Many people have been thinking about relocating over the long Winter, whether it’s buying a new home in Idaho or selling their current home, it seems like Spring is the time when things really “start to happen”…buy why wait? Why not get the jump on things NOW? Well, there’s a lot going on during Spring! You’re barely caught up from the new year, taxes, and then Spring Break! Next thing you know it’s mid-July and you’re wondering if you’re ever going to move. If you’re on the fence about things we’ve put together some good reasons why you might not want to wait for the grass to start growing to make your move.

No Better Time Than NOW
That’s the case with a lot of things, and really even if you’re not ready to even start looking for a new home, or selling your current one, there’s still plenty you can do right NOW to work towards things. If you’re buying start checking out the area you plan to move to; if you’re selling start cutting back the clutter before time to pack.

The Market is Moving
Real estate doesn’t care about the weather. Sure, if you live in a remote region the snow will likely keep prospective buyers away but hopefully your Idaho real estate professional has created an evergreen marketing campaign so it stays at the forefront of people’s minds over the cold months. Don’t rest on your laurels in the “slow season”, if anything crank up your efforts to either find your own new place or to get yours sold – because the market is still moving even if you’re not ready to yet!

The Early Bird?
They say the early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese. Sometimes it’s about lasting power, about just being there, and staying there. If you’re buying, you simply can not start early enough looking and planning to find your Idahome. If you’re selling time is also of the essence because it will move faster than you think!

Either way, the best thing to do is establish a connection with an experienced and knowledgeable Idaho real estate professional, like me! So let’s get acquainted – contact me about your home needs, ideas, and dreams so we can start making them a reality today!

Spring has sprung in Idaho! And while traditionally Spring is always a time when the real estate market begins to tick up there is some uncertainty in the industry here in the Treasure Valley. Low inventory and high prices have maintained over the cold months, but we could be in for more than a thaw!

One thing to keep in mind is that if you’re already thinking of selling there’s no reason to not be getting ready to sell now. That means making sure things like your credit score are in order, finding a Idaho real estate agent you like working with, and of course starting to get your home prepared to list.

If you’re not having to relocate due to work or life changes you may be asking whether it even makes sense to be thinking about selling – the answer is YES. With inventory being as low as it is you have unprecedented leverage in the market, and by all signs interest rates will not stay low.

You might also be thinking of selling because you’ve had offers on your home, offers you couldn’t even believe, and if you’ve been unhappy where you are this may be the sign you’ve been looking for that it’s time to make the move.

If you’ve been thinking about it, if you just aren’t sure if it’s time, or even sure what you might get for your home we can help! Get a FREE market analysis of your home right here or get in touch today!

Relocating is one of the biggest decisions you can face, whether it be across just moving across town or across the country, it can be a daunting task to even think about. Packing. Shutting off services. Work. Finding things in a new place…Before you overwhelm yourself with worry you should know the good news is that you have experienced home professionals close at hand to help you along the way. We’ve put together a few tips that will help you prepare for relocating before you even start considering making a move!

Think About a Yard Sale
Maybe several of them! Having less stuff means having less stuff to move, so even if relocating might be something not on the books until next year you can start making that process easier by getting rid of things you might not need this season.

Think About Visiting Your New Town
If you already have some idea where you will be moving to it never hurts to start touring the area. You’ll likely get somewhat familiar just in your home search, but make sure that you add some intentional destinations to your list as well – important things like hospitals, city offices, and coffee! If you’ll be relocating across country you could even take a mini-vacation there in advanced to scope out potential new favorite places to get excited about.

Think About Starting a List
It can seem like the most nerdy thing you’ll ever do, but start making a list. This should be a list not only of tasks to complete before you move but also items to include in the move itself. Consider getting a dedicated planner so that you have plenty of room to take notes and keep track of important progress, especially once the real estate transactions begin. Having a clear, drawn out idea of what you need to do can be an invaluable tool in getting things done.

Most of all know that you don’t have to go it alone! We’re here to help you at every step of the way, from finding your new place, or selling your current one, and even just helping you get to know town.

A thousand and one things go into selling your home quickly and for the best price; unfortunately that means there’s at least a few hundred things that can sabotage things as well. To help you get your home ready for sale we’ve put together a few of the little things that you may not have thought about that can throw a wrench into the selling process.

A Bad Yard
Dead grass, dog piles, and general unkempt appearances in your yard can really stop things in their tracks – especially if it’s the front yard. Make sure to spend a little time getting the outside of your home looking good as well as the inside.

Cobwebs
Speaking of the outside of your house! Spiders are great for keeping bugs away, but they can scare away buyers too. If people see a bunch of cobwebs and dead bugs everywhere it can be a bit of a concern. A quick dusting or soft wash of your home can really make a big difference.

Clutter
Clothes piled on the couch, boxes stacked in corners, and just general clutter make spaces feel smaller and more cramped. Make sure you clear surfaces of personal items and anything that may detract from the open feeling of the home. Consider using organizer cubes, or move things into the garage while showing the home.

No Furniture Feng Shui
It may seem silly but having your furniture arranged awkwardly can make it hard for potential buyers to envision themselves in the space. While you don’t have to hire a home stager (necessarily) you may want to consider how your furniture creates a flow through the home and remove any bulky pieces. You may love your fuzzy footstool and Chicago Cubs food tray beside the couch, but unless it’s included with the house you may want to go ahead and clear them out as it may not be to the buyers taste.

These may seem like little things, but they can add up. Most importantly you want to present your home in a manner that allows prospective buyers to be able to see themselves living there. If you’re having trouble getting your home ready to sell, or just don’t know where to start get in touch!

For most of the country Spring has sprung and the season is well on it’s way! Mother Nature is busy at work sprucing up and you should be too; as overwhelming as it can seem there’s no need to panic over the clutter. We’ve put together some great tips to help you get on top of the seasonal home honey-do list!

Change Your Air Filter
This one is bigger than you think! Regularly changing your home air filter not only keeps the air you breathe cleaner but it can help your air systems work more efficiently – saving you money!

Open Your Vents
If you live in a home with foundation vents this is the time to open them up! Opening your foundation vents allows cooler air to pass beneath your home helping your AC systems not have to work as hard.

Tackle the Yard
The yard can seem like a huge task, so pick just one task a day, or even one task per week, to take on. Rake the leaves today, next time trim the bushes, the next time do the edging.

Open the Windows
As the temperatures are still cool in the morning and evenings it’s an opportune time to get some fresh air in the home. Opening windows clears out dust and stale air and sunlight can even have anti-bacterial properties.

Hopefully these simple tips will help inspire you!
Don’t let the things around the house take over – you can tackle any of these tasks if you just take them one at a time.

Make Your Home Cozy This Winter!

Winter is quickly on its way and for a big part of the country it looks like it might be a cold one! There is always plenty to do around the house, and getting ready for Winter kicks that into high gear. While there are any number of things most home owners know to do at this point – like closing foundation vents, and servicing the furnace – we’ve put together a different list! Our list here is more about adding to the COZY factor of your home – so let’s get to it!

Add Area Rugs
They really tie the room together for one thing, but otherwise they can also add a layering effect to your home decor. You have Winter coats that you put on just for the season; area rugs can be much the same for your home – just a little different pattern to enjoy and add to your visual pleasure.

Bring In Scents
It’s easy to over-do, so be careful! But adding a few scented cedar candles or having some cinnamon spices simmering fill your home with the most amazing fragrance and believe it or not that alone can lift your whole mood!

Upgrade Your Fuzziness
Winter is a harsh time so it’s a good idea to up the fuzzy factor in your home! Get those plush throw pillows, drape a super soft blanket over the recliner. Adding soft, warm fabrics to your living spaces helps keep things cozy.

Change The Lighting
No, not just the direction the ceiling fan spins, although that is a good tip too, but rather the lights itself. Whether it be just having more candles lit in the room you’re in, adding a lamp shade, or changing to a softer wattage bulb, changing the illumination in a space can really change the mood. Think warm!

There are any number of things you can do to your home once you’re in it to make it all you want it to be! As your real estate professional I want to be here for you long after the paperwork is done – if you have questions or ideas about your home don’t hesitate to get in touch. And if your home is one of the things you’re looking to change let’s talk!

In recent months, with the rise of the corona virus here in America working from home has become an immediate reality for a lot of people; many more are considering it as an option the longer things go on. It can be hard to find the headspace to work at home without an actual physical space to do so, but it can be done! We’ve put together some ideas for carving out a workspace in your home office to help.

Backyard Boutique
Most people forget about outside of their home when they’re thinking about available space. With bluetooth and wifi readily available these days there’s no reason you can’t set up outside on your patio for the perfect outside office. Some say working outdoors in the sunshine can even improve creativity. There are even ready-built modular room systems so you can plug and play your own She Shed with ease!

Double Duty
The ole reliable guest bedroom! If you have a spare bedroom it is the ideal, go-to option for a home office solution. Plenty of available room with good privacy, the trick is to make sure it stays able to be used when company does drop in.

Closet Hideaway
An extra hallway closet or linen cubby can often easily be converted into a great space to get work done. Depending on your tasks you may not need a ton of room, so a simple fold down table or corner may be perfect.

The important thing is to look at the space you have and re-imagine its potential. The corner of a room can become a platform for your corporate success, it just takes a little work. Maybe it’s time to look for a bigger home? We can help with that too!

If you’ve even thought about real estate at some point you’ve likely heard the old tried and true: “Location! Location! Location!”…well, it’s a great saying and location is definitely a big factor, but it’s no longer the be all end all factor that it once was.

What is? These days it should go more like Location, Condition, and PRICE. Confused? What changed? Don’t worry, we’ll lay it all out for you here below…

Location of course is still the first and foremost thing people consider, no one wants to have the perfect place that’s 2 hours from town, uphill both ways, on bad roads with no street lights. But fact is, you can’t change the location of listings any more than the real estate agent can – so it might be one of the items to have a little wiggle room on.

Condition! This is the keystone thing. The home can be in the perfect spot, corner lot and close to everything…but if it’s a total dump do you want it? Sure, there’s “good bones” but do you want – and are you really prepared – to move and then have months of updates and construction to deal with? Likely not. Just the same, there’s wiggle room here too as you can always work with a basic home and really get a lot of return.

Price. Yes! This is the one everyone is concerned about. If it’s in the perfect spot, and in good condition, but is way out of your budget it’s no good after all. While there’s no getting blood from a stone you can find ways to negotiate, especially if you’re working with an experience REALTOR.

Location may have been all it was about in the old days, but there are so many more available properties being built, with more every day, and that means more options for buyers. As you can imagine, it’s really best when these three factors all come together in equal amounts – the right home in the right place in good condition at a fair price. If you’re struggling to find home, or just don’t know where to start get in touch today to see what can do done to get you on the right road home!

With Spring time quickly approaching many homeowners have already started looking into the prospect of selling their home on the fresh market. It’s always a good idea to take a look down the road and plan early for this transition before it’s time to make the move…and of course, when you sell you want to get the most back for your investment.

Good news! We’ve put together 3 renovations that will help you not only get that home sold FAST but also likely for even MORE in your pocket…

PAINT!
There’s nothing quite like some fresh color to breathe new life into things! You will be amazed at how this most simple of changes can make a big impact. You can certainly do this on your own and save a few bucks but it never hurts to at least check into a professional painter – they’ll have insight into the latest color trends and more.

The Master Bath…Or Shower!
A dark, drab bathroom is no way to show things off; considering the large amount of time we will spend in this room over the years it really makes sense that you want it to look nice. This can be as easily done as some fresh paint and fixtures or all new cabinets and tiles – a little goes a long way!

Quartz Counter Tops
Quartz has been a hot trend for a few years and in 2020 it’s tops! This material is a great choice as it is strong, durable, as well as easy to maintain. New styles of quartz are even able to mimic the patterns and textures of marble for an extra rich detail. Even if you don’t go quartz you may want to redo your counter tops if they’re looking outdated. The kitchen after all is one of the other rooms we spend most of our time in!

Don’t know where to start? Know you need to sell your home but feel completely lost? Don’t Panic! We can help – just get in touch!

Just because the hot hot hot real estate market of Summer is over and people are focusing on school and the coming holidays doesn’t mean the chance to sell your home is gone too!

No! Truth be told, these Autumn months are often when people turn towards the warm thoughts of home even more, making it a great time to sell!

To help you decide if selling your home this Fall is the right time we’ve put together some great things to consider!

There’s Less Inventory
Traditionally there is less inventory in the cooler months, this means buyers will be more keenly interested in what offerings do come available – making it a good time to list!

Buyers Are Motivated
Less inventory, a timeline of potential weather changes and holidays…all these things motivate buyers to find a home and get in it before the snow flies. Despite what some may think all of these things factor in to make Fall a great time to sell!

Fall Colors Make Everyone Look Good
Beautiful colors, the fabulous sunsets for contrast – Fall really can make things look great! Take advantage, be sure to keep your yard neat and include seasonal touches of color in your decorating. A warm home that smells of sweet apple spice never hurts either!

Don’t think that just because Summer is over that you can’t sell! Working with an experienced real estate professional can make all the difference no matter what time of year it is – find out, get in touch!