Easy home updates and cosmetic tips to keep your home up-to-date

When it comes to houses I tell my clients, they are a lot like people for the main reason that as they age, they need a bit more love and a bit more work. When you buy a new home, there are barely any changes or fixes that need to be made, you get to start with a clean slate. But let’s say you decide to buy a home that is 20, 50 even 100 years old. You know when you walk into that house that there are going to be a few things not up to par. There might be foundation problems or roof issues or parts of the house not exactly up to code anymore. As a buyer, you are already preparing yourself for what might come when you buy a house with some age on it. But on the other hand, many of those things are out of your control and even the seller’s control. The things that are in the control of the seller is over the years how much love they gave back to their house, how much time and money they invested into updates and cosmetic changes to keep the home up-to-date. A lot of times if my buyer walks into an older house and sees that they will have to put a substantial amount of money into updating and revamping the house, it will discourage them from putting in an offer.

So sellers, this blog is for you as you are preparing to put your aged house on the market. Even in this hot Denver market, you still want to get the most bang for your buck, and the one of the best ways to do that is to keep your house updated on the inside and on the outside. I have compiled a list of updates and cosmetic changes that will in return help bring you a higher asking price for your house when you decide it is time to sell:

Remodeling your bathroom and/or kitchen – These are the two areas people really look for updates when touring a home because they are the most expensive. Buyers aren’t going to want to necessarily sink thousands of dollars into these areas when they are putting down a lot of money to buy the home. The return at resale for these updated rooms is around 100% that means you will make your money back for keeping these rooms up-to-date.

 Landscaping – Curb appeal people, it is HUGE when buyers first pull up to the house. If they pull up to an untamed jungle, it is an immediate turn off. Keep your outside as put together as your inside, plant flower beds, make sure your grass is taken care of and don’t let weeds be the most prominent “plant” in your gardens.

Paint – I do not know how many times I have told my clients that paint is pretty inexpensive and easy to throw up over shabby walls and peeling exteriors. When you are ready to sell, pick a neutral color for your inside walls and make sure the outside of the house has a fresh coat.

Create open space – Recent surveys by Bankrate have shown that at the top of the list for many buyers is having a home with open space inside or as we like to say, that open floor plan. Right now buyers are looking to have all their rooms flow into one another, making it easier to interact. If you have walls that can be taken down, consider doing it.

Add light where you can – Ever walk into a house and think, what great natural light? Buyers do that all the time I know it is one of the things I look for when I walk into a house. Adding windows that really allow light in will pay off in the long run and, adding light fixtures to areas of the house that are dark will also help light up the space.

When in doubt, clean – This may sound silly but I know keeping your home updated can be an overwhelming task at time. Homeowners are constantly working to keep up with their house that is a never-ending daunting list. If you are not a person who likes to clean, hire a cleaning service to come monthly. The more clean you can keep your house, the easier it will be to put on the market when the time comes.

Keeping your home up-to-date is a never-ending process and the bottom line is to not take on too many projects at once. You will overwhelm yourself and then no projects will get done. Take them a day at a time, schedule out for the year what you hope to accomplish and save up for your bigger projects. If you are having some trouble deciding what to do with you home, feel free to give me a call and I can come out to your home and together we can discuss what changes might be best to make to get the offer you want.

The importance of maintaining your property

It is very exciting to own your own home. From my clients who are first time homebuyers, to my experienced homebuyers, I know each and every one of them takes pride in their home. The thing that can be daunting though, no matter how many years you have been in a place, is keeping up the maintenance. Below is a list of what you can do to maintain your house over the years to keep it in tip-top shape:

Monthly things to do:

·      Clean your kitchen sink disposal – this is easy to do, just make some vinegar ice cubes and run them through the disposal, easy

·      Inspect your fire extinguisher

·      Clean range hood filters if you have them

·      Inspect and possibly change out HVAC filters – a few handyman have told me to replace these monthly with cheaper filters rather than replacing them every couple of months with more expensive filters

Quarterly things to do:

·      Test smoke/carbon dioxide detectors

·      Run water and flush toilets in unused spaces – if your kids no longer live with you, and their bathroom never gets used anymore, it is imperative to make sure you still run water to prevent grime buildup

·      Check water softener

Biannually things to do:

·      Give your house a deep clean – I like to do this more than biannually and I also recommend calling in a cleaning company to really give your house a one-over because sometimes, we just don’t clean as good as the pros do

·      Replace batteries in smoke/carbon dioxide detectors

·      Vacuum your refrigerator coils – this is something I learned but your fridge uses up to 15% of your home’s total power so when you’re the coils on your fridge get dirty, your fridge has to use more energy

Summer things to do: since we are in the heat of the summertime I thought it only appropriate to also add things you can do to your home during the hot months –

·      Check grout in bathrooms and kitchen

·      Inspect plumbing for leaks from the cold season and repair anything found

·      Take care of insect problems if you have them – summer is when insects are out and about and this is the time to shut them down so they don’t make a home within your home for the cold months

·      Clean and repair your patio/deck if needed

·      Check and clean dryer vent and other exhaust vents

·      Clean your garage – at my home, we make cleaning the garage a summer ritual. Though out the cold months, your garage gathers dust and debris and often is a bit neglected. Summer is the perfect time to give your garage a little tlc

This is a great place to start and don’t let it be too daunting. As a homeowner you understand that there is always something to do and the best way to tackle everything is just a day at a time.

How having a strong partner can be a game changer in life’s successes

There is something to say for having a strong partner by your side as you work your way through life. Whether you are going through good times or bad times, challenging times or easy times, making major life changes or going with the flow, your partner is your go-to person who is consistently routing for you in your corner.

This past weekend, my husband Jay and I celebrated our 18-year anniversary, hard to believe I know. For those of you who don’t know, Jay and I are actually high school sweethearts (a rarity these days). So to say we have grown together is a bit of an understatement. We started adulthood together and started building our dreams from an early age. Jay has always been a supportive husband, a doting father and a honest businessman and because he is all of these things, I am more successful in all my roles of life as well.

Throughout the years, I have read countless studies and interviews with successful businessmen and women. When they are asked how they were able to work their way to the top, how they were able to build a business from the ground up or how they were able to leave corporate America and become an entrepreneur, almost all of them admitted it was because they had the support and love of a partner. Many studies have shown that the most successful people aren’t necessarily single, in fact, many of them have a strong marriage and have a partner who is just as motivated and driven.

I know for myself personally I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for Jay’s constant love, push, encouragement and belief in me. We own many businesses together because we believe that together we can help one another grow and we know that we make a strong team. That also speaks to parenting our wonderful daughter. We both work hard to ensure we are raising a good kid and keeping one another responsible in helping us develop as a family.

It is imperative to find that someone who brings out the best in you. Someone who is not afraid to question you or stand up to you. Someone who pushes your buttons and challenges you but in the right way. I feel very fortunate to have found that person in Jay and cannot wait for the many years to come together.

Acitivities to keep you busy this Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day is already here (can’t say where the month of May went but here we are!) and I just wanted to take a minute to thank all the military men and women out there serving our country. To the families and friends of fallen soldiers I especially want to send a sincere and loving thank you for everything your soldier did for our country. This is an official holiday where we take time to remember those soldiers who lost their lives fighting and protecting our country.

There are so many activities going on this coming weekend for families and friends to participate in, from the Memorial Day tribute to the countless concerts and sporting activities. Many people take this long weekend and head out of town for the mark of the beginning of road trips and summer adventures (even though it still is a bit cold in the mountains so make sure to check out the weather before you go). Below is a list of activities around the city as well as in the mountains that will be a good time for family and friends alike:

Veterans Memorial Day Tribute – May 27th 10:00-12:00 POF Hall, 1340 Sherman. St – This is an annual tribute that honors all the fallen Colorado heroes and their families. There will be music, storytelling and ceremonial activities.

Denver Day Of Rock – May 27th 2:30-9:30 16th Street Pedestrian Mall – This is the 8th year the Day of Rock has shut down 16th Street Mall and is not a day you want to miss! This is a huge fundraiser that raises money for the youth organization Amp the Cause, donating to over 50 organizations. Enjoy a beer, some amazing food and of course the music of some of the biggest names in Colorado.

Aspen Mountain Will Open for Skiing – All Memorial Day weekend – If you haven’t put the skis away quite yet then grab them and head up to Aspen for one last powder session.

Final Weekend: The Secret Garden – Stage Theatre at Denver Center for the Performing Arts 1101 Speer Blvd – A beloved classic story is brought to life and enhanced with enchanting musical numbers. This is the last weekend it will be running so if you are hoping to catch a play, grab tickets and head on over.

Butterflies at Chatfield Seasonal Opening – May 27th 9:00-4:00 Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms – With the changing of weather comes the spring creatures arriving and this weekend you can go encounter native Colorado butterflies and plants in a one-of-a-kind butterfly house. Walk amongst swallows, monarchs, mourning cloaks and painted ladies.

Water World Seasonal Opening – All Weekend 10:00-6:00 Water World – If you have been keeping an eye on the weather you will have seen we are supposed to have some sun and heat. Water World, one of the largest water parks in the United States, opens up again for the season this weekend offering an array of fun water attractions.

Denver Arts Festival – All Weekend 10:00-6:00 Conservatory Green at Stapleton – Enjoy walking around these beautiful grounds while perusing fine arts and crafts by some incredibly talented Colorado artists and the nation’s best artists.

BolderBoulder 10k – May 29th starting at 5:45am Folsom Field – This is one of the most famous runs in Colorado with over 50,000 participants who done outfits fit for a king.

Odesza & Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – All weekend (check schedule for specific dates of each) 7:30pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Red Rocks season is upon us and what better way to enjoy this beautiful weekend then being outdoors at the best music venue in the US? Catch either one of these incredible music acts this weekend.

Hope everyone has a safe and fun Memorial Day Weekend and if you are around this weekend and wanting to look at homes or chat about putting yours on the market, please contact me today!

What It Means to Be a Mom

This is a blog for all the moms out there. While we celebrated Mother’s Day this past weekend, I thought it was important to write a little bit about motherhood from my own perspective and how being a mom has made me a better person, worker and friend.

Let’s start with what society says to women who have children and also want to have a career; it’s an almost impossible task and at the end of the day you are going to have to choose one. While I know many people look at motherhood a career ender, I myself have found that being a mother has increased my work ethic and makes me work double as hard so my daughter can have a good life and also see what it means to be a strong, independent woman who has a good job and can be a good and attentive mother at the same time. It is very possible to raise a family and have a career; more women do it then we give them credit for.

I have always believed that the hardest career out there is bring a parent, a job no one gets paid for but stakes are high and it is all on you to figure out how to raise a good kid, kind and smart child. When Reagan was first born, I understood quickly that I would need to figure out how to make my schedule work to balance the time I spent with her and the time I spent doing my other jobs. I have been lucky enough to choose a career that allows me flexibility on when and how much I work so that meant when Reagan had a dance recital or needed to be picked up from school, between my husband and I, one of us would always be able to be there. As she continues to grow up I find myself working even harder in my career so I can be an example to her to show her that a woman can have it all, and really have it all.

One of the greatest days of my life was the day Reagan was born, everything changed for me that day. My husband Jay and I became parents for the first time and there is nothing like that feeling of holding a little bundle of joy that is part of both of you. From that day on I have felt the greatest responsibility towards my daughter to raise her to be a good person and help guide her along the way as she continues to try new things on and experience different parts of life for the first time. Being a mother is amazing and challenging but it is my favorite “job” of all my “jobs” and I hope to keep showing Reagan how she can be a mother one day too and have the career of her dreams at the same time.