Las Cruces, NM

Most people looking to sell live in homes that are a little dated. Trends come and go, and over time, we all do the best we can to keep our homes exactly how we want them. It’s tough to compete against the brand new, never lived in, built to sell houses; the only downside to those is that they’re priced much higher than homes that have been previously lived in. So, if a cost-conscious and trendy couple or family is looking to buy, there’s a small market available to them.

Nowadays, there’s a full-fledged portion of the workforce dedicated to improving your home and essentially redesigning it to make it as desirable as possible to the demanding market. These people are called stagers, and if you’ve read my blog before, you may have seen THIS ONE in which I talked about the benefits of having someone professionally stage your home. I always suggest going with a staging professional, but if there are some home repairs you know you need to do before putting it on the market, there are some that generate more of a return.

Changing your flooring might be expensive, but that’s a huge decision maker for buyers. Flooring trends have changed somewhat randomly over the years (remember the 70’s shag carpeting?), but one timeless style that remains constant is hardwood. Installing hardwood post-carpeting can be really expensive, so investing in a classic beige or sand colored carpet in replacement of wilder colors is a huge benefit; not only does it open up the space of a room, but when a buyer hears ‘brand new carpeting,’ they feel positive. Obviously trends change from market to market, and since we live in the southwest, saltillo tile is widely popular and a big benefit to buyers if they’re looking to purchase a southwestern home. If you, the seller, have tile, it’s imperative to replaced cracked or chipped tiles and clean or replace the grout. Replacing tile completely can be extremely costly, so focus on the specifics that need alterations.

Painting ceilings and walls is something any home staging professional will suggest, usually in creams or nudes in order to start with a blank canvas and brighten up a room. Wallpaper is generally a no-no in selling a home; it’s not that people don’t like wallpaper, it’s that they don’t like your wallpaper, since tastes in such designs tend to be very specific. That rain forest themed room you loved so much might seem quirky and fun to you, but to a buyer that’s a lot of primer, paint, and money they don’t really want to spend. In terms of ceilings, older ‘popcorn’ ceilings (the ones that sparkle) usually have asbestos, and most buyers are aware of that. They really need to be replaced, regardless of the cost.

Those are the two big things I address with sellers of older homes. Smaller things like re-finishing cabinets (much cheaper than replacing), and clean and sparkling sinks and faucets are much easier to take care of. Buyers really don’t want a leaky faucet or stained sinks, and usually those can be fixed with the turn of a wrench and heavy duty bleach. If not, look into buying at warehouse or sample sales at designer department stores; the name is impressive, especially if you know you secretly spent a fourth of the cost as usual.

Outdoors, there are simple things anyone can do to create a pleasant ambiance. Planting flowers, sealing cracks in cement, replacing doorknobs and locks, and painting fences can all be done for under $60 dollars and in less than a day. Curb appeal is the first of the first impressions.

Overall, the two big home repairs that generate a return are the floors and walls/ceilings. Fixing these gives a professional home stager a great canvas to start with to get your home ready to sell. Or, if you prefer to do it yourself, you can find some easy preparing to sell tips by CLICKING HERE.

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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar

The Evelyn Bruder Dream Team http://www.homesforsaleinlascruces.com

For more information about what we do and how we can provide all of your real estate needs, CLICK HERE

We welcome comments and questions - CLICK HERE

Steinborn GMAC Real Estate (575)522-3698

I have to admit, I love these videos; they’re to-the-point, easy to understand, short, and helpful. The sad truth about this particular video is that there is a need for it; people fall victim to Internet scams all the time. Even worse, the phishing perpetrators are the most difficult to catch, since most often they perform their scams at public Internet Service Providers, which makes them difficult to trace.

A woman in our office recently spent hours and hours on the phone with her bank, credit card companies, social security offices, and more dealing with the repercussions of her daughter responding to a phishing scam. Most people already have a sort of safety net set up within their emails with junk filters and such, but we have to reiterate this to our children and friends so that they can protect themselves from the dishonest, dirty e-thiefs.

Take just a few minutes to watch this helpful video on phishing and how to protect yourself from it; maybe even forward it to your friends and colleagues, because no one likes to deal with this stuff.

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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar

The Evelyn Bruder Dream Team http://www.homesforsaleinlascruces.com

For more information about what we do and how we can provide all of your real estate needs, CLICK HERE

We welcome comments and questions - CLICK HERE

Steinborn GMAC Real Estate (575)522-3698

Today, Las Cruces truly felt like fall. The colors in the sky had an opaqueness to them, and all of the leaves looked a little more yellow. In the shade, it actually felt cold; for Las Cruces, this is a big deal. Our seasons here are very mild, so even in late October our days can get up into the mid-70’s.

But even more than the temperature change, we started to feel the pressures of winter since we started winterizing our home. Our fireplace is used frequently in the cold months, so we hired a chimney sweep to come over and get rid of the soot and creosote that had collected over the months. We also had a screen placed on top to limit rodent and bird access to our chimney. After all this was said and done, I got to thinking about the different things we can do to save money and protect our belongings during the winter.

1. Get Your Furnace Ready
Lucky for me, my husband does this already. Usually in early November, he calls an HVAC inspector to come over and clean out the ducts, change the filters, and make sure our furnace is in working order. We always buy an extra stash of filters as well, since they tend to become filthy in the winter months and can run up your electricity bill as a result. Some friends of ours recently replaced their ‘ON/OFF’ thermostat with a programmable one, and they said their bill dropped by $40 a month; that’s a huge decrease, especially since all utility rates tend to escalate from October to March. Of course, it’s important to remove all flammable materials from around the furnace.

2. Get The Fireplace Ready
Like I mentioned earlier, cleaning out your chimney (with you do it yourself or hire a sweep) will help reduce the chance of the smoke entering your home and staining your walls; this happens over periods of time, so you don’t usually notice it until it’s too late. We live in an area where there is a lot of wildlife, so placing a screen over the top of the chimney is crucial. Pretty soon, firewood stands will be up here in Las Cruces, and I’m sure in most places, firewood is already selling like crazy. We tend to stock up for a few months’ supply.

3. Check Exterior Windows & Doors
It really is amazing how much heat escapes through the cracks of windows and doors. A friend of mine lives in an older home that she’s renovated throughout the years, and last summer she finally got around to replacing her windows; she said that the following winter, it felt like she was in a different house. If replacing your windows isn’t an option, it’s important to caulk and seal all windows and door frames, as well as placing weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from getting in. If you have a basement or garage, it’s always smart to use plastic sheeting to prevent cold air from getting in there too. If you live in an area with harsh winters, it’s important to replace your summer/spring windows with storm windows.

4. Clean Out the Gutters
My least favorite, but worth it in the end. Las Cruces doesn’t really get snow during the winter, but we do get rain, and if we don’t clean out our gutters bi-annually the shingles nearest them on our roof begin to deteriorate. Rather than replaced 50 shingles once a year, my husband and I climb up a ladder and hose down the gunk until our gutters and drain pipes are free and clear. If you do decide to get up on the roof and inspect, it’s always a good idea to check roof tiles and shingles to make sure none are missing or rotted; if you go too long without checking, you may need a whole new roof sooner than later.

There are a few other things that need to be taken care of before winter officially arrives in Las Cruces (and by officially arrives, I mean we get our first frost). The lawn mower needs to be drained and stored safely in the garage - along with most of the gardening tools - and the evaporative coolers should be be shut off and drained until April. We also double check that all of our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly; with the fireplace in use and the furnace programmed to run automatically, you can never be too safe.

It’s during seasonal transitions that I feel so lucky to live here in Las Cruces; there’s never a lot of work or preparation that goes with winter or summer. There’s a part of me that misses the snowy landscapes of back East, but that’s what vacations are for. I hope maybe you found some helpful ideas for your home in the winter.

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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar

The Evelyn Bruder Dream Team http://www.homesforsaleinlascruces.com

For more information about what we do and how we can provide all of your real estate needs, CLICK HERE

We welcome comments and questions - CLICK HERE

Steinborn GMAC Real Estate (575)522-3698

Just yesterday I was informed of an upcoming event here in Las Cruces: The US Army Field Band is performing at the Las Cruces High School Gymnasium on Thursday, October 15th, at 7pm.

I’ve never had the opportunity to hear the President’s Field Band perform live before, only the Marine Corps Band a few years ago and that was spectacular. If you’re a fan of live music, this is a great opportunity to hear some of our country’s finest musicians showcase their talents alongside students from Mayfield High School and Las Cruces High School. What a cool event!

In order to reserve a seat, you must order tickets and pick them up from any of the following places. The tickets themselves are free, but seating is limited and only if the people who have tickets don’t show up will the general public be let in. All locations are open during the 8-5 business day and are requesting no phone calls to reserve tickets to keep their lines open for normal business; just pop in and pick up your tickets on your lunch break.

Las Cruces Public Schools
Instruction Office
Las Cruces Bulletin
840 N. Telshor, Suite E
Doña Ana Arts Council Office
211 N. Downtown Mall
White’s Music Box
200 S. Downtown Mall
Hubbard’s Music & More
108 Wyatt Drive
Mesilla Valley Pro Music
919 N. Valley Drive

Tickets must be obtained by the end of the day on Oct. 14th, and all ticket holders must be seated by 6:45pm the day of the concert or the seats will be open to the public.

Again, here’s the info:
US Army Field Band Performance with participating students from MHS and LCHS
Thursday Oct. 15th - 7:00pm (ticket holders seated by 6:45)
LCHS Gym, 1755 El Paseo Rd
Playing the works of John Philips Sousa, Giacomo Puccini, and more!

We hope to see you there!

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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar

The Evelyn Bruder Dream Team http://www.homesforsaleinlascruces.com

For more information about what we do and how we can provide all of your real estate needs, CLICK HERE

We welcome comments and questions - CLICK HERE

Steinborn GMAC Real Estate (575)522-3698

You might remember this blog, in which I talked about Hollywood coming to New Mexico and what it means for our state. Today, it was very clear that Hollywood had come to Las Cruces; in fact, it closed down a major highway about a mile from my house.

I remember reading about it in the Las Cruces Sun News a few days ago, but it must have slipped my mind, because this morning the side streets off of Highway 70 were filled with cars. Roadrunner Parkway and Sonoma Ranch Boulevard were both heavily impacted, and those are two major in-city commuting streets without the highway shutdown. The traffic didn’t bother me very much, as our real estate offices are just down the road but I want to make sure Las Crucens are aware of the road closures due to filming.

This information comes from the NM Department of Transportation:

Oct. 9 to Oct. 15

-A single westbound lane will be closed from Sonoma Ranch Boulevard to Rinconada Boulevard.

Oct. 11 to Oct. 14

-Westbound lanes will close from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m on the 11th; October 12th through the 14th, westbound lanes will be closed 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate the work week. Traffic will be diverted onto Sonoma Ranch Boulevard, south to Northrise Drive, west to Roadrunner Parkway and north back onto U.S. 70.

-Eastbound lanes will close from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Traffic will be diverted onto Roadrunner Parkway, south to Northrise Drive, east to Sonoma Ranch Boulevard and north back onto U.S. 70.

Oct. 17 to Oct. 25

-Westbound lanes will close from 6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Traffic will be diverted onto Sonoma Ranch Boulevard, south to Northrise Drive, west to Del Rey Boulevard and north back onto U.S. 70. During the work week, Westbound lanes will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

-Eastbound lanes will close from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Traffic will be diverted from the point of U.S. Interstate 25 onto Del Rey Boulevard, south to Northrise Drive, east to Sonoma Ranch Boulevard and north back onto U.S. 70.

-Two eastbound lanes will close on North Main Street at the intersection of Elk Drive and Triviz Drive. Access won’t be blocked to Interstate 25.

This also includes underpasses and the frontage roads along Highway 70. The Las Cruces Public Schools have also assured parents that although the buses may deliver the kids to school late, no one will be counted tardy as a result of the road closure and children who miss the free school breakfast will be given food upon their arrival to school. The production company is also paying for the cost of the extra police needed to direct traffic.

The movie, entitled ‘Due Date,’ stars Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis and follows the story of a father-to-be that has to hitch a ride with a college slacker in order to make it in time for the delivery of his baby. The production company brought approximately 75 staff members to run the set, organize stunts, and assist the directors, producers, and actors; 75 new faces to support our local economy. EG Casting is in charge of hiring 100 paid actors for small bit roles.

Despite Las Crucen’s daily commutes being interrupted for a month or so, I think this activity here is great for our city. From everyone’s interest being sparked to the inevitable boost our local economy will get, I welcome the movie business in our city and hope to see more of it!

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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar

The Evelyn Bruder Dream Team http://www.homesforsaleinlascruces.com

For more information about what we do and how we can provide all of your real estate needs, CLICK HERE

We welcome comments and questions - CLICK HERE

Steinborn GMAC Real Estate (575)522-3698