Hibernation Habits

For bears and squirrels, a shortening length of day signals that it's time to prepare for hibernation.  Polar bears dig tunnels in the snow, chipmunks store food, and squirrels and other animals prepare their dens and line them with insulating material.  Humans also have certain things we do to prepare for winter - gather our fall harvests, pull out our fuzzy, warm sweaters and get the leaf rake ready.  Spending a little bit of time to prepare your home for winter weather is also time well spent.

Preparing the exterior.  If you aren't able to get on the roof yourself, it's a good idea to hire someone to do so as regular inspections and cleaning will help prevent more costly repairs later.  Make sure that the gutters and downspouts are free of debris.  Cut back tree limbs that could become heavy with ice or snow and fall onto your structures.  If you have a chimney, make sure the cap is still on to prevent unwanted visitors.  Shut off exterior water valves, remove hoses and have sprinkler systems blown out to prevent pipe damage. 

Maintain energy efficiency.  Sometimes pipes located on exterior walls can freeze and burst.  Keep cabinet doors open during extreme cold spells and leave the water trickling from faucets that connect to pipes in unheated areas.  Wrap pipes with foam rubber sleeves or other insulating material and consider putting an insulated blanket on your water heater.  Have the furnace cleaned and inspected and a new furnace filter installed.  Be sure to keep up with the recommended filter changes as they can really affect the performance and life of your unit.  Caulk and weather strip doors and windows to reduce drafts.  If you've noticed that the snow melts off of your roof faster than your neighbors, it can indicate insufficient insulation in your attic.  Ice dams that then form on the eaves can cause roof damage and leaks.

Consider the safety and comfort of your family.  If you have a wood burning fireplace, have it cleaned and inspected and be sure the damper is working properly.  Change the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and be sure to change the entire detectors about every 5 years.  Stock your kitchen for unexpected snow days; a few jugs of water is important should something happen to your pipes or main water source.  Root vegetables, such as carrots and turnips, last a long time and make hardy soups.  Avoid carbohydrates such as pastas as these will raise your blood sugar.  Instead, have frozen berries, nuts, oats and barley, canned tuna and almond butter at the ready.  Remember extra pet food if you have pets, and stock up on diapers and baby food if a little one is in the household.  The Department of Homeland Security recommends having three days worth of food in the home in case of an emergency.

Take precautions for travel.  About 70% of winter storm deaths are auto-related.  If you must drive in bad weather, travel with someone or make sure somebody has your itinerary.  Top off all of the fluids in your car and check that your tires have enough air and enough tread.  Keep a bag of salt or sand in your trunk to melt ice or help with traction.  Prepare a survival kit containing gloves, blankets, water, first aid kit, folding shovel, flashlight, ice scraper, mobile phone charger, and some kind of protein bars or other food that will last the season.  Just a few minutes of preparation can give peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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Brats, Beer and Struedel

Autumn means the 6th Annual Staufer Team Oktoberfest!  Staufer Team throws this awesome party every September to thank it's clients and vendors for their support.  It's held at the Steinbaugh Pavilion in downtown Louisville and offers music, games for the kids, and a ton of food and drink.  Last year, we also had polka lessons - this year, face painting for the kids.


The turnout is outstanding, and I really appreciate being part of a group that recognizes the give and take of a relationship.  Myself and the other agents I work with really care about our clients; in a lot of cases, our clients become our friends.  While we hope that they will acknowledge our expertise and hard work by sending us referrals, we don't do the jobs we do just for the paycheck.  For most of us, real estate is a passion, and our homes are our sanctuaries.  We love being a part of helping people find their own homes, and celebrate the community that grows from these relationships.

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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New Listings

I serve my clients the best when I am up-to-date on the local inventory, so I go out every Friday morning to look at new listings in addition to whatever properties I may see with clients during the week.  If you'd like to tag along, give me a call.

446 S Cherrywood Drive, Lafayette - $329,900
This 2505sqft home in Autumn Meadows boasts so many upgrades that it includes a separate document to list them all.  On a corner lot, the 2-car garage loads on the side and the private backyard has a deck and patio for enjoying the gardens and large trees.  There are 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, and an unfinished basement with a rough-in for future expansion.

718 Club Circle, Louisville - $359,900
If you want a detached home but prefer someone else handle the landscaping, then a patio home might be a good choice; the trade off is usually a higher HOA fee than a detached home would have.  This ranch is close to the Coal Creek Golf Course and within the Monarch K-8 area, with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, 1412sqft, hardwood floors, fireplace, 5-piece master bath and all appliances included.

1884 Cedaridge Circle, Superior - $439,900
The list of renovations is long - new roof, gutters, air conditioning unit, furnace, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, carpet, light fixtures, faucets, sinks, doorknobs, paint inside and out.  The seller has owned it since 1994, and his Denver mailing address indicates that this 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 2729sqft house was probably a rental for a time and in need of some TLC before going on the market.

425 Andrew Way, Superior - $495,000
With over 4000sqft total, this Rock Creek ranch has a great location with a walkout basement backing to open space.  With high ceilings, skylights, views and plenty of natural light this home will probably appeal to buyers looking for the convenience of being close to shopping and amenities combined with a little elbow room.  It's been on the market a week, and the agent has optimistically set an offer deadline for Friday at 5pm.

118 Crestview Court, Louisville - $639,000
The selling agent calls this property "the best home ever sold in this neighborhood!"  A completely remodeled 2-story with a finished basement in Centennial Heights, the list of improvements includes a gourmet kitchen with cherry cabinets, granite counters, stainless steel appliances and a wine fridge, high-efficiency windows and a new flagstone patio.  A $20,000 earnest money deposit is requested for this 5 bedroom, 4 bath, 3510sqft home.

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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Real Estate Cold Feet

You've probably heard the term "buyer's remorse."  Maybe you've even been a victim of it yourself, sheepishly returning a stack of purchases the day after you couldn't stop your shopping momentum.  In real estate, it's a bit more difficult to reverse the purchase process without possibly suffering some financial consequences, depending on where you are in the transaction.  And sometimes, it's up to the Realtor to help sort out whether there is truly cause for alarm or if the buyer is just getting chilly toes.

Shopping for properties often starts out with excitement, surfing the listings on the internet and picking which ones to visit in person.  When all options are still on the table, the possibilities seem limitless and the "perfect home" dreams get more and more vivid.  Once an offer on a property is accepted by a seller, a buyer often has to face some sacrifices and watch some doors close (know anyone with a fear of commitment?).  It can take a little while to really understand that no property is going to be a perfect fit, and that the potential for any house grows once we are able to make it our own home.

Moving too quickly through the process can also make a buyer doubt his decision.  In a really hot market where there are more buyers than sellers, houses can get multiple offers within hours of going active.  If a buyer hasn't experienced this before, he may feel like he was pushed into action faster than he was ready for.  He may quickly find faults about the property that he wasn't able to consider well enough before having to submit an offer.  Or he may feel he hasn't seen enough of the inventory before being pushed into a purchase by the competition.  Either way, the remedy is education.  The internet is a great start but there is no substitute for finding a real estate professional who can supply you with local market sales data, neighborhood information, typical purchasing scenarios and negotiation strategies.  Drive the neighborhoods you think you like, see houses that may not be the perfect fit on paper, compare features to price tags.  Getting context for the ultimate decision is what can make a buyer feel confident in his direction.

It's also important to stay in touch with the reasons you wanted to buy in the first place.  Too often the parties involved in a transaction will allow emotional responses to each other guide their decisions.  Try to separate your feelings about the house from your feelings about the owners, and keep your goals in mind.  No one wants to walk away from a deal feeling like they were taken advantage of, so while you are evaluating your options try to also put yourself in the seller's shoes.  Remember that most people are just trying to get the best deal they can and are not out to get you.

All of that said, sometimes a buyer will find that the house they thought was perfect is not for them.  There are opportunities to terminate the contract appropriately, and your Realtor can explain your options.  And sleeping on it isn't a bad idea, either.

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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The Real Estate Wonk Bonk

For those with an affinity for numbers, here are the statewide and regional housing statistics for the second quarter of 2013.*


STATEWIDE:

• Number of sales (detached and attached homes) rose to 28,068, an increase of 16% over 2Q12.  YTD sales increased just under 17% compared to the same timeframe in 2012.
• Number of new listings (detached and attached homes) rose to 42,348, an increase of 16% over 2Q12.  New townhouse and condo listings were greater than detached home listings.
• Median sales price rose to $260,000 for detached homes and $170,000 for attached homes.  This represents an 8% increase over 2Q12.  Median sales price is not an average of all home sales prices but the middle point, which may not be a good representation of activity in a short timeframe.
• Days on the market decreased 25% for detached homes and 29% for attached homes.  Ask your Realtor to do a little digging into TRUE days on market and days to offer, which can reveal a more accurate picture of any local market.
• Number of active listings on the market at the end of 2Q13 was 33,256.  Looking at the days on market numbers, this represents a 4.6 month inventory for detached homes and a 4.1 month inventory for attached homes. 
• All regions showed a decline in sales from banks and other mortgage lenders (foreclosures).

NORTHEAST REGION (Boulder, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Weld):

• Number of sales (detached and attached homes) increased 16% over 2Q12.  Attached home sales slightly outpaced detached home sales.
• Number of new listings (detached and attached homes) increased 15% over 2Q12. 
• Median sales price rose 4% for detached homes and 9% for attached homes.  Median sales price is not an average of all home sales prices but the middle point, which may not be a good representation of activity in a short  timeframe.
• Days on the market decreased to 81 for both detached and attached homes, a 25% drop from 2Q12.  Ask your Realtor to do a little digging into TRUE days on market and days to offer, which can reveal a more accurate picture of any local market.
• Number of active listings on the market at the end of 2Q13 was 6,000.  Looking at the days on market numbers, this represents a 4-5 month supply.

METRO DENVER REGION (Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson):

• Sales of detached homes increased 3% while sales of attached homes increased more than 20% over 2Q12.
• Median sales price rose to $284,000 for detached homes and $164,000 for attached homes.  Represents an 9% increase over 2Q12.  Median sales price is not an average of all home sales prices but the middle point, which may not be a good representation of activity in a short  timeframe.
• Days on the market decreased to 45 for both detached and attached homes.  Ask your Realtor to do a little digging into TRUE days on market and days to offer, which can reveal a more accurate picture of any local market.
• Number of active listings on the market at the end of 2Q13 was 12,450.  Looking at the days on market numbers, this represents roughly a 3 month supply.

*Source:  Colorado Association of Realtors®.  Statistics represent about 91% of the statewide market; does not include For Sale by Owner listings/sales or all new construction.

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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Highway 42 Gateway Project

The Louisville Planning and Zoning Department is not letting the uncertain future of the FasTracks project and downtown rail station get in the way of the city's progress.

Proposed Landscape Concept for the South Street Pedestrian Underpass

As the plans for the revitalization of the area east of the Burlington Northern tracks begin to flesh out, planners are figuring how to connect that part of town to Main Street and the shoppers on the west.  A critical connection point will be the South Street Gateway.  Currently, east-bound South Street dead-ends at Front Street.  The proposed plan will create a pedestrian underpass under the tracks.  Additionally, changes are planned on Highway 42 itself, starting north with a traffic light at Paschal Drive and a trail underpass just north of Hecla Drive.  Additional improvements will be made to the intersections south, including the addition of Cannon Circle and an extension of Caledonia Street, and the creation of a traffic round-about at Lock Street.

The revitalization plan includes a mix of residential, retail and commercial development with walking and bike trails.  Since the anchor of the project was supposed to be the downtown commuter rail line, planners are having to alter their designs.  The new plans should be able to accommodate the potential train station, but not be dependent upon it.

South Street Underpass Designs Option A and Option B

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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A Tour of Lafayette

Take a beautiful Friday morning to sneak a peek with me at the variety of homes in the City of Lafayette!

310 W. Cleveland Street - $287,500
This home might be a great choice for someone who wants to walk to shops on S Public Road.  The brick exterior is low-maintenance, and the seller recently replaced the roof and furnace.  There's 2 bedrooms on the main with another in the finished basement.  The agent claims move-in condition, although the first thing a buyer might want to do is add some kind of cooling system.

1271 Doric Drive - $309,900
In the Centaur Village North neighborhood, this home is a short walk to Waneka Lake.  With 5 bedrooms, 3 baths and just over 2500sqft, it sits on almost a quarter acre lot.  Long-time owners say the house needs upgrades but that it's clean and well-cared for.

406 E Baseline Road - $325,000
Voted "Best Historic House," this 1898 Victorian combines the grace of the era with modern amenities.  It boasts a new roof, plumbing, wiring and sewer alongside a 20 year old rose garden.  It will be interesting to see how the period decor blends with the hot tub and deluxe barbecue grill.

588 Homestead Street - $365,000
Anna's Farm has some charming homes, but you have to be willing to sacrifice a big backyard.  This 2070sqft home lists cherry floors and two water heaters, but the listing agent doesn't say much else.  Well-priced homes in this neighborhood can move quickly, so perhaps he's betting that he doesn't have to.


If you're curious about the features of the above homes, or any other Lafayette listings, don't hesitate to email or call.  Houses are moving fast, and the buyers who are getting them are the ones who are prepared and ready to move!

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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