1. First Impressions Definitely Matter.

The exterior of your home gives any potential buyers the first impression. You want the exterior of the property to be looking remarkable when the buyer arrives. Start by renting a power washer and washing the exterior of your home to get rid of any cobwebs, dirt, grime and oil stains in driveway. Make sure to remove any unused cars off the property. Focus your efforts on an attractive and inviting entry with a new welcome mat, potted plants, and flowers. If your front porch light is old and/or broken spend $30 and give it a facelift with a new fixture. Spruce up the landscaping, mow the grass, prune the trees and shrubs, and replace or replant where needed.  

2. Inspect the Exterior and Make Obvious Repairs.

Repair any peeling exterior paint or damaged siding, especially in the front of the home. Make sure the front door hinges and hardware work perfectly, and the doorbell too since one of the worst first impressions is a non-working doorbell. If for some reason you can’t get it to work, place a note over the doorbell that reads “Please Knock”. Sliders and doors all need to be oiled and working smoothly including the sliding screen doors too. You want that smooth transition from room to room and from indoor to outdoor living.  

3. Get a Pest Inspection.

This next suggestion is optional but is proven to prevent future headaches with the sale of your home. We recommend hiring a pest inspector to examine your home for termites and water damage and provide you with a report of any active problems with the property. Any future buyer will want the property inspected and you may end up with an inflated estimate for repairs from a potential buyer’s inspector so spend the money to hire your own inspector. Once you have your report, clear all (Section 1) problems. Hire a professional contractor to make the repairs if necessary and have the inspector return to clear the problems in the report. This inspection can be given to any buyer who makes an offer on your home.  

4. Empty the Garage.

This is my favorite recommendation for sellers because it’s one of the best tips for selling your home much quicker. A garage is typically the man’s space, but men and women always want to see if they have room to store their stuff and they will always look in the garage. A clean and empty garage is always attractive to future buyers, so rent a storage unit and take everything in the garage and put it in storage for a month or two. You can also use the storage unit for the decluttering, which is the next step.  

5. Clear the Clutter.

Difficult as it may be for any homeowner, it’s very important to declutter and depersonalize the entire house. Buyers need to be able to visualize their furniture and their possessions in your home and if you have too much of your stuff hanging around they won’t be able to do this. Less of your stuff in your house makes the room cleaner and larger and everything seems much calmer. A staged home is a good example of how much of your personalized possessions should be present – which is not much, especially in the main living areas. Less clutter enhances the architectural details or unique accents in your home too.  

6. Interior Sprucing.

Fresh paint on the walls is probably the best thing you can do to add appeal to the interior of the house for future buyers. Saturated colors on walls are less attractive than neutrals so as much as you love your lime green bedroom, consider painting it a gray, tan, or white so future buyers can envision their own color and art on the walls. Touch up the baseboards and trim too since dirty trim and scuffed up baseboards make a home look dingy. Clean the whole house including the windows and the carpets to rid the home of dust and odors and keep them fresh and clean until escrow closes. Hire a professional window washer or carpet cleaner if necessary.  

7. Price it Right.

Resist the urge to overprice your home especially in the current real estate market. Your personal attachment to your home may cause you to list the home for more than it’s worth, but you must be realistic about its true value. The ideal time for an offer is within the first 30 days, so setting the right price is key. If it’s priced too high, the home may not get showings, and you’ll be forced to reduce the price to leave buyers wondering what is wrong with your home. The best way to obtain the true market value of your home is to hire a real estate appraiser who can give you a good idea of a listing price based on comparable sales in your area, and they may know even more about the real value of your home than your agent or broker.  

8. Hire the Right Broker.

Find a real estate listing broker who has experience in your market, who responds to your calls right away and communicates with you in a trustworthy manner. Once you have selected your broker, make sure that they are aware of all the selling points of your home such as upgraded appliances, air conditioning, new fixtures, modern technology, home alarms, etc. Your broker should also be aware of details about your specific neighborhood, including the schools, parks, and proximity to public services for marketing purposes. Be sure to indicate the best time of day for showing the home as well.  

9. Insist on Good Marketing Photos.

To be frank, most real estate agents and brokers underestimate the importance of good marketing images of a home. Good images will attract more buyers, poor images have the opposite effect. The pictures of your home don’t need to be magazine quality, just bright enough to show off your home at its best. Go over the photos with the agent and make sure they look how you want them to look and are taken from the best angles. Raise all the blinds, turn on the lights, and don’t be afraid to retake the photos several times to get them right.  

10. Show It Well.

Having a pet in the home isn’t always the best idea when showing the house to new buyers since they can be distracting. You want your buyers looking at the home and not worrying if it’s okay if the cat goes outside or if the dog is friendly or not. Pets need to be kept away from the showing, whether you take them on a walk, place them in a room away from buyers, or take them to a friend’s house while your home is on the market. Also be sure your house doesn’t smell like your pets either. Clean surfaces and carpets are important and air fresheners are always a good idea. Fresh flowers on the dining room table or a bowl of fruit in the kitchen make your home’s living spaces feel fresher and more appealing.  

Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to minimize anxiety in the process, reduce your home’s time on the market, and secure the best sales price too.

      By Lynette Foulger      

FoulgerGroup's Top Reasons to Buy in Ogden Valley

 

Great Mixture of Homes and People

Ogden Valley offers a great mixture of both second home residences and primary residences. The Mormons populated Utah back when it was part of the Mexico Territory, so Utah has a long history of religious conservatism. Ogden Valley is also populated with liberal adventurers who have come here to take advantage of the great outdoor recreation. Throw in ranchers, cowboys and artists and Ogden Valley has quite an eclectic mix of people and cultures.  

Quality of Life

Those who live in Ogden Valley enjoy an exceptional quality of life. The cost of living is far less expensive than other recreational based cities. Most people find that the beautiful outdoors helps contribute to their well-being as well add an additional level of fun in their daily routine.  

Family Values

Utah is famous for their family values and the Ogden Valley is a great place to raise your family. Not only does it have great schools and fantastic recreation, but it also features a host of family friendly activities. Just over the hill, Ogden is home to Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park and the Treehouse Museum, both wonderful children’s activities.  

Free Space

Acres of preserved open space gives Ogden Valley a very open and small town atmosphere. The busiest intersection in town has a 4 way stop.

Four Seasons

Ogden Valley is a great place to live if you enjoy experiencing the different seasons. Springs are full of moisture and blooming flowers, and summers are sunny and warm. Falls are awesome for watching the leaves turn. Winter is a great season in Utah. You can expect lots of winter sun while enjoying the greatest snow on earth for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, riding or skiing.  

World Famous Snow

People come from all over the world to experience Utah’s snow. Come enjoy the greatest snow on earth at very affordable prices at three of Utah’s finest mountain resorts located near Ogden Valley, Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and Wolf Mountain. Snowbasin was home to several Olympic events during the 2002 Olympics including men’s and women’s downhill. Powder Mountain Ranks #1 in Value and Cracks the Top 10 for Overall Satisfaction. Powder Mountain also was ranked second for snow and fourth for character. Wolf Mountain offers terrific value and in a family friendly environment.

  Real Estate Value

Ogden Valley Real Estate is very inexpensive compared to other ski towns like Aspen, Vail & Lake Tahoe. Powder Mountain offers ski in ski out homes, condos and building lots for sale and a very reasonable cost of living. Ogden Valley’s real estate includes some really beautiful homes enhanced only by the unbelievable scenery. With the upcoming purchase of Powder Mountain and expected purchase and development of the mountain by the Summit Series real estate prices are expected to rise. The initial development of a village “tucked away” among trees and out of sight with a proposed 154 dwellings ranging from full-size homes to “nest units” you’ll surely find the perfect place to call home.  

Trail Network

Ogden Valley offers a terrific selection of scenic trails, leading to mountain-top views, waterfalls and other spectacular attractions. Come enjoy miles of scenic trails for mountain biking, off-roading, hiking or horse-back riding.  

Pineview Reservoir

Pineview Reservoir is a scenic mountain lake offering outstanding opportunities for fishing and water sports. Pineview offers a unique blend of sport fish, including trophy-sized tiger muskie. They grow big, attack lures hard and fight like - well, like tigers. The Utah state record tiger muskie, a 49-inch fish that weighed 33 lbs, 9 oz, was caught in Pineview. Anderson Cove campgrounds can also be found at the Reservoir and along the scenic Byway highway 39.  

North Fork Park

North Fork Park features a wintertime nordic venue right in the Ogden Valley. Ogden Nordic continues to make progress helping Weber County make North Fork Park a 4 season non-motorized trail venue. The park is well suited for great Nordic skiing from November to April and has 20 km of trails. Situated on the Northeast side of Ben Lomond Mountain at an elevation of 6,000 feet, this park features the miles of well groomed snow on the greatest snow around and is very scenic. In the summer, North Fork Park offers cool, scenic, non-motorized single track and quick access to Ben Lomond Peak.  

Spectacular Golf

Ogden Valley features spectacular Wolf Creek Utah Golf Course. Wolf Creek gives the golfer a feeling that is not found anywhere else near Eden. As the only Audubon Society-certified golf course in Utah, it is designed to honor alpine flora and northern Utah fauna, while rewarding golfers with playable links that stay true to the grand traditions of the game.  

Local Events

Ogden Valley hosts variety of events throughout the year including the famous Balloon Festival, Music in the Mountains and the Ragnar Relay.  

Great for Business

According to Forbes’s Magazine Utah heads our list of the Best States for Business for a third straight year. eBay, Adobe, EA Sports, Novell, Omiture and other companies have created corporate offices along the Wasatch Front. Utah is now becoming known as the "Little Silicon Valley" and offers an awesome environment for anyone interested getting involved in the tech industry.  

Proximity

Ogden Valley Utah is a short hour drive to the Salt Lake City International Airport. This top rated ski town offers close proximity to an international airport which has flights from most major cities.   Now that you have learned more about the Ogden Valley we hope you will consider making it your permanent home and see why so many people love it here!      

Vacation Home Maintenance Tips

  How you will maintain your beautiful vacation home might not be at the top of your priority list as you shop for that mountain retreat, but it probably should be. It is exciting to have a vacation home in the mountains for family visits and social gatherings. It is an investment that will pay off years down the line if you maintain the vacation home, even if you are not there to do so. Your second home should be viewed the same as your primary residence in terms of its investment value and need for maintenance. At some point, you’ll have to devote time and money for home maintenance and emergencies at your vacation home.   The type and amount of maintenance your second home needs depends on the age, location, type and frequency of use and the materials used in the construction process. If you rent the property as a weekly or weekend rental, it will need certain kind of maintenance versus a home or that you use infrequently for your own holidays.   Hiring a local property manager can ease the maintenance burden, but is very expensive. An arrangement with a local caretaker could be cheaper, but they may not have the expertise you need for all jobs. Doing the work yourself can be cheapest of all, but the logistics get difficult if your vacation home is located far enough away from your primary residence.  

Professional Property Manager

  Hiring a professional property manager is by far the most convenient way to have your vacation home maintained. Services can include almost anything from opening and closing your vacation home, regular inspections and responding to emergencies. If you intend on renting out your vacation home the management company can advertise the rental, check in guests, handle payment, clean and provide maintenance. The best property managers are expensive, but don’t assume a management company is dependable just because they charge a large fee. Check with the Better Business Bureau, their references, other owners and your real estate broker before sign a contract.   Property managers are not inexpensive. Property managers usually retain 20% to 60% of the rental income. So if your mountain chalet rents for $2,000 per week, expect to give up between $400 to $1,200 of the rental income to the property manager.  

Local Help

  A cheaper alternative to a property manager, especially if you don’t plan to rent out the house or will handle rentals yourself is hiring some local help. Hiring a local caretaker/housekeeper is a compromise between doing the work yourself and compensating a management company. A groundskeeper or housekeeper can keep the property clean and ready for arrivals and perform regular inspections of the home. Local licensed handyman can also be used for maintenance of your vacation home. A full-time handyman/housekeeper is another possibility to consider if the property is large enough to accommodate another person.   Since you will be trusting cleaners and handymen in your home unsupervised make sure to ask for evidence that they are insured and bonded and check references.   A fee-free option is to share responsibilities with another part-time neighbor. Develop a schedule to check on each other’s home when in town, rather than hiring someone.  

Preparing For Home Emergencies

  Preventive home maintenance decreases the probability of emergencies, but something is bound to go wrong eventually. As the owner of a vacation home that is miles away, it is important that you be prepared for the emergency. If you don’t have a professional property manager, handyman, caretaker, or neighbor…….at least have a list of qualified local repair companies. Spend a few hours assembling a list of qualified plumbers, electricians, roofers and etc. Check with other homeowners in the neighborhood or turn to a contractor rating service like Angie’s List for recommendations.   Home security systems and motion detecting lights will assist in safeguarding your vacation home while you are away. A keyless entry system is critical in the event of an emergency. You can give the code to any repairman over the phone. The basic models start at less than $100. A more advanced keyless entry system would allow you to use a cell phone or computer to change the entry code as needed.   It’s an unavoidable part of home ownership that repairs and emergencies will happen. If you take the time to be prepared, these problems won’t spoil the wonderful times you will enjoy in your vacation home.      

Vacation Home Maintenance Tips

     

For those of you that are still not convinced that Ogden Valley offers some of the best scenery around, we wanted to share some Ogden Valley photographs from our wonderful friend and outdoor photographer, Jennifer Bunker.

Ogden Valley Photographs by Jennifer Bunker

  Jennifer proudly volunteers at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, and is an avid outdoor photographer. She is also a two-time cancer survivor in remission and lives a vegetarian lifestyle. She is an animal transporter with the Rescue Railroad, a doggy foster Mom, and has started a Facebook Page that knits hats for impoverished newborns around the world through the Good Goes (Save the Children) Program. Jennifer is also a social media nut, geek-whisperer, animal lover and runs several volunteer groups. She is a voracious hiker and a girl of the Rocky Mountains. Check out her Google Plus page to view a small portfolio of her work.    

 Jennifer Bunker Photography of Ogden Valley

   

U.S. Postal Services in Ogden Valley Utah

If you are looking to mail your packages for the holidays, there are two easy post office locations in the Ogden Valley. The first location is at 7785 E 500 S, Huntsville, Utah View Larger Map,   and the second location is   2577 Highway 162, Eden, Utah, close to the Valley Market. View Larger Map    

Suggested mail-by dates from USPS for cards and packages destined for U.S. addresses are:

  December 14th for Parcel Post December 20th for First-Class Mail December 21st for Priority Mail and December 22nd for Express Mail    

Holiday Shipping Tips

  During the holidays you have many options to ship your gifts. The United States Postal service, Federal Express, and United Parcel Service just to name a few.   While comparing shipping costs, your least-expensive possibility will depend on where you’re mailing the package and how soon you need it to reach the destination. One of the benefits of the Internet is that the biggest shipping companies, including the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and UPS will allow you to figure out shipping costs from your home. As long as you know your package dimensions and weight, you can figure out online how much it will cost to mail your package to its location within a certain amount of time from each postal carrier.   If you have items to send a long way away, look for other methods to cut costs. For example, use a flat rate box if you have a lot to ship to the same location. When you use a flat-rate box, it doesn't matter where it's going, how much it weighs, or what you've placed in that box, it all goes at a fixed cost anywhere in the country.    

Free Shipping Day

  The day to remember for a great shipping deal is December 17th. The 17th of December is Free Shipping Day, when online shoppers will give free shipping on most purchases made at participating retailers. Most of the retailers guarantee delivery by Christmas day if placed by Free Shipping Day. You can also find free shipping deals year-round at http://www.freeshipping.org.

   

Packaging Holiday Gifts

                          If you decide to pack your presents yourself, make sure you use the proper packaging. You want a heavier box and you want it to be as clean as possible. Don’t use a shirt box from a department store, it will just get smashed in the machinery and your package won’t arrive as you hoped. Don’t use duct tape or string because they may get caught in the automated machinery that's used to process mail.   Take all batteries out of gifts and wrap them separately in the box. This is to avoid anything accidentally being turned on during the mail shipment. If that happens and your gift starts to tick or tock it may cause a security scare and your package could be damaged or destroyed. If your items can move back and forth in the box then you haven’t packed them securely enough and you’ll need to add more material. A little bubble wrap or old newspaper will do the trick.   Finally, make sure you put the correct address on your gift. A good tip from the postal service is not only should the address of the sender and the recipient be on the outside of the package, but include that same information on an index card inside of the package. This is in case the box is damaged or inadvertently opens during transit.   May the meaning of the season be deeper, its friendships stronger and its hopes brighter. Happy Holidays and pleasant Holiday shipping from the FoulgerGroup.       by Lynette Foulger