Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Copy Link
Windermere Foundation Has Raised Over $1.5 Million This Year!
Windermere offices throughout the Western U.S. have been busy raising money and making donations to non-profit organizations in their local communities that provide services to low-income and homeless families. And their efforts are paying off; so far this year we’ve raised over $1.5 million, bringing the total raised by the Windermere Foundation to $39.5 million since 1989.
Here are just a few examples of how our offices are giving back to their communities:
Fort Collins, Colorado
The Windermere Real Estate office in Fort Collins held its 5th Annual Windermere Foundation Tailgate Party on Friday, September 20. The family-friendly event featured food, drinks, a bouncy house obstacle course, corn hole, face painting, and live music. Over $1,800 was raised for the Windermere Foundation during this event. All proceeds from the tailgate “party with a purpose” benefitted Partners Mentoring Youth and Crossroads Safehouse.
Centralia, Washington
The Windermere office in Centralia, WA sponsored the “Down Home: A Toledo Shindig” event held at Bonanza BBQ on September 14 to benefit Toledo School District students in need. Local businesses and residents came together to donate auction items, food, and volunteer their time. Windermere owner Dan Gorton spearheaded the organization of the fundraising event, seeing a need in the community that was not being met. The Gortons provided the venue and the BBQ. Other sponsors provided additional food items, entertainment, and big-ticket items for the auction. The event raised $34,000 for a fund to help provide basic needs for students in the school district, things that low-income families couldn’t otherwise afford.
Photo Courtesy of Josie Ray Photography
Spokane, Washington
The Windermere office in Spokane, WA held their annual Windermere Shoes and Socks Event at their local Big 5 sporting goods store on August 24. Windermere agents and family members volunteered their time to help 132 children select a pair of shoes and socks. An additional 250 pairs of socks were also donated by Liberty Lake Rotary. In total, the Windermere office donated over $5,400 to provide shoes and socks to local children in need.
Windermere offices are proud to host events in their communities, like the ones mentioned above. These generous donations to the Windermere Foundation further our mission to support low-income and homeless families in the areas where we live and work. If you’d like to help support programs in your community, please click the Donate button.
To learn more about the Windermere Foundation, visit WindermereFoundation.com.
Windermere Certified Listings
Windermere Certified Listings is a one-of-a-kind, customer-focused real estate program. Our mission is to provide superior service to all our clients throughout the selling process. This truly unique system was designed to reduce the uncertainty and friction that commonly occur during a typical real estate transaction, making it rewarding, predictable, and enjoyable. Throughout the process, both our home sellers and the end buyers feel unmatched confidence and peace of mind.
Our thorough 10-step process includes the following:
A 5-Point Pre-Inspection of the Major Components of the Home – Our exhaustive process helps assure the buyer that there are no major surprises in store and gives the seller an opportunity to correct issues before the house goes to market. Inspection points include:
- Roof – general conditions, skylight, and flashings
- Exterior – general conditions of siding, sealants, grade and drainage
- Mechanical – furnace, air-conditioner, water heater and water main shut-off
- Electrical – main distribution panels and sub-panels
- Structural – trusses, joists and foundation
Professional Home Cleaning Package – Every home is completed by a professional team of two or more house cleaners. The detailed process includes:
- Cleansing of most surfaces
- Floors vacuumed, scrubbed, and mopped
- Bathrooms cleaned including tubs, sinks, and toilets
- Home staging (in select regions) to eliminate clutter, rearrange furniture to enhance flow, and create a notable first impression.
Professional Real Estate Photography Package
Our professional photographers will provide you with vivid and beautiful images designed to sell your home faster. Professional real estate photography is proven to increase showings and lead to speedier sales. Each photo passes through over 25 enhancement and processing steps to correct lens distortion, white balance, perspective, and saturation. No other company combines art and real estate in this way!
Top-notch marketing is a necessity in today’s fast-paced, technology driven world of real estate. The National Association of Realtors found that 75% of people start their home-buying search online – that’s why in addition to traditional methods, we include a solid real estate internet marketing plan as part of your overall strategy. Our multi-level, multi-platform real estate marketing plan leaves our sellers assured that their property is receiving the best advertising possible. Examples include:
- Professionally installed sign
- Expertly designed and printed property brochure
- Social media marketing
- Virtual tour for buyers to view online
- Open house marketing in local venues
- … and much more!
Selling a home can be stressful. Let Windermere save you time and energy by handling all the worrying details. With us on your side, you can sell with confidence knowing that everything has been taken care of.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you.
Reasons You Should Join Windermere Denver
Windermere has always prided itself on three basic principles: hire the best people, give them the best tools, and create thriving communities. Windermere Denver provides a proven process for business growth and development. Our systems and tools are designed to increase your profitability while enhancing your industry expertise so you can take your business to the next level. We do this through quality education, interactive support, by keeping your training focused, and providing an elite experience you can’t find anywhere else.
Education
We have always placed a priority on education. Each course is taught by industry professionals who bring integrity and expertise to the classroom and online. We know that every phase of your career is critical, and we’ll guide you every step of the way.
Live Learning:
We offer multiple professional development locations within Colorado to fit your needs. From half-day courses to week-long workshops, and network-wide symposiums, we give you the connections and personalized training that only a live, in-person setting can provide. Here are several locations where we offer our services:
- Aurora
- Cherry Creek
- Denver
- Boulder
- Littleton
Windermere offers pre-licensing and continuing education courses in several education centers within our network. A majority of these courses are state-approved, so you get quality education while satisfying mandatory education requirements.
Online Training:
Your life is busy, but that doesn’t mean your education should suffer. Windermere has partnered with OnCourse Learning to provide our agents access to Continuing Education courses through their ProSchools and Career WebSchool campuses. We also offer supplemental courses and additional training for certain states in our Pre-License classes. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Whether you choose in-person classes or online training, our support network is second-to-none in helping you stay on the path to success.
Support
Whether it’s through our education programs or our Leadership Academy, Windermere prides itself on helping you find your path to success. Several of our programs offer customized one-on-one coaching. Our community is dedicated to maintaining quality and integrity, and we are devoted to ensuring your continued education and development.
Training Focused
By using innovative tools and technologies, we can hone our skills to keep up with today’s mobile-focused buying experience. Our Professional Development programs ensure that our agents receive only the best training in the industry.
Elite Experience
Our proven success systems are based on many years of real-life, on-the-ground experience. Our Leadership Academy is one of the ways we do this. We want to help you and the agents in your office lead an inspired, high-performing, and profitable life.
Join Windermere Denver today and take the first step toward the career you deserve.
Summer in Colorado: Getting Outdoors
Summers in Colorado can be just as adventurous as the winters. So what is there to do when the days are longer and warmer in the centennial state? The options range from going on a local brewery tour to climbing one of the 53 fourteeners in the state.
If music is your passion, then be sure to check out Red Rocks Amphitheatre’s summer concert series. There are also numerous music festivals offered all summer long throughout the state – the musical options range from underground music, country, classical, bluegrass, classic rock, and even rocky grass.
Colorado is well known for its numerous and beautiful ski resorts. What happens when the snow melts and the ski slopes close? The ski towns and resorts transform to welcome the summer crowd. There are mountain bike trails available for the biking enthusiasts, white water rafting and ziplining options for those wanting a little heart pounding adventure. Looking for something a little tamer? Aspen and Snowmass offers outdoor yoga, and Copper Mountain keeps its chairlifts operational for those looking to take in a truly scenic view.
Want to see the abundant Colorado wildlife and natural scenes up close and personal? With 41 state parks, 22 million acres of national forests, and hundreds of private campgrounds, there are numerous places to spend the night under the stars. With over 60 different ecological systems throughout the state, each night can be different – mountains or rolling prairies are all have campgrounds available for visiting. Check out Camp Colorado to find a campground and make reservations.
Spending time in nature contributes to the overall mental and physical well-being for everyone in the family. In support of this, Colorado’s Governor John Hickenlooper has unveiled the Colorado Trial Explorer – an online interactive map showing more than 39,000 miles of every hiking, biking, and multi-use trail in the entire state. These trails cut through wildflower meadows, colorful canyons, and even gorgeous waterfalls.
Looking for more of a challenge than a hike? Why not try your hand at a fourteener – Colorado has 53 mountains over 14,000 feet. There are many lists online that include the best beginner 14ers (if you are just starting), the more difficult ones (if you are looking for an enjoyable challenge) and the various gear you will need to bring for each type. Be sure to keep safety in mind before you head out – pack everything recommended, check on weather conditions, and make sure to let someone know where you are expecting to be.
For the novice or experienced birder, Colorado summers offer a chance to spot a wide variety of birds. Check out the Colorado Birding Trail for guides by region on the best birding sites in the state. This non-consumptive outdoor recreation allows anyone, no matter age or physical fitness, to get outside and observe Colorado nature.
If you are interested in the 200 plus breweries in Colorado, there is a plethora of festivals and tours available to check out. In addition to breweries, there are at least 20 different wineries and vineyard in Colorado’s wine country. Be sure to check out the schedule for local festivals featuring the various beers and wines from around the state. In addition, there are tours available from many of the breweries and vineyards.
Whether you are looking for a great musical experience, a wild adventure in the mountains, or a relaxing outdoor experience, summers in Colorado can satisfy a wide range of interests.
Check out our blog for more tips or contact us for advice:
Windermere Metro Denver Real Estate
Summer in Colorado: Best Road Trips in Colorado
Road trips are just as much a part of summer as ice cream and days at the pool. If you live in Colorado, you don’t have to leave the state to experience this tradition. Colorado’s amazing vistas, magical scenery and stunning stretches of the Rocky Mountains make this state the ultimate touring dream for car drivers from around the world. Roadside amenities also abound providing incredible recreation opportunities and a chance to see some really amazing sites. Here are 5 great road trips to try out this summer.
Boulder to Rocky Mountain National Park – 75 miles, 4-5 hours
In Estes Park, crash at the Georgian-style Stanley Hotel, which dates back to 1909. Be sure to take the $15 guided tour to learn about how the property played a critical role in Stephen King’s creation of “The Shining.”
Start the journey in Boulder, known as one of the quirkiest cities in the West. There’s always some sort of cultural activity going on. Day 2 in Estes be sure to get out of the car and explore Rocky Mountain National Park. The most popular hike here is the 14-mile round-trip climb to the top of 14,259-foot Longs Peak. This is not for the laid back hiker, though as you must leave at 3 a.m. to be off the mountain by the time thunderstorms move in later in the day. As an alternative, head out MacGregor Avenue toward McGraw Ranch for an easy 3-mile round-trip hike that follows Cow Creek to Bridal Veil Falls.
Trinidad to La Veta – 110 miles, 6-7 hours
Dating back to 1876, the 17-room La Veta Inn mixes history with comfort in kick-back, Old-West style.
For a look at local archaeology, visit the Louden-Henritze Archeology Museum in Trinidad. The museum has artifacts from nearby Trinchera Cave. For information about more modern times, check out the Santa Fe Trail Museum and some of the city’s historic homes. Later, on State Route 12 at Cucharas Pass, look for incredible views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Great Dikes, yellow-colored rock walls that were formed by volcanic forces inside the Earth more than 400 million years ago. In La Veta, check out the adobe buildings of Fort Francisco, which dates back to 1863 and today boasts a museum with artifacts from the 1700s.
End the day of learning with a homemade cinnamon roll at the Ryus Avenue Bakery, the only bake shop in La Veta.
Mesa Verde to Hovenweep – 480 miles, 3-4 days
Saddle up and spend a while at the Circle K Ranch in Dolores. The ranch offers comfortable accommodations and horseback-riding equal quintessential Old-West relaxation.
Begin this archaeological adventure at Mesa Verde National Park, home to 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 dwellings carved into the cliffs. The best-known rock home is Cliff Palace, a 150-room site with an estimated community of more than 100 Anasazi residents. From here, head south on 160 toward the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation, where members of the tribe provide guided tours through ruins located inside Ute Mountain Tribal Park. Finally, just east of the Utah border, Hovenweep National Monument protects 6 Pueblo-era villages with stone towers that have stood for more than 1,000 years. Four of these villages are in Colorado, 2 are in Utah.
Palisade to Eckert – 200 miles, 2-3 days
Start your trip along I-70 in Palisade and head west. Along the way, sample sweet wines from Carlson Vineyards, one of the oldest wineries in the state. Winemaker Parker Carlson also makes wine from local fruit such as peach and cherry. On Day 2, in Olathe, visit Cottonwood Cellars, then double-back to Delta to explore the Gunnison Valley. For a different kind of tasting, visit the Peak Spirits Distillery in Hotchkiss to try organic gin. Before heading home, stop in Eckert at Surface Creek Winery, which makes full-bodied merlot and features an impressive gallery of watercolor paintings from artist Dale Russell Smith
If a road trip sounds appealing, check out some of the great sights and exploration opportunities listed above.
Check out our blog for more tips or contact us for advice:
Windermere Metro Denver Real Estate
Summer in Colorado: Popular Festivals
While winter in Colorado bring the skiing tourists, Colorado summers bring the festival goers. Whether you are a long time resident, a newcomer, or a visitor, Colorado has a vast variety of festivals available for anyone. Here are some of the more popular festivals of 2017 to attend.
- Buskerfest – June 23–24, 2017
- This festival takes place in Denver Union Station’s fantastic public plaza and will celebrate a tradition of live street art and performance in The Mile High City. Attendees of all ages are welcome to come watch street musicians, fire performers, musicians, face painters, hula-hoopers, jugglers and others.
- Cherry Blossom Festival – June 24–25, 2017
- Japanese culture and heritage are showcased at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Dance, taiko drums and martial arts are featured on the outdoor stage, while inside the Denver Buddhist Temple you’ll find food sales and exhibits.
- Sand in the City – June 24th and 25th, 2017
- Arvada Chamber of Commerce‘s 5th Annual Sand in the City Festival is Colorado’s premier beach party, expected to attract 15,000+ visitors this year. See giant sand sculptures, enjoy local food & artisan vendors, a Kids Zone with buried treasure, live music, craft beer, and more!
- Denver Taco Festival – June 24th and 25th, 2017
- The Denver Taco Festival features Denver’s best local music, dancing, tequila and margaritas. But really, It’s all about the TACOS. The festival showcase some the best independent food trucks, taco specialists and restaurants in Colorado, Lucha Libre Wrestling, High Speed Daredevil Chihuahua Racing and more!
- Steamboat Opening Weekend and Adventure Zone – June 30
- Steamboat Resort will open for summer base area operations June 30 with the Coca-Cola Adventure Zone’s new summer activities, including the 18-hole Maverick Mini-Golf course, urban ropes course and summer tubing. Other activities opening June 30 include the Wild West Bounce House, Slingshot Bungee Trampoline and WaterWalkerz. Visit www.steamboat.com for a full list of summer activities.
- Colorado Dragon Boat Festival – July 29–30, 2017
- Founded in 2001 to celebrate Colorado’s Asian Pacific American (APA) culture, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival has become the region’s fastest growing fun, family-friendly summer festival. Named “Top Annual Festival” by the Rocky Mountain News and a “Best of Denver” event by Westword, it offers festival-goers the opportunity to explore APA customs through performances, arts and crafts, shopping, dining and the exciting athletic competition of dragon boat racing.
- Colorado Renaissance Festival – Saturdays & Sundays June & July, 2017
- The Colorado Renaissance Festival is a thematic recreation of a 16th Century village and marketplace set in the picturesque mountain venue of “Larkspurshire”, just south of Denver. Hundreds of colorfully costumed characters entertain continuously upon the village streets and on the Festivals 10 stages, performing 60 shows daily.
- Crested Butte Wildflower Festival – July 7th – July 16th, 2017
- The Crested Butte Wildflower Festival began in 1986 through the efforts of a few insightful Crested Butte locals who envisioned a wildflower celebration in one of the most picturesque valleys in Colorado. The Festival has grown into a summer-long season with over 300 events offered by over 60 instructors, tour guides and volunteers. Events include hikes and walks, jeep tours, garden tours, and workshops in photography, art, gardening, cooking, medicinal and botany.
- Arise – August 4th – 6th, 2017
- ARISE is a music, yoga, activism and co-creative camping festival. This year’s lineup includes: Atmosphere, Tipper, Lettuce, Beats Antique, Ani DiFranco, SunSquabi, Rising Appalachia, Brother Ali, The Expendables, Dirtwire, Desert Dwellers and Late Night Radio, and many more.
- Lafayette Peach Festival – August 19th, 2017
- The Lafayette Peach Festival, presented by Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, centers around world-famous all natural Palisade, Colorado peaches. Enjoy peach pies, peach cobbler and peach smoothies. Food vendors, crafters, antique dealers along with some of the finest artists from the Front Range and Western States will be showcased. Children’s activities, live entertainment and music throughout the day.
- A Taste of Colorado – Sept. 1–4, 2017
- A Taste of Colorado is the end-of-summer celebration of community pride and spirit in the Denver region. Over 500,000 people make the four-day festival their Labor Day Weekend celebration, enjoying the offerings of more 50 area restaurants, 275 marketplace artisans and vendors, six stages, and educational programs promoting the diverse cultural and western heritage of the region.
Whatever your interests may be, the summers in Colorado are full of popular and exciting festivals that will keep everyone in the family entertained.
Check out our blog for more tips or contact us for advice:
