Home Buying Info & Tips

Simple Green Ideas for Your Lawn

We spend lots of time, energy and money making our lawns beautiful and userfriendly.

Here are some tips for making them environmentally friendly as well.

1. Mulch Your Grass Clippings when possible – Grass clippings contain valuable nutrients taken right out of your soil. So isn’t it odd that we gather our grass clippings in bags and ship them off to a land fill somewhere on the other side of the county?

Did you know that mulching your grass and leaves can save you as many as two fertilizer applications every year? Most lawn mowers come with a mulching blade that chops grass and leaves into small pieces and deposits them right back into the lawn.

Mulched leaves – especially sugar and red maple leaves – provide a degree of natural weed control when mulched into the lawn. Sometimes it is not practical to mulch your leaves because you have too many of them. But often it is – and it helps your lawn too!

2. Plant trees, shrubs and flowers – You know that trees are good for the environment. They help clean the air, return moisture to the air and provide shade from the hot sun. Shrubs, flowers and bushes also have many benefits other than just adding beauty. They help stimulate the soil, add bio-diversity to your yard, and attract birds and other wildlife.

3. Use Fertilizer Wisely – Synthetic fertilizers almost always contain nitrogen and phosphorous. Nitrogen is what your grass needs for healthy growth. Much of your lawn’s nitrogen requirements can be supplied by mulching your grass each time you mow it.

Phosophorous (the second number) is usually unnecessary for healthy lawns, and it has some negative effects on the environment. Phosphorous that ends up in our rivers, lakes and ponds stimulates plant growth which disrupts the habitat of fish and other water life. Look for a fertilizer than has “0″ phosophorous.

Organic fertilizers may actually contain more phosophorus than synthetic ones, so read the label carefully.

Executive Home in Creve Coeur – OPEN SUNDAY 3/21

Open this Sunday, March 21 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

Exceptional 1.5 sty executive style home boasts over 5300 sq footage w/finishes & detail thruout. Grand 2 sty foyer graced w/marble flooring, millwork is accented w/chandelier & Palladian windows allowing an abundance of lighting into this lovely home. From the foyer you will notice the casements, millwork & exceptional carpentry which add richness to this home. Leading through the foyer you will entranced by the abundance of natural lighting from the sunken 2sty grt rm, featuring a gas fireplace, wet bar, beamed ceiling & surround sound. The dining room features hardwood floors, tray ceiling w/millwork & wainscoting. From the dining room you will get a glimpse of the new gourmet kitchen(05) hand painted Italian tile, woodmode custom cabinetry, granite center island, concrete countertops, Dacor convection double ovens, Viking 6 burner cook top w/independent hood, Viking warming drawer, sub-zero refrigerator, Sharp microwave, Bosch dishwasher, & hardwood floors & the list goes on & on.

Can’t wait until Sunday?  Call The Laura MacDonald Team TODAY and schedule a private showing!  636-394-9300.

More here: http://www.thelauramacdonaldteam.com/listing/104806466

FREE Landscape Seminar!

Learn from the Pros! 

Join us for a FREE Landscape Seminar on March 18^th from 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Place:  The Lodge of Des Peres - 1050 Des Peres Road 63131

Our keynote speaker will present topics for both the novice and expert gardener.

In this session you’ll learn:

• Tricks to spruce up your yard (perfect for home sellers)
• Transform your yard into a beautiful paradise (at an affordable price)

Seating is limited so please RSVP as soon as possible to:

Mary Ann – 314-852-8773

See you there!

Price Reduction on Executive Creve Coeur Home

Major price reduction on Executive home in Creve Coeur – 12805 Bellerive Springs – find out more here:  http://bit.ly/92GOZW

Stop Double Taxation in Missouri – Protect Our Homes

There is a bill concerning future homeownership that I wanted you to be aware of.  Congress is trying to get us to pass a bill using a double negative format.  In other words, vote YES to say NO to this critical tax increase. 

If this bill passes, there will be a 4% tax to sellers who have sold their home.  This sill have a huge impact on the housing market and will make us take a step backward, not forward. 

Please pass this along to everyone on your list – together we stand strong and will not allow this to happen! 

Find out more here:  http://www.yestosavehomes.com/ 

Join Us Today 

Join with thousands of other Missouri residents and sign our pledge today to help mobilize friends and colleagues in support of a ballot initiative in 2010 to protect your property from a real estate transfer tax.

A real estate transfer tax :

• is a form of double taxation;
• lowers homeowner equity;
• negatively impacts the process of buying and selling a home; and
• unfairly targets property owners and lower income residents alike.

We need your vote!  There is a Constitutional Amendment on the November 2010 ballot in the State of Missouri that will prevent the State, Counties and other political subdivisions from imposing any new taxes on the sale or transfer of homes or any other real estate.

A yes vote means NO TO TAXES! 

Find out more here:  http://www.yestosavehomes.com/

Energy Saving Tips

One of the most obvious areas where a homeowner can go “green” is in the use of energy in the home. The biggest energy hogs are heating, air conditioning, electrical appliances, lighting, and water usage. Here are some practical tips for saving energy and money at the same time.

1. Do an “energy audit” – A good place to start is with an informal energy “audit” to reveal where you are using the most energy and where you are wasting it. The average US home uses 31% of its energy consumption on heating, 12% on cooling, 12% on water heating, and 29% on appliances, lighting, and electronics such as TVs and computers. So these are obvious places you can cut back.

2. Insulate, insulate, insulate – If 43% of the energy used in our homes goes for heating and cooling this is the place to start. Insulation in your attic, outside walls and basement walls is critical. New products such as blown in insulation have made it easier to insulate previously difficult areas. But be careful to get professional advice before tackling a project like this yourself.

3. Seal doors and windows – Usually the worst areas of heat loss are windows and doors. Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets. All of these can leak air into or out of your home. Have a professional take a look at your home and make some recommendations.

4. Turn the heat down – Wear warmer clothes and shoes in the winter so your house feels warmer. Then turn your thermostat down a few degrees. Set it to automatically lower the temperature at night. You’ll save a lot of energy and you’ll probably get fewer colds too.

5. Use less hot water – Be sure to have a highly efficient hot water heater. In some climates a tankless water heater may save energy, but research it thoroughly. Then study your hot water usage carefully. You may want to turn the temperature of your hot water heater down a bit. Consider replacing some appliances with more efficient ones. Use warm rather than hot water for washing clothes. Don’t use the dishwasher for partial loads, shower for shorter periods of time, and don’t let the hot water run when washing or shaving.

4. Turn off appliances and lights – When appliances are not being used they should be turned off or even unplugged (because many appliances use electricity even when they are not on). Set the energy saving features of your computer to shut down monitors and hard drives when not in use. Or turn your computers right off if not being used for an extended period of time.

5. Control your lighting – About 11% of the average home’s energy usage goes to lighting, so this is an obvious area for significant savings. Replacing old incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) will save between 50 and 75% per bulb. And turning lights off when they are not required will (obviously) save even more.

Top 9 Reasons NOW is the Best Time to List Your Home

Most information you see around this time of the year is that the real estate market slows down during the holidays or over the colder months.  I have found that activity is much more focused during this time, which creates some distinct advantages for both buyers and especially for sellers. 

Here are my Top 9 Reasons to List Your Home NOW! 

1.     Fewer homes are on the market, so you’re not competing with as many other available homes.

2.     Many times you can get a better sale price for your home because there are less homes on the market.

3.     Buyers have shorter work schedules and more available times to look for homes.

4.     Homes ‘show’ better with the warmth of homes during the colder months.

5.     The Laura MacDonald Team are experts at helping you stage your home to get buyers emotionally attached.

6.     Buyers are more focused and serious on making a decision more quickly.

7.     Many relocation and transfer buyers traditionally come into the market in January, ready to purchase their new home.

8.     A good agent will be able to manage showings so as not to disturb you during family events.

9.     Get more for your home by listing with The Laura MacDonald Team – Our sale to list price ratio is a whopping 97.85%.

Free Seminar on Tax Credits and Lending Changes

Confused by the Tax Credit Options for Home Buying? 

Join us at The Lodge at Des Peres (12325 Manchester Rd., 63131) on Thursday, February 25, 2010 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM for this FREE and interactive seminar where you’ll learn: 

• How to qualify for the Extended Tax Credit of up to $8,000 for First Time Buyers
• $6,500 Tax Credit for ‘Move-up’ Buyers
• Lender changes affecting your loans

Hosted by:  The Laura MacDonald Team http://www.thelauramacdonaldteam.com, and 

 Joe Lager, VP of Pulaski Bank http://www.pulaskibankstl.com 

Space is limited and registration is required.  Call 314-605-2896 TODAY to register!

Free Seminar on Home Improvements

How to Build Value in Your Home!

Join us at The Lodge at Des Peres (12325 Manchester Rd., 63131) on Thursday, January 21, 2010 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM for this FREE and informative seminar where you’ll learn:

• Tips on home updates
• Home improvements that build value in your home
• Color transforamtions for your home
• Discover if the time is right, or not, to consider a move

There will be door prizes and a chance to win a FREE Home Color Transformation (a $300 value).

Sponsored by:  The Laura MacDonald Team http://www.thelauramacdonaldteam.com and

The Design Source Limited http://www.thedesignsourceltd.com/new/index.html

Space is limited and registration is required.  Call 314-605-2896 TODAY to register!

Shopping Tips When Using the Internet

More holiday shopping is handled online each year.  You still need to be careful for online scams, but we wanted to share some of our Internet shopping tips that may help you have a more pleasurable experience. 

1. Make sure that your anti-virus, spyware, and malware software is up-to-date (and if you don’t have any, there are plenty of FREE options available).  Make certain that it will protect your Internet browser experience.
2. Instead of using links in marketing emails, go directly to the vendor’s website.  There are plenty of spammers out there that are smart enough to make the landing pages look exactly like the vendors they are scamming.  If it looks suspicious, or too good to be true, it probably is.
3. Check the vendor’s privacy policies, return policies, and for any checked boxes that may indicate that you will receive marketing emails from their vendors or partners.
4. When going through the shopping cart system, check your browser to see that there is a gold lock graphic at the bottom right of the screen.  If the vendor does not display this lock, it’s very possible that your credit card information is open to the Internet.
5. Make sure that even if the vendor indicates that a receipt will be emailed to you, print the transaction page so that you have a record of what you ordered as well as any pricing or description of the items you purchased is clearly stated.
6. If at all possible, use one credit card for ALL your online purchases.  In that way if your account information has been captured, you will only need to cancel one specific card.
7. Check delivery dates and guarantees.  Especially when purchasing for the holidays, make sure that you won’t be chasing down packages or finding out it’s not even shipping in time for holiday delivery. 

Here are some of my favorite FREE options to help you protect your information and make for a more pleasurable shopping experience. 

Anti-virus – www.avg.com

Spyware – www.spybot.com

Malware – www.malwarebytes.org   

If you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell a home, we would love the opportunity to serve!

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