Preparing Your Mountain Ranch for Market
Across the mountain West, Fall is typically a pivotal time of year for landowners. Focus often turns to near-term activities and obligations such as putting up hay, preparing to ship livestock to Winter locations, and coordinating with outfitters leasing the property for big-game hunting seasons. However, if an owner is considering listing their property for sale during the following year, Fall is also a critical time to begin preparing the property for market.
What is needed to prepare a property for sale is determined by a handful of factors including the prospective seller’s motivations, the ranch’s unique attributes, and seasonal conditions where the property is sited. Critical to any listing is a strong portfolio of marketing material and media. This includes professional photographs and video, drone imagery, detailed interactive maps, due diligence documentation, brochures, and 3D interior renderings of residences. These materials are imperative in order to enable Confluence Land Company to create a strong presence on the numerous marketing platforms we syndicate to for property listings. Fall’s spectacular aspen leaves and frequent big-game sightings make this time of year an ideal time to source marketing materials.
Prior to listing, consideration should be given to any projects and upgrades which might help facilitate the sale of the property. These may include repairing or enhancing fences and gates, addressing deferred maintenance issues, hauling off derelict equipment, or upgrading residential utilities. Additional upgrades might involve forest management practices, improvements to irrigation infrastructure, or even habitat and river restorations. A prime example of a ranch that was well-prepared prior to listing is the Silver Creek Granby Ranch. Silver Creek’s current owners undertook projects such as applying new finishes to exterior fencing, servicing several of the residential systems, planting additional trees, and ensuring that the main home and shop were in exceptional condition before bringing the ranch to market.
One of the most important decisions to make before listing any property is determining next steps after a potential sale. Many sellers opt to take advantage of tax-deferred strategies such as a 1031 Exchange, often “ranch-hopping” between properties throughout the West. While the 1031 Exchange process can be complex and deadline-constricted, Confluence Land Company has a depth of experience guiding sellers through the process, and can aid in identifying on and off-market replacement assets in a timely fashion.
When marketing ranch properties, a highly individualized strategy is essential. Every ranch has unique and distinct features that should be highlighted to potential buyers. The Confluence Land Company team takes pride in offering comprehensive services to our clients, and evaluates each ranch fully on a case-by-case basis. Whether pouring over water rights documents, easement specifications, or recreational lease records, our team takes a hands-on approach in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of the property. If you are interested in selling your ranch in the future, it is never too early to speak with a Confluence Land Company broker in order to position yourself for a seamless process and lucrative outcome when it comes time to transact.
