RIVER HILLS REALTY NEWS A Special Report for the Residents of River Hills Country Club
Volume XX
MAY 2013
Five Tips To Take Your Home From 'For Sale' To 'Sold' If you have been thinking about selling your home, there is no time like the present. House hunters come out of the woodwork in warm weather months and "for sale" signs pop up everywhere. Your job is to set your home apart from all the others. In most areas around the country, it is a sellers' market. So how do you get a leg-up on the competition? The Real Estate Market Is Blooming…
River Hills Realty, Inc. (813) 681-3555
Here are the top five tips you can really use to turn that "for sale" sign into "sold." 1. Detach - You may love the outdated recliner that was passed down from grandpa. You may also think that lime green and fuchsia are the foundation for a great color scheme. But others may not. Before you put it on the market, emotionally detach from your home. Look at it from the buyer's point of view. Figure out what needs an update, a touch-up or an overhaul and then do it. 2. De-clutter - You want to open up the space to make it feel larger. While it is fine if your home has the "lived in" look, all the extra knick-knacks should be put away. Rent a storage unit if your place is small. If you have got a garage or an attic, store your items there in plastic bins. But do not shove all the extra stuff in your closets. People look in there and a messy closet tells potential buyers that there will not be enough room for their things either.
Issue V JEFF CHANDLER Broker/Owner
River Hills Realty, Inc.
The same goes for drawers and cabinets. Tidy them up and organize them neatly. Make sure your belongings are not packed tightly because it will make the cabinet space look smaller. Free up the space on your kitchen countertop. A coffee maker and toaster are fine. But put away the blender, stand-mixer and popcorn maker. You might as well tidy up the bathroom counter while you are at it. 3. Go neutral - Neutral colors allow house-hunters to visualize what the space will look like with their belongings. Heavily saturated colors are overwhelming and do not go over well with prospective home owners. If they dislike the colors, they will be put off by the space. While sellers should paint neutral colors that blend room-to-room, make room for exceptions: If you are living in a trendy area where something out of the norm is expected, then a bright wall could be a welcome feature. 4. A little rehab and some heavy lifting - Does the carpet need to be replaced? Better yet, is there hardwood under the carpet you can refinish? Go for the latter, if that is an option. Buyers love a good hardwood floor. Get the fresh coat of paint on the walls if they are chipping or peeling.
Inside This Issue ‘For Sale’ To ‘Sold’ Spring Cleaning Local Businesses
Move furniture away from walls. A big couch against a wall looks frumpy and is not aesthetically pleasing. And remove extra furniture. It is good to see baseboards and corners, which gives the room a more open and spacious feel. 5. Before the doorbell rings - Clean. Then clean some more. A dirty, dusty house is a huge turn-off. Do not forget to clean the light fixtures on the ceiling. And after you have done all that, do a quick 15-minute spruce-up before potential buyers walk through the door. Open the curtains and blinds. Let natural light in. It makes the home seem cheery and bright. Of course, make sure the windows are clean too. Keep fresh flowers in a vase. And do not forget the smell. A freshsmelling home is a big plus. Open windows to air the home out. Do not cook potentially pungent foods - like fish or garlic - before a showing. Instead bake some cookies or use an air freshener that smells like baked goods.
Donut Muffins Ingredients 1/2 cup white sugar 1/4 cup margarine, melted 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 cup milk 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup margarine, melted 1/2 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 24 mini-muffin cups. 2. Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup margarine, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Stir in the milk, then mix in the baking powder and flour until just combined. Fill the prepared mini muffin cups about half full. 3. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes. 4. While muffins are baking, place 1/4 cup of melted margarine in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of sugar with the cinnamon. Remove muffins from their cups, dip each muffin in the melted margarine, and roll in the sugarcinnamon mixture. Let cool and serve.
Digging Soon? Call 811 First! Across the country, homeowners and professionals alike will plan landscaping and home-improvement projects that require digging this season. Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the association dedicated to protecting underground utilities and the people who dig near them, reminds homeowners and professional diggers that calling 811 is the first step towards protecting you and your community from the risk of unintentionally damaging an underground line. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a free call to 811. Calling this number connects you to your local one-call utility notification center. Here's how it works: 1. One free, simple phone call to 811 makes it easy for your local one-call center to notify all appropriate utility companies of your intent to dig. Call a few days prior to digging to ensure enough time for the approximate location of utility lines to be marked with flags or paint. 2. When you call 811, a representative from your local one-call center will ask for the location and description of your digging project. 3. Your local one-call center will notify affected utility companies, which will then send professional locators to the proposed dig site to mark the approximate location of your lines. 4. Only once all lines have been accurately marked, roll up those sleeves and carefully dig around the marked areas. To find out more information about 811 visit www.call811.com.
If You Want Professional Service With Results, Call Today!
River Hills Realty, Inc. (813) 681-3555
Spring Cleaning Spring is the time to shed your winter layers, dust off the cobwebs, open the windows and embrace the beginning of a new season. Aside from spending more time outdoors, the sunshine and warm weather often energize us to do the things we put off during the cold winter months, such as cleaning and organizing. Spring cleaning does not need to be a daunting task. The key is to take small steps and designate time to complete them - do not try to do it all in one fell swoop. Try these tips for conquering spring cleaning: ± Reorganize - It is easy to get caught up in cleaning all the nooks and crannies of your house, but, it is equally important to tackle organizing! Whether it is arranging your DVDs in alphabetical order or digitizing that box of photos that has been sitting in the attic, a little rearranging can make a big difference! Your belongings are meant to be enjoyed, not collect dust! ± De-clutter - Smartphones and computers help us be productive, efficient and stay on top of hectic schedules. Download an organizational app to manage your to-dos or a maintenance app to dump junk files and defragment your drives. Cleaning up your computer desktop and archiving emails will allow you to find things with ease. Having an organized device will allow you to take full advantage of these great tools! ± Go Digital - Keeping finances organized throughout the year will make doing taxes more bearable. Scan documents onto your computer to save space and avoid overwhelming amounts of paper. ± Re-purpose - Do not blow your budget on pretty boxes and labels. Shoeboxes make great storage containers for miscellaneous items such as TV remotes, cords, letters and cards, and other items. You can disguise the shoebox with wrapping paper or by painting it. Think about what other items in your home that can be used for alternative purposes and save a few dollars by getting creative. ± Donate - Closets can very easily become packed to the brim with items you do not wear or even know you have! Take everything out of your closet and go through it with a critical eye - if you have not worn something in the past year, it is time to get rid of it. Donating clothing to organizations such as Goodwill is not only a noble act; it is a tax deduction as well! Follow these tips to conquer spring cleaning!
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES: ANTHONY SOLIMENO
Tax Accountant
N.Y. Licensed CPA
DINE IN * TAKE OUT * CATERING • Income Tax Planning & Preparation
• Pension & Retirement Planning Kevyn Farley 4389 Lynx Paw Trail • Accounting & Bookkeeping Services Owner Valrico, FL 33596 • New Business Consultation & Set Up
813-655-1040
Mon - Fri 7:30 am – 2:00 pm Sat & Sun 7:30 am – 1:30 pm
SolimenoCPA@aol.com
Phone: 813 654-9036
Conveniently located in the River Hills sales office
FAX: 813 654-5066
*Landscape Design *Sod Replacement & Install *Lawn Maintenance *Sprinkler Repair *Tree Trimming *Mulch Rick Gearin 391-5430 River Hills Resident
#cac057516
HORSE BACK RIDING LESSONS & CAMPS AT LITHIA All Ages * All Levels
Mike Wick, River Hills Resident 813.409.3878 For more info: lessons@selah-llc.com
Service y Repair y 24 Hours On Call Installation y Custom Design
352-209-0068
www.gatorac.com
Kitchens, Baths & More JIM MANNING CHRIS MANNING Established River Hills/Fish Hawk Handyman
813-924-3728
Licensed & Insured
Residential * Commercial * Realtor Services * Managed Properties
A financial services organization like no other:
Richard G. Steinbrueck CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
4316 New River Hills Pkwy, #7 Valrico, Florida 33596
(813) 654-0264
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards In. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flag design) in the United States, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Boards initial and ongoing certification requirements. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Thrivent Investment Management, Minneapolis, MN 55415, 800-8474836, a FINRA and SIPC member and wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Member NASD, Member SIDC 20328PS 8107 200700711. Thrivent Financial representatives are registered representatives of Thrivent Investment Management Inc. They are also licensed insurance agents of Thrivent Financial. Appleton, Wisconsin · Minneapolis, Minnesota · Thrivent.com · 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) Inc., 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415
By Allen Cobb Interiors A River Hills Resident 4366 Lithia Pinecrest Road Valrico, FL
(813) 653-3765 www.allencobbinteriors.com
COLE’S PAINTING ~Jeff Cole, Owner Lic # PA2723 Bonded and Insured
● Painting – Exterior / Interior / Deck ● Pressure Cleaning – All Surfaces
.62 a Square Foot FREE ESTIMATES 813 361-0636
HYPERLINK SECURITY Specializing in Security Systems Surveillance & Home Automation • Superior Value! • Excellent Customer Service! • Fast Response Time!
813-643-8772
www.hyperlinksecurity.com
• Roof Replacement • Roof Repairs • General Contractor
Serving All Your Real Estate Needs
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River Hills Realty A free market evaluation of my property. Now In three months In six months I’m interested in buying a home. I have a question for you. Purchasing investment property. Enter me in this month’s drawing for: Giving you a referral. 1 of 2 Gasoline Gift Cards (6/28/13) Name
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA, FL PERMIT NO. 6852
RIVER HILLS REALTY, INC. 4316 NEW RIVER HILLS PKWY VALRICO, FL 33596
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RIVER HILLS REALTY NEWS
A Special Report for River Hills
Enter to Win One of Two $250.00 Gas Station Gift Cards! Prize to be awarded by a drawing of all entries. Drawing to be held June 28, 2013. Winner need not be present. Odds of winning are 1 in 1,000. No cost or obligation to participate. Gift Card awarded where available. Cash may be substituted if prize cannot be purchased for any given area. ©Farm Net.
Congratulations to the Winner of the $1,000 Spring Clean Up… Sally Riga!