The South Carefree Connection “Everyday in every way we are getting better and better” Leland Publishing Volume 1 Issue 3 April 2018 Serving neighborhoods along South Carefree Not affiliated with any homeowners association April > Avrill > Aprilis The etymology of the word ‘April’ can be traced to Middle English (april), from early French (avrill) and Latin (aprilis). The Latin word aprilis was used by the Romans for the fourth month of the year… not sure why but that’s what they decided to do. Some researchers think it might derive from the Latin verb aperire which means “to open” because April is the month in which buds and leaves on trees typ- ically open. There are others derivation possibilities, but I like this one because it fits the theme of my newsletter. This month’s issue has wonderful articles that remind us of things we need to address as Spring opens up before us. • Martha Neitz of Dr. Soot Chimney Sweep has an article on chimney inspections. When was the last time you had your chimney inspected? Have you considered the risks of not having it done? You’ll understand why it’s important when you read her article. • Brad Williams of Tall Timbers Tree and Shrub Service has an article on the benefits of pruning and thinning your trees. You’ll appreciate the importance of this on windy days. • Dr. Eken talks about our hurting feet and what she can do to help. • Karen Benenati gives us an update on the real estate trends in our area. • Jeff Towne is a new advertiser who can help us with our computers! • Springtime brings weddings, banquets, and formal events. How is your table etiquette? Making a good impression in front of clients sets you apart from others. • Finally, there is the ever-important Upcoming Events page that will give you information about the next square dance. The South Carefree Connection 1 Karen’s Real Estate Update In the last 30 days: Feb 19, 2018- March 19, 2018. Search boundaries: North Carefree on the north, Constitution on the south, Powers on the east, and Academy on the west. Number of current active listings: 6; 4 new ones listed in the last 30 days Number of houses under contract: 21; most are going under contract very quickly, within days Number of sales in the past 30 days: 22 closed Average selling price: $276000; from $225000 for a 1300 sq ft home to $323000 for a 3150 sq ft home Average number of days on the market: 8 Overall assessment of this area: • values of homes are steadily increasing • selling prices average 100% of list price for the past 12 months • inventory is extremely low • area is very desirable • interest rates are still low Karen’s comments: With continuing statistics like these, this is an excellent time to sell a home. We are seeing quick movement and prices continuing to increase, now is the time to list, stay ahead of the listing competition. List now while inventory is still low, buyers are out and are looking and writing offers on what is available, most listings are seeing multiple offers. Do you have a rental that you’ve thought about selling? Are you down-sizing? Your house might be worth more than you think. I can give you the information you need to make a sound decision about selling. Give me a call at 719-661-1566. www.karenbenenati.com Please let me know you saw my ad in the South Carefree Connection. Thank you Karen! Please see her ad on page 9. 2 The South Carefree Connection But did you remember to… Are Your House Numbers Visible? Spring forward into Daylight Savings Time! Yes, During a snowstorm, at night, would emergency per- we all changed our clocks and some of us remem- sonnel be able to find your house? In good weather, bered to change the batteries in our smoke alarms. in the middle of the day, would an ambulance be able Congratulations! to find your house? But there are other batteries in our homes that Almost all of us have house numbers on our mail- need to be changed on occasion. You might find box, but not all are in good repair. Many numbers some of these around your home. have peeled off, bent corners, faded colors, or faded reflectivity. Many mailbox numbers cannot be seen Smoke Alarms at night. Snow and ice-covered mailboxes make them impossible to see. Carbon Monoxide Monitors House numbers painted on curbs are faded and worn. Remote Controls (TVs, Ceiling Fans, & Fireplaces) They cannot be seen when snow-covered or concealed by a car parked on the street. Garage Door Openers Many homeowners have house numbers attached Flashlights to the house but oftentimes they cannot be seen from the street. Bushes or tree branches conceal Thermostat for your heat/air (almost everyone the numbers, or the numbers are concealed under a misses this one!) porch. They can barely be seen during the day and WIFI Mouse are almost impossible to be seen at night. Risky? You bet it is. CPU Yes, there is a battery inside and this is not necessarily a do-it-yourself task. A local computer Emergencies are just that: unexpected, unplanned, service company can help you with this. (See Jeff’s and needing immediate response. When emergency ad on page 9.) personnel cannot locate your house, you are inadver- tently delaying their response time. These are important parts of our everyday living. This is easy to fix. Having a battery die in any of these items unex- • Replace the numbers on your mailbox using pectedly could be more than inconvenient. It’s large, reflective style numbers. better to take preventative action and change the batteries on a regular schedule. You can do it in • Make sure the flag on the mailbox doesn’t con- the Spring or Fall when we change the clocks. Put ceal the numbers once affixed. a reminder on your calendar. • Move house numbers to a visible area on the Get the kids involved in this important household house. project. They need to learn it sooner or later, so • Trim back bushes and tree branches that con- why not now? See how many things they can find ceal house numbers. in the house that have batteries! They might sur- • prise you! Turn on the porch light at night so emergency personnel can see your front door and safely RECYLCLE the batteries – it’s the law. Yes, we access your home. must recycle our batteries. Batteries do not belong Perhaps you have an elderly or disabled neighbor in our landfills. The acids will seep into our aqui- who might need help with this. Kindly offer your fers (underground water). As you go through your services or help them find someone who can do it for battery replacement process, gather all the batter- them. Let’s make this a priority and get it done. We ies into a bag and take them to a recycle location. are worth the effort. You can recycle your batteries at the “Batteries + See article on page 6 and ad on page 8. They are here Bulbs” store 3320 Austin Bluffs. to serve you. The South Carefree Connection 3 5 Reasons You Should Have Your Chimney Inspected It never fails. Your car breaks down when you need it, your furnace goes out in the middle of winter, or your chimney needs serious maintenance or repairs right in the middle of a burning season. Why does this always happen? Unfortunately, chimneys aren't something that can be repaired year-round. When the cold and snow season hits, you have to wait until temperatures rise. This could result in a long winter without a blazing fireplace to keep you warm. The best time of year to have your chimney cleaned, inspected, and repaired is early spring and during the summer months. Inspections and repairs can continue into the fall before the cold season, but this can be a busy time for professional chimney sweeps. Lead times can stretch to 4 weeks or more. Your chimney may appear in great condition on the outside, but inside it could be hiding necessary safety repairs. How do you know when these repairs are needed? In Colorado Springs, professional chimney sweep companies offer, at a minimum, N.F.P.A. (National Fire Protection Association) Level 1 inspections that cover all “accessible” parts of your wood burning system. A few companies also offer video scans of the flue. They'll check if your chimney is functioning properly or if it needs repairs before you can burn safely. The following are a few reasons why it's important to schedule an inspection for your chimney. 1. Video/Camera Check for Cracks in The Flue Your flue is the liner inside your chimney which carries toxic fumes and smoke out of your house. Over time, cracks and deterioration may develop from excessive heat or having contact with water. Water, when mixed with creosote makes lye that can deteriorate the mortar joints of a masonry system. Manufactured fireplaces are checked for bulging, crumpled or disconnected seams and joints. A damaged flue leaves your home exposed to damage by allowing toxic gases to escape (including carbon monoxide) or by heat transfer to combustible materials causing a fire. A professional chimney scan can check your flue for damage and offer options for repair or replacement. 2. Identify Masonry Repairs If your chimney is made of brick, masonry repairs may be needed to keep it strong and stable. After years of varying weather temperatures, masonry can deteriorate, and cracks begin to develop, especially in the cement on the top of your chimney called the Chimney Crown Wash.