March 2010

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Have a happy and safe holiday, and don't forget to wear your green on March 17. Add some green to your diet too on St. Patrick's Day with this recipe for Barbecue Green Beans. It's a zesty side dish that will spice up any lunch or dinner!

Did You Know?

March is National Caffeine Awareness Month. Approximately 80 percent of the world’s population consumes caffeine on a daily basis.

Ice Damming

According to the weather forecasters we have now broken the 100 year record for the most snow in February (29 1/2 inches). With the record snowfalls it is very important that you check your roof for ice damming. Ice damming typically occurs in valleys where two roof lines come together and heat radiating from the house causes the snow to melt and turn to ice as it flows toward the gutter. As it re-freezes the water backs up behind it and can find its way under the roof shingles and other areas that can lead to damage to walls and ceilings inside the house, and in some cases, even tear off gutters. It is important to clear as much snow as possible in areas prone to freezing to avoid build-up, but if it does occur, very, very carefully chip away what ice you can in order to allow the run off to exit the roof.

No More Snow Please

"Mother Nature, you win... Uncle! Please, no more snow!") With all this snow, you can either laugh, cry, OR get the heck out of Dodge! If you are planning a trip, be sure to check out our Travel Ideas / Tips article below... and safe travels as well!

Regardless of the weather, the $6,500-$8,000 Tax Credit has our Central Ohio real estate market heating up early this year. If you plan to take advantage of these low interest rates and additional tax savings this spring, please let us know ASAP, as the April 30th "In-Contract" deadline is rapidly approaching. And remember, the tax incentive is not just for 1st time home buyers this time around either.

We do hope you enjoy our newsletter, and for those of you getting out of Dodge, don’t forget to send your favorite Realtor a postcard!

Travel Ideas / Tips

Travel insurance is a combination of trip-cancellation insurance and 24-hour emergency assistance. With insurance, you can get your money back if you have to leave for home early or cancel your trip all together. Do you know how to get insured?

There's An App For That

Buying or selling your house? There’s an app for that. Well, not exactly, but there’s plenty of high-tech help available to guide you through the process.

The RulerPhone app lets you use your iPhone as a tape measure to see if your couch will fit in your prospective new home. Place any credit-card-sized card next to an object, take a picture with the phone and align your image with the card placeholder displayed on-screen. A ruler will be displayed, allowing you to adjust the measurements with the drag of a finger.

The ExpertVideo: Home Repair app brings valuable home repair how-to videos to the palm of your hand. More than 20 videos are available, covering how to repair concrete steps, paint kitchen cabinets or patch a drywall hole. Still have questions after watching? A moderated discussion panel gives you the answers.

Keep home improvements and routine maintenance tasks organized with the Homeowner Calendar app, featuring a calendar of monthly tasks, such as checking smoke alarms, cleaning air filters or cleaning your gutters. Alerts let you know when tasks are coming up, and the application allows for custom additions.

Find all these apps at www.apple.com/iphone/appstore.

Rainy Day Fun

Rainy days can be difficult when you have a young child at home. Most parents do not want their child to watch television all day, but coming up with activities can be challenging. The following activities are simple projects to share with your child. They utilize simple materials found in most homes and will pique your child's interest on a rainy day inside.

Fast Fact

Are you considering a pet for your family? Did you know, the Labrador Retriever has held the top spot for the Most Popular Dog in America for the past 18 years.

Living Color

The leading expert in color, Pantone, Inc., has made it official: Turquoise is the "it" color for 2010. But before you deck the house from top to bottom in the gemstone hue, consider the other latest color trends.

Behr paint company says neutral is still in - think light colors such as grays, camels and off-whites. Experts suggest buying bigger furniture such as sofas or armchairs in these safe colors, which never truly go out of style. Complement neutrals with aqua and gold tones, but stay away from darker browns, which are becoming passe.

While monochromatic schemes are still versatile and dependable, HGTV says the real winners in the color game right now are bold jewel colors such as ruby red or emerald green, and the brighter the better - especially if it's a purple hue. Experts advise pairing these daring tones with a smoky charcoal or a softer black to give a room a vintage feel.

Going green and getting back to nature is a major trend, too. Earthier tones, such as sand or yellow-greens, are perfect for living rooms or kitchens. But going back to your roots doesn't just mean dipping into Mother Earth's favorite colors. Decorators say Asian-inspired or tribal patterns are adorning decorative elements as consumers look to get the most bang for their buck. Think pillows, area rugs or murals as key items this season.

Remember, though, if you plan to sell your home in a year or so, you need to keep it neutral throughout. You don't want the cost of having to re-paint.

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