Our office members pride themselves on being active participants in our local communities. One recent example of this is Tammara Prager, who is a member of the International Hummingbird Society. Just recently, July 26th-28th, the annual Hummingbird Festival took place in Sedona. Among the activities of the festival, there is a garden tour. Tammara was a garden host this year for the festival, where visitors came and sat in her yard to enjoy the hummingbirds in action.  Tammara’s garden is a certified Hummingbird Haven, and you can see the certification requirements below. She is also a silver level sponsor. Did you know there are 8 critically endangered species of hummingbird? 

More about the International Hummingbird Society:

Mission Statement: Teaching about hummingbirds and working internationally to protect them.

Conservation: The hummingbird is a tiny but powerful voice for conservation. The Society supports conservation projects and educational efforts designed to protect these tiny vulnerable treasures, so they will thrive and continue to delight us with their luminous colors and acrobatic displays. 

Sedona Hummingbird Festival: The yearly three-day festival is bountiful in education. Presentations by world experts, demonstrations of hummingbird bandings. Hummingbird garden tours offer a wealth of ideas and information for you to take home. The festival’s Hummingbird Marketplace is sure to delight those looking for treasures.

Requirements to be a Certified Hummingbird Haven:

FOOD. Select and plan native plants that attract and nourish hummingbirds with nectar. The addition of feeders can enhance their natural diet.

ECO FRIENDLY. Create a safe environment by avoiding pesticide, herbicides and chemical fertilizers in or near your garden.

WATER. Hummingbirds love water to bathe in and drink from. Incorporate a water feature with rocks and shallow pools to mimic natural streams.

SANCTUARY.  Establish a refuge by providing trees and bushes for resting and nesting. Keep them protected by removing any pests and your garden cat-free.

10th Annual Sedona Hummingbird Festival is a can’t-miss event. The stars of the event are the hummingbirds! There are dozens of hummingbirds at the feeders right at Hummingbird Central (also known as the Sedona Performing Arts Center). You can see even more hummingbirds at banding locations and on the Garden Tour. As many as eight species of hummer can be found in the Sedona area during the festival – how many will you see?

Their website is  https://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/

And if you are looking to buy or sell in Sedona or any area in Northern Arizona, reach out to Tammara!

~published 9/5/2024, at https://www.realtyexecutives.com/office/flagstaff/blog

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is “Is my Zestimate correct?” My answer is always "It depends".  Zillow uses an algorithm that accounts for homes inside of a radius. The Zestimate algorithm does not account for lot size, upgrades, curb appeal or functionality. They use commonalities such as bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage. If there are homes around you that are similar to yours that have sold recently the chances of an accurate Zestimate are better. If your home happens to be in a radius mixed with single family homes, town homes, condos or manufactured homes it will not differentiate, which can drastically change the zestimate.  

You can actually log into Zillow and find out the accuracy in your County.  Currently Zillow is reporting at a 48.6% accuracy for Zestimates in Coconino County within 5% of the sales price.   For example if your home gets lumped in with a recent sale that has a very steep driveway and back ups to a main road that could count against your zestimate. Conversely, if your home gets lumped in with homes that are newer, have more upgrades and a larger lot that could falsely inflate your Zestimate.

My recommendation?  Of course, use a Licensed Realtor® who is knowledgeable in your neighborhood and can help you evaluate the distinct features in your home and help you arrive at your home’s specific value.