Funny how this differs with men than for women. As a woman, I “personally” DO like flowers.  Since I’m married, I tend to be a bit frugal about spending lots of money on flowers -  but flowers are still welcome!  Chocolates (really good ones) are indeed something wonderful! I prefer See’s, but have been known to enjoy less expensive candy. One rose would do as well…actually the thought really DOES count. Remember your woman on Valentine’s Day with a thoughtful card and a single rose, or box of candy. If you listen – really – well, you’ll know just what would please her.

Now, as for my hubby, I just get him a card with lots of love ‘cause that’s exactly what he likes. Over the years, I would choose a red shirt and a card, but always something red along with chocolate for him.

When my children were small, I would select a red article of clothing and place that along with a heart-shaped box of See’s candy by their plate at dinner. They always liked that. My daughter has continued that tradition with her family.

I’ve been frantically cleaning out my house and my garage just to get rid of the “stuff” I’ve accumulated in just nine years after moving into my brand new home in 2002! WHAT do I need so badly that I use up the third car garage with bric-a-brac or this-n-that? Then, there’s my office, my closets, my “spare” bedroom! Puleeze….do I “really” need those clothes that I’ve not worn for five years? And how about files I’ve stored in the garage from 1990? So beginning in November, I began the cleaning, the removing, the donating, and I’m getting down to the tons of paperwork stored in the cabinets in the house and the garage. SHREDDING!!!!

Though I shred my paperwork as I go through the mail, I’ve got files and boxes and reams of stuff that I plan to take to the “Shred-A-Thon” in Mesa, Arizona on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Time: 8-noon, where: 2412 North Center Street, Mesa, Arizona.

This includes Mesa residents only, five box limit per household, no commercial businesses.  For questions, call: 480.644-2221 or visit mesarecycles.org.

Upcoming event:

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Center Street Facility
2412 N. Center St.

8 a.m. - Noon
Materials not accepted after 12:00 noon

Acceptable items include:

• Computers, printers & scanners
• Refrigerators, freezers, stoves, microwaves & dishwashers
• Televisions, stereos, DVD players, etc.
• Washers & dryers
• Water heaters

What a great idea! Shop at locally owned business to find that unique gift. We have so many shopping opportunities in the Phoenix area. Keep our money in our state which means more jobs, neighborhood improvements and community development for Phoenix.

DID YOU KNOW? the taxes you pay on the merchandise you buy goes directly to the city’s General Fund. City sales taxes are about 40% of total General Fund revenue which pays for city services such as police and fire protection, parks, libraries, senior centers and street maintenance.

A great resource, go to phoenix.gov/shopphoenix.

Holiday Garbage/Recycling Pickup Schedule!

Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 24: Thursday’s collection moves to Friday, November 25, and Friday’s collection moves to Saturday, November 26

Christmas Day – Monday, December 26: Monday’s collection moves to Tuesday, December 27, Tuesday’s collection moves to Wednesday, December 28

New Year’s Day – Monday, January 2: Monday’s collection moves to Tuesday, January 3, Tuesday’s collection moves to Wednesday, January 4.

Sellers, we are clearly in a complex real estate market! Since so many homes are “not” selling, I want to suggest some tips so that you can make your home more “sale – able”.  As of today, you are competing with over 19,000 other sellers, so your home needs to have the best edge possible. You may want to consider some of my suggestions below – and remember, first impressions are HUGE! You will only have one time to make that first impression! These are just a few ideas – you might be able to think of more.

10 Ways to Make Your House More Sale-able

1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Remove unnecessary furniture – after all, you plan to move. Clean out the garage. Put extra stuff into a storage container.

2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.  During the listing, have them cleaned regularly.

3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for. Trust me, buyers look inside your cabinets, closets and drawers!

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows. Potpourri or room deoderizers can make your home smell warm and inviting.

5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, peeling paint on the outside, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained. On that note, keeping your home maintained while living in it can cut down on fixes needed when preparing to sell your home.

7. Pretty up your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway. Plant flowers in the flower beds! First impressions are important!

8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Clean your gutters.

10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

5 Ways to Speed Up Your Sale

1. Price it right- GET IT SOLD! Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range.

2. Get your house market ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.

3. Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you’ll find a seller.

4. Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll accept!

5. Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, be prepared to lower your asking price.

Just some additional things for Sellers to consider. We are not in a “typical” market! Bank owned, short sales, mortgage restrictions, and even more will be out there to slow down, change the process, and create problems. Be sure to listen to your Realtor’s advice. After all - that’s what we do! We do this every day, so – NO MATTER THE ADVICE OF YOUR “FRIENDS”, hire a Realtor you trust, and then utilize his/her skills!

APS wants to spread the word about its Shade Tree Program. This is a great opportunity for historic homeowners to add shade to their homes and to conserve energy without altering windows or other historic features of their homes.

APS will give qualified Maricopa County residents up to three free five-gallon shade trees after attending the free one-hour Shade Tree workshop. You can receive up to two Palo Verde, Mesquite, Desert Willow or Chaste (Vitex) trees for homes built 1980 or later and three trees for homes built prior to 1980. Program participants are responsible for picking up the trees at a distribution event and planting and maintaining the trees. Please visit TREES for more information.

Shade Tree Workshops:

Aug 27th: Avondale Care1st Resource Center
328 W. Western Ave.
Avondale, AZ 85323

Oct 1st & 2nd: Avondale Care1st Resource Center
328 W. Western Ave.
Avondale, AZ 85323

New Homes in a Subdivision

1.  You should read the Arizona Department of Real Estate Public Report. By law, this document must be given to you before you sign the purchase contract. You must sign a receipt for the Report. By signing the receipt, you imply that you have read the report.

The Public Report will inform you about such things as:

• Flooding and drainage disclosure
• A description of adjacent land and uses
• Who provides electricity, telephone, gas, water and sewage disposal
• Common community and recreation facilities
• Assurances for completion of improvements
• Local services and facilities, including schools, shopping facilities, public transportation, medical facilities, fire protection, ambulance service, police protection and garbage services
• Taxes and assessments
• Property owners association details

If you have any questions about the Public Report, you are welcome to call the Arizona Department of Real Estate at 602-468-1414. A Subdivision Representative will assist you with your questions.

The cover sheet of the Public Report contains a disclaimer by the Department of Real Estate. Read it carefully. Most importantly, note that it states:

“Not all of the information in this report has been verified by the Department; certain information has been accepted by the Department as true and accurate based on attestation of the subdivider and/or the subdivider’s agents. You should verify all facts before signing any documents.”

2.  Read the purchase contract carefully. Note that if the builder or developer is not placing your earnest money deposit in escrow, the funds may be placed in the builder’s or developer’s general funds account, and may be used for any purpose. You could lose the money if the builder or developer declares bankruptcy or otherwise goes out of business. If the funds are not going to be placed in escrow, that fact must be stated in a separate paragraph in the purchase contract and you are required to initial that paragraph. Make sure you understand where your earnest money is going to be deposited.

3.  Before you sign a purchase contract, drive around the home for at least a mile or more in every direction to see how the surrounding area appears to you and what land use of safety issues exist in the area. Is there a storm drain or canal nearby that might pose a hazard to your children? Is the home or building site near an airport or a manufacturing plant? Visit the area at different times of day, on weekends and in the evening. Disturbing noises and odors can travel farther at night.

In areas where there are expanses of vacant land nearby, check city or county zoning maps to see if nearby property is zoned for apartments, industrial or commercial use. Land zoned for commercial use might be used to construct anything from a shopping center to a hotel. To obtain this information, call the city or county planning and zoning department listed in your telephone directory.

Check Arizona Department of Transportation maps to find the nearest future freeway routes, and whether roads in the area are slated for widening. For information about reviewing the maps, call 602-255-7011.

3.  Call the school district serving the subdivision to determine whether nearby schools are accepting new students. Some school districts have placed a cap on enrollment. You may find that your children cannot attend the school nearest you and may even be transported to another community.

4.  Read the deed restrictions, also called CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions). You might find some of the CC&Rs are very strict, especially those addressing landscaping, RV parking, play equipment, satellite antennas, and other common amenities — particularly if the subdivision is governed by a homeowner’s association.

5.  Check out the homebuilder with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. You can determine the number of complaints customers have filed against the contractor, whether any are unresolved and whether the builder’s license has ever been suspended or revoked. You may reach the Registrar of Contractors at 602.542-1525.

I’m wondering how many Buyers and those who rent or lease a home in Mesa or Phoenix and adjoining areas in the Phoenix valley know about their rights. Yes, rights! Buyers, as consumers, are entitled to rights as set forth in the  Home Buyers’ Bill of Rights!   The Bill of Rights for consumers in Arizona begins with the statement:

"THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE, IN COOPERATION WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND THE PUBLIC, CREATED THIS “BILL OF RIGHTS” TO HELP EDUCATE YOU, THE CONSUMER, OF YOUR RIGHTS WHEN PURCHASING OR RENTING PROPERTY.  AS A REAL ESTATE CONSUMER IN ARIZONA, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW MATERIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPERTY.

THE FOLLOWING LIST REPRESENTS SOME OF THE IMPORTANT MATERIAL FACTS YOU SHOULD EDUCATE YOURSELF ON BEFORE PURCHASING ANY TYPE OF PROPERTY IN ARIZONA."

In an effort to better acquaint home buyers and renters with their "rights", I have included a link to the information above, and shared the material below as well.

BUYERS AND TENANTS: YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW:

• If the property is located in an incorporated city or unincorporated part of the county.
• If title insurance is available and if fire insurance can be acquired.
• If you will have fire and police protection and, if so, who provides this service.
• If the roads provide access for fire protection and police service.
• If the roads are maintained, and by whom.
• If utilities are available, and who provides them. (Water, Electric, Gas, Sewer, Trash)
• If the water supply is adequate.
• If the jurisdiction the property is located in has conservation restrictions and policies.
• If the property is located in a school district, and the distance to the closest schools.
• If there are any natural or geological hazards, pests or wildlife.
• If there are essential services near the property such as grocery and medical services.
• If there is crime in the area and the crime rate.
• That you have a right to equal housing opportunity free of discrimination.
• If the property is affected by a military installation.
• If there is an Arizona Subdivision Disclosure Report, an Affidavit of Disclosure or a Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement.  You should read these disclosure documents before you purchase or rent.

THERE MAY BE OTHER ITEMS NOT LISTED ABOVE THAT YOU SHOULD EDUCATE YOURSELF ON BEFORE BUYING OR RENTING PROPERTY.  FOR A LARGER LIST, PLEASE REFERENCE THE BUYER’S ADVISORY GUIDE.

Visit www.AZRE.gov – a great resource for the public! As REALTORS, we are here to protect you and the public.

The more informed the buyers are here in the Mesa, Arizona and surrounding areas, the more informed their decisions can be.

1. REALTORS® Navigate a complicated process. Unbelievably complicated transactions with Banks require the REALTOR® to know what he/she is doing.  Many of the Buyer agents are dealing with so many bank-owned listing agents along with negotiators, along with automated and online purchase agreement submittals that it’s mind-boggling. Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multipage settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.

2. REALTORS® provide Invaluable Information and opinions. REALTORS® can and do provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property.  A professional will be able to help you answer ALL of your important questions and concerns!

3. REALTORS® Help find the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your REALTOR® to find all available properties. Many REALTORS® – especially neighborhood specialists – are aware of something coming on the market and can help you find the best property to suit your needs and desires.

4. REALTORS HAVE GREAT Negotiating skills. There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, the Purchase Agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.  Typically there is a ten day inspection period after all parties have signed the contract. Your REALTOR® should be aware of that and inform you the minute you have an accepted contract. The price for the home inspection generally runs about $350 depending on the size of the home.

5. REALTORS® provide the best property marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell due due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home.  If you are present when a REALTOR® is showing your home be careful not to share personal information with the REALTOR® or the Buyers.

6. REALTORS® speak the language. If you don’t know a CMA from a CC&R, you can understand why it’s important to work with a professional REALTOR® who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language.

7. REALTORS® Experience. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. Even if you have done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®, on the other hand, handle hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical. AND “listen” to their advice and counsel – that’s another reason you hire them.

8. REALTORS® have an Objective voice. A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security — it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this, home buying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll every make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and financial issues most important to you.