In Ireland and Scotland hollowed-out turnips with embers or candles inside became a very popular Halloween decoration a few hundred years ago. Tradition held that they would ward off “Stingy Jack” and other malevolent spirits on Halloween, and they also served as representations of the souls of the dead.
Irish families who immigrated to America brought the tradition with them, but they replaced the turnips with pumpkins. Soon people began to carve frightening faces and other designs into their jack-o’-lanterns. And despite its origins, today it has nothing to do with evil, devil worship or satanic forces. It’s just good clean fun!
Have a Safe and Goulish Halloween!
News for Buyers
Fast Fact >>>> As of mid September 2009, 1.4 million homebuyers have taken advantage of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit. (source: IRS.gov)
Whether you think it’s a good idea or a bad one, the first time homebuyer’s credit has definitely spurred home buying activity, at least for the past few months. According to the Seattle PI, home resales in September clocked the largest monthly increase in 26 years as buyers have scrambled to complete their purchases before a tax credit for first-time owners expires.
The tax credit is so important to some buyers that they are adding a clause to their contracts, allowing them to back out if the sale doesn’t close by Nov. 30. However, economists note that bargain-priced foreclosures and low mortgage rates are making a big contribution to the sales boom.
Sales jumped 9.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million last month, from a downwardly revised pace of 5.1 million in August, the National Association of Realtors said recently.
News for Sellers
Home Design Turnoffs
Before putting your home up for sale, it pays to take a good look around. Is your home décor out of date? Will it appeal to prospective buyers, or send them running out the door?
Barbara Ballinger, architecture coach and columnist for the Style, Staged and Sold blog, says that while vintage features may appeal to some buyers, they could cost you a sale. Here are a few designs that could turn off potential buyers.
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Excessively bold or dark paint or tile colors, such as deep plum or jet black
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Walls painted with lacquered or high-gloss finish, faux- and sponge-painted walls, and wallpaper
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Worn, cracked laminate countertops and backsplashes
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Outdated bathrooms with small sinks, short toilets, squat bathtubs and tight shower spaces
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Stained and worn wall-to-wall carpet or worn linoleum
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Bedrooms decorated with a theme that is incorporated through the carpeting, walls, ceilings, light fixtures and furnishings
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Too many mirrored walls, ceilings and doors in a single room
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Ceilings with too many recessed lighting spots
Fall Home Projects
Under Lock and Key
While many homeowners say home security is a priority, they may not be taking the necessary precautions with their keys and locks. A recent survey by Kwikset, which manufactures locks and hardware for residential homes, finds that 47 percent of homeowners did not change or re-key their locks when they first moved in to their home, and nearly one-third have never changed or rekeyed their locks. More than half of homeowners surveyed also say they routinely loan house keys to friends or contractors, increasing the chance that the keys could fall into the wrong hands and be copied.
Home security experts at American Lock and Key offer several tips to help you secure access to your home.
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Don’t hide keys in obvious places, such as under an exterior floor mat or a planter. Most burglars know the most common places to hide keys. If you must hide them, keep keys stored in a secured key box.
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Keep keys separate from your address, so if they are ever lost or stolen, no one can identify where they belong.
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Immediately change or re-key the locks when you move to a new home. A locksmith may charge $40 to $100 or more to re-key locks or, if you prefer to do it yourself, re-key kits are available at hardware stores for less than $20.
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Keep garage doors secure, especially those that connect to the house from inside the garage and doors leading to the garage from outside. Use a padlock to secure the inside of the garage door.
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Keep windows locked, especially on the home’s lower level where they can be an attractive target for criminals.
I am always available to consult with you before you take on any home projects. Give me a call today!
If you or any of your friends, relatives or business associates are worried about your current mortgage situation, please know that you’re not alone. I am proud to be associated with RE/MAX where we, along with other real estate industry leaders, are working hard to help homeowners in our marketplace avoid the trauma of foreclosure.
RE/MAX has joined with Heart Financial Services to help homeowners avoid foreclosure with a unique Short Sale strategy.
Please contact me if you would like more information, or use the “Sign up for my Email Newsletter” link at the bottom of the page to start receiving my newsletter.
~Tracy
Tracy Krueger, Southern charm with Northwest warmth.