Easy Ways to Make a Move Less Stressful on Your Pets

Easy Ways to Make a Move Less Stressful on Your Pets

Because we are so close to our pets, they often become very sensitive to our stress levels. When we are packing to move or even take a vacation, our pets will be more stressed than usual. When packing, it helps to remove pets from the area to minimize stress, fear and possible harm.

Here are some tips for traveling to your new destination with your pet:

* Carry your pet's current health certificate and rabies tag

* Make sure your pet has a collar with current contact identification

* Have any of your pet’s medications handy and make sure it is protected from fleas and ticks

* Bring your pet’s bedding, food and water bowls, a litter box and favorite toys

* Keep fresh water available at all times

* Maintain good air circulation; use your air conditioner if necessary

* Stop for an exercise and potty break at least every three hours

* Never leave your pet alone in the car on a warm day

Call or email The Davidson Team if you have any questions. We are always happy to help you, you family and friends with any real estate related needs.

Blaine's Recipe of the Week - 11/2/07

Baked Sweet/Sour Soy Ribs

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves
2 ¼ cups ketchup
1 ¾ low salt chicken broth (divided)
8 tablespoons soy sauce (divided)
6 tablespoons dark brown sugar
4 ½ tablespoons mild-flavored molasses
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
4 large baby back pork ribs (each roughly 2 ½ pounds)
8 tablespoons chili powder (divided)
Kosher salt
Course black pepper

To make BBQ sauce: Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat and then sautee garlic. Mix in ketchup, ¾ cup broth, 5 tablespoons soy sauce, brown sugar, molasses and vinegar. Bring sauce to simmer and the reduce heat to medium-low; reduce to roughly 3 cups (about 15 minutes). Transfer to bowl. Can be made up to a week before.

To make ribs: Sprinkle ribs on both sides with salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon of chili powder. Arrange 2 racks on two large rimmed baking sheets. Can be made up to 1 day ahead; cover and chill. Pull meat out of fridge at least 3 hours before cooking.

Pre-heat oven to 450. Position 1 over rack in top third of over and 1 on bottom third. Pour ½ cup of remaining broth and 3 tablespoons soy sauce around ribs on each sheet. Cover with foil and cook 30 mins; then reverse sheets and cook another 45 mins.Take ribs out and let stand at room temperature. Cut each rib rack between bones into individual ribs. Brush ribs generously with remaining sauce.

Featured Business of the Week: Martin Scott Winery

If you enjoy wine, you've got to check out East Wenatchee's Martin Scott Winery (www.martinscottwinery.com). They cover the whole spectrum in terms of wine products, but their big bold reds are particularly good. Visit them today at their tasting room and be entertained and educated by the wine makers/owners. The view aint to shabby either!

How to Make Rooms in Your Home Look Larger with Lighting

A bright and well-lit home can dramatically change the mood of your home and help you feel relaxed and comfortable all year long. Here are some tips to lighten up your home and make the rooms look big and inviting:

* Choose different types of lighting to avoid the expense of installing windows or skylights. Lamps or other accent lighting can make a dull room appear elegant or small rooms seem larger.

* If you have a room with a dark wall or a narrow, dark hallway, hang a group of pictures and light them with adjustable halogen track lighting to create the effect of a photo gallery.

* Paint ceilings a light color to avoid making them seem lower than they are and give the room a cramped feel.

* Use color to add cheer to a room. Pink and green tones have a calming effect while darker colors, such as red, tend to cause agitation. Neutral wall tones create a harmonious environment. Bright colors should be used as accents in pillows, artwork or flowers.

* When selecting paint, tape large color chips together on a wall to get a better idea of the shades you like. When you’ve narrowed your choices down, buy a quart of 2 or 3 colors and paint 1 or 2 foot squares next to each other on both shaded and brightly lit walls. Choose the color that looks best in both kinds of light.

Call or send The Davidson Team an email if you’d like the names of decorators, contractors, or other service providers.

A Different Kind of Garage Sale

Instead of having a traditional garage sale, perhaps you should consider putting your garage sale online. Free online classified ads like Craig’s List or fee-based auction sites like eBay make it easy to do. Here’s how:

Take your time: The beauty of an online garage sale is that you don’t need to sell all your unwanted belongings at once. Instead you can post them online as soon as you decide to get rid of them.

Price it right: Search online to learn prices of comparable items and price yours to sell if you don’t want to be stuck with them later on.

Use pictures: Use a digital camera to take shots of your items. One picture is worth hundreds of words of description. Provide written descriptions, including dimensions and be sure to indicate any defect or areas of wear or damage.

Payment: Items listed on local classified sites like Craig’s List are usually paid for as cash at delivery on a first-come, first-served basis. Winning bidders on auction sites like eBay use PayPal to pay with their credit card. Setting up an account with PayPal is free and easy.

Shipping: Auction sites let you specify a flat rate for shipping or allow buyers to compute and pay for shipping costs. Craig’s List buyers will pick up their purchase from you once you’ve both agreed on the price so there are no shipping costs at all.

By getting rid of unwanted items through an online garage sale you’ll make your home feel more spacious and have fewer items to pack if you decide to make a move.Please call or send us an email if we can answer any real estate related questions. We appreciate the opportunity to be your real estate resource.

First Time Home Buyers: Part 8 of 8

Grading Local Schools

When thinking of buying a home, most people research various neighborhood amenities, including local schools. Regardless of whether you have children, schools can affect property values and are an important consideration when buying a home.

Here are four ways to tell if area schools are having problems:

Local test scores low or dropping

Low test scores can be a product of resource shortages, poor teachers, lack of commitment by the school district or parents.

Student enrollment dropping

If fewer families are moving into the neighborhood, or parents are choosing schools outside the neighborhood, the school may be having problems.

Poorly maintained or vandalized buildings

Inadequate upkeep may be a sign of funding shortages and low involvement from parents.

Troubles at PTA meetings

Tension among parents or between parents and the school's teachers or management may indicate serious problems in a school.

If you have any doubts about the school quality in your target neighborhoods, please give The Davidson Team a call and we'll be happy to discuss them with you. Learning about local schools helps you make an informed choice about where you live.

First Time Home Buyer: Part 7 of 8

What Goes Into Your Monthly Mortgage Payment

When you’re thinking of buying a home, you may wonder what your mortgage payment will look like. When you have a mortgage, you’ll have several different portions of your payment each month.

Your mortgage payment consists of principal, interest, taxes and insurance (often abbreviated as “PITI”), and sometimes additional fees, such as homeowners association dues.

Principal is the money you borrowed to purchase the home.

Interest is the cost of borrowing money.

Taxes are paid by homeowners to local governments, and are usually a percentage of the assessed property value.

Insurance helps protect against financial loss from fire, natural disasters or other hazards. Most lenders require you to have a homeowner’s insurance policy on your home because it will help protect their investment as well as yours.

Remember, many loan quotes will only include your principal and interest. You’ll also need to factor in the taxes and insurance to calculate your total monthly mortgage payment.

When you’re ready to take the next step to buying your home, please give The Davidson Team a call. We’ll be happy to explain the process further and help you narrow your home search.