Tag: Home Renovations

Cover Your Asset

Here’s a look at the typical timeline of the average American resident:  Phase 1. Graduate college. Get first REAL job. Buy first house. Adopt a dog.  Get married. Have first child. Realize that the first ‘home sweet home’ is just too small.  End of phase 1. Now, phase 2 may not be as typical as phase 1, but it’s a great route to follow:  Buy new home. Decide to build retirement portfolio. Keep first home as a rental property.

If you were able to follow phase 2 as listed above or are deciding at a later phase in your life to acquire rental properties, make sure you have your asset covered.  I sat down with my Property Manager and our long-time Maintenance Professional to devise a check-list of opportunities to maintain your/our long-term investments. Some people may have an obsession with recreating the 1986 blockbuster Money Pit, but that is not in our list of recommendations.

So what should you look out for to make sure your home is tip top?  First and foremost, if you are purchasing a home as an investment, listen to the home inspector carefully and follow his/her list of recommendations.  Moving forward, here are our top 22 items to keep in mind:

  • Keep water out – make sure caulk is not failing anywhere water exists (interior and exterior)
  • Have HVAC system serviced yearly
  • Have the sewer cleaned out yearly on older homes (especially with clay piping)
  • Have tankless water heaters serviced annually
  • Running toilets should have all rubber parts replaced
  • Ensure sump pump is working properly
  • Ensure all doors and windows seal properly to keep the weather out
  • Change air filter frequently (consider providing this service to tenants if it is hard to access)
  • Ensure spring hinges are working properly on door between the garage and the house
  • Replace weather stripping that is wearing
  • Seal granite countertops
  • Refinish hardwood floors when the finish is visibly wearing
  • Replace washer hoses (especially rubber) when needed
  • Ensure CO detectors, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors are working and not expired
  • Re-seal grout in showers
  • Trim trees and bushes away from the home
  • Don’t forget about the outside
    • Touch-up/paint your home
    • Replace rotted wood
    • Make sure everything is caulked and sealed
    • Ensure drainage/grading is pushing water away from your home
    • Stain fence/real wood deck when it no longer repels water (typically every other year)
    • Have roof inspected after wind/hail storms
    • Have gutters cleaned yearly (where mature landscaping exists)
    • Lubricate all moving parts on garage doors yearly
    • Ensure garage door seals to keep water out

“We spend thousands of dollars on a depreciating asset (car) and take it for regular oil chang-es, check-ups, and take it to the car wash every time it gets dirty, but we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home and don’t do anything to it.”  – Bob, handyman

It is a best practice to make sure everything in your home is functioning properly. Don’t forget higher quality products typically last longer!


Brought to you by Sondra Lockett-Cameron, Marketing Manager for TJC Real Estate and Management Services. 

TJC Real Estate & Management Services • 303.324.6988 • info@tjcrealestate.com

Your Neighborhood Realtors® Since 2005

© 2019

Design Trends: What’s Hot for 2019

There were many trends for 2018 that were fun and interesting, but as we begin Spring in 2019, some new trends are on the horizon. Here’s a quick photo tour of what you can expect to see more of in the coming year!

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Tropical Plants are in for 2019. Succulents are taking a back seat to the bigger leafed and bolder tropical plants. Some varieties include: Banana plants, fiddle tree ficus, and snake plant.

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Floral Wallpaper and Murals are still trending for 2019. Now with removable wallpaper and murals, all kinds of fun can be had to accent a wall or do a whole room!

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Update your Cabinets with a fresh coat of paint continues to trend with various shades of muted gray, blues and greens.

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Speaking of Green, teal blue/sea green is also a hot color for 2019.

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Geometric Shapes are still showing up all over, in tile, textiles, lighting, rugs, and wallpaper.

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And if hard edge geometric shapes are not your thing, Curvy Furniture is very in and showing up in many furniture outlets. The softer sophisticated edges are easy on the eyes.

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Hygge (pronounced hoo gaa) in the Home , is a style that uses natural elements and conveys being cozy and content. It is clutter free, simple and a calm comfortable environment.

Stay tuned for more Design Trends 2019!


Brought to you by Meg Sebastian Evans, Owner of Meg Sebastian Interior Design.


Hosted by…

TJC Real Estate and Management Services • 303-324-6988 • info@tjcrealestate.com

Your Neighborhood Realtors® since 2005

© 2019

100 Top Contractors! and more

You’ve decided to do some renovations on your home to better suit your needs, as well as add some extra value to possibly your largest investment.  Congratulations! It can feel like moving mountains to just commit to such a task, but now where do you start? Who do you call? Let me help you.

Do you live in Central Park (formerly Stapleton) or the Greater Denver Area?  If so, you’re in luck! As property management/real estate experts, running into maintenance challenges is part of our daily routine.  With that being said, we need reliable vendors that we can trust to get the job(s) done. We have compiled a list of our favorite vendors and combined it with vendors that many of our neighbors have recommended, because face it, it pays to have a limited variety in case you need a back-up or a second opinion.  Now, I mention limited, because when you Google for a recommendation, you will have a list that may stretch beyond your bandwidth and having just a few highly recommended choices will make getting started with your project much easier.

Our list doesn’t just end at plumbers and contractors!  We have expanded our list to almost anything you may need to hire for when it comes to your home.  Not finding a certain category? Sorry, we probably haven’t found the right recommendation yet, but don’t fret.  The current recommendations are below, but the download you will find HERE will be updated as we find new awesome people to send your way.

Happy homes make happy hearts!


100 Top Contractors!

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning)

  •  Unique Heating and Cooling: 720-338-0902
  •  SS3 Mechanical LLC: 720-979-4268

Plumbing

  •  Squeaks: 303-280-5765
  • JD’s Plumbing and Heating: 720-491-3644
  • Mr. Plumber: 303-523-6652
  • Plumbing Services: 303-436-2525

Sewer

  • Colorado Sewer: 303-699-1400
  • DL Services: 720-998-1166
  • WIN Home Inspection: 720-470-8948

Appliance Repair

  • Complete Appliance: 720-549-9574
  • Herrera’s Appliance Sales and Service: 303-989-3047
  • Jensen Appliance: 303-988-9159

Basement Finishing

  • Weikel Building Co: 720-771-4690
  • Urban Renovators: ricardocordova.h@gmail.com
  • ElkStone  Basement Finish: 303-656-9006
  • Diane Gordon Design LLC: 303-594-2854

Professional Engineers

  • DL Engineering: 720-440-9450
  • McGourty Engineering: 303-691-2069

Interior Remodeling

  • Eppie  House Remodeling: 303-990-6509
  • Diane Gordon Design LLC: 303-594-2854
  • Morris Flooring: 303-225-7169
  •  3 Week Kitchens: 303-393-1053

Lawn & Sprinkler Maintenance

  • Showcase: 303-289-6821
  • Clean Cut: 303-321-1479
  • Schaefer Lawn Sprinklers: 303-935-6056
  • AJ LaRue Landscape: 619-997-6120

Arborists

  •  J & J Tree Care: 303-753-0029
  • Ross Tree Company: 303-871-9121

Landscape Design and Build

Stucco

  • V.A.M.P Mike Sweating:303-325-5212

Fireplace Repair and Chimney Sweeps

  • Chimney Sweep of America: 303-973-7376

Windows

Window Glass Repair

  • Jet Glass:720-440-9928

Window Screen Repair

  • True Value Hardware:303-393-0073
  • Lifetime Windows and Siding:303-523-7871

Shutters and Shades

Interior Design

Mold/Asbestos Abatement

  • Paul Davis Restoration: 303-322-3328

Flood Response

  • Paul Davis Restoration:303-322-3328

Window Cleaners

  • Lighthouse Window Cleaning: 303-377-2207

Painters

  • Marcelo Generi: 303-807-0164
  • Bill Carson: 303-587-7538
  • The Color Lab (murals): 720-289-5225

Fences

  • Affordable Fence Co: 720-309-2459
  • Denver Fence Guys: 720-203-0550

Gutters

  •  Rocky Mountain Window and Gutter Cleaning: 720-612-0966
  • AAA Seamless Gutters: 303-286-0222

Solar Power

  • Namaste: 303-447-0300
  • CAM Solar Colorado: 720-729-8777
  • Solar City: 855-860-7652

Garage Door Repair/Replacement

  • Ankmar: 303-542-6199
  • OneClearChoiceGarageDoors: 303-565-6409
  • AfterHoursGarageDoors: 720-755-9518
  • Efficiency Garage Doors: 303-759-3437
  • Accent Garage Doors: 303-653-1841

Pest Control

  • BeeLine: 720-863-6676
  • Edge Pest Control: 303-935-3343
  • Armor: 720-263-4444
  • EcoShield: 970-445-1150
  • Bee Smart Pest Control: 720-937-0527

Roofers

Radon Mitigation

  • MicroClean Air Solutions: 303-906-8915
  • S.W.A.T Environmental: 1-800-No-Radon

House Cleaners

  • Central Park (formerly Stapleton) Home Services: 303-320-1297
  •  Rosie Rooters Cleaning: 720-281-3675
  • Scout Cleaning: 303-292-0115

Carpet Cleaning

  • Central Park (formerly Stapleton) Carpet Cleaning: 720-822-9311
  • SteamKing: 303-875-3972
  • Bear Steam Cleaning: 303-431-2704

Carpet Replacement

Dryer Vent and Duct Cleaning

  • Delintz Air Duct-Dryer Vent Cleaning: 303-655-0600
  • Monster Vac: 303-277-0140

Handymen

  • House Doctors Handyman: 303-321-2535
  • Daniel Hillman: 303-863-2124
  • KLO Handyman: 720-507-1492
  • That Central Park (formerly Stapleton) Handyman: 970-846-7041

Security Systems

Home Organizers

Personal Shoppers

  • Stylish Sparrow: 303-907-1101
  • Michelle Bishop Styling: 303-868-9590
  • June Ruby: 303-880-2965

Closets

  •  Closet Factory: 720-233-1479
  •  Closets by Design: 303-902-0185

Travel Agents

Furniture/Party Rentals

  •   Wright Group Event Services: 303-399-9949
  •   Butler Rents: 303-388-5971

Photographers


Brought to you by Sondra Lockett-Cameron, Marketing Coordinator for TJC Real Estate and Management Services.  

TJC Real Estate & Management Services• 303.324.6988 • info@tjcrealestate.com

Your Neighborhood Realtors® Since 2005

© 2018