Just Sold! - Historic Penthouse Loft In Benjamin Moore - 2500 Walnut Street #309

In 2012 this unit came on the market as a short sale and I received a call from a woman from Steamboat Springs who was looking to purchase a loft in Denver and wanted to look at this loft that same day.  I was heading to a BBQ that day with my 18 month old daughter and family but was going to be passing through Denver anyway and could show it to her.  I met her at the loft, showed it to her and she immediately fell in love and wanted to submit an offer.  We submitted an offer, it was accepted and a few weeks later it was her new home.  

Being an Architect it wasn't long before she started renovating the loft, she started moving walls, taking down walls, renovating the bathroom, painting and adding new plumbing and light fixtures.  This loft soon transformed into a beautiful open loft with modern updates.  

A couple years later it was time for my client to get a little larger space as her business was starting to grow in the Denver market and she needed a larger studio/office space for her business.  We started looking and a few months later found her next loft in the Golden Triangle.  

She decided not to sell the Walnut loft but to rent it.  We posted it for rent and found a great renter who lived in it and cared for it the last four years. 

It was a true pleasure representing the seller on this the truly authentic penthouse loft in Benjamin Moore.  This loft was listed at $489,000 and sold for $475,000 with a $500 Buyer concession.  

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Why Having Your House Numbers Visible is Important

There are many times when I am driving around showing homes that I will accidently drive past the house because I have a hard time seeing the house number. Whether it is during the day or at night, it is imperative that you have your home numbers visible from the street not just for people trying to find your home, but also in case of an emergency.

When responding to an emergency call, police officers, EMS and firefighters look for house numbers when they first arrive. These numbers are their first indication of where to stop and if you have numbers not printer on your mail box, that blend in with the siding of your home or are not visible at night, it makes it hard for them to figure out where they are needed.

Make it a point to look and see if your numbers fit the following criteria:

All of the numbers are there – sometimes with older homes or with the typical wear and tear from weather, numbers can become faded or they can detach from the house and/or mailbox. Make sure you have all your numbers listed.

You have large numbers visible from a distance – there are many sizes of numbers you can get at the stores these days and while some of them might look a certain way or you might not want them to overwhelm your house, it is important that the numbers are large enough to be seen from the road. Find the area on your house that is very easy to see – above the garage, next to your door, on the mailbox or all of them – stand in the road and hang the numbers. If you can’t see them, then they aren’t big enough and you will need to find bigger numbers.

Make sure you have the area around the numbers cleaned up – this is more specifically for mailbox areas or if you have vegetation growing on your house that may cover up the numbers in any way. Make sure again, if you can’t see if from the road, that you make sure to clear up the area so others can see it from the road.

The color of the numbers does not blend in with the house in any way, shape or form – if you have a white house, then don’t put white numbers on your house. When it comes to numbers, it isn’t as much about fashion, it’s about the ability to see the numbers in case of an emergency.

Remember, these numbers could be a lifesaver in case of an emergency so you want to make sure you have them visible, large and in the right color!

Housewarming Gifts

Spring has sprung in the Mile High City and we are almost into Summer – with the weather changes and the heating up of temperatures, the real estate market is also on the move. Denver’s market has been heating up as well, with a winter that was still busy, we are moving into a time of the year that is busy for all parties involved. My buyers are out in strong numbers during the spring and my sellers are excited to put their homes on the market with all the interest, many getting above asking price.

For my buyers, it can be a bit tedious in the spring to get to first, get under contract and then, to get to closing table. But once we get to that closing table, there are smiles and hugs and happy tears around.

As a Realtor, one thing I really look forward to is getting each of my clients’ great housewarming gifts for their new home. A lot of the time, I like to try and find personal things that go with each client. After spending a lot of time with each of them, I feel this personal touch is a nice way to end our transaction and for them to have something to remind them of me as well in their new place.

For those of you who are wondering what would be a good housewarming gift for a new homeowner, here are some great ideas to add a little something to their new home:

·      A gradient vase – Grab some flowers from your local florist and pick out a great vase

·      Fun door mat – There are lots of great welcome mats out there these days that have fun little sayings or fun pictures on them.  Shut The Front Door Mat, $49; 5 Green Boxes.

Photo By: Shebli Nikkole 

·      Plants – Bamboo, air plants, succulents, you name it and most plant stores have them. What better way to add some green to a new home?

Photo By: Shebli Nikkole  Succulant & Vase 

·      Sonos One Speaker With Alexa  – These devices make it easy for a homeowner to connect their music, tv, lights and other electronics to be activated by them speaking, very fun for the tech homebuyers in your life.  Get it local at Digitique Denver

·      Wi-Fi Smart Video Doorbell – This doorbell syncs to a phone so that the homeowner will never miss a package again and allows the homeowner to ignore or respond to whoever is at the door.  Indoor Security Camera, Starts at $199; Digitique Denver

Photo By: Shebli Nikkole 

·      Electric bottle opener with accessories – New homeowners will also get many bottles of wine and bottle openers can be a struggle so give them this electric opener that can open a bottle with a push of a button.

·      Bar cart – For those of your friends who like a few adult beverages, they might like a bar cart to display their beverages.

.       Locally made longboards and cruisers are the perfect way to see a new ‘hood. Pacto Cruiser, $139; Anonymous Boards

Photo By: Shebli Nikkole | House Warmed Pg 9  @DenverStyleMagazine 

Photo By: Shebli Nikkole 

There are so many great gifts out there and one thing I would recommend is finding a local shop to buy them from, maybe in the same neighborhood as the house the buyers just bought.

Make sure to check out my arrival in Denver Style Magazine about these great gifts and where you can find them in local shops around Denver.  

Why Controlling Expenses Through a Home Warranty Is Always a Smart Move. →

Type A Personalities are always trying to make sure they can control everything in their lives including their monthly budget. However it is difficult to control certain things - for instance, when a repair or replacement of an appliance or other household item will be needed, and how much will it cost. While you can prepare financially for the repair or replacement, you never know how much it will cost in grand total including labour and parts, or whether the repair will work or you will need to further repair the appliance. A home warranty can help the controlling type A persons manage their budget, and level down their stress.

Home Warranty: What is It?

A home warranty is a great way to help keep your repair and replacement expenses under control for your homes appliances and home systems. Home warranties are service agreement policies that cover what’s inside your home, such as the kitchen appliances, clothes washer and dryer and even the furnace and a/c unit.

When one of the covered items breaks, you can get it fixed or replaced for free, although there is a service call fee of approximately $50 on average. There are a lot of companies operating in Denver and each of them has different characteristics. Different home warranty plans with different costs, different service call fees, different level of coverage, and different professionals they are working with.

The cost of a home warranty is dependent on the age of the appliances and what you want to include or exclude from the coverage, as well as the cap on item replacements. On average a home warranty will cost between $35-$65. This regularly scheduled monthly fee is much easier to budget for than the unexpected cost of a repairing or replacing one or more home appliances.

Additional Tips: What Can You Do to Keep Your Repairs Cost Low and Make Sure You are Not Voiding the Terms of Your Home Warranty Policy

Always wanting to keep repairs and maintenance costs low be sure to do regular cleaning and service of your homes appliances and home systems to keep them in good working order.  Here are a few tips I gathered from across the internet.

Clothes Washer- Routinely run a wash of white vinegar through the wash to help keep it clean

Clothes Dryer- Keep the lint trap clear and routinely clear the

Dishwasher- Be sure to clear debris from the collection trap (coarse filter)

Cooktop / Oven / Stove- Keeping your oven clean is key to preventing fires! Be sure to keep your cooktop clear of excess debris on the cooktop and in the oven itself.

Built in Microwave- Keep the filter clean and replace when necessary

Air Conditioning Unit- Have the outside unit inspected twice a year, at the beginning of spring and at the end of fall.

Furnace- Change the filter every three months

Garbage Disposal- Do not put things in it like cold leftovers, those go in compost or trash (meat, potatoes, pasta, eggs shells)

When caring for your home appliances and home systems it is important to ensure that you do them correctly and when needed, if they are neglected they can cause problems and if a home warranty is covering the items, the coverage might be voided if proper care and maintenance was not performed. As type A personality, routine should fall right in line with what you need to help control your homes needs and expenses. You can use an app to help schedule the regular maintenance and cleaning needed to care for your home.

If you routinely provide the care and maintenance on your appliances and home systems you will help extend the life of these items and in turn keep your costs low by not having to repair or replace them. Your monthly expenditures would consist mainly of your home warranty.

Do You Really Need a Home Warranty?

The mother of all questions is whether people actually need a home warranty and will it save them money in the long term. The truth is that whether a home warranty is right for you is a very individual question. Some people may be wasting their hard earned dollars on unfit home warranties which do not provide adequate coverage while others may be preventing themselves from large expenses in the future by working with the right company and choosing the right plan for them.

One of the most pivotal questions when coming to consider a home warranty is the contents of the house and the age of the systems and appliances. If your home is brand new and everything is under manufacturer warranty, there is no use for a home warranty. If your house is very old, it is reasonable to believe that many systems will be deemed as “unmaintained” and home warranty companies will refuse to pay for them if they break.

There are so many variables involved in this decision that it is wise to pay good attention into it, read about the topic, gather opinions about the services of the home warranty company you intend using, and use designated calculators which will help you make the right decisions fast.

Article Source: Nate Simms RevewHomeWarranties