Podcast – City of CS Real Estate & Lifestyle

Beautiful Colorado Landscaping with Waterbury Landscaping

The City of CS Real Estate and Lifestyle Show isn’t just about real estate. It’s also about things that affect your lifestyle, such as a medical clinic or hypnotherapy. This show is about encompasses everything together that has to do with the way you live, about your home, your property, even land. Deborah Elliott-Shultz discusses informative topics about different aspects of real estate and lifestyle.   The Spring months are upon us and people are starting to spice up their home both the interior and exterior. People get so excited about the home they are buying, and they start to think about how they want to decorate the interior of their home with new furniture, new appliances, if needed, paint, etc. But a lot of people don’t think about the exterior of the home.   When driving around the city showing homes, Deborah often sees something that strikes may people as odd. One home will have perfect landscaping, and then right next to it, might be a home with nothing but a garden of weeds or just no landscaping. Did you know that landscaping can affect the property values of your home and the homes around you? By calling in a landscaper, you increase the property value of your home as well as help out your neighbors. So, whether you are a person who takes care of your yard or you are one who doesn’t really know what to do to take care of your yard, today’s show is for you.   Today, Deborah Elliott-Shultz of City of CS Real Estate and Lifestyle chats with Craig Waterbury, the owner of Waterbury Landscaping. For about 20-25 years, Craig worked for other landscaping companies but wanted to run a business with excellent customer service and quality work. About 3 years ago, he started Waterbury Landscaping.   When planning a yard’s landscaping, it’s important to consider the person or family that will be using the yard. Craig likes to get clients as involved as possible in the design because the more ideas you have, the options you have. Not everyone, likes the same thing. And that’s important to creating a design you love.   While considering the design of your landscape, it’s not just about placement, but also about color. Some trees flower in the spring, others turn vibrant shades in the fall. Some bushes stay green year round, while others bloom only in the summer. Then you also get to consider flowers. Do you enjoy the ease of perennials? Or do you prefer to plant all annuals because you enjoy digging in the dirt after a long winter? Do you like a bit of both mixed together? Are you water conscious and would prefer a xeriscaped yard?   Come listen as Deborah Elliott-Shultz and Craig Waterbury discuss the many ways a landscaper can help you, some mistakes to avoid, irrigation options along with a watering schedule) and a creative method he uses to help you see where things will go.   Call Craig Waterbury of Waterbury Landscaping to find out what you can do to improve the landscaping around your home at (719) 639-3400.   If you have any questions or would like to discuss something you have heard on the show, call Deborah Elliott-Shultz at (719) 641-1357. She enjoys having conversations with listeners of the City of CS Real Estate and Lifestyle show.   Are you interested in finding out about Deborah Elliott-Shultz and City of CS Real Estate and Lifestyle’s flat listing fee of $3500*? Visit cityofcs.com or call (719) 641-1357 to speak with Deborah. And, have you heard about our buyer’s rebate? That’s right! We give back 30% of our commission to help you with your closing costs or to buy new appliances which will be reflected on the settlement statement, and you’ll get it at closing along with a W-9. Give Deborah to speak with her about buying or selling a home with City of CS Real Estate...

Property Maintenance with Geckos

So many people are getting their house ready for summer by decluttering and cleaning their homes. Some are doing home improvements or fixing things that they’ve ignored far too long. Often, Deborah Elliott-Shultz of City of CS Real Estate and Lifestyle finds that she doesn’t have the knowledge to fix items in her home. There are a lot of people like her out there.   Who do you turn to? Well, you know, many realtors and homeowners are so stressed out that they can’t find a person to work on their home. And many times the people that can do the work, are expensive or they don’t show up or they just do a bad job. It’s happened, even to Deborah. And it’s frustrating. So, it’s really nice to have a person that you can rely on to come to your home and take care of the issues. You might think that maybe an issue is so small it’s not a big deal. But maybe it’s a safety issue that you need to nip that one in the bud. But it’s important, and Deborah now has a person that she depends on, and that is Steven Stouffer of Geckos Remodeling and Property Maintenance.   Steven and his team does property maintenance, but when people think of property maintenance, they think of maybe rentals. Steven doesn’t just take care of rentals, he also helps homeowners. Geckos Remodeling and Property Maintenance does just about anything on a house, except carpet and stucco. Nothing is too small, nothing is too big.   They are registered with the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. This means that they’re insured, among other things. This is important, because if the company doesn’t have insurance and one of their workers is hurt on the job, the cost of that injury will fall back on the homeowner. Because Geckos Remodeling and Property Maintenance carries insurance, you, the homeowner, don’t have to worry about that. And if the accident causes injury to the house, their insurance will cover it, too.   What are some of the things Steven and his team can do? Outside the home, they can fix holes from birds and weather, siding, veneer, painting, landscaping, sprinklers, and fencing. Inside the home, they can do the same kind of things like painting, trim work, kitchen remodeling, put in sinks, garbage disposals, and replacing vanities and/or cabinetry, among other things. Sometimes, people will try to patch up a wall by themselves, but without experience it comes out kind of ugly. By hiring someone with experience like Steven at Geckos Remodeling and Property Maintenance the patch is hardly noticeable.   They’re also licensed to finished basements. To be licensed with the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, you have to pass their licensure test. There is an extensive course of study for each license. If you hire someone to come in and finish your basement who hasn’t been licensed, let alone pull all the correct permits, you’ll be stuck with horrible problems and extra expense later, possibly even a tear down warning that will require you to pay someone to come in and rip it all back out. So, a word to the wise, have someone who is licensed and registered with the PPRBD like Steven Souder at Geckos Remodeling and Property Maintenance.   Not only are they licensed and insured with PPRBD, but they are also affordable. Come listen as Deborah Elliott-Shultz and Steven Stouffer discuss the many benefits of hiring Geckos Remodeling and Property Maintenance and also hear a few stories about the reasons to hire a professional.   To get ahold of Steven and Geckos Remodeling and Property Maintenance go to geckosremodel.com or call (719) 238-3523. You can also find them on Facebook @geckosremodel.   If you have any questions or would like to discuss something you have heard on the show, call Deborah Elliott-Shultz at (719) 641-1357. She enjoys having conversations with listeners o...

How To Deal With Noxious Weeds

Last week, Deborah Elliot-Shultz of the City of CS Real Estate and Lifestyle discussed with Kathy Andrews of El Paso County Hazardous waste about items that you should never toss in the garbage or put down the sink. There’s a lot of stuff, like cleaning chemicals and batters, so Kathy gave us some tips on how to take these sort of items to the facility so they can dispose of it correctly.   And it will not involve anything to do with water. Which is a good thing, not only for the environment but for you, too! Contaminated water in some parts of El Paso County has been in the news lately. And you can’t get away from hearing about polluted air, either. Take advantage of the El Paso County Hazardous Waste Facility and help take care of yourself and your neighbors.   El Paso County Hazardous Waste Facility also tracks noxious weeds in the city and educates people about noxious weeds. So what are noxious weeds? Have even heard that term?   Today, Deborah Elliott-Shultz speaks with Tina Travis and Kathy Andrews of El Paso County Hazardous Waste Facility, once again.   Think about the wild boars in Texas. People can relate to animals that are alien species, however, they have a hard time relating to plants. Noxious weeds are plants that are introduced to an area without any kind of biological controls. Which means they become super predators and eliminate our native landscaping or native wildlife vegetation.   When that happens, native animal populations are affected because their food source decreases.   How do noxious weeds affect wildlife and other plants? They can be quite poisonous, toxic, or just not edible. If a plant is not edible, animals won’t eat them and they outcompete the other plant species and grow into a monopoly, spreading quickly through pastures and ranges.   How many noxious different species that we have? We probably have about 30 species of noxious weeds here, give or take a few. There are about five to eight that are closely monitored. A while back, many were introduced as ornamental plants. When people think of noxious weeds, they think of an ugly plant that they don’t want growing, such as dandelions. However, a lot of noxious weeds, such as Myrtle spurge, were sold in garden centers and we didn’t know that they would have the effects that they do.   Why does the El Paso County Hazardous Waste Facility keep track of noxious weeds? Is it just because they’re spreading so much or because the vast majority of them are poisonous, or both?   Both. They certainly do not have to be poisonous to be on the noxious weed list, we have more native Colorado species that are very poisonous than necessarily what’s on the noxious weed list. The difference is is those native species you’re going to find a plant or two in a pasture or range land or national forest spread apart by several feet to begin. With nothing eating them, they will takeover, they will not allow anything else to grow.   How do you go about trying to control this? What area do you keep a watch on?   El Paso County Environmental Division helps the public as much as they can. However, for the most part they are only able to look for noxious weeds in unincorporated El Paso County. They can help educate, but they have no jurisdiction in the city.   On the El Paso County website, type noxious weeds into the search engine and it will bring up pictures and more information about noxious weeds. They are El Paso County’s environmental division, and that covers a lot of things, certainly noxious weeds, natural resources, environmental compliance, conservation, easements, wetlands, all those kind of things.  

What To Do With Your Waste?

We’ve had a few nice days, trees are pollinating and thoughts are turning to spring. Have you started your Spring Cleaning? Have you found some items that make you wonder how to dispose of  that waste? It’s kind of surprising to go to people’s homes and see them frying up stuff in a pan then take the grease and put it down the sink. You know, not only is it bad for your pipes, but it’s so bad for the environment. So What To Do With Your Waste? In the news, we frequently hear stories about water and air that are contaminated by something. Maybe you’re one of those people who want to help the environment, but you don’t know what you can do. What do you do when you dispose of your cleansers that you no longer need? Polishes that you no longer need? Just chemicals in general? Do you just throw them in the garbage? That’s not a great thing for the environment, especially when we have such an easy, great alternative in the area.   We have a great gift here in town. Have you ever heard of the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility? This is a fantastic place that will help you dispose of many items. It is a free service. And it is a gift.   Today, Deborah Elliott-Shultz welcomes Kathy Andrews, the Division Manager for the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. She’s been on the show before and we are so pleased to have her join us again, today.   The mission of the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility is to ensure that the residents of El Paso and Teller counties have a safe, proper way to dispose of their household hazardous waste.   Why do we have the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility?   If you think about chemicals, paints, lawn and garden things, all kinds of things, you don’t want them in the landfill, because eventually they will seep down into the water table. We’ve all heard the stories about undrinkable water, about the chemicals being put on the ground and then eventually seeping down to the water table. And we want to ensure that, we as residents and citizens of El Paso and Teller Counties are not contributing to that by disposing of chemicals properly.   Because it is not environmentally friendly to put anything down the drain that you can’t put in your body.   What about grease, such as vegetable oil and bacon grease, what is the best way to dispose of that?   A lot of people will try to dump their cooking oil and greases down the drain. The problem with this is that 1) it will clog your pipes, and 2) it’s not good for the environment. It’s not something that the Utilities Department can easily separate or remove from the water. So what can you do about it? Take it to the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Use the same container it came in, or one that is structurally sound, such as a glass jar or mayonnaise jar, so that it doesn’t leak all over you car when you taking it the Facility.   And please don’t leave flammable liquids in a hot car all day before bringing them to the Facility. These items can change chemical properties and become hazardous.   Another item people aren’t always aware needs special consideration for disposal are medications. If you put those down the drain, eventually they could come back into the water table and you don’t want that to happen. Medications are difficult things.   State law changed in Colorado in 2016. You have to be a law enforcement agency or a pharmacy to take medications. There are a couple of places in town that do it and additionally the DEA has a drug take back day, every spring and every fall. While the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility is not equipped to take medications year round, on Saturday, April 27, the DEA take back day for medication (in pill form and ...

Deborah's Real Estate Tidbits

Welcome to the City of CS Real Estate and Lifestyle Show with Deborah Elliott-Shultz. In the past, you may have heard one of the “Deborah’s Tidbits” episodes. Because it gets such great feedback, today Deborah is excited to bring it back. Today, she is going to talk about a few things she has seen while showing and listing properties.   Talk with your realtor before making changes to your home. A seasoned agent can give you pointers on updating your home without making too many drastic changes, saving you time and money. One such change people might make is with their cabinetry. Last year, white cabinets were the trendy thing in kitchens, and many people changed out their light colored oak cabinetry for it. However, that trend is on the downside and the result will be your brand new white cabinets will just look outdated.   One trend that has stayed is brushed nickel hardware. If you have gold hardware in your house, Deborah highly recommends you change it out for brushed nickel. Places you might find the gold: light fixtures, hinges, doorknobs, and cabinetry.   Another things to pay attention to is the color throughout your house. You want to have a single color theme, preferably a neutral color, throughout your home if you’re considering selling (although you may want to reconsider using grays).   If you have a home that was built in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and even some into the 80s, check to see if you have hardwood under your carpet.  Homes built from the 1950s-80s were often built with hardwood floors. Oftentimes, subsequent owners have put carpet over them. Many homeowners have gone to replace old, worn-out carpet to find out by the carpet layers that there was hardwood underneath and the owners decide to go ahead and recover them because they’ve already paid for the carpet. Really, if you have hardwood floors under the carpet, then just remove the carpet have them refinished. They will look absolutely beautiful.   Do not ignore your pantry. Often, Deborah is showing a house and finds the pantry full. People are not cleaning out their pantry. Buyers want to see the size of the pantry so they can see if it will hold a normal grocery trip or if it can handle a Costco sized trip. It makes a big difference. Also, make it nice and orderly. It opens up the space and helps the buyer visualize the space for their needs.   When decluttering, don’t use your garage for storage. One thing that bugs Deborah, and her buyers often notice, is the garage being used to store things from the house. It’s important to declutter the house and open up the spaces so buyers can see how big the rooms are, how they can put their own things in the space. But if you take your personal items (lamps, tables, chairs, extra clothes, etc.) and store them in the garage, then the buyers can’t see how large the garage is. They can’t determine if their vehicle will fit in the garage space and it can frustrate prospective buyers.   Get a pre-home inspection and fix what needs fixing. If your house has something odd, like a dryer vent that vents into the laundry room, get it fixed. This is a safety code violation and will turn buyers off to the house for things like this. If you get a pre-home inspection, a lot of those issues will come up so you have time to get them fixed before the home goes on the market.   It helps to have clean windows and doors. It creates a welcoming atmosphere. If you have a doggie door, please clean that thing. Those things can get nasty and it’s one of those things that just don’t get thought about. It’s a real turnoff if you don’t.   Make sure your home’s photos look good. Recently, one of Deborah’s buyers wanted to see a house on the MLS, but the outside shots of the home were laughable. Why? Because the photos were taken during a snowstorm and you couldn’t see the hous...