Orleans and St. Tammany Parish Real Estate Professional

TIPS FOR LIVING GREEN

Well, it's official: the new black is green - living green, that is. New companies devoted to helping reduce folks' carbon footprint are springing up all over. Hybrid cars, renewed interest in recycling, eco-friendly business practices - all are devoted to cleaning up the nation's collective teenage bedroom. How can you jump on the eco-bandwagon? Read on to find out.

• Fix any plumbing leaks - sinks, tubs, showers and toilets all should be inspected for drips and leaks. The tiniest drip can add up to a lot of wasted water.
• Better yet, install water-saving faucets, toilets - you can even buy conservational water pipes to replace your old plumbing.
• While you're at it, install a programmable thermostat to save energy.
• At least turn down the heat at night, during the day if no one is home and any time you leave the house.
• Use compact, long-life fluorescent light bulbs. They're more expensive, but they last several times longer than the old-fashioned kind.
• Many utility companies perform home energy audits for their customers. This will let you know where you're being wasteful, and where you can save energy and money.
• Your audit may point out that you need new or additional insulation. You may find that your windows and doors aren't as tight as you thought. Seal it all up with weather stripping and caulking. By preventing heat from escaping, you automatically reduce your energy consumption.
• Another place for insulation: your electric (NOT NATURAL GAS!) hot water heater as well as the pipes. Just make sure the insulation is no closer than six inches from the heater.
• During the winter, change the filter in your furnace every month. If the filter is allowed to collect dust, it will make your furnace work harder, use more energy and potentially shorten the life of this expensive appliance.
• Use non-toxic cleaning alternatives in your home, such as baking soda, vinegar, etc.
• No more plastic furniture - make sure your furnishings are constructed out of natural materials like wood, metal and glass.
• Read the labels of the items you're buying and avoid the use of polyvinyl chloride (also known as PVC or vinyl). It can creep up in toys, flooring, shower curtains, etc.
• Compost your food waste and use as nutrient-rich soil for your lawn.
• Cut down on paper products. Paper towels and napkins can be replaced with cloth rags and napkins.
• Bite the bullet and start depending on reusable items, such as water bottles, food containers, batteries, pens, razors, etc.
• Instead of going to a carwash or letting your garden hose run, wash your car when it rains - get out there with your chamois and your eco-friendly soap and have at it.
• Leave your car parked as often as possible. Ride your bike, walk or take public transportation. Even carpooling is better than riding alone when it comes to energy consumption.
• Whenever possible, think globally but buy locally. Transporting food across country uses up an obscene amount of fuel. An added bonus is that it's good for the local economy.
• Cut down on your battery usage. The hazardous waste created by the lead in batteries is a danger to the environment. Instead, use rechargable or solar-charged batteries.
• Avoid products with excess packaging. Reward companies who use packaging sparingly.
• Stop using plastic bags! Plastic grocery bags are a quadruple whammy: they never decompose, they're hazardous to wildlife when they inevitably end up in their habitats, they're made from petroleum products and they can be a danger to the folks in your own household.
• Avoid the use of aerosols.
• Instead of lubricants containing solvents, use castor or mineral oils to lubricate switches and hinges.
• Use water-based latex house paints instead of oil or solvent-based paints.
• Be very mindful of what you throw away. Never dispose of paint, solvents, motor oil in your garbage can. Talk to your garbage collection company for proper disposal procedures of hazardous wastes.
• Never throw away a computer. The lead is a hazard to the environment. Most cities now have specialty companies that recycle computers. Look in your yellow pages under computer disposal.
• Living green will make you into a giver. Instead of throwing away old books, donate them.
• Give last season's wardrobe to Goodwill or ARC.
• Don't want your old photos and/or letters? Don't heap them on the landfill - donate them to your local historical society.

Don't take that old dishwasher or refrigerator to the dump, donate it.

Choosing the Right School
for Your Children

For many families, a move to a new state or community means making difficult choices. Choosing from among the wide array of options of appropriate day care for younger children or schools for the older ones can be a complex and time-consuming chore. Parents need to examine their own basic values, their child-rearing and educational philosophies, and each child's needs when making decisions that will affect their child's future.

For many parents, choosing the best schools for their children determines other life choices. Newcomers usually investigate the public school systems thoroughly before selecting an area in which to settle. Each school district determines its own curriculum, requirements, and special programs. However, individual schools within a district can differ because of variations in student bodies, individual principals and teachers, and parental involvement. Neighborhoods with higher income levels and percentage of parents with college educations generally have schools with better test scores and a larger percentage of students going on to college. Real Estate agents are a good source of information in this area.

In comparing school districts and individual schools within each district, the following general questions should be asked:

·  Is the physical location of the school adequate and secure?

·  What is the school's teacher/student ratio?

·  What teaching methods (traditional, open classroom, team-teaching, etc.) are used?

·  Observe classes if possible.

·  What arts programs are offered?

·  What are the special education facilities and programs in each school/jurisdiction?

·  Is homework given and, if so, how much each night?

·  Is there an adequate sports program?

·  What extracurricular clubs and interest groups exist?

Parents of elementary school children should ask other questions:

·  Can a young child walk to school safely without crossing main roads?

·  Is transportation available?

·  Is there sufficient space for recreation and adequate playground supervision?

·  Are there after-school and extended day programs? Parents can use school profiles and interviews with principals or counselors to answer the following questions:

·  Does the school have a good orientation program for new students?

·  What courses are included in the basic curriculum?

·  What elective courses are available?

·  What Advanced Placement courses are offered?

·  Is there vocational education for those students wishing to take a trade, skill or career course?

·  How have students scored recently on standardized tests (such as the S.A.T.)?

·  What percentage of high school students go to college? How are college and career counseling handled?

Private schooling is another option to be considered Classes are usually smaller, children may receive more individual attention, and college-bound students are given more personalized counseling. Schools sponsored by religious organizations are often less costly than other independent schools, but their classes tend to be larger.

Students interested in private schools should begin the application process early as the most competitive schools have February deadlines. Since many of the most selective schools require interviews, families should consider scheduling interviews before a formal application is made. It is unwise to apply to only one school. Because of space limitations, many bright children are denied entrance to the more popular schools. Some Catholic schools give priority to families that are members of the parish. Applying to four or five schools should prevent disappointment.

Choosing the Right School
for Your Children

For many families, a move to a new state or community means making difficult choices. Choosing from among the wide array of options of appropriate day care for younger children or schools for the older ones can be a complex and time-consuming chore. Parents need to examine their own basic values, their child-rearing and educational philosophies, and each child's needs when making decisions that will affect their child's future.

For many parents, choosing the best schools for their children determines other life choices. Newcomers usually investigate the public school systems thoroughly before selecting an area in which to settle. Each school district determines its own curriculum, requirements, and special programs. However, individual schools within a district can differ because of variations in student bodies, individual principals and teachers, and parental involvement. Neighborhoods with higher income levels and percentage of parents with college educations generally have schools with better test scores and a larger percentage of students going on to college. Real Estate agents are a good source of information in this area.

In comparing school districts and individual schools within each district, the following general questions should be asked:

·  Is the physical location of the school adequate and secure?

·  What is the school's teacher/student ratio?

·  What teaching methods (traditional, open classroom, team-teaching, etc.) are used?

·  Observe classes if possible.

·  What arts programs are offered?

·  What are the special education facilities and programs in each school/jurisdiction?

·  Is homework given and, if so, how much each night?

·  Is there an adequate sports program?

·  What extracurricular clubs and interest groups exist?

Parents of elementary school children should ask other questions:

·  Can a young child walk to school safely without crossing main roads?

·  Is transportation available?

·  Is there sufficient space for recreation and adequate playground supervision?

·  Are there after-school and extended day programs? Parents can use school profiles and interviews with principals or counselors to answer the following questions:

·  Does the school have a good orientation program for new students?

·  What courses are included in the basic curriculum?

·  What elective courses are available?

·  What Advanced Placement courses are offered?

·  Is there vocational education for those students wishing to take a trade, skill or career course?

·  How have students scored recently on standardized tests (such as the S.A.T.)?

·  What percentage of high school students go to college? How are college and career counseling handled?

Private schooling is another option to be considered Classes are usually smaller, children may receive more individual attention, and college-bound students are given more personalized counseling. Schools sponsored by religious organizations are often less costly than other independent schools, but their classes tend to be larger.

Students interested in private schools should begin the application process early as the most competitive schools have February deadlines. Since many of the most selective schools require interviews, families should consider scheduling interviews before a formal application is made. It is unwise to apply to only one school. Because of space limitations, many bright children are denied entrance to the more popular schools. Some Catholic schools give priority to families that are members of the parish. Applying to four or five schools should prevent disappointment.

Best Bet Home Improvements

If you're looking to improve the appearance of your home for resale, or you just want an updated look for your own enjoyment, there are a few things you must consider before beginning any costly project.

Sure, you can spend a lot on something purely for the personal pleasure of having it - like that outdoor Jacuzzi under the attached gazebo - or you can go the practical route and make an improvement that will increase your home's market value, such as installing energy-efficient air-conditioning or repairing those shabby shingles. Be forewarned, however, and don't expect to recoup your costs on both counts. Many real-estate brokers agree that just because you put $25,000 worth of improvements into your home doesn't mean that your house is worth $25,000 more!

Exactly how much of your investment you'll recoup depends on a number of factors, such as the "big picture" housing market, the value of the homes in your neighborhood, when you plan to sell and the exact nature of the improvement. Also, consider that the longer you live in your home after a project is completed, the less likely you are to recoup its value. Just try to convince a potential buyer that Harvest Gold is cutting edge.

Below are some examples of a few improvements that usually pay off - and some that rarely make a difference (no matter how much you paid for them) when it comes time to sell your home.

Painting If you're planning to sell your home in a year or two, a fresh coat of a neutral-toned paint could make the sale easier. A professional exterior paint job may also recoup close to 75% of its cost. Let's face it - we all like things fresh-looking.

Kitchen With just a few basic improvements, your kitchen can practically pay you back with interest! New paint, wallpaper and flooring are always appreciated; plus, you might even consider sanding, staining or painting worn-looking cabinets. Replacing old cabinet hardware is a low-cost improvement that makes a big difference in appearance. According to Remodeling magazine, the average spent on major kitchen-remodeling is around $39,000; refinishing an outdated one averaged $15,000. The full kitchen remodeling recouped 80% of its cost, the more moderate remodeling was valued at 87%.

Area Conversions Generally speaking, increasing the functional space of your home holds its value longer than remodeling just to make a house look better. It's also much less expensive than adding an addition to your home. Converting attic space into a bedroom, for example, usually costs around $30,000 and returns about 73% of its cost, according to Remodeling magazine. Turning your basement into extra living space costs, on average, $40,000, with a recoup average of about 69% of your costs.

Extra Bathroom You usually can't go wrong by adding an extra bathroom. At an average cost of $14,200, a new full bath can recoup 81% of its total cost!

Deck Adding a deck is a very cost-efficient way to add square footage to your house. Decks cost around $6,000 and generally recoup 75% of their value. Compared to other outdoor improvements (except painting), that's an excellent return.

New Windows Your utility bill savings may make up for the iffy resale value, however, a good set of standard windows should get you around 68% back. If you start getting too fancy with custom shapes and sizes, though, don't expect to get as much in return.

Swimming Pool In a word - don't! Unless you're putting it in for you and your family to enjoy, it's commonly agreed that a swimming pool has no resale value at all. Reason #1? Sure, they sound nice, but pools are very expensive to maintain. Running a close second is the fear of pool accidents - that's something nobody wants to experience.

Picture-Perfect Gardens Another nicety, but who's going to spend all that time - and money? If the potential buyer is not horticulturally inclined, chances are your floral handiwork won't add to the offering price. The same can be said for expensive fences and stone walls - they look nice, but buyers don't pay up for them.

Basic Is Better It may not sound very exciting, but it's the basic improvements you make to your home that may have the greatest return on its value: a beautiful new bathroom won't make up for a leaky roof. So if you're thinking of selling your house in the next year or so, be sure to address any problems the home may have before you, say, install those sunken gardens you've always dreamed of.

Friday, March 5th

Stroke and Vascular Disease Screening

when:Mar 5, 2010 at 9:00am

where:1534 Seventh Street, Slidell, LA venue:Christ Episcopal Church Of Slidell

category:Health and Fitness .

Performance - The Children's Hour

when:Mar 5, 2010 at 8:00pm

where:2024 Nellie Drive, Slidell, LA from:Slidell Little Theater

category:Arts and Entertainment .

Saturday, March 6th

Camellia City Market

when:Mar 6, 2010 at 8:00am

where:333 Erlanger Street, Slidell, LA from:Camellia City Market

category:Clubs and Organizations .

Audition - Ragtime

when:Mar 6, 2010 at 1:00pm

where:2024 Nellie Drive, Slidell, LA from:Slidell Little Theater

category:Arts and Entertainment .

Performance - The Children's Hour

when:Mar 6, 2010 at 8:00pm

where:2024 Nellie Drive, Slidell, LA from:Slidell Little Theater

category:Arts and Entertainment .

Sunday, March 7th

Sunday Morning Worship Service

when:Mar 7, 2010 at 8:00am

where:1534 Seventh Street, Slidell, LA from:Christ Episcopal Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Sunday Bible Study

when:Mar 7, 2010 at 9:30am

where:102 Christian Lane, Slidell, LA from:First Christian Church Of

Slidell category:Religion and Spirituality .

Sunday School

when:Mar 7, 2010 at 9:45am

where:59463 North Pearl Drive, Slidell, LA from:Pearl Acres Baptist Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Sunday Morning Worship Service

when:Mar 7, 2010 at 10:30am

where:102 Christian Lane, Slidell, LA from:First Christian Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Sunday Morning Worship Service

when:Mar 7, 2010 at 10:45am

where:59463 North Pearl Drive, Slidell, LA from:Pearl Acres Baptist Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Audition - Ragtime

when:Mar 7, 2010 at 5:00pm

where:2024 Nellie Drive, Slidell, LA from:Slidell Little Theater

category:Arts and Entertainment .

Sunday Evening Bible Study

when:Mar 7, 2010 at 5:00pm

where:59463 North Pearl Drive, Slidell, LA from:Pearl Acres Baptist Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Monday, March 8th

Audition - Ragtime

when:Mar 8, 2010 at 7:00pm

where:2024 Nellie Drive, Slidell, LA from:Slidell Little Theater

category:Arts and Entertainment .

Tuesday, March 9th

Rotary Club of Slidell Meeting

when:Mar 9, 2010 at 7:30am

where:405 Country Club Boulevard, Slidell, LA from:Rotary Club Of Slidell

category:Clubs and Organizations .

Page Turners

when:Mar 9, 2010 at 6:30pm

where:555 Robert Boulevard, Slidell, LA from:Slidell Branch Library

category:Schools and Libraries .

Audition - Ragtime

when:Mar 9, 2010 at 7:00pm

where:2024 Nellie Drive, Slidell, LA from:Slidell Little Theater

category:Arts and Entertainment .

City Council Meeting

when:Mar 9, 2010 All Day

where:2055 Second Street, Slidell, LA from:City of Slidell

category:Government and Politics .

Wednesday, March 10th

General Meeting/Luncheon

when:Mar 10, 2010 at 10:30am

where:405 Country Club Boulevard, Slidell, LA from:Slidell Newcomers Club

category:Clubs and Organizations .

Wednesday Worship Service

when:Mar 10, 2010 at 5:30pm

where:1534 Seventh Street, Slidell, LA from:Christ Episcopal Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Wednesday Bible Study

when:Mar 10, 2010 at 7:00pm

where:59463 North Pearl Drive, Slidell, LA from:Pearl Acres Baptist Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality