New Listing and 2 Open Houses this Sunday! March 28, 2008

I have a great new listing I want to tell you about. 1217 Legacy Lane (MAP) is a 3 bedroom home with 2.5 baths and a large bonus/loft area that can be a 4th bedroom, playroom, office or whatever your family needs. It even has a 3 car garage!

On the main level is a large kitchen with ceramic tile flooring, an island and eating area, and sliding glass doors that lead to a multi-level deck overlooking a neighborhood pond. The great room has a gorgeous wood laminate floor. Part of the great room can serve as your formal dining area. In the back of the home is a generous family room with a gas fireplace. The master bedroom features a vaulted ceiling with plant shelves a walk in closet and a luxurious master bath with dual vanity, garden tub and separate shower. Both of the other bedrooms also have their own walk-in closets.

Located in a very friendly neighborhood (Linden Square) just west of 10th and Raceway. The address and the low tax bill say Indianapolis, but it is within Hendricks county with Avon’s 4-star school system.

 OPEN HOUSE THIS SUNDAY FROM 2-4

I will also be doing an open house from 12-2 at another of my Linden Square listings, 1078 Liberty Drive. Click for more info

16 Ways to put more “green” into your life March 23, 2008

Everybody’s talking about being more environmentally friendly, going green, and saving the planet. Here are some ways to help you leave a smaller inpact on the earth from the U.S. Green Building Council:

LOWER UTILITY BILLS:

1. Switch to the Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
2. Program your thermostat (or switch to a programmable kind if you don’t have one)
3. Plug air leaks
4. Have the heating and cooling systems serviced
5. Choose Energy Star appliances (in some cases, you can get a rebate from the power company for these!)
6. Reduce water useage
7. Switch to green power sources

CHOOSE GREEN PRODUCTS

1. Buy local
2. Use low-VOC products (I wasn’t sure what that meant, so I included a link to a Wikipedia article about VOC’s)
3. Use wood alternatives or FSC-certified wood products (That’s Forest Stewardship Council, folks)
4. Use rapidly renewable flooring marterials

GREEN YOUR YARD

1. Plant trees to provide shade and wind protection for your home
2. Use Native plantings
3. Use non-toxic gardening techniques

GREEN YOUR TRANSPORTATION:

1. Carpool, use public transportation, walk,  or bike when possible
2. Buy a higher efficiency car

Easter Egg Hunt TODAY Saturday, 3/22 March 22, 2008

Come join us for an Easter Egg Hunt at Washington Township Park in Avon, it starts at 11am, get there early! The Easter Bunny will be there, escorted by his friends at the Avon Fire Department. Ages 1-10 are welcome and there will be lots of prizes too!

I would love to meet you, so stop by and say hello!

Spring sales spruce-up tips March 20, 2008

Spring is “Prime Time” for real estate. More home buying and selling will happen in the next couple of months than in any other time of the year. If you are thinking of getting your house sold, now is the time to get it listed. Carpenter Realtors offers an exclusing Home Marketing System that truly gives your home maximum exposure on the market, but it does take a couple of weeks to get all of the advertising out to the public. To be included in our May issue of our Call Carpenter for Homes Magazine, you need to be listed by April 1st. Call me now if you are thinking of listing you home.

In the meantime, here are some great tips to get your home ready for the brisk Spring market:

• Get the carpets professionally steam-cleaned
• Clear out the gutters
• Use a hose and long-handled scrub brush to clean up the siding and deck
• Remove any wet, decaying leaves left around your home from the fall
• Scrutinize your crawl space for water
• Give your roof the “once over” to check for any missing shingles or other issues
• Replace storm windows with screens so you can let the Spring air inside
• Get the air conditioner serviced
• Clean and lubricate hinges, rollers, and trcks on garage doors
• Sweep out and de-clutter the garage
• Check that sump pump to be sure you will be able to handle all the Spring rain coming
• Inside: start de-cluttering as much as possible to give the appearance of more space

Neverland Ranch off the Auction Block March 14, 2008

According to a new article, Michael Jackson has made an 11th hour bid to save his Neverland Ranch from the auction block. Even though he hasn’t been seen at the Ranch since being accused of molesting a 13 year-old child in 2005, word is that Jackson has worked out a deal which will allow him to keep possession of his property. There are still rumors about what might happen to the 2,500 acre estate, but for noe, it still belongs to the “King of Pop”.