Picture this:  beautiful three story condo, two car garage, private elevator, spectacular view of the Indian River in Brevard County FL, priced in the mid $200's.  Sounds wonderful doesn't it?  What the description doesn't tell you is that there is no direct entry into the complex.  One must drive through an older single home neighborhood to access the complex.  And what the description also doesn't tell you,  in addition to the spectacular view, most units also have a spectacular view of the gas station next door.  Nor does the description tell you the complex is located just feet from a major highway.  The units are beautiful, the floor plans are awesome, as are the room sizes, and don't get me started on the private elevator in each unit, to die for.  But the minute you step outside ... 08/03/2009

Pinching pennies has become  a necessity in today's economic times.  We clip coupons, look for sales, and hold back on spending.  But can you afford to skip an all important step when putting your house on the market?  The answer is a resounding "no!" Most home sellers think a home, is a home, is a home.  Their home serves their purpose, is arranged to suit their lifestyle, and truely believe that everyone that walks in the door will buy into the old saying "home is where you hang your hat."  Well thats mostly true. But hanging your hat in someone else's home, does not automatically make that home yours.  And potential buyers are keeping that in mind when they view your property.  Within 10 seconds of walking in the front door they will most likely make the decision that your home is no... 07/27/2009

Friendship is friendship and goes way beyond trivial matters such as a free, over the phone, staging consultation.  One of my best friend's is putting her house on the market in the DC Metro area.  They've totally retrofitted the house, new windows, doors, roof. Its an older home and needed the work.  Soon they will pack up and move to their retirement home in another state, leaving the house vacant, and to the mercy of potential buyers who "might" be able to see the home's potential. I recently counciled her on the benefits of home staging.  Minimal cost, maximum punch!  Leave a few pieces of furniture, the blinds, some accessories.  Stage the kitchen and bathroom with things you don't need, or go to a discount store and purchase some attractive items. The answer to all my suggestions ... 07/27/2009

You've decided to move, either down size, or up size, but what to do about the lazy real estate market.  You know you're competing with foreclosures and short sales, not to mention For Sale By Owner and MLS properties.  What can you do, in frugal times to make your house shine? My first recommendation would be to run the numbers and figure out how much you can afford to spend to prepare your home.  $100 or $1000, it makes no difference.  Any amount you can put toward proper preparation, is money in the bank if you sell your home in a timely manner. As a home stager, my second recommendation would be to let your fingers do the walking through Google and find a home stager in your area.  We're here to give you the tools you need for proper preparation.  If you only have $75 to spare, put ... 07/27/2009

Florida's approximately $15 billion, three year take of federal-stimulus spending is already starting to pay off, say agency heads. According to Education Commissioner Eric Smith, the stimulus dollars have helped preserve 26,000 jobs in Florida's K-12 system.  Another 2,700 jobs have been created. Florida is competing for $2.5 billion in high-speed rail grants and waiting to hear whether t will get nearly $50 million in port security grants. $212 million in stimulus dollars have paid for a $25 increase in unemployment compensation benefits. $267 million has extended the length of unemployment benefits. Cynthia Lorenzo, head of the Agency for Workforce Innovation (unemployment), claims that every dollar in spending on unemployment benefits translates into $1.64 in economic impact for a t... 07/16/2009

On the first-ever all-pet airline started by Alysa Binder and her husband, Dan Wiesel, dogs and cats will fly in the main cabin of a Suburban Air Freight plane, retooled and lined with carriers in place of seats. I wonder what they serve in the cabin? Peanuts or crackers?  How cool is this? 07/14/2009

In 1976 the American public was urgently advised by the government, to take the swine flu vaccine. As admitted during a 60 Minutes interview, the vaccine given was not the vaccine that had been previously tested. The result, thousands of people became sick, many with GBS, Guillian-Barre Syndrome. The 60 Minutes documentary has resurfaced and is well worth watching, especially if you have decided the swine flu shot is for you. Swine Flu 1976 & PropagandaUploaded by Dianequiose-4. - Discover more webcam videos and video blogs. 07/13/2009