Protect Your Home

 “For people living in wildfire-prone areas here in Colorado, mitigation is a proven method to reduce the risk to your home and property,” said Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway. “Now is the time to take what steps you can, before we get any further into this summer’s wildfire season.” 

The Storm Prediction Center issued the first extreme fire danger warning for Western Colorado and Eastern Utah in 15 years. Unfortunately, this serves as a reminder that we are now in the height of wildfire season in Colorado and the West.

Tips for wildfire mitigation

• -Clear a safety zone around your home and remove trees, leaves, brush and pine needles. Create a zone of at least 100 feet, but know that 200 – 500 feet is often recommended. Also remove overhanging tree branches near your home.
• -Be sure propane or fuel tanks are at least 30 feet away from all structures.
• -Keep the smoke detectors and fire extinguishers inside your home working properly.
• -If you do not have access to a community water system or water hydrant, get a water storage tank. Make sure your garden hoses reach all areas of the property, and keep them visible and in accessible areas.
• -Be sure your entrance road is accessible. Inaccessible roads can prevent fire-fighting equipment from reaching your home quickly. The street address should be easily visible from the entrance to the property so emergency responders are not delayed.
• -Use fire-resistant materials in the structure of your home, especially the roof, which is most vulnerable
• -Do not store firewood on your deck or porch.

We have a couple of great companies that can help you be proactive.  Give Carrie Summers a call 970759-2540. We are here to help!

Time to Prune!

Curb appeal is very important.  If you are thinking of selling, now is the time to take a look at your place thru new eyes.  Do you have trees that are growing too close to your home, or fruit trees that need trimming? 

I highly recommend Underwood Forestry.  Steve Underwood and his crew do an excellent job.  I had Steve do fire mitigation around my home and my pear trees at my office are prolific due to regular pruning.  Call Steve at 970-560-9800 for all your tree business.  This is money well spent because a home that has beautiful trees is more valuable than a house with trees that are dead or unruly.  

Need other ideas?  Call me, Carrie Summers with Colorado Ranch & Home Realty 970-759-2540.  I'm here to help!

Time to clean your chimney

Time to clean your chimney and fireplace so you can be safe and warm.  It's important to do this regularly.  Lots of people don't know who to call.  I recommend for super tall steep homes Slavens True Value in Cortez and for fairly flat roofs I will do it for you!  Just call me 970-759-2540.

Are you prepared for a fire?

 Owning a home is one of your best assets and you don't want that to go up in smoke!  With all the wildfires going on up north, now is the time to make sure your home is safe.  Here's some tips~

1.  Make sure you don't have any trees touching your home.  Having flower beds and a lawn around your home provides a protection.

2.  Make sure any dead fallen trees or dead grass around your home is gone.  Cheat grass is the worse.  Once dead it spreads a fire quickly.

3.  Are your trees around home trimmed up from touching the ground?  By trimming the lower branches, fire has a harder time spreading to the canopy?

4.  Do you have a deck or porch?  Do not stack firewood under or by house.  Have it away from home. This also keeps rodents away from home too.

5.  Clean your wood stove pipe.  When cleaning out the ashes, DO NOT put ashes in plastic bucket on your porch.  Ashes need to go in a metal container and put far away from the house.

6.  Clean your gutters, have a metal roof, an install lightening rods.

Are you in need of help?  Contact Steve Underwood, with Underwood Forestry at 970-570-9800