Homes inside & out Fall Edition

Fall

INSIDE

& OUT

2010

‘PERFECT HOME FOR A REMODEL’ PLAYING WITH DIRT ADOBE A GREAT FIT FOR THE GUNNISON VALLEY

AFTER THE FALL

GROWING SEASON MAY BE OVER, BUT YARD AND GARDEN WORK REMAINS COMPLIMENTARY

Publication of the Gunnison Country Times.

Let our team help you...

i Gunnison I

i Crested Butte I

313 North Pine • $540,000 Charming Victorian home with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths on 4 lots in a great location. Enjoy the 3 bay garage, mature landscaping plus the additional income from the second home.

127 County Rd. 11 • $339,500

RIVER FRONT

COMMERCIAL/ RESIDENTIAL

INCOME PRODUCING

Rare find! Secluded, newly remodeled, 2 bedroom home on beautifully landscaped .5 acre on the Gunnison River. Perfect for boaters and fishermen. No covenants or HOA!

110 S. 12th Street • $180,000 This Gunnison property is 11,500 sqft with 3 buildings and 2 sheds. Building 1 is a residential/commercial 1,375 sqft. Building 2 is 300 sqft retail space.

Building 3 is 322 sqft garage.

113 & 115 Clark Blvd • $184,000 Remodeled duplex within walking distance to downtown Gunnison and the college. 113 is 2 bedroom/1 bath and 115 is 1 bedroom 1 bath. Great rental history at a great value!

210 N. 12th Street • $359,000 This home was originally built in 1883 and has been completely restored.

Featuring 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a spacious kitchen. Brand new two car garage.

aA Thank you for being the outstanding folks that you are and for helping my wife and I find our “Dream Home�

Tom & Carla Bennett - Gunnison, CO

ww o w.P s.c e rem i t ier-Mountain-Proper

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Unlock Paradise

20 Glacier Lily • $1,125,000

$50,000 + RENTAL INCOME

This 3,616 sq. ft. Post & Beam home features an open floor plan and magnificent protected views. Oversized two bay attached garage includes an apartment. Situated on 1.58 acre lot and borders 3 acres of open space.

1024 Wildcat Trail • $999,500

HORSE PROPERTY

Log home with 3568 livable sq. ft on 36+ acres bordering National Forest & BLM land with a private creek. Quiet mountain privacy just 5 minutes to downtown Crested Butte.

712 Whiterock • $875,000 The perfect in town Crested Butte home at the perfect price! 3 bedroom home with detached 2 car garage plus studio. Walking distance to parks, schools and Elk Avenue.

Mature landscaping and well cared for.

152 Par Lane • $759,000 Custom Town-Home on the 1st fairway of the Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course with many custom improvements, open floor plan and very well cared for! 2400 square feet with 2 car garage.

MOTIVATED SELLER

San Moritz Condo • $369,900

SKI-IN/SKI-OUT

Great value for Mt. Crested Butte ski-in condo. Remodeled inside and out. Only $278/square foot! Lowest price per sq. ft. for ski-in condo! All inclusive complex with hot tubs, saunas and private shuttle.

300 Belleview #6 • $199,000 Great 1 bedroom, 1 bath 594 sq. ft. unit in town. Short bike ride to shopping, restaurants, and the ski shuttle stop!

Breathtaking views of Red Lady from your living room

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t &ML "WFOVF Downtown Crested Butte, Colorado www.premier-mountain-properties.com

People’s Choice Awards 2009 Winner

Best Realtor

Over 3,000sf Gunnison riverfront home priced to sell!

5 bdrm/3 bath, 1.5 acres, great fishing, easy access to BLM, 2 miles south of Almont; 685 River Front Rd; $379,000

Buena Vista/Beautiful Views is the perfect street name for this 3 bdrm/2 bath energy efficient home on 1.53 acres; hardwood floors, solar panels; 86 Buena Vista Dr; $279,000

Newly remodeled 4 bdrm/2 bath home w/ 2 apartments for extra income; new insulation, windows, hardwood floors, home office, stone fireplace w/ wood insert; 219 N. 12th; $459,000

Ranch style home on ž acre right in town at 906 W. Hwy 50; hardwood floors, 2 garages, new windows, plenty of room to store RV, ATV’s snowmobiles, boats, etc; 3 bdrm/2 bath; $220,000

Modern log home on 10 acres just 5 minutes from Blue Mesa Lake; 997 CR 20A (Steuben Creek) Built in 1997, borders public lands (BLM), picture windows, loft; $295,000

Horse property with barn, horse shelter, tack shed/outbuilding; 3 bdrm/2 bath home on 3.42 acres, energy saving features, glass envelope on ž of the home, no carpet, pellet stove; 3 Navajo Ln; $299,000

Need a large home?

2316sf home w/ lower level apartment/guest house for $249,000; oversized 2 car garage, 4 bdrm/3 bath, huge kitchen, close to the Gunnison River Park; 295 N. 3rd

Remodeled & restored bungalow style home in historical neighborhood w/ large trees & established gardens; 4 bdrm/2 bath, 2 car garage, new furnace, plumbing & electric; 403 N. Pine; $360,000

North Elk Meadows 4 bdrm/3 bath home on nearly 1 acre, granite counters, 2 car attached garage, hickory floors & cabinets, lg foyer, office/ reading area, steam shower; 341 Meadowlark Tr; $475,000

Newly remodeled Gunnison River home across from Dos Rios Golf Course, 3 bdrm/4 bath, on the river, includes pond, new stainless appliances, hardwood floors; 732 Camino Del Rio; $519,000

Brand new 4 bdrm home on 36+ acres just 5 miles from Gunnison; approx 3,000sf, 2 car garage, wrap around deck, hickory cabinets, granite counters, kitchen island; 1115 CR 743; $465,000

Well cared for home with huge privacy fenced back yard, 3 bdrm/2 bath, 13,443sf lot, move-in ready, deck, gardens, mature landscaping, room to build a garage; 409 N. 7th; $219,000

NEW LISTING: 3 bdrm/2 bath home on 3.3 acres, includes 3 car garage, no covenants, den, deck, large workshop, built in 2007; 44501 E. Hwy. 50; $290,000

Country home in the trees w/ small creek meandering through the .95 acre lot at 260 CR 771 in Ohio City; 3 bdrm/2 bath, room for 2 more bdrms in finished second story; $215,000

Affordably priced horse property just 1 mile east of Gunnison. Enjoy riding from your property onto BLM land, 3 bdrm/2 bath, 3.37 acres, loafing shed, great views; 287 Ute Ln; $330,000

Immaculate home w/ granite counters, oak floors, balcony, stainless appliances, steam shower, 3 bdrm/3 bath, 2 car heated garage, cedar siding, gas log fireplace; 101 Meadowlark Tr; $479,000

Beautiful log home on a 160 acre inholding, just 15 minutes from Gunnison, includes 84’ x 64’ metal shop building, 2 car garage, horse barn, hot tub; 2544 CR 743; $985,000

NEW LISTING: 3 bdrm/2 bath home, conveniently located by the college, downtown, park, and rec center.

Two car garage, move in ready; 111 Mountaineer Dr; $229,000

Nestled in the trees with Spring Creek meandering behind the house; approx 2800sf home on 400’ of river frontage, 1+ acres, 2 car garage, lg deck, hot tub, 3 fireplaces; 1420 CR 744; $595,000

Personalized horse property w/ newly remodeled residence at 141 Chippewa Way in Castle Mtn; 2266sf, 3 bdrm/2 bath, 2.8 irrigated acres of pasture, 2 car garage, office; $365,000

Log home in Ohio City on 11,249sf lot, 2 bdrm/1 bath, 720sf, close to hunting & fishing, great for the outdoor lover; covered porch, owner financing, pellet stove; 201 Roller St; $124,500

Four bdrm home on over 1 country acre just 1 mile east of Gunnison; 1632sf, south facing deck, room to add on and/or build a shop bldg, no covenants; 15 Tomichi Ln; $210,000

Brand new home to be built just for you! 1572sf, 3 bdrm/3 bath, 2 car garage, excellent insulation package, hardwood floors, vaulted ceiling, vinyl windows; 1115 Van Tuyl Circle; $295,000

Large in-town home w/ 3 car garage & bonus room; nearly 3,000sf, full basement, fireplace, zoned R-2, 3 city lots, fenced yard, lilac bushes; 516 W. Gothic; $250,000

Remodeled & affordable intown home at 714 N. 14th; 2 bdrm/1 bath, 1 car attached garage, well insulated, oak cabinets, new thermal pane windows, kitchen island; $183,000

Well priced home on extra large lot w/ room to build a garage; 3 bdrm/2 bath, 2 bay windows, 9375sf lot, nice carpet, lg kitchen, all appliances included, vaulted ceiling; 1023 N. Boulevard; $180,000

Great buy! Stick built 3 bdrm/2 bath home w/ 2 car garage, built in 1994, landscaping, deck, pellet stove, main floor mstr bdrm, convenient location, modern kitchen; 1205 W. New York; $210,000

Super price per square foot! 2096sf home at 412 N. 12th, 4 bdrm/2 bath, 2 sided fireplace, living rm plus separate den, built in 1995, trees, pedestrian bridge; $224,900

Well maintained & heat efficient 4 bdrm/2 bath home on 1/3 acre lot in Gold Basin Meadows; lg storage shed, fenced yard w/ trees, hardwood stoves, vaulted t&g ceiling; 53 Cottonwood Tr; $318,000

Gold Creek meanders through this 1.26 acre property with 3 homes in Ohio City at 224 Roller St. Narrow Gauge railroad history, as the train used to run through this property; $299,999

Lg home on 16+ irrigated acres w/ pond, 2 car garage, guest house, sunroom, owner financing, hay meadow, office area, granite counters, 3344sf, 4 bdrm/3 bath, 800 Sierra Vista Way; $649,000

3 bdrm cabin in Pitkin on 8+ acres, ½ mile from the National Forest, oak floors, maple cabinets, winter accessibility by snowmobile, skiing, or snowshoeing, lots of trees; 240 Santiago Basin Rd; $200,000

Primitive hunting cabin in the heart of the Rocky Mtns; Log cabin needs some TLC, owner financing available, 1 bdrm/1 bath, 3496sf lot, close to Gold & Quartz Creeks; 8487 CR 76; $59,500

Price reduced to $10,000 below appraised value on this log home at 76 CR 50, close to the airport, 4 car garage, ž acre, no covenants, loft, storage, horses allowed; $269,999

Historical Main Street home makes a wonderful residence or professional office building; hardwood floors, 4 bdrm/2 bath, fenced yard, 2081sf, pellet stove, brick exterior; 411 N.Main; $424,000

New listing: Small cabin w/ views of Blue Mesa Lake, 1.2 acres, 1 car garage, 5 minutes to fishing & boating; 28 Cove Rd; $132,500

( '9AF !MFFAKGF c 970-641-0511 cathie@clarkeagency.net

VISIT MORE LISTINGS AT: HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

www.clarkeagency.net 3

*MRH MX JEWX Editorial INSIDE

Fall

& OUT

2010

‘PERFECT HOME FOR A REMODEL’

Don’t put away your yard tools just yet ............................9 Incentives to save money ...............13 Down market, big opportunities ............................. 14

DIRT PLAYING WITH FIT ADOBE A GREAT FOR THE GUNNISON VALLEY

FALL AFTER THE SEASON MAY BE OVER,

GROWING REMAINS BUT YARD AND GARDEN WORK

Index

COMPLIMENTARY

Publication of the Gunnison Country Times.

A

bout the Cover: Rich and Jody Reeser toyed with building their own home.

Instead, they took this out-dated, ’50sera ranch-style house in the Palisades Subdivision and turned it into a modern gem. Photo by Will Shoemaker.

GCP

From ’50s fixer-upper to modern remodel .........................17 The marvels of mud ........................20 Doing dishes never looked so good ............................... 30 *MRH MX JEWX Advertisers

Index

Gunnison Country Publications, LLC

Publisher

Stephen J. Pierotti

Managing Editor Editorial

Advertising

Chris Dickey Will Shoemaker, Matt Smith, Chris Rourke, Cathie Elliott, Jon Mugglestone Drew Nelson, Leia Morrison

Layout/Ad Design

Online

Jennie Wren

www.gunnisontimes.com

For more information regarding this publication or other special publications of the Gunnison Country Publications, call 970.641.1414, or write ads@gunnisontimes.com Copyright© No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers.

Copyright© 2010. No part may be transmitted in any form by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without permission of the publisher. Any work (written, photographic or graphic) which the publishers “hired-out” becomes the property of the publisher. Publisher accepts no liability for solicited or unsolicited materials lost, damaged or otherwise.

4

All County Survey American Family Insurance Bank of America Mortgage Boom-a-rang C S I Concrete Systems, Inc. Christopher Klein Construction Clarke Agency Community Banks of Colorado Crested Butte Insulation Farmers Insurance Greatland Log Homes Gunnison Bank & Trust Gunnison County Electric Assoc.

Gunnison Glass Gunnison Metal Shop, Inc. Gunnison Real Estate & Rentals, LLC Gunnison Savings and Loan High Country Garage Door Hope & Glory Insurance Center J Reeser Architect, LLC

26 29 25 29 8 15 3&5 34 22 32 25 & 29 12 7 16 21 35 7 21 8 5 11

John’s Upholstery K-9 Training of the Western Slope Lucinda Clauter-Lull & Bill Nesbitt Mary Porter Morrison Tile & Stone Mountain Windows, Inc. Premier Mountain Properties Richard Almgren Insurance Agency, Inc. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Spring Creek Landscape Company Straw and Timber Craftsmen Substratum Excavation Sun Sports Unlimited True Value Valley Woodcare WaterFurnace Renewable Energy, Inc. Western Lumber

21 11 34 5 15 36 2 15 12 22 11 26 32 12 8 8 & 32

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

26

| FALL 2010

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Insulated Shade Supplies and Classes by Mary Porter 970-901-9541 For more information on Warm Window visit www.warmcompany.com

CONDOS AND TOWNHOMES Immaculate LaVeta Townhome w/ full finished full basement, 4 bdrm/3 bath, fenced yard, patio, gas log fireplace; 604 W. Gunnison; $249,000 s s s Affordable free standing condo; 3 bdrm/2 bath, 1248sf, built in 1999, small creek in back, fenced yard, new roof; 1208 W. Tomichi #5; $142,500 s s s New Listing: 3 bdrm/3 bath LaVeta Townhome at 229 S. Boulevard for $197,500; excellent condition, 1 car garage, unfinished basement. s s s Heatherwood Condo on the river, 2 bdrm/2 bath, loft, fireplace, new sliding glass doors, tile entryway, fenced yard; 108 CR 33 #18; $294,000 s s s Riverfront condo, 55+ age restriction, 2 bdrm/2 bath, built in 1989, all on one level, nice patio facing the river; 1200 W. Hwy 50 C-6; $145,000 s s s Patio home close to the Dos Rios Golf Course; 3 bdrm/2 bath, 2 car heated garage, private patio, lg common area; 100 Shavano Dr; $210,000 s s s Close to the golf course & river; nicely remodeled Heatherwood Condo at 165 CR 33, 2 bdrm/2 bath, new kitchen cabinets & back splash; $212,000 s s s Sunshine Condo, 2 bdrm/2 bath, woodstove, adjacent to open space, 6 blocks from downtown; 1011A W. Denver; $125,000 HOMES INSIDE & OUT

+YRRMWSR 2 1EMR 7X 0EOI 'MX] 2 ,[] 7XI 'VIWXIH &YXXI )PO %ZI Acuity • AIG • Allstate • CNA • Colorado Casuality • Fireman’s Fund Allied Insurance • Travelers • Pinnacol • Mountain State • Chubb Zurich • Encompass Insurance

acre at 851 Fairway Ln includes engineered house plans; $180,000 s s s 1.69 acre building site borders Clark Stream, well in place, utilities to the property, established neighborhood; 133 Arapahoe Rd; $139,500 s s s 40,628sf building site zoned commercial at Hwy 50 & W. Tomichi; one of the last large COMMERCIAL/INVESTMENT commercial building sites left in the city limits; $550,000 Duplex at 409/411 S. 12th for s s s $130,000; each side is 2 bdrm/1 Odom Ranch 4.5 miles south bath; can be converted into a 4 on Gold Basin Rd for $995,000; bdrm/2 bath home.

637 acres, water rights, old s s s ranch house, fenced pasture, Pie Zans Pizzeria; well estabGold Basin Creek. lished & successful Italian bistro s s s in excellent leased location 949 Horse River Ranch Drive, close to the college, hospital & 35 acres of irrigated pasture, downtown; 730 N. Main; $75,000 private fishing pond, adjacent s s s to Little Ohio Creek, driveway Nearly new shop building close in place; $375,000 to the airport includes two 12’ VACANT LAND s s s overhead doors, 200 amp elec1.8 acres of irrigated meadow Mitzels Green Acres (just south tric, inner garage door divider, would make a great homeof Almont) one acre homesites yard storage area; 611 S. 12th; site for the horse lover; 220 for sale with prices starting in $375,000 Rockey River Lane, close to the 60’s. Call Cathie for details. s s s the Gunnison River, fenced; s s s Price reduced to $345,00 on $99,000 37+ acre homesite without covthis 1500sf commercial building s s s enants or homeowners’ assoat 413 W. New York; 17,000sf One acre building site w/ ciation just 4 miles up County lot, room to expand to a second pasture & views of Carbon Road 17; several building sites, building to the south, garage Peak & Flat Top Mtn; Fairview fronts county maintained road; door in rear, Hwy 50 visibility.

Subdivision on Ohio Creek Rd, $60,000 s s s horses & livestock permitted; s s s Commercial bldg in the center $139,900 106+ acres w/ 2300’ of Tomichi of town. Ideal for retail, service, s s s Creek frontage for $920,000; professional office; 2220sf, livGunnison River building owner financing available, boring quarters upstairs, month to site, 1.68 acres in Sundance ders BLM on the south & conmonth leases in place, zoned River Front, 8 miles north of servation easement protected CBD; 133 E. Tomichi; $295,000 Gunnison, augmented water property to the west & north. s s s rights; $275,000 Great for professional office, Golf course building site; .39 W Mtn Ranch building site on residential home, or starter Van Tuyl Village Townhomes at 304 Van Tuyl Circle; prices start at $184,000; garage or carport, 2 bdrm/2 bath, 2 years old, pets allowed. s s s Great rental or starter home at 1001 W. Denver; 2 bdrm/2 bath Sunshine Condo, pets allowed, all appliances, woodstove; $115,000

| FALL 2010

home; hardwood floors, gas log fireplace, zoned commercial, 2 bdrm/1 bath; 107 S. Iowa; $189,500 s s s 4320sf shop bldg w/ prime Hwy 50 frontage on over 1/3 acre for $650,000; can be purchased w/ neighboring acreage (nearly 1 acre) for $1,100,000. Get details at www.clarkeagency.net s s s Trailer park for sale for $159,000 at 502 W. Gunnison; 3 mobile homes on 3 lots, zoned multifamily, super rentals. s s s Unique property w/ huge shop bldg/garage w/ nicely designed owners’ apartment upstairs; 2 bdrm apt above 2,000sf+ shop just 1 block from the commercial airport; zoned industrial, quality construction, garage door; 721 S. 9th; $385,000

S. Taylor for $82,500; 1/4 acre, surrounded by 2 of Gunnison’s finest homes, level, interior lot, backs up to open space. s s s 40 acre cabin site w/ views of Blue Mesa & the Dillon Pinnacles; seasonal access, no utilities, 30 minutes from Gunnison; $100,000 s s s Prime building site on the back nine of Dos Rios Golf Course at 340 Tomichi Tr for $220,000; .31 acre, utilities to the property. s s s Small lot in Ohio City at 8477 CR 76 for $39,900; adjacent cabin for sale for $59,500. s s s New Listing: Commercially zoned lots with Hwy 50 visibility in the 100 Block of S. 11th for $110,000. Call Cathie for details. s s s Nearly 7 acre building site 5 minutes from Blue Mesa Lake overlooking Steuben Creek for $120,000; borders public lands, close to great fishing. s s s Two creeks run through this gorgeous property at the base of Monarch pass. Enjoy having your horses close to your home on this 6.71 acre homesite, which can be subdivided into 2 tracts; $96,800 s s s 2 industrial zoned lots on Bidwell & S. 12th for $112,000.

Additional lots for sale; owner financing. s s s Super development lot for 4-plex or lower density; 6826sf lot is zoned multi-family, cor-

ner lot #79 Van Tuyl Village Subdivision; $125,000 s s s Steuben Creek meanders through this nearly 2 acre homesite for $149,900; trees, no covenants, partially fenced year-round access. s s s Five acres, also known as “Baldrick’s Spring”, includes historical barn & springs. Located in the gated community of Star Mtn Ranch, owner financing available; $395,000

241 N. Main, Gunnison

970-641-0511

cathie@clarkeagency.net

Call Toll-Free:

1-877-641-0511 View other area listings at www.clarkeagency.net

Celebratin g 30 Years in Real Estate People’s Choice Awards 2009 Winner

Best Realtor CATHIE ELLIOTT

Broker/Owner/G.R.I

970-641-0511

5

Keep your fireplace burning safely this season Teaching kids about fire safety is no laughing matter. Every fall, local firefighters — including Fire Marshal Dennis Spritzer, seen here behind the puppet screen — employ some playful techniques to help local school children learn about the dangers of fire.

Photos by Chris Rourke

Fire prevention education Local firefighters regularly go out of their way to teach youngsters about fire prevention.

Fire Marshal Dennis Spritzer has a few suggestions to stay safe, year around: 1. Keep lighters and matches in a locked or high cabinet and teach children these are tools used to start only good fires. Matches and lighters are not to be played with by children.

2. Educate children to stay away from hot things on the stove or outside grill. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stovetop.

3. Use electrical outlets safely. Do not overload them or plug more than one extension cord into each outlet.

If you have very young children, place childproof plugs in any unused sockets.

4. Replace frayed, broken or cracked electrical cords immediately.

5. Keep portable heating devices at least three feet from anything that can burn. Let children know that they should not touch or play near these room heaters.

6. Unplug small appliances when not in use, including hair care appliances.

7. Install smoke detectors on every

6

level of your home and near each bedroom. Also install carbon monoxide detectors within 15 feet of all bedrooms. Let your children help you test them every month.

8. Place fire extinguishers in your home, especially in your kitchen, basement and garage.

9. Have a fire escape plan, with two ways out of each room, and a meeting place for everyone to go to. Practice your escape plan with the entire family often. Let each family member know what they are responsible for as a part of the escape plan.

10. List emergency phone numbers near each phone. Teach children to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency only.

If you have any questions about fire prevention or fire safety, call the fire marshal’s office at 641.8153 or 641.8157. ■

Recent statistics indicate that an average of 25,100 chimney fires occur every year, claiming as many as 30 lives and causing $126.1 million in property damage annually.

Proper fireplace and chimney maintenance is the best way to avoid tragic losses. If your home has a wood-burning fireplace, make sure you follow these safety measures: •Get your chimney and fireplace cleaned annually. You can do it yourself if you’re willing to invest in the proper equipment and time, or you can use certified chimney sweeps.

•Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Ideally, they should be placed throughout the house, but most definitely in the room where the fireplace is located. Check the batteries often to ensure they’re working properly.

•Install chimney tops or shrouds.

These small additions prevent debris and small animals from obstructing the chimney.

•Keep the hearth area clear. All objects (including people) should be kept at least 36 inches away from the hearth to prevent combustible material from catching fire. Also, never leave a fire unattended, especially if you have children or pets.

•Use the right materials and fuel.

Choose well-seasoned wood that was cut 6 to 12 months earlier and stored in a covered location. Never burn Christmas trees or treated wood in your fireplace, and never use an accelerant other than newspaper and dry kindling (lighter fluid is meant for your outdoor grill only).

For more information, visit the Burn Wisely section at epa.gov/burnwise. ■

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

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Look for information on energy audits and energy efďŹ ciency rebates at

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Gunnison County Electric Association HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

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8

(970) 641-1638

(970) 641-5102

147 N. Main, Gunnison, CO HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

Leaves left on the lawn will mat and prevent oxygen and moisture from reaching grass.

Photos by Chris Dickey

Fall maintenance will pay spring dividends

by Jon Mugglestone

The onset of hard morning frosts and the fading of brilliant autumn leaves in the Gunnison Valley may diminish a gardener’s enthusiasm for the final tasks of the growing season.

However, putting on your hat and gloves and getting out into the crisp fall air to finish up the season’s work will reap benefits when winter’s cold diminishes and spring emerges once again.

The following are some gardening tasks and ideas to consider as winter approaches

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

Lawns Fall is a great time to core aerate the lawn. It will relieve compaction, allow more oxygen to reach the root zone of the lawn, help reduce fungal problems and improve the overall health of turf.

Rake leaves from lawn areas. Leaves left on lawn will mat and prevent oxygen and moisture from reaching grass.

Even though top growth has slowed, the roots of cool season turf grasses are still quite active in autumn. Fall fertilization with a quick-release nitrogen fertilizer (such as ammonium sulfate) will help lawns green up more quickly next spring.

Soils in our area naturally tend to have high levels of phosphorous and potassi-

um, so addition of fertilizers with these elements is often not necessary.

Trees & Shrubs Smooth- and thin-barked trees, such as aspen, ash and maple, are prone to frost cracking in the spring and fall as freezing nighttime temperatures and warm daytime temperatures cause expansion and contraction of tissues, especially on the south and west sides of trunks.

Consider wrapping the trunks of younger thin- and smooth-barked trees with tree wrap to protect them from frost cracking and sunscald. Tree wrap should be removed in the late spring.

Avoid pruning woody plants until

9

Late fall tilling or turning of the soil in vegetable garden beds can help control insects because it exposes over-wintering insects to winter conditions.

next growing season if possible. Internal tissues exposed by pruning cuts may be damaged by extremely cold temperatures.

Newly planted or marginally hardy trees and shrubs can be protected during their first couple of winters by wrapping them in burlap.

Flower Beds Herbaceous perennials can be cut back, given a deep watering and covered with 2-3 inches of bark mulch or pine needles for winter protection. Mulch will help the soil to retain moisture and maintain a more even soil temperature during freeze-thaw cycles.

Leaving (non-diseased or insectinfested) dried plant material in flower beds can look nice and provide benefits.

Remaining dried foliage and stems act as a sort of “snow fence” by capturing and storing snow that will keep the ground moist during periods of snowmelt.

In a cold climate like ours, late fall is too late to divide perennials. Wait until spring when plants begin active growth or late summer as growth slows to divide perennials.

10

Fall is a good time to plant wildflower seeds. Seeds planted in the fall will undergo necessary cold stratification during winter and will emerge from dormancy as melting spring snow gives way to warmer temperatures.

Collect seeds from your garden to store for next year or to share with friends. Dry seeds thoroughly and store them in breathable envelopes in your refrigerator.

Vegetable Gardens After harvesting, clean out dried plant material in vegetable gardens. Insect pests and diseases tend to overwinter on the leaves of many vegetable plants.

Consider planting a cover crop such as annual vetch, clover or rye in your vegetable garden. Cover crops prevent soil erosion and add organic material to the soil when plowed under in the spring.

Work screened compost into the soil in vegetable beds as deeply as possible Late fall tilling or turning of the soil in vegetable garden beds can help control insects because it exposes over-wintering insects to winter conditions.

In General ...

Plants need less water when going into the dormant season. Excess water in the fall stimulates new growth, which will not be hardened off properly for the winter and will be more susceptible to winter kill.

Soak your plants deeply when you do water, but don’t water as often. Give all turf, trees and perennial beds a deep watering before the ground freezes.

Late fall planting is not recommended in the Gunnison Valley; plants don’t have enough time to get established before the ground freezes. It’s best to plant trees, shrubs and perennials in late spring or early summer and bulbs in the late summer or early fall Prepare your irrigation system for winter by expelling all water from the system.

As temperatures drop, be sure to remove any garden chemicals that might freeze from sheds and move them to areas where their storage temperature will not fall below 40F. Frozen liquids could expand enough to break containers, and may spread concentrated chemicals within reach of children or pets. ■

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

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Source

Types of Incentives

Contact Information

Federal Tax Incentives

insulation, air sealing, windows, doors, roofs, equipment upgrades, water heaters, biomass stoves, geothermal heat pumps, fuel cells, wind, solar and co.generation systems

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energy audits, insulation, air/duct sealing, boilers, water heaters, appliances, solar & wind systems

rechargecolorado.com 1.800.462.0184

State: Dpt. of Human Services

Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

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Utility: Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA)

LED holiday lights, insulation, air sealing, ground source heat pumps, thermal storage, appliances

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Utility: Gunnison Electric

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Incentives to save money Winter is afoot! It’s time to beef up your home against the cold.

Many simple measures can pay off within a season. Ask ORE or your utility company about caulking, weather-stripping, window treatments and other low-cost, easy ways to keep your bills low and your home warm.

To really get serious about keeping heat in and cold out, you may want to consider more advanced measures, such as insulation or air sealing. These types of improvements cost a little more up-front, but the good news is that there is money out there to help you foot the bill.

Check out the incentives outlined in the accompanying graphic. Keep in mind that these represent only a sampling of the money saving measures available. For more information, call ORE at 970.641.7682. ■

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

High efficiency boilers — like this Rinnai “combi” unit installed by Mesa Mechanical in a Gunnison home last fall — are among the energy upgrades for which homeowners can receive incentives.

Photo by Chris Dickey

13

Opportunities aplenty in down market

by Cathie Elliott

Just like Gunnisonites, the local real estate market just isn’t following national trends.

People wonder if the market has “bottomed out,” but one never knows that until the market starts rising again. It seems to be a buyer’s market right now. There is an increase in affordable properties on the market, as real estate has been devalued and prices have been driven downwards.

A buyer’s market means that economic conditions and power shift from the seller to the buyer. Another factor that makes this a great time to buy is interest rates. Rumor has it that interest rates haven’t been this low since World War II. According to Multiple Listing Service (MLS) statistics, 43 homes in and around Gunnison have sold since Jan. 1. The average days on the market were 236, with an average sold price of $272,919. Typically, these singlefamily homes sold for 93 percent of listed price.

With regard to condominiums and townhomes, there have been nine sales since the beginning of the year, with an average of 326 days on the market, and typical purchase price of $165,265. These sales came in at 94 percent of the listing price.

Vacant land sales have been scarce, as home prices have been dropping.

There have been 13 local land sales since the beginning of the year, with an average sales price of $127,140, 298 days on the market, and at 96 percent of listing price.

While it might seem odd that real estate is selling so close to the listing price, it appears that sellers who are reducing their prices are getting them

14

sold — thus the slim sales price to listing price margin.

Is this a “market correction?” Probably not. It’s more likely a simple case of supply and demand. Basic economics shows that a large supply and limited demand forces prices downward.

Until the supply starts to wane, prices

will still be lower than they have been for awhile.

Many buyers are wondering why sellers aren’t reducing their prices further, if they really want to sell. A large number of sellers are so highly leveraged (between buying when

prices were higher, and refinancing to pull out equity in their homes), that they can’t come down on price without coming to closing with money.

(Unfortunately for some sellers, that has been the case.)

In prior years, three strong buying markets were present that aren’t back yet, at least not in significant numbers. Parents of WSC students used to get home equity loans and purchase a house or condo for their student, rather than renting. With values lower all over the country, parents haven’t had the equity built-up in their homes to refinance and pull out additional equity.

Investors who flocked to the area to capture a good return on their investment through rental income or buy/sell transactions have also been scarce. The market has made them nervous and investor lending has tightened up.

Second home buyers have been cautious. While this market isn’t as price sensitive, this group of Gunnison lovers are waiting to see what will happen with the economy, elections and consumer confidence.

Based on MLS reports, there is definitely an overflow of unsold homes in local markets. For the real estate investor or homebuyer with good credit, decent income, and the money for a down payment, a down market makes an excellent financial opportunity. The first step in taking advantage of the current financial climate is to get pre-approved for a mortgage.

From there, you can begin the process of searching out great deals in the housing market. ■ (Cathie Elliott is the broker/owner of The Clarke Agency, Inc., at 241 N. Main St. in Gunnison. She can be contacted at 970.641.0511 or www.clarkeagency.net.)

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HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

Rich and Jody Reeser, seen here, turned this 1950s brick ranch-style house (seen before, at left) on the edge of the Palisades neighborhood into something much different, while maintaining original character.

Photos by Will Shoemaker

From ’50s fixer-upper to modern ranch remodel Couple, new to area, undertakes project in Palisades neighborhood home

by Will Shoemaker

Sometimes, what you’ve been looking for all along is right under your nose.

That’s what Rich and Jody Reeser came to realize in an older Gunnison home they were renting while looking for property to buy in the area.

Ultimately, it was the character of that 1950s ranch-style, brick house on the northwest side of town the Reesers decided that simply couldn’t be

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

matched for a remodel project.

The builder—architect couple lived in Summit County for about eight years but were looking to escape from the high cost of living. “We wanted to relocate to a town that has that resort, ski-industry feel,” Rich recalls.

They had previously visited Gunnison to break away from the bustle of Summit County, and had heard there was development potential locally — an important factor for their lines of work.

They found a house to rent at 11 Vulcan St. in Gunnison, on the eastern edge of the Palisades subdivision and due west of Van Tuyl Village. The original plan was that it would be only a temporary situation while they sought a permanent home.

The Reesers looked at houses on the market around town — and outside of town. They even considered new neighborhoods where they might build.

“We started putting the numbers

17

Architect Jody Reeser had no qualms about removing walls, opening up the floor plan and more effectively using space, as seen here between the kitchen and living room.

together and for us to build a house and do a lot of it ourselves, the price was more than we wanted to spend,” says Rich. “And I just don’t like the new subdivision lots.”

In the meantime, the single-story, brick ranch home built in 1957 that they were renting began to grow on them. They liked the mature landscaping, its sufficient yet modest size (1,400 square feet) and character reminiscent of simpler times.

“Many of my clients want big houses,” says Jody, whose business is J Reeser Architect. “Rich and I both grew up in small homes that had a fair amount of character to them and we like that feel.”

Additionally, the location was attractive.

“We were liking the conveniences of being in town,” Jody recounts. Low and behold, the owner was willing to sell, so they made an offer and closed on the house in October 2008.

The duration of construction lasted a total of seven months, completed in

18

“Rich and I both grew up in small homes that had a fair amount of character to them and we like that feel.”

- Jody Reeser two phases. The first phase, which included a deck off the back of the home, a fence surrounding the property, patio off the south side and new siding on the garage, was finished during the summer of 2009.

The Reesers took last fall away from work on the house to focus on their businesses, and then in January began cranking on the home’s remodel. It was completed around June 1 of this year.

Jody, a practicing licensed architect in Gunnison, designed an efficient and effective layout for the home, through use of pocket doors and opening up what were previously tight spaces. Two small bedrooms

on the south side of the house were converted into a spacious master bedroom.

It was like a blank canvas for an architect, in many ways the “perfect home for a remodel,” Jody explains.

That’s because there were few loadbearing walls within the interior of the home — meaning they are expendable and leaving the floor plan largely to her creative will.

What was previously an un-insulated garage-turned-living space on the home’s north side was transformed into a cozy den, in which the Reesers replaced the coal-burning stove with an efficient wood-burner, tiled the floor and installed a bay window to

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

An efficient wood-burning stove and douglas fir timber accents help lend to the coziness of the new den.

invite natural lighting. The den is accented with Douglas fir timber, crisscrossing the ceiling, and book shelves lining the northern wall.

An entryway from the home’s front door on the east was created, where formerly a concrete stoop existed.

Visitors are now greeted upon entering the house by a spacious living room, where the original hardwood floors were kept intact, though infloor radiant heating was installed throughout.

Through the living room, on the west side of the house, the Reesers removed walls, opening up the kitchen, which is now separated from the living space by a granite bar and countertop.

The previous three-bedroom home is still technically three bedrooms, because the den’s bay window allows egress. The home’s original brick still adorns its exterior, where it’s now combined with craftsman detailing and cedar shake on the home’s new front porch.

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

Eye-catching tile patterns throughout the home exemplify one aspect of the Reesers’ custom detailing.

Rich, a residential and commercial framing/siding/trim contractor and owner of Blue Valley Carpentry, tackled the remodel’s construction himself. In fact, the Reesers were able to do most of the project themselves — only sub-contracting mechanical, electrical and installation of granite countertops.

Jody painted the interior and laid eye-catching tile patterns throughout — skills she’s picked up over the years through her work.

“It was a step up from the basic tile work I’d done before,” she says. “The big difference was the detail I wanted in this one.”

Overall, the couple couldn’t ask for more with the way the project turned out.

“Really, at the end of the day we saw an opportunity that we could be in town — in a resort-area town,” Rich explains. “We were young in our careers and we felt confident in what we could do.” ■

19

Dusty Szymanski applies earthen plaster — basically the same material used in adobe bricks — to a structure on the City of Gunnison’s Van Tuyl Ranch. The demonstration was part of a natural building conference in Gunnison, where attendees resurfaced this decades-old adobe brick shed.

Photos by Will Shoemaker

Warm in the winter and cool when it counts Time-tested material as basic, beautiful and effective as ever

by Will Shoemaker

Imagine a building material that’s cheap, durable, aesthetically pleasing, easily repaired and truly renewable.

Warm in the winter. Cool in the summer.

Sounds too good to be true, right?

Actually, adobe fits that mold. It’s been used for thousands of years for building structures. Today, it fits within the paradigm pushing for more energy efficient, alternative and natural-materials construction.

A few Gunnison builders in recent years have begun taking greater advan-

20

Adobe’s ingredients are few and easily obtained.

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| FALL 2010

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tage of adobe’s many qualities. They’ve found the material to be a great way of adding solar mass, particularly to passively solar heated parts of a home — like a solarium or greenhouse. But even in areas that don’t receive direct sunlight, it makes great floors, providing an attractive alternative to conventional, mass-produced, difficult-to-maintain materials.

And its few ingredients can be obtained locally, including dirt dug right outside of town. In the lower-lying lands of the Gunnison Valley — which is notorious for cold winters and warm, sun-baked summers — it’s a great fit.

In terms of comfort, little can compete with adobe.

“Adobe is among the most ancient of all of history’s building materials, and one of the most unsung,” writes John F. O’Connor in “The Adobe Book.” “Although associated with only the Great Indian-Hispano-American Southwest in the minds of most, adobe has been used in home-building since long before the dawn of recorded time.”

In Gunnison, a half-dozen or so older homes are built of adobe.

“There were a lot of them built during the ’30s because there wasn’t a lot of loose cash running around town,” said Steve Schechter, owner of Blue Heron Construction and a pioneer of sustainable building in the Gunnison Valley. “It takes a lot of labor, but they had time on their hands.”

Schechter utilized adobe bricks in a strawbale house he built south of Gunnison in the Panoview Park subdivision. Dirt from the actual building site was utilized for the bricks.

Also, in the strawbale home Schechter built for his mother, Olga Schechter, in Gunnison’s Van Tuyl Village, adobe bricks add thermal mass to a solarium.

But what exactly is adobe? Adobe is part of a family of earthen building materials that can be broken into four different categories of form: adobe bricks, floors, cob or natural or earthen plaster. Cob is simply a thicker, free-form version of adobe that can be lumped and shaped into the desired form, whether it be a wall or design within a structure.

The adobe mixture includes a binder, aggregate and additives. For example, adobe to be formed into bricks can

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

Adobe floors, like this one in the home of Dusty Szymanski, are both beautiful and functional in helping a home remain cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

be made with four simple ingredients: clay, sand, fiber and water.

Anyone can build competently with adobe with some research and a lot of time. But there are sustainable builders who tend to specialize in the art. In the Ohio Creek Valley, Shipp and Spear builders recently constructed a 6,000 square foot strawbale home that features adobe floors, for which earth was sourced from the building site. The floors and plasters were completed by Andrew Phillips of Durango.

Dusty Szymanski, owner of Straw

and Timber Craftsmen in Gunnison, has worked alongside Schechter. But at his own home, he has constructed a cob wall for thermal mass on the north side of a greenhouse. The wall provides stable temperatures — allowing tomatoes to grow in October, yet not requiring a fan in the height of summer to keep the space cool.

He also laid a rawhide-hued adobe floor within the house — itself one of the original adobe homes built in Gunnison. Floors, Szymanski says, are a little tricky and are a specialty trade.

23

An incredibly durable building material, these adobe bricks have set outside through two Gunnison winters and are still remarkably intact.

His, finished with tung oil and mopped with a thin wax solution about three times a year, even boasts radiant heat tubes from below.

But bricks and plasters, most anyone can do.

Adobe can have a lime, or even earthen plaster covering it, say over a wall of bricks. Earthen plasters are used to cover strawbale walls as well, and are typically finished with lime plaster.

Adobe does require maintenance.

“The concept of maintenance free means you can’t maintain it,” says Szymanski. “This is the exact opposite. It’s needed but easy to maintain.”

He says from a building science standpoint, the correct assembly of natural materials will actually outperform conventional materials. “This is all about appropriate technology, which is finding the simplest tool to do the job at hand well.”

If one does decide to delve into the wide world of adobe, Szymanski suggests seeking out knowledge through books about the methods, as well as

24

This adobe wall in Olga Schechter’s home supplies thermal mass, which retains heat and helps prevent wide temperature swings.

talking to someone with experience.

Also, one of the most important steps in the process is testing samples to achieve the right proportion of sand to clay.

“For tens of thousands of years, man

has been building structures out of clay, sand and straw,” said Szymanski.

“You don’t get temperature shifts,” Schechter adds. “Almost any home in the valley could use more mass in it.”

■

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

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Before you settle down to watch football, fall means getting your house ready for months of cold, ice and snow.

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The home of Leia and Daren Morrison features completely custom mud room elements, including a ski rack hanging from one wall and wooden shelving for each family member’s goods.

Photo by Matt Smith

Mud room: The most under-rated room in the house

When it comes to keeping the elements of the outdoors from creeping into the living spaces in your home, a well designed mud room can be the key.

But mud rooms are becoming much more than just a place to kick off those slush-filled shoes. By fine tuning a few custom features and making the best of what space is available, mud rooms can be transformed into one of the most important areas in the house.

“Everybody who has kids in the valley likes their mud rooms and have always said they wish it was bigger,” said Chris Klein, owner of Christopher Klein Construction, Inc (christopherkleinconstruction.com). “You always need a place

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

to put all of the gear, jackets, shoes and everything else.”

One important piece to the puzzle, according to Klein, is making sure that the flooring of any mud room is waterproof.

By using materials such as tile flooring, instead of carpet, controlling the mess factor is a much easier task.

And then there’s the ever present problem of where to put all the gear. In houses without other storage space, such as a garage, it is essential to find some place other than the floor to store those skis, waders, backpacks and shoes.

Klein suggest open shelving, which allows for the most efficient transition from indoors to outdoors. By situating

open shelving in accordance with available electrical outlets, other amenities — like boot warmers — can provide subtle luxuries that add to the overall benefit and practicality.

Another major element that can’t be forgotten is having a nice place to sit when you’re trying to pull those mudladen boots off. While having wider bottom stairs can work for people with multi-leveled houses, a standard wooden bench is always a safe bet.

Whatever your outdoor pleasure may be, a small amount of time and thought put into an everyday mud room can make it the most under-rated addition to any home. ■

27

200

Building activity

180

Building activity in the Gunnison Valley has bounced back somewhat, but generally speaking activity remains well below what it was a few years ago.

“There’s quite a bit of stuff going on out there, but it’s nothing like it was in, for example, 2007,” noted longtime Gunnison County building inspector Rich Wojdakowski.

Through September, nine new residences were being built within the City of Gunnison, compared with 20 at this point in 2009.

In the county, the total number of overall permits so far is up in 2010 — 122 versus 101 at this point in 2009.

160

140

120

100

80

60

••• Key: No. of single family residences

40

No. of single family remodels No. of commercial and industrial blds.

(The graph on left represents building permit data for unincorporated Gunnison County.)

20

0 1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Second homeowners avoid foreclosure by renting Owners of vacation homes in the Gunnison Valley area who may be facing foreclosure or are simply hesitant to sell their properties for a loss in today’s soft real estate market are finding they can salvage their investment and actually make money off their homes. The key? Renting the home out to travelers.

Tom Kelly, author of “How a Second Home Can Be Your Best Investment,” says the average second home owner can generate upwards of $35,000 in rental income annually by renting the house out for 20 weeks of the year.

He offers the following tips: •Talk to an accountant about the

28

tax advantages of renting out a second home. Expenses such as insurance, utilities, home maintenance and depreciation can be deducted, depending on how often you rent out the property and how many weeks you personally stay there each year.

•Be sure to market the availability of the vacation rental to travelers by listing it on sites like HomeAway.com or VRBO.com, which reach millions of travelers each month.

•Check out other similar vacation rentals in the area to determine what rates they’re charging travelers, and price your home at a competitive rate to help drive bookings.

For example, one area homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous for this story, rents her three-bedroom Crested Butte home to travelers using VRBO.com and is able to cover 75 percent of her mortgage. Last year, she says she rented the home for an average daily rate of $275 and was able to book the property for 110 days.

For additional information and advice, Kelly recommends checking out HomeAway’s online community for vacation rental owners at www.

OwnerCommunity.com. The site offers a variety of tips for how to maximize rental income from a second home. ■

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| FALL 2010

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One of the things Sue Harding requested from her husband Peter as he was designing their Ohio Creek Valley home was a nice view from the kitchen sink. She got it.

Photo by Chris Rourke

Doing dishes in style Harding home up Ohio Creek features stunning views, and then some

by Chris Rourke

When Cleveland, Ohio, resident Peter Harding asked his wife where she wanted to spend the rest of her life, her answer got them looking a long way from home.

Colorado was her answer, so she began asking a friend of hers in Hotchkiss where would be a good place to start looking. Her friend recommended that they look at the Ohio Creek Valley. And when they did, it was love at first sight.

After finding the perfect location in the Star Mountain Ranch develop-

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Peter and Sue Harding

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

Blending in with the surroundings was an important design consideration for the Hardings.

Courtesy photo

ment, Peter, who is a licensed architect in the state of Ohio, then turned his attention to designing and building their perfect Colorado casual home.

His idea was to blend traditional design with an environmentally friendly approach. It gives a nod to yesterday but has an eye on the future.

Peter says they didn’t want a grand lodge, but something that complimented the natural beauty that surround it.

“This is not a grand, mountain lodge,” says Harding. “The ceilings are eight feet throughout the first floor, and seven and one-half on the second floor — a classic approach.

The feeling is cozy and the reduced volume is easier to heat.”

Sweeping views surround the home, which sits at the base of Carbon Peak.

From the Castles to the south to the Anthracites to the northwest, this home allows the mountains to take front stage with large windows facing

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

Photo by Chris Rourke

south and west.

In fact, 60 percent of the windows face south — making this a true passive solar home. But there were other motives as well.

“When you have a view like that, you need to take advantage of it,” admits Harding.

And it was the fabulous view of the Anthracite range that made Sue Hard-

31

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HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

‘Open and relaxed’ is the theme for the interior.

Courtesy photo

ing ask for one simple request when Peter was designing the home. She wanted the kitchen to face the beautiful range.

“I wanted to look out my window and see the Anthracites while I was doing my dishes,” she beams.

From the outside, the home blends in with its surroundings, rather than taking away from the environment.

The roof is made from reclaimed metal, and the sides of this framed home are made from cedar.

Logs with a natural finish make up the many columns that frame the wrap-around porch and give the home a rustic elegance. But the porch serves a function as well. It allows for cool solar shading in the summer while admitting low winter sun to shine into the south windows.

Harding says he designed the interior of the home for their lifestyle ... open and relaxed. The vestibule, which keeps out winter winds and conserves heat, opens into a space

HOMES INSIDE & OUT

| FALL 2010

that flows from a sitting room, to a living space, to the dining room and then the kitchen.

Each space is defined with columns, again made of dramatic, naturally-finished logs. Underfoot, an eco-friendly bamboo flooring unites all spaces in the main level, while a stone hearth adds a traditional touch and additional heat source. Granite counter tops give the kitchen and bathrooms an elegant look without overpowering the casual comfort of the home.

The upstairs features four bedrooms and two baths, which also highlight the amazing views. There is even a small window over one of the bathtubs which sports another view of the Anthracites.

The lower level is earth-sheltered with a recreational space for the family and an office for Harding. It maintains a moderate temperature effortlessly, even in mid-winter.

And while this home boasts the rustic traditions of the Ohio Creek

Valley, it looks to the future for technological advances. It is all electric, which will allow it to be plugged into the next generation of more efficient photovoltaic panels (solar panels that convert the sun’s rays directly into electricity).

“It didn’t make sense to me to heat this home with fossil fuel hauled up here by a truck powered by fossil fuel,” Harding explains.

But until that day when photovoltaic panels are cost effective, the Hardings will enjoy the other energy efficient elements of their home.

It is insulated beyond code and the windows have a very good U-value.

That, combined with spaces designed to be easier to heat and a stone fireplace that is centered in the home, the Hardings say this tight home is a warm and cozy place — on even the coldest of Colorado days.

And then there are the views.

■

33

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182 TOBIN LANE - Beautiful log cabin located in a secluded setting, yet close to town. Two garages: One attached, the other a heated 3 car garage complete with workshop, a handyman’s dream! $480,000

1118 W TOMICHI #4 - Perfect for the first time home buyer or investor. Large living area with master on the entry level. Strong rental history with a lease in place. $135,000

1122 N COLORADO - Clean, quiet single family home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths & a 2 car garage. Close to campus & amenities. Adjacent to Meadows Park. Solid investment opportunity! $231,000

916 W GEORGIA CONDOS - Own your own six-plex on a large lot. Each unit has 2 bedrooms with stable rental income. $495,000

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84 COUNTY ROAD 51 - 10 unit complex just north of town with outstanding rental history. Ideal for 1031 tax exchange or investment property on 1.67 acres. Room for more units!! $785,000

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