Roy Kelley Sells Maryland Homes

A recent new construction walk through was scheduled intentionally a day before the final walk through with the builder.  My client had said they wanted to do our inspection after the final with the builder!  To that I said , "No, no, no!  You need them to include anything we find on the list of repairs they will sign and give to you."  My client emailed me back a simple, "Good point."  So he asked and they agreed to have us come earlier.

The kitchen vent was one of those powerful commercial types.  It has five speeds and at the highest setting could suck out a small child ... or even a squirrel. 

My client asked me if it vents outdoors.

I said, "These are very powerful and designed to only vent outside."

Then I opened the cabinet.

Wow, was I wrong!

This is the new, very special, In And Out Kitchen Vent!  Silly me...

It vents inside AND outside!

Now there is so much wrong here it is hard to mention it all.  But look:

1.  The vent hole in the wall was obviously an after thought.

2.  They cut through the cabinet, then wall, then exterior sheathing, then the Tyvek wrap.

3.  The exterior vent opening is apparently screwed into the siding.

4.  The insulation is no longer there and no work-o.

The kicker?!  The agent emailed me back after their walk through with the builder to say the gentleman who walked through with them was "surprised" at the number of items I had identified.  And as to this vent?  She wrote, "the guy that did the walk through with us agreed entirely about the need to do something to improve the aesthetics of the area around that vent!!" 

Well, praise, praise!  And just the AESTHETICS??!!  He "agreed??"

My recommendation:  On a final walk through check the inside of all cabinets!  I always do...

 

On Sunday, my husband and I decided to take our chocolate lab, Zeke, to Blue Bend Recreation Park at Monongahela National Forest.  We have been there many times, and I even wrote a post on our first visit at Blue Bend with Zeke.  

We were having a great time, enjoying a picnic and playing with Zeke in the water.  He loves to play "fetch" anyplace, anywhere, anytime.

 

 

After spending about two hours of playing "fetch"  in the river, a forest ranger approached my husband and warned us that dogs are not allowed in the water were people are swimming.  Therefore, Zeke had to either leave the water, and be kept on a leash at all times while in the park, or we would be subject to a fine.

 

 

There were three other couples with their dogs and the officer warned each of them, also. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since Zeke couldn't go in the water, we packed up our gear and came home. 

General rules for pets and animals in National Forests:

• Pets must be restrained or on a leash at all times while in developed recreation areas. Animals (except certified assistance animals) are not allowed in swimming areas or sanitary facilities.

 

The Monongahela National Forest is a beautiful place with breathtaking vistas, peaceful country roads, gently flowing streams, great place for camping, swimming, fishing, canoeing, biking, walking trails, and so much more.

 

We will return to Blue Bend Recreation Park , but unfortunately we'll have to find another place along Anthony's Creek or the Greenbrier River for Zeke to swim.

 

 

 

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If I can assist you in any way with your real estate needs, please feel free to contact me by phone at (304) 520-2133, email, or visit my website. Licensed in West Virginia and Virginia.

Keep Connected On....

 

 

 

 

 

Hurricane Earl and the Crystal Coast

 

As of this afternoon, The track of Hurricane Earl is not going to make landfall in the Carolinas.  While we are hoping against a direct hit, We are warned of Tropical Storm force winds and extremely dangerous surf and Rip Currents.  Town Managers along the Coast of North Carolina are urging residents to remove any debris from your yards, secure your belongings such as lawn & patio furniture and any other item that could be thrown in high winds, and DO NOT go near the water.  It is also very important to monitor the storm closely, as the smallest shift to the West of the current track could mean an evacuation is in order. 

 

I do my best not to panic and to always be prepared.  We have our cat kennels lined up, fresh batteries in the flashlights & the emergency weather radio, enough water and non-perishable foods to last at least one week in case of power outages.  We have our Emergency Kit packed and ready for use. We will track the storm over the next 24 hours, and if it looks like it is shifting towards us....We are outta here.  

 

We have a list of evacuation plans to choose from; Head to Cobb Creek Cabins in Murphy for a weekend of hiking, maybe go to Asheboro and visit the NC Zoo and other museums...hmmm? Of Course, my five kitties have voted on a little road trip to Craig Rutman's Place in Raleigh.  We understand his HOA only permits 4 angry kitties at a time, so "Pugsley" would have to be Tranquilized.  Oh...Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

 

 

Seriously though...Please Stay Safe, Be Prepared and don't ever take any chances.  Pay attention to warnings and evacuation orders and try to always have an emergency plan in place for you, your family and your pets.  For up to the minute updates visit the National Hurricane Center.

Amy Hahn

REALTOR/Broker

Pine Knoll Shores Realty
Mobile: 252-723-7972
Office: 252-727-5000
Toll Free: 800-605-8598
Email: info@pineknollshoresrealty.com
Website: www.pineknollshoresrealty.com

              

 Amy Hahn , Crystal Coast Real Estate - Amy's Crystal Coast Blog

After posting a couple of times about my weight loss and fitness goals here, I am very pleased to report that I met and exceeded my original weight loss goal yesterday. 

Since today is my 40th birthday, this was a terrific gift.

I started out at 248 pounds (my heaviest ever) and today, I weighed in at exactly 208 pounds.  Needless to say, I was truly excited.

I've worked very hard at getting this weight off and the speed with which it happened surprised me, frankly. 

When I wrote about my goals publicly, I promised to update my profile picture when I got to 210 pounds or less.  As you can see, I kept my promise.  :)

For the sake of comparison, here are my "before and after" photos:

 

 

 

Since this is the first time I've seen them side by side, I am astounded at how much healthier I appear to be now.  This is the result of (almost) daily exercise, along with much better eating habits.  I'm pretty sure that I am almost unrecognizable to my friends, unless they've known me since college, since I was this weight as a sophomore in school. 

I plan to continue my fitness journey, mainly to see just how much more I lose, then to gain muscle on top of that.  I feel amazingly good and I have more energy than I can remember having in the past 15 years or more.

THANK YOU to those of you who have encouraged me and sent me emails and messages of support.  If you are interested in knowing all of the details of the applications I used, along with a general idea of my calorie consumption and exercise regimen, let me know.  Basically, I ate less without horribly depriving myself, and moved my body a whole lot more. My exercise included walking (lots), running (less than walking), some biking, calisthenics, and, as of 2.5 weeks ago, the P90X workout system.

I hope this doesn't come across as bragging - I truly managed to surprise myself, too!  Basically, I wanted to share the fact that, even though I was a very sedentary almost-40-year-old man who ate whatever he wanted for many years, I was able to make a change for the better.  If I can do it, you probably can, too.  :)

Thanks for reading!

 

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me elsewhere?

                 

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com.  If you're interested in social media training, visit 210 Consulting. Thanks!

When a home has an unconditioned (unheated) crawl space, most building codes require that there be some form of crawl space ventilation. This comes in various forms but, at least in Bellingham and Whatcom County, more often than not the builders put in foundation vents -- typically a few feet from each corner and spaced quite evenly from one another, every few feet.

The preferred vents are those with wire mesh, typically 1/4" galvanized screens. Often, instead, I will see vent screens like the one below.

This is a louvered vent screen and the average person may not know it, but the louvers seriously impede the "net-free" area. In other words, if the goal is to have some air movement then these are of marginal design. With a few exceptions, I typically suggest that these vents be replaced with proper vents that do not impede venting. There is some controversy in some areas, where inspectors recommend that vents be closed. If a WSDA licensed inspector in this state suggests that, he or she is likely to receive a reprimand. Crawl space vents that are blocked are a state mandated conducive condition. As an inspector, at least in this region, I can say that I never encourage blocked vents. When I inspect older homes with few, or blocked vents, it seems like anobiid beetle infestations are often a part of the equation.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

 

 

This passion flower begs the question what is our passion? This passion is so beautiful, and there's one budding right next to it. Maybe our passion has yet to unfold.

───

For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

Photography displayed is original composition and artistic expression of Steve Hoffacker, and as such is copyrighted. Photos are as taken and have not been cropped, edited, or enhanced in anyway.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2010. All Rights Reserved.

 

Sellers all share the same notion as to the value of their house. When I ask what they would like net from the sale of their property, they always answer: “as much as I can get.”

And generally, they believe that the best way to achieve that goal is to start high to test the waters, and then consider price reductions as time goes on without receiving any offers.

However, in today’s market, there is a strong possibility that electing to use this strategy will ultimately lose money for the seller. It’s called “chasing the market,” and in a declining market it is more like a dog chasing its own tail.

As houses languish on the market, savvy buyers sense more and more desperation on behalf of the seller. There is nothing about these listings that would make a buyer want to offer anything near the list price.

My preference is to ask a seller what the “least” amount they can live with right from the get-go. If that amount is close to the true market value that I have researched, we are in business.

A properly price house immediately attracts serious buyers during the initial “new listing” phase. And if a house generates multiple offers within the first week or two, the seller is actually in a much stronger negotiating position.

And here’s the kicker: Pricing a house lower can actually net the seller more money in less time! Let’s all repeat that: Pricing a house lower can actually net the seller more money.

And a better bottom line is the net result of a successful sale!

 

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate Better Homes and Gardens Metro Brokers, Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser REOS, E-Pro. licensed Auctioneer. 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily! We Do HUD bids in Georgia! 770-827-6225

Indian Springs Elementary School received a designation of "Excellent with Distinction" from the State of Ohio Department of Education for the 2009- 2010 school year.

 

Is "Excellent with Distinction" an A+ ?  It is the highest designation.  The six designations for schools in Ohio:

• Excellent with Distinction
• Excellent
• Effective
• Continuous Improvement
• Academic Watch
• Academic Emergency

The elementary school in the Columbus City School District is located at  50 E. Henderson Rd. Columbus Ohio 43214.  Map

Neighborhoods that attend Indian Springs Elementary School include: *Beechwold, Delawanda Park, Indian Springs, Old Beechwold and Tremont Gardens.   Indian Springs Elementary School attendance area

This post brought to you by 301 Girard Rd, Columbus OH 43214, a listing in the Delawanda Park neighborhood and the Indian Springs Elementary School attendance area.  The link above provide current information on that listing.

 

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This post was written by Maureen McCabe of Real Living HER

For information on Franklin and Delaware County communities including Clintonville, Columbus, Dublin, Gahanna, Grandview Heights,  Hilliard, Lewis Center,  New Albany, North Columbus,  Powell,  Upper Arlington, Westerville and Worthington 

Contact 614.388.8249

Website: MaureenMcCabe.com

Search Central Ohio homes

email: MaureenatMaureenMcCabe.com   @

 

Central Ohio real estate market news:

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All information is deemed to be accurate but should be verified to your satisfaction.  The information provided herein is supplied by several sources and is subject to change without notice.  Opinions expressed are solely those of Maureen McCabe.

Newbies- here are the answers to some of your most asked questions. I have included the links where you can find the tutorials in detail. 

Question #1- How do you get colored text, different sized fonts on your blog?

How To Jazz Up Your Blogging- Free and Easy! 

Update: Since writing that post there is another great tool that has actually become my favorite Active Rain blog editor. It is using Gmail as an editor. With the Mac- you just drag and drop right from Gmail into your Active Rain WYSIWYG editor. You don't need to know html. It will cut your blogging time in half. 

Question #2- How do you get your screenshots with arrows and...?

Cool Tool I Use To Get Those Screen Shots and Torn Edges

Update: With the Mac- you don't need anything except your keyboard to do great screen shots fast and super easy. Just click Shift, Command, 4- then drag your curser over the part of the screen you want to capture, release and there it is! You can then drag the screen shot into Pages or Keynote and use Inspector and the Tool Bar to add your arrows, etc. Again, our Macs increase productivity and save so much time. 

Question #3- Where do you get those cool safe images to use on your blog?

Clip Art You Can Use For Business and Commercial Purposes

Since I wrote this post the clip art site we use has increased to over 7 million images and added on all kinds of web graphics. Their 3D art is the best I have ever seen. 

   

 

 

        

 

 

Copyright © By Katerina Gasset 2010 *Newbies- Answers To Your Top Active Rain Blogging Questions*