MarshaCowan+RealEstate

11/19/2015

Hello!

I don;t know about youse guys but I am somewhat stoked about the upcoming holiday, Thanksgiving! Oh, how I love to smell the Turkey cooking, what a fragrance! Yes it is a lot of effort, but the results are better every year! Not to mention the great escape from "riding the range" with delicious turkey sandwiches for days and of course... Flaming Turkey Wings! While looking for a recipe, I found this article about preparing for the holidays by Lisa Gordon. Actually brought my attention to issues I had never paid attention to before, so thought I would pass the news on. Rather interesting, especially the use of the trunk of a car! Oh my! :-)

Folks, we have so much, in spite of all the daily tragedies, to be genuinely grateful. I wish you all a day of peace, good memories and a chance to be with the ones you love. Life is short, so giddy up to the enjoy the "now"!

Tips on How To Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests
By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon
Is your home ready for holiday visits from friends and family? Here’s how to prepare for the invasion.
I'm lucky and have a guest suite always ready for holiday guests. But even with a dedicated space, preparing my home for the annual onslaught of friends and family takes time and forethought.
Some preparations for holiday guests take only a few minutes; some take a lot longer. My advice: Start preparing your home for the holidays now.

Prioritize
The day before guests arrive is no time to pull apart junk drawers and clean out linen closets. Declutter guest rooms and public areas -- foyer, kitchen, living room, den, and dining room. Remove anything unnecessary from countertops, coffee tables, and ottomans; if it’s out of sight, keep it out of mind, for now.
If you run short of time, bag up the clutter and store it in car trunks, basements, and out-of-the-way closets. Sort and arrange after your guests depart.

Safety
Light the way: Even though you can navigate your home blindfolded, your guests can’t. Make sure outside lights are working so they don’t trip on the way to your door. Put motion-activated night lights in hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms to ensure safe passage after the sun sets.

Child proofing: Ask parents to bring hardware that keeps their small ones safe, such as baby gates and cabinet locks. Transfer toxic cleaners and medicines from base to wall cabinets. Hide matches and lighters.

Fire prevention: If you didn’t freshen smoke detector batteries when you switched the clocks to Daylight Savings Time, change them now. After your guests arrive, run a quick fire drill: Make sure they can locate exits and fire extinguishers, and that they know how to open windows and doors.

Entryway Upgrades
Your home’s foyer is the first place guests see, so make a good first impression.

Upgrade exterior entry doors or give old doors a new coat of paint. Polish and tighten door hardware, and oil hinges to prevent squeaks. Remove scratches from hardwood floors, stairs, and wood railings. Place a small rug or welcome mat at the entrance to protect floors from mud and snow. Clear out shoes, umbrellas, and other clutter. Add extra hooks to walls so guests can hang coats and hats. Add a storage bench where guests can remove boots and shoes.

Kitchen Prep
Your kitchen is command central during the holidays, so make sure it’s ready for guests and extra helpers. To increase storage, install a pot rack to clear cooking items off countertops and ranges. Move your coffee station into a family room so guests don’t crowd the kitchen when you’re trying to fix meals.
If you like to visit while you’re cooking, place extra stools and chairs around the perimeter of your kitchen so guests can set a spell.

Sleeping Arrangements
If you've got a guest room, replace the ceiling fixture with a ceiling fan and light combo, which helps guests customize their room temperature without fiddling with the thermostat for the entire house. To carve sleeping space out of public areas, buy a folding screen or rolling bookcase, which will provide privacy for sleepers. Fold or roll it away in the morning.

Bathroom Storage
Bring toilet paper, towels, and toiletries out of hiding, and place them on open shelves so guests can find them easily. If you don’t have enough wall space for shelves, place these items in open baskets around the bathroom. Also, outfit each tub with a bath mat (to avoid falls) and each toilet with a plunger (to avoid embarrassment).


Read more: http://members.houselogic.com/articles/tips-how-prepare-your-home-holiday-guests/preview/?cid=eo_em_mkt_rcrnewsletter

I'm lucky and have a guest suite always ready for holiday guests. But even with a dedicated space, preparing my home for the annual onslaught of friends and family takes time and forethought.

03/11/2015

A touch of color to say thank you for taking time to take a peek at 6967 Neville Dr., Ooltewah, Tn.

03/11/2015

6967 Neville Dr., Ooltewah, Tn., 37363
A proud and positively beautiful home in Belleau Ridge. A relocation sale boasts immediate equity in the purchase of this home.

02/07/2015

Dear FB friends, wow! What a day in our lovely Scenic City! Worked with two clients earlier but made a point to be home by 3:30 so I could help load, carry, and stack a load of sweet smelling fire wood! Actually, the weather here today quite warm. However; we mature folks know Old Man Winter is still lurking around in the dark corners of life! Absolutely a great day and I so hope my dear FB friends and family, especially those of you with worries and burden, found a way to appreciate our first awesome Saturday of February 2015. Look for the good and you will see it, God is everywhere and He is so very busy!

11/20/2014

Hello to my FB friends. What a great day! ... at least, so far! Out with new client and realized just how lucky those of us are that are born American. This young lady has been in this country 7 years and is finally able to call herself American. She is most excited as she has married a man of her choice, a man quite different from herself in many ways. Today was our first time out looking by ourselves. She has a heavy Honduras accent but commands English very well. Zurina told me she had escaped an arranged marriage which at this time was still hurtful to her parents as this was not allowed. She said they should never have agreed to allow her to stay and develop such Western thinking. She said she prayed daily for their forgiveness and feels if they will allow themselves a chance to know Clark they will soon love him as much as she. Clark is about 6 inches taller than her with blond hair and blue eyes. They make a wonderful couple and I hope they can weather all of the challenges ahead. They are different in size, appearance, and history, yet when together, they seem absolutely perfect for each other. So, today, when Zurina and I parted, I found myself feeling really good about being an American. Possibly it was the opportunity to look at life through her eyes, listen to her recount her childhood experiences and dreams of one day living in America. So many things I had never really thought about until today. As she was leaving I told her it was good to invest in America by buying a home and would one day know the American Dream of owning her own home. Her smile and sincere gratitude helped me understand we do live in a great country and we should all be grateful for the opportunity America offers us daily. Since it is so close to Thanksgiving, going to make myself find something uniquely special to feel grateful about every day, even after Thanksgiving! Make it a good day and remember, Bloom Where Planted!

11/02/2014

3600 Lee Pike Soddy Daisy TN 37379 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3 - House for Sale

10/28/2014

Rolling on the River! Oh my! 3000 sq ft with the expansion option of up to 5,540 sq ft, five acres of partially fenced pasture, and a state of the art barn which hosts 4 stalls! Oh my, I can hear Tina singing as I turn down the long drive!

07/26/2014

On my way home from showing several homes in Harrison and could not help but stop and take a couple of pics of the sun setting over the Mighty Tennessee River. Ahhh, Summertime and the livin' is easy! What a beautiful place to call home. I adore Chattanooga, Tn. Hope all FB friends have a great day today and an even better weekend! Take care, and as always, Bloom Where Planted!

06/25/2014

ActiveRain is an online community of real estate professionals who exchange best practices, write real estate blogs, and get free education from the industry and their peers.

03/28/2014

CREDIT SCORE.... DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

There are many misconceptions about credit scores out there. There are customers who believe that they don’t have a credit score and many customers who think that their credit scores just
don’t really matter. These sorts of misconceptions can hurt your chances at some jobs, at good interest rates, insurance rates, and daily opportunities. Yikes! It even your effect your chances of getting an apartment or a good price on new cars.

The truth is, of you have a bank account and bills, then you have a credit score, and your credit score matters more than you might think. Your credit score may be called many things, including a credit risk rating, a FICO score, a credit rating, a FICO rating, or a credit risk score. All these terms refer to the same thing: the three-digit number provided by 3 major credit bureaus that lets lenders get an idea of how likely you are to repay your bills. Every time you apply for credit, apply for a job that requires you to handle money, or even apply for some more exclusive types of apartment living, your credit score is checked. In fact, your credit score can be checked by anyone with a legitimate business need to do so, just think of what a list this could be. Your credit score is based on your past financial responsibilities and past payments and credit, and it provides potential lenders with a quick snapshot of your current financial state and past repayment habits.

In other words, your credit score lets lenders know quickly how much of a credit risk you are. Based on this credit score, lenders decide whether to trust you financially - and give you better
rates when you apply for a loan. Apartment managers can use your credit score to decide whether you can be trusted to pay your rent on time. Employers can use your credit score to
decide whether you can be trusted in a high-responsibility job that requires you to handle money.... on and on.

The problem with credit scores is that there is quite a bit of misinformation circulated about, especially through some less than scrupulous companies who claim they can help you with your
credit report and credit score - for a cost, of course. From advertisements and suspect claims, customers sometimes come away with the idea that in order to boost their credit score, they have to pay money to a company or leave credit repair in
the hands of so-called “experts.” Nothing could be further from the truth. It is perfectly possible to pay down debts and boost your credit on your own, with no expensive help whatsoever.

Indeed, many daily aspects of our every day life are affected by our credit score. I have met folks whom were just as negatively affected by always paying cash. I agree, this does not seem fair! However, if there is not a paper trail of credit, there is no credit score! So it goes, one hand washes the other. Bear in mind, I help people buy and sell homes for a living. Truly your credit score affects the very lifestyle you and your family enjoy every day. With such said and noted, set your cap to check your credit score regularly. One is allowed one free report a year with myannualcreditscore.com. Kredit Karma is an awesome site to help you regularly and freely stay in touch with your financial situation. Be responsible and be excited for yourself as you see that good credit score that will assure you of bright future. Likewise, if that credit score needs a little tweaking, then tweak on KIDDOS until you too see a bright future. All things are possible if you will only try!

Kids if I can help you find a good lender whom can help you restore or build a good credit score, let me know. For I have found where there is a will there is a way, especially for those of us whom dream the American Dream of Home Ownership! Thanks for your time and I hope all my Friends out there have an awesome day.

Marsha Cowan
American ELITE Realty
[email protected]

03/28/2014

“Winners compare their achievements with their goals, while losers compare their achievements with those of other people.” — Nido Qubein