The Brian and Kindra Show

The January 2, 2020 episode of The Brian and Kindra show, they discussed New Year’s Goals and Resolutions.  These tips may be helpful to you as well!   Happy New Year! It’s crazy to think that each second into 2020 has us closer to 2050 than we are to 1990!!  It’s often joked about that 1990 was just last decade when in fact it was 30 years ago!  This thought combined with a New Year and so many making New Year’s Resolutions or Goals brought about big discussion with Brian and Kindra. First, it’s important to know that there is a difference between a goal and a resolution and to understand each one.  A Goal is something specific and measurable and often includes a deadline.  A Resolution is something one resolves or decides to do or not to do.  However passionate their resolution is, it doesn’t seem to have the same gravity or dedication that a goal has.  Brian and Kindra believe turning resolutions into goals will help you have a higher level of success and achievement. Goals should be measurable and though they should be a challenge, they should also be attainable or realistic.  It’s also wise to set a time to a goal, a deadline that the goal should be attained.  For example, in the show, Brian had mentioned that though he had lost weight last year, he wants to increase his fitness this year, specifically before Spring Break so that he is able to do some physical activity with his family and avoid injury.  He has a goal, it is measurable, attainable and has a deadline.   A great reference that was mentioned in the program was Brian Tracy’s book, “Eat That Frog!”.  The book really encourages readers to jump in and do the hard things.  He says not to procrastinate because you don’t have tasks to complete that are enjoyable or simple.  He gives great strategies to ‘eat the frog’.    Brian and Kindra also discussed the role of a third party in goal building and also in accountability.  Often a 3rd party can help you see a bigger picture or maybe they have more experience and success in the goal you are building.  They can help you map out a plan to succeed.  Additionally, they can check on you from time to time, keeping you focused on your goal and gives you a greater chance for success.   How does all of this apply to real estate? Easy!  Whether buying, selling or even if you are planning a home improvement project, your Realtor can help you assess your situation and create a plan to achieve your goal.  They will help you with realistic expectations of budgets for purchase or remodel and can help you create a goal and plan to accommodate the sale of your property.  Be sure to contact a professional today!  

The following are some Winter Home Maintenance Tips that were discussed on the December 26, 2019, episode of The Brian and Kindra Show.  These tips may be helpful to you whether you rent or own your own home. Have your home heating system checked out by a Heat and Air Professional.  Some gas heating systems have cracks in the chambers, which can produce carbon monoxide.  It’s also a good idea to make air filters are changed on your heating and air unit to keep it running smoothly.  Have the filter delivered monthly so that when it arrives, you are alerted to change them. If filters are not changed periodically, the A-coil will become dirty reducing air flow and creating inefficiency.  Also, check your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors!Another important Winter Maintenance tip is to have the fireplace and chimney inspected.  As fires are burned, the chimney can become corroded with creosote build-up.  Additionally, leafy debris can be found in the fireplace/chimney and even an occasional bird nest!  These things are also fire hazards.  It is also wise to check the chimney for cracks and repair as needed.    Be sure to unhook water hoses from the outside water hydrants that are connected to the house. If the hose is not removed, it creates the potential of water freezing in the pipe, bursting and then a huge problem in the spring.  Another helpful tip is to check for Air Leaks. An infrared thermometer can be purchased inexpensively.  The thermometer will tell you the temperature of where you point the ray so that you’ll know if you have an inefficient space.  For example, if it’s 40° outside and your window shows 40° also, then your windows are letting in cold air and hurting your efficiency.   Often air also seeps in through doors or windows that are not well sealed.  Adding weather stripping or a door sweep can easily and inexpensively help with this issue. Keep tree limbs trimmed away from your home.  If limbs are touching the roof they will damage shingles.  Additionally, leaves that fall on the roof tend to collect in the valleys.  These leaves will create dams that push water back up under the shingles or they will slide down into the gutters.  Then, they can push back under the shingles on the lower level or create imbalanced gutters.  In the winter, the blades of the ceiling fan should run clockwise to push the heated air down.  This is especially important in homes with tall ceilings.  If any of these items are still confusing or if you have questions, contact your real estate professional for more information.  Best wishes in your real estate search!  

Following is some helpful information discussed on the December 19, 2019, episode of The Brian and Kindra Show, with Jake Persall with JCP Services.  This great information is really helpful for current homeowners in addition to customers who are interested in home purchase or selling their home.  To begin, here is a little termite biology lesson!  It is important to understand a little about termites, including their culture, habitat, and diet. Termites live in colonies and are social insects that have a social structure.   They live in the ground in a colony and though they are similar to ants, they are not as visible as an ant.  Jake mentioned that you won’t find a termite eating your cookies in the kitchen. They stay pretty well hidden in the ground most of the time. They travel in shelter tubes back and forth to their food source, but they always maintain their colony in the soil.  A pest controller has multiple options to protect a structure. One method of protection is with a chemical barrier between the structure and the ground where the termites live. This kind of protection has been the traditional treatment for many years and is often applied as a liquid chemical barrier on the soil prior to a structure being built to stop the termites from gaining access to the structure. This type of treatment is standard and the main protocol, especially for new construction. However, after a structure is built, the treatments change as it becomes quite a challenge to make a complete barrier between the structure and the ground around the property.  One method of treating an existing structure is to drill holes and inject a barrier, a liquid chemical, into the holes.  The holes are drilled 3-4 inches away from the wall or foundation and spaced approximately 10-12 inches apart.  Another option that had not been used in this area as frequently, but is gaining popularity, is a Bait System. With the bait system installed around the property, the termites will find a bait station and they will feed on that. And then over time, poison out the entire colony.   The bait system works in a way that a termite, when foraging for food sources, even if they have already moved into your house and are feeding away, still have workers out looking for new food sources.  This bait system attracts them and helps clear out the colonies.  Fortunately, termite inspections are affordable. They are roughly $100 to $150.  It's not a bad idea to have your property checked periodically.  If you see ‘pin-holes’, especially with dirt, that can be an indication of termites.  “Mud tubes” and places where your sheetrock seems to have space between the paper backing and gypsum are also good indicators that you might have a termite problem.  If you would like more information or have concerns, be sure to contact a professional today!  As always, Best wishes in your real estate search! 

The following are some terms that were discussed on the December 12, 2019, episode of The Brian and Kindra Show.  These terms may be helpful to you as you navigate a real estate transaction.To begin, the term Staging is often discussed when a property is listed on the market for sale.  This term refers to ‘Dressing’ up a property to help buyers see it in the best light.  This can help to show a potential living room design or how spacious a bedroom is, etc.  However, not all properties must be staged in order to sell.  Some buyers find an ‘empty slate’ allows them to better imagine their own personal property in the space.  Additionally, when a property is completely vacant, there can be more flexibility in showing times that might work better for some buyers and their agents.  Sometimes the term ‘Fixer-Upper’ or Handyman Special is used in reference to a property that needs some work and is sold at a bargain price. The tricky part of a fixer-upper is that a buyer must exercise care in their updates and remodel work.  It has been found that some bargains turn into money pits and may not have the resell value hoped for.  Some markets, Woodward included, make it difficult to profit from a handyman special.   Additionally, not all loan types work well with fixer-uppers as the loan may have certain condition requirements.Another term that can be confusing is Earnest Money. Earnest money is a deposit of funds to hold a transaction. A buyer allows their money to be placed into an escrow account that is monitored by the state. The accounts are registered and only hold trust funds. The seller basically put their house up for equity by removing it from the market.  This act shows their commitment to the transaction. The amount of earnest money is agreed upon between the buyer and seller.  Last, many customers are curious regarding the difference between a contract and an offer. The only difference is that a contract is an accepted offer.  The show described the offer process used by their Realtors as follows:  A buyer shares their terms for their offer with their agent and the agent types a Real Estate Purchase agreement using those terms.  This offer is then submitted to a seller.  Once a seller accepts an offer, it becomes a legally binding contract.  By completing all of the paperwork during the offer stage, confusion is limited or eliminated for both parties to help ensure a smoother transaction.   If any of these terms are still confusing or if you have questions on other real estate terms, contact your real estate professional for more information.  Best wishes in your real estate search!