Author: Marybeth Heckler

Summer Home Maintenance Checklist for New Homeowners

Summer is nearing and if you are a new homeowner, then you may not be used to this time of year when it becomes necessary to do a little home maintenance.

You have made an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars for your new home and it only makes sense to take care of this investment. By doing regular maintenance each quarter, you can help to save yourself money in the long run.

Here are some of the most common areas to take care of now that the weather is getting warmer:

  1. Cooling Systems—Before the summer kicks in and you really need your air conditioning system, now is the time to get it checked out. Have your HVAC system serviced so that your unit doesn’t die on you when you need it most. This is also the best time to consider putting in new ceiling fans in rooms that don’t already have them and to clean the existing fans.

 

  1. Check Your Roof—Now that the winter and spring storms are done, it’s a good idea to check your roof to see if you have any loose or missing shingles. If you can, get up on the roof with a ladder. Or, if you prefer going high-tech, you can use a drone to fly over and take pictures so you can see if there are any problems.

 

  1. Outdoor Entertaining—If you have a pool, outdoor patio or deck, or grill, now is the time to get them ready for summer entertaining. Have your pool’s chemicals checked. Also, go through your deck and look for loose boards or any cracks that show that the boards need to be replaced. This is also a good time to pressure wash your deck and see if you need to add sealant to your deck. Finally, check the gas lines for your gas grill. If you use propane tanks, be sure to get a fresh one before you start grilling.

 

  1. Check Your Alarms—Every quarter of the year is the proper time to check your home’s alarms and detectors. Change the batteries out in the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to help keep you and your family safe.

Now that weather is getting warmer and drier, it’s time to do some maintenance checks on your home. If you do this now and keep up with it regularly, then your house will take care of you for years to come.

**********

Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

How to Find the Best Walkable Neighborhood

Many of us are now realizing how sedentary our lifestyles are. Because of the problems of urban sprawl, we literally live miles away from almost everything and have to drive somewhere in order to get the things that we need on a daily basis.

But, what if you could find a neighborhood where you could park the car and forget about it for days at a time as you walk around to do your shopping and dining? That’s the mentality behind the recent move to smaller, more self-contained neighborhoods.

Here are some ways to find the best walkable neighborhoods in your area:

Main Components—First, there are a few main components that you need to look for when it comes to a walkable neighborhood. You want to find a place that has a centralized location that everything else is built around, such as a town square or a main thoroughfare or street. You should also look for a neighborhood with a relatively dense population. Businesses and restaurants will not be able to survive without a lot of traffic, so you will need people who live in the immediate area. Besides businesses, you should also look for other types of active spaces such as parks and public space which will attract people to gather.

Look at the Layout—Another thing that makes a neighborhood more walkable is going to be the geographic layout of the neighborhood. It should, first, be relatively compact. If you are talking about ten to twenty miles of walking, then this isn’t going to be practical. Also, it should be relatively flat. A few hills are fine, but if you have to climb three miles uphill both ways then it gets to be a bit much. The area should also be laid out with walking paths and sidewalks. But it should also have benches and other amenities that will help when you need to take a break from your travels. And, most importantly, these features should be well maintained.

Businesses—The third component is the idea that you can get what you need in the neighborhood. Is there, for instance, a grocery store or specialty food shops like a bakery or butcher shop? You will probably be buying groceries every couple of days instead of stocking up all at once like you are used to. Are there restaurants nearby that you want to frequent? What about other things like clothing boutiques, bookstores, and the like? All of these will help add to the walkability of your neighborhood and if it is going to be a good fit for you.

Ultimately, the best way to find a walkable neighborhood in your area is to simply get out and explore. By doing this, you can take the neighborhood for a “test walk” and see if it might be an area that you could consider relocating to.

**********

Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Where to Get Delivery for Brunch for Mother’s Day in Denver

COVID-19 has already changed so many things in our lives that it’s nice to hold on to some bits of normalcy. This Mother’s Day, it’s not going to be possible to go out for brunch at a nice restaurant or café.

But it is going to be possible to have the brunch brought to you. Most restaurants are staying afloat right now by either offering their own delivery options or partnering with delivery services such as DoorDash and UberEats.

So, this year for Mother’s Day, check out these great delivery brunches in Denver…you can even get them to supply the mimosas!

Snooze Eatery – Snooze has multiple locations that all offer great options for brunch deliveries. We highly recommend the Sweet Potato Bacon Smashup (a mixture of two griddled smashed sweet potatoes with poached egg, avocado, pickled onions, and paprika topped with black pepper maple syrup and bacon). If you decide to go for the flight of pancakes, be sure to try the Blueberry Danish Pancakes or Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes.

Bacon Social House – For now, they are calling themselves the Bacon Social Distancing House and for good reason. This location is offering great bacon options with deliveries straight to you. You can get a bacon flight with an assortment of options including applewood, BBQ, candied, or habanero bacon. Another great option is their Bacon Shrimp and Grits or the Boozy French Toast (made with Grand Marnier and Bourbon Bacon Caramel).

Jelly Café – Jelly café’s motto is “Eat More Jelly” and with the great menu options, it’s easy to see why. One of the more unusual options is the Lavender Blueberry, a serving of blueberry pancakes topped with lavender blueberry preserves. Or if that isn’t different enough for you, how about French toast coated in corn flakes with seasonal berries? One of the perennial Jelly Café favorites is the donut bites that can be ordered in batches of 4, 8, or 12.

Denver Biscuit Company – Our last option is a great choice for those who like homemade biscuits. The Denver Biscuit company has a dozen biscuit sandwich options including the Winona (fried chicken and pimento cheese) or the Colfax A (ham, collard greens, fried eggs, and hot sauce). For something really decadent, try the Shrimp and Grits in a homemade biscuit bowl or the Biscuit Pot Pie.

These are just four restaurants that are offering delivery specials every day including brunch options on Mother’s Day. The quarantine doesn’t have to ruin your special day with your mom and kids.

**********

Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

The Best Publications for Staying on Top of Denver Happenings

Many of us in the Denver area are used to cabin fever with the long winters and deep snow. But with all of the craziness in the world today, that term is being taken to a new extreme as more and more of us are stuck inside due to quarantine and stay-at-home orders related to COVID-19.

We can all look forward to the glorious day when the quarantines are lifted, and life can get back to normal (or at least as close as possible). So, while you’re waiting at home with nothing to do, check out these publications and put a bookmark on them.

These are the best publications for staying on top of what’s going on in Denver:

  • 5280 —This publication is a great independent news outlet that gives you a new and fresh take on what’s going on in the region. Right now, their coverage of COVID-19, for instance, includes the standard articles on the quarantine orders, but it also has special interest stories you might not find elsewhere.

    Check out the articles “Delicious Good Deeds” which highlights how food delivery restaurants are doing something special for those in need. Also, their coverage of the Denver Zoo during the outbreak is heartening because it highlights those cute animals and what they are up to while everyone is staying away.

  • 303 Magazine —This magazine is usually one of the go-to publications for information about dining and entertainment. But during the shutdowns, they are transitioning to different coverage including updates on food delivery systems. Also, check out “A Master List of Virtual Denver Events” for all kinds of live-streamed culinary events including cooking classes.
  • Denver Dweller —Denver Dweller encourages people to “Experience Denver Authentically” and this publication helps to do just that. Right now, they have great list articles including “7 Denver Coffee Subscriptions to Order for Your New Work-At-Home Routine” and “16 Denver Local Grocers You Can Still Shop (And They’re Stocked!).” These highlight the magazine’s devotion to highlighting local businesses and artisans.
  • Eater Denver —As the name implies, this is a publication devoted to the best in food in Denver. Restaurants may be shut down for now, but Eater Denver is still helping to connect you with great local restaurants and cafes which are currently offering delivery options. They also have great articles on the state of the restaurant business and dining in general.
  • Colorado Homes and Lifestyle —This publication is a great way to stay on top of design and decorating tips for your home. Since most of us are currently locked down with no place to go, it’s a good source for ideas for your home that can hopefully get your creative juices flowing.

Just because you are stuck at home doesn’t mean there aren’t things going on in Denver. From food delivery to virtual gatherings to behind-the-scenes updates on the COVID-19 fight, these publications can give you the needed update on what’s happening in your neighborhood and beyond.

**********

Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Where to Start for New Gardeners This Spring

One of the most relaxing and fulfilling hobbies that anyone can take up is the time-honored tradition of gardening. It’s also one of the most therapeutic hobbies you can have as it helps you center yourself physically and mentally.

Every year, I hear friends and family members say that they’re interested in gardening, but they don’t know how to get started. Well, never fear.

Here are handy tips on where to begin this spring with starting your own garden:

  1. Flowers vs. Vegetables — One of the first things you want to do is figure out what type of garden you will have as this will make huge differences early on. If you are looking to create your own food that you can use to cook, then certainly go for the vegetable garden. However, if you just want a garden that is beautiful to look at as well as fragrant, then flowers are your best option.

 

  1. Map Out Your Yard — A garden will need lots of sunlight, usually at least six hours a day. So, over the course of a few days, observe how the sun falls in your yard. Are there spots that are too covered by shade from trees or other houses? If so, then these aren’t good spots for your garden. Pick something that is in direct sunlight for most of the day, if possible.

 

  1. Get the soil ready — Next, you will want to prepare the ground for gardening. The first thing to do is to dig up the sod and replace it with about 2 to 3 inches of compost (old lawn clippings, leaves, and manure). This will let the earthworms do their thing and begin moving those nutrients into the soil to make for a fertile garden. You will also need to work the soil yourself. If you are just starting out, you can do this by digging the 10 inches of dirt or so and mixing in the compost. If you can get your hands on a rototiller, then this process will go a lot quicker and easier.

 

  1. Plant your garden — Now is the time to plant your seeds or small plants. Be sure to check for things that grow well in your climate and with your amount of sunlight. Sunflowers and lettuce are two easy options.

 

  1. Keep them maintained — Now that you’ve done the hard work, it’s time to maintain the garden. Water your plants regularly so that they can thrive. Don’t water them during the hottest part of the day as the sun is liable to “burn off” the water. Early morning or right as the sun is setting is best. Also, go through your garden at regular intervals to weed it and check for insects that may be damaging your plants.

 

Starting a garden is something that is so easy that almost anyone can do it. But it can still be intimidating for first-timers. By taking these simple steps, you can make sure that your garden gets off to a good start.

**********

Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

How to Build a Community in Your Neighborhood

For many of us, the idea of a neighborhood means a group of people who are all nice to each other, socializing and looking out for others when they need help. Unfortunately, too many of us have gotten so cut off from the outside world that we barely even know or acknowledge our neighbors.

Too often, we refer to them by descriptors because we haven’t learned their names—phrases like “the young couple down the street with two kids” or “the retired man with the dog that barks all night.” Many of us want that sense of community that comes with being in a close-knit neighborhood, but we don’t know how to do this.

Well, here’s how you can build a community in your neighborhood:

  1. Sit in your front yard — We often try to seclude ourselves by either staying inside or sitting in our fenced-in backyards. This doesn’t allow us to meet our neighbors naturally. One way to fix this is to simply move the chairs around front. When your kids are playing, take a relaxing chair out to the front yard and watch them. Or, when the sun is about to set, grab a chair and a cold beverage and enjoy the twilight. If you do this, others will start to join in and you can begin to communicate more openly with them.

 

  1. Organize a block party — If you plan a block party or cookout, you can get everyone together and socializing so that you can meet all of your neighbors. When you invite them, be sure to go up to each one personally instead of just posting fliers or mailers. This shows you legitimately want to get to know them. But it also allows you a chance to learn their names and talk to them even if they can’t make the party.

 

  1. Create a community library or garden — Activities such as reading and gardening are great ways to bond with others. Put a wooden lending library box in your yard by the curb along with a sign encouraging others to take one and return it when finished. You can also encourage others to add their own books to the bin. Also, talk with your neighbors to see if they would like to help put together a community garden of flowers or vegetables to liven up the area.

 

  1. Create a social media group — Even if you can’t all meet after work or on the weekends, you can still create a sense of community with social media. Start a Facebook group for your neighborhood that can share announcements and neighborhood news. Encourage people with concerns to express these through private messages instead of blasting the entire board. But keep the avenues of communication as open as possible.

There is a big difference between being part of a neighborhood and part of a community. If you hearken back to the days when people were nice to their neighbors and took pride in their community, then these are some ways you can foster these feelings on your block.

 

**********

Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

A Spring Cleaning Checklist that Doesn’t Overwhelm

It’s confession time: Every year when it comes to spring cleaning, I go into a bit of brain lock. I see all the items that are stretched out in front of me that need to be done, and I just want to curl up inside the house with a cup of coffee and a Netflix marathon.

Sometimes, that cleaning checklist is just too overwhelming, and I don’t even know where to start. Here’s a solution to that.

This spring cleaning checklist breaks down the essentials so that you don’t run cowering into your house from fear of having too much to do:

  1. Organize Your Supplies — Each room has a different set of supplies based on your needs. (For instance, the bathroom has different needs than your bedroom.) I suggest creating a cleaning tote for each room. Keep all your tub and toilet cleaners in a small box for use in the bathroom and carpet freshener and a duster for the den and bedroom. By getting your supplies organized upfront, you will know what you need to buy before you start. (And trust me, there’s nothing worse than getting into a cleaning groove and finding out you are missing something essential.)

 

  1. Go Room by Room — Too often, we try to do everything all at once. The reality, then, is that we spread ourselves too thin and don’t get most of what we want completed. Instead of doing this, create a separate checklist of things to do for each room. Start with just one room and do everything on the checklist. Don’t move on until it’s all done, even if this takes more than one day. It took you all year to get the house where it is since the last spring cleaning. Don’t try to fix it all in one day.

 

  1. Create Piles — As you are going through your rooms, take everything out of drawers, off shelves, etc. and use this opportunity to clean and dust these areas. As you empty things out, move them into three separate piles. The first will be your “keep” pile. As soon as you are finished sorting and dusting, put these back where you got them—they are the clothes and other items you are keeping. The next pile should be for donations. These are the products in a good state of repair that you can donate to charity (or possibly sell at a yard sale). The last will be your trash pile for anything broken, chipped, torn, or just so outdated or worn that no one would want it. Throw these out immediately. Now is the time to be ruthless. If you haven’t used it in a year, then chances are you don’t need to keep it.

 

  1. Set Up Regular Checklists — Don’t wait until spring rolls around to get your big cleaning done. If you create checklists for each month (or at least each quarter), then you can spread out the work over all twelve months and not just a couple of weekends when you don’t feel like cleaning.

 

By following these easy steps, you can break down your big cleaning jobs into smaller chunks which are always helpful. So, pop in your earbuds, fire up some music or a good audiobook, and get to cleaning.

**********

Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

How to Find the Best New Restaurants in Denver

Denver has long been known for its great food and eclectic restaurants that serve a lot more than just your standard Denver Omelet. But sometimes, it may feel like there are too many restaurants so that you don’t know which ones you should actually check out. (We hear you now—there can never be TOO many restaurants.)

In the past, you may have relied on Yelp or Google reviews as your sole means of finding a good restaurant. But here are five publications that you can check out which also feature great food spots in Denver.

  1. 303 Magazine

This great online publication has sections for restaurants and bars as well as other fun things to do in the Denver area like concerts and art exhibits. The magazine includes reviews of local restaurants, announcements of new restaurant openings (or closings), and special interest pieces about local spots. Currently, there’s a piece on the much-loved Welton Street Café which is being featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on the Food Network.

  1. Thrillist

Another great lifestyle publication that covers multiple cities is Thrillist. This one has interesting reviews of restaurants as well as suggestions for where to eat such as “The Best Places to Eat in the Denver Airport,” “The Most Fun Sports Bars In (and Around) Denver,” and “Everything You Have to Do in Denver This Weekend.” This is a great way for both the locals or the visitors to plan out their weekend (or vacations) including food and activities.

  1. 5280

This publication has some awesome articles highlighting specific cuisines of the region. In the current listing, you can find articles on “A Taste of Colorado-Mex” which highlights the hybrid of Mexican and Colorado cooking and “How Chef Charles Mani is Heightening the Denver Area’s Indian Food Scene.” The site also has recommendations for high end restaurants if you are looking to check out celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey when they visit the area.

  1. Denver.org

This website is a great resource for those who are planning meetings, conventions, or destination weddings in the Denver area. If you need to recommend restaurants to your guests, then this site has a great rundown including favorites such as Jovanina’s Broken Italian and Woodie Fisher’s Kitchen and Bar.

  1. Eater

Then we have Eater, another lifestyle publication that features the best of a variety of cities. Currently the site is featuring articles such as “The 38 Essential Restaurants in Denver.” But it also contains a “Heatmap” that shows the most popular dining spots in the area.

With so many options to choose from, it may be hard to find the absolute best restaurant for your tastes on any given night. But with these five publications, you can be assured to have plenty of help narrowing down the field.

 

**********

Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Spring Cleaning: Best Tricks for Deep Cleaning Your Home

Spring is in the air and, even though many of us are ready to dig out of the snows of this winter, that still leaves one dreaded task looming on the horizon—Spring Cleaning!

This is the time when you go beyond that little cursory cleaning you do each week and really get down into the nooks and crannies of your home. But it doesn’t have to be that scary.

Here are handy tips and tricks we’ve compiled that can help you do a really deep cleaning on your home this spring:

  1. Be Meticulous and Merciless — The first thing we suggest is that you be very meticulous and go room-by-room through the house. In each room, create three separate stacks—one to keep, one to donate or sell at a yard sale, and one to toss. Be merciless. If you haven’t seen an item or used it in a year, do you really need to keep it? Toss whatever you don’t need. A decluttered house is much easier to clean.

 

  1. Bathrooms — This is a good place to start with the actual deep cleaning. Spray the surfaces of your tub, toilet, shower, and sink with multi-purpose cleaners that may need to sit awhile to break up the accumulated soap scum. (You can also use diluted white vinegar for an all-natural clean.) Make sure that you scrub these surfaces thoroughly. If you have a glass shower door, you can use a damp dryer sheet to clean it off. If you have a shower curtain, toss it and start fresh with a new curtain and a new look for your room.

 

  1. Kitchen — Now let’s get this one under control. With a spring cleaning, you want to get all of the yearly things taken care of. One of these is cleaning the oven. If you don’t have a self-cleaning oven, put together a mixture of baking soda and vinegar with a couple of drops of dish soap. Let this sit on the tough spots and then scrub it clean. If you have a gas stovetop, you can also coat the stovetop itself with car wax. This way, your regular clean-ups of spills will be much easier. The microwave should also be cleaned, but this one is really easy. Get a cup of water and add a tablespoon of white vinegar. Place this in the microwave and turn it on for five minutes. The steam from this will clean out your microwave so you can just wipe it out.

 

  1. Dusting — Dusting may not be a room unto itself, but it is certainly one of the chores that feels like it. It usually winds up on the top three list of most hated household chores. To help this spring, use these ideas. First, on surfaces that aren’t easily seen, such as the tops of cabinets or tall bookshelves, place a square piece of newspaper down after you dust. This will cover the surface and catch any other accumulations so you just have to change out the sheet of paper every few months and save yourself the dusting for those spots. We also recommend investing in a telescoping arm duster so you don’t have to strain your back.

Finally, when it comes to dusting the ceiling fans, we suggest using a pillowcase. Take the case and put it around the blades of the fan and then simply wipe across. The dust will be trapped inside of the case and you don’t have to worry about raining dust down on your room. And, you can just toss the pillowcase in the washer to clean it off.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be the pain that everyone thinks it is. If you follow a few basic tips, you can save yourself some sweat and tears and make this year’s cleaning go smoother.

 

**********

Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Stress Relief Techniques for Moms

Anybody who says that being a full-time mom isn’t stressful is just kidding themselves. Motherhood, be it the stay-at-home or working variety, is one of the roughest and toughest occupations out there.

The demands of being a mom are also aggravated by the unbelievable stress and anxiety that comes with the responsibility. After all, no one wants to be a bad mom and you want to make sure that everything you do is helping to make your child a better person.

But just when you think you want to snap if you have to listen to “Baby Shark” one more time, take a deep breath and realize there are a few ways to relieve the stress and anxiety:

  1. Stay Organized — This stress relief technique is pro-active. You’re less likely to get stressed out if you stay organized and on top of things. By keeping a schedule, you don’t have to worry about rushing from one location to another. You know exactly what is expected of you and you can plan accordingly. This also means that you need to set limits on yourself and your children. You know there are only 24 hours in a day so you shouldn’t try to over-schedule your time.
  2. Meditate — This is a tried and true technique, and it really works. Spend about 10 to 15 minutes each day in quiet meditation. Just let yourself sit in a comfortable position and relax. This can be when you put the baby down for a nap or when the kids are already in bed and you have a few moments before you pass out for the night in exhaustion. Just let the problems of the world flow out of you and relax.
  3. Exercise — No, we aren’t crazy when we say this. Exercise releases endorphins in your body that can help you maintain a relaxed and happy demeanor. We aren’t saying you need to do a full cardio workout for an hour every single day. (Although there’s nothing wrong with that if you can work it in.) Just take 15 minutes during a lunch break at work to walk around the block. This will be hard at first, but with time it will help you feel better and more relaxed.
  4. Bubble Bath — Sometimes the old favorites are there for a reason. Once a week or so, take a half-hour and set it aside for yourself. Turn on some soft music, light a few aromatherapy candles, and relax in a warm bath. Throw in some bubbles or bath salts to help you relax even more. If it helps, throw in a rubber duck. Just spend that time with the door shut and locked and be at peace.

It’s hard for moms to set aside time for themselves in their busy schedule. But if you plan and organize your schedule and learn how to set limits then you will find that you can build more time into your daily life to relax and not feel overwhelmed.

**********

Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.