By now almost everyone in the area has heard, Bozeman Real Estate is back. 2014 is still proving to be one of the biggest years ever for the local Real Estate market. Year to date, 599 single family homes have sold in the Bozeman area, which makes this the highest volume year on record thus far.

For those homeowners who are not selling, fall is a great time to look around and take care of any needed maintenance items before winter comes. Furnaces, boilers, and heating systems should have regular maintenance including changing filters to insure they’re operating at peak efficiency. Fireplaces & wood stoves should also be maintained to insure they are operating safely. Having the chimney swept is an inexpensive way to prevent fires.

Replacing worn or missing caulking around windows and doors is one of the least expensive maintenance items and can prevent many future issues including moisture infiltration and heat loss.  

Perhaps more important than leaf clean up in the yard is leaf clean up in the gutters. As snow melts off the roof, clogged gutters can lead to ice dams among other problems. Giving water a clear path out and away from the home is crucial.
One of the most important items is to drain and disconnect exterior hoses from the hose bib or faucet to prevent freezing pipes. If you own a rental property, it’s a good idea to remind your tenants to do the same. Underground irrigation systems will have to be winterized as well.  

Fall is in the air, and with a few hours on a weekend, you can insure your home is ready for the changing seasons. As usual, I have included data for the number of single family homes sold during the first eight months of 2014. In addition to the 599 homes sold during this time period, another 139 homes are currently pending, or under contract, as of the date of writing this article.

The included data reflects sales of homes in the greater Bozeman area, including Four Corners, Gallatin Gateway, Bridger Canyon, and Bozeman city limits. The data includes home sales reported through the local Southwest Montana MLS, and does not include private party sales, Condominiums, or Townhouses.