Why we need time off

I have always been a hard worker, and take great pride in this.  If there is a job to be done, I do everything I can to make sure that it is done right.  As a bit of a perfectionist, I tend to go above and beyond the bare minimum because I like to make sure things are done to a higher standard.  It is this aspect of myself that causes me to work harder for longer hours than other people would be willing to.  I am driven to push myself to make things happen for my clients, customers, friends and family. 

While I find pleasure in the work that I do, many people often tell me to slow down and take some time for myself.  Last week, I was able to go on vacation, and do just that.  Even though I came home tired, and a bit worn out physically, the time away from work allowed me to refresh myself mentally.  Coming back to the office to find a stack of work waiting was not a daunting task, it was something that I was looking forward to.  A schedule full of appointments after some time away looks more like a group of opportunities than a list of commitments.  Taking time off to recharge has helped to realign my perspective, something each and every one of us needs to do once in a while. 

Whether you take a three day weekend, a week long vacation, or a month off for yourself isn't important, the key is to take some time for yourself! Recharge your batteries, let work wait a few days, or enjoy time with friends and family that you don't see as often as you like.  Just make sure, that ever once in a while, you make time to do the things that you enjoy, and everything else just seems better!

Let me know your favorite way to "get away" in the comments down below.  Share with your friends and family, and follow my blog to keep up with all my posts.  Friend me on Facebook an follow me on Twitter to keep up with everything I ever post!

A quick tip for watering your lawn

This summer has been especially dry in Southwestern Indiana.  My lawn, like so many others, has become super dry and brown.  Watering your lawn is really the only option to keep your lawn looking green, but with the exceptionally dry conditions we have been experiencing, watering needs to be a daily routine in order to make your lawn look its best.

People who are connected to a public water supply and pay for their water, want to water properly, without wasting extra money.  MSN Real Estate posted a great article by Brett Martin of Popular Mechanics  offering some great tips on the best ways to properly water your lawn for the best results.  The smarter way to water your lawn  gives the best time of day, as well as the proper tools to use for watering your lawn.

Share this information with your friends and family, and follow my blog to keep up with all my posts.  Friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter to keep up with everything I ever post!

Dark Knight Rises

I have long been a die-hard movie fan, an anyone who knows me would attest to that.  Nothing beats the thrill of going to see a newly released movie for the first time in theaters, and if the movie is highly anticipated, I'll even spring for the midnight release.  Such was the case for The Dark Knight Rises! 

Christopher Nolan has done it again, concluding his epic tale of the dark knight with, in my opinion, the best of the three installments.  Everything about this film, from the storytelling to the cinematography was executed flawlessly.  After Heath Ledger's performance as the joker in The Dark Knight, my expectation for the next villain were exceedingly high, and Tom Hardy's portrayal of Bane did not disappoint.  His ruthless, brute strength, coupled with the devotion of his followers made him the deadliest villain ever seen in a Batman movie.  At one point, I turned to a friend of mine and commented that he was the perfect villain.

When you see the film, let me know your thoughts in the comments down below, or if you're not planning to see this I'd love to hear why!  If you find this review helpful, feel free to share with your family and friends and follow my blog to keep up with all of my posts.  Friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter to keep up with everything I ever post!

Edit: After waking this morning I was made aware of the horrific events of the Aurora, Colorado midnight release shootings.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved, and my deepest condolences to the friends and families of those who's lives were taken.

Increasing exterior appeal!

No one can deny how important the interior appeal of a home is since this is the area that people spend the majority of their time.  On the other hand, the exterior of the home is the first thing that people get to see, so it is important to make a good first impression!  Proper lawn maintenance, along with good landscaping, are great ways to add curb appeal!

Utilizing stone is a great way to create a great space, or to use as an accent to spruce up the look of your home.  MSN Real Estate published a great slide show with ideas on how to utilize stone at your home.  24 landscaping ideas with stone by Sunset, offers some spectacular ideas on ways you can use different types of stone to create different looks at your house!

Let me know which of these ideas you think looks best in the comments below!  Share this information with your family and friends, and follow my blog to keep up with all my posts.  Friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter to keep up with everything I ever post!

Too many apps to choose from?

It's no secret that smartphone usage is on the rise.  According to a study by eMarketer, smartphone users account for 38% of all mobile phone users, and that number is expected to continue to increase.  The graphic at the right shows their recent growth projections. With over 100 million smartphone users projected for 2012, it's safe to say, there are almost just as many app users.

I've been using a smartphone for a few years now, and I honestly can't remember how I ever lived without one!  One of my favorite aspects of using a smartphone is the vast amount of apps available, to help with any number of things you could ever ask for.

One aggravating aspect that often arises is trying to locate the best app for your needs.  Both the iPhone App Store and the Android Market offer more options than anyone could ever need for every aspect of your life!  I generally like to download and utilize apps that are recommended highly by others.  Knowing that they have been tried, tested, and received positive reviews helps me to decide the best apps to utilize.  Thankfully, Lifehacker posted articles outlining what they feel are the best apps for iPhones and Android phones.

Take a look at these lists, and let me know your thoughts on your favorite apps in the comments below.  Share this info with your friends and family, and follow my blog to keep up with all my posts.  Friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter to keep up with every thing I ever post!

A new scam to beware!

Recently, I was contacted by a buyer about a letter she had received in the mail. Bold letters on the front of the envelope proclaimed "Final Notice" even though she had never received another shred of mail from this sender. Not recognizing the name of the sender, she gave me a call to question the material that was included in the letter.

The letter was all about the importance of having a copy of the deed for your property, as this document shows definitively the proper ownership of the property. While none of this information is inaccurate or misleading, this is surely a scam, and here's how I know: this company is offering this service for a mere $85 charge.

Thankfully my buyer asked me about this before even considering the offer. Any time a property is sold, a copy of the deed is recorded at the court house, where it becomes public knowledge. Anyone who would like a copy can request one at any time, and simply pay the fees to have a copy of the deed printed off. Generally, in the Southwest Indiana area, this costs $1 per printed page. Since the deed is a one or two page document, the inflated costs this scam is requesting is made possible only for individuals who are unaware of this fact.

Please share this information with your friends and family to make sure they are aware of this scam. Follow my blog to keep up with more useful information, or friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter to keep up with everything I ever post.

Update 7-17-2012: My buyer has received another letter offering the same service.  The letter was sent by Secured Document Services out of Washington, DC.  If you receive a letter from them, feel free to disregard this letter.

Changes are coming!

Benjamin Franklin said, "The only things certain in life are death and taxes."  While I may not agree completely with this statement, it has been my experience that "change" is something to be expected!  Embracing this philosophy has helped me to adapt to changes to be able to make progress in my personal and professional life.

I have recently had some changes in my life that are going to allow me to spend more time working with more Buyers and Sellers!  Restructuring my schedule has allowed me  to spend more time working on my own sales, to help me better serve my clients.  If you or anyone you know is thinking of buying or selling a home, I would love the opportunity to discuss how I can help!

With this new schedule, I will be making a change to my post schedule as well. Keep looking for blog posts every Tuesday and Friday, but I will now be posting in the evenings.  Let me know in the comments below any subjects you would like more information on, or any questions you have about the home buying or selling process!

As always, feel free to share this information with your friends and family and follow my blog to keep up with all my posts.  Friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter to keep up with everything I ever post!

DIY Easy bathroom makeovers

The thought of a remodeling project in the bathroom makes many people shudder, as they are usually quite expensive. Luckily, there are ways to make remarkable changes without spending tons of money!  Bathroom fixtures, such as faucets and water handles can make or break a bathroom.  Replacing fixtures with modern finishes can change the look of any bathroom dramatically, but can be very costly; however, many people don't realize there is a less expensive option.  Metal fixtures can be spray painted to give them a vibrant new look!

ehow.com offers great tips and tricks on anything and everything, including a great post the proper technique for spray painting metallic fixtures and get great results! How to Repaint Metal Fixtures in a Bathroom is a step by step guide on what you need and how to prep and paint metal fixtures.  Another great blog, Saving 4 Six, shows step by step photos of the three main steps of the process.

Step One: Strip down the fixture. Clean it up and scrape, sand, and strip any grit an grime to get the faucet cleaned and smooth.  The smooth surface is necessary to help make the finished project look it's absolute best.

Step Two: Prime the surface!  This helps the paint better adhere and will help to make sure the finished project holds up in the long run.  Make sure that when you are putting the primer on, it goes on evenly in order to guard against pooling and running. 

 Step Three: Paint!  After the surface has been primed it's time to paint the fixture!  Pick a metallic paint that you like, and the fixture looks brand new, at a fraction of the cost it would take to replace the fixture.  Repeat steps one through three on any other fixtures and you've given your bathroom a new look!

As always, feel free to share this information with your friends and family, and follow my blog to keep up with all my posts!  Friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter to keep up with everything I ever post!