Karen Hodges

Now that my family and I have settled into Santa Fe as full-time residents I see why it has a long-standing reputation as a great place to retire. While my husband and I aren’t quite at the retirement stage yet, we definitely plan on staying in Santa Fe for our golden years! We’re originally from Rhode Island so we’re especially enjoying the 310 days of sunshine!

We’ve found that Santa Fe truly combines small town charm, with a population of approximately 68,000, with world-class sophistication. If you love the arts and cultural activities, you’ll enjoy your retirement years in a stimulating cultural environment. If you’re more interested in the outdoors, you’ll never be bored with Santa Fe’s golf courses, skiing, hiking, white water rafting and fishing.

I’m not the only one that feels this way, checkout what others have to say about relocating to Santa Fe:

• In 2011, U.S. News selected Santa Fe as one of the country's top 10 places for single retirees to live because of the large number of singles over 65 years of age and abundance of outdoor activities.

• In 2007, Santa Fe is second among the Ten Best Places to Live on Sperling's list.

• In 2003, AARP Magazine named Santa Fe one of the 15 best places in the country to "reinvent yourself”.

Are you considering Santa Fe, NM as a retirement option? What should you do to get started?

A great starting point is to get Santa Fe’s Chamber of Commerce relocation package that provides a comprehensive overview of living in the Santa Fe area. You’ll find that there are a number of high-quality retirement communities to choose from.

However, if you’re interested in owning your own home when you retire please take advantage of our free consultation. We offer comprehensive home tending and concierge services in Santa Fe.

We’ve done all the homework for you so we can connect you to the right top-notch professional resources – whether you need a real estate agent, landscaper, housecleaner, etc. We can also care for your home if there’s going to be an interim between purchasing your home in Santa Fe and moving in. (This is a great time to take advantage of the rare buyers’ market in Santa Fe so now may be the best time to buy – even if retirement is a few years off!)

We know that moving can be stressful and you want to make the best retirement decision possible. Please let us know if you have any questions about Santa Fe – we’d love to assist you.

Being a second homeowner is great, but the truth is it can be challenging getting home projects done when you don't live in Santa Fe. So what can you do when you want an important landscaping project done right before you arrive for your summer holiday?

Hire a home tender like Home Sweet Home Tending, LLC to serve as a project manager to be your "eyes and ears on the ground". We can do the due diligence of gathering estimates and contacting just the right firm for your job. This is SO very important because you want the job done right and you whenever people work at your home you want someone you can trust.

Here are 5 tips to follow when hiring a landscaper:

1. Define your needs. Take time to think about what you want done in your yard. Is the job a complete overhaul, an installation, or do you want someone to tweak a plan you already have in existence? The more specific you are the better chances you'll be able to identify the type of landscaper best suited to your needs.

2. Be specific during the interview process. Make a list of all the important items you need to cover such as price, availability, timing of being able to complete the job, and cancellation policy. Ask for 3-4 client references for you to follow up on. Find out what guarantee, if any, they provide if you are not satisfied with the service.

3. Ask about insurance. Make sure that whatever firm you hire is covered by insurance. This is a protection for you in case someone where to get hurt while on your property.

4. Get a written contract. The best way to avoid misunderstandings and potential problems in the future is to make sure that all the specifics are down in writing in a contract.

If you would like assistance in the Santa Fe, NM area on finding the right landscaper to fit your job, we'd be happy to help. Home Sweet Home Tending, LLC can also serve as project managers while the job is happening making sure that things and getting done per your directions both on time and on budget.

Contact us: Karen@HomeSweetHomeTending.com or 505-919-8711.

If you're a second homeowner this is a friendly reminder that it's time to buy your season tickets to the Santa Fe Opera.

The season runs during July and August and this year's lineup is no less spectacular than before.

The Santa Fe Opera will be doing "Faust", "La Boheme", "Griselda", "The Last Savage" and "Wozzeck".

I've already purchased ticket to see "Wozzeck when we have out-of-town guests visiting.

So, check it out. If you need assistance to make your visit to your home here in Santa Fe even easier, contact me at www.HomeSweetHomeTending.com. We can serve as project managers on repair projects as well as see to it that you have your house fully cleaned and stocked with goodies upon your arrival.

In a home market that has seen its share of downturns, sellers are looking to get the best selling price on their properties. The condition of a home plays a major role in the closing price.

Many homeowners are faced with the burden of having to make a sudden move out of state and leave the sale of their home to a real estate agent to sell the property "as is".

Bringing in a home tender who can work closely with the realtor can bring a fresh eye to see what is needed. Perhaps landscaping needs to be spruced up or maybe a home stager should be brought in to freshen up a home with outdated furniture.

Do you have clients who are no longer living in Santa Fe? Does the property need projects done before it's market ready?

Contact us now at www.HomeSweetHomeTending.com. We'd love to partner with you.

I really don't think anyone loves moving day. You may love being settled in your home, but the process of packing and unpacking can be very stressful. The goods news it that there are some simple tips to make it easier. Making a move can be quite smooth as long as you simplify and get organized.

Here are my favorite tips to make your move easier:

When packing:

Pack up one room at a time. Pack all items from that particular room, whether it be the kitchen or downstairs bathroom, together so that they stay together and are easier to unpack. The ease of this is that when you're unpacking you don't have to waste time moving from room to room and figuring out where things go.

Label like a demon. Label, label, label in big, bold letters for each box. Make sure to mark "fragile" on any boxes with breakable items.

Keep only what you want. Moving is a great time to pare down. If you come across items that you know you won't be using anymore don't bother with the cost and hassle factor of moving them. Keeping stuff you don't really want will take up space in your new home and eat up your time because you'll be trying to figure out what you should do with them.

When unpacking:

You Gotta Make a Plan. Before you arrive at your new home take the time to decide how you want to work through the unpacking process. Be methodical. Put all of the boxes in the appropriate rooms before you start unpacking. Unpack one room at a time. The best place to start is usually the kitchen, followed by the bathrooms, bedrooms and the living areas.

Focus on the primary living areas first. Don't worry about areas like the deck, storage shed, the garage. Those are the areas that you can take the time to organize later. Get the most important areas unpacked, organized first. By focusing on the essentials, you avoid getting bogged down.

Don't rush. Moving is a big deal as my family found out when we moved cross country from Rhode Island to New Mexico. Know that unpacking and settling in a process.

By keeping these tips in mind, hopefully your moving experience will be more straightforward and less stressful. If you live in Santa Fe and need us to recommend professionals to help you pack and move let us know. And, should you leave your home vacant without a buyer, please call us for a free consultation at 505-919-8711 or Karen@HomeSweetHomeTending.com