Top 10 Reasons to List Your Home During the Holidays
Spring is generally the most popular time of year to sell a house, with swarms of buyers looking to move into a new place before the school year begins. So, you may be surprised that there are actually advantages to selling your home in the winter – here’s our top 10 reasons to list your home during the holidays! People who look for a home during the holidays are more serious buyers. Serious buyers have fewer homes to choose from during this time of year, so your home has less competition. Less competition means more money for you. Buyers usually have more time to look for a home during the holidays than they do during a regular work week. Interest rates are low, giving buyers more buying power [more people will be able to afford your home.] You can sell now [for more money], and delay closing until early next year. January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Transfers cannot wait until spring to buy, so list your home now to capture that market. Selling now allows you the opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the spring when more homes are on the market for less money. This will allow you to sell high and buy low. The supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, so there will be less demand for your home. [Less demand = less money for you]. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons, making them more motivated to make a decision.
Halloween Costume Based on Zodiac Sign
Instead of stressing about what to dress up as this Halloween, let the stars decide! We’ve compiled a selection of the best costume options based on each individual zodiac sign’s most dominant qualities, so that you can rest easy when planning your holiday get up. Keep reading to see what you are destined to be this Halloween! CAPRICORN- PROFESSIONAL ATHLETEDecember 22 - January 19Capricorn’s are very disciplined and hard-working, which is why dressing up as a professional athlete makes sense. Whether you decide to be a boxer, football player, gymnast, or another sport, you’ll capture the essence of a hard-working, disciplined athlete with your natural demeanor. AQUARIUS- GHOSTJanuary 20 - February 18Aquarians are the most detached of the zodiac signs. They are the most likely to “disappear” for weeks or months a time, with little-to-no communication with friends or family. It’s unintentional, but the aloof aquarius is just too busy with personal things. We suggest embracing this quality by being a ghost this halloween! Your friends and family will hopefully get the joke. PISCES- HIPPIEFebruary 19 - March 20A glorious flower child hippie costume will perfectly capture the spiritual and passionate personality of pisces’! ARIES- WITCHMarch 21 - April 19Aries tend to be straight-forward and direct, so a simple costume that can be done quickly and easily is the most appropriate. For example, a witch costume can be created with black clothes you already own! Just add a witch hat to instantly give your all black fit witchy vibes. TAURUS- FAIRYApril 20 - May 20Taurus’ are the most stubborn and loyal of the zodiac signs, just like Tinkerbell from Peter Pan. She becomes enraged whenever Peter gives Wendy any attention, and refuses to help Wendy and her brothers return home from Neverland. All you need to complete a pixie costume is a green dress, magic wand, hair in a bun, white shoes, and fairy wings. Easy! GEMINI- ANGEL/DEVILMay 21 - June 21Gemini’s are known for having double personalities, and are represented by the twin symbol. This makes gemini’s great for duo and/couple costumes. Dress up with a friend or spouse this year. A classic option would be an angel and devil. If you don’t have a partner to dress up with, craft a half angel, half devil costume! As a gemini- you’ll naturally pull off both innocent and evil looks. CANCER- NURSEJune 22 - July 22The most nurturing of the zodiac signs, Cancer’s will naturally pull off the scrubs uniform worn by nurses. Just grab a stethoscope and your costume is complete! LEO- INFLATABLE DINOSAURJuly 23 - August 22Leo’s are known to be the center of attention, and thrive on standing out. To ensure you get noticed at the halloween party this year, be an inflatable dinosaur. You’ll be sure to turn heads in these huge costumes. Some are well over 6 feet in height! You can purchase them on amazon for just $50. VIRGO- FORTUNE TELLERAugust 23 - September 22Virgo’s are said to be sharp analyzer’s of everyone and everything. They are highly intuitive, just like Fortune Tellers. So, virgo’s, grab a prop crystal ball because a fortune teller costume is in your future this Halloween. LIBRA- PRINCE CHARMINGSeptember 23 - October 23Libra’s are generally very charming people, so why not highlight this endearing quality- quite literally, by dressing up as Prince Charming this holiday! SCORPIO- GRIM REAPEROctober 24 - November 21Spooky season is also Scorpio season, so you’ll be right at home on this gruesome holiday. Celebrate by wearing a classic scary costume, like the Grim Reaper. SAGITTARIUS- FIREFIGHTERNovember 22 - December 21Sagittarius’ are one of the 3 fire signs of the zodiac, and are known to be healers. Thus, a firefighter costume ties these qualities together just right! Firefighters fight fire as a profession, and many do it for their personal desire to help save lives.
Fall Maintenance Checklist
Tis’ the season for crunching leaves under your feet, warm colors, and a great time cozy up indoors. The end of summer means it’s time to prepare your home for the fall months before it gets too chilly. Whether you complete the checklist items yourself or hire a professional, taking action now can help prevent costly damages in the long run. Clean and stow mower and outdoor equipment- Remove any remaining debris and buildup from your mower, and move it to a covered storage space to prevent any potential weather damage. *Also, although grass appears to stop growing in the fall, the roots are actually growing deeper to prepare for winter. Now is the best time to fertilize and reseed your lawn. Cover or bring outdoor furniture indoors- It probably cost you quite some time and money to create that perfect outdoor space, so if you want to get another summer season out of it, properly store the items in a garage or shed. If you don’t have anywhere to store them, buy a waterproof furniture cover with coating to protect from the elements and air vents to protect against mold and mildew. For cushions and smaller items, consider purchasing an outdoor storage bin. Prune plants and trim any tree limbs too close to house or power line- Pruning your trees and shrubs after the leaves turn helps encourage healthy growth. Heavy snow and ice can cause damage in the winter, so trim any tree limbs that are too close to power lines or your home. Before you trim near any electrical conductors, contact BGE or check here for options to work safely. Turn off outdoor water and store hoses- Drain and disconnect all garden hoses from outside spigots to prevent any water freezing and remember to close any shut-off valves serving outside faucets, to prevent pipes from bursting. Seal cracks around doors and windows- Weather stripping is easily the most cost effective way to rein in heating and cooling costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heat loss through windows is responsible for 25-30 percent of heating energy use. Clean gutters and downspouts- Clogged gutters can lead to damaged exterior surfaces and water in your basement. Before the leaves fly this fall, have your gutters cleaned, then covered with mesh guards to keep debris from returning. Direct drainage away from the house- Ensure that water drains properly and doesn’t pool. Pooling can cause damage to foundations, driveways, and walkways. Be sure water is not coming down behind gutters and that all support brackets are securely in place. Inspect roof for missing shingles or any damage- Stay on top of roof problems by inspecting your roof (with the aid of binoculars if necessary.) Scan the entire roof for missing, curled, or damaged shingles. Check ridge shingles for cracks and wind damage, and look for damage to metal flashing in valleys and around vents and chimneys (for your safety, we recommend hiring a professional for this step.) Replace filter in furnace (also consider hiring a professional to clean ducts and service furnace)- Once a year, it’s a good idea to have your heating system inspected by a professional. To avoid the last-minute rush, consider scheduling this task in early fall, before you have to crank up the heat. Check the chimney for blockages and make sure the damper is working- Call a professional to inspect and clean your chimney. Fireplaces that are regularly used during the season should have an annual cleaning to prevent dangerous chimney fires. Gas fireplaces should also be inspected by a technician to check output is correct, and clean up any residue that has started to block any ports or vents. After a routine check, your technician should make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors, and that you are aware of any repairs your gas fireplace may need. We have a network of great service providers, so if you need any contractor recommendations, feel free to reach out!
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