Real Estate
Nevada County real estate sales are still hot, even in the “off” season!
Autumn in Nevada County is pretty spectacular. From the gorgeous fall colors, to the many fun events, we have an awful lot to offer! Buyers know this, and are still looking to purchase homes during this time of year.
There are some things you can do to spice up your home for Fall showings. Who doesn’t like a warm and inviting home on a chilly day? Set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature. Coming into a warm home on a blustery day feels SO good. Your potential buyers will equate this to your home being comforting and welcoming. A nice and inviting food scent such as fresh cookies or apple pie can create a nice homey environment too. You don’t need to bake, there are plenty of “warmer” products on the market to help out with this.
Curb appeal is so important during Fall because the trees are shedding their leaves. Those glorious colors end up on our lawns and can make an exterior appear messy and unkempt. Be sure to bag up those leaves and tidy them away. Buyers don’t want a lot of maintenance and piles of leaves on the front lawn reminds them of having to rake them up each year.
Make sure that all windows and doors have weather stripping or are tightly fit. Cold breezes blowing through the home during a showing can be a deal killer! Drafty homes mean high heating and cooling bills. Make sure everything is nice and sealed up so this doesn’t happen to you.
With the Fall season, we see shorter days, and less light. Make sure all of your lights are turned on and at their highest setting. This includes side table lamps. Most buyers want a light and bright home. Make sure you show them that even in the darker seasons, your home is light, bright and inviting!
Early frost or snow? Be sure to have the driveway and front stoop cleared for easy access. The last thing you want to happen is to have someone slip and fall while viewing your home! Also be sure to have a nice mat for people to wipe their feet on. You want to keep those carpets and floors to stay sparkling so make it as easy as possible and offer a nice space for cleaning off shoes.
Try to look around your home with an eye for clutter. Holiday ornaments, personal photos and items, and any additional clutter should be tidied away. You want potential buyers to focus on how their possessions can fit in your home, and not be distracted by yours. This is very, very important. Give them an “open canvas” so they can see themselves and their friends and family in the space.
All of this will go a long way towards helping you sell your home in the Fall and Winter months. If you are looking to list your homes in Alta Sierra, or the surrounding communities, please contact us. We would love to help you achieve your real estate goals!
Real Estate
Gorgeous Alta Sierra Home For Sale!
As you pull in the driveway, the 2 story home greets you with a traditional feel. The breeze-way is extra large with space for dining or pets. Mud room offers kids and hobbyist access to a bathroom and laundry when they return from playing in the large back yard. Lots of room for gardening. Inside this updated home you will find the Master Bedroom off the living room on the main level. Two additional bedrooms, 1 bath and a bonus area upstairs. Large back deck great for grilling and entertaining. Home has recent paint and nice updates.
This Alta Sierra Home for sale is 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and sits on .57+/- Acres. Be sure to contact us if you would like to view this home, or any other Nevada County homes for sale.
Important News and Info, Real Estate
Avoid these costly mistakes!
The kitchen is one area of the home that sees the most wear and tear. All the water, heat, and food spills add up quickly so it’s important to focus on quality and lasting appeal when you’re choosing materials for a kitchen remodel. Here are a few things you should avoid:
Cheap Laminate Countertops: The bottom rung of laminate is extremely susceptible to wear and tear. It can melt if you forget to place a hot pad under a pan that’s fresh out of the oven and the edges can chip off from repeated exposure to moisture and heat.
Flat Paint: A flat or matte finish is great in rooms with lower traffic, but it’s a bad idea in the kitchen where the walls are regularly exposed to splatters and spills. You need paint that can withstand an occasional heavy scrubbing, so opt for gloss or semi-gloss finishes.
Trendy Backsplash: If you watch any home remodeling show, you’ll certainly see kitchens with expensive, elaborate backsplash designs and materials. Those trends can be pricey to pursue and can look dated in a hurry. Subway tile is a cheaper, classic option that you’ll never regret, plus you’ll have more room in your budget to purchase quality materials to be used elsewhere.
Cheap Flooring: Just like the countertops, your kitchen floor needs to be strong enough to take some abuse. Cheap flooring easily scuffs and peels (especially from moisture). Quality flooring is worth the investment.
Nevada County home buyers are accustomed to quality and can spot the above quickly. You don’t have to purchase top of the line materials, but be sure to purchase durable ones. Always go neutral and avoid loud bright colors as your buyer may not have the same tastes in decor.
If you would like a comparative market analysis for your home, please contact us! We have buyers actively searching for homes in Nevada County and we would love to show you our marketing plan!
Important News and Info, Lifestyle, Real Estate
Selling your home in Nevada County can feel like a daunting task. With the right agents, and by following a few “rules” it can be not only easy, but pleasant as well! The info graphic to the right is an excellentstarting point for what some turn-offs for sellers are.
Stained and/or damp patches on ceilings and walls.
Painting is one of the most affordable updates you can do for your home. Clean walls in neutral colors can not only make the home feel new, but it helps buyers envision their possessions in this space.
It’s important to resolve any leaks prior to painting. If you need a referral for a repair service, let us know.
Odors
Odors can also be mitigated by painting. Cleaning or replacing carpets may be necessary as well depending on the strength and source of the odors. While this seems like an expense, it can not only be the difference on if your home sells, but how quickly, and for how much.
Dull Lighting
Dull or dim lighting can be a huge turn off for buyers. Even a dark house can be well-lit with the right wattage of bulbs. The new LED style bulbs are excellent as they save money while providing the same, or even more light than a standard incandescent bulb. Also, make sure drapes and blinds are open in all areas to bring in more natural lighting as well.
Outdated Bathrooms
Out dated bathrooms with stained sinks, bathtubs, showers and floors are a huge turn off. Sometimes something as simple as new faucets and a new light fixture can be all that is needed to update and beautify this space. Also, make sure there is plenty of light in the bathroom as well. Also, install a nice smelling scent dispenser like a plugin or essential oil diffuser to help with unpleasant odors.
Cluttered Rooms
Cluttered rooms can kill a sale very quickly. A potential buyers needs to be able to not only comfortably walk through your home, but also not be distracted by too many photos, knickknacks and decor. If they can’t see the floors and the walls because of too much stuff, they cannot envision how they would use the space. Counters and tables should be cleared, art work should be kept neutral, and to a minimum, and corners need to be cleared. Put the shoes in the closet, and keep throw blankets out of sight as well. Less is more!
Over The Top Decor
This also falls in with clutter. Even if orange is your favorite color, cover the walls with a more neutral shade of paint. Keep the cheetah prints, furry rugs and pillows and things of that nature tidied away. Too many distractions will chase a potential buyer out the door very quickly!
Thinking of selling your home in Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley or the surrounding areas?
Give us a call and we will be happy to not only meet with you, but share more secrets on a quick sale! We have buyers waiting for homes to come on the market, so give us a call today! We would love to show you what our Sierra Lifestyle Team can do!
Important News and Info, Real Estate
This is home that has something for everyone. This Grass Valley home features 4 bedrooms, one of which is attached to the garage with privacy and it own bath. This is perfect for hosting guests with privacy or to use as space for office, hobby room or more (Includes murphy bed).
This home offers a 2 car attached garage plus an additional garage/shop in the back that was set up complete with piped air compressor, wood stove and more!
RV parking and a circular drive leaves lots of parking options for entertaining and family gatherings.
A huge back deck great for grilling, relaxing outdoors and entertaining. The back deck offers easy no stair access into the homes main living and dining area. Relax on the large covered front deck and enjoy tree top Nevada County views.
This is a rare opportunity to own a Nevada County home at a great price! This listing is sure to go quickly. If you are looking to vacation where you live, Grass Valley is the place to be!
To view this home, or any other homes for sale in Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley or surrounding areas, please contact us. We look forward to helping with all of your real estate needs!
Real Estate
Selling a home in Nevada County
Your home has been listed for some time, but no offers yet. How do you know when to reduce your list price, or not?
Is today the right time to reduce the price? This is a question we commonly come across when a home has not sold. There are several things to look at before reducing the list price of your home.
#1 How long has the home been on the market?
#2 What is the condition of the home?
#3 What have touring conditions been like (weather, etc)?
#4 What features or challenges does the home present? Driveway, landscaping, neighborhood, dated, in need of cleaning/painting etc.
#5 What are other homes in the immediate area, competitively priced, that are either sold or pending?
We walk our sellers through all above information and more.
Some items that can only be fixed with a lower price are location, neighborhood and conditions due to significant deferred maintenance.
We recently reduced a home that has a driveway that can be a challenge for some and yard that needs a creative eye to make it something special. However the home has a lot of square footage and could be used as 2 units to create rental income. The new price reduction brings an attractive price to the current market to get the home sold for the sellers.
Check out this listing #20163079, now the BEST priced property in Alta Sierra.
If living in Nevada County with beautiful tree top views is something you are looking for, you will for sure want to tour this home. This home offers 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 kitchens and more. There are two separate livable units perfect for in-laws or additional income.
