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Tourists Spoke: Fla. Is Home to 10 of 15 ‘Best U.S. Beaches’

By Kerry Smith

Hurricane Readiness

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.