If it’s a small amount of mold, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests you try cleaning it yourself (see the Tips column in this issue for advice and guidance).   However, if the contaminated area is larger than three square feet, if you suspect your heating system is contaminated, or if the mold grew from sewage water, your best bet is to bring in the experts.   Properly maintain your home and clean up any accumulations of mold as soon as they appear, and there’s little chance it will cause you any problems. It is best to not wait “until later” since the sooner you attack mold, the less trouble it will cause you down the road. Tips Cleaning Mold Household mold should be eliminated as soon as it’s discovered.   For small amounts of mold that appear on hard surfaces, the Envi... 03/11/2011

In the past, many homeowners considered mold nothing more than an annoyance; something to be wiped away, painted over, or just plain ignored. But now, most understand that significant mold build-ups can bring with them some serious health consequences, plus impact your home’s resale value, and even jeopardize its structural integrity.   Mold defined Mold is a fungus. Like dust, pollen or smog, mold spores are invisible to the naked eye and always swirling about—which means keeping it out of your home is almost impossible. The spores blow in through doorways, windows and heating systems. They can also enter your home in your hair, clothes and on your family pets. The good news: Mold is only harmful if the spores are allowed to grow and reproduce, and that requires a damp environment.   ... 03/10/2011

1)  Education and Experience - You don't need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who does.  Henry Ford once said that when you hire people who are smarter than you are, it proves you are smarter than they are.  The trick is to find the right person.  For the most part, they all cost about the same.  Why not hire a person with more education and experience than you?  We're all looking for more precious time in our lives, and hiring pros gives us that time. 2)  Agents are Buffers - Agents take the spam out of your property showings and visits.  If you're a buyer of new homes, your agent will whip out his sword and keep the builder's agents at bay, preventing them fro biting or nipping at your heels.  If you're a seller, your agen... 03/09/2011

Our company sends out customer service questionnaire to our clients after ever closing, and this one came back with great feedback.  Besides giving me 10 on service, professionalism and knowledge of the Real Estate Process this is what my client said. "I am a second language speaker, I spent the last 3 years waiting for an agent who can handle my impatience & fear etc. till I started communication with Mark online, honesty, patient & loyal what drove me to sign with him.  Sold my house in 20 days, admire his loyalty to his job & congratulate Windermere for having a professional agent as Mark"  AA When I get client testimonials like this it lets me know that I am doing job the way my clients want me to get it done. Thanks, Asnat for the Great Tesimonial. 03/08/2011

Have you been thinking of selling you home by yourself instead of hiring a real estate agent?  There are some advantages of selling your home yourself, but there are disadvantages as well.  The most important advantage to selling your home yourself may mean more money in your pocket.  By selling it yourself you same the commissions.  It is also completely up to you where and when you want to advertise. However, there are also disadvantages to selling your house yourself.  Real estate agents are paid a lot of money for a reason.  Selling your home takes a lot of energy and time dealing with potential buyers, open houses, closing the sale, and dealing with legal issues.  Real Estate agents are familiar with these issues and their experience can significantly impact the sale.  Will you dro... 03/07/2011

Salt Lake County Homes for Sale, Buying your First Home Well the time has come; you are finally out making a good living.  You are beginning to get tired of paying rent, the number one advise that friends and family are giving you is, Buy a House.  By this time you are about to be hitched and have probably saved enough money for a down payment.  After a fair amount of thinking about it, you jump over the first hurdle and decide to go for it.  Now once you are focused about what you want you then jot down a list of things you want in a house.  That being done the search begins.  These days the task of sifting through hundreds of potential houses is not as hard.  With a few mouse clicks, you can see multiple house listings and take virtual tours of houses for sale. The key points to consi... 03/05/2011

Take Notes:  Make a not of you shipment registration number and keep it with you in case you need to callyour mover with questions about your shipment. Get the bed ready:  Designate one drawer of a dresser for sheets and towels so that you won't have to rummage through boxes for these essentials the first night. Don't forget about the fridge:  After you've thoroughtly cleaned and dried the inside of your refrigerator, put a handful of fresh coffee, bakeing soda or charcoal in a sock or nylon and place it inside to keep the interior smelling fresh. Keep the phone book:  Take your current phone book with you.  You may need to make calls to residents or businesses back in your former hometown. Pack heavy - Pack light:  Pack heavy items in small boxes and lighter items in larger boxes. Give... 03/03/2011

Recently, news about how to purchase real-estate owned (REO/bank owned), foreclosure property or short sale is everywhere.  Bank owned homes are sold directly fro the lender after the foreclosure process is complete, and while you may save quite a bit of money by choosing to go for this type of home, it is not without trials and tribulations.  The process of purchasing a home directly from a lender can be long and arduous, but could be very well be worth it in the end. If you have your sights on a particular home or are looking to find a deal on you first, working directly with the lender may be you only option.  Purchasing a bank owned home is not for the faint of heart.  Here are some tips for negotiating the REO process 1. Be Prepared:  The condition of bank owned properties is usua... 03/02/2011

Making an offer on a home without being pre-qualified Not Having a home inspection Limiting your search to open houses, ads or the Internet Choosing a Real Estate agent who is not committed to forming a strong business relationship with you. Thinking there is only one perfect house out there. Not considering long-term needs Not examining insurance issues Not buying a home protection plan Not knowing total cost involved Not following through on due diligence 02/28/2011

If you have not heard yet we will be getting new business to the location by the new 11400 South exit near Costco.  Sheels Department store will be coming to the development and will be in a large 220,000 square foot building.  The will offer a large selection of sports equipment, men's and woman's sportswear and footwear, in one location. The building will also feature a 65 foot Ferris Wheel and a 65,000 gallon salt water aquarium.  Other recreation activities will include a shooting range, and a Presidents Walk. They are expecting to bring in 400 jobs into the area.  Sheels has 23 stores in eight different states and will be a new shopping destination in Utah soon.  Construction began in February. Other new business to look forward to are the new theater going in by the Draper Outlet ... 02/28/2011

Thanks to all-time-low interest rates, the number of homeowners refinancing their mortgages is at an all-time high. Of course, no one should refinance just because everyone else is doing it. But, for many homeowners, the benefits are simply too good to ignore any longer: Save money each month. According to the latest figures from Freddie Mac (the country’s largest purchaser of home mortgages), the average homeowner who refinances is able to cut their monthly payment by $108 (or almost $1,300 per year) for a $200,000 loan. Save even more in the long run. If you currently have a 30-year mortgage, refinancing with a 15 year version can save you thousands of dollars in interest over the life of the loan, plus allow you to build equity in your home faster than ever. Switch to a fixed-rate m... 02/25/2011

If you are planning to sell your home this spring, you should start now to get it ready for sale.  There are a few minor changes you can make that will provide a good return on the investment in your home. Paint dated kitchen cabinets white or black Paint the interior walls in earth tones to appeal to more buyers Replace light switches and outlets to get a fresh look Get rid of clutter and excess furniture to make your house look more spacious Remove personal pictures so the buyer can visualize their family in your home Increase visibility with 100-watt light bulbs Remove or trim shrubs in the front of you home.  You can't sell it if you can't see it Clean everything spotless Update entry into the home provides a great return on investment along with garage door Kitchens and bathrooms s... 02/24/2011

At today’s interest rates, homeowners who qualify for refinancing should be able to save a significant amount on their monthly mortgage payment. But you may be able to save even more by putting some of the tips below into play: 1. Consider going solo. If you or your spouse has a significantly better credit rating, consider putting the mortgage in that person’s name to get the best interest rate. (You’ll both get to sign the title.) 2. Choose the 15-year option. If you can afford it, choose the 15-year mortgage over a 30-year version. The interest rate will be lower, you’ll build equity faster and, obviously, you’ll be mortgage-free 15 years sooner. 3. Pay closing costs upfront. Avoid “no-fee” or “no-cost” refinancing. This just means that the closing costs will be added to the loan amo... 02/23/2011

In these economic times, many homeowners could really benefit from the money available through a home equity loan or line of credit. However, there’s often confusion regarding the details of these two options. To set the record straight, we compare them side-by-side: A home equity loan (or second mortgage) is like a home loan: ·         You receive the entire loan amount in one big payout (to use however you want). ·         You can choose between fixed and adjustable interest rates (typically higher than a regular home loan, but lower than a home equity line of credit). ·         You pay the lender back via fixed monthly payments. ·         The interest you pay is tax-deductable. ·         After a set period (usually 15 or 30 years), the loan is paid off. ·         If you default on t... 02/22/2011

After years of putting of plans for a new deck, a better kitchen or a bigger family room, it seems many Americans are now ready to get back to business of remodeling their homes.  For the first time since 2006 , the remodeling industry is predicting a significant increase. If you're planning to join the movement, do yourself a favor:  Consider the following advice before the hammers and nails (and expletives) start flying. Put your ideas on Paper Before you begin soliciting bids on you project, make sure you know just what you want ( with pictures, sketches, and notes).  Homeowners who are more organized and sure of their plans almost always get the best pricing and results.  Ask me. You'd be surprised how many contractors I know.  I will also be happy to stop by to give you an idea whi... 02/22/2011

We are working on finding more information on putting a Bluegrass festival together in September this year.  We have contacted some musicians and we will be working on dates soon.  The newsletter will be coming out in the next few weeks and we are looking for contributors for future newsletters. Our trail systems are starting to get some national recognition in Mountain Bike magazines, and on that subject we ask that people not to use the trails until they dry out in the coming months to keep them usable for the entire year.  The HOA Board is also looking for new members, so if anyone is interested feel free to contact me or any other board member. 02/22/2011

Hey Everyone, look for our listings in most of the Salt Lake Journals.  This is a free publication that goes out to all the houses in the Salt Lake Valley, and they should be showing up to your doorstep real soon.  Our agents will also be putting articles about the local real estate market in the Journal publications.  This will realy give out listings a leg up over the competition.  If you want to see the rest of the great marketing that all of us at Windermere are putting in place just give me a call today at (801)230-2607.  02/02/2011

Also known as a Michigan U-Turn the new ThrUTurn will be coming to Draper, UT.  It is going to go in at the intersection of 12300 South and State Street.  To view the project you can go to www.udot.utah.gov/thruturn, where they have a video simulation.  The design has been successfully implemented in other states and is designed to help improve traffic flow.  The idea of puttting a ThrUTurn in this area is due to the excessive delays during peak travel times.  This was the most practical of all the options and would have the lowest impact on local business.   The basic idea isthat you travel 600 feet past the intersection in a designated lane then make a U-turn, after which you can return to the intersection and make a right turn rather than making a left turn at the intersection.  If y... 01/26/2011

Most of us have already driven through the area on 700 East in the Construction Zone.  We all realize in Utah we have the four seasons of almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction as Jeff Foxworthy says.  Well I am here to let you know that the expected to continue through June of this year.  We all know that it is a headache now, but it will be finished soon.  And remember that left turns will be restricted onto 700 east from westbound 12300 South until the project completion to accommodate canal work.  If you would like more infomraiton on the project just visit the website www.udot.utah.gov/700east.  Thanks to all for following my blog and be sure to tell your friends. 01/25/2011

Always remember that any remodeling projects that will cost more than 30% of the value of your home it is always a good idea to look into the possibility of moving to see if there is a home on the market that already fits your needs without the headache of a remodel.  With that in mind here are my top 5 projects to create a return on investment. A Bedroom in the Attic.  Adding an extra bedroom in one on the most expensive home improvements you can make.  But choose the attic for this project, and you should be able to cut the cost to around $49,000( and end up with about a 83% of that amount right back in your pocket when it's time to sell) A Deck.  Outdoor entertaining is all the rage today and decks are a big part of the movement.  With an average cost of $10,634 the general consensus... 01/24/2011