5
Being proactive with your home will save you money later BY PHILIP A. RAICES I am not sure which is more neglected these days, the upkeep of your home or one’s yearly physical. I am fairly sure that it would be a tie as many homes’ interior and exterior need anywhere from some basic fixes to major repairs and upgrades. I also know from conversing with many people, that there are those that also neglect their yearly checkups, colonoscopies (after age 50), or even going to the dentist on a regularly scheduled basis. It doesn’t always matter what the income may be, people procrastinate and put off personal things and agendas because they may not have the budget, don’t care or just plain don’t worry about anything, until an issue or emergency arises. If and when you are ready to sell, it is important to have your home prepared before your buyer’s inspection. You need to look at your home as if you were the purchaser. Observe and ascertain what repairs and upgrades that may be required. Be smart and proactive to deal with them as much in advance as possible before you decide to put your home up for sale. Do you have the money or budget to do those basic simple repairs, like fixing leaks, caulking around your bathtub, and grouting where needed. Do your wood floors need a facelift, light sanding 2 coats of polyurethane to create a fresh appearance? How about an interior paint job? If it is a major repair, that you may not have the money to do, like your roof or upgrade your boiler, you might want to get an accurate esti-
mate, before your purchaser does their inspection. You will then have a basis for negotiations. A thorough de-cluttering, organizing, and cleaning will go a long way when your buyers arrive. You don’t get a second chance at a first impression. My professional opinion is to do a home pre-inspection if your home is 20 years or older to determine what issues may be lurking that you aren’t aware of. Listen, you don’t do your own dental work or physical, right? So there is a need to hire a licensed and insured home inspector who will go through a very thorough checklist from your roof to your basement checking all your utilities, plumbing, cac, heat, and electric. In addition, they will also check the exterior too for hazards, broken steps, cracked sidewalks, poor drainage, etc. If you are considering downsizing or purchasing a larger home, you must have a plan. As I sometimes say, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” It would be prudent to create a list beforehand, so you will know what you are taking with you, selling, giving away, and lastly discarding. So you must begin determining what you will take with you; and those things that you will either have a tag or garage sale for. Donations to your local charity may allow you deductions to your
taxable income. However, always speak to your CPA or whoever does your taxes to provide you with the necessary advice. The rest will be thrown away. Being consistent and doing a little bit every day will minimize your stress and simplify your move. Unfortunately for most purchasers, it is still a seller’s market for homes, assuming they are priced correctly using comparables from 2-3 months ago. Inventory is still historically low and even with the higher mortgage rates, demand is still very much apparent There is increased competition for Condos and co-ops by those who could no longer afford a single-family home, but still want to own. However, pricing is critical and what prices were 6-12 months ago have very little relevance in the current market. So again, preparing your condo and co-op will be crucial in the showing process so maximize your sale price with fewer chances of adjustments by your purchasers. Donate to The Ukranian Relief Fund International Organization for Migration a 501(c) 3 Corporation OR: Donate to Ukranian Project: Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 40 years experience in the Real Estate indus-
try and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S.) and in 2022 has earned his National Association of Realtors “Green Industry designation for eco-friendly construction. He will provide you with “free” regular updates of sold and new homes in your town via the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island (MLSLI) or go to https://WWW. Li-RealEstate.Com and you can “do it yourself (DYI) and search on your own. For a “FREE” `15 minute consultation, as well as well as a “FREE printout or digital value analysis of what your home might sell for in today’s market without any obligation or “strings” attached. He can also provide a copy of “Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality, and our Seller’s and Buyer’s Guides for “Things to Consider when Selling, investing or Purchasing your Home. You can email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your request or ideas, suggestions or interview you for a specific topic and a Q & A for a future column with your name, email and cell number. He will email or call you back and respond to your request ASAP as long as he has your complete name, cell, email and/or full home or business address. Again, for a “FREE” 15 minute consultation, he can also be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.Com to answer any of your questions and concerns in selling, investing, purchasing, or leasing residential or commercial property.
Friday, March 10, 2023 Discovery
R E A L E S T A T E W A T C H
N U T R I T I O N N E W S
Whole Grains for Your Health BY CHARLYN FARGO Want a healthier diet? Add some whole grains. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend making half your grains whole grains versus refined grains. A grain product is any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, farro, quinoa or other cereal grains. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas and grits are among the many foods in the grain group made with whole grains, refined or a combination of the two. A whole grain is made from the entire grain kernel with the bran, germ and endosperm intact. In a refined grain, the bran and germ have been removed to give the product a longer shelf life and finer texture. Most refined grain products are then enriched, meaning that nutrients like thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and iron that are lost in processing are added back, but the fiber isn’t. Most of us eat enough total grains, but most are refined rather than whole
grains. Greater whole grain consumption is known to be associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. A recent study by Tufts researchers looked at the impact of refined and whole grain intake on specific risk factors: fasting blood glucose levels, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure and blood triglyceride concentration. The study analyzed information on dietary intake, health and lifestyle of over 3,000 participants in the Framingham Offspring cohort study. When the 18-year data collection period began, these individuals were 55 years old on average and had an average BMI of 27 (on the low end of overweight). The highest whole grain intake was associated with smaller increases in fasting glucose, waist circumference and systolic blood pressure compared to the lowest intake. Conversely, greater intake of refined grains was associated with greater increases in waist circumference and less
decline in triglyceride concentration. Replacing refined grains (like white rice) and refined grain products (like white bread, white pasta and refined-grain crackers) with whole grains (like barley, quinoa, bulgur and brown rice) and whole-grain products (like whole-wheat breads and pastas and whole-grain crackers) may help middle-aged and older adults keep abdominal fat, triglyceride and blood glucose control more stable over time, thereby reducing the risk of cardiometabolic diseases like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The bottom line? If you’re wanting to make a healthy change to your diet, add some whole grains. Switch to brown rice, whole wheat bread, tortillas and pasta, and add quinoa or farro to your salads or as a side dish.
Q and A
Q: I’ve heard omega-3s are good for me. What are they?
A: Omega-3 fatty acids are components of fats. They are considered healthy fats because they support heart health, provide the body with energy and help cells function as they should. There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids -- ALA (alpha linolenic acids), found in plantbased foods and vegetable oils, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acids) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acids). Both EPA and DHA have more potent health benefits, including reducing inflammation and aiding in fetal visual and neurological development. EPAs and DHAs are found primarily in fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring and anchovies. They are also in avocados, flaxseed, walnuts and edamame. Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian with SIU Med School in Springfield, Illinois. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com or follow her on Twitter @NutritionRD.. COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS