Marybeth Heckler | Blog | Allied Mortgage Group - Page 27 of 29

Backyard Summer Camp Ideas for Stay-at-Home Moms

Written by Marybeth Heckler on June 17, 2019. Posted in Motherhood.

If you are trying to be a parent on a budget, then you know that summer camps may sound great, but they can really be expensive. That’s why so many stay-at-home moms are trying to turn their own backyards into a summer camp experience.

This way, you can keep the kids occupied, engage them physically and mentally in worthwhile activities, and you don’t have to break your bank.

Here are some ideas on how you can turn your home into a backyard summer camp:

The first things you are going to want to do is get organized and collect supplies.

When it comes to organization, just remember three key areas that the average summer camp takes care of: physical activities, arts and crafts, and evening/social activities. Try to schedule activities around these three areas. Also, be sure to stock up on cheap art supplies. (The Dollar Store is a good place to pick these up.)

Morning Activities—I find it easier to split the activities up by time of day. The morning is usually best for athletic and physical activities because of the heat. You don’t really want to spend the hottest part of the day outside and sweating, so schedule them for the morning. I also like to have about five main activities that I can rotate around so that they don’t do them each and every day.
You might want to include time at the local pool (always a favorite), archery (a perennial summer camp favorite that you can enjoy at a local range), golfing (or at least hitting a few buckets on the driving range), bowling, or just going for a walk in the park or around the neighborhood. If you have a lot of kids in your neighborhood, consider organizing a softball or kickball game.

Afternoon Activities—The afternoon should be about arts and crafts and more mentally engaging activities. These don’t have to be very expensive, but again, variety helps. You can load up on cheap art supplies to do everything from painting to coloring to origami. But you can also include mentally engaging activities, like writing an original story, reading, and completing jigsaw puzzles. You can also use this time to help your child learn a new skill like photography or cooking.
Evening Activities—If you really want to go for the camp experience, then consider getting a camping tent and setting it up in the backyard with a sleeping bag. This is when you should just sit around and talk with your kids. Have them tell you stories and tell them some from your childhood as well. Older kids may balk, but they still like to hear stories, especially if you tell them around a campfire. And don’t forget to make some S’mores on that fire.

This year, you don’t have to send your kids off to an expensive summer camp or even a local day camp. You can work to create the same experience in your own backyard.

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Summer Staycation Ideas for Families in Denver

Written by Marybeth Heckler on June 10, 2019. Posted in Denver.

Summer vacation is here and for many of us, the idea of being locked in a cramped car or plane for hours on end just makes us cringe. Thankfully, some brave soul a few years ago coined the phrase “family staycation” and it has been growing in popularity.

For those who don’t know, a staycation is where you stay at home and spend your summer vacation resting and relaxing and either doing some things in the general area of your home or venturing out on a road trip that is fast and able to get you home that night with no hotel accommodations required.

Here, then, are some of the best staycation ideas for those families in the Denver area:

Breckenridge—Let’s start with this beautiful little town that is about 90 minutes outside of Denver (on the way to Vail). Although this area is known for its winter sports and recreation, the summertime boasts popular activities such as an alpine gondola, horseback riding, and even an alpine rollercoaster, luge, and rope-course. This abundance of activities will keep your family happy and occupied on your trip.
Garden of the Gods—This one is great for multiple reasons. First, admission is free to the nature park, where you can walk and explore some of the most beautiful sights in the world. For additional fees, you can do rock climbing experiences and jeep tours as well.
Downtown Aquarium—This Denver staple is always a great place for a quiet day of watching fish and other sea creatures. New to the aquarium is an exhibit that allows you to suit up in scuba gear and explore a tank filled with sharks from the safety of a shark cage.
Butterfly Pavilion—While we are talking about the beauty of nature, you might want to consider doing a staycation trip to the Butterfly Pavilion. For the prettier and relaxing side of this exhibit, you can check out butterflies that are indigenous to regions from Colorado to the tropics. But you can also check out some of the creepier crawlies such as Rosie the Tarantula, as well as underwater invertebrates.
Casa Bonita—This has been a staple in the area for over 40 years and is the very definition of “dinner and a show.” The restaurant features great Mexican staples (including an all-you-can-eat buffet), plus a variety of shows including pirates, gorillas, cliff divers, and a gunfight. You can also check out puppet shows, the arcade, and spend some time at the gift shop.

Don’t feel like you have to go on a massive road trip this summer to have some fun and relax. Instead, stay at home and do a few day trip activities in the general Denver area.

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Top 10 Summer Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

Written by Marybeth Heckler on June 3, 2019. Posted in Home Improvement.

Yet another summer is upon us, which means now is the perfect time to take charge of a whole slew of maintenance projects around your house. Once the freezing cold temperatures and rainy days of winter are gone, you should have better weather to get lots of these projects completed.

Here are the top ten things you need to work on around the house for summer:

HVAC service—You had to know this would be number one. Right before the summer temperatures start to go through the roof, you really need to get your air conditioning unit serviced. The last thing you want is a 100+ degree day only to have your AC go out on you.
Chimney and fireplace cleaning—Now that you should be done using your fireplace, this is the perfect time to call in a professional and have your chimney professionally cleaned. This will get rid of dangerous soot and grime, which can easily aggravate allergies.
Dust your fans—Use an extendable duster to reach your ceiling fans, but also take apart any portable fans and clean the dust out of the blades. This not only will keep your fans running longer, but also cut down on the spread of dust and allergens when you start cranking them up this summer.
Changer your air filter—This one needs to be done about every 90 days, so now is the perfect time to go ahead and change the filter out.
Check your smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries—Another quarterly project, this is the perfect opportunity to make sure everything is running smoothly to keep your home and family safe.
Pressure wash the house—Another project that works well at this time of year is a pressure washing of your home’s exterior.
Inspect and repair your back porch and deck—If you plan on doing some entertaining outside this year, make sure to inspect your deck and porch for loose boards or protruding nails. If the wood is looking weathered, you may need to stain it and apply a weather seal.
Clean out your gutters and downspouts—After months of winter and spring storms, summer is the right time to clear out the gutters and get rid of any accumulated debris.
Service the lawnmower—Summer is when you are going to be spending a lot of time working on your yard. Take this opportunity to get your lawnmower inspected and serviced so it will run smoothly this season.
Window maintenance—Remove and wash your screens and inspect them to see if any need to be replaced.

This summer get your house in tip-top shape and running smoothly with these maintenance tips. By doing so, you’ll have a more enjoyable vacation season and have lots of fun staying at home.

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Top Parks for Families in Denver

Written by Marybeth Heckler on May 27, 2019. Posted in Denver.

Summer is upon us and if you are like me, you are dreading the prospect of being packed away in the house with kids whining about having “nothing to do.” I always like to have a backup plan on hand for a fun day activity that will let the kids run themselves ragged and get rid of all that crazy energy that they seem so full of.

Here are some of the top parks in Denver that you can take your family to this summer for a fun-filled day:

Central Park (Stapleton)—I’ve got to put this one at the top of my list for the sheer joy of the place and the beautiful, vibrant colors. Central Park has purple trees and colorful foam mountains that serve as the backdrop for family fun. Alongside this creative décor, they also have activities for all kids including rock-climbing and traditional playground equipment. There is also a fountain and sandcastle area for those who miss getting to do this at the beach. Finally, you absolutely must check out the “sensory sound garden” that allows kids to experiment with chimes and drums.
Westminster Center Park (Westminster)—One of my favorite children’s tales is Peter Pan, so it should come as no surprise that this one is highly recommended. Westminster Center Park is also affectionately called Peter Pan Park because it is built around creating a miniature Neverland for kids to explore. The park boasts playground equipment built around a pirate ship, as well as tunnels, rocks, logs, and bridges that will fire up their imagination.
Discovery Park (Wheat Ridge)—This one gets high marks for the sheer variety of the activities at the park. Besides having traditional playgrounds for little kids and older ones as well, you can also enjoy sandcastle building in the sandpit and cool down at the splash pad. This one also sets itself apart from other parks by its natural beauty (a creek runs right through it) and the skate park which allows your adventurous older kids to enjoy themselves.
Downtown Children’s Playground (Denver)—No list of parks could be complete without this perennial favorite. The only thing that might detract from this one is that it is too well-located. Because it is in the heart of downtown, it gets larger crowds, especially on the weekends or during major family events. But if you do find yourself in the area and want the kids to run off steam, this park not only has traditional playground features, but it also includes a rubberized cushioning that will protect the little ones if they take a tumble.

No matter what part of Denver you are in, check out the local parks and playgrounds in your area. Spend some time during the day or early evening running off that energy and your kids may even wear themselves out and sleep well that night.

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Throwing a House-Warming Party

Written by Marybeth Heckler on May 23, 2019. Posted in Homeowner.

If you’ve finally purchased the home of your dreams, you’re probably itching to show it off to your friends and family. House-warming parties are a great way to do this.

As with any type of party, it takes a little bit of planning to pull off a successful house-warming event.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning such a get-together:

Don’t schedule it when you first move in—It’s going to take a while for you to get your home settled and all of the stuff unpacked. As soon as you’ve got most of your things put away and the boxes thrown out, then you can start doing some planning. For most people that will be at least several weeks.
Don’t worry about printed invites—Keep this one simple and informal with email invitations instead of going out and getting them printed up and mailed out.
Invite your neighbors—While you are working on the invites, don’t forget to invite your neighbors. This is the perfect way to get a chance to meet them and let them get to know you in return.
Register—Another thing you’ll want to do is set up a registry so that your friends can buy those items that you need to put the finishing touches on your home. Then, when the party is over, you can get a good handle on what’s left for you to buy for the new house.
Food and Drink—For a housewarming party, you are going to want to keep the food simple and not do a huge sit-down meal. Instead, take advantage of warmer weather this spring and set up a barbeque in the backyard and grill hot dogs and burgers along with chips and other cookout foods. When it comes to drinks, be sure to have a table laid out with sodas and ice and another one set up with adult beverages.
Don’t use the dishes—This is an informal, fun day, and you want to keep the cleanup at a minimum. Be sure to use paper plates and disposable cups so you can just throw everything in the trash and not have to deal with a sink full of dishes.

Now that you have a home, it makes sense that you want to show it off. Throw a housewarming party and be ready to take your friends and family on a grand tour of the new place. This will give you a chance to get to know your neighbors and celebrate your achievement with your loved ones.

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How to Prepare to Buy Your First Home

Written by Marybeth Heckler on May 16, 2019. Posted in Real Estate.

If you’re thinking seriously about buying your first home, then you should know that the experience can be trying and difficult at times. The process can be a long one and can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming.

In the end, however, when you walk into that home knowing that it’s yours, it feels so much more satisfying than renting. You should feel pride in what you have accomplished, especially knowing the economic benefits of owning versus renting.

With that being said, here are some things you need to do as you prepare to buy your first home:

Check your finances—The first thing you need is a realistic appraisal of your finances. You have to determine if homeownership is something that you are financially ready for. Look at all of your monthly expenses and figure out if you will have enough money to put into emergency savings in case something breaks and you have to fix it. You will also need to have a substantial amount in savings for the down-payment on the loan.
Get pre-approved—Next, you should start shopping around for the best interest rate on a pre-approved loan. If you get into a bidding war with other potential buyers, a pre-approval will actually swing in your favor since you don’t have to take the time to do extra paperwork. A pre-approved loan helps you find the cheapest rate possible and also helps you figure out exactly how much house you can afford.
Find a realtor—Next, you will need to find a realtor with whom you can work closely. You want a realtor who will take into consideration all of your must-haves and who can find the best fit for your needs and budget. A realtor should be familiar with all of the neighborhoods in your area and should be able to find you the home that will work best for you.
Hit a lot of open houses—An instinct for many first-time homebuyers is to go with the first house that catches their eye. Instead, you should look at as many homes as possible. Don’t settle on any until you are absolutely sure it’s what you want. This isn’t like a lease where you can move out after a year. You are making a long-term commitment, so you don’t want to rush in.
Get an inspection—Once you find a home you are interested in, it’s essential that you get a home inspection. You don’t want to buy a house with serious plumbing or electrical problems, only to have to sink thousands into it for repairs.

After you’ve gone through all of this, it’s time to make an offer and see if your bid is accepted. Then comes the worst part of the whole process—the waiting. But once you get that call that your offer has been accepted, the feeling of elation makes the process well worth the experience.

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Beautiful Public Gardens in Denver

Written by Marybeth Heckler on May 9, 2019. Posted in Denver.

Spring is in the air and that means that the flowers are blooming all across the greater Denver area. If you like to get outside and experience nature’s varied beauty, then there are several locations you and your family absolutely must check out.

These public gardens are the perfect locales for communing with nature and getting some fresh air:

Denver Botanic Gardens: York Street —The first of Denver Botanic Gardens’ beautiful locations sits on 24 acres and features beautiful plants and flowers from all over the world. These plants and flowers have been specifically cultivated to thrive in the high-altitude climate of Denver. The York Street branch features seventeen separate gardens showcasing plants that thrive in arid Western areas.Additionally, there are international gardens that include a bonsai pavilion, a teahouse garden, and other exotic plants from Asia as well as South Africa. There are also seventeen other ornamental gardens that are decked out every spring with special flowers.
The Mordecai Children’s Garden features plants from six different climates including alpine, subalpine forest, montane forest, plains and grassland, riparian, and montane shrubland. All of these provide beauty and educational experience in the pristine Denver surroundings.

Denver Botanic Gardens: Chatfield Farms —Located just a quick drive out to Littleton, this branch of the botanic gardens is a 700-acre working farm that allows locals to see some of the native glory of the local plant-life. This farm features a cut flower garden, an iris garden, a lavender garden, and a prairie garden. The farm also features a butterfly pavilion that contains plants grown specifically to attract hundreds of beautiful butterflies to the area.
Chester M. Alter Arboretum —Located on the campus of the University of Denver, this garden is meant to beautify the campus with 2,100 trees and more than 400 different species of plants. As a special addition to the gardens, the arboretum features nine “Champion and Notable trees” that are among some of the oldest in the state and also feature special plants from around the world.
Hudson Gardens & Event Center – On the west side of town, you can experience this wonderful garden for free most days of the year. Hudson Gardens makes their income off of throwing events on their beautiful property and by doing a light show during the holidays, allowing guests free admission year-round to see the beautiful flowers, gardens, trees, and mini-lake. A favorite of bikers, because of their extensive trails, the gardens also raise their own bees, own their own greenhouse, and frequently run a model train through part of an exhibit.

If you’re looking for something fun and educational to do in Denver now that the weather isn’t freezing, then these three garden locations offer you a chance to experience the natural beauty of Denver’s foliage along with international plants and flowers.

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Are You Ready to Be a First Time Homebuyer?

Written by Marybeth Heckler on May 2, 2019. Posted in Real Estate.

Home ownership, for most Americans, is both a dream and a sign of financial independence. But buying a home can be a scary proposition for many first-timers who may not understand everything about this complex process.

Here are some steps you need to take to become a first-time homebuyer:

Get your down payment together

First-time homebuyers can generally get a loan with as little as 3% down. However, this may come with additional fees and requirements such as having to buy private mortgage insurance. Twenty percent is often a better option for a down payment, but that can put home ownership out of most people’s range. A good 10% down means $10,000 for every $100,000 of a home that you want to buy.

Research mortgages

Next, you are going to want to look at different mortgage options. Become familiar with conventional loan programs like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans. If you are a veteran, you can also look into VA loans that may require no down payment.

Set your budget

Look at your finances and determine what you can afford to spend each month on a mortgage. This will prevent you from wasting time looking at houses that are outside of your budget range and keep you from getting in over your head with a mortgage that you can’t afford.

Shop around for interest rates

Don’t take the first bank you look at as the best for interest rates. Saving just a fraction of a percentage point has the possibility to save you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Get pre-approved

One of the best things that you can do as a first-time homebuyer is to come to your real estate agent armed with a pre-approval from a local bank. This can give you an advantage when you make an offer on a home as an owner will generally choose someone with pre-approval over someone without it.

Research the neighborhoods

If you are looking for a home, you need to list out the amenities you are looking for—such as proximity to public transit or shopping sites or the quality of the schools. Once you start looking at neighborhoods, be sure that they fit into these qualifications. Before you make an offer on a home, you should also research the crime rate for that area.

Don’t forget about closing costs

Another thing you need to do when you are calculating your budget is to remember to figure in closing costs. Estimate between 2% and 5% of your total loan when you are making this figure.

Being a first-time homebuyer can be an exciting (and terrifying) prospect. But with a lot of research and acquired knowledge, you can take the nervousness out of this process and perhaps even find the home of your dreams.

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Top 10 Spring Home Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

Written by Marybeth Heckler on April 25, 2019. Posted in Homeowner.

Spring is here and that means it’s time to break out of the winter doldrums and break out the toolkit for some home maintenance work. Want to know how to keep your house looking spic and span and running smoothly for the rest of the year?

Here are our top 10 tips for getting your home in shape this spring:

Clean gutters—Leaves and debris have a tendency to clog up the gutters so break out the ladder and clear those out. If you don’t, you’ll wind up with damage to your roof.
Check your tiles—Speaking of the roof, now’s also the time to check out the roof and look for any loose tiles. If you really want to have fun with this, break out that drone you bought the kids for Christmas and fly it over and get pictures to see if you’ve got any missing tiles.
Inspect the outside—Now is also the time to do a walk around your property and check to make sure that your fencing is intact and that there isn’t anything else that needs a repair from the winter storms.
Pressure wash the outside—If you really want to spruce up your exterior, then rent a pressure washer and clean off any of the grit and grime that has accumulated over the past few months.
Repair screens—While you’re dealing with the outside, remove and inspect your screens for any holes. If you need to, replace these screens. If they’re still holding up well, then clean them and reset them so you can open the windows this spring and let in some fresh air.
Clean your dryer—It’s important to clean the dryer trap every time you use it. But some of the lint still makes its way into the vent and can clog it up. Use the hose attachment on your vacuum to clean this out.
Clean your fridge—While you have the vacuum out, clean the refrigerator’s coils. Get rid of the extra dust and it will run more efficiently.
Replace your filters—You need to do this about once a quarter, but now’s the perfect time to take care of this.
Replace smoke detector batteries—A good rule of thumb is to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors when the time change occurs. This will make sure you can keep your house safe for another couple of seasons.
Have your HVAC inspected—Now is the perfect time to have your HVAC inspected and maintained. You don’t want the air conditioning going out this summer, so get it checked while it’s still relatively cool.

This spring do a little bit more with your traditional spring cleaning. By taking care of these 10 items, you can ensure that your house will be clean, well maintained, and safe.

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Planning Out the Perfect Garden

Written by Marybeth Heckler on April 18, 2019. Posted in Home Improvement, Homeowner.

April is designated as National Garden Month and if you’ve ever considered starting a garden in your backyard, now is the perfect time to do it. But, if you’re worried that you may not have the green thumb needed to keep it alive, then don’t panic.

Check out these steps you can take to plan your garden ahead of time:

Do some research—The United States is composed of various climates, all of which are good for growing specific vegetables at specific times. Use this website to calculate which growing zone you live in and which vegetables should be grown and at what time of the year. This will help you figure out what you should begin with when it comes to growing a garden.
Test your soil—If you have never done this before, it’s a good idea to have your soil tested to see if there will be any issues with growing and to get suggestions on the best plants to grow. You can do a variety of tests on your own, but I’d suggest collecting a sample and taking it either to your local farm agency or a nursery and having them professionally test it. Then, you can order your seeds for the plants you plan to grow.
Map your garden—Measure out exactly how much of your yard you can dedicate to a garden and then map it out using graph paper. You should also determine exactly what you plan to grow and how much space you are going to need for it. (For instance, are you going to just grow one type of vegetable, such as carrots, or do you want to plant a mixture of different types?)
Create a calendar—Once you know the plants you’re going to grow, determine how much growing time you’ll need for each type to reach maturity, how much sunlight they will need, and how much watering and care you need to provide them. Then, create a calendar for your garden so you know exactly when you should water them, when you should perform maintenance on them, and when you should be ready to harvest them.
Till your soil and plant—Once you have it all planned out, go ahead and till your soil and begin planting your seeds. Be sure to follow your calendar when it comes to planting, but also follow it in terms of care and harvesting.

Once you get your garden planned out, it’s just a matter of following your calendar and making adjustments depending on weather and other conditions. When you get this started, you can experience the joy of harvesting your own vegetables at home.

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