Nine million-dollar homes sell in Boulder

BOULDER - Nine homes in the city of Boulder sold for more than $1 million in December, bringing the total number of homes in that price range to 127 for the year, according to a survey of high-end home sales by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Denver.

The number of $1 million-plus sales in Boulder was down one from November, but up from the four sold in December 2011.

The city of Boulder ranked third on the list of December sales behind Denver, where there were 17 million-dollar sales, and Greenwood Village, where there were 11.

Across the metro Denver area, 65 homes sold for more than $1 million in December, up from 60 in November and 41 in December 2011.

In Boulder County as a whole, 11 properties eclipsed the $1 million mark in December, with the other sales occurring in Lafayette and Longmont. One property in Broomfield County sold for $1.22 million.

The report is compiled from Multiple Listing Service data.

The top selling property was a $4.75 million, eight-bedroom, 12,000-square-foot home at 8925 Mountain View Lane in Boulder. Scott Franklund of Legendary Properties/Coldwell Banker Previews International was the listing agent.

Boulder County Business Report | Today's News | Nine million-dollar homes sell in Boulder

Emergency Kit for Your Home

Take time to evaluate your home's emergency kit. A battery-powered radio, a first-aid kit, blankets, several gallons of fresh water, tools for shutting off gas and water lines, candles and matches, flashlights and batteries should all be included. Check the batteries — they can drain with time, even if not used. If you live in an area with extremely cold winters, make sure you have a backup heat supply, whether it's a wood stove and a well-stocked woodshed, or a backup generator. If you live in hurricane country, keep a supply of plywood for protecting windows. Residents of earthquake-vulnerable areas should have water and food to last several days. If you are a camper, consider keeping your camping supplies near your emergency stash — camp stoves, waterproof matches and tarps are all items that could come in handy should disaster strike.

The Dreaded Frozen Pipe

In cold and warmer climates alike, pipes freeze for a combination of three central reasons: quick drops in temperature, poor insulation, and thermostats set too low. Both plastic and copper pipes can burst when they freeze, and recovering from frozen pipes is not as simple as calling a plumber. A 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons of water a day, causing flooding, serious structural damage, and the immediate potential for mold. You can prepare by protecting your home during the warmer months. Here’s how:

• Insulate pipes in your home's crawl spaces and attic, even if you live in a climate where freezing is uncommon. Exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. Remember: The more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.
• Heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables can be used to wrap pipes. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and only for the use intended (exterior or interior). Closely follow all manufacturers' installation and operation instructions.
• Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes, and use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out. With severe cold, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze.
• Before winter hits, disconnect garden hoses and, if possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.

What do you do if your pipes still freeze, despite your best preventative measures? First step: Don’t panic. Just because they’re frozen doesn’t mean they’ve already burst. Here’s what you can do:

• If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber.
• Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water: You could be electrocuted.
• Never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame because it could cause a fire hazard. Water damage is preferable to burning down your house!
• You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe with the warm air from a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, working toward the coldest section of pipe.
• If your water pipes have already burst, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve in the house; leave the water faucets turned on. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shutoff valve is and how to open and close it.

Here are a few more things to add to your winter to-do list:

• Clean lint from under laundry appliances, especially the dryer, carefully work the cleaning tool down into the lint filter; outdoors, clean the dryer vent outlet, reaching as far as possible into the pipe.
• Check your furnace filter monthly in the winter to see if it needs replacing.
• Examine the ducts of your forced-air furnace and seal any leaks with duct tape.
• Use a vacuum-cleaner tool or a long-handled brush to clean under and behind the refrigerator, including the coils.

GCH Projects: E3 Ranch Project Update

The amazing master closet!

GCH Projects: E3 Ranch Project Update

Master bath.