Snuggle-Up! and Blog

Home Organization Tips

Is your clutter bogging you down? Cleaning up and getting organized doesn't have to be a big chore if you do a little at a time and maintain it. Get organized in no time with these simple tips; start by making a project list and deadline then display it where everyone in the house can see.

Closets: (Clothes, Linen and Storage Closets)

• No regrets. If clothing doesn't fit and you haven't worn it in a year, its time to let it go, even if you do plan on losing 10lbs. You can always buy new clothes when you need them.
• Uncomfortable shoes - Why keep shoes if they hurt your feet every time you wear them?
• Get rid of any ragged clothing, shoes, outerwear or gear. If your mitten doesn't have a mate, toss it.
• Go through linens, towels, tablecloths and give away what you don't need or items that are worn.

Up-keep: Once you overhaul the closets they are easier to maintain. Adopt the mentality of "If I don't need it, give it to someone who does."

Paper:

• Gather all of your paper around the house and start going through it.
• Purchase plastic containers to store children's artwork and school certificates, report cards, etc.
• Purchase, only if you don't already own, a filing cabinet. Fill out the tabs for bills, warranties, health information, insurance, taxes, etc. And every time a bill is paid, file it and so on.
• Any magazines you don't have time to read and if all they do is collect dust, cancel them.
• Shred and recycle; all paper and newspaper can be recycled and reused.

Up-keep: Use a mail organizer to store all of your incoming mail, separate your bills, magazines, letters, etc. and every month go through them and file what you need and discard what you don't.

Storage: (Basement, Garage, Shed and Attic)

Many times so much "stuff" is crammed into one space that you forget what you have. You can solve this by creating a box organizing system.

• Purchase heavy boxes or storage containers and some industrial shelving (if needed).
• Go through everything in a box, don't just look at the items on top and think the box is full of that one thing. There could be that missing photo or charm bracelet you have been looking for at the bottom!
• Put like items together and label the box with its contents.
• Holiday decorations, seasonal clothing and occasionally used items like camping equipment should be stored away and out of your everyday sight. If you don't drink coffee, but you have the coffee maker taking up space on the kitchen counter, store it.
• Get rid of any unwanted gifts, yard utensils and any memorabilia that you don't have sentimental attachment to.

Up-keep: Any time you have something new to store make sure to update the box contents. Also every year go though some of the boxes and weed out items that you haven't used.

The Next Step:

• Goodwill/Charity - Drop off any of your clothing, gear and linens to your local donation center and ask for a receipt for tax purposes.
• Garage Sale - If some of your stuff is valuable and usable and you think you can get money back for it then, host a garage sale and try to sell it. Anything that doesn't sell should be donated.

For more helpful tips on organizing your home and eliminating clutter visit:

www.lifeorganizers.com
www.essortment.com/in/Home.Organizing/index.htm
www.discoverorganization.com/
www.presentationiseverything.net

(Posted in tandem with FAHTCO)

How to Twitter, From a Newbie's Point of View...

Background

• I started Twittering a couple of weeks ago and found it originally, a challenge. However, I kept plugging away, and feel very comfortable now. What did I learn and how did I get past that feeling of being alone at a party?

 Sign up or on

• First thing to do is get a Twitter account. Go to www.Twitter.com, get an URL address and sign on. Very easy!
• Now your looking at the Twitter interface. Search for my URL: @mcsnygg, and click on the "follow" button.
• Go to my Twitter page, and check out all the people I'm following. Click on "view all." Add people that look interesting by checking out their Twitter page.
• Initially only add around 50 people, until you get the hang of it.

Interface

• I found that I was having trouble knowing what was going on with the Twitter website. So, I check out a couple of other interfaces. Try downloading and working with Twhirl and TweetDeck. My favorite is TweetDeck, but it doesn't work for everyone. So, try them both, or others if you know of them.
• When you are at any of these interfaces, click on EVERYTHING to learn what it does and how it works.

Joining In

• If you have added a bunch of people to follow, you will get some of them following you. So, here's where you join into the "party." But, you have to have people to follow!
  • Some people, when they sign on, just send an hello to the entire community. You do that by just typing in a greeting. Everyone on the network will see it. You might or might not get a response. Don't be discouraged.
  • Start reading the posts, and if you find one that looks interesting to you, send at message to the person posting what interest you. It's done by typing their name (there's an easier way on Twhirl and TweetDeck) into the input box and ask a question, or add something to the conversation.
  • If they don't respond, don't feel it's personal. They may have just gotten up and walked away, or perhaps the phone rang. Don't give up, try someone else. There are many, many very friendly people on Twitter.

Questions? Just let me know. I'd be delighted to pay it forward!

Social Media Networking and Blogging: The New Party Line?

Do you remember hearing about how telephones used to all be on Party Lines? The way it worked was that you had a specific ring pattern assigned to you and when the ring matched your pattern, the call was for you. Your neighbors shared the telephone line with you, but they had a different ring pattern.

However, curiosity would get the best of most folks, and even when the ring wasn't theirs, people would still pick up the phone and listen in! Sometimes the listener would get caught, and sometimes, they'd get a real good ear full! LOL.

If you needed to make a call, you'd have to pick up the phone and listen to be sure that there wasn't any one else on the phone before you made your call. Of course, when you made your call, you do it by cranking a handle on the phone that would ring up the operator, and she would put your call thru for you. Oh, and also listen in on your call, too.

Fifty or Sixty Years Later

Today, people are blogging and on social media website, everyone together. And we're finding that many of the manners required for getting along with others on today's "party line," still follow the Golden Rules of communication with others. Today's "party lines" are interactive platforms like Twitter, where you get instant response. And Blogs, where communication is a bit different in that it takes a little longer to get feedback from others.

New Rules? Or S-O-S?

Do we need new rules, or is it S-O-S (same old stuff)? With the old telephone party lines, and the rules they used, you weren't supposed to interject yourself into another's conversation. Today, interacting on Twitter, you are supposed to interject. You read, instead of listen, you think before you write, and in today's case, you need to add value. The same is true with blogging. Are these new rules or S-O-S?

What to add?

Value! If you can't add value, post a link back to the writer's blog. And when you want to post a blog, what do you post? Well, what's on your mind? What do you care about? What's your business, how it's doing, what's going on with it?

Here are a couple of Don'ts to keep in mind: 

• Don't post on subjects you don't know or don't care about.
• Don't sell to people, get to know them. It's a social media.
• Don't write down to them, don't write over their heads. Remember who your readers are.
• Don't attack the writer. This is a social site, be social, just like at a party.
• Don't use another's words...not without giving proper credit!
• Don't post as a response, "Thanks, great post." If you don'thave anything to say, move along, or leave a link to it on your blog.
• Don't leave a response and then not check back to see if the conversation was continued. Check back, it's only conversation if there's two sides to it.

So, what do you think? What Don'ts would you add? What are your Golden Rules for today's social media and blogging web sites? And if you remember the old party lines, leave your experience here for all of us to enjoy!

I started a new project today. I think it's going to be difficult! It's lace weight wool, black, and uses size 6 needles, with size 2 for the garter row.

I stopped by my favorite yarn shop to get size 2 needles. I wanted to get wood because the lace weight wool wouldn't slip around as much. But all they had was size 3! So, I decided to use size 3. I can't imagine it'll turn out much different.

I'm doing it for my son's girlfriend for Christmas. The pattern I found in this month's Interweave magazine. If you'd like the pattern, just let me know. I can give you more information on it.

Do you knit? Or Spin? Or Crochet? I'd love to exchange patterns and ideas with you.

Let me know!

There is no doubt that the home buying process can get a little hectic. There are so many homes to look at, factors to consider, and papers to sign that even experienced home buyers can get a little overwhelmed. These tips should help you get into that home of your dreams with the least amount of headaches and stress.

• Do not go it alone. Make sure that you have a trained and experienced real estate agent working for you. A good agent will keep track of the day to day details of your transaction and make sure that you have all the paperwork taken care of.
• Do not change jobs unless it is necessary. Lenders like stability. If a lender sees that you have a stable employment history it's less likely that there will be trouble with your application.
• Do not purchase any new large items. Hold off on buying that new car. With today's gas prices, you might really be tempted to purchase a car, but if you want to get into a home, hold off buying until your in your new home.
• Do not build-up credit card debt. Of course, that's good practice regardless o whether you're trying to get into your first home or just sitting on cruise mode. Don't cancel your revolving credit cards. You need to show your credit history. If you close down all your cards, you'll have no credit. You want some credit, but you don't want the credit limits maxed out.
• Do not plan to purchase a foreclosure home a month before you want to move into it. There's a lot to this topic that I have written about in previous blogs and will write about again. If you would like more info on this subject, just let me know. But basically, it'll take about 4 months to close on a foreclosure transaction. Plan ahead!

Your best advocate in this process is your REALTOR(r). They are skilled at keeping you in the game, out of trouble, and on time. And they can advise you about a reputable lender to use. Contact your Realtor as soon as you start thinking about a sale or purchase, even if you're not planning to purchase for a year or more. The Realtor can put you on the easiest path toward your goal! Happy House Hunting!

Colorado Springs Current Market Conditions

The post below are the stats from our MLS, Pikes Peak Assn of REALTORS(r), for the month of September.

Interesting stuff...if you're a REALTOR(r) or a Home Buyer/Sellerin El Paso County. What it's saying is that sales are down, average sales prices are down, and median sales prices are also down. The good news (for some) is that listings are UP!

It's the beginning of a recovery for us. We may have hit the bottom and are starting back into a seller's market. For the last year, we've been in a buyer's market. It looks like it's turning around.

We are expecting an influx of military families to our local military installations. And they are going to breathe live into our economy. We have so much inventory that I'm sure that those that want to buy will have no trouble finding a great home and a good loan.

Rates are down...this is the time to buy!

LISTING AND SALES SUMMARY
September 2008

I've started back with my guitar lessons. We have a really great organization here in the Springs that offers music classes, mostly for acoustical, and group. It's called the Black Rose Acoustical Society (BRAS), and it's a great place to take lesson and at a good price. Best of all, my instructor, Charlie Hall, is very funny fellow. Oh, and can he play well!

The worst part about not having played in a while is that I don't have the callouses on my finger tips and it's such a pain, literally, trying to develop them. Does anyone have any suggestions or help for me? I keep hoping that somewhere out there are little finger protectors that I can use.

Tips on Staging Your Clients Property

When you enter the home, try to look at it from a buyer's point of view. Can you see the room or is all you see the furniture and the clutter? Here are some tips you can use.

• De-clutter everything. Keep items in the room to sets of odd numbers, like 1, 3, or 5. Make sure items are large. No small items, it just makes the room feel clutter
• Remove any unnecessary furniture items from all rooms. Arrange the furniture with a focal point, and be sure to allow easy access through the rooms. No narrow spaces in pathways.
• Clean everything! Toothbrush clean. Make your kitchen and bathrooms sparkle.Keep kitchen and bathroom counertops as clear as possible. There should only be decorative items, and those should conform to the large and odd numbered criteria
• Remove all items from the front and top of the refrigerator
• Bathroom towels should be of good quality, tie a ribbon or something around them and don't use them. Keep the towels you personally use in a bedroom closet. Keep make-up and shaving gear inside a cabinet.
• Wash windows, and clean up front and back porch and yard. Curb appeal is important!
• Shampoo your carpets; especially if you have pets and children. Paint walls; a fresh coat of paint is very attractive.
• Make sure your home smells good. Use air fresheners, or bake cookies, bread, or pie!
• Leave the lights on, drapes open, and music playing softly for any showings. And leave it like that when you go to work, you never know when you could have a last minute showing.

If all these things are done, the home WILL sell faster than if it's not done. These days, most homes are staged and they are your competition. You need to outshine your competition. Visit other homes in the area that are selling for what your want to sell you home for.

Colorado Springs Statistics of Active, Solds, Median and Average Sales Price

Good news. According to these stats, we have less inventory on the market in August than in July.

On the downside, there were fewer sales in August than in July. We still have a year's plus inventory. and our home prices have dropped. The average price has declined by 7%, and the median by 11%.

Many sellers are concerned whether they should take an offer now at 7 to 11% less than what they might have gotten if they'd sold in July. But the alternative is holding on to the property through the winter, as sales have dropped off. If you compare the figues of holding on to the property and selling in the Spring as opposed to selling now, and factor in the costs of keeping the utilities on, the snow plowed, taxes, insurance, and regular upkeep. You might be surprised to find you'll break even. And if you accept the lower offer, you won't need to worry about the property any longer.

Now, I don't want to talk myself out of a job, but at this time, if you don't have to put it on the market now, then DON'T! Prices will come back up, and when they do, that's the time to sell. It's just like your money in the stock market...don't sell when it's down-wait 'till it comes back up, again. And it will!