I don't think we can say thank you or recognize people who go out of their way to provide excellent customer service and that is the reason for this blog.  We bought a brand new treadmill this week and when we arrived home and opened the box it was badly damaged.  You know how heavy and awkward they are to move so we really had no idea how we were going to get it back to the store for a replacement.  When I phoned the store the salesperson put me in touch with the manager who said she would have a new one delivered and the damaged one picked up.  No hassle!  Everyone from the salesperson to the two gentlemen who delivered the new one, in their personal vehicle no less, were very helpful and professional.  The store that I'm talking about is Dick's Sporting Goods here in Spartanburg, Sou... 11/01/2008

If you live in the Upstate of South Carolina, I hope you all had a chance to get outside and enjoy this gorgeous fall day.  The leaves are bright red, yellow and orange and the day started out cool but ended up so nice and warm.  There are so many activities going on this time of year to enjoy; football, soccer, bike riding, jogging or just taking a leisurely walk.  Whatever you enjoy, I hope you got to enjoy it today!  11/01/2008

We considered not even turning our light on last night for Halloween.  It's gotten to the point where we don't even know any of the kids that come to our door because most don't live in our neighborhood.  When we were kids we were only allowed to go to homes whose families we knew.  But in the end we decided to buy loads of candy and turn on the light - - and we're glad we did.  We got visits from three very special families who are past clients of ours.  No, they don't live in our neighborhood but they went out their way to bring their children by for Halloween.  One family even brought us a thank you card!  Very thoughtful!  It was so good to see all of them and they made us feel really special.  So I would say that we got treated last night in a very special way!! 11/01/2008

Home Staging can sell your house faster at the best price! What is Home Staging? Home Staging   is the art of strategically preparing a home going on the market so it shows off its best features in a positive manner. The entire objective is to make the house look as good as possible to as many potential home buyers as possible, thus increasing its chances for a quicker sale at the highest expected market value price for its area. Home Staging is the hottest new concept in real estate marketing and it is being used by savvy realtors and home sellers all over the country. Both are benefiting greatly!      A prospective home buyer makes a decision on whether to buy a house within the first few minutes (some estimate the first 15 seconds) of viewing. Most buyers make that decision with thei... 10/24/2008

It's Halloween time for the children!    Yes it is Halloween time, time for the children to dress up in their cute costumes and trick or treat. Fountain Inn is having a function for the kids on the 31st, right on Main Street. They are having the following: 1. Trick or treat 2. Entertainment 3. Music by the Fountain 4. Movie at 9pm by the fountain and whatever else they can come up with until then. The children should enjoy all the excitement that's going to go on that evening, so if you are interested in bringing your child somewhere safe to show off the beautiful costumes, Fountain Inn is the place. Don't forget Friday Night October 31st.                 10/24/2008

I'm excited today, I met my goal that I sat out to make. I enjoy blogging on a daily basis. It keeps my mind on other things then fighting my cancer. I look forward to blogging and reading other blogs. I enjoy reading the experiences that everyone has blogging, in their jobs. It gives me ideas and inspiration to keep going.   10/22/2008

Isn't this time of year beautiful? Yesterday was the first time I was able to get out for myself for over 3 weeks and we decided to go to the office. It was a little bright and cool but I was glad to beable to get out. As we were driving I had taken in some beautiful sites of the leaves changing, people being decorated for the holiday. What does everyone else think about the weather, the fall colors, the decorations? 10/22/2008

I find myself wondering sometimes 'why so much cancer"? I know we are not to question some things, but I do wonder. Yesterday I learned of a friend's son in his mid-fortys who has cancer. I just hope they have caught his in time. I have a friend who is in treatments now, and a neighbor who is finishing up her treatments. It just seems to be everywhere. 10/20/2008

Brrrrrrrrr, Even in South Carolina it gets chilly (and even COLDER in the winter) in the Fall. This morning our themometer read a chilly 37 degrees AND there was frost on several of my plants and lawn. SORRY, I HONESTLY DIDN'T HAVE A PUMPKIN OUTSIDE, JUST A FAKE ONE INSIDE). Saw several cars that were frost covered also on the drive into town. Granted I live in the suburbs and temps were warming up by the time I got there. This born Yankee is STILL getting used to the weather here, after living in Florida for 19 years. Will I ever get used to it??? Warming up, slowly but surely, Nance Burdette Keller Williams Realty nance@nanceburdette.com www.NanceBurdette.com     10/20/2008

I am amazed by the amount of homes listed in our local market that are in need of basic improvements that wouldn't cost the seller very much, and am interested in points of views from agents about recommending improvements before listing the home.  I'm not talking major renovations here.  I'm talking about basic improvements such as removing dated wallpaper, repainting the interior with neutral paint, replacing worn carpet, changing the kitchen countertops to granite, and so forth. So the question is...  What's the best recommendation to today's home seller?  Market the house in its current condition at low price or, invest in basic home improvements and hope to get a higher price? 10/18/2008

1. Pay your bills on time.This is the best way to improve your score, and it's never too late to start. Even if you've had serious delinquencies in the past, those will count less over time if you keep paying your bills on time. 2. Keep credit card balances low.High outstanding debt can pull down your score. Don't go maxing out your credit cards all the time. Only put 20% of the total amount you can put on the card also this helps raise your score. 3. Check your credit report for accuracy.It's possible that there may be inaccurate information on your credit report that can be easily cleared up . 4. Pay off debt rather than moving it around.Consolidating your credit card debt onto one card or spreading it over multiple cards will not improve your score in the long run. The most effective... 10/17/2008

          Try it, It's delicious 1/3  cup butter 1/4  cup packed brown sugar 1  cup all-purpose flour 3  8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened 3/4  cup packed brown sugar 2  tablespoons all-purpose flour 1  15-ounce can pumpkin 1  teaspoon vanilla 1/2  teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2  teaspoon ground ginger 1/2  teaspoon ground nutmeg 3  eggs 1  8-ounce carton dairy sour cream 1  tablespoon granulated sugar Pecan halves (optional) 1/2  cup granulated sugar 1/2  cup chopped pecans Directions 1. For Pecan-Praline Pieces and Powder,* line a large baking sheet with foil; set aside. In a heavy skillet place the 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Cook over medium-high heat, shaking skillet occasionally until sugar begins to melt. Do not stir. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the chopped pecans; cook about ... 10/17/2008

Today was my day to work at the Soup Kitchen, as I do every third Thursday, and it was a very large crowd of people today who came for lunch. I was working away and looked up and saw an old friend of mine. It was quite a shock to see someone I knew personally. We spoke for a few minutes, and he sat down and ate his lunch. I have not been able to get him out of my mind all afternoon. But for the Grace Of God, it could be any one of us. 10/16/2008

You're nearing the end of a soothing hot shower, a roast is browning in the oven, potatoes are boiling on the cook-top, the last load of laundry is in the dryer, the water heater just kicked on to provide some more hot water for your shower and the heater is keeping your home at just the right temperature. Each one of those activities creates moisture inside a home and hopefully the house is properly ventilated to provide enough fresh air circulation to sufficiently dissipate that moisture and transfer it to outside the building. In older homes, the construction methods left air leaking through and around windows, doors, walls, floors and ceilings. Plus, once upon a time ceiling vents were commonly installed in closets, kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms.   Since the gas crisis of th... 10/16/2008

1: Generally Improve Your Home's "Curb Appeal" Mow the front lawn, water and fertilize if necessary, pick up any trash, sweep your driveway and walks and make sure your home looks good from the street. 2: Make The Front Door And Porch Attractive You only get one chance so make sure their first impression is the best. Sweep the porch, touch up any paint in this area, wash windows and wipe down the front door. 3: Fix Cracks In The Driveway And Remove Any Oil Stains Resealing your driveway can dramatically improved the appearance of your home from the street and really make a great impression to potential buyers. 4: Replace Warped Roofing Shingles This can potentially save you thousands if your roof in near needing replacement. It makes the buyers feel more comfortable making an offer. Don... 10/16/2008

1: Not Having Proper Representation In today's market it is important to have qualified representation. When you select a Realtor to work with be sure to ask questions about there qualifications and even sales history. 2: The Right Loan There are many different loan types available. Depending on how long you plan to live in your home there are some great options to purchase and keep you payments low or get you into a larger home for the same amount of money. 3: The Right Location Figure out what location you would like to live in and stay as close to that area as possible. Sometimes buyers will jump into a home that may look great but is not really located where they want to be. 4: Make Your Offer ASAP Making an offer in a timely manner once you find a home you like is advisable. Two co... 10/16/2008

What does everyone think about Tommy Bowden saying that's it for the clemsons? I can't believe that after all that time with the team he would walk in one day and say that's it, he's stepping down from being head coach. It just seems like he was asked to step down, during the press conference, he seemed like he wasn't too happy about going public. He had gotten up too fast after speaking his opinion. He didn't even wait to answer any questions. I feel like the new coach that's taking over as interim will do a good job at first. All we can do is hope that they pull it together for next few games. 10/16/2008

Every business with a website utilizes Internet marketing to promote its website and products/services. Internet marketing service providers creates rage among website owners. Every business has its characteristics and marketing needs, so the type of online marketing is used in different ways. They can be used in combinations in order to meet the goals you set out to accomplish. Here are a few of the different methods:1) SEO marketing - It is the most widely used Internet marketing tactic, where the site content is made internet friendly. This means when a user enters a specific phrase, your site would appear in one of the top results of the search engine. This increases site visibility and web traffic.2) Affiliate Marketing: It is an indirect form of online marketing where an organizat... 10/15/2008

You just can't beat good chicken, and I think Zaxby's is the best as far as drive-throu goes. Today I got the chicken black and blue zalad, and it was very good, or I was very hungery. I usually just get the snack pack, but today I just needed a change. And of course it is so close to our Keller Williams office. 10/15/2008

I was just wondering what you may think about a virtual tour? Do you use one, or should you use one, and which one? I have heard so many pros and cons about this untill I am so confused. I have been using visual tours for a while, and am pleased with it, but thought there might be something better on the market now. 10/13/2008