Whenever we change the clocks for that lovely hour of extra sleep, I know it's time for my husband and me to get through our list of items to prepare our home for the winter months. While its not the most enjoyable of projects, we're always so very grateful come spring time to have done the work. In my world of selling homes, I see countless inspection items that could have been easily (and inexpensively) avoided by a little proper maintenance. So here's my list ~ feel free to comment with items that you tackle too!

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist:

1. Have the sprinklers blown out and winterized. It's about $55-$65, takes but a half hour or so, and can save you hundreds in repair costs on your system should water freeze in your lines. I like Earthservices, 303-935-7193; but there are lots of others out there as well. Drain your outdoor hoses and store in your garage or basement. Cover your outdoor spigots with a foam insulated cover. You can find one in our neighborhood Ace Hardware store at 3758 Osage St.

2. Call your HVAC vendor to come out and clean and service your furnace. Mine does it for under $150. An annual clean and check is one of the most important things you can do to keep your furnace in good shape. While you're at it, have the tech show you how to change the filter, and go and purchase a half dozen or so. Change the filters on the first of each month. It will keep your furnace working more efficiently and your home cleaner. My fave vendor is Rodney King, The Heat Guy, 303-432-9100. 

3. Clean your gutters. As my favorite home inspector likes to say, "www stands for Water Will Win, all day everyday." Water is destructive to the exterior of your home, so make sure that it has a swift path to flow away from your home. Start by cleaning out the gutters of leaves and debris. Visually inspect the gutters to ensure that they are secure and don't have holes or corrosion.

4. Check and seal any gaps around your windows and doors. Weatherstripping and caulking is inexpensive and easy to install ~ even for novices. It will save you money on your heating bills, and in the case of caulking around entry points for cable, gas, and such, will help keep heat-seeking critters out of your home.

5. Change the batteries in your smoke and CO detectors. By now I think we are all trained to to this when we change the clocks, but it really can save your life. And there seems to be an immutable law of nature that if a detector battery is going to fail, it will happen at 3:00 am when I am not at my best.

6. Fireplace Flue Cleaning. If you are lucky enough to have a wood burning fireplace (they are becoming less common in Denver), then by all means have a Chimney Sweep come and clean your flue, check on the operation of the damper and ensure that no wildlife has decided to make your chimney their home.

7. Outdoor Patio Spaces. If you are lucky enough to have storage space indoors, your furniture will last much longer. If that's not you, then furniture covers are a wise investment. If you can move your furniture under a covered space, even better.

Once I've worked through the list, we like to enjoy a little treat ~ perhaps a libation at Ernies Bar & Pizza or a warm sweet beverage at Common Grounds?

The Freyja Project ~the place that helped me finish my Project 50

I turned 50 this spring. On Mother's Day actually. For most of my forties I felt my fitness level slipping away. I had some health issues and just never got back to where I was. I have been an athlete my whole life and it was disheartening to feel as though I wasn't going to be able to get back to a reasonable level of fitness where I can do the things I want to do with enough energy to enjoy them. So, I decided that for 50 days following my birthday I would participate in one yoga class a day. It was a present to myself.

As a full time real estate broker, wife, and mother to four daughters, my days (as is the same with most people I know) are filled start to finish. To ensure that I would get the yoga practice in I had to do it first thing in the morning ~ yep, at 6:00 am ~ or it would likely be pushed back for some other more pressing agenda item.

Enter The Freyja Project. I hesitate to call it a yoga studio, because it is so much more than that. Patty Henry has created a beautiful space that offers about a dozen classes a day (all stripes of yoga, some dance classes, some barre classes, some fitness classes) as well as bodywork (massage, facials, acupuncture, etc). It's really a happiness studio. The instructors at Freyja embraced my challenge and encouraged me along the way. Turns out yoga really is as good for your mind as it is for your body. I completed my 50 days and have continued on. The peace and strength I found on the mat has allowed me to start playing tennis again and given me the courage to take on a 45 mile bike ride this month.

If you are at all curious about yoga I encourage you to check out The Freyja Project at 3456 Tejon Street in LoHi. Your first week is free (can't beat that) and here's my challenge to you. Attend one class a day for the week (if you are completely spent, try a restorative class). See if you don't feel stronger and more resilient at the end of those seven classes.

I'd love to hear about your experience and what other studios you love in LoHi. If you're thinking of buying or selling property in LoHi, I'd be honored to help you. Look for me on the mat and Namaste.