Maximize Smaller Spaces

Using Technology to Max Out Your Small Space
While the housing market trend in the U.S. has been slowing down, Cody Enterprise reports that real estate in Cody remains robust and stronger than ever. Indeed, Cody is one of the best kept secrets in Wyoming. If you’re looking to move from the big city or simply want a quieter life in nature with plenty of fishing and hunting, Cody is one of the best options. As Cody’s real estate is improving, there are plenty of housing options from new builds to farms, ranches, rentals and more. Whatever your choice, there are plenty of ways to maximize the space that you have to make your house a home.
Use Space Wisely
Not all homes are made like the historic Smith Mansion in Wapiti, which recently made its way onto the Cody real estate market. Sometimes, purchasing a home in a new area means there are improvements that need to be made, and there may be limited space. If you’ve got limited space, consider the smart home option. Choosing smarter options for your home will make a great impact despite the size and space you’re dealing with. Smart spaces and home automation allow you to use your home in a smart and efficient manner. Home automation technologies such as automated heating and cleaning systems can also enhance your living space while making your life simpler. It can create more layers and space in a room that is small and lacking utility.
Small Home, Smart Choice
A small space with the right technology and appliances won’t feel like a tight space at all. Think about the space and how you want to use it. Can you knock down a wall and make living room flow together for an open space or use paint to create the illusion of more space? In the living room, consider making your television screen both a piece of art and functional TV screen. Or, incorporate a drop-down TV screen to save on space.The kitchen is also an important room to consider kitting out with the latest in tech and appliances if you have limited space. Consider larger appliances, such as ovens and refrigerators. Do you actually need them? Do you bake a lot? Cook a lot? If not, a smaller fridge will do the trick, as will a and micro-oven combo and airfryer. Using smaller appliances will save space and money.
Modular Solutions
Another easy way to start making your home a smart home is with modifications that are modular. In other words, modular solutions begin with sections and build from there. If you’re short on space, find inspiration in tiny homes, such as intriguing micro-home with innovative features like voice activated technology and smart devices that communicate with each other. Purchasing land lots in Cody is also an option, so you can start from scratch.
Featuring technology in every corner, micro-homes and smart homes utilize the space to make everything sync up - from lighting to security and voice activation. Small house also typically make rooms multipurpose (less walls) have clever storage solutions such as floor to ceiling bookcases and furniture that doubles as storage. The technology is tethered together in a way that makes the overall budget on the equipment much more cost-efficient than it would be to purchase separate pieces altogether.

Whatever you choose for your home, building a smart home is a great choice to make your home more efficient and space-saving. With technology these days, the possibilities are endless to make the most of your space.

Staging Ideas To Think About...

Stage Your Home to Make Buyers Fall in Love With It
If you have lived in the same house for years, the chances are good that real estate practices have changed dramatically since you bought your property. Long gone are the days when home buyers travel with a Realtor to various properties without previous information about those homes. These days, the work of most real estate agents revolves around handling paperwork and scheduling showings, not researching to find properties. Home buyers are much more likely to do their own online research.
In other words, your home needs to appeal to buyers from the second you list it if you hope to sell quickly and for an optimal price. Setting your home up to look attractive to buyers, a process called staging, can help you maximize your returns on your upcoming home sale. Making the best possible first impression will help you sell your home quickly.
Your Online Photos Are Your First Impression
If you hope to sell your home quickly, listing your property online is critical. Your real estate agent will likely handle the process of creating the online listing and taking photographs, but you need to work with them to ensure an accurate and eye-catching presentation of your home. For many prospective buyers, digital photos and online descriptions determine whether they will even express interest in a property.
You need excellent photographs of both the outside and the inside of your home. Ideally, you will take the time to rehab and fix up problem areas and invest in some finishing touches to make your property as eye-catching as possible. You should also pack up a lot of your decor and personal items prior to photographing your home.
Not all home buyers like the Western or country styles popular for many in Cody. Aim for a neutral but trendy appearance that allows people to visualize their own plans for the space. Not only will this help give you a head start on the moving process, but it will also make the home seem more inviting to buyers, who may be turned off by too much décor.
You Need to Get People Through the Door to Get Offers
Exterior appearance can make or break a potential home showing. Many people pull up to a home, only to quickly drive away and cancel their showing. You need to maximize the curb appeal of your home. Anything from a fresh coat of paint on your front door to taking the time to manicure your yard and gardens can make a big difference.
Investing in thriving annual plants near the front door, as well as some landscaping visible from the road, can do a lot to make your property stand out to people driving by.  When the front door and appearance from the road are appealing, people are much more likely to come inside with a positive attitude.
Once Inside
Of course, once potential buyers have fallen in love with the exterior of your home, it’s time to wow them with the inside. First impressions mean a great deal, so make sure that there is a pleasant aroma in your home, whether by burning some candles, having freshly-baked bread rolls on the kitchen table or a pot of coffee brewing. Next up, make sure that everything is tidied out of sight, and if you have pets then it would be a good idea to have them lodge somewhere else for the day in case the buyer isn’t a ‘dog person’. Make sure that your blinds and drapes are open wide to allow plenty of natural light to flood in, and you might use additional lighting to transform any dark corners.

Cultivating a beautiful and inviting appearance for your home is critical to a home sale. From properly staging interior photos to investing in outdoor repairs to maximize curb appeal, there are important steps to take to help your home sell quickly. If you have trouble seeing the potential in your property, your real estate agent or even your neighbors may be able to offer you advice about simple steps to take that will improve the visual appearance of your home to prospective buyers.

Are Rental Properties Right For You?

Top Reasons that People Buy Homes to Rent Out to Others
When people think of opportunities in Wyoming, they probably imagine wide open spaces and cattle ranching. Fewer people understand that there is much potential in the local real estate markets around the state. For someone looking to generate passive streams of income, Wyoming might be a great market to purchase property in. Whether you are considering buying residential units in an urban area or large ranches to rent out to farmers, there are several good reasons why people invest in rental properties.
Renting Property Is a Stable Source of Income
No matter what else happens with the economy and how things change, people will always need houses. That means that investing in properties that you intend to let out to other people is often a smart business decision. The most important considerations are ensuring that the amount of rent you can charge offsets your monthly expenses in owning and maintaining the property and that you don't buy a house with an inflated price. Single unit houses and multifamily dwellings are both solid investments, as our rental farm properties. Depending on what kind of work you want to do and where you live, the possibilities are practically endless. While the prices and demand may change from year to year, the overall need for rental housing will not go away.
The More Work You Do Yourself, the More Profit You Can Make
With many jobs, doing extra work doesn't mean you make more money. Thankfully, working as a landlord is not one of those jobs. One of the best ways to quickly turn a profit by purchasing properties to rent is to buy a distressed property and fix it up. Most people don't want to live in a slum, but many people will apply for a newly renovated apartment. More importantly, by making repairs, you increase the overall property value of your rental, which could mean that you may sell it for a profit in the future. 
Handling applications and dealing with tenant issues may be stressful, but managing all of those aspects of your rental business on your own means that you don't have to pay a superintendent or property manager to handle it for you. If you have the skills required to make basic repairs when something goes wrong, that can save you even more money. 
Over time, your tenants will help you pay off the mortgage on your rental properties. They will also provide you with an ongoing stream of income that requires minimal effort on your part. You can reinvest that profit and purchase more properties or use it to fund your lifestyle. Since renting has become increasingly popular, working as a landlord is increasingly attractive to modern professionals. There are many reasons why, but the freedom and potential profit that come from being your own boss are certainly high on the list!

Real Estate Market Data 2018

As we move into 2018, all indications are that real estate will have a good year in Cody, WY.  Not unlike last year, which saw robust sales and homes in the higher price ranges selling.

Our market definitely tends to be conservative, and that's a good thing.  Slower appreciation works well when markets slow down.  We tend to be in the 5% annual appreciation range.  Buy and hold is a great strategy here.

I've included a chart that shows sales this year compared to sales in 2017.  What's immediately noticeable is the total dollar volume.  Same number of sales but volume this year is over $2,000,000.00 more.

If you're interested in learning more about our market, call me.  307-899-5393.  Please leave a message.

Can Real Estate Make You Wealthy???

So Whose Tried Airbnd?

This website has taken off!  I've tried Flipkey and VRBO but it seems they are a thing of the past and everyone's talking Airbnb.

I've searched on this site for places to stay and they seem to have a huge inventory of rentals.  I'm also considering hosting a couple of places in downtown Cody.  

I'm looking for pro's and con's.  If you've had either a good or bad experience please share here.

What's On Your Bucket List?

It's funny how long some things have hung around on my bucket list.  Am I the only one?  Just curious, no one wants to be alone while procrastinating.

There are things that are on that list that I'm looking forward to, and then, there's Toastmasters.  For me this is an "overcome the fear" item on my list, therefore, I'm not rushing into anything.

Actually, A group of us started a Toastmasters back in 2005, and I think that year is right.  The club lasted for several years and then fizzled out.  No excuses other than we did not keep recruiting new members and that is part of the successful club process.

I will say that during that time, I found my voice.  And now I'm fairly certain there are those that wish I hadn't.  I'm not there yet though.  I would love to give a speech flawlessly, you know, like you see on TED Talks.  So, I need to make time to get involved with the new club in Cody, Yellowstone Toastmasters.

I've been following their meeting times and agendas and need to ditch the excuses and just show up.  Ideally, anyone reading this post should show up too if you're interested.  The club is open to all.

If you're not familiar with Toastmasters follow this link... Become A Leader .

You'll find all the information for Yellowstone Toastmasters on Facebook.  You can follow them there.  I'm pretty sure you'll be glad you did.

Develop the skills that will give you a voice!  It's empowering.

Since when did I become a football fan??? 

It's a question I've been asking myself.  I enjoyed football in the 70's and 80's.  I lost interest when the players starting making enormous salaries and "showboating".  And, I'm still not a big fan of the NFL.

I am however interested in College Football.  Maybe because the players haven't been tainted yet.  And I'm particularly interested in Wyoming Cowboy Football.  Maybe because my daughter is a Freshman in Laramie.  I find myself there frequently (although I seriously dislike the drive and wish I had my pilots license).  

I'll be there again this weekend, in the bleachers, in the cold, cheering the Pokes on.  The teams that play in the Mountain West Conference deserve our support.  It's not easy for any of us in this weather.  Go Pokes!