Selling your home, especially if you've never done it before, can seem to be a incredibly difficult task! There are thousands of details in getting your home ready, finding an agent, deciding on a price, listing it, and then....the wait. We understand how stressful it can be to sell your first home and so we've put together some helpful tips to make the process as easy as possible.

Host An Open House
Holding an open house will get its fair share of local lookee-loo's but it'll also bring in plenty of potential buyers! An open house is the perfect way to present you home and make it available for viewing.

Line Up Movers Early
In fact, go ahead and start getting all of your resources together as early as possible. Price out moving services and even get on a schedule if you're able to plan out your move. Consider also looking up local service providers in your NEW homes area as well.

List Your Home Online
This is something you can count on when you sell your home with Garden Valley Properties! But beyond that, when you see your home on social media share the post and tell all of your friends - it's a powerful and fast way to get the word out fast.

Absolutely Insist on Professional Photography
Pictures sell a home. Especially if you're trying to appeal to out of state buyers who may not be familiar with the area. So be sure to insist on quality photos for your home, not just a walk through with a cell phone!

We hope these tips help you in getting ready to sell your home, and if you're looking for even more help we're only a phone call away - just call 208-462-4620!

When you’re getting ready to list your home, it’s of the upmost importance to ensure you are showing it in the best light. Taking time to highlight its strengths and fix up some of its possible weaknesses can make a big difference in how fast it sells. Here are our top four recommended repairs to make before selling your home.

Repaint walls.
Giving your home a fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce it up, and generally, it can be a do-it-yourself project. Make sure cover any walls with scratches and chips and consider updating any accent walls with a more neutral coat.

Repair floors.
Hardwood floors are a very desirable feature in a home, so you want to ensure they look their best by fixing scratches or dull areas. If your carpet is worn or stained, consider replacing them. And don’t forget the tile in your kitchen or bathrooms. Re-grouting can go a long way in making dingy tile work look brand new!

Refresh the landscaping.
Show buyers your home is the full package by dressing up the outside as well as the in. Clean walkways and driveways, plant seasonal flowers and plants, trim hedges and trees, install outdoor décor pieces and fill in mulch and gravel.

Fix your fixtures.
Leaky faucet? Rusted drains? Loose drawer handle? Making these small fixes can make a big difference to potential buyers with detailed-orientated minds. Improve your kitchen. An outdated kitchen can be a real eyesore in a home. Updating cabinetry, repairing or replacing countertops, and installing new faucets and sinks may be worth the investment

If you need contact information for a handy man or company that can help you with your repairs, give us a call at 208.462.4620.    We have a list of contractors that we would love to share with you - feel free to send an email as well!

Purchasing a home is arguably one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. As you start your hunt, don't forget there will be other costs associated with your purchase then the price of the home. Here are 5 fees to keep in mind as you begin to budget.

·    Home inspection. This is a crucial step in the home buying process. The findings that come from the inspection can help you negotiate price and repairs. Generally, you can expect to pay between $300 to $500 depending on the home and the location.

·    Title services. Title services encompass the transfer of the title from the seller and a thorough search of the property’s records to ensure to no one will pop up with a claim to the property. Additionally, you may need to buy title insurance which will protect the lender or your investment in the home.

·    Appraisal fee. Before getting a loan, you will likely be required to get an appraisal of the home to determine its estimated value. This will be conducted by a third-party company and the cost can land anywhere between $300 and $1,000, depending on the size of the home.

·    HOA fees. Many communities have a homeowners’ association that enforces monthly fees. This money is used for general maintenance and updates to areas like pools, parks, and more. Typical HOA fees are around $200 per month.

·    Taxes. The taxes each buyer pays at the closing table differ, but it is not uncommon for it to be up to two months’ worth of county and city property taxes. Additionally, there may be taxes for the transfer of the home title.

Garden Valley Properties can help you with the purchase or sale of your home! Please give us a call if you have any question.  208-462-4620  Or get in touch right here!

Ever wish you could become one of those rare morning people? The ones that wake with a start, feeling refreshed and energized. The ones that get in that morning workout or wrap up some work before many of us even hit the snooze button for the first time. Here are five tips to help you achieve that early bird status!

Create a morning schedule. Physically write down the things you’d like to complete in the morning and set a time for each. Then stick with it. Once you force yourself out of bed early one or two weeks consistently, you’ll find it gets easier and easier to do.

Let the light in. Whether natural or artificial, light tells your brain its time to get up and get going. If your room lacks large windows where you can open the blinds up, consider investing in a timed lamp or alarm clock with a light.

Prep and eat breakfast. Although there are many of us who chose the skip breakfast, it is key to perking up your energy in the morning. Try prepping protein-focused meals the night before or grab a yogurt or fruit and try to consume it right after you wake.

Get your body moving. Whether it’s a short walk around your neighborhood or a rigorous 5:30 am spin class, getting your blood pumping will help wake up your body and has a ton of other benefits, like stress and anxiety reduction.

Feed your mind. Stimulate your brain and do something you enjoy first thing in the morning. Try reading a favorite book, catching up on the news, doing daily meditation, setting intentions or searching for your dream home RIGHT HERE!

Welcome to Idaho, where there are certainly 4 distinct seasons (sometimes in the same day) ! We are knee-deep into summer, and what a summer it has been. There have been record-breaking high temperatures all over the Western US, and here in Garden Valley we are not seeing an exception to that rule. Climbing temperatures do not mean you have to swelter in your home OR pay high power bills to run your air conditioner constantly if you follow a few of these tips!

Open your windows at night.  Take advantage of those cool mountain nights by opening your windows once the sun goes down. To take even more advantage, set up a fan in one window to suck hot air out or to blow cool air in. You would be surprised at how cool your house can get overnight.

Close your blinds during the day. Even with new, energy efficient windows you might be raising the temperature of your home upwards of 30% by leaving your window blinds open. This is because of the greenhouse effect: sunlight and heat can enter through the windows, but there is nowhere for that heat and sunlight to escape. This is a huge energy saver, especially mid-day when the heat peaks.

Do chores at night. Running your washer, dryer, and dishwasher puts heat into your home. Save these chores for evening after you have opened your windows up to capture the cool air from outside. Additionally, keep your dryer vent nice and clean. This will make your clothes dry faster and prevent even more heat from coming into your home.

Skip cooking inside and grill instead. Using your stove and cooktop will heat up your house pretty quickly, so try to plan meals that you can cook outdoors. Grill some chicken, boil your corn on the side burner of the grill, and chop up a refreshing salad to go with it! If grilling does not fit into your schedule, opt for using the crock pot, which will allow you to serve up a hot meal without adding to the temperature of your home.

If you cannot get away from using your air conditioner, there are a few ways you can make sure you are using it efficiently.
Make sure your filters are clean and change them often. This one step will help keep your air conditioner running at peak performance by allowing for maximum air flow. Changing your filters every 4-6 weeks will also increase indoor air quality, which can be helpful when we have smoke or pollen in the air.

Maximize your AC usage. When you are home, set your temperature to 75-78 degrees. When you are away, allow the temperature to rise to 80 degrees. If you do not want one more thing to remember each morning and evening, consider installing a programmable thermostat that will do the work for you!

If all else fails, go cool off in the river! It is common to see folks sitting in the river in their lawn chairs when it is exceptionally hot. Just don’t forget the sunscreen!

If you have questions about the area, real estate, or what is happening around Garden Valley please give us a call at  208.462.4620 or visit out website at www.gardenvalleyproperties.com! We are always happy to help.