 A new survey of real estate agents conducted by trees.com found that:
To read more about the survey and other elements that can help increase your property values, read the full trees.com article by clicking here. (Content courtesy of trees.com)
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 Kristin Kleimann was recently interviewed and featured on VoyageDenver online magazine. VoyageDenver's mission is "to promote mom and pops, artists, creatives, makers and small businesses by providing a platform for these hidden gems to tell their stories in their own words." Kristin was thrilled to be included. Click here for the link to the full interview on VoyageDenver. From the VoyageDenver website: "Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Kleimann. Kristin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today? Before entering the real estate industry officially, I spent more than 15 years as a communication consultant helping government agencies make complex information clear and usable. As part of my communication consultant work, I worked with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on the “Know Before You Owe” project to design new mortgage disclosures –the Loan Estimate (formerly the Good Faith Estimate) and the Closing Disclosure (formerly the HUD-1). These mandatory disclosures were implemented in October 2015 and help consumers choose a mortgage that is right for them and then help consumers understand what, if anything, changed between the loan estimate and closing. They are also help consumers better use, compare, and understand complex mortgage information and terms. The disclosures have been called “understandable,” “transparent,” and “fair.” After working on these forms, I decided to get my real estate license, in part, because I knew I could help my clients better navigate the complex real estate buying and selling process by making it simple, transparent, and personalized. For me, getting my clients into the right house with the right mortgage is a core value. Has it been a smooth road? The real estate industry, market, and even the forms we use, are constantly changing and evolving. This is part of what makes being in the industry both exciting and challenging. That said, it requires constantly educating yourself on national, state, and local changes, so you can best serve your clients. I read — a lot. We’d love to hear more about your work. I’m a lover of Colorado and Denver, especially when it comes to art, design, food, nature, entertaining, family, and travel. In both my work and home life, my focus is often research and education. I enjoy learning and then sharing useful, usable, and relevant information, with my clients and friends. I give my clients my full attention and love working hard for them. My clients appreciate my knowledge, expertise, and quick response. It makes me happy to make my clients happy. How do you think the industry will change over the next decade? The real estate industry is ever evolving and changing. For instance, in a hot real estate market like Denver, it can sometimes be challenging if a client needs to sell a home before they can buy another. The emergence of i-Buyers (like Zillow Instant Offers, OpenDoor, etc.) can help streamline the selling process by giving sellers the cash they need to purchase a new home quickly. While many of the i-Buying companies have some initial requirements with homes, (some want homes less than 25 years old, or won’t purchase any over a certain amount, etc.) it can be a good option for some clients. Someone thinking of using this model will definitely need to compare cash offers and the costs associated (some charge a “service fee” that is greater than a full-commission;), along with other pros and cons, against the net proceeds they would come away with if they had used a full-commission real estate agent/broker. The real estate industry will continue to evolve quickly as technology improves and disruption occurs. The client experience will be paramount. A smart agent will need to know how to adapt, or risk obsolescence." Contact Info:
 How can we be less than a month into Winter? Ugh! Guess I'll eat my sadness. :) My sister in law shared this yummy skillet chicken pot pie recipe with me and I made it for dinner tonight. I mean, how can you go wrong with Pillsbury Grands? Note: On the advice of my SIL, I let the carrots cook longer to ensure they were soft and then doubled the liquids (and added a little more flour) because the Grands soak up a lot of juice. Turned out perfect! Recipe is from delish.com. Click on the link below: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a56617/easy-skillet-chicken-pot-pie-recipe/  303Magazine recently published this wonderful article about 100 Things To Do in Colorado in 2019.
"Sure, it’s nice to have our incredible state highlighted by national publications like USA Today (who just named Winter Park the best ski town in North America) or Vogue (who wrote about the Denver restaurant, bar and street art scene) — but when it comes down to it, we don’t need non-Coloradans telling us why our state is simply the best. From the mountains to the plains, from north to the south and everywhere in between, Colorado has an adventure at every mile marker. Whether you want to travel for art or the outdoors, see the sights in Denver or spend a few nights in a picturesque setting, there is never a dull moment — especially when you have a list of 100 things to do in Colorado in 2019. Some of these are special to the year — as in, you won’t see them in 2020 — and some are the tried-and-true Centennial State bucket list items. Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or just arrived, check off all these activities and thank us later." To see the entire list and to read the article, please click here: https://303magazine.com/2018/12/100-things-to-do-in-colorado-in-2019/?fbclid=IwAR1gTGaVAfLt3DmgmViUuxESEzU54NyEYTDN-JqUUjU_CWk9xkQ3kgKfS1w Denver Family Friendly Holiday Road Trips: Ride the Santa Express on the Royal Gorge Train Route12/18/2018  Written by Kristin Kleimann-Duggan Are you and your family both train and holiday enthusiasts? Do you like beautiful scenery, holiday lights, meeting Santa, and good food and drinks? Do you enjoy adventures close to Denver? If so, the Santa Express on the Royal Gorge Train Route may be just what you are looking for… Our Experience This past weekend, our family and some friends took the 2-hour roadtrip (each way) to ride the Santa Express in Canon City. We decided to stay overnight in Canon City to make the overall trip more tolerable for the young children, oh, and for us. The length of the train trip (2 hours) was perfect, the scenery and holiday lights gorgeous, the experience nostalgic, and the food and drink delicious. Once you board the train, you are provided hot chocolate and cookies to snack on. As the train starts its journey, they play Holiday music and conduct sing alongs. If it is still light out, you are treated to spectacular views of both the gorge and the Arkansas River, and possibly the sunset. There are a few open air cars that you can go to to really experience the views. Once the train reaches the “North Pole,” which is all done up with lights, Santa and the elves board. The elves come around and give each child a bell from one of Santa’s reindeer. Santa also makes his way to talk to the children and collect their wish lists. We absolutely loved the adventure and highly recommend the overall experience. The Details For 2018, trips are offered November 16th-December 30th. Trips are scheduled up to four times daily: generally, 9:30, 12:30, 4:30, and 6:30. Some dates are less expensive than others so do check their website schedule. There are several different classes of service offered including Vista Dome, Club, and Coach. The ticket price varies by class. We opted for the Vista Dome class and purchased our tickets (easily) online in advance. Vista Dome service provided us with 360-degree views, assigned seats at a table (seats are in groupings of four so we were all seated together), and table side food and drink service (food and drink are not included in the ticket price, but purchasing food in advance is an option.) Food, drinks, and the full service bar are available to all classes of service. Passengers are also permitted to visit the open air car as frequently as they’d like and at any point in the trip. One of the highlights of the tour is seeing the Royal Gorge bridge from a unique vantage point, below it! The Royal Gorge bridge is the world’s highest suspension bridge and is located at the narrowest and deepest point in the gorge. The train stops under the bridge for a few minutes for viewing and for photo opportunities. A Very Brief History of the Royal Gorge Route The Royal Gorge route opened in 1879 and cost $11,759 (about $250,000 in today’s dollars) but service eventually ended in 1967 for a variety of reasons. The Royal Gorge historic rail line was resurrected in 1999 with the goal of creating “an entirely new Colorado experience featuring excellent food, friendly service and memorable events while sharing the most spectacular scenery in the Rocky Mountain West” (Royal Gorge Route Railroad “Signal” Publication). The route is run by a private, family owned Colorado company passionate about good food and wine. Trip Tips
Visit: www.royalgorgeroute.com or call 1.888.724.5748  Congratulations to my buyers on the purchase of this 1889 Queen Anne style residence is the historic Jefferson Park Denver neighborhood. The neighborhood takes its name from the 5 acre park located in the neighborhood, a former city dump. The neighborhood is part of the original Congressional Grant of 1864 which established Denver’s first city limits, as well as part of the incorporated Town of Highlands... Congratulations! #denver #cityofdenver #highlands #denverneighborhoods#jeffersonpark #jeffersonparkdenver #denvercolorado#homesimpledenver #denverrealtor #historydenver #historicdenver#queenanne #architecture #queenannearchitecture  Did You Know the Longest Functioning Pilates Studio in Denver is Located in This Neighborhood?4/29/2018  Article written by Kristin Kleimann If you’ve ever noticed the building located at 1776 S. Jackson Street, just off Colorado Boulevard and Mexico Avenue, you might have assumed it was an apartment building. In actuality, the Executive Club office building happens to house the longest functioning pilates studio in Denver, Pilates Esstentia: in business since the 1980s and in this location since 1991. In 2015, Peace of Mind Pilates moved to share the same space. Sabra Blacklock of Pilates Essentia, and Marisa Oldefest of Peace of Mind Pilates, are the two women business owners behind the cooperating pilates studios. Marisa and Sabra first worked together several years ago when Marisa taught at Sabra’s Pilates Essentia studio. After a break for Marisa to raise her family and begin the Peace of Mind Pilates home studio, the two joined forces to work again collaboratively in one convenient location. The shared studio houses a varied range of pilates equipment including two Cadillacs, three chairs, five reformers, five spine corrector barrels and one high carrel. The back of the studio includes space for mat classes. Of course, it is these caring and passionate women business owners, Sabra and Marisa, who are key to the longevity, success, and devoted client following behind the boutique studio. Sabra Blacklock “Sabra is a master teacher who is able to not only teach the fundamentals, but can also address specific issues. She is AWESOME.” - Client Testimonial Sabra Blacklock has over 27 years of pilates experience. She was trained in the Fletcher Pilates Method by Ron Fletcher and studied and worked at his studio in Los Angeles as a pilates apprentice. She is a certified Pilates Method Alliance Certified Pilates Teacher and Senior Professional Fletcher Pilates Teacher. She was also a part of a trio of women who put together the original teacher training for the Fletcher Pilates Company. Sabra combines pilates with neurological and pain management elements with a goal to help clients get back to living life free of chronic pain. As she explains, “Our focus is around the education piece: how your body is supposed to be functioning, how it IS functioning, and bridging the gap to get clients to an optimal place.” Marisa Oldefest “I have taken Pilates with Marisa for over 11 years. When I first started, I had no idea what Pilates was, much less the benefits that would be gained. I was only looking for help for my balance and health. With Marisa's patient teaching and guidance, I have knees that keep working and balance to my body. Even though I am facing knee replacement surgery, my knees have gone on working better than the doctors have believed. I know that having Pilates has helped me build up my knees for the surgery and it will help in a quick recovery.”- Client Testimonial Marisa is a Pilates Method Alliance Certified Pilates Teacher, Qualified Fletcher Pilates Teacher, Certified Massage Therapist, Certified Aroma Touch Technique Practitioner and a trained ballet and modern dancer. She has been teaching Pilates for over 20 years. Her focus is making pilates accessible to all age ranges (from teens to seniors) as well as pilates for pain management. As Marisa explains, “While we offer classes for all ages and fitness levels, our specialty really is working with injured clients and helping them get back to their fitness goals in a safe way. Our clients tend to stick around, and that speaks for itself.” Classes and Staff The boutique studio offers the best in Fletcher Pilates Method instruction. Classes run for 55 minutes and you can choose between mat or equipment classes. They also offer groups classes, duet classes, and private sessions. “In 10 sessions you will feel the difference. In 20 you will see the difference. And in 30 you will be on your way to having a whole new body.” -Joseph Pilates The studio staff are very experienced and combined, offer nearly 90 years of pilates experience. Special Events On the third Thursdays of the month the studio hosts a “Pilates and Pinot” event where you can come participate in pilates and enjoy a glass of pinot after. Once the weather warms, the studio will be hosting a “Pilates in the Park” event which will be a pop-up mat class in either Observatory Park or Dinosaur Park on Mondays at 12:30pm. Sabra and Marisa look forward to helping you use pilates to change your body, mind, and spirit! Contact Information Website: Check www.peaceofmindpilates.com for exact dates and times and to schedule a session. They are currently offering specials for new clients. Location: 1776 S. Jackson Street, Unit 100. Denver, CO 80210 Phone: 303.525.7491  If so, meet your neighbor and “Dirty Paws” owner, Becky Luke. Article written by Kristin Kleiman-Duggan Becky Luke loves animals ---- all animals. She grew up on a ranch on the Western Slope and has been around many different animals all her life. It is no surprise that in May 2017, she started “Dirty Paws,” a pet care business that allows her to combine business with her passion for animals. “We love them when you have to leave them.” -Dirty Paws Through Dirty Paws, Becky offers many services from daily pet walking to full service overnight pet sitting. As Becky points out, “Our pets prefer being in their own homes as it makes them happier and less stressed.” Becky is comfortable administering medication, including insulin and pills and caring for older pets with special needs. While Becky mainly cares for dogs and cats--and some chickens--she’s has experience with other larger animals, like horses, cows, and pigs. She says she is a “stickler for providing fresh water, to keep pets hydrated and happy.” If she stays in your home, she also can bring in your mail, shovel your walk, and water your plants. She really does mean full service. Becky provides her services to our local neighborhoods including Bonnie Brae, University and Observatory Park, Cherry Creek, Wash Park, and Cherry Hills. As a 20-year resident of Wash Park, some of Becky’s favorite places to take your canine companions on walks are in and around the neighborhood, including to Wash Park and the Highline Canal. Becky offers personalized and devoted attention to both her human and animal clients, so she does not mix different client’s animals. When she is with your pet, she is with your pet. Dirty Paws has received top reviews on Yelp, Google, and through their testimonials: Becky was so great with our babies! She house-sat for us while we went on a long weekend trip! Our girls were very happy to have her! I think she took better care of them than we do :) She sent us pictures and texts to us giving us updates on them, which is an added bonus! I highly recommend her...She loves our babies as much as we do! Becky From Dirty Paws watched our very energetic dog, Oakley, who is 2 1/2 years old recently for 5 days. She did an amazing job! We loved how she had a checklist of questions and wrote notes when she came over to meet Oakley. Every day we got different pictures of her walking Oakley. She also watered our flowers and brought in the mail. It made it so much easier to leave our crazy boy knowing she was there to take care of him. Her heart is in the right place and she is so responsible. I highly recommend Dirty Paws! What more could you or your pet ask for? To contact Becky and Dirty Paws and for more information, please visit: www.dirtypawsonline.com Dirty Paws, Becky Luke, 303.913.2544  What a cool find! This is our family's home of more than 40 years in the University Park/ Observatory Park neighborhood of Denver. It is known to friends and family now as "The Big House." From a newspaper ad in the 1924 Boston Christian Science Monitor. Apparently there were classifieds placed by cities in other city newspapers. Ahhhh, history.   To sell your home quickly and for the best price, successful staging is key. We have beautiful accessories to get your home photo shoot ready, and sold...
Find Happy Hearts and Happy Faces at the Iliff Preschool, Kindergarten, and School-Age Summer Camp12/6/2017  Happy hearts and happy faces, Happy play in grassy places -- That was how in ancient ages, Children grew to kings and sages. (Robert Louis Stevenson) On a rare, cool, grey, school day in September, I arrived to interview Helen Andresen, the owner of Iliff Preschool, Kindergarten, and School-Age Summer Camp. I was warmly greeted and given a comprehensive tour of the homey space. I was immediately struck and thrilled by the vast amount of unique outdoor play space. Eight separate age-appropriate playgrounds reflect the overall philosophy that the outdoor classroom is just as important as the indoor classroom for learning. Nearly every classroom is immediately open to the classroom playground so children can move seamlessly between in and outdoor space to explore, discover, and learn. These spaces are referred to as Outdoor Learning Labs. A main goal is for the children to be outside as much as possible. Research indicates that children who play outside are “smarter, happier, more attentive, and less anxious” than children who spend more time indoors. Other studies related to the benefits of children being outdoors include building confidence, promoting creativity and imagination, teaching responsibility, providing different stimulation, getting children moving, making children think, and reducing stress and fatigue. (www.childmind.org) Iliff staff guide children in the Outdoor Learning Labs to use the environment as a place of learning and experimentation. The children and staff
The Iliff Preschool, Kindergarten, and Summer Camp was established in 1963. The overall educational philosophy is a blended one of play-based, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, natural influences, experiential, integrated curriculum and projects, learning by doing, whole child focused, embedded curriculum standards, and an overall “have fun” philosophy. With a low student to staff ratio and open enrollment year-round, eight different classrooms accommodate
Families love the school for many reasons including integrated instructional strategies, a focus on music, art, STEM, yoga, and dance. As Helen Andresen summed, the school was “built on love and desire for the good of the community.” When you visit the school and see all the happy hearts and happy faces; you can’t help but conclude, she has achieved and surpassed her objective. This school is magical. For more information, please visit www.iliffpreschool.com Iliff Preschool, Kindergarten, and School-Age Summer Camp 4140 E. Iliff Avenue Denver, Colorado 80222 303.757.3551 This article was written by Kristin Kleimann and was published in the December 2017 issue of "Life in the Park" magazine for the University Park, Denver neighborhood. SOLID AND STUNNING MID-CENTURY RANCH-STYLE HOME, LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM ROCKY MOUNTAIN LAKE.10/27/2017  $595,000. 4735-4737 Lowell Blvd. Denver, Colorado 80211. Income potential! Solid and stunning mid-century ranch-style home, located directly across from Rocky Mountain lake. Gorgeous lake views to the East from the large picture windows in the living room.Western views from the kitchen and dining room. Meticulously maintained. Home is beautifully updated with 2 year old kitchen showcasing a custom walnut breakfast bar counter and walnut dining table. Additionally, there are 2 bedrooms and a full bath upstairs. Downstairs, the home boasts a garden level 2 bedroom, updated full bath, apartment with separate entrance. Turn key and move in ready. Murphy bed in guest bedroom upstairs, and newer paint throughout. Professionally landscaped with sprinkler system and flagstone patio for outdoor entertaining. Home has 2 additional off street parking spaces and a detached 2 car garage. New roof, gutters, and downspouts. Easily convert to single family. Walk to parks, restaurants, and shops.
For more information, please click on the link below: http://tours.mediamaxphotography.com/public/vtour/display/899320  I'm always so pleased to receive such sweet feedback from my clients. And, even more pleased when working with clients is like working with old friends...Thank you Mark and Laura!
"Kristin was amazing in helping us find our first home! She was so incredibly patient while showing us properties. While looking at homes, she was great about pointing out features and issues that we, as first time home buyers, might not have paid attention to or would have noticed. She was invaluable in walking us through the negotiation and buying process once we found the house we were excited about. We were so impressed with Kristin's attention to detail and her expert knowledge and advice. With her help, we were able to move into our home just in time to welcome our baby girl." -Laura  Joan Slaughter, a resident of the University Park neighborhood, is the founder of the Morgan Adams Foundation, a non-profit that supports pediatric cancer research which is based in SE Denver. Joan and her husband, Steven, started the non-profit foundation in 2000 shortly after their daughter, Morgan, was diagnosed, at 5 years old, with a malignant brain tumor and passed away after an 11-month battle. As Joan and Steven became more involved with Children’s Hospital they quickly learned that more money was needed to fund pediatric cancer research, and began fundraising. At the time of her diagnosis, Morgan was attending Cory Elementary School. Joan credits both the Cory Elementary and University Park communities with the success of the foundation and the art auction event, ARTMA (art for Morgan Adams). ARTMA ARTMA is the signature event that was born out of this neighborhood community. Both the school and neighborhood communities rallied around this first event. Without that support, the foundation never would have happened. The first ARTMA event was in February 2001, had 200 pieces of art, 650 people in attendance, and raised $100,000. The event is now a biennial event (every even year) with the next event scheduled for February 2018 at the Evans School on 11th and Acoma. The Morgan Adams Foundation also sponsors several other events. Concours d’Elegance The Morgan Adams Concours d’Elegance event is sponsored by the Morgan Adams Foundation and features 50 million dollars worth of rare and collectible cars, planes, and motorcycles and is held at the Centennial Airport in August. The event also features live and silent auctions, music, and food. The Morgan Adams Foundation partners with other groups to support other pediatric cancer research fundraising efforts including:
Today, the foundation has funded over 4.5 million dollars in research projects and the research has resulted in significant progress in both short and long-term outcomes for children with pediatric cancer. That, is something to really be proud of. As Joan said: “It is THIS neighborhood that should be proud of what it has brought forward. We simply wouldn’t have been able to do what we do if the community hadn’t rallied around us and supported us in so many ways. This is a heart-based neighborhood.” Wow. For more information about the foundation, events, and supporting the foundation, please visit: www.morganadamsfoundation.org This article was written by Kristin Kleimann and appeared in the October 2017 issue of "Life in the Park" magazine. |
