Best Things to Buy in the Spring – Buyers Guide & Tips

Posted on May 25, 2013 by NJNorma

 

Spring is a great time to stock up on some new furnishings and other household items, especially in May and June. Here are the best things to buy soon.

 All Spring

Televisions and Other Electronics: The Japanese fiscal year ends in March, which means Japanese-made goods (like the electronics we buy) are going to be on sale as they try to get rid of old stock. If you didn’t grab a TV during the pre-Super Bowl sales, now’s the time to grab one. And, these sales are probably even better than the February ones anyway, as long as you’re comfortable buying last year’s model.

Houses: According to Bankrate, spring is a great time to buy a house. Prices aren’t quite as low as they can be in the winter, but you’ll have a much larger selection to choose from, so you can take the time to find your perfect dream home. The spring weather makes the yards look great, and everyone comes out of the woodwork looking for a new home, which makes competition fierce. A lot of families start buying and selling at this time so their kids have time to make the transition during summer vacation, too. 

Cookware & Kitchen Accessories: As graduation season draws closer, you’ll see a lot of sales for common graduation gifts. Kitchen tools and cookware are at the top of the list, says Bankrate, so even if you aren’t heading off to college next year, take advantage of the graduation-centric sales to stock up on any must-have kitchen tools now. 

Digital Cameras: CES has come and gone, and while last year’s digital cameras start going on sale in February, you’re probably going to find the best deals during the second quarter of the year, according to Digital Photography School and Digital Camera HQ.

Thrift Items: It’s spring cleaning time, which means you can not only sell all your old junk, but buy other people’s junk too! If you’re a thrift store shopper, now’s a good time to get even better bargains than usual, since places like the Salvation Army will be getting lots of new inventory. 

Vacuum Cleaners: Speaking of spring cleaning, if your vacuum just doesn’t have the sucking power that it used to, it’s the perfect time to buy a new one. New vacuums usually don’t come out until June, so Bankrate says you should grab the old models now as they’re clearing them out (though if you can wait, Dealnews says Black Friday will see the lowest prices).

May Buys (watch for Memorial Day sales to be extended)

Office Furniture: Both Furniture Brains and DealNews note that office furniture tends to start dropping after Tax Day, and gets lower and lower once you get into June. If you’ve been looking to ergonomically optimize your workspace, now’s the time. 

Mattresses: Even though mattresses usually come out all year round, May often sees some pretty great price drops, according to DealNews. And, as long as you do your pre-shopping research, there’s no reason you can’t still get a great one. 

Refrigerators: Most big appliances go on sale later in the year, but refrigerators are the big exception. New models are on their way, says Money Crashers, which means last year’s models are on sale. So, there’s no better time to get a good discount on a barely outdated fridge for your newly rebooted kitchen.

June Buys

Champagne: It may not be New Year’s Eve, but springtime is a popular season for champagne due to all the weddings happening around town. Even if you aren’t going to be using it this month, it’s a good time to take advantage of the competition between champagne makers and pick up a few bottles.

Dishware: Another benefit of wedding season, dishware is a popular gift for newly-hitched couples. Even if that doesn’t mean you, grab some up while it’s cheap. Coupled with the cookware still on sale for graduation season, you could really just take this opportunity to reboot your entire kitchen, geek-style.

Gym Memberships: No one remembers their new year’s resolutions anymore, and everyone’s exercising outside, so gyms are getting a bit desperate to retain members and gain new ones. If you’re looking at getting a membership, you can probably haggle yourself a good price now. Of course, you could always stay at home and get a workout with nothing but your body, even if you only take 20 minutes a day.

Paint: Summer is house painting season, so prices are pretty low. Whether you’re repainting your entire house or you just want to spice up a few boring rooms, now’s the perfect time to grab your paint colors for cheap.

Tools: Father’s day is on its way, which means all the stereotypical gifts are on sale—the top choice being power tools. I’d complain about gender stereotypes, but it’s hard to care when prices are this good. If you don’t have the perfectly stocked toolbox yet, take a few hundred bucks and ensure you never make a last-minute trip to the hardware store again.

Suits: The other big father’s day gift, of course, is suits. Grab one for your dad, grab one for your grandfather, or just grab one for yourself while prices are low. After all, no one looks better than they do in a suit. And if you still don’t know how to tie a tie to go with your suit, now’s a great time to learn.

Say…..You’re going to need a new home to put all of this stuff in! I can help with this and get you the best buy! Buy with me and get a free Home Warranty for One Year! Visit me at http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

 

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New Home Buying Tips for Clinton and Hunterdon County

Posted on May 25, 2013 by NJNorma

The first thing that most of us think of is the adage… “location, location, location”. While that is certainly very critical, there are many other things to consider when buying real estate. Here are some universal guidelines.

How long you intend to stay in a home. This is an important question to consider because moving is quite expensive. If you’re in a temporary job and may soon be relocating to another city or even state, renting rather than owning might be a better option.

While none of us entirely knows how our future will play out, understanding how long you expect to stay in your home allows you the chance to decide how large a home you want. If you’re a young couple, a home that is able to grow with you might be appealing.

Whether you’re buying a home to live in or as a rental, the next series of tips can help in either circumstance. What makes a home more comfortable to its owners can also make it more attractive to renters.

Job market. It’s always a good idea to check the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to see how the employment is in an area that you are considering purchasing a home. Areas with lower unemployment, of course, are most attractive. The greater the demand for jobs in an area, the more likely home prices are to go up.

Check area vacancies. This may not seem that important if you’re planning to live in the home but actually this is a good thing to know even if you don’t rent your home. If there are lots of vacancies compared to surrounding areas, there could be a slowing in the market. If you’re planning to rent the home, you’ll want to make sure that you have enough savings to cover expenses any time when your home sits vacant. If the market is slowing, there could be a period of several months before you get a quality tenant in place. Being prepared will ease the stress.

Visit the local police. Crime in an area isn’t always detectable right away from a few visits to your potential home. Do a little digging. Ask questions. Investigate the neighborhood. Some areas may look okay but may have a high crime rate. It’s best to understand the neighborhood you might soon call home.

Natural disasters. Believe it or not, some people like a home so much that they disregard the natural disasters in the area. This isn’t to say that buyers should say, “Well, I can’t buy a home in California because they have occasional earthquakes.” Rather, some buyers are willing to gamble big time. For instance, they are willing to buy homes that are located on unstable cliffs where the cliffs are eroding year after year. Insurance… if you can get it… will certainly be higher. Natural disaster-prone areas such as flood zones may require additional insurance and a strong stomach to endure the stress.

Ultimately, what to look for when buying real estate is about considering the things that will matter not just in this moment but in the years to come. Having a good strong foundation beneath your home and a safe neighborhood are key components to creating a happy homeownership and good investment.

Let me help you find the right home for you! Visit me at http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

 

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Cicadas 2013 in Hunterdon County – A little History – and Some Fine Eating.

Posted on May 24, 2013 by NJNorma

Billions upon billions of periodical cicadas make a historical appearance this spring. “Brood II” is the species of 17-year cicadas scheduled to appear in this geographic region.

Brood II is one of seven species of periodical cicadas that live in eastern North America. Brood II cicadas can be found along the east coast from North Carolina all the way up to Connecticut. The last time Brood II appeared was 1996. Its next emergence will be 2030.

Periodical cicadas live only in eastern North America. Of the seven species, three of them have a life cycle of 17 years; the other four have 13 year life cycles. They spend most of this cycle living as nymphs (larvae) underground, where they suck juices from plant roots. In the spring of their last year, they construct tunnels for themselves to the surface and emerge with precisely synchronized timing to molt into their adult form, mate (which involves loud, species-specific choruses by the males to attract females), and lay eggs. Their emergence is thought to be triggered by the soil temperature reaching 62 degrees.

During an emergence, adults may be present in very large densities, sometimes as high as 1.5 million individuals/acre. Their occurrences are usually much denser than non-periodic cicada species. It is hypothesized that these high densities satiate the many predators of these cicadas before impacting their population sizes, and the long (prime-number) lifecycles make it impossible for predators to evolve specialized strategies to predictably utilize periodic cicadas as a food source. Adult cicadas feed on plant juices using piercing and sucking mouthparts (that are of no harm to humans or other animals). Females lay up to about 600 eggs, ovipositing them into eggnests under the bark of twigs. Adults die before the eggs hatch. The eggs hatch after 6-10 weeks, and then the nymphs drop to the ground to begin a new 13- or 17-year long development to adults.

Healthy Eating?

Cicadas don’t eat wheat. They are low-carb and Gluten free.

So, are you ready to try a cicada? Aspiring gourmands must first collect the raw ingredients. The insects are best eaten just after the nymphs break open their skin and before their exoskeleton turns black and hard, cicada aficionados say.

These newly hatched cicadas are called tenerals.  Experts tell us that they are easiest to collect in the early morning hours, just after the insects emerge from the ground but before they crawl up a tree, where they are harder to reach.

If tenerals are unavailable, the next best menu item is adult females. Their bellies are fat and full of nutritious eggs. Adult males, however, offer little to eat. More crunch than munch, their abdomens are hollow. (This enables the flirtatious tunes they strum on body structures known as tymbals to resonate.) With raw cicadas in hand, preparation is a matter of chef’s choice.

Many people like them deep fried and dipped in a sauce like a hot mustard or cocktail sauce. Other people boil or blanch them.  Experts tell us that cicadas take on a “nutty” flavor when roasted.  However, many  cicada recipes call for a lot of spices and sauce, which usually winds up being the dominant flavor.

  • *Candied Cicadas
  • 1 pound cicadas
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Spread cicadas in a single layer over a baking sheet. Roast for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until the cicadas start to turn brown and are thoroughly dried out.

Stir together sugar, cinnamon, salt, and milk in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat for eight minutes, or until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage at 236°F (113°C). Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla immediately.

Add cicadas to sugar syrup, and stir to coat well. Spoon onto waxed paper, and immediately separate cicadas with a fork. Cool and store in airtight containers.

I won’t be able to find you a home that is “cicada-free”, but I’m happy to help you look! Visit me on my website at: http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

 

 

Posted in Baby Boomers & Silver Collars, Buying a Home, Family Matters, Great Info About Norma, Home Maintenance, Hunterdon County & Clinton NJ, Selling a Home, Seniors, Thoughts From a Realtor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Cicadas 2013 in Hunterdon County – A little History – and Some Fine Eating.

History of April Fool’s Day from a Clinton NJ Realtor

Posted on April 23, 2013 by NJNorma

In sixteenth-century France, the start of the new year was observed on April first. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night.

The First April Fool’s Day

Then in 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world, and the new year fell on January first. There were some people, however, who hadn’t heard or didn’t believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April first. Others played tricks on them and called them “April fools.” They sent them on a “fool’s errand” or tried to make them believe that something false was true.

Poisson d’Avril

In France today, April first is called “Poisson d’Avril.” French children fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends’ backs. When the “young fool” discovers this trick, the prankster yells “Poisson d’Avril!” (April Fish!)

April Fool’s Day in the USA

Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike on the first of April. One common trick on April Fool’s Day, or All Fool’s Day, is pointing down to a friend’s shoe and saying, “Your shoelace is untied.” Teachers in the nineteenth century used to say to pupils, “Look! A flock of geese!” and point up. School children might tell a classmate that school has been canceled. Whatever the trick, if the innocent victim falls for the joke the prankster yells, “April Fool! ”

April Fool’s Day Jokes

The “fools’ errands” we play on people are practical jokes. Putting salt in the sugar bowl for the next person is not a nice trick to play on a stranger. College students set their clocks an hour behind, so their roommates show up to the wrong class – or not at all. Some practical jokes are kept up the whole day before the victim realizes what day it is. Most April Fool jokes are in good fun and not meant to harm anyone. The most clever April Fool joke is the one where everyone laughs, especially the person upon whom the joke is played.

“The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year. ” – American humorist Mark Twain

I’m not foolin’ when I tell you I can get you a great home or a great deal on the one you currently own! Real me through my website at http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

 

Posted in Baby Boomers & Silver Collars, Buying a Home, Family Matters, Great Info About Norma, Home Maintenance, Hunterdon County & Clinton NJ, Seniors, Thoughts From a Realtor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on History of April Fool’s Day from a Clinton NJ Realtor

Other Uses For Coffee Filters

Posted on April 22, 2013 by NJNorma

                Those inexpensive filters have more uses than to keep the grounds out of your coffee:

1. Use them to clean your cable connectors. If your internet is lagging or your TV picture is fuzzy, it might be because the connectors on your cables are dirty and need to be cleaned.

2. Use them to absorb the grease from fried foods. Put them on your plate and put your French fries, bacon and other fried food on top.

3. Use a coffee filter to cover dishes when they’re cooking in the microwave to present messes.

4. Use them to clean windows, mirrors, tv screens and glasses. They’re lint free, so they won’t leave any residue behind when you’re done.

5. Stop that popsicle from dripping all over the place. Poke a hole in the filter and put the stick through it.

6. Line your plant pots with a filter to keep the soil from leaking out of the drainage holes when you water them.

7. Put a filter inside cast-iron skillets to absorb excess moisture when it’s not in use to help present rust.

8. Separate your china and other good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.

9. Did the cork break in your wine? Use a filter and filter the cork particles out as you pour.

10. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and put it into shoes or a closet to absorb and prevent nasty odors. You can even put potpourri into the filter, tie it up and put it into your dressers, etc.

11. Use them to safely store your Christmas decorations and other small, fragile items.

12. Did you run out of dryer sheets? You can put a few drops of fabric softener on a filter, rub sides together, and put it in the dryer to help prevent static cling and make your clothes smell fresh.

Need other hints? Just ask or visit my website at http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

 

 

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Springtime Curb Appeal in Hunterdon

Posted on April 22, 2013 by NJNorma

Springtime can present many difficulties when it comes to curb appeal.

For many areas of the country, this time of year means brown lawns, leafless bushes and trees, and a depressing lack of color.

With the spring comes the hope of the color splashes and lush landscapes that go hand in hand with summer, but what can be done now?

Improving curb appeal has shown to increase not only your property’s value, but also the property values of your entire neighborhood.

Whether you are selling or staying put, here are five tips that can help you on your way to a beautiful home.

1. Mailbox:

This may be the first part of your property that your guests or prospective buyers step foot on. Literally.

And it is a pet peeve of mine.  I see million dollar homes that have a broken, battered and beat-up mailbox. They are not expensive and can create a beautiful first impression. But take it one step further and do a little landscaping around the base of your mailbox.

2. Sidewalks and Driveways:

An affordable, virtually maintenance free option for sprucing up your paths is concrete stain. It can cost around $30 a gallon and requires very little prep work. This is a do-it-yourself project.

Consider picking a color that is in the same color family as that of your home. A blue home could be happily complemented by a gray drive.

Another tip: Fix cracks and uneven sections. This project may require a bit more professional attention, but will give buyers the impression that your entire home, not just the entrance, has been maintained.

3. Accent Door:

It has been called the lipstick on the lady. It’s inviting and it draws visitors – or buyers – in to your home. A plain door tends to recede into the background.

Consider a contrasting color to the siding of your home. On the color wheel, green is opposite red and yellow is opposite blue. Don’t be afraid to be daring (think a fuchsia door on a cream colored home). Just a pint of paint can cover most doors, and if you don’t like the result – you can try another color!

Check past issues of my blog for a great article about door colors.

4. Trimming Trees:

Stand in front of your home (across the street is better) and take a close – and fresh – look at your trees and bushes. Are there branches that have become overgrown and now obstruct the view of the home?

You want your landscaping to complement your home, not hide it. Trees should frame paths and entries. To trim tree branches yourself you can buy a pole pruner or chain saw. Or you can hire a professional, who has experience in shaping trees.

Keep in mind, however, that spring is NOT the time to prune flowering trees or maples. These should be done in late summer and early fall.

5. Outdoor Lighting:

Low voltage (12 volt) and solar lighting are great options for improving curb appeal.

There are hundreds of designs of solar lights and the LED lights are very striking. These small fixtures are generally set on stakes in the ground and can be used to accent paths or gardens. And they are a great do-it-yourself option.

Also, consider using uplighting on trees to create night-time focal points – great for buyers doing after work drive by inspections.

As a certified Home Staging Professional as well as a terrific Realtor, I’d be happy to give you a free “curb appeal audit” and give you pointers to better curb appeal. You can contact me any time or visit my website http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

Posted in Buying a Home, Home Maintenance, Hunterdon County & Clinton NJ, Selling a Home, Thoughts From a Realtor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Springtime Curb Appeal in Hunterdon

Top Ten Flowers for Curb Appeal

Posted on April 22, 2013 by NJNorma

Are you fighting a bad case of cabin fever after winter? If so you’re not alone! Dormant flower beds all across the nation are begging for some splashes of color. After the daffodils, tulips and other early bloomers are fading, here’s a list of the top 10 inexpensive, easy-to-maintain flowers that will please those beds, your budget, and your neighbors.

Curb appeal is your home’s first impression to buyers and neighbors alike. It can say a lot about how you respect your home and property.

Ask yourself these questions: How do you feel about a home with an overgrown lawn? Do you prefer flower beds that are empty and full of weeds or beds that are planted with new spring flowers? The answers are easy! We all prefer yards that are well-kept. That includes buyers.

When a buyer makes an offer on your home they are buying the idea of a lifestyle as much as the structure itself. This is why it is so important to start off on the right foot. You want buyers to think of your home as the perfect home with the perfect, charming yard.

Here are the top ten flowers to include this year:

1. Knock-Out Roses. Traditional roses usually have a few week blooming period. And while those blooms can be fragrant and spectacular, it means limited time when the color is out. Instead opt for these high-powered performers.

2. Hostas. While a hosta isn’t really a “flower” (though they do flower), it can be a perfect addition to beds that beg ground cover. They work great in shady areas and as an added bonus come back year after year.

3. Geraniums. These colorful flowers bloom all summer long (when you pick off dead blooms) and pack an added bonus. Their fragrant scent is a natural mosquito repellant. Geraniums come in a wide array of colors so let your creative side come out to play when choosing your hues this year.

4. Petunias. There are lots of colors to choose from and these growers look great in hanging baskets. Pick complimentary colors for your house. Red with green, orange with blue, and so on. Keep them watered and they’ll bloom well into fall.

5. Violets. These low growing purple flowers are also perennials and can add a lovely border edge to any bed.

6. Impatiens. These little beauties are another shade-tolerant plant that looks great in beds around the base of trees as well as along borders.

7. Marigolds. These golden-hued bloomers are hardy. This means even those with a black thumb may have a hard time killing them! Just like their color implies, these flowers love full sun.

8. Vincas. These delicate little flowers can add just the touch of charm to sidewalk borders. They are low maintenance and will add color all season.

9. Grasses. Do you need to add some height to your flower beds? Pampas and other ornamental grasses can be real statement plants. They “bloom” in a variety of colors. Just keep them away from your house since dry grasses in the fall can be a fire hazard.

10. Zinnias. Does your region get blistering hot summers? Do half of your plants die every year? This sun lover with bask in the heat and keep on blooming.

Once the risk of freezing has passed your local home improvement stores will start offering your favorite blooms and buds for sale. Remember the simple rule of thumb that annuals are here for the season and then gone, while perennials come back year after year. When the time for planting comes to your region, give some thought to the curb appeal of your home and how plants can help you make a statement.

And when it’s time to think about moving to a new home with a new garden, please contact me! Visit my website http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

 

 

Posted in Buying a Home, Home Maintenance, Hunterdon County & Clinton NJ, Selling a Home, Thoughts From a Realtor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Top Ten Flowers for Curb Appeal

DIY Home Improvements Can Increase Home Sale Value

Posted on April 9, 2013 by NJNorma

When it comes to home values, a little effort can go a long way, according to a nationwide study.  This study surveyed 500 real estate agents throughout the nation to learn the top 10 low-cost, do-it-yourself improvements that help increase the likelihood that a home would sell. This survey affects your home sales in the Clinton, Hunterdon and Warren markets as much as any place else!

Ranking in the top five are: clean & de-clutter, lighten & brighten, repair electrical & plumbing, landscaping, and home staging. But how much benefit can you really expect to get from each of these home improvement categories?

According to the study, the top home improvement continues to be to clean and de-clutter your home. It may cost you about $400 to make the most of this home improvement but sellers who make the financial commitment can benefit by seeing a “returning value of just over $2,000 to the home’s sale price”. That’s a 403 percent return on investment (ROI).

Coming in at the number two spot is lightening and brightening your home. This makes perfect sense. If a home is dark and difficult to view, many buyers won’t spend even minutes in it. Buyers want to be able to explore the home, seeing every detail. Also, homes that are dark often convey a dreary tone and may give buyers the suspicion that there may be hidden damages in the home.

Home staging ranked third. In addition, do-it-yourself tasks such as repairing electrical and plumbing issues, and maintaining landscape, ranked higher, respectively. In a buyer’s market, sellers need to dress their homes for success, much as a workplace executive would do,  before putting them on the market.

It could be a sign of the times, that do-it-yourself home improvement projects are creating greater return on invenstment. With many homes falling into foreclosure or being put on the market as a short sale, there is lots of inventory that is lacking a little tender loving care.

Sellers who are listing their home on the market should take a close look at the competition and then see their home through the eyes of a potential buyer. In other words, check out its flaws and fix those issues.

Remember, buyers don’t have a history with your home. They’re not necessarily attached and willing to overlook the downside of your property.

Create a do-it-yourself task list and target those areas that need some work. Then bring in the experts to do the maintenance and repairs that need professional care. Investing a little more into increasing the potential sale of your home can mean not only more money but also a faster sale.

So… rounding out the top 10, the study determined the best improvements are shampoo or replace carpets, repair floors, paint interior walls, update kitchen & bathroom, and paint the exterior of the home.

Your Licensed Realtor can not only help you take an objective look at your home, but can also suggest competent and reasonable professionals if you need a recommendation. If you need help, I am here to provide you with a NO-COST home evaluation. For more information or to contact me, go to my website at http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com.

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Many Other Uses for Milk-by a Hunterdon County NJ Realtor

Posted on March 22, 2013 by NJNorma

Milk has thousands of uses in the kitchen. It is a tasty drink on its own, and gives drinks like coffee and hot chocolate a richer flavor. It is also a hit when making pastries. Cakes, cookies and other sugary goodies are simply not as good without milk. Through the number of ways it can be used as a product for cooking and baking, people tend to overlook the fact that milk’s usefulness extends well beyond the kitchen and the dining room. It is actually among the favorite items of DIY folks. This article is published with much thanks to the folks from LifeHacker.

Milk, having a rich and creamy base, is a natural moisturizer, making it a versatile household item. It contains nutrients that are known to make skin smooth and healthy, which makes it an unconventional bath item and a popular ingredient for making soap. Its thick base, when applied on furniture, can dislodge dirt and some stains. As you can see, milk is just like a toolbox when it comes to household functions. Here are 15 of its most unusual uses:

1. Facial Mask – With milk’s moisturizing properties, you can use the dairy product to create a skin-pampering facial mask. Prepare half a cup of milk powder then add a little water. Stir the mixture until a fairly thick paste is formed. Once done, spread the milk facial mask on your face and let it rest for about 30 minutes. Wash your face then rinse right after. Your skin will be softer and will have a nice healthy glow, as if you used an actual facial mask.

2. Relief for Sunburn – Sunburn, caused by the prolonged exposure to sunlight, is pretty painful. The burnt skin will sting even at the slightest hint of contact. You can relieve yourself of the discomfort by creating a milk-based sunburn solution. Mix powdered milk with water and two pinches of salt. Apply the solution on the burnt spots and after awhile, you’ll feel better.

3. Flavor Booster for Corn – Milk is often used to enhance the flavor of coffee and pastries. Surprisingly, it also has the same effect on corn. Pour some milk on the water used to boil corn then stir. When both ingredients have been mixed, place the corn in the mixture. Leave it in the pot until the mixture boils. Now, get the corn and take a bite. You will notice a rich sweet taste that will make you crave for more.

4. Hand Soap – Overworked hands are susceptible to skin hardening and the development of calluses. Pamper your hands by applying cold milk to the calluses and hardened layers of skin. You will have a pair of soft and clean hands right after. If your skin remains hard, just apply cold milk three times a day. Eventually, you will notice the difference before the week ends.

5. Shaving Cream Substitute – If you run out of shaving cream, you can use milk as a worthy substitute. Mix a generous amount of powdered milk with a little water. When a thick paste has been formed, apply it on your face before shaving. It may not be as smooth as shaving cream but it will produce the same results nonetheless.

6. Relief for Insect Bites – Milk, being a natural moisturizer, eases the itchiness of insect bites. Its enzymes also help relieve the swelling. To relieve yourself from bug bites, create a mixture from milk, water and salt, then apply it on the insect bites. After a few moments, the welts will still be there but the redness and itching will either be gone or significantly reduced.

7. Ink Stain Remover – Milk’s thick and creamy base is a better stain remover than water. Just soak an ink stain in a milk–lemon juice mixture for the entire day and it will fade or even disappear. You can speed up the stain-removing process by scrubbing the ink blotches while soaked in the dairy product.

8. Shine Shoes and Leather Items – Get a rag and soak it in milk. Apply it on your leather shoes, bags and other leather-based items for a nice quick shine.

9. China Repair – Before you toss your broken cups and dishes in the wastebasket, you can try to fix them by boiling them in milk. The milk proteins, for some reason, will react to the china then turn into an adhesive. This method may not always work but what have you got to lose anyway?

10. Milk Bath – Milk happens to be a popular bathtub item. Not only is it a better moisturizer than some soaps, it is also an effective skin softener. Fill one half to three fourths of your bathtub with milk. Once done, go ahead and take a dip. Let the white bathwater work on your skin for about 30 minutes to an hour. After your bath, you will certainly have soft and better-looking skin.

11. Ingredient for Making Soap – If you want to have soap that is hard on germs but gentle on your skin, try making one using milk. Create a mixture from milk, glycerin, oatmeal, lard and natural scent oils. You can use a blender, to speed up things. Boil the mixture for a few hours then place it on the soap molds. When it dries, you will have a product that is just as good as the ones sold at health and beauty stores.

12. Makeup Remover – Blush-ons, foundations, and other female facial enhancements latch on to your face like adhesives. It usually takes a while before you can completely wash them off your face. You can make the process easier by switching water with a mixture of powdered milk and warm water. Apply the solution on the makeup and in a matter of minutes, your face will be back to its natural state.

13. Plant Cleaner – For owners of themed gardens, you can clean your plants using skimmed milk. The beverage’s thick base, when scrubbed, can dislodge dirt, sap and stains off of leaves. Just make sure that you rinse it off of your plants after cleaning. Remember, dried milk and milk residue can soil and stain your leaves.

14. Fish Taste Enhancer – Fish and milk have pretty distinct tastes. The funny thing is, you can actually use milk to enhance the taste of fish. Get a frozen salmon or blue marlin from the freezer and thaw it in a bowl filled with milk. After cooking, the fish will have a richer flavor and a smoother texture.

15. Furniture Cleaner and Polisher – Combining milk’s creamy base with lemon juice’s acidity creates an exceptional furniture cleaner. Milk’s heavy base will have no problems pushing away dust and dirt, while lemon juice takes care of the stains and disease-causing microbes. You can add essential oil to the mix, so your cleaner will leave a refreshing scent on your furniture.

So, in order to tie this article in to my Real Estate business: If you need a new place to keep all of this milk you’ll be using, I can help you find a new home, with a larger kitchen, for your bigger refrigerator! Please visit my website at http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

Posted in Baby Boomers & Silver Collars, Buying a Home, Family Matters, Great Info About Norma, Home Maintenance, Hunterdon County & Clinton NJ, Selling a Home, Seniors, Thoughts From a Realtor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Many Other Uses for Milk-by a Hunterdon County NJ Realtor

Real Estate Home Buying Forecast – Spring 2013

Posted on March 21, 2013 by NJNorma

The real estate market is back!

Spring is the busiest season in the Real Estate market and this year it’s shaping up to be hot! We’re getting back to the days of yore – prior to the peak of the market. I think that it’s the lack of inventory that is causing the return of the sale right now and yet I don’t see the return of a speculative bubble. Buyers of today are not in danger of being priced out of the market overnight, which was the case back in 2006 when we were seeing 10%-15% appreciation and people were priced out of the market within 6 months. Those who DID buy, ended up paying more than they should have.

Almost as important as inventory, low financing costs continue to fuel the real estate fire as well. You can’t do too much better than the interest rates that are out there now, and there is no prediction of any drastic increases happening soon.

If buying doesn’t feel like the right move just now, consumers will be hard pressed to find relief in the rental market. Both the rental and the sales markets are rising at the same time, when usually they are diametrically opposed.

But again, back to the current inventory. If you’re in the market to buy a home, be prepared to pull the trigger right away. A home you’ve fallen in love with may be gone next week when you’re still only ready to take a second look. Make sure that if you’re looking, you have the mortgage pre-qualification done. In this market, sellers won’t consider an offer unless the prospective buyer has put their money where their mouth is.

If buying a new place is contingent on selling your old one, it’s the wisest idea to make sure that your home is on the market and is PRICED TO SELL before you consider making an offer! If you need to have the contingency of selling your old home before you can buy, and would like the seller to hang on to the home you have now fallen in love with until you have the money, don’t expect it to happen. Worse, you can expect the seller to continue showing the home and shut you out if a solid offer comes in. Even if the seller IS willing to wait for you to sell, be prepared to offer a higher amount for the home.

If you have a home to sell and there is little happening, you may want to search your soul for a reduction in the list price. The homes that are selling fast are the well-priced homes, and that does not mean cheaply priced. It means competitively priced with comparative homes. After a month of no-sale, it’s time to re-think the selling strategy before the home languishes on the market and becomes stale. In many cases (certainly every one is different) a price adjustment of 5% may nudge your house off the shelf.

Here is the Golden Rule. Setting a list price is a best-guesstimate based on comparative homes sold in comparative neighborhoods. No two homes are exactly alike, so list can never be set in stone. For whatever price adjustments are made, it is important to remember this: You cannot price your home too low. If you do, buyers will break down the door with offers and drive the sale price up. You CAN, however, price your home too high. This will cause buyers to use your home for their own price comparisons only. If the price is just a little over what it should be, discounted offers will come. If it is really too high, buyers will assume that an offer of just a few percent lower will never be entertained and will never come back. We all wish we had a crystal ball….

If you’d like a comparative analysis of your home, please give me a call or a click. Visit my email at http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com.

Posted in Baby Boomers & Silver Collars, Buying a Home, Hunterdon County & Clinton NJ, Selling a Home, Thoughts From a Realtor | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Real Estate Home Buying Forecast – Spring 2013