10 COMMANDMENTS FOR AUTUMN

HOME OWNER’S  

10 COMMANDMENTS FOR AUTUMN

(Maintenance tips for saving money)

EXTERIOR

1.  Remove hoses and winterize hose bib  

Turn off water at interior shut off valve and drain pipe (if applicable).  Cover hose bib with Styrofoam cover or other insulating material.  This will keep water in the supply pipe from freezing and splitting the pipe.

2.  Winterize sprinkler systems (if applicable)

Water must be removed from sprinkler system to prevent freezing water from shattering pipes and sprinkler heads.  Compressed air is used to blow water out. This is best done by a professional sprinkler system contractor. The back flow preventer valve (valve keeps pollutants from contaminating the drinking water) must be certified once a year.  This can be done at the same time system is winterized. 

3.  Clean leaves and debris out of gutters

After the leaves have fallen, clean your gutters. Clogged gutters can cause damage to your house. Water and snow become trapped at the roof line, are forced under the shingles causing damage to the wood decking. In extreme cases, water leaks through the attic and into ceiling and walls below.  Installing gutter screens or ‘helmets’ can eliminate this annual ritual.

4.  Winterize air conditioner unit

Covering the exterior compressor unit will keep leaves, debris, snow and ice from damaging the air conditioner during the colder months. A sturdy plastic trash bag will work. Do not cover the bottom six to eight inches of the air conditioner.  Leave this space open so that moisture condensation inside air conditioner will drain and evaporate.

5. Ice melt

An alternative to shoveling snow off sidewalks and driveways is to use an ice melting material. Don’t use table salt (sodium chloride).  Rock salt will damage the surface of concrete (spauling and pitting) and will kill grass and shrubs.  Calcium Chloride based melts are available at grocery & hardware stores and are safe for concrete and yards.

INTERIOR

6. Close storm windows & lock primary windows

Close all storm windows completely.  Closing the storm window traps an insulating barrier of air between two panes of glass lowering heat loss through your windows.  Make sure all primary windows are closed and locked.  Leaving a 2 foot wide window open ¼ of an inch is the equivalent of having a 3 by 2 inch hole through your wall (about the size of a standard business card).   

7. Reverse ceiling fans

Lower heating bills by reversing ceiling fans. In summer a ceiling fan blowing down at a fast speed creates a cooling breeze.  In winter reverse the direction of the fan (so that it blows up) and change speed to lowest level. The fan will now pull the cold air from the floor to the ceiling forcing the hot air at the ceiling (hot air rises) down the walls to the floor without creating a breeze. The room will feel warmer without raising the temperature at the thermostat.

8. Winterize attic fan (if applicable)

An attic fan is basically a hole in your ceiling covered by a louvered metal plate. If the louvers get bent or don’t shut tightly, then heavy cold air flows into the house and warm air escapes through the attic. Taping a thick sheet of Styrofoam (cut to the size of the opening) across the ceiling side of the attic fan prevents the loss of heat.

9. Change the air filter

Air filters should be changed at least four times a year. A dirty clogged air filter blocks the flow of air through the furnace.  Your furnace runs longer and harder costing you money. 

10.  Service the Furnace

All mechanical systems require periodic maintenance and your furnace is no exception. Your furnace should be checked annually by a reputable heating contractor.  A service contract with a heating contractor is a less expensive way to keep furnace (and air conditioner) at the peek of performance.

Rick Ruttle, President

HOMESTEAD INSPECTION INC.    636-677-5868

St. Louis moves up in annual real estate report : Business

St. Louis moves up in annual real estate report : Business

How to Calculate Closing Costs

Click on this link to find out how to estimate closing costs:

http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Closing-Costs

10 Best Cities for Older Singles to Live, Retire, Meet New People - AARP

10 Best Cities for Older Singles to Live, Retire, Meet New People - AARP

Real Estate 411 - 10/28/2013 

When you’re buying or selling, the obvious source to get your real estate question answered is your agent but where do you go the rest of the time?  As a homeowner for many years to come, you’ll need reliable help and solid suggestions.

Our business goal is to have a select group of our friends and past customers who consider us their lifelong real estate professional. We want to earn that trusted position so they’ll enthusiastically refer their friends to us.  Our plan to achieve this is simply to help these people with all of their real estate needs not just when they buy or sell but for all the years in between.

Throughout the year, we offer reminders and suggestions by email and social media that benefit your homeowner experience.  When we find good articles to help you be a better homeowner, we’ll pass them along.  You’ll discover new ways to maintain your property, minimize expenses and manage debt and risk.

We want to be your “Go-To” person for everything to do with real estate.  If we don’t have the answer you need, we’ll point you in the right direction to find it.

We’re here for you and your friends…now and in the future.  Please let us know how we can help you.

You know how successful families function as a team?  Meet the Beckman family.  We learned from parents Rich (left) and Lori (Right) over the past months, just how well the Beckman team functions.  Each family members brings a big heart to the process, and a deep understanding for each other. 

4016 McDonald: A Quiet Dtreet in a Vibrant Neighborhood!

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Check out these 15 hidden features of Google Search

Google search: 15 hidden features Google is used by millions of people to navigate the web every day, but how many of us really put it through its paces? The Telegraph digs out a few of the search engine's hidden gems. Google logo in Washington DC Google has more than a few tricks up its sleeve By Sophie Curtis 1. Calculator Google's calculator function is far more powerful than most people realise. As well as doing basic maths (5+6 or 3*2) it can do logarithmic calculations, and it knows constants (like e and pi), as well as functions like Cos and Sin. Google can also translate numbers into binary code – try typing '12*3 in binary'. 2. Site search By using the 'site:' keyword, you can make Google only return results from one site. So for example, you could search for "site:telegraph.co.uk manchester united" and only get stories on Manchester United from the Telegraph website. 3. Conversions Currency conversions and unit conversions can be found by using the syntax: in . So for example, you could type '1 GBP in USD', '20 C in F' or '15 inches in cm' and get an instant answer. 4. Time zones Search for 'time in ' and you will get the local time for that place, as well as the time zone it is in. 5. Translations A quick way to translate foreign words is to type 'translate to '. So for example, 'translate pomme to english' returns the result apple, and 'translate pomme to spanish' returns the result 'manzana'. 6. Search for a specific file type If you know you are looking for a PDF or a Word file, you can search for specific file types by typing ' filetype:pdf' or ' filetype:doc' 7. Check flight status If you type in a flight number, the top result is the details of the flight and its status. So, for example, typing in BA 335 reveals that British Airways flight 335 departs Paris at 15.45 today and arrives at Heathrow Terminal 5 at 15.48 local time. 8. Search for local film showings Search for film showings in your area by typing 'films' or 'movies' followed by your postcode. In the UK, this only narrows it down to your town or city. In the US this is more accurate, as results are displayed according to zip-code. 9. Weather forecasts Type the name of a city followed by 'forecast', and Google will tell you the weather today, including levels of precipitation, humidity and wind, as well as the forecast for the next week, based on data from The Weather Channel. 10. Exclude search terms When you're enter a search term that has a second meaning, or a close association with something else, it can be difficult to find the results you want. Exclude irrelevant results using the '-' sign. So for searches for 'apple' where the word 'iPhone' is not used, enter 'apple -iPhone'. 11. Public data To see trends for population and unemployment rates of different cities and counties, type 'population' or 'unemployment rate' followed by the location. So for example, typing 'unemployment rate uk' returns the answer 7.7 percent, and shows a graph of unemployment rates over the last 10 years 12. Related search To search for web pages that have similar content to a given site, type 'related:' followed by the website address into the Google search box. For example, typing 'related:telegraph.co.uk' gives a list of other UK newspaper websites. 13. Package tracking If you have a package tracking number from the USPS, UPS or FedEx, simply plug it into Google Search and it will provide a convenient link for you. 14. Define Google's dictionary function allows you to type define:term and get definitions of words. So a search for define:discombobulated tells you that it is the past participle, past tense of discombobulate, which means to disconcert or confuse. 15. Barrel Roll Simply type “do a barrel roll” into the search bar and Google dutifully obeys. Warning: this Google trick is known to make grown men squeal with delight.

Working Against Fakes: The Case of the Cannolo Siciliano

Working Against Fakes: The Case of the Cannolo Siciliano By: Silvia Donati Italians tend to be very attentive to regional food traditions and authenticity of local products. One such Italian was so irritated with what he saw displayed in a shop window in Venice that he decided to snap a picture and send it to the Palermo edition of Italy’s largest-circulation daily newspaper, La Repubblica. What made him angry was to see fake cannoli siciliani advertised as the real thing – and even sold at above-average price. “It represents a damage to the entire Sicilian pastry tradition and an insult to tourists who think they are tasting one of the best products of that tradition,” he wrote to the paper. The cannoli on display in the Venice shop are made with puff pastry and filled with panna (cream). Wrong! The real cannolo siciliano is made with crunchy dough (called scorza) and filled with ricotta. Cannoli are so important in the culinary tradition that they have been included in the list of "Italian traditional food products" by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies of the Italian Government. So always beware, especially in highly visited locations, not to fall into classic tourist traps - the best advice probably being: buy local, eat local.

It usually takes a long time to find a shorter way. - Anonymous

It usually takes a long time to find a 

shorter way. - Anonymous

The Kratky Team Headquarters is located just off the Italian "Hill" section of St. Louis City.  The area has wonderful restaurants, a rich history and a geographical connection to the Catholic Parishes that define and anchor this part of the city.

So when we received the following advice from John Doerr from Rain Sales, it was irresistible.  We have circulated the following "Thou Shalts" to our Agents and provide them here as well.

Proving that we at the Kratky Team love advice with a Biblical reference and embrace our neighborhood like a big plate of mostaccioli.

Excerpt from: 

Ten Commandments for Shortening Your Sales Cycle

By John Doerr

      I.        Thou Shalt Present a Crisp, Clear Value Proposition

In the course of my work with all manner of firms, I hear a common lament: "We are becoming a commodity. The prospects just seem to buy on price. How can I separate myself from the crowd?"

If you don't know how you are distinct, how will the prospect know?

Ask your clients, your colleagues, your network, “How do I provide value in what I do?” Once you get the answers, refine the message, practice it, and refine it again. Make certain your statement resonates (speaks to need), differentiates (why you), and substantiates (proof you can do it).

     II.        Thou Shalt Talk to the Right Person

Why do so many of us end up wasting our time (and stretching out the sales cycle) by talking to prospects who have neither the financial ability nor the authority to buy our services? Is it lack of confidence in our abilities to deliver, to sell, or both?

Whatever the reason, the shortest distance to a faster sale is the one to the decision maker. Go into a prospective company at the highest level possible. If you can't start high, find out as quickly as possible who controls the purse strings and who makes the decisions.

    III.        Thou Shalt Uncover the Prospect's Aspirations and Afflictions

How directly are you connecting your products and services with the needs of the buyer and those of her company? Too often, we talk to the prospect rather than with the prospect. Ask questions that will allow you to find the most pressing and compelling needs that your offerings can address. You can then draw a direct line from their needs to your products and services. As the saying goes, "The shortest distance..."

Don’t just look for the pain points (afflictions) that will drive a buyer to solve a problem; look for their dreams and goals (aspirations) that your services can address so you can drive the demand.

    IV.        Thou Shalt Engender Trust and Confidence in Your Company

Unless you have the good fortune to have been introduced through a referral, your buyer has a long list of reasons not to buy. As you are selling, he is asking himself, "Can you do what you say you can?", "Do you really understand my company and what I am facing?", and "Will I get the return on my investment in your fees?"

Provide stories, case studies, and demonstrable examples of how you have helped similar companies. Don't talk about how good you are, show it. By doing so, you help reduce the perceived risk of buying. The sooner you can lower the trust barrier, the faster you can move your prospect to make a decision.

     V.        Thou Shalt Deal With Objections Early On

Contrary to popular belief, objections are helpful to the buying process. In fact, I would go so far as to say that objections are buying signals. When a prospect tells you there is an obstacle to her buying your services, she is engaging in the buying/selling process. She is essentially telling you, “I am thinking about what it might be like to work with you, but I have a few things we need to address first.”

The earlier objections come up, the earlier you have the opportunity to fully explore what is getting in the way, deal with it, and move on. The worst possible scenario is for the prospect to nod in agreement and then disappear once you are out of sight (no phone calls, no emails, and no answers) because you never had the opportunity to hear what was standing in the way of the sale.