February 2017 Petit Home Team Newsletter

February 2017 Petit Home Team Newsletter

1. Petit Home Team NEWS

2. Help Clients Avoid House-Hunting Drama

3. Just Listed/Sold properties

4. Super Bowl LI Party Ideas (Go Patriots!)

1. Petit Home Team NEWS

The Mooresville Recreation wrestling season has come to an end after a very successful year! This team consisted of several first year and beginner wrestlers, many learning the sport for the first time. You would have never known it by the way these kids worked out at practice! Every weekend during the matches, you would notice a big improvement made by each of our kids. This team was very much ready for our last match on January 21st, which was the end of season tournament. A fantastic showing by each and every wrestler! The entire team wrestled tough and we ended up having 3 Gold, 8 silver and 3 Bronze medals. Coach Pepere and myself enjoyed being around a bunch of special kids. Their hard work and willingness to learn, made this a special winning season!

2. Help Clients Avoid House-Hunting Drama

Moving is one of the most rewarding, but also one of the most stressful situations that a person can go through. To make the house-hunt a little less stressful, real estate pros offer the following tips:

1. Determine what you want upfront, and stick to that criteria.

What are your non-negotiable items? What location do you desire? What educational opportunities are important? What do you want your daily commute to be? And what price are you willing to pay? “The first step to avoid house hunting drama is to really sit back and think about what is most important to you. This will narrow down your scope so you are not looking at hundreds of homes, just the ones that fit in your criteria. … Looking in an area that’s not going to provide the home type that you want is going to cause frustration.”

2. Get pre-approved for a mortgage.

Avoid delays once you do find a home by getting your loan pre-approved. “If there is any issue, it is identified early on in the process and not the moment that you’re trying to submit a contract on the property. Also, you’ll know your numbers and how much to expect on a monthly payment to make sure you’re house-shopping within your price range.

3. Communicate.

Share with your real estate agent the biggest stresses and fears you have in the home-buying process. “The more open the client is with the agent, the less drama is going to present itself in the transaction. You have to trust your agent and relate to them as a confidant, as an ally.”

4. Don’t linger too long.

Procrastination causes drama. For home buyers on a deadline, professionals recommend beginning four to six months ahead of time to start learning more about the market. Plus, with mortgage rates forecasted to move higher this year, buyers who wait too long may find what they can afford lessen. Have the right expectations, or else you’re setting yourself up for frustration.

3. Just Listed/Sold Properties

19740 Feriba Place #0, Cornelius NC 28031

$134,000

Fantastic 1st floor condo for sale with awesome location in Cornelius! Located across the street from booming developments in Antiquity.Private entrance leads into tiled kitchen with bar/counter top. Unique glass cabinets and tile back-splash give distinct character to the home. Hardwood laminate floors in living rm w/electric fireplace heater. 2 large bedrooms w/ carpets and closets.Master bathroom has huge tub!First floor laundry room in hallway.Condo development has wonderful pool!Call today!

http://www.tourfactory.com/1701785

112 Haley Court, Mooresville NC 28115

$399,900

Spectacular all brick Ranch home sitting on almost 2 acres of land in desirable Mooresville,with a 5 car garage!Cul-de-sac location in Serene Lake,features huge yard,detached garage/workshop,back deck.Stone porch entrance welcomes you into foyer w/hardwood floors throughout.Granite kitchen w/tile back splash and stainless appliances.Kitchen sun room overlooks yard.Stone fireplace in living rm w/vaulted ceilings and walkout to deck.Hardwood floors in dining rm and extra wide hallways.Call today!!

http://www.tourfactory.com/1701734

153 Settlers Haven Road, Cleveland NC 27013

$207,000

SOLD

132 Mangum Circle #213, Mooresville NC 28117

$118,000

SOLD

4. Super Bowl LI Party Ideas

The Super Bowl is no longer just a game to watch on TV. It is now a full event that many people look forward to all year long! No matter how well you organize your invitations, menu, and decorations, you still need some fun and exciting games for your guests to play during the game. Here are some awesome Super Bowl party game ideas to include at your event:

Pre-Game Football Game: There is no better way to get your guests’ blood pumping before the Super Bowl than with a friendly game of touch football. When your guests RSVP, find out if they are interested in playing, and if so inform them to arrive a few hours early to the Super Bowl party. Once everyone arrives, split the guests into two teams and start playing. The winning team gets bragging rights for the rest of the day!

• Rate the Commercials: The commercials shown during the Super Bowl are often as exciting as the game! Companies pay top dollar to have their ads shown at key times during the game. Make a fun game out of ranking the best and worst commercials. Have guests write down their favorites and at the end of the game tally the votes to find out which commercials were the greatest and which were the lamest.

• Pick-a-Player: Before the game starts, have all of your guests put in $1, $5, or $10, based on how large you want your pool. Put the names of all of the key players on both teams into a hat. Have each guest draw out a name. At the end of the game, whoever’s player is named MVP wins the pot! If your party is on the smaller side, put the most popular players names into the pool to ensure that the MVP will be chosen.

• Pass the Cup: This is a classic Super Bowl party game to play. Hand one guest an empty cup and have them put a dollar into it. The person has to name a football play, like field goal. The cup keeps getting passed with each person adding a dollar to it. The cup continues to get passed until a field goal is scored and the person holding the cup wins the money! Whoever is holding the cup can make the rule so you can switch it up during the game with touch downs, first downs, etc.

When you plan your Super Bowl party games, make sure to think of the games ahead of time and which ones you want to incorporate into the party. You might also want to let guests know which games will be played so they can be prepared. Some people, for example, don't always carry cash so if you're having a pool, they'll want to know.

Also, between the excitement of the Super Bowl and the games your guests will be playing, things can sometimes get a bit rowdy. Protect your tables and furniture from unnecessary accidents. Clear everything that you don’t need off of the table and put out plenty of coasters for drinks. You should also have napkins and paper towels in close reach for quick cleanups of spills!

GO PATRIOTS!!

       

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January 2017 Petit Home Team Newsletter

January 2017 Petit Home Team Newsletter

1. Petit Home Team NEWS

2. New Year’s Resolutions for Real Estate Clients

3. Just Listed/Sold properties

4. Davidson College Was Ranked The #1 Best School In The South by Forbes Magazine

1. Petit Home Team NEWS

Santa Clause was very good to the Petit Jr family this year as he surprised us with a week long trip to Walt Disney and Sea World! What a wonderful gift, especially because it was a complete surprise for our 3 children. We spent the days adventuring to each of the Disney parks and taking in all the spectacular sites. We also found out that our kids are not scared of roller coasters...at all! The trip was topped off with a New Years Eve celebration featuring fire works that lite up the entire sky! God Bless you and your family in 2017.

2.New Year’s Resolutions for Real Estate Clients

1. Declutter Your Home – Your clients might want to save this for spring, but why not start their efforts in January? This is an especially great time after the slue of Christmas gifts that they have received. Plus, if they plan to sell their home, it will make selling the house and moving that much easier. Let them know to start small and go room by room, designating areas for donations, things to be fixed and things to sell. The sooner they start, the better they’ll feel!
2. Create a Safe Home – If your clients have kids (or even if they don’t!), then making their homes safer all around is a great resolution to make. Have them commit to a regular safety maintenance schedule by checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly, ensuring they have fire extinguishers and preparing the family for emergencies such as weather disasters and fire. They should replenish emergency kits, bottled water and non-perishable food items throughout the year, too.
3. Invest in Smart Technology – Some clients may have just missed the boat on making their homes safe when they bought their homes, but it’s never too late. Some ways to make homes “smarter”? Smart home hubs like Amazon Echo, security video monitors like Ring and smart thermostats like Nest.
4. Consider Refinancing – Encourage clients to decrease their payments or lock in a low fixed mortgage rate through refinancing. Shopping around for the best rates is a great way to find the lowest one that works for you.
5. Make Your Home Greener – Change bulbs to energy-efficient ones. This will also help your clients save money. Another way to be greener is to clean the house with reusable cloths or old, clean rags versus wasteful paper towels (which they can use for especially dirty messes).

These five tips can help us be better homeowners and prepared sellers when the time comes!

3. Just Listed/Sold Properties

115 Tilton Drive, Mooresville NC 28115

$240,000

SOLD

1088 Paddock Circle, Rockwell NC 28138

$293,000

SOLD

4. Davidson College Was Ranked The #1 Best School In The South by Forbes Magazine

Davidson College was named the best school in the south and the 25th best college in America – narrowly losing to Boston College (#22).Located 20 miles north of Charlotte, NC, Davidson College is a small, private liberal arts college. Founded by the Presbyterians of North Carolina in 1837, Davidson has produced 23 Rhodes Scholars, four governors and reigning NBA MVP Steph Curry. The school offers 26 majors and 17 minors with interdisciplinary studies and six pre-professional programs. The Davidson Honor Code, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 2010, is highly valued at the college, and the entire freshman class gathers at the beginning of each school year to sign the Honor Code, which enables students to have take-home tests and un-proctored final exams. The Davidson Trust enabled Davidson to become the first liberal arts college to become loan-free, replacing loans with grants in all of its financial aid packages. International programs are prevalent at Davidson, as 80% of students engage in some sort of program abroad before graduating. The Davidson Wildcats compete in Division I athletics, and its club croquet team has three national championships since 2007.

Davidson College

At a Glance

Student Population: 1,770

Undergraduate Population: 1,770

Student to Faculty Ratio^a: 10

Total Annual Cost^c: $62,894

In-State Tuition^c: $46,966

Out-of-State Tuition^c: $46,966

Percent on Financial Aid^d: 64%

Average Grant Aid Received (FT/First-Time): $33,308

Percent Admitted^e: 22%

SAT Composite Range^f: 1230-1440

ACT Composite Range^f: 2

       

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December 2016 Petit Home Team Newsletter

December 2016 Petit Home Team Newsletter

1. Petit Home Team NEWS

2. Seven Ways to Save Energy Costs During Winter

3. Just Listed/Sold properties

4. Christmas Traditions 

1. Petit Home Team NEWS

Merry Christmas to all of our family, friends and clients! Thank you all for your continued support and love. We truly appreciate our Keller Williams family and look forward to another awesome year in 2017.

2. Seven Ways to Save Energy Costs During Winter

1. Adjust Thermostat Controls. This is one of the easiest ways to help control wasteful

energy expenses. Recommended heating settings during the winter is 68 degrees F

during the day. You can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling costs by simply turning your thermostat back 7 - 10 degrees for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. Programmable thermostats can make this extremely easy and effective. Program the daily settings at the start of the cold season and let the thermostat do the work. 

2. Sealing Air Leaks.  Air leaks are probably the No.1 cause for energy loss in a home. The sealing of air leaks around windows, doors, wall penetrations, cracks and roofs helps to prevent cold air from creating drafts or cold spots in your home during the winter months. It also helps to control unwanted moisture problems inside the home. Expected energy savings can range from 5 to 30 percent depending on the amount of air leaks present in a home. Remember to only use sealants and weather stripping that are compatible with your home materials. Non-combustible sealants should be used when sealing gaps around chimneys and heat producing devices. 

3. Crawl Space Protection. Maintaining the insulation below the flooring and around pipes and plumbing within unconditioned crawl spaces exposed to the exterior reduces the potential for freezing pipes and cold spots within the home. Large amounts of moisture can reduce the effectiveness of insulation, generate air quality issues within the home and promote structural damage; therefore, controlling moisture by the installation of a vapor barrier over the ground and having good ventilation is also essential. 

4. Replace or Supplement Old Attic/Wall Insulation. Insulation in your attic and walls (if installed) is your best line of defense for keeping cold and warm air from escaping or intruding your home. Depending on the installation, type, age, thickness and condition, your insulation could be less effective in its performance than you think, especially in older homes. Replacing or supplementing insulation can see significant improvements in the energy performance of a home, reduce the impact on your HVAC systems and add value. If the attic hatch is located above conditioned space, ensure it is also well insulated, sealed with weather stripping and closed tightly. In addition, adding insulation to your home could qualify for tax credits come tax season. 

5. HVAC Equipment. To optimize performance of your home's HVAC system, regular inspection, cleaning and filter replacement every one to two months is suggested. A more comprehensive check prior to the heating or cooling season could pay dividends in the dead of winter or summer. If your unit is more than 15 years old, you should consider replacing your system with a newer, more energy efficient unit to help reduce energy consumption in your home. All ductwork should also be well sealed and be properly insulated. 

6. Lighting. Energy from lighting accounts for about 10 percent of your electric bill. Replacing light bulbs in your home with more energy-efficient bulbs, such as energy-saving incandescent, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is not very expensive. Your electric utility company may even offer rebates, free replacement bulbs or other incentives for purchasing energy-efficient lighting. 

7. Window Repairs/Replacement. Many windows on the market are now designed to be energy efficient to help reduce thermal bridging between the interior and exterior air. If it is time for replacement in your home, energy-efficient windows are your best bet. If window replacement is not on your horizon, consider adding storm windows and/or replacing the gaskets around the glass and perimeter sealant joints to help prevent air and moisture leaks in the window units. 

3. Just Listed/Sold Properties

132 Mangum Cir., Mooresville NC 28117

$118,000

Beautiful, move-in-ready townhome in great Mooresville location. Convenient to shops, restaurants, Lowe's corp. and Lake Norman. Unit features spacious living area with wood floors, tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms. Upstairs 2 bedrooms with Jack and Jill bathroom. Enjoy private back patio with outdoor storage. Community pool and walking trails.

http://www.tourfactory.com/1685626

4. Christmas Traditions 

 When Christmas is Celebrated 

Many people think Christmas is on December the 25th and that's all there is to Christmas. However, for many people around the world, in different countries and in different Christian traditions, Christmas lasts for a lot longer than that - and it's even celebrated at different times!

Although December 25th is the date when most people celebrate Christmas, there are some other dates as well!

Some churches (mainly Orthodox churches) use a different calendars for their religious celebrations. Orthodox Churches in Russia, Serbia, Jerusalem, Ukraine, Ethiopia and other countries use the old 'Julian' calendar and people in those churches celebrate Christmas on January 7th.

Advent - The Time Before Christmas

Before Christmas, many Christians use the time of Advent to prepare themselves and get ready to celebrate the joy of Christmas, when Christians celebrate of the birth of Jesus, who they believe is the Son of God.

Advent is normally a period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas. In many Orthodox and Eastern Catholics Churches Advent lasts for 40 days, starting on November 15th.

After Christmas - The 12 Days of Christmas and Epiphany

After Advent, traditionally, Christmas celebrations (and often a feast!) started on Christmas Day and lasted for 12 Days - so they were known as The 12 Days of Christmas! The celebrations finished on the evening of 5th January, which is better known as Twelfth Night.

Throughout history, the 12 Days of Christmas were a time of feasting and fun.

Following Twelfth Night, on 6th January, is Epiphany, when people remember the Wise Men (also sometimes called the Three Kings) who visited Jesus and/or the Baptism of Jesus.

Epiphany/Twelfth Night is also the time when it was traditional to take your Christmas decorations down - although some people leave them up until Candlemas.

Candlemas - The End of Christmas

You might think that Christmas ends when you take the Christmas Decorations down - but it doesn't! After both Christmas and the season of Epiphany, the end of the Christmas celebrations come on February 2nd, 40 days after Christmas, with Candlemas.

Candlemas, also known as the 'Presentation of Jesus at the Temple' or the 'Feast of the Purification of the Virgin (or Mary)' is the when some Christians remember the time when Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem to give thanks to God for giving them a son.

Christmas Eve

In many European countries including Germany, Serbia and Slovakia, Christmas Eve is the day when the Christmas Tree is brought into the house and decorated.

Christmas Eve is also the day when people in some countries, like Germany, Sweden and Portugal exchange their presents. 

Tradition also said that any greenery such as Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe should only be taken into the house on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas from Petit Home Team!

       

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