Real Estate Information Archive

It's not something we like to think about, but home crimes can happen to anyone at any time. As a homeowner in Albuquerque, you know doubt have already taken steps to secure your home and protect your family.

Your main goal when it comes to home security is to prevent criminals from damaging, stealing, or breaking into your home in the first place. That doesn't just mean locking doors and windows. It involves taking into account your property's security weak points and resolving any issues. And criminals are getting more clever, even using online activity to find targets.

What are some basic steps you can take to make sure your Albuquerque home is secure?

• Even if you’re home, lock windows and external doors when not in use.
• Lock up your home, even if you go out only for a short time. Many burglars just walk in through an unlocked door or window.
• If you lose your keys, change the locks immediately.
• Don’t put an outdoor spare key in an obvious place like under a doormat or potted plant.
• Keep a light on when you’re not home. This could signal to potential intruders that someone is inside the home, potentially deterring them from trying to break in.
• Don't leave notes for service people or family members on the door. These act as a welcome mat for a burglar.
• Keep items of value, like fine jewelry and gaming consoles, out of plain view as much as possible.
• If you leave your home for an extended period of time, have a trusted friend or family member grab your mail while you’re away. You can also place a hold on your mail with the post office.

Technology Can Help

Of course, by now you've heard about smart home systems that can keep an eye on your home while you're away. You can start with a device as simple as a video doorbell, or up to camera alarms that are professionally monitored 24/7. Here's a few options:

• Easy to install outdoor motion sensors. These range from $20 - $100.
• Smart camera system to watch your home remotely through a phone app. These will alert you when they sense motion or someone trips a sensor.
• Make sure to hide any wiring, as they can be cut and could disable your security system.
• If you don't have the budget, even a fake security sign or sticker on the window can deter criminals.

How can you make sure your home is secure? You can plan to 'burglarize' your own home to discover any weaknesses in your security. The best way to protect your home from the outside is to survey it with the eyes of a burglar. If you can easily tell that a window could be pried open, a thief will definitely be able to come to the same conclusion. 

While you’re checking for vulnerable spots, take note of any expensive electronics, art, or furniture that is easily spotted through windows. You don’t have to redecorate your entire home to keep expensive items out of sight, but it doesn’t hurt to make small adjustments where you can.

If you follow these tips, you can help reduce the chances of your home being the target of criminal activity.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

1541 Nez Perce Loop NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144  $599,000

4 Bedrooms / 4 Bathrooms (2 full, 2 half) / 3644 Square Feet

Stunning Views! This home will WOW your buyers! Wide open floor plan with 2 living areas, perfect for entertaining. Gorgeous wood beam accents, custom kiva fireplace & large picture windows with mountain and city views. Well appointed kitchen features granite counter tops, custom cabinets & SS appliances. Brilliant floor plan offers 2 master suites, 2 additional spacious bedrooms and 2 bonus rooms, plus a formal dining room overlooking the wrap around balcony. Master suite is a gem has a picturesque jetted tub, separate snail shower & large walk in closet. Enjoy the views from your covered patio & wrap around balcony year round! New Septic and Well in 2017 - All New Paint inside and out 2019! Hardwood floors refinished 2019! New Driveway! This home is sure to impress!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

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There are a lot of beautiful homes in Albuquerque for sale. So when you sell your home, you need to make sure it stands out from all the competition, especially these days. Your porch will be one of first things that potential home buyers in Albuquerque will see, so you want to make sure it welcomes them to their new home. Having an inviting porch is an important part of staging your home so that it sell more quickly. Here's a few ideas that will help your porch stand out and welcome guests and home buyers alike.

1. Plants in the Foreground

You can lead your guests right to your porch with plants and flowers that follow the path to your front door. Pretty flowers can really make a big difference in curb appeal. And for those sitting on the porch, it's also a relaxing scene to look at.

2. A Doormat

This step involves nothing more than replacing that tired old doormat. For a more custom affect, try layering a traditional coir doormat atop a larger striped outdoor rug.

3. A Pair of Chairs

If there's room for it, having two chairs instead of one is more welcoming, as it paints the scene of family and friends spending time on the porch together. Some photos may show a chair on each side of a porch, but that doesn't make sense in real life, unless you want to shout back and forth across the porch. Put them together.

4. Thoughtful Color Coordination

Use the color of your front door or trim as a starting point for choosing a color scheme for your porch. You can then repeat that same hue in the accents, like pillows, cushions, door mat, and flower pots.

5. A Fan

Fans are a great way to deal with the bugs and warm weather, and as such make a great investment. A ceiling fan installed by a professional is an ideal choice, but you could also use a standing or tabletop fan as well.

6. Outdoor Curtains

If your porch is lacking in shade, you can add a set of outdoor curtains to diffuse the sun. You can open and close them as needed, just like indoor curtains. If you choose a color other than white, make sure it's a fade resistant fabric to make sure the colors stay vibrant.

With these tips, you'll be on your way to making your home in Albuquerque stand out from the rest of the pack.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

60 SANDIA MOUNTAIN RANCH Drive, Tijeras, NM 87059  $575,000

4 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms (1 full, 2 half) / 4255 Square Feet

Very special mountain home with incredible views, patios and balcony! Well designed floor plan with 3 wings. Master suite retreat with walk-in closet, jetted tub and connecting laundry. Two bedrooms in the second wing with bath and an office or 4th BDR in the third wing. Great room with cozy fireplace, formal dining room with private deck, gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops, SS appliances, wine fridge, gas cooktop, bar, recessed lighting, bkfst nook with amazing views! Special features include an elevator and approx 1500sf of living space; game room, exercise room, media room and workshop!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Is your home in Albuquerque ready for the colder months ahead? If your home gets cold in the winter, it could be because heat is escaping through air leaks. Air leaks can be hard to find both inside and outside your home.

How can you find these hidden air leaks?

Use Air Leak Detectors

Sure, you may be able to feel air leaks with your hand, but there are better ways to 'see' the air leaks. A smoke pencil is a tool you can use to find air leaks by sending a thin stream of smoke or fog toward the window. Then you can see where the air is going.

Then you can check the outside of your home for leaks by checking the foundation for cracks and gaps. Also check electrical outlets and water faucets.

Do Your Own Energy Audit

Sure, you can hire a pro to do an energy audit. But if you want to do it yourself, Energy.gov has a great home audit checklist. This will give you an idea of where your home is and should be on the energy efficiency scale.

If you prefer that a professional audit your home, look at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) for policies and initiatives that can help save you money when it comes to making your home more energy efficient.

Add Weatherstripping and Spray Insulation

You can also plug and caulk around electrical outlets, windows, and doors using caulk and weatherstripping. Outside, use spray foam insulation to fill holes. Replace window glazing to keep the seal tight. 

Fixing air leaks will make your home more energy efficient. You'll feel warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and, perhaps best of all, you'll save on monthly utility bills.

Looking to sell your home in Albuquerque? Get a FREE home valuation of your home today. Make sure to join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and local Albuquerque news and events. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

7904 Charger Trail NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109  $350,000

4 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms (2 full, 1 half) / 2828 Square Feet

NEW ROOF! (2018) NEWER CARPET & PAINT! (2017) Single story 4BDR/3BA/2G with TWO LIVING AREAS, formal dining, oversized eat-in kitchen plus sunroom! .25 ACRE LOT! REFRIGERATED AIR! Skylights! Wet bar and wood burning fireplace in the oversized family room! Large secondary bedrooms, walk-in closets! Master bath has updated wood tile flooring, double sink vanity and sep vanity! Spacious eat-in kitchen features lots of cabinets, newer oven and dishwasher (2017 & 2018). Beautifully landscaped yard with mature trees, grass and shrubs! Conveniently located in Academy Estates neighborhood, close to shopping, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Alb Academy, parks, schools & restaurants! Sandia High School district.

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Millions of Americans will remember to do their taxes just in time to sprint to the April 15 finish, fists stuffed with W2s and receipts. But if you're a homeowner, wrangling income tax paperwork, or other home records is a marathon, not a sprint. Even more than repainting your house's facade or mowing your lawn, keeping important docs organized year round is a crucial part of home maintenance — it can save you $ and protect you from the Tax Man.

Here's what could happen if you don't keep accurate records and back them up.

You'll Pay More Taxes Than You Should

Homeowners get access to various deductions and credits based on payments for owning, financing, and maintaining a home. If you don't maintain your records, you may miss out on some of these major tax benefits:

1. Real Estate Tax and Mortgage Interest Deductions. "A homeowner's biggest tax break generally comes from his or their monthly mortgage payments since, for most folks, the bulk of that check goes toward interest, and all that interest is fully deductible on Schedule A," says Kay Bell, tax analyst at Bankrate.com. Property taxes are also deductible.

What You Need: Your annual statement from your mortgage company, which usually includes property taxes. If you pay your real estate taxes directly, the bill from your local unit of government.

2. Home Improvement Deductions: Improvements made for purpose of accommodating disabled residents can be included in medical expense deductions. Energy costs for certain medical-related improvements may also be partially deductible. 

What You Need: Receipts and a letter from a doctor.

3. Tax Credits for Energy-Efficient Upgrades: Installing new energy-efficient systems (that meet Energy Star guidelines) like insulation, a roof, windows, water heater, or furnace can earn you a credit to offset your tax liability. 

What You Need: Receipts and certification from product manufacturers.

4. Home Office Deductions: If you can deduct the costs of a home office , you will need to prove you paid those expenses. For example, if your home office takes up 10% of your home's square footage, you can deduct 10% of your home insurance and utility costs. But you need proof you paid those bills. 

What You Need: Bank statements, bill receipts, insurance receipts, your mortgage documents, and any other documents of related expenses. If you're self-employed, you'll be taking this deduction on Schedule C.

You May Have Trouble Selling Your Home

It's not just the IRS that requires paperwork. Ryan Fitzgerald, a REALTOR® in Raleigh, N.C., and owner of Raleigh Realty, recently ran into proof of ownership issues when a seller hadn't backed up his paperwork, nearly causing a delay in the sale of his property.

"The original deed was filed with the wrong county in North Carolina. The original bank was sold to another bank, and there were several refinances in between that caused confusion as well. The original paperwork could not be located by the purchasing bank, and since the original bank was no longer in business, the seller was freaking out about the sale not being able to go through," recalls Fitzgerald.

"The buyer's attorney needed to prove that my seller did indeed own the property outright, and could not do so without the original deed," he says. "This all could have been avoided if there were duplicate documents backed up."

What You Need: Your home's deed, or deed of trust if you have a mortgage that needs to be paid off.

Selling your home in Albuquerque? Get a FREE home valuation of your home today. Looking for the perfect home in Albuquerque? Our powerful home search feature will help you find the home of your dreams. And make sure to join us twice a week on our blog for more great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

326 Atrisco Drive SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105  $189,000

2 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms (1 full, 0 half) / 1570 Square Feet

Check out this incredible opportunity! Precious 2 BR Adobe with separate Casita! Lovingly restored, the main house boasts wood floors, newer water heater, newer metal roof and refrigerated air. With beautiful landscaping surrounding, the separate casita has a kitchen, full bath & combo sleeping/living area. This oversized lot - greater than a 1/2 acre - also boasts irrigiation from the Atrisco Ditch and great open space!! Both the main house & casita have a solid Air BnB rental history. Don't miss this one!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

The way your home exterior looks makes a huge difference when you sell it. First impressions can make or break a sale.

Here are some home maintenance mistakes to avoid to keep your home looking fresh.

Stop Using the Pressure Washer at Full Force

When you pressure wash your home, the goal is to remove the dirt, not the paint. You can do this without setting the pressure washer to full force. If you don't, you could end up making your home look worse by damaging the paint or wood, along with forcing the water under the siding where it can cause rot.

Instead, turn the spray as low as it can go to still get the job done. Then angle the washer down, and clean with gentle, side-to-side motions.

Stop Putting Mulch Against the House

Lining your home with mulch may look great, but it can increase the risk of bugs and mold. Instead, you can keep that great look by placing a layer of brick or stone between your house and the mulch.

Stop Storing Produce on the Counter

There's nothing more appetizing than bowls full of garden-fresh goods on the counter. But it comes at a price: bugs.

While fruit flies are annoying, ants and roaches are full-on worrisome once they're in your home. And they are TOUGH to get rid of. Refrigerate all the produce you can — and if you must keep it out to ripen, pop it in the fridge as soon as it peaks.

Selling your home in Albuquerque? Get a FREE home valuation of your home today. Looking for the perfect home in Albuquerque? Our powerful home search feature will help you find the home of your dreams. And make sure to join us twice a week on our blog for more great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

326 Atrisco Drive SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105  $189,000

2 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms (1 full, 0 half) / 1570 Square Feet

Check out this incredible opportunity! Precious 2 BR Adobe with separate Casita! Lovingly restored, the main house boasts wood floors, newer water heater, newer metal roof and refrigerated air. With beautiful landscaping surrounding, the separate casita has a kitchen, full bath & combo sleeping/living area. This oversized lot - greater than a 1/2 acre - also boasts irrigiation from the Atrisco Ditch and great open space!! Both the main house & casita have a solid Air BnB rental history. Don't miss this one!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

When it comes to selling a home, curb appeal is everything. So if your driveway is showing its age, it can deal a fairly big blow to that appeal. Driveways can technically be functional for decades, but eventually need to be replaced. Your driveway is a major feature of your home that you should look at when selling a home and deciding what needs to be repaired or replaced.

Cracks

Cracks always form in a driveway over the years. A number of factors can make them worse, such as leaking gas, oil, or other chemicals.

Small cracks can be repaired as they appear. Yet larger cracks that are long or wide may show signs of more serious damage. If you have a tree near the driveway, the roots may be growing underneath and compromising the pavement. In this case you may even need to remove the tree to prevent further damage.

If you decide to make your own repairs, bear in mind that the repairs will be darker than the surrounding driveway, which also will take away from the curb appeal.

Potholes

Potholes are the next level of driveway damage to deal with. Potholes can do more damage than cracks, taking a toll on your cars.

Potholes can form when the ground beneath the drive expands and contracts. Over time, the driveway material starts to weaken and give way, forming a pothole.

Potholes can be repaired, but it won't solve the problem long term of the ground underneath contracting and expanding and making the pothole appear again.

Replacing your driveway is really the best solution in this case, especially for an older driveway. Newer materials are made to withstand these issues better than the driveway materials that were used decades ago.

Rough Appearance

The weather will always take its toll on the appearance of a driveway. Both the rain and the sun can cause damage, oxidize the surface, causing the color to fade.

To fix this, you could try applying concrete or asphalt sealant, which can help to restore the original look. But if the durability of the driveway has been affected, it’s best to go with a total replacement.

Lack of Resealing

If you have an asphalt or concrete driveway, it should be resealed every two or three years to prevent if from breaking and cracking. If this hasn't been done, you may need to replace your driveway if too many cracks have formed.

Past its Prime

Most driveways are past their prime after about 15-20 years. After that much time, your driveway may be suffering from all of these problems mentioned. At this point, repairs are also less likely to be effective.

Find the home of your dreams in Albuquerque with our powerful home search feature. Join us twice a week on our blog for more great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. And follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

11701 Coyote Run Road NE, Albuquerque, NM  $748,000

4 Bedrooms / 4 Bathrooms (2 full, 2 half) / 3271 Square Feet

Fabulous Home nestled in an idyllic, peaceful, gated community. Positioned to take advantage of exceptional mountain and city views! Open, light filled spaces capture you the minute you walk in this home!! This well thought out Lee Michael Multi-generational home can accommodate everyone!! The details and quality are evident! This home you must see!!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team