By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On December 23, 2010
At this time of year, we typically don’t think a lot about safety. We’re all too busy running around shopping and decorating our Huntsville homes.
Have a fun, merry and safe holiday this year by implementing these 10 safety tips:
1. Never use lighted candles on a Christmas tree, whether it’s an artificial or live tree.
2. Purchase artificial trees with a Fire Resistant label. This label doesn’t mean the tree can’t catch fire; it means the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
3. Check for freshness when purchasing a live tree. Needles that are hard to pull away from branches and that do not break when bent indicate a fresh tree. Sticky resin on the tree’s trunk is another sign that a tree is still fresh. Old trees can be fire hazards in Huntsville homes.
4. Chop a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. Water your tree regularly.
5. Avoid sharp or easily breakable decorations and small, removable items that children can swallow. Eliminate decorations that look like food or candy. Children may try to eat them.
6. Limit the number of standard-size light sets plugged into one extension cord to three.
By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On December 20, 2010
To find the perfect holiday gifts for new Huntsville home owners, consider gifts that will keep on giving efficiency, convenience and luxury for years to come. To help with your shopping, here’s my list of seven great holiday gifts for new Huntsville home owners:
1. Gift card to a local home store. This is the easiest gift to give, and often the most popular with home owners. It can help finance their bathroom remodel or purchase of a large item like a riding lawn mower.
2. Fireproof safe or lockbox. A small fireproof safe is the perfect place to store important items such as mortgage papers, home owner’s insurance information and receipts for home repairs.
3. Luxurious bath towels. You can never have too many big, thick bath towels. Consider getting them monogrammed if you want to do something a little extra special.
4. Green cleaning products. You can buy green cleaning products at just about any store. Or, you can make non-toxic cleaning products, put them in nice spray bottles and include the recipes so the home owners can make more when the bottles are empty.
5. Subscription to a home-related magazine. There are magazines about decorating, cooking, entertaining, and home repairs. Consider Family Handyman Magazine for those who want to learn the basics of home repair, Real Simple Magazine for those who love to organize, or Do It Yourself Magazine for, guess what, the do-it yourselfers.
6. Luxury showerhead. Give the gift of daily luxury with one of the spa-style showerheads. You can find showerheads that provide a wide variety of sensations from an energizing massage to a relaxing rain shower.
By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On December 18, 2010
Yes, it’s that delightful time of year again, the time of shopping, decorating, baking, counting down the days, carols, entertaining, and making merry with friends and family. It’s a time of hustle and bustle–with so much to do in so little time! And so…it must also be time for some Christmas tips and time-savers to help you enjoy the holiday just a bit more–and to give you an excuse to sit down for a minute or two while you read this message! In an attempt to make life a little easier, I’ve organized my hints and suggestions into general categories.
SHOPPING AND GIFTS:
Little known trivia: 7/10 of all dogs in Britain receive gifts from their owners.
Who doesn’t like to save money? Sites for valuable coupons,codes, deals, and rebates for hundreds of stores.
Out of ideas? Need something unique like a ‘I Love You’ stones, a wine chiller, a deluxe valet or birthstone ornaments? RedEnvelope.com will surprise you with its offerings. Prefer something whimsical, geeky, or spiritual? Then go to Gifts.com.
There are ideas for those who are budget conscious and those with champagne taste. Many online shopping sites offer free shipping, and some will even gift-wrap for you!
Remember, you can rarely go wrong with a book and Amazon.com is a great source of seasonal favorites, new releases, or the perfect book for just about anyone, young or old.
Little known trivia: There are two Christmas Islands in the world–one in the Pacific and one in the Indian Ocean.
DECORATIONS:
Little known trivia: The first tree tinsel was real silver cut into thin strips.
Looking for new ideas to freshen up the holiday decorations in your Huntsville home? Think about displaying seasonally dressed teddy bears, hanging small ornaments on house plants, using cookie cutter or foil-wrapped walnuts as tree ornaments, and tying ribbons and bows to the stems of wine glasses and around the handles of cutlery . These ideas and 95 more can be found at http://www.allthingschristmas.com.
Get suggestions for suggestions on both indoor and outdoor decorating, making wreaths, and creating themed trees. The site also includes some unusual centerpieces, such as a child’s pop-up book, an arrangement of green apples, cinnamon, and greenery, and colorful balls made from Christmas light bulbs. Ever thought about a sugar plum tree?
Little known trivia: 77 million Christmas trees are planted each year.
And speaking of trees, did you know that 5 miles of lights are used to light up Rockefeller Center?
You can also have a virtual visit to theWhite House tree in the Blue Room. And you just can’t miss the singing tree!
Singing! How could I omit the MUSIC category?
MUSIC:
Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself around you like a shawl. – Bess Street Aldrich
If you are looking for easy living look no further then this sparkling maintenance free home! Rock away the day on the covered front porch and gaze at the lush landscaping. Greet family and friends in the inviting foyer with wood floors. Illuminated by tons of natural light and soothed by a fireplace, the great room is perfect for large gatherings. The dreamy kitchen with cabinets and counter space galore is sure to please the cook. A charming breakfast area with bay window views is a lovely place to start your day. Mom and Dad are going to love their suite boasting great views, a walk-in closet and a luxurious bathroom. The additional bedrooms are all spruced up with cheerful colors. Step outside and you will find a private patio overlooking a large nicely landscaped fully fenced backyard. Grab the kids and head over to the park with playground, picnic pavilion, Frisbee golf and walking trails. Fantastic family community with fun for everyone. Bring the whole family over to see this immaculate home.
Unfortunately, the winter holidays are peak times for thieves and burglars. Not only are burglaries of Huntsville homes at their highest during the darkest months of the year, there’s also the added temptation of unoccupied Huntsville homes full of expensive gifts.
A recent survey found that 39% of homeowners leave presents under the tree long before Christmas Day, with only 7% of respondents waiting until Christmas Day itself to put the presents on display in their Huntsville homes. If gifts are in full view of passers-by who can see them through the windows, they could provide an incentive for thieves to target the house.
Take greater security measures during the holidays to keep yourself and your property safe.
1. Don’t hide presents in obvious locations such as closets, under the bed or in the garage. Instead, hide gifts in an attic. The average burglar doesn’t have time to climb into your attic.
2. Keep window shades drawn. If your gifts are easily visible from the street, burglars will be tempted to smash the window and grab the wrapped packages.
3. Don’t discard whole boxes in your trash. This gives thieves easy clues about what they can steal from your home. Instead, break the boxes up into small pieces and place them in your recycling bin or at the bottom of a sealed garbage bag.
4. Create a lived in look and feel. Before leaving your home, turn on lights and a radio or television.
5. Ask a neighbor or close friend to pick up your mail and newspapers if you go out of town for the holidays.
By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On December 10, 2010
Are you thinking of waiting for the new year to put your Huntsville home on the market or taking it off the market during the holiday season? Think again, say many professionals. They feel that the holidays can be a wonderful selling time, one that will attract serious, motivated buyers.
To support this belief they cite the following reasons:
1. Buyers can often use winter vacation days to search for a house.
2. January is the busiest time for corporate relocations, and transferees are “under the gun” to find a Huntsville home.
3. Families with children want to be settled by the beginning of the second school semester.
4. Investors need to close escrow by the end of the year.
5. Tastefully decorated homes are inviting and show well during this time.
6. Realtors and lenders generally have more free time to devote to the sale of your Huntsville home.
To that end, it is to your advantage to implement the following seasonal home staging suggestions:
By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On December 7, 2010
Many people have trouble relaxing, even in their Huntsville homes. Why? Frequently, it’s because of too much visual stimuli such as unfinished projects, knickknacks and clutter.
You may think the answer to being able to relax is to move into a “better” home. However, what usually happens is that you move your unfinished projects and clutter with you. Instead, if you take the time to get organized, you may find – like many owners who have backed out of a sale – that you don’t need to move, you just need to re-organize.
Take a moment from your busy, stressful life to read these tips and discover how you can improve and de-stress your personal castle:
Add money to your wallet. Unwanted or unused items can be turned into cash. eBay and Craigslist are two heavily-used websites where you can sell your unwanted/unused items. Make a little cash and clear the clutter.
Be generous. If you don’t want to sell your items, don’t throw them away. Donate them to places such as Goodwill. Online, there’s FreeCycle, where you can share your items and give them away to those who really need them.
Keep it clean. Set up a system to decide what to do with mail. Many people end up with piles of mail throughout the house. Rather than letting it pile up, decide the day you get it where that mail goes: trash, take action or file away. (more…)
By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On December 3, 2010
Huntsville Real Estate For Sale: 234 Wes Ashley Drive, Meridianville, AL 35759
MLS#912931
Submerge yourself in excellence when you enter this stunning home. Meander your way through and marvel at the incredible custom features including granite, hardwood floors, tile floors, trey ceilings, as well as custom crown and window moldings. Everyone can gather together as the southern styled great room illuminated by natural light. The toasty gas fireplace is perfect for creating family memories. The well designed kitchen boasts granite counters, gorgeous custom cabinets, tile back splash, stainless steel appliances and everything you need to be a top chef. A charming breakfast nook and granite bar is ideal for serving a buffet of your culinary masterpieces. Looking for mom and dad? Look no farther then the glamour master suite with trey ceiling and detailed moldings, as this is sure to be where they are resting. The lavish master bathroom is a delight with a garden tub, tile floors, walk-in closet and dual vanities making you feel like royalty. The secondary bedrooms are dressed to impress with cheerful colors and sunny window views. Relax on the patio and enjoy the privacy of mature trees while the sprinkler system nourishes your gardens. Get ready to party rain or shine as the covered porch joins the brick patio making for ultimate outdoor living. Elegant formal detailing and distinctive design are matched by a wealth of comfort and pleasant living. The current owner thought of everything now this home just needs you to be complete. Call us today for a private tour!
Learn more about 234 Wes Ashley Drive and other Huntsville real estate by visiting MoveToHuntsville.com.
Never use lighted candles on a Christmas tree, whether it’s an artificial or live tree.
2. Fireproof safe or lockbox. A 
Yes, it’s that delightful time of year again, the time of shopping, decorating, baking, counting down the days, carols, entertaining, and making merry with friends and family. It’s a time of hustle and bustle–with so much to do in so little time! And so…it must also be time for some Christmas tips and time-savers to help you enjoy the holiday just a bit more–and to give you an excuse to sit down for a minute or two while you read this message! In an attempt to make life a little easier, I’ve organized my hints and suggestions into general categories.
Little known trivia: 77 million Christmas trees are planted each year.
Don’t hide presents in obvious locations such as closets, under the bed or in the garage. Instead, hide gifts in an attic. The average burglar doesn’t have time to climb into your attic.
January is the busiest time for corporate relocations, and transferees are “under the gun” to 
what usually happens is that you move your unfinished projects and clutter with you. Instead, if you take the time to get organized, you may find – like many owners who have backed out of a sale – that you don’t need to move, you just need to re-organize.