Archive for September, 2011

Fannie, Freddie May Hike Fees in 2012

Saturday, September 24th, 2011

As Alex reported 9/24/2011 on Property Source Radio.
Realtor.org  – Daily Real Estate News | Tuesday, Sept 20, 2011
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In overhauling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government may require more private mortgage insurance from borrowers and charge lenders higher fees to guarantee loans–moves that could increase borrowing costs, Edward DeMarco, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, said this week at a mortgage conference in Raleigh, N.C.

Such steps are aimed at making the mortgage market more competitive and trim costs to the federal government by $28 billion over 10 years.

The government-sponsored enterprises buy loans from lenders and package them into securities that are then sold to investors. The GSEs charge a “guarantee fee” when they buy mortgages, a fee likely to be raised in 2012.

The increase could lead to a modest increase to mortgage borrowers. “Increasing the guarantee fees by 0.1 percentage point, as the White House proposed, would raise the monthly cost of a $220,000 mortgage by about $15,” The Wall Street Journal article notes.

Fannie and Freddie may also require borrowers to hold more private mortgage insurance to lessen the risks on taxpayers. The federal government took over the GSEs in 2008.

Any changes would be made “gradually” to avoid harming the already fragile housing market, DeMarco said.

Source: “Fannie, Freddie to Raise Fees,” The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 19, 2011) and “Mortgage Finance Head: Shift Risk From Treasury,” Associated Press (Sept. 19. 2011)

Green Mortgages Allow More Options for Upgrades

Saturday, September 17th, 2011

As Alex reported 9/17/2011 on Property Source Radio.
Realtor.org  – Daily Real Estate News | Tuesday, Sept 12, 2011
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With the growth of green building the last decade, green lending has emerged to help finance those often costly “green” upgrades.

Dave Porter, with PorterWorks in Stanton, Wash., who provides continuing education courses on green lending to those in the real estate industry, says there are several basic types of green mortgages, which most of the public still isn’t very aware about. For example, energy-efficient mortgages (EEMs) are “used to finance the construction of a home that would meet green standards or to buy one that’s newly built.” An energy improvement mortgage (EIM), on the other hand, is used to buy and fix up a house that needs green improvements, like insulation or new windows.

The loans are available through mortgage programs by Fannie Mae, the Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Agriculture.

“They have slight differences in requirements, but basically they allow you to finance the home, plus the energy-conserving improvements, without having to qualify for the additional cost of the improvements,” Porter told the Chicago Tribune.

Source: “Market Ripe for Green Loans,” Chicago Tribune (Sept. 9, 2011)

Pourable Gel Fuel

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

By Jim Salmon

Nine Manufacturers, Distributors Announce Consumer Recall of Pourable Gel Fuel Due to Burn and Flash Fire Hazards WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with nine manufacturers and distributors, is announcing a voluntary recall of all pourable gel fuels made or sold by these companies. Due to the serious risks of flash fire and burns when consumers add pourable gel to an already burning fire pot, consumers should immediately stop using the pourable gel fuel.

The recall involves an estimated 2 million units of various pourable gel fuels packaged in one-quart plastic bottles and one-gallon plastic jugs and sold in scented and non-scented formulations, which were sold since 2008 for between $5 and $20 by the companies listed below

Consumers can contact these firms to obtain instructions for a refund of the product and for returning unused bottles and jugs:

Bird Brain Inc., of Ypsilanti, Mich. Bond Manufacturing of Antioch, Calif. Sunjel Company (2 Burn Inc.) of Milwaukee Fuel Barons Inc. of Lake Tahoe, Nev. Lamplight Farms Inc of Menomonee Falls, Wis. Luminosities Inc (Windflame) of St. Paul, Minn. Pacific Décor Ltd. of Woodinwille, Wash. Real Flame of Racine, Wis. Smart Solar Inc. of Oldsmar, Fla. The pourable gel fuel can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto people and objects nearby when it is poured into a firepot that is still burning. CPSC is aware of 65 incidents resulting in two deaths and 34 victims who were hospitalized with second and third degree burns of the face, chest, hands, arms or legs.

Of the 65 incidents, 28 of them, including 37 burn injuries and two fatalities, occurred with fuel gel products made by Napa Home & Garden, which conducted a recall of its products in June 2011, in cooperation with CPSC. Also in June, CPSC issued a press statement alerting consumers to the hazards of pourable gel fuels. All pourable gel fuel, regardless of manufacturer, poses flash fire hazards.

Consumers should not attempt to use or fix pourable gel fuel bottles with homemade remedies, or replace the fuel with other flammable materials.

Retailers should stop sale of existing inventory and immediately remove all stock of pourable gel fuel from shelves. Some firms are working on a design for caps that may prevent flash fire hazards.

Keep Pests Away From Your Bird Feeders

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

By Jim Salmon

Do you have a bird feeder that the squirrels raid? Try a tube feeder made with wire mesh. Birds can still peck through it but the squirrels can’t get in it!

Keep cats from getting your birds at the feeder by simply putting the feeder on a pole, preferably a metal one so the most persistent cats can’t sink their nails into a wood one and climb it.

Birds tend to like the feeders more if they’re hung near trees or vines, so they can take refuge in them. We have evergreens and the birds loves to be on the branches and swoop to the feeder. Cherry trees are another big hit with the birds, safe place to hang out, nest and eat! It’s like a fine hotel!

With colder weather approaching, especially in the winter try leaving stale baked goods, overripe fruits, meat scraps and drippings, peanut butter & even bits of cheese. Or go ahead and fill your feeder with black oil sunflower seeds, sit back and watch all the birds you’ll attract! Here’s a little tid bit true story; We have a big woodpecker block wire cage attached to a pole a little higher than our regular bird feeders. They’re all on a pressure-treated post, with the feeders attached on a tray. One day the cage was completely empty, no woodpecker block to be seen! Wow, ok, the birds or squirrels pulled it open, but where’s the block?

Of course, refilled it, next day same thing. Refilled it again! Now it’s getting a bit expensive. The following day, the cage is gone too! Found at the bottom of a tree about 10 feet away. Plus, along with this the feeders were wiped clean! Squirrels maybe? Ok, we’ll fix it for good! Bungee cord the woodpecker cage to the pole! Yep, you guessed it. Now this is more than even squirrels can do. That night we discovered, an entire family of raccoons have been raiding the feeders and completely walking off with the woodpecker blocks! Very fat raccoons!

The Top Ten Home Repair and Improvement Projects Not to Tackle as a Home Owner

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

By Jim Salmon

The age old problem most home owners face is knowing exactly which home repair and improvement projects to tackle yourself, and which ones to hire out. I am not perfect with this either. Sometimes I get in way over my head and wind up hiring someone to pick up the pieces. The biggest home owner mistake is the time it takes to complete a project, especially if your wife or husband is upset with you. I always come up with a time frame and my wife, Diane, doubles the estimate, both time wise and how much the project will eventually cost. As I get older, safety becomes the driving factor in my decision. The following is a list of home improvement jobs you should not tackle unless you do them for a living.
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#1- Roofing and chimney work- Especially a three story home with an 8/12 pitch. You can kill yourself! I see the most ridiculous ladder setups people use to try and get to the top of a roof or to a chimney. Brackets, ladders lying on the roof with the bottoms in the gutter and worse, people hanging from non-approved ropes. Except for a close inspection after each winter for visible damage, and gutter cleaning, have as little to do with your roof as possible. Not to mention that roofers know the proper procedures of installing the roof correctly. One mistake with a valley and you will have leaking and ice dam issues for years and years. A roof job is supposed to be a twenty year, worry free project. Reason- danger, safety, experience.
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#2- Gutters- Unless you have a seamless gutter machine in the van in your driveway do not do your own gutters, except for cleaning and maintenance. Vinyl gutters are worthless pieces of junk! The fewer seams the less leaks, right? It only makes sense. Gutters are relatively cheap in the overall scheme of things. If you go to the home center and buy 5, ten foot long pieces of gutter, assuming you will get it on the house with the proper pitch, it will have as many as 7 seams in that run. Seven places for potential leaks. When you compare that to no seams except at the corners, it’s a “no brainer”. Reason- Long Term Maintenance, Leaks.
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#3- Tree trimming and removal- Are you out of your mind? Trying to take a 36” diameter maple tree down is pure numbskullism. It’s doubly ridiculous to attempt such a project if the tree is within falling distance of your home. Even if you are trimming a tree you can be hurt or killed while working high up in a tree without the proper protections and skills. If nothing else, the insurance will kill you! I saw a tree that fell on a house during a storm in Albion, New York this past spring. The tree crushed through the rafters and into the bedroom, coming to rest about 30” from the floor! Don’t risk it! Reason- Danger, safety, destruction.
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#4- Structural Repairs and Changes- When it comes to moving or removing walls, you may find yourself in a world of trouble. The question I get asked every week is, “can I remove that steel post in the basement so I can have more room for my pool table?” No, no, never! These design changes can only be made by an architect and a qualified and experienced contractor. While I have never seen a home that actually fell in on itself from this kind of stupidity, I have seen many sagging and settled floors and roof decks. A good rule to follow is “never cut a truss or a rafter, ever, for any reason”. Not that I care one bit what my town building inspector thinks, but this is one time he or she should be involved in your project. If you live in a larger town you may find an experienced building inspector an asset. If you live in a small town with a less experienced inspector, you may want to go outside the area for a final certificate of occupancy inspection. Reason- Danger, Value Reduction.
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#5- HVAC or Air Conditioning- Most of us have no idea how air conditioning works. And furthermore, most of us have no idea how to maintain these systems. All A/C systems should be cleaned and inspected by an HVAC professional every year. There is between 300 and 400 pounds per square inch of pressure in that copper coolant line going between your furnace and the A/C compressor cabinet outside. Do you have the equipment to test that pressure? Or to add coolant? Of course not! Make sure your system is inspected annually, usually in May. Reason- Efficiency, Comfort, and Value.
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#6- Exterior Painting- I wish I had a dollar for every time I saw a house where the homeowner had painted his house without much preparation work. To go through that much work and hassle to paint a house, only to have the paint peel off a year later is a shame. It’s all in the prep work! A professional painter is trained on how to deal with each particular problem a house could have, relating to paint and how to keep in on the home. While it can be expensive these days, a professional paint or stain job will most likely look  better and last a lot longer than if you did it!  Reason- Looks, Longevity, Wasting Money.
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#7- Replacement Windows- It would be a shame to install a vinyl replacement window only to have the air blow right past it! If you have ever seen a professional window installer, like the technicians at Comfort Window and Door, install a replacement window, it’s amazing how quickly and efficiently they do it. The window has to be sealed to the house. There is a higher degree of training that is required. Not to mention, how important it is to measure properly. A poorly installed replacement window can be a nightmare of leaks, both from water and air. How many times in your life would you measure an opening for a replacement window? If the window comes in and was made too big, you are in deep doo, doo! If for only for the warranty, it simply makes sense to hire a professional. Reason- Energy Efficiency, Comfort, Value.
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#8- Installing Pavers- Now, on this one I am a little biased I will admit. Three years ago I actually entertained the idea of doing my own paver driveway. Man, what a dope I was. I finally hired John Welch Enterprises to do the job. When I saw the equipment they used, and how deep the base was, and how much stone and tamping of that stone went into the project. I just thanked my luck stars I hadn’t been stupid enough to try that project myself. Not to mention the wasted time and product. My driveway looks great, and I love it! Installing pavers requires a ton of specialized training and just the right equipment. Face it guys; paver work is for young men or women, not old geezers like us. If I had done my own driveway job the pavers would have settled and become uneven and I would have been very upset with myself. This is one project that should be hired out in my opinion. Reason- Value, longevity, and saving your back.
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#9- Drywall Work- This is an easy one. What’s the first thing you see when you walk into a house? The walls right? As a professional home owner I see many, many signs of amateur workmanship. If 1 is the worst and 10 is contractor quality, acceptable amateur work should be in the 6 to 8 range. I see a ton of 2 to 5 drywall work, which is very unsightly, detracts from value, and lowers the amount of people in the “buyer pool”. If you want your home to be worth as much as it possibly can, don’t compromise. Anyone can read up on the proper way to install drywall, but when it comes to finishing it, hire a pro!  Reason- Looks, Value, Embarrassment.
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#10- Attic Insulation and Ventilation- There are a few things at risk if you mess up the attic insulation and ventilation. First, you wind up cooking your roof, which dries out the shingles and causes curling and most likely violates your shingle warranty. Also, a poorly ventilated attic can cause your home to be too hot or too cold, that’s a comfort issue! Every home is different and requires a very specific plan on how to properly ventilate. The biggest mistake that homeowners make with fiberglass or cellulose is packing it into the overhangs. The soffits must breathe in order for air to pass from low to high and ventilate properly. Unless you are an advanced do-it-yourselfer, attic insulation and ventilation should be left to a professional. Modern insulation technology is closed cell polyurethane insulation. Throw out what you have learned about “R” value and replace it with “Air Sealing”. Foam is the way to solve those ice dam problems, reduce draft, and lower your heating bills. Foam insulation is rarely a home owner project. I hired JAG Construction to foam my lodge. What an unbelievable difference in comfort and efficiency, stunning! Reason- Cost, Efficiency, technology.
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Now here’s the deal. Many of you will read this and go right ahead and do these projects anyway. That’s fine, I never say “I told you so” to anyone. I make a very good living helping folks out of home repair jams. Feel free to call my office anytime at 585-589-5650.  Remember; professional workmanship adds to value, amateur workmanship below a 7 to 8 on the scale detracts from value! You decide!

The Rhythm Method, Temperature and Symptoms

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

By Rich Levin

What is that expression about Doctors being the worst patients?  Well I have my house on the market.  We are moving to Atlanta, Georgia from Rochester, New York to be close to our granddaughter (she’ll turn one on November 21st B”H).  So, I write to you today as a Seller in a bad market during one of the softest times of the year, having had my house on the market for just over a week and already reducing my price by $10,000.
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Although, I am a Broker, I am not actively selling.  So, I asked an Agent I coach who is with a company with all the best marketing tools to work with me on it.  She has already cursed at me out loud, under her breath and I’m sure out of my hearing.  REALTORS®, like doctors, at least in my case, do make for the “worst” Clients.
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There is a rhythm to the year.  There are better times to sell and worse ones.  This is a bad one, for a bit longer.  The best is mid spring, April and May.  The worst is the two weeks around Christmas.  Then there are some better or worse times.  Another good time is mid September to early November.  And right now (mid to late August) is one of the soft times.
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Children are home from camps and summer vacations are at a peak.  The college ages are preparing or being dropped off.  With the sense of fall in the air, good weather wants to be taken advantage of and bad weather is a reminder of things to come.  There is a natural lull for two to three weeks in late summer even in the hottest of residential markets.  For a Seller, like me, it is time to be anxious or patient.  I tell myself, “Be patient, you’ll live longer.”
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For those Agents reading this, if you have been doing the right things all year with your marketing, high quality service, staying in touch with leads, and managing your business by the numbers, you are remaining busy with the smaller number of Clients who are now active.
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For those Agents who don’t control their attitude and their business, this is a tough time.  Not only is it a soft time of year, it is a soft year.  Although interest rates keep getting even lower and prices are tremendous, there are fewer highly motivated Buyers and the less motivated are being quite (what’s the nice word for fussy… oh) particular.  Many Agents are struggling, worried or both.  If you are in that position, call me, not as a Seller but as a Coach.  Your struggle and worry are not necessary and they don’t help.  Just like your Seller’s anxiety doesn’t help.  It needs to be replaced by information, sincere empathy, and clear thinking.  As their Agent it is your job to provide that.  As your coach it is my job to provide that to you.
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Back to selling my house (or yours), the stock market roller coaster, partisan politics, and cautious business environment create insecurity which leads many people to delay their decisions to sell and buy their homes.
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There is very little activity on my house.  Either my price is too high or there are no Buyers.  I’ll wait until the beginning of that more active time early-mid September.  If the house is not sold by then and activity doesn’t pick up we’ll drop the price another $10,000.  Or if activity picks up but we don’t receive an offer, we’ll drop the price.  In Real Estate jargon, we are what you call a motivated Seller.  I will be in Atlanta for my granddaughter’s birthday.
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Selling your home, buying a home or investing is not magic or mysterious, it is understandable and explainable.  If you are selling or buying and you feel confused about what is happening, talk to your Agent.  If your Agent doesn’t provide satisfactory answers, talk to their Broker.  If you are still not satisfied e-mail me and share your situation. With complete confidentiality, I’ll share possible solutions.  There are many misconceptions.  You do not have to suffer from them.  You may suffer for many other reasons, misconceptions and confusion do not have to be among them.
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There is a rhythm to the residential Real Estate market each year.  There is rhythm to the good markets and bad.  Although, the reason for the title of this is to share a bit of humor, it was the title of a presentation I did in college, for which I got an ‘A.’ Do you know what it refers to?  It has nothing to do with business… well not the Real Estate business.  If you know, I hope this adds a little smile.  J
Rich Levin is a National coach and featured speaker to Real Estate Agents.  His Clients are the most productive and most respected because of their high standards of performance.  Rich is President of Rich Levin’s Success Corps Inc.  You can contact him at Rich@RichLevin.com or 585-244-2700.  View Rich’s free daily coaching Webinar at www.FreeCoachingWebinar.com.

News Media and Todays Market

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

By Kristen Noble

The news media is not helping Rochester area residents with their conceptions on today’s housing market. Now that less than 10% of home buyers are using the newspaper to find their homes, the internet has both helped and hurt housing sales. HGTV addicts are everywhere.
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Carolyn Stiffler, Board President for the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors, GRAR  states that second quarter sales data is being released on July 22nd. She feels that the seller’s market is on the slow side.  Stiffler says there are a large volume of homes for sale in every price range making it a buyer’s market. Homes that may have taken three months to sell are now taking six months.
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James Valenti, law partner at Trevett, Cristo, Salzer, and Andolina P.C.  is seeing an increase in homes entering the market from divorcing couples.   In the past, it was more common to have one individual buy out equity of a home from the other party or the custodial parent would live in the home until the youngest child reached 18 years of age. Changes in the economy, along with child and spousal support being added into an individual ‘s budget make finances more tight.
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Sellers need to take more responsibility when placing their home for sale.  The first step is to start looking at their home as a commodity and cut off the apron strings with their emotions and memories of the time they spent in their home.  Sellers need to know the facts. It’s great that Uncle Joe built them a deck. It’s not great if the deck never received a certificate of occupancy from the town/village the home is located in. Necessary maintenance issues such as replacing a furnace, roof, or windows are not viewed as upgrades by agents or buyers. These issues however, should get the sale closer to the asking price of the property. The more documentation that sellers can provide regarding updates, utility bill information, and additional improvements made, will impress buyers.One of the smartest things that a seller should do is have a pre-sale inspection.
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John White, owner of Integrity Inspections stated that he is receiving more business than ever on homes priced $150,000 and higher for pre-sale inspections. If this does not take place, sellers will have an additional hurdle to cross in a successful home sale. If there are deficiencies that are required, they may be expensive. This may cause a delay in the listing date of the home. Have the repairs made before listing the house. A larger majority of buyers have a home inspection contingency in their offers.
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Waiting for home inspection results should be like getting engaged, most likely it’s not a surprise. This inspection, if shared with potential buyers along with receipts of the recommended work being completed, may be satisfactory enough for buyers to not require a home inspection contingency in Paul Nicosia, has 40 years real estate experience. Currently, he is an Associate Broker with Nothnagle Realtors and formerly was the owner/broker of the ERA Nicosia Agency. Paul stated he has not experienced a fluctuation in business for the past three years. One issue he has experienced, despite the internet being a great tool, is inaccuracies on housing websites. Buyers need to learn reliable information on properties from a local Realtor. Paul is working with more short sales than he has in the past. Some banks are not giving a response to offers received within the 40 business days required by new legislation. This causes difficulties selling these homes. In eligible areas, Paul attributes the popularity of USDA 100% financing as a big plus for the housing markets. Due to the large selection on the market, his buyers are finding what they’re looking for more quickly. Homes in the best condition that show well are always are the first to sell. In a buyer’s market, the quickest selling homes have updated mechanics and cosmetics and have been extensively marketed states Nicosia.
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It is more important than ever for perspective buyers to pay their bills promptly states Robert Everhart, Mortgage Consultant with First Rochester Mortgage. It is getting more difficult to get pre-approvals. Recent past late payments within a credit report are not being overlooked. Banks are demanding that extenuating circumstances must be the cause for tardy payments. Robert is seeing increased business in buyers buying second upgraded home due to interest rates holding in the mid 4’s.
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Overall I believe the difference in selling your home quickly for more money is all about keeping a home’s mechanics upgraded and a strong on line presence.  Home staging sells homes 78% faster for 6% more money.  Have your home completely prepared before listing it by de-cluttering, painting rooms a neutral color, weed the garden, and making repairs. Taking an extra week to list your home may get it sold in a week. If you have poor online photos you simply will not get showings. You have to make your home outshine its competition on the market. Listen to your agent when it comes to pricing.  Look at the comparable properties he/she used to come up with a suggested sales price. When listed, there is simply no excuse to having your house be dirty. I have seen this as a total letdown to buyers and a complete turn off. If your agent ever states that feedback to you take it seriously. Although I hate to say it, selling a house is not fun. Rip off the band aide and put in some elbow grease. Do it right and your house will be the one buyer’s desire.

Clean and Green

Thursday, September 15th, 2011
By Lana Torre
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Hate chemicals? Hate having so many spray bottles under your sink each solving a specific cleaning problem? Hate the thought of not cleaning ‘green’? Here are common household cleaners right from the fridge or pantry. They are green, safe, inexpensive, and you will not have to wear rubber gloves or ruin your manicure!
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Baking soda is a natural scrubbing agent and deodorizer. Use it in your kitchen and bath sinks. Mix water with it to form a paste and scrub your tub and shower. Of course we use baking soda to rid the fridge of nasty smells, but sprinkle it on spills on the fridge shelves then just wipe clean with a soft cloth.
Mayonnaise! I am a snob and always use Hellman’s for my egg and olive salad. You can clean and polish your wood furniture with it, sans the eggs. The mayo will leave wood case pieces clean and shiny.
Lemon juice is your natural whitener. You can squeeze the juice and whiten any yellowed kitchen appliance. Soak your fingernails in the juice to make them sparkling white. Use halved lemons as scrub brushes sprinkled with kosher salt. Grind leftover lemon pieces in your disposal for a fresh scent, the lemon will help to sharpen the blades in your disposal too. Mix lemon juice and kosher salt to clean the cutting surfaces in your home.
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White vinegar is the best and most universal of all pantry items. I use it to clean the coffee pot every week. Just pour diluted vinegar into the water tank of your coffee maker and allow it to run through. All the accumulated coffee oils and stains will disappear. Undiluted vinegar is the best product to get rid of soap scum in the tub and shower, it will naturally eat through it, leaving a clean, shiny surface. For nasty clogged showerheads, simply unscrew and soak in vinegar and they will perform like new.
Lemon Joy dish soap is an excellent glass and window cleaner. Just squeeze this yellow soap into a bucket of warm water and wash your windows with a sponge, then wipe dry with a micro fiber cloth, no rinsing and the glass will sparkle.
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Tea bags steeped in hot water will make an amazing cleaner for your hardwood floors. Your floors will be shiny and clean. The tannic acid in the tea is a super cleaning agent. If you have a few scratches on your hardwoods, crack open a brazil nut and rub it into the scratch, it will miraculously disappear.
Kitty liter is an inexpensive deodorizer. If your kids have smelly sneaks, pour liter into them and let them sit overnight. If they are locker room stinky, fill them with liter and place in the freezer overnight. {I would use the freezer in the garage].
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All these products from your kitchen are so safe your kidlets can join in the fun of cleaning ‘naturally’. Yeah, right!

Rick Borrelli and The Windsor Cottage on PSR – Listen Now

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

House & Coyne have a full house with Rick Borrelli of Re/Max First and Peggy Growne for the Windsor Cottage as their guests. Tune in this Saturday 9/10/11 from 9-10am.

Rick Borrelli is a seasoned Agent that lets us know about today’s real estate market and the dos and don’ts about selling your home. Rick also represents a Horizon Homes in Greece. New homes off N Greece Road in Greece starting in the $200s. Model open this weekend at 86 Rockwell Drive. Hilton Schools. For more information call Rick Borrelli at 585-719-3550.

Peggy Growne started The Windsor Cottage on 9/11/2001 and tells us her story. This unique store is located in Winton Place and offers home furnishings. Visit their website for location and hours.

Property Source Radio is every Saturday from 9-10am on Sportsradio 950AM ESPN. You can listen on the radio or stream the show from our website. We have our latest promos on the site, click in to listen (Apps and Suppository)

Listen to this PAST SHOW now.

Saving Money With Salvaged Materials

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

As Alex reported 9/10/2011 on Property Source Radio.
Realtor.org  – Daily Real Estate News | Tuesday, Sept 6, 2011
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Clients who are remodeling can help the environment by using salvaged building materials, which saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Building Web site. Clients may also be able to find rare and sought-after pieces like marble mantles, antique fixtures, old-growth hardwoods, wide-plank lumber, and knot-free fine-grain wood.

Give clients the edge in locating those hidden gems — and saving money in the process — by branding, printing, and hand-delivering free info on salvaged building materials from the REALTOR® Content Resource.

Also available are two other “Reusing and Salvaging Like a Pro” articles that you can hand-deliver (or post to your Web site, blog, Facebook, or Twitter; e-mail; or add to your e-newsletter). You can also search the REALTOR® Content Resource by keyword or topic for other content ranging from home improvement and maintenance to taxes and finance.