8 Staging Tips for Small Outdoor SpacesBy: Kristine WebsterPlease click here for original post.  An attractive outdoor space, even if it’s just big enough to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or evening cocktail, can be a major selling point for potential buyers. Here are a few suggestions for maximizing your outdoor living space.1. Floor it.If you have a small outdoor area, it won’t break the bank to invest in higher quality tiles or stones. Snap-in deck tiles are another option for adding a touch of class.2. Envision clarity.When it comes to tables, go for glass-topped: It will help create the illusion of a larger space.4. Watch your back.Chairs and benches with more open backs don’t interrupt sight lines as much. They’ll keep your space feeling open, and looking larger.5. Focus.Creating ... 10/26/2015

Wishing everyone a very Happy October!!!  09/30/2015

Think it is so important in our business and lives to be willing to change when circumstances call for it. There are so many situations where this applies from keeeping up to date with the current technology or changing your business model as the environment changes to meet your client's needs better.  If we don't change when needed our business will suffer and our growth will be stunted.  Be willing to make the necessary changes to obtain extraordinary results!  09/20/2015

These 14 Stunning Photos Will Remind You Why Alabama Is The Best StateAs we look at all of the beautiful scenery and wonderful places that surround us, it’s easy to understand why Alabama is such a great state to live in. Listed below are 14 stunning photos that remind us why Alabama is an amazing place to call home.Please click here for original post. 1. Many wonderful trails are located throughout Alabama. flickr/faungg's photos Pictured Above: Trail at University of South Alabama - Mobile, AL 2. And many of these trails lead to stunning waterfalls. flickr/Randy Waite Pictured Above: Turkey Foot Falls - Bankhead National Forest 3. Alabama is home to some pretty amazing lakes… flickr/Chuck Burgess Pictured Above: Lake Guntersville - Alabama's largest lake 4. …and rivers. flickr/Kevin S... 09/09/2015

Sometimes success is just around the corner.  You are too close to success to give up now!!!  09/07/2015

Grow in places no one ever thought possible!  08/31/2015

7 Reasons Why You Should Use a REALTOR® to Sell Your Home     RISMEDIA, Friday, August 28, 2015— Selling your home can seem a daunting task. When you close that deal, you want to make sure that your home goes to the best buyer for the best price. It may seem cheaper to sell your home yourself, and many do; however, there are a lot of details to work through.“Selling your home through a REALTOR® can help you make sure you get the best value overall,” says Kimberly Nicole, a REALTOR® based in The Woodlands/Houston, Texas metro area who caters to luxury homes and their clientele.Nicole offers seven reasons why you should use a REALTOR® instead of selling your home yourself:1. REALTORS® Know How to Navigate the Process – A REALTOR® is the manager of your home buying process. Nicole explain... 08/27/2015

Top 5 Landscaping Tips to Increase Property Value!!!  Please click here for original post.Contributed by Rick RyanLandscaping is one of the most important ways to increase your property’s value quickly. In fact, a gorgeous landscape design can increase the value of your home by at least 5 to 11 percent—and maybe more. The best part about landscaping is that even though it’s one of the most valuable home improvements you can make, it’s also one of the easiest. If you’re wondering how to turn your landscape into one of your home’s most valuable assets, here are some tips to get you started.1. Match Landscape to Your Home’s StyleThe best way to get an excellent return on investment with landscaping is to make sure it fits with your home’s style. For instance, if you own a Victorian home, a... 08/16/2015

Never give up on the things that really matter! Sometimes our break through comes when we get up and try one more time!  08/03/2015

4 Tips for First-Time Home BuyersPlease click here for original post.  iStock  Over the past several years first-time home buyers may have shied away from entering the housing market due to stagnant wages and debt, but times have changed.According to TD Bank’s First-Time Home Buyer Pulse, one in five consumers is actively looking to buy his or her first home, and 46% of millennials will be looking in the next one to two years.If you’re a first-time buyer, the mere thought of securing a mortgage may be overwhelming. For most people, a home is the largest purchase they’ll make, and very few can take on this purchase without a loan. Here are some helpful tips and best practices for first-time buyers:Save for the down paymentMost mortgage lenders require a cash down payment of 5%, 10%, or 2... 07/28/2015

Living Smart: Ideas to Organize your Pantry Cabinet By Shannon Antinori RISMEDIA, Monday, July 27, 2015— (TNS)—The key to a decluttered kitchen starts with pantry organization — but tackling shelf upon shelf of cans, boxes and bags of food can be daunting.Professional organizer Erin Kelly says her company, Chicago-based Arranged by Erin, frequently gets calls from homeowners looking for help with their out-of-control pantry cabinets.“It’s a time thing,” she says. “People get very overwhelmed. That’s why a lot of them call.”While a home organizer can organize your pantry for you, you can also do it yourself with a few pointers.   Create categoriesWhen it comes to organizing the pantry, grouping similar items together is critical.“The important thing is to zone your pantry,” Kelly says.M... 07/28/2015

Happy Friday! 07/23/2015

Alabama residential sales in June up 17%; 92% of local markets improve YTD from last yearBy Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE) Please click here for original post. Click here to view or print the entire June report compliments of the ACRE Corporate Cabinet. Join the Center mailing list HERE. Alabama home sales up 17% vs June 2014. June sales up 39% from 2009 monthly bottom. Infograph courtesy of ACRE. All rights reserved.Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE) Sales: Alabama residential sales totaling 5,200 units in June reflect an increase of 17.5 percent growth from the same period a year earlier. The last time sales hit the 5,000 mark was August 2007. Sales are 29.2 percent above the June five-year sales average('10-'14) of 4,040 units. Year-to-date sales through June are up 13.3 pe... 07/22/2015

 "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."  Benjamin Franklin 07/22/2015

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate is supporting the Barbasol Championship at the PGA tour at the Robert Trent Jones at Grand National! Proud to be a part of such a winning team! 07/16/2015

Here's why home sales are finally surgingPosted: Monday, June 22, 2015 3:58 pm | Updated: 4:30 pm, Mon Jun 22, 2015.Please click here for original post.Associated Press | WASHINGTON (AP) — Real estate has gotten hot again. Home sales are on pace for their best year since 2007. First-time buyers are streaming back into the market. Prices are skyrocketing, aided by a stronger job market and tantalizingly low mortgage rates that are creating pressure for buyers to act fast. The resurgence is a sign that the U.S. economy — after muddling through a sluggish, six-year recovery — has re-discovered another source of growth. Buyers are more confident about their own prospects. But many also appear ready to close sales quickly because of concerns of being potentially priced out of the market by r... 06/27/2015

Opelika Planning Commission changes bond procedure in subdivision regulations Posted: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 8:02 pm  Building a subdivision in Opelika may be a little simpler following action by the Opelika Planning Commission Tuesday evening, but it's still a complex process. After much discussion, the commission voted to accept an amendment to Section 4.4 Final Plat Approval within the subdivision regulations, which addressed performance security and warranty bonds. The revision was explained by city engineer Scott Parker. “Basically, the revisions I have in place here are to alter the subdivision regulations as applies to bonding requirements. A major deletion will be the deletion of the 150 percent bond on the infrastructure before construction of the subdivision has been conducted... 06/23/2015

Your Buyers Get up to $4,000 Towards Closing Costs!Creekstone in Opelika is a great option for those who are working in Columbus, Phenix City, Opelika or Auburn and are looking to move up to a brand new home. Creekstone is just minutes from I-85 off South Uniroyal Road and offers spacious floor plans with stainless appliances and granite counter tops plus pre-wiring for security systems and HDMI cable. Comfortably priced from $169,900.For a limited time, the builder is offering $4,000 towards closing costs when you use a preferred lender ($3,000 when a buyer uses their own lender). Please contact me today for your personal showing or for any questions you may have about this beautiful neighborhood at (334) 332-7263.  06/16/2015

Thought it would be great for all the Opelika residents to be aware this will be taking place over the next few days.Posted: Tuesday, June 9, 2015 8:44 am | Updated: 8:46 am, Tue Jun 9, 2015.Special to the News The Opelika Fire Department is flushing city fire hydrants this month. “That means you will see fire fighters working at fire hydrants throughout the city and/or see water running down the street from time to time,” the city stated. “There are approximately 1,700 fire hydrants located throughout the city of Opelika. Fire crews will begin testing hydrants along Marvyn Parkway the first week of June. The city will try to keep residents / businesses updated on the sections firefighters will cover each week on the city’s website and Facebook pages, respectively.” Flushing the hydrant... 06/10/2015

Posted: Monday, June 8, 2015 3:25 pm | Updated: 3:31 pm, Mon Jun 8, 2015.Patrick Johnston | Opelika-Auburn News | TwitterFor original post please click here.  Tee time is approaching for the Barbasol Championship. In just five weeks, many of the world’s top golfers will take part in the inaugural PGA Tour event at Opelika’s Grand National. It will be the largest professional sporting event to ever be held in Lee County. Tickets are currently on sale atbarbasolchampionship.com. Prices start at just $20 per day. More information on volunteering for the tournament can also be found on the website, as up to 1,200 volunteers are needed. Here are a few other numbers of interest as the tournament approaches: 1: The number of courses that will be used at Grand National as the tournament will be... 06/09/2015