BCCDC Real Estate by Marcie Sandalow

Archive for the 'Just For Fun' Category

Multiple Migraines

said on May 20th, 2013 filed under: Information for Buyers, Information for Sellers, Just For Fun

real estate stressWith all the hoopla going on in the media about the lack of inventory and multiple offers, there is little talk out there about the STRESS that occurs when listings go viral. Buyers are certainly feeling the stress. That’s a given. But it can be a real drain on the emotions for both sellers and their agents. Surprise, surprise.

Cati and I have had three listings hit the market over the past few weeks. In each situation we had multiple offers (3, 5 and 6 to be precise). So, why are we often feeling nauseous?

  • Open house guilt. We get to meet a lot of the bidders first hand. We see them oohing and ahhing, taking measurements, walking the perimeter, picking out rooms with their kids. We kind of get to know them. And like them.
  • Pre-inspection guilt. Sure, we’re keeping the home inspectors employed, but some folks will be spending their money for nothing. Nada. Zilch. Only one party can get the house.
  • 2005 all over again? We were both in the business the last time things got out of hand. No inspections, Read the rest of this entry »

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Earth Month 2013

said on March 31st, 2013 filed under: Just For Fun

Earth Month Activities
It’s finally time to put down your snow shovel and pick up your garden shovel. Here are some great ways to celebrate Earth Month, and all of them are approved for Student Service Learning hours for Montgomery County Public School students.

April 2, 6, 13 and 27 – Montgomery Parks Annual Garlic Mustard Pull. Help remove one of the fastest spreading, non-native, invasive weeds. Volunteers under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Dress appropriately for the weather and to be out in the woods. For more information go to www.WeedWarrior.org or call 301-495-2504.
Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m. – noon – Alice Ferguson Foundation’s 25th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup. Volunteers will pick up trash from hundreds of cleanup sites around the region. To find a site, visit www.potomaccleanup.org, or call 202-973-8203. Read the rest of this entry »

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Elephants Close DC Streets!

said on March 19th, 2013 filed under: District of Columbia, Just For Fun

It’s not often that I get to warn average citizens about elephants.  I’m a little late doing so now, but better late than never, huh?

Subject: Annual Elephant Walk / Street Closures

Traffic Advisory: Annual Elephant Walk

Elephants in DCThe Metropolitan Police Department wishes to advise the public of road closures associated with the Annual Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Elephant Walk scheduled to occur on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 8:00 pm. The streets will begin closing at 7:30 pm and re-open at 10:00 pm.

The Elephant Walk will proceed from Capitol Hill to the Verizon Center.

The walk will form at the New Jersey Avenue and Virginia Avenue, NW (Capitol Power Plant)

The route is as follows:
•North on South Capitol Street to Washington Avenue, SE
•Northwest on Washington Avenue to Independence Avenue, SE
•West on Independence Avenue to 3rd Street, SE
•North on 3rd Street to G Street, NW
•West on G Street, NW to the loading dock at the Verizon Center where they will disband.

Motorists and pedestrians are urged to use caution when traveling in this area due to heavy pedestrian, vehicle, and bus traffic in the above areas.

 

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Got Paint?

said on March 13th, 2013 filed under: Just For Fun

Exterior Paint Seminar - StrosneidersStrosneiders is hosting a free paint class on March 23.

Topic?  Exterior Paint Seminar with Nancy Reid

Registration required.  Space limited.

Topics include:

- Demystifying the paint color selection process
- How to maximize your home’s strengths and minimize its weaknesses
- Insight into updated color combinations

Perk:  You get 10% off your paint purchase (if you purchase on the date of the class)

Details:
Strosneiders Hardware Store
6930 Arlington Road
Saturday, March 23
10 – 11am.

My shutters need painting.  I think I’m headed for the seminar.  Perhaps I’ll see you there?

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Let it Snow

said on January 31st, 2013 filed under: Just For Fun

It may seem crazy, speaking of snow when it’s 50 degrees on this last day of January.  But snow will eventually make a come back… either this year or next.  Montgomery County has a snow emergency page with everything you need to know about snow plowing, closings and power outages. It’’s a great resource.

Did you know that when it snows, 200 employees with 175 pieces of equipment spring into action? Here’s a snapshot of the County’s snow response plan:

~ When snow begins to cover roads, salt crews spread salt on all main County roads and emergency routes.

~ When snow accumulates to three inches, plowing and salting crews clear all main County roads and emergency routes.

~ Once the snow stops, crews begin plowing neighborhood roads.

~ Crews then complete plow routes and spread abrasives on hills, at intersections and on roads around schools.

To see what streets have been plowed, check out the county snow removal map.  You can also alert the powers-that-be if they’ve failed to plow your own street at this same site.

 

 

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BCC Book Sale- Donations Wanted!

said on January 24th, 2013 filed under: Just For Fun

Mark your calendars for the next B-CC book sale collection date. BCC-HS will accept donated books on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, between 10am and 2pm for the book sale to be held March 16-17, 2013 (10am-4pm). Students and adult volunteers will be available at school to take your books from your car into the school for storage and sorting. Please pull into the front bay outside the main B-CC High School entrance to drop off .

 

Future drop off dates will be:

Saturday March 2

Sunday March 3

Saturday March 9

Sunday March 10

 

Most types of books (in good condition) are accepted, but please:

*No* encyclopedias, magazines or Readers Digest.

*No* textbooks or travel books pre-2008.

*No* VHS or cassette tapes.

 

To volunteer to help with the book sale, please email: [email protected]

Thanks, and hope to see you at the book sale!

 

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Bethesda Library Book Club

said on January 13th, 2013 filed under: Just For Fun

Just a reminder:
Love and Other Disillusions Book Group starts Tuesday January 15th @7PM

Join Michael Bevel, sensational facilitator of Bethesda Library’s long-running Victorian Literature reading group, in reading and discussing Love and Other Disillusions: Novels from 1760-1960 at 7PM on the third Tuesday of the Month in 2013 at the Bethesda Library:

15 January Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, 1865

19 February The Confidence Man by Herman Melville, 1857

19 March Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, 1847

16 April The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton, 1913 Read the rest of this entry »

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Maryland Home Owners- Homestead Credit Deadline Looms

said on November 27th, 2012 filed under: Just For Fun, State of the Market

If you live in Maryland and you haven’t already, you should apply for the Maryland Homestead Tax Credit which gives you a break on your property taxes when new property assessments are made. You have until the end of the year to apply, but when I checked it out last week, the website said that you had only until November 30 to apply electronically to receive the form. It’s all very confusing, so don’t delay.

The main thing is to visit the following website and read the details. You can check there to see whether you are already receiving the credit:

http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/homestead.html

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When the Nights Get Longer…

said on November 3rd, 2012 filed under: Just For Fun

Spring ForwardMy husband is thrilled about gaining an hour this weekend. I’m grumbling because it brings darkness at an earlier hour.

It happens twice a year… this shifting of the clock. In the spring we lose an hour… in the winter we gain an hour. It all takes place at 2 a.m. Sunday.

Some people have a really hard time adjusting to the change, and they say that young kids are most affected. Though it’s a little late to be giving out advice, experts (and I’d like to know… who are these clock changing experts?) suggest a gradual adjustment in bed times 3-4 days before the change takes place, in 10-20 minute increments. That gives the body some time to adjust.

If you choose to go cold turkey, things should even out in 2-3 days.

Happy Fall!

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Early Voting Centers in Montgomery County

said on October 29th, 2012 filed under: Just For Fun

 

Due to storm related closures, Montgomery County will have five Early Voting Centers open from October 31 through November 2, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (extending hours and adding a day to the original schedule).

The Early Voting Centers are located at the following sites:

  • Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center, 14625 Bauer Dr., Rockville
  • Germantown Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Rd.
  • Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
  • Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe St., Rockville
  • Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veteran’s Place

Instructions will be available at the centers to familiarize voters with the ballot. Read the rest of this entry »

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