Seven Point "Royal" Elk in Estes Park - in back of our motel!

A Colorado AAA

A friend of mine likes to take what she calls 'AAAs' - Altitude Attitude Adjustments - which is a trip through the high country of Colorado. This weekend, I grabbed my camera and we were off for fall color, and 'shooting' elk.

I don't think we've ever had an AAA as amazing as the one we took this weekend to the Rocky Mountain National Park. We left Woodland Park Friday morning, then spent the day photographing aspens and elk. We stayed in Estes Park Friday night, then Saturday morning, drove back through the park and over the Continental Divide, (where if you pee on one side, and I pee on the other, yours goes to the Atlantic, and mine goes to the Pacific!), then down through Grand Lake. We arrived home on Saturday night, then left Sunday morning for Cottonwood Lake in Chaffee County.

The Majestic Rocky Mountain Elk

In the evenings during the fall, the elk gather in the meadows of the Rocky Mountain National Park. I've seen elk before (even in my own yard), but never like what we enjoyed this weekend. We spent several hours at one meadow, which gave us a unique opportunity to learn something about what we were seeing. This is what we learned:

The bull elk gather to themselves as many cows as they can possibly pull together (their 'harems'), and then spend the rest of the evening keeping them all together in one place, so as to avoid other bulls 'stealing' them away. He constantly runs back and forth bringing the strays back , and 'bugling' (a loud and very unique sound), to prove he is worthy of them, and to entice them to stay. All the while, the neighboring bull is bugling to show the cows how very special he is, and encourage them to come over to him.

The cows decide which bull they like, looking for the biggest rack, ( now there's a switch, huh?), the strongest, and the best bugler. If the guy she's with doesn't cut it, she's off to one who will! The bull she's with tries everything he can to keep her, but if he drops his guard, she's out of there. And you can bet the other guy is waiting to bring her in.

The cows that are happy with where they are, are lazily eating, resting, or nursing their youngsters.

Meanwhile, the bull, breathing heavily, and never stopping to rest or lay down, was closing in on utter exhaustion. Eventually, he had to rest. He laid down, and took a nap. When he did, the guy next door jumped at his chance!

One by one, the bull with a harem next door stole 12 of his cows.

The two racing across the meadow is the thief with one of his prizes.

Our old boy was too tired to do anything about it.

We reluctantly left the park, as it was getting dark and cold. What a terrific experience, and an amazing photo opportunity!

Coming next, aspens in their fall splendor.

All Photos taken by Debi Boucher, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without express written permission. Prudential Professional REALTORS, ASP REALTOR, Woodland Park Real Estate, Woodland Park Colorado 80863 – Serving the City of Woodland Park, Teller County, Ute Pass, and Park County since 1997.

How Color in a Room Effects Mood - Staging to SELL


Color in a room can influence our emotions and moods. It's effect can be different depending on age, gender, and climate for instance, but certain colors usually evoke a similar reaction in most people. (For example, did you know that most little girls choose purple as their favorite color?) Therefore, when staging your home for sale, it's important to understand which colors evoke which emotions. Let's take a look at a few colors, and how they are typically described.


Red

Life force, blood, love, energizing, exciting, anger, stimulates conversation, active
Red increases the heart rate and blood pressure, and is considered an appetite stimulant. Consider the color red in restaurants.....Red is a good color in kitchens, dining rooms


Yellow

Cheerful, attention-getting, enhances concentration (think 'yellow' note pads), optimism, happiness, but tends to cause anxiety in babies and the elderly, attention getting -(yellow used for road signs and markings), energizing, active. Yellow is a good color in entry ways, kitchens, and bathrooms



Green

Calming, refreshing, relaxing, passive. Represents nature, money (success), an ancient symbol of fertility. Seen as a 'positive' color - renewal of life
Green is well suited to any room in the home - a combination of the peacefulness of
blue, and the happiness of yellow






Blue

Tranquility, peacefulness, loyalty, reliability, cleanliness, healing. Calming, relaxing,
serene. Slows heart rate, reduces body temperature, passive
Blue is perfect for bedrooms, but avoid dark blues that can invoke a sense of sadness








How Do I Use Color in Effectively Staging My Home For Sale?

Choosing the right shades of these colors to use in your home is critical. Generally, the softer the shade of a color you choose, the better. Bolder color should be used sparingly, and only as an accent color. Would you like to make a room look longer? or wider? Use a deeper, ( but not DARK), shade of a color on a side wall to draw in, or draw out a room. Consider the intended use of the room - is it a room best suited to passive activity? Or a center of family activity, conversation, and fun?

What does 'neutral' mean? Firstly, it does not mean WHITE. While white has it's place, great for ceilings and trim for example, you may want to present your home to the buying public as current and up-to-date, (but not too 'trendy'). Your color choices should appeal to the majority of buyers, not the minority. So choose soft, feel-good colors that create a sense of unity and continuity throughout the home.


Home Staging Tips- Video

Below is a video intended to help you 'feel' color, and includes before and after photos of how color is used in Staging a home.

You will also find recommended 'neutral' colors you might consider for use on your walls.

<

Trust Your Instincts! Check 'Em Out

I just read a post by Antoinette Scognaniglio, called "Read this now...Realtor Safety issues...Who are THEY Anyway?"

Great post, Antoinette!

Her story was similar to a very recent experience that I had, but while mine was not a safety issue, (at least I don't think so), what it has in common with her story is the "Google" factor.

This is important not only to REALTORS, but to the FSBO folks out there trying to go it alone.

Here's my story:

I received a 'buyer' call in reference to a high end ranch - with all the expected 'goodies'- that I had listed. The prospective buyer he said he was putting together a "Vacation Club", whereby his clients could choose from a variety of exclusive properties all over the country for their vacationing needs. He informed me he was looking for more than one property in the area, as well as in another area outside Denver. Could I arrange a referral to the listing agent there?

Hmmmm. Let me think for a nano second...Yes. Of course I could!

He claimed to be a developer/broker, and went on to tell me about the latest project he'd completed, a golf community and resort in Edwards, Mo.

I began sending property listings I thought would best meet his needs, with countless emails going back and forth, and arranged a referral with a Denver area agent, who then made contact with him. He emailed to let me know he'd be coming to town, and when would I be available? I told him I'd be out of town during such and such, and we made arrangements to work around both schedules.

Starting to sound pretty good, huh? Well. Not so much.

When I started talking qualifying; cash or loan? lender? verification of funds?, his plans suddenly changed. (No answers to the $$ questions). Now, he'd actually be coming during the period I was to be out-of-town, and who would be taking care of my business while I was away?

Alrighty then. Something is not quite right here.

So. I decided to Google him. This is what I found:

Man who took investors' money for golf club that failed required to pay $99,947 restitution in judgment filed by Nixon

(Nixon is the Attorney General ;)

Nixon's office received complaints from consumers who invested in blanked, located on Highway 7 in Edwards, including three individuals who put up $25,000 each. The defendants represented to investors that their funds would be used to develop blanked and that they would receive a significant rate of return on their investments. Nixon says, however, that the defendants never obtained additional funding to develop the project and failed to return the investors' principal.

In addition, Nixon says, the defendants solicited employees for blanked with the promise of high paying jobs. Several individuals left their existing employment and performed work for the defendants, but were never paid for the work or received the promised position with blanked.

Upon judicial approval of the consent judgment, blanked will be permanently barred from continued violations of Missouri consumer protection laws. Specifically, the defendants will be prohibited from soliciting or accepting funds for investment in blanked or any other resort or land development projects. The defendants will also be prohibited from soliciting consumers for employment positions with blanked or other developments, from maintaining a Web site for blanked or other developments and from advertising for blanked or other developments unless full funding has been obtained to build the development.

In addition, once approved by the Circuit Court, the defendants will be ordered to pay $99,947 in restitution to five individuals who filed complaints with the Attorney General's Office.

Do you think I gave him the name of the agent covering my business? LOL

Of course, I also called the Denver agent and gave him a heads up.

Trust your instincts. Find out who you're dealing with if you can. Just another beneficial use for GOOGLE!

Imagine what could have been the time wasted for the agents, (both selling and listing), and the disappointment of hopeful sellers.

Here's my theory- I believe he intended to put offers on properties for which he hoped to find "investors" with deep pockets. I'm thinking nothing would have ever seen the light of a closing table.

This is the best I could come up with, so I'd be interested to know, what do you think his scam was?

Woodland Park Colorado, Prudential Professional REALTORS, ASP REALTOR

Woodland Park sits at the base of Pikes Peak, "America's Mountain", at an elevation of 8465 feet. It is known as "The City Above the Clouds" due to it's abundant sunshine, and boasts a cozy population of about 7,600.

Woodland Park - The History

The largest city in Teller County, Woodland Park is about 18 miles from Colorado Springs, traveling west on Highway 24 through the scenic Ute Pass.

Many log cabins were built in the area for this purpose, and remain here today as private residences. Others would come to enjoy the mountain setting staying at grand hotels, such as the Midland Hotel. Logging was the primary industry in Woodland Park during the 1800's, supporting the railroad and gold mines of Cripple Creek and Victor.

Marking the Ute Pass Trail Courtesy Denver Historical Museum

Midland Hotel ca. 1934 Courtesy Ute Pass Historical Society

Woodland Park - The Great Outdoors

Woodland Park is centrally located to just about any outdoor activity one could imagine! From world class fishing in the South Platte River, rafting in the Arkansas, to skiing Breckenridge, it's all here! Surrounded by thousands of acres of National Forest, it's a mecca for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Enjoy gaming in the historical mining town of Cripple Creek, exploring the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, marvel at the wonder of Mueller State Park & Wildlife Area and allow yourself to be awed by the majesty of Pikes Peak!

Woodland Park - Work, Live, and Play Here!

Whether you're looking to relocate, vacation, or retire - We think you'll LOVE it here!

Historical Midland Ave, A View Toward the Peak Music Series Outdoor Concert, Rampart Library

For REAL ESTATE information and Homes or Land property searches, visit the search page on my website: Debi Boucher - Prudential Professional REALTORS - Woodland Park

Woodland Park - What's Bugging you?

In an article dated September 21, 2008 by R. Scott Rappold, the Colorado Springs Gazette reports that the Colorado State Forest Service office in Woodland Park has received numerous calls from people worried that the dying pine needles they see on their trees are a result of pine beetle infestation. The Colorado Forest Service assures us that what we are seeing is the annual dying of pine needles, and not the result of the voracious appetite of pine beetles.

"Many types of evergreens shed their needles in the fall, and especially so in dry years like this one", Rappold reports officials as saying.

So, how do you recognize the pine beetle, and the affected trees? The Mountain Pine Beetle, (MPB), is native to the forests of western North America. Periodic outbreaks result in losses of millions of trees, mainly ponderosa, lodgepole, Scotch and limber pine.

The MPB can be distinguished by the shape of it's hind wing cover which is gradually curved. The signs and symptoms of an MPB attack on your trees, are listed here:

Signs and Symptoms of MPB Attack

• Popcorn-shaped masses of resin, called "pitch tubes," on the trunk where beetle tunneling begins. Pitch tubes may be brown, pink or white
• Boring dust in bark crevices and on the ground immediately adjacent to the tree base.
• Evidence of woodpecker feeding on trunk. Patches of bark are removed and bark flakes lie on the ground or snow below tree.
• Foliage turning yellowish to reddish throughout the entire tree crown. This usually occurs eight to 10 months after a successful MPB attack.
• Presence of live MPB (eggs, larvae, pupae and/or adults) as well as galleries under bark. This is the most certain indicator of infestation. A hatchet for removal of bark is needed to check trees correctly.
• Bluestained sapwood . Check at more than one point around the tree's circumference.

Infested Trees

• Once MPB infests a tree, nothing practical can be done to save that tree.
• Under epidemic or outbreak conditions, enough beetles can emerge from an infested tree to kill at least two, and possibly more, trees the following year.
• Ips and related beetles that emerge early in summer often are mistaken for mountain pine beetle, leading to early reports that "MPB is flying." Be sure to properly identify the beetles you find associated with your trees.
• Trees from which MPB have already emerged (look for numerous round, pitch-free exit holes in bark) do not need to be treated.
• The direction and spread rate of a beetle infestation is impossible to predict. However, attacked trees usually are adjacent to or near previously killed trees.

For more detailed information go to Colorado State University

"Information reprinted with permission from Colorado State University Extension, fact sheet no. 5.528, Mountain Pine Beetle, by D.A. Leatherman, I. Aguayo, and T.M. Mehal, more information at www.ext.colostate.edu.”

The US Forest Service says aerial surveys show no signs of infestation in in the Pikes Peak area this summer. Good news for us - good news for our trees!

ASP REALTOR, Prudential Professional REALTORS

Woodland Park Colorado