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The Case for Simplifying Christmas Decorations
Exciting News….
I am excited to announce I have earned the Nationally recognized Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification.
The National Association of Realtors confers the MRP certification to Realtors® who want to help military personnel & veterans find housing solutions that best meet their needs and allow them to take full advantage of their military benefits.
I would love to be of help to you or anyone you might know that would benefit from these services. Please contact me if you would like to receive information about Military Relocation.
5 Reason Why Quality Paint Matters
One of the easiest and least costly ways to make a dramatic change in your interior décor, repainting a room is often just what’s needed to change your home’s look and feel. However, your great design inspiration can be shortchanged if you choose low-quality paint. Here’s why.
Read More!<http://newshub.rismedia.com/article/12719/40964/>
Selling your home? Is it ready for an inspection?
If you’re trying to sell you’re home, it needs to be able to pass an inspection with no red flags, at any given time. Ensuring your home is presentable and well maintained is a huge deciding factor when buyers are looking to make an offer. Click the link below to learn more about what you can do to make your home inspection ready.
10 ways to winterize your home
Mr. Winter is upon us! It’s important to protect your home from the harsh weather that winter can bring. Here are 10 easy ways to help you stay warm and cozy while the weather outside is frightful.
1. Get those leaves out of the gutter.
Clogged gutters can cause water to backup and not drain properly. When winter temperatures freeze water that is stuck in you gutters, it could leak into the house once it starts to melt.
2. Check for air leaks around the house.
Hold your hand in front of baseboards, power outlets, light switches, etc. to feel for any cold air that might be seeping in. If so, go to your local hardware store to find different types of insulation to stop each leak.
3. The more insulation, the merrier.
How old is your insulation? When is the last time you took a look at it to see if it is still snug against your home, or sagging and separating away from it? Insulation should be firm and snug against your home. It isn’t the most inexpensive maintenance to do, but if done correctly can save you a lot of money on energy bills.
4. While your at it, make sure your air ducts aren’t headed south for the winter.
Air ducts that are exposed to cold air, have tears, or aren’t properly connected can be costing you money.
5. Before you fire up the furnace, check it out.
Make sure it works before you need it most. Now is the time to make sure your heat doesn’t give out…not when there’s snow on the ground. Also, dirty filters decrease the efficiency of your furnace and can pose a possible fire risk.
6. Give your windows some special treatment.
Of course, making sure your windows are updated and well insulated is key. However, if you can’t afford to run out and buy new windows, there are other ways to help insulate your windows. Make sure they are well caulked around the edges, add weather striping, etc. There are also inexpensive kits that come with plastic sheets to winterize your windows like this one: http://www.lowes.com/pd_61805-1410-V73/9_4294929691__?productId=3112149&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=
7. Make sure that chimney is ready for Santa.
Annual inspections can be life savers. If you have a wood stove, chimney sweeps are always a good idea.
8. Speaking of fire…fire the alarm!
Now is a wonderful time to check those fire alarms and smoke detectors to make sure their batteries are still working.
9. Get those fans moving in the right direction.
Make sure your fans are switched to circulate air for the winter, instead of blowing air as they do in the summer.
10. Turn off the water.
Make sure your outdoor hoses are turned off and drained so that the water doesn’t freeze and burst them.
You can read more on these tips in the article that posted these wonderful gems of knowledge: http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13107899
Sources:
Information: http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13107899
Picture: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/greathomesanddestinations/26your.html?_r=0
For the Dad Who Has Everything
If you’ve hit up the department store tie rack and cologne counter for the past few years, cruise on over to the Zillow blog. They’ve highlighted five awesome rooms just for dads–and the good news is the places are all for sale!
Arcade Heaven
This Arizona retreat holds a 4-game arcade room with room to spare for dad’s tools!
The Ultimate Kitchen
Sear steaks, entertain your guests, and watch two different ball games, all without leaving the kitchen!
The Pool Shark
This modern pool room sits in a similarly stylish pad in Manhattan
Invite the Bowling Team
Tired of going out to bowl? Invite the team over! This Texas compound has a full bowling alley in its basement
Just Shooting Hoops (or Watching a Flick)
A basketball court contained within a Manhattan townhome. Oh, and it turns into a home theater, too.
Attack of the $100 Million House!
Via MSN Real Estate, a glimpse into the world of ultraluxury listings ringing in at a whopping $100,000,000 or more. The very upper reaches of the real estate market survive in their own stratosphere, where money is no object and status is paramount. Well, as it turns out, a hundred million bucks buys you a whole lot of it.
These recently listed or sold residences round out the featured group:
- A New York penthouse occupying 3,500 square feet. In one room.
- A 42,500-square-foot Texas compound with a full-floor theater room.
- A 47-acre spread in the heart of Silicon Valley (with the condition that the current owner can live there until she dies).
- A 9,000-square-foot duplex in New York’s Bloomberg Tower featuring a double-story living room.
- Late fashion mogul Gianni Versace’s Miami estate, boasting a 54-foot pool lined with 24-karat gold.
- A Los Angeles-area French Chateau containing a ballroom for 200 guests.
- A Beverly Hills compound that’s also available to rent for $600,000 a month.
- The country’s first $100 million existing-home sale, which includes a private car wash.
- A $103,000,000 empty parcel in New York’s tony Hamptons.
- A yet-to-be-completed 11,000-square-foot penthouse with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park.
- A 60,000-square-foot Florida home with a 50-car garage previously owned by Donald Trump.
Enjoy!
Put A Cork In It!
Literally.
After being relegated to wine bottles and kids’ pinboards for decades, cork is making a grand entrance into the rest of the home. Everything from flooring to backsplashes to wallpaper (yes, wallpaper) is getting a little bit of cork. Here are some pros and cons:
Pros
- Cork is 100% natural, harvested from cork trees over and over without cutting them down. It’s an environmentally sustainable material from a reusable source.
It’s soft, making it the perfect flooring for people with knee problems.- It’s naturally water resistant, so it resists mold and mildew.
- It insulates well, meaning it will keep in cold or hot air, as well as sound.
Cons
- While it’s water resistant, it’s not waterproof. It may requiring sealing every couple of years.
- It’s prone to stains and nicks, so think hard before using it in the kitchen
Cork stacks up well to many building materials, so don’t be afraid to put a cork in it!
Hurricane Season Is Here!
June 1 marked the official start of the 2013 hurricane season. While no one’s excited over the prospect of a hurricane slamming the East Coast, you can take several steps now that’ll make your life much easier if a storm heads our way.
- Emergency Kit. You should have this one anyway: flashlights; batteries, first aid supplies; water; non-perishable food; radio (with batteries); cash.
Keep it all together in a handy place. - Go Bag. Pack some clothes, needed medications, copies of important papers (insurance, deed, car titles, etc.), and your home inventory (see 3) in case you need to be out in a rush.
- Make a Home Inventory. If a storm wipes out your home, you’ll be glad you documented your possessions before they got ruined. Make a list (with photos) of major items, such as TVs, computers, and jewelry.
- Check Your Insurance Policy. Read your homeowners’ insurance policy carefully, or speak with an insurance agent who can explain it to you. Policies often differ in coverage depending on whether the damage is from rain or flooding or a named storm, so make sure you know what’s covered.
- Trim Trees. Any sagging, dying, or low-lying limbs need to go before gale-force winds do it for you. Don’t risk a hurricane depositing your dead trees on your roof–take them out the right way.
Above all else, make sure you have all you need to keep your family safe and minimize the disruption to your life if the worst happens.
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