Jason Roshek

Use Good Fence Manners on Your Colorado Home | Colorado Relocation Group

Whether it’s for privacy, more curb appeal, or to keep the kids safe, you’ve decided to fence in your Colorado home. Before you begin, here are some tips to make sure that your neighbors will appreciate the new addition as much as you do.

One absolute must is to know and stay within your property line. Study the plot plan of your Pikes Peak property or have a new survey done, because going even one inch onto your neighbor’s land will mean tearing the fence down and starting over.

Make sure you (or your fencing company) have obtained a permit and know the local zoning laws for height, placement, or other restrictions. Typical height limits are six feet for back and side yards, and four feet for front yards. Corner lots may have different rules if the fence will inhibit the visibility of drivers. To build over the limits, you’ll have to apply to your zoning board for a variance. This generally means a hearing where neighbors can voice any concerns.

If you’re part of a homeowners association, their rules actually come before the local laws and can include specific style, height, and maintenance regulations. Remember that a fencing company may not know these requirements, so it’s your job to tell them.

If a neighbor damages your fence, document with pictures and try to work it out. If not, small claims court is your next likely stop.

There are also some non-required but nice things to do to keep your neighbors on your side.

• Tell them about the fence before installing it, and make sure everyone agrees on property lines.
• While not a must, it’s common practice to put the nicer, finished side of the fence facing your neighbors.
• Do maintenance on both sides of the fence whenever needed.

A fence is defined as anything that creates a barrier, including trees or hedges, and the same rules of zoning and neighbor etiquette apply to a “living” fence.

With a little knowledge and consideration, you can stay on the good side of your Colorado Springs neighbors—even after the fence goes up.

Whether you’re buying or selling, a qualified real estate agent will help you make the best deal. When you’re ready to buy or sell a home in the Pike’s Peak Area, call The Roshek Group! We are ready to help you with all of your real estate needs.

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Colorado Living ...Where Dreams Come True

The Roshek Group

719-687-1531

PikesPeakRegion.com

via coloradorelocationgroup.com

Give Colorado Listing Photos Curb Appeal

There are two words that every Colorado home seller should know: curb appeal. The better this is, the higher your chance of enticing a buyer the minute they park in front of your house. But the curb appeal also needs to show up in your on-line listing photos, since most buyers will see this before they view the actual property.

To put that pizazz in your photos, try these three simple, no cost options.

• Take Down Window Screens – Most home exteriors can look pretty
  dull, and screens generally make windows look dark. You can shine up door knobs
  and lighting fixtures, but these changes won’t show up in your external photo.
  To spice up your photos and add some dimension, take down window screens on the
  front windows before shooting—but remember to keep and reinstall them after the
  home sells. Buyers likely won’t miss the screens during a showing, but they
  sure will once they’ve moved in!
• Water Your Bark Mulch – When mulch is first put down, it looks
  great and creates a nice clean look in your garden or yard. Old mulch looks
  dull and is a big turn-off. Watering the mulch makes it darker so it contrasts
  with your greenery and makes it seem more vibrant. So pull out the hose and wet
  down your mulch before taking the picture as well as before an actual showing.
• Make The Walkway Stand Out – Turn the front walkway of your Colorado dream home
  into a “runway.” Make sure it’s clean
  and clutter-free, and then dress it up with potted plants, lights or statues. Make
  sure it shows up in your photos by standing on a small ladder to take the
  picture looking down on the property. Or shoot from an angle rather than
  straight on.

The goal is to have your home call to potential buyers whether they see it on the Internet or drive by in a car. And living in a beautiful area like Pike's Peak makes the job even easier. Look around for anything you can do that will make your home stand out among the myriads of other listings so that a buyer’s very first impression will be, “Oh, how beautiful! I’d love to call that my home.”

Along with great curb appeal, you need an agent who’ll bring a steady stream of buyers to your door. When you’re ready to buy or sell a home in the Pike’s Peak Area, call The Roshek Group! We are ready to help you with all of your real estate needs.

Control Clutter in Your Colorado Home! | Colorado Relocation Group

Collections.  Prized Possessions.  Family Heirlooms.  Memorabilia.  We all have these in our home in some form.  However, have these possessions taken over?  Is every inch of every shelf covered with photos, books, and keepsakes?  Do you have so many clothes that you don’t even know what is at the back of your closet?  Do you even know what the countertop looks like under the stacks of papers and canisters?  If you’ve said yes to any of this, it’s time to take back your Colorado dream home and get rid of the clutter.  Whether you’re looking to sell your home or enjoy another decade in it, there are steps you can take to end the clutter for good:

1. Schedule Time to Clean:  De-cluttering is a time-consuming process.  Taking on all of the rooms at once and trying to do the whole house in a weekend can be frustrating, exhausting, and overwhelming.  Instead, schedule a time each day to work toward your goal.  Set a timer so you don’t have to keep track of time.  Then, methodically work through the clutter, finishing one room before you move on to the next.  Remember, your dream home didn’t get this way overnight – it will take time to get it cleaned.

2. Get Organized:  Now that you have decided when you will work, you need a plan on how you will work.  Pick a room to start in.  Depending on your lifestyle, you may decide to start with either the least cluttered room or the most heavily used area of your home.  Then, label three boxes –Trash, Donations, and Keep so you have an easily, visible way to sort items as you go through the room.  You may also wish to choose a charity to take your donations to – knowing your items will help a family in need can be a great motivator in letting things go.

3. Do the easy stuff first:  It is true that we suggest moving through the room in a systematic way, but it may be best to start with the obvious.  Look around and get rid of old magazines, newspapers and stray “stuff” that can obviously be discarded.  This will open up additional space for you to work in, and get rid of some of the bulk before you spend time thinking and sorting.

4. Think it through:  As a general rule of thumb, discard or donate items that you haven’t used in the last 6 months.  After all, if you’ve lived without them for this long, do you really need them?  However, while you will want to get through this process quickly; don’t fall into the trap of making desperate or rash decisions to “throw it all away”.  The process is designed to rid yourself of unwanted items, not give away everything you love.

5.  How many shelves do you need:  As you de-clutter your Colorado home, you will find that you now have empty shelves, bare tables, and floor space.  Since empty shelves often beg for new items, we suggest removing them as part of the de-cluttering process. This will open up the space in your home and remove the temptation to refill empty spaces.

6. Enjoy your space and plan for the future:  Now that the clutter is gone, sit down, put your feet up and enjoy your area.  Enjoy the mountain view out your window or simply relax in your favorite chair and read a good book in your newly found space.  In order to keep the clutter from taking over again, set aside a few minutes each day to put away items that end up on the table or floor.  After all, you don’t want all of your hard work to be for nothing!

Living in an open, clear space will allow you to enjoy all that your home has to offer.  It will cut down on the time needed to clean your home, and allow you more freedom to do the things that are important to you.   If you are considering selling your home, this is also the first step to preparing it to show potential buyers.  After all, a buyer won’t put an offer on your home if they can’t see its potential!

Buying and selling your home can be an emotional experience, especially in today’s market.  Let us help ease your stress.  When you’re ready to buy or sell in the Pike’s Peak area, call the Roshek Group! We are ready to help you with all of your real estate needs.

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Colorado Living ...Where Dreams Come True

The Roshek Group

719-687-1531

PikesPeakRegion.com

via coloradorelocationgroup.com

Should you tile your Colorado dream home? | Colorado Relocation Group

via coloradorelocationgroup.com

Tile is one of the most popular and durable choices in flooring for today’s homes. But, it is not the right choice for every home. Before you head out to the flooring store to pick out tile for your Colorado Springs home, consider all of the pros and cons:

Pros:

Looking Good: Tile is one of the most versatile flooring products available. It comes in a wide array of colors, materials, and sizes. From bold colored ceramics to natural stone, there are looks for every decorating style. Tile also has decorative products that will allow you to add a beautiful border or focal point in your floor.

Durability: When installed correctly, tile can last for decades. It stands up well to normal wear and tear, doesn’t stain easily, and tends to retain its looks over a long period of time.

Easy To Clean: If you’ve ever tried to clean grape juice out of a carpet, you understand how much work cleaning floors can be. For many Colorado families, tile is a great choice because it is easy to care for. Generally speaking, you can clean tile floors with mild soap and water. It is virtually stain resistant, so special cleaning supplies are not typically necessary.

Warm Your Feet: Colorado is known for its beautiful mountains and winter snowfall. Tile is a great choice for working with radiant heat flooring systems. If you’re laying the tile yourself, you can easily install the radiant heat mats under the tile - just be sure to consult an electrician for proper wiring and ensure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe, warm feet this winter.

Do It Yourself: Laying tile is a great do-it-yourself project for adding value and appeal to your home. While this project does require some advance planning and use of special tools (tile saw), local home stores and online sites can provide you with all the information you need to successfully lay your own tile floor.

Cons:

Slippery When Wet: While tile holds up to water, snow, mud, and other spills with ease, it does tend to get slippery when it is wet. Using tile made from more textured materials, such as Travertine, can help avoid this issue in common spaces and entry areas.

Repairs and Maintenance: While tile can be extremely durable, it is not infallible. Incorrect installation or abuse can result in cracked or chipped tiles and repairing a single tile can be a tough job. Be sure to keep some extra tiles in the basement. Additionally, grout can stain and erode away, especially if you have four-legged family members. Sealing grout can provide some relief from the staining, but plan on occasionally re-grouting heavy traffic areas. Also, consider using darker color grouts as they tend to show less dirt.

Installation Blues: While tile is a common DIY project, it is a physically demanding one. Laying tile will require you to spend a lot of time on your hands and knees spreading adhesive, laying and positioning potentially heavy tiles, then grouting the floor. Additionally, it takes a little skill to properly cut and place tile. Consider your physical condition, skill level, and the room you are tiling before starting the project.

Dollar and Cents: Basic ceramic tile can be cheap. However, if you want designer details, uncommon colors, larger tile pieces, and higher quality materials, the cost can quickly increase. Travertine, stone, and specialty tiles and designs are significantly more expensive than simple ceramic tile. Take good room measurements, consider all of the costs (saw rental, tile, grout, adhesive, trowels, etc) before beginning, and don’t forget to include extra tiles in your estimates.

Shhhh: One of the biggest complaints homeowners have about tile is that it doesn’t absorb sound like carpeting. Large tiled rooms tend to have an echo and even walking across them can sound loud. If you choose to tile a room, especially a large one, consider adding rugs and fabric accessories to help absorb the sound.

Tile is very versatile, and can be a great flooring option for many Colorado Springs families. It is durable, cleans well, and requires very little maintenance. Since it comes at virtually all price points, there is a product that will fit your budget and style. Just be sure to consider all of the pros and cons before deciding whether or not tile is right for your home.

Buying and selling your home can be an emotional experience, especially in today’s market. Let us help ease your stress. When you’re ready to buy or sell in the Pike’s Peak area, call the Roshek Group! We are ready to help you with all of your real estate needs.

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Colorado Living ...Where Dreams Come True

The Roshek Group

719-687-1531

PikesPeakRegion.com