Yesterday we had a little bit of excitement here around my house. A city water main pipe had burst in our front yard. Within minutes, we had a few thousand gallons of water everywhere. I had ankle-deep water in one section of driveway and could not believe the deluge!

So, with that being said, today’s topic will be an homage to French Drains. While they are not designed to handle such loads as what mine were asked to do yesterday, they still provide help to those homeowners with too much water surrounding the structure. Luckily, I had the system in place, as it took enough water away from the low-lying areas to keep water from entering the house. It could very easily have happened, and would have in a blink of an eye. Read the rest…

I’m one that really enjoys DIY, or “Do it Yourself” projects around the home.  For instance, I’ve changed many a light fixture and painted many rooms in our home.  I get real satisfaction from seeing a job well done, and knowing I did it myself.  However, a $20 light fixture is dramatically different than attempting making decisions in regards to your largest financial asset without counsel.  That’s something I definitely would not recommend at all. Read the rest…

With mortgage rates at all time lows, buyers are in the driver’s seat when it comes to getting a great deal. Or are they? This video from Bankrate.com shows how to compare offers to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible and what to look for. Check it out! Read the rest…

With all the talk of saving money and our environment, how many of us have actually completed an energy audit?  Local electric companies will provide on monthly bills a chart showing usage trends.  While that information is nice to know, where can you save on electric usage and cut your bills?  Read the rest…

When preparing your home for the market, don’t overlook “wowing” buyers with the great features your property has to offer.  This great video shows how just a few changes (and a few hundred dollars in materials) with a little effort can take a home from blah to impressive.  When crafting your “to do” list, be sure to take a moment to reflect on your property’s key features that attracted you to purchase it originally.  Those are the elements to show off to impress buyers today.  Make sure that clutter, too much furniture, too much decoration do not compete for the buyer’s attention with the key elements that will sell your home. Read the rest…

2009 has unfortunately ushered in a new buzz phrase:  “Loan Modification”.  But how does one get a modification? What are the qualifiers? Finally, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced guidelines. Check out this press release on what it all entails.

Click here to utilize an interactive online eligibility qualifier:  http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/modification_eligibility.html Read the rest…

It’s that time of year, when the calendar flips to August and everyone starts thinking about school. As a child, I hated August because I knew my days of having summertime fun were quickly coming to an end. However, I know all parents love the thought of August (and to send the kids back to school), as it makes their schedules and lives a lot easier!

So, in an homage to back to school time, I thought I’d highlight Lake Carolina Elementary school. Check out what’s going on!

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What is National Night Out?

It’s America’s Night Out Against Crime!

The “26th Annual National Night Out” (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2009.

Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2008. Read the rest…

With all of the talk of homeowners losing their homes to foreclosure, it’s no wonder so many con artists have now figured out how to use this angle to prey upon those who are vulnerable.  Don’t become a victim to one of these “Foreclosure Rescue” scams.  If any organization finds you to help, it’s a scam.  Only those who need help will seek out assistance.  Federal agencies who assist homeowners NEVER seek them out. Read the rest…

I’m sure many of you might find this post a bit odd, coming from me. However, I want all potential clients to have information and lots of it. It’s the only way to make an educated decision, especially with your largest financial investment. Check out this video on how to find a great real estate agent to work for you.

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