The folks in the frigid midwestern state of Wisconsin decided to organize....Progress/Change thru organization and see what we could do to protest Global Warming....we are all so used to snow blowing, shoveling, ice skating....saucer sledding....All the fun we can't bear to give up....warm winter coats....fuzzy mittens....and oh those stylish earmuffs....whatever would we do.....soooo....here we are...Protesting our best ! All the best to all of you !
11 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 28 2009 10:18AM
Celebrate the New Year.... almost......On Tuesday, December 29th....you can come to Matty's and be a part of the Holiday Pub Crawl - $20 gets you bus transportation (4 buses available), a commemorative T-Shirt, your first drink free, chance to win Bucks tickets, and other great prizes.
No one knows more about having a good time than Matt Anderson....Mr. Matty himself ! No better place to come for great food...fun.....super drinks...you really can have at all at Matty's Bar in New Berlin .....we say it is just a squidge wet of "cow corner"......on College....translated for people not as familiar with the area....it is just west of Sunny Slope (144th) on College Avenue in New Berlin.
Meet new people....have some fun....end 2009 with a trip to Matty's.....you will want to come back for breakfast...chili...homade soup....a great place to watch whatever game.....
14460 West College Avenue New Berlin, WI 53151
414.427.3838
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2 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 27 2009 10:58AM Many people...especially those of us who are self-emloyed, look at the new year with a new business plan....or should. Not just "I wanna....I'm gonna",....but how are you going to get where you want to be.
In our house, resolutions, plans and road maps extend to other parts of our life as well. We use the new year....as well as "Review and Renew" times throughout the year in a variety of areas....it just feels good to "be resolved" to make changes that will benefit different parts of your life that will all work together for positive change.
Planning and goal setting can be fun.....and it feels sooo good when you have accomplished your plan ! Here are just some of the areas that we plan for in the new year....and revise throughout the year....you may choose different ones....add some of these...do what works for you...but just do it.
* Health - This should be at the top of eveyone's list...if you feel your best, you will do your best. Go get that physical....add the vitamins, increase the exercise, revise the diet....less of this, more of that. Be specific.....you want to lose x pounds by this day....and then how you will do it. Join a club...or just find out when there is a work out program on TV....you can do it....have a plan.
*Business Plan For people who are self employed...if you have used the same old format every year...explore Active Rain for new ideas....things you may want to add or subtract....so that your propsperity can multiply ! If you are not self employed....what more do you want from your career...or a different career....taking classes, working toward a degree, changing an emphasis, creative a speciality. If you do the same things...you get the same result...Shake it up....Open your mind to new opportunities.
* House Plans If you own a home...there are things you have to do for maintenance...make sure that they are on your calendar of events....cleaning gutters, pitching the landscape, tune up the furnace and air conditioning. We always have other things that may include...changing interior decor, going green with ebergy savings...these need not be expensive....from a can of paint to more efficient light bulbs...positive changes make a difference.
Landscape Making changes to the exterior....whether you are in a condo and adding that seasonal change of door/planter decor or planting flowers, trees, mulching....berry bushes...or Cosmo and Magic's expansion of their catnip patch....Eye candy for the exterior whether you choose to do it or have it done... enrich the environment, improve property value, rave reviews from neighbors....
* Charitable Donations - Adopting/Furthering A Cause You may choose to adopt an organization or become more involved in an organization you already know....it doesn't have to be "about the money"....it can mean cleaning your closet and donating clothing...finding regular time every month to give to an organization that needs your talents....reading to children, tutoring...helping people with a variety of challenges...
PARTY PARTY PARTY !!!! Celebrate your success,...in every aspect of your life...the pounds you lost, the walk you took, the new busines you did, the bathroom you painted, the child you tutored...The flowers you planted....Make the new year the very best it can be...You deserve it !
8 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 27 2009 07:56AM
Talking with realtors with different experience throughout the market....looking at MLS sales figures at year end, we know that despite what agents may say.....they have not changed the way they practice....the sales figures and the portion they get....the fees that they pay...put them below the poverty level in earnings.
If you are in southeastern Wisconsin.....and have not yet heard...you have the very best opportunity to SHIFT...and of cours. since Keller Williams in the 3rd largest real estate brokerage in the country...you have the opportunity to SHIFT if you live in other parts of the country as well.
Take it one step further...
Find out what made Keller Williams the 3rd largest brokerage in the country....what you are missing by not being a part of this growing company......
Keller Williams is not for every agent.....It is for those who have the strength, the courage, the desire, to SHIFT and be a part of the successs of this business we call real estate.
If you have been cruising on Neutral....or been going in Reverse....NOW is the time.....SHIFT !
5 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 26 2009 07:45AM 
Christmas Comes But Once a Year...
How Glad we all should be
For That's The Time When Baby Dear
Eats Ornaments Off the Tree.....
Author - Betty Ren Wright
My your holidays be full of warm love, good health and the new year the most prosperous and successful. Enjoy your celebtrations....create and remember the traditions that make this season special to you....
All our very Best to All Of You... Everywhere !
9 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 25 2009 07:41AMEvery buyer today wants "a deal"...and we wildly encourage buyers to take advantage of wonderful interest rates, homes in better condition than they have ever been in their competitive stance of being the "Shiniest Penny on the market"....outstanding selection....
If you heard a "Yeah...but...." in the paragraph above...your ears were tuned correctly to the sound of the appraiser's voice. You know what you paid...you know the improvements and updates you made, the features that are included....and ohhhh the sweat equity. There was the neighbor who sold a few years ago and took his equity by the bushel and bought his new McMansion....equity everywhere....
If the equity you believe you have....is all or the majority of the down payment you expect to have for your new home....contqact a qualified real estate agent who will tell you....and show you with comparable sold homes...recent.....within the last 90 days OR adjusted for the market conditions if none are available...It has to be real....a real analysis based on real SOLD numbers...not the numbers you want...the ones you need for new down payment....the figure you got when you added all you invested....
The best surprise is no surprise......
Call a realtor who tells you like it is...not how you wish it would be.
6 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 23 2009 05:55AMwith lots of different lenders with short sale transactions...recently we had one who calls nearly every day...now there's a switch...we need not call them....they call us....She is on a mission. She begins evry daily conversation with "Not that it matters....I just need it for the file....." and proceeds with her daily quiz questions to which she already has the answers. Trying to put all the puzzle pieces together....even if they don't fit.
Somehow she hopes......the sellers have lied and we may forget whatever story she thinks they manufactured and accidentally blurt out the truth. We did fall off the Christmas tree or the turnip truck yesterday...or even the day before.
Golly gee Ms Lender...if it:"doesn't matter"...why waste our time, your time, your company's resources asking questions to which you already have answers. Mmm....maybe hoping for a different answer....the sellers really have hidden pots of gold,...the doctor's bills and reports aren't really theirs....the divorce decree is off the internet and not legal....sorry all that we gave is what there is, what really is....was and is now. There was no minimizing income...you have the tax returns...there was no maximizing expenses...you have their bank statements. The names change...the circumstances differ...but short is short....local lenders have a hard time coping with that concept.
Your employer, Ms Lender.....lent more than the house was worth...even then....and more so now...now the seller is no longer able to work....and no longer able to pay the monster debt that has been created.
If you are looking for reasons...hoping to find lies with the "It really doesn't matter...." questions....look within your organization to stop the flow of red ink...loans that should never have been made....and now, ...it really does matter...to you....to the bank...and to our sellers.....the truth always matters.
7 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 23 2009 05:53AM
'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I
HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
This poem was written by an unidentified Marine stationed in Okinawa
Japan.
9 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 22 2009 02:58PMGreat tips to keep in mind during this snowy season....post them...check them off...make sure you are prepared for the Santa season !
Winter Home Safety Tips
It's always good to remind everyone about winter safety in and out of the home.
Meet with your family to create a plan. Pick two places to meet: a spot outside your home for an emergency such as fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you cannot return home (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school). Choose an out-of-area friend as your family check-in contact for everyone to call if the family becomes separated.
Implement your plan. Post emergency telephone numbers by the phones. Install safety features in your house such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. Inspect your home for potential hazards and correct them. Have your family learn basic safety and first aid measures. Make sure everyone knows how and when to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency medical services phone number. Have disaster supplies on hand. Make arrangements for pets.
Winter has arrived and stockpile the following supplies in the event a winter storm or power outage prevents you from leaving your home.
Flashlights and extra batteries.
Battery-operated radio or television and extra batteries.
Emergency non-perishable foods that do not require refrigeration. Non-electric can opener.
Bottled water (one gallon per person per day).
One week supply of essential medicines.
Extra blankets and sleeping bags.
First aid kit and manual.
List of family physicians, important medical information, and the style and serial number of medical devices such as pacemakers.
Change of clothing and sturdy shoes for each family member.
Fire extinguisher.Identification, credit cards/cash, and photocopies of important family documents including home insurance information.
Emergency heating equipment, used properly.
WINTERIZE YOUR HOME
1. Have your heating system checked by a professional annually. This will ensure that your system is working safely and efficiently which, in turn, will save you money. If you heat by wood, clean your fireplace or stove. Have your chimney flue checked for any buildup of creosote and then cleaned to lessen the risk of fire.
2. Make sure your home is properly insulated. If necessary, insulate walls and attic. This will help you to conserve energy and reduce your home's power demands for heat.
3. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out.4. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside. This will provide an extra layer of insulation, keeping more cold air out.
5. Inspect and flush your water heater.6. Clean gutters. Leaves and other debris will hamper drainage.7. Replace batteries of smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detectors. If you did not do it when you set the clocks back, do it now.
8. To keep pipes from freezing:
Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers.
Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture.
Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing.
Know how to shut off water valves.
STAYING WARM INDOORS
If your heat goes out during a winter storm, you can keep warm by closing off rooms you do not need.
Use only safe sources of alternative heat such as a fireplace, small well-vented wood or coal stove or portable space heaters. Always follow manufacturer's instructions.
Dress in layers of lightweight clothing and wear a cap.Eat well-balanced meals.
Losing your heat when winter's winds are howling is not pleasant. However, by following these simple tips, you will weather the storm more comfortably.To prevent the mess and aggravation of frozen water pipes, protect your home, apartment or business by following the simple steps below.
Before Cold Weather
1. Locate and insulate pipes most susceptible to freezing, typically those near outer walls, in crawl spaces or in the attic.
2. Wrap pipes with heat tape (UL approved).
3. Seal any leaks that allow cold air inside where pipes are located.
4. Disconnect garden hoses and shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.
When It's Cold
1. Let hot and cold water trickle at night from a faucet on an outside wall.
2. Open cabinet doors to allow more heat to get to un-insulated pipes under a sink or appliance near an outer wall.
3. Make sure heat is left on and set no lower than 55 degrees.
4. If you plan to be away: (1) Have someone check your house daily to make sure the heat is still on to prevent freezing, or (2) drain and shut off the water system (except indoor sprinkler systems).
If Pipes Freeze
1. Make sure you and your family knows how to shut off the water, in case pipes burst. Stopping the water flow minimize the damage to your home. Call a plumber and contact your insurance agent.
2. Never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch.
3. Always be careful of the potential for electric shock in and around standing water.
If you lose electrical service during the winter, follow these tips:
1. Call your utility first to determine area repair schedules. Turn off or unplug lights and appliances to prevent a circuit overload when service is restored. Leave one light on to indicate power has been restored.
2. To help prevent freezing pipes, turn on faucets slightly. Running water will not freeze as quickly.
3. Protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning:
DO NOT operate generators indoors; the motor emits deadly carbon monoxide gas.
DO NOT use charcoal to cook indoors. It, too, can cause a buildup of carbon monoxide gas.
DO NOT use your gas oven to heat your home -- prolonged use of an open oven in a closed house can create carbon monoxide gas. Make sure fuel space heaters are used with proper ventilation.
4. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to help reduce food spoilage.
Wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and heaters can add a cozy glow, but make sure you are using them safely.
1. Always keep a screen around an open flame.
2. Never use gasoline to start your fireplace.
3. Never burn charcoal indoors.
4. Do not close the damper when ashes are hot.
5. When using alternative heat sources such as a fireplace, woodstove, etc. always make sure you have proper ventilation. Keep curtains, towels and potholders away from hot surfaces.
6. Have your chimney checked before the season for creosote buildup -- and then clean it.
7. Have a fire extinguisher and smoke detectors ... and make sure they work! Establish a well-planned escape route with the entire family.Hey, kids! Winter can be a fun-filled time when enjoying outdoor activities such as skiing, skating and sledding. However, before going out, follow these safety tips:
1. The best way to stay safe in a snowstorm is to stay inside. Long periods of exposure to severe cold increase the risk of frostbite or hypothermia.
2. If you go out to play after the storm, dress in many layers of clothing and wear a hat and mittens. Many layers of thin clothing are warmer than a single layer of thick clothing. One of the best ways to stay warm is to wear a hat; most body heat is lost through the top of the head.
3. Come inside often for warm-up breaks.
4. If you start to shiver a lot or get very tired, or if your nose, fingers, toes or earlobes start to feel numb of turn very pale, come inside right away and tell an adult. These are signs of hypothermia and frostbite. If you experience these symptoms, you will need immediate attention to prevent further risk.Remember these tips when you go out to play and listen to your parents when they tell you it's time to come in :)
Winter is a time we should pay close attention to the safety of our pets. Here are some safety tips to follow:
1. Ingesting anti-freeze can be fatal for your dog or cat. It has a sweet taste and even a tiny amount can cause severe kidney damage and even death. If you spill some, soak it up immediately. (Clay kitty litter works well. Discard the litter once the anti-freeze has been absorbed.)
2. Pets that live outdoors should be fed a bit more in the winter because they need the extra calories to stay warm. They also should have fresh water put out a couple of times a day, or consider a special bowl that prevents the water from freezing.
3. If your pet goes outdoors, be aware of the temperature. Pets can get frostbite very easily on the ears, tail and paws.
4. When walking your dog, check the paws to make sure that ice is not building up between the toes and that salt from the roads is not irritating the skin.
5. If your dog is a swimmer, keep it on a leash around open water or unstable ice. Hypothermia can set in quickly and the dog may be unable to get out of the water.
6. Before you start your car, you should honk the horn to make sure that a cat has not decided to nap in a warm spot under the hood of the vehicle.
7. If decorating for the holidays, keep ornaments out of the reach of your pets. Remember that poinsettias, holly, mistletoe and other plants can be toxic if ingested.
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Coldwell Banker Residential
Babylon, NY 11702
Direct: (631) 274-1937
Cell: (631) 703-0201
Email: Jackie.Connelly-Fornuff@cbmoves.com
Website: www.longislandrealestatelady.com
Blog: http://jackieconnellyfornuff.com
3 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 22 2009 07:56AM
Property Tax Time....
It's that time of year again...tax bills have been mailed and many homeowners elect to pay their taxes in full by year end and deduct them. There may be an indication of assessed and fair market value on th bill.....and then the magic number the homeowners pay the taxing authority .
Whether it is an assessment, an appraisal gotten for insurance...for a home equity loan....the "fair market" value that the taxing authority uses... is a means to an end. The end result is that government and the services that are funded by taxes need a source from which money is collected. The "value" of the house is not whatever number is used on the bill....and in some areas there is no reliable/recognizable correlation between any value and the sale price of a home. In many areas throughout Wisconsin....no homes have sold for the "assessed value"....there was a time when boasting a home was priced "below assessed value" caught the eye of bargain buyers everywhere...that is no longer eye catching...it is the norm, not the unusual.
Sellers....please don't "bank" on what the tax man says for a price....enlist the services of a qualified real estate agent...who can show you actual sold values. It won't matter what the tax man says...or want you believe the house is worth. The reality is that the homes on the market which may include short sales sold below the market, bank owned and foreclosure properties are the new comparables for sold homes in your area. Homes that fall into these categories need not be in terrible condition....that is what some homeowners believe. It just means that for whatever reason, the sellers financial condition did not allow them to keep the house.
If a sale is in your future...it is a wonderful time to "move up"....if you want a price you believe you have to have based upon what you paid, the improvements you made....what the tax man says....this is not the time...and the crystal ball says....it will not be, for quite a while....Real Estate is local....turn off the media and consult a knowledgable local realtor....you want the truth...you deserve nothing less. Know that realtors work on commission...if you are given a lower price than you expected or desired...and the realtor has shown you comparables that meet the suggested list price, no realtor wants to make less money....they are being ethical and honest. The choice to sell at a price the market dictates...that a buyer's appraiser will agree to....and a lender will finance, are up to the market...the market always decides.
9 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 22 2009 07:24AM 
There are the half full and half empty folks in the world.....and those who SHIFT and those who complain about moving....I thought this would be a gret time to look at the past year and think about the funniest thing that h
appened in your business in the last year.... I will relate one of our "adventures" and please comment with yours...
One of our sellers was going through a difficult time with family health issues and had to be away from home for long stretches at a time. We called her on her cell phone to see if there was anything we could do for her. She had a dog and 2 cats and asked if we would take the dog out and feed the animals since it was difficult for her to do that and take care of the pressing personal issues as well.
No problem....Or so we thought......The dog is a standard poodle with a crush on my husband.....David can throw the soggy dog toy farther than anyone else....and it is a great source of exercise, play and enjoyment for them both...over and over and over..... Jack...the Cat is semi-sociable and once he is comfortable with you...will come out and pay his respects.....they weren't the problem. The other cat.. named Panda.....a rather large black and white feline was some breed that had been raised to defend jewelry cases in the orient...how this fierce feline remembered that heritage....who knows.....
I grabbed a bag of our frozen homade french onion soup....dropped David at the house to begin the feeding session and went to the grocery store to get round steak for swiss steak and the rest of the People dinner ingredients.....The grocery store is just a few short blocks from the sellers home.
My husband LOVES animals....and is good with them....he is also not a wuss.....Howvever...a minute into my shopping trip, my cell phone rings....my husband's frantic voice: "Panda won't let me in the house !"
Now David....you are six feet tall...last I looked, you could probably over power the cat..."No, no ...you won't believe it.....I can't even get in the house."
Oh Gee...A Wuss and a Puss I am thinking...finished the shopping, jumped in the car to find David at the front window and the cat hissing, spitting and looking as though flying through it may be an option....Now....I have to get in the house....start the dinner and let the dog out....Soooo...David stays at the front window making faces at the cat who is angerly and fiercely "attwacking" him through the window....I let the dog out quickly and get dinner started...We trade places so he can "exercise" the dog with the toy....Panda continues her hissing/spitting/clawing ritual....we slip the dog back in the house....and we are on our way.....
Real Estate lesson learned as well...it's not how big you are....it's how you growl that gets results !
And your funniest business episode this year was.......
9 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 20 2009 08:26AMThe Lampones have a family owned jewelry store with fiercely loyal clientele....and no wonder...they offer the kind of service you appreciate...the kind that says "nothing is too much trouble" ! Whether you are looking for a new setting for that stone.....an addition to the Mother's or Grandmother's....ring, bracelet, pin....this is the Year of the Bling to celebrate special memories of.....Custom, Traditional....from your ears to your toes.....silver, fold, platinum....precious...semi-precious...you name it, they have it....OR will get it for you....You deserve the service, they reward you over and over with the quality of their jewelry and the service that keep you as a customer. You won't find your jewelry being sent anywhere for design, engraving....re-sizing...they do it all themselves with the care for the heirloom, new purchase, special sparkle that you will treasure for a lifetime.
Meet Greg, Cass and John Lampone...
You;ll find Lampone Jewelers just a squidge south of Edgerton on Highway 100 in Hales Corners.
What a wonderful way to celebrate the season…with a sparkle, a tick-tock, a gleam, a glitter….mmmm….choose jewelry from Lampone Jewelers
5393 South 108th Street
Hales Corners, Wisconsin
(414) 529-3515
2 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 20 2009 07:43AMValuable tips for everyone with a fireplace....be warm...be safe !!
Winter is the time of year for most of us that we like to light the fire in the fireplace, curl up with a good book, a glass of wine and forget the bitter cold just outside our walls.
While fireplaces are a beautiful focal point, conversation piece and delight in the winter there are many preventative maintenance tips you should adhere to:
- Your chimney should be swept annually by a qualified professional. A qualified Chimney Sweep can be sure that your chimney is free of debris and in good working order
- The liner of your chimney needs to be free of cracks. The liners allow for clear and smooth passage for smoke to rise out and out of your home and the liner prevents gas and fire flames from entering your home potentially cause illness or fire.
- Ensure that your flue is functioning properly.
- Be sure the area around your hearth is clear of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
- Always use a screen to keep sparks from flying out into the room.
- If you have glass doors keep them open while burning a fire.
- Stack firewood at least 30 feet from your home.
- Remove any branches that may be hanging over your vent, chimney and flue.
- Keep your roof clear of pine needles, leaves and other debris.
- Be sure to have smoke detectors installed on every level of your home. Inspect them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
Go ahead - grab a blanket and light the fire - just be smart and safe!
Life in Wake Forest NC is cozy, warm and SAFE during winter!
Whether you are buying or selling Real Estate in Wake Forest NC it just makes sense to use a Realtor® that knows the area! I live here, work here and play here - I call Wake Forest NC home! For more information regarding Wake Forest NC be sure to visit my websites:
- Leesa Finley - Homes for Sale in Wake Forest NC, Wake Forest NC schools, restaurants, shops, entertainment and MORE....
- Circa Properties - My company website with information for the entire Raleigh NC area including Cary, Apex, Garner, Franklinton, Youngsville, Holly Springs and MORE....
6 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 17 2009 07:28AM Once again...too often again...we hear the stories of realtor who listed the house for the price that the seller determined....adding the mortgage, the Home Equity loan, the credit card debt, the commission, taxes, and "start over money" and came up with a list price that the seller would find acceptable.
Months later...the overpriced home is on the market...the seller(s) can't afford the mortgage...they borrow payments from relatives...add to their credit card debt...continue to deny the reality that the equity that they imagined, wished for...."needed" is not there...not today...not for a long time...and not to the degree that they "need" to pay all the indebtedness that continues to accumulate. The hole gets deeper and the realtor allows it...she/he has a listing after all. Maybe that will attract other buyers...maybe she/he will list other homes in the neighborhood....maybe she/he will be "Listing agent of the month" in his/her office, brokerage.
Maybe....the realtor should read the code of ethics....maybe the realtor should be honest and explain how prices are really determined for the sale of home....not from the wish list of the distressed seller but from actual sales in the market.
Sometime the realtor pretends that in the end, they know it will be a "short sale".....the listing says things in the private remarks to realtors like "probable short sale"...Probable ? Probably if the buyer doesn't pay cash and doesn't want an appraisal ?
Some day.....some seller somewhere will realize that the realtor should have walked away if he/she insisted on a price that would never happen for hundreds or tens of thousands more than the market commands. Some day....a seller will take legal action against that agent and the brokerage unfortunate enough to have the agent under their name...roof....reputation.
If this situation sounds like someone you know...a neighbor, friend, co-worker, who has had their home on the market for months....in some cases we have heard over a year....a short sale may be the answer...If you don't ask...you won't know....Save a homeowner or yourself from foreclosure...Call a realtor with successful short sale experience and learn the alternatives available for your situation. The stress, credit,...new life you could start could be your own.
6 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 17 2009 07:05AM
"Err" on the side of aggression
....Wow that sounds powerful doesn't it .....? Powerful it is...and in a positive way...Holidays are a difficult time for people for lots of reasons. The first year without a loved one....parent, spouse, sibling....close friend. Unemployment or under employment that means a compromise traditional celebrations.
Illness...newly discovered, chronic, terminal....you know someone who is experiencing a health challenge.
Relationships Finances Health
It doesn't matter what he nature of the situation is....if you proclaim a relationship with these people...don't shy away from contacting them...it could be an e-mail to let them know you are thinking about them...how about a few of the extra cookies you just made...a small pointsettia....an ornament you made...a few minutes for a hospital visit, a stop at the viewing at the funeral home...a few minutes of your time will be part of a lasting memory for the person who needs it most. Don't just SAY you are a friend...just be one.
It's hard to know what to say...what to do or not do....words don't come easily....it's OK to let tears fall,...you are human after all...and compassion is a gift you feel...you let be known....the very worst thing to do is nothing. There is the "obligatory"...."I'll be thinking of you....let me know if you need anything," likely the comment just after an injury, illness, death, divorce. People don't call you and say...I just wanted a touch, a knowing that you cared....it's a gift you can give, that costs you nothing and the reward to the recipient and yourself is immeasurable....just do it.
14 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 15 2009 08:17AM
Once upon a time in the ever fascinating...always changing...world of real estate....there was an agent with a buyer agency contract who had a buyer looking for condos. The buyer was most interested in a particular complex which suited his needs for amenities and location. His instruction to his agent was to show him ALL the units that fit his criteria.
The buyer believed that the agent had done that....and bought a condominium....closed and one always hopes, lives happily ever after...oh not. The buyer learned after closing that a unit that was more updated and in the complex of his choice was a short sale that he was not shown...no listing sent...no heads up for the many open houses held.
Whoops ! The buyer is now suing both the brokerage and the agent ....so you "don't want to show a short sale".....? You want higher commission NOW.....maybe what you want and what the buyer wants are not quite the same....and the consequences can be drastic, dramatic and devastating....stay tuned we will have this on our legal radar screen and updates furnished as they become available.
20 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 14 2009 06:45AM
Cosmo (Blonds DO have more fun) and Magic....(likely to disappear any minute....) have their own holiday to celebrate and insisted on having individual portraits done for the occasion....To all our AR pet owners...virtual, real....to all their four footed feline friends everywhere...MERRY MERRY CAT-MAS !!!!
6 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 13 2009 10:55AMAgreed....waiting till spring...when there is toooo much will get you not as much....be there...stay there....shine in your market and reap the benefits !
Listing Your Home In The Winter. It's A GOOD Thing!
Did I confuse you?Every homeowner thinks the Spring is the best time to put your house up for sale. Yes, the weather is nicer, the grass is greener, but is it really?
The spring brings out the buyers but there are a lot more "just lookers" in the springtime.
A serious buyer will be out in the wintertime looking for a new home. A "just looker" will not bother to look in the winter. They have better things to do like stay home in front of a nice, roaring fire.
For you, the seller, the winter is perfect because you will have a lot less homes competing with yours. That is key. In the Lindenhurst and Babylon area I am hearing chatter about multiple offers. This is partly due to the first-time home buyers tax credit that a lot of qualified buyers are taking advantage of. All buyers have to be in contract by April 30th, 2010.
The government said this will be the last extension for the tax credit.
So, you should take advantage of it as well. If you are ready to sell, list your home come January because the qualified buyers are out there.
List your home with me, and I will pay for a Home Warranty Protection Plan for your home. This also helps to sell your home faster. You will be protected while you have your home on the market and it protects the buyer for one year while in their new home. It's a great negotiating tool as well.
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Coldwell Banker Residential
Babylon, NY 11702
Direct: (631) 274-1937
Cell: (631) 703-0201
Email: Jackie.Connelly-Fornuff@cbmoves.com
Website: www.longislandrealestatelady.com
Blog: http://jackieconnellyfornuff.com
4 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 11 2009 06:42AM We toured a short sale listing the other day. Our tour guide was Mr. Seller....eyes downcast, walked with a shuffle, posture slumping....he felt "beat up" financially. He had tried every way he knew how....he had borrowed money from his children....skimped on groceries....put off winterizing his car...
done all he thought he could to save money...and make ends meet...it would never be enough to replace the two incomes required to keep the household running. The marriage was irretrievably broken....and he was having great difficulty coming to the reality that also meant breaking up the household...downsizing and moving on to a place that was affordable.ay
Winter days in Wisconsin can be quite overcast....not sooo much sunshine and many showings are after 5 when it is already dark. We entered the den and turned on the lights and the light became only slightly brighter. I looked up at the row of track lighting to see that all of the bulbs except one had been removed...."to save electricity " he confessed.
We had to tell him...they had to be replaced....we would buy them if he didn't have enough...buyers have to be able to see what they are buying...the light must go....and so must the short sale.
Being frugile can be a good thing....living within your means...a great thing...postponing luxuries until you can afford them...a wonderfully rewarding thing....Going without necessities...borrowing from relatives....and truly living "in the dark" is not the way to a brighter future...and there is one...Call us...no matter where in the country you are, we will find you qualified professional assistance to determine your options. Don't stay in the dark...let the bright light of the future shine through the professionals who are ready, willing, and able to assist you.
9 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 10 2009 06:01AM
This home has room to roam....for your whole family...an eat in kitchen...large living room, family room with built in bookcases...four bedrooms, 2 full baths....a great wooded backyard ....just steps from the Pewaukee Library at
This short sale will have a short time on the market...large back yard....well maintained and super price at just $199,777....you won't find a better home in the area ! Call the Hansons....arrange a private tour and bring your checkbook !
0 comments • Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Res.\Comm\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro • December 09 2009 08:34AMContent © 2009 'Frequent Contributors'. Design © 2009 ActiveRain Corp.
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