Myrtle Beach Real Estate Blog

Today starts the beginning of the holiday season when we enjoy time with family, friends, and colleagues and reflect on how our year has progressed.  As the New Year approaches, many times, we make resolutions that often melt away before Valentine’s Day rolls around.  This year as you gather around tables of delicious food and share stories and memories that have been made this past year, take time to share the following story with your friends so that each and every one of them can set their priorities for the New Year to manage their time more wisely and treasure the important things in life.

A teacher once stood in front of his class with a mayonnaise jar, some rocks, and other items and began to place some of the 2 inch rocks into the jar. He didn’t say a word until the jar was completely filled with the rocks.  Then he asked the students if the jar was full to which they agreed that it was.  The teacher then picked up a box of smaller pebbles and poured them into the jar and shook it slightly.  The little pebbles rolled into all of the open areas between the rocks.  He asked again if the jar was full and again the students agreed that it was.  The teacher then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar and of course the sand filled all of the remaining spaces in the jar.

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.

Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

This year take time to give a special hug to your parents no matter their age, spend some time playing with your children, and tell your best friend how important he really is in your life.  The holidays are a time of joy and celebration and if you take time to set your priorities and enjoy the really important things that happen each day you’ll be a truly happy and thankful person.

The holidays are a festive time to gather with friends, family, and colleagues to share in the joy of the season.  You’ll want your home to look its very best with the twinkling lights and your decorations that turn your home into a wonderland of delight but there are some safety tips that you should follow as you begin to adorn your home with the tree, tinsel, and other things that make your home inviting and comfortable for the holidays.

1.    Check your live Christmas tree for freshness.  A good tree will be green, have needles that are hard to pull from its branches, and branches that won’t break when you bend them between your fingers.  Look at the bottom of the tree for sticky resin that indicates your tree has been cut recently; also when you tap the tree on the ground, the needles shouldn’t fall off.

2.    Make sure to keep your tree away from heat sources.  Don’t place it close to fireplaces, vents, or radiators which can all dry the tree out. Be sure that you keep your tree watered; check its water level daily.

3.    If you’re buying an artificial tree, make sure that it has a “fire resistant” label which means that your tree won’t catch fire as easily as those without this feature.

4.    When you’re decorating the tree with your children, avoid using heavy, sharp, or breakable decorations.  If you do use these types of decoration on your tree, place them out of the reach of your children.

5.    Use candles only on stable, heat-resistant surfaces and never leave them burning in a room where no one is present.  Don’t place them close to curtains, your Christmas tree, or other flammable items.

6.    Use only lights both indoors and outdoors that have met safety requirements and make sure that you are using them in the area for which they were intended.  Be sure to check each set for damage and replace any faulty bulbs before you put them up.

7.    Make sure that any decorations are placed in areas that don’t have a lot of traffic in your home.  You won’t want guests tripping over decorations that are placed in an area that your visitors must walk through.

8.    Never burn wrapping paper in your fireplace.  When gifts are opened and the paper is discarded, put it in the trash for proper disposal; a flash fire can result suddenly and burn intensely in your fireplace and could cause a destructive chimney fire.

Making your home attractive, comfortable, and cozy during the holidays is part of the joy of owning a nice home and entertaining those whom are special to you.  Just be sure to follow some cautious steps as you and your family make preparations for all of the festivities to come.

If you have a condo on the market, you’ve probably noticed that the inventory is plentiful and buyers are having a tough time deciding which deal offers them a good return on their investment or a residence with the most appealing amenities.  By taking just a few steps, you can make your property stand out in the marketplace from the others and perhaps speed up the process of selling for you.  Let’s take a look at what you can do to make a first great impression of your condo on a potential buyer.

1.    Make the front door a welcoming entrance into your condo.  Keep it clean, simple, and attractive and remove any wind chimes or other items that may detract from the curb appeal of your property.

2.    Ask your REALTOR to get to know the closest neighbors so that when your property is shown they will be friendly and supportive of the neighborhood.  A smile is the same in any language and does a great deal to influence a buyer in some cases.

3.    Have your REALTOR take a picture to show online of the most attractive feature that your property has.  It may be a lovely garden or water feature or perhaps a covered porch where a buyer can curl up with a good book.  If the front of the building is bland, show off the feature that will appeal to the buyer the most.

4.    Do what you can to make the entire area neat and tidy.  Whether it’s placing a basket at the community mailbox center for overflow mail or keeping the hallways neat and clean remember that you’re making an investment in the sale of your condo.

5.    If you have a HOA work with them to keep the entire building attractive.  Your building may need fresh paint, new landscaping, or external lighting to add ambiance to the property so suggesting that they address these issues can help you to sell your property faster.

You want to take every step possible to make your condo stand out above all of the rest; sometimes just a simple touch can make a difference.  From stopping to pick up a piece of discarded mail to asking for new lighting along a lovely path you can make the difference in the property that you own.  Buyers are looking for secure and safe areas that offer them good value for their money and it’s your job to make your condo a listing that they just can’t afford to pass up.

Moving isn’t always an enjoyable experience for your children.  They are leaving friends and familiar surroundings behind which can prove to be a traumatic experience for them.  You’ll want to do everything that you can to reassure them that they will make new friends, have new adventures, and come to love their new home as much as the old one.  Let’s look at some tips to help your child transition to the new home smoothly.

1.    Before his first day of school, take the route with him in the car so that he’ll know where he’s going.  Children like to know things that other children know and feel comfortable in their surroundings.  By taking him ahead of time, you’ll ease his anxiety and help him adjust more quickly.  Also point out some interesting things along the way like cool billboards or toy stores located in a shopping center on his way to school.

2.    Visit the school a few days before your child has to enroll.  Schools are open to new parents and students who want to become familiar with surroundings before school starts.  Walk through the school with your child and locate the gym, the cafeteria, the outdoor play areas, and the bathrooms.  Be sure to make positive comments through the entire visit.

3.    Try to meet parents in your new neighborhood so that you can learn how the school operates, when some of the meetings will be held, and perhaps suggest that your children play together.  Your new neighborhood may have a community center where plenty of activities will be held for families and it will help to already know a set of parents who have children close to the ages of your own.

4.    Be sure to determine your child’s bus number upon registration at the new school.  It will be a lot easier for your child if he knows the bus number for your community and the route that it takes; your school will gladly provide this information.  You can ask new teachers for a buddy to be assigned to your child so that he can have a resource to help him make it through the first days at his new school.

Moving can be a stress-free adventure for your child if you take a positive approach and make the new area as familiar to him as quickly as possible.  Let him know that he may have questions and concerns but you and all of his new friends will be there to stand with him through this period of transition.  Educate your child on the area into which you have moved so that he’ll know some of the common threads of knowledge before he interacts with others.

Once you decide to buy your home, you’ll need to think about some questions to ask yourself that can help determine what type of home that you really want.  You’ll see a lot of different homes in the search process so if you can narrow down your list of criteria at the beginning you can save yourself and your realtor some valuable time.  You should begin by checking out some magazines that feature homes, their interiors, and how they are designed.  You can cut out pictures or copy them from an online site, make your own notebook, and keep an accurate record of what appeals to you. 

Ask yourself some of the following questions to begin making your search more focused.

•    Where do you want to live?  You’ll have to consider school districts if you have children and also decide if you want city or country living to accommodate your individual preferences.

•    What type of home do you want?  This could be anything from a condo to a townhome to a beachfront property for your retirement years.

•    What type of community would you prefer?  You’ll want to think about how close the schools, hospitals, and other businesses are that you’ll use on a regular basis.  Consider the post office location, grocery stores, airports, and community activities in which you’d like to participate.

•    Determine the number of bedrooms that you need, the number of baths that you prefer, and if you want to have a home office.  Many professionals today are working from home which requires space for equipment and furniture needed to get the job done.

•    Think about the special features that you want your home to have. Do you like 9’ ceilings, granite counter tops, open floor plans, or sunrooms that add another living space to your home?  You’ll want to think about your master suite and whether you’d prefer it to be on the first or second floor.  Also consider where your children’s bedrooms will be in relation to yours.

By going online, a reputable REALTOR will have snapshots of his properties, credible descriptions, and other pertinent information that you’ll need to make an informed decision.  When you have questions about schools for your children or civic clubs with which you are affiliated you can easily contact your REALTOR to ascertain the answers to these concerns.  Look for a realtor’s website that is fully developed with pictures and descriptions of the communities in which his listings are located.  Finding a trusted professional who provides you with all of the details of communities and the properties will be a valuable asset to have as you make your decision about a new home.

You have decided to sell your home, have contacted a Real Estate Professional and now what?  Your well-trained professional will come to your home to list your property and at that time may make a friendly recommendation for you to “de-clutter” your home. It’s very important to not take this personally; the agent isn’t making a comment about your housekeeping abilities or your collection of memorabilia but he does know that buyers are looking for space for their own personal belongings.  You’ll want clean lines that capture the buyer’s attention and cause him to begin to visualize how his own furniture would look in your home.  This is the difference in living in a home and living in a home that you are trying to sell. 

Your real estate professional can assist you with what to remove and can make recommendations that they know will work in moving your property.  This is their business and they know what buyers are seeking, what you have, and how to combine the two for a profitable sale for you.  Trust their judgment, listen carefully to what they suggest, and then get to work removing the items that you can live without until you find your next home.

Start in the bedrooms where your children may have a plethora of trophies, doll collections, or toys strewn around the room.  This is a must for you to address as the process of selling your home begins. Also take a look in your kitchen area where items placed on the counter tops take up space and hide the lovely granite that is hidden beneath “stuff.”  Remove all magnets and papers from the refrigerator, take down all of the baskets that you have hanging to hold fruit, and put all appliances that are sitting on your countertop in cabinets or pack them away.  If you find that you have more things than you thought, renting a storage building until you sell your property is an excellent way of making your home look neat and the clean lines of design apparent.

Pack up knick-knacks, family photos, flower arrangements, blankets, and throw rugs that make an area look busy and cluttered.  If you have a myriad of books in your bookshelves, consider removing some of the copies and packing them away as well.

In the bath area, you’ll want to place all hairdryers, make-up, brushes, perfumes, toothbrushes, and toothpaste in the cabinet space that you have.  You want to let each room breathe and show the special features that buyers are attracted to as they search for more personal space for their own things.  Remember that when you’re trying to sell your house, less is more.  A good Realtor can walk through each room and tell you what to store temporarily.  To move your home more quickly, remove the clutter and let your home breathe.

Being an efficient handyman around your home means, in part, that you take care of emergencies when they arise and you always have a remedy for every situation that you encounter. If you can have on hand an easy-to-use and affordable solution to some of the basic needs in life, your job as the “man of the house” will be accomplished with success.  WD-40 is the product that you have in your garage that can also be used for many more uses around your home. Let’s look at some of the amazing uses for WD-40.

1.    Protect your bird feeder.  Keeping pesky squirrels from eating the bird seed that you provide for your feathered friends is easily done with WD-40.  Spraying a generous amount onto the top of the feeder and watch the squirrels slide right off the feeder.

2.    Separate glasses that are stuck together.  Spray just a small amount between the glassware, wait a few seconds, and they should separate without breaking.  You’ll want to wash the glasses thoroughly before using them.

3.    To remove jewelry that is stuck on your fingers, spray a little WE-40 and then slide the right off without pain and discomfort.

4.    Use WD-40 to get chewing gum out of your child’s hair.  Make sure that you have proper ventilation, spray the hair with the lubricant, and comb out the gum with ease.

5.    Remove the scuff marks on your kitchen floor with WD-40.  Spray it onto the mark, use a soft-bristled brush and watch the scuff marks disappear.

6.    If you want to remove tea stains from your countertops, use some WD-40 on a sponge and wipe away the stain.

7.    The lime stains in your toiled will disappear with a treatment of WD-40.  Spray it into the bowl, swish it around with a nylon brush, and watch the gunk and lime stains fade away.

8.    You can winter-proof your winter boots and shoes with WD-40.  Give them a light coat which will act as a barrier to protect the leather of your boots and shoes.  It will also remove ugly salt stains that you get from your trips around town after the roads have been treated. Use a clean cloth to apply the lubricant.

9.    Keep wasps and yellow jackets from building nests under your eaves in the spring and summer months.  Use a misting of WD-40 under all of the eaves and the bees will look elsewhere to build their homes.

10.    Keep the wooden-handled tools around your home splinter-free.  Rub a generous amount of WD-40 into the wood and the handle will be protected from the elements that result in splintered handles that hurt your hands.

11.    Do you have a new baseball glove for your child to use in his game?  Break it in by using WD-40; put a baseball in the palm, fold the glove sideways, and secure with a rubber band or a belt.  This helps to soften the leather and will help the form of the glove conform to your child’s hand faster.

The old saying says that, “there’s more than one way to skin a cat,” and by using WD-40 you’ll prove your practical ability to handle unusual situations around your home.

When fall and winter arrive you and your family spend more quality time in the kitchen cooking and preparing meals so that once you arrive home from school and work, you won’t have to venture out again.  With more activity occurring in your kitchen, the risk of having a kitchen fire increases especially if you aren’t attentive to preventative tips that can help you avoid this disaster.  Let’s take a look at some of the major tips that will reduce your risk of a kitchen fire.

1.    Make sure that your appliances are in good working order, are serviced regularly, and are clean.  You’ll want to keep crumbs from gathering in your toaster, your microwave clean, and your oven free from sticky substances from dishes that overflowed the container that you used.

2.    If you’re not using an appliance, unplug it.  This includes your mixers, coffee pots, and toaster ovens. These appliances continue to use electricity even when they’re turned off but not unplugged.  Old or faulty wiring can cause a thermostat to malfunction and a fire to occur.

3.    Don’t use any metal in your microwave.  The resulting sparks can damage your microwave and can ultimately cause a fire that spreads over your entire kitchen area.

4.    Keep the grease residue wiped from your stove.  This is a flammable buildup that can quickly consume both you and your kitchen if it is ignited; always keep your stove clean and free from packages and groceries when you bring them into the home.

5.    Keep all of your towels and potholders away from the stove.  If a burner is left on the material can catch fire and cause a great deal of damage to your kitchen.

6.    When you’re cooking, never leave food unattended.  It’s easy to step away from the stove to check on a child or take a telephone call but understand that you are inviting an accident to happen while you’re away.  Always monitor food preparation especially when grease is involved.

7.    Don’t overfill your pots and pans with oil or grease.  This liquid is easily splattered and can quickly catch fire.  You should also take care that your pots and pans never boil dry.

8.    Keep your sleeves rolled up and long hair tied back.  This will prevent your clothing and hair from being dangerously close to open heating elements.  It’s also sanitary for food preparation as well.

Taking just a few simple steps of caution can protect both you and your kitchen from a fire that can be costly.  Always make sure that stove eyes and the oven is completely turned off after use which also helps to save on your energy bill.  Paying close attention when you’re preparing meals will keep you save and secure in your very efficient kitchen.

With your busy schedule, you may find remembering to check and change your smoke alarm a difficult task that often gets overlooked.  If you can tie checking your smoke alarm to an event like turning back your clock in the fall, it’s easier to remember and keeps your family protected and safe in your home.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, residential fire deaths have decreased steadily as the number of homes that have properly working smoke alarms has increased.  Studies from the NFPA show that you’ll have nearly a 50% better chance of surviving a fire in your home if you have the recommended number of smoke alarms in good working condition.

You’ll need to replace your smoke alarm especially if it’s about 10 years old.  Your smoke alarm is just like your electrical appliances and has components that wear out over time.  As your smoke alarm reaches the 10 year mark, it’s failing to detect a fire increases substantially so it’s imperative that you purchase a new model every 10 years.

Knowing how many smoke alarms to have in your home is paramount to the safety that you will have should a fire occur.  Base your number on the number of levels that your home has and the number of bedrooms that it features.  For new homes, the standard requires a smoke alarm in each bedroom, one outside the bedroom area, and one on each level of the home.  The closer the smoke alarm is to the fire source the faster it will work so extra units will provide you with more safety.  Each of your smoke alarms come with a test button and the NFPA recommends that you test your alarms regularly, at least once a month.

It’s also important to change the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year and remember, changing your batteries when you change the time may help you to remember this important task.  If you begin to hear a signal from your smoke alarm constantly this is an indicator that it’s time for the batteries to be changed.  Making sure that your smoke alarm is operating properly may mean the difference between life and death for your family.

You’ll also want to keep your smoke alarm cleaned throughout the year.  They have small access screens around the sensing chamber to keep small bugs and dust particles out but dust can accumulate on the screen and slow air movement through the device.  By vacuuming around the outside of your smoke alarm just once a year, it will work as it was designed to perform.

Doing proper maintenance with the smoke alarms in your home is an important safety feature that you must keep working properly year round.