Most homeowners know when selling a home, it is important to keep a home clean, bright and free from clutter. But these days when trying to sell your mountain home or condo, taking the extra step by home staging can make a difference in how a buyer values it and the price a seller might get for it.

“Realtors know how important it is to have a home in the best shape possible when showing it to prospective buyers. “At a minimum, homeowners should conduct a thorough cleaning, haul out clutter, make sure the home is well-lit and fix any major aesthetic issues. Another option is staging a home, which Realtors often suggest to sellers to help prospective buyers better visualize themselves in the home and could modestly increase the home’s value for both the buyer and seller.

One report found that 49 percent of surveyed Realtors who work with buyers believe home staging usually has an effect on the buyer’s view of the home. Another 47 percent believe that staging only sometimes has an impact on a buyer’s view of the home only.
Realtors on the buyer side believe that staging makes an impact in several ways; 81 percent said staging helps buyers visualize the property as a future home, while 46 percent said it makes prospective buyers more willing to walk through a home they saw online. Forty-five percent said a home decorated to a buyer’s tastes positively impacts its value.

Realtors representing both the buyer and seller agreed on two major points in the report—which rooms should be staged and the change in dollar value a buyer is willing to offer for a staged home compared to a similar not-staged home. Realtors ranked the living room as the number one room to stage, followed by the kitchen. Rounding out the top five rooms were the master bedroom, dining room and the bathroom.
“Working with a realtor gives buyers, sellers and investors the advantage they need to succeed in today’s market, as they know what buyers want and how to best market and stage a home for sale while many factors play into what a home is worth and what buyers are willing to pay for it, staging is an excellent tool that can be used to give a home a little extra push for sellers.

By Teresa Moen

If you are thinking about putting your second home in Breckenridge on the market during winter, here are a couple of ideas to help make a quicker sale. This will make your property safer for potential buyers that come to preview your property.

We are a ski resort, so lots of snow. Your second home needs to be safe to show which means you need to pay the extra money and have the decks and stairs shoveled. One reason is liability: if someone falls on slippery stairs or walkways there is huge potential for injury and lawsuits. Or if you have a metal roof, you don’t want the snow to come slamming off of that roof right onto your front deck or someone’s head for that matter. Plus, they probably won’t be keen on buying your home!

The second reason is that buyers need to be able to see what they are buying. If the back deck for example backs up to the beautiful Breckenridge forest, but the snow level is four feet high for lack of shoveling, the only option is for a buyer to stand at the window and look out. Think about it: if you were buying a house what a difference it would make if you are coming from the city let’s say and you walk outside on your deck and smell the fresh air, see a gorgeous forest and hear the squirrels and birds. We want them to experience the Breckenridge we know and love.

Thirdly, this makes the house feel well cared for. If it is covered in snow, it can look neglected. This can make a buyer nervous about lack of care.

As most of you know you need to keep your home heated during the winter to prevent your pipes from freezing. If a buyer walks into a cold home, that sets the tone. You want your second home in Breckenridge to say “come in this cozy cabin and get warm and relax after a day of playing in the snow”.

If you live close enough or have friends here in Summit County, air out the home every once in awhile. It is easy for a second home to get that stuffy musty odor from being locked up all winter if no one is using it.

These are all small things but make a big difference in how quickly your second home will sell. We want your home to be the one people remember fondly and warmly.

Our newest listing – a beautifully redecorated home in the Alpine Breckenridge subdivision!

Live in the woods with a view of the mountains! Just 7 miles from downtown Breckenridge, Colorado in gorgeous Summit County! Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, on a quiet street, and with fantastic finishes. Plus, there’s wildlife in the area, including moose and fox: see our videos “Moose In My Neighborhood” and “Foxes In Our Backyard”

Virtual Tour

For more information, including pricing and beautiful professional photos, click here.

Guess what: four years ago for Thanksgiving, we had huge snowfall! The skiing was fantastic.

November 30th, 2008 we got over a foot of snow at our house! We live a few miles outside of downtown Breckenridge, Colorado, near the National Forest. Our elevation is 10,700.

Did you know: you can expand the video to full screen? While the video is playing, click the YouTube button, then click the Full Screen button.

Please check back from time to time, for more videos.

Guess what: four years ago on this date, we had some snow!

August 17th, 2008 we got about an inch of snow at our house! We live a few miles outside of downtown Breckenridge, Colorado, near the National Forest. Our elevation is 10,700.

(Don’t worry – it melted right away)

Did you know: you can expand the video to full screen? While the video is playing, click the YouTube button, then click the Full Screen button.

Please check back from time to time, for more videos.

How’s the real estate market in Breckenridge, Colorado?

The number of sales in Breckenridge is down 8% vs last year at this time. Prices are still flat, on average; however, homes under $500K are still our hottest segments – there is only a 7-month supply.

Countywide, the number of sales in overall Summit County is up 13% vs last year. But, how about foreclosures in Summit County – are there more than ever, or fewer than there were? Watch our one-minute video, below, to find out! For more details on the market, see our article, Foreclosures: Getting Better or Worse?

This video was filmed at the East Hoosier Diversion dam in the Alpine Breckenridge subdivision.

Did you know: you can expand the video to full screen? While the video is playing, click the YouTube button, then click the Full Screen button.

Please check back from time to time, for more videos.

NOTE: This beautiful home sold in April 2012. It is no longer for sale.

Our newest listing – a beautifully furnished home in the Alpine Breckenridge subdivision!

Live in the woods with a view of the mountains! Just 7 miles from downtown Breckenridge, Colorado in gorgeous Summit County! Three bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, backs to acreage, and beautifully decorated. Plus, there’s wildlife in the area, including moose and fox: see our videos “Moose In My Neighborhood” and “Foxes In Our Backyard”

For more information, including pricing and beautiful professional photos, click here.

Did you know: you can expand the video to full screen? While the video is playing, click the YouTube button, then click the Full Screen button.

Please check back from time to time, for more videos.

Hey! There’s two moose at the door step!

We live a few miles outside of downtown Breckenridge, Colorado, near the National Forest. And this morning we had two moose wandering right past our front door!

Did you know: you can expand the video to full screen? While the video is playing, click the YouTube button, then click the Full Screen button.

Please check back from time to time, for more videos.

Baby foxes in our backyard!

We live a few miles outside of downtown Breckenridge, Colorado, and there is an old woodpile in my backyard where foxes occasionally raise a family. They first appear in mid-May, are teenagers by mid-July.

Did you know: you can expand the video to full screen? While the video is playing, click the YouTube button, then click the Full Screen button.

Please check back from time to time, for more videos.

Hello, neighbors! (We live here in the Alpine Breckenridge subdivision, full time).

Here’s the local real estate market update, with home sales statistics for our Alpine Breckenridge subdivision, in Breckenridge, Colorado! Yes, it’s still a strong buyer’s market in Breckenridge, and our subdivision is no exception.



The chart above shows the number of home sales, from January 1st of a year, to May 25th of that year, just for the Alpine Breckenridge subdivision (6 miles south of downtown Breckenridge).

• 2006 was the peak year for number of transactions (year to date)
• 2009 is the lowest year for number of transactions
• The number of properties sold to date in 2011 is up 100% vs this date in 2010! It went from just one in 2010 to two so far in 2011
• Compare the above chart, to the year-end chart of sales for Alpine Breckenridge

As of 5/25/11, there are 6 homes for sale in Alpine Breck (plus one home under contract). Two homes have sold in the past 12 months, meaning we have a 3 year supply in our subdivision at the current rate of sales.

In comparison, in all of Breckenridge there is a 17 month supply of homes at present.