Nationwide Open House Weekend April 20-21

If you're in the market to purchase a home you won't have a better opportunity to preview prospective properties than the mecca of all open houses, Nationwide Open House Weekend April 20-21! In it's 4th year running, there will be homes upon homes from coast to coast ready for your viewing pleasure for this event.

Consider it like a community garage sale, but the homes themselves are for sale on a much larger scale! There's nothing we like more than efficiency so the ability to see as many homes of interest in one fell swoop goes down as a major win-win in our book.


There are a couple of ways to find the open houses, check with your local real estate companies many of them will have a list of upcoming open houses. There are a variety of websites that will show you open house information as well. We're big fans of Zillow who has a special search feature for open houses, you just hover over the Homes link and click on Open Houses, from there you can specify an area. Just remember that more and more homes will be added to these lists as the weekend approaches so keep checking.

Here's the list for Colorado- http://www.zillow.com/co/open-house/

A few words of wisdom, if you're serious about scouting a property for actual purchase, unlike the looky-loos, (and we all know there are plenty of looky-loos wanting to canvas what their neighbors are really up to behind closed doors or those wanting a legal sneak peek at how the 1% live) make sure to do your due diligence ahead of time and get, at a minimum, a pre-qualification letter from your mortgage lender (even better get pre-approved). That way you can evaluate the home comparing your needs/wants to what you can realistically afford according to your lender and be prepared to make a legitimate offer as soon as you can. Buyers that have done their homework ahead of time will be in a better position to get what they want as an offer from a party that is already pre-approved is highly attractive to the seller. Keep in mind that since this is such a big event there will be a lot of people eyeing your favorite property, if it meets your needs your best bet is to act expeditiously!

Of course all of this can be explained in further detail by your real estate agent, it is most definitely in your best interest to secure a broker to handle the purchase of real estate. There is a lot of red tape involved in buying/selling real estate and the stakes are high, a lot of money on the line. While plenty of folks think they can easily handle the process themselves and save a little bit of money I can assure you that there can be some major bumps in the road and it is easy to get in over your head.

For all of our Colorado friends needing assistance, call us to speak with our in-house associate broker, we're happy to help. And don't worry we aren't here to rope you into a deal, we didn't attend used car salesman training, it's not our style and we find it just as repulsive as you do.

So head on out there early, you wont find another opportunity to get this kind of inside info. Get your map together, do some research a-la Google of the addresses you like to get an idea of the property and it's condition, perhaps print out a sheet of each home you want to see, and once you get there ask questions! Get as much detail as you can. And for all of the looky-loos with no interest in the home at all, at least give some feedback to the realtor on what you saw, that would be the nice thing to do!

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Spring Cleaning Checklist

It's almost that time of year again, time to change the clocks and welcome the birds chirping, seeds sprouting, and rainshowers. If you live here in Colorado, well, we have a little while before rejoycing in the coming of summer, March is our snowiest month. Nonetheless, one can't help but get excited! So with the coming of Spring brings the usual spring cleaning. Here's a great checklist from Country Living to get your home in shape.

• Set your clocks AHEAD an hour. Yay for Daylight Savings!
• Check your smoke & carbon monoxide detectors. Replace the batteries.
• Start dusting. Top to bottom is most efficient.
• Flip or rotate your mattresses.
• Wash your pillows.
• Deep clean the kitchen. Get rid of expired items, clean the fridge, organize!
• Swap out heavy blankets for cooler weather linens.
• Start an indoor herb garden!
• Ventilate. Air everything out starting in the basement.
• Start up your dehumidifier. (For those outside of DRY Colorado)
• Clean the carpets. Rent a shampooer and get them good.
• Wash your windows inside & out.
• Prep your A/C unit/s. Clean filters, install properly.
• Clean your patio or deck
• Trim up your shrubbery
• Put out planters and freshen soil
• Prep your pool if you have one
• Unpack garden hoses
• Fertilize your yard
• Sweep your stoops & replace door mats
• Clean your shower curtains
• Conquer built up clutter!

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Frigid Temps, Warm Ups, and Bursting Pipes- what to do if it happens to you

With the outrageously cold weather we've been experiencing here in Colorado and consecutive temps of -30 it's no surprise that pipes are starting to burst. No homeowner ever wants to deal with such a mess but sometimes it's inevitable. Here's a great article from the Chicago Tribune with tips on what to do if you find yourself as one of the victims of bursting pipes.

What to do about frozen pipes-

A quarter million American families a year have one or more rooms in their houses flooded and their lives disrupted each winter because of pipes that freeze and break, according to State Farm Fire and Casualty Co.
If a pipe freezes, act quickly but carefully to thaw the pipe before it bursts.

Using a blow dryer to heat a cold water pipe at the point of the freeze may melt a clog. Electric pipe wraps are an option. A space heater placed in front of an open vanity might thaw pipes under a sink.

Never use a torch or flame to try to melt an ice clog.

If water starts leaking from a pipe after it gets warmer, the pipe has burst from the pressure of expanding ice. You'll need to shut off the water to the broken pipe as quickly as possible to minimize water damage.


Study your water distribution system before an emergency happens so you don't waste time while your carpets are getting soaked.

Start by pinpointing the main valve that controls the flow of water through the main pipe that brings water into the house.

If you're on a public water system, the main shut-off valve will usually be inside the house on the wall closest to the street near the water meter. Some houses have meters outside on the wall near the street. If you have a well, the shut-off will be on the wall closest to the well.

Some houses built on a slab foundation rather than a basement or crawl space may have a main shut-off at the point where the water supply pipes come up through the slab.

It's a good idea to attach a tag to the valve identifying it as the main shut-off.

If you have to shut off the water to your house, turn the handle on the valve clockwise until it stops. Another way to remember the direction of the turn is to think of the way the top of the valve handle moves as you turn it: Right is tight, and left is loose.

Once you've identified the main valve, visually trace the course of the water supply pipes around your house looking for other shut-off valves. You may want to label the valves as you identify what they control.

Particularly important are the valves that control the water flow to outside hoses. As mentioned earlier, you'll use those valves to turn off the hose spigots in winter.

When a pipe bursts, shut off the nearest upstream water valve. If you can't find a valve close to the leak, shut off the main water valve.
The broken pipe will have to be soldered or replaced. You must be the judge of whether you're able to fix the pipe yourself or if you need to call a plumber.

When the break is fixed, make sure the area around the pipe gets plenty of air circulation so that nearby insulation and other building materials have a chance to dry.

Precautionary steps

It's possible to protect yourself from burst pipes if you take a few precautions. Even temperatures in the teens can freeze pipes if they are not adequately protected. Houses in colder climates are usually built to be safe from freezing pipes until temperatures sink below about 10 degrees, but in warmer climates where temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees are rare, the pipes often have less insulation and are more likely to freeze when a cold snap hits.

One of the first steps you should take to protect your pipes is to disconnect all outdoor hoses. If possible, shut off the supply to the outside tap then turn on the faucet to let any water already in the line drain out.

Pipes usually freeze where they are closest to outside walls. The most susceptible to freezing are those running through unheated areas such as crawl spaces or inside vanities on outside walls.

Once the water freezes in the pipe, the water flow will be cut off. If the blockage is not removed promptly, the ice can expand and split the pipe.

To prevent freezing, try to keep the pipes warm. Open vanities under sinks and raise the temperature in areas with exposed pipes by turning up your thermostat or using a space heater.

If pipes leading to a particular faucet often freeze, turn on the cold tap so water trickles continuously during extremely cold weather.

Insulating wraps for water pipes near outside walls can help, but a plumber may have to move pipes installed in areas that are too vulnerable to the cold.

If you leave your house for an extended time during the winter, don't turn your heating system all the way off. Set the thermostat at about 60 degrees and make sure all the storm windows are sealed tight to keep the heat in. Open the doors of all vanities so warm air circulates around the pipes under your sinks.


And as always, once you have the immediate leak under control it's time to bring in a professional. Don't try to repair any plumbing yourself. Call a 24 hour plumber or disaster company immediately. They will be able to minimize the damage done to your property and get things rolling to restore it back to it's original condition.

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Color Match Phone App from Benjamin Moore

Thanks to Ben Color Capture you can save yourself a headache when choosing the perfect color match for your home design projects. Whether you need to match an existing color on your walls or you want your living room to resemble a fresh picked melon in your fridge you can use this app to match the exact color for you from the 3,000 Benjamin Moore paint colors!

All you do is snap the photo, tap the screen on the color area you want to match, and voila it pulls up a full range of matching colors. You can even give the phone a little shake and it will show you complimentary colors! Oh and it'll show you where the closest BM location is.

You can thank me later... check out all the details here and pick up the app in your app store.

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First Time Buyers: How to Shop for your First Home

Great article over at AOL Real Estate on tips for buying your first home. There's more to think about than square footage when you're debating about moving into a home, especially in this market. Here's a good gameplan to follow.

It's tempting to just go out and start shopping. After all, that's the ultimate goal and the most fun part. But doing your homework first will pay off in less stress and more savings. If you're house-hunting, whether for tax reasons, more space or just for the chance to have your own washer and dryer, here are tips to get you started.


1. Know how much you can afford
This should be the first step in buying a house so you don't waste your time, or a real estate agent's, by looking at homes that you can't afford a mortgage on. The Fitzsimmonses visited a real estate broker who helped them determine how much of a loan they would qualify for, based on their income and credit. They also factored in property taxes, maintenance, utilities, insurance and possible homeowner-association dues. They totaled those expected costs and set up an experiment: After paying the rent on their apartment, they set aside money equaling the difference between their rent and the projected cost of homeownership. They did this for a few months so they could get used to making the payments. A loan calculator will help figure out how much a home loan will be.
2. How long will you stay in the home?
The longer you live in a home, the better the savings because you're spreading out the upfront costs of buying a house. They include a real estate agent's fee, closing costs, inspection fees and loan fees -- which can add up to 10 percent of the sale price, or approximately 18 months of rent.

3. Get a loan
Getting preapproved for a home loan helps make buying a home faster and easier, especially if there are multiple offers on a home. Your mortgage lender or broker should be able to give you an estimate, down to the penny, of how much money you'll need in closing costs. Then you'll know how much of your savings to set aside for a down payment, which will help determine how much your loan -- and the monthly mortgage -- will be. Putting down 20 percent will eliminate the need for mortgage insurance, although your lender or broker might be able to find loans at good rates that don't require 20 percent down. This is where it really pays to shop around for the best loan rate and terms.
4. Know the market
After determining where your finances stand, the fun part begins in finding out what you can afford and where you want to buy a house . Research neighborhoods that interest you and find out the median price of homes there. You can research homes on websites such as AOL Real Estate, Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia.com or others you trust. Finding homes similar to the kind you want, and in the same neighborhood, will give you an idea of how fair the price is when you are ready to buy;
5. Shop around
Every house buy requires sacrifices, and you won't get everything you want. There are many factors to consider, such as how much room you need. Does it have to be a single-family home or will a condo work? Is it near transportation, good schools, parks, shopping and your other essentials? Does the home have the amenities you want, such as a fireplace, dining room, backyard, pool or deck?

Find a real estate agent to represent you, or if you're brave and want to do it on your own, go out and shop on your own. Either way, stick to these five steps and you should be fine.

Buying a house, whether your first home or severl down the line, is one of the most stressful and expensive transactions you'll ever undertake. But if you do your homework and prepare for it with the above steps -- figuring out how much you can afford, how long you'll stay, getting a loan, studying the local market, and shopping for a house -- it should be a lot easier.

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Re-Designing a Space? How to Create a Design Board

One of the most important things you can do when thinking of re-designing a space is to create a Design Board. This will allow you to get all of your ideas in one place and make sure that all of the elements will be cohesive. The process is relatively simple and Ikea has created a nice article to walk you through the process. They also point out the difference between a design board and an inspiration board.

You have two options when creating your board, you can do a tangible board with real finish samples and fabrics or a virtual board which consists solely of pictures of the finish samples. Either way you choose will give you a good starting place to practice your design ideas before jumping in and throwing paint on the walls.

Some good things to include on your board

• An overall picture of your ideal space, what is the feeling you want to achieve- sleek and clean, warm and cozy, organized and functional, etc.
• Paint colors and samples. Also consider paint finishes such as faux, whitewashing, stippling, etc.
• Architectural details like crown moulding or special trim work
• Fabric swatches in both neutrals and accent colors
• Lighting fixtures
• Furniture and furniture placement
• Accent pieces such as lamps, vases, plants, and other individual details
• Finish samples such as tile, flooring material, wallpaper, etc.

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Easy tips for winterizing your home

Check your furnace, make sure filters are fresh and clean. If you have an older furnace, consider having  it inspected and tuned to make sure it is in proper working order and running as efficiently as possible. If it is more than 10 years old you may be wasting a lot of energy and money than it's worth, consider upgrading to a new furnace.

Clean your gutters. Clogged gutters allow rain and snow to pool up on your roof creating a chance for leaks. Also be sure that down spouts are properly attached and draining out and away from the home, preferably 10 feet away from the foundation.

Check attic insulation. If you can see the joists you need more insulation, add a layer to the existing insulation. Make sure to use NON paper backed insulation.

Clean your chimney. It's important to make sure the chimney is clean and free of debris before using it during the cool winter. You can hire a professional to sweep and inspect your chimney. Also make sure your chimney has a screened cap to keep unwanted items and animals out!

Replace batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Check for drafts and leaks by walking your home with a lit candle checking doors and windows. Replace old weatherstripping if needed and employ the use of door sweeps to keep cold air out.

Switch the direction of ceiling fans. Did you know that your ceiling fan runs two separate ways? Well they do! In the winter change the direction to clockwise allowing air to push downward into the room recirculating the hot air that rises to the ceiling.

Drain water lines. Make sure those sprinklers are blown out and outdoor spigots are turned off. Detach hoses and store them properly. This will keep water from freezing your pipes and creating costly repairs.

Turn down your water heater. Most household heaters are set to 140 degrees which is a lot higher than you really need, by lowering the temperature to 120 you can save 6-10% on heating costs!

Use a programmable thermostat. This will keep your home energy costs down by operating the heating consistently. It will allow you to decrease the temperature when no one is home and save on your heating bill.

Close off vents in un-used rooms. No sense in heating a room that no one is using!

Throw on a sweater and some slippers and enjoy Old Man Winter.

~5280 Lady

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Home Gadget Fest: Gizmos and goodies for your home!

A few of the latest and greatest gadgets for your home! Some for simplicity, some for convenience, and some just because they're cool, which ones will you add to your wish list?

Hidden flat screen tv's. Very 'Sherlock Homes' yet functional if you like a more tailored and sophisticated living space. Slide the art in place until you're ready for some tv time.

Toe kick vacuum. By far the most useful of new home gizmos, this 'vacuum' is mounted right underneath your cabinetry and instead of bending over to sweep up with a dustpan you just sweep the mess right into the vacuum space and it's picked up by your central vac.

Wall mounted garage door opener. For those garages that don't allow for a traditional garage door opener, there are no rails required, the unit simply mounts to the wall.

Electronic dog/cat doors. There are a variety of these on the market. Basically your pet wears a collar that contains either a magnetic or infrared device that unlocks the dog door allowing them in and keeping strays and unwanted animals out.

Fingerprint door locks. For extra security there are dozens of fingerprint door locks. Use them on your front door, garage door, or even an office to keep unwanted visitors out.

Automatic blinds and curtains. No need to mention the convenience of having remote controlled window shades but especially great for tall windows or skylights that are out of reach. What's even better is that you can get cordless electric blinds which have added security for small children that like to play with strings and cords.


-5280 Lady

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Money Saver: Xeriscaping the alternative landscape

Another money saving idea for you, Xeriscaping. Heard of it? Basically it's landscaping that is specifically designed to save water aka save money. But the other huge benefit is that it typically requires far less maintenance. It's very common here in the Denver area, we apparently coined the term back in 1978.

So what is it and what does it look like? Well it can be a complex process if you take it to the extreme. There's the plan and design that takes into account things like curb appeal, sun direction, etc. Then you've got different soils to choose from, compost being the best. Then we look at the irrigation system, regular sprinkler heads vs drip lines all tailored to the specific plants and evaporation. Now for the important part, the plants, turf, and mulch all of which have various options suited for optimal efficiency.

My thought of Xeriscaping was always a barren looking brown and dry yard. I figured you plant a bunch of cactus and cover everything in rock...not exactly my idea of a nice looking yard. I was completely surprised at the variety of plant and design options available that actually look good! So if your yard is needing an overhaul why not go with something that will save you money and time.

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Biggest mistakes homeowners make when selecting a contractor

1. Not doing their homework. Make sure to research and investigate your prospective contractors. Look into their licensing and insurance. Check their website and project portfolios. Ask for references and client referrals, better yet, if possible see if you can view one of their projects in person. Make sure that they have a positive standing with the Better Business Bureau. Many times just asking these questions will scare away the non-legit guys out there.

2. Taking the lowest bid. First rule of remodeling and home building for that matter is that generally you get what you pay for. ALWAYS question the low ball offers, chances are you haven't stumbled on an amazing deal but instead there's a reason the price is so low and you don't want to find out why the hard way. If you've done your homework and the contractor is reputable don't hesitate to ask them about their bid. Maybe there is a reason they came in low and you can cash in on the savings without worry but check and double check, if they are legit they will have no problem discussing their pricing with you.

3. Comparing Apples to Oranges. This is one of the most frustrating things for industry professionals. Here's the scenario, a homeowner has grand renovation ideas, they go over all of their wishes and wants during the bidding process and dream big. Then they get the bid and faint from sticker shock, the price is much higher than they expected and far out of reach. Instead of discussing this with the original contractor to see which areas could be cut or lowered to get the price back into the appropriate budget they instead call another contractor. This time they tell the new contractor all of their renovation plans that have been scaled back, they take out the venetian tile of their dreams and say they can live without granite, etc. The new contractor comes back with a bid that is obviously much cheaper than the first and the homeowner chooses the second contractor for their project. You've just compared apples to oranges instead of letting both contractors bid the EXACT same work with the exact same materials. Don't make this mistake, make sure all of your bids are comprable to one another!

4. Having unrealistic expectations. You should be aware of the scope of your project so that your expectations are appropriate for the job. Simple research can save you many a night of headaches! Don't expect a full basement finish to take 10 days and invite company to stay at your home at the day of the deadline. This will cause undue stress in all arenas. Be prepared for the remodeling process to intrude in your daily life, not having a functioning kitchen is only temporary. Keep focused on the end result and the nuisance of contractors coming in and out of your home daily won't seem as bad. When it's all said and done the inconvenience will seem minor, trust us!

5. Paying too much upfront. Now I want to be clear that it is absolutely necessary for contractors to require money upfront for your project. This allows them to get the ball rolling on your project, to get subs in to begin work, and most importantly to order materials upfront so that your timeline stays on track. However, paying too much up front can spell disaster if you haven't done your homework and found yourself a reputable contractor. These are the stories you hear about contractors disappearing after the funds clear the bank. Make sure that you are covered in the contracts that you sign and keep copies for your records. And going back to rule #1, know your contractor and get referrals, that way you don't have to worry about things like this.

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100 Twitter Feeds for Home Improvement Advice

Thanks to Constructionmanagementdegree.org for compiling this list! They've put together your best resources for easy access tips. Categories include general home improvement, green resources, remodeling, furnishing and decorating, publications tv and radio, corporate feeds, and project specific feeds!

 "Whether you have a construction management degree or are just a determined do-it-yourself-er, you are sure to find great advice for all your home improvement projects with these terrific Twitter feeds."

Head over to the feed list to see who you should be following, and always you can check out 5280 on the Tweet Deck for more great home improvement info!

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Beat The Heat! Tips to save you money & energy this summer

We're in the dog days of summer folks! With temperatures here in the mile high city tipping the triple digits it brings our attention to the best ways to beat the heat. Obviously, you can crank that AC til the cows come home but instead of fainting from heatstroke you'll be fainting from your energy bill. What else can you do to keep your home ambient without breaking the bank?

The average home spends $2200 a year in energy costs but by making simple changes you can save not only your comfort but your wallet too.

Make sure your attic insulation is up to par! Many older homes are lacking in this department to say the least. The insulation creates a barrier between the high (and low) temperatures outside and the inside of the home. An under insulated home can lose up to 40% of conditioned air through the attic! YIKES! You can pretty easily check to see if your insulation is adequate by looking in your attic, exposed beams mean that there is definitely not enough. However, even with covered beams you could be inefficient, a solid 18 inches is ideal. You can add to your existing insulation fairly easily and we recommend a material with an R-60 value, top of the line! An extra bonus, Federal tax credits are available for things like this for up to $1500! By far the best way to save on your heating and cooling bills.

Weatherize your home. Make sure that there are no air leaks throughout your home. Windows and doors are a common place for leaks. You can certainly mediate these problems by replacing your outdated windows but there are also cheaper alternatives. Spray foam is a good option, grab a couple of cans and seal the outsides of your home including your garage, this will also keep pests and rodents out. Door sweeps keep drafts out. You can also re-caulk your window jams to make sure that an effective seal prevents any leaking.

Keep shades and curtains drawn during the day.

Open windows and screen doors at night and allow mother nature to cool your home. Make sure to open things on both sides of your home to create a cross draft.

Turn off lights! The heat, especially from iridescent bulbs, can do a lot more damage than you would think heating up a room several degrees over time.

Use ovens and stoves sparingly, instead bbq on the grill outside!

If you must resort to the AC make sure you have a programmable thermostat. Set the temperatures accordingly, it doesn't make sense to cool a home that no one is in during work hours so program your AC to kick on shortly before you arrive home.




~5280 Lady

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