Sandi Pressley Blog

Are you planning on buying a home in Albuquerque? If so, you no doubt have already figured out how much money you need for your down payment, the mortgage payments, and so forth. Yet how much will that home cost after you move in? Here are six life factors to consider when buying a home: Green Thumb? If you love … Read More

If you have your home on the market, you’ll soon be getting offers. When that happens, you’ll need to decide which offers are best for you. Your real estate agent will be a huge help with this. Agents know how to determine the pros and cons of an offer, since there’s more to it than just dollar signs. They have … Read More

We all know the story. You hire a contractor who you think will do the job right and honestly, only to be slighted in the end. You can certainly trust many contractors. But like anything, there’s always a bad apple or two that spoil everything. So how can you make sure the person you hire is going to do the … Read More

Cleaning gutters and trimming trees is not everyone’s favorite pastime. But when a storm hits, these mundane tasks can serve as your home’s armor. These tips will get your home ready for disasters, like water damage to your home, power outages, and more. Clean Gutters to Prevent Water Damage Cleaning the gutters may seem like a simple task, and that’s … Read More

There are many things that can affect the life of a roof – workmanship, materials and climate all affect a roof’s lifespan. Your roof is a critical part of your home and making sure it’s in good order will help you save money in more ways than just the roof itself. Avoiding Common Maintenance Issues Small problem that go unchecked … Read More

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 … Read More

No matter how great your homes looks, if your driveway is crumbling, it can really kill your curb appeal. Sure, a driveway can last for decades, but eventually they need replacing. Here are some signs to look for that will help you determine if it’s time for a new driveway. Cracks Cracking is the usual first sign of an aging … Read More

Are you thinking about setting up a fish tank in your home? Maintaining an aquarium can be a rewarding endeavor. Along with caring for your fishy friends, there’s also safety concerns when dealing with fish tanks. They can leak, or even worse, break, if you don’t take basic precautions. There are also concerns when it comes to power supplies and … Read More

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 … Read More

Mold – it’s a dirty word no matter how you look at it, at least in the home. Mold can cause significant damage to your home and is certainly not good for your health. Mold can grow anywhere, and getting rid of spores completely is almost impossible. But with a few preventative measures, you can keep mold to a minimum. … Read More

You did it! After all those years of renting and paying someone else’s mortgage, you’ve purchased your own home at last. Now it’s time to get ready to move out of your rental and into your dream home. But if you’ve never moved from a rental before, or if it’s been a few years, you may have forgot all the … Read More

Selling a home is no easy task.  You need all the edge over the competition you can get. So when buyers come to your home, what do they see first? Your home’s exterior is the first thing buyers see, and it can make or break a sale.  What are some affordable and simple ways you can spice up your curb … Read More

The Sandi Pressley Team has taken great care in making our website, www.albuquerquehomesolutions.com, a useful and powerful tool for anyone looking to buy or sell a home in Albuquerque. Our website is full of useful features and tools that will help you start your home buying or selling journey. If you plan to buy or sell a home soon, why not … Read More

Most first time home buyers are in their early 30’s when they decide to buy.  That’s a young age to make such a huge financial decision. Of course, it’s also a stressful decision no matter how old you are. How can you reduce the stress of buying a home for the first time? Here’s a few things to consider. How … Read More

It’s a nightmare scenario: You’ve been saving to put down a payment on your dream home. You’re about to close the deal, but instead, you’re deceived into wiring your money to an account outside of the country. You lose it all – the money, the new home, and possibly your life savings. This may sound exaggerated, but it’s not. It’s … Read More

August is coming to a close and September is just around the corner, but there’s still plenty of fun in store in Albuquerque. Whether you love a good baseball game, want to go to the fair, get a taste of the grape, or enjoy fine art, there’s something to keep just about anyone busy for the next month in Albuquerque.  … Read More

Home security is an important consideration when owning or even renting a home. Many people have home security systems to help keep their home secure. But is that enough? A home security system can only do so much. There are other steps you can take to make sure your home is as secure as possible. Here’s a few important precautions … Read More

Selling your home can be challenging and stressful. You’re taking on two major tasks at once – getting your home to show to potential buyers and getting ready to move. Will getting a storage unit will help the process go more smoothly? Yes and no, depending on your situation. When you move, it provides a perfect opportunity to clean the … Read More

Have you checked your credit score lately?  Having good credit is important in this world, particularly if you plan on buying a home. Even though there are mortgages available to those with lower credit scores, it’s always a good idea to raise your score as high as you can before you apply for a mortgage. A higher score will yield … Read More

Buying a home is likely the biggest decision you’ll make in your life. It’s a decision that you will likely be living with for years. Everyone dreams of finding the perfect home. What is the perfect home, and how can you find it? Defining the “Perfect Home” The perfect home, as it were, is a home that fits your needs … Read More

Nothing looks better than a granite countertop in your bath or kitchen.  They’re tough, always in style, and take less maintenance. It may seem that it would be too expensive to install granite.  Yet you don’t need to buy the most expensive granite to get amazing results. Here’s what you should know about granite counters and how you can cut … Read More

Installing a new garage door isn’t probably the first thing that comes to mind, not until it gets damaged or fails to work. But even if your garage door works fine, it’s probably time to update it, especially if your home is a few decades old. Replacing a garage door, including the opener, can run around $2300.  Of course that … Read More

The 4th of July is a time to have fun with friends and family, and our furry friends are part of that fun. You might be tempted to bring your pets to watch fireworks or give them yummy treats from the grill. But fireworks and festive foods can potentially be harmful for pets.  What can you do to make sure … Read More

It’s no secret that good landscaping can add substantial value to your home. In fact, great landscaping can raise the value of your home by up to 11%, sometimes even more.  The bonus about landscaping is that in addition to adding to your home’s value, it can be one of the easiest home improvement projects to do. How can you … Read More

Buying a second home – many people dream of it.  Buying a second home is something of a rite of passage, like buying a car or getting married. It’s a great investment as well. It shows that you’re doing well financially and can afford to reward yourself. And since mortgage rates are still low, now may be a good time … Read More

Let’s face it – if you have kids, you have messy closets. The hustle and bustle of daily life usually doesn’t leave much time to organize. And living in a disorganized home can make you feel a bit out of control. Organizing every closet in the house can be daunting. But it you can get the family in on the … Read More

If you’re planning to buy a home in Albuquerque and can afford a higher payment, then a 15-year mortgage is an ideal way to pay off your mortgage faster and save thousands of dollars in interest. Of course, to make it work you need to have enough income to cover the payments, along with your other expenses. Despite the advantages … Read More

Are you thinking about buying your first home in Albuquerque? If so, there’s a great deal of things to consider. But don’t let that intimidate you. Many first time buyers make the same mistakes, but if you learn from what they did or didn’t do, you can avoid making them. Here’s a few major mistakes that first time home buyers … Read More

Memorial Day is fast approaching, so now is a good time to plan for the weekend if you haven’t already done so. It’s also the unofficial start of summer, giving us even more to celebrate. Albuquerque is the perfect place to both remember our veterans and enjoy the freedoms they fought for. Here’s a few events we can look forward … Read More

For centuries, indoor gardens have been used to add color and life to homes of all kinds. It’s not just looks that describe the benefits of planting an indoor garden. Caring for an indoor garden is also a great way to deal with stress. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or have been gardening for years, following a … Read More

Whether you’re buying or selling a home in Albuquerque, a home inspection is going to be an important part of the process. The home inspection will assess the condition of the home, identifying problems that can give buyers important information about what will need to be repaired when they buy the home. If you’re getting a home inspection, what are … Read More

You’re buying your first home in Albuquerque and the excitement abounds. But you have to be careful that all the excitement doesn’t cloud your vision. It’s easy to see the exterior of a home and how much you like (or dislike it). But you need to see the inside as well. How was it maintained? What issues will come up … Read More

Selling your home in Albuquerque can be a challenge. Many home sellers decide to hire a pro to help them stage their home to attract more buyers. But if you don’t want to spend that extra money, there’s certainly some helpful tips from the pros that you can do on your own to help your home sell more quickly and … Read More

Moving can be a stressful time for people. So you can guess how stressful it can be for pets. They don’t understand or have been prepared for such a huge change in their environment. As such, much with pets can be challenging. There’s no absolute way to make the experience stress free for you and your precious pets, but you … Read More

If you plan on buying a home in Albuquerque, or you already live here, you don’t need to worry about where to find fresh, healthy local produce. Albuquerque is bursting with markets featuring the best local produce and natural grocery items. And you can eat fresh and healthy in Albuquerque no matter what season it is, as there’s both indoor … Read More

What an exciting time – you’re ready to buy your first home in Albuquerque! This is certainly a big decision.  A great deal of time and money will be invested in this endeavor. What are all the steps involved in the home buying process? You need to know what’s involved and what to expect before you start.  You also need … Read More

It’s no secret that the best time to sell anything is when the demand is high and the supply is low for that item. This is particularly true with selling a home. So if you plan on selling your home in Albuquerque, there’s great news. Two major reports released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that that now … Read More

You have kids in school and are you planning to buy a home in Albuquerque. Now what? You certainly want to find the right home near the best schools. And you definitely don’t want to end up having buyer’s remorse when buying your home if it turns out that the school you live near isn’t right for your child. But … Read More

Antique collecting can certainly be an addiction, but a good one. People who live in Albuquerque already know that the best antiques in the Southwest can be found here.  You’ll definitely feel at home if you love antiques and are thinking about buying a home in Albuquerque. The downtown area is filled with all sorts of shops to find treasures … Read More

David Bach is a self-made millionaire and has written nine consecutive New York Times best-selling books. For 31 weeks his book, “The Automatic Millionaire,” was on the New York Times bestseller list. He is also one of the only business authors in history to have four books simultaneously on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek and USA Today … Read More

Here comes Valentine’s Day! Do you live in Albuquerque and looking for something different to do with your sweetheart this year? The great news is there are so many things about this city that’s perfect for lovers – great food, clean air, and wide open spaces. So skip the chocolates and do something different this Valentine’s Day in Albuquerque. Here’s … Read More

If you live in Albuquerque and are on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you may have wondered if buying a home is attainable.  Perhaps you’ve wondered if merely owning a home may affect your benefits, making home owning nearly impossible. The fact is that many people living on SSDI and SSI benefits do qualify … Read More

Where has 2017 gone? 2018 is fast approaching, so it’s time to get ready for the party! There’s a number of great New Year’s Eve events coming up this Sunday night in Albuquerque.  Get ready to have a great time and bring in the New Year in style with these events! New Year’s Eve Dinner at Gruet Winery Get ready … Read More

Looking for a great way to spend celebrate the holidays in Albuquerque? There’s only about 2 weeks left to celebrate the season, but these events will help you get the most out of the holidays. If you’re looking for a new and special way to create holiday memories this year with friends and family, then get ready for these fun … Read More

What an exciting time in your life – you’re buying a new home! It’s easy to get carried away with all the excitement. But that also means that, you need to think carefully about your decisions. You’re sure to find a home that you’ll fall in love with. Many times when that happens, people will let their emotions take over … Read More

If you look at trends across the country, it may seem that the dream of owning a home is not well. But that’s really not the care. Buying a home may be more difficult lately. Factors such as student loan debt, rising home prices and a fewer available properties have certainly made it more difficult. Because of this, on a … Read More

There are many things that make Albuquerque special, and one of those things is the unique and historic bed and breakfasts you’ll find in this amazing city. I doesn’t matter if you live in Albuquerque or visiting, the perfect getaway is waiting for you here. Want a romantic setting for a wedding, honeymoon, or anniversary? Maybe you’re up for a … Read More

The holidays are almost here! Are you buying the same old gifts every year? The great news is that Albuquerque is the perfect place to find unique southwestern gifts and unique fashions. If you’re looking for handmade and Native American made gifts, it’s all here – antiques, furnishings, books, apparel, culinary specialties,– you name it. You can see the full list … Read More

So, you’ve made the decision. You’re moving. You even found the perfect house. Now its time to start packing. As well as tell the kids. No matter how far you’re moving, it usually is an upsetting event in a child’s life. So how can you make the ordeal go smoother? Have a Family Meeting. Get some of their favorite foods and … Read More

You hear on the news or from a neighbor that someone had a home invasion. Then you might think “That’ll probably never happen to me, I live in a nice, peaceful neighborhood”. Truth is, it can happen to anyone at any time. Here are some tips and tricks to help ensure that you and your family stay safe at night. … Read More

Pumpkins. A definite sign that fall is on your doorstep or is already falling much great gusto from your trees. Matching this cheerful end-of-summer New Mexico sensation with fresh homey décor ideas is an absolute must. For starters, an awesome pumpkin or two on your porch and strategically placed saucer pumpkins will add to the effect. Don’t forget the trees … Read More

Home safety is important. But one thing many people overlook is electrical safety. There are around 51,000 home electrical fires a year, with nearly 500 deaths, over 1,400 injuries and $1.3 billion in damages. Yet there are ways to reduce the risk to you and your family. Here’s a few tips to get you started. Outlets: Don’t overload outlets with … Read More

Halloween is almost here. It’s time for the spectacle of treats, crazy costumes for the kids and scaring each other silly. It’s also a time to remember to take some caution and safety preparation that can go a long way for our crazy little monsters of the night. Here’s a few tips on safety for this year’s Halloween in Albuquerque. … Read More

Sitting in your lawn chair, the early dusky blue sky stretches before you. Not for long though. Nearby over 500 hot air balloons are preparing to take off en mass. What a massive amount of sound! The sounds of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta! Commonly called the Albuquerque Balloon festival, it is actually called a Fiesta. Why not?! It is a … Read More