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Selling a Home? Questions You Must Ask

When it comes to selecting a real estate agent to help sell your home, most of us only care about two things: how much can they sell it for and how much will their commission be. Experienced agents, however, say there’s a lot more sellers should be asking about. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, sellers should treat their first meeting with a listing agent like interview

ing a candidate for a job, asking a variety of questions before committing to a working relationship.

From Bankrate.com, here are seven questions that sellers should ask prospective real estate agents:

1. What’s your experience? Sellers should look for agents who have successfully sold a decent number of homes. Be sure to ask them about their most recent listings.
2. How do you plan on marketing my home? Find out the agent’s plan for online as well as print marketing.
3. How will you communicate with me? Make sure the agent is able and willing to stay in touch in the manner you prefer: phone, text, email, etc.
4. Do you represent both sides of the transaction? Although it isn’t usually a conflict of interest for the agent to represent both the buyer and seller, it’s important for you to know that from the get-go.
5. Do you work with buyers in this price range? Find out if the agent has experience in working with buyers in your home’s price range. It’s important that the agent has a feel for the types of buyers that would be interested in your home.
6. What do you know about home loans? Finding an agent with a solid understanding of home financing and the various options available to buyers is critical.
7. What are your stats? Ask for specifics, such as the agent’s list-to-price ratio and how many days the agent’s average listing tends to stay on the market.

For Die-Hard Fans Only

Big movie fan? You might definitely be interested in owning one of these classic movie props. Sold through the Profiles in History auction house, the following earned the honor of the world’s most expensive movie props. They are… 

• The Flying Car from ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ sold at auction for $805,000, well under the asking price of $1 – $2 million. 

• The Aston Martin from ‘Goldfinger’ sold at auction for $4.1 million in 2010. This may seem expensive, but it came equipped with many James Bond-type gadgets: an ejector seat, machine guns, rotating license plates and other spy gear.

• Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber from ‘Star Wars’ sold for a whopping $212,141, one of the most expensive items sold from the movie. 

• Audrey Hepburn’s famous black gown from ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ (there were three made for the actress) sold for $923,187. 

• The DeLorean DMC-12 from ‘Back to the Future III’ sold for $541,000. Too bad the hoverboard wasn’t included. 

• The Porsche 911 that Steve McQueen drove in ‘Le Mans’ sold for $1.25 million, and the racing suit he wore went for $984,000. 

• The actual Maltese Falcon from ‘The Maltese Falcon’ sold for $398,500 to famous jeweler, Ronald Winston, president of Harry Winston Jewelers. Given that the statuette was jewel encrusted, it’s no wonder. 

• The Blaster, the futuristic gun used by Harrison Ford in ‘Blade Runner’, sold for $270,000.

Source: news.moviefone.com

WARNING SIGNS OF A PLUMBING LEAK

To reduce your chances of major water damage in your home, you must be aware of warning signs of a plumbing leak and fix them quickly to avoid major damage and costly repairs. According to the EPA, household leaks can waste up to 1 trillion gallons of water nationwide each year. After a while, it is easy for homeowners to become used to the sound of rattling pipes, a leaky kitchen faucet, or a slow flushing toilet. Ignoring these signs can lead to an increased water bill and easily avoidable destruction.  

Here are a few warning signs of plumbing failure: 

• An increase in your water bill 
• A slow, gradual leak coming from a pipe 
• Pipes rattle and/or make noise 
• The persistent sound of running water coming from a toilet 
• Slow drainage in the sink or shower 
• Low water pressure 
• Water backs up in the sink when running the dishwasher 
• Toilets making bubbling sounds  

Taking steps to avoid plumbing leaks:

When it comes to your home’s plumbing system, mitigation should always be a priority.   

Preventing a plumbing leak can be quite simple, with these tips:  

• Do not flush items such as wipes, paper towel, floss, hair, or other items which could provoke clogs. 
• Unclog drains regularly.  
• Make sure you do not over-tighten fittings. 
• Use plumber’s tape to prevent leaks around fittings and joints. 
• Check for leaks frequently before they escalate and end up costing a lot of money to fix. 

If you notice any of these signs, and they are issues you cannot fix yourself, call a plumber right away and take care of any necessary repair. Doing so will avoid a major plumbing bill should something go terribly wrong.  

4 Ways to Overcome Fear

From random phobias to crippling anxieties, all of us battle with some degree of fear in our daily lives. But imagine how your quality of life would improve if you could overcome your fears. How would it change your life?

Here are four tips for tackling your fears from someone who knows. Jay Platt—the subject of the new documentary, “Living Unstoppable”— was living his dream as a U.S. Marine when a cancer syndrome called von Hippel Lindau (VHL) exploded like a bomb on his life. It caused tumors in his brain and on his spine, as well as kidney cancer and the loss of his left eye. After a personal journey of acceptance, however, Platt went on to accomplish feats many world-class athletes wouldn’t consider, including swimming across the Mississippi River while handcuffed, shackled and blindfolded!

Here are four areas Platt focused on that helped him overcome fear and anxiety in order to rebuild his body, mind and spirit:

• Focus on the joys in life: When you realize it’s not all about you, the annoying voice that tells you to be afraid begins to shrivel and loses its poison. Platt’s family, friends and those to whom he donates money through various charities gives Platt strength.

• Spiritual preparation: Just as Platt trains physically for his feats, he finds it essential to work out spiritually in order to stand up to the fear and anxieties that life’s trials bring. To that end, he surrounds himself with positive messages and positive people.

• Use setbacks as a motivator: When something bad happens, one of the most common responses is fear – fear that it will happen again; fear that you’re less than you used to be; or irrational fear. Platt always knew he’d be a Marine; when he was forced to retire early, he had to recalibrate his entire life. One of his favorite quotes is “What are you doing now?” – it doesn’t matter what you used to be.

• Remember a greater good: When he started experiencing complications from VHL, which first manifested in his left eye, Platt promised God that he’d devote his life to others if he got through the scare. He has kept that promise – his Appalachian Trail hike alone raised $109,000 for charity. According to Platt, staying true to a promise might be the most emotionally solid aid to overcoming fear.

Stay Safe During a Hurricane

Returning Home After a Hurricane

Fourth of July – Independence Day

The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. The Fourth of July 2020 is on Saturday, July 4, 2020.

A History of Independence Day

When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical.

By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in the bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published by Thomas Paine in early 1776.

On June 7, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence.

Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution, but appointed a five-man committee—including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York—to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.

READ MORE: 7 Events That Led to the American Revolution

On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained, but later voted affirmatively). On that day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”

On July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which had been written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, from then on the 4th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.

Early Fourth of July Celebrations

In the pre-Revolutionary years, colonists had held annual celebrations of the king’s birthday, which traditionally included the ringing of bells, bonfires, processions and speechmaking. By contrast, during the summer of 1776 some colonists celebrated the birth of independence by holding mock funerals for King George III as a way of symbolizing the end of the monarchy’s hold on America and the triumph of liberty.

Festivities including concerts, bonfires, parades and the firing of cannons and muskets usually accompanied the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence, beginning immediately after its adoption. Philadelphia held the first annual commemoration of independence on July 4, 1777, while Congress was still occupied with the ongoing war.

George Washington issued double rations of rum to all his soldiers to mark the anniversary of independence in 1778, and in 1781, several months before the key American victory at the Battle of Yorktown, Massachusetts became the first state to make July 4th an official state holiday.

READ MORE: Two Presidents Died on the Same July 4: Coincidence or Something More?

After the Revolutionary War, Americans continued to commemorate Independence Day every year, in celebrations that allowed the new nation’s emerging political leaders to address citizens and create a feeling of unity. By the last decade of the 18th century, the two major political parties—the Federalist Party and Democratic-Republicans—that had arisen began holding separate Fourth of July celebrations in many large cities.

Fourth of July Fireworks

The first fireworks were used as early as 200 BC. The tradition of setting off fireworks on the 4 of July began in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, during the first organized celebration of Independence Day. Ship’s cannon fired a 13-gun salute in honor of the 13 colonies. The Pennsylvania Evening Post reported: “at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.” That same night, the Sons of Liberty set off fireworks over Boston Common.

Fourth of July Becomes a Federal Holiday

The tradition of patriotic celebration became even more widespread after the War of 1812, in which the United States again faced Great Britain. In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday; in 1941, the provision was expanded to grant a paid holiday to all federal employees.

Over the years, the political importance of the holiday would decline, but Independence Day remained an important national holiday and a symbol of patriotism.

Falling in mid-summer, the Fourth of July has since the late 19th century become a major focus of leisure activities and a common occasion for family get-togethers, often involving fireworks and outdoor barbecues. The most common symbol of the holiday is the American flag, and a common musical accompaniment is “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the national anthem of the United States.

READ MORE: Why We Celebrate July 4 With Fireworks

Photo Gallery: The Founding Fathers