Has your stream of water gotten smaller when taking a that morning shower? Clean the showerhead! Put Lime-Away in a 1 gallon plastic bag. Tie the bag around the showerhead. Leave to soak overnight. Before taking the morning shower, remove the bag and lime-away. The holes on the showerhead will have cleared of lime giving you a fuller stream of water.

Here is a link to my “January Real Estate Update”:

http://realtytimes.com/158/JulieMarshall

This Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.

This month’s issue includes topics such as:

“Homeownership Still The American Dream, Fuels Economy”;
“Buyers: Making the Right Choice”;
“Housing Answer: Principal Reduction?”;
“Choosing to Sell”;
“15 Tips for Living Green”;

On November 1 in the town of Bristol, WI, there were 39 residential listings. During the month of October there were 2 residential sales-one for $360,000 and another for $264,900. There were 46 residential lots listed and no sales for the month of October.

The NOSE knows!!

53% of buyers said strong odors influenced their decision in purchasing a home.
Here are some tips for making sure your home has good scents:
• Don’t mask smells with candles or potpourri. Buyers look for reason.
• Keep exotic spices and fish to a minimum when cooking the night before a showing.
• Remove animals and litter boxes from the property during showings.
Use homey smells to entice buyers—fresh baked cookies or pie, beef roast in oven

FREE SOFTWARE! Here is a great home inventory software that is easy to use. You can include all house furnishings, artwork, jewelry-and quickly see how much it would cost to replace. You can create a room-by-room inventory of your home with descriptions, pictures, scanned receipts. Download this free software at www.whatyouown.org. It works and is easy to use.

Place 3 drops of vanilla on the heated oven door for a fresh smell before a showing. You don’t have to bake cookies or have a lot of candles burning for the same effect.

Before putting your home up for sale, it pays to take a good look around. Is your home décor out of date? Will it appeal to prospective buyers, or send them running out the door?
Barbara Ballinger, architecture coach and columnist for the Style, Staged and Sold blog, says that while vintage features may appeal to some buyers, they could cost you a sale. Here are a few designs that could turn off potential buyers.
• Excessively bold or dark paint or tile colors, such as deep plum or jet black
• Walls painted with lacquered or high-gloss finish, faux- and sponge-painted walls, and wallpaper
• Worn, cracked laminate countertops and backsplashes
• Outdated bathrooms with small sinks, short toilets, squat bathtubs and tight shower spaces
• Stained and worn wall-to-wall carpet or worn linoleum
• Bedrooms decorated with a theme that is incorporated through the carpeting, walls, ceilings, light fixtures and furnishings
• Too many mirrored walls, ceilings and doors in a single room
• Ceilings with too many recessed lighting spot
From Council of Residential Specilists-10/2009

JulieGem Tip- Wash tomatoes, remove core out(optional). Place in gallon freezer bag. Freeze. To use, remove the number needed for your cooking, run under cold water-The skin will fall off! Put into your hotdish and cook.