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Displaying blog entries 741-750 of 1998

Items to Throw Out Before You Move

Wednesday, June 21, 2017
by The Hat Team

Moving from an old house into a new house can be an exciting. It can also be a very stressful time for those folks who don’t like to throw anything out.  Don’t worry.  You can keep most of your items, but there are a few that should most definitely be thrown out before you move and those are listed for you below.   
 

  1. 1. If you have a lot of old towels and rags lying around your house, whether you use them or not, you might want to get rid of those before you move  into another home.  These types of things can carry bacteria on them.  And you don’t want to start out in your new place with dirty items when you can purchase new ones once you arrive.   
     

  1. 2. Make-up is good to have but it does have a shelf life.  Once that has passed, it isn’t really good to keep it around.  Avoid the compulsion to throw all of your old makeup into a box and take it with you.  Although you use it once or twice, there really is no need for it because it won’t look as nice as a new pallet of makeup.   
     

  1. 3. Soaps, deodorants, nail polish,  and sunscreen may be things you use on a regular basis but you really don’t need to take up space in your moving boxes for these types of items.  These things don’t cost a lot of money and can easily be purchased anywhere.  
     

  1. 4. Once you start packing and you find a ton of USB cables, realize that you don’t need them all and get rid of a few of them.   You may have a friend in need of a USB cable that you can bless with one or two.   
     

  1. 5. Don’t pack paperwork unless it is absolutely necessary.  Of course you will have to keep important contracts and tax information, but most of the paperwork you’ve collected over the years is likely now obsolete and can be thrown out before you head out.   
     

  1. 6. Last but not least, go ahead and let go of all of the clothes you can no longer fit into.  Donating these types of items can many times be a big blessing to others.   

  2.  

These are just a few ideas of things you might want to get rid of before you move.  By doing this you will avoid having to unpack all sorts of unnecessary items and will save yourself a ton of time in the process.   

 

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.   

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Father's Day Wishes!

Friday, June 16, 2017
by The Hat Team

Dad

He never looks for praises

He’s never one to boast

He just goes on quietly working

For those he loves the most

His dreams are seldom spoken

His wants are very few

And most of the time his worries

Will go unspoken too

He’s there…a firm foundation

Through all our storms of life

A sturdy hand to hold to

In times of stress and strife

A true friend we can turn to

When times are good or bad

One of our greatest blessings,

The man that we call Dad

Happy Father's Day! 

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.   

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Apartment Hunting for College Graduates

Wednesday, June 14, 2017
by The Hat Team

It’s almost that time of year, where college students will be graduating and heading home for summer!  It’s an exciting time for everyone, especially parents who can’t wait to see their kids!  Many college students who are graduating will begin their first apartment search as they begin their lives outside of college.  Below is a list of first apartment mistakes many college graduates make.  Look over them so that you know what to expect and what to avoid. 

  1.  Many times one of the biggest first apartment mistakes   new college graduates make is starting their search for their first place a bit too soon.  The best time to start searching for your first apartment is three weeks before you want to move in. 
  2. Not realizing just how much it is all going to cost is another huge mistake that many college graduates make when getting their first apartment.  If you have been living on campus typically meals are included, however when you get an apartment the meals are on you!  Also you need to think about how much utilities and things like internet and cable are going to cost as well.  Expenses can add up real quick if you are not careful and will likely be a huge surprise once you move in to your new apartment if you don’t plan for them. 
  3. You may not realize that things that have been available to you free of charge in the past or at least it seemed free of charge because it was included in housing costs on campus, are going to cost you money.  Such things as toiletries and laundry detergent may not seem like much of an expense but if you are not use to paying for it you may not include it in your estimated costs of apartment living. 
  4. If you have student loans, be sure to keep them in your budget and factor them in to all other costs associated with apartment life.  These types of debts can many times be rather large and if you haven’t started paying on them yet you may not be aware of just how much of a chunk they will take out of your monthly budget. 

These are just a few first apartment mistakes college students tend to make.  Keep these in mind when making your final decisions on where you want to live and you may be better able to avoid them.  

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.   

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Montgomery AL Home for Sale: 2110 Capitol Ave Montgomery, AL 36107

Tuesday, June 13, 2017
by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home for Sale:

2110 Capitol Ave, Montgomery AL 36107

MLS# 418172

3 bedrooms | 1 bath | 1,391 square feet | Capitol Heights

This updated Capitol Heights charmer is neat as a pin and ready to move into! Great architectural accents added in kitchen. Cozy covered front porch, and lots of shady space out back for entertaining. Formal dining room and breakfast room space, and well-proportioned living room with fireplace. BIG detached garage is wired and has work-space for tinkering/projects, plus additional covered storage behind AND to the side.

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

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Wetumpka Home for Sale: 1864 Jasmine Hill Rd, Wetumpka, AL 36093

Wednesday, June 7, 2017
by The Hat Team

Wetumpka Home for Sale: 1864 Jasmine Hill Rd, Wetumpka, AL 36093

MLS# 418133

4 bedrooms | 3 baths | 1 half bath | 3,530 square feet | Jasmine Hill Rd

This Victorian-esque dollhouse really packs a punch! Situated on an over 2.5 acre lot, the private setting will sooth your nerves and make you feel as if you are out in the country, while being minutes to shopping and dining. Grand living spaces and open feel main floor, wet bar, study, family room, and big kitchen with large breakfast room PLUS huge master suite on the first floor. Three more spacious bedrooms and two baths upstairs. Great 2nd floor gallery looks down into main living room and is the perfect place for your prized collections. Three levels of decks lead down to a large swimming pool and patio area, or enjoy the gorgeous views from the 2nd floor balcony (which feels like three floors up due to basement level.) Two car carport leads into large finished storage space, which is plumbed for additional bathroom, and ENORMOUS partially finished basement that is a wide open 2001 square feet! Great storage/rec room/kids indoor play area, or finish out for even more living space. This is truly a special property, and was solidly custom built.

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!


 

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Selecting Plants and Flowers for Home Garden

Wednesday, May 31, 2017
by The Hat Team

Many of us select plants for the garden at our Montgomery, AL home based on their visual effect—color, height, size of blooms, etc. And so we should, as the sight of our plantings should be pleasing to our sense of sight. As we plan our garden, however, we should also be aware of the other four senses—and include plants which appeal to each of them.

SMELL: Aromatherapy is a powerful practice. With nothing more than a simple scent, the brain can be triggered to remember long forgotten memories, emotions, and feelings. With that being said, it is important to carefully select the flowers you want in the garden of your Montgomery, AL home. With a few simple choices, you can create your own "memory lane' or relaxing oasis. In terms of fragrance, it’s hard to beat roses or lavender. Wisteria and jasmine are scented climbers which can really enhance the sensory pleasure of a garden, and amaryllis belladonna and spirea both add pleasant scents.

SOUND: Few of us associate the sense of sound with our garden, but the rustling of long grasses and the chirping of birds add a much-appreciated dimension. To attract songbirds, use fruit-bearing understory trees like dogwoods and service berries and shrubs such as viburnums and hollies and introduce low growing perennials and dwarf shrubs like creeping juniper and cotoneaster. You can also plant vines, ground covers, and sunflowers to increase chirping and tweeting.

TOUCH: Texture in garden design refers to the surface quality of the plant. Plant textures range from delicate and fine to coarse and bold. The feel of the foliage in your Montgomery, AL home’s garden is not the only element of texture, however, as the texture can change with the play of light and shadow and even with viewing distance. Plants with thread-like leaves call out to be touched, so consider adding cosmos, baby's breath, asters, and grasses. In addition, iris and lamb’s ear will each provide softer tactile experiences.

TASTE: The world of herbs is nearly without limits. Think about basil, chives, rosemary, chamomile, cilantro, mint, and parsley, to name just a few tasty garden additions. Consider, too low bush blueberries or ligonberries. Lesser known, but equally valuable as salad additions are the flowers of the hibiscus shrub, columbine, and daylilies.

Some of the plants you have selected for your garden will serve more than one purpose and will appeal to more than one sense, so be sure to sniff, feel, taste, listen to, and view each of them!

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.   

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Happy Memorial Day!

Saturday, May 27, 2017
by The Hat Team

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.

National Moment of Remembrance

To ensure the sacrifices of America ’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” P.L. 106-579, creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The commission’s charter is to “encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity” by encouraging and coordinating commemorations in the United States of Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance.

The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: “It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.”

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.   

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Montgomery AL Home for Sale: 410 Nottingham Rd Montgomery, AL 36109

Thursday, May 25, 2017
by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home for Sale:

410 Nottingham Rd, Montgomery, AL 36109

MLS# 416496

3 bedrooms | 1 bath | 1,040 square feet | Forest Hills

One family has owned this well-built brick home for the last 51 years and it shows!! Sitting atop a nice elevated lot, it has always given the owner a great sense of security. Hardwood oak and pine floors throughout. Kitchen has beautiful red oak counter tops. Three good size bedrooms and one original hard tiled bath with a new refinished original tub. Seller has updated the electrical with a new box that contains circuit breakers. Recent HVAC has also been added for your enjoyment and peace of mind. Nice terraced rear yard contains spacious storage building for tools and lawn equipment. Mature landscaping including crepe myrtles, azaleas and many more varieties of plants! Seller is leaving refrigerator, washer and dryer. A perfect starter home where you won’t have to buy a single appliance. Owner has purchased another and is ready to sell. Give us or your favorite agent a call to see this great property today!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Frank Powell, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

 


 

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3 Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Wednesday, May 24, 2017
by The Hat Team

There are a few mistakes that many first-time home buyers make. Here are three of the most common mistakes and how you can avoid them when purchasing your first home.

Mistake #1: Assuming your credit is good.

The information in your credit report determines whether you can get a loan — and how much interest you will have to pay – so it pays to be certain your credit reports are accurate.

Check your credit reports for free from all three credit reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to make sure everything is correct. If you find errors, contact both the credit reporting company and the information provider (the person, company or organization that provided information about you to a credit reporting company) involved in the errors and ask them to fix the credit report errors.

Mistake #2: Getting pre-qualified, not pre-approved, for a loan.

It’s far better to be pre-approved for a loan than to be pre-qualified. Here’s why…

With pre-qualification, your lender does a preliminary evaluation of your ability to pay for a home and gives an estimate of the mortgage amount they’ll give you. The lender does not verify the information you provide.

Mistake #3: Allowing emotions to influence your decisions.

Buying a home is an investment. It needs to be treated as any other investment. You don’t buy stocks because they are pretty and you shouldn’t pick your home that way either. Make sure the home you buy fits your needs and allows you room to grow over the next few years. As with any sound investment, time is the key to a good return.

If you are a first-time home buyer, I would be happy to help you find (and get the best price for) your first home.

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.   

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Sprucing Up for Spring

Wednesday, May 17, 2017
by The Hat Team

It is that time of the year again, spring has sprung. As you begin thinking about spring cleaning, don’t forget to include the homes exterior in your plans. Whether you are selling your property or plan on calling it home for awhile, every house could use a boost in curb appeal. Curb appeal creates the first impression of your home. If selling your home, curb appeal reflects how well the property is cared for and intrigues buyers to take a look inside. Curb appeal is also a way to showcase your personality and create welcoming scenery for your guests. Spring is the perfect time to spruce up your home’s exterior. The following tips will help you attain enchanting curb appeal.

Start With A Checklist

The first step to enhancing curb appeal is to determine what needs improvement. Take a walk around the outside of your home pretending that you are a potential buyer and take note of things that could possibly impair your first impression. Be sure to consider all factors from possible missing shingles on the roof to rotten wood around windows or doors.

Landscaping

If your home does not receive routine yard maintenance, a through clean up can make all the difference. Start by removing debris, giving the grass a fresh cut, eliminating weeds, and trimming over grown bushes or trees. Keep in mind that bushes should never exceed the height of window sills or extrude growth beyond the threshold of sidewalks. Use a pressure washer to clean the exterior of the house, making sure to leave all windows sparkling. Replace any rotten wood and touch up chipped paint.

The Front Door

Establishing a welcoming entry can really improve the first impression of a visitor or potential buyer. Make sure the pathway and porch leading to the front door is well lit. Use decorative porch fixtures that compliment the color of the house and other hardware. Lining walkways with solar powered garden lights gives the yard a vivid glow after dark. Make the front door a focal point by repainting it a warm, inviting shade that contrasts from the siding and shutters. Use a classic shade of red or go bold and try yellow. 

 

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.   

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Displaying blog entries 741-750 of 1998

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