It's March, and the Christmas decorations are finally stored in the attic.I don't "bounce" as well as I used to, so I recruited my daughter-in-law to help put things away, and to dial 9-1-1 if necessary. (Honestly, it was more to help open and close the attic stairs, but more on that later).The DIL commented on how large my attic space is, and daydreamed of having a big game room up there (not happening). Anyway, that got me to thinking, what are the typical items stored in folks' attics?1. Leading the list at number 1 is Christmas and holiday decor, Halloween, Easter and fall items. I downsized a couple of boxes this year, but still have ornaments, Santa's, Christmas gnomes, garland, and all size trees. Some boxes decided to reside on shelving in the garage for convenience sake.2. Next... 03/07/2025

It's the last day of February, and I'm finally sitting down to write my "love" post for the challenge - "Why We Love What We Do".  It's been a busy month to be sure; even more so since I co-hosted the February challenge with Debe Maxwell, CRS and have been busy reading everyone's incredible submissions!Writing my own post after reading the talented and creative entries from everyone else means trying extra hard to be original. But I'll push through and get this entry done by midnight!I love my "job" for all the reasons most Realtors do—and surprisingly, looking at pretty houses doesn’t even make the Top 10 (even though that’s what most people think we do). If I’m being honest, the freedom and flexibility to set my own hours and choose how many clients I take on is at the top of my list.... 02/28/2025

Today's tip helps reduce unnecessary wear and tear on your home-- turn on the vent fan while bathing or showering, and let it run for several minutes after your shower is over.In small bathrooms, steam from a shower or bath creates moisture. If the steam can't escape, it creates a "rain forest" situation and sweat will accumulate and run down the walls. You will greatly reduce moisture in the room by using the vent fan, which is a standard feature in modern homes.Turn on the fan before turning on the hot water. Let the fan run during your shower and bath and for several minutes after. When you vacate the bathroom, leave the door open to help the steam dissipate faster.This is such a simple task, but children or teens will not learn this lesson unless we teach them. How do I know? Common... 02/25/2025

When a client asks you to check on their vacant house because of record low temperatures, you grab your warmest hat, coat, and gloves and head out the door. If 32° is freezing, 20° is an INSULT to us in Central Mississippi!If you are selling your home during the winter months, here are 6 key things you should do to get your home ready for winter. 1. Seal drafts and improve insulation: Check for drafts around windows, doors and other openings and seal them using weatherstripping or caulk.2. Service the HVAC system: Ensure your heating system is working properly by having it serviced before you put your house on the market. Change the air filters, clean ducts, and check for any issues.3. Wrap your pipes! Insulate exposed pipes including exterior faucets, pipes in the attic and garage. Do ... 02/21/2025

Today was closing day on a home my buyers purchased. I wanted to announce the closing on social media, but knew my clients were private and wouldn't want a big splash on Facebook or Insta.I asked ChatGPT for 5 things to do after you get the house keys and within a nano-second, AI spit out the reply. If it weren't so late at night, I could have written the post myself, but as it was already late, I knew my new AI friend could help me out.Here is the AI-generated text for 5 Tips After you Get the House Keys:1. **Change the Locks**: For security reasons, it's wise to change the locks on all doors. You never know who might have a copy of the existing keys. 2. **Clean the Space**: Before moving in, thoroughly clean the house. This includes vacuuming, dusting, and wiping down surfaces. This c... 02/20/2025

Every now and then, a house hits the market that is rare, special, a great value and perfectly priced. In the real estate world, we call this a unicorn. Because few people have ever seen a unicorn; most question its existence. But when you see one, you must act quickly if you wish to capture it!A unicorn hit the market today. My client had been looking for a property like this for MONTHS! I showed it to her, and on the spot, the buyer asked me to write the offer. I gathered the necessary disclosures and we discussed strategies.Easy peasy, right? WRONG! When a unicorn appears in the wild, people take notice. Others wanted this unique, beautiful unicorn for their own desires. In laymen's terms, we were facing multiple offers.So I pulled out all the tools in my toolbox. All the tricks of t... 02/12/2025

My mission the last several years is remembering the elderly in Assisted Living and Retirement Homes. I've volunteered at Bingo and other activities, attended dances, brought snacks, decorated Christmas trees, and brought door prizes throughout the year for various games and activities.Many older adults are forgotten during the holiday season; I'd like to encourage those with living parents and grandparents to include them in your holiday celebrations, even if it involves a short visit at your home or theirs. A family visit is the most cherished gift!There are countless opportunities to brighten someone's day by visiting a senior center or nursing home. Not only does it bring them pleasure, it warms the soul  knowing you have made a difference in someone's life. Over the years I have co... 12/22/2024

My job is to help people move.I've helped sellers downsize not only their home, but also their possessions. Sometimes I post items for my senior clients in Facebook Groups because they don't use Facebook and I do what I can for my clients.A friend saw all my furniture postings, and asked if I was moving.It was a logical assumption, but NO, I'm not. I'm helping a senior client get rid of things as she prepares to move out of state. But the question made me think... statistics say the average American moves every 7 years (or 9 times in their lifetime). How many times have I moved?So I counted....Thirteen!I have purchased 13 primary residences in my adult life. I did the math. In my adult life, I have moved every 3.5 years. Wow!And that doesn't count the FOUR times I lived in temporary hou... 06/23/2024

Congratulations! Your home is under contract, and the buyer has ordered the home inspection. As the seller, you are probably busy packing for the big day. A hundred details are running through your mind. But take a few minutes to prepare for the home inspection.If your home is in need of repairs, hopefully you addressed these items before putting your home on the market. If not, now is a good time to remedy these concerns.  See this oldie but goodie inspection checklist.Remember, the inspector needs access under the kitchen sink**, as well as all the bathrooms sinks to check for leaks. It may not occur to you to tidy up these spaces before the inspector arrives. The inspector will not move items out of the way, so be sure the area is clear of cleaning supplies, detergent, and other item... 06/18/2024

Today's Tip is of a cautionary tale; if you have dead or dying trees on your property, it's better to face the problem head-on rather than let nature take its course.Thousands of acres of Mississippi forests were affected by last year's drought, then many of these weakened trees were hit again by a devastating pine beetle infestation. Not only did the drought and pine beetles affect our forests, individual homeowners and landowners were also affected. Our golf courses and neighborhoods sustained a large loss of trees, many of which have yet to be removed.The danger, of course, is a dead or dying tree falling during severe storms and high winds, causing serious damage to property or life and limb.In these photos, you'll see dead trees near homes in my neighborhood. I would have a hard ti... 06/11/2024

Many people are oblivious to how their homes look or smell. We live in our homes, and as owners we sometimes neglect or don't notice deferred maintenance or odors that can knock a visitor down as they walk through the front door.Cooking odors, pet smells, musty odors, and smoking are some of the worst offenders. As people age, they either become used to these odors or have lost their sense of smell. So what do you do?In the case of elder homeowners, a relative or family friend is tasked with bringing the issue to the forefront. If the home is for sale, the Realtor is often the one who will delicately mention the unpleasant smell.For health reasons, and if your home is for sale, there are several things you can do to eliminate foul odors. For one, open the doors and air things out! Homes... 06/04/2024

Today's maintenance tip "Keep Your Gutters Clean" comes from practical experience in the life of a Realtor.On occasion, I have viewed homes with small gardens growing in the gutters. It's ok to have roof-top gardens if they are designed as such, but vegetation growing in gutters is not ok.The number one purpose of gutters is to direct water away from your home. If gutters are clogged with leaves, dirt and debris, you could soon face an unsightly and damaging situation.Clogged gutters can also be the "root cause" of other issues, including foundation and roof issues, fascia rot (I've witnessed this first-hand), and insect infestation. Do yourself a favor; keep your gutters free from debris by having routine maintenance performed on your gutters. All you need is a sturdy ladder and a pair... 05/28/2024

Termites can infiltrate your home at any time, but we tend to notice those little buggers in the springtime more than any other season. Perhaps that's because as homeowners, we are outside more, doing yardwork after a cold winter or are spring cleaning inside our home and notice the tell-tale signs.This past week I had calls from two family members who had discovered termites. In one instance, termites were already chomping the sheetrock inside the home; in the other case, termites were discovered in landscaping timbers while doing clean up in the yard.My advise to both relatives was to call a termite inspector. For the first relative, there is visible damage, but it's too early to tell how extensive the damage will be. In the second situation, perhaps the termites were only in the land... 05/21/2024

Happy Tuesday!Todays' home maintenance tip is timely, especially with the high rate of insurance premiums and early cancellation of policies by insurance companies...MAINTAIN YOUR ROOF!It's fairly easy to take care of your roof. Perhaps the easiest thing you can do is keep debris from accumulating on top of your home. You'll need a ladder and someone who isn't afraid of heights.  You can usually clear the gutters from the ground, but if you have pine trees or other trees in your yard, you'll need someone to get high enough to remove the debris. Debris can accumulate in the valleys of the roof and cause rain water to seep into the crevices and create a leak.The first photo is a pic I took this Spring while showing homes in a nearby neighborhood. This roof is a disaster waiting to happen!... 05/14/2024

Flowood MS is home to a new, exciting neighborhood called Bristol Crossing. Bristol Crossing is located off Hugh Ward Blvd and Manship Road on the northwest side of Lakeland Drive (see map below).Phase One is in the early stage of development with a dozen or so homes under construction. The first homes are slated for completion in March 2024. The starting price point for homes in Bristol Crossing is $399,900, with a minimum square footage of 2,000 heated and cooled square feet. All homes are four bedrooms with standard amenities you will appreciate like luxury vinyl tile or engineered flooring, soaker tub with separate shower in the primary bedroom, double vanities, and open floor plans.The first video below shows the current status of construction of the neighborhood while the second v... 03/24/2024

My phone rang bright and early this morning. On the other end of the phone, a lady said "Do you want to sell my house?" Well, certainly I do. (Let's find out more about the mystery caller).Turns out, it was a nonagenarian (I'll wait while you look it up) calling to sell the home she had lived in for 31 years. When we met in person, I learned today is her birthday.She woke up this morning and decided today was the day. Her "gift" to herself was to list her home with me, a Seniors Real Estate Specialist.I am pleased Miss Martha decided to call me to list her home. The mystery was solved when she told me where she lived. I had canvassed her neighborhood six months ago and she saved my contact info.Happy Birthday, Miss Martha. Now let's get your home sold! 11/16/2023

It doesn't take much to make a good first impression, right? A little effort can go a long way, regardless of the situation. Today my buyer client saw her new home "in person" for the very first time.  We went under contract about five weeks ago. Since the purchaser lived several states away, we did a video conference during my initial showing appointment.The house was stunning. It was obvious the seller took excellent care of this home, and it had a warm, happy feel.Although the home had multiple offers, we were the successful bidders and went under contract.The buyer was naturally nervous to buy a home sight unseen, but when we walked through the front door of her new home today, all fears dissipated. The first thing I noticed was a pleasant clean scent. The hardwood floors were gleam... 09/26/2023

Excitement has been swirling around the construction and Grand Opening of the new Aldi Supermarket on Lakeland Drive in Flowood.  Since today was Opening Day, I had to see what the buzz was all about. I brought my reusable grocery bags and a quarter for the shopping cart. The parking lot was full when I arrived. I grabbed my cart and immediately was bumper to bumper with other shoppers. It seems everyone got the memo that today was Opening Day. The store was full of friendly, smiling faces, but as I mentioned, shoppers and grocery carts were everywhere. If you couldn't go down the produce line, you went down the center isles, which is where the seasonal goods and "Aldi's Finds" are located. I went a little wild as I found gardening supplies at great prices.Before I knew it, my cart was ... 06/08/2023

My little plot of land in Brandon MS provides a very small space for a garden. In fact, when I moved here a few years ago, absolutely nothing was planted in the back yard. The front was filled with crepe myrtles, Indian Hawthorn, Lorapetalum,  and a Japanese Maple; all of which I loved, but the back yard is where I spend my time.So before I even moved in, I brought some potted daylilies from my previous home and built a new daylily bed. It gives me such pleasure in May and June. The blooms replenish themselves each year and though the initial planting was labor intensive, I am rewarded with the steady supply of blooms in late spring. As the plants multiply, I have added daylilies around my mailbox and on one side of the house.Because I have such a small yard, and because Central Mississ... 05/26/2023

Today was Realtor Open House Day in my neighborhood. Three homes were on preview, all priced between $399,000 - $420,000.As I was leaving the first home on the tour, a car pulled up and rolled down the window. The driver asked if I was showing the home or if it was open to anyone, as the Realtor Open House signs were posted on the property. I explained it was for Realtors, but she appeared very interested, so I agreed to show her the home.While we toured the home, the prospect told me more about what she was looking for, the number of bedrooms and baths, etc. Coincidentally, the other homes on the schedule fit the criteria, so I offered to show her the other two homes as well.The theme of the Open House was Cinco de Mayo, and a Mexican lunch was served at the last house. Since I picked ... 05/04/2023