Put Your Pets On the Stage?

I just read an article titled Can You Stage the Household Dog? By Melissa Tracey in Realtor Magazine. I had to laugh when I read about arriving at a listing to be greeted by a slobbering German Shepherd. Have you ever noticed that at most home viewings, there’s not even a hint that a pet lives there? The chew toys are out of sight, along with the dog bed, and certainly there’s no sign of a litter box. Where is the cat? Where is the dog? What is that scented candle trying to cover up?

The author’s solution? Don’t hide the pets --- stage them! Make sure they are well groomed and contained in the laundry room with a sign letting prospective buyers know that they were in residence. Sounds like a great idea until I imagine my terrierists cooperating at a viewing.

Anyway, it’s worth thinking about as a strategy to deal with the pet issue in a straightforward way. Some realtors in New York City use “designer dogs” to help sell properties to prospective buyers who own their own pets. So maybe your pet is a plus in the home selling process – not a negative. And there’s a good chance that a pet owner will be the buyer for your home.

Temperature's Risin'

46 Camino Barranca has a fabulous pool!

Spring temperatures are not the only thing that's heating up around Placitas. Yesterday the thermometer reached 74 degrees, but the real news is the way the real estate market is heating up. Fifteen properties have gone into pending sales since January 1, 2012 and 12 properties have closed in the same time period. Considering that Spring has barely sprung, it looks like we will be keeping very busy. If you're looking to get into the real estate market or to sell, now is a great time to come talk to us at La Puerta Real Estate, LLC. Happy Spring everyone!

Top Ten Home Improvements

It may not be David Letterman worthy, but if you're considering improvements/changes in order to sell your home, the following improvements are considered the most beneficial in their rate of return.

1) Lighten and brighten -- 769% return

2) Clean and de-clutter -- 594% return

3) Fix plumbing/electrical -- 196% return

4) Landscape and trim -- 266% return

5) Staging -- 169% return

6) Paint interior walls -- 63% return

7) Kitchen/bath upgrades -- 138% return

8) Repair flooring -- 50% return

9) Paint exterior walls -- 34% return

10) Replace carpeting -- 39% return