The St. George Real Estate Market

Motivation is something that all humans need in order to be productive in their lives. One of the hardest things right now is wrapping our quarantined brains around the idea of finding self-motivation for many of our day-to-day tasks. Depending on the person, this could include cleaning, being productive or creative at work, or putting your phone down and reading a good book.

When we talk about keeping our home clean (with 4 kids in the house!) to clients or even close friends, many of them respond, keeping what house clean!? It’s true, cleaning and overall organization of household items has been harder to keep up with. So, we have put our heads together to come up with a few productivity hacks that will get you off your feet.

Sticky Notes

We love this hack because you get to leave your personal mantras around the house for you to see all day. The idea is to write out tasks that you need or want to accomplish on a sticky note. These tasks could include, do the dishes, call a friend, or organize / tidy the living room. After writing down 5 -10 tasks on different sticky notes, place them in areas in your home that you frequent the most. For example, we like to put our sticky notes on the fridge door, by light switches, on our favorite box of cereal, next to a phone charging station, or on our home office desk. Try out a few different locations yourself. Which ones work best for you?

Put “Organization Time” on Your Calendar

Psychology tells us that for something to become a habit, we have to do a task 30 days in a row. So, we recommend putting a chunk of time (whether that be 30 minutes or an hour) into your schedule. Set up reminders on your phone or place it on your calendar so that you get a notification at the same time every day to organize or a task you want to get done. As the theory goes, after 30 days, you won’t even need a reminder, you will be motivated to do it anyways!

Kids Hate Cleaning But They Love Organizing

We firmly believe that there is a special skill in motivating kids to clean (without scowls or tears). Most of us remember having chores and earning a dollar or two a week. Instead of asking them to do chores, re-frame your language as doing an organizational task. “Can you help organize the pantry, toy bin, etc.?” They will be more likely to see it as a project rather than a chore.

Find an Home Organizational Show

For us, the easiest way for us to get motivated is to see how other people are implementing their organizational strategies. There are endless amounts of these shows on networks like HGTV. Here’s a two of our favorites:

• Tidying Up With Marie Kondo (Netflix)
• Amazing Interiors (Netflix)

Create a Pinterest Board for Inspiration

Yes, we know this is an oldie, but it’s still a goodie. Since the pandemic, creativity levels have risen exponentially as people are stuck at home staring at the same room setup or organizational bins every day. Whether it be a DIY project or an Amazon haul, create your own board on Pinterest specifically designated for organization of your home.

The Bottom Line

 There are hundreds of different ways you can get yourself motivated. Think about ways you motivate yourself to work out, eat healthy, or be on time. Can you apply some of those techniques to tidying up your home? We’d love to hear all of your ideas!

Contact Us

We hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy during this historical time in our lives. The Shaffer team consists of real estate professionals in Southern Utah, specializing in selling homes. We work with talented photographers, stagers and lenders to ensure your home buying or selling process is efficient and smooth. Call us to learn more about the area and to understand how we can help you find your dream home at (435) 525-0079. 

The sales process of a home isn’t always the quickest or easiest experience. But for many, this is a known expectation. What isn’t an expectation is the new curveballs the pandemic has thrown in its effect on real estate. Real estate agents have had to get crafty, not only to maintain compliance with state regulations, but also to keep clients feeling safe. Let’s take a look at some of the changes we’ve seen over the past few months.

An Increase in Zoom Meetings 

In most of the world, we’ve seen a rise in web-based meetings when attempting to stay connected, conduct business, and maintain operations. For the real estate industry, these web-based meetings have brought in new and unique changes. Virtual showings or and video walkthroughs are more common than not.  As a result, our team is now full of professional Facetime television producers, to say the least! It has also given us the opportunity to serve those who are at high-risk and cannot leave the safety of their homes. 

We have seen agents conducting contract signing via Zoom, referral meetings, and final closes. That’s right, agents have been sitting in virtual meeting rooms with their clients and walking them through documents in preparation for the final close of a sale. So, if you are at high risk or just do not feel safe navigating the home sale process with Pre-COVID-19 standards, the Shaffer Team is here for you.

An Enhanced Digital Marketing Strategy

The industry has already been using digital means to market different homes and properties that are for sale through the use of tools such as a Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Previously, emails or quick phone calls were exchanged back and forth between agents and potential buyers. However, hopping on a video-chat and putting a friendly face to the property has become more common, even for less “important” topics of discussion. We expect that this will most likely continue beyond the stretch of the pandemic as it is becoming an easier way to develop relationships between sellers, agents, and buyers. 

In addition to this, the use of personal social media accounts such as Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn have been more prevalent as many are relying on their existing network for word-of-mouth marketing.

Relocation Changes

 A common conversation that occurs during and near the end of the sale of a home, is discussion around relocation and the big move. There have been many industry experts chiming in with their thoughts on how to do it safely. Regardless of what is being said, the trend we are seeing is that more families are willing to rent a UHAUL and move themselves with the help of friends or family who are not sick. Some buyers are worried about hiring movers and having them touch their belongings. What are your thoughts on relocating and remaining safe?

Stay Safe During House Showings

There are a dozen safety best practices any buyer or seller can use when attending a house showing. We recommend keeping the viewing party small, not touching any unnecessary surfaces or door knobs, and staying home if you are under-the-weather. There are many other ways to view a home whether that be virtual, or sending a friend or family member who is not sick to view and take pictures or video chat you.

The Bottom Line

There have been many changes to the industry and they may keep changing. We’re seeing that professionals in the field are truly getting creative and we are excited to see where the sales process goes. Will it ever look the same or will the pandemic actually lead the industry to strategies that will stick?

Contact Us

We hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy during this historical time in our lives. The Shaffer team consists of real estate professionals in Southern Utah, specializing in selling homes. We work with talented photographers, stagers and lenders to ensure your home buying or selling process is efficient and smooth. Call us to learn more about the area and to understand how we can help you find your dream home at (435) 525-0079. 

St. George, unique to its own, comes with a very intriguing story. It all began with the forming of a valley hundreds of thousands of years ago. What we’ve gathered is that somewhere between 200 B.C. and 1200 A.D. St. George saw its first inhabitants; The Virgin River Anasazi. They left behind what we view now as cave and rock drawings that illustrate their residency in the town. Throughout the next several hundred years, several groups of people claimed the land of St. George as their own. 

Eventually in 1776, the Dominguez-Escalante Party toured the area and grew to love the red rocks and natural beauty as much as modern-day residents do. Once the news spread about the discovery of picturesque land, more and more people travelled to become some of its first residents after the States claimed independence.

In 1854, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints founded a mission just a few miles away in Santa Clara. For the next 5 years, the church began to establish farms in the valley which led to the Cotton Mission. This ultimately led to the continual increase of residents in the valley.

People from the South also began heading north to St. George as the news of vacant cotton-growing land became widespread. These travelers eventually became the new settlers of the town. They came together and named what we now know as St. George and the surrounding area, “Utah’s Dixie”. After some time, the town was renamed St. George to honor the Latter-day Saint apostle, George A. Smith.

St. George continued to grow and as decades passed between the early and late 1900’s, the former farming town grew to become a city. The wide-spread tourist attraction Zion National Park began to drive tourists into town. As a result, a regional airport was built, multi-family homes were constructed, and an interstate was created to direct travelers in to town.

Now in 2020, St. George provides a home to about 120,000 residents. More and more people continue to call this town their home thanks to students attending Dixie State University, a gathered love for the surrounding red rock, and the sense of community one can find here.

The Bottom Line

St. George, like most cities, comes with an exciting story that makes you stop and think about where the city was thousands of years ago to where it is now. This city continues to grow (and exponentially as of late!) and we are so excited to be included in the history that is being written today.

Contact Us

We hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy during this historical time in our lives. The Shaffer Team consists of real estate professionals in Southern Utah, specializing in selling homes. We work with talented photographers, stagers, and lenders to ensure your home buying or selling process is efficient and smooth. We are committed to keeping you informed through the entire sales process and educating you on anything you may not understand. Call us to learn more about the area and to understand how we can help you find your dream home at 435-525-0079.

Sources:

https://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/cities-and-towns/st-george/

https://www.paragonadventure.com/zionarea/home/southern-utah-info/st-george-utah/st-george-history/

https://greaterzion.com/articles/history-st-george-utah/

Here is your at-a-glance look at the St. George housing market!

Raise your hand if you’re working from home. Raise your hand if your job now allows you to work virtually. Although this pandemic has affected us in many different ways, the nature of working and life itself has been evolving and will most likely continue to do so. We’re now seeing a new (strange but exciting) trend with the current housing market in St. George. Usually, when more jobs become available in Southern Utah, or even in Las Vegas, the demand for housing goes up. However, as a result of the pandemic, the job market is remaining the same, but the housing market is stronger than ever. 

Let’s break it down. The tech market seemingly controls the rate at which a city grows. Look at Seattle, once a moderately populated city. Microsoft moved in, the population went up. And again the same trend when Amazon moves in. Now they have Tableau, Salesforce, the whole thing. So, what does this mean for you? Simply, the culture of 9-5’s are going virtual or completely remote allowing single and multi-families to pack up their current homes and move to places they’ve dreamed about living. What we’re loving is that one of these “places people are dreaming about living in” is right here in St. George. More people are able to move to this city and will bring the tech market with them which could then potentially allow for this city to help its current job market grow.

So, we know that more folks are moving to St. George because of their new ability to work remotely. But are there any other indicators? Why yes! When you look at some of the heavy restrictions that more populated cities are enforcing due to the pandemic, you are able to pick out many who are tired of feeling afraid to simply go to the store. We are finding that because St. George and its surrounding area is less populated, there is a significantly lower rate of COVID-19 cases. We are assuming that many people are interested in moving to our city simply because they are able to resume life somewhat close to what we previously called “normal”. 

What we love about St. George is that it’s a small enough city that you don’t have to worry about a multiple hour-long commute home but its large enough where there is actually something to do around town. If you’re looking to relocate to St. George, now is the perfect opportunity as its residents are ready for the city to gradually grow.

The last thing we want to touch on is the idea that in these past few months of isolation, creativity has begun to flow in the minds of homeowners. They’ve thought about the homes they are wanting to build. As a result, the boredom of 2020 has brought us anything but a low buyer demand. If you are in the market for a new house or are thinking about selling your home, now is the time to do so. With all of these new St. George folks moving into town, homes are closing faster than ever and we couldn’t be more excited.

Contact Us

We hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy during this historical time in our lives. The Shaffer team consists of real estate professionals in Southern Utah, specializing in selling homes. We work with talented photographers, stagers and lenders to ensure your home buying or selling process is efficient and smooth. Call us to learn more about the area and to understand how we can help you find your dream home at (435) 525-0079. 

Let’s talk about one of our favorite things, other than real estate. Food! Now that restaurants are continuing to operate a little closer to normal, we wanted to share a few of our favorite spots for date night, family dinner outings, and for when the in-laws come to town. 

Zion Blues Café - $

Sandwiches / Juices / Smoothies

Dine In  √  Takeout √  

Photo via Washington Utah Guide

If you’re looking for a relaxed place to meet friends or coworkers for a quick bite, we recommend Zion Blues Café. What we love about this location is that we randomly stumbled upon it. As real estate agents, we are always on-the-go and we have found this quaint café to be a great spot for us to pop in, enjoy a delicious sandwich, and answer a few emails.

Our favorite Item: Turkey Cranberry Sandwich on Homemade Rye Bread

Banana Blossom Thai - $-$$

Thai / Noodles

Dine In  √  Outdoor Seating  √ Takeout √  Delivery √

Photo via Banana Blossom Thai 

Perfect for date night, this quaint, modern Thai restaurant will appease all of your pad Thai and Pad See chicken cravings. Their open and spacious atmosphere is perfect for chatting with your date or small group of friends.

Our Favorite Dish: Pad Thai Chicken

Black Bear Diner - $-$$

American / Homestyle / Vegetarian Friendly

Dine In  √ Takeout √  Delivery √ 

Photo via Black Bear Diner

Cuddle up with a few baby black bears for a sit down in this American-styled restaurant. The friendly atmosphere calls for families big and small to sit and enjoy an evening of great conversation. It’s your classic diner with the option of booths, tables, or bar tops. Their lunch and dinner menus offer the perfect homestyle comfort food, but what we’re loving is their breakfast and brunch menu. Our favorite Saturdays are when we start our mornings with our eggs sunny-side up at Black Bear Diner.

Our Favorite Dish: BIGFOOT Chicken Fried Steak

Aragosta  - $$$

New American / Modern European

Dine In  √  Outdoor Seating  √ Takeout √

Photo via Open Table

Wow – we must say that this is one of our favorite spots when we are in the mood to splurge a little and dress up for an evening. An excellent choice for any type of celebratory dinner, this experience is high-quality and lives up to the hype. When you walk in, you immediately feel like you’re in a ballroom full of authentically dressed staff. You’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of cuisines including Alaskan Salmon, Lobster Mac & Cheese, or a Braised Lamb.

Our Favorite Dish: Lobster Ravioli

Obviously there are many more restaurants we would like to share. We’re excited that our little town of St. George is continually growing and that more and more dining experiences are opening. We’d love to hear more of your favorite restaurants. Can you name a few for us to try?

Contact Us

We hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy during this historical time in our lives. The Shaffer team consists of real estate professionals in Southern Utah, specializing in selling homes. We work with talented photographers, stagers and lenders to ensure your home buying or selling process is efficient and smooth. Call us to learn more about the area and to understand how we can help you find your dream home at (435) 525-0079. 

Over the past few months, we’ve discussed key elements to prepare you for the sale of your home. While we’re sure you’ve been reading article after article or magazine issue after issue, we want to provide you with even more resources as you enter this exciting time. Let’s take a look at a few mobile applications you should have in your back pocket before and during your home sales process.

Coming in at #4, is Zillow. Popularly known as the site for providing a hub for listings and alerts with their “Zestimates”, Zillow will allow you to compare pricing on homes similar to yours. We like to call it the Kelly Blue Book of real estate. Zillow offers various articles to educate you on real estate lingo for those who are new to the sales process. It also offers resources for loan options and tips for managing your finances and mortgages.

 Photo by Zillow

What we’re loving about the Zillow app is that it also showcases information regarding the housing market as it is being affected by the current climate with the pandemic. Paired with this is another great feature relating to the need for social distancing; this app allows you to shoot your own 3D Home tour.

Next up is Realtor.com Real Estate App; taking the #3 spot in our rankings. We love this app as we do Zillow because it includes almost everything that Zillow offers when it comes to listing searches and alerts. However, we find this app is a step up (in our opinion) as it allows you to snap a quick photo of any For Sale sign and get all relevant details of the property.

Landing in the #2 position is the Nest App. If you don’t have a Nest device in your home space, we highly recommend that you invest in one or a few. Nest is a great addition to a home as you can control the thermostat remotely from your phone, but is also allows you to view security footage (live) from the various Nest devices you may put in and around your home. 

Photo by Nest

This app is a great addition to your preparedness so you are able to control the temperature of the space when a showing is happening if you are not there. It is also a great way to keep track and monitor the space as a showing is happening. This can allow you to view which rooms potential buyers are spending more time in so you can analyze the changes you may need to make. Along with this, potential buyers in today’s market are loving the incorporation of smart home devices.

Finally, our #1 recommended app for you to download is, Houzz. Why do we love this app? To put it short, this app helps you visualize the maximum potential of any space that you have in your home. It offers state-of-the-art renovation recommendations to increase the value of a home. If you know us, we firmly believe that to get the most out of a sale, requires you to give a little in order to get A LOT. The smallest of detail changes will ultimately increase the attention-grabbing aspects of your home as potential buyers walk through and view it. This app is a one-stop-shop for all of your inspiration needs to navigate remodeling, redecorating, and staging. 

Photo by Houzz

The Bottom Line

The Shaffer Team will always remain as your #1 for support, suggestions, and housing market knowledge, but there is never any harm with having on-the-go tools to capture all aspects of creating the “perfect” home for your potential buyers. If you have any questions about any of these apps that we use, we’d love to chat about it!

Contact Us

We hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy during this historical time in our lives. The Shaffer team consists of real estate professionals in Southern Utah, specializing in selling homes. We work with talented photographers, stagers and lenders to ensure your home buying or selling process is efficient and smooth. Call us to learn more about the area and to understand how we can help you find your dream home at (435) 525-0079. 

When viewing a house for a private showing or even an open house, there are always important things that you may miss. It’s inevitable. Luckily there are safeguards put in place during the sale to make sure any imperfections come to light. Multiple inspections will be completed to help sweep the house of any inconsistencies. Your real estate agent will also have a keen eye if you need them as a resource. Some of these imperfections should be brought to light before those inspectors even get involved. Let’s take a look at some of the common things you should look out for when viewing a home for the first time.

1. State of the Yard +  Landscaping

Before you even step one foot into the house you are touring, take a long gander at the landscaping and overall upkeep of the front of the yard. Here, in Southern Utah, fresh-looking green grass is very hard to maintain given our hot desert climate. Luckily, many neighborhood residents stay on top of watering their grass. If you are viewing a home with a less than adequate yard, this may indicate poor upkeep or issues with irrigation systems on the property or worse, serious pest infestations. Another common trend with landscaping is the incorporation of red rock (obviously!). Sometimes when landscapers put in rocks, they can be organized in a way that will turn everything to mud or the foundations will give way. Although this may not lead to large sums of money coming out of your pockets for landscaping services, it is still something you should be aware of. 

2. Condition of Floors 

As soon as you walk into the main entrance of the home, take in your surrounding completely. There are of course, many different types of flooring you will be viewing. You may encounter wood floors, linoleum, or concrete. Whichever flooring you are stepping on, be sure to observe it closely and inspect for any defects. Do the floors look outdated, warped, or distressed? Are there any cracks larger than the typical hairline crack (1/8 of an inch)? Does the wood have purposeful gloss to it? 

Warped flooring typically indicates that there was previously a water problem or even a flood. If you do see these flaws, take a mental note. If you decide to move forward with an offer, you’ll want to mention your initial concerns to the inspector. Another thing you should look out for is the durability of the floor. Does it feel bouncy or do you feel movement in your step? This may imply that again, a flooding issue had occurred or there was an issue with termites.

These details are important to keep your eye out for because it could lead to serious issues down the road which could mean thousands of dollars coming out of your pocket for repairs.

3. Condition of Walls

The walls are also a key point you should closely look at. When you look at the walls, do you see any water marks that could imply internal water damage or mold? Walk up to the wall and lightly touch it. Assess whether the wall seems as if it was “freshly” painted. The state of the walls and floors will tell you how inclined the sellers are to leave their buyers with a sanitary and quality home.

If you happen to encounter any strange odors while touring a house, be sure to give the walls a good sniff (we’re not kidding). Remaining odors could be caused from indoor smoking, fireplace irrigation issues, or, once again, water issues.

4. Natural Lighting + Air Flow

Obviously natural lighting is always a plus, but if a home is without a lot of natural lighting you should start calculating the need for additional utility expenses. As you walk through the different spaces in the house, take note of the natural lighting in the common areas where you plan to spend a lot of time. 

Along the same lines as lighting, pause for a moment and take in the general air flow. Is it warmer in certain places than others? Is the air conditioner running on full blast? Although heating and cooling expenses is not a common fear for us desert-living folk, it is still something worth recognizing. 

The Bottom Line

If you’re worried about missing key elements, don’t stress. Even if you feel like you left the showing without fully investigating any potential issues, there will still be several rounds of inspections and before you send over your earnest money check. Talk to your agent. Take several walkthroughs. Everything will be fine. With a little patience, you will have your dream home in no time.

Contact Us

We hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy during this historical time in our lives. The Shaffer team consists of real estate professionals in Southern Utah, specializing in selling homes. We work with talented photographers, stagers and lenders to ensure your home buying or selling process is efficient and smooth. Call us to learn more about the area and to understand how we can help you find your dream home at (435) 525-0079. 

Well, the heat is here! You’re probably sipping an ice-cold lemonade and reading this by the pool or finding things to keep yourself entertained in the comfort of your chilled house. School, whether at home or in the classroom, is on its way soon. August typically becomes our busy month as the kids go back to school and potential homebuyers are scrambling to finalize their offers before the start of the madness that Fall brings.

If you're trying to decide how to pack this last bit of time before school starts with some fun, look no further. We’ve put together a few of our favorite upcoming events that we know you won’t want to miss out on. Let’s take a look.

Downtown Farmers Market

We love organic food, but you know what we love even more? Supporting local farms and small-businesses. Every Saturday from 9am-12pm (through the end of October) you can stop by Ancestor Square in the Historic Downtown St. George area and shop for all of your farm-to-table fresh produce, meats, dairy and other herbs. The music and friendly atmosphere makes this place the perfect Saturday morning destination. There are many activities to keep the kiddos entertained as well including music, dancing, face-painting and art. If you are hankering for some food, there are plenty of food trucks scattered throughout the market for you to enjoy.

Washington County State Fair (August 4th-8th)

All your childhood memories of watching horses gallop, eating corn-on-the-cob, laughing at comedy shows, and screaming on carnival rides is right around the corner. Each day, the Washington County State Fair has planned various entertainment events for children and adults alike. 

Even through the times we are living, this county fair is dedicated to giving you a short but sweet experience for these three days. Be sure to make it a trip in your early August adventures!

Greater Zion National Park

Ziplining at Greater Zion - Open every day, take a scenic drive to Zion and zip down 800 feet of line. Suspended in the middle of the Green Valley Gap, you’ll strap and sail through the giant gap within the red rocks.

Skydiving near Zion National Park – Are you a thrill seeker in need of something to bring a little zest to your life? Join them for a 10,000 foot dive above the roaring red rocks of Zion. The exhilarating drop will have you soaring around 120mph vertically ending in a steady and breezy parachute landing.

Jeep Off-Road Tours – Strap into a Jeep Rubicon Wrangler for a few hours of a bumpy yet enjoyable off-roading experience fit for the entire family. While on your journey with climbing huge red rocks, you will experience the beautiful wildlife and views Zion has to offer. The tour guide will offer you a narrated story about the geology, history, and famous rock formations on the excursion.

The Bottom Line

There are so many other activities to do here in the Southern Utah and we hope that you are able to experience every niche and nook of this beautiful place we love calling home. Stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay safe!

Contact Us

We hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy during this historical time in our lives. The Shaffer team consists of real estate professionals in Southern Utah, specializing in selling homes. We work with talented photographers, stagers and lenders to ensure your home buying or selling process is efficient and smooth. Call us to learn more about the area and to understand how we can help you find your dream home at (435) 525-0079. 

Much like the St. George sun, the real estate market is HOT right now. Check out our July Market Report to get an at-a-glance look at the St. George housing market.