Tips for Avoiding the Common Cold

There may not be a cure for the common cold, but there are ways to limit your chances of infection and alleviate suffering. Following are some tips:

Exercise More - Research indicates that regular exercise decreases your chance of catching a common cold by nearly half.

Let the Sun Shine In - Sunshine is a natural source of vitamin D, which helps reduce the risk of both the common cold and the influenza virus. According to researchers, people with higher levels of vitamin D are much less likely to suffer from seasonal illnesses, including colds, flu and even seasonal affective disorder.

Wash and Rinse - Frequent hand washing, combined with a quick gargle and even the use of a nasal rinse, can dramatically reduce the rates of infection. Use a saltwater solution for both the gargle and nasal rinse to help eliminate sore throats and sinus pressure.

Tips for Conducting a Home Energy Audit

Today's typical family living in a 3 bedroom, 2-story home spends about $2,500 in energy costs each year. To better manage those costs, consider conducting your own energy audit.

It's easy.

First of all, find out how much energy is being used, by keeping a log and reading your meter each week.

At the end of 4 weeks, add up the kilowatts used and divide the total by the number of days to get your average daily usage.

Once the audit is complete and changes are made, monitor usage again.

The next step is to walk around the house and check the following:
Inside:

• Any air leaks and gaps at baseboards and where the walls and ceilings end up joining.
• Air leaks around electrical outlets, switch plates, window frames and baseboards
• Gaps and cracks in weather stripping around doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches and air conditioners
• Gaps around pipes and wires
• Air leaks from mail slots
• Rattling from windows and doors, and daylight leaking in around frames

Outside:

• Air leaks where two building materials meet
• Improperly caulked doors, windows and outdoor outlets
• Cracks in the mortar, foundation or siding
• Missing insulation in the home's structure
• Improperly functioning heating/cooling equipment
• Filters that need replacing on forced-air furnaces
• Missing insulation on water heaters, hot water pipes and furnace ducts

Real Estate Resolutions: Tips for Sellers

When a new year starts, many people resolve to lose weight, give up smoking and spend more time with the family. Others add seeling the house to their list of resolutions. Following are eight tips to help you decide whether or not to sell, and how to go about it:

1. Take a good hard look at your home. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Make a list.

2. Watch for sale signs in your neighborhood and go to open houses. Start thinking about how your home compares.

3. What have other similar houses in the area sold for? Most homeowners are a bit unrealistic about what their house is worth. You want to be on the same wavelength as your real estate agent when the time comes to set a price.

4. Research the market. How long do houses stay on the market in your neighborhood? Is it a hot market for sellers right now?

5. Know what it will cost to sell your house. Will you pay for a home inspection, legal costs, or renovations?

6. Spruce up the house. You know you'll have to do it eventually, so why not present your house in its best light now? De-clutter and finish uncompleted do-it-yourself projects. Outside, tidy up the property, sweep the steps and change the light bulbs. It will allow others to see your house in a new light.

7. Select a real estate agent who is familiar with your neighborhood and ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. Word-of-mouth is the best way to source a realtor with a proven track record.

8. Take your time. Selling your home for the best price may take longer than you anticipate. Don't add to the pressure by setting unrealistic time limits.

What's New? What's Fun? What's Hot?

Following are some useful links from the web that are sure to provide you with some interesting ways to save money and entertain yourself:

Think Ahead for Cheap or Free In-Flight Wi-Fi from Unplggd.com

This site has some terrific tips on how to save money and stay connected when away from home.
More:  http://tinyurl.com/2e48dox

Kid-Approved from Make

Sooner or later we all need a few fresh ideas of what to do with the kids. It doesn't matter whether you are a parent, grandparent or simply a family friend, these super-fun ideas are sure to make the time fly while everyone enjoys the fun. Learn how to make everything from ultra-cool rooms complete with chalkboard walls using chalkboard paint that you make yourself to LED dice and Storm Trooper helmets, all with the help of Makezine. These are so fun you might just want to try them out on your very own.

More: http://tinyurl.com/6atzoc

Top 10 Fast-Food Recipes You Can Make at Home from Lifehacker

This could very well be one of the most delicious recipe sites on the web. Discover the secret ingredients that make movie popcorn taste so good and learn why McDonald's fries are a family favorite. You can find out how to re-create some of teh most beloved fast foods in teh nation right in your own kitchen.

More: http://tinyurl.com/2b5uzjk

Real Estate Resolutions: Tips for Homebuyers

Planning to buy in 2011? Preparation is the key to getting the best deal when shopping for a new home. Following are some tips to help you get started:

Define Needs Versus Wants: Make a list of your needs versus wants in the new home. For example, if you have a large and growing family then four bedrooms might be a necessity, while a pool might be negotiable.

Select a Location: Spend some time driving around town, researching schools and local amenities, crime rates, and other safety considerations. Select 3-5 areas to focus your search on.

Get Pre-Qualified: Find out how much you will be eligible to borrow and begin the paperwork so you are prepared to move quickly should a great deal arise.

Contact an Agent: Ask family and friends, perform a search for real estate agents that specialize in your target area, or consider using the services of a buyer's agent. Let them know the price range you have been approved for, the type of home and zip codes of interest.

Read, Set, and Search: Sign up for automatic listing notifications and begin viewing prospective properties online. Ask your agent for additional photos, virtual tour links and a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange report, if available, which gives the insurance claim and loss history for residential properties. Once you find a property of interest, take a few minutes to google it before actually driving out in person. It's often easy to see areas of concern from an aerial view as opposed to in person.

New Year's Resolution Success Tips

The New Year is a great time to implement improvements in your life. Follow these five simple steps to make and keep New Year's resolutions. These tips will aid in successfully attaining whatever goal you choose:

Step 1: Pursue what you are passionate about.

New Year's resolutions should be something you have to work at all year. For example, if your passion is to help others, find ways to volunteer in your community or budget money to donate to a favorite charity.

Step 2: Make a plan.

Include several goals and tips to help you through rough times. Keep a journal. Success is achieved through proper planning. Set goals and reward yourself after attaining each one. Join a support group.

Step 3: Refocus

At least once a week, revisit steps 1 and 2 as a reminder of why you made the New Year's resolution and prepare to meet your next goal.

Step 4: Determination leads to sucess.

New Year's resolutions require fortitude. If you have a setback, learn from it and move on. Think positive!

Step 5: Don't quit!

Have fun. Resolutions can be difficult and take preseverance. Find a inspiration and refer back to why you are passionate about making a change. Implement fun ways to stay on task to attain your goals.

Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a safe and Happy New Year! Wish you all a great year filled with love, happiness and success. For 2011 I plan to continue to strive for excellent service and provide my clients with all their real estate needs. I am here to serve you and anyone you know that is in search of buying or selling a home. Your referrals are greatly appreciated. Thank you for all your continued support, referrals and friendship.