Real Estate Information

Christmas in Albuquerque is marked by luminarias, seen all over teh city, as well as tree-lighting, luminaria tours and shopping for New Mexico gifts. You can get into the spirit of the holidays, Siuthwest style, with these upcoming holiday events in Albuquerque.

Stroll Old Town
December 7, 2018

Get the holidays started right in Albuquerque with the Old Town Albuquerque Holiday Stroll at 6 p.m. on December 7, 2018. Enjoy the annual lighting of the Old Town Christmas tree, along with live entertainment and tons of shopping specials.

Twinkle Light Parade
Dec. 1, 2018

The Twinkle Light Parade is one the signature holiday events in Albuquerque. Watch floats, bands, bikes, cars, and Santa parade down East Central Avenue through Nob Hill from Washington Street to Girard Boulevard from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Shop at the Pueblo Cultural Center

For traditional Native American gifts, there's no better place to shop than the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. On November 30, 2018, from 5 to 8 p.m. come for the annual Pueblo Shop & Stroll, lit by countless luminarias. You'll find handmade Christmas ornaments in clay, jewelry, and works of art. You can cap off the evening with a performance by the White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers. Free with museum admission.

Look at the Luminarias
Dec. 24

Walk around Old Town Plaza and experience one of the hightlights of Christmas in Albuquerque - luminarias. You can venture into the Country Club neighborhood on Dec. 24, and enjoy hot chocolate, carolers, and holiday cheer along the way. Other neighborhoods to try are Ridgecrest and North Albuquerque Acres.

Watch the Hanging of the Greens
Nov 30

Take part of this age old student tradition on Nov 30 at 5:45 p.m. at the UNM Bookstore. Carolers will move across campus to University House with a wreath for UNM's president, followed by a reception at Hodgin Hall from 6:30 to 8 p.m. UNM is also the scene of a gorgeous and large luminaria display that you will certainly no want to miss.

The community is invited and attendees are asked to bring an unwrapped children's book to place under the tree at Hodgin Hall. Books will be donated to UNM Children's Hospital.

Shop and Stroll on Nob Hill

The holiday season means lots of shopping, and what better way to get into the spirit than at the Nob Hill Shop & Stroll in early December. Central Avenue will be closed to traffic between Girard and San Mateo boulevards to make it easier to walk around the Nob Hill area of interesting local shops.

Check back on our blog every week for more real estate advice and local articles about living in Albuquerque. And make sure to follow us on Facebook for up to date real estate news for Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

7056 Tombstone Road NW, Albuquerque, NM $269,000

4 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms (2 full, 1 partial) / 2654 Square Feet

 This wonderful Green Built Silver Rated DR Horton home is located near parks, shopping & walking trails. No neighbors behind the home. Huge loft, and even a downstairs office with French doors. All appliances are included. With a HERS rating of 60, this home is extremely energy efficient! 

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Extract or delete HTML tags based on their name or whether or not they contain some attributes or content with the HTML editor pro online program.

From all of us here at The Sandi Pressley Team, we'd like to wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving. Here's a few tips for hosting the perfect Thanksgiving meal.

Keep it simple

Unless you're a 5-star chef, don't try to make every possible dish that you think would make a perfect Thanksgiving feast. The traditional basics - turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, and a simple vegetable dish such as string beans - will certainly fill everyone's plate. If nervous about cooking for guests, pick dishes that you’re comfortable making. If you’re trying something new, give it a practice run a few days before.

Go potluck

Why not ask a few family members to prepare a side dish, either beforehand or at your home? This will take some stress off of you and allow you to focus on the main course.

Cook turkey breasts separate from the legs

Turkeys are a challenge to cook as they don't cook uniformly. Breast meat cooks faster than the dark meat. If you don't care about breaking tradition, try cooking the turkey breasts and legs separately. Experiment with cooking the turkey legs in a slow cooker in olive oil. They’ll come out moist and delicious after six hours. And roast the turkey breast in the oven, just like any other type of roast.

Use a thermometer

A turkey is done cooking when it hits 135–140°F, whether that takes 10 or 30 minutes. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service advises cooking turkeys until the thermometer reads 165°F; this is the “instant kill” temperature for any bacteria that might be present. With care and proper hold times, you actually can safely cook turkey to lower temperatures to avoid potential dryness, but hold time becomes critical for proper pasteurization. Regardless, use a good digital probe thermometer to let you know when the turkey has reached temperature.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

Check back on our blog every week for more real estate advice and local articles about living in Albuquerque. And make sure to follow us on Facebook for up to date real estate news for Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

7056 Tombstone Road NW, Albuquerque, NM  $269,000

4 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms (2 full, 1 partial) / 2654 Square Feet

 This wonderful Green Built Silver Rated DR Horton home is located near parks, shopping & walking trails. No neighbors behind the home. Huge loft, and even a downstairs office with French doors. All appliances are included. With a HERS rating of 60, this home is extremely energy efficient! 

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Video Doorbell

Video doorbells are fast becoming the must-have smart device. This is because WiFi-enabled video doorbells are an inexpensive and convenient way to see who's at your door, even when you're not home, using your smartphone.

You get an alert on your phone when someone rings the bell, or even when they come near the doorbell. And you can even talk to the visitor, making sure you get important deliveries or to let your friends know you're on the way to the door. And when you're away from home, you can catch potential thieves.

Not only are video doorbells inexpensive, at around $200, they are easy to install and use.

Smart Door Locks

Speaking of the front door, keys are becoming a thing of the past thanks to smart devices. Your phone can now akt as a digital key. And even better, you can text digital keys to whoever you want to gain access to your home. And you can set these so-called digital keys to be temporary or permanent, which is perfect for hiring contractors or others who should only have temporary access.

And how many times do we forget to lock the house? That's no longer an issue with smart locks. Just check your cell phone and set the lock if needed.

Home Generators

More an more people are investing in generators due to more extreme weather and risk of power outages.

However, the noisy portable diesel generators can be a pain. A built in generator can be installed that's about the size of an HVAC unit. They run on propane or natural gas and will kick on automatically when the power goes out.

Smart Mirror

Mirror, mirror on the wall, will this be the fairest day of them all? Yes, now you can talk to the mirror. You can get the weather, traffic updates, podcasts, or order more bathroom supplies.

There are even prototypes not yet on the market that will give you fashion advice. The magic mirror of Snow White is coming soon. The you can make sure you're the fairest of them all before you leave your smart home.

Smart Blinds

You can save money on cooling costs in the summer with smart blinds, which you can also control from your phone.

You can program them to open or close at certain times of day, or when the room hits a specific temperature. Or if you’re reading and you want to open the blinds to let in more light, you don’t have to get out of your chair. “Alexa, open the blinds.” Done.

You can also pre-schedule your smart blinds to make your home more secure.

Check back on our blog every week for more real estate advice and local articles about living in Albuquerque. And make sure to follow us on Facebook for up to date real estate news for Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

2536 Sarita Avenue NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104  $165,000

3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms (2 full, 0 partial) / 1232 Square Feet

 Convenient location near Old Town & Rio Grande! Wonderful home with tile roof, refrigerated air, great room with fireplace open to kitchen with breakfast bar & pantry. Nice layout featuring master bedroom separate from the 2 additional bedrooms, great covered patio & attached 2 car garage. All appliances stay! Don't miss this turn key property!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Organizing your garage is never easy. The challenge is how to bring together all your tools, toys, and sporting equipment, along with your cars if there's room, in a way that is functional.
There's also a tendency for people to store items that don't belong in the garage.

A cluttered garage is certainly the norm for most people, so don't feel bad if your garage isn't exactly pristine.Your garage is probably nowhere near as bad as expert garage organizers have seen - dead animals, termite infected furniture, spoiled food, you name it.

Here's a few things to gather before you start organizing your garage:

• Heavy-duty trash bags
• Strong vacuum like a shop vac, or a broom
• Catch-all basket for odds and ends

Organize Garage Clutter

Start out by doing a basic cleaning of the floor with a brook or shop vac to avoid spreading dirt during the project. Also look out for:

• Nails and other small items on the floor
• Oil or chemical stains
• Cobwebs
• Any evidence of furry or winged creatures that may have taken up residence in your home

As you clean, you can start decluttering by tossing anything you know right away belongs in the trash. That way you don't have to deal with it later during the actual decluttering process. This is just like any organizing process, as you need to get rid of the clutter first. You can divide items into familiar categories:

• Toss
• Keep
• Donate
• Trash

Ideally, you should pull everything out of the space it's in. Putting everything out on the driveway and sorting into zones will help you see how many of one item they may have, how many items are broken, outgrown or not used. You may be amazed how many items are actually stuffed into your garage.

Plan Garage Storage

Figure out your garage storage space and start storing items where they belong. Here's some ways to create more storage space:

• Utilize vertical space
• Use what you have, or purchase the right products
• Make sure and dangerous items are stored in a locked cabinet if children are in the house

Don't go out and buy an organizing system and install it to see if it fits all your stuff. Start with the basics. Use basic organizers and shelves, then go up from there as you see fit.

Maintain Garage Organization

Once you’re organized your zones, you will feel a well-earned sense of accomplishment. Step 4 is to keep this organizing scheme going by doing a quick sweep as often as you need to: Seasonally, monthly or even weekly. Garages are a high traffic area so the more often you organize this space, the less time it will it take.

Check back on our blog every week for more real estate advice and local articles about living in Albuquerque. And make sure to follow us on Facebook for up to date real estate news for Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

2536 Sarita Avenue NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104  $165,000

3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms (2 full, 0 partial) / 1232 Square Feet

 Convenient location near Old Town & Rio Grande! Wonderful home with tile roof, refrigerated air, great room with fireplace open to kitchen with breakfast bar & pantry. Nice layout featuring master bedroom separate from the 2 additional bedrooms, great covered patio & attached 2 car garage. All appliances stay! Don't miss this turn key property!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

According to the National Association of Realtors®, first time home homebuyers are about 31 years in age on average? So it makes sense that when you sell your home, it will no doubt be to someone younger.  It's been getting easier for young families and professionals to buy a first home.  When it comes to staging your home to sell in Beaufort County, you need to keep the younger buyers in mind.  Just like the generations before them, this generation has their won unique needs and wants in a home. How can you make your home appeal to this growing market?  Here's a few tips.

Open Floor Plans

Younger buyers no longer want the formal setting of a dining room for entertaining. They want a more open feel that make entertaining easier. Rooms that flow together are highly sought after.

Working From Home

First time buyers are more likely to be working from home. They need extra space for a home office, even if they work from home part-time.

Low Maintenance

Young buyers already have plenty of bills: cell phone bills, cable bills, car payments, student-loan debt and more. Therefore, many don't ant to spend extar on landscaping and other high maintenance features, or old appliances that will soon need upgrading. Make sure your home is ready to move in and doesn't need a lot of extras.

Use Neutral Colors

Buyers under 40 are not really into the gold or pink walls any more.  Think about painting the walls a more neutral color.  This will allow potential buyers to envision their own accent colors and furniture to make it their own.

Open Up the Shower

Open showers are all the rage. Younger buyers aren't as attracted to the old tub and shower configuration. If you have it in your budget, consider remodeling your bath to include an open shower design.

White Cabinets

White or off-white cabinets not only brighten up the kitchen, but the younger buyers are more attracted to it.  They don't want to be reminded of mom's old dark cabinets.  You might try Benjamin Moore's Advance paint, as it requires little prep work.

Stainless Steel Appliances

Old appliances can be a big turnoff for younger buyers.  Many love stainless steel appliances, and for good reason.  If you have it in your budget, consider updating your appliances if they look dated.

Updated Countertops

Young buyers really love granite and stone countertops.  But keep it simple.  Don;t go with busy designs.  Black countertops or designs that are simple are the best.

Check back on our blog every week for more real estate advice and local articles about living in Albuquerque. And make sure to follow us on Facebook for up to date real estate news for Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

231 Graceland Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM  $194,000

2 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms (1 full, 1 partial) / 1530 Square Feet

 Nob Hill Charmer! Great Opportunity!!! Make this one your own or your investment property; whatever the goal-DO NOT MISS this one! Situated on a large corner lot, this gem features both formal and informal living areas; Recently re-finished hardwood floors; Cozy wood burning fireplace; separate dining room or perhaps office/hobby space; plus classic details throughout. Enjoy warm summer evenings under the ample covered patio. Close to shopping, UNM & UNMH, transporation! 

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

You will certainly be spending a lot of time in your home office. You need space to move and breathe, which means a desk in the closet won't cut it. Also think about distractions and traffic flow. What environment do your work best in? Will you be having clients visit your office? If so, a private space with seating is a must.

You office should be a reflection of the rest of your home and feel like a part of the whole design. For homes with traditional decor, you might put in a comfy chair or love seat if you have the space. Or you might chose artistic pieces and modern furniture for a more contemporary home.

The right chair makes all the difference. Plan on spending enough money to find the one that fits your body. Or you might ditch the chair and get a standing desk, which are gaining popularity. In the end, whatever helps you be the most productive will be the right choice.

A window that lets int he natural light is better than a blank wall any day. But if you don;t have a window, hang a favorite photo above your desk or face your desk toward the door.

Make sure your office has plenty of light. This will reduce eye strain and headaches. Make sure your monitor is positioned to reduce glare from the window or overhead light, and use a desk lamp for doing tasks.

You might feel it better to just call a contractor every time something needs to be fixed in your home rather than doing it yourself. There's nothing wrong with that. But if you need to save some money, there are ways to make your own simple repairs and maintain items in your home.

Here's a few things in your home that you can take care of yourself:

Faucets

Faucets mostly leak because of worn out washers in the handles, as they're made of rubber and wear out over time. To replace them, shut off the main water supply, unscrew the leaky handle, and replace the washer.

Toilets

If you think your toilet might be leaking, add red water to the tank. Check the bowl in an hour to see if the water in the bowl is pink. If it is, there's a leak.

This is a simple fix if there is a leak. You just need to replace the flapper. To replace the flapper, shut off the water to the toilet, usually located on the wall behind the toilet. Empty the tank by flushing it.

Remove the flush chain from the lever, and then slide the old flapper up off the overflow tube. Slide the new flapper in place over the overflow tube, reconnect the chain. Double check everything is back in place and turn the water supply back on.

Plumbing

Here are some things to watch for to keep your pipes clear:

• Fat buildup is the main cause for clogged drains. Do not pour fats or oils down your drain. If you do accidentally spill an oil or fat down the drain, run hot water along with a good portion of dishwashing fluid. The soap will emulsify the fat or oil and move it on down the pipe, clearing any clogs.
• Use a hair strainer in the bathtub drain. Hair is the biggest cause of clogs in the bathroom. Make sure to remove hair after each shower from the strainer.
• Drano isn't always the answer to a clogged drain. The acids in this type of product can actually cause damage to your pipes if used too much. Instead, first try a drain snake and pull the clog to the surface. If your kitchen sink is clogged, try plunging it before trying to snake the drain. If you cannot remove the clog using a drain snake, call a professional.

Air Conditioning

Its easy to forget about the air conditioner. But they can be spendy to repair when they do break down.

Regularly inspect the condensation hose to make sure that water can flow freely from the line. If there is standing water around where your condensation line drains, create a drainage path using a small garden trowel and line the path with gravel to keep mold and algae from forming.

Also make sure the screen around your air conditioner is free of debris to keep the air moving freely. Also be sure to replace filters every few months.

Check back on our blog every week for more real estate advice and local articles about living in Albuquerque. And make sure to follow us on Facebook for up to date real estate news for Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

7056 Tombstone Road NW, Albuquerque, NM  $269,000

4 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms (2 full, 1 partial) / 2654 Square Feet

 This wonderful Green Built Silver Rated DR Horton home is located near parks, shopping & walking trails. No neighbors behind the home. Huge loft, and even a downstairs office with French doors. All appliances are included. With a HERS rating of 60, this home is extremely energy efficient! 

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

It's almost time for young ghosts and goblins to have fun in Albuquerque! With the holiday comes plenty of fun, but it's also a time to think about keeping our kids safe on the streets. Here's a few tips to help your kids stay safe and happy during their trick-or-treating activities.

Costume Safety:

• Try to plan costumes that are bright and reflective.
• Make sure that shoes fit well, as not all costume shoes are made to fit as well as regular shoes.
• Costumes should be short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Add reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
• Masks can limit or block eyesight, so you may want to use non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives.
• Make sure that hats fit properly so they don't slide over eyes.
• Test makeup ahead of time on a small patch of skin to make sure there are no unpleasant surprises on the big day.
• If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
• Decorative contact lenses are not safe. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as "one size fits all," or "no need to see an eye specialist," using decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. They can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.
• Go over how to call 911 with your children if they get lost or have an emergency.

From House to House:

Children should never go trick or treating without a responsible adult. make sure everyone has a flashlight. If older children are going alone, go over their planned route and make sure it's acceptable. Agree on a specific time when they should return home. Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.

Food Allergies:

If your children have food allergies, this can be a tricky time of year. Make sure to examine candy your children bring home and carefully read labels. Make sure your child with allergies refrains from eating candy until you do so. If the ingredients aren't listed, arrange for a treat "exchange" with classmates or friends. Or, bag up the goodies your child can't eat because of an allergy and leave them with a note asking the "Treat Fairy" to swap them for a prize. Be aware that even if they are not listed on the ingredient label, candy is at high risk of containing trace amounts of common allergy triggers, because factories often produce many different products.

Also beware of "fun size" or miniature candies which may have different ingredients or be made on different equipment than the regular size candies, meaning that brands your child previously ate without problems could cause a reaction. Teach your child to politely turn down home-baked items such as cupcakes and brownies, and never to taste or share another child's food.

Here's a few halloween parties in Albuquerque that will privide a safe place to celebrate.

Boo-lloon Mania at the Balloon Museum

Zoo Boo at the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo

Albucreepy Downtown Ghost Walk

Ghost Tours of Old Town

Dragon's House of Horror

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween in Albuquerque!

Check back on our blog every week for more real estate advice and local articles about living in Albuquerque. And make sure to follow us on Facebook for up to date real estate news for Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

8309 Rancho Paraiso NW, Albuquerque, NM  $269,000

4 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms (2 full, 1 partial) / 2276 Square Feet

 You don't want to miss this picturesque almost 1/4 acre with backyard access. This is a fabulous 4 bedrooms home. Master is on the first floor. Spacious, well appointed kitchen. Light, bright wonderful family home. Pride of ownership is apparent. Balcony with fantastic views upstairs. Sought after neighborhood with easy access to all amenities. Don't wait to see this sensational home! 

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

If there's one thing that's always true about moving, is that it's expensive. You can easily rack up thousands of dollars of costs along the way. But it doesn't need to cost as much if you plan ahead and follow these simple suggestions.

1. Timing Your Move

The timing of your move can really affect how much you spend. You can save more by moving during the months between October and April, as this is a less busy time for moving companies. Moving companies also usually charge less during weekdays. If you have flexibility, try to schedule your move during these times.

2. Lighten Your Load

It should come as no surprise that the less items you have to move, the less you'll pay. This applies to either hiring a moving company or renting a truck.

Moving is a perfect time to purge the extra clutter from your life. You can start with the larger items, then work your way to the smaller things. You can have a moving sale to make some extra cash, or donate your items to charity. Some charities will even pick up larger items. You can also write off donations from your taxes.

Reducing the amount of items you move reduces effort and stress as well. And if you have friends and family helping, they'll appreciate that you've done what you can to lighten their load as well.

3. Save on Boxes

If you use boxes from a moving company, they will cost more, as they're sturdier and offer more protection. But you can reduce this cost by buying used boxes sold by many moving companies. They offer the same protection as new boxes.

You can also check post on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, along with local stores. Try to find liquor boxes, as they're more sturdy. Just make sure the boxes are in good shape and can be sealed properly.

4. Pack It Yourself

If you use a moving company, you can pack your own boxes to save money. But you should check with them to make sure of their policies on packing your won boxes. They have safety concerns and may make you repack them if not done correctly.

5. Save Your Receipts

Make sure to save all of your receipts of your company or military is reimbursing you.

6. Shop Around

Don;t just go with the first moving company you find. Check around and compare prices. Also make sure to check out ratings on Google. along with the Better Business Bureau.

You can also check with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which receives over 4,000 fraud complaints each year related to interstate moves, primarily related to lost items, damage to property, or overcharges. Doing your homework will help you find the best price and select a reputable company.

Moving doesn't have to cost as much if you follow these basic tips.

Check back on our blog every week for more real estate advice and local articles about living in Albuquerque. And make sure to follow us on Facebook for up to date real estate news for Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

8309 Rancho Paraiso NW, Albuquerque, NM  $269,000

4 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms (2 full, 1 partial) / 2276 Square Feet

 You don't want to miss this picturesque almost 1/4 acre with backyard access. This is a fabulous 4 bedrooms home. Master is on the first floor. Spacious, well appointed kitchen. Light, bright wonderful family home. Pride of ownership is apparent. Balcony with fantastic views upstairs. Sought after neighborhood with easy access to all amenities. Don't wait to see this sensational home! 

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team