Judi’s House – Continues to Help Children Manage and Get Through Grief

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This November 15^th it was the National Children’s Grief Awareness Day and who better than Judi’s House to commemorate the day with what they do best. So many children have experienced the loneliness and pain of grieving alone or without enough support – as did football superstar Brian Griese when he lost his mother at a young age.

Former college MVP and pro football player Brian Griese founded Judi’s House in 2002 as a way to commemorate his mother’s death – a loss Brian endured at the young age of just 12 years old.  Judi’s House was established so that the camaraderie, community and support that can only truly come from others going through the same thing would surround children 3 to 23 years old.

The non-profit organization has helped hundreds of children through the grieving process through activity and group support. You can request their newsletter updates – just register for their newsletter.  And of course for more information about this great organization, visit their website.

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I’ve shared this with you in the past and I am proud to share it with you again. Judi’s House is a fantastic organization dedicated to making our children’s lives better! Join the cause today.

Watch the Judi's House "Lessons Learned from Grieving Children" video below. 

Lone Tree, Colorado’s Montecito Neighborhood Offers Incredible Opportunities

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Few communities offer the type of living that the newest development in Lone Tree, Colorado offers. With three brand new models to show you exactly what you can expect from their homes, you will love what you will be able to buy with just $400,000-700,000. In an area where the average home is priced at $650,000 you will be pleasantly surprised at just how much you can get in Century Communities’ Montecito.

There is a host of opportunities in terms of the arts, economy and social environment – not to mention the bustling local economy supported by such large stalwart institutions as the Sky Ridge Medical Center, Target Store and more.

Many new shops, restaurants and recreation spots also dot the area with some new ones on the horizon, including a large fishing and sports themed store on the way soon. The Lone Tree Performing Arts Center is a hit with residents in the immediate and surrounding areas with concerts, shows and entertainment year-round in the state-of-the-art “green” building built in 2008.

As if that were not enough, residents of Lone Tree will also enjoy access to the light rail, a transportation system that will whisk you away to downtown in a heartbeat. Just five minutes from Denver and a half hour from Downtown, Lone Tree is the perfect residential spot for people that prefer to be close but not too close to the city. And with all the development activity going on in Lone Tree, there will be no shortage of food, fun or shopping for residents.

If you want to explore this fantastic community of solid, strong and well-built homes with great floor plans – contact us today. We would be happy to show you around!

Going Away on a Trip? Keep Tabs On Your Home Before a Major Mishap Happens!

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There are a few cardinal rules about changing over from one season to the next or things that need to be done before going away for a short to medium extended period of time. Trust me, we’ve seen a number of instances where homeowners that didn’t take the time to take care of some of the routine stuff ended up having to deal with a LOT more damage than necessary.

Take the example of our client’s home as pictured in this video. She lives in Boston and since the home is currently under contract I decided to pay the home a visit. It turns out there was a pinhole leak in one of her two water heaters and it was a real challenge trying to find the source. When I got there the basement was covered in water and eventually I learned where the leak was coming from.

But it got me thinking. There is a lot that can go wrong if we’re not just a little more careful before skipping town – or if we live away from our rental or vacation properties. Here’s a very quick list of just some of the things you (or someone you can trust, like your Realtor®) can do to make sure nothing major happens while you’re away:

*Turn off exterior water sources – especially during the colder months of the year.
*Check all major appliances for leaks, open valves, exposed wiring or any other potential hazards.
*Maintain your thermostat at a reasonably warm or cool level depending on the season. In the summer months, don’t let it get too warm and the opposite holds true in the winter.
*Address any obvious cracks or crevices that could become a problem in the winter when snow and ice build up on the exterior of the home.
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As always, I’m always available to answer any of your real estate related questions and am happy to help with your buying, selling or investing needs. I look forward to hearing from you today!

A Little Paint Goes a Long, Long Way When Selling Your Home

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You may not realize this but the simple act of repainting the walls in your home can do wonders for the success of selling your home. And when you add up just how little it costs versus how much the payback is – it’s a no brainer!

Use Neutral, Flexible Colors That Appeal to the Masses

So what are some of the things to keep in mind when you are sprucing up your place before listing it for sale? Simple. Try to put yourself in buyers’ shoes and allow them as much flexibility with their imagination to envision their own stuff in the house. How do you do that? Easy. Cover the walls with a nice, neutral color and you can’t go wrong. That’s what our resident painter does and by the time he and his team are done, the homes he paints for us just before listing come out looking brand new and completely transformed!

The benefit of using a neutral color is so that the home can appeal to buyers of many different styles and tastes. Light or medium beige will usually work with anything from Victorian décor to post-modern styles or even 80s retro. The point is to make it possible for buyers to see that relatively “blank canvas” and know that they can easily change it to suit their own tastes.

Don’t Skimp Out on Quality – It Shows and It Blows

Another tip he offers is to use a quality paint brand along with a good primer so you can cover up any stubborn scuffmarks that might put off a buyer. Of course, before doing any of the painting be sure to apply some patching spackling material to smooth out any rough surfaces and patch up nail holes, dings or scratches. Sanding surfaces prior to painting is also a good idea for a finished, polished look.
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No matter what market you’re selling in, whether in a seller-centric one or a buyer controlled real estate environment, a clean and fresh home will attract buyers and despite the expense of a few dollars it will work in your favor. Feel free to contact us for more tips on how to prepare your home before listing or let us know of any other real estate concerns you may have. We’d be glad to help!