Important Moving Tips For People With Diabilities

Moving to a new home can help you to expand your horizons, meet new and interesting people, and perhaps even start afresh. But the many tasks involved with relocating can add stress to what should be a great adventure. In this post, we'll show you how to steer your way around these potential pitfalls.

1. Choosing a New Place to Live
Locating accessible housing is like meeting your perfect romantic match. You know it's out there; the trick is finding it. Here are some tips to help you in the quest:

● Read the ads. Sellers of accessible housing often go out of their way to list handicap-friendly features in the property description. Use caution when relying on seller information, however. Sometimes they will list improvements such as a wheelchair ramp but neglect to mention that the bathrooms, hallways, appliances, etc. are unsuitable for people with physical challenges.
● Consult an internet database of accessible housing. This is a great way to find out about opportunities across the country.
● Contact a realtor. Local agents may know of options you could otherwise overlook.

2. Adaptable vs. Accessible Housing
If accessible housing is in short supply in the area to which you plan to move, then you may want to consider an adaptable home. These are modifiable existing homes that can meet the needs of the physically challenged with minimal remodeling, according to information provided by North Carolina State University. Here are some factors to keep in mind when considering this option:

● Choosing an adaptable home will allow you to customize its layout, features, and décor to your tastes and priorities.
● The cost of carrying out these projects may fall on you. However, you will find many potential resources for meeting these costs, including private foundation grants and HUD-sponsored loans.
● There are websites that can help you to locate a builder with the right certifications and experience. Remodeling a home with physical challenges in mind usually requires specialized construction skills.
Let's say you've found the perfect home, and you're anxious to move in. Your next step is to decide what to do with your belongings. Many people find that hiring a professional is the best way to go. Here is why:
● Peace of mind. Most professional packers offer coverage in case an item gets damaged, lost, or stolen.
● Expertise. Like many tasks, packing and moving are more complex than they appear at first. For example, items such as electronics, medications, and artwork require special care to avoid potential damage.
● Freedom from sore muscles. Packing and moving takes more than brute strength. It involves a lot of bending, twisting, and other movements that present special challenges to those with disabilities. Why put yourself through this ordeal when someone else can do the job for you?
Okay, your belongings are packed, and moving day is almost upon you. Here are some tips for making it go smoothly:
● Keep kids and pets out of the way. You may want to set aside a room in which they can relax and enjoy themselves away from the hustle and bustle.
● Have water and snacks on hand for the movers. This is a great way to show your appreciation for their help.
● Make sure you know the route to your new home ahead of time. Trip-mapping services like Siri can make mistakes.

The key to any successful move is covering your bases. Taking time to plan the process can save you from countless hassles down the road. We wish you all the best as you enjoy life in your new home.

Guest post by Patrick Young and AbleUSA

February Market Trends Report

A new year starts, resolutions begin and we all get to start 2018  off right! With all these new things happening, not as many home sellers and Buyers were thinking about selling or buying.  Sales were down in the Signature market with single-family home sales down 34.67 percent, and condo sales down 13.16 percent. Sales may have slowed, but month over month and year over year price per square foot (PSF) was up 4.56 percent in the Residential Signature market (single-family plus condo) from the prior months at $252 PSF, and up 12.50 percent year over year at $224 PSF from one year ago. WOW, a lot can change in a year!  January literally came in with a BANG year over year with sales up 11.36 percent in the Signature single-family market and an impressive 266.67 percent in the condo market. Our sales volume was also up 8.69 percent year over year in the Signature single-family market and 285.98 percent in the Signature condo market. Even with the cooler temperatures in January, the Signature condo market was HOT year over year. Maybe February will bring some love to home sellers and they will think about selling as our months of inventory remains low in this segment of the market at 3.80 months of inventory in the single-family market and 2.97 months of inventory in the condo market. Don’t forget the conforming limits increased January 1st to $453,100 as the new base limit, and now most Denver metro cities and counties are at $529,000 or higher. This now gives your buyers more purchasing power to enter into the Signature market and rates are still low for Jumbo loans and HELOC (Home Equity Line Of Credit) loans.  
 

Full Report Here

Here Is Your 2018 Winter Olympics Schedule

How having a solid team can help your business grow

It might be one of the most common phrases used in today’s working world, that there is no “I” in “team”. Many a successful business person will tell you that they did not reach their success by themselves, that they surrounded themselves with like-minded individuals who brought something to the table and helped that said individual grow their business to the level they desired.

If you sit down with any colleague or client that you admire and talk to them about how they got to the place they are today in their professional life, many will tell you they didn’t get there by chance and they couldn’t have done it without so-and-so. There are countless interview with some of the leading professionals in this country and when many of them are asked how they wrote their success story they always mention multiple people who helped them along the way.

As a businesswoman, I know how imperative it is to surround myself with strong individuals who bring something to the table that will help me grow my business. I know by myself, I could not accomplish all the things that I do; there is just not enough time in the day. When I look to hire people onto my team, I look for hard workers who have the same drive I do as well as someone who I too can help with their business. I understand this is a give and take situation and I hope to help members of my team achieve their business dreams as well.

There are a few people I would like to personally recognize for all the hard work they put in and for helping me take my business to the next level:

The newest member of my team, Mary-Carol Jones, my assistant.  We call her MC for short.  MC is new to the real estate business, as she has had a passion for real estate for a long time.  She comes from the mental healthcare field and is very organized, communicates well and is always ready willing to help any way she can.  Thanks MC for all you do for me every day.  

For my transaction management I use Cornerstone Transaction Management Services.  They are the best in the business and make sure that all of my transactions run smoothly.  Thank you Chong and Jessica IM for always doing an amazing job.

Ashley Schmidt a huge thank you for always making my marketing amazing.  When I need a flyer done she always does it quickly and with excellence.

Bryn Carter makes it all happen with my blog.  We brainstorm ideas every week and she delivers it well each and every week.  Thanks for always making it great (as she writes this right now J)

Kentwood City is the amazing brokerage I work for and I am grateful to be with such an amazing group.  I am happy I took the leap in 2016 to come on with this brokerage and feel that I am making strides in the right direction every day to be a better Realtor because of Kentwood. 

Noah Berg is my amazing photographer who always delivers amazing photos of my listings, my family and our long boards.  Not only is Noah and amazing photographer but he is just a great person and I always enjoy working with him.

Wade Holland is who makes all things great for my videos. Wade and I meet up often to brainstorm new ideas for marketing and business. 

Jason Iiams is my social media wizard.  He makes all things happen for my social media pages.  I have nine different accounts that I manage for my business between personal pages, real estate business pages for Jay and I, blogs, and longboards and Jason is the man who makes it all happen smoothly.  I set up a schedule each week to make sure all the posts have great compelling content and photos, get posted, shared.  

Of course Jay Modglin, my husband, business partner, father of my amazing daughter and confidant.  I could write an entire blog about this man but I'll keep it short for this blog and just say that we are two peas in a pod, we've grown up together, run businesses together and share an amazing life together.  I love you Jay and thank you for all you do every day. 

I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without the love and support of my amazing parents.  These two people are who have made me who I am today.  They are kind, giving, generous and I wouldn’t be where I am today if it were not for them.  They help us out all the time with our daughter when we have places to be, Events to attend or showings to do.  They are always there for moral support, help us keep organized as we always have a lot going on with client events, Birthday parties and other life stuff.  Thank you Bill and Judy Hennigar for all your love and support every day.  Again, I could write an entire blog on my parents, it I’ll keep it short for this one. 

Thank you to everyone who helps me every day in my business and in my life. 

The Best Ski Spots in Colorado

It’s no secret to anyone that Colorado has some of the best places to ski in the world. Every winter, locals and visitors a like flock to our amazing mountains to enjoy some fresh powder and blue skies. When Friday hits, the avid skiers head towards the mountains to get in their much needed ski time and even though our snow hasn’t been as much this year as previous years, the weather has taken a turn and it is now a great time to get you and your family and friends up for a few turns in the mountains.

I have many clients who are big time skiers and I always like to know where could I recommend if someone asked me the best places to ski. Below is a list of what I have been told as well as a little research that led me to believe even more we have some of the greatest spots to ski:

Breckenridge – (80 miles from Denver) Sitting at 9.600 feet above sea level, Breck as locals call is one of the highest ski towns in the mountains. The mountains themselves feature five fun peaks to shred on – peaks 6 to 10. And when you are done for the day, make sure to head into town for some great happy hour specials and live music.

Aspen – (198 miles from Denver) Probably one of the most well known ski towns there is (in the winter you are sure to see your share of celebs roaming around) the beauty of Aspen is seldom matched with the ski slopes running right into the beautiful historic downtown. If you have a pass for Aspen you can also enjoy Snowmass, Highlands and Buttermilk. If someone in your group isn’t a skier but likes to shop, this high-end area is perfect for them to enjoy premier boutiques and many a lodge to relax in with a hot beverage.

Telluride – (362 miles from Denver) While this is quite the haul for most and may not be an easy weekend getaway spending 6 hours driving one way, Telluride is definitely worth a visit in the winter. Its natural beauty and stunning views are one of a kind and the ski trails start around 8,750 square feet rising all the way up to 13,320 square feet. Festivals happen year round so you will never have a dull moment in this quaint town.

Vail – (97 miles from Denver) Vail is the biggest ski area in the state that also houses the Austrian inspired village, which is stunning from every angle. Beaver Creek and Vail are combined so you can share a daily lift ticket.

Keystone – (76 miles from Denver) Keystone has some steep slopes but also an amazing ski village that has one of the best outdoor skating rinks in the state. The ski area is Summit’s largest at 3,148 acres with three giant peaks. There’s also night skiing on weekends and holidays.

Some other incredible places worth mentioning are Winter Park, Crested Butte, Steamboat Springs, Snowmass, Cooper and Loveland. Bottom line, you can’t go wrong with most ski spots in Colorado and you will be sure to have a good time wherever you go! Don’t forget to wear your helmet and stay safe out there!