3 Design Tips for Small Condos in Aspen

When you buy a condo in Aspen, you’re often looking at limited space to decorate and make it your own – but with these three condo design tips, you’ll be able to create a spectacular space you can’t wait to get back to.

3 Design Tips for Small Condos in Aspen

The best way to approach décor in your condo is to follow these guidelines:

Be realistic about your daily life
Give every room its own personality
Get the right-sized furniture

Be Realistic About Your Daily Life

When you’re decorating a small condo, it’s important to be realistic about the way you’ll use your home, whether it’s a vacation property or your year-round home. Start with your priorities – if you need a home office, you need to focus on carving out that space before you start decorating. Likewise, make sure you’re defining every part of your living space before you even bring in furniture.

Give Every Room Its Own Personality

There are two ways to look at this. If you want your space to appear larger, paint everything the same color and use continuous flooring throughout. If you’re not concerned about it looking larger, change things up by painting in various colors and patterns, and adding different flooring (even rugs). Even if you paint the entire condo the same color to create continuity, you can still define each room with its own décor, which is important so you don’t feel as if you’re living in a one-room studio.

Get the Right Sized Furniture

Large furniture doesn’t belong in your small condo. If your sofa, dining table or desk is too big, it’s going to impede traffic flow and overpower the space – and it’ll feel like you’re a full-sized adult living in a hobbit house. Make sure your furniture really fits in each room.

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What Determines Interest Rates?

When you’re shopping for a mortgage, you want to get the best possible interest rate – but how do you do that?

What Determines Interest Rates?

Your credit score and the market typically determine what interest rates you’re eligible for when you apply for a mortgage loan. However, there are a few things you can do to change your rate.

Here’s why interest matters so much. A $100,0000 loan with a 5 percent interest rate will cost you $93,256 in interest payments – but if you had a 4.5 percent interest rate, you’d pay $82,407 in interest over the life of your loan. That’s a savings of $10,849.

How to Lower How Much You Pay in Interest

Improve your credit score. The higher your credit score is, the lower your interest rate will be.
Pay points. Discount points are equal to 1 percent of the loan amount, and in many cases you can use them to buy down your interest rate.
Put down more money. The higher your down payment is, the less you have to borrow – and your down payment is tied to the interest rate you’ll get.
Shorten the term of your loan. Your loan is shorter, so you’ll end up paying less money in interest.

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4 Great Indoor Houseplants for Your Aspen Home

If you’ve just bought a home for sale in Aspen, you’ll probably want to bring it to life with amazing houseplants – but what kind should you get?

4 Great Indoor Houseplants for Your Aspen Home

The best houseplants take chemicals out of the air and provide you with extra oxygen. Some of the most popular include:

African violet
Peperomia
Spider plant
Peace lily

African Violet

The stunning purple flowers African violet produces are a great addition to any home. It blooms several times each year, and you can take great care of it by keeping it in bright but indirect light. Keep the soil moist and offer good drainage.

Peperomia

Waxy-leaved peperomia does great in humid environments, which means it’s a great addition to the bathroom or kitchen. It does well under fluorescent light, too.

Spider Plant

Spider plants grow quickly, and their shoots produce tiny plants you can repot elsewhere. Keep spider plants in well-lit areas and water them weekly and you’ll have plenty of greenery in your home.

Peace Lily

Peace lily plants can grow up to 6 feet tall, and their beautiful, waxy leaves pull toxins from the air. They’ll grow in moderate light and they’re tough to kill.

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3 Plumbing Jobs Most Homeowners Can DIY

You don’t have to be particularly handy to tackle these common plumbing-related jobs around the house.

Switching a Toilet Seat

Changing a toilet seat just depends on removing and replacing a few nuts and bolts. Just make sure you buy the right size and shape and you’ll be all set. A new toilet seat kit will come with the nuts and bolts you need, so just make sure you have the right wrench on-hand.

Replacing a Washing Machine Hose

If you need to change a washing machine hose, all you need is a new hose and a pair of pliers. It’s a quick project that you can do on your own – just unplug the machine, then turn off both water valves, and match up the hoses with the right connections.

Replacing a Toilet Flapper

The underwater valve in your toilet tank – called the toilet flapper – is easy to replace. Just turn off the water valve and unscrew the old one. Then, replace what was in there with your new flapper… and celebrate a job well-done.

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Average Return on Investment for Home Remodeling Projects

If you’re thinking about remodeling your home in Aspen, you’re probably wondering how much cash you can earn back at the closing table. Here’s a quick run-down on the average return on investment for the most common home renovations.

Average Return on Investment for Home Remodeling Projects

While your actual return on investment will vary based on several factors, these are averages you can expect. As always, you should talk to your Realtor® if you’re planning to renovate your home to sell it. Remember, too, that these are nationwide values – things are a little different in Aspen.

Project	Average Cost	Average Value at Sale	Return on Investment
New garage door	$3,470	$3,411	98.3%
Stone veneer	$8,221	$7,986	97.1%
Wood deck addition	$10,950	$9,065	82.8%
Minor kitchen remodel	$21,198	$17,193	81.1%
Siding replacement	$15,072	$11,554	76.7%
Window replacement	$15,955	$11,855	70.1%
Minor bathroom remodel	$16,393	$11,581	69.5%

In most cases, it’s better to replace or repair your existing items than to remodel. Make sure your roof is in great shape, your siding is in good repair, and that your deck isn’t falling down – buyers would rather invest in those things than updated kitchens.

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What Does a Property Manager Do?

If you’re buying a condo or home in Aspen that you intend to rent out seasonally, you’ll probably need a property manager – and that’s true whether you live in town or you migrate elsewhere when you’re not here.

But what is a property manager, and what does he or she do?

What Does a Property Manager Do?

A property manager is a person who takes care of your property for the tenants you have living or staying in it.

He or she can help you get tenants by marketing your property, as well as collect rent and handle maintenance issues.

How to Hire a Good Property Manager

If you’re hiring a property manager, you want one with a great reputation – one you can trust to look after your home. Start by asking for referrals from friends and family, and if you can’t get any, begin reading online reviews.

How Do You Pay a Property Manager?

In many cases, property managers charge between 30 percent and 50 percent of a month’s rent to find and screen tenants. After that, they typically charge a monthly fee that ranges between 7 and 10 percent of the rent they collect.

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What Does a Builder’s Warranty Cover?

If you’re buying a newly constructed home for sale, you’ll most likely get a builder’s warranty with your purchase.

But what does a builder’s warranty cover?

What Does a Builder’s Warranty Cover?

While every builder is different, for the most part, your builder’s warranty should cover:

Carpentry
Clapboard and shingles
Concrete foundations and floors
Doors and windows
Dry basement
Electrical
Garage doors
Glass
Heating and cooling
Insulation
Landscaping
Paint
Plumbing
Roofing and siding
Septic system
Thermal and moisture cover
Waterproofing

It’s probably in your best interest to have an attorney look over the warranty before you agree to it – and at the very least, you should read it thoroughly. You can’t count on the warranty to cover everything, but it should at least guarantee the builder’s craftsmanship and materials.

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3 Fun Things to Do in August in Aspen

Whether you’re buying a home for sale in Aspen or you’ve lived here for quite some time, you probably know that there is always something fun to do here – and this August is no exception. Here’s a quick list of three fun things to do this August in Aspen.

3 Fun Things to Do in August in Aspen

Tuesday Cruiseday

Every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. throughout the entire summer, a huge group of people meets at Aspen Tap. Everyone is welcome. Bring your bike – the ride starts right at Aspen Tap and goes around town, and you’ll end up at Smuggler Park just in time for sunset.

Aspen Historical Society Pub Crawl

The Aspen Historical Society offers several tours – and the latest-and-greatest is the pub crawl. You’ll go through places like the Red Onion, Justice Snow’s and the J Bar to learn history and legends. Make your reservations here.

Bluegrass Sundays

Join the crowd from noon to 3 p.m. at the top of Aspen Mountain, outside the Sundeck, where you can jam out to great live bluegrass music. You can hike to the top or get a gondola pass (and then ride the gondola back down).

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Moderate Hikes in Woody Creek

If you’re buying a home for sale in Woody Creek or any of the surrounding communities, you’ll be glad to know that you’re close to several amazing hikes – and two of them are right in Woody Creek.

Moderate Hikes in Woody Creek

There are two hikes with trailheads in Woody Creek:

Woody Creek Trail
Spruce Creek Trail

Both are classified as moderate.

Woody Creek Trail

The Woody Creek Trail is 9.7 miles one way. You start at 8,600 feet in elevation and reach the summit at 11,600 feet. This dog-friendly trail allows you to:

Hike
Run
Horseback ride

The entire path is dirt.

How to get there: Take Upper River Road and turn on Woody Creek Road. Travel 8.75 miles, past Lenado. You’ll see the trailhead on your right, just before the bridge where the road changes names to Larkspur Mountain Road.

Woody Creek Trail Map

Spruce Creek Trail

The Spruce Creek Trail is 3.4 miles one way. You begin your hike at 8,500 feet and reach the summit at 12,500 feet. This dog-friendly trail allows you to:

Hike
Run
Horseback ride

The entire path is dirt.

Spruce Creek Trail Map

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Hiking Trails East of Aspen

If you’re buying a home for sale in Aspen, you may want to explore the trails in and around the area. East of Aspen, right off Highway 82, you’ll find a number of great trails – these are our favorites.

Hiking Trails East of Aspen

Easy Hikes

Weller Lake. The Weller Lake Trail is about 0.6 miles one way.
The Grottos trail features a waterfall and several short trails off the sides.
The Ruby Trail leads to an abandoned mining camp. It’s 5 miles one way.
Discovery Trail. The Discovery Trail features 22 messages along the way in braille and print; there are nylon guide cords for the blind all along the trail.

Moderate Hikes

Grizzly Lake. The Grizzly Lake hike is 3.6 miles each way and provides an elevation gain of 2,000 feet.
Tabor Lake. The Tabor Lake Trail is 3.9 miles each way. You can access Tabor Lake from the trail.
Anderson and Petroleum Lakes. The Anderson and Petroleum Lakes Trail takes you to Petroleum Lake after 1.8 miles. You’ll gain 1,000 feet in elevation.
Lost Man Trail. The Lost Man Trail is 8.9 miles one way and features a 1,300-foot elevation gain.

Difficult Hikes

Midway Trail. Midway Trail is 8.8 miles one way and connects with the Hunter Creek Trail if you’re heading back to Aspen (but it’s an additional 20 miles).
New York Creek Trail. The New York Creek Trail is 4.2 miles one way. Bring a topographic map if you take this hike.

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“Brenda went above and beyond as our realtor”

My fiance and I moved to the Valley from Minnesota this past January. We were lucky enough to be set up with Brenda from our realtor in MN. The day we arrived for our house hunting trip, Brenda met us for lunch and went over our plan of attack for the week, as she knew Continue Reading

Maria Golbirsch (and Greg Gazillo) February 28, 2017

“Brenda Wild is our exclusive Realtor”

A consummate professional who always looks out for your best interests…and yet takes the time for hand-holding too…this is why Brenda Wild is our exclusive Realtor.

Roger & Kelly Guth February 28, 2017

“You can expect the royal treatment”

Brenda and her staff get to the heart of your desire, needs and dreams. You can expect the royal treatment and awesome results with Brenda and her team.

Jenn Carlson February 28, 2017

“She gets anything you need”

Brenda is great, very efficient and hard working. She gets anything you need from home and land info to anything about Aspen you could need quickly and accurately.

Bruce Lange February 28, 2017

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3 Design Tips for Small Condos in Aspen

Be Realistic About Your Daily Life

Give Every Room Its Own Personality

Get the Right Sized Furniture

Are You Buying a Home for Sale in Aspen?

What Determines Interest Rates?

How to Lower How Much You Pay in Interest

Are You Buying a Home for Sale in Aspen?

4 Great Indoor Houseplants for Your Aspen Home

African Violet

Peperomia

Spider Plant

Peace Lily

Are You Buying a Home for Sale in Aspen?

Switching a Toilet Seat

Replacing a Washing Machine Hose

Replacing a Toilet Flapper

Average Return on Investment for Home Remodeling Projects

Are You Buying a Home for Sale in Aspen?

What Does a Property Manager Do?

How to Hire a Good Property Manager

How Do You Pay a Property Manager?

Are You Buying a Home for Sale in Aspen?

What Does a Builder’s Warranty Cover?

Are You Buying a Home for Sale in Aspen?

3 Fun Things to Do in August in Aspen

Tuesday Cruiseday

Aspen Historical Society Pub Crawl

Bluegrass Sundays

Are You Buying a Home for Sale in Aspen?

Moderate Hikes in Woody Creek

Woody Creek Trail

Spruce Creek Trail

Are You Buying a Home for Sale in Aspen?

Hiking Trails East of Aspen

Easy Hikes

Moderate Hikes

Difficult Hikes

Are You Buying a Home for Sale in Aspen?