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Is winter a good time?

"Don't worry Sam, with all of this snow we wouldn't even think about selling the house now...would we?"

Cache Valley has had record amounts of snow this year and it's only the end of January. It seems like the kids are home from school way too often because not even the buses are a match for our winter weather. Our driveways have mountains of snow piled on either side and we are left to wonder where we will stack the next big snowfall when it's time to clear the drive.  So of course the thought of selling your home seems like "crazy talk".  But is it?

Over the last four years the greatest influx of the number of homes for sale has been in the 2nd quarter.  So if the trend persists, many people will be gearing up to list their homes in between the months of May and June.  Similarly, the median home price for homes "sold" was regularly highest during the 2nd quarter of those years. What most people may not consider is that for a listing to close during that time, because of the delay in lending, the homes need to be listed around 6 weeks prior to the desired closing date. So it seems logical to try to be a bit ahead of the curve by having your home on the market earlier.  That way the sale can close during the 2nd quarter and you can take advantage of those higher returns.

If you are considering listing your home this year, like most people you will wait until Spring to get the house cleaned up and ready for your agent to list.  But what if you started a couple of months earlier and beat the rush?  This year more than any other, Cache Valley has a shortage of listings; even for the first quarter of the year.  In the last four years the average number of listings during the first quarter has been around 450 homes.  This year we are hovering around 220!  Doesn't it seem rational to get your home out there on that market before your listing has to compete with at least double the number of homes?  Historically homes sell for more money per square foot when there are fewer homes to compete with.  So if you are hoping for a top dollar return on the investment you have made in your home, the earlier you get it on the market the better.  

Are people willing to brave the weather and get out and look at homes that are currently listed?  Honestly, that depends on the situation.  Older people are much less likely to be "out and about" looking at homes during inclement weather. The people who are most likely to get out and see what is available are those who need to move right away because of a job change, and people who are hoping to sell their own home during the "peak" second quarter. So will your home be shown during the first quarter?  Absolutely!  The number of times your home is viewed per week may be affected considering the lower inventory, but it is also possible that it won't need to be shown as many times because people are aware that there is more competition to buy the limited number of available homes .

There are some good things about selling during the winter and obviously some challenging things that go along with that.  For example, during the winter buyers get a good feel for how well the home is insulated and heated but on the other side they can't see all of the beautiful perennials you have planted in your yard.  That is easily overcome by prominently displaying pictures of your yard taken during the summer months.  In this case a picture is absolutely worth a thousand words.  After showings, you may have to deal with some melted snow on your floors but conversely you may well have many fewer showings and be getting more money per square foot for your trouble.

There are many things to consider when getting ready to sell your home and this is just another element.  With all of these things in mind, when someone asks me, "is winter a good time to sell my home?"  My answer is most definitely!  Especially if you have the right agent on your side, winter can be one of the most profitable times to sell your home.  So if you have a home in Cache Valley and you are thinking about selling; give me or one of the great agents of Century 21 Nixon and Nixon a call.  We can help!

If I had a Million Dollars...

What kind of home would you buy if you had over a million to spend?  Would it have a movie theater, a basketball court, a swimming pool?  What kind of details would you expect?  How much land would you want?  If it were in Cache Valley where would you want your $1,000,000.00 home built?

Today I had the opportunity to tour a Million Dollar home and I took photos to share with you.  This property is currently available to purchase so as we explore, consider taking advantage of the opportunity to make this home your own.

Please excuse the cars in the drive...just note that you can have A LOT of cars in this drive all at once.

As we go through the home, keep in mind that it was built for an Engineer who took pride in making sure that the home is exceptionally well built.  I will include some of the highlights that you can't see as we explore the beauty that you can see.  Like this tidbit...the frame of the whole house is cross tied with galvanized metal providing high resistance in the case of an earthquake.  If you are going to have a million dollar home you certainly want to make sure it is protected as well as it can be from potential disaster.

The entry is light, open and very grand.

Would you believe this home is 20 years old?  The owners have lovingly cared for every inch of it inside and out.  

A gorgeous custom etched glass and brass hand rail adorns the staircase.

A very presidential looking (oval-ish) office.  Just imagine the kind of things you could accomplish in that environment! (FYI - most of the furnishings are available for purchase with the house).

There are four custom fireplaces in this home, each built in a way to maximize their ability to provide warmth both physically and visually.

Sorry, I only captured 3 of the 4 fireplaces on camera today.

A wonderful place to gather family and friends alike...

The outdoor features of this home are extraordinary.  So indulge me as we explore the grounds.

Your ears are delighted by the soft sound of trickling water from three different fountains strategically placed around the grounds.  The love birds are particularly charming.

There are several areas from which to enjoy the lush landscape including two wrought iron balconies.

A shaded escape to enjoy some solitude...

The exquisite view from front Juliette balcony.

An all white gazebo graces the back yard.

There is plenty of room to add that pool should you desire, however the grounds are so outstanding you may not want to.  Let me point out here that all water coming off of the 7800 square foot roof is carried away to high capacity underground rock filled dry wells.  Perforated pipe is laid in the gravel completely surrounding the house to prevent any possible window well water protecting the whole house during wet seasons.

Rounding out our tour of the grounds is a look at the ultimate playhouse...

Don't be surprised when you send the kids outside to play and they don't come back in for a while...a long while.

Up to the right in the picture above you can see the entrance to the tunnel that leads to the slide area outside.

What playhouse would be complete without a couple of chairs to relax in on the porch?

Yes those are real flowers planted in the window box of the playhouse:)

Shall we finish up with a peek at the master bath and kitchen?

As you can tell with 9900 square feet of living space, there is a lot to see and a lot I didn't show you.  While this home may lack a few features that are often typical of a modern high-end home, (Viking range, home theater room, spa), it's smart engineering and gracious architecture more than make up for it.  This is a home built to endure and would cost far more than the asking price to recreate new.  There certainly is ample space to add any amenities or extras that your heart may desire.

If this home speaks to you, (and you happen to have access to $1,000,000.00 or so) let me know and I would love to show you this singular home in person.  It is a home that has been cherished and now awaits a new owner to enjoy it's luxuries.

Elegance is achievable...

In honor of the annual Cache Valley Parade of Homes which begins today (Sept. 4-6, and 11-13) we will be taking a look at a Parade worthy home.  It is certainly the most prestigious home featured on this blog as of yet and has some stunning features.  As we explore this home I want to focus on two points...One: how can those of us with smaller homes make upgrades and design decisions that will help our homes be Parade worthy?  and Two: what lessons can be learned from a Parade type home for those who are hoping to sell?

Elegant and timeless are some adjectives we will see aptly describe this home inside and out.  Consider making choices when decorating that will fall under those headings.  Let's talk about some of them. 

From the crown molding to the box newel to the hardwood floors this home has good bones; meaning the architectural structure itself is interesting.  It takes intention to add these elements to new construction, as they are not typically standard.  As we go through the home you will notice that the architecture is the main element that delivers the elegant feel.  

Ahh...the kitchen.  Isn't it glorious?  What do you notice is the standout feature of this room?  Hard to come up with a solid answer?  That's why it works so well...it's cohesive.  The island is a different color cabinetry, which is ideal in this setting to give some variety but notice it is still a classic material choice.  Right now there is a trend toward mixing up cabinetry colors and styles.  Use caution when choosing cabinetry, it can quickly date your kitchen which is the most valuable (as in cost per square foot) room in your home.  

Notice the main pop of color in this kitchen is the pottery which can be changed out easily and inexpensively.  Think of the choices in finish work in your home as your little black dress, and the light fixtures and accessories are the jewelry and shoes.  You can get creative with these and change them up fairly easily unless you get wild with your LBD and forgo the black and go for robin's egg blue knotty alder. Not that that wouldn't be pretty...just that eventually it becomes the equivalent of a brown corduroy suit.  So in terms of timelessness and elegance, stick to using trendy colors and materials only in accessories and light fixtures and maybe the hardware.

If you are building or thinking about selling consider spending a little bit and adding some molding around doorways, windows, and even on the walls.  It adds an element of interest and depth.  This white on white trim is beautiful and defines the space.  Imagine that we took out the transom windows, lowered the mantle and eliminated the molding underneath it as well as the molding on the walls.  Can you see the difference those few items make?  I know the cost of these items can add up, but if you are handy you can save a ton of money by doing it yourself. I have used a miter saw to create some molding and found it pretty exhilarating and not all that difficult.  Forgo buying furniture for a while in favor of investing in the structure of your home first.

  

Another example of the use of muted paint and finish work to create a serene backdrop ready for ornamentation through colorful pillows, rugs and artwork.  Alternatively, imagine this room strict drywall...painted turquoise.   No don't...it hurts.

So is wallpaper okay?  Yes, in classic designs and colors.  This wallpaper adds texture yet remains unobtrusive and soothing.  The exception is a wallpaper border. It's never a good choice unless you personally LOVE it and plan on never selling.  If it  is already in your home and you want to sell, take it down before you list the home or risk the stigma of having the house with the bad decor.  Even if it is only in one room that is what will be remembered and it brings down the value in the mind of the buyer because of the time and effort the buyer imagines he will have to invest to remove it.

This room illustrates how the use of decorative molding on only a portion of the wall elevates the room from so-so to special.  A little really does go a long way.  Remember, if you want elegance and timeless to be adjectives used to describe your home steer clear of bright colors on the walls.  It is very hard to make a jolly rancher green colored room look polished without employing the artistic talents of a professional designer.  I have walked through many nice homes that have paint color choices that literally reduce the home's value.  When getting ready to sell; be willing to invest $150 to paint a neutral color like this one and your return will be many times the money spent.

Go ahead and make choices in your home that inspire you, that encourage you to be at peace and to relax.  And when it comes time to move on, be flexible and willing to make changes if needed to neutralize and harmonize what is happening in your decor.  Timeless and elegant will ensure a good return on your investment.

A big thank you to Paul and Kezia  for the peek into their gorgeous home!  If you are taking advantage of the opportunity to view this years Parade of Homes, watch for ideas that you can use to elevate your home to elegant status!

Character you can't build

I'm excited to introduce this week's home, a charming, updated "older" home in Hyde Park. 

Let me clarify what I mean when I talk about older homes; I am referring to homes built prior to 1970. This particular home was built in 1927.  It has had some additions since then, but the current home owners have lovingly renewed many of the original finishes and features. As we take a look at it, let's talk about the reasons an "older" home might be right for you...

Do you love to do yard work?  Are you a project person?  If not, mature landscaping is a very attractive feature when purchasing an established home.  This home has some gorgeous greenery and lots of spaces to get out and enjoy it.  While I have not checked the current prices for installing a sprinkler system, curbing, and planting hydro-seed or sod, I can tell you that it is a time consuming and costly venture.  Not to mention the time it takes to plant trees and wait for the time when they are big enough to finally provide shade...If you still happen to live in that house when the trees are grown.  Save time and money by purchasing a home with all of that done for you...and bring on the lemonade!

Do you love hardwood floors but balk at the $$$ per square foot to install it?  While not all older homes have hardwood, many do.  No need to get out the ball and chain...it most likely already has that broken in look that is so popular right now (and yes there are people who install hardwood and then proceed to have it distressed).   

Sorry, my picture of the floor doesn't give it justice.  No worries though, I will be hosting an open house at this home on Saturday August 23rd from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. so you can come and take a look at them in person.:)

There are some features of "older" homes that are hard to replicate even if you want to spend the money to try do so.  We like to call it character though I'm not sure what the exact definition of that word would be.  Just know there are things you have a hard time getting without the passing of large amounts of time. 

 Wood trimmed doors and windows, solid core doors, decorative door knobs, built in shelves, and transom windows are some of the unique features of this home.  Again each of these are considered upgrades in new construction.  If you don't have a huge budget but want to have the upgrades, buying an established home like this one might be right for you.

Beautiful windows with solid wood casing inside and storm windows to insulate outside.

Built in bookcase or display case in the sitting room.

Unique craftsman style door hardware.

Transom windows.  

Some might find in quirky but I like the bead board wall and ceiling of the enclosed back porch. Behind the door is a unique pantry too!

One of the great things about this home is that it has the feel of an "older" home with the conveniences of a new home including a huge master bedroom, updated kitchen with all the modern amenities, and updated plumbing and electrical work.  When making a choice between new construction and an established home you may want to compare the price per square foot to purchase vs. build.  The numbers might just knock your socks off!

Whether you are shopping for a home right now or not, come on down the path and take a look at this home on Saturday from 10-12 at 64 East 100 South in Hyde Park.  You might just realize the kind of treasure an older home can be.