LETTER FROM THE PAOLI GROUP March 20, 2020
To our clients and friends, We hope you and your family are safe and in good health during this challenging time in the world. As your representatives, we want you to know we are committed to you during this unprecedented time! First and foremost, our concern is for the health and safety of you and your families. To do our part, we are all practicing aggressive self-isolation and quarantine with our families. The best defense we have against the virus is to hold ourselves accountable and do whatever we can to stop its spread. To that end, we would like to cease in-person showings through April 17th for the benefit of our clients and community. For Steamboat, this forced slowdown coincides with mud season. Realistically we are only missing 30 days of our selling season. If we all do our part, by May we should be looking at a more optimistic future. While we are not experts in virus science, the results from other countries are clear. Those which followed a strict quarantine protocol have moved to the downside of the virus spread and are trending back to normal life. Starbucks commented yesterday on stores reopening in China yesterday. The flip side of this is Italy, which did not adhere to a quarantine and has now surpassed China in total virus-related deaths. What are we doing for you? Our focus has shifted to technology: Video and Virtual Tour Technology: Our property videos will continue to be highlighted as they are the best way to tell your properties unique story. Also, we were the first agents in town to purchase a 3D virtual tour Matterport camera, which allows us to provide an online showing experience for your home. Our web-based mapping programs allow us to send interactive maps that help people gain familiarity with the location, topography, and features of
a property. We will emphasize mapping, video and virtual tours in our advertising and communication. Online Advertising: With our society in lockdown, there will be more people surfing the web, looking at stories related to the virus and thinking about their dreams. Our online advertising budget is increasing. • Social media campaigns: Instagram, Facebook and Linked-in. • Email Campaigns: Through the course of our 15 years working in the Steamboat real estate market we have collected proprietary lists of prospective buyers. • Print Ads: We are maintaining our regular advertising schedule. We are keeping a close eye on the market and are ready to adapt as the situation evolves. Here are some fundamentals about our Steamboat market worth noting as they have a direct impact on the rural properties in the region: • Unlike 2008, there is very low inventory, and few new developments are in the works. • The Steamboat Ski Area recently purchased close to $8 million in real estate at the base area and in town, setting the stage for a larger mountain investment. • Skiable terrain is expanding in 2021. Additional terrain near the Pony Express lift will bring Steamboat from the 5th to the 3rd largest Colorado resort. • Southwest has added Steamboat as a daily destination for the 2020/2021 ski season. • Rates are at all-time lows! The cost of real estate ownership continues to go down. Very important: If your situation has changed and you need to sell NOW, please call and we will develop a plan to accomplish your goal. The market has not stopped and properties are still going under contract and closing. We have a strong, supportive community, which is a main reason we chose to call it home. Fortunately, the stores have food and everyone appears to be working together amiably. We are here to support you, so please feel free to call or email us with any questions or concerns. We’d love to hear your voice. Sincerely, Chris, Amy, Randi, Brian, Kelly, Chris and Jessica Colorado Group Realty - The Paoli Group www.ThePaoliGroup.com