XTROV BLOG

Why We Do Safety Inspections.....

02/20/2012 22:55:00

As part of our on-going property management services for owners and tenants, we do 4 on-site property checks per year. First quarter's inspection covers basic safety items. We check smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, dryer vents, and hot tubs at a minimum.

This is an example of the unexpected safety hazard. It is an older home with older standards for number of plugs. The tenants needed somewhere to plug in the basics so they took matters into their own hands.

Their solution is creative, but it is just not safe. The home owner, upon our presentation of the situation, agreed to install a new and safe plug.

The residents were happy, the home owner is happy, and we are happy to have discovered a potentially dangerous situation that can be easily resolved.

No one intended any harm. However, accidents can happen. Our job as property managers is to do our best to reduce risk.

Brother and Sister

02/12/2012 22:29:00

Franklin, on the left and Savannah Seven on the right.

Being present for the birth of kittens is an amazing thingl Starting around 5 pm in April 2011, Mama Kitty gave birth to 5 kittens in about an hour's time. Much to my surprise, an hour or so later - Franklin made his unexpected appearance. Now we were 6! Next morning, I was counting the tiny balls of still damp orange fur. It was hard to believe...there were 7 kittens! Sometime in the night - little Savannah was born. These two are often found cuddled up together - just like they were in the womb. It's a lifetime bond.

Red or Green - does it matter?

02/10/2012 23:02:00

You migh hear "red or green" at a local Mexican restaurant, but what about Red or Green County Road Signs??

A red road sign means that the County does NOT maintain the road. Road maintenance is left up to the homeowners who reside along the Red Road. No snow plowing, no gravel, no smoothing out of the ruts by any one other than those who take it upon themselves to do so. This is best done by a mutual collaboration between those who live along the Red Road. Howevever, it can be easier in concept than in reality. It costs a lot to maintain a road, not to mention sync the various views concerning an acceptable level of maintenance.

A Green Road is maintained by the County and funded by local tax dollars. You can hope for a decent amount of gravel, periodic smoothing of ruts and a fairly good chance that the snow plow will come by - and hopefully, sooner than later.

A red road has curtailed the hopes and dreams of more than a few new comers to our area. If people move from warmer climates, with no first hand experience or accurate representation of what SNOW can be like in Southwestern Colorado, a red road can be the cause of plenty of frustration.

Life can be great on a red road. However, as a native of the area - I am very glad to live on a Green Road - it is just one less thing on the long list of life's activities to be managed.

As you look at homes - rental or purchase - take a quick look at the road sign that leads to the property under consideration. It could make a big difference in your future quality of life.

Mama Kitty - the one who started it all

01/27/2012 20:51:00

Mama Kitty's real name is Eve. It seemed appropriate for the wild cat who came into our lives - unexpectedly - and brought us 12 kitties in all. She has turned from the wildest bob cat to the sweetest purr girl.

We are now a family of six cats. Mama Kitty, Lucy, Uncle Precious, Harry, Frankin and Savannah.

A huge thank you goes out to the Feral Cat Program offered through "For Pets Sake" which allowed us to spay and/or neuter all 12 cats.

The rest of the kitties? Sadly, three are gone - they left and did not come home. Talitha, Sunshine and Conan - we miss you. The other four kitties went to a wonderful home. Thank you Desiree and Rodney and Rodney's Daddy for making that home.possible. We were very particular about where our kitties went. If it was not to an excellent home, they did not go. Our idea of a good home is inside and to be loved like family.

All our "babies" are warm and safe tonight - it's cold outside. We send this messag out with a prayer that all "unwanted" cats and dogs in Montezuma County find good and loving homes. Please support "For Pets Sake" they make a huge difference.

Financing in Place = Best Buys

01/22/2012 16:59:00

Over the last few weeks a trend is emerging. Properties reach a price point that is so good that the property will change hands. Places can sit for what seems like forever and then have two or three offers in the same day. TRUE!

This situation has caused several people disappointment. Why? Because when they were ready to make an offer - they really were not ready. Their financing was not in place. The best buys goes to those who are ready.

If you want to land one of the great deals that come up every few days or weeks - go get your financing set up. You must have cash or a pre-approval letter to be taken seriously.

A good lender can pre-approve you in as little as one day. If you have a few tricky issues, it might take a little more time. Don't let the property you want slip through your fingers because it seems like there is plenty of time.

The time to get financing in place is now - that is if you want to land a great buy.

Keeping Warm

01/16/2012 22:45:00

Brothers - Franklin and Harry

It is cold and snowy in Yellow Jacket, Colorado today. This is one of our only storms so far this entire season so a little snow is appreciated, but I can do without the wind.

The cats spent the day going from one cozy, warm place to another. The three kittens that we kept from the second litter are all very close. Many times they are a bundle of orange fur curled up together.

These two are going to be big boys. Franklin has smooth fur, a longer nose, and very distinct orange stripes. Harry is the fluffy one.

Lucy - the name fits her well

01/15/2012 15:40:00

Lucy's first Christmas.

Christmas 2010.

We do not know for sure that Lucy is Mama Kitty's baby. Although, we think it to be so. Mama Kitty lived a hard life before she came to learn that people can be okay....

We heard the most pitiful cries coming from south of our fence. We found her, at maybe 4 week's of age, under a brush pile soon to be set ablaze. The only one. When we dug her out, with whatever small amount of strength she had left, she did her best to fend us off. However, a quick scoop of a gloved hand and she was plopped into a fishing net. With all four paws sticking through, the fight was over. She became our first House Cat.

A few month's later, here she is taking a break from helping us wrap our gifts. Stay tuned for pictures of the Lucy of today. 13 month's have gone by and she can no longer jump on the back of the chairs - like she was supposed to be on the furniture??? She is now huge and after tipping a chair over once - she tends to jump on less tippy things.....

Harry - King of the Loft Log

01/15/2012 15:23:00

Harry.

Part of what makes life good are the things we enjoy outside of our professional lives. One of my favorite things are our pets.

A couple of years ago, a Mama Kitty found her way to our home. Two batches of kittens later, we are now six cats' people. Five are various shades of orange. Mama Kitty is a gray stripe. Mama became tame enough that we were able to spay her after the second litter with us. Six is enough...

Harry, is from the second litter. He was the kitten who did everything first. He is an extremely intelligent, handsome and sweet feline. On this day, he climbed through the loft logs to survey his kingdom. He seemed perplexed as to why I would be concerned. Perched a long 12 feet above a very hard tile floor he stayed long enough for me to take a picture before he slipped back through the railing behind him - safely.

2011 Accomplishments / 2012 Goals

01/01/2012 17:57:00

As of January 1, 2012, I have been a REALTOR for 138 days. That counts as being a very new REALTOR although I have 10 year's real estate experience as a principal. As 2011 wrapped up, I feel extremely grateful. I ended the year hitting all of my set goals, achieving reasonable broad based production results, and having set inspiring, goals for 2012.

2011 goals achieved:

Earning the Real Estate License on the first testing and securing a Broker spot at RE/MAX Mesa Verde Realty.

Earned first advanced certification - SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist).

Established TEN property management clients.

Other Results - although I had no specific target being so new...

4 listings.

1 "under contract"

Numerous Clients in Various Stages of Meeting thier real estate goals.

Learned so many new things, it would be hard to list.

Goals Summary for 2012 -

30 property management clients by July 1, 2012 and 45 property management clients by year end.

12 real estate closings by year end.

These are my minimum production goals. It is a wonderful thing, to have the opportunity to set goals, and work to achieve them.

Looking forward to all that is ahead....

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) Credential Completed!

12/11/2011 21:52:00

Our homes are where our lives unfold. The college dorm, the first apartment, the first house, assisted living... We upsize, downsize, foreclose, build, buy, sell, rent.....all of these words and phrases have the emotions of what transpired while acquiring, living in and letting go embedded in them.

I am a Baby Boomer and have now lived through enough life stage transitions to recognize that there are such things as life stage transitions. The real estate profession recognizes a specific set of needs that begin as early as age 50. I have seen first hand and for the first time late life and end of life transitions that all involved real estate in the past year.

The realization of how important handliing real estate and related matters, sooner than later, carefully versus hastily, with compassion and with the appropriate knowledge is what prompted me to earn my first advanced credential as a Senior Real Estate Specialist.

The credential requires 16 hours of education, plus an exam. I passed with a 96%,

If you or a loved one is going through or see a life stage transition on the horizon - due to health, retirement, changing goals - I am a resource who may be able to help you clarify what is most important and find the real estate solutions that will make the most sense.