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Quote |
“Thanksgiving
Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be
careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.”
-E. P. Powell, American pastor and journalist, (1832 –
1915)
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| Tip
of the Month |
As
winter draws closer, it is time to start thinking about keeping
those you love warm. By this, of course we mean your roses!
When winter-protecting roses, remember that you are not only
protecting them from the cold, but also from strong winds
and unusually warm weather that may cause them to thaw prematurely.
Follow these steps to protect your roses from winter’s
threats:
1. Keep them well-watered. Fall rains usually
provide adequate water, but if the weather has been dry, water
deeply (to a depth of 18 inches or more) after the first frost
but before the ground freezes.
2. Extend the soil. In early to mid-fall,
when nights are regularly frosty, mound several spadefuls
of soil over the base of your roses, extending the soil to
at least a foot above the bud union. You can cut the canes
back to 3 or 4 feet high and tie them together with string
to make things easier. The part of the plant above the mound
will be pruned off in the spring anyway. Also, make sure to
get the soil from somewhere other than your plant’s
base – it’s best not to go digging around your
roses’ delicate roots.
3. Add a thick layer of mulch. When the ground
freezes completely, add at least a foot of mulch to the mound
of soil. This ensures that the ground stays frozen and that
all of the plant is protected from the elements. You should
pull off any leaves that are left on the plant since remaining
leaves can increase drying. To keep the mulch and soil from
shifting during the winter, you can wrap the bush in newspaper
and fill it with mulch, compost or straw and tie it together.
You can also purchase mesh cylinders or cones that fit over
the top of the plant and can be filled with your preferred
material.
4. Start removing the soil mound in the spring.
When the ground begins to thaw, start removing the soil, gently.
Don’t get started too early, as a late cold snap can
be damaging. Remove the soil very carefully, as you may find
new growth beginning. If you are concerned about damaging
your plant, apply a gentle stream of water to remove the soil
instead.
Source: Roses for Dummies by Lance Walheim and The Editors
of the National Gardening Association, Wiley Publishing, Inc.,
2000.
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Getting
the Most Out of a Buyers Market
Now is the time for buyers to ask
for the things they wouldn’t normally have a chance
of getting. If you’re thinking of buying, a recent
Realty Times article will tell you what to ask for.
This is a vastly different market from a sellers market, when buyers get into bidding wars and fight over the chance to pay more. Now is the time when buyers can insist not only on paying less, but can demand new paint, the hot tub, a warranty and a home inspection to boot.
Your agent should be the best possible advocate for you and should take full advantage of the buyers market. In this type of market, don’t worry about insulting the seller; let the seller decide whether to accept or issue a counter-offer. In a limited survey of over 100 transactions, Realty Times found that 40 percent of buyers did not ask for closing costs – a shockingly high amount in a time when sellers are willing to pay them.
Payment of closing costs is just one
item you, as a buyer, have the luxury to request from
the seller in the current market.
• Home inspection:
In today’s market, if you’re not asking
for a home inspection, you’re not in the game.
Although the buyer traditionally pays for the inspection
itself, buyers should insist that the seller pay for
the repair of any defects found, such as leaky air conditioners,
dripping faucets or damaged shingles. Since sellers
in today’s market want to sell, they will generally
pay what it takes to get these items fixed and the deal
closed. If the seller is not willing to pay for an item,
he or she will say so. But you won’t know unless
you ask.
• Radon inspection: Approximately
20,000 people in the U.S. die each year from radon-induced
lung cancer, according to the Environmental Protection
Agency. The test to determine the radon levels in a
home you are considering buying costs less than $50.
If levels are too high in the home, the recommended
remediation system costs about $1,000. This is a valuable
test that a seller will probably be willing to cover.
• Home warranty: This is an item
that buyers are sometimes embarrassed to request. But
if you are paying $300,000 for a home, why not ask for
a $400 home warranty to help protect the home over the
first year of ownership? If you are stuck with a seller
who is not willing to pay for one, lower your offer
by $400 to cover the cost.
• Closing costs: At the very
least, buyers in today’s market should request
some sort of coverage for closing costs. The most effective
closing cost item you should request is a point for
the mortgage. With this type of closing cost covered,
you will have a lingering benefit because the point
paid at the table will result in lower mortgage payments
month after month.
Until the market starts to turn
and houses start selling for more than their asking
price, buyers should take advantage of the current market
and ask for more from sellers. Asking for more from
your seller benefits you both: you get assistance getting
into the house, and the seller gets their house sold
sooner.
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