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MARKET OUTLOOK

Real Estate in the Coming Months

How Can I Get My Kids More Involved in Housework?

Home and Garden: It Takes a Village

Involving your family in housework is a way to use this time to teach valuable life skills and encourage teamwork.

Design Recipes: How to Create a Calming Home Office

The popular Igbo proverb takes on more meaning today as our entire community is affected by the shuttering of schools, businesses and stores. How can gardeners help?

With so many people working from home, one challenge may be in how to create an adequate and productive work environment

March 27-28, 2020

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atHome

COLORADO HOME AND REAL ESTATE

REALTOR FOR LIFE

At home during the coronavirus crisis and what’s to come when it’s over

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Duane Duggan Mary Lynn Bruny Michaela Phillips Carol O’Meara Tom Kalinski Jill Ramone Rick Jacquemard Cathy Hobbs Diana Crandall ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Thais Hafer Toni McNeill Mary Romano ADVERTISING FEATURES COORDINATOR Greg Stone

At Home is an Advertising Supplement published by the Boulder Daily Camera and Longmont Times-Call. ©2020 Prairie Mountain Media.

ADVERTISE

To advertise in At Home or to promote your open house visit AtHomeColorado.com/Advertise, call Thais Hafer at 303.473.1456 or Toni McNeill at 303.684.5329.

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At Home welcomes news tips and articles on local real estate and the home including expert advice, upcoming events, Realtor achievements, community involvement and more. Submit information and articles to: athome@dailycamera.com or athome@timescall.com SIGN UP FOR OUR E-NEWSLETTER AT ATHOMECOLORADO.COM FACEBOOK.COM/ ATHOMECOLORADO

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AT HOME COLORADO

In time of crisis, the one place that people go to for their safe haven is their home. Now homes are places of business as well. (Photo: Paige Code, Unsplash).

Everyone needs to do their part to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Right now, home is the safest place to be. Shelteringin-place at home for an

BY DUANE undetermined DUGGAN period will make Realtor and Author for an ideal time RE/MAX of Boulder to get some of those home projects done, which will leave you with plenty of free time after this all this blows over.

Just six months ago, we were living in an entirely different world. Even on Leap Day, Feb. 29th, all economic indicators were very strong. With the spread of COVID-19, those indicators will be quite different for March.

This week I had the privilege of listening to an interview entitled “This Too Shall Pass,” between Dr. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and Brian Buffini, founder and chairman of Buffini and Company, a leading international real estate coaching and training company. They discussed the effect of COVID-19 on the real estate industry.

Buffini pointed out, “In this time of crisis, the one place that people had to go to for their safe haven was their home. Their homes became their shelter, their comfort, their lifeboat.”

Now, companies have quickly adapted to make their employees’ homes their places of business as well. Over the past weekend, Colorado Governor Jared

Polis mandated that Colorado employers reduce employee density immediately, creating further urgency in transitioning to work-from-home. Now many people are discovering that it’s not only possible to work from home, but more preferable, and it will be interesting to see how many people continue to work from home when the crisis is over. In fact, Dr. Yun commented, “there will probably be so many new ‘work-from-homers’, they will all start looking for a new home that meets the needs of that new lifestyle.”

Working from home is just one of the various ways we’re social distancing. The more social distance we have, the more quickly this public health crisis will be over. In fact, if the coronavirus is contained shortly, Dr. Yun thinks that “real estate will bounce back quickly. The slowdown in spring buying might cause a spring-like surge in activity in August. The more buyers who delay a spring purchase will create pent up demand in the later part of the year.” Dr. Yun further explained that “real estate is staged to stay strong after the coronavirus crisis is over. The main reason is that there is still an inventory shortage across the country. Inventory remains short because the building industry needed to be building about 1.5 million homes a year just to keep up with population.

For over a decade, the production level has only averaged about 1 million homes a year.”

Buffini said that, “the banking industry is a completely different place than before the recession of

2007 to 2012. During the eight years prior to the coronavirus crisis, lenders were making higherquality mortgage loans, not the easy financing that created many problems during the recession.

Prudent mortgage lending has prevented many people from getting in over their heads, making it easier for them to weather the storm. “ Dr. Yun elaborated that, “we are in a very accommodating monetary policy period. That means mortgage interest rates are likely to remain at an historic low, and maybe will even go lower. Most clients are attracted to low rates. Interest rates are more important than the loss of value in the stock market. Half of America doesn’t own stock and the stock market doesn’t affect them.” If one feels that their job is secure, and many jobs are, Dr. Yun advises to take advantage of the record-low mortgage rates. He also said, “Maybe there are less buyers out in the market during the crisis, which means there’s less competition and better price negotiation potential.”

In summary, Dr. Yun said, “It’s going to pass. This short-term coronavirus negative impact will pass… Even if it takes a little longer to contain it, there is such solid fundamentals for the real estate market, things will play out very well over the long haul.

People who are planning for the future long term in real estate, they will do well.”

Buffini concluded with, “When you have a bit of a longer-term perspective, it seems to take you out of the short-term panic.”

Duane Duggan has been a Realtor for RE/MAX of Boulder in Colorado since 1982 and has facilitated over 2,500 transactions over his career, the vast majority from repeat and referred clients.

He has been awarded two of the highest honors bestowed by RE/MAX International: The Lifetime Achievement Award and the Circle of Legends Award.

Living the life of a Realtor and being immersed in real estate led to the inception of his book, Realtor for Life. For questions, e-mail DuaneDuggan@boulderco.com, call 303.441.5611 or visit boulderco.com.

DAILY CAMERA / TIMES-CALL

THE LIGHTER SIDE

Coronavirus times at home: Eating and drinking and eating and drinking

By Mary Lynn Bruny For At Home Colorado Now that we’re shuttered in our homes due to what feels like the end of the world as we know it, we all have new challenges. One is to avoid the strong gravitational pull of the refrigerator and snack cupboard. Most of us have never had so much food in our homes, especially junk food. The combination of stress, nervousness and boredom is driving us to stare longingly into our stocked fridges and kitchen cabinets, looking for some respite from all the craziness. And we’re finding it.

We all want a “little something” to get through these days, whatever our favorite “little something” is. I seem to have “little somethings” all day long and night, and I’d wager an eight-pack of toilet paper – doubleply, the good stuff – I’m not alone.

First it starts with too much coffee while reading the news, as I did not sleep well the night before. How many of us wake at 2 a.m. in sheer terror worrying about the state of the world’s health and the economy? I know some clever person will soon develop a support website for this, something like: “conoranxiety.com” or “totallyfreakingout.com.” Until then, I get up and make a cup of herbal tea and eat a few

We all want a “little something” to get through these days, whatever our favorite “little something” is. (Photo: Shutterstock).

– okay, several – cookies, then fitfully go back to sleep until the crack of dawn when I can resume worrying with new vim and vigor.

Of course, too much coffee leads to too much frenetic energy that makes me pace around the house like a herding dog looking for a purpose for their existence sans sheep.

Somehow this scurrying about always leads to the kitchen. All roads (or hallways) seem to lead to Snackland.

It’s not like we’re starving here in between

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meals: the big focal point of my husband’s and my day is cooking a big mid-day meal. Before lunch was an apple and some yogurt. Now it’s a three-course spread from Bon Appétit magazine, a lovely creative diversion.

Early evening, on the other hand, feels like a mental endurance event as we catch up with world events and press conferences. I have gone from maybe a glass of wine with dinner to, “Get out the bottle, it’s time to see what fresh hell has transpired.” I ask my husband, “Am I drinking too much?” To which he replies, “’Pandemics Rules’ now apply. Pour yourself another glass.”

But it’s cookies – which we barely ate before – that now seem to be our main comfort food.

We each picked out two bags of our personal favorites to supposedly get us through the next month or so. After a week, my first bag is already gone, and I am eyeing my husband’s supply. He better hide them in a place I’ll never look, like behind the ironing board. I state, “I won’t open my other bag of cookies for a while.” To which he replies, “What’s ‘a while’ during a pandemic, a day?” Turns out it is a day.

Mary Lynn Bruny is a Boulder freelance writer who has written about home-related topics for many, many years.

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MORTGAGE

What you need to know about the Federal Reserve’s recent rate cut COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, is sweeping the globe and causing significant disruptions to daily life and the economy.

As COVID-19

BY MICHAELA continues to PHILLIPS spread, the Guaranteed Rate, Inc. Federal Reserve has responded by slashing its benchmark by a full percentage point, bringing interest rates to a range of 0 to 0.25 percent. This is the second emergency rate cut this year due to concerns regarding the coronavirus’s effects on the global economy and market conditions.

In addition to this dramatic and swift reduction of interest rates, the Fed has announced that it will reinstate quantitative easing (the purchase of hundreds of billions in bonds to keep rates low and markets moving). These measures aim to protect the economy and ease the burden that this virus is causing the markets. Interested in discovering what these changes may mean for you if you’re planning to buy a home? Here’s what you need to know about the Fed’s recent action: What is the federal funds rate?

By law, banks must keep a

As COVID-19 continues to spread, the Federal Reserve has responded by slashing its benchmark by a full percentage point, bringing interest rates to a range of 0 to 0.25 percent. (Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash).

minimum amount of non-interest bearing reserves in order to cover depositors’ needs. This amount, known as the reserve requirement, is equivalent to a certain percentage of their deposits. Money that exceeds this required threshold may be lent to other banks. The federal funds rate refers to the interest rate that banks charge each other on an overnight basis.

Eight times a year, a branch of the Federal Reserve called the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets to set a target for the federal funds rate. The federal

funds rate target is dependent upon economic conditions and can vary widely. For example, the federal funds rate reached 20% in the early 1980s due to inflation, and fell to 0 to 0.25% during the Great Recession to drive growth.

As the coronavirus threatens markets around the world, the Fed has once again slashed rates to the record low of 0 to 0.25%.

Although the federal funds rate has the ability to influence shortterm interest rates, this doesn’t guarantee that mortgage rates will follow suit.

What does the federal funds rate affect?

As mentioned previously, the federal funds rate is a target and the Fed doesn’t directly impose the target on banks. However, the Federal Reserve has the power to move rates toward the target by adjusting the money supply. In this case, the Fed’s use of quantitative easing will increase the money supply to encourage lower interest rates.

The federal funds rate usually has an impact on most short-term interest rates. As the federal funds rate rises or falls, we’ll likely see an effect on auto loan and credit card rates. Although it’s possible for mortgage rates to be impacted as well, we haven’t yet seen rates fall following the move by the Fed. Although the markets are volatile during these unusual times, the Fed’s actions are intended to help the economy remain steady. If you were already planning to purchase a home in 2020, consider speaking with a lender to determine whether you’d like to proceed.

Michaela is the Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Guaranteed Rate, Inc. Contact Michaela at 303.443.6292, e-mail michaela. phillips@rate.com or visit michaelaphillips.com.

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HOME AND GARDEN

It takes a village It takes a village to raise a child.

The popular Igbo proverb takes on more meaning today as our entire community is affected by the shuttering of schools,

BY CAROL businesses, and stores. Pundits are O’MEARA Colorado State predicting that University Extension we’ll see the ripple effect of this echo through our lives for months, with hunger and need for basic necessities likely to increase.

In short, the whole village needs each other. How can gardeners help? Elizabeth Black, member of the Boulder Culinary Gardeners group, sent a thoughtful note out to us all and it’s making its way through social media groups.

“It looks like we may be stuck at home for an extended period of time, possibly even through the summer, due to quarantine measures,” she wrote. “It also looks like many folks will need the services of food banks, since they will be out of work for an

Black suggested three things for us to do:

Gardening is a good way to lift spirits and pull together as a community.

(Photo: Sutterstock).

extended period.”

Black called on the skill set gardeners can offer, urging us to rise up to help, and made suggestions on how. Her call to action is grounded in the belief that we can each play to our strengths; gardeners are a good group to do this.

We’re a generous bunch, albeit a little weird looking with mismatched clothes and a few leaves stuck in our hair. And as inspirational posts on social media point out, gardening isn’t cancelled.

As a bonus, it’s soil amendment time and people aren’t likely to approach to within our six-foot buffer zone if we’re kicking up a lot of dirt.

1. “Plant a row or bed or extra patch of something to donate to one of the organizations that supplies folks in need.”

Check with your local food banks or pantries for donation days and hours and ask them what fresh produce they’d like most to have donated. Consider giving space to items the food bank needs rather than trying out that exotic plant you’d been thinking of growing.

2. “Grow some extra seedlings for your neighbors to plant, and encourage them to do so.”

Offering to place seedlings on a neighbor’s doorstep for them to take is a great way to encourage gardening – but use clean gloves when handling the pots you plan to give away and if you are the recipient. Implement the “ding and dash” of ringing the doorbell to tell them their plants have arrived – seedlings instead of zucchini.

3. “Share your expertise with your friends and acquaintances,

so they can feel more in control in these uncertain times. They will develop a new hobby that will keep them fed, entertained and feeling powerful in these uncertain times.”

If you have an extra tool or hose, clean and disinfect them to offer to the person new to gardening.

Our hobby is simple, but also takes items they might not be able to afford.

Some gentle humor in explaining the vagaries of Mother Nature in the garden can help keep spirits up in tough time. Encourage people to keep trying if a seedling gets stolen by birds or trampled by little feet. Gardening is a good way to lift spirits and pull together as a community.

Carol A. O’Meara is an Extension Agent – Horticulture Entomology at Colorado State University Extension Boulder County. For more information contact CSU Extension at the Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Box B, Longmont, 303.678.6377, e-mail comeara@bouldercounty.org or visit ext.colostate.edu/boulder.

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AT HOME COLORADO

DAILY CAMERA / TIMES-CALL

COVERPROFILE

MARKET OUTLOOK

Real estate in the coming months As COVID-19 transforms daily routines, people are concerned an economic slowdown, which may affect the housing market, is on the

BY TOM horizon.

KALINSKI Yet many RE/MAX of Boulder financial and housing experts believe that an economic downturn may not become a recession, according to reports from Realtor.com®.

Cautiously, they point to many factors.

“I don’t expect the slowdown to be like the last recession where prices fell,” says Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale. “There are more than enough buyers out there to keep home sales from slowing in any major way.”

Though in the near-term, home showings may slow due to the need for social distancing, experts currently don’t expect home prices to drop greatly. Mortgage rates are still low and housing supply remains lower than demand, March 27-28, 2020

reasons Realtor.com.

When compared to the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009, the current situation benefits from key differences. Then, subprime loans factored in heavily, but today this type of loan is mostly gone from the housing landscape.

In addition, home prices have risen significantly in recent years, resulting in home owners building equity that serves as a buffer against the decline of housing prices.

In addition, most housing experts say there is an ongoing shortage of housing, and with the supply of homes for sale continuing to outpace demand, they don’t expect housing prices to drop. One reason for continued demand is the unwavering natural cycle of life changes – expanding family, for example – which often dictates the need to buy a home.

Seller psychology also comes into play. You can expect sellers to be reluctant to accept a lower selling price resulting from a temporary market fluctuation.

These sellers will simply put off the sale until prices rebound, notes Realtor.com.

Even so, some markets are likely to feel the downturn more than others, including areas that are focused on travel and tourism.

Also markets that grew quickly could experience a slowdown, says Realtor.com, though experts say the same markets could rebound within a quarter or two as the economy improves.

Help for middle-income borrowers Many homeowners received a mortgage reprieve when FHFA announced suspension of foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days for borrowers who can’t make monthly payments on single-family home loans.

This applies to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loans, which make up about half of all residential mortgages, or 28 million borrowers. In addition, forbearance of up to 12 months is being granted to homeowners affected by the coronavirus who are struggling to make payments.

Homeowners worried about falling behind on their payments should contact their mortgage provider as soon as possible to

make arrangements, say FHFA officials.

If you need to buy or sell a home now, contact a trusted real estate professional for advice.

Now more than ever, local market knowledge can help you navigate this changing situation.

For more information, please read: • realtor.com/news/trends/ recession-alert-what-homebuyers-sellers-need-to-knowabout-the-housing-market • realtor.com/news/trends/u-ssuspends-most-foreclosuresamid-coronavirus-uncertainty Tom Kalinski is the broker/ owner of RE/MAX of Boulder, the local residential real estate company he established in 1977.

He was inducted into Boulder County’s Business Hall of Fame in 2016 and has a 40year background in commercial and residential real estate.

For questions, e-mail Tom at tomkalinski33@gmail.com, call 303.441.5620 or visit boulderco.com.

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These include: • • • • • • • • •

Colorado wildflowers. (Photo: Larry Lamsa / Flickr.com).

LAWN AND GARDEN

Using wildflowers in your Colorado home landscaping

By Jill Ramone Wikilawn Denver You’re guaranteed to have success using native wildflowers in your Colorado home landscaping. It’s much easier working with plants that have adapted to the climate and seasonal conditions. You’ll also save yourself the time, trouble and expense of trying to make plants native to other regions survive outside their comfort zone.

If you’d like to grow wildflowers from seeds, you can order online.

But consider the three different types before grabbing the trowel.

Perennials Plant these in late spring. This type of plant dies back each winter and regrows the following spring from the same root system.

Biennials These flowers need a season of growth followed by a dormant period to bloom the following season because their life cycle spans two years.

Annuals Plant these after Mother’s Day (when you’re sure the last snow has fallen). This will ensure enough time for them to mature and produce viable seeds for a shot at regrowing the next year. Annuals’ roots, stems, and leaves all die off each year.

You can also buy seedlings or blooming wildflowers, such as columbines or yarrow, from local nurseries. If you hope for them to reseed and return next year, look to buy them in the spring rather than waiting until summer.

Wildflowers in the mountain meadow.

(Photo: NPS Photo / Walker Hall).

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AT HOME COLORADO

What to plant With blooms in every color of the rainbow, a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park this spring is an ideal way to view a variety of wildflowers in their natural settings. You’ll see columbines, spotted coralroot, mountain cactus and shooting stars. Take note of how some thrive in rocky areas, others in meadows and all in differing degrees of wet or dry soils and higher or lower elevations.

Remember, it’s illegal to pick or remove any flowers or plants from the park.

Poisonous plants Keep in mind some of the prettiest wildflowers in Colorado are also the deadliest. These are important to avoid if you have small children or pets that like to chew on flowers.

Death Camas. (Photo: Jennifer McNew, BLM / Wikimedia Commons)

Death camas Larkspur Western water hemlock Lupine Locoweed African rue Myrtle spurge Red elderberry Container Gardens

Don’t have enough room for a flower garden? Wildflowers also make lovely potted plants. Placing container plants on raised surfaces near your house may also help protect your flowers from visiting wildlife.

Need more ideas on native plants that will hold up yearround? An excellent resource is the Denver Botanic Gardens.

You’ll find creeping mahonia and prickly pear cactus among the cold-weather species. Take a selfguided walking tour and explore the various gardens at your leisure, or sign up for a guided tour. The staff horticulturalists will also tell you how to care for these wildflowers and offer suggestions on planting.

Incorporating native wildflowers into your landscape design will bring a more natural look to your property. It also gives you time to enjoy your garden rather than work in it, since these plants are low maintenance and need little water to thrive. They also make lovely conversation pieces, allowing you to impress your friends and neighbors with their exotic names and admirable origin stories.

Jill Ramone is a landscaper and writer for Wikilawn Denver.

She specializes in designing sustainable, low-maintenance yards for busy homeowners. She prides herself on using eco-friendly products to control weeds and pests.

Container plant. (Photo: Pxfuel.com).

DAILY CAMERA / TIMES-CALL

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LAWN AND GARDEN

5 reasons hardscapes are a landscape’s best friend

The versatility of hardscaping products and materials makes them ideal for a variety of landscaping applications. (Photo: Brandpoint).

(BPT) - Hardscaping products, including segmental retaining wall units (SRWs) and interlocking concrete pavers, are a landscape’s best friend.

Landscape professionals know that hardscapes are the backbone of a great design. Homeowners, too, shouldn’t be afraid to explore do-it-yourself landscape features using hardscape materials.

According to the National Association of Landscape Professionals, hardscaping trends for 2020 include geometric patterned designs as well as materials with sleek, modern lines.

Luckily, design options abound as hardscapes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, textures and colors that work well with other materials such as natural stone or crushed rock mulch.

Hardscapes are popular because they outlast materials such as timbers for retaining walls or asphalt for driveway surfaces, says Scott Arnold, general manager of Villa Landscapes in St. Paul, Minnesota. “Hardscape surfaces are durable and low maintenance,” Arnold says. “For example, when a client wants to replace a wood deck, we suggest a raised paving stone patio created with retaining wall units and pavers as a solution. In addition to traditional uses, such as fixing grade problems and preventing erosion, retaining 10

AT HOME COLORADO

wall systems also can be used to build outdoor features such as fireplaces and raised planters. Or they can be employed to solve unique landscaping problems.”

Making the grade Villa Landscapes used the VERSALOK retaining wall system to solve an unusual problem for a homeowner who had a historic home on “Cream of Wheat Row” in Minneapolis, an avenue with stately homes built by wheat company executives at the turn of the 19th century. The home had a driveway designed for horseand-buggy with an embedded limestone step for disembarking passengers. No cars could go around it, so Villa elevated the driveway with a retaining wall system so a new paving stone driveway would be level with the existing step.

Play well with others Made of colors and textures that mimic and complement natural stone, hardscaping products work well with other materials, like crushed stone, flagstone steppers and natural boulders. A Wisconsin homeowner needed retaining walls for slopes and a paving stone patio as well as natural steps and boulders in the surrounding garden. Using retaining wall units, paving stones and natural

stone, Villa’s design incorporated elements of both harmony and contrast in shapes, textures and colors.

Define outdoor areas Hardscapes are great for creating multiple, connected outdoor living spaces. By varying the pattern, color and texture, a design can define areas for grilling, dining and relaxing. In addition, retaining wall systems can be used to create columns, freestanding walls, raised planters and other features that give outdoor rooms definition and functionality.

Complement any design A variety of shapes, colors and textures make hardscapes the perfect complement to any architectural design, from an old-world look to minimalist style. Several homes in a residential development in Edina, Minnesota, followed suit when one homeowner selected the new VERSA-LOK CleanCut™ retaining wall texture for its clean, contemporary feel to match the modern architectural design of the home.

Create outdoor features Hardscape features such as fireplaces, fire rings, bar/grill islands, raised planters and more can be built easily with retaining

wall units. The VERSA-LOK retaining wall system can be used for features such as columns, curves, stairs and corners without the need for special pieces.

The versatility of hardscaping products and materials makes them ideal for a variety of landscaping applications.

Hardscaping products, such as segmental retaining walls and concrete pavers, let homeowners shape their yards, while adding color and increasing usable space.

Hardscaping materials, such as rock and stone mulch, add the finishing touches that dress up a yard and make it look complete.

Retaining wall systems can be used to create columns, freestanding walls, raised planters and other features that give outdoor rooms definition and functionality. (Photo: Brandpoint).

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We are dedicated to our community during these trying times.

Thank you to all the essential workers. Stay well and be safe.

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ASK THE EXPERT

Pre-inspection spring cleaning Most of us will be spending a lot of time at home for a while due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Finding things to occupy our

BY RICK time can be JACQUEMARD a challenge.

Flatirons Home Giving your Inspections house a good spring cleaning could keep you busy for several days if not weeks.

Even though there may still be snow on the ground in some areas, it’s not too early to start thinking about spring cleaning and home maintenance. Despite all the hype surrounding spring cleaning, most homeowners don’t want to spend the weekend doing yard work, cleaning out storage spaces and reorganizing their closets. However, spring is a good time for homeowners to evaluate in their home and identify potential maintenance issues. There’s nothing better than a home inspection to help identify minor issues before they become

When it comes to spring cleaning and/or getting your home ready for an inspection, focus on function over fashion. (Photo: Shutterstock).

major repairs. The beginning of warmer weather brings with it many chores, some cosmetic like mowing the lawn or pulling weeds and some more practical like cleaning the gutters or the screens on your windows. When it comes to spring cleaning and/ or getting your home ready for an inspection, focus on function over fashion. Be sure that your home systems are working well and ready for the change in season as well as any pending inspection.

In addition to inspecting a home’s major systems a typical spring home inspection should include an inspection of the roof to identify curling, shrinking,

broken or missing shingles that may lead to costly leaks. This can be done from the ground with binoculars. Visually inspect hose bibs for signs of frost damage, tears and holes in window and door screens, broken or clogged gutters, damaged siding and cracking or peeling paint and caulking. Rake the lawn to remove any branches, debris and leaves that you might have missed in the fall, they can suffocate the grass beneath. Check your decks for warped, loose or splintered boards. The same is true for wood and composite fences, pergolas, trellises and other structures.

Spring is also a good time to clean interior areas of the house that are often neglected.

Dust or vacuum chair rails, window casings, tops of wallmounted cabinets and ceiling fans. Launder or dry-clean fabric draperies and use a damp cloth to clean blinds. In the kitchen, wash cabinets, backsplashes and walls with warm water and mild detergent. The same is true in the bathroom. While you’re cleaning tile, look for areas of worn or

missing grout, as these may lead to more serious water damage if not repaired. Check under the kitchen and bathroom sink to make sure connections on pipes and hoses are properly sealed and look for any wetness around the dishwasher that could signal an existing or potential problem. The same is true for hot water heaters, which may show sign of corrosion and leaks. Search attics for signs of insects or other critters. Also check attics for mold which often takes the form of gray or black blotches that look like staining. Basements should also be checked for signs of mold, leaks or dampness. If you already see visible mold, testing for mold is usually irrelevant because at this point, you or a mold professional simply need to get rid of the mold following proper mold remediation standards. If only the smell of mold is present but there is none visible, testing for mold is advisable.

For more information on home inspections contact Rick Jacquemard, at 720.280.3544, e-mail rick@flatironshi.com or visit flatironshi.com.

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DESIGN RECIPES

How to create a calming home office that make you feel calm, transform your space into an oasis.

5.

6.

A separate office space with a desk facing a window allows an abundance of natural light. (Photo: Design Recipes/TNS).

By Cathy Hobbs Tribune News Service With so many people working from home, one challenge may be in how to create an adequate and productive work environment, especially if there is more than one working adult in the household.

So where do you begin? And how do you create a work environment that is bright, fresh and productive? Here are some of our top Design Recipes tips.

1.

Create your home office in a room with a window, if possible. Natural light in a number of ways plays a

role in creating the ideal work environment.

2.

Try to create a separate work room if possible.

Depending on your home environment, additional privacy may be needed.

3.

Ventilate your space periodically throughout the day. Fresh air goes a long way in creating a healthy environment.

4.

Try to make your home work environment soothing and calm. From textures and textiles to colors

5. Choose a comfortable work chair. While workspaces and desks are important as far as comfort, a comfortable work chair should top your list.

Try to store documents away from your work surface when possible.

Keeping your work area neat and tidy will also help keep the creative juices flowing.

7.

Integrate colors you love into your space. Does the color orange make you happy? Does the color blue make you calm and relaxed? Color can often play a role in creating the right mood and tone.

8.

Looking for space-saving solutions? Consider

creating your workspace in a currently occupied area of your home such as a bedroom or use a slim or convertible piece of furniture such as a table that transforms into a desk.

9.

Ditch the guest bedroom.

So often guest bedrooms go unused except for a few times a year. Why not turn every room of your home into a productive space?

10. Bring in living elements such as plants and trees.

Greenery will help bring life to your space as well as circulate oxygen.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Awardwinning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com.

Professional Home Inspections For Home Buyers and Sellers www.flatironshi.com

720-280-3544 rick@flatironshi.com

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throw away. Depending on how old your kids are, you can set limits for the number of toys, clothes or other items they can keep. When you’re finished, check whether any local charitable organizations are accepting donations. If there’s nowhere to take them now, stow them away in the garage or storage room until it operations resume in your area.

Spending more time at home, we can teach valuable home skills in the laundry room, the kitchen and the outdoors. (Photo: Dreamstime/TNS).

ASK ANGIE’S LIST

How can I get my kids more involved in housework?

By Diana Crandall Angie’s List As we’re all spending more time at home, we’re adjusting to a new way of life and developing new routines. And if you have kids at home, you may be thinking of ways to create more structure in their days. Involving your family in housework is a way to use this time to teach valuable life skills and encourage teamwork – and to keep your home tidy and organized.

Tackle dirty dishes head-on More meals at home means more dishes to clean. Depending on

the age of your children, they may already know how to rinse their plates, place them in the dishwasher and run the cycle. If not, now is a chance to learn. You can also teach your children to clear and wipe down the table and countertops. And, having them help to hand-wash, dry and put away dishes can emphasize the upsides of working together as well.

Take chores outside As we’re heading into spring, make some time for fresh air and move housework outside. Older children can assist with more complex jobs, like mowing the

lawn or trimming bushes and hedges. And younger children can help with watering the garden, weeding or repotting plants.

You can also teach your kids about how to stay safe while working outside, highlighting the importance of simple things like applying sunscreen and staying hydrated.

Organize and donate If your home could use some decluttering, now’s a good time to involve your kids in the process.

Focus on one room, or one area of a room, at a time. Designate separate bags or boxes for items you can give away, recycle or

Conquer the laundry room Stay ahead of overflowing hampers with help from your kids.

Toddlers enjoy finding matching socks and sorting colors; and grade-school children can help to fold clothes and towels and put clean clothes where they belong. If your child is ready, you can teach them about labels and washing instructions, as well as the different settings on the washing machine. Teens can also assist with the ironing.

Teach house cleaning and sanitizing basics As the situation around the world continues to evolve, many families are having discussions about the importance of hand-washing and social distancing. This is also a good time to talk about the importance of house cleaning.

Having your children help disinfect frequently touched areas like doorknobs, light switches, and faucet and toilet handles every day will keep them mindful. You can also use this opportunity to teach the basics of house cleaning, like which types of cleansers to use on which surfaces, and the overall importance of tidying up the home.

Diana Crandall is a reporter for Angie’s List, a trusted provider of local consumer reviews and an online marketplace of services from top-rated providers.

Visit AngiesList.com.

Home, Sweet Home AtHome Colorado presents engaging content about homes, from buying and selling to improvement, landscaping and design. It also features homes for sale, open house listings and local real estate news.

Publishes Friday in the Daily Camera, Saturday in the Times-Call & Reporter-Herald and online at AtHomeColorado.com.

For advertising information call Thais Hafer at 303.473.1456 or visit athomecolorado.com/advertise.

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Real Estate place yoUr ad:

303.466.3636 BoUlder/Broomfield/longmont or 970.635.3650 loveland or frontrangeclassifieds.com

Real Estate

FAIR HOUSING NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Law which makes it illegal to advertise a preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion , sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preferences, limitation or discrimination.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call The Colorado Civil Rights Office at 1-800-262-4845/ HUD at 1-800-669-9777.

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Send details to: P.O. Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201

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RECENTLY LISTED HOMES

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