About Castle Rock
Castle Rock, Colorado is a town located in the center of Douglas County. It is named after the famous castle-like rock formation that towers over the whole town. This town started to develop in the late 1800s, as settlers made their way to the area in hopes to find gold, land and new opportunity.
Fast forward to today and Castle Rock is now a thriving place, known for its beautiful open spaces, top-notch shopping and its prime location – right between Denver and Colorado Springs.
This town is up-and-coming with several brand new developments under construction (at the time of this writing). It is an ideal spot for those who are looking for safe, family-friendly communities, access to plenty of outdoor activities, and a reasonable commute to two major CO cities.
Castle Rock Neighborhood Breakdown:
If you are considering Castle Rock as a potential place to purchase a home, it’s a great idea to familiarize yourself with the area.
The area can be broken down into three primary sections: The Meadows – Terrain consists of the area ranging just south of Lone Tree and down to Rock Park. Central Castle Rock is the section that includes Rock Park down to Crystal Valley Pkwy. South Castle Rock is all the territory that extends southward from Crystal Valley Pkwy until Larkspur.
The Meadows – Terrain Neighborhoods
In the north section of Castle Rock, you will primarily find single-family homes ranging from early 90s builds to brand new builds. Most of these are going to be larger, with 4+ bedrooms, multiple levels, and multi-car garages.
Residents in these neighborhoods can enjoy access to plenty of beautiful open spaces and hiking trails, world class golf courses, and the unique open air shopping Outlets At Castle Rock. Homes in this region will also generally have a high price tag.
You can expect homes in this region to be in HOA-regulated neighborhoods. Whenever we conduct home inspections, we always recommend that our clients find out what is covered by the local HOA. The more our inspectors know about the HOA rules, the more informed and thorough their inspection will be.
With 90s and early 2000s homes, our inspectors will be paying close attention for EIFS exteriors. This was a popular siding method that proved to have potential moisture issues. During a standard inspection, the inspector will make note if the exterior is EIFS; and if so, whether or not it needs further evaluation or repair.
We will be paying attention to the major systems of the home, as well. In houses built in the 90s and early 00s, you will start to see original furnaces, water heaters etc. reaching the end of their lives. We make sure to call out any appliance that is expired or near expiration.
This is also a region that can be vulnerable to heavy hail storms. Due to this fact, we will paying very close attention to the exterior of the home. Even brand new builds can experience significant damage from one bad hail storm!
Central Castle Rock Neighborhoods
Central Castle Rock is the busiest and most populated region of the town. This area is home to the famous Castle Rock landmark and its surrounding Rock Park. Additionally, this is where you will find Downtown Castle Rock, which is host to a number of bars, breweries, restaurants, shops and entertainments. This area is known to be family-friendly, with plenty of fun events going on year round.
While there are mainly 4+ bedroom, single-family homes in this area, you will also come across a handful of condos and townhouses. Homes range from the 1980s to the late 2010s.
When it comes to older homes, there can always be a number of age-related issues. And our inspectors know to pay attention for specific defects associated with different eras. For instance, aluminum wiring and Federal Pacific electrical panels were widely used during the 80s. These types of electrical configurations proved to be hazardous. So if we come across them, we will call them out for repair.
A lot of times, we will see older homes with original carpeting. Carpets that are several decades old (i.e. in 80s and 90s homes) tend to promote mold growth. So we will be on the lookout for any signs of moisture issues. And our mold air sample testing and infra-red scanning services help to provide an even more thorough inspection for mold.
Similar to the homes in the northern Castle Rock neighborhoods, we’ll be paying attention to the major appliances and systems in addition to any signs of EIFS exterior defects.
South Castle Rock Neighborhoods
This area consists of multiple quaint neighborhoods that are surrounded by rolling hills, flat plains, and some interesting geological features such as mountains, buttes and canyons. It is certainly a great location for those who love nature.
Most of the homes have been recently built in the late 2010s or brand new (at the time of this writing). Similar to the other Castle Rock regions, these homes are generally single-family with 4 or more bedrooms, multiple floors and 2-3 car garages. And you can bet that the neighborhoods will have HOA.
With such a close proximity to nature, it’s no surprise that critters are close by, as well. It’s very common in these areas for pests to make their way into homes. That is why we offer our pest inspection services. During this inspection, one of our certified pest inspectors will search the premises from top to bottom to seek out any potential pest concerns.
One of the most important aspects of the home is the plumbing. And while we are able to inspect the visible portions of the plumbing, there are certain aspects that are underground or behind walls. This is where a sewer scope inspection comes in handy. During this inspection, our technician is able to view the sewer piping as it leaves the home and heads to the city sewer or septic tank. CO is a region with drastically fluctuating temperatures and lots of variables in its landscape, such as roots, rocks etc. that could affect the sewer line. This why it is advisable to take a look at the sewer line – even in brand new builds!
Castle Rock is a high risk region for the naturally-occurring, radioactive gas, radon. Radon exposure can cause serious health issues; so it’s always advisable to test the home for radon, just to be safe. Most newer homes have some type of radon mitigation system. But even on those cases, it’s a good idea to test for radon to make sure that the mitigation system is functioning properly.
Keep in mind that even in new builds, items can be overlooked and mistakes can be made. So it’s always beneficial to get a home inspection and have a professional, non-biased assessment of the home before making any purchase.
Castle Rock Home Inspections
If you love the rolling foothills of Colorado, but still desire a relatively close proximity to city life, Castle Rock might just be the place for you. It has a safe, small town vibe, but there are still tons of activities to do.
This town has numerous beautiful, blossoming neighborhoods with plenty of houses on the market. If you think this could be the right fit for you, talk to your agent today!
If you are under contract in the Castle Rock area, we hope that you will consider Scott Home Inspection to help you with all of your inspection needs. Feel free to contact us to learn more or to book your services today.
