Do you know how to find a home using a Google Maps? You can even see the neighborhood!
30 Ways to Save Money on Utilities

There are a lot of simple and inexpensive things you can do.
1. Check it out! In many areas, cable, satellite and utility companies compete for customers so you can save on some utilities by shopping around for the best rates and plans. (Or at least switch to basic cable!)
2. Use energy efficient light bulbs. This is the big buzz right now. Simply replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. You can now buy round bulbs, not just the cork screw type, that may look better in some of your fixtures. I’ve found them to be less expensive in multi-packs.
3. Check your heat and air vents. Check to see which of your vents are open. Some rooms stay warmer or cooler than others so adjust the vents to balance the temperature throughout your home. You may find the airflow is better upstairs when you close off some of the downstairs vents. Some rooms may need the vents only partially open. We used one end of our home very little so we closed most of the vents at that end allowing less energy to heat and cool the rooms we use the most.
4. Install aerator screens on your faucets. These little screens distribute water flow so you get more coverage with less water. They increase the pressure of the stream of water as it comes out of the faucet so you don’t need to turn the faucet up as high. Screens cut the water flow from 3 to 4 gallons per minute to as little as a half-gallon.
19 more great Home Remedies to Start Your Summer

This is a forwarded email I received and too good not to share. It goes along well with my post Home Remedies. Enjoy!
1) Eliminate ear mites. All it takes is a few drops of Wesson Corn Oil in your cat’s ear… massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat’s skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.
2) Kills fleas instantly... Dawn Dishwashing Liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog’s bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Good-bye fleas.
3) Rainy day cure for dog odor: Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.
4) Did you know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately-without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers?
Saving Water, the Water Pebble
It’s April, “Earth Day Month”. For me, that creates even more awareness everyday that we need to be taking steps to preserve and protect our planet, our real estate.
My big passion is water. I’ve written a number of posts about it. Here, again, is a wonderful site devoted to the preservation and protection of water.
This article focuses on something new and so easy to use, the Water Pebble. This device simply sits near any water drain and times the water usage. It “teaches” you to reduce the time you have the water flowing. Waterpebble could help reduce the average shower to less than 6 minutes saving over 20 litres of hot water every time.
At this time, I’m not planning to buy a water pebble but, because of reading this, I am going to be more aware of the time I spend in the shower, rinsing dishes, washing my hands, any time I run water.
Isn’t it great to be aware? We hold so much power in our own decisions, our own actions. What will you do to make a difference to the Planet?
“When the Well’s dry, we know the Worth of Water.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), Poor Richard´s Almanac
For the Dishwasher’s Sake, Go Easy on the Detergent

Oh, my gosh, Arminda, thanks for forwarding this great article.
Now, as you know, I don’t usually copy someone else’s article to post on my site, but this is so practical and so helpful that I wanted to share it.
No, it’s not specifically about real estate. It is, however, about some of the things inside your real estate, the dishwashers and the washer and dryers! But saving money is saving money no matter where or how and any money we save can be used for real estate, right?
So please read and learn from this very basic, simple article from the NY Times on household items you use everyday. Let me know what you think!
15 Things we should learn from this economy.

What are we learning in this economy that will protect us in any economy?
- Save more than you spend.
- Don’t expect the good times to last forever.
- Watch for emerging opportunities that will work if the market changes.
- Don’t put all of your eggs into one basket.
- Be flexible and ready to change direction.
- Have more than one exit strategy in your business.
- History tends to repeat itself – watch for trends that have happened before.
- Be aware of areas you can improve.
- You have a lot of competition. Be better than your competition in something. Do what you do best even better.
Free Energy Audit for your home
Did you know you can get a free energy audit for your home? Have you had yours yet?
I had mine today. Fabulous experience and.. free gifts!
Duke Energy will come to your home and do a FREE energy audit. Just call Duke Energy to schedule your appointment. I had to wait almost 3 months for mine but it’s no big deal to wait, right?
My audit took less than an hour. The inspector started by sitting at his laptop where my account was already pulled up. He knew my energy usage history. Then he asked questions about our energy needs and habits such as how many people live in the home, what temperature we keep the thermostat in the winter (68*) and what temperature in the summer (74*), do we wash in cold, warm or hot water. (cold)
Then he made a tour of the property beginning in the attic crawl space where he looked at insulation and duct work. He checked the hot water heater for age and efficiency, checked windows, fireplace openings, heat ducts, vents and insulation in the attic as well as under the house. He checked the heating unit for age and efficiency.
Happy New Year

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.
Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.
Don ‘t judge folks by their relatives.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Live a good, honorable life.. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
Don ‘t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t bothering you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin’.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around..
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Have a Wonderful, Prosperous 2010.
Phone Books – how can you stop receiving them?
I just received another batch of printed phone books, both at home and at my office. Guess where they went.. straight to the recycle bin. What a waste!
This year alone, 540 million printed directories were delivered. That’s more than one per person. Why? Don’t most of us look things up online?
If you want one, fine. For those who don’t, let your request be known.
To stop receiving printed phone books, go to PaperlessPetition.org to request your name and address be removed from the Yellow Pages printed directory mailing list.
“Scrap the Phonebook.” Save a tree!
**be sure to read John’s comment below. Opting out on-line may not be enough.









