Live well on less cash

August 16, 2011 — brianjannone

 

I came across something interesting and wanted to share this with everyone

Book Review: ‘Money Secrets of the Amish’

BY TARA-NICHOLLE NELSON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2011.

Inman News™

Title: “Money Secrets of the Amish: Finding True Abundance in Simplicity, Sharing and Saving”

Author: Lorilee Craker

Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2011; 240 pages; $15.99

Elizabeth Warren, Harvard law professor and special adviser to the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has used her sophisticated smarts and legal skill to argue for something very basic: financial simplicity.

Her position is that the recession might have been avoided had banks and consumers alike been committed to “plain vanilla” lending instruments, rather than mortgages with the resetting, adjusting, negatively amortizing, interest-only and other complicated features that were popular in the subprime era.

Not only were these features difficult for many consumers to understand, the tricky features made it possible for banks to argue and consumers to be complicit in creating mortgage obligations that, had they been structured more simply, would have been very obvious in their unsustainability. 

Warren, a Sunday school teacher in her off time, apparently has divine inspiration for her value of financial simplicity — and fellowship, in the form of the Amish, whose simple values, also divinely inspired, empowered them to prosper throughout the recession.

The above-market-to-the-nth-power performance of Amish banks and communities during the hardest, longest recession America has ever seen inspired Lorilee Craker’s latest book: “Money Secrets of the Amish: Finding True Abundance in Simplicity, Sharing and Saving.”

Craker, herself a Mennonite, interviewed Amish bankers, bishops and families to compile a comprehensive look at the financial values, practices and principles that have caused the Amish community to thrive for many generations.

These are the principles that most notably allowed one all-Amish bank to have its best year ever in 2008 — the same year in which we saw another banking industry record: the largest bank failure in American history (Washington Mutual). And, not surprisingly, there’s no tricky math or complicated investment schemes underlying the Amish way with money.

Instead, there are a handful of sweeping principles and rules of thumb on which money mavens from Elizabeth Warren to Amos Miller, one of Craker’s interviewees — a farmer in his 40s with 14 kids who has managed to sock away more than $400,000 in cash — all agree.

But these Amish money values don’t agree with the way the average American lives his or her financial life — in fact, Craker deems Amish money management to be essentially “upside down,” the diametrical opposite of the way most Americans handle their money matters.

From having zero tolerance for waste and credit, to a high value on thrift, reuse and obtaining pleasure from time spent with their families rather than from things purchased, Craker found the Amish inclined to save lots of cash, while living very rich lives, without a thought or struggle around the matter.

“Money Secrets of the Amish” offers these simplistic principles in a fittingly simple manner. You won’t find any tricky charts or online calculators in here! What you will find are easy mnemonics like “UWMW” — Amish code (if such a thing exists) for use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without; and charming, relatable anecdotes of Craker’s own family’s recession-era financial frustration and the Amish-inspired solutions and savings she was able to achieve in the course of doing the groundwork for the book.

Craker makes a pointed effort to extrapolate from the extremely frugal ways of the Amish to concrete action steps and examples of ways everyday Americans can realistically live the same financial values, from repairing (rather than replacing) to rethinking the way they give gifts.

Craker has written extensively for parenting magazines, and it shows; parents trying to cut costs and uplevel their finances in order to allow one parent to stay at home, to pay for tuition or simply make ends meet, will find Craker’s personal experiments in implementing Amish financial values to be relatable and useful for their own families.

Tara-Nicholle Nelson is author of “The Savvy Woman’s Homebuying Handbook” and “Trillion Dollar Women: Use Your Power to Make Buying and Remodeling Decisions.”Tarais also the Consumer Ambassador and Educator for real estate listings search site Trulia.com. Ask her a real estate question online or visit her website, www.rethinkrealestate.com.

 

 

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Keys to selling your home in a slower market

August 12, 2011 — brianjannone

Home sellers are finding that selling their home is more and more challenging everyday as they are in steep competition with new home foreclosures. So how do you get your home off the market and into contract? Here are five tips to getting your home sold quickly and the price you’re looking for:

  1. Find The Right Agent. Your first plan of action should be to locate an agent with proven results with sales. Keep in mind you should also work with someone that you feel comfortable and confident with.at has a good track record with sales in your market range and neighborhood. Good sales stats in your price bracket demonstrate that the realtor knows what buyers are looking for and how to move property similar to yours. A great agent can help you move your home, even in a tough market.
  2. Know your market. Understanding the ‘comps’ in your area will help you reach a realistic asking price and get a better handle on the competition. Ask your realtor to provide this information and also take opportunities to visit open houses for homes that are comparable to yours. 
  3. Keep up with repairs and maintenance. Don’t hesitate to make necessary repairs and maintenance to your home when you are ready to sell. You don’t have to undergo major remodeling or expense. Simple updates like fixing broken steps, touch up painting and keeping your lawn-mowed and flower beds cleaned out will really go a long way in making your home look move-in ready.
  4. Be flexible.From having your home ready to show at a moment’s notice to your willingness to negotiate, the key to selling your home in a slow market is flexibility and responsiveness. Going the extra mile for prospective buyers can really make a difference in getting more people through the door ready to make an offer.
  5. Add value. Remember that you are competing with short sales and foreclosures, so any extra value you can add to your home can make it more attractive. Whether it’s an appliance, patio furniture or a simple cost concession, small items can add up to big pluses when prospects are evaluating the total value of your home.
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Summer Gardening Tips: Important Tasks for the Whole Season

June 27, 2011 — brianjannone

Watering
Watering is a chore that needs to be carried out throughout the summer season, but remember to use water wisely and, rather than drenching your entire garden regularly, concentrate your efforts on the following:

  • Plants growing in pots, containers and hanging baskets as these can dry out very quickly, often in the course of a few hours.
  • Newly planted trees and shrubs as these are very vulnerable to drought stress. As a guideline any specimen planted within the last four to five years falls into this category.
  • Any freshly sown or newly planted parts of your garden.
  • Herbaceous perennials which can suffer during sustained dry spells.
  • In the kitchen garden leafy vegetables such as lettuce and spinach should never be allowed to dry out. Other crops should be kept watered on sowing and transplanting and then later as the part that you eat, whether fruit, root or tuber, is developing.
  • Lawns can swallow up prodigious amounts of water which can be extremely wasteful, so, unless you have a high quality lawn, resolve to reduce or stop watering altogether. Instead, make sure that your lawn has been fed, and mow less often with the blades on a higher setting during dry periods. You will find that dry brownish patches will develop but these should disappear with the damper conditions of autumn.

Weeding
If you got on top of the weeding in spring and then managed to apply a weed suppressing mulch, you should have much less weeding to do now but do take the trouble to remove any weeds that are now ready to seed – remember the saying ‘a stitch in time saves nine’…?

Whisking out the weeds before the seedheads develop will save you any amount of work in the future. The best time to do it is just after light rainfall when the weeds can be pulled out very easily.

Weeding is particularly important in the kitchen garden as any weeds will compete with your crops for essential moisture and nutrients.

Feeding
There is always a temptation to overfeed our gardens but this just results in lush sappy growth that is vulnerable to pests and diseases. So why waste money on unneccessary fertilizers? Instead, follow these guidelines to get the best results:

  • Plants in pots, containers and hanging baskets will suffer if you don’t supplement the nutrients in the compost throughout the growing season. Either incorporate a slow release fertilizer at planting time or use a water soluble feed every week to ten days through the summer. Use a high nitrogen feed, such as Miracle Gro, until midsummer, then switch to a high potassium feed, such as one of the liquid tomato feeds.
  • If you prepared the ground well before planting, most vegetables won’t need any additional feeding. The main exceptions are fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and aubergines, which definitely need extra feeding, following the instructions on the product, in order to crop well.

 

Summer Gardening Tips: Early Summer

The ornamental garden
By early summer all danger of late frosts should have passed and it’s safe to plant out tender summer bedding and to position summer containers and hanging baskets outside.

This is your last chance to stake or support plants before it is too late – once they’ve flopped it’s very hard to rectify the situation! Use ready made plant supports from the garden centre or construct your own using canes and plastic coated wire, or, if you prefer, twiggy sticks pushed into the soil around the plants.

If there are any gaps in your ornamental borders, fill them with annual bedding plants or pick up some potted lilies or other summer flowering bulbs from the garden centre and plunge the pots into the soil.

Many spring flowering shrubs will benefit from pruning in early summer as this will give them time to make the new growth necessary for next year’s flowers before the end of the season.

The vegetable garden
In the vegetable garden pinch out side shoots on tomatoes and enjoy harvesting and eating the first early potatoes – delicious!

Lettuce, radishes and other salad crops should also be ready now – don’t forget to make repeat sowings at two or three week intervals so that you can enjoy these crops all summer long.

Lawns
Lawns will need mowing at least once a week by now. It’s always best to mow little and often so make sure that the blades aren’t set too low for the type of lawn.

 

Summer Gardening Tips: Mid to Late Summer

House plants
It should now be warm enough for your house and conservatory plants to come out into the garden for a summer holiday which they will really appreciate.

The ornamental garden
Try to make the time to deadhead your bedding and repeat flowering plants to keep them producing blooms over a long period. This is a pleasant task for a summer’s evening so get into the habit of taking a stroll around your garden at the end of the day and snipping or pinching off the spent blooms. If you do it little and often it really isn’t a lot of trouble.

The vegetable garden
In the vegetable garden harvest your vegetables as soon as they are ready to eat – that way you will enjoy them at their peak of sweetness and flavour. Harvest courgettes and other continuous producers regularly to encourage more fruits to develop.

Lawns
If you didn’t get around to feeding your lawn in the spring, you can still apply a fast acting lawn feed now – you will really notice the results.

Garden ponds
Clear algae and blanket weed from your garden pond and keep it topped up – preferably with rainwater.

Holidays
Prepare for your holidays by making arrangement for friends or neighbours to pop round and water any containers, hanging baskets, and crops growing in your greenhouse.

Forward planning
As you will be out in your garden much more during the summer months, take the opportunity to assess your garden and make a note of any changes you would like to make – it always helps to take some photos to remind you what your borders looked like at various points in the season.

This is also a good time to order some bulb cataloques and plan the purchase of your spring flowering bulbs – this is a very enjoyable activity and one that can be carried out from the comfort of your deck chair!

 

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Getting Ready to Sell Your Home Spring 2011

February 10, 2011 — brianjannone

As we enter spring 2011, here are some helpful tips to improve the odds that your home will stand out.

1) Wash those windows inside and out / polish all mirrors Sparkle is free, and sparkle sells homes. A potential buyer may not realize why your home seems so inviting but will feel drawn to it if the windows are spotless and your mirrors reflect sunlight. Cleaning is the first step to

2) Rake your yard / trim back any bushes Clean out dead leaves and debris in your lawn. Don’t let overgrown vegetation block the windows or path to the entrance. Cutting bushes and tree limbs will let the sun inside and showcase the exterior of your home.

3) Mow diagonally and edge lawn along driveway / sidewalks Artfully manicured lawns are edged and tell buyers you pay attention to small details. Diagonally mowed lawns make your yard appear larger.

4) Transplant tulips and daffodils or buy flowers in containers Yellow flowers stimulate buying urges. After a long winter, everybody is anxious to see the first signs of spring. Yellow tulips and daffodils induce feelings of happiness and contentment. Arrange containers in groups of three or five near the entrance.

5) Clean drapes, curtains & blinds and open every window Send your window coverings to the dry cleaners or wash, dry and press. Toss blinds into a soapy bathtub for a quick wash. Get rid of all accumulated dust and spider webs. Crisp linens and a spring-time breeze through the windows invites the season inside.

6) Set out fresh-smelling flowers such as just-clipped lilacs branches or peonies Why not flatter your neighbors and ask if you can borrow flowers from their yards? Natural scents are more appealing than artificial and trigger fewer allergies among those susceptible. Peony vases are designed to hold peonies upright, but wash the flowers first to avoid carrying ants inside. brings color and fragrance indoors.

7) Polish floors to a high gloss Your hardwood floors should be refinished, if necessary. Make your ceramic and linoleum floors twinkle and shine. Bleach dull grout. Thoroughly clean all area rugs.

8) Utilize towels, throws, pillows in light colors – yellows, pinks, pale blues, lavenders Even if it means replacing items, towels, linens, throws and sofa pillows are inexpensive accents you can buy. In soft spring colors, they will light up a room. Layer towels on bathroom towel racks and place rolled wash cloths on the counters in a fashionable pyramid.

9) Offer an outside mat for cleaning shoes & put umbrella stand at entrance No matter where you live, spring weather is often unpredictable. In some states, it can be 72 degrees one day and snowing the next. If it’s raining, give buyers a place to stash umbrellas and wipe their feet before entering your home. Some sellers lay down plastic runners across floors for protection, but that tends to ruin the effect of a glittering polish job.

10) Set out four-color flyers & financing options Don’t skimp on your marketing materials. You want home buyers to select your flyer among the dozens they pick up. Color sells better than black and white. Show home buyers how easily they can afford to buy your home by giving them two or three financing options. The first thing on buyer’s minds when considering a home purchase is the monthly mortgage payment. Don’t make them guess.

11) Use a color photo for display advertising Spend a little more on newspaper and online advertising by including a color photograph in your ad. Remember: a picture is worth a 1,000 words. Look through your photo galleries for a seasonal photograph that flaunts your home to its best advantage.

12) Mail four-color postcards with UV coating Call a local title company to obtain a free direct-mail list of your surrounding neighbors. Print four-color oversized postcards and include a UV coating to give the marketing oomph. Use first-class postage.

13) Fill sink with ice to chill bottled water for guests Put a couple dozen bottles of water in a sink of ice for buyers. You can also tape labels to the bottles, printed from your computer, with your phone number, a photograph and address of your home.

14) Set out treats, individually wrapped in cellophane & tied w/ribbon Touring homes makes buyers hungry. Give them a snack. It will give buyers an opportunity to linger in your kitchen and marvel at its elegant appointments, which might otherwise be overlooked.

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What To Look For In a Home Inspection

January 18, 2011 — brianjannone

Home Inspection Checklist

 

Home Inspection Essentials

Although architectural details, wall and floor coverings, modern conveniences and many other factors are important in the buying decision, the focus of this inspection is on the structural, mechanical, electrical condition of the property.

The inspection is designed to give the real estate agent or prospective purchaser a system to detect some of the readily accessible major flaws or deficiencies in the significant components and systems of a home. It is not designed to, nor does it profess to facilitate detection of all flaws, problems or occurrences that might exist in any given home.

To maximize time efficiency and to ensure all of the major sections of the home are take into consideration, we have developed a systematized approach to the inspection. This is a simplified overview of systems that professional home inspectors use when they are inspecting a home.

To assist you in following the system, we have provided a checklist that will guide you through your own inspection.

Home Inspection Items Not Inspected

A home inspector’s standard practice typically does not include the following, for which a specific license to inspect and identify is required:

  • Asbestos
  • Radon Gas
  • Lead Paint
  • Toxic Mold
  • Pest Control

Home Inspectors may suggest some important Environmental Testing for your property.

THE INSPECTION SYSTEM

THE BIG PICTURE

The first step in inspecting a home is to examine the big picture for the home. Notice the area the home is located in. Are there other homes of similar age and construction details relative to the home you are inspecting? A comparison will give you a general idea of the up keep of the home. Have there been significant modifications to the exterior of the building and if so, how is the workmanship?

EXTERIOR

Start at the exterior front of the house and work your way around the house (clockwise or counter-clockwise) at a distance which allows you to view a complete face comfortably. On each face (front, sides, rear) start your visual inspection at the top of the structure and work your way down to the ground and lot area. As an example, you would start at the front and note the roof and chimneys, the gutters, fascia and soffit’s. Then, moving down the exterior wall coverings (brick, wood, aluminum), noting windows, doors, etc. Examine any porches or decks down to the foundation, then the grade or slope of the lot area, followed by any coverings, such as flower beds, walkway’s, interlocking brick, driveways, etc. Move closer to the house, to examine more closely any details which may have attracted your attention, without skipping any items. Having completed the front, move to the side of the house and start the same procedure (roof to ground).

INTERIOR

On the interior, begin your inspection in the basement and then follow the system throughout each floor in the house. The system for inspecting the interior is to begin with the floor, go to the walls and then the ceiling, and then consider any appliances or other items in the room. Move from room to room, always in the same direction (clockwise or counter-clockwise) so as to not miss any areas. If you see a door, open it!
In the utility room in the basement, first notice the floor, the walls (possibly the foundation walls are visible here), then the ceiling (floor joists may be visible), then go to the furnace, hot water heater, electrical panel, plumbing system, etc. When inspecting the floors, walls and ceilings, scan the entire areathat is visible, not just one section.
In a finished room you would notice the floors, walls (including windows) and ceiling. Next look for the heat sources, electrical outlets and switches, fireplaces, closets etc. In bathroom or kitchen, notice the floor, walls and ceiling, then the plumbing fixtures.

CONDITION

While performing the inspection, whether at the exterior, the interior or one of the mechanical systems, note the system first, then its relative condition. For example, if you were inspecting a wall on the interior of the home you would first note that the wall is plaster, and then examine the wall for cracks and irregularities.

PROBLEMS

The following are some typical problems or occurrences to look for in the major components and systems of the home.

ROOF
Is the ridge (peak) showing a sag, or is it straight and level?
Is the roof sagging between the rafters or trusses?
Are there any signs of deterioration of asphalt shingles, such as curling, warping, broken edges, rounded corners or key holes(slits) becoming wider that normal?
Any loose flashing’s, at the chimney, roof-to-wall connection or elsewhere?
Does the wooden roof deck appear rotten or delaminate under the last row of shingles?
Are there any roof vents visible?

CHIMNEYS
Is the masonry cap cracked or broken?
Are any bricks flaking or missing? Mortar missing?
Is the chimney leaning?

SOFFITS AND FASCIA
Note whether the soffit and fascia are wood, aluminum or plastic.
Any loose or missing sections?
If wood, are there any paint problems? Any visible rot?

GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS
Ensure gutters slope down toward downspouts.
Any rust or peeling paint?
Apparent leaks or loose/sagging sections?
Are the downspouts extended away from the foundations?

WALL COVERINGS
Look for missing mortar
Are the bricks flaking or cracking?
Look for loose, missing or rotten siding, deteriorated paint.>
Does the siding appear new? Does it hide the foundation wall?
Exterior walls bowed, bulged or leaning?

WINDOWS AND DOORS
Look for problems with paint or caulking, and rotted wood components.
Are the windows new or older? Are they the original windows? How old are they?

PORCHES AND DECKS
Cracking or flaking masonry?
Check for paint problems, rotted wood, and wood-earth contact.
Note any settlement or separation from the house.
Inspect the underside, if accessible.

FOUNDATIONS
Check for cracks, flaking or damaged masonry.
Note any water markings and efflorescence (whitish, chalky substance)
Any bowing, bulging or other irregularities?
Soft mortar?

LOT AREA
Does the grade slope away from the house?
Any settled/low areas next to the foundation, or cracked walks/driveway?
Is the property lower than the street or neighboring properties?

BASEMENT
Note any evidence of water penetration (stains, mildew/odors, efflorescence, loose tiles etc.)

FLOORS
Check for deteriorated coverings or cracked ceramics.
Any water staining or other damage?
Sloping or sagging?

WALLS
Randomly sample to check that the windows and doors work.
Are the walls straight vertically and horizontally?
Look for cracked or loose plaster.
Look for stains, physical damage or previous repair evidence.
Any drywall seams or nails showing?

CEILINGS
Check for cracks in the plaster or loose, sagging plaster.
Look for stains, mechanical damage or evidence of previous repair.
Seams or nails showing?

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS
Check that all fixtures are secure.
Are there any cracks in the fixtures?
Note the condition of the tiles and caulking in the tub/shower area.
Are the faucets working? Do they leak? Sufficient water pressure?
Look for staining and rot under the counter-tops
Randomly sample the operation of the cabinet doors and drawers.

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Type, style and age of heating & cooling systems. When were they last inspected or serviced?
Type of water supply piping and drains – any visible rust and corrosion?
Size and age of electrical service – are the outlets grounded? Visible wiring in good condition?
Have there been any upgrades?

WALK-THROUGH
HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Address:___________________________________________________

Style__________ Construction__________Reno?__________ #BR_____ #Bath _____

ITEM NOTES Good Avg. Suspect Poor
ROOF          
CHIMNEY          
SOFFIT/FASCIA          
GUTTERS          
CLADDING BRICK        
  WOOD        
  VINYL        
WINDOWS WOOD        
  METAL        
  PLASTIC        
DOORS WOOD        
  METAL        
DECKS          
PORCHES          
LOT AREA          
HEATING FAG FAO FAE AGE        
AC/HEAT PUMP Y N AGE        
  WATER G O E        
  EBB        
PLUMBING COPPER        
  GALVANIZED        
  LEAD        
  HWT G O E AGE        
ELECTRICAL CO AL        
  60 100 200        
  PLUGS        
  FIXTURES        
FLOORS CARPET        
  HARDWOOD        
  VINYL        
  CERAMIC        
WALLS DRYWALL        
  PLASTER        
  WOOD/PANELING        
CEILINGS DRYWALL        
  PLASTER        
  WOOD/PANELING        
BATHROOMS FIXTURES        
  TUB AREA        
KITCHEN FIXTURES        
  APPLIANCES        
  CABINETS        
  COUNTERS        
FIREPLACES          
SKYLIGHTS          
FOUNDATIONS          
BASEMENT FINISHED        
  DAMPNESS        
ATTIC          
OTHER          
           
           
           
           
           

This home inspection checklist is provided by the American Home Inspector Directory as a guideline only, to provide an overview/example of the structural and mechanical components involved in the inspection of a home, and is not intended to constitute a detailed, systematic thorough inspection or report on the condition of a home.

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Getting Your Home Ready For Winter

November 4, 2010 — brianjannone

Just as autumn seems to come, winter is just right around the corner – or, if you live in Central New Jersey, you could have summer, fall and winter all in one week! As temperatures drop, you can take certain steps to keep your home safe and warm going into the winter months:

  • Before rain and snow hit you should examine your roofing to ensure structural integrity and check for leaks and possible damage. Cleaning fall leaves out of gutters ensures proper drainage.
  • Now is a great time to check windows, doors, and other openings for air leaks that can make rooms drafty. Caulk and other weatherproofing materials are relatively inexpensive and can help save on heating bills.
  • Inspecting your fireplace and having it cleaned is a good idea ahead of the winter season. Make sure firewood is stored properly and protected from moisture.
  • With all the doors and windows closed to keep heat out, check gas appliances to ensure no leaks are present. Consider installing a carbon monoxide detector, and check your smoke alarms.
  • Check your heating system, replace your furnace filters, replace faulty thermostats, and clean the ducts of your heating system. Also, considering purchasing humidifiers as air can get dry in the winter.

We hope this tips make winter more comfortable and enjoyable for your family and keep your home warm, toasty and safe!

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Checking in on Real Estate ‘Myths’

September 30, 2010 — brianjannone

The Jannone Team - Bridgewater, NJ

Earlier today I was reading a brilliant article about the ‘misconceptions’ of real estate buyers and sellers in the current marketplace. (You can read the original article here at http://realestate.nj.com/?_type=search&tp=RE_nj&tl=42&guid=128093

The biggest misconception, and the most common one considering the state of the marketplace both Central New Jersey and nationwide, is that a simple call to a lender can get a homeowner a loan modification. Unfortunately, the process isn’t quite that simple. While some lenders will work with you if you are having a financial hardship, many factors play into the lender’s decision – and sometimes, even when all those factors come into alignment, you still may not be approved for a modification. Many people simply ask for a modification because they are ‘underwater’ (owing more than the home is worth) even though they have no financial hardship. These modifications rarely, if ever, get approved.

Another misconception is the belief that one can find ‘the perfect home’ – either looking for an outrageous deal, or the home of their dreams down to the color of the crown moldings. These dreams simply are unreachable for some people. A most realistic approach is to find a home that fits your budget, and your major requirements (for example, the school district you’re in, the bedrooms you have) rather than smaller details. You can always add and make your home your own, and more importantly – what makes a home ‘home’ is the memories you create in it, rather than the square footage or the color of the cabinets.

And finally, there seems to be another disillusioned group the author addresses, homeowners that ‘buy low’ (or at least, think they did), throw up new paint and granite counters and believe they’ll make a nice paycheck selling the home. If the home renovation process for profit was that easy, everyone would be doing it. Attempting to make a profit on buying and selling homes take finesse, knowledge, and requires a large outlay of money and a lot of luck. This process is risky and high-stakes and isn’t for everyone.

Buying or selling Real Estate in any market holds a certain amount of risk. Before you make any real estate decisions, you should speak with a Real Estate professional and a financial advisor. Don’t fall for these home ownership myths!

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Preparing Your Home For Autumn

September 17, 2010 — brianjannone

Fall is one of the most scenic times of year – with leaves changing their colors making for gorgeous views. It’s also a time of falling temperatures and changing weather conditions, and as everyone knows, old man winter can sneak up quickly. As the air gets colder and we transition from the warm summer months to the cooler months of autumn.

Here are a few things you can do to keep your home looking in tip-top shape and prepare for winter as well:

  • Keep your yard pristine by trimming hedges and shrubs one last time for the season, as they go into dormancy during the winter.
  • Planting winter plants such as mums can keep your front yard beautiful even during those chilly months.
  • Make sure your hot water heater, furnace, chimney and other heating appliances are in top shape before you really need to use them. Some things, like changing the filters on your furnace, can be done yourself. Other services, like a chimney inspection and cleaning, may require calling in a professional. Servicing your heating fixtures now will save you from a chilly surprise later!
  • Prevent your gutters from becoming clogged with leaves by cleaning them on a regular basis. Installing leaf guards is also a good idea.
  •  Weatherproofing your windows and deck doors can help conserve energy and save you money! Products such as storm windows can also provide great energy savings!
  • Finally, you can decorate your home to match the season. Items like wreaths, pumpkins, and cooler colors such as brown and orange give your home an inviting autumn atmosphere!

We hope these tips make your Autumn even better!

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