Christmas in Mancos

The Christmas spirit is in full swing in Mancos, Colorado.  Lots of fun this week starting off with the Luminaria's of Mesa Verde National Park on Thursday 4-8pm.  Free admission to go see the ruins lit up. You can also walk down to Spruce Tree House.  If you have never gone, this is a must.   On Friday night at 6pm, Santa arrives in Mancos, there's a 1 mile Rudolph Run/Walk, and free movies for the kids. Stop by my office to warm your hands by my firolito.  Saturday night at 6pm, I am hosting a Wine & Cheese Christmas Party for the Mancos Historical Society.  Come check out my renovated 1893 office building.  Looking  forward to seeing everyone.

Newcomer to Mancos!

Living in a small town in the shadow of Mesa Verde National Park, I meet all kinds of people.  Whether it's sharing a cup of coffee with a local or visitor, I cherish each encounter.  Recently, met a gal moving from Telluride to Mancos. She is a clothing designer, Rahmenn & Co. and has rented office space from me. What a treat to now be wearing her clothing.  It's made out of bamboo and I have a hard time taking it off, since it's so comfy. God continues to put great people into my life just at the right time.  Nice to have made a new friend.   Stop by my office to check out her clothing.  

New Listing: 27100 Road P Dolores, CO 81323

Check out my new listing at :  27100 Road P Dolores, CO  $325,000 for 3 bedrooms/3 bath home

Teamwork

What a blessing to be able to go to my son's games.  Basketball is one of my favorites.   I love seeing the boys smile when they make a basket.   The joys of childhood-no worries and  the comfort of knowing that your loved.   Teamwork happens just not in sports.  On the job and especially at home if everyone gives 110% it makes for a happy environment.

Alternative Medicine

Colorado is one of a handful of states that has legalized marijuana.  I voted no.   Did I really know the benefits of medicinal uses?  No.  I was thinking that my kids would grow up thinking it was ok to be a druggie and legalizing would just cause more problems.  

Traditional medicine has huge side effects on the body and after awhile it might be doing more harm than good.  Doctors are able to prescribe heavy duty pain killers: morphine, and dilaudid, however many won't even look at alternative medicine.  When someone is in pain, and traditional medicine isn't working, there just has to be another way.  What works for one person doesn't always work for everyone.  Can I really be the judge?  No. I am meeting more and more people that alternative medicine is working!  Acupuncture? Meditation?  Oils? Edible marijuana? If you or a loved one is in pain and traditional medicine isn't working, its worth trying.    

Just last month, you can now buy marijuana in Durango.  Check out www.weedmaps.com, for a store. There's several locals that sell essential oils. Check out www.doterra.com.  My common stress reliever is a walk outside and smelling the fresh Colorado air.  

Community

So blessed to live in Mancos!  This past Sunday evening, Mancos joined together for a community dinner. Wow, more than 75 people! What a great time to meet new and old friends.  A little chilly, since I just spent the weekend in PHX visiting my daughter at college.   On Tuesday, the middle school finished off the football season with a great win.  Here's a picture of my little tackler. He's tough!

Homecoming is this week for high school.   Lots of fun from dressing up, bonfire, parade (Friday afternoon) and then the football game Friday night.  My son, James will be playing.  He's small too, but super tough! There's a BBQ tailgate party at the field starting at 6pm.  Hope to see everyone at the game.

Mancos Intown 3rd Quarter Home Sales Report

Runners, Balloons and Art this weekend in Mancos!

Hope to see everyone this weekend in Mancos! Come up to Chicken Creek and root on the cross country team on Saturday morning after you watch hot air balloons launch!  There will be an art fest, food vendors, music downtown.  Don't miss the balloon glow Sunday night!  Hope to see you!

  http://www.mancosvalley.com/balloon-artfest

Deal of the Week!

10 tips for selling your home!

Lots of people ask me "Can you sell my home?".  I'm here to help you in the process.  It takes a realtor and the home owner working together!    

Tip #10: Pricing it right

Find out what your home is worth, then shave 15 to 20 percent off the price. I can do a free market analysis for you!  This is the single best strategy to sell a home in today’s market.

Tip #9: Half-empty closets
Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff out of your closets then neatly organize what’s left in there. Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy.

Tip #8: Light it up
Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. 

Tip #7: Play the agent field
A secret sale killer is hiring the wrong broker. Interview them, get references.  Do they know your area and what the real estate mkt. is doing?  How will they market your home?  Find a broker who embraces technology – a tech-savvy one has many tools to get your house sold.

Tip #6: Conceal the critters
Not everybody is a dog- or cat-lover. Buyers don’t want to walk in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. 

Tip #5: Get a home inspection
Home Inspections will help you address anything that might hinder a sale.  It's a great marketing tool to say your home is "pre-inspected"!

Tip  #4: Take the home out of your house
One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. 

Tip #3: The kitchen comes first
You’re not actually selling your house, you’re selling your kitchen – that’s how important it is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, It may be a few thousand dollars to replace countertops where a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. 

TIp #2: Always be ready to show
Your house needs to be "show-ready" at all times – you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. It’s a little inconvenient, but it will get your house sold.

Tip #1: The first impression is the only impression
You want the buyers to linger in your home.  Place cookies, and bottled water for them with a note to enjoy the view!  

September!!

I had the pleasure of showing cabins for sale this wknd above Mancos.  So nice to be in the mountains!

September is full of all kinds of great things going on in Mancos!

Every Thursday at the park, live music, fresh veggies and fruit at the Farmer's Market from 4:30-6:30!

Every Tuesday & Thursdays 6:30 am-7:30am Early bird yoga at community center

Every Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:30 pm-8:00pm   Karate lessons at the community center

Sept 6 & 13  1-3pmSmall Acreage Pastures Workshop at Mt. Lookout Grange

Sept. 19-21- The town is having a free hauling your junk away!!  Woo Hoo!!! Old furniture, metal, and yard stuff!  No electronics or paint, please.

Sept 27-28-  Balloon Fest/Art Fest-  Come ride in a hot air balloon or just enjoy the balloon glow!

Hope to see you around town!! Check out www.MancosHomes.com for my homes for sale!

Smell of rain and new beginnings!

August 5, 2014

The monsoons have finally arrived in Mancos.  What a wonderful thing to hear in the night -rain. This morning the ground was soaked, birds were singing and the sweet smell was intoxicating.  It's a new day, and I choose to focus on loving more and living each day like it was my last.  I'm putting on my sunglasses and will have a do it now attitude and not live in regret.    

Just a couple more weeks of summer till kids are back in school.  I'll miss them riding their bikes in town and stopping in my office to say hi.  What a blessing to live in a small town, where the kids can build forts, play in the river and just be in town without big city worries.  I took the kids camping and wow do I love the mountains.

Change

August 18, 2014
Tomorrow is the first day of school! My boys, one in high school and one in middle school, wanted to play football. I've had reservations since they are built like me, small.  Well they have big hearts and I weakened and they are playing.  They are really excited.  Football is a big thing in a small town.  Quite the social event, with basically the town coming out to support the kiddos.  

Tomorrow after taking the boys school, I will head out to take my daughter to college. So happy for her, but sad too.  I will miss her tremendously, but know that God just gave me the privledge of having her in my home for a little, and He has big plans for her.  

This week I was showing homes to a family who will be relocating from California.  Their biggest question was crime.  Funny, I haven't locked my doors in 23 years. Crime doesn't exist in Mancos. When something does happen, it's usually a kid who gets caught right of way.  They wanted to know about gangs.  Not any here.  I explained that the only "gang" we have is my boys along with other kiddo's riding their bikes, playing in the river, going to the skate park and selling lemonade in front of my office.  

Glad that the home town spirit won't change in Mancos!  Here's the view on my evening walk!