Continuing Education In The Midst Of Fall Splendor

This past weekend, Max, Don, and Janice all went to the annual Wells Group retreat in Telluride. It was a great weekend of learning and team building.  It was the perfect weekend to see the majestic Dolores River Valley colors, along with the new snow on the peaks.

Speaking of peaks, we stayed at the Peaks Hotel, which is one of the most spectacular hotels in the area.  Check out the attached picture to see the views looking towards Mount Wilson and Wilson Peak.

We were able to listen to nationally recognized speaker Bruce Gardner, who is an author and real estate coach, and active in the Colorado area. It was such a great opportunity for us to consider how to fine tune our negotiation skills as we assist our clients, as well as focus on the impact of technology in today’s business world. Continuing education is such a crucial focus in professional development, so we are grateful for this opportunity.

After the classroom portion of the retreat, spouses joined us for the annual dinner. It’s always so fun to spend time with the “other halves,” and great for the Wells Group bonding.

If you’ve never spent time in Telluride, we highly recommend it. The beauty of the area and the quaint town are both amazing. Looking up at the majestic cliffs makes us appreciate this area. The shops and restaurants are a great way to pass the time. Of course, during ski season the slopes are a blast! We are grateful for the weekend away, and highly recommend a visit to Telluride if you have the opportunity.

Tips to Winterize Your Home

As winter is on its way, now is the time to be sure your home is prepared for the drop in temperatures. While there are several areas to look into, some of the basics are a great way to keep temperatures moderate and cut back on winter utility bills.

Most experts recommend utilizing a programmable thermostat. By minimizing the heat when away from the home or asleep, you can save money. In addition, by changing filters in your central air and heating system, you can lengthen the life of the systems.

Cleaning gutters will minimize ice jams, which will in turn stop water from seeping into the house. It is also important to clean the vents and a chimney. Also block any leaks from windows, electric outlets, plumbing and electric bypasses in the attic, and any other places air may enter into or out of the home. Caulk can be a simple and inexpensive fix for some of these leaks, and weatherstrip tape can help seal windows and doors. Of course fiberglass insulation is great for attic floor and unused rooms.

Setting ceiling fans the opposite direction allows heat to circulate from the ceiling, as this setting pushes cold air up. This can save up to 10 percent of your heating costs.

Check plumbing to ensure any exposed areas are insulated. Also be sure to winterize a sprinkler system by turning off the water supply and blowing compressed air through the sprinkler lines.  One of the most important items, remove the hose from the faucet as the hose can cause the pipe to burst inside the home.

Flushing your water heater will remove particles that collect at the bottom and hinder performance. Lowering the water heater temperature can also save money. Most homes can comfortably function at 120 degrees, instead of the usual 140 degrees. This one is a free improvement with great results!

The above are just some of the tips that help winterize a home. In our area, it is so crucial to proactively take care of our homes, as our temperatures swing drastically from summer to winter. Please let us know if we can answer any questions. Also, check out the below links for further/additional information.

http://www.nh.gov/oep/energy/saving-energy/conservation/winterize-home.htm

http://www.bobvila.com/clean-gutters/10169-11-ways-to-winterize-your-home-on-a-budget/slideshows

http://www.businessinsider.com/cheap-tips-to-winterize-your-home-2011-10?op=1

Fort Lewis College Homecoming

Next week, October 13-19 is Fort Lewis College homecoming! Considering Max, Don, and Jonathan are FLC alum, it’s a celebratory week in the office.

The week is full of events. There will be a free movie, history of the Americas, mud football, Frisbee golf, cycling events, and more.

Of course, the big event for us is the football game. On Thursday, the 16th, there will be a homecoming tailgate party from 4pm - 6pm at the Art Parking Lot, and 6, FLC will play Colorado School of Mines. The game will be nationally televised on CBS. We have lots of memories from the FLC football games. They are such a fun family event, and living in a small town like Durango means a lot of the community shows up to support the college. What a great way to support the school, and bring a cheering squad. We will be there under the lights to watch the Skyhawks win! 

On Friday 10/17the World Record attempt for the largest simultaneous game of Hopscotch will take place from 4:30pm to 6pm in the FLC Miller Quad. We will hopefully have 500 people playing hopscotch and break the previous world record of 359 people playing. This event is sanctioned by the Guinness Book of World Records. Please bring your friends and family to join us. 

Immediately following hopscotch we will all head to the rooftop patio of the Student Union Building for an alumni gathering. The theme of the alumni gathering will be Hops & Scotch. We will celebrate on the roof top with door prizes, give aways, food, beer, scotch, and the tapping of a special one-of-a-kind beer that has been aged in a scotch barrel especially for FLC alumni. Once darkness sets in we will have a great view of the fireworks shot off from campus. 

On Saturday 10/18 is the annual Skyhawk Sports Spectacular. This is an annual fundraiser for Skyhawk Athletic Department and it is a really fun event! It is a  combination live and silent auction. The event is held at the Lost Dog Bar & Lounge and starts at 6pm; tickets are $25 at the door (or see Max, he has tickets for sale).

Go Skyhawks!

2014 Real Estate Statistics Through September

The September statistics for La Plata County real estate are finalized. As summer officially ended and we head into fall, the results are similar to the previous trends we have seen, and in line with expectations. 

With 85 total sales for the month, we are slightly below last year’s total for September (91). We have talked about this trend recently—the strong results in total numbers, but also the acknowledgement that they are slightly under the 2013 performance. We have noted that the market has seen steady growth in the last several years, and eventually it must level out and restore some balance. As is a common trend in our area, the September totals are also lower than August totals, as the peak summer months tend to be the highest volume in La Plata County real estate.

As we have noted in several of the past months, the average price remains higher in 2014 than several of the recent previous years since 2008, and the median price is the same—higher than any since 2008. These are both positive reflections of the state of the market. We are currently at a year to date total of 751 sales, whereas last year we were at 802 at this time of year.

After substantial sales over the summer, the inventory is down in the area, which means less competition for home sellers. Even if the number of buyers is fewer in the market, they will have less homes to choose from.  Of course, some price ranges and areas have more inventory than others, so if you have questions regarding a specific area of the market, please call me. Typically, the inventory is at its highest in the middle of the summer, and it drops during the fall and especially the winter before starting to pick up in the spring.

Overall, these numbers follow the trends we have seen this year, and we expect the remainder of the year to follow in the same manner.  

Experience Fall with a Color Drive

Fall is here! As of September 22, we have officially been in the fall season, and if you haven't already made a fall color drive, now is the time.

With the recent storms, there’s some snow in the high country. Now is a great time to get in a drive to see the fall colors before the snow comes more consistently. In our area, the fall trees are some of the most spectacular sights! A person doesn’t even have to go far to see the mountains take on a new view.

We love to go towards Mancos, and see the colors out there. The variety in terrain tends to offer a gorgeous sight. The oaks and aspens usually make the most beautiful array of colors. Jersey Jim is one of our favorite destinations, and hiking at places like Sharkstooth offers a great way to enjoy the scenery. Of course, the Million Dollar Highway--through Silverton and Ouray—is another great way to see parts of Southwest Colorado and take a perfect day trip.

Nothing celebrates the perfect fall day like a drive through the mountains, easy hike, and picnic. It’s a great way to unplug for the day and appreciate the natural beauty surrounding us. Colorado often makes the top lists for places to experience fall. How fortunate that this is our own backyard!