10 Things Your Exterminator Won't Tell You

1. "I love global warming!"Experts agree, it's a great time to be in the pest-control business. Tighter restrictions on pesticides, changing weather patterns and the emergence of treatment-resistant insects and regional epidemics have converged, creating a perfect storm for exterminators in many parts of the country. And it's spraying the business with cash: According to the National Pest Management Association, bug zapping has grown into a $6.7 billion industry, up 28% since 2000.

See rest of article: http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/rip-offs/10-things-your-exterminator-wont-tell-you-21611/

The place to be on Friday nights

If you aren't in Salem during football season, The Floyd Country Store is THE place to be on Friday nights for great music, family entertainment, and fabulous people-watching. The Friday Night Jamboree happens every Friday, rain or shine, all year ’round. Many people are regulars, but the Jamboree also frequently gets visitors from around the world. This is a local gem often cited in travel magazines as featuring the finest in traditional and bluegrass music in the country.

The first hour is gospel music followed by two scheduled dance bands. There is no reserved seating for the Jamboree, and it is often standing room only, so come early for good seats.
Admission is only $3.00. Performing on Friday, May 1 are the following:

6:30 Janet Turner & Friends. Floyd native Janet Turner carries on the local tradition of gospel singing. Her strong clear voice and accompaniment with autoharp bring old time gospel music alive.
7:30 Giles Mountain String Band.
9:00 Adam McPeak & Mountain Thunder

The Floyd Country Store is located at 206 S. Locust St. Floyd, VA 24091 Telephone (540) 745-4563. Take 221 towards Floyd. When you're in Floyd, turn left at the light. Store is on the right. http://www.floydcountrystore.com/

Oh, and one more thing: The Jamboree operates on “Granny’s Rules” - no smoking, no drinking alcohol, no bad language, and no conduct unbecoming to a lady or a gentleman.

Hope to see you there sometime!

Extra! Extra! Vera's Real Estate e-News coming soon!

Thank you to all of you who opted in to receive my monthly Real Estate e-newsletter. You are the best! My second monthly issue of Real Estate News is set to come out next Monday, May 4th.

Articles will be about Homeowner Issues from the 2009 General Assembly, the new Virginia Homeowner Alliance website, staging tips for sellers, home buying mistakes, and more. My e-newsletter also includes featured listings, a mortgage calculator, and useful links for homeowners.

If you would like to receive my e-newsletter, just contact me at vera@gwynharmon.com/ with an email address where you would like it sent. I promise you that you will not receive ANY spam, just an opt-in message to give permission to receive it.

Thank you all once again, and I welcome suggestions for articles.

The Best Hot Dog in the Roanoke Valley

The high point of my job is handing over the keys to a new home. Most of the time I do it at the closing table, but today it was especially enjoyable because it happened at Ol' Mule Hot Dog Company.

Owner Lee Eubanks fixed us all up some hot dogs the way we wanted them, some with chili and cheese, some with Jalapeno peppers. At any rate they were delicious, made with quality ingredients and served on a fresh split top bun. In addition to hot dogs, homemade daily specials including Gumbo, Pinto Beans and Cornbread, and Jambalaya are available.

Eubanks, a North Carolina native, says "I sincerely invite you to visit my shop for great hot dogs and friendly conversation...Slow down, relax, and enjoy the smiles." The Ol' Mule Hot Dog Company is located at 203 Boulevard, Salem, Virginia, one block north of Oakey's Funeral home at the intersection of Boulevard and Colorado streets. Telephone is 540 520-5324.

Web Site Resources for Home Buyers and Sellers

Listed in alphabetical order

EnergyGuide.com http://www.energyguide.com/
Provides an easy way to assess energy use and get quick tips on saving energy.

Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/
A one-stop shop for advice on testing for and mitigating pollutants, from lead paint to radon to mold.

Equifax, http://www.eqifax.com/
A source of credit reports.

Experian (formerly TRW), http://www.experian.com/
A source of credit reports.

Federal Citizen Information Center, http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/results.tpl?id1=17&startat=1&--woSECTIONSdatarq=17&--SECTIONSword=ww
Offers a list of consumer articles about home sales, financing, and maintenance.

Ginnie Mae, http://www.ginniemae.gov/
Provides advice to buyers on affordability and homeownership, including calculators.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs, http://www.hud.gov/buying/index.cfm
Offers advice to buyers on finance, fair housing, and more.

ImproveNet, http://www.improvenet.com/
Provides links to contractors and architects for remodeling projects for buyers and repair services for sellers. For a small charge, buyers can use the site’s Estimators to determine how much renovating a property they’re considering would cost.

Moving.com http://www.moving.com/
Helps buyers and sellers with packing tips and timetables, online mover links, and places to store belongings so that homes look less cluttered.

REALTOR.com http://www.realtor.com/
Offers consumer information for buyers and sellers as well as home listings and links to service providers.

Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC), http://www.rebac.net/
Offers useful information and checklists for home buyers.

Trans Union Corporation, http://www.transunion.com/
A source of credit reports.

Consumer Reports Best Buys: Lawn Mowers and Lawn Tractors

Gas-powered, self-propelled mowers:
Toro Recycler 20333
Toro Recycler 20332
Toro Recycler 20330
Craftsman 37435

Electric push mowers:
Black & Decker MM875

Lawn Tractors:
John Deere LA115
Cub Cadet LTX1040, 13RX90AR, LTX1046

Consumer Reports Best Buys for your Home: Interior Paints

Low Luster, best for most applications:
Behr Premium Plus Enamel (Home Depot)
Kilz Casual Colors (Walmart)
Dutch Boy Home (Walmart)

Flat, best for low traffic areas:
Behr Premium Plus Enamel (Home Depot)
Olympic Premium (Lowes)

Semigloss, best for trim, doors, and shelves:
Sears Best Easy Living Ultra
Olympic Premium (Lowes)

Spring colors, decor raises spirits

Enough gloom and doom.

There's a new outlook on the home-decor front for spring -- a palette of fresh blues, saucy pinks and a veritable laundry line of clean whites.

And let's not forget yellow, which Pantone chose as its top shade of the year. The company, which provides color standards to design industries, expects the public to embrace many tones of optimistic yellow for the new season. Its vibrant shade -- mimosa -- conjures up images of the flowers of some mimosa trees as well as the brunch-favorite cocktail.

See rest of article here: http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/lifestyles/home_garden/article/H-SPRI06_20090305-180809/222788/

Virginia Homeowners Alliance

Two large envelopes arrived yesterday with some great materials inside from the Virginia Homeowners Alliance. We REALTORS in Virginia now have a website for you to visit to get all kinds of great information pertinent to home ownership. Examples include information on schools and local government, landscaping ideas, and home maintenance.

The best thing about this is it is FREE! You can sign up by going to www.VAHomeownersAlliance.com and tell them I sent you!

Do you know what I know?

Got a little blurb in my inbox today, a company selling postcards. This is what it said:

"If they knew what you knew, they'd be calling right now. Today's low interest rates translates to saving thousands each year and getting the home they really want and need. That’s some great news.

"Downsizing? If they move now they’ll get a great value in a home, plus save even more with a terrific mortgage interest rate. That alone can shave thousands per year off the mortgage payments. They count on you, their real estate expert to help them understand and navigate this fast changing market. Are you explaining it to them?"

I say yes, yes, and yes! I remain convinced we are on the verge of the next housing boom. Call me!

Ice is Back!

The Roanoke Civic Center now has ice for the month of April. On Fridays WROV hosts "Rock the Ice" ice skating from 6-9 for $5.00 plus $2.00 skate rental (if you don't bring your own skates).
On Saturdays from 12-3 there is public ice skating for $5.00 and skate rental is free this month. Free ice skating lessons are also provided by Roanoke Valley Ice Advocates.
On Sundays 2-5 there is Spirits FM's "Blessed Blades" public ice skating for $5.00 plus $2.00 skate rental, featuring Christian music.

RVIA's Tranacia Arris says, "Please support these events so we can get more ice at the civic center next year, for both public events and for our hockey and figure skaters."

For more information, contact Roanoke Valley Ice Advocates at http://www.rvia.info/

Housing Statistics and Current Trends

Housing inventory is up, according to the Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS. Compared to March '08, with 1246 new listings, 6437 active listings, and 461 sold listings with an inventory of 13.96 months, March '09 has 1068 new, 6939 active, 298 sold, and an inventory of 23.29 months.
Although inventory is up, the difference between listing and sold price has changed only 1.8%. In March '08 the average list price for homes was $200,218 and the average sold price was $190,705 with a difference of 95.2%. March '09 shows the average list price for homes is now $180,524 and average sold price is $168,691 with a difference of 93.4%. These numbers may be interpreted as a reflection of falling home prices, or owners of higher priced homes may be more hesitant to place their homes on the market, thus driving the average list price down. I am inclined to go with the former view, as prices on higher priced homes are also falling.
This combination of high inventory, lower prices, and historic interest rates makes now the best time ever to either purchase that first home, or purchase a home that would have been unaffordable years ago. Let's get started! Call me at 588-5940 or email me at vera@gwynharmon.com.