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Posts tagged summer

Before the Weather Changes

Aug20
2009
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

sunshine

Though the sun still shines for extra hours and the heat still soaks into our tanned skins, August is a transition month that forces us to remember summer doesn’t last forever. Before your turn on the heat and search for last year’s Halloween decorations, here are 10 final green living tips for an ideal summer season.

  1. The air outside is warm and breezy. Because August tends to be a relatively dry month in many areas, use this opportunity to give your dryer a break while line drying your clothes outside. No matter how silly you think it looks, it saves an immense amount of energy, and your clothes smell fresh and clean! If you’re selling your home, take them down before snapping photographs of the yard.
  2. During the sun’s peak afternoon hours, it’s a smart idea to close the blinds and not allow the A/C to escape. However, the sun begins to head downward around 5 p.m., and it stays bright out until well past 8! During these hours, open your shades and use only natural light for as long as you can.
  3. Any night that provides a temperature in the 70s or lower, open your bedroom windows. Hopefully you don’t have your air conditioner set any lower than 70, and the air won’t kick on. Reclose the windows in the morning and enjoy the unstuffy air!
  4. As we’ve stressed in past articles, ceiling fans use hardly any energy. Even so, they can significantly cool a room and keep the air circulated. To save energy usage, turn up the A/C temperature setting, or open the doors, and allow the ceiling fan to do its job. If you haven’t installed fans yet, consider it. They help lower the risen heat in the winter too.
  5. Come spring, you probably spent hours outside trying to trim, wash or stain your outdoor oasis. Now that summer’s end is in sight, spend as much time as you can on your patio, deck or lanai. Months from now, you’ll look back and feel satisfied about how much use it received.
  6. While the air is sticky and hot, replace some of your hot showers with a cool shower! For the utmost comfort and energy savings, close the air-conditioning vent in the bathroom before taking a shower. You’ll save hot water, you’ll help cool the rest of your rooms, and you’ll feel even more refreshed!
  7. If you’re area is receiving less rainfall this month, use the time that you’re not mowing the lawn to trim those stray tree branches and bushes. Though lush, green lawns are visually appealing, it’s natural for lawns to lose some of that vibrancy in the dryer months.
  8. Start planning now for the months ahead. If you have a pool in a cold area, decide when you will empty the water. If it’s warm year-round, decide when you’ll need a new pump, a new auto-cleaner or new siding. If you’re trying to sell the home, make sure you’re constantly prepared.
  9. Work on decluttering all year, including now. When transitioning from one season to another, it’s easy for items to pile up. With each sweater or jacket you take out of storage, replace it with a pair of shorts or sandals. Before you dig your rake out of the shed, prepare you lawn mower for hibernation.
  10. With so many farmers’ markets available at this time of year, cook meals with locally grown and bought foods. If you’re selling your home, use these fresh ingredients in simple appetizers that you can offer at an open house. Then, explain to your potential buyers that they came from a local source. Just one more perk to add to your home’s list!
Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged Green Living, hot weather, weather
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Summer Events: Orlando/Jacksonville

Aug04
2009
Leave a Comment Written by Carrie

palm

Sunny days and mild nights make summers in Orlando and Jacksonville most enjoyable. With temperatures reaching the low 90s in the afternoon and descending into the low 70s by the early evening, you will be able to participate in tons of Central Florida events all day and night. Here are a few stand-out activities we think you might enjoy:

• SUMMER EVENTS near the Atlantic Coast of Florida attract many visitors from around the globe. Here are some of the best events taking place this season:

  • Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot
    This annual event at Epcot, the worldly Disney theme park, invites many different tribute bands to come out to the park each summer to recreate the top hits of legendary music icons. The series runs through August 9, with tributes to Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, The Supremes, U2 and Tom Petty taking place throughout the month of July and into the first week of August. Shows are in the evening at 5:45, 7:00 and 8:15. Special showtimes on July 4 include 5:15, 6:30, 7:15 and 9:00. For more info, visit DisneyWorld.Disney.Go.com.
  • Anime Festival Orlando
    Florida’s favorite anime convention is at the Wyndham Orlando Resort from July 30 to August 2. As three-day online registration ended June 30, single day registration is still available at the door each of the three days. There will be lots of music/video/gameshow-related events, several special guest panelists and tons of merch booths at the convention. For more info, visit AnimeFestivalOrlando.com.
  • North Florida Fishing with Captain Ron Schurr
    Have you ever sat on a row boat for hours just waiting for one little nip at your fishing pole? Let a Jacksonville native (and fishing expert) help you catch a heaping helping of fish. Captain Ron Schurr offers fishing tours along the Intracoastal Waterway, where it is very likely you will catch a 40-pound Redfish, some speckled trout or even flounder. For more info, visit FishingNorthFlorida.com or call Captain Ron at 904-707-8328/904-346-3868.

• ORLANDO SPORTING EVENTS take a break for most of the summer, as basketball ends in the spring and football doesn’t start up until early August.

  • If you are looking to see something really amusing, you should definitely check out the 17th Annual Celebrity Mascot Games! This is the only event of its kind—in the world—where 30 mascots from various professional and college sports teams come to Central Florida to raise money for a non-profit organization called New Hope for Kids. It all starts the weekend of July 16 at Stetson University. The event then moves to the Amway Arena on Saturday and Sunday. Since its inception in 1992, the Mascot Games has raised over $250,000 for children under the age of 18 who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses. For more info, visit MascotGames.org.
  • The NFL Jacksonville Jaguars begin Training Camp on August 3 at the practice fields near Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Twenty practices are open to the public through August 13 with FREE ADMISSION. Brand-new seating allows for 1400 fans to get a much closer view of the players during the practices. For more info, visit Jaguars.com or call the training camp hotline at 904-633-6525.

• CONCERTS all across Central Florida vary from rock to pop to heavy metal. Here are a few concerts worth scoping out:

  • L.F.O., July 24, House of Blues Orlando
  • Tori Amos, July 28, Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in Orlando
  • Kenny Chesney, August 7, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
  • Judas Priest and Whitensake, August 15, St. Augustine Amphitheatre

For other acts, as well as scheduling and ticket info, visit Ticketmaster.com.

Posted in Buying Tips - Tagged florida, jacksonville, orlando, summer events
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Summer Events: Tampa

Jul21
2009
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

tampa

Whether you’re touching up your summer tan during the day or staying cool once the sun goes down, the Tampa area offers a variety of summer events to keep your schedule busy and fun! While some events only occur on certain weekends, many events last all summer long to fit any agenda. Check out the list and see which you’ll want to attend before summer ends!

 

Specialty Events & Festivals

 

On July 29, enjoy a free night of music and entertainment at Hyde Park Village, starting at 6 p.m. Hyde Park Jazz provides live jazz performances for you to enjoy while lounging in the park underneath a bright sunset or a blanket of stars. Another Hyde Park Jazz night is provided on Aug. 26.

 

Every Saturday year-round, Centennial Park in Ybor City supplies a Farmer’s Market full of fresh produce and fun! Summer hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and you can go home with anything from fresh bread, eggs, sauces and herbs, to unique gifts, photography, jewelry and more! Even pet treats are available for your welcomed pets.

 

During the month of August, participate in WaZoo at Lowry Park Zoo. While helping support zoo animals, you can enjoy a wide variety of brew samples, a serene wine garden, live entertainment, gourmet food and more!

 

Through Aug. 2, head to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center to view a production of Respect: A Musical Journey of Women. From Aug. 6 to Aug. 23, enjoy a contemporary performance called Pericles: A New Rock Musical. For more upcoming shows, click here.

 

Through Aug. 17, head to Busch Gardens late at night! Summer Nights at Busch Gardens allow you more time to explore the exotic tigers and orangutans up-close, while feeling right at home with DJ-hosted music, stilt walkers, and food and drink vendors!

 

Through Sept. 7, head the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Tampa for Animation. Learn more than you’ve ever known about the process of animation by surrounding yourself with larger-than-life graphics of famous cartoon characters from Cartoon Network. View all of the steps it takes to make these characters come to life in your favorite movies and shows.

 

On Sept. 12 and 13, test your spicy food skills by attending the ‘I Like it Hot!’ Food Festival & BBQ at Minnreg Hall in Largo. Here you can sample hundreds of hot sauces, spices and salsas, and you can even try your luck in hot pepper, hot sauce or hot salsa competitions!

 

The Taste of Clearwater is hosted on Sept. 15 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sample foods from over 50 of the most renowned restaurants, and drinks from five local beverage suppliers in Clearwater. A judge will announce this year’s top food and beverage choices so that you’ll know where to take visiting guests!

 

Concerts at the Ford Amphitheater

 

Rascal Flatts on July 25 at 8 p.m.

 

Kenny Chesney on Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

 

Dave Matthews Band on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m.

 

Incubus on Aug. 15 at 7 p.m.

 

Crue Fest 2 on Aug. 28 at 5 p.m., featuring Motley Crue, Godsmack and more

 

Sporting Events

 

Summer is baseball season! Head over to a Tampa Bay Rays game and cheer on your home team. For a schedule and ticket information, you can visit their website here.

 

Football season is right around the corner. Keep updated with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training sessions by visiting their website here.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

For more information on specialty events and festivals, visit www.tampavisitorinformation.com, or www.visittampabay.com

 

For a list of permanent, year-round attractions, you can go to http://tampa.creativeloafing.com.

Posted in Buying Tips, Regional Info - Tagged summer events, tampa summer
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12 Steps to Prepare for a Summer Open House

Jul25
2008
2 Comments Written by Shanna

red doorLonger daylight hours. Sun-filled afternoons. Green grass and blooming flowers. These are just a few of the reasons summer is a great time to host an open house, inviting potential buyers to walk through your home’s interior and see it at its finest.

In preparing for your open house, you’ll want to do everything you can to make the showing a success. Remember, putting in the prep work now can pay off with big rewards later. One visitor to your open house could be the buyer you’ve been waiting for!

Here are some tips for getting your home ready for a showing. Follow them, and you’re sure to wow potential buyers at your open house!

1. Decorate your entryway: First impressions are of first importance. Buyers will walk up to the entrance before you even meet them; you don’t want to scare them away! Sweep the front steps/walkway. Place potted flowers next to the door, or plant colorful flowers nearby. Other ideas worth considering: repaint/replace the doorway, add a new light fixture or shine/replace house numbers.

2. Manicure your lawn/landscaping: Before your scheduled open house, cut the grass, trim your hedges and pull weeds. Get all your outdoor foliage looking its best, so it can complement your home most beautifully.

3. Spruce up the exterior: Repainting or power-washing your home’s siding might be a smart investment, especially if it’s been a while since you last did so. Remember, the goal at your open house is to showcase your home when it’s looking its best. Buyers should only be thinking how nice it would be to live there, not how much work would be required to get it looking good.

4. Clean, clean, clean: Every nook and cranny of your home should be absolutely spotless. Take out the trash. Wash the windows. Vacuum, mop and sweep up floors. Wash down the walls. Organize your things.

5. Depersonalize: Take down personal mementos, including diplomas, photos and other knick-knacks. All of these items will detract from the buyer’s ability to see him- or herself living in your home. On the flip side, consider displaying photos of your home in other seasons: surrounding by fall foliage or covered in fluffy winter snow. Showcasing your home throughout the year helps the buyer see potential.

6. Make any necessary repairs: This should be obvious, but it is worth saying—if anything is broken, fix it before the open house! Have you been waiting to replace the broken window in the bathroom, or were you putting off cleaning or replacing the stained carpeting in the living areas? Now’s the time!

7. Prepare and print out fact sheets/brochures to give visitors: You can use your Buy Owner tools to do this, and you can customize them to your liking. Set these out in plain sight, on a coffee table or in the kitchen, and tell people to help themselves. This way, interested buyers have something to take with them when they leave.

ON THE DAY OF THE OPEN HOUSE:

10. Make sure the air-conditioning is on: You want guests to feel totally comfortable inside your home, and hot, humid weather is not the way to accomplish this. Make sure the air-conditioning is on, set to a cool temperature.

11. Bake something: Before guests arrive, put some baked good in the oven. As people are mingling through your home, they’ll smell the fresh aroma of home-baked goodies, which is sure to help them see your place as a cozy retreat. Extra bonus: offering snacks can help buyers feel comfortable enough to linger, allowing you to answer questions.

12. Be upbeat & cheerful: Greet every person who enters, and be available to talk, without seeming pushy. Be sure to provide contact info for buyers to contact you, and ask them for feedback, accepting whatever criticism is offered.

For more information on open houses, take a look at these Buy Owner Blog articles:

• Have You Held an Open House Yet?
• Preparing for a Showing
• Smile for the Camera: Staging Your Home
• 25 Extra Tricks for Drawing Buyers

If you enjoyed this post, consider subscribing to the Buy Owner Blog!

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged checklist, cleaning, open house, seasonal advice, selling Buy Owner, Selling Tips
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10 Simple Steps to Go Green This Summer

Jul17
2008
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

Go Green This SummerSummer is a great time for you and your home to go green! The days are longer, the weather’s warmer and it’s fun to enjoy the outdoors. So, this season, what steps can you take to make a positive impact on the world around you?

Try going green with these eco-friendly summer tips!

  1. Raise your temperature.

Changing your thermostat from 72 to 73 degrees is a simple change that will take you less than a minute. Yet its impact is big: you’ll save approximately 40 pounds of CO2 each month. Bonus? A lower A/C bill.

  1. Make the most of windows.

During the day, when the temperature’s warmer, keep windows tightly shut and draw the shades in order to keep your home naturally cooler. At night, if possible, turn off your air-conditioning, and let the cool outdoor air inside.

  1. Install more fans.

Exhaust fans can pull heat and humidity out of your living spaces, and ceiling fans can help reduce your need to crank up the A/C.

  1. Use a clothes line.

Taking advantage of summer sunshine means not needing to use your dryer. This can save you approximately 60 pounds of CO2 each month. Bonus? Air-drying actually helps clothes last longer.

  1. Plug nearby appliances and/or electronics into a power strip; turn it off when not in use.

Plugged-in appliances emit small amounts of heat, even when not in use. A simple flip of the switch on your power strip will help conserve energy.

  1. Avoid the oven.

Summer barbeques aren’t just fun; they are the greener alternative to cooking indoors. If you must cook inside, consider using a toaster oven or the microwave rather than the main oven.

  1. Control your fridge.

Did you know refrigerators can be responsible for as much as 20% of household energy use? Try setting your fridge temp to 37 degrees and your freezer to 3 degrees for maximized use/savings.

  1. Recycle!

Do you pay your bills online? If all Americans did, millions of trees and countless forests could be preserved. Look for ways to trim your trash, making your home greener in the process.

  1. Create organic compost.

Along the lines of recycling, creating your own organic compost out of scraps and waste is an excellent way to make the most of your garbage. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s website for more tips on what to do.

10. Grow your garden green.

There’s no doubt that outdoor plants add incredible appeal to homes. When choosing plants, you’ll want to look for long-living perennials rather than annuals. Think of it this way: every plant you keep is a plant you don’t have to replace later.

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged environment, green homes, Home Improvement, home ownership, investing, landscaping
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Hosting a Summer Yard Sale

Jul15
2008
1 Comment Written by Allegra

Garage Sale

Summer’s here. And that means it’s time to break out the swimsuits, the flip flops, the shorts, the tank top and….. the yard sale signs! Yard sale signs?

Yes, that’s right. It’s yard sale season, which is good news for anyone selling their home. Anyone who has ever had to pack up and move to a new home understands that you don’t know how much stuff you actually own until you have to compile it into boxes.

Call them what you will–yard sale, garage sale, rummage sale—but know that these events can help with the frustration of packing up and moving because you can sell everything (or almost) everything you don’t want to take with you and make a little extra cash while you’re at it!

By following these tips, you can have a successful yard sale–and a lighter moving day!

  1. Find out your community’s restrictions and laws for yard sales. Before you start planning, do a little research to find out if there are restrictions on sign postings, times, size of sale and things of that nature. You don’t want to have to shut down because some rule was overlooked.
  2. Go through your entire house and collect sale items. Look at everything you have and decide if you really need it in the next house. This can be tougher than it sounds. Don’t let sentimentality get in the way. It may have meant something to you at one point, but if the item has been sitting in the back of your closet since 2005 it’s time to let go. Also, you’ll regret not getting rid of something once you go to pack, and you realize you don’t actually care as much about the item as you thought you did.
  3. Once you’ve got all of your yard sale items collected, it’s time to set a date. Weekends are usually the best time of the week with Saturday being the most popular. Try not to schedule your yard sale around a holiday weekend or an important community event. Check the weather forecast too. Then, based on your community’s rules, decide on the times of your yard sale and how long it will run for. Will it be an all-weekend event or just one day?
  4. You’ll want to start your sale early. People expect yard sales to begin early-to-mid morning so make sure you’re on par with others. Seasoned shoppers sometimes even like to show up early to scope out the goods. If you don’t mind this, then don’t worry, but if you don’t want anyone around until the time you open, you can mention no early birds in your advertising.
  5. Once all the details are set, you’ll need to advertise. No one will come if they don’t know it exists right? You can list your sale online, take an ad out in the local paper and post the details on free community bulletin boards. Use word of mouth by telling friends and neighbors to tell their friends and neighbors. Of course, still use signs too. Don’t overdress them and make them out a durable material. You’ll want people to be able to read your sign clearly and you’ll also want the sign to last.
  6. Make sure the items you’re going to sell are in decent condition. If something is dirty, wrinkly or just plain gross, it’s going to stop people from buy it. To ensure this doesn’t happen, wash all clothes you plan to sell, put any dishware through the dishwasher, clean off dirt and grime from things that have been sitting in a corner collecting dust and just give everything a general once over. Just remember, appearance can be a deal-breaker.
  7. Set the stage for your sale. It will look more organized and inviting this way. Anything antique put out on front; it will attract people. Set like items together. For example, group all clothes together and organize them by age and/or gender. Baby clothes, teenage girl clothes, men’s clothes, etc. Other groups can include movies, books, toys, shoes or household items. Use plastic baggies to organize small items like jewelry. Remember to put a price on every item and price it fairly because you want it to sell. Again, don’t let sentimentality for an item cause you to price it higher than it ought to be priced.
  8. Make sure you have enough change on hand to give back to people. You don’t want to look silly if you can’t make change for someone who’s willing to buy something. Head to the bank before your sale and get about $50 worth of coins and small bills.
  9. Although you mean business, you also want your yard sale to be fun. The more fun people are having, the happier they’ll be. And the happier they are, the more willing they are to buy! Bring out a stereo and turn up the tunes. Put some balloons out front on your mailbox. Make small talk with customers who stop by.
  10. Start a “to donate” pile. Most likely, you will not sell everything you set out. In this case, every hour or so, take the items that don’t seem to gain any interest and put them in a separate pile. You can call the Salvation Army to pick up the items or donate the items to different charities.
  11. Don’t host a yard sale alone. Unfortunately there are people out their who like to pull yard-sale scams so it’s always a good idea to have someone run the sale with you to keep an eye on things and keep you company.

Remember, your trash is someone else’s treasure. So get out those flashy, yet readable, yard sale signs, make some extra moving money and get rid of extra baggage before the big move!

Posted in General Information, Tips and Ideas - Tagged home ownership, moving, yard sale
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City Spotlight: Phoenix

May12
2008
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

Phoenix

If you love the heat, you’ll love Phoenix, a city known for being hot, hot, hot! With an arid climate, this area offers the highest average annual maximum temperature of any major U.S. city.

Moonsoonal moisture from July to September raises the humidity to one-of-a-kind heights, and dry desert air provides welcome relief in the winter, attracting tourists nationwide. Hot weather isn’t all Phoenix is known for!

This city boasts a thriving golf industry and a wide array of cultural and recreational entertainment. Take in the opera or ballet at the Phoenix Symphony Hall or visit one of the many museums scattered throughout the area. Facilities like Pueblo Grande Museum and Heritage and Science Park offer visitors a chance to learn about the area’s heritage and history.

Home to several major-league sports teams and countless parks, Phoenix is a hot bed of recreational activity: enjoy Cardinals football, Diamondbacks baseball, and Suns basketball at local stadiums. There are dozens of well-maintained outdoor parks, and the extensive desert preserve system offers easy access to the beautiful Sonoran Desert, which extends down from California and features surprising biological diversity.

Indoors and out, Phoenix has attractions for everyone, making it a fantastic destination and home!

Head to Buyowner.com right now to check out hot Phoenix properties listed for sale by owner!

Posted in General Information, Tips and Ideas - Tagged arizona, arizona real estate, az, desert, phoenix, phoenix fsbo, real estate, selling for sale by owner
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