having trouble making up it’s mind on the weather this month! The beginning of the month held several 90F+ days and forest fires throughout the state. September 8th however, we experienced a temperature drop of nearly 50 degrees and enough rain and snow to leave the ground muddy! Wolf Creek Pass got 13 inches of snow, A full 13 days before the solstice!

Snow In September
Wolf Creek Ski Area

This moisture is greatly appreciated, even if it’s a little early! Visit our website to view property available for sale in this winter wonderland!