winter Archives - Marybeth Heckler | Blog

Top Winter Activities in Denver for Families

Written by Marybeth Heckler on February 1, 2024. Posted in Denver.

Winter in Denver offers a unique blend of snowy adventures and cozy indoor activities that are perfect for families looking to make the most out of the season. Whether you’re a local or planning a visit, Denver’s winter landscape is bustling with opportunities for fun, learning, and unforgettable memories.

Winterizing Your Home: Essential Tips for Cold-Weather Comfort

Written by Marybeth Heckler on January 10, 2024. Posted in Homeowner.

As winter blankets our surroundings in a glistening layer of snow, moms across the country are gearing up to make their homes cozy sanctuaries against the biting chill. While the season brings the joy of holidays and family gatherings, it also ushers in the need for extra warmth and protection against the elements.

Winter Wonderland Homes: Cozy Features to Look for in Your Next Property

Written by Marybeth Heckler on January 1, 2024. Posted in Real Estate.

As winter unfolds its frosty embrace, moms across the country are seeking more than just a house; they’re yearning for a warm and inviting home to call their own. When on the hunt for a property during the winter season, it’s essential to consider features that will not only withstand the chill but also create a cozy haven for your family.

The Benefits of Home Insulation in Colorado: Keeping Warm and Saving Money

Written by Marybeth Heckler on November 5, 2023. Posted in Homeowner.

Colorado, renowned for its stunning landscapes and diverse weather patterns, experiences cold winters that demand adequate home insulation. As temperatures drop and snow blankets the picturesque cities and towns, the significance of proper home insulation in Colorado becomes paramount for homeowners.

Creating a Cozy Environment at Home This Month

Written by Marybeth Heckler on February 12, 2023. Posted in Homeowner.

February can be a cold and dreary month, but there are many things you can do to make your home feel warm and inviting.

Making the Best of Winter with Your Family

Written by Marybeth Heckler on February 20, 2022. Posted in Motherhood.

Winter can be a magical time for kids, full of snowflakes, hot cocoa, and cozy blankets. This is not the most popular season of the year, but can be a great time to spend with your family, even if the weather is cold and snowy.

Prepping Your Lawn for Winter

Written by Marybeth Heckler on September 26, 2021. Posted in Homeowner.

Winter is approaching and your lawn is ready for the changing of the seasons. Your water bill is going down for a few months, but your grass will thank you for taking extra good care of it before the cold blows in.

When it comes to winterizing your lawn, there are several projects you can tackle while the sun is still gracing us with its presence (and before the wind gets uncomfortable).

Building the Best Snowman with Your Family

Written by Marybeth Heckler on December 21, 2020. Posted in Motherhood.

In the past few years, even the faintest flurry of snow has sent the Frozen song “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” scurrying through our brains. Building a snowman with your family is a rite of passage that builds strong familial bonds and memories that will last for years to come. But in the past, we have also seen some really sad looking snowmen.

Here’s what you need to do to make the perfect snowman this winter with your family:

Let it snow — The first thing you need to determine is if the snow is just right for making a snowman. If the snow is wet and slushy, then it won’t be able to stick together, and you won’t be able to make a solid snowman. If it’s too powdery and dry, it likewise isn’t going to be usable. The best option is somewhere in between. If it’s too wet, you’re going to have to wait for fresh snow to fall. However, if it is too dry, you can turn on your water hose and lightly wet down the snow to make it usable.

Find a good spot — Like with real estate, one of the keys to a good snowman is location, location, location. While a lot of people like to build in the front yard to show off to the neighbors, if that area is in direct sunlight then it will melt a lot faster. Instead, find a flat spot that is shaded so your snow masterpiece will last longer.

Make your three core parts — Start by making a slightly larger than average snowball and place it on the ground. Then, roll the ball around and around on the ground, gathering up more snow in the process. As you do this, the ball should get bigger and bigger until you have a base for your snowman. Then, repeat this process two more times. Each time, the ball should be slightly smaller than the one before so that you have the three main ingredients for your snowman. Once you’ve made the second and third balls, stack them carefully on top of the first.

Decorate away — Finally, let your imagination run wild as you create a decorated snowman that reflects your personality. For eyes, you don’t have to use coal or buttons. Instead, you should try something like chocolates. (Also, a great choice for the mouth.) For the nose, of course, you can’t go wrong with the traditional carrot. You can also add sticks for arms and twigs for hair. Just make sure you top it off with a hat.

The next time the kids start singing, “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” answer them with a resounding “Yes!” Take these tips to create your perfect snowman and have fun building it as well as some great memories.

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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.

Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter

Written by Marybeth Heckler on December 14, 2020. Posted in Real Estate.

When it comes to selling a home, most realtors will tell you that spring is king when it comes to the best time to sell. Spring listings always seem to move faster, and the better weather seems to be naturally set for open houses.

But you don’t always get to pick when you have to put your house on the market. If you’re putting your home up for sale during the winter, then you need to check out the following tips on how to sell your home faster.

4 Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter:

Let’s talk about decorations — First off, let’s address the elephant in the room. Is it acceptable to decorate your home for the holidays while you are trying to sell your home? Some realtors will say yes, and others will say no. But the reality lies somewhere in between.
Yes, decorate your home. In fact, some realtors point out that the “homey” family quality goes a long way towards selling a home. But, don’t go overboard with lots of inflatables that block the view of the home. Instead, your decorations should be modest. Also, after the holidays have passed, make sure that you take all the decorations down. You don’t want to be that person who leaves them up year-round.

Lighten up — One reason why spring is sometimes preferred for home sales is that the sun doesn’t set until around 8:00, giving plenty of sunlight for people getting off work to check out the homes. During the winter, you don’t have this option since it probably starts getting dark around 5:30 or so. To help with this, set up outdoor floodlights that can help light up the property and show it off for people driving through the neighborhood.

Get comfy and cozy — When you’re staging the interior of your home, make sure to play up the coziness of the locale. Make sure you have your heater set at a comfortable temperature, but not so warm that it becomes stifling. If you have a fireplace, light it up and have lots of warm blankets and other touches visible to help set the stage for a comfortable home.

Get good outdoor pictures — When you are taking pictures for the online listing, you may think that your property looks great with a dusting of snow. While this may be true, it also may not be able to sell a home if all of your pictures show it covered in snow. Exterior pics should accentuate all the great selling points of your home and this is hard to do if the property is covered in snow and ice.

If you’re trying to sell your home this winter, it’s not a good idea to decorate it as bright as the Christmas Vacation home. But there are some tasteful, modest things you can do to help emphasize your home’s “cheery” qualities that make it feel like a great home for the holidays.

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Creating a Winter Emergency Survival Kit

Written by Marybeth Heckler on December 7, 2020. Posted in Homeowner.

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we need to be prepared for almost any kind of emergency that can be thrown our way. So as winter approaches, it’s necessary to put together an emergency survival kit that can help you stay safe during severe winter weather. We’ve probably all heard horror stories of people stuck at home for days during blizzards (or worse, those trapped out in their cars during this weather).

Here’s what you need on hand to protect yourself and your family during a winter emergency:

Heating options — The first thing you are going to want to stock up on is some form of heating option if you lose power. If you have a fireplace, then make sure you have your chimney cleaned and a good supply of logs and other options to get a good fire going. If you don’t have a fireplace that works, then you should invest in a kerosene heater. (These need to be handled with great care, so make sure you follow all safety procedures when using them.)

In your car, make sure that you keep several heavy thermal blankets and a heavy-duty sleeping bag in your car in case you are stuck in a snowdrift and need to stay warm. Another good choice to keep in your car is hand-warmers like those used by hunters. These can be shaken up to create a small heating source.

Basic supplies — There are several items that fall under basic supplies that you should keep for any type of emergency. These include:

Flashlight and batteries
Candles and matches
First aid kit
Portable weather/FM radio
Rapid charger for phone

Food and water — A big problem when winter weather is nearing is that everyone seems to buy all of the bread and milk in the grocery store. You want to keep a good supply of non-perishable and canned food items on hand before the grocery rush starts. At home, you want things that can be opened and eaten without a lot of food preparation (as your stove and microwave may be incapacitated by a power loss). Good options for the car are unsalted canned nuts, peanut butter, protein/granola bars, and hard candy. Finally, have lots of bottled water on hand. Even if the expiration date has passed on the water, don’t toss it. You can still use this water for other tasks such as cleaning if your water pipes stop working.

Before the winter moves in, you need to spend some time getting your home and car ready for the possibility of a winter emergency. By stocking up on these items early on, you can ensure that you keep your family safe this winter.

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Tag: winter