Tip of the Day for new home owners in Denver. Buy a $30 dollar lockbox and keep spare house keys in it. Attach to outside pipes or another secure location. I was locked out the other day and this tip/system came in handy!

Hard to imagine spring, with Denver buried in snow, but it’s never too late to prepare for gardening projects and sunny weather. Imagine being able to learn about trees, buy one for $20 or free if unable to pay, and even have the chance to volunteer to help our neighbors plant their trees. Well this is a great program and you need to know about it!

The neighborhoods targeted for 2007 which include free waivers are: Baker Barnum Barnum West Cole Clayton Elyria/Swansea Five Points Globeville Jefferson Park Lincoln Park NE Park Hill Skyland Sunnyside Valverde Villa Park West Colfax Westwood Whittier

The Park People, a private non-profit organization, preserves, enhances, and advocates for Denver’s parks, recreation resources, open space and urban forest.

The Denver Digs Trees program is a volunteer-driven, community-based effort to increase the number of street trees across Denver. Nearly 30,000 public trees have been added to Denver’s streets through our efforts. The Denver Digs Trees program is conducted in partnership with the Denver Parks & Recreation Department.

The application can be downloaded here.Good news, the deadline for the free tree application has been extended to March 9, 2007.

HUDS have always been a fertile ground for Denver Real Estate investors and Colorado bargain shoppers. My prediction is that as we go into the last days of 2006, there will be less buyers and more opportunity for the investor to invest in these properties.

Click here to request an updated full color FREE Colorado HUD Bargain List.

Pls call me to set a showing or if you would like to place a bid. HUDs require a licensed broker to assist buyers in the bid process.

Protect your home and property by winterizing by doing the following tasks:

• Winterize & cover your air conditioner
• Get a check up on your furnace
• Clean or replace your furnace filters
• Clean your carpets, tile and upholstery (your going to be indoors more now)
• Clean your air ducts
• Seal your air ducts ( you can save more than 20% on heating bills with sealed ducts)
• Clean out your gutters
• Clean out your flower beds
• Blow out your sprinklers
• Seal your driveway
• Seal your deck & fence
• Touch up calking around windows
• Check weather stripping on doors & windows
• Replace windows that might be energy wasting
• Trim trees
• Aerate & fertilize your lawn
• Take down summer decorations
• Plan for holiday decorations ( if you hire these out make your reservations now)
• Put outdoor furniture away
• Clean and cover your BBQ grill

These are all great tasks to get your home ready for winter and save you money by protecting your assets.

1. Hire a cleaning service. A spotlessly clean home is essential; dirt will turn off a prospect faster than anything.

2. Pay attention to the outdoors. Mow your lawn, and be sure toys and yard equipment are put away.

3. Serve cookies, coffee, and soft drinks. It creates a welcoming touch. But be sure the kitchen has been cleaned up; use disposable cups so the sink doesn’t fill up.

4. Lock up your valuables, jewelry, and money. Although the real estate salesperson will be on site during the open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.

5. Turn on all the lights. Even in the daytime, incandescent lights add sparkle.

6. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that’s not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (a basement or bath), and let the salesperson know where to find them.

7. Leave. It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.