Monday, August 23, 2021

Start Strong on Your Gardening Journey to Reap the Promised Rewards

 



What’s not to love about gardening? It’s a great way to create something truly beautiful while also enjoying some really cool health benefits in the process. Not only that, but it can also consistently support your and your family’s health for the long term, while potentially contributing to the good of the environment to boot!

                      

But of course, like most things worth doing, gardening also requires due diligence and hard work. Here, Resident Realty shares some great resources to get you started on your green journey.

 

Learn the Ins and Outs of Gardening

 

To be able to start a truly beautiful and productive garden, you need to have sufficient knowledge of the many nuances of gardening and landscaping, as well as the methods that support it.

 

     Before breaking ground, take the time to learn all about the essentials of gardening.

     It’s also a good idea to get home gardening tips from those with experience on things like composting and herb gardening.

     You’ll need to get to know how to work with soil and mulch, as well.

 

Make Sure That It Truly Benefits You

 

With the hard work and dedication that goes into growing a verdant garden, you want to be sure that you and your family reap tangible benefits from it too.

 

     It’s been said that when you plant a garden, you harvest the benefits.

     Look into growing the healthiest food ingredients to make your home garden healthy.

     Aside from the health benefits, making gardening a family affair can help you bond.

 

Find a Welcoming Space to Plant

 

A garden needs the right space to flourish, and this includes a proper amount of daily sun and easy access to water.

 

     Look for a spot in your yard that can easily accommodate a garden. You want a spot that gets plenty of sunlight throughout the day.

     If a dead tree is hovering over a potentially great space, look for a tree removal service that can cut down your tree, making way for extra sunlight.

 

See How It Can Contribute to the Greater Good

 

The benefits that a healthy and flourishing garden offers your family are plentiful, but you also want to look beyond what it brings to your table and, instead, to the world at large.

 

     If you want to make your lush green garden a truly green one, know that there are some environmentally-sound methods that you need to adapt.

     Creating healthy soil not only guarantees that your garden is a productive one but one that’s also eco-friendly.

     Looking for ways to save water in your garden is also necessary to be truly sustainable.

 

Ultimately, the success and productivity of your gardening project will rely on the knowledge you amass as you go along and your dedication to making it realize its full potential. The rewards of your garden are there for the taking — you just need to work hard to earn them.

 

Photo via Pexels.com


 

 https://ross-homes-noco.com/about-me




As a current resident in Northern Colorado, I am fully aware of the current market trends and what it takes to get a great deal on a listing or get top dollar for your current home. When it comes to getting the job done right, you can count on me.
I have a lot of connections within the Northern Colorado area. Please don’t hesitate to call and ask me any questions you might have. This process is all about you and your needs. Real Estate is a big investment and I understand that. One thing you will get with me is a personal relationship, In the end, that goes a long way.
 
Northern Colorado is a great place to live! For more information, please give me a ring or email me today. I would love the opportunity to earn your business and partner with you in regards to your Real Estate needs.



LOOKING TO BUY??
If you are looking to purchase, I can save you a lot of money, as much as 10% on the purchase and finance of your home. 

Contact me today to learn about ALL of my strategies to get you the BEST price for your home in the shortest possible time! 
 

SOURCE:  Mark Simons / LOCALIGRAF



Wednesday, June 9, 2021

How to Prep for Listing Your Family Home

 How to Prep for Listing Your Family Home



Photo courtesy of Unsplash


How to Prep for Listing Your Family Home

 

Are you getting ready to sell your home but staring with despair at your linen closets, multiple junk drawers (we all have them), and overstuffed closets? You’re not alone. Preparing a house to sell is one of the most stressful parts of moving. At least when you’re house hunting, you have the sense of excitement that comes from finding the perfect home that offers the quality of life that you want.

 

Before you start pulling your hair out or just throwing everything in boxes without rhyme or reason, read this guide from real estate pro Paul Ross that will help you have a less stressful home sale preparation.

Decluttering: A Must Do

 

When you’re moving out of one home and into another, it signifies a new phase in your life. That means you should get rid of the things from your “previous” life that you don’t want to bring into your new one.

 

If you have clothes that no longer fit or that you haven’t worn in years, there are plenty of people out there who could use the clothes you’re not wearing. And the same thing goes for hobbies you don’t participate in anymore or old paintings by your kids. Can’t bring yourself to throw out all the artwork? Go to an office supply store or an art store and buy an artist-sized expandable portfolio. They look like the ones you’d use for school, but bigger.

 

Buy one for each child (or grandchild). Only keep what you can fit in those portfolio folders. Now their precious works of art will be organized, and as a bonus, the plastic dividers keep them protected!

 

If you still need help cutting down on stuff, find a professional organizer in your area. You can hire them for a consultation, or just for an hour or two, and create a strategy you can then use on your own. These pros do charge $50 - $90 per hour, so make sure you can afford their services.

Play Neighborhood Detective

 

Find another house for sale in your neighborhood or general area. Find out when they’re holding their open house, and then make a plan to attend. That way you can head over and check out how the owners have staged and depersonalized their home to make it more attractive to buyers. This open house snooping, if you will, gives you ideas and inspiration for staging and depersonalizing your own home.

 

If you don’t have time to go in person or the houses you visited were empty, you can always do a bit of online reconnaissance with other homes in your area. Online listing sites will show you what those houses are going for in your area and give you an idea what you can list your home for when you’re ready. Their photos can also give you inspiration on how to stage your home and how to depersonalize it.

Staging and Depersonalizing: Your Turn!

 

Now that you’ve explored and have inspiration from surrounding homes, it’s your turn to get your house show-ready. The first thing you should do is take down all the art and photos from the walls. Does this make things a little drab? Sure, but buyers need to be able to imagine their items in your home when they visit. If you have built-in storage, pack that up next. Put the boxes in the garage or somewhere else out of sight.

 

Once your walls are bare, you can assess the shape of them. Is the paint discolored, or do you have decades’ old wallpaper that’s practically melted into the sheet rock? Rather than break out the paint cans and rollers, opt for wallpaper with water-activated adhesive. You can apply it quickly to cover damage and make your spaces look brand new, and it can be removed in case it’s not what a home shopper envisions once they make your home their own.

 

Finally, consider having a stager come into your home and place accessories or even new pieces of furniture in the right locations. If possible, have them take pictures on the same day as or right before you host your open house. That way you won’t have to pay for the staging service twice!

 

In the majority of cases, whatever you spend on market prep helps you get a higher offer price and helps your home sell faster. Those are two things everyone wants!

 

 https://ross-homes-noco.com/about-me




As a current resident in Northern Colorado, I am fully aware of the current market trends and what it takes to get a great deal on a listing or get top dollar for your current home. When it comes to getting the job done right, you can count on me.
I have a lot of connections within the Northern Colorado area. Please don’t hesitate to call and ask me any questions you might have. This process is all about you and your needs. Real Estate is a big investment and I understand that. One thing you will get with me is a personal relationship, In the end, that goes a long way.
 
Northern Colorado is a great place to live! For more information, please give me a ring or email me today. I would love the opportunity to earn your business and partner with you in regards to your Real Estate needs.



LOOKING TO BUY??
If you are looking to purchase, I can save you a lot of money, as much as 10% on the purchase and finance of your home. 

Contact me today to learn about ALL of my strategies to get you the BEST price for your home in the shortest possible time! 
 

SOURCE:  Mark Simons / LOCALIGRAF


Friday, January 8, 2021

Considering the Vacation Rental Market

 

Investment Tips for People Considering the Vacation Rental Market



The introduction and success of Airbnb and similar sites have made private vacation homes a fixture in the travel and hospitality industries. Many are taking advantage of the vacation rental market by purchasing homes in prime locations and offering their guests unforgettable experiences. If you are ready to take the plunge and enter into the vacation real estate market, then look no further. Below you will find some tips to help ensure you invest wisely.

 

Purchasing Property

 

The first step is research. As a first time investor, you’ll want to aim for a vacation home that is not only in a prime location but is sure to bring you enough revenue over expenses. While city centers may seem appealing, there’s also more competition in those areas, which means you have to keep rates low and you have high costs.

 

Seek the guidance of a knowledgeable Real Estate Professional who can help you pinpoint the right market, with high occupancy rates, moderate housing costs, and median mortgage rates that won’t leave you with a negative return on your investment. Before buying a vacation home, however, it’s important to know its true value. Consider the history of the home, the area (is it growing, declining or leveled out?), and use an online home value estimator to help you determine whether the home you’re buying is a true investment.

 

Costs

 

Along with costs associated with purchasing a vacation home, here are some additional costs you will need to plan for ahead of time:

 

     Property taxes

     Capital gain taxes/Income taxes (federal)

     Homeowner’s insurance (which may include an umbrella policy and flood insurance)

     Attorneys’ fees

     Moving expenses

     New furniture and appliances

     Smart tech (keyless locks, wireless thermostats, high-speed Wi-Fi, security cameras, smoke detectors, etc.)

     Property management

     Cleaning services/supplies

     Landscaping

     Mortgage payments

 

Your rental rates should not only correlate to the value of the property and location, but they should also cover your costs as well.

 

Managing the Property

 

From the outset, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with all the time and costs that come along with managing your vacation rental. To save the 10 percent to 30 percent fee management companies charge, it’s possible to manage the home yourself. You can either choose to do all the work (including housekeeping, repairing, and marketing) or hire professionals to take on certain aspects of the management you don’t have the time or expertise for.

 

If you can afford to turn a certain percentage of your profits to a reputable management company that specializes in vacation rentals in your area, then the return may supersede the cost. The management company could weigh in on the best marketing for your home/location, as well as ensure that the property is secured and maintained, that all your guests have the right amenities and supplies, and that rental pricing is not too low or too high.

 

Forming an LLC

 

Most real estate investment companies decide that in order to protect their personal assets it’s best to establish themselves as a limited liability company. In order to create an LLC, you’ll need to either go through a tedious process of paperwork filing or hire an attorney or online formation service to get things started.

 

The Backup Plan

 

The short-term vacation rental market is still uncharted territory; laws and regulations are currently being formed around the industry. The real estate and travel industries fluctuate, and with the uncertainty in the short-term rental market, you should have a back-up plan for the property. Choose a rental home in slow seasons that you can use as a vacation home yourself (bonus: there are tax benefits to this as well). Be sure to choose a location that ensures you’ll break even or make a profit if you need to sell. Finally, a short-term rental that you can easily make into a long-term rental, if you desire, is optimal.

 

Real estate is a smart investment. Investing in real estate as a short-term vacation rental will not only safeguard your money, but it also has the added benefit of bringing in income. Do your research and use all available resources to choose a great property in an optimal location. Determine all the costs associated with renting a vacation home, and with that knowledge, determine how much income you’ll need to cover the cost — including property management. If you’re looking for a great way to enter into real estate investment that can provide you with many low-risk opportunities, vacation rentals could be the next step for you.

 

For the best real estate agent in Northern Colorado, contact Paul Ross or ross-homes-noco.com.

 

Photo Credit: Unsplash

SOURCE: Tina Martin / ideaspired.com


Friday, January 1, 2021

Should You Hire a Cleaning Service

 


Should You Hire a Cleaning Service When Selling a Home?






Selling a house comes with a lot of costs: real estate commissions, repairs, taxes. So when it comes to getting your home professionally cleaned, it’s tempting to DIY to save some cash. But not only is deep cleaning time-consuming, sellers who skimp on professional cleaning might not get the results their buyers are hoping for. If you’re debating whether a cleaning service is worth your hard-earned money, here’s what you need to know.

 

Partner with Paul Ross at Resident Realty for all your real estate needs! Complete this form or call 970-217-3245 to schedule an appointment.

Q: How important is cleanliness when selling a home?

 

A: A lot of factors affect your home’s sales price. In addition to local market conditions, these are some things that influence an offer:

 

6 Things That Turn Off Homebuyers

The Best Day to List Your Home

Agents Say Staging Decreases Market Time, Boosts Sales Price

Curb Appeal Now Has a Number Value

Q: What should sellers clean before listing a home?

 

A: Cleaning house sounds easy enough — until you realize everything that needs to be done. These are the major tasks on a home seller’s to-do list.

 

What Are the House Cleaning Expectations When a Seller Moves?

27 Decluttering Jobs You Must Do if You Want to Sell Your Home

Don't Sell a Smelly House

9 Quick Fixes for a Faster Home Sale

How to Clean Windows

Q: Is professional cleaning expensive?

 

A: Most sellers who shy away from professional cleaning services are worried about cost, but meeting buyers’ expectations is less expensive than you might think. Use these resources to learn more.

 

Is Hiring a Home Cleaning Service or Maid Worth It?

House Cleaning Prices and Rates

7 Tips for Hiring a Cleaning Service

 

Professional cleaning may not be cheap, but when you’re selling a home, it’s worth every penny. When you invest in professional house cleaning, you can list your home knowing you’re putting your best foot forward.

 



ARTICLE COURTESY OF Tina Martin / Ideaspired