If you have the great opportunity to move to Evergreen, Colorado, there are important factors to consider when buying a home that can greatly effect the quality of your life. Evergreen has many different types of lifestyles and understanding all the variables can be imperative to the desired outcome. Having an experienced Mountain Realtor can help you to properly navigate this process as it is very different buying a home in the mountains than it is in the city.
Evergreen attracts a variety of home owners ranging from a mountain vacation home to a full-time residence. All home-owners, however, share the same desire: a bit of escape. Evergreen offers remote mountain-top living as well as neighborhoods full of families and neighborhood bar-b-ques. Whichever you are looking for, below are important factors to take into consideration when purchasing a home in Evergreen, Colorado.
Conveniences
North & Central Evergreen are closer to many of the shops and grocery stores and gas stations than if you live in South Evergreen. When looking for a house take into consideration how far you are from the grocery store and schools as well as other modern conveniences.
The Commute…
If you commute down the hill to Denver then living in North or Central Evergreen will allow you to get to highway I-70 faster. If you purchase a home closer to Conifer you may be able to get to Denver via 285. Be sure to map your commute so you know how long it will take you to get to work.
Your Driveway…
When looking at houses it is important that you pay close attention to the driveway and which direction it faces. Driveways that face South will have more sun exposure and the snow will melt faster. Driveways that face North are more likely to accumulate snow and ice because there is less sun exposure. If the driveway has a steep incline or decline that can also create challenges in the Winter. Be sure you are in good physical condition to plow it regularly or have the budget to get it plowed by a service so that snow does not accumulate. Longer driveways will require more time to maintain than smaller ones.
The Garage…
I highly recommend buying a home with a garage. This will keep you from having to remove snow off of your car in the Winter which can be an inconvenience.
Your Heat Source…
The two most popular types of heat sources here are forced air furnaces and boiler/baseboard radiant heat. We did not have these in Texas so I was not familiar with them in the beginning. I have lived in a house with forced air heat and one with boiler based baseboard radiant heat. I think the radiant baseboard heating is more efficient and does a great job of keeping the house warm, not to mention very quiet. Your main expense here will be the cost of natural gas. You will want to have the boiler system inspected before you purchase a home to make sure it is in good working condition. You will also find homes in the Evergreen area that run on electric baseboard heat which is the most expensive heat source. You will want to check with the existing owner to get their utility bills. The last type of heat source you will find here is going to be in-floor radiant heat. These are very nice systems and are typically found in more expensive homes. Be sure to watch out for Kytec systems as some of their equipment had recalls for safety issues.
Septic Systems…
Septic systems are pretty common in certain areas of Evergreen. Septic systems are permitted for X number of bedrooms (2 people per bedroom) so if you have a 3 bedroom home then it is rated for 6 people. Sometimes there are homes that are rated for 3 bedrooms but they have a 4th non-conforming bedroom. This is allowed as long as it is disclosed to the buyer.
Septic systems have a limited life and can fail inspections. I have been in transactions where sellers have had to repair or completely replace their septic systems and a full replacement can be $40,000-$50,000. When buying a home the onus of responsibility is to the owner to have the septic tank inspected, ensure it passes and provide you with a continuing use permit. (Note – each county has slightly different requirements.) Having an experienced mountain Realtor can help you structure your purchase contract to obligate the seller to make sure the inspection is completed properly and that they follow all the necessary steps to protect you.
There are limitations on what can be disposed of in your septic tank so you will want to make sure you follow those rules otherwise you risk shortening the life of your septic tank and they are expensive to replace.
Water Sources…
Most properties in Evergreen are either on city water or on a well. There are a few properties that are on cisterns and are deemed to be “seasonal properties” by the county. This means you can only live in them part of the year not full-time.
If a home is on a well then again, this is where it is helpful to have an experienced Mountain Realtor to help guide you through the process. You will want to have an experienced well inspector/contractor test the well equipment to make sure that it is in proper working order and that it is safe to use. They will test the flow-rate so you know if it is a good producing well or not. They can also test the water quality to determine if the water is safe to drink or not.
Propane Gas Tanks…
If the home you are purchasing uses propane gas then you will want to see if the tank is included in the purchase or if it is a leased tank. You will pay to fill this tank which can be expensive all at one time. There are some services that will break this payment up and bill you each month. One thing to note is when buying a home that runs on propane the title company will read the meter a few days within closing and will credit the Seller for the fuel in the tank. Consult with your Realtor regarding how to manage your propane gas resources.
Cell Phone Service…
When visiting a home be sure to check your cellular phone service. You don’t want to buy a and later discover its location has poor cellular service. If a home does have poor cell reception you have a few options. You can change cellular carriers or you can tether to your wifi in your house and that will allow you to make and receive calls on your cell phone. You can also purchase an Internet booster to improve your cellular signal. Most residents here use Verizon as it gets the best cell reception. AT&T and T Mobile are also popular here.
Altitude & Climate….
Altitude can greatly influence your climate and the amount of snow you get. It’s been my experience that homes that are situated at about 9,000 feet and above experience a lot more snow. This can be a completely different lifestyle and experience for a homeowner. Something else to note is the higher your altitude the longer your Winter and shorter your Summer. It’s also important to note the direction the home faces. South facing homes get a lot more sunlight and feel warmer and the driveways tend to melt much faster. For reference downtown Evergreen is at 7,200 ft.
Proximity to Creeks…
Homes close to creeks are charming and it is very nice to be able to sit on your deck and listen to the water. Something to seriously consider is, how easy is it for your house to be flooded. Does your house sit up far enough from the creek or is it right next to it. High creek levels can also take out driveways so check to see the condition of the bridge. It may even be a good idea to talk to neighbors and ask them about their experience with the creeks. Something else to note is that if a home is situated in a flood plane, you will pay more for home owners insurance.
Icy Roads…
Take into consideration the amount of sun exposure a road gets. If you live in Hiwan then your streets have good sun exposure and Evergreen Parkway (74) also gets great sun exposure so ice and snow will melt quickly. If you live up Brook Forest Road then parts of the road may be blocked by the sun on the South side and as a result ice will not melt as fast and may be more dangerous to travel on.
