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Autumn has arrived, and what better way to soak it all in than to go on a hike in the midst of a sea of Aspen trees?

Every year, autumn brings us a spectacular opportunity to watch the leaves of our Aspen trees turn from a vibrant green to stunning shades of red, yellow, gold, and orange against the clear blue sky.

You don’t have to stray very far from Summit County in order to enjoy the beautiful change of color. In fact, you can stay right here. Grab your best camera and embark on a hike on one of the following 4 hiking trails that are abundant with color-changing Aspen trees.

1. Eaglesmere Lake

7 miles round-trip / Intermediate

Located on the very north side of Summit County, this trail is nestled in the middle of a thick aspen forest and boasts wildflowers, fewer than 2,000 feet of elevation gain, and backcountry camping sites. The trail leads you to Eaglesmere Lake and offers stunning views over Lower Cataract Lake and Cataract Falls.

Directions to trailhead: Drive 16 miles north of Silverthorne. Turn left onto Heeney Road. Continue for approximately 5¼ miles to County Road 1725. Turn left at the juncture and then continue for 2 miles. The parking lot is located at the right fork.

2. Peaks Trail

15.5 miles one way / Beginner–Intermediate

The fall foliage is strong with this one. If you’re looking for an easy hike, start at the Breckenridge trailhead, as the trail goes downhill from there. If you’re looking for a more challenging hike, the Frisco trailhead is the place to start, because you’ll be going uphill most of the time.

The trail stretches between Breckenridge and Frisco, and it provides majestic scenery over Summit County, as well as plenty of aspen trees changing colors at the onset of autumn. The trail also passes by Rainbow Lake in Frisco, where you can take great photos of the fall foliage against the vibrant blue sky and the lake.

Directions to Breckenridge trailhead: Take Highway 9 to Breckenridge, and then make a right onto Ski Hill Road. Continue on Ski Hill Road to the top. Make a right at the Peak 8 base area and drive past the Grand Timber Lodge. The trailhead parking lot is ahead.

Directions to Frisco trailhead: Drive west on Frisco’s Main Street and then make a left onto 2^nd Avenue. Drive to the end of the street and then park. Walk over the paved bike path and then you’ll see the trailhead.

3. Lower Cataract Lake Loop Trail

2.25 miles round-trip / Beginner-Intermediate

This trail has a waterfall, a creek, a bridge, a lake, and plenty of aspen trees that add a lot of color to the scenery. It goes around the Lower Cataract Lake, so there are plenty of photo ops along the way.

Directions to trailhead: Drive 16 miles north of Silverthorne. Turn left onto Heeney Road. Continue about 5.6 miles to Cataract Creek Road, and make a sharp left turn there. Drive to the end of the road, where the trailhead is.

4. Boreas Pass/Aspen Alley Trail

1 mile round-trip / Beginner

What better way to experience the Aspen fall foliage than to hike a trail named after Aspen trees? This short hike is a great way to soak in the fall scenery without too much planning, driving, and walking. There are so many Aspen groves along this trail that it is practically shaded the entire way. There is also an old mine dump you can explore. Not only that, but if you’re up for a scenic drive, you can drive up

Boreas Pass Road to the very top, where the fall foliage is stunning.

Directions to trailhead: Drive south on Main Street in Breckenridge. Take a left at Boreas Pass Road and then take the road all the way up the mountain. It will turn into a dirt road. When that happens, keep your eyes peeled for the trailhead parking lot on the left side less than half a mile up the dirt road.

Continue reading “The Top 5 Family-Friendly Restaurants in Breckenridge”

If you own a second home in a popular vacation destination like Breckenridge, there are many benefits above and beyond just having a vacation retreat. Of the many different advantages that come with owning a second home in a popular area, one in particular is very exciting- rental income. Renting your second home can help offset many costs of holding the property and provide extra income to you, including:

• Renting your home can help cover your mortgage payments, insurance, and property taxes.
• You may have the ability to deduct your rental expenses on your taxes.
• Rental revenue can help pay for your HOA fees and assessments.
• You have the possibility of your property appreciating in value.
• Property maintenance costs can be offset with rental revenues, which increase your property’s value in the long run.
• Rental revenues can be applied to property upgrades and remodels, increasing your rental revenues and home value.

The average rental property brings in about $28,000 a year and including cleaning, repairs, guest relations, check in and out, and other assorted communication and preparation can take about fifteen hours a week to manage. This figure is higher than average here in Summit County, especially during our very busy winter season. Increasingly, guests are looking for a hotel experience and professional communications during their vacation, which can be a challenge for many homeowners to do well.  When a guest is not provided with that experience, they will likely not rent the property again, or worse, leave a scathing review online to prevent others from renting the property.  To succeed in renting your property, time and resources must be invested to provide the type of experience todays traveler demands.

Renting your property is a very challenging time commitment. If you’re interested in renting your second home for extra profit, here are some tips to ensure you are positioned for success:

1. Learn the laws and restrictions for rental homes in your state and town. 

A good place to start would be to Google “[Your town] rental regulations”. You can also try calling your town’s community or tax office. You may have to apply for a rental permit, business license, pay taxes, and remit forms on a monthly basis to state and local authorities.  Many towns restrict or outright ban rental activity.  For those that allow rentals, regulations and tax remission are common, so don’t get yourself in trouble by not understanding the legal requirements.  A professional management company is set up to take care of all these things for you, and keep in in legal compliance.

2. Read your mortgage agreement

Ensure rental activity is allowed on your property, and your insurance will not be at risk of being voided by the rental activity. Some mortgage agreements include restrictions on renting out the property. You want to ensure that yours allows it. If you’re part of a homeowners’ association, it’s always a good idea to find out if they allow vacation rentals, too.  A professional manager will be aware of local HOA restrictions, and can help with ensuring you are compliant.

3. Find a Property Manager

Renting the property on your own is attractive for financial reasons, as there is no commission to pay. However, hiring a professional property manager can eaisly pay for iteself. Some property managers will request a percentage of the monthly rent as compensation. In the end, you will make more money. The professional property manager will pay for itself by reducing your time spent and burden, increasing rentals and decreasing vacancies, better guest service, and the convenience of having a valued manager just a phone call away.  Most owners eventually come to learn that a professional property manager is worth much more than the 30-40% they charge.

4. Keep detailed records of your income and expenses for all rental activity. 

Keeping a detailed record of every expense associated with the rental property so that you can potentially deduct them when tax season comes around.  Most repairs and improvements can be deducted from your personal taxes, but asking your accountant is a good practice to ensure tax compliance.  A professional manager can not only keep track of these costs for you, but also account for other items, and prepare reports for your tax professional.

5. Ensure your insurance is the correct type and level for rentals.

You likely have casualty insurance for your home, but ensuring you have rental and liability insurance will ensure coverage for you in the event of any sort of guest related issue.  Guests can become injured, or sometimes injure your property, and being properly covered for that can protect you from a financial loss.

6. Prepare the property ready for guests, by providing the first class hotel experience they are looking for.

Removing your personal belongings is a good idea, for both their protection as well as the comfort of the guest.  They want to feel like they are in a home, but not your home. Ensuring that the property has enough comfortable furniture will provide a relaxing and pleasurable gathering space for the guest during their time in your home. Stocking the property with a compliment of necessities and amenities will enable guests to relax comfortably, and will provide the type of experience that they desire. Fixing any hazards and deep cleaning the property will give the guest the first impression of an owner that takes pride in their home.  A professional management company can take care of all these things for you, and do it at a high level to promote happy return guests.

Click here to learn more about preparing your home for renters.

7. Draft up a list of house rules for your guests to read.

Such rules may include no smoking, no pets, no loud music after 10:00 PM, and no big parties. Don’t forget to include local emergency phone numbers and your property manager’s contact information. Print out the list and put it in an obvious place where you know your renters will see it.

8. Ge ready for your first booking!

Good luck! You are on your way to increased revenue as well as helping other families make vacation memories!

So your second home has been given the green light to be rented out to vacationers. Now what?

It’s time to whip your home into tip-top shape for your first group of vacation renters.

If you’re not sure where to start, we have you covered. Here are five steps to take to prepare your home for vacation renters:

1. Remove your personal items.

The first reason for doing this is to reduce clutter, and make the home comfortable and welcoming for your guests. You don’t want your guests to feel like they’re staying at somebody else’s house. They want to feel like it’s their home away from home. Reducing clutter involves removing any personal items or objects, such as picture frames and your favorite art fair sourced stuffed mountain squirrel, which will only cause discomfort to your potential guests.

Secondly, removing your personal items is a good idea because you don’t want to leave behind anything that’s precious and irreplaceable. Make sure everything you leave behind would not be noticed if it was lost. Everything in the home should have no personal attachment for you, just in case any accidents happen. We suggest keeping your personal and valuable items in an owners closet, so you can display them when you come out to visit.

2. Make sure all of the furniture is clean, comfortable, and presentable.

Todays vacationers have high standards, and expect the 5 star hotel experiences, even on a three star budget. It will be a financial and operational benefit to offer your guests new and comfortable furniture and high-quality bedding. Cleanliness and comfort should be your top priorities. The more comfortable the guest, the more he or she will enjoy the experience and return to your home year after year.

3. Repair any potential hazard.

Homes are full of failures waiting to happen, and accidents just around the corner. The last thing you want is for the water heater to quit working in the middle of a guest’s stay, or a rip in the carpet to trip up a guest. Have a professional property management company thoroughly inspect your home prior to guests staying to make sure all the appliances, steps, wiring, and plug outlets are in working order. If they find a potential hazard, they are capable of getting it repaired as soon as possible, and saving you any headaches down the road. A good property management company will inspect prior to every guest, and will act quickly to anticipate and remedy potential issues for you.

4. Have your home deep cleaned.

Cleanliness is the #1 factor in the satisfaction of guests to your home, and is the one thing that can turn a vacation into a trip from hell for many travelers. Your best bet would be to hire a property management company that has an experienced and capable cleaning service. You want your home to start as a clean slate in order to give your guests the perfect experience. You also want your management company to preform 1-2 deep cleans per year, to detail your home, and clean all the areas that are difficult to budget in on a back to back vacation rental clean.

5. Stock your home with the basic necessities.

To ensure that your guests are happy and comfortable, follow this checklist while stocking your home (remember, this is just a start. A good management company will customize a list for you and your home):

Kitchen	Living Area	Bedrooms	Bathrooms
____ Plates, bowls, glasses, and flatware (double the number of guests you sleep)	____ Comfortable seating (enough for the number of guests you sleep)	____ High-quality sheets (two sets per bed)	____ High-quality bath towels (two per guest)
____ Coffee maker	____ Large TV	____ Pillows with pillow protectors (four per bed)	____ High-quality washcloths (four per guest)
____ Pots and pans	____ Basic cable	____ Extra blankets	____ High-quality hand towels (two per guest)
____ Cooking utensils	____ DVD player	____ Mattress pads	____ Hair dryer
____ Napkins & paper towels	____ Cards and board games	____ Alarm clocks	____ First Aid Kit
____ Dish towels	____ Coffee table	____ Reading lamps	____ Travel-sized toiletries
____ Knife set	____ Throw pillows and blankets		____ Feminine sanitary products
____ Condiments	____ DVDs

When it comes to choosing the best place to stay in Breckenridge, there are no wrong answers. From secluded mountain homes, quaint Victorian style homes to ski-in/ski-out condos, Breck has something to offer for every type of vacationer. Nonetheless, choosing the right neighborhood can be daunting if you’ve never explored Breckenridge.

To help you figure out the best area for you and your family, we put together a list of the Breckenridge neighborhoods and the attributes of each.

The Peaks / 4 o’clock Rd

Most people stay around the Peaks or on 4 o’clock Rd for the access to the resort. This is the biggest selling point for this area. It has close proximity to several chair lifts and borders the trail 4 o’clock. You can ski within a few feet of your front door and many vacationers come back for lunch mid-day.

The downside to this is that town can be a good walk or a bus ride away. Since you are paying for the location, you can sacrifice space, luxury and the rustic atmosphere. Nonetheless, if you are looking for the traditional ski-cation, this is the perfect place to stay in Breck.

(Click here to see all our ski in/ski-out properties.)

Breck Historic District

The town of Breckenridge has an adorable historic district with heaps of atmosphere. The houses are in the traditional Victorian style and the main strip features quality restaurants, shopping and nightlife. The gondola is on one edge of town, a beginner’s chairlift on the other and both a relatively easy walk for most, so access to skiing isn’t a chore. If you are looking for a well rounded vacation experience, with options for even the non-skier in the family, Breck’s historical district is your best bet.

Warriors Mark

Many prefer the quiet of a neighborhood. Warrior’s Mark is located on the south edge of Breckenridge and is set back from the main street. One one side, it borders Peak 9 and the Village, so ski access is nearby. It is also bordered by National Forest, giving access to the backcountry and great hiking.

This area is a quieter, more traditional mountain feel and just removed from the thick of things. You’ll likely want to take advantage of Breck’s transit, Summit Stage to get to and from the restaurants, shopping and nightlife. The buses stop between 12-1am so if nightlife is your priority, this area may not be your top pick. It is perfect for families looking for proximity, but a quieter experience.

(Ski within 1.5 blocks of your house at this vacation rental in Warrior’s Mark.)

Blue River

Blue River is the perfect place to stay for the nature lover. This area sports the traditional rustic mountain experience. You are likely to see moose, elk, deer and even bear running through your backyard in this neighborhood! The houses tend to be more “retreat-style” and are nestled in the forest, with lots of space inside and out.

This neighborhood has the Goose Pasture Tarn and a stream for fishing, kayaking and other waterfront activities. You’ll want to have your own car in this area, as it is located a few miles outside town.

(See one of our favorites in Blue River.)

Baldy Mountain

Baldy Mountain is located on the hill opposite the ski resort. This area is popular with the local community for its amazing views and quieter atmosphere. We have several houses up here that are the quintessential snowy mountain retreat, with all the luxuries and comforts you could ever want.

The majority of the houses are above 10,000 feet, so you will want to be aware of the high altitude conditions. The buses run regularly up here, so access to town and the gondola is simple. This area is perfect for large groups, who want luxury at a decent price and need to appeal to a variety of guests.

Check out one of our houses on Baldy.

Wildflowers are the crowning glory of Breckenridge summers. They line the roadsides and trails and color the landscape. While they hit their peak in late July, different variations can be seen throughout the spring and summer.

Wildflower hikes are a great summer activity for the whole family. Here are a few you are likely to see and where you can find them.

Colombine

This flower is Colorado’s state flower and pride and joy. No matter how many times you see it, its unique shape and coloring continues to impress. It grows to about 12-24 inches tall and prefers shaded areas. There is nothing more lovely than a patch of delicate columbines in the shade of an aspen grove.

In the wild, it is most commonly found in purple and white but many other colors exist in gardens and the wild alike. Coloradans love their columbines, so the best place to see them is in the gardens in town.

Silvery Lupine

This flower grows almost anywhere in Breckenridge, taking over whole hillsides and cropping up along the roads. You have likely already seen it, cheerfully greeting visitors that drive into town. The tiny pea shaped flowers are actually bluish-purple but have white on the underside, giving it a silvery appearance from a distance. To see this flower in detail, hike the Dickie’s Trail around Lake Dillon. This trail sports several varieties of wildflowers and is perfect for beginners.

Wild Rose

The wild roses are much simpler than their domesticated cousins with only 5 petals. They are most commonly found in magenta, pale pink and white. They grow in scraggly bushes along the sides of the road and trails and are recognizable by their bright yellow centers. To see this flower, hike the Boreas Pass trail. A few are already beginning on Boreas Pass Road!

Heartleaf Arnica

This bold yellow flower can be found in almost all wooded areas. You can’t miss it. Look for the triangular pointed petals in the shaded forests around Breck.

Fireweed

Fireweed is a tall plant with magenta flowers. It gets its name from its ability to return quickly after a wildfire. This flower blooms in ditches, meadows, gardens – anywhere! It blooms a bit later than other wildflowers and is known as a herald to the coming winter.

Scarlet Gilia, Fairy Trumpet

This flower is shaped like a tiny reddish orange trumpet. At closer inspection, there is often white or yellow spotting inside the flower. You’ll see it in drier areas, roadsides and open meadows. It’s very tiny, so can be hard to spot.

Calypso Orchid Fairy Slipper

The Fairy Slipper Orchid is a rare occurrence and you should count yourself lucky to find it. It is found in forested, well shaded areas, and is usually in small groups of 1-5 flowers. This particular photo was taken on the Illinois Gulch trails and was the only flower of this type in the area.

Whether you are hiking or driving, wildflowers can be found in abundance in all of Breck. If hiking, don’t forget to bring the necessary provisions such as water and rain gear. The high altitude climate is known to change weather with little notice, especially in the afternoons. Hike safe!

Your property is an asset and you’ve worked hard for it. But does your property work hard for you? A professional property management company can help you get the best return for your investment property.

Here at Breckenridge Resort Managers, we believe that the key to getting the best return on your property are professional property management and guest satisfaction. If your guests are happy, they will return, recommend their friends, and tell others about their experience online. The key to guest satisfaction is no mystery. You need a quality property management company.

But how do you choose a property management company? If you choose solely cut rate commission, the guests will suffer, your revenue will suffer, and your service will suffer. (Don’t even get us started on extra fees!) Over the years, we’ve learned a few things about quality property management, and even introduced some new concepts. To be successful in renting your home short term, here are some strengths you should look for in a professional property management firm.

Professional Experience

When choosing a property management company, it’s important to find a company that knows their area well and has a solid backing of experience in the vacation rental industry. Each tourist destination has its own unique features and its guests will as well. A professional PM company should have professional credentials, industry leadership, and nuanced expertise in their market and industry.

Ask a prospective company how many years have they been in business, what certifications they hold, what boards are they active in, what leadership experience do they have, what is their staff to property ratio, how long have their employees and housekeepers been with them.

Guest Experience

Vacationers expect a lifetime of memories to come from their vacation. They want a smooth and seamless “hotel experience”, a prompt and polite communication process throughout the vacation, and the extra touches only a professional property management company can provide. A good company values and respects this guest experience, understanding how crucial it is to success and how to provide it to each and every guest.

Ask a prospective property management company how many and what type of staff is employed full time. What is the staff to guest ratio? Do they have their own maintenance crew or do they use contractors? What are their office hours? Average response time for client requests? What technology do they use for guest communications? How are their employees trained to provide an experience of a lifetime to each guest?

Guest Selection

An abundance of quality renters are essential to turning a profit on your investment. Ask a prospective property manager what their tenant selection process is like. What sort of marketing do they do in order to find quality renters? How do they increase their closing ratio? How do they remarket to past guests? What other channels do they use to procure guests? How quickly do they respond to guest leads? What is their average occupancy?

The Relationship between Owner and Property Manager

Lastly, the relationship with your management company must be open, honest, and collaborative to ensure complete confidence that your home is being managed properly. You should get a clear definition of the responsibility of the owner and the responsibility of the property management firm before you sign anything. You should review a proposed management agreement, along with the fee structure and what is included in those fees. Most importantly, ask them who you will be dealing with on a daily basis (owner, manager, and employee). Remember, this is a business RELATIONSHIP. Be careful who you select, and make sure it will be a positive experience.

We know that renting your second home can potentially be stressful and time consuming. The wrong renter, long vacancies or general mismanagement can drastically reduce your profits and enjoyment of your property. A professional property management company will minimize your stress and give you more freedom to do the things you love.

As a local lodging company, we have a lot of Breckenridge businesses ask us to promote their services to our guests.  Generally, we like to help out, and will promote those businesses who we feel offer the best goods and services in town, specifically those that make our guests happy.  I must say, this town is full of quality businesses, well versed in guest service, and deserving of our endorsement.  However, every so often we run across a business, or more correctly business owners, that we like to highlight as a business we trust above others. 

The folks at Blue River Sports and Mountain Wave have developed a relationship with Resort Managers dating back many years, and have become a business we reccommend to every guest who walks through our door due to their value, service, and friendly ownership and staff.  Sody, Dave, and John are longtime locals that truely represent the best Breckenridge has to offer.  They donate thier time and energy to many local entities, and exemplify what a true Breckenridge local business is- Friendly, Welcoming, and Fun!

I know each of these men personally, and am proud to reccommend their services to our guests.  Trust me, you will be in good hands.

Ski & Snowboard Rentals in Breckenridge since 1982. Oldest locally owned & operated shop in Breckenridge with the largest selection of ski and snowboards. Rossignol, K2, Salomon, Blizzard, Volkl, Never Summer, Burton, Icelantic, Faction, Line, LibTech, Roxy & Sims. Boots are fitted, not just handed to you. Fittings take 20 minutes, usually less. Free breakage insurance and storage. Clothing rental. No charge for pick-up the evening before. Kids under 5 free with adult rental. 5th day free. Only charge 2.5% tax. Enjoy. We’ve been doing it right for a long time. Open 8am – 9pm daily. 600 S. Park Ave., Peak 9 Base Area. 970-453-1110.

Book Direct with them for your upcoming winter vacation at 10% off!- http://www.breckenridgeresortmanagers.com/directory/breckenridge-ski-rentals–onsite/blue-river-sports

Coming to Breckenridge, Ski season 2014, is the Brand new Peak 6 Breckenridge! One of the best ski resorts in north America, just got 23% better, 3 bowls funner, and 543 acres bigger, providing the one of a kind experience only Breckenridge can.  Peak 6 Breckenridge will bring intermediate bowl skiing to the mountain, offering a brand new adventure for skiers of all types.  Check out our Ski Resorts page for a full sized map of our new ski area, including peak 6. Peak 6 Breckenridge terrain details • 543 brand new skiable acres • 23% growth in total terrain • Brand new terrain includes above-treeline intermediate bowl! • 3 new sweeping bowls • 10 all new winding and wide trails Brand new Peak 6 Lifts • 1 4 person • 1 high speed 6-person Warming structures on Peak 6 • Ski Patrol office and a toasty warming hut at the top • Another toasty Warming hut with a restroom at mid mountain

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Breckenridge this spring!

1. FREE on mountain concert series
2. Biggest spring event/activity lineup in the Rockies
3. One last chance to hit the slopes before the mountain closes
4. Easy to afford lodging and lift tickets
5. Breckenridge wants you!

Breckenridge Sring Fever 2013 Concert Series-

Sat. April 6th – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Sun. April 7th – The Dirty Heads

Sat. April 13th – 3OH!3

Sun. April 14th – Matisyahu

We don’t stop there- other Breckenridge Spring Fever 2013 events

• Breck Ascent Series- uphill skin/snowshoe races
• Gondola operating hours are extended
• Ripperoo’s Winter Olympics
• Breck 5 Peaks Mountaineering Race
• Spring Fever Beer Fest
• Breckenridge Imperial Challenge bike & ski race
• Breck Chili Cook-off at Seven’s
• St. Patrick’s Day Party at Seven’s
• Extended after-hours Terrain Park events on Friday at the 5 Chair
• Breck Throwback Throwdown and Throwback Party and Concert at the Riverwalk Center
• Easter egg hunts
• Ripperoo Mini World Cup
• Fever Reliever merchant discounts