September 2008
Volume 11 Issue 9
Set the Stage
If you’re planning to sell your home, you may hear your REALTOR® suggest staging, which helps to set the scene in your home, making it more appealing to buyers through renovation or redecoration. It can help make your abode more appealing by allowing prospective buyers to envision themselves living there.
With proper staging, something as simple as painting your walls can go a long way towards selling your home faster and for the best possible price. According to a 2006 study by Accredited Staging Professionals, homes listed for sale without being staged lasted, on average, 163 days on the market. Staged homes averaged only 8 to 13 days on the market.
Staging costs vary depending the scope of the project. Some staging techniques, like rearranging furniture or simplifying the décor, are free. Other projects, such as installing granite countertops or new kitchen appliances, can be costly but might help boost your home’s appeal. Costs also differ depending on where you live. According to Barb Schwartz, author of “Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House For More Money,” the cost of staging a home on the West coast averages $2,800, compared to $1,800 in the Midwest and approximately $3,800 on the East coast.
This months joke:
Question: Where do spys go shopping?
Answer: The snoopermarket !
The average home can be a noisy place to live. Appliances, HVAC units, computers and electronic equipment don’t exactly make for a peaceful home environment. Fortunately, what makes a home quieter usually makes it more energy-efficient too.
Installing carpeting with padding absorbs sound and reduces impact noise. Another alternative is a floating floor with a sound-isolating mat underneath.
Windows with the Energy Star label outperform standard windows when it comes to dampening outside noise. They also cost more, but they can reduce home heating and cooling costs by as much as $125 to $340 annually, depending on the climate. Another option is installing interior storm windows to create another sound barrier.
Make sure windows are properly installed to prevent noise and other elements from entering your home. Use caulk or spray foam to seal air leaks in and around windows and doors.
It takes energy to make noise, so if any of your equipment, appliances or fans are noisy, they are also likely to be inefficient. Replace older appliances with newer models with the Energy Star seal. HVAC equipment, including blowers and ducts, should be sized properly. Right-sized units operate less frequently, more quietly and more efficiently.
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Play it Safe in School Zones
When the school year begins, parents typically outfit their children from
head to toe with new supplies and clothes. The return to school also
signals a need for renewed vigilance in traffic safety, especially around
school zones, school buses, and child care centers. Remember to watch out for
excited and distracted youngsters who may act before they think.
• Parents need to familiarize themselves with drop-off and pick-up practices.
School officials say that parents are often the biggest offenders
when it comes to ignoring parking, crosswalks, and safe arrival
and departure policies.
• Discuss the rules with your children and practice procedures
with them during school off hours. Familiarity and repetition
are the best guidelines for ensuring child safety.
• Know the speed laws and driving patterns in your area.
• Do not use a cell phone while in school zones. You need to be
ready to react to a child who behaves spontaneously.
• Review school zone safety rules with any teenagers in the
family if they drive themselves to high school.
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Have questions? email Risa at questions@risa.net or call her at 1-800-699-4901
List of all of the special days celebrated in September 2008
September 2008 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
September 2008 Calendar of Holidays, Observances and Events
New Holiday/Vacation Homes For Sale
Use This Moving Truck for FREE 
RE/MAX Town & Country Realty has a moving truck (pictured above) that our clients can use FREE for their local (inside the Metro-Orlando area) moves.
When Risa helps you buy or sell a home, just let her know that you would like to use the RE/MAX Moving Truck. Then Ray, the Moving Truck Coordinator, will coordinate your reservation to use the truck for a 24 hour period and outline all of the details for the truck’s use. Tell Risa early on in your transaction that you’d like to use the truck to make sure that you can reserve the best time for your move!
We’re glad to be able to offer this additional service to our clients. Risa Saltman wants to help make your moving process as smooth, enjoyable and efficient as possible.
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