Destin Real Estate Blog

The following is suggested maintenance twice a year.
* Inspect roof and chimney for broken or missing tiles or shingles, identifying anything that might cause leaks or problems
* Inspect outside of home and condition of siding, paint, masonry, stucco, and wood trim for any damage that needs to be repaired.
* Inspect doors and windows to verify prpoer operation, security, and weather-resistance. If any sealant needs replacing, clean tracks of windows and sliding glass doors before applying any silicon lubricant.
* Monitor and maintain cabinets and countertops for proper operation.
* Inspect the foundation, basement, or crawl space for any damage
*Inspect main service panel, circuit breakers, all GFI outlets and breakers for proper operation.
*Check general condition of heating and air conditioning compressor, remove debris as necessary.
*Complete seasonal maintenance on heating and air conditioning by a licensed HVAC contractor.
Inspect and replace as needed caulking and grout around tubs, showers, and sinks
* Have carpets professionally cleaned at least once a year.

• The following is suggested monthly maintenance on your home:
• * Check operation of all smoke detectors by pushing test button. Check and replace battery if necessary.
  *Check fire extinguishers for proper charge. Never buy units without a pressure gauge. Be sure that you have an adequate number, located in the kitchen, garage and basement. Test Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters(GFCI) to insure proper protection.
  * Clean garbage disposal blades by grinding ice cubes and citrus fruit rinds.
  * Clean or replace dirty filter in range hood.
  * Check for evidence of leaks around toilets, under sinks and around dishwashers.
  * Clean and freshen sink drains by flushing with hot water and baking soda.
  * Inspect furnace and air conditioning filters, humidifier and electronic air cleaners. Replace as required.
  * Clean aerators on faucets regularly, depending upon water hardness. You may need to use a rust or scale remover to return them to normal condition, or have them replaced. Check water filters and softners regularly. the life of the filters is dependent upon water usage and water characteristics. Retailers can help with this analysis
  * Monitor and maintain floor covering on an as required basis. Regular vacuuming will reduce wear of carpets and other floor covering. Repair tears and remove stains as soon as possible.
  * Check the Temperature Pressure Release (TPR) valve on the water heater. Water heater should also be drained periodically. In areas with hard water drain at least 5 gallons of water from the drain valve every six months to prevent sediment build up.
• * Inspect gutters and downspouts of debris and damage and clean when necessary.

21 Web Sites for Finding Deals Online
And three smart-phone applications that also will help you save money when you shop.
By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com

Who doesn’t like a deal? That’s why we have compiled this list of Web sites and apps that will help you save money.

There are sites that post the latest deals on everything from clothes to electronics, sites that give you cash back when you shop, sites that provide coupon codes and sites that help you compare prices.

Even if you don’t end up buying online, it never hurts to find the best deals on the Web before you hit the stores. Then you can comparison shop and make better choices.

We’ve tested and picked 21 Web sites we think are easy to use and will help you save money all year. We also list three smart-phone applications that will help you get deals.

Take a look:

Find the lowest price
If you really want to score a great buy, use a price-comparison site. Dealio.com, which compares prices on 30 million products from 100,000 merchants, has a larger retail search than rival sites offer and provides coupon codes with a thumbs up/thumbs down review to show how many users have had success using the coupon. What we really like about this site, though, are the downloadable tools that help you find the lowest prices online.

Pronto.com fetches prices on 70 million products from more than 25,000 online merchants, including eBay. PriceGrabber.com offers prices on products from nearly 13,000 merchants. Both sites let you sign up to receive e-mail alerts when your favorite brands or products go on sale. And both have blogs with product reviews, deal news, gift ideas and trends in clothing and home decor.

If you know exactly what you want and need just a bare-bones price comparison site, try Google’s shopping search engine, Google Product Search (formerly Froogle). What you’ll get are lots of results for your search, product reviews, seller ratings and a “local shopping” option to help you find products at stores near you. What you won’t see is a home page full of hot products, shopping guides, product categories and colorful images you’ll find on sites such as PriceGrabber.

Shop with cyber-coupons
Put away the scissors — you don’t have to clip these coupons. Plenty of sites offer coupon codes (and printable coupons) for online and brick-and-mortar retailers. The nice thing about our picks is that you don’t have to register on these sites to gain access to the coupons.

RetailMeNot offers coupons from more than 40,000 stores and a community where you can get tips and deal info from others. You also can have the week’s most-popular coupons e-mailed to you.

CouponWinner.com has nearly 20,000 coupons from about 9,000 retailers. What we like about the site is its Coupon Scout tool that lets you compare coupons from up to five retailers. Click on a category, such as women’s apparel, and the Coupon Scout tool will appear on the left-hand side of the page.

Coupon Sherpa is new to the online-coupon scene (launched in September 2009). The staff test promotions and work with merchants to ensure that the coupons actually work.
Not only does Alex’s Coupons offer coupon codes for more than 1,200 stores, but also it helps in the fight against childhood cancer. Over the past four year’s, Alex’s Coupons has donated more than $20,000 to childhood cancer charities.

And if you’re shopping for children, check out CleverBabies.com. It has coupons for stores such as Toys R Us, DisneyShopping.com and babyGap. The site also posts sales, has forums and has its own coupons.

Hot deals!
If you’re not exactly sure what to get that certain person on your gift list, check out online deal sites, which post loads of discounted items. You’re bound to find the right gift at the right price.

Our favorite is dealnews, which has a team of deal hunters keeping their eyes on a million products at more than 2,000 online retailers. Plus merchants and the site’s visitors tip them off to bargains. The deal hunters hand pick the best deals among the thousands they get daily and update the site at least 200 times a day, says Dan de Grandpre, founder and chief executive of dealnews.

The site also bans stores with poor customer service. Plus, you can sign up for e-mail or RSS alerts for products or stores you’re interested in and get gift ideas from the site.

Dealtaker.com lists some deals on its home page, but you’ll find hundreds more listed in its forums. So if you’re willing to take the time to troll through the forums, you’ll probably find deals here you won’t find other places. Or use the search option if there’s a particular product for which you’re trying to find a deal.

There are more than 200,000 forum members who post deals, and you don’t have to register to view the ones listed. The site also offers coupons for more than 2,000 online stores, a price search engine and e-mail notification of deals. If you like the community atmosphere, you also can find lots of deals posted in the forums on MyBargainBuddy.com.

For electronics and tech gadgets, we like DealsOfAmerica, which updates deals every hour. Every item it lists on the home page has a picture, a description, the store that’s offering the deal and, best of all, the list price so you’ll know just how much of a bargain you’re getting. The site also has coupons, a price-comparison tool, a list of products or services available for free after rebate or coupon and a hot deal e-mail alert you can sign up to receive. Deals are from top online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores with nationwide presence.

You can find lots of bargains at deal-of-the-day sites, such as Woot.com. But it would take a lot of time to check each one of these sites, which list only one deal a day. DODTracker.com does the hard work for you. It lists hundreds of items from deal-a-day sites and daily deal offers from retailers, such as Amazon.com. It shows how long the deal has been posted, time when sale ends, amount of discount (if available) and whether the item still is in stock. When you click on any of the tabs at the top of the homepage (All, Computers & Electronics, etc.), you’ll get page that lets you sort by retailer, product, price, discount and more.

Groupon.com offers bargains on meals, services and activities in more than 30 major cities. To snag a deal, though, enough other people have to want it, too. For more information, see Don’t Keep This Deal Site a Secret

For baby or mom, membership in zulily (sign up free) entitles you to as much as 70% off brand-name clothes, toys and nursery furniture at this online store.

Gift-card deals
Never pay full price for a gift card again. Plastic Jungle and Gift Card Granny sell merchants’ gift cards for less than face value. They’ll also buy gift cards you don’t want (for 80% to 90% of the card’s value).

Buying a discounted gift card to use for your own shopping is a good way to score additional discounts. For example, buy a $100 Gap gift card for $90 (instant $10 savings), use it to shop online and use a coupon code for additional savings.

Free-shipping deals
High shipping costs can be a big drawback to shopping online. FreeShipping.org offers free-shipping coupons for more than 1,800 stores, including Amazon.com, Target and eBay.

Get cash back
Another way to spend less is to earn cash while you shop. That’s the premise of FatWallet and Ebates.com. Join their cash-back programs and you can get cash back (usually a percentage of your purchase) when you buy items from select merchants.

Be sure to read the fine print. You don’t get cash back at the time of your purchase. Instead, it accrues in an account and is sent to you periodically. Also, not all merchants featured on these sites participate and of those that do, some have their own requirements for earning cash back.

Deal apps
At the store, try an application that uses your phone’s camera to recognize a bar code and does a quick product search to help you compare prices at other stores. If you have an iPhone, you can download the RedLaser app for 99 cents. Got an Android? Download the Google Shopper app free.

Coupon Sherpa also is available as an iPhone application. It lets you download in-store coupons for retailers, restaurants and services (see Coupons Made Easy).

Parting tips
On a final note, if you’re shopping online be sure to look for privacy and security seals on retailers’ sites and know the return and exchange policies. (See 5 Tips for Safe Online Shopping for more advice.)

And to make sure you’re getting the best bargain online, look for the item at the best price from a merchant with free shipping and a coupon to lower the cost even further — the trifecta of bargain shopping.

Happy shopping!

Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2010 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. www.kiplinger.com.

This Fourth of July, make sure you and your fellow party goers remember to keep Mother Nature in mind while you celebrate.
The Fourth of July is right around the corner! Summer’s hottest holiday will no doubt call for backyard barbecuing, fireworks and maybe even a dip in the pool.

Here’s how to throw a little green into your mix of red, white and blue.    

1. Ditch the disposable party ware
They’re popular and easy. Disposable plates, cups and utensils are convenient for parties with a lot of guests. The down side, they’re not so convenient for the environment.

To avoid this, do your best to use normal tableware that can just be washed and reused. If you must go the disposable route, clean them up (they’re often washable) and use them at your next big gathering.

We also love the “bring your own plate” theme. The hodgepodge of different dishes can serve as talking points at your party. An added bonus: Turn it into a dish swap. Bring your own dish and leave with a different plate for your collection.

The same idea works for glassware. Instead of charging a “keg fee,” a party-goer’s ticket is his or her own glass.

2. Get outside!
The best way to reduce your party’s footprint is to calculate its energy usage. The No. 1 way to avoid added costs to your electric bill is to utilize the outdoors – perfect lighting, temperature and truly inherent green setting.

Host your barbecue at midday when the light is bright and fills your crowd with energy. Or fight soaring temperatures and take advantage of the cooler evening weather. It’s a great way to enjoy nature and reduce the energy costs of using indoor facilities.

3. Use propane for grilling
Before diving into this one, we want to point out that we are not trying to step on any grillmaster’s toes. The debate between charcoal and propane is a tough one: Which one produces more flavor? Which is cheaper, faster? And most importantly, which is more eco-friendly?

We consulted a recent study by Environment Impact Assessment Review to answer this one. Drum roll, please…

According to the study, “the overwhelming factors are that as a fuel, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is dramatically more efficient than charcoal in its production and considerably more efficient in cooking.”

The two grilling methods were defined by their overall footprint, with charcoal using 998 kg of CO2, almost three times more than propane, which weighed in at 349 kg.

ScienceDaily reports that as fuel, LPG is “dramatically more efficient than charcoal in its production.” When purchasing a propane tank, make sure there is a trade-in option. Most retailers will let you bring in an empty tank in exchange for a decent discount on your next tank.

4. Save (and reuse) your decorations
If you’ve hosted Independence Day celebrations before, you know the décor is often the same: streamers, party favors and table toppers all in bold red, white and blue.

Sadly, most people often use these decorations once and then throw them out. But they can be reused year after year! So, this year, after the party’s over, take the time to store and save your decorations. You or someone you know can use them again next year, which helps to save on a bit of unneeded trash.

5. Opt for greener fireworks
Fireworks are hardly an environmentally friendly activity, but they’re an unwavering Fourth of July tradition. If you’re setting off your own fireworks this year, be sure to use fireworks rich in nitrogen. They often cost a bit more but put out less smoke into the environment.

Another option is to gather your group and go see your local fireworks display. It’s a great way to see a much bigger fireworks show and negates you from harming the environment with your own personal display.

6. Gather in groups
This may seem like a no-brainer for such a popular holiday, but the larger a group you gather (preferably outdoors), the less energy you use at individual parties that may take place indoors. Plus, the more people to help prepare and purchase food, the less of a cost it is to each individual. Just make sure your fellow party goers know these green tips!

7. Use large water containers
Plastic water bottles are convenient, but like other disposable goods, they can add up fast. In lieu of individual plastic bottles, store water for your family or guests in large containers so they can re-fill their reusable water bottles or reusable cups. If you must use plastic water bottles, be sure to encourage your guests to recycle them.

8. Don’t forget to recycle
One of the easiest ways to go green is to recycle your waste. So be sure to put a clearly marked bin out at your party.

If you did opt for disposable dinnerware, remember that those plastic plates, cups and utensils can be recycled. Paper plates will have to be thrown out or composted due to food residue.

If you’re unsure about recycling specific materials in your area, we’ve got you covered. Use Earth911 to find local recycling centers for your common party waste, such as plastic bottles, aluminum cans and glass bottles.

REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this month.
REMINDER….. all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.

…. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.
It is the National DO NOT CALL list It will only take a minute of your time.. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number.

HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON .. It takes about 20 seconds.

https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

It’s all over the news, and it’s the subject of lots of conversation. Yes, it’s the nasty oil spill, putting fear into the hearts of anyone who loves this gorgeous Gulf coast I call home. First let me be very clear–THERE IS NO OIL ON THE BEACHES IN DESTIN OR FT. WALTON BEACH. Will it stay that way? I certainly cannot say. Here’s what I’m doing: I’m praying about it. I’m looking at this website for the latest information:

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/default.htm

Presently, I believe everyone in this area is doing all they know to keep the oil away from our beaches and to preserve our wildlife. Volunteers have come forward and are on alert to take action as soon as needed.

It is too early to start changing plans to visit this area. The verdict is not in by any means. I’ll keep you informed so check back to see the latest information.

Welcome to my real estate blog. My name is Linda Bryan and I am a local real estate expert in the Destin and Okaloosa Island areas.  I look forward to sharing with you information about our market and what to look for when making the decision to buy or sell real estate in our local area.  Check back often and be sure to pass my blog on to friends and family who wish to stay in the know about the Destin and Okaloosa Island real estate market.