FrederickAreaHomes

Open Houses: To Hold or Not to Hold– That is the Question…

2012-01-26T00:48:00.000-05:00

For as long as I have been around the real estate block, there have been open houses. Whether the property you were trying to sell was new construction or a regular resale, the expectation was that you would hold an open house (or several) over the life of the listing. Open houses were traditionally seen as a marquis way to give an opportunity to check out the home in person, ask questions about it, and hopefully, experience love at first sight and make an offer for purchase. However, during a great majority of that time, there wasn’t the wealth of rich, robust visual property information online like we have today. With over 90% of homebuyers in recent years reporting they get their home-of-choice information from the internet or directly from their Realtor (who also uses other cloud-hosted technology vs. old school on-person visits to obtain info to pass on to clients), it seems like open houses are quickly going the way of the dodo bird.

Today's homebuyers do a ton of upfront comparison shopping and research online, way before ever putting their key into the ignition and putting the address of your home-sweet-home for sale into their GPS. The ability for a tech-savvy listing agent to upload galleries of high-quality photos and full color flyers has made it easy (and desirable) for buyers to skip time/gas wasting open houses, and stick to virtual shopping combined with one-on-one personal showings with Realtors. If you have been a part of the housing market lately or have every toyed with the idea of buying or selling, you know that an amazing buffet of available property information is only a click away. Even people who aren’t actively on the market do their fair share of window shopping for houses... And why not? It’s fun and free!

Open houses definitely do still happen these days (I do occasionally hold them!), but the reasons why they are held are no longer a part of conventional wisdom nor expected best practices. I use open houses on a case-by-case basis but no longer insist upon them as a standard part of my marketing plan--it has to make sense for the property to schedule one. Though in theory they sound powerful, open houses tend to most often benefit the agents (potential for walk-in buyer clients), they allow for neighbors to buzz by and compare their apples to yours (allowing open house agents to chat it up and possibly get additional listings), and often serve as entertainment for folks who bounce from open house to open house on the weekends looking for decorating ideas and free coffee (yes, that never fails to happen!). In my opinion, entering an open house in the listing system and using it as a fresh reason to promote the property publicly is where the remaining value stil exists - not in the event itself. And in the reality of a modern market, most often the solution to a stale listing problem is the price of the home, or something else material to the property that is the obstacle to selling the home quickly – not the absence of fresh-baked cookie smell in the air and balloons in the yard on weekend mornings.

I do still believe there is still some room for open houses in a marketing arsenal given specific circumstances (for example, holding a Broker’s open house when a large price reduction has been made, or when something new and special about the property is announced, like a renovation or improvement), but the application of open houses is much less weighty than it once was. Open houses will continue to trend in that declining direction as virtual technology in home marketing continues to amaze us. So perhaps in the future, we might be putting open houses in the same nostalgic "back in my day" bin as things like records and 8 track tapes.

What do you think? Have you ever used open houses as an actual targeted buying tool? Have you had success with selling your home using an open house? Or have you ever run the weekend open house looky-loo circuit “just for kicks?” (It’s ok – you can admit it--I won't judge!)

2012=Change In The Air... And On My Real Estate License

2011-12-22T23:06:00.024-05:00

As I took time recently to critically look back and evaluate all of the real estate business I have closed through the 2011 calendar year, I found myself with a great opportunity to really take a step back and think about where I want to be and what experience I want to offer my Buyers and Sellers in the future. Long story short, after careful consideration over the past month, today I ended my affiliation with Keller Williams. I am excited to share that I am affiliating with a new Broker as I enter my 14th year of licensure.

Over that important month of time, I thoroughly investigated several brokerage options in the Frederick County area, both local and national models, and one particular office really stood out above the crowd--Turning Point Real Estate, located just south of Frederick in Urbana (in, appropriately, the old Turning Point Inn that many of us who attended Linganore chose for special occasion fine dining like Homecoming and Prom). Turning Point is a relatively new player compared to most other area real estate firms, but they are truly at the front of the pack with an impressive array of cutting-edge technological tools, professional staff support members who are at the top of their game, and a wealth of diverse experience on the Executive team. Not only are they residential specialists, but they also have ample resources in-house to serve my clients who have needs in commercial real estate, new construction, and property management. At the end of the day, they possess a dynamic forward-thinking brand that I think fits myfrederickareahomes.com personal brand quite well.

So after closing out a successful 2011, I will be starting fresh in 2012 with my new Turning Point family. Now you know where to find me, and as always, I humbly welcome your gracious referrals and recommendations.

Happy New Year to all!!!

Movember - Men's Cancer Awareness Month

2011-11-10T15:43:00.002-05:00

Much like last week, I am taking pause to deviate from the usual real estate/household blog topics. This one is far more important than delicious gluten-free mac and cheese, however. Please consider joining in!

Ever heard of Movember? (AKA No-Shave November)
Like mustaches?
Want to grow one (or "faux" one) and help support men's cancer research and awareness?

Check out this blog and contest announcement:

http://info.5amsolutions.com/bid/105986/Cancer-Awareness-Ladies-First

Calling all folks to grow (or if that is not possible, "faux-semble") a winning 'stache to show public support for Movember -- The men's cancer awareness movement. Visit the website above for details on a mustache contest run by local life science software firm 5AM Solutions, and make a difference by joining in on the fun with your very own mustache.

While cool for dudes, 'Mos are pretty sweet accessories for ladies and children too. In fact, 5AM is offering several recognition categories to encourage participation by men, women AND children, so get super creative! Then just snap a pic and follow the instructions at the blog above.

If I could grow a real 'stache to show my support, I probably would (and I would also make it even sweeter by having a part-time job in the circus). But since I can't, what I CAN do is pledge a few minutes of my time over the next few weeks to find mustache-worthy material (lots of Halloween clearance sales online!), slap it on my upper lip, and document it with a flash and a smile.

Perhaps I will color mine, maybe even braid it... hmmm... possibilities are endless. In fact, I think I might just get my Sunday soccer team to play an actual game with mustachios on. Oh yes, it shall be done! And you know how it works... if there is no picture, it didn't happen... So stay tuned for pictures!!! And of course my little one--ham that he is--will surely enjoy designing and sporting his very own 'Mo.

But the real question is, what should Sean do with his 'Mo? He already has a coarse, thick black canvas of 'stache and beard hair just waiting to be carefully shaped and shown <excitedly wrings hands in anticipation>... Weigh in! Comment below and tell us what style he should go with: Handlebar, freestyle, fu manchu, imperial? So many choices... So speak your 'Mo and help us decide! :) Need inspiration? http://www.americanmustacheinstitute.org/mustache-information/styles/

Had to Share: Crawfish Mac & Cheese (Shhh... It's Gluten Free!)

2011-11-06T01:05:00.005-04:00

I usually reserve my blog for household related themes or real estate specific posts, but tonight, I just had to share something. As most of you know, this lady likes food. A lot. I like planning it. I like shopping for it. I like cooking it. I like sharing it (...most of the time!). And most of all, I sure do like eating it (well, DUH! And hey, it's almost "stretchy pants" season...YAY!).

It's my birthday, and a few hours ago, I had my family over for a low-key "night before birthday" dinner. I like to cook when I have time, and am a raging control freak (yes, it's true...), so instead of going out for dinner or having someone else cook for me, I came up with a menu of things I liked and a few things I wanted to experiment with:

Spiced brie and brandy fondue with an assortment of cubed apples (grannys, honeycrisp, and braeburn) and pears (Asian and bosc),
Filet mignon with herb butter (my "go-to" birthday meat of choice since I was a teen),
French green beans with crimini mushrooms (plus garlic, shallots and cream,)
Crawfish mac and cheese (with Gruyere, fresh shaved Parmesan, sharp cheddar and more...)

Everything was delish... but the crawfish mac and cheese--the side dish I crossed my fingers while making--was a STANDOUT. I had wanted to come up with an at-home hearty mac and cheese featuring a shellfish for quite some time, especially after watching some friends enjoy a fancy-pants version of a lobster mac and cheese during a girls' night out. And originally I absolutely had intended on using lobster, but after assessing the $38.50/lb price tag at the store and the questionable output of the recipe swirling around in my head, it was a no-brainer for lobster to take a backseat. I decided upon crawfish for my side dish gamble.

Not only was the finished product delicious, super rich in texture, and visually appealing, but you could not tell at ALL that it was also GLUTEN FREE. Now that might not mean much to most people, but for the growing number of people discovering they have Celiac disease or another life-changing wheat intolerance, it is difficult at best to find comfort foods - let alone classic pasta dishes - that allow you to REALLY forget nutritional limitations, even for a moment. Why gluten free for my dinner menu? My mom is on the permanent gluten free train (Celiac), and I wanted to make sure most everything I made for the dinner was suitable for everyone. But the good news is that the recipe can quite easily be modified for the non-gluten free set but using regular pasta and regular breadcrumbs. Easy!

Bottom line: This was DELICIOUS, and I don't think I would change a thing from this original go. If you like mac and cheese, and you like shellfish, you need to check it out, and give it a try! Disclaimers: This version of the recipe makes a good 10 or so servings, maybe more...? Was hard to tell how much it REALLY made since most people at my house tonight took seconds or thirds. And I just started throwing things into pans and adjusting as I went, writing things down--I think I got everything recorded correctly! I am NOT a chef, and I do NOT write recipes like the professionals do, so my ingredients are in the order of when I used them :) ...Oh and please do NOT ask about nutritional content. I am sure none of us want to know!!!!

Ingredients

16 ounces gluten free elbow macaroni (I prefer brown rice pasta for this -- it holds up best)

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 shallots, finely chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 ½ lb crawfish meat, shelled and chopped into ½" sections (OK to use precooked or frozen if fresh isn’t available, but be sure to drain off excess liquid)

1/4 stick salted butter

8 ounces whipped cream cheese, preferably chive flavor (sub regular/non-whipped if necessary)

8 ounces fresh grated Parmesan cheese

8 ounces shredded Gruyere cheese

24 ounces heavy cream

32 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese (reserve 2 cups for topping)

salt/pepper to taste

1 t. cayenne pepper

1 cup gluten free breadcrumbs - use as much as you like! (or substitute gluten free cornflakes, crushed)

2 T. fresh oregano, finely chopped

Cook macaroni as directed on package, but do NOT overcook – keep pasta on the al dente side for sure as it will cook in the oven as well. Drain and set aside. In a large, deep sauté pan on medium heat, add olive oil, shallots and garlic, and cook 3-5 minutes or until shallots are opaque. Add crawfish meat to pan and cook until no longer opaque. (Note: If you are using already cooked meat, be sure to drain it well and skip to the next step). Turn heat down to low and fold in the cream cheese and the butter. Be sure to stir frequently, scraping the bottom clean, to keep heat even and prevent any scalding--a sturdy silicone whisk works GREAT for this purpose. After 10 or so minutes simmering on low, slowly add in the cheddar cheese (be sure to reserve 2 cups for later!), Parmesan, and Gruyere. Keep on low heat, continuing to stir frequently until well blended and cheeses are smoothly incorporated. Gradually add cream, cayenne, and salt/pepper to taste, stirring until smooth. Turn cooked/drained macaroni into a large glass casserole pan, then carefully pour crawfish and cheese mixture on top. Carefully turn over with spatula, fully incorporating all of the ingredients. Sprinkle reserved cheddar cheese on top, then sprinkle with breadcrumbs and top with oregano. Cover with foil (I tent it to keep cheese where it belongs and not wasted on the foil!), and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes, then remove foil and bake another 5-10 minutes until breadcrumbs are just a little toasty and cheese is a light golden brown.

If you try it, let me know! But for now, my food coma awaits...

My Thermostat Can Beat Up Your Thermostat...

2011-10-25T13:44:00.002-04:00

Check this out:
http://www.nest.com/living-with-nest/index.html

The Nest^TM Learning Thermostat^TM

If you decided not to go peep the link, the Nest is a new self-regulating thermostat that learns your temperature preferences, and decides for you how to keep your home comfy customized to you. How cool (or warm) it that?

No more programming, no more constantly changing the temperature. The Nest^TM Learning Thermostat^TM programs itself in a week to keep you comfortable and save energy...

That really seems like an excellent idea! Hope it works as well in practice as it seems to in theory--the energy savings alone per house installation should be amazing. According to the site, "10% of all U.S. energy is controlled by thermostats." And we often forget to set them! Major kudos to the inventors of the Nest.

But since we are in an ever-advancing age of spookily intelligent machines and inventions, wouldn't it be nice if other things in and around the home were self-regulating/capable of learning ~~the routine~~ YOUR routine? Here are my dream picks for improvements specific to my household/lifestyle:

Cable boxes--especially DVR boxes--that turn themselves off after non-use (did you know they draw some SERIOUS energy? Surprisingly major energy hogs...)
Power strips that stop drawing current after a certain period of non-use (these may exist already...)
Toilet seats that learn to put themselves down
Toilets that flush themselves when the water is ... unclean (since some people in my household obviously strongly believe in the "if it's yellow, let it mellow" theory!)
Laundry that changes itself over from the washer to the dryer (not forgetting to add dryer sheets of course, and doesn't smell funky if you wait too long to change the laundry over: see my previous rant about the evils of front-loaders -- gah!!!)
Window and door locks that "automagically" lock themselves after a certain time of night
Dog food and water bowls that fill themselves (I know they have some versions of these)
Lawn sprinklers that sense water saturation levels and turn on/off accordingly (timers are a waste--Hate it when I see a lawn sprinkler going during a rainshower because of a timer)
Pool pump that senses when the water needs to be cleaned (instead of using a timer)
Mail that brings itself inside
Free papers that magically self-destruct!

Oh, the possibilities are endless! Now certainly some of these above things already exist, but the challenge is likely in making the intelligence affordable for and available to us regular folks. :)

What would your best picks for smart house features be? Share your ideas!!!

Email/Text/Post Trumps Old-School Cup and String--Or Does It?

2011-09-20T23:06:00.156-04:00

Image Credit: Master Isolated Images

I have been thinking lately about how much communication has really changed over my 13 years in Real Estate with the commonplace usage of email and texting for business, and even more recently, social media site incorporation. I recently took a day trip up to Hershey Park with my better half and my little one, and was basically incommunicado for a good day and a half stretch - I did not check Facebook (...though I DID make a quick post when my son boarded the Sooper Doper Looper!). I did not tweet. I did not respond to emails. I did not approve LinkedIn nor Google+ requests. Incoming calls (ok...ALMOST all of them!) went to my voicemail, and I read incoming texts to be sure nothing critical was missed, but did not respond to all -- THE HORROR! And this was incredibly hard for me. I am proud of my response times, be it with clients, friends or family. Basically, you send up the bat signal, and this girl will answer. And if I don't have the answer, I find it and get it to you. It is just how I have always defined my business (and personal) communication standards.

That said, everyone has a different "normal" for communicating, and sometimes, people can read too much into the disconnect between their personal style and that of someone else. Emotions, even unintended ones, are also conveyed (whether you know it or not) based upon the way you choose to communicate using the typed word, both in the personal and business realms. Some examples of differences you have likely experienced:

Typing/texting/posting with or without caps, punctuation, and caring less for proper spelling and/or grammar: Rude, or busy?
Sending a text or email late at night: Insensitive to others' home life, or burning the midnight oil?
Using emoticons, or creating pictures using characters for effect? Juvenile, or going the extra mile to convey emotion?
Wordsmithing traditionally nonsensical terms: Ok for 2011, or ridiculous?
Is good ol' please and/or thank you necessary anymore in type? Texting? Wall posting?
"Liking" posts and wishing happy birthday to hundreds of "friends" every day? Necessary, or does it appear desperate? And if you miss a birthday wish, are you sending an inadvertent signal that you could care less?
Posting, commenting, and "liking" frequently: Are you an interested, engaged friend? Does the frequency make you appear to have WAY too much free time when you should be working (think: Business associates who are also Facebook friends)? Or have you reached the dreaded "stalker" status?

Over time I have even heard people complain that Facebook well-wishes are impersonal, and an easy way out when it comes to sharing in someones special occasions (similar to breaking up via sticky note!), while others appear to be genuinely thrilled to have a wall full of acknowledgement feeling the love Facebookers are sending their way. Without facial expressions, body language, and vocal intonation to help convey additional meaning, many things can be lost in translation when communicating via the printed word, further expanding the potential gap between what one may intend to convey and what is understood. But that said, the convenience of electronic communication, and the sheer ability of such to stay connected with exponentially more contacts is often worth the gamble.

When it comes to a professional real estate relationship or transaction, problems certainly may arise if a disconnect between the communication styles of the individuals involved occurs. It is the responsibility of those driving the transactions (the Realtors involved, IMHO) to set expectations for communication early, understand the individual styles, and pay respect to them. The odds are high that the Realtors involved in a sale do not know each other, and therefore do not know how the other person conducts their business/what they find to be normal business communication parameters. Add in a lender (often two or more individuals in the lending process), an inspector, plus some title company folks, and the risk increases. With all of these individuals, communication frequency, preferred method, delivery tone and more are all important to recognize. Contact must be made early and maintained often, with the end goal of a successful transaction as the end that commands the means. If any of the professionals involved check out (physically or mentally) or neglect their piece of the pie during the sales cycle, "bad things" can happen. There must be at least one person in the pool willing to grab a Baywatch-style flotation device and make the save, even when it "might not be their job" to do so.

With the many players involved in a residential sale or purchase, one great advantage of working with a Realtor rests in their ability to proactively coordinate all of the moving parts, to bridge any interaction gaps early (troubleshooting any that form once underway), and to make sure that things move along as needed--Clear, frequent communication using the best form possible for the intended audience is the critical cornerstone for success.

How about you? Weigh in - Take this short four question survey and share what you believe to be your "ideal" communication style for personal affairs and in your business dealings. I would love to hear about your normal. :)

The Not-So-Sweet Smell of Efficiency...

2011-08-03T23:25:00.001-04:00

I have a front load washing machine. They certainly have some good points:

They save water (or so I thought...if you run a load once...)
They save energy (again, or so I thought...if you run a load once...)
They are easier on clothes (but again, only if you have to run that load once...)
They look cool/look upgraded (professional opinion only, for home sales in particular)

But let me tell you - the front load honeymoon is OVER here in our house. The hubster confessed that he doesn't always notice this, but the thing more often than not SMELLS. Laundry "cleaned" in it often SMELLS. Even if you run to change the wet laundry over from the washer to the dryer the second the beeping starts, it is often still a funky situation. The clothes usually require rewashing (and still somehow smell), negating most if not all of the energy efficiency gained (not to mention more detergent, and more of my time). I did some Googling of this stinky situation as soon as I noticed--after about two months of ownership--and sure enough, this is a commonly reported problem with front load machines - across all model types and brands. So big in fact, that over the past few years, there have been several class action lawsuits on the matter--some of which were settled netting consumers top load replacement machines.

But why so stinky? Too much water stays behind in the front loaders after every load. It makes engineering sense. Gravity is not their friend here. With top load designs, the water drains with gravity assist, not to mention that additional fresh water is used more often in the cleaning process. And top loaders don't have gigantic rubber rings where the front door seals, with folds that have the potential to collect and trap even more visible (and hidden!) water that will eventually become stagnant providing an ideal environment for mold/mildew growth if someone doesn't thoroughly wipe the machine dry between loads. Simply put, these buggers take more work to maintain, even on a daily basis.

Common solutions manufacturers give to fight front loader stink?

Make sure the machine dries out completely between loads (leave the door wide open, wipe the rubber ring dry and make sure the room the washer is located in is not overly humid)
Minimize cold water wash cycles (but wait - isn't cold water washing a well-known MUST for energy efficiency? Another strike...)
Follow the manufacturers recommendations for front loader maintenance (see your owners manual--they usually recommend cleaning out the lint trap, which unfortunately involves a screwdriver and more time to dedicate to the task than you probably have on a weekly basis)
Use high efficiency designed machine fresheners every few weeks (several are now available due to serious demand--Tide makes one that is about $10 for three packets, and there is another I know of named "Affresh" - However, the "washing your washer" solve is temporary)

If you do all of these things as a part of your regular laundry routine, you just might be able to one day enjoy the smell of success. Hurray! But not all of these tips are so easy to accomplish on a regular basis. We are lucky enough to have a whole room dedicated to the laundry, so no problem with leaving the door wide open. But this might create some problems and safety issues...

Not enough practical space to leave the washer door wide open enough to allow air flow/evaporation (for example, when laundry appliances are "hidden" behind bi-fold doors versus in a laundry room)
Pets becoming curious of the space, and climbing inside the open door
Young children hanging on the door, or worse, trying to climb inside... super scary thought

Other DIY ideas I have read on how to solve the problem...

Use your blowdryer on the inside of the machine after a load to ensure it is dry (and say goodbye to the energy savings!)
Add a teaspoon of grapefruit seed extract to every other load (I like tea tree oil for antibacterial/antifungal properties as well, so thinking of using that...but also wondering what that essential oil inclusion might do to the rubber seal? Thinking the chemistry might be a problem there)
Simply succumb to the smelly front loader beast, and opt to beat your laundry on a rock in a river instead and call it a day :)

Do you have a front load machine? Have you found any magic bullet solves to the problem of smelly washers? Share!

Pick up that Poo... Or ELSE!

2011-07-08T23:06:00.005-04:00

First, some quick reading homework for ya...

READ ME

If you don't have the time (and I know most of you don't), here is the gist:

How POO-fect is THIS?!?

There is now simple DNA testing for dog poo, to identify the poo-er. In the Reuters story at the link, in Conway, MA an apartment manager fed up with steaming piles left about her charge decided to enlist newly mass produced DNA technology called "PooPrints," developed by BioPet Vet Labs of Knoxville, Tennessee.

How does it work? They basically require every new pet that moves in to the property to provide a cheek swab (MOUTH cheek...) so their doggy DNA is extracted and entered into the system. As time passes, and bombs are dropped about the property and left unattended, the property manager mails a "gumball sized amount" of the poo in question to the testing facility (and that is legal with the USPS HOW?!? Again, ew.) and the guilty pooch (rather, their naughty person) is identified. Then the owner is hit with a pretty hefty fine--$1000 in some referenced cases. And the accuracy rate is listed at 99.9%, so good luck explaining that one away when Geraldo or Maury reveal the DNA results... "You, Scruffy, ARE the father... of the brown babies in question..." <dog howls>

Wait - why, again? It seems that some property managers are ready and willing to take CSI-style investigation into their own hands. But I wonder, will it one day become illegal to snatch up dog poo without the express written consent of the owner? Will this stand up and be admissible evidence? Will the testing, sampling and processing (ew...) procedures become inadmissible because they were not handled by experts in the field? The imagination just runs WILD on this topic and the hours of due process (or shall I say... DOO POO-cess) it one day might command.

Bottom line is that DNA testing, even for what seem like such trivial things as dog droppings left behind, is rapidly finding its way into the hands of common folks like you and me. I can only imagine how this mainstreaming could begin to translate into widespread "who-dunnit" style CSI <insert your town here>-meets Angela Lansbury DIY crime investigations all over the place. No longer a highly technical futuristic tool for the researcher or investigator with years of training and education under their belts to wield, this seems to be the edge of a pretty step cliff that will level the playing field so to speak for using science to proving sourcing and more... and prove it beyond a shad-DOO of a doubt....! Sorry. Could not resist.

All in all, it seems kinda cool, but also makes me want to take my recycling home with me when I finish off a Diet Coke. Leave no trace! ...Or else!

Rooms with a View...YOUR View

2011-07-05T23:06:00.004-04:00

I was thinking a lot about rooms recently - specifically, how rooms of homes are planned, named, and how their purpose is truly determined. How are those spaces defined, and who should define them? Is it the furniture stores that sell attractive, culturally acceptable concepts of what rooms should be and how time should be spent in them? Is it the architects that design the home initially, captioning the space on the floorplan? I mean, is it really such a stretch to delete certain traditional rooms and add others when you make a house your own?

My first thought was that there are some self-evident rooms that always seem to be standard issue:

A kitchen is an easy one. They have specific appliances and such that truly dictate their purpose. You don't often see a sub-Zero fridge in a bedroom, nor a king size bed in a kitchen. Nearly every home has a kitchen of some kind--sometimes two in the case of an in-law suite. You walk into a house and nearly always know it is the kitchen, even when the appliances are all stripped out (courtesy of the ever-popular foreclosure or short sale, or just someone who REALLY wanted to take their appliances with them). It is an easy identification.
Garages: Though I have seem my share of garages that become finished family rooms (in various degrees of DIY and professional "finish" to be sure), and a plethora of garages that are more storage spaces than a place to park a car (including how our garage was used growing up--never a car parked inside), it is pretty clear from the inside and outside that a garage is (or was) such a space.
Bathroom: Toilet. Sink. Possibly a tub, shower, tub/shower, bidet, fan, etc. There is no denying a bathroom. Though again, in my travels I have seen a bathroom or two that has undergone DIY retasking: Photography darkroom, storage closet, blacklit greenhouse, and cat bedroom/bathroom are some examples.

That said, some long-standing rooms and spaces that used to be found on the majority of home floorplans seem to be disappearing. Parlors, formal living rooms, formal dining rooms, etc. are some of the victims of this cultural design shift. They are being replaced by great rooms and open floorplans that show flexible spaces up for interpretation and imagination--not third-party declarations of purpose. Most rooms in an traditionally, culturally Western house (even those initially defined on a plan by an architect) are in reality left to your chosen culture, lifestyle, and practical (or not so practical!) needs as an occupant. You define the spaces. When you think about it, the furniture (or other defining items) you choose to put in it tell the room what it is - not the other way around. If you decide to put a desk and a chair in a walk-in closet, it becomes an office. Right?

When we move to our new home later this month, we have plans for:

A LEGO ROOM: This space will take the place of an extra bedroom across the hall from my son's main bedroom. The plan is to give our little Lego enthusiast a place to do his thing, and create a gallery. We will be putting up several sets of wood plank style wall shelves, where we can take the plank down, affix a Lego baseplate, and he can anchor his creation for display short or long-term. He enjoys spending hours upon hours coming up with some pretty intricate designs, and understandably gets upset when they get stomped, vacuumed, or otherwise Godzilla-ed by visitors (big and small). This will give him a place to show them off but keep them out of reach as he chooses...AND keeps Legos off of my floor and out from between my toes in the middle of the night...clear WIN. Who needs a guest room, anyway? He will use this all the time.
An official, dedicated HOME OFFICE: This will be in what is per plan, the formal dining room. Changes include replacing the chandelier with a much more practical ceiling fan, adding some doors for privacy, and filling with office furniture (and a chaise lounge allowing for a more informal workspace/reading place). This will also help set the cultural expectation in our family that when I am in that room, I am not at "home" - I am at work. Respect my space!
A PROJECT ROOM: Taking the place of another extra bedroom (that also houses the upstairs laundry room), this is a place where our collective art and craft projects can sit undisturbed... and I can simply shut the door when I grow tired of the project until I revisit it or when company comes to visit! A guilty pleasure, but much more useful than a den or another guest room.
A RUG-RAT RUMPUS ROOM: Taking the place of the formal living room (aka: "The excitement room" as my son said he wants to call it) this will be a room with a lounging couch or two, some colorful beanbags, a couple of stocked bookshelves, the train table (aka puzzle, Lego, Bionicle, and transformer table) and bins of toys. Though we initially thought about relegating this room to the basement, I actually like my kiddo, and want him (and his cousins) to be able to play on the same level where we plan to spend most of our time. It is adjacent to my home office, though separated by a set of french doors so I can keep an eye on him while I work from home (after all, good "fences" make good neighbors--even inside of your own home).
The MAN LEVEL: The best use for a finished basement in our home is self-explanatory. The man level will feature a cool/dark early-to-bed early-to-rise snore-and-thrash-at-will bedroom for the hubster, full bath (where you can leave the seat up 24/7!), wet bar, adult beverage mini-fridge, and sound insulated video game/theater room. Enter the man level at your own risk...though betting some may never want to leave.

The interesting part is that I have been surprised at some of the strong reactions I get when I tell people I am scrapping certain standard-issue rooms to make way for others above. As if opting out of having a traditional formal dining room somehow diminishes my ability to "make house" - I guess it certainly makes me less of a contender for "Domestic Goddess of the Year," anyway :) Oh, and I am putting a couch in my kitchen. Everyone hangs out there anyway - so why not be comfortable?

What are some of the more creative room ideas/purposes you have come across? Have you ever stripped a room of its intended purpose, and transformed it into something that works better for you, not the architect?

Decisions, Decisions...

2011-06-09T23:06:00.001-04:00

I have had the good fortune lately of being in the position to purchase a new home. My family has lived in the same home for about seven years, and with our son now past the childcare years, we had recently decided it was time for a change.

When we (my husband and myself) recently talked about a possible move, there was a lot to talk about. Among the many factors that were at play:

Can we sell our current home without losing too much money? We had that covered.
Can we afford anything better than what we already have? We got pre-approved for a loan amount/interest rate that was acceptable AND carried a monthly payment we felt 100% comfortable with.
What are our motivations for this change? Been here 7+ years. Need more space. Want a change in routine, specifically to shorten Sean's commute.
How LITTLE were we willing to accept for our home? We ran those numbers and found our basement.
How MUCH were we willing to pay for a new one? We found the top of our desired range and gave it a buffer of about 20K so we felt prepared to extend (to a point!) if need be to get something worth moving to.

Initially, we started down the road with these criteria in mind:

Better commute for him (he currently drives quite a bit)
Out of a neighborhood, especially any with a HOA
A location on the more rural outskirts of Frederick (Jefferson, South of Thurmont, Middletown, New Market, Mt. Airy, etc.)
At least an acre of land (No less than 3/4 acre, for SURE)
All hardwood floors (or a pricepoint where we could add them)
A fenced yard for our dogs (or a pricepoint where we would still have plenty of cash for a fence)
A rancher or contemporary style home with a finished/walkout basement (or a pricepoint where we could budget and finish it ourselves) and a main floor master bedroom
A bathroom for each of us (three)
An updated home (or newer home) with a decent kitchen
Large space for entertaining, connected/with open sight lines to the kitchen where people tend to gather

We found a few properties that we felt met our list of needs/wants only a few weeks into our search, and wrote up an offer or two. Problem was, our offers were contingent upon selling our current home, which we had yet to put on the market. We were preparing it for market, but did not want to pull the trigger until we had identified a home of choice. Twice we were rejected. They did not think accepting a home to sell was a good idea in this market, and we were not interested in accepting a kickout clause. Admittedly, neither of those homes really felt 100% like "the one" so to speak, so when we did not go under contract on either, it was more like a shoulder shrugger than a real disappointment.

We then decided to change our fate, and explore the rental angle for our current home. Luckily, we were approved to carry both our current home (with a renter) and a new home of choice, which certainly put us in a better bargaining position for our home search. The very next day, a listing came on the market that fit some of our needs, but not the ones I *thought* were major, and was in an area of Frederick itself that I had not even considered. I previewed it (along with about four others that same morning), then immediately called my husband to come see for himself. He was sold--He said THIS was "the one" and that he wanted to offer. I was totally in agreement. And shocked.

This home was:

A traditional two story colonial (NOT a rancher or contemporary) with mostly carpeted rooms (not hardwood)
In a large neighborhood with a Frederick city address, WITH a HOA
On a postage stamp sized lot (though it IS fenced, and has a sweet new in-ground pool, something I found out both of us really always wanted, though we never discussed it until we saw it)

The moral of the story is that you might THINK you know what you want, but sometimes you really don't... until you find it. Take the time to let your Realtor stretch the bounds of your preferences a little to really get a comparison of what your money will buy. Remember that though it is an amazing resource, the database excludes many things if you are too strict about your criteria (not to mention exclusion if a lister accidentally enters the info incorrectly...). Look all of the options open to you, and be ready to act fast. This is actually a pretty active market, all things considered, and lately my clients are finding themselves in bidding situations when they hesitate.

I like writing things out to walk myself through decisions, so after this recent adventure, I developed a homebuyers worksheet for when you sit down with those involved in your decision making process and lay out all of the stuff that goes into a home buying decision. If you would like a copy, give me a call or send me an email: kristi@frederickareahomes.com - Enjoy the pre-summer heatwave!

Photos Matter! So Take a (GOOD) Picture - It Will Last Longer

2011-06-01T23:06:00.013-04:00

Guess what? Some modern-era statistics say the more pictures your listing has, the quicker it will likely sell. Even two and three times as fast as a home with no pictures. And I believe wholeheartedly that is 100% true.

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence. ~Ansel Adams

I am shocked at the number of listings I see that do not have more than a horrible exterior shot uploaded to the listing system. Or worse, a listing that uses the moldy old photo in the database from the LAST time it sold, several years of wear, tear or even updates ago. Buyers (and their agents doing the legwork) want to see pictures--EVERY Buyer is visual, and well-composed pictures do more to sell your home than you know. In fact, many of my clients dismiss properties with no pictures from their "go see" lists. Why, you ask?

People are visual creatures (yes, even the women). Descriptions can only do so much for a listing, and people start to tune those out amidst the puffy Realtor-speak descriptions we all see every day... "Spacious colonial awaits your finishing touches" often = "Big old empty house that needs major updates," right? :D The pictures are where they get to see the relative condition of the home, getting the buying decision underway.
When Buyers are surfing the web, they are drawn back to homes they remember over time based on visual cues obtained from the pictures. Essentially, they don't call me saying, "remember that house on #4567 Blah Blah Place?" They say, "remember the house with black shutters and the cute white and stainless steel kitchen?" - Yes. Yes, I do.
Not having pictures is a perceived warning sign to Buyers that there is a REASON why you don't have pictures, even if that is not the case. It invites the question mark into the room.
Not having pictures signals to other agents that the listing was not worth their attention as a professional ... and that may hint that they may be difficult to work with on a possible transaction if they either do not have the time nor the attention to detail to fulfill that critical piece of the listing/marketing process.

Now that I have you thoroughly convinced that most Buyers do not want to even see homes that do not have pictures (good ones, of BOTH outside and inside), here are some things to avoid when you go through that exercise...

Avoid overdoing it with the fish-eye lens. If you do not know how to properly use a fish-eye, it can look like you are overcompensating for small spaces, having the opposite effect to a viewer. The outer edges of the halo effect a fish-eye produces should not be visible in the shot nor should there be a high degree of distortion.
Avoid taking too many shots of the same thing/same room. Aim for a single representative shot of each room, taken from a vantage point that is interesting and makes the room look as spacious as possible. One area in which you can break that rule is the kitchen. If you have a nice kitchen and can't fit it all into one shot, grab a couple that highlight different key features.
Avoid overdoing it with descriptions superimposed on the pictures that cover key images, or gush a bit too much about a feature. I do think this can be a useful technique, just be sure the verbiage isn't overwhelming and that the font is legible in thumbnail form.
Avoid trivial pictures, or pictures of things that are not highlight reel material. One agent recently posted a picture of an outdated faucet. Just the faucet. Huh?!? Another took a picture of a flower outside--not the whole of the landscaping, which was nice, but an artsy-fartsy picture of a SINGLE flower. I suggest the agent save those items for their Flickr account or personal art gallery - those will not sell the home.
Only post clear, complete pictures. Having the flashback shadow (or reflection in the mirror) of the photographer in the shot is amateurish, as is allowing a picture to be uploaded to a listing photo gallery that is much too grainy (resolution problem) or too fuzzy to see. In the age of easy to use point and shoot/SLR digital cameras, enough shots should be taken (and previewed on the spot) at staging/listing prep that you can get decent exposure under control.
Do not allow your home's condition to deteriorate significantly form the photos during the time it is on the market. Nothing is more disappointing than previewing a gallery of tasteful, promising photos than to arrive at the front doorstep and see it in shambles--and looking totally different (in a bad way!) than it did online that same day. Stage it in such a way that you can maintain it. You are setting the expectations, so live up to them, and watch your home sell before you know it (provided it is priced well, of course).

The bottom line is that any good agent will be proficient in this important discipline, and will either have the right equipment to do the job well, or will outsource it to a professional. The part you play is simple: They will need for you to do some pre-photo shoot cleaning, decluttering, and basic staging. They will be able to give you cues (or even a list if you would like) as to how to best present the home to get the ball rolling.

Ever seen any funky listing pictures before? Have you ever been surprised to see a home in person based on the expectation the photos created in your preview process?

Oh, no, Zillow...

2011-05-30T23:06:00.001-04:00

I love the Internet. I really do.
And in my many years as a licensed Realtor, there has been no better tool to come about for everyone involved in buying or selling a home or a piece of property.

It can help market properties at an extremely reasonable cost, works to generate business, speeds up the closing of a transaction, and overall, it produces a much more informed and prepared consumer. But the Internet can also be a source of confusion for the general public. Unfortunately, all of the wonderful value calculating widgets and apps developed by software gurus and marketing geniuses often fail at one thing: Recognizing the "soft" criteria that contribute to determining true value of a subject property--What you will have to pay to get it, and what you will really be able to sell it for.

When it comes to the valuation process, many of these generators swing and miss because soft information is simply not database consumable. Price setting and valuation is a gray area to begin with, but these sites can't pick up on improvements, renovations, and proper accounting for local comparables that are foreclosures or short sales. They also can't take into account true square footage--Ever looked at public records? They are often incorrect, both ways. All of this and more is taken into account with adjustments by a Realtor or experienced Appraiser, and of course, matters quite a bit to a Buyer that sees value in the complete package. Curb appeal, for example, which is proven time and time again to yield higher offers by Buyers who just "get that feeling this is the one," can't be easily calculated to begin with, let alone by a formula. These tools also do not trend as effectively as the real world does. For example, in a Spring market, (traditionally) values tend to increase based upon an influx of buyers and transactions--And the fact that people buy emotionally and tend to descend upon a marketplace in greater numbers at that time, year after year. Everyone knows demand drives values up, and those swings can happen pretty quickly in a local setting (for example, in a "prime" neighborhood without any other available inventory, or on a certain street)--The price fluctuation will have happened well before the aged closing data from the past few weeks catches up to the database. The bottom line is that arriving at the true market value of a property is a far more complex process than a few clicks would suggest (and any appraiser can attest to that fact, as their job is extremely technical and time consuming when done correctly). These instant gratification tools are based on algorithms and data sets that simply cannot interpret the three-dimensional reality of value.

The outcome of hard data only generators often leads consumers blazing into my world with figures and estimates that are often way out of line with the realities of the marketplace--Again, what someone would (and will) actually pay for a property. I want all of my Buyers to feel like they paid a fair price for a property (even got a great deal whenever possible, if there are no competing offers), and were not taken advantage of. And I want my Sellers to have a realistic picture of what their home will really sell for and not feel as if I took them to market too low, or counseled them to accept an offer that was lower than what the market should really bear. It goes without saying, but I always have the best of intentions when it comes to my clients. I do the great majority of my business from referrals--and you can't continue to receive those important nods unless folks are left with an overall feeling that you know what you are doing and that they would use you again themselves.

But at the end of the day, when the results of my data collection efforts and educated market interpretations are not exactly in line with something like Zillow or Trulia, if my clients do not trust my judgment and expertise as someone who has additional soft data to put in play, it can work to erode the trust factor. It puts a subtle (or not so subtle) question mark in the mind of a client. In a digital world like ours where there are so many readily accessible real estate (and Realtor) horror stories and messages of caution, it is difficult to set a client's mind at ease that your figures are likely more correct than what pops up in seconds on a valuation site.

So the moral of the story is that the Internet-powered valuation engines are great to get a general ballpark idea of what a home might be worth, or what you may be able to sell your home for. But take the results with a grain of salt--Your best bet to determine value is still going to be with a qualified Realtor or Appraiser, not a machine. Have a property you would like me to take a look at, and put Zillow or Trulia to the test? Reach out to me anytime at kristi@frederickareahomes.com.

13 Years of Real Estate = Non-Profit Money to be Had

2011-05-22T02:06:00.000-04:00

I am so excited to share with you that this is officially my 13th year of Real Estate licensure. I can't believe how quickly the years have flown by, and how much has changed in my life since I first took the plunge and enrolled in the initial licensing course after graduating from St. Mary's College of Maryland in 1997. Thirteen has always been my lucky number, so I wanted to celebrate this special year of achievement in a meaningful way - something that was bigger than myself.

If you know me, you know that I have always been into volunteering. This need to give my time means that I tend to be intensely scheduled across all of my worlds...I enjoy that fulfilled feeling, and don't know how else to live. But, that means my better half (gotta love him!) becomes Mr. Mom, holding down the homefront more often than not. So during this special year, I have decided to try something new, and give of my piggybank (I would like to say that this will be "instead" of giving my time, but something tells me that I probably wont be able to resist the next opportunity to volunteer...!).

That said, here is how the promotion will work:

If you have a house to sell or are thinking of buying, allow me to represent you and I will make a donation to the non-profit of your choice after settlement.
The donation amount will be based on the final sales price: I will earmark $100.00 for every $100,000 of value. Example: A $420,000 property will equate to a $400 donation.
If you directly refer someone to me as a new client (buyer or seller), I will kick in an additional $50 per $100K on your behalf. For example, if the closed sale price is $300,000, an additional donation amount of $150 will be generated, for you as the referring individual to determine the recipient.

The fine print on this is pretty simple and straightforward:

It has to be a recognized non-profit organization in the United States. I will not discriminate along the lines of what charity or organization it is - this is truly your choice to make. Some examples might include community organizations, animal shelters, youth sports leagues, etc.
I will get to keep the tax deduction - a necessary evil of being self-employed!
The donation will be made in your name (or, if you prefer, in the name of someone else).
The donation will be made within 30 days of the closing of escrow, and you will be notified via email when the donation takes place.

That's it! I ask that you take the time to pass this along to folks you know who are considering buying or selling. The more clients I get under this promotion, the more money I can spread around. There is NO LIMIT to the dollars to charity that this will generate, nor is there any limit to the number of times you can refer a client to me. Though it obviously benefits me as a professional Realtor, it also legitimately works as a great way to get some extra money for your chosen organizations, especially when people are seeking an experienced, quality agent to work with in the first place. I am good at what I do, and have no doubt s to the service level I can provide. :D I intend to run this promotion throughout the duration of my 13th year, so it will go through at least April 2012 - And I may continue it on into the foreseeable future if things go well!

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

2011-05-18T02:06:00.000-04:00

As I was unloading groceries in the pouring rain last night, I began thinking about all of the Noah’s Ark style precipitation we have been subject to lately in the mid-Atlantic area, stuck in an apparent low pressure weather pattern. Always one to both consider the positives and negatives of a situation, here are some things I came up with for “what’s good” and “what’s not” about all of this precipt…

Things that are pretty great about all this rain….

· No need to wash the car (or if you must wash, wait for the next rainband to come through, get out there with a bucket and a sponge and save some cha-ching that you would normally have spent at the car wash!!!).

· Pollen levels tend to get washed out, so grass and tree allergy sufferers have a bit of a get out of jail free card (exception: see mold allergy sufferers below).

· Nobody is going to tell you to stop watering your lawn or garden, and a lessened chance of the water table falling to drought conditions this summer.

· It is super-easy to pull weeds from gardens and flowerbeds.

· Too cold to put out our seasonal pool just yet, so no pool maintenance or pool pump electric bump.

· I get to wear my sweet plaid rain boots pretty much every day… SCORE!

· Morning’s first light is pretty dull, and allows me to sleep in a bit later as compared to streaming bright sunshine.

· No unexpected spring sunburn from being caught unprepared without sunscreen on.

· Random outdoor cats that are usually screeching and pooping about my yard have not been seen lately.

Things that are not so great…

· The ground is literally saturated and that means trees of all sizes could fall fairly easily if faced with even less-than-severe straight-line winds. It would NOT take a tornado to topple a tree with such loose soil, so keep an eye on any trees close to your home.

· I have not been able to find a good time to mow the lawn/weedwack because it is just too wet – grass and weeds are starting to look pretty shaggy. Dislike.

· Mold allergies are flaring up (I am among these sufferers - <sniff>).

· Farmers are being delayed in planting crops for summer/fall yields. This could have major impact, especially with all of the impending stinkbug damage to navigate as well.

· Roads are being damaged by flash flooding (one in Thurmont – 550North of town – has been shut down for weeks already).

· Sinkholes may begin to open in the coming weeks at an unusually high frequency as the water tables shift and soils settle. This area is prone to sinkholes after weeks of heavy rains, so keep your eyes open!

· Basements and already humid rooms in your home will be even wetter than normal – Be sure to keep a dehumidifier running!

· Nuisance pests are likely thriving (ants and termites especially—and when it starts to warm up a bit expect a ton of mosquitoes).

· The thunderstorms freak out my dogs, and make them shake, pace nervously, and try to smash themselves up against me for security. Cute, but annoying.

· You are definitely not getting enough critical Vitamin D on a daily basis, as there has been little to no sun exposure (though average Americans do not get anywhere near the suggested intake even if they work outdoors – consider a supplement!).

· Many people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, which has been tied to a lack of UV light exposure. Cloudy weather patterns like this can find SAD sufferers to fall into a winter-like funk (and from a less scientific standpoint, gloomy weather makes people cranky!).

· Car washes, ice cream shops, and other seasonal/weather sensitive small businesses are not exactly making a killing.

· Children’s outdoor athletic events and outdoor recess opportunities are being cancelled week after week (my some is none too pleased about the recess situation).

· Construction projects (commercial, residential, road improvements, etc) are being delayed and many hourly workers are basically on furlough and without income until a clear weather pattern returns.

· It is still too cold to put out our seasonal pool …ALSO listed in what’s GOOD about this rain! :D

Wait a second… I think I just might see the sun trying to peek through a tiny break in the clouds! Could it be? The weather forecast is looking fairly nice for this weekend, so be sure to get out and enjoy it!

So what do you hate about all of the rain? Anything you think is great about it? Any fun rainy day activities you enjoy?

What's Buggin' Me... !

2011-05-11T02:06:00.000-04:00

I was driving down the road the other day, when I happened to glance over to my passenger side window. At the very bottom, barely sticking up from the crack in the door, I noticed a single antenna wiggling around. A few seconds later, a second antenna appeared. It was a stinkbug. Living in the door of my car. Gah. I was about to go into a day of meetings and there was NO WAY I was going to leave a stinkbug emitting his acrid cilantroesque funk in my car all day. (And can someone please tell me, which end does that smell come from? Curious. Is it coming from the mouth or the behind? Not that it matters, but ... Anyone know?) Anyway, I parked my car and waited patiently. I put the window down just enough to be able to flick him out when he emerged. I waited 20 minutes... TWENTY. He finally crawled out enough that I thought I could shoo him out the window, but he crawled back in the crack as I advanced <le sigh>. This game of peek-a-boo continued for about 15 more minutes (!) when I finally got frustrated, yanked him out forcibly by his creepy antenna the second he appeared again, and went inside to go about my day. Let's just say that I have become desensitized to these disgusting creatures. But I have also been studying them. Testing methods for disposing of them. Ways to repel them. The natural and not-so-natural enemies and weapons of the stinkbug. And I would like to share some of my knowledge...

Peppermint oil: Repels, seems to disable (often kills), and makes your house smell minty-fresh! I have been looking for large affordable quantities of the oil, but still somewhat expensive thus far. I am preparing a spray bottle mix of peppermint oil and white vinegar later this week, to see what madness that might yield. Both are enemies of Mr. Stinkbug, though be careful about staining walls with oils. I am hoping this works, as it would be a perfect solution to keep handy in a supersoaker squirtgun for sweet outdoor killing sprees. I tried soapy water in a supersoaker last year, but while it annoyed the stinkers, it was not an effective kill... and I had soap residue all over the exterior of my home :D
Some citrus oils: Several of these seem to kill, but need to use fairly large quantities per bug/apply directly to the bug. Caldrea's line of essential oil countertop sprays work wonders on ants (only the ones with citrus oil, like ginger pomelo) and are safe for kids/pets. Alas, the spray only seems to repel stinkers, boo. But still yay for the ant killing properties.
Wet papertowels: When you pluck up the nasties (should you choose to use something other than your bare hand), they can't seem to stink at you through the already wet papertowel.
Behold... the "Death Jar:" Take a screw top mason jar and fill about halfway with soapy water (we like citrus scented soaps as they tend to hide the stinkbug smell most effectively). Simply pluck stinkbugs from around the house and drop into the jar, replace the lid and swirl to be sure they have been immersed. The soap solution keeps them from escaping and they eventually drown. I keep our Death Jar going for about a week at a time (let's play a game! ...how many stinkbugs can YOU collect in a week???), then flush the contents down the throne and restart with fresh soapy water for the next round of fun.
Put out the bat signal: Each night, put a single lamp on the floor of a room and turn off all other light sources. Leave the room and come back in about 30 minutes, and a stinkbug house party will have gathered around the lamp. Grab your "death jar" and start harvesting. Funny enough, many times a stinkbug crawling up a wall will simply fall to his peril if you put the jar under him. Weirdorama.
Suck up the suckers: Try a wet/dry shop vac, filled with soapy water. Suck those bad boys to their death. Be sure to talk trash to each one you destroy, and break out in fits of manic evil laughter now and again.

I know all of carnage and killing may sound cruel to some of you, but ever hear the sound of a shrieking 6 year old boy with a stinkbug in his bed? Ever had one of these guys drop from your visor into your lap while driving on a highway? Had a chance to actually taste the delicious smell of one of these when they have unknowingly dropped into your food (true story of an unfortunate friend--chili--<shudder>)? Read lately about all of the local crop damage these undesirable transplants are doing, and the sad choice farmers are having to make between otherwise unnecessary pesticides and going out of business (the impact on organic is growing especially fierce)? Yeah. I am definitely on the "by any means necessary" side of the debate, in case you can't tell :D

"Where would you put an injured insect? In an antbulance!"

"How do you spot a modern spider? He doesn't have a web--he has a website."

And one more kindergarten level funny before I close this out...
"What kind of bees are clumsy, always dropping things ? A fumble bee!"

So what are your best ways to get rid of critters? Especially stinkbuggers and ants. Would love to hear about your successes! Or even your hilarious failures. :D

I've Got the Fever! ...And it has NOTHING to do with Cowbell!

2011-05-02T02:06:00.000-04:00

Spring is in the air, people!

Ok, maybe I am jumping the gun a little bit here... but I have seen more stinkbugs creeping around lately, and did see a tiny little ant crawl across my brick pathway yesterday morning. Those two irritating critters are one of the first signs that I personally hone in on when it starts to smell like Spring to me. And once the seed is planted, my mind quickly wanders to things like opening windows, fresh breezes, planting my garden, setting up my patio, and other springesque home tasks.

But what to tackle first... Hmmm... Indoor chores? Outdoor projects? There is always so much to choose from after a long, cold winter. I do confess that last year, I was one of the first out of the gates when it came to getting into spring fever mode. Literally on the first day over 80 degrees (near the end of April, I think?) I burned Jeep rubber right on over to my nearest Wal-Mart, purchased one of those 18 foot $300 soup-bowl style "instant gratification" pools, and had it filled and sparkling before the end of the day. I proudly floated the good float on my trusty pool raft for at least a day or two (literally, floating only, because that water was C-O-L-D), totally basking in others' clear pool envy (at least in my mind). And my brilliant forward-thinking Springtastic move was just in time for the weather pattern to go back to normal: For the next few weeks it was only in the 70's in the day and 40's at night. Total Spring buzzkill. Needless to say my bright Spring fever idea turned into an early and unrewarding pool maintenance routine, complete with the bonus pool pump electric bill <ouch>. Perhaps the government should insist upon a cooling off period law for pools, much like the handgun laws, forcing me to wait several days before allowing me to take my pool purchase home - Clearly I need saving from myself.

Even if you are not nearly as uncontrollably impulsive to jumpstart Spring as I have been, there certainly are more appropriate (though often less exciting!) things you can and more importantly, should do when the seasons begin to change - both inside and outside of the home. Here are seven of my personal top picks for both homeowners and renters alike to consider:

Change those air filters: Be it a central air system, or several window units that have (or have not been) winterized, it is a good idea to have those babies ready for the first hotter days to come. There is nothing worse than going to fire up the good old AC and having moldy, mildewy funky smells ruin your plans to cool off. And in the most recent few years, my new favorite olfactory favorite has become stinkbug stowaways, who have wintered in any/all cracks and crevices possible and smell absolutely pungent when disturbed. Awful business. Filters are easy to change and/or sanitize, and well worth the effort considering that whole breathable air supply requirement thing we humans have to address. Your AC should be odor free, and noticeably drier in comparison to humid outdoor air. And of course, well maintained units function more efficiently than dirty abused ones, keeping more $ in your pocket - And that is by far the most refreshing concept of all!
Beat back the bushes: Trim any vegetation, be it bush, tree or otherwise, that has crept close to your home to ensure that growth is at least a foot away from your siding or roof lines. We got out and did ours a week or two ago, when we had the first tolerable day (and by tolerable, we are not talking tropical - there were still sweatpants and jackets involved). In past years we have waited far too long into the spring, and by the time we acknowledged that it was time to play Edward Scissorhands we were greeted by angry twisted vines and new spring growth that had actually attempted to forcibly strangle our HVAC unit. Worse, throughout our task we were creeped out by a myriad of spiders, wasps, hornets and other unpleasant little friends that made our task take twice as long. Not to mention, those with really bad spring allergies start to suffer with the first flowering of trees and grasses, something not yet in peak if you get out there early.
Get your mulch on: There is nothing worse than trying to mulch when it is too late... the weeds will have already taken over and again, creepy crawlies will be there to make it a much less pleasant task. And anyone who has had the pleasure knows all too well that mulch smells much worse in the hotter months. As a bonus, having properly mulched flower beds will encourage earlier appearances of annuals because of the higher thermal mass it brings to the table. Super-secret Realtor Tip: If you are photographing your house in order to list it or for some other purpose, wet the mulched areas right before you shoot - the water will darken the mulch and make the beds appear fresher, with more contrast and make your beds pop in photos.
Start your garden - It's an inside job: With the rising prices of food and the unknown effects of hundreds of commercial pesticides, growing a garden - no matter how small - is always a good idea. Buy one of those seed starter trays and start your seedlings indoors. There is nothing more satisfying than harvesting your own veggies, fruits and herbs - It can be a totally Zen experience, as long as you don't bite off more than you can chew for your individual green thumb level. I am a big fan of box gardens, framing up four 2x12's into a square bed (do NOT use pressure treated lumber as the chemicals that will leech into your garden soil are dangerous!), and adding good soil and natural fertilizers a few weeks/months before I plant anything there. And what an amazing, hands-on way to teach children about botany!
Become a fan of the ceiling fan: Switch your ceiling fan directional switches to the summer setting to get the full intended function - In summer, the leading edge should be the higher edge. If your fans are properly calibrated, using them (and their lovely breezes) in lieu of AC on more temperate days, or even using them to help circulate the AC on hotter days may just save you a few bucks on cooling. And while you are at it, clean the blades with a swiffer or furniture wipes. It is amazing the amount of dust and debris that sticks to fan blades over time.
Get your mind in the gutter: Over the years I have seen many folks with curious springtime wet basements-we tend to get more rain in the spring, of course. A good 40% of the time, the biggest problem is that a downspout is improperly adjusted to the splashblock and the water is spilling over and running down the foundation wall versus being directed away from the home. Simple solution? #1 - Make sure the splashblock is properly sized, is less than 3" from the end of the downspout end, and is at a grade that forces water to drain away, and #2 - Attach a two foot long section of corrugated pipe (the kind without weep holes) to the end of the downspout (it is actually most often a perfect fit!), directing water away from the home. And be sure to splash on out in your rainboots during a downpour to ensure it is working as intended. Just might work for you. If it does, take care to and address any small foundation separations or cracks with masonry epoxy, and be sure to backfill the eroded soil that the water pushed away over time. But if it doesn't work to end the water infiltration, be sure to retain a professional to investigate and remedy it. Wet basements are a very serious issue with resales and condition disclosure, and will be an obstacle if you ever go to sell.
Enter Sandman: Get a bag or two of masonry sand and brush it back and forth in every direction into any walkways, patios, or brickwork that do not have mortar. Any outdoor push broom or traditional broom will get the job done. This simple filler will help keep a good number of weeds from taking root (and pushing edges even further apart), creating additional maintenance in the warmer months (ew! weeding!), and keep the stones or bricks from excessive shifting with the extreme temperature changes resulting in contraction or expansion.

Of course there are many, many more HoneyDo's I could mention, but who wants to spend all day reading me go on and on about all the things you could be doing instead? :D

Have some of your own favorite tips? Please share them via post below - I would love to hear them!