Don’t Miss These 5 Holiday Events in Utah

Want to enjoy some holiday festivities without spending your brains out this Christmas? I have five ideas that are both fun and budget-friendly for families to do this season.

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Today I wanted to give you five cool ideas for things you can do this Christmas in Utah that don't involve spending a ton a money. Here are some alternatives that won't leave you waking up on December 26th with a spending hangover:

1. Sledding at Big Cottonwood Canyon. In my opinion, this is the number one sledding hill in the state. It's a ton of fun.
2. The Midway Ice Castle, a short drive outside of Salt Lake City. The ice castle looks simply amazing, and it has a light show and ice skating. It will be up and running again this year.
3. The Heber North Pole Express. This is another close drive just outside of Salt Lake City. You can ride this really cool train with your kids and taste hot chocolate and all kinds of treats. Santa usually makes an appearance, too.
4. Visit Temple Square downtown. It's becoming world famous because of how gorgeous it is during Christmas. Do yourself a favor and take TRAX down because parking gets crazy down there.
5. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Your whole family can take some time to help out for a good cause. You'll feel better about yourself and the holiday season.

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I promise you'll have a great time without breaking the bank.

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If you and your family check out any of these fun things to do in Utah, I promise that you'll have an awesome time this season without breaking the bank. If you have any other questions about these activities or about Utah area real estate, you can always give me a call or message me through my website. I look forward to talking with you soon!

How Utah State Law Treats Home Meth Contamination

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Meth labs in Utah have been a hot topic here for many years, but there’s a lot of misinformation out there regarding this. People have thought for a long time that Utah continually tops the nation for meth labs. While that might’ve been the case a decade ago, it just isn’t true anymore.

According to a 2014 DEA study, only one confirmed meth lab was busted in the state of Utah that year. If you compare that to a state like Indiana, which had 1,471 such cases, that’s making us look pretty darn good! Despite this low count, however, we’re still 7th in the nation for meth use. What a lot of people don’t know is that just having someone use meth in your home will significantly contaminate your property well above the Utah state limits, and you’ll be stuck cleaning up that mess. It’s hard to overlook someone setting up an illegal lab in your home, but it can be quite easy to overlook someone simply using the drug behind a closed door. Properties that you’d never guess would test positive for methamphetamine do indeed come back “hot.”

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You’re not obligated to disclose a past positive test if the home’s been remediated.

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What happens then? State law requires that if your home tests positive, you must use a state-approved decontamination company to clean it up. The good news is this process isn’t as destructive as it used to be. It is, however, still costly. Even a moderate cleanup can be around $5,000, and that doesn’t include the fact that, typically, the carpet, drapes, furniture, and anything else that can absorb that chemical have to be removed.

If there’s any good news here, it’s that there are laws that protect you if you have had to clean up a property. As long as it’s been decontaminated by a certified expert, you do not have to disclose that you ever had methamphetamine present in that property. If they don’t ask, you don’t have to tell just as long as it’s been professionally remediated. If they do ask though, the owner can’t lie in response to a direct question.

If you have any more real estate questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or shoot me a message right here on the website.

5 Tips for Successful Negotiating in Salt Lake City

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In a competitive real estate market like ours in Salt Lake City, it’s important to understand how to negotiate well. Fortunately, I have some advice if you’re preparing to buy or sell a home to share with you today!

1. Know your margins in advance. Know the highest amount you’re willing to bid for a home or the very lowest you’d be willing to sell before. Understand those numbers well before entering a negotiation process. We don’t want you making those decisions in a stressful situation, especially during a close negotiation.
2. Consider a few concessions you would consider. Hold those in reserve just in case they’re required to keep a negotiation moving forward.
3. Never make a concession without asking for something in return. Anytime we receive something for nothing or a little too easy, we end up feeling like we should’ve asked for more. You want to nip that feeling in the bud!
4. Don’t take it personal. I know this can be difficult for some of us. I can’t name another item that can derail a negotiation faster than personal issues getting in the way of a transaction.
5. Always be willing to walk away. If you’re feeling too much pressure or giving away too much in a deal, it’s okay to say no. Thank the people for their offer, but pass. There will always be another deal out there for you, which could be much better!

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If you’re feeling too much pressure or giving away too much in a deal, it’s okay to say no.

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If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the surrounding Salt Lake City area, reach out today! I’m available by phone and email. I look forward to hearing from you soon!