Category Archives: Colorado Homeowners

False Alarms and 5 Tips to Minimize Them

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Edwards Colorado Horse Property

False alarms aside, having a home security system is a no-brainer if you own a home. Security systems not only increase security, but they also provide a piece of mind. They can also lower insurance premiums.  Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

It is very important to keep your family safe in these uncertain times. Did you know that many police departments report high percentages of calls being false alarms due to home security systems. Sometimes that percentage can be as high as 98%! Besides wasting the police’s time, false alarms could upset your neighbors, which is bad news for those with strict home owners associations. Here are five great tips to minimize false alarms at your home.

False Alarms Tips

  1. Pet Detectors
    Pets are part of the family, just like children, but they are often responsible for falsely setting off your home security system. There are alarm systems now that are more pet-friendly and gives homeowners an alternative to turning them off.
  2. Visitors
    If you are planning on having guests over, especially those staying overnight, you should tell them about your home alarm system. If your guest knows when the alarm is armed then they can avoid triggering it. This is also great advice for those of you with house-keepers or babysitters. Considering giving those that you trust the code to disarm the alarm to avoid triggering a false alarm.
  3. Securing Exits
    An easy way to ensure that you will not accidentally set off your home alarm is to be sure that all windows and doors are secured before arming the system.
  4. Backup Power
    Another great tip is to be aware of how often you should replace the batteries in your alarm system. Most modern home security systems have a backup battery in care your power goes out, so if you have an older model maybe it’s time to replace it.
  5. Don’t Forget Your Code
    It is easy to forget the code to your home security system and entering the wrong numbers into the keypad can trigger a false alarm. You don’t want the police showing up with you holding an armful of groceries because you couldn’t remember your code. Try setting your code to something that is easy to remember but that is also not obvious. Let family members know if you change the code.

Vacation Money

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Colorado Home Inventory

Vacation money can be hard to come by. During the Masters from April the 2nd through the 9th, hotels are often overbooked and you might find that private homes are higher in demand. If you are a homeowner during this time and have been planning to take a vacation, then maybe you should consider renting out your home to a guest and their family and make some vacation money for yourself.

Odds are your home is a thousand times better than any motel and you can charge a hefty fee for renting it out since the demand is higher with little to no competition. Need more convincing? Here’s a big push to get you off your feet and on that dream vacation: you may qualify for a tax-free income on the temporary tenant in your home while you are away.

Need Some Extra Vacation Money?

That’s right, there is a little known provision in the tax code that does not require taxpayers to recognize money that they receive from renting out their home for less than fifteen days per year. Of course not everyone has a home near where the masters takes place, but you might be surprised what other great locations temporary renters are looking for. Do you life near other large sporting events?

This may include golf or tennis tournaments, championship games of any kind, or other high attendance venues. With that said, this idea isn’t for everyone. Giving strangers access to your personal belongings does bring its own set of challenges. If you are considering this idea, then you should probably discuss it with your tax professional prior to making a definite decision. I know it’s hard to believe that you can make money while you are on vacation, but it’s true. Check out this page at the IRS for more information on how you can make a little extra money while on vacation.