Buying a Home

2016 Voted in the TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL

REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN FLORIDA

2015 Trulia TOP RANKED Real Estate Agent

Based on Client Reviews & Ratings!

Featured in January 2014 FLORIDA REALTOR MAGAZINE

This prestigious award honors excellence among the top 1% of

agents in the country based on 2014 sales and client reviews.

10 Houseplants That Can Actually Improve Your Health!

“some houseplants filter out dangerous compounds that are commonly found in most homes”

Adding a houseplant or two always seems to improve the look of a room. But as it turns out, certain houseplants can also improve your health. According to recent studies by NASA, some houseplants filter out dangerous compounds that are commonly found in most homes – the kind of compounds that are often associated with respiratory illnesses, cancer, and other conditions.

Because they are enclosed spaces, our homes are vulnerable to gaseous toxins that build up over time. These include:

Benzene – Caused by paints, detergents, and furniture wax
Formaldehyde – Caused by disinfectants or preservatives in consumer products
Toluene and Xylene – Caused by a variety of household and consumer products
Ammonia – Caused by commonly used aerosols and spray

But 10 NASA-approved houseplants are said to be effective in removing air pollutants:

English Ivy – A trailing ivy plant that requires partial shade and light weekly watering
Florist’s chrysanthemum – A lovely floral that needs direct light and frequent change of water
Peace Lily – Produces small, white flowers. Needs weekly watering. But consider carefully before buying, because this plant can be poisonous to house pets
Variegated snake plant – Has tall, broad, green and white leaves. Requires partial shade and weekly watering
Red-edged dracaena – Almost cactus-like in appearance, this plant needs direct sunlight and weekly watering
Cornstalk dracaena – Produces cornstalk-type leaves. Wants partial shade and weekly watering
Broadleaf lady palm – Fern-like plant that likes partial shade and weekly watering
Flamingo lily – Also known as anthurium, this plant produces shiny red flowers and requires partial shade and weekly watering
Devil’s ivy – Produces luxurious ivy leaves, likes partial shade, and needs only monthly watering
Lilyturf – Produces purple flowers. Requires partial shade and weekly watering

Take note: Water lightly in most cases, as over-watering can cause root rot and kill the plant. In some cases, its best to use a mister.

Christine Cleek

ABR, CRS, SFR, E-Pro

Broker, Owner

Rising Star Real Estate

850-217-0990

2016 Voted in the TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL

REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN FLORIDA

2015 Trulia TOP RANKED Real Estate Agent

Based on Client Reviews & Ratings!

Featured in January 2014 FLORIDA REALTOR MAGAZINE

This prestigious award honors excellence among the top 1% of

agents in the country based on 2014 sales and client reviews.

Decoding Teen Talk: What All Those Acronyms Really Mean

Decoding Teen Talk: What All Those Acronyms Really Mean

Teens these days use social media-friendly acronyms and abbreviations to communicate with their peers—and from the perspective of an adult, a lot can get lost in translation. What does all that hip lingo really mean?

ASKfm, a social Q&A network, recently answered that question with the release of their Teen Slang Dictionary. Some of the most popular terms decoded include:

Dime – Refers to the best, or something highest on a scale of 1 to 10
GOAT – Refers to “greatest of all time”
IDEK – “I don’t even know.”
IKR – “I know, right?”
OOTD – Refers to “outfit of the day”
PAP – “Post a picture.”
Savage – Refers to something as positively extreme or hardcore
Ship – Short for “relationship”
TBR – “To be rude…”

If you knew the real meanings behind these shortcuts, congratulations—you’re ahead of the curve! And if you didn’t, take heart. Most adults, says ASKfm, are in the dark when it comes to teen talk. Now you know!

Source: ASKfm

Christine Cleek

ABR, CRS, SFR, E-Pro

Broker, Owner

Rising Star Real Estate

850-217-0990

2016 Voted in the TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL

REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN FLORIDA

2015 Trulia TOP RANKED Real Estate Agent

Based on Client Reviews & Ratings!

Featured in January 2014 FLORIDA REALTOR MAGAZINE

This prestigious award honors excellence among the top 1% of

agents in the country based on 2014 sales and client reviews.

How To Survive Living Onsite During a Home Renovation

Congratulations! You’ve made the commitment to upgrade or renovate your home. You’ve hired the best certified and verified construction professionals available. Now comes the most challenging part of all – living in the messy chaos of a construction zone day in and day out.

Don’t worry! We’ve got some great tips to help you get through these trying days of sawdust, clutter and noise.

Prepare with Pre-Construction Meetings
Communication is the key to working with your general contractor and any subcontractors, architects, designers, etc. Clearly outline your expectations, wishes and concerns upfront. They can point out any areas of concern that could hinder your original design, like structural issues, electrical problems, plumbing concerns, etc. Together, you can adjust your plans before the hammer meets the first nail.

Also, confirm that everyone agrees on budgets. Surprises happen. So, go ahead and talk about scenarios that could impact costs, so that your professionals can get an idea of where you’re open to splurging on some things, and where you may choose to save others. Throughout the construction process, all major issues that will impact the budget should be approved by you before any work moves forward.

Plan Alternatives for Daily Life

When temporarily moving out of the space isn’t a possibility, be ready to relocate the spaces within your home. For example, if you’re renovating your kitchen, you may make your bedroom a makeshift cooking and pantry station with a microwave on your dresser and a portable refrigerator as your nightstand. If you’re renovating your bathroom, you might have to take your shower at the gym or at a friend’s house.

Set Expectations for the Crew

Establish daily schedules and communicate house rules up front. One suggestion is to designate a different “crew” entryway into the house. This will help keep the construction mess to a minimum, as well as reduce interruptions to workflow. If you will be away during the times that the crew must come and go, work directly with your main contractor to arrange secure entrance into your home. Do not freely give your keys and alarm codes to the entire crew.

Minimize the Mess with Plastic and Tape

Inevitably, your furniture, floors, ceiling fans and even air-ducts, will be covered with several inches of drywall dust, insulation, sawdust and more. Do yourself a favor and invest in plenty of plastic sheets and painter’s tape. You can section off the construction zone from the rest of your house to help keep your other living spaces as comfortable as possible.

Be Flexible and Patient, and Remember the Goal

Most likely you will encounter obstacles or surprises that cause delays to your timeline and/or changes the way you envisioned the final reveal. For instance, receiving damaged product, uncovering code violations, obtaining required permits or adjusting to budget restraints may impact your project. During these stressful times when you think you might lose your mind, take a minute to remember why you started the project in the first place. In the end, all of the struggles will be worth it!

Check Your Crew’s Clean-Up Plan

Ask your general contractor about his/her crew’s cleanup plan. You should expect them to clean up as they go, as well as performing one big sweep and wipe down of their work area at the end of each work day. On the other side of the plastic wall – where you’re tucked away from the home renovation projects – apply the same practice of wiping down furniture and sweeping floors everyday. Even the walls will start to collect inches of construction debris.

Renovation projects can certainly test our patience and stamina but ending up with your ideal home is usually worth it. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying a brand new living space!

Christine Cleek

ABR, CRS, SFR, E-Pro

Broker, Owner

Rising Star Real Estate

850-217-0990

2016 Voted in the TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL

REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN FLORIDA

2015 Trulia TOP RANKED Real Estate Agent

Based on Client Reviews & Ratings!

Featured in January 2014 FLORIDA REALTOR MAGAZINE

This prestigious award honors excellence among the top 1% of

agents in the country based on 2014 sales and client reviews.

5 Weird Places to Use Your Credit Card

5 Weird Places to Use Your Credit Card

Even Echo Boomers can remember the days when keeping cash in your wallet was necessary for certain purchases. Now you have the option of swiping your plastic at tons of weird places that used to be “cash only.”

To Swipe on Your Smartphone
Remember when you needed cash for that tag sale or flea market? Nowadays, small vendors can attach credit card readers to their smartphones to swipe your plastic on the spot! Companies like Square, Intuit and PayPal have all introduced tiny readers that link to an app so merchants can take cards. Way to go, technology!

To Score Girl Scout Cookies
In 2011, Girl Scouts announced that certain troops would be accepting credit cards for their cookie sales via the aforementioned smartphone credit card reader. No longer do you need to have cash in hand when those adorable cookie pushers ring your doorbell—the Girl Scouts switched to Sage Mobile Payments for their 2012 sales season.

To Post Bail

Caught speeding? Someone you love stuck in the slammer? Your credit card can help. Certain municipalities will now allow you to use a credit card as collateral for a traffic ticket, and some cities will also let you post bail with a credit card, according to CreditCards.com. However, it’s important to note that there are often heavy fees attached to doing so.

To Pay a Parking Meter
No change in your pocket or camped out between your car seats? No worries! More and more, cities are adding credit card readers to their parking meters. This helps consumers and city officials who no longer have to send out officials to collect quarters from machines! Win win!

To Buy Food from a Vending Machine
Just like the parking meters, you can now use your card to buy food from certain vending machines. Happy snacking!

Source: money.msn.com

Christine Cleek

ABR, CRS, SFR, E-Pro

Broker, Owner

Rising Star Real Estate

850-217-0990

2016 Voted in the TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL

REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN FLORIDA

2015 Trulia TOP RANKED Real Estate Agent

Based on Client Reviews & Ratings!

Featured in January 2014 FLORIDA REALTOR MAGAZINE

This prestigious award honors excellence among the top 1% of

agents in the country based on 2014 sales and client reviews.

12 Home Maintenance and Repair Hacks

Nothing compares to the sense of freedom and pride you feel owning your first home – you make the rules and the design decisions. But homeownership also comes with a lot of responsibility, too. You no longer have the luxury of calling the landlord or maintenance staff when something goes out – that responsibility (and expense) falls on your shoulders.

One way you can handle the inevitable home maintenance and repairs needs without breaking the bank is learning some essential skills. Here’s our list of “how to” hacks every new homeowner should know:

How to Change Air Filters – Keep your A/C unit running efficiently (and minimize dust) by regularly swapping out dingy air filters for new ones. As a rule of thumb, you should change filters every three to six months, unless you have pets or allergies. If that’s the case, it’s recommended to swap air filters every 30 to 90 days. Check out automatic delivery services like Amazon or FilterEasy to send you new air filters at a predetermined frequency.

How to Shut Off Water – Do you know how to quickly shut off water in the event of a pipe burst? Knowing how can help prevent flooding that could cost you thousands in repairs. Ask a plumber or other knowledgeable source to show you where the main water valve is in your home and know how to turn of water to individual appliances like your washing machine and toilets.

How to Fix a Running Toilet – Have your water bills suddenly escalated? Check your toilets. Running toilets can waste hundreds of gallons of water each month, costing you quite a bit more on your monthly water bill. A running toilet is usually a sign of a problem with the flapper, chain or float. Check out this “how-to” article that explains how to diagnose and repair your toilet problems.

How to Unclog Drains – Not only is a clogged sink, shower or bath drain a hassle, but it can also result in water overflowing onto your cabinets and floors. Drains can be unclogged using a chemical drain cleaner like Drano, or by inserting a drain snake into the drain to remove what’s blocking it. To help prevent drains from clogging in the first place, regularly remove stray hair from drains.

How to Change Water Heater Temperature – You can control the maximum temp of your water by adjusting the temperature on the water heater. The default setting is generally 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but in most cases, there’s no need to have it set above 120. A lower temperature setting won’t just prevent you or your little ones from being burned by scalding water; it can also slow mineral buildup and corrosion in the heater and pipes and may even save you a little on your annual energy bill.

How to Turn Off Gas – You need to take action if you smell gas. The first step is to call the gas company, and then locate the shut-off valve (usually located at the meter) and turn gas off until the problem can be inspected and rectified. FYI, you’ll probably need an adjustable wrench to operate the shut-off valve.

How to Reset the Circuit Breaker – Circuit breakers can occasionally shut off if it becomes overloaded, also known as “tripping” the breaker. Locate the breaker panel (often found in the utility room or garage) and look for the breaker that’s sitting in the “off” position (flipped the opposite direction). Flip it back to “on” and everything should be back in working order

How to Find a Wall Stud – Are you planning to hang a heavy object, like a TV, shelves or a mirror? It’s important to locate a stud behind the drywall to give you a stable and secure mounting point. You can pick up a $10 stud finder at your local hardware store to help you locate the boards, which are almost always spaced 16 or 24 inches apart.

How to Clean Your Gutters – Gutters help prevent water damage to the wood trim or siding of your house, but if the gutters are clogged, you risk expensive damage caused by water runoff. Experts recommend that you check your gutters twice a year and remove any debris you find. Once the debris has been removed, rinse gutters and downspouts using a high-pressure water hose.

How to Repair Drywall – Do your walls have dings, dents or holes? Knowing how to repair drywall can save you a bundle. All you need is a little putty, a spackling knife and paint to make your walls look good as new again. Even if you have larger holes, you can repair them using a patch of scrap drywall or a pre-cut patch.

How to Apply Caulk – Prevent water damage and keep your energy bill from running sky high by caulking around windows and doors where air or water might flow between your home and the outdoors. Start by using a utility knife to remove old caulk and carefully clean the surface. Apply new caulk with a caulking gun to a dry surface and smooth the line with your wet finger when you’re done.

How to Maintain Appliances – Review the manuals for all appliances to learn about routine maintenance, such as cleaning your oven and changing the water filter on your refrigerator’s water dispenser/ice maker. Didn’t save a paper copy? Google your make and model, you’ll likely find a copy online.

Hope these tips come in handy!!

Christine Cleek

ABR, CRS, SFR, E-Pro

Broker, Owner

Rising Star Real Estate

850-217-0990