Daigle's Digs: February 2015

Friday, February 27, 2015

Trust

Trust was a common theme in my life this week. Trust is the building block of my business, I spend time getting to know my clients and have consultative conversations about what they are looking for to build a strong level of trust. This allows me to work for them by selling their home at top dollar and/or finding them the home of their dreams.

Along with trusting others is the opportunity to trust yourself. This is one concept that is more difficult for some (myself included). Although, I have heard the saying "trust your gut" plenty of times, I seemingly have heard it more in Denver. You know that feeling that you get in the pit of your stomach when you meet someone, are presented with an idea, have a dream, etc.? Go ahead and listen to it. We have a tendency to add logic to that feeling which will immediately discount the gut feeling experienced.

This week I moved all my accounts to a dear friend I met in Denver. I spent years in finance and am very logic and numbers based and as I was driving away from our appt., I thought to myself I really didn't run as many numbers regarding the decision as I would have before. It just felt that it was right. I thought back to this as someone told me that they did not jive with someone they recently met and she had no explanation for it. My thought is, first and foremost, you have to jive with the person that is working with you. If you do not, do not question it, rather, go find someone you jive with.

This week I also found myself on the opposite side of a real estate transaction as I am trying to rent my condo in New Hampshire. The new real estate agent wanted to change the rent I charged slightly and seemed to be very confident that my condo would be rented quickly. I was skeptical. I was nervous and probably micro managing the process a bit too much. Want to know what happened? We had a person put a deposit on my condo sight unseen before we allowed showings and we had about 10 showings the first day. Moral of story? I probably should have trusted the professional I hired.

Sometimes it is hard to just trust yourself or give up your trust to someone else. Life is more emotional than we give it credit for. Buy or selling a home can be emotional but you have to trust the process and the people in place to help you. Sometimes you have to walk away from the perfect house and trust that there is something better. Or, maybe you have to trust that selling your home is the last step to your next chapter.

In addition to writing for Daigle's Digs, Elizabeth works full-time as a Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Downtown, LLC. Elizabeth's expertise is in buying and selling a home, first time home buyers, short sales, and investment properties. Contact Elizabeth for any real estate needs. Cell 303-819.73.71. Work 720-314-8352

Monday, February 23, 2015

A neutral dining area

While searching the internet recently I stumbled upon a great dining room in a Soho apartment.

This room got me thinking about how a neutral color scheme can still pack a mean punch. Often times we think in order to decorate we have to use a lot of color and texture but that is not true. This room has used muted undertones and very simple furniture. Even the artwork is subdued and the only texture in the room is the design on the crown molding. The room still feels quite calm and inviting without all of what most people consider "design". This room makes me think of a very strong yet feminine woman whose mere presence mandates attention and respect, although not many words have to be uttered to know she deserves your attention. Just like in life, you do not need to be noisy to be heard.

To see the whole loft, go here.

Friday, February 20, 2015

The Good Neighbor Next Door

The Good Neighbor Next Door is a program offered through HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). It offers a 50% discount of the list price of a home eligible for certain occupations - teachers, police, firefighters and EMTs. The condition is that you must live in the home for 36 months. HUD requires you to take out a silent second mortgage for the other half of the listing price but no payments are required and as long as you stay in the home for 36 months, the second mortgage is forgiven. If you do not stay for 36 months, HUD will require that you pay a pro-rata on the portion of the second mortgage.

The number of properties eligible for the Good Neighbor Next Door program is limited and located in areas that HUD would like revitalized. The homes are typically only listed for 7 days and are a lottery system if there are multiple offers (which there are in Denver!) The Good Neighbor Next Door is a great program to consider. Currently in the Denver metro area there are very few homes available through the program. In fact, today there are no listings eligible for this program. As you can imagine, when a home does come on the market eligible for The Good Neighbor Next Door program, it goes very quickly. If you are in an occupation that is eligible for this program and have time and patience to find a home, this is a great option. Search for HUD homes (including those for The Good Neighbor Next Door) here. In addition, be sure you choose an agent that is both familiar with the Good Neighbor Next Door program and the HUD bidding process.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Focus on: Whittier

Whittier is another neighborhood in Denver that has seen a lot of transition. Whittier's boundaries are 23rd Ave to the south, Martin Luther King Blvd to the north, Downing Street to the west and York St to the east.

The majority of the neighborhood is residential and has become quite popular because of its close proximity to Downtown. The new light rail stop on 30th and Downing now makes it easier to get Downtown. Whittier is a great neighborhood for folks who work or play Downtown but do not want to live there or can not afford the rising prices of Downtown real estate. Whittier is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Denver and because of that a number of the homes are considered historical landmarks. Addition attractions in the Whittier neighborhood include it's close proximity to City Park, the Denver Zoo and the City Park Golf course.

Last year, the average home price in Whittier was $400,000 and it took about 35 days for homes to sell when listed.

For more information on Whittier real estate go here.

Friday, February 13, 2015

The Balfour

This week I had the opportunity to attend the Balfour Grand Opening. For those of you who are unaware, the Balfour is an upscale senior living complex right in Riverfront. It offers 112 independent living units, 65 assisted-living units and 28 memory care units. I will let the website speak to the amenities, as there many.

Describing it as upscale does not do it justice. There is no detail overlooked in this complex. Every room has a different look to elicit a feeling of relaxation and calmness. It is the pinnacle of senior living. One of the best features is its continuum of care so as your needs change you may still stay in the community.

As I passed through each room I had to hold back squeals of excitement. Every room is done perfectly and the use of wallpaper in the Balfour is magnificent. Who ever says wallpaper is out of style needs to view the Balfour. Here are a few pictures I snapped when I could (the were hundreds of people at the grand opening so it was tough).

View from one of the porches:

The women's locker room. Amazing.

Check out the wallpaper detail in the built-in bookcase.

Sitting/Dinning area.

Birds on the wall of the staircase. Such a simple detail but adds a little fun to a traditional decor.

Of course in honor of Valentine's Day tomorrow, the pink pool room:

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So there you have it, Riverfront now offers an upscale senior living community. Perfect for you or a loved one's retirement. If you get a chance, be sure to take a tour of the Balfour, you will not be disappointed.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

The Ritz-Carlton Way

Last week I had the luxury of staying at the Ritz-Carlton in the Cayman Islands. I could talk endlessly about the wonderful, luxurious and beautiful amenities. But I won't. Why? Because we all know the Ritz-Carlton brand is top-notch, the best of the best and offers superior accommodations and service.

While on vacation I started thinking about the incredible brand that Ritz-Carlton has created for itself. The Ritz creates nothing shy of an amazing experience for all guests. Staff members are not merely employees; they are guides who remain attentive and responsive for your whole stay. Doormen hold open doors, you are referred to as 'Ma'am" (or Sir) until they find out your name and at every opportunity they provide superior service. In fact, the Ritz's motto is "We are Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen." Touché. It is no surprise that the Ritz has one of the most extensive and longest training for their employee.

The Ritz Carlton Employee Promise:

At The Ritz-Carlton, our Ladies and Gentlemen are the most important resource in our service commitment to our guests.

By applying the principles of trust, honesty, respect, integrity and commitment, we nurture and maximize talent to the benefit of each individual and the company.

The Ritz-Carlton fosters a work environment where diversity is valued, quality of life is enhanced, individual aspirations are fulfilled, and The Ritz-Carlton Mystique is strengthened.

The experience and service left me speechless and I took to the Internet to gather more information about their credo and philosophy. In 2003, the General Manager said the Ritz is a "company of relationships". Well, so am I. That got me thinking of why I got into real estate. I felt there was a need for real estate agents who provide top-notch service. An agent who answered their phone, who worked for their client and their client's best interests while acting with integrity, grace and respect. An agent whose primary goal wasn't to sell you a home but to advise and educate you which not only entailed strong marketing and negotiation skills but also analytical skills and research of the real estate market and community. In essence, my mission is to be the Ritz-Carlton of real estate. When you buy or sell real estate with me you are treated like a lady and/or gentleman, You are listened to, you are valued and respected. My goal is to provide such a remarkable level of service that you too, are left speechless. That is the Ritz Carlton Way.

And okay, I will leave you with just a few pictures of the beach and accommodations. :)

Infinity Pool

The beach and the bluest water I have yet to see.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Spice Organization

Anyone else love to cook as much as I do? Now that I have my own place again, I am organizing all of my kitchen gadgets and accessories that never made it into my last kitchen. My new kitchen has been blessed with spice rack similar to this:

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Although, I by no means have enough spices to fill the racks, I do feel a sense of pride of all my spices I have accumulated and showcased in this drawer. About a year ago I first saw Genevieve Gorder's spice drawer in her NYC home and I was immensely jealous. not only did she have an individual drawer for spices but she had spices from all her world travels. What a great souvenir item for someone who loves to cook!

But I digress, a spice drawer is not the only way to organize your spices in your kitchen.

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One creative idea would be to put magnets on the spice jars and place them on metal strips. This is a great option if you would like your spices to be visible and/or are limited on drawer space in your kitchen.

Also, using magnets you can attach spices to a chalkboard and hand write the spice names.

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This allows the spices to be visible and you can use the ever trendy chalkboard paint trend :).

Not a big fan of dried spices? You can always grow your own if you have the space and green thumb.

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If you are a Denver local and love spices make sure to check out the Savory Spice Shop on Platte Street. You will not be disappointed. They have any spice you can think of which is perfect for personal cooking or a great gift!

Friday, February 6, 2015

6 (Often Forgotten) Benefits to Taking a Vacation

As my vacation comes to an end I can't help but reflect. As much as I love vacation, I fought going on this one. It was the first one away from my business and I have been so focused on work for so many month that it made me very nervous to step away. Do not get me wrong, it is a great type of focused - more of an excitement - but it was time to take a vacation. I planned out everything prior to coming, point of contact in my absence and my schedule for returning calls, texts and emails. Like every best laid plan, there were gaps that I could not account for once arriving. Mainly it was a disconnect between my phone provider and me but it eventually got straightened out.

Five days into my vacation I can reflect and realize how valuable a vacation truly is. A vacation can offer a great opportunity to step away from the everyday and gain perspective and clarity on your life, both personal and professional. The past week has been the first time that I have real relaxed in 7 months. My year has been a whirlwind and I have kept pedaling forward and through whatever has come my way. Physically removing myself from my life has forced me to slow down, live in the moment and spend quality time with friends and family without distractions of everyday life. The finny thing is, now that I am relaxed my creativity is bursting. I have generated great marketing ideas, different approaches to my business and an ability to think bigger without restrictions imposed by my environment such as time, ability and training. Also, returning back I have a newfound excitement and energy for my life.

Although there are many benefits to taking a vacation, here are six that I have seen in just my five days away.

Always try to take a vacation if you can, you will not regret it!

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Bringing your travels into the home.

Often it isn't until on a vacation that I realize how much I love to travel. Vacation for me, like many others, is a great way to hit the recharge button. I can easily relax when away and it also helps my creativity so when I return I have a new perspective on my home life and career.

I have had some great opportunities to travel and am very blessed by the different places I have been able to see. Traveling not only lets one see different places of the world but also allows one to see how other people live.

Because of my love for travel, I have been pleased to see the design trends of maps in the home. What better a reminder of the world we live in and also the opportunities we have had or will have to travel.

Create a map out of newspaper clippings for your wall.