Selling Your Scotts Valley Home
December 29, 2010
Scotts Valley is an excellent place to live. It’s peaceful, it’s scenic, its prosperous, and its people are friendly. Yet, there might come a time when you need to leave the city and take root somewhere else. When this time comes, the biggest problem would be selling your house. The whole process can be rather tedious and time-consuming. In fact, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years. Of course, there are a lot of factors that affect this, and these factors are what you need to take into consideration if you want to get the best value for your house.
First and foremost, lay out your expectations. How much do you want to sell your house for? How soon do you need your house to be sold? You can base your next move on your answers to these questions. Of course, the answers aren’t exactly easy to find.
For one thing, the value of houses can go up and down depending on real estate trends in the area. The recent economic recession has sent the real estate market into a tumult. Thankfully, information is now widely available through the Internet. You can do your own research on the real estate trends in Scotts Valley and decide whether or not it’s really worth it to sell your home. The best option, of course, is to get a Real Estate Agent. Make sure that the agent is licensed in your area. It’s also best if you can ask around about the agent’s reputation so that you can be sure that he really will be worth your while.
Of course, you can collaborate with this agent about any improvements you can make that won’t be too costly but will greatly aid in increasing your home’s value. Doing repairs around the house is a must. Make sure that the roof and the ceiling is properly secure and that there are no leeks. You also need to ensure that the fixtures are in working order. You’ll be surprised at how much potential buyers are turned off by the little problems such as broken door knobs or cabinet handles. Similarly, paint can do wonders for your home. A fresh coat of paint can really increase the value of the house since it will give a fresher, newer feel. A properly maintained lawn can also impress buyers a lot. You can also hire a home stager in order to amplify your home’s value.
When you’re done on home improvements, focus on the neighborhood’s strengths. Scotts Valley is a very peaceful town, so you can emphasize that to the potential buyer. You alone have a more personal idea about the neighborhood’s characteristics, so you can share this with any potential buyer so that they can better visualize their lives in that neighborhood.
Image Credit: homesandland.com
Living in Scotts Valley
December 15, 2010
There are times when living in a big city can be pretty tough. There’s a cold and distant quality to it that, though there are millions of people around, a person can’t help but feel as if he or she is perpetually alone in a giant jungle of steel and cement. That’s why it’s sometimes better to find a life in a small city such as Scotts Valley.
Scotts Valley is a small city found in Santa Cruz County, California. With a population of only slightly more than 11,000, this city can be pretty cozy and tight-knit. The city was named after Hiram Scott, a businessman who settled in the nearby city of Santa Cruz and was truly instrumental in this city’s development.
About 60% of its population are married, half of which have children. The median income for the households in this city is a pretty decent $72,449.
The unemployment rate is a troubling 6.1%, though there’s a job growth of 1.2% in recent years, and a project 20% in the future. The current top employer in Scotts Valley is Seagate Technology, followed by Threshold Enterprises, and then Aviza.
If you plan to move to Scotts Valley with your family, of prime importance would be the issue of education. You’ll be pleased to note that Scotts Valley fares excellently in this category. There’s a Scotts Valley Unified School District which operates four of the city’s public schools, namely Scotts Valley High School, Scotts Valley Middle School, Vine Hill School, and Brook Knoll School, with the latter two being elementary schools. Those who prefer home schooling can also avail of the city’s Independent Study/Home School Program. This city is also home to the Bethany University and the Baymonte Christian School, both private schools.
What’s great about this city is that it’s really picturesque. If you have imagined a peaceful life in a quaint town, then you’ve probably found the place you’re looking for. Coursing along the city and its surrounding areas are several bodies of water, namely the Carbonera Creek, MacKenzie Creek, the Bean Creak, and also the San Lorenzo River. On weekends, you can take your family to one of the many parks in the city and just enjoy an idyllic picnic.
Also, this city’s pretty close to the beach, so it’s easy to just pack up and bring your amily with you on a nice outing. There’s also Camp Evers Fishing Park which is the town’s fishing hole, open only from May to September. Dads will also love going to the Valley Gardens Golf Course where they can play and discuss work with their colleagues.
All in all, Scotts Valley is an excellent place to live if your ideal life includes lots of peace and quiet. The locals here are warm and friendly and you’ll no doubt find it easy to fit in with them once you move in.