Susan's Blog

OK folks, here it is, that time of year: Thanksgiving.

And its time for AR's first virtual Thanksgiving party.

A blog party is similar in concept to a progressive dinner party.  In a progressive dinner party, each course is held at someone else's home.  In this case, each day of a party theme will be hosted by the last person to post a comment on each day's party.

This will be run along the same lines as the AR Halloween party: (In case you missed that party, you can follow that thread and see what people brought here: First AR "Blog" Party: Halloween )

 

Here's the rules for a Blog Party:

 

1. When you make a post, you have to "bring" something to the party.

It can be a picture of food, drink, decorations, a video, music, costumes.

2. In addition, you have to post something that you are thankful for.

3. Click on the "Notify me of comments" when you leave your post.  That way you'll know who else is coming to the party and you can engage in mingling!

4. The last person to comment on this post by midnight, will "host" the party by either re-blogging this post -OR- starting their own post and linking back to this one.

5.  Everyone who commented on this party post will go the next host's party and bring something to that party. 

6.  The party will continue at each host's blog until Thanksgiving.

 

So, to start this off, here's a little place to sit and enjoy each other's company:

BTW, join the AR Blog Party group and host your own party for what ever reason you like!  Celebrate something with all of AR!

(If you like this party, flag it below!)

And for all you "point hounds" there are points in this party.  Not bonus points or extra points.  With everyone carrying forward to the next party, the more comment points you get.  Who ever winds up hosting for the last day will have the most attendees (if everyone that shows up actually participates all the way through. 

 

Mike Michaud,

Builder of zero-energy homes Texas and Oklahoma -          

Custom homes AT COST! ™                       part of     

            by

North Texas Help-U-Build

 

Real Estate brokerage services for North Texas Residential and Farm, Ranch & Recreational Properties and developments.

Agents and sellers: Get the Green marketing edge with your listings

Selling Homes with Sunshine!

Solar Certified Homes

www.solarcertifiedhomes.com

                        by

M. G. Michaud & Associates

Innovative Marketing

 

How To Avoid the 10 Biggest Mistakes Home Sellers Make

You'll sell your home faster - and for more money - if you avoid these common pitfalls.

How To Avoid the 10 Biggest Mistakes Home Sellers Make on Howcast

You Will Need

• A thorough housecleaning
• An open mind
• Home improvements

Step 1: Declutter your home

Get rid of as much clutter as possible. Stuffed closets, extraneous furniture, exercise equipment in living quarters, crowded countertops, overflowing cabinets, and endless knickknacks make homes seem smaller than they are. Consider putting some things in storage.

Step 2: Hide your pets

Hide all evidence that you own animals. Just because your potential buyer loves his own pets doesn't mean he wants a house that reeks of yours. Get rid of pet stains and odors (pay a professional if you have to) and send the four-legged family members to a neighbor's house when you show your home.

Step 3: Be scarce yourself

And, while you're at it, make yourself scarce during home showings. You know how you feel about those annoying salespeople who follow you around the store, making you uncomfortable? That's how potential home buyers will feel about you.

Step 4: Don't discount the first offer

Think carefully before you reject the first offer on your home; studies show it is usually the highest bid you get. And the longer you hold out for a better offer, the lower your chances are of getting it, because people start to think that something must be wrong with a house that's been on the market for so long.

Step 5: Always negotiate

Don't take lowball offers personally, or you'll lose a lot of potential buyers. Instead of viewing them as insults, look at them as starting points for negotiation.

To attract the most buyers, list your home a few thousand dollars below a major round number. If you're hoping to get about $200,000, for example, list it as $199,000, not $205,000. You don't want to miss out on buyers who have set $200,000 as their cutoff point.

Step 6: Out with the old

Toss or change anything that makes your home look tired - worn carpeting, old throw rugs, dirty light switch covers. Give every room a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color. Don't let cost deter you; this is truly a case where you've got to spend money to make money.

Step 7: Remember curb appeal

Don't discount the importance of a good first impression from the street. Trim hedges, reseed the lawn, plant some flowers, wash the windows, scrape and repaint the front door and windowsills, and put some oversized potted plants at the entrance.

Step 8: Depersonalize your home

Rid your home of all your treasured personal touches - family photos, the kids' artwork on the fridge, religious artifacts, bowling trophies, your ceramic pig collection, the shrine to Elvis. They will only make it more difficult for potential buyers to imagine themselves in your home.

Step 9: Aim for light and bright

Because home buyers are nearly unanimously looking for a light, bright house as opposed to a dark, dreary one, do what you can to make that happen. Ditch the heavy drapes, take down dark wallpaper, put in high-wattage light bulbs, and get rid of wood paneling.

Step 10: Fix anything that's broken

Fix whatever is broken before you list your home. It's almost always cheaper to do it yourself than to let the buyer use it to bring down the price.

Melinda Peterson, Broker/Owner

Real Estate Cafe

Grants Pass, Oregon ~ Southern Oregon Real Estate

 When you have one of those days when your feeling

particularly stupid for having said something with your foot

in your mouth, whip this out and read it and you'll think your a genius.

MEMORABLE QUOTES:

Q. If you could live forever, would you and why?

A. "I would not live forever, because we should not live forever,

because if we were supposed

to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever,

which is why I would not live forever.

(Miss Alabama-1994)

"Whenever I watch T.V. and see those poor starving kids all over the world,

I can't help  but cry I mean I'd love to be skinny like that,

but not with all those flies and death and stuff"

(Mariah Carey)

"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of life".

(Brooke Shields)

"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body"

(Winston Bennett)

"Outside of killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country"

(Major Marion Barry)

"The lowdown scroundrel deserves to be kicked to death by a jackass,

and I'm just the one to do it"

(Congression candidate in Texas)

"Half this game is ninety per cent mental"

(Phillies manager Danny Ozark)

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment.

It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it"

(Al Gore)

"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix"

(Don Quale)

"We got to ask ourselves: how much clean air do we need?"

(Lee Iacocca)

"We don't necessarily discriminate. We simply exclude certain types of people"

(Gerald Wellman-ROTC instructor)

"Your food stamps will be  stopped effective March because we received

notice that you passed away. May God bless you.

You may re-apply if there is a change in your circumstances"

(Dept. of Social Services-Greenville, S.C.)

"Traditionally, most of Australia's imports come from overseas"

(Keppel Enderberry)

"If someone has a bad heart, they can plug this jack in at night as they go to bed

and it will monitor their heart throughout the night.

And the next morning, when they wake up dead, there'll be a record"

(Mark Fowler-FCC Chairman)

"The word 'genius' isn't applicable in football.

A genius is a guy like,

Norman Einstein"

(Joe Theisman-NFL Q.B.)