NEW YEARS 2015

With the New Year almost upon us I want to take this opportunity to wish you the very best for the coming year. 

I'm looking forward to sleeping in late and kicking back in the easy chair after lunch to enjoy a football game.  

Of course I'll be sleeping in late because, just like you, I'll start off the New Year at exactly midnight on New Year's Eve by singing Auld Lang Syne.  We'll all be singing it and most of us won't have a clue what the title actually means! 

So, just for fun, I looked up the song online to find out its history.  I learned that Auld Lang Syne is a traditional Scottish song.  The version we know today was written (in part at least) by Robert Burns in the 1700s.  The title refers to “old long ago,” or the good old days, as we would say today. I don't want you to stumble around when it comes time to sing it, so I'm passing along to you the lyrics. Have a great New Year's Day and don't forget to break a resolution or two!

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,

We'll take a cup of kindness yet,

For auld lang syne. 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? 

And here's a hand, my trusty friend , and gie's a hand o' thine, 

We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet, 

For auld lang syne.

WHY SHOULD YOU SHOP LOCALLY?

Do you really care about building community? Want to promote economic growth and support neighborhood jobs? Then shop locally. Here’s why.

As a real estate agent, one of my biggest concerns is ensuring that local real estate values continue to appreciate as neighborhoods improve, businesses grow, and people are able to sustain safe, prosperous relationships with their neighbors. 

There are many factors which contribute to this, but one of the most important steady investments you can make in your community is by shopping local, independent businesses.

Whether it’s the holiday season pushing you to peruse a downtown district, or simply picking up a few things for your everyday needs, making the choice to shop locally and independently can contribute hugely. Consider these economic statistics gathered from a range of credible sources by “Independent We Stand” (www.independentwestand.org), a website dedicated to helping small, local, and independent businesses thrive:

• Small businesses accounted for 65% of all net new jobs over the past 17 years.

• Small businesses employ 77 million Americans.

• 89% of consumers agree that independent businesses contribute positively to local economies.

• Residential neighborhoods served by a successful independent business district gained, on average, 50% more in home values than their citywide markets.

• Independent retailers return more than three times as much money per dollar of sales than chain competitors. Independent restaurants return more than two times as much money per dollar of sales than national restaurant chains.

• If independent businesses regained their 1990 market shares, it would create 200,000 new small businesses, generate nearly $300 billion in revenues and employ more than 1.6 million American workers.

• If just half the U.S.  employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.

• For every square foot a local firm occupies, the local economy gains $179 vs. $105 for a chain store.

Shopping for the rock-bottom price might just short your community in ways you didn’t realize. Try and see your purchases locally as an investment in your home and your neighborhood. The next time you’re thinking of shopping, see where you can do business with people who live and work nearby. Shop local! Shop independent!

If you’re looking for referrals to some of the best small businesses in your area, including insurance agents, bankers, and contractors, please get in touch with a local real estate agent!

TIPS FOR THE PERFECT TURKEY DINNER

Love Christmas Day? Love to cook turkey? Wish your dinner could be like those you see on television cooking shows? 

Follow my tips and you can have a turkey dinner you will be proud to serve your family or your guests.

Whether it is a small family gathering or a huge party, cooking the perfect turkey for the holidays is every chef's goal.  Here are a few foolproof tips to cooking the perfect turkey!

Get The Right Equipment

The first step to the perfect bird is having all the right tools.  You will need:

Heavy duty roasting pan

Rack to keep turkey from resting on the bottom of the pan

Foil to cover turkey

Basting brush to brush turkey with melted butter

Baster for basting with pan juices

Fine sieve for straining the pan juices for gravy

Wire whisk for making lump-free gravy

Good quality carving set

Meat thermometer

Follow These Simple Instructions:

A small, fresh turkey that weighs less than 14 pounds will usually be a more delicious bird.  Large turkeys take longer to cook, which makes the outer meat overcook more easily.  If you're feeding a large group, buy two small turkeys rather than one big one.

Brine the turkey.  Salt draws out the blood, which cleanses the bird and breaks down the meat.  This step is especially important if you purchase a frozen turkey, as it greatly improves the flavor. The steps to brining a turkey can be found on Butterball's official website here: how to brine a turkey.

Cook the stuffing in the oven, not inside the turkey.  A stuffed bird takes longer to cook and dries out the meat.

When carving the turkey, remove the wings and legs first.  Remove each breast half from the bone in one piece, and thinly slice each half crosswise.  Cut each leg at the joint, and then carve the meat from the thigh and drumstick.

These simple tips can help you make the star of your holiday meal-the turkey-taste fantastic, and will have your friends and family talking about it for the rest of the year! 

STAGING YOUR HOME FOR THE RIGHT BUYER

Staging can be a great way to boost your home’s appeal to prospective buyers... but it can depend on the type of buyers in your market. Here’s one perspective on the right way to stage.

Staging a home to sell is the process of redecorating or cost-effectively renovating aspects of your home to present it in the best light. Much like cleaning up a home’s curb appeal to appeal to buyers, staging can position your house to sell faster and for a higher price than it might otherwise.

It’s important to remember with staging that you’re not decorating the home to appeal to you, the seller, but to the prospective buyer. When working with a stager, you have to learn to set aside your own aesthetic preferences and ask yourself how a buyer might see the home. Imagining who those buyers might be can help your stager make decisions about which direction to take the interior design.

So who are the buyers? Can you know? It depends on local market conditions and trends. A common scenario is when Baby Boomers looking to downsize or move into a condo living situation finally decide to put their family home on the market. Often these homes are in need of updating, and frequently the buyers for these homes are younger generations (i.e. Millennials) looking to upgrade from their first house or buy for the first time.

If home hunters in your market are younger, it makes a lot of sense to work with a stager who understands what younger buyers are looking for in a home. In fact, if you’re interviewing stagers, it can be an excellent idea to ask them specifically for examples of how they’ve staged homes to attract younger buyers. Furniture, window treatments, and design accents (or lack thereof) are all a big factor in how younger buyers judge a home. The last thing you want Millennial buyers to think is, “Oh, no, this looks just like my parents’ house.”

Make no mistake, there will be a lot of inventory on the real estate market from Baby Boomers over the next 15 years. If you want yours to stand out, try and look at your home with an objective eye and see if it looks outdated compared to newer construction on the market. Don’t stage for yourself... stage for the generation buying your home.

Ask your local real estate agent to help you find a stager who can help make your home as appealing as possible. I work with my clients to ensure their home sells for the best possible price.

IS A REAL CHRISTMAS TREE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Christmas is almost upon us and if you and your family haven't put up a tree yet, you may be wondering, should you get a real tree or an artificial one? If you want a real live tree, keep the following facts in mind before you buy that Christmas tree.

There is nothing quite like the smell of fresh pine filling your home during the holiday season, and a real Christmas tree can do that better than any candle or air freshener.  Having a real tree is a tradition for many families, but if you haven't had one before and are considering it, there are a few things you should know before you take it on.

Real Trees, Real Mess

A real tree can make a bit of a mess in your home-you will have to vacuum up the dropped needles regularly.  You will also have to keep fresh water in the tree stand and watch out for leaks or spills.  There can also be other natural surprises in a real tree such as insects and spiders!  While this is rarely a serious problem, it is something to keep in mind.

Repeated Cost Or One Time Cost?

Buying a artificial tree is something you can invest in one year and use for many years to come.  A real tree, on the other hand, will have to be replaced every year.  The cost of a real tree depends on where you live.  If you live in a hotter climate where naturally grown pine trees are scarce, you will pay a premium for trees that are imported from elsewhere-and they won't be as fresh!  If you live in a place where pine trees grow freely, the cost will be much less, and the tree will last longer since it will be fresh.

The Hunt For The Perfect Tree

If you just have to have that perfectly shaped Christmas tree, you will find it easier to use in a fake tree.  Still, hunting through a tree farm or forest for the elusive perfect natural tree is a lot of fun for many people, and if you aren't too set on perfection you will probably find something pretty close.  Just be sure the search is something you will enjoy.

A real Christmas tree adds a certain ambience and holiday spirit to any home, but it isn't right for everyone.  Consider the benefits as well as the possible problems with a real tree before you make a final decision on how to get your home ready for the holidays. 

PRESERVING OLD TREES MEANS PRESERVING HOME VALUE

Do you have an old tree on your property that you love? You might want to make sure you do everything possible to preserve that tree... for the right buyer, old growth trees can add tremendous value to your property.

Landscaping plays a major part in your home’s curb appeal. When preparing a home for sale, it’s common practice to spruce up lawns by planting fresh flowers, bushes, weeding, trimming back trees, and staying on top of the overall condition of the lawn.

But there is one major contributor to your property’s value which you can’t just drop in when you’re getting ready to sell: old growth trees. It turns out that the number and quality of established, mature trees on your property can have a direct impact on the value of your home.

In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “Leafy Luxury: Mansions With a Tree Premium” (http://online.wsj.com/articles/leafy-luxury-mansions-with-a-tree-premium-1417015300), reporter Amy Gamerman took a look at several real-life examples of the role stately trees have played in the purchase and pricing of homes. (While many of the homes are luxury estates, it stands to reason that an old, healthy tree on any property can be a powerful differentiating factor.)

A couple of interesting facts from the article:

“According to Wes Kocher of the International Society of Arboriculture ... homes with mature trees and well-landscaped yards can sell for as much as 20% over homes without those features.”

“A 2010 study by the U.S. Forest Service conducted in Portland, Ore., found that the presence of a single “street tree” in front of the home added over $7,000 to its sale price. The street-tree effect spilled over to neighboring houses, increasing property values as well as helping the homes sell faster.”

If you think about it, it makes sense. It can take a generation or two to establish magnificent trees, and it’s not the sort of thing you can easily have transplanted (though people have paid a premium to try this).

If you have old trees on your property, this article might reframe how you think about them in terms of the value of your home. Are they healthy? Is there anything you might need to do to protect your “tree equity”?

If you'd like to see some homes on the market with serious tree equity, get in touch with a REALTOR® today.

DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS THE GREEN LIVING WAY

Christmas is probably one of the easiest times of the year to use environmentally friendly decorating ideas, and given the more traditional decorating trends for the season and the ever increasing need for all of us to contribute to making the planet a greener place, it's never been easier.  

Here a few great ways to decorate your home for the holidays and be greener at the same time!

Green Tree Ideas

Replace your old Christmas lights with new LED lights.  They use less electricity and last longer than the older ones.

If you put up a real tree for the holidays consider using a live tree that you can plant after the holidays, or be sure you recycle your tree after the season is over.

Only purchase your real tree from a Christmas tree farm or retailer who purchases from farms.  Never cut down a tree in a conservation area or in a public park.

Consider using an artificial tree; be sure that it is recyclable and not made using any harmful materials or chemicals.

Use natural products to decorate your tree.  Berries, popcorn, and other food items that don't perish quickly are a great addition to any tree.

Green Home Décor Ideas

Use real garland and other decorations from nature.  Most garden centers are great places to get environmentally friendly decorations for the Christmas season.

Be sure that you purchase decorations and other holiday items that are durable and reusable year after year.  If you want holiday tableware avoid the paper kind, and choose products that are made locally using environmentally friendly products.

If you put lights on the exterior of your home you may want to reduce the number of hours you turn them on each day, and only have them on when someone is home.

For wrapping and gift giving, use papers and materials that are reusable and recyclable.

These are just a few ideas that you can use to make your Christmas more green while still keeping the holiday spirit alive!  This is a great time of year to show our love for our planet and our fellow man, and keeping the holidays environmentally friendly is a great way to do that.

CHRISTMAS DECORATING IDEAS

Along with the Christmas festivities comes the desire to decorate your home with twinkling lights, wreaths, trees and even yard ornaments featuring the theme of the holidays.  If you want to make your next Christmas decorating venture a real holiday treat, consider the following ideas.

Homemade Wreath Decorations

Create your own lighted wreath by taking a short strand of mini-lights and wrapping them around a plain wreath.  You can use either multi-color or clear lights, and this approach can easily be used for both indoor wreaths and garland decorations.

Creating A Modern Centerpiece With Classic Holiday Style

Use a clear glass vase or bowl as a centerpiece and fill it with round glass ornaments.  For Christmas, the combination of silver and gold or red and green will be ideal.  When paired with the beauty of a simplistic glass holder, the ornaments will add a very modern twist to a very traditional color combination.

Holiday Decorating Scents

A nice bowl of fresh fruit, including oranges, tangerines and apples will give a nice welcoming holiday scent to your home.  For many, the smell of fresh fruit is reminiscent of the December season as fruit baskets are common gifts that are exchanged during Christmas.  You can place the bowl on your dining room table or in the family room, both of which will offer guests the ability to appreciate your style.

Display Your Christmas Cards

Take some felt or fabric and create a hanging decorative piece to show off all of the Christmas cards you receive.  You can use a small safety pin to attach the cards to the fabric, so that the beauty of the front of the card is seen.  This can be hung on a wall, or support post or beam or the railing leading up your stairs.

Turn Out The Lights

Turn out your normal overhead lighting each night, light up the tree and burn candles throughout the house for a peaceful and relaxing setting.  Watch your favorite Christmas movie, sing carols and just share good times together.

HANDY FLOOR PLANNING TOOLS FOR YOUR HOME

Interested in a home, but not 100% sure the floor plan will work with your furniture? Try using these free floor planning tools to help you decide.

When marketing a listing, lots and lots of photographs help give buyers an idea of what the home is like before they tour the property. Professional photos online increase the amount of qualified interest in a home. But one often overlooked piece of information you can provide to help buyers is an accurate floor plan.

Up-to-date, detailed floor plans give buyers context for all those photos presented with your listing. While photos tell buyers how the rooms look, the floor plan can help them understand a bit more about the flow of the home, the relative location of the home’s amenities, and (most importantly) give them an idea if their furniture will fit. If a buyer has an heirloom piece of furniture they’re unwilling to part with, a floor plan can save everyone involved a lot of time and energy. There’s no sense in going down the path of offer and counteroffer if the floor plan turns out to be a deal breaker.

If you don’t have a current floor plan of your home, there are a couple of handy resources online to help you create one. (If you’re buying a home, these tools can also help you visualize how you might like to arrange the furniture in a room once you’ve moved in.) Check out both of these tools online and see which one you like to use the best:

FloorPlanner.com: With Floor planner you can recreate your home, garden or office in just a few clicks and furnish your plans with our huge library of objects. (http://www.floorplanner.com/)

RoomSketcher.com: Anyone can create state-of-the-art 3D visualizations of homes and properties with RoomSketcher. (http://www.roomsketcher.com/)

Regardless of the tool you use, consider creating a floor plan to give your listing an information advantage over others in the market. Going the extra mile to make it convenient for prospective buyers to get a clear picture of your house is both helpful and it inspires trust.

Have questions about floor plans? Curious which aspects of your home’s floor plan are the most marketable? 

Contact me today: valeriemcconville@realtyexecutives.com