Dear Dave,
We’re thinking of selling our home in 2026—but with so many moving parts, we’re not sure when to start preparing or what steps we should take now to set ourselves up for success. What should we be doing this year so that when we go to sell, everything goes smoothly?
— Sarah & Tom, Grand Junction

Dear Sarah & Tom,
Great question—and smart thinking. If 2026 is your target year, then believe me when I say: the time to prepare is now. The groundwork you lay this year can make all the difference later—both for your stress level and your sale outcome. Let’s break down the three key areas to focus on:

1. Start with the Right Agent and the Right Advice
Working with a local real estate agent early is a game-changer. The market is evolving, and your home will be judged on today’s standards when you list next year. An experienced agent can help you understand exactly what buyers in the Grand Valley are ...

 
Dear Dave,
My husband is a big game hunter and he has some incredible mounts in our home. We are getting ready to put our house on the market and we can’t agree on having them in the house anymore.  Should we remove them or is it ok to leave them up? Of course, I think we have too many and he thinks they look awesome as they are his prized possessions.  Please help us settle this and tell us what we should do.
Betty, Fruita

Betty,
This is a common theme for homes in Western Colorado. The fact that we live in Western Colorado and not Chicago (not that there is anything wrong with Chicago) makes trophy mounts more acceptable in a home for sale.   There is however definitely a fine line of too much. Hunting is a way of life and not just a hobby, but in many cases, it borders on obsession for some. Many hunters like to showcase their mounts and in most cases, I am great with it.  To be honest I have a few mounts up in my home ??
The key her ...

Dear Dave,
I’ve been looking into doing some redecorating on my house. It looks like the new up and coming trend is wallpaper. What do you think of wallpaper in a newer home? I’m not considering any of the patterns from the 70’s, but what do the people that you work with think of wallpaper? Is it easy enough for someone to remove if I go ahead and do it and then sell my house? I just want to be smart and not do something that will be a huge deterrent from my house when I decide to sell it.
Thank you – I really enjoy reading your answers each and every week!
Jaquie – Grand Junction, CO
 
Jaquie,
Great question! You are right! Wallpaper is starting to make a comeback and is gaining quite a bit of traction in the housing market again. You know what they say, if you wait long enough it will come back and be popular again and I think that is where we are headed with wallpaper. At least to some extent.
Keep in mind that wallpaper of any kind is a ...

Dear Dave,
My husband and I are buying a new construction home and are very excited to build a house we love. We’ve decided on our lot and are about to meet with our builder to decide on some major aspects of the home. Our question for you is—what upgrades should we go for? What holds the most value? High-end finishes vs. larger square footage? I’m sure our builder will also have an opinion, but we’d love to hear what you think as well!
– Becca, Grand Junction

Dear Becca,
First of all—congratulations! There’s nothing quite like the excitement of building a home from the ground up. Having the chance to customize your space and design a home that fits your lifestyle is a unique opportunity, and it’s smart to approach those decisions with an eye on both livability and future resale value.
When it comes to choosing upgrades, start with the basics—your lot and floor plan.
1. Pick the Right Floor Plan
Go for a layout that&rsq ...

 
Dear Dave,
We’re getting ready to sell our house but know the market is shifting. Someone suggested offering "concessions" to make our listing more attractive. What are concessions exactly, and when does it make sense to offer them?
—Pat & Simone, Grand Junction

Dear Pat & Simone,
Great question—concessions are becoming more common these days, especially as more homes are for sale and buyers get more picky. Before you launch your listing next year, understanding concessions will give you some useful tools to close a deal on favorable terms.
Here’s what you should know, and how to use that knowledge wisely.

What are Concessions?
Concessions are incentives that a seller offers to help sweeten a deal for buyers.
These might include:

Paying some or all of the buyer’s closing costs
Covering repairs (or offering credits in their place)
Lowering the sale price in some way to account for things buyers will have to ...