Holiday Safety

According to the FBI, nearly 400,000 burglaries occur in the U.S. from November through December each year! Believe it or not, burglars watch properties for patterns of behavior noting times when you are home and times when you aren’t. Leaving inside lights on and a TV playing can be a deterrent to the would-be burglar. Obviously, if you are away it’s harder for a would-be burglar to notice if you are sure to keep the garage door closed.

So, to ensure that an intruder doesn’t dampen your holiday season here are a few tips to keep in mind:

*Ask someone, possibly a friend or neighbor to pick up your newspaper and mail each day.

* You may even consider asking your neighbor to park their car in your driveway just to give it that “occupied” look & feel.

* Even though snow may be rare in our area, be prepared while away by asking a friend or neighbor to clear sidewalks & driveway if necessary.

*Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through windows and doors.

* Nowhere else is your home more fragile and susceptible to a forced holiday break-in than your windows. How you secure your windows is up to you, but it's important to keep in mind that occupants must be able to open them easily in the event of a fire. Therefore, the security device you choose should not lock you in the building, but only keep burglars out.

*When setting up a Christmas tree or other holiday display, make sure doors and passageways are clear inside your home.

*Be sure your Christmas tree is mounted on a sturdy base so children, elderly persons or family pets cannot pull it over on themselves.

*To avoid risk of fire check for frayed wiring on your Christmas lights, place your live Christmas tree in water or wet sand to keep it green, and never place wrapping paper in your fireplace.

Whether you travel or stay home for the Holidays, please have a safe and happy holiday this year!

Looking for a home for the holidays?

Call/ Text or Email me anytime!

~ Tanya

Halloween

Who would have thought 30 days ago with the triple digit temperatures we were experiencing that I would be writing about the fast approaching holidays? But, here we are preparing to greet some ghosts and goblins at our door and shortly thereafter, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas. Wow! How the year has flown!

With all the costume making, food preparation and shopping comes a much more hectic pace! Amid all the hustle and bustle and family celebrations let’s not forget to focus on how we can keep our home and family safe.

For Halloween:

*Candles in Jack O’Lanterns should be off the ground and out of children’s reach.

* Halloween home safety means keeping the area around your home unobstructed so children and accompanying parents don’t stumble or hurt themselves on anything that may lead to a liability suit. Clear any lawn decorations, hoses, gardening tools, toys, etc., from your property to practice Halloween home safety.

Take this fun POP QUIZ with your ghosts and goblins to ensure they know how to remain safe on Halloween.

Stay tuned for Thanksgiving & Christmas safety tips!

Kermit said...

“It’s not easy being green” When in all actuality it is quite simple to get started being “green”…

So what does “going green” really mean? I want to be a good citizen of our land and respect our environment as much as most do, but does “going green” seem a bit daunting to you? Am I the only one that feels a bit overwhelmed when I think of “going green”?

So tell me, Kermit…where do we begin?

Well, the obvious place to begin is AT HOME. And to avoid the overwhelming feeling you might get from even thinking about the various ways you can go green at home I would suggest you BEGIN SLOWLY.

This is the same principle that most diet and fitness experts suggest you use when beginning a new diet or exercise routine. To begin, make a few small changes. If you begin with too many changes or too large of a change you will become overwhelmed and give up before you’ve even begun!

So, let me ask you, are you recycling your cans? Are you one of those that leaves the water running while brushing your teeth? Are you doing full loads of laundry rather than a bunch of small loads? What about CFL bulbs? Have you made the switch? A key place to start in the home is just to…

• REDUCE CONSUMPTON AND WASTE!

Example: you may still drive a gas guzzling SUV to the supermarket, but you can still go green by taking canvas bags with you for your groceries. That’s a small but very significant place to start.

Another area where you can make a difference in the home is to:

• REDUCE POLLUTION!

Example: Think about the shampoo, soap and cleaning detergent that you use. Many of them contain chemicals that are washed down the sinks and pipes, into drains, rivers, reservoirs or even the sea. Consider switching to more natural cleaners and personal products. There are a lot of products on the market now that are made from natural substances rather than manmade chemicals and are bio-degradable, which causes less harm when released into the environment.

You may recall my baking soda tip in my previous blog, well did you also know that baking soda is eco-friendly and doesn’t contain all the chemicals that most cleaning supplies do? A ½ cup of baking soda, followed by a ½ cup of vinegar and then boiling water down your drains will break down fatty acid build up and leave your drains smelling fresh and clean.

What one thing are you going to do to begin “going green”? Remember, the key is to begin AT HOME and to BEGIN SLOWLY... this way your results will be long lasting.

Color My World...

Peaceful, enthusiastic, whimsical, dramatic; what does your world (ie; rooms) say about you? I like to think of my home as my “little world” – that special place that is all mine. Okay, so maybe we have to share our space with our spouse, kiddos and those four footed friends, but generally speaking our domains are our little refuges. So what does yours say about you? Or more importantly, how does the color of your little world SERVE you?

Does it say, I am a calm, but cheerful and happy person? Or does it say, I am a Type A over-achiever who thrives on chaos? Granted those may be extreme examples but my point is to suggest that you choose the color of the rooms in your home not based on the latest trend as much as on the mood they might evoke.

KITCHEN/DINING ROOM & warm tones:Have you ever noticed that fast food restaurants rely heavily on reds, yellow and oranges? These warm tones are believed to stimulate the appetite and encourage open conversation. Red and orange are even believed to increase metabolism! An obviously great choice for a kitchen, but they may not be the best choice for a bedroom…

BEDROOM & cool tones:Blue is a very calm and peaceful color and therefore an excellent choice when decorating your bedroom. Another great choice for the bedroom and currently the most popular decorating color, green symbolizes nature. It is the easiest color on the eye. It is a calming, refreshing color. People waiting to appear on TV sit in "green rooms" to relax. Hospitals often use green because it relaxes patients…

Neutrals are very popular due to their versatility, but if your walls are neutral (white, beige, gray etc;) then consider a pop of color in your furnishings and accessories or vice versa.In a poorly lit room white is always a great choice since it reflects light. A hallway will always appear brighter if painted white.

WARNING!! When decorating in your home RED is most often used as an accent color since it is an extreme color and stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It can be very dramatic and create a hostile environment if overused! Also exercise caution when using black because it absorbs all other colors. Although a striking backdrop for other colors, too much black can be oppressive and depressing.

Is your little world a colorful one or a very neutral canvas? Are the moods, feelings and emotions it evokes the ones you would choose now that you know a little bit more about color in your home?

Looking for a new home and a fresh canvas to paint? Call today!
~Tanya

Little Pieces of me...

Preston, Hannah & Ethan
3 of 9 that call me Auntie

So in my previous blog, you found out for me a calm, tranquil and serene environment comes from being well organized. I admit it’s maybe a bigger challenge for those with children at home. And for me, a clean, organized home is more easily achieved when my nieces and nephews aren’t visiting! I love being an auntie (My FAVORITE title in life) and have so much fun when they are here; (but they do go home) and then you will find me cleaning and re-organizing!!

Maybe you will enjoy a few of these tips I’ve discovered along the way. These aren’t urban legends, but tried and true tips that may help you create that environment you are desiring…

DID YOU KNOW?
• Crayon marks come off walls with a damp rag dipped in baking soda?
• A little rubbing alcohol on a paper towel will remove permanent marker from appliances and counter tops (even the blue ink from a store receipt!)
• You can drop two Alka Seltzer tablets in your toilet bowl, wait twenty minutes, and brush and flush. (Stay tuned for more Alka Seltzer remedies in a future blog.)
• Spilled candle wax can be removed from a carpet by placing a brown paper sack over the spill and placing a warm iron on top. Wax will be absorbed into the brown paper.
• You can use empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.

Looking for ways to get your home market ready?
Contact me today for your personalized plan!

Define Home...

Define HOME...

Does it mean coming home on a 100 degree afternoon to the sound of your kids giggling and screaming pool side? Or maybe it's being greeted at the door by your 4 legged babies with their tails happily whipping back and forth...

Although both of those descriptions could be HOME to me, neither of them really apply. What got me to thinking about HOME was how very hectic things are for me in the summer (grateful to be busy!) and how much I enjoy coming home to a tidy and clean house after a busy day. I make jokes all the time about being "type a" and in all honesty those traits are what makes a house home to me. Home for me means a calm, serene and tranquil environment and having it organized helps me feel that way. My home is my haven. It’s the calm after a storm. I am doubly blessed because I not only get to work in the home industry and help others find that haven they are looking for, but once I’ve done so, can come home to experience it for myself.
 I want my home to say “welcome” when guests arrive, but I also love that it says “welcome” when my husband and I come home from work. I feel totally at peace when I can enjoy a day at home, catch up on laundry and just enjoy my surroundings. What makes your house a home?

Looking to find a house to make your haven?
 Click here to search for all MLS properties

Am I Normal?

Buyers seem to constantly wonder and ask me if their questions and concerns are "NORMAL". Is it normal to ask about utilites? Is it normal to want to know why the sellers are moving? Is it normal to be nervous?

With a look of sheer panic on a buyer's face I often get asked, is it normal to find a house this fast? 
Y E S!

Often times you're buying before you're buying. Yes, you read that right! If you've ever stayed up late to surf the net and watch Virtual Tours, spent a Saturday watching non-stop reruns of TLC's House Hunters or spent a Sunday walking through open houses "just for fun"- you've already started the buying process.

I found the article excerpt below written by Elizabeth Weintraub from Ask.com and it explains the "is it normal to find a house this fast?" question in a way I can definitely relate to. Can you guess why?

The "Red Shoes" Experience for a Home Buyer

Women will relate to this. Say, you need a new pair of red shoes. You go to the mall. At the first shoe store, you find a fabulous pair of red shoes. You try them on. They fit perfectly. They are glamorous. Priced right, too. Do you buy them? Of course not! You go to every other store in the mall trying on red shoes until you are ready to drop from exhaustion. Then you return to the first store and buy those red shoes. Do not shop for a home this way. When you find the perfect home, buy it.


Wondering if you have normal home buying or selling questions?
Call me today!
~Tanya Ruff

Realtors know EVERYTHING!

Just kidding! The title was purely to get your attention. Let’s face it, Realtors® don’t know everything, but if you’re lucky enough to have found a good one they will know what it takes to sell a house.

One of the hardest parts of my job is simply being honest with a seller when they're preparing to sell their home. My house isn't "market ready" so why should I pass judgement on theirs? Because that's what they've hired me to do!

Recently I was fortunate enough to take a listing at 1602 St John in SE Wichita Falls. The owners are ideal clients; their house was super clean, organized and smelled great. The only flaw was the master bedroom. All it lacked was a comforter set. See the pictures below to see what a difference $100 and a splash of color can do for a room. Thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Seller for following my advice and splurging on new bedding!

Click here for other ideas on getting your home ready to sell.

~TR

Prepare to be Impressed

Open House Today from 1:00-3:00

5055 Eastridge Drive in Stone Lake Estates

"Keep it Simple, Stupid"

OK OK, I'll admit I hate that saying- thanks to my mom who didn't think stupid was an appropriate word to describe anything- much less anyone, but I feel like it applies here so maybe she'll let it slide this time.... along with all of my punctuation errors.

THINK FAST, What's Earnest Money?
Unless you're in a career related to real estate the term "Earnest Money" may sound very foreign to you. Of course if you're anything like me, you'll just "Google" it and find out in a split second. (How did anyone function before Google?)

I could go on and on for paragraphs (YAWN), but instead let's keep it simple. Earnest Money as it applies to Texas Real Estate is a good faith deposit (made by a buyer) that is deposited into an escrow account at the title company within approximately 24-48 hours of your offer being accepted into contract.

A few good questions I've been asked:

• How much does it need to be?
• It really depends on the circumstance and purchase price. I've personally seen anywhere from $300-$5,000 in our market.
• Do I make the check out to the seller?
• No, make it out to the title company that will be closing the sale.
• Will it be cashed before our closing date?
• Yes, please be prepared for it to be cashed right away.
• What happens if I decide not to buy the house?
• If you back out during your option period (stay tuned for another blog topic on those!) your earnest money will be refunded to you less any inspection fees you may have already incurred. It gets a little more complicated after the option period, but your Realtor ® will be able to explain it- just ask!
• Do I get it back at closing?
• The earnest money is applied first to your downpayment and then to your closing costs. Any excess will be refunded to you.

Looking to buy or sell in the Wichita Falls area? I'd love to earn your business!
~ Tanya

Your 5 Senses

What's the one question 9 out of 10 sellers ask me

during a listing appointment?

"Do open houses work?"

I always tell them, "that's a great question!" Whether you're a Realtor or a Seller you're sure to have an opinion on open houses. For what it's worth, I'm a believer!       

I will take every opportunity I can to draw attention and traffic to my listings.

If you have an open house coming up,

   remember your 5 senses.

Sight: First and Foremost, have your house as picture perfect as possible. Turn on all overhead lights and lamps. Don't forget to open your blinds as well!

Smell: Does your home pass the sniff test?  Switch on the scentsy, light some candles or spray some Febreeze. The last thing you want is a less than passing grade on the sniff test.

Hearing: Complete silence can make an open house buyer feel awkward. Yet, I don't want them to feel like they have to talk to me non-stop either. After all, I'm there to show off the house not how much I can talk!  Turn on some soft instrumental or low volume music for background noise.
Touch: This is an easy one to overlook. When buyers shop for a home they touch surfaces, make sure the morning breakfast crumbs or tooth paste splatters have been wiped from your counter tops.
Taste: Last, but certainly not least- feel free to leave cookies or refreshments out for your open house attendees. If I happen to be your Realtor, I'll bring those with me! My husband loves the leftovers and it gives you time to get your home ready to be shown.  

Remember, your home only has one chance to make a good first impression.

Cat Lady

Here is one of my deep, dark secrets... I'm a crazy cat lady!  It wasn't intentional, but at some point during my college days I became one.  The current cat that rules my home and has for the past 6 years is "Pony".  It's a long story... she's a cat that acts like a dog that looks like a Horse... that's the short and sweet version.

If you've ever attempted to sell your home while owning pets of any sort; you understand there are obstacles to overcome in order to show your house. Not everyone loves or even likes pets (GASP!). Here are a few tips I'd like to pass along from a fellow Realtor, Blogger and most importantly Pet Lover, Shannon Millegan:

• Inform your agent. This is simple enough but is often overlooked. When you list your home with your agent, make sure they are aware of how many and what kind of animals you have. This information is needed to make note of the pets in the MLS system. When a buyer agent is aware of a pet in the home, they can prepare their buyer before entering. (And will remind them to use caution to not let your beloved pet outside when they open the door!)
• Remove your pets for a showing. I know, this is easier said than done. But, if it is at all possible, try and make arrangements for your animals to be elsewhere . If you work from home, take your furry friends with you for a car ride. If your mom or generous friend lives down the street, see if they would take them in during showing periods. Consider doggy daycare as yet another option. This will allow potential buyers to look at your home with out the distraction of a jumping dog or overly friendly cat.
• Can’t remove them? Contain them. If you absolutely can not remove your pets for a showing, it is imperative that you keep them contained to one section of the home. The laundry room, unfinished basement, or garage would work well. Make sure to post a sign (printed from the computer!) on the door as a warning to your potential buyer and their agent. Although they may be disappointed they can not access one of these rooms, it is better than them not looking at all because you have a barking dog guarding your front door!
• Keep their things tidy. Keep a litter box out of sight and be sure to clean it every day. Organize all of your dogs toys and bones and put them away in one spot. Keep their food areas neat and clean.  Don’t let a foul odor or untidy pet spaces be the reason a buyer walks back out the door.

Type Type Type..... Delete Delete Delete....

WOW how many times can one overly organized and prepared Realtor
 open her blog template...
start typing...
 and then hit the delete key?!?

At least 9 times since January 4th.

There's no point in trying to create the perfect post, it doesn't exist.

So here's to ending writers block...