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Many of you know Dylan, but now you get to meet his assistant Brutus! Yes, they BOTH wear a tie, every single day! Dylan started his journey with us, in the summer of 2018, he's a New Mexican-Texan! With deep roots in both states. He has an extensive background in property management, mostly in the commercial sector. He truly specializes in customer service. He doesn't complain, stays positive and truly tries to come up with solutions to problems. He LOVES his pup Brutus! We are thankful and grateful for both of their service! If you need anything, never hesitate to reach out to Dylan by contacting us !

Spring Every year, we all say that it is time to get the spring cleaning done. Here is a rundown of what you should be doing during the spring months. March – Start opening windows and airing the place out. This is also a good time to clean range hood filters, clean the kitchen sink disposal, and clean or change HVAC filters. April – Clean the windows so they sparkle and let the sunshine in. Have carpets cleaned and wash rugs. May – Clean the gutters (if you rent a house). Walk around and look at the exterior of the home and report any weather damage to the landlord. Look at the surrounding trees, and if they are interfering with power lines, call your local utility. Summer Now is the best time for outdoor work. If you are renting a place that has a yard, here are some of your responsibilities. June – Look for cracks in the driveway and report any you find to the landlord. Clean off the patio, deck, or yard area that you use and get it ready for summer fun. Clean out the garage and get rid of unnecessary junk. July – Check the yard for insect infestations. If there is a problem with ants or other insects, the landlord may need to call an exterminator. August – Fall is coming, so take care of outdoor chores that you won’t want to do once it gets cold outside. Towards the end of the month, put away summer outdoor toys, outdoor furniture, etc. to prepare for fall. Fall Now you need to start prepping for winter to make sure that you have no major issues and that you stay warm. September – Remove window air conditioning units and seal up windows with plastic if there are drafts. Test the sump pump to make sure that it is working properly. October – Depending on where you live, it could start snowing soon. Buy salt and other items you will need to prepare for winter. Again, check the driveway for cracks that should be sealed before winter. Turn off outdoor faucets. November – Look for drafts in doors and windows, and seal them off if necessary with caulking or weather stripping. Move furniture that may be blocking heating vents. Get fireplaces ready for winter. Replace batteries in smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. Winter December – It’s time to clean up for the holidays. Do some painting touchups on trim and other areas that may be looking old. Test your electricity, because you will likely be using more for holiday lighting. Also, test Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets and plugs. Check all locks on windows and doors, and replace if necessary. January – With the holiday hubbub over with, you may be bored. It’s time to clean out the basement. Check around outside for icicles and remove them before they become dangerous. Clean showerheads and remove any sediment. February – Before you start the spring cleaning and maintenance, go around the house and look for any loose doorknobs, drawer handles, etc. and tighten everything up. Stock up on spring cleaning supplies. Check caulking around showers and tubs, and repair or replace if necessary. From

1. Santa Fe Bid farewell to the old year amidst the beautiful pueblos of Santa Fe. Each year, the city hosts New Year’s Eve on the Plaza in the historic downtown area. Sip a hot chocolate and warm your hands at the many bonfires around the plaza as you listen to live bands. At the countdown to midnight, the city raises the Zia sun symbol as fireworks fill the sky. For families, the kids’ party at GLOW at the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens is a great option. Wander through glowing Christmas lights, check out the laser light show, and participate in the 7 p.m. countdown. Find vacation rentals in Santa Fe 2. Jemez Springs Lose yourself in a winter wonderland for the new year in Jemez Springs. On December 31, head to the Valles Caldera Cross Country Ski Area for the annual Fire and Ice New Year’s Eve event. Bring your skis or snowshoes to explore the trails under the stars before heading to the bonfire for a cocktail. At midnight, the quiet mountains come to life with fireworks. During the day, enjoy the spectacular skiing on the preserve’s 35 miles of groomed trails; Valle Grande is great for beginners, while History Grove takes you through challenging, stunning terrain. Afterward, soothe your muscles in the naturally-heated pools at the Jemez Hot Springs. Find vacation rentals near Jemez Springs 3. Taos For skiers, it’s hard to beat New Year’s Eve in Taos. Head up to Taos Ski Valley early in the evening to watch colored lights illuminate the snowy peaks during the mountain’s annual laser show. Stick around for the torchlight parade and the end-of-year fireworks. Afterward, head indoors to sip a craft cocktail in a casual atmosphere before the countdown to midnight in the Martini Tree Bar. A short walk away, the Stray Dog Cantina rings in the New Year with New Mexican fare and margaritas. Find vacation rentals in Taos 4. Albuquerque As you decide where to go in New Mexico for New Year’s, Albuquerque provides a wide variety of options. One of the city’s most popular New Year’s Eve parties is the Old Skool New Year’s Eve Bash, which happens every year at the Crowne Plaza. Experience Albuquerque’s unique cultural heritage at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center’s New Year’s Eve event, which includes a dinner of fusion Native American cuisine, dancing, and a live band. For a family-friendly event, check out New Year’s Eve on the Plaza at the Civic Plaza for ice skating, count down to noon at Explora’s Noon Year’s Eve celebration, or marvel at a menorah made of glowing hot air balloons at Balloon Fiesta Park’s Chanukah Night Glow. Find vacation rentals in Albuquerque 5. Angel Fire On December 31, the slopes of Angel Fire Resort gleam with trails of light during the annual New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade; each year, skiers holding gleaming lights zigzag down the hill to create the thrilling display. Bundle up and head to the base of the mountain to watch the parade. Afterward, join the locals at the Village Haus, where a DJ plays dance music, and the bar offers holiday food and drink specials. Find vacation rentals in Angel Fire 6. Ruidoso Escape into the New Mexico mountains for a secluded New Year’s Eve getaway in Ruidoso. During the day, head to Ski Apache for some of the state’s best skiing and snowboarding. When the sun sets, change into your evening wear and head for the New Year’s Eve party at the Inn of the Mountain Gods. Dance to a lineup of live bands in the Mescalero Ballroom and indulge in a dinner buffet packed with lobster and prime rib; be sure to book tickets well in advance. For a more low-key evening, check out the festivities at Cree Meadows Country Club or Hidden Tap. Find vacation rentals in Ruidoso 7. Las Vegas Find your inner bravery with a New Year’s getaway in tiny Las Vegas, New Mexico. After a cozy New Year’s Eve in your vacation rental, gear up for a famous local event: the Polar Bear Plunge. Each year, locals and visitors gather at Storrie Lake State Park for a dip in the frigid waters. Hop off the dock for a quick submersion, or test your limits with a few backstrokes; divers in cold gear are on hand for safety. Find vacation rentals in Las Vegas 8. Las Cruces Escape the snow and ice with a late-December visit to cool Las Cruces. Each New Year’s Eve, thousands of locals pack into the Plaza de Las Cruces for the annual Chile Drop. The evening starts with live music on the outdoor stage, and a dance floor draws in revelers. Food trucks and a beer garden keep everyone happy, and at midnight, a crane drops an enormous lighted chile pepper to ring in the new year. Elsewhere in town, the Pecan Grill and Brewery hosts an annual themed party, and the Azul Ultra Lounge at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces features music, dancing, and a champagne toast. Courtesy of tripping.com

Approximately 13,000 people go to the emergency room every year in November and December because of holiday decorations. Indoor Christmas Lights We all know that indoor Christmas lights should be replaced at least every 3-4 years for safety however most of us tend to keep them a lot longer than that. Those lights have tiny wires can be easily damaged from normal use. Before you put any lights on the tree, they should be inspected for broken and cracked sockets, frayed, bare or damaged wires and loose connections. One safety rule you should always follow, is never use more than 3 strings of lights per extension cord as this presents a definite fire hazard. Christmas lights are relatively inexpensive so go ahead and change them out every few years for fire safety reasons. Be sure to remind your tenants to always turn off the Christmas lights when they leave. Exterior Christmas Lights Everyone loves Christmas lights. However tenants that decorate their homes with exterior lights can expose their landlord to some serious liability. Generally people that put up exterior lights, just check to see if they are working. They rarely replace them otherwise. There are many people that are injured from roof falls and shocks every year when they get up on the roof to decorate. Just walking on the roof in very cold conditions can damage the shingles on the roof. As the landlord, any liability or roof repairs will land squarely on your shoulders. Tenants should be reminded that when using exterior Christmas lights, that the lights and any extension cords must be certified for exterior use, and they need to be plugged into GFCI protected outlets. Chimneys and Fireplaces If you have a property with a wood burning fireplace, as the landlord you should be sure to have the flue cleaned annually. Creosote occurs naturally from burning wood. When it gets to be a quarter inch thick or thicker inside the chimney, it’s a fire hazard as it can ignite and cause a chimney fire. Be sure to caution your tenants not to throw wrapping paper in the fireplace. Those materials tend to get very hot as they burn and they can cause flash fires. Candles Everyone loves candles, but they pose a serious fire risk if they are not handled properly. Most fires started by candles are a result of them being forgotten or being placed too close to something that is flammable. Most all fires started by candles could be prevented just by using a little caution. Facts and Figures The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has some sobering statistics I would like to pass onto everyone that has rental property. Christmas trees are responsible for 300 fires annually which result in 30 injuries, 10 deaths and $10,000,000 in property damage. Candles start about 11,600 fires annually which result in 1200 injuries, 130 deaths and $173,000,000 in property loss. There are 13,000 injuries every year from roof falls and shocks associated with the installation of exterior Christmas Lights. *Courtesy of Biggerpockets.com Take just a minute and watch this short video to see just how quickly disaster can happen. Disaster In Seconds

Wow what a loaded title right?! What do all of these things have in common when renting a home? They are protected by Federal Law under the Disability Act! What does this mean as a landlord and as a tenant? Let’s jump right into it! We are all probably more informed about Medical Marijuana due to recent legal news and activity on the subject. But how it applies to the lease agreement is quite simple actually! If a tenant has proof of a medical marijuana card, smoking marijuana becomes similar to smoking cigarettes. Both involve smoke and all of our leases are “Smoke Free Zones” inside any of our homes. This can even be applied to those who love incense. Smoke is smoke and smoke damage will violate the terms of the lease and negatively effect damage deposit refunds. Alcoholism and other Addictions are medical terms. Therefore, if a person is in a rehabilitation program, they are protected by the Disability Act. This is also not something that is usually disclosed or discussed prior to renting but could become an issue during tenancy if it effects neighbors such as disturbing the peace of others. With that said, if a tenant enters a rehab program, eviction requests to the courts based on disturbance would not be constitutional. Non-payment of rent would be the only cause to request an eviction. This is a very quick overview to give you food for thought. However, we always consult our legal council and advise landlords to do the same if in a situation regarding Medical Marijuana, Alcoholism and Addictions as it is related to the tenancy of a property.