Many times we're told what to do to build our credit, but what NOT to do is just as important. Do not close accounts with zero balances.   Do not leave your bills unopened on the table longer than 2 weeks.   Do not just make the minimum monthly payments.   Do not juggle your bills, skipping one to pay another.   Do not apply for new credit if you're struggling to pay current bills.   Do not make a habit of paying late or over-the-limit fees.   Do not take out cash advances to pay other bills. If you can get into the habit of following these credit no-no's, you'll be on your way to good credit in no time. If you're in need of real estate advise in the Ohio Valley, especially Belmont County, give me a call. I'd be happy to help! Melissa Sall Real Estate Professional Sulek & Dutton Real Es... 10/23/2011

The Village of Morristown received a generous real estate donation a few years back. The Lynn-Hunkler family helped the community expand by giving Morristown a 60 acre parcel of land on the east end of town. This ground was preserved to become a park and playground for children in the area. A committee was formed and many hundreds of hours were spent planning and creating a fun and enjoyable place for kids, youth ball teams and adults alike to spend their days. The field of dreams became the Lynn-Hunkler Memorial Park. As you stroll the park today, you will see 5 baseball diamonds, pavilions for gatherings with restrooms, a playground and a basketball court. Donations and grants have provided a great beginning for the Morristown Park in Belmont County, Ohio. There's still a lot of work ... 10/04/2011

The articles on the Internet involving real estate always intrigue me. I google many topics on a regular basis to see what I can learn or what I can pass on to my clients. Recently I had a client ask me if I had a list of steps involved in selling her home. While I have this list in my head and in long articles, I didn’t have a simple checklist, so off to the search engine I went. I was surprised to find many articles on "For Sale by Owner" topics but very few articles on a simple checklist for "Selling with a Real Estate Agent." I figured that would be a great topic for my next blog, so here goes: 　 Prepare your home for the market. Curb appeal, maintenance, fix anything that’s broke, fresh paint, pet odors. After visiting your home, I could also give you a list of to-dos that you may... 09/30/2011

Formulating your energy-saving plan. In additional to the tips you learned in http://activerain.com/blogsview/2526750/save-money-by-saving-energy-part-1- of this series, digging a little deeper, will really pay-off. Once you've identified where your home is losing energy through the energy audit process in part 2 http://activerain.com/blogsview/2527909/energy-saving-audit-part-2-of-series- , ask yourself these questions and assign priorities. 1. How much money do you spend on energy? 2. Where are your greatest energy losses? 3. How long will it take for an investment in energy efficiency to pay for itself in energy cost savings? 4. Do the energy-saving measures provide additional benefits that are important to you (for example, the appearance of new double-panes windows)? 5. How long do... 09/28/2011

  Now that you've read http://activerain.com/blogsview/2526750/save-money-by-saving-energy-part-1- and made some minor changes in your home to begin saving energy, its time to dig a little deeper. A home energy audit will pinpoint the areas in your house that are using the most energy and suggest the most effective measures for cutting energy costs. You can do this by yourself or contact a professional for more comprehensive information.  Heating accounts for the biggest chunk of our utility bills. Source 2007 Buildings Energy Data Book Energy auditing tips: 1. Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors and crawl spaces. Check www.energysavers.gov for instructions on checking your insulation levels. 2. Check for holes or cracks around ceilin... 09/27/2011

I get this question all the time "What's the first step to buying a home?" The answer is always the same "get your financing in place." If you are in the majority of the public, you will need to get a mortgage loan to purchase a home. There are various programs available through a wide variety of Ohio Valley lenders. Obtaining a pre-approval from a lender may be done over the phone in some cases, but at some point you will need to meet with the lender and start the loan application process. There are many steps to financing. The following is a list of items that you will need to have readily available. [] Purchase agreement signed by all parties[] Fee for appraisal and credit report[] Residence addresses for past 7 years[] Home and business phone numbers[] Social security numbers for al... 09/26/2011

A typical U.S. Family spends roughly $2000 a year on utility bills according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Unfortunately a large portion of that energy is wasted. The good news is there is a lot you can do to save energy which in turn will save money at home. By following this multiple-part series blog, you can cut up to 25% of your energy use. Simple low-cost solutions can start you down the right path to saving energy. The following list will help you get started. 1. Install a programable thermostat to keep your house comfortably warm in the winter and cool in the summer. 2. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR label. 3. Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle. 4. Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. 5. Plug home electronics, s... 09/26/2011

If your credit rating isn't where you want it or you've been refused credit, take action today to get your finances back on track. Your credit rating is a very powerful three digit number. If you've ever had a credit card or loan of any kind, you have a credit history. Everything from a burger to a home can be purchased on credit. How you handle  the purchase will determine your future credit privileges.   Great credit is 720 or higher out of a possible 850. Okay credit is 620 to 720. It's satisfactory but you won't be offered rock bottom rates from credit card or loan companies. Poor credit is below 620. Especially if you're in this bracket, please follow this article carefully to get your number improved. You CAN fix your credit! One step at a time, your rating will get higher. 1. Go ... 08/24/2011

Spruce ups when selling So you're thinking of putting your home on the market? I'm assuming you want to get the best possible sales price right? Take this advice to get your home spruced up and in tip-top condition. While this list may seem so minor that you don't think the steps are necessary, trust me they are crucial! Before you call a real estate agent, before you put the "for sale" sign in the yard, spruce up your home. You wont regret it! Exterior 1. Trim bushes so they don't block windows or architectural details. 2. Mow your lawn if in season. Spraying your lawn with water or turning on your sprinkler 30 minutes before the showings will make your lawn sparkle. 3. Put a pot of bright flowers (Small evergreen in winter) on your porch. 4. Install new doorknobs on your front door an... 08/24/2011

Sell Home Fast - Belmont OH: Retirement can’t come soon enough. You’ve worked hard all of your life and are looking forward to the day when you can leave it all behind and set off the see the sights. Mount Rushmore, Washington DC, the Rocky Mountains, and Yellowstone National Park are on your list. Then you’ll round out the trip with a stop in Vegas. This trip will take weeks, but you don’t want to rush. If you’d like to stay longer in one of the places you find, so be it. In order for you to let your working life go, you’ll need to sell your house. That nice travel vehicle will cost you a pretty penny. RV’s don’t come cheap these days. If you sell your house you can afford to do everything on your list and more. Selling in the traditional way will take quite some time. You aren’t sure ... 08/22/2011

How are homes selling? What's the market like? How bad is it? Is the real estate market as bad as the media says? If you are involved in real estate, these are the questions that you most frequently hear. Everyone is sitting by their TV's and reading their newspapers and believing it! If you are one of those consumers, keep reading... While many markets may be suffering, I am proud to announce that Barnesville, Ohio is thriving. In this village Where History Meets Progress, the total market is UP 48% compared to last years sales. Here's the breakdown... January 2008 to June 2008 - 30 Residential Sales have taken place in Barnesville compared to 22 sales from the same period one year ago. January 2008 to June 2008 - Volume of sales $2,673,975 compared to $1,620,070 from the same period o... 07/02/2008

Over the last 8 years in my real estate life I have been part (on a number of occasions) of presenting Real Estate Buyer and Seller Seminars. These were seminars that were open and free to the public with the intent on educating potential buyers and sellers about the process they would be entering into when buying or selling property. Unfortunately, what I have found is that the attendance was pitifully low and sometimes zilch! Now, I am not complaining at all about this BUT what I am wondering is...is there anyone out there who would be interested in free, no obligation information? Information that would assist them in becoming better informed buyers and sellers? I know everyone is EXTREMELY busy in their everyday lives- maybe there is a better way to get the information to them.... a... 06/24/2008