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January 2008

8 Home Organization Tips

Date: Jan. 30, 2008
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1. Start with a plan.
Make a list of projects you want to complete during the year and prioritize them. You don’t have to do everything in January and February; pace yourself so you won’t feel overwhelmed.
2. Take three simple steps.
Every organization project starts with three basic steps: purge the items you no longer want or need, analyze what’s left to determine how you use it and measure the space you have to figure out what will fit where. When you’re organizing, use a three-box system: keep, discard, and don’t know. When you’re finished, seal the don’t know box and put it away. If you haven’t opened it in a year, you don’t really need whatever is in there. Throw it away without looking inside.
3. Clean out the closets.
Get everyone in your household involved by competing for the “cleanest closet” award. When organizing a closet, frequency of use is an important consideration. Things you reach for at least once a week should be stored at a height between your shoulders and your knees. Lowe’s has a variety of closet organizers to handle hanging garments, shoes, sweaters, and all types of accessories.
4. De-clutter the kitchen.
The kitchen is often a catch-all for clutter. Review what’s on your counters and move small appliances and cookware you use most often to easy-to-reach cabinets. Lowe’s has an Unfinished Oak Lazy Susan Corner Unit that’s perfect for maximizing your corner cabinet storage space.
5. Tidy up the bathrooms.
Clean out all the drawers and cabinets by tossing out expired products and items you haven’t used in at least a year. Then sort your products in a drawer  organizer, such as the Real Organized™ Chrome Drawer Organizer, available at Lowe’s.
6. Make laundry day a breeze.
Keep a plastic shoe box in the laundry room to store items you find such as lipstick, buttons and money. Set up a three-basket hamper system in your closet or bathroom so you can sort your clothes the moment you take them off, making laundry day that much easier.
7. Organize your home office.
Customizable closet systems aren’t just for bedroom closets. Check out Lowe’s selection of shelves, drawers and hanging storage for your home office closet.
Lightweight storage bins are great for files you use often and come in decorative canvas, metal, wood and plastic styles.
8. Don’t forget the basement and garage.
Oil drips, grass clippings and tracked in mud make basements and garages a challenge to keep clean and organized. The best way to organize these areas is
to create “zones” and keep the tools and products you need in their respective zones, such as lawn care (mower, tools, potting soil), car care (antifreeze, oil, car
wax), sports equipment/toys, and general hardware.
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The Loan Approval Process

Date: Jan. 29, 2008
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You’ve just dropped off a filing cabinet full of papers at the lender’s office, and you get a phone call asking for a few boxfuls more.Welcome to the meticulously detailed world of the loan approval process. You’re starting to feel that the loan officer has a love of paper, which is somewhere between mildly perverse and openly masochistic. Stop! Don’t take anything about this process personally.The plain fact is lenders require large amounts of documentation on a mortgage loan. Your employment history, credit rating, recent financial transactions—all of these must be carefully verified. If last month’s Visa payment was late, they might ask for a letter of explanation. If you have your own business, tax returns for at least the past three years will be requested. And they’ll probably want a year-to-date profit and loss statement, too.It’s not that they lack faith in you, it’s The Process: their regulations demand that they document everything. That loan officer with the thing for paper may know that you’re a safe bet, but the underwriters have to be sure that every loan they make could withstand the scrutiny of federal auditors and bank examiners.
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Are fixer-uppers for you?

Date: Jan. 25, 2008
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Your Realtor® has found a home for you in the perfect location, the price is right, size and structure is good but oh oh! It looks a little rough around the edges. The previous owner hasn't had a chance to give the place a face-lift and you're just not sure. Use your imagination! This is a chance to tap into your creative side and lend your artistic talents to the home.

Of course, structure and updated heating systems are very important and this home has that going for it. But the colors! Try to imagine it with a fresh coat of paint. The rooms look a little small? Mirrors and lighting work wonders!

Perhaps the yard looks a little overgrown. With a little digging and some shrubbery you've got a natural haven right in your own backyard.

Don't let a few cosmetic rough spots sway you from purchasing what could be the home you imagined. A fixer-upper can be an exciting challenge and chance for you to display your originality and good taste. There's nothing more satisfying than looking at the "before" pictures once you given your place a face-lift.

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Skyway Heights and Top of Skyway

If you like a view of the city you should check out Skyway Heights subdivision and Top of Skyway.  I have lived in both of these subdivisions and loved the view of the city.  These areas are nestled in the foothills.  Currently there are two homes for sale in Skyway Heights with prices of $569,000 and $725,000.  Five properties sold in Skyway Heights in the last year with prices ranging from $505,000 to $627,000.

There is currently one home for sale in Top of Skyway with a price of $699,000.  There is another home under contract with a listing price of $800,000. Eight homes sold in Top of Skyway in the last year with prices ranging from $495,000 to $1,295.000.  If you would like more information on these delightful neighborhoods give me a call or shoot me an email.

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Time to Blog

I have been very hesitant about seiously working this blog.  I do not consider myself a good writer but my goal this year is to make a real effort at this blogging stuff.  There is so much info in the real estate world and I have been selling real estate going on 13 years so hope to be able to be a help by giving info on this blog.
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